takest from me thou leavest me nothing but thy image engraved in the very bottom of my soul but thou flyest in vain the thickest darkness cannot deprive my sight of such brightnesses as thine and my heart which follows thy steps with a sweetness equal to thine will find thee without doubt in what place soever thou wouldst hide thy self After these words I turned towards the side of the brook and beheld with some Idolatry the place she had quitted The fair Idea which she left me began then to assault me with invincible forces and sleep for whose sake I had fatally addressed my steps to this place presented it self to my eyes no more those admirable beauties which had made so powerful an impression upon my soul were always present in my memory and the tone of the voice which had so agreeably accompanied what my eyes had discovered did seem still to resound something of sweetness in mine ears O Gods how was my spirit agitated in these beginnings of my love and what commotions did I feel till then unknown to me arise in my soul whereupon love as yet had made but light impressions At first I was much amazed at this adventure and a little after insensibly freeing my self from the trouble whereunto it had put me I reflected upon what had appeared to my eyes and disappeared again like a flash of lightning against which all my strength was weakness and the resistance I made very small In fine whether it were that this Celestial beauty was able to produce this effect with so much promptitude or that the dispositions of my soul were all ready to receive this passion or that destiny acted in this engagement of my soul but I began really to love without knowing what I loved and without being able to make any other judgement upon it but that what I began to love was the most fair and amiable thing in the world I was engaged in this meditation upon which without doubt I should have bestowed the rest of the day when my hunters who had sought me a great while arrived at the place where I was and obliged me by their troubling my agreeable musing to remount my horse and to quit this fatal place where I had lost my repose and my liberty I departed thence with regret but by this departure I did not change my condition but carried along with me the poysoned arrow which kept my wounds open and made it deeper still All the night that succeeded this day this image kept me faithful company and if by reason of my weariness and some watchings before it did afford me some moments of sleep yet did it not abandon me no not in sleep it self and it operated upon me with the same powers that it did when I was awake I had some combat in mine own defence and I would have fortified my self with reason against those powers to which as I thought I rendred my self too easily and I often represented to my self that I ought not lightly to engage my self in this passion for a person unknown and without doubt of a low and obscure condition but these considerations which possibly would have wrought some effect upon another spirit had no power upon mine and after I had made all these reflections That which thou alledgest said I that which thou settest before my eyes O my reason is full of likelyhood and truth and this person for whom I have already so much weakness is unknown she is according to appearance of a low birth I cannot love her according to thy counsel but I am forced to love her by a power which is above thine and if I have no other assistance but thine I shall love her maugre all the considerations thou canst oppose against me if she be not of a Royal or noble blood her beauty doth advantageously supply the defect of her birth we have nothing in our condition more sublime than the marks she bears in her countenance and it is not upon birth that love is used to establish it self let us love my heart that which hath appeared great enough to my eyes to subject thee to her Empire and giving up our selves entirely to love let us seek for no other persons but his In this manner I abandoned my self to the sweet motions that drew me along and without any longer description of the original of my love I will content my self to tell you that I loved and I had hardly begun to love but that I loved perfectly then I sought the opportunities of seeing again that which I loved and upon that design addressing my chase always that way where I had been taken my self I passed divers times every day through the wood where I had this rancounter but my search was but in vain and this beauty appeared no more in those places where she believed she was imprudently engaged in some hazard Alass with what impatiences with what inquietudes did I visit the most solitary places and how many times suffering my reason to wander through the force of my passion did I ask the brook for her which shewed her me the first time and how often did I address my self to all insensible objects to learn news of her sometimes laying my eyes my hands and my mouth it self on the bank where she had left some sign of her figure O sacred place said I which I have beheld replenished with glories by the fair pledge which the Gods had committed to your charge how have you lost it and how can you still preserve any freshness shade or beauty if these advantages which you have received from nature be not able once more to draw hither that which she renders you so dear and precious to my spirit Ah! without doubt continued I 't is I which have done you this ill office and 't is I alone that have banished from this agreeable place that which in vain I demand of you I held divers other discourses which blindness caused me to utter and being full of an amorous inquietude I left no place in all the neighbourhood but I traced it over a thousand times In this research I was accompanied but with a few persons and most commonly causing the rest to scatter from me I kept with me only one of my Squires whom I loved particularly and to whom I had discovered my thoughts attended by him alone after I had sought up and down the wood in vain and the places adjoyning in the day time I spent part of the night in entertaining my self with him about that which at that time possessed my imagination and the Gods which were moved to some compassion at my sorrows were pleased for my comfort and satisfaction that one evening having no body but my Squire with me I turned my walk towards a solitary valley which is some furlongs distant from the wood which I visited so often and towards a side of it whither I had never addressed my self before It was about two
Merodates and Phrataphernes content with the rupture of this Marriage and fierce and proud at the mention Menalippa made of them in her Letter and the confidence they had in their own Valor having protested aloud they would obey this glorious command that they would lose their lives or take away that of Alcamenes took Horse with the first and followed according to the best conjecture the Tract of Menalippa The Queen perceiving amongst the rest in her Chamber the King of Scythia's Ambassador turned towards him her eyes drowned in tears and presenting him the Letter which she held in her hand You may see my misfortune said she and you may acquaint the King your Master and the Prince his Son that it is no fault of mine that the peace and alliance second not his intent nay rather though having desired it with passion causing me to make use of my authority out of season I have lost my Daughter and with her all the consolation of my life The Prince of the Tauro-Scythes answering in tears which exprest the interest he took in her afflictions I will hope from the generosity of Orontes added she that he will not set upon me in my misfortune nor refuse me now a peace which himself hath offered the alliance shall be if he desires it compleated so soon as I have the disposition of my Daughter in the mean time I demand a free Retreat into my Countrey promising him never to trouble him in his nor will I ever forget how generously he hath used his advantages over us The Scythian-Ambassador retired and quickly after presented himself before his Master who understood with much astonishment the success of his Negotiation Alcamenes was less astonisht but mortally afflicted and perceiving the King uncertain in his resolution he conjured him to make up the peace with Amalthea and to permit her to retire peaceably with her Troops and the King willing to comply with his Son sent Amphimacus the same day to the Dacian Camp with full power to conclude the peace and to favour the Retreat of the Dacians so much as the Queen could desire Amalthea received with joy the courtesie of King Orontes and protested she would never be his Enemy then giving order for the march she disencamped the next Morning towards Dacia full of a mortal grief for the loss of Menalippa Thus ended that War which had been conceived and begun with so much noise and so fair hopes and that Army who expected no less than the Conquest of Scythia returned inconsiderable in their number and pitiful in their condition having left the greatest part of their Companions in that Countrey which a few dayes before they beheld as the Field of their Victories A little after the King Orontes quitted the City of Nicia and having taken leave of his now unprofitable Troops and ordered their Princes his Vassals to lead them into their several Countries he returned to the chief City carrying the said Alcamenes along with him which he could never have done had not his respect to the King made him do violence to himself You may imagine that his mortal sadness received no small increase at the reading of Menalippa's Letter which fell into his hands nor could he apprehend why this Princess who before these last effects of his passion had appeared most moderate in all her actions should not be content to have precipitated her self into a dangerous Combat through the only desire of killing him nor content to have disobeyed the commands of her Mother for whom she had alwayes preserved a profound respect but also by her flight to expose her person to those dangers which do continually threaten her Sex declaring to the Queen her Mother and all the World that she would never marry any man but him who brought her Alcamenes his Head he could not consider all these things without a clear sight of Menalippa's hate which possest him with the greatest extremities of grief a heart ever submitted to and as he continually reasoned with himself upon the cause of his unhappiness Is it possible would he sometimes say that my being born of Orontes should kindle so much hatred in a heart I have formerly known so generous and so reasonable And is it so great a Crime for the Son of Orontes to love Menalippa And an offence so cruel against the Daughter of Amalthea to be loved by the Son of Orontes that it should render the Son a thousand times more odious than the Father and inspire her with so cruel and desperate Designs against him having never entertained but moderate ones against his Father but what could be this Crime hid and unknown to the Queen her Mother whereof she accused me in the Letter unless it be the boldness of having loved her knowing my self to be the Son of her Enemy After what manner soever I examine the actions of my life I can find my self culpable of no other fault and that methinks cannot justly deserve those punishments which the pitiless Menalippa ordains me nor carry the fair Princess to such resolutions against her faithful and innocent adored the love of Alcamenes should appear more considerable in the person of a man who was Enemy to her house and in the person of a Prince who was conceived born and nourisht in the hatred of Menalippa and her Family rather than in one who had submitted under favourable aspects and who had no crosses in his pretensions neither from fortune nor former inclinations yet it pleased the gods and my cruel Destiny that this fair and just Menalippa should arm her self with an unknown steel to take away my life exposing her own to danger to destroy mine and arming the whole World against me He stopt some moments upon this consideration which had almost awaked resentments in his Soul able to combat his love but he found himself too weak to undertake it for although the comfortless Prince apprehended in the unjust proceedings of Menalippa a just occasion to revolt from his love yet could he not bring it about or scarce form a desire towards it If I consult my reason said he if I consult my courage they will tell me that I ought no longer to love this cruel person who arms her self against my life with such obstinate inhumanity But though my reason and courage are counsellors strong enough yet are they unable to assist me and it is assistance I want when counsels are unnecessary depart then all other thoughts all other resolutions save those of dying for Menalippa 't is my life I must give her since 't is my life she demands it is unnecessary to arm Phrataphernes or Merodates to procure my death for Alcamenes himself will serve you more faithfully and more powerfully and through his means you will doubtlesly obtain that whereof by other means you will be very uncertain I will go and pierce in your presence this unfortunate heart whose flames are so criminal and will satisfie your eyes
the reasons why the fair Queen detested her savage Husband it was then my eyes lost me all my repose by lifting themselves to that divine Princess The beauty of Mariamne was not like common ones to be seen without a dangerous wonder the eye of Man never saw any thing more perfect and till this day I believ'd none but young Cleopatra capable of comparison he that was sent by Antony to make discovery of the Worlds choicest Beauties publish'd her a piece that surpass'd humanity and to speak my opinion freely Madam your self excepted and that young Princess Daughter to the great and unfortunate Cleopatra I think the World cannot shew another that may equal her These words charg'd the Queens modesty with a blush and interrupting Tyridates I have not vanity enough said she to believe that what you call my beauty can challenge an equality with the Queen Mariamne 's I am better aequainted with her face than you imagine for we have often view'd at our Court the Pourtrait both of her and her Brother the Prince Aristobulus and indeed acknowledged them for the exactest Pieces that ever the hand of Nature drew It is true reply'd Tyridates the Princess Alexandra ravish'd as well as others with the beauties of her children had caus'd their Pictures to be drawn and sent to divers parts of the World but Madam had it been in the power of Art to represent her soul as well as her body your eyes had yet been entertain'd with better wonders all that report ever spake of the most sublime and refined vertue will but serve to express but an imperfect Ray of Mariamne 's worth and in those great and frequent occasions that call'd her to the tryal she gave proofs of it that could not be seen and not admir'd Her Constancy shin'd in her afflictions her patience in the persecution which she suffer'd without the least repining and that prodigious force of spirit taught her to endure a Husband whom she had so much reason to hate and one so contrary to all her inclinations fix'd her like an unshaken Rock beat off all the batteries of her Malignant fortune and took all those outrages in which another spirit would have found out reason for revenge with a temper that never so much as bow'd it self to the least thought that might unbeseem the Grandeur of her Courage And since Mariamne was thus was it possible for Tyridates not to love her having a heart susceptible of Love's Impression and a soul capable to comprehend the Divine Qualities of Mariamne was it possible to defend it self by the consideration of Vertue from such a puissance when vertue her self came and help'd to give the passion Birth Nor did it ever inspire me with a thought that might justly offend her I lov'd Mariamne with no intent to improve my hopes by the abuse of her vertue but because Love had no stronger Arms than what that lent him to make himself Master of my Soul and I lov'd Mariamne because it was impossible to see to know and not to love her Yet I endeavour'd to put my heart in a posture of Resistance and to the birth of my affection often oppos'd all the difficulties I could encounter in my intentions the danger I threw my self into and the remembrance of that which I ow'd to my Protector but all these considerations were too feeble to defend me one Look one Word from Mariamne would in a moment destroy all the Fortifications against her that had been three months a rearing Then I began to arm the Glory against the difficulties I had to vanquish the peril I slighted by undervaluing my Life and excus'd my self to Herod with the violence Mariamne did me my affection not being an effect of my Will and further Madam I confess I suffered a hope to flatter me of being let into the Queens Bosom by that just aversion which the King had given her for as I understood it the love of a Wife to her Husband founded either upon Inclination merit or obligation is the best weapon she can take up to oppose the pursuits of a Lover and the Queen having such strong reasons to dispence with all those ties had now no other defence than for her self singly considered no fear of remorse left for a Husband who had but too much merited all the revenge she was capable of taking and from that time I began to call in these apprehensions my Passion grew able to corrupt the most vertuous inclination to render me ingrateful to my Benefactor and to induce me now no more to regard him as my Protector from Phraates but as he that murder'd the Brother the Father and Grandfather of Mariamne Then Jealousie began to joyn with my affection and I could not reflect upon the advantages he possessed without deeply sighing and a thousand times crying out that the Favours of that fair Queen were more lawfully due to him who was willing to buy them with his best services and dearest bloud than to the man who had paid nothing for them but Indignities and injuries When Love first entred my heart it us'd me gently hiding those cruel Idea's of torment he hath since inflicted but now it hath taken an entire possession and doth exercise an authority which leaves no liberty to act by any other motion than his own all my thoughts all my discourse all my actions had no other subject but Mariamne nay my very sleep whose proper office it is by benumming the Senses to charm all our Cares would not quiet mine still representing to the eies of my Soul when the other were clos'd the Divine Perfections of Mariamne This continual fixing my Spirits rob'd me of all repose and produced effects that were soon observ'd both in my face and behaviour and though the care I took to hide it kept the true cause undiscover'd yet it could not hinder the whole Court from taking notice of my deep melancholly accompany'd with an unnatural Paleness a change of my Humour and an alteration of my Health Arsanes and my Governour from whom I never before kept any thing conceal'd in this were Strangers to my thoughts and I preserv'd the disguise with my best Care rather out of respect to my Passion and the cause of it than any doubt of their Affection or Fidelity In the mean time my access was so easie that I daily saw the Queen For the hopes which Herod cherished by my means to revenge himself of the King of Parthia had made him sweeten his savage humour on purpose to indear me with a kind entertainment A thousand times was my tongue ready before that adorable Princess not openly to declare my Passion for I had not the daring to take such a liberty before a Vertue that made me tremble but at least to let her know that no man had a more passionate Interest in her fortune or could pay down his life with greater joy than my self to purchase Solace for her affections But still fear
said the Princess interrupting him you must not now think of dying while I hold your life at the same price with mine own I will have you vanquish your malady I say I will by the authority I have over you and the intelligence I give you that you cannot neglect your life without indangering mine The Princess put her hand before her face to cover a blush which got up thither at the alarm of these words nevertheless to confirm them to Coriolanus by favours that yet she had not granted she let the other fall upon his cheek which the Prince taking in his feeble hand carry'd to his mouth and with all the strength was left him prest it with an incredible ravishment The Princess who felt it extreamly hot and therefore fear'd the continuance of this passionate Discourse might do him harm grew willing to withdraw and after she had gently retir'd her hand I leave you saith she rising from her seat for fear of doing my self any injury in what I demand remember to obey me if you desire I should love you at this last word more confused than before she had not the confidence to behold him longer but turning to Octavia and Marcellus she told them a farther stay might do Coriolanus an injury and so presently oblig'd them to quit the Chamber I know not whether I may ascribe my Masters cure to that visit or whether the disease was then come to a Crisis whatever it was the next morning his Feaver was much abated not many days after it wholly left him and in a few others he had gotten strength enough to quit his Chamber visit Cleopatra and render his thanks as he ought for the favours she had done him I have doubtless given you this relation in too large a stamp there being still so many great things that deserve a mention in my Masters story as I ought to have pass'd by those with a slighter touch that were of less importance but I staid upon this discourse the rather because I knew it would draw you Cleopatra's disposition more lively than a recital of greater adventures and by these petty marks I have given you may easily judge that her spirit is lofty and imperious but her nature generous and full of nobleness In the mean time the Empress by the complaints Tiberius had made of an unkindness in which her self appeared interessed grew highly incensed at Cleopatra and probably that act might have cost her her lodgings at Court if Marcellus who above the rest of mankind was dear unto the Emperour had not employ'd all the credit he had with him in her favour Caesar to oblige his Nephew and serve the Princess whom he highly esteem'd would needs have the Empress turn that pretended affront into Raillery and so the Princess escap'd with enduring a petty reproof and some sullen looks that lasted but a while from the Empress who is very dexterous cunning and complaisant in her compliance with the Emperors humours but she could not so easily disguise her resentments against my Master and those of Tiberius much more violent than hers did then give a root to that hatred which has since produced such grand effects but as he was the greatest dissembler among men the knowledge he had of my Masters courage and Marcellus his credit who had openly espous'd his party taught him to cloud the greatest part of it and attend till fortune offered him an occasion to let it break out at the best advantage For a while he forbore the Princess protesting he would never see her more and the Empress her self who studied harder for the establishment of his fortune than the success of his love labour'd to confirm him in that resolution but it could not long hold out against his passion and the choller he conceiv'd against Cleopatra being dissipated or at least over-powred by a stronger passion he return'd to her more submissive than formerly and flex'd himself to her service with greater assiduity than ever t is true he did a little change his fashion of life with her and discovering by the last encounter that her spirit was too high and absolute to be easily managed he resolved to seek his advantages no more by so haughty a carriage and diligently endeavouring to bring himself in credit by an artificial humility there was never any part of subtil and supple insinuation acted that he did not personate before her The Princess to whom besides these submissions the greatness of his birth and the power of his Mother strove to render him considerable was constrained to suffer his research and re-admit him with as smooth a brow as she had done formerly in the mean time she managed both his and my Masters spirit so discreetly and so judiciously swayed the authority she had over them as the fear to displease her dayly enforced them to shut their eyes upon several passages that else would soon have kindled a quarrel that being the only bridle that often kept their hatred from coming to extreams repressing their resentments with so absolute an Empire as they neither durst make any shew or noise My Master had less cause than Tiberius upon whom he had then a great advantage but it was known to none but himself and Marcellus for before the rest of the world the Princess governed her self so prudently as it would have posed the clearest eye to penetrate her intentions then began Fortune to raise her stroms against my Master which my relation must interweave with Marcellus's adventures for there is so much connexion betwixt his and my Princes as one of their lives cannot be faithfully recounted without reciting a part of the others Marcellus whose policy first chain'd him to the service of Julia grew insensibly fastened by inclinations and indeed that Princess was armed with an ability strong enough to subdue the most disobedient spirits to Loves dominion the disposition of Marcellus was sweet ingenious and susceptible of impressions and he no sooner got the consent of his own heart to love Julia but he began to find out such charmes about her as were not only capable to confirm his resolution but impose a necessity of progress in his first undertook design he loved but he lov'd Sincerely and his affection insensibly increasing grew at last to that height as never heart was deeper struck than his my Master to whom that Princess's secrets were alwaies naked understood it with a marvellous satisfaction as well for joy that this new passion had clear'd his fears of the old as desires to see the fortunes of his Friend established by the conformity of his will with the Emperor's who had designed him his daughter and daily observed the proofs he gave of his affections with unspeakable contentment nor were they unwelcome to Julia and that Princess who had been before hand with Marcellus in affection could not now receive those unfeigned oblations of his vows without a large encrease of her own yet in a while
Enemy he had as often rejected it believing he could not answer any secret contrivance at the bar of Honour against a man that been his Benefactor during this private Treaty they received news from their Country that did no way cool their proceedings and still as my Masters resentments boil'd higher by degrees against Augustus they failed not to ply him so hotly with fresh sollicitations as my Master perceiving all things grow desperate for him at Rome and understanding that Augustus had proscribed his name and caus'd it to be set up in the Streets as in the time of the Triumvirate with a proposal of a recompence to his Murderers his just resentments were wound up to the resolution of a revenge upon his Enemy by a way that should lead him to his lawful heritage this was the design he imparted to Cleopatra and the same that made him send me for Hippias and Lisippus These two men ravish'd at the knowledge of their Prince's abode for whom they had all the preceding day suffered so many fears immediately parted from their lodging and came along with me to Strato's house my Prince no sooner saw and embrac'd them but he declared his design to serve their honest desires in chasing the Romans out of his Fathers Territories he promis'd he would be ready to go away with them the following night and bad them be assured he would not be sparing of his life to requite the injuries of Augustus nor make himself an inconsiderable gift to that People who had preserved so much affection for his Family The Mauritanians almost besides themselves with joy at this Discourse fell both at his feet protesting they would be ready to serve him as faithful guides till he set his foot upon those Dominions the Romans had usurp'd and assured him he should not find a man in both the Mauritania's that would not willingly hazard his life to beat out the Romans and gladly subject himself to his Sovereignty This resolution confirmed and all the circumstances settled the two Moors went home to order their affairs for a Journey and prepare themselves to go away with us the following night I say with us for though I was born a Roman and descended from a Family noble enough so real an affection tied me to my Master as neither the Interest of my Country nor the love of my kindred could slack my carrier in running his Fortune Strato having carefully sought up the faithfullest of my Masters servants without disclosing where he was assigned them to be ready about the beginning of night at a place he appointed the rest staid behind at Rome for fear too curious a search of all should betray us Every thing thus dispos'd of pass'd away the day at Strato's house the greatest part of which my Master wearied with his former watchings bestow'd in sleep at least as much of it as the grief he took to part with Cleopatra would permit him so soon as the night was a little advanced we mounted on Horse back and rendered our selves at Octavia's Garden-gate which was presently opened us wherewith Cleopatra Marcellus young Ptolomee and the Princess her Daughters Octavia came her self in person to bid Coriolanus adieu My Prince very sensible of the favour paid his acknowledgment to that great Princess in the humblest language he could utter but after she had spent some time in his company accepting her thanks for her friendly offices and renewing the protestations of her amity with a promise to employ her whole life as well to mediate his peace with Caesar as preserve him fresh in Cleopatra's affections she would needs leave him the freedom of taking a private leave of the Princess when after she had often embraced him with as tender an inpulgence as if she had groan'd for his birth she retired to her own apartment it would pose me to repeat all the endearing language that love and amity directed to Coriolanus at this parting as well from a Princess so passionately lov'd as a friend so dear and so worthy of his amity Marcellus Ptolomee and the Sisters made the like retreat as before to give Coriolanus an unwitnessed leisure of entertaining Cleopatra and resuming the same Discourse he let fall at his last parting and repeated the negotiation betwixt him and the two Deputies of Mauritania and mentioned all the probabilities of success that he saw in his Enterprize If the Gods consent pursu'd he that I thrive in this project and arrive at the power to declare you the Soveraign of a King puissant enough in the number of his Subjects and extent of his Dominions as you are now of a despoil'd and exil'd Prince will not my Princess permit me to sue for the Complement of my fortune in the consent of Octavia whom you have chosen for a Mother and the approbation of Marcellus with the Princes and Princesses your Brothers and Sisters if ever Heaven gives leave that I seize upon that Scepter I am resolved to turn hither in disguise where being admitted to the same Priviledge of a private interview which you now grant me if you still condescend to vote me happy we will tie the sacred knot betwixt us and by consent of your nearest friends you may then go and receive the Crowns that shall wait your arrival I can easily convey you hence if your Love be strong enough to confute the strict rules of severity and may oppose the resignation of your self to the conduct of him you have chosen for a Husband 't is true there are Seas to cross and toils to encounter in the Voyage to which I should not desire to expose my Princess but those short-liv'd troubles perhaps may prove as easie to be endured as the Tyranny of Augustus and Livia to which your present condition submits you and thus my Divine Princess for this happy unfortunate you shall ripen the fruits of that affection which does so gloriously sweeten his Calamities At the Period of these words Coriolanus sell at Cleopatra's feet and embracing her knees kept himself in the posture of a man that with fear and impatience expected the effect of his earnest Petition Cleopatra's doubts that the engagement of her word might sin against her duty bred a long War in her thoughts what answer to return but at last overcoming the scruples that oppos'd her desires Yes my dear Coriolanus said she I do allow your request and when you have got the consent of Octavia and my Brothers that I espouse you without seeking that of Augustus or repairing to any other power but theirs my own heart and hand shall freely confirm it and when I have once received you for my Husband I will shut my eyes upon pain and danger while I follow your Fortune upon Earth and Sea accept said she stretching out her hand the promise I offer you and believe it if your fidelity stands firm and unshaken nothing shall have power to blot my soul with its violation My Master appeared so
you have exposed your self for my sake ought to move my mind to a real acknowledgment and I confess there remains a remembrance of the former good-will between us which doth not permit me to look upon you with indifferency but all this cannot make a proof of your enterprise nor close mine eyes against the danger to which you expose us both your self by imprudently putting your self into the power of a mortal enemy and me by obliging me to suffer near me a disguised Prince and our disguised upon a motive which can never be discovered without wronging my reputation What were your thoughts or what in fine did you pretend to from the daughter of Artibasus and the Sister of Artaxus in whom the memory of the injury received from your Family is engraven in eternal characters For there is little reason that you should fall upon this design out of obedience as you told me to the command I laid upon you heretofore and you and I were even of such an age as hindred us from knowing the obstacles which opposed it and so sufficiently dispensed with the execution of your promise What must I do then in these terms to which you have reduced me not to be ingrateful nor yet imprudent the first of these two vices is very contrary to my nature and the other may draw us into great inconveniences and misfortunes I will not dissemble with you but confess ingenuously that if I might follow mine own inclinations I should be very glad to enjoy the sight of you and as far as my duty and decency would permit I should let you know that I am not insensible of the proofs of your affection you are such both by your birth and by the qualities of your person that the testimonies I might give you of my acknowledgment would be easily excused if I were only hindred by ordinary impediments but you and I are such through the misfortunes of our Families that all things are forbidden us and to all appearance hope it self is not permitted us Artemisa spake in this manner and in my judgement she expressed her self with so good a grace that it she had spoken more against my thoughts I should never have interrupted her At last when she had done speaking I conceived by the liberty she gave me I might declare my thoughts to her and upon this account after I had continued mute some moments longer I began to speak thus It is very difficult Madam in the transport you have put me into that I should speak rationally to you and I am so full of confusion to see that just when I expected to receive a condemnation which possibly my rashness did deserve I should be permitted to speak to you as Alexander to declare the passionate thoughts I have for you and to receive from your own mouth such testimonies of your goodness as are able to content the most immoderate ambition that I can hardly have sence enough left to render you that account of my intentions and my hopes which you require of me and yet Madam that I may endeavour to obey you I shall make bold to tell you that really the beginings of this glorious enterprise whereby I have introduced my self into your service were inspired into me by nothing but love alone and that they were not grounded upon any other reasons but what produced thence I have not much considered the events I might expect upon that account and though all the obstacles which might oppose my happiness in regard of the enmity which the King your brother bears to the remainders of our family did present themselves to my imagination I looked upon them only to dispise them and blindly pursued the design of seeing and serving you and it sufficed me as the uttermost aim of my love to know that in loving you I loved that which the Gods had created most amiable and it being impossible for me to love you without seeking opportunities of seeing you all the difficulties which possibly might have diverted a mind prepossessed with an ordinary passion did but animate more In fine Madam I have been fortunate enough to see you and to be received into your service and possibly in these beginnings I have not prudently enough considered the interest your reputation might have in my disguise this consideration without doubt would have wrought more with me than all the dangers that could threaten my life and the Gods would not permit me to make too long a reflection upon it that they might give way to my present fortune but since Madam as my hopes had their original from the knowledge I had under the name of Alcippus that Alexander was not hated by you so they have raised my thoughts to the expectation of those happinesses which till then I could not probably pretend to and I conceived that if you should please to approve of my designs I might be favoured against the hatred of Artaxus by the authority of Augustus He expresses to me at this time the same affection as if I were the son of his Sister Octavia and that Princess loves me so well that she will not refuse to employ all her credit with Augustus to cause him to employ his with the King your brother who I know considers him with such grand respects that he will hardly oppose his will when it shall be declared in my favour and I doubt not but at my supplication and the humble requests of Octavio Marcellus and Livia her self he will press him to extinguish the memory of the injury he received from Cleopatra and particularly interess himself in obtaining that felicity for me which I may request of him The family of Anthony though despoyled of the Empire doth still possess riches and dignities sufficient to preserve it from envying at the greatest Princes of Asia and though I cannot offer you what you might expect from me whilest Anthony continued in power yet if I may speak it with modesty our alliance is not so contemptible but that it may still be preferred before all the Kings your neighbours Whilest I spake in this manner Artemisa beheld me with great attention and as my good fortune was finding in me much more amiable parts than really they were she insensibly engaged her self to wish me as much good as justly I could desire She found great probability in what I said and taking the word when I had done speaking If you can said she to me either by the authority of Augustus which doubtless is able to do any thing with Artaxus or by any other honourable ways make him approve of the design you have for me you shall not find me opposite to your desire and I do so much esteem your person your birth and those dignities which you still may call your own that I am not sorry for any thing you have lost by Anthony's misfortune you shall find me in this mind as long as you shall continue in that you have expressed but
and felicity I could have tasted in my life if I had not devoted it to you The unknown spake in this manner and suffering himself to be carried away by the current of his passion he held some other discourses by which Agrippa observed that never possibly any other Spirit had been more strongly or more really possessed with love and being of a noble and compassionate mind he could not chuse but be troubled for the unknown and beginning to speak when he had done I know not what you are said he and yet I cannot but take part in your displeasures and believe by all appearances that few persons have more sincerely loved than You. You have reason to do so replyed the afflicted Lover and 't is very certain that never possibly did a soul so entirely sacrifice it self to love as mine hath done nor devoted its life thereunto with a more perfect resignation They are not hopes that we may return to our former discourse alas they are not hopes that maintain it and though they are not absolutely extinguished in me by reason of the natural disposition we have to preserve some reliques of them to the last extremity yet according to reason and probability there is so little hope left and that little is so disproportionable to the greatness of my love that in all likelihood 't is not by my hopes that my love is preserved I love with a disengagement from all other thoughts that which appeared amiable to my eyes that which my heart loves without reservation and interest that which it may be neither is nor ever was sensible of my love and I love O Gods that which possibly hath no longer a being in the world either for me or any man besides He concluded not these words without some sobs which confirmed Agrippa in the opinion which he had already conceived of the greatness of his love and desiring to give him some consolation Your condition said he would be truly deplorable if it were such as you represent it but since you are still prepared to hope for better fortune I advise you to expect from Heaven those assistances which it seldom denies to persons whose intentions are innocent and conformable to vertue We see things fall out every day very far from our expectation and oftentimes in the most desperate affairs the Gods have sent remedies unlooked for and contrary to appearance In the mean time take a little rest if you can possibly and when the approach of day shall permit me to see you as the darkness hath permitted me to hear you I shall perhaps desire a farther knowledge of your person out of the disposition which I have already to esteem a man whose thoughts do not seem to me to proceed from a common person and it may be I shall find some means of giving some ease to your displeasures in a place where I have some acquaintance and some credit Agrippa made him his discourse out of the disposition which he felt in himself to esteem and serve him and by reason of some approaches of sleep which began to seize upon him and after two nights watching and that dayes toyl lay heavy upon his Eye-lids The Unknown answered his offers with all the civility his grief could leave him for a man of whom he judged very advantageously already and after some replies between them Agrippa grew very drousie and fell at last fast asleep The fair Image of Elisa wherewith his Soul was continually possessed appeared to him as he was asleep with all those powers which had so suddenly made him her Subject and he had the contentment to entertain her and to give her assurances of his passion during the time of his sleep but it was for no long continuance and at the coming of the day which appeared a little after he was awakened by a noise which the man made with whom he had conversed as he rose from the place where he was and mounted his horse with two Squires which had spent the night some paces from him At another time this man which wanted neither acknowledgment nor civility would not have gone from that place without being better acquainted with Agrippa or without thanking him for the offer he had made but having his soul prepossessed with a passion which extinguished in him all other desires and all other remembrances but of his beloved object he would not engage himself in the company of a man from whom he feared he could not retire to seek either that which he had lost or solitude which was more dear to him than the society of men He was already upon his horse by that time Agrippa was fully awake and the Roman being got up at the noise he made saw him amongst the trees parting from the place where he had spent the night and taking the way on the right hand with his two Squires who following their Masters pace marched very slowly Agrippa judged by this departure of his that he had no desire to make himself known and easily pardoned in him out of the knowledge he had of the pre occupation of his Spirit that which a less rational person would have taken for want of civility he conceived a greater desire to see him and to inform himself more fully concerning his fortune and his person whereof he already had a very good opinion Conducted by this curiosity he followed him at a distance amongst the trees and that was not difficult for him to do because the unknown having no certain way to go but being directed rather by chance than by design went on a soft pace deeply engaged in a profound musing Agrippa did already discern the handsomness of his body as he rode and the fashion of his arms which were black enriched with some Jewels of great value his Casque was covered with a black Plume of Feathers somewhat spoyled with the rain and worn with a long voyage and that which appeared of his Casque was black too covered with an embroidery of silver which had been very handsome Agrippa might observe all this as he walked amongst the trees and though he was on foot and in a condition unconformable to his quality he was grown more curious upon this adventure than naturally he was or probably could be at a time when his growing passion sufficiently employed his Spirit The unknown had marched a good while without breaking silence otherwise than by a few sighs and then calling one of his Squires to him But Dion said he dost thou believe that I ought to ground any farther assurance upon that mans discourse and is it probable that his science should give him knowledge of my fortune for the future when possibly he is ignorant of his own destiny That is not without example Sir answered the Squire and by that which he hath told you concerning the present condition of your soul you may give some credit to what he hath promised you for the future He hath promised me
least all the assurances of amity I come said he to render you that which I owe you both in relation to the merit of your person and to the obligation by which you engaged both me and my relations to your service You are not obliged to me replied Philadelph except you pretend to be so for the services I rendred Delia when her fortune made her Land in our Country where she received nothing from me but what she might expect from all persons that were capable of knowing her 'T is upon that very score answered the Unknown that I am redeuable to you and you could not render Delia those assistances which she received from your generosity in defending her against the Enemies which your affection raised her and preserving her with so much care and bounty from those dangers which threatned her life and reputation without laying a strong obligation upon a Man who interesses himself in Delia's preservation as much as in his own I free you from that obligation replied Philadelph beginning to be cholerick at this discourse and if my desire was to preserve Delia from those dangers whereinto she fell by my misfortune 't was never my intention to preserve her for you or for any person else that might make benefit of the effects of my Love and dutie as long as I have a drop of blood or a moment of life left to defend my pretensions If I be not obliged to your intentions said the Unknown I am so without doubt to the effects of them and 't is that which partly injoins me to desire that friendship of you which you have little disposition to grant me though Delia her self desired it of you for me You have answered Philadelph all the qualities that might gain more important friendships than mine but that ought to be very indifferent to you seeing I cannot receive yours nor look upon you but as upon the most cruel of my Enemies as long as you shall dream of Delia and pretend to reap the fruit of the services which I have rendred her There is no necessity of dissembling any longer No you can but be my Enemie and the resentment you express for an office which I never had a design to render you kindles another in my soul which renders our two lives incompatible If you interess your self in the service which I rendred to Delia so much as you make shew of or rather if you love her as well as you would express you must dispute her with me other waies than by the offers of a friendship which I cannot receive from you The respect I bear to Delia hindred me from declaring in her presence that which hath been upon my heart all this day but since she knows very well that the love I have for her hath made me fail a hundred times in my dutie to my Father she will pardon me what the same passion shall make me undertake against a Man whom she looks upon but too favourable to my misfortune and whom she ought never to have looked upon to the prejudice of such a fidelitie as mine Philadelph spake in this manner and by these words vented a part of his inward fire with a furious impetuositie when the fair Unknown looking upon him with his former coldness and adding a smile full of sweetness to the moderation which appeared in his countenance I know said he whether I ever wanted courage hitherto or whether dangers and threats have over much affrighted me in the occasions I have met withall but I very well perceive that you will hardly make me resolve to draw my Sword any more against you and if Delia cannot be disputed between us but by arms the pretentions we may have to her will not be suddenly decided I am very unhappy to find in you such a hardness of heart as I thought not to have met with and no bodie but your self would possibly be so cruel as to deny me a friendship which I thought I might merit by the desire which I have expressed of it You deserve better answered Philadelph and you have but too excellent parts to be my Enemy I should have had less disposition to become yours if you had nothing but ordinary in you and this is an effect of my ill Fortune that finding in you whatsoever upon another account might have attracted my esteem and affection it must needs be that principally in that respect you are so much the more odious to me by how much you are the more redoubtable But I wonder pursued he looking upon him with a severer eye than before that you persevere in this manner of acting with me seeing the little sensibility I express of your kindness and it seems you have a mind to make a piece of raillery of the most important business that ever you medled with in your life If you really love Delia as your words and actions do declare there is little probability that you should desire my friendship so much as you would perswade me you do and I know not upon what consideration you court a Man from this concurrence can leave you nothing but repugnance and aversion and if you do it to insult over an unfortunate man in your happy condition know that as yet it is but ill grounded and you have not so contemptible an Enemie of me but that you have need of all your power to preserve that which at the rate of your life he will dispute with you to the last moment of his own Philadelph uttered these words with violence and not being able any longer to endure the sight of the Unknown was going to fling out of the chamber when he staid him by the arm and having much ado to hold him Stay Philadelph said he and if you cannot endure me as the Lover of Delia at least endure me as her Brother As her Brother cryed Philadelph looking upon him with an action full of astonishment Yes as her Brother replyed the Unknown Delia is my Sister and upon this confession which I make to you henceforward our amitie will be no more suspected by you O Gods said Philadelph what is it you tell me could it be possible that you should be the Brother of Delia or is it to make your self more sport that you make me this discourse I am the Brother of Delia replyed the Unknown and she knowing that our amitie caused your jealousie would not have me deter any longer the discoverie of this truth to you my self I was not unwilling to give her that satisfaction and besides what the knowledge of your merit might produce in me since I saw you the relation she made me of your generous procedure towards her caused so much esteem and so much affection in me for you that there was hardly any thing in the World which I could more ardently desire than the opportunity of seeing and serving you With these words he stretched out his arms to him and Philadelph receiving him into his
retain public demonstrations of that happiness which so many reasons commanded him to conceal he made a thousand passionate Discourses and as he loved with as much violence as ever any did so all that his love produced was violent like it self but if his joy was immoderate at the first view of his happiness it became more compleat when he perceived that he was not only dearly loved by Menalippa but that he had need of a spirit firm and solid to require a Princess born with a true generosity and uncapable of any artifice At last through the sympathy of their humors and the force of their destinies their affection became so strong as to justifie the opinion of those who believe that the love proceeding from inclination is more powerful than that of acknowledgement and obligation you will see by the sequel of this Discourse that this is true and may thence conclude that there was never a more strong love contracted than between these two illustrious persons Menalippa inâ—irely opened her heart to Alcimedon and this happy Prince read there his happiness with extasies his love increased daily by the fresh graces he received from the Princess and although they extended no further than the honour of kissing her hand yet he found so many charms in the Action and those words by which she daily established his happiness that he scarce believed there could be a compleater Bliss yet he was sometimes perplexit to think what the knowledge of Alcamenes would produce against the Fortune of Alcimedon and Menalippa justified his fears a few dayes after when in a converse they had together having hearkned with her ordinary bounty to the protestations made of his fidelity Alcimedon said she whatever promise I have made to favour your Designs in case you prove faithful and true yet that which you call your happiness is not intirely in my hands and although I hope the Queen my Mother will yield much to my choice yet it is certain that in the disposition of Menalippa she will follow her first resolutions to give me only to him that shall most powerfully advance the King of Scythia's Ruine and were I not confident of your Valor from which I hope in this occasion much more than from all the other pretenders whatsoever affection I have entertained for you I should not think my self obliged to my promise but as I know that in this War we are to expect nothing but Wonders from you you need not doubt a favourable success and I am more troubled at the danger you must expose your self to for the love of me against those redoubtable Enemies than comforted by the advantages you may carry away This Discourse troubled Alcamenes though he long since expected it and being prepared he quickly recollected himself and did all he could that the Princess might not observe the disorder in his face Madam said he I am not ignorant of the conditions that engage those who aspire to the glory of serving you and you ought not to doubt since my heart is yours without reserve but that I will also espouse your resentments and I will not only serve you in your Design against Scythia with ardor and fidelity but I dare promise you above all those who ingage in this War for your Service that I will serve you with success and will put the Crown of Scythia upon your Head This promise may seem extravagant in the condition you see me but when I shall be better known I hope you will expect the performance with some confidence there is a great deal of presumption in my Discourse yet to drive it to the highest point I promise my Princess never to demand the possession of Menalippa till I have Crowned her Queen of Scythia Whil'st Alcamenes spake Menalippa beheld him attentively and being unable to accuse a man of vain boldness and presumption whom she knew of a true and solid vertue was ignorant what judgment to make on this hardy Proposition and the conditions wherewith he bounded his own good Fortune his great confidence in promising things so great perswaded her of the grandure of his condition and calling to her thoughts all the powerful Princes of the Earth to find Alcimedon amongst them Alcamenes only being excepted in the Number not imagining that Prince would unnecessarily expose himself to too manifest danger or that he against whom the Queen her Mother arm'd the whole Earth should come and submit himself to the power of his implacable Enemies Having kept silence a good while and then beholding Alcimedon with a smile You promise things difficult enough said she but I will distrust neither your power not intention I will only say that in case you prosper not in your Design of making me Queen of Scythia I will not bind you so rigorously to the conditions your self hath put to your pretences and will not for the Crown of Scythia lose the affection I bear to Alcimedon yet you have given me an occasion to call to mind the Oracle by the conformity I find between it and your promise for the Queen my Mother having consulted with the most famous of the Earth concerning her Design of revenging the King my Fathers death they have all unanimously answered That the Conquest of Scythia was reserved for Menalippa and that Menalippa should be one day Queen of Scythia You need not doubt that the Queen received great satisfaction from this answer of the gods and I believe that this hope is as great an incendiary to the War as the vengeance she breathes against the King of Scythia Alcamenes hearkned attentively to these words and instead of fearing the success of this War he saw his hopes increas'd and believed that the gods promised not the Crown of Scythia to Menalippa but by her Marriage with Alcamenes he again confirmed the promise he had made and Menalippa protested with incomparable bounty that she desired not so much the Crown of Scythia as she feared the death of Alcimedon having Martial Enemies to encounter a King valiant and experienced and against the young Prince Alcamenes his Sonne who had the Repute of one of the most Valiant men upon Earth But whil'st Alcimedon enjoyed this felicity he had the displeasure continually to see his Rivals and was obliged even before his face to permit Merodates Phrataphernes Euardes and Orosmanes publickly to proclaim their affections to his Princess 'T is true the cold reception she gave them did minister some comfort to his spirit and if the need she had of their assistance did seem to smooth her brow with a pleasing aspect 't was with such a visible constraint that Alcimedon had not any cause to harbour the least umbrage of discontent she alwayes testified more esteem to Merodates than the rest viewing him as a Prince whose vertue and courage claimed every ones respect but she confin'd her resentments to this esteem without permitting him any place in her amity Alcimedon by the appearances of his
and Desolation put on their true shape and if the whole Camp groaning for the losse of so many thousands that had been slain that day for the death of the Prince of Bithinia and the King of the Nomades and for that of a great number of principal Officers who had left their Bodies in the Field as Trophies of Scythian Valor The Queen to the great cause she had to regret this loss joyned the grief she resented at Menalippa's despair She caused her to be carried off the Field to be disarm'd and her wounds drest and though they were but light yet the unconsolable grief of the Princess would have put the least bodily distemper into a capacity of indangering of life In vain had the Queen imbraced her and bedewed her face with tears in vain had she conjured her by the most pressing words affection could put into her mouth to declare the cause of her despair and funest resolution The desperate Princess answered not but by sobbs and tears which flowed incessantly from her fair eys or if the afflicted Mother could sometimes force a few words from her they so savoured of rage and fury that they easily discovered her Soul to be possest with a mortal sadness But though Menalippa could not conceal her grief yet she would her love choosing rather to suffer the perpetual demands of the Queen than confesse she had loved Alcimedon and that it was for him she fought with Alcamenes and was faln into despair Notwithstanding the pre-occupation of her Soul she caused Belisa to order the Body of Alcimedon secretly to be buried which was very easie amongst so many thousands that kept him company and this Maid who with Leander had carried it to the Camp according to her orders would nevertheless divulge nothing of this adventure having not yet received the Princesses commands so she put the Body of Cleomenes in an unfrequented place where it could not be known by reason of the wounds in his face and being stript of Alcimedon's Arms which might have made him observed Menalippa in her design of concealing her love from the world received some satisfaction from this discretion of Belisa charging her to recommend the secret to Leander and all those who knew ought of this adventure The Queen pressed her uncessantly to reveal the truth partly to understand the cause of her despair and also to know how she came by Alcimedon's Armour and what was become of that valiant man and how he permitted her to fight in his place yet he could never draw the least word out of her mouth that might give any satisfaction in what she desired and all that she could obtain was a promise to declare the truth within six days on condition that till then she would give her the liberty of her tears without troubling her for a clearer knowledge The Queen who even adored her and placed in her only all her affections and hopes was constaained to be satisfied with this promise and though she disapproved and condemned the furious resolution and Combate of her Daughter which she could not attribute but to a violent despair yet durst she not blame her for this action as she would doubtless have done had she been in a condition capable of reproof Yet was not Menalippa's heart so replenisht with her own misfortunes but there was room left to resent the Queen's and seeing her drowned in tears at her Pillow Madam said she I render my self unworthy by my folly of that bounty you testifie towards me In the Name of the Gods allay the troubles of your spirit and hope with me from the bounty of Heaven that mine will repose it self when yours becomes more serene Ah Menalippa reply'd the Queen with a sigh You have little reason to imagine my spirit can be at rest whilst yours remains in the condition it now appears and you have little valued my repose when you exposed a Daughter more dear to me than my own life to the conquering Sword of the valiantest man upon Earth I am not reply'd sadly Menalippa the first person of my sex that hath drawn a Sword against men and you your self have inspired me with Warlike inclinations by the education you gave me however this action may partly be excused to you by the hatred which with my milk you have made me suck against the Fâmily of Orontes and which I believed might reasonably transport me to this extremity against the Son of my Fathers Murtherer against a man who robbs us of the hopes of revenge and of the possession of Scythia which the Gods hath promised us and against a man to whom for other reasons also I have an irreconcileable aversion It must be Menalippa reply'd the Queen and shaking her head that these desperate resolutions against Alcamenes have some deeper causes than those that are common to us both and were he not born of your Father's Murtherer he hath done nothing in this War nor in the Combate against you but what might rather cause esteem than aversion Pardon me Madam repli'd Menalippa brisquely in that my resentments are not conformable to yours and if I have not generosity to love enough vertue in mine Enemies Amalthea knew by the manner of pronouncing these words that she could not contradict her without augmenting her affliction and a little after going out of the Chamber she permitted her to passe the night through her instant intreaties without any other company save that of Belisa During the remainder of this night which she gave wholly to sighs and tears for unhappy Alcimedon she made often reflections on the actions and words of Alcamenes in the Combate and observing amongst those cruel ones whereby he owned the death of Alcimedon that he was in love with her and offered himself to her with all the marks of a passionate man she became astonisht at the quick birth of his love and flattered her self possibly notwithstanding her mortal grief with the glory of such a conquest and of the quick and marvellous effects of her beauty After a long revery If it be true said she that Alcamenes loves me I praise the gods for the occasions they have given me of revenging his cruelty by that I will exercise against him and if the Barbarian be so happy to escape the death which I prepare for him I will make him feel from this heart pre-occupied by a passion so just all that a just resentment can inspire me with of most cruel and most conformable to the hatred I bear him In these furious thoughts she passed the night and part of the next day receiving some nourishment and permitting them to dresse her wounds not out of love to life but of design to imploy it wholly in revenging Alcimedon Part of the day was past when they came to advertize the Queen that the Prince of the Tauro-Scythes desired admittance from the King of Scythia What hatred soever she bare his Master yet knew she how to treat Ambassadours
such an excesse of confidence However it may be said I to her if you are not resolved to conceal it from me you will give me leave to read it You may as well let it alone replies Antonia but it would argue in me a distrust of my own strength should I forbid you to do it if you are so resolved I therefore opened the letter and began to read aloud these words Since that in your judgment there is no distinction to be made between adorations and affronts and that you think the effects of hatred more supportable than those of love ........ Now Sister saye Antonia interrupting me was I not in the right when I told you it came from Mithridates and are they not his own words in the discourse that past between us So far said I to her I agree with you that Mithridates is the Author of it but let us see what follows and comfort your self so far as that there is no new affront offered you in this letter since it acquaints you with nothing but what you knew before Antonia being of the same opinion heard me with much more quietnesse of thought then before so that I began it again and found in it these words SInce that in your judgement there is no distinction to be made between adorations and affronts and that you think the essests of Hatred more supportable than those of Love those who are destin'd to affront you since they are only such as are born to adore you ought either to conceale the offence from you or keep the offender out of your knowledg For my part fairest Antonia I am the greatest of your Enemies since that I am of all mankind the person that hath the greatest affection for you and I tell you that confidently which I should not without trembling were I not unknown to you You have seen and know the person while yet you were ignorant of his passion but now that the passion is discovered it is but fit the person should be concealed that onely his Love may be exposed to your indignation And since it is onely Love that you hate and not the persons that are inclined to love you if it be possible to engage the aversion you have for it with such good successe as that you may be entreated to be more favourable to it those who are guilty of no other crime will appear before you in a lesse odious posture when their crime is pardoned or at least connived at by your indulgence The most guilty of all those that commit any offences of this nature against you seeing himself reduced by your inflexible maxims to a cruel necessity of either holding his peace or concealing himself stands in suspence at the choice he is to make which though it be in appearance fantastick yet is in its consequences rational enough nay haply generous enough since that he cannot be charged with any consideration of his person but only of his love and that it is to induce you to bear with his Love that he addresses himself to you and not to engage you to any affection towards his person which he conceals from you and which he shall conceal haply as long as he lives Pardon him this innocent surprize which he intends your rigour and let onely your Beauty engage against him in a case wherein to punish the rashnesse of his attempt it wants not the assistance of your cruelty As soon as I had given over reading I looked on Antonia who at the same time cast her eyes on my face with certain discoveries of astonishment not inferiour to what I was in my self In a word we were both equally surprized and whereas we inferred from the first words of the Letter that it came from Mithridates we concluded from the sequele not onely the quite contrary but were perswaded withal that the person who had writ it had never made any expression of his love to Antonia and that in that Letter he took occasion to make the first discoveries of it 'T is true we were somwhat distrustful as to that opinion when we reflected on the first words which were the same she had said to Mithridates and could not apprehend how they could come by chance so pat into the imagination of the Unknown Lover but for all the rest it had so little relation or consistency either with the humour former proceeding of Mithridates or the terms wherein he was with Antonia that we were satisfied it must needs be som other and one that either out of curiosity or concernment in the business might have gotten behind the trees that were on both sides the walk wherin the discourse had past and listening attentively to what was said had heard som part of it Being agreed in this opinion as the most probable we fell into discourse upon the adventure so far that Antonia thought there was some thing in it so full of surprise and so extraordinary that she could not be angry at it as she had been before at the confidence of Mithridates We searched among all the men I have named to you the person we could with any likelihood suspect but though it was out of all question that it was one of those that had passed the day with us yet after we had examined them all one after another we could not fasten on any one whom we could charge with it Divers of them had come neer Antonia as well during the Comedy as while they danced and at the Collation but of all those that she could remember had had any discourse with her there was not any whom we knew not to be otherwise engaged as to matter of affection or to be much a wanting in point of ingenuity to carry on such a piece of gallantry When we had discoursed almost to wearinesse about it Who it may be it matters not saies Antonia he puts himself to a great deal of trouble to no purpose and if he deprive me of the object of my indignation by concealing his person from me he also deprives himself continued she laughing of the acknowledgement I should return his affection by not discovering himself Ah Sister said I to her how well is this man acquainted with you and how true is it that if you were as ready to make acknowlegdments as to be transported with indignation he would have taken a course quite contrary to what he hath but be he what he will I do not onely think him extreamly ingenious but I beleive he may carry on his design very successefully and dare passe my word that you have a lesse aversion for him then for Mithridates and others who have been so confident as to discover their passions to you I acknowledge no lesse replies Antonia and am of your mind that if I never know him while I live I shall never while I live know whom I ought to hate How ever it may be replied I t is out of all doubt this man hath Understanding and
birth thereof I shall give over speaking to you if you command it I shall forbear seeing you if my presence be burthen some to you but Tullia I shall never cease loving you till I cease living and my heart shall preserve as inviobly as yours the impressions it hath once receiv'd If it be so said she to me I shall bewail you Lentulus 't is all I can do for you with this protestation which I make with all sincerity That I feel my own unhappiness growing the heavier upon me proportionably to the knowledge I have of yours Our conversation had continued some time longer had it not been interrupted by the arrival of Octavia who came to visit Emilia accompanied by the Princesses Antonia and Marcia Drusus whose affection for Antonia was publickly known and approv'd by all and Prince Ptolomey who could not deny his attendance on Marcia in that visit though he knew Emilia to be very much Tullia's Friend and that he was in some danger to meet her there I cannot well represent unto you how much I was surpriz'd to see Ptolomey come into a Room where Tullia was But Tullia's disturbance was much greater and if all present had observed it as Emilia and my self did who knew the cause thereof 't is to be fear'd she would have been at a strange loss what to do Her colour chang'd twice or thrice in a few moments which was seconded by agitations and extraordinary disturbances but she recovered her spirits out of an opinion she had that those who might observe it would have attributed it to the aversion she had sufficiently expressed for the Children and whole House of Anthony Yet did she not seem any way desirous to leave the Room as well out of a respect to Octavia who for her Rank and Vertue was generally honoured no less then the persons of Livia and Caesar himself as out of the satisfaction she could not but take though much against her desires in the sight and presence of her amiable enemy But if her soul upon this accident notwithstanding the resistence she made against it gave entertainment to certain motions of joy which forced their passage through her resolutions she presently after found occasion enough to render her self up to the mercy of that affliction at whose command she for some time before had absolutely been For Ptolomey that day forgetting even natural civility whether out of a fear to displease Marcia who continually eyed him or sutably to his own inclination which was much at a distance with Tullia gave her not so much as a word or look not engaging in any conversation where she was concerned and indeed so behaved himself towards her that though I were more jealous of him then all the world besides and should have been glad at the returns he made to an affection that occasioned all my unhappiness wherein I could not fear any thing so much as that it might raise any in him yet could I not forbear being dissatisfied with his carriage sensible in some measure of the grief he occasioned in the soul of the afflicted Tullia and during that time hating him for the contempt he expressed towards a person I adored and whom I saw by his disdain expoâ—ed to a violent dis-enjoyment of her self Nor indeed was I long able to dissemble my resentments of it and having made a sign to him to retire into a Gallery that lay near Emilia's Chamber I immediately followed him and after we had walked a while without any discourse looking on him with an action wholly passionate It must certainly be said I to him that you are the issue of some Affrican Lion and not of Mark-Anthony whose inclinations were full of sweetness and love unless your breast were petrified you could not treat as you do one of the most excellent and most amiable persons in the World who excessively loves you and whose affection would not haply be slighted by any other whatsoever Ptolomey hearkened to me with some astonishment and thereupon assuming the discourse with an action less serious than mine Is there any difference between you and your wits said he to me or is this the return you make for what I do in order to your enjoyments and out of the tenderness I have for our Friendship Have you quite forgotten your being in love with Tullia not considering that I am too much your Friend to become your Rival and that you entertained with an excess of satisfaction the promise I made you never to love her while I liv'd It was indeed a satisfaction to me replied I out of a concernment suggested by my Love and which I cannot but acknowledge but I cannot with any enjoyment see her afflicted pining amd unfortunate by your treatment of her Well Lentulus saies Ptolomey smiling I must confess I have not behaved my self civilly towards a person so excellent and one in whom you concern your self so much and therefore to give you greater assurances of my Friendship I will love her with all my heart for your sake Though Ptolomey spoke this in jest yet knew I not well how to take it by reason of the weakness I was fallen into But recovering my self out of it You are pleasant Ptolomey said I to him and make sport with the misfortune of a Friend whose fortune deserves compassion Fall in love with Tullia if your inclination prompts you thereto and assure your self I shall not be much more unfortunate in the defeat of my hopes that way than I am through Tullia 's malicious Destiny I do not intreat you to love her as not conceiving my self in a capacity to direct your inclinations to do it nor being haply as yet resolv'd to sacrifice all my hopes to her happiness But my humble suit is you would not hate her nor aggravate by your disdain the affliction it is to her to love you contrary to her disposition It seems then replies Ptolomey that you are not well resolv'd what to ask nor were it on the other side any great Prudence in me to expect much reason among persons sick of your disease Assure your self that I do not hate Tullia and that I shall never hate what you think worthy your affection but know that it is to serve you that I carry my self as I do and that if I did otherwise I should haply do more mischief in one day than you would recover again in divers years You are insolent in your Victory said I to him but you are not well acquainted with the disposition of Tullia which it is possible may be such as that if you had much more affection for her then you have you would not make any advantage of that which she hath for you I am willing to believe it so replies Ptolomey and for that reason as well as for some others I once more promise you never to love her while I live I was going to make him some reply when upon the sudden he was called to
proceeded and it is probable that drowsiness had surpriz'd her at that passage of her Letter and that it was through her precedent watchings whereof she complain'd that she was now fallen so fast asleep I several times read over her imperfect Letter whereat I was extreamly troubled and yet when I had done I knew not whence it came I felt a secret inspiration encouraging me to finish her Letter according to my apprehensions continuing where she had left off and by that means discover to her better then I durst presume to have done by discourse that I was not so far ignorant of the state of her soul as she imagined In fine without much reasoning on the motive might incline me thereto or a rigorous examination whether I did not by that action in some measure derogate from the respect I ought her and had ever observed towards her I took Pen in hand and continued immediatly after what she had written not leaving any distance no more then if it had been finish'st with her own hand endeavouring withal to imitate her writing as much as lay in my power The words I added to hers were these Shall I ever continue an obstinate Love towards an insolent young Man who insults upoâ— the advantage he hath over my heart an enemy that slights me that shuns me and who makâ—s the passion I have for him contribute to the revenge which you so often put me in mind of and shall I not at length entertain the Love of the faithful Lentulus who dies for me and whose sidelity cannot admit any abatâ—ment either for the insensibility I have expressed towards him or thaâ— cruel pre-engagement of my heart This love for him who so ungratefully shuns me and this aversion for him that passionately loves me are they qualifications suitable to my courage my generosity and that glory which I have ever so highly valued and is there any necessity I should espouse misery for my life by persisting in the pursuance of an unjust â—ffection and shun that quiet and those accomodations which would be offered me upon the submission of my inclinations to the disposal of a rational Affection I writ down these words though I could not my self imagine to what end I did it And in regard there had not passed any Letters between Tullia and my self and consequently that the was not much acquainted with my hand I thought she might be some time to seek whose it should be And so desirous to know what would be the effect of this adventure I returned the Letter to the place where it was before and rising without any noise I went out of the Closet as softly as I possibly could and went away with as little notice taken of me as I had come in For Tullia's Women being in a Wardrop where they hadlocked themselves in when Tullia retired into her Closet it being their custom to leave her to the solitude she was so desirous of I got away without being observed by any but the Servants of Cicero who had nothing to do with Tullia Some time after my departure as I understood since by Emilia she awoke and that in some disturbance by reason of certain Dreams she had been troubled with during her sleep When she had shaken off all sleepiness she remembred that she had left her Letter unfinish'd and being in an humour to make an end of it she takes the Pen in her hand and cast her eye on the place where she had left off But when when she was going to write down what was then come into her thoughts she saw that without any discontinuance the Page was full with some what that took up part of the other side At first she thought she had been deceiv'd and forgot that she had finished her Letter before she fell asleep but having better observ'd the writing she was satisfi'd it could be none of her own though I had endeavour'd to imitate it as much as lay in my power This she was so surpriz'd at that she seem'd to be uncertain whether she were awake or no and rubbing her eyes to shake of the remainder of her drowsiness she look'd on it with more earnestnes and found that indeed they had not deceiv'd her But if that sight put her into some disorder you may thence imagine Madam what astonishment she was in when she had read the words I had written and thereby understood that the secret of her heart was discovered or at the least that it was not unknown to the person that had finished her Letter Once reading she thought not enough but looking over the words one after another with attention she found them so suitable to the state of her soul that for some moments she was of opinion that her good Genius had written them to raise her out of the misery wherein she was and put her into the course she was to take During that reflection reviewing all the word one after another What compassionate Deity said she takes this care of my wretched fortune upon him and so officiously puts me in mind of my duty at a time when all my courage could not have done it Ah! it is some God no doubt since it is a God alone could dive into the secret of my heart and in such a manner inspire me with the sentiments which I ought to be directed by Who but a God could make me speak with so much truth and reason at a time when my reason was eclipsed and the knowledge of the truth my torment She might have continu'd longer in that imagination had she given less credit then she does to vulgar opinions and the perswasion which a weaker mind might have conceiv'd upon this commerce of the Gods with men But she being of a solid and sharp-sighted judgment soon quitted that conceit and put it out all doubt that her Letter had been finished by the hands of a Man This assurance put her into an extraordinary affliction and as by all the words the person of Ptolomey was pointed at though I had not named him so was she fully satisfied that the Writer of them was acquainted even to the least circumstances with her misfortune and certainly knew that it was for Ptolomey that she languished and suffered all she did O what a torment was this perswasion to her and what confusion and grief was â—t to her to find the Passion she was so desirous to smother and which she first of any condemned with so much severity exposed to the knowledge of men The Affliction she conceived thereat drew from her those complaints which out of a fear to importune you with a frivolous relation I forbear to repeat and when she had disburthened her self of all her grief suggested to her returning to her Letter and attentively examining all the words I had written she drew from it the must fatal consequences imaginable to her quiet and satisfaction Yet could she not but approve what she read and conceiving
Rome and offer'd me a peaceable retreat there with all sorts of succours against Phraates she shew'd him how it disagreed with Reason that I should disdain such advantagious offers to be supported by the Masters of the Earth if I had not some powerful tie in Judea Then without unmasking her Design she made him curiously to mark my Actions desired him often to observe my Face when I entred the Queens Chamber to take notice of my Sighs my passionate Looks with divers passages in which a violent Love cannot belie it self to the eyes of interessed persons that will carefully survey them These things in a short time wrought upon Herod's spirit and as none was more tenderly sensible and impatient in that respect than he I should soon have felt his fury if he had not been restrain'd by divers considerations Besides the hatred which he bare to Phraates and the services I had render'd to his Crown he consider'd me as one protected by Augustus who had oft writ to him in my favour and express'd a particular care of me This dexterous and Politick King dissembled his first resentments only he made known to Salome a part of his Suspition and when that malicious wasp perceiv'd she had made way for her intention and half train'd the King to her design she neglected no time to strike the blow as she had premeditated Sir said she one day to him I am constrain'd to declare that which till now the care I cherished for the quiet of your Family made me conceal but the peace of your mind being yet more dear to me hath overcome all those considerations that made me dissemble my thoughts Seek no more for the cause of Mariamne 's disdain her aversion doth not spring from a resentment for the death of her Kindred for were she not prevented by another passion the proofs of your love must needs have softned her That Rock so insensible to your Caresses is not so unrelenting to others for that Parthian that holds his safety of your Charity does doubtless love her with better luck than you I have discover'd their intelligence by divers marks and whatever care they took to disguise it their passion hath so blinded them that they have lost all power to dissemble it and I fear at last the whole Court will perceive it with seandal I strugled hard before I could resolve with my self to reveal this to you and I should have been willing at the price of my bloud to have shunn'd the occasion of it without betraying you but at last Sir my Zeal for your interests and my indignation at the Queen's Ingratitude have vanquished those Reasons that would enjoyn me silence While Salome spake the King accompanied her Discourse with many sighs and swallow'd at deep draughts the poison she had prepar'd him this first information wanted little of transporting him to some fatal action but as he had shewn much power upon himself in divers encounters he then mastered these first motions and grew desirous to discover further before he enterpriz'd things that might bring him such displeasing consequences For this reason suppressing his apprehensions as much as possible Sister said he to Salome I am oblig'd to you for the advice you have given me and doubt not but it parts from the affection you bare me I have already had suspitions conform'd to your belief but they were not so strongly grounded to seize wholly upon my judgment besides I have understood the Queen's virtues by so many proofs as I found it hard to believe that her aversion to me could urge her to the violation of her duty Yet now I begin to lean to your opinion and with you to judge it almost impossible that a thousand ardent proofs of my affection should not efface the Queens resentments nor so much as soften her rocky heart if she had not given it to another I love her but too well continu'd he with a sigh too too well I love that ingrateful Woman and though she unworthily abuses my love yet I cannot choose but love her He stop'd at these words walked up and down the Chamber with an action that exprest his transport and irresolution wherein Salome might read that her plot had not ill succeeded Ah! Tyridates cry'd he after some silence dost thou thus requite the protection and refuge I have given thee dost thou not fear to find that in my just anger which thou hast avoided by my assistance had I deserv'd to have felt thy indignation couldst thou not have galled me in a part less sensible And canst thou believe that a cruel Brother is more formidable than a jealous Husband than a passionate lover He mingled these words with fresh Sighs and again took some turns in the Room then turning to Salome Sister said he before we enterprize any thing upon the advice you have given 't is fit we instruct our selves farther for the quality of Tyridates back'd with the care that Augustus takes of his safety prescribes me much caution if you please continue to improve your discovery of the truth and on my side I shall take such care as it shall prove a very hard task for them still to abuse me This was the discourse between the King and Salome all which a while after I learn'd from Sohemus who had been told it by an Officer of the Kings his intimate Friend that over-heard it in the Anti-Chamber From that day these two malicious spirits employed all their care to observe my behaviour and indeed I confess that whatever circumspection I endeavour'd to carry many passages slip'd from me capable to undisguise my passion to persons so powerfully concern'd my Looks Sighs and change of Countenance often betrayed me for before I understood the Kings suspition I behav'd my self with less prudence than I should have used had I distrusted it the Queen was yet more narrowly sifted and as that great Princess observ'd something in me if I may speak it with modesty that gave me a better title to her esteem than any of the Jews and possibly feeling her self obliged to my persevering respectuous passion she compell'd herself to shew such apprehensions of it as reason told her were full of innocence and treated me in publick with a countenance capable to confirm the King in those cruel impressions Salome had given him This Jealous Prince that saw not but with the troubled Eyes of his suspition beheld all our actions as if every one had the Countenance of a Criminal the effects of the Queens goodness and civility were interpreted for so many marks of her affection and thus he was ready every moment to abandon himself to such a rage as almost posed all the prudence he could make to tame it I often marked these changes both in his looks and his humour and though in the whole course of his life he had appear'd the most dexterous dissembler of all men yet his raging jealousie had so weakned the power which usually
as we had formerly appeared in Alexandria the Prince had a great number of Officers a large proud Equipage and indeed wanted no respect that was fit for the Son of a mighty King in his Fathers Court. His proper name and true birth were only known to such as the King honour'd with most confidence Among the rest he pass'd under the name of Cleomedon for a Prince only a Kin to Cleopatra and something allied to King Hidaspes Tyridates at that passage interrupted Eteocles Though I have been ignorant of Caesario 's destiny said he I have heard of Cleomedon and the distance that divided us could not hinder renown from bringing his name among us and with it the report of his grand actions that carried it Under that name reply'd Eteocles my Prince did things considerable and such as doubtless their reputation reach you but I shall relate them in their order You know the Aethiopians are black but the Kings having been oblig'd by reason of State to make Alliance with their neighbour Princes and so espouse white women have partly lost that scorched complexion of their Family This King who was born of a white Woman was only a little swarthy and the Queen his Wife who died a year before we arrived in Aethiopia being purely white and a most beautiful Princess brought forth a Daughter that not only Heir'd her Mothers complexion but became mistriss of so fair a Beauty as made her the wonder of her own and the better part of the World beside This was the fair Princess Candace and the same bright Queen now in your house which you deliver'd from the greedy waves where she had perish'd without your succour To come to the relation of her Life with my Princes I have begun you a Narration which though something remote from them will not altogether appear unnecessary and now I shall conduct your knowledge through all those accidents that compos'd the present fortunes of those two great Personages The Princess Candace exceeded not eleven years of age when we entred Aethiopia and we had not resided there above a year before my Prince render'd his Arms to her triumphant Beauty and deliver'd up unto it a precious liberty which he could no longer hold against the rare persections of that Princess This passion that entirely sez'd his Soul came seasonably to banish a dangerous grief and arrested him shortly after our arrival with the news of Cleopatra's deplorable end and the lamentable fall of that unfortunate Family This struck my Prince so deep that all the comfort we could urge had much ado to keep him from his Tomb nor had we so soon appeas'd his sorrow if Candace's beauty had not struggled more successfully with it than our arguments indeed it was half impossible for a Prince so born and newly entred an age capable of the sweet impressions of love to resist such uncommon puissance And though at first Caesario strove hard to preserve his liberty yet all his luctation fainted at last to the confession of his weakness and buckled to the yoke of a Tyrant that handled him more rudely because he resisted I did not disapprove the birth of this Passion for finding nothing in it fit to censure I no sooner knew it from my Prince but indulg'd him in it in stead of disswading He ever dearly lov'd and respected me and not only consider'd me as his Governour that had over-seen the growth of his greenest years but as him that had saved his life with the dangerous hazard of his own and to embrace his Interests had cashier'd all other thoughts that had eyes for his own This knit him to me with the tender ties of such a confidence as indeed was only due to the Queen his Mother He open'd his heart unto me so soon as he felt the wounds that Love had given it and having demanded my counsel and assistance and found me wholly dispos'd to contribute all to his desires Father said he at Love's first Alarm I feel a delightfull pain but because 't is cruel enough to rob me of my Rest me-thinks it resembles that Fire whereof I have oft heard the Queen my Mother and your self discourse and I fear it will usurp as much power in my Soul as it did in the unfortunate Antony Gods said he a while after what a bright wonder is this Princess Candace how impossible is it to see and not turn slave to her Beauty These words were accompanied with divers sighs which I had neither will nor power to condemn In the mean time his flame grew daily higher and in a short time made him a most ardent Passionist I shall forbear to importune you with the large discourses he made at the first sentiments of his Love and only insist upon some particularities that fell out in the blooming years of this young Couple and though I am willing to step hastily over those that I may bring them to an age more rational yet I cannot silence those passages which methinks deserved better than to be swallowed in oblivion The fair Aethiopian Princess was born to all those excellent advantages that the conspiring bounty of Heaven and Nature can bestow but the beauties of her Aspects which I presume you have noted are dim to those that shine within her Soul they began with her earliest youth to break out with such beams as were not to be seen but in her self her extraordinary vivacity was alwayes accompanied with a marvellous solidity a Judgement elevated above her Sex and Courage great enough to challenge a rank among Persons the most generous of this she hath given such clear proofs as will soon claim your Credit but before I pass to their recital 't is fit I stay upon something that preceded The Divine qualities of this Princess twisted such a respect with my Prince's affection that he long smother'd his sighs before he durst declare his Passion and though the sublimity of his Birth and the merit of his Person might have arm'd him with a boldness capable to attempt any thing and the tender age of the Princess younger by four or five years than himself might well have help'd to discard part of his fears yet he alwayes beheld her with so much respect as he wanted the assurance to serve himself with any of these advantages he daily saw her with more freedom than any of the other Princes that were educated in the Aethiopian Court and the King who dearly lov'd him gave him a more free and familar access to his Daughter than any of the rest She gladly admitted him a Companion to her Sport and though he had already a solidity that over-top'd his years yet his affection had found the way to sweeten the most serious and important employments he passed all his Evenings with her and in the day-time upon her Walks but still kept himself about her with so profound a reverence that he took no other advantage from the Princess civility to licence the declaration
she dissembled them as well as she was able and desirous to indear the purchase to Marcellus with a little difficulty she plaid the politick Tyrant and made him suffer Marcellus complain'd and sigh'd away some time for these feigned rigours of Julia but at last she unmask'd her sentiments and after she had received some months tribute of sufferings and services she shewed him her acknowledgement and affection at as full a magnitude as he could vertuously desire nothing was refus'd him that might justly be demanded of Augustus daughter and her confessions were the freer because she knew the Emperor not only approv'd them but that she could not more dearly oblige him than in the person of his Nephew he almost spent his whole day in her company and his life wheel'd away with as much delight as his wishes could fathom for though some of the cheifest Romans with divers Kings Sons that were brought up at Rome were his Rivals yet they all submitted to his Fortune and paid so deep a respect both to him and the Emperor as they durst not shock his intentions with the least appearance the Senate and People to whom as I have already told you Marcellus was the darling and delight were tenderly concern'd in his happiness and joyfully hop'd to see the Daughter and Throne of their Emperor one day possest by the person of the World that was dearest to them their hopes were founded upon their likely-hoods and doubtless might arrive at their aim there being but few persons under Heaven whose fortunes would shew envy so faire a mark as those of Marcellus if Julia with one of the rarest beauties and the most vivacious and subtill wits had not the most wavering and inconstant heart upon Earth of this she has given the World so much experience as while you resided there you could not chuse but meet it in many a Roman mouth She began with a person who of all the stock of mankind was farthest from cause and consent to wrong Marcellus I confess he is master of so many bewitching qualities as might well produce the same effects upon a constant heart and by this reason I might possibly excuse a part of Julia's first revoltings but they have since been followed by so many others without ground or reason as all that can be alledged in her defence is too weak to justifie her My Master as the dearest friend Marcellus had was he that had the easiest access to her of all the Court and rendring her greater respects for Marcellus sake than were due from him to the Daughter of Augustus it oblig'd her to requite him with an esteem beyond all the other Princes that were educated in the Emperors Court he daily exchang'd long Discourses with her but talked of no other Subject but his friend and because he was acquainted with most of his thoughts they still furnished him with matter to entertain the Princess The love she bare Marcellus made her treat my Prince for a time in terms that were reasonable but at last she ty'd her thoughts too fast to the consideration of his incomparable qualities and by little and little from a particular esteem she proceeded to good will and from thence was insensibly conducted into loves territories had not any other spirit but hers thus suffered it self to be taken her whole life would have kept it a secret and she might have borrowed reasons from the grandeur of her birth the Emperors Command and Marcellus his services puissant enough to do violence upon her self and shut it up in her breast for ever but her soul was of another temper and ever impatient of Constraint and Tyranny nevertheless she had yet modesty enough to dissemble it though not so covertly but if she betray'd not her infidelity to a publick notice she could not so cozen the Advertancy of interessed persons Marcellus was the first that percieved it for my Masters regards were so fixt to Cleopatra as he had much ado to allow the lightest reflection to any thing else and finding Julia's behaviour much colder towards him than it was accustomed he often demanded the cause but the promptitude and artifice of her wit never fail'd in finding pretences to paint the truth she was loath to break with him knowing how highly it would displease Caesar and what she was to expect from his anger besides its possible her breast might still keep some sparks unquenched that were of his kindling but the impression of this new image had so alter'd her as if she had not finished the ruine of all those thoughts that once held him dear yet she took no delight to see him and only tasted content in the company of Coriolanus One evening Marcellus discoursing with her by her bed side a liberty which the higher powers had allowed him and perceiving her thoughtful and melancholy Madam said he has your goodness given me no right to the knowledge of those inquietudes that have lately disturb'd you have not I share enough in your pains and pleasures to to be led unto their Fountains I perceive you muse I hear your sighs and your face characters an unquiet mind Is it just my Divine Princess if I have any title to your thoughts I could be longer kept a stranger to them and if any thing perplexes you where will you find a comfort so readily as in that person of the world that does most participate of your Passion The earnest sollicitation of Marcellus awak'd Julia from her dumps and regarding him with an Ayrie something more affable Do not you know said she briskly that we cannot alwayes be of the same humour and this alteration you remark in mine may it not as well proceed from my present temperament as any cause of affliction I will believe what you will have me replyed Marcellus but either all conjectures shoot very wide or else your temperament cannot so suddenly bring forth effects so contrary to your ordinary humour Your belief is at liberty said Julia without so much as turning her face to Marcellus and since you repose so little in me you may seek for that in your own conjectures which you cannot find in my Discourse This cold Answer froze the very soul of poor Marcellus and beholding the Princess with an eye that sent out part of his thoughts before-hand Ah! Madam said he what have I done by which of my actions have I merited your anger You have done nothing to me replyed the Princess but at present I find you a little too pressing and since you are melancholy as well as I pray take it not ill if I change your company for a persons whose mirth may divert my sadness She spake these words just as she saw my Master enter the Chamber where he had not trod many steps when rising from Marcellus with a face that had changed in a moment the Sence of Sadness into Gaiety she advanced towards Coriolanus and offering him her hand with a free kind of action
replyed my Prince has receiv'd of Nature all that she was capable of giving nor can Fortune substract any thing from that which still keeps her placed in the first rank of mortals I am well pleased said the fair Princess that your blindness has betraid you to this opinion and though I am not the same you speak me I am very willing to appear so in your Eyes and Judgement She pronounced these words with an Air so sweet and a fashion so obliging as the Prince was lost in a delightful ravishment and pressing her hand which he held with an action full of ardor and transport Oh amity said he Oh honour What enemies are you grown to my repose How sweetly might I pass my entire life at the feet of my adorable Princess if you would consent to it He had said more and their Discourse had lasted longer if the arrival of the two young Princes Alexander and Ptolomee had not interrupted it who after they had saluted the rest of the company they approached the Princess their Sister and Coriolanus whom they loved exceedingly divers noble Romans which came thither in their company also mingled themselves in the Troop and the walk continued and ended without offering my Master an occasion of reviving his discourse with Cleopatra The next day there befel him an accident that gave a report loud enough through Rome to arrive at your ears when you resided there which as it hasten'd his voyage some days sooner than he intended so it gave him the means to undertake it with more glory than he expected There was then at Rome a Mathematician call'd Trafillus who by his sublime skill in Judicial Astrology had acquir'd a Reputation that highly advanced his credit and made his acquaintance be courted by the principal Romans Alas cry'd Tyridates interrupting Emilius that name is but too well known unto me and I have hitherto found his prediction of my Fortune so credited by a succession of accidents and have now so little reason to expect an end unsutable to the former events as it must ever have a place in my memory This Trasillus reply'd Emilius whose Science you experimented had a particular access to Tiberius whose thoughts eternally ty'd to his Love and Ambition made him ransack this mans knowledge for a flattery of his future hopes That day I spoke of he being in the Pallace Gallery where the noblest Romans usually walk'd attending the Emperors rising my Master and Tiberius met there together follow'd by a throng of the most considerable persons in the Empire though their mutual Jealousie had extinguish'd all the sparks of friendship which might otherwise have been kindled betwixt them especially in the malicious spirit of Tiberius their Enmity was not yet come to a Declaration and if the respect which my Prince carryed in Livia kept a part of his under hatches Tiberius who is a perfect Master in the Art of Dissimulation conceal'd his hatred for other considerations often spoke to Coriolanns and treated him with as affable looks as his cunning could put on but at that encounter approaching to him Come said he shall we know our Destinies from the mouth of Trasillus Then beckning the Artist to come nearer and presenting my Prince unto him What think you Trasillus said he of the Prince of Mauritania's Fortune and mine shall our inclinations thrive in the design they are level'd at Trasillus had often seen my Prince knew his Age the Constellation that ruled at his Nativity and had consulted all other circumstances from whence he usually rais'd his conjectures but he had studied Tiberius with more circumspection and often told him many things that concern'd his Destiny to my Master he had never spoken having receiv'd but little encouragement from his curiosity but then after he had spent some time in perusing the two Princes If my Science deceives me not said he you shall both be great and both satisfied the one in his Love and the other in his Ambition and because you desire not a more particular knowledge I will assure you upon my life that one of you shall one day be possessor of the Person you both love and the other shall see himself seated on the tallest Throne in the Universe This Discourse of Trasillus to whose presages the conformity of Events had acquired him a great deal of credit was followed by a loud acclamation from the whole company and the two Princes to whom it was addressed stood and gazed a while upon each other without uttering a word at last my Master after he had seriously ballanc'd Trasillus words For the enjoyment of what I love said he I should easily quit the Empire of the world and on condition she may be mine I shall bare no grudge to my concurrents Fortune This language was amorous and modest but the reply of Tiberius was not so and though he had power enough upon himself to be carried away with the Tide of a vain presumption I pretend said he to the possession of Cleopatra nor do I renounce my claim to the Empire since the World has not another man that is born with a better Title to both This Discourse lighted up an indignation in my Masters spirit as well for his own interest which receiv'd an open affront in what referr'd to Cleopatra as Marcellus right who by the universal vote of the Romans the intention of Caesar and the suffering of Equity it self might pretend with more justice to the Imperial Diadem than Tiberius and by all these was placed before him besides he could never study the Science of dissembling though then for divers considerations he strugled with himself to confine a part of his resentments and darting a disdainful look at Tiberius I know not said he to what you may be born but I hope that neither Cleopatra nor the Empire shall be any part of your portion and who shall dispute it reply'd Tiberius fiered with rage can juster pretences and better supported than mine be shewn by a despoyled African for the Empire answered my Prince Rome has enough more worthy than thy self to command it and for Cleopatra that African will dispute her with thee who wholly despoiled as he is is yet the Son of a puissant King and not of a paltry Citizen as thou art and from whom Fortune has taken nothing that could make him lose those advantages he had of thee both in Birth and Vertue At these words they both laid hands upon the guards of their Swords and though the respect that was due to the place might have restrained them to more moderation yet that consideration had not then been capable to arrest their hands if the whole company had not suddenly thrown themselves betwixt them and so cut off a farther passage to their fury The bruit of this divided the whole Court in two factions and if the authority of the Empress his Mother added to the large alliances he had in Rome gain'd Tiberius a puissant
party the credit of Marcellus and the friends which his vertue had acquired made my Masters full as formidable which may seem strange if the glorious rank and garb be considered which Tiberius did then and doth still appear in yet 't is true my Prince as much stranger and despoiled as he was saw himself in a condition to hold up his head against the Son of Livia the Drusi Sulpitii Metelli with divers other families that ranged themselves on Tiberius party and with Marcellus the generous Agrippa the children of Antony the Fabii Cato's with all that were brave and honest among the Romans had their Swords ready to strike in Coriolanus quarrel Yet this number of divided friends served for no more than to make known the Competitors Credit for the same day the Emperor being advertis'd of the quarrel and having learned the truth from the mouth of Agrippa and Mecenas one of which was my Masters declared friend and the other had high thoughts of his vertue he sent them to try if he could make them friends This favour was not ordinary but besides that he was willing to do honour to the Son of his Wife and a Prince of the birth and vertue of Coriolanus he deemed his authority requisite to hinder the animosity of two such important men from proceeding to extremities indeed the sollicitations of Livia who made the boldness of Coriolanus and the little respect he exprest to the Wife of Caesar sound high in his ears might have drawn his judgement away in Tiberius behalf if besides the credit of Marcellus and Agrippa who had much power with Augustus the carriage of Coriolanus that seemed to second the Emperors intentions in repressing boldness and condemning his sawcy pretences to the Empire had commended his cause to Augustus and dispos'd him to treat them with an impartial equality They both presented themselves before him each with a proud train at his heels and the Emperor after he had heard them a part sharply reproved Tiberius for the knowledge he had given of his ambitious aspirings to the Empire and my Prince for the contemptuous misprisal of his birth whose Mother himself had taken to his bed he commanded them to embrace each other My Master gracefully dispos'd himself to obey him but before they interchang'd that Ceremony bravely addressing to Caesar with a boldness full of Majesty Sir said he I accept your command with a due respect and to witness my resignation to your Majesties will I will propose a means if it may be allow'd to cut up the root of any further quarrel betwixt Tiberius and my self we both love Cleopatra and so long as our competition lives we shall find a task too difficult to keep life in our amity If justice doth appoint that Princess as a treasure to reward the services of one of us ' decree it my Lord that by those she may onely be disputed and not by indirect courses to which it would be injurious to stake such a prize as Cleopatra I am going my Lord as I did at my first acquaintance with the Camp to carry my Life and my Sword into the Roman Army and if it may please grand Caesar to give me an employment wherein I may signalize my self for the glory of his Empire I may possibly make it known that though I am born an African Prince I have neither less fidelity nor valour than the Native Romans Let Tiberius do the same and since to the interest of his Love he may link the service of his Country let him Court some dangers for occasions to merit Cleopatra suffer not your favour great Caesar to be partially swayed but let him have the glorious prize that shews the most valour for it I am willing to resign her with my life to boot if in this Warlike decision Tiberius carries the advantage and I hope from your justice that what Fortune has already given shall not be accounted in the purchase of a Jewel which he only ought to buy with his blood and services My Master had scarce ended these words when Tiberius with as fierce a confidence in his looks as Coriolanus could shew thus persued his request I gladly consent said he to the proposition Coriolanus has made and if it pleases the Emperor that our valour shall onely try our Titles to Cleopatra I shall that way advance my claim by fairer pretences than ever I will go as well as he into the Armies that Combat for the Empire and if the Emperor judges me worthy of a Command I hope my behaviour in his service shall render it apparent that I want no courage to merit such a recompence as Cleopatra The Discourse of these two young Princes which had contracted the attention of all the assistants marvellously pleased Augustus and at the same moment he openly protested his approbation of their brave design and promised by his consent that Cleopatra should never be given but to him of the two that in Romes service could shew best proofs of their Military vertue My Master receiv'd this Declaration of the Emperours with an access of joy and Tiberius who really is very couragious exprest it as great a satisfaction From that very day the Emperour grew studious to find out employments for them both and by good fortune an occasion offered it self as favourably as they both could wish Terentius Varro and Tilus Corisius with a puissant Army made War against the Austrians and Cantabrians who were risen in Rebellion against the Empire in prodigious numbers But the Soldiers no longer able to endure the insupportable humour of Varro the Emperor was constrain'd to call him home and Corisius made incapable by his personal defects of the sole Command of that War the Emperor was oblig'd to send a Captain in Varro's place who till then by means of Corisius infirmities had sustain'd the whole weight of Care in the conduct of that Expedition On the other side War being kindled in Pannonia and Dalmatia and the Captain that Commanded the Roman Army having been kill'd in an encounter the Legions had sent to demand a new General of Caesar which yet he had not nominated These two employments after the method of some deliberation were given to the two Rival Princes with hopes of success that were yet equally divided betwixt them My Master had Commission to march in Varro's place against the Asturians and Cantabrians and Tiberius who indeed though very young had already given many signals of his gallantry was design'd to command the Army in Pannonia These two Princes highly satisfied with their employments equally prepar'd for their departure and vanquish'd by the help of their mutual Emuliation the grief they took to part with Cleopatra Marcellus boyling as well as they with a desire of glory took example by them to demand a military employment but the Emperor told him it was his absolute will he should stay near his Person yet flattered him with the hope of an important expedition
and impetuous and this unexpected encounter struck him dumb for a season and set his thoughts on work to find out some other discourse than what he had premeditated to comfort me but I gave them no time to finish it and throwing a contemptuous look or two at him You have done a brave and gallant act said I in despoiling a young Princess and your lawful Queen committed to your guard by her Father your King and Master of her Crown and Liberty repaid that condence with a grand fidelity and made a geneous use of your Masters favour whose inconsiderable bounty raised your crawling fortunes to this proud height and greatness wherewith you have ruined his onely Daughter Tyribasus was deeper galled with shame at this calm reproach than if I had edged it with sharper language and more vehemence nor could he cover it so quaintly that it was not easily perceived by those were near him but as he had dexterously learned to remove all the opposition that shame or remorse could plant in the way to his ends he quickly recovered himself and regarding me with more assurance than the sense of his Crime might well have left him You have some cause to accuse me said he for countervening your inclinations and taking part with your Subjects to oppose your design in the choice of a Stranger whom you could not have married without the ruine of your people my endeavours are dedicated to the preservation and not the robbery of your birth-right and you have too long been mistress of my liberty for me to attempt any thing against yours You are still Queen of the Aethiopians and shall ever be so since Tyribasus will rather die than divorce you from that dignity But since necessity requires that a man should share it with you and with it obtain another a thousand times more desirable and as much more glorious you need not think it strange that the desire of acquiring you rather than that of reigning should wing my pursuit of a fortune in that Path where possibility was my guide after I had trod all others that did but lead me astray That fortune thou talkest of reply'd I half mad with spight is neither thine by birth nor merit since there is too much baseness in the one and too little worth in the other and should I ever prove so degenerate to think a subject might deserve my choice sure I should not lose so much as a glance upon him that seeks no other way to prefer himself but by violence and treason What ever thou dost by the licence of a vile usurpation neither thy plundered authority nor my weakness can disguise our conditions and in spight of both I shall always be the Queen and thou shalt ever be my Subject You should always have been my Queen replyed Tyribasus dissembling the pique he received at my words though Heaven had not given you a Crown and I should ever have been your Subject though the greatest Monarch upon Earth but in your Authority and my submission I shall not lose a grain of the glory I pretend to and when Time and Reason which I hope will quickly uncloud your Majesties eyes shall raise a power by degrees to dissipate your first resentments I know they must be succeeded by others of a gentler strain that will no longer suffer you to regard him as an Enemy a Traitor and Usurper that adores you with so powerful a passion and so perfect a respect and a man whose onely zeal for your interests has compelled him to displease you He had said more in his own desence if after commanding him to leave me to my repose I had not actually assured him by turning away to the other side that I was then resolved to exchange no more syllables with him He thought it not fit to importune me further and after he had strictly charged those persons about me to serve me with the same care and diligence as before he quitted the Chamber He still left me the whole Palace to my self with some shadow of respect and a guard for my person little different in number to those that formerly waited but they still followed me not so much for honour and defence as to abridge me of my liberty and though with their attendance I was allowed to visit any part of the City yet I never essayed to shew my self in publick but I still found all the passages stopped and the Gates shut upon me the sense of my captivity gall'd me more than the loss of my Kingdom but I endeavoured to support both with an invincible constancy till the hand of Heaven should set a date to my afflictions which I had little reason to hope from the help of a humane arm In the mean time Tyribasus appeared with all the displayed Ensigns of Royalty kept the same number of Guards and Officers about him that always belonged to the Kings of Aethiopia presided in State-affairs with an absolute authority and though he placed my name with his in such Dispatches and Commissions as carried the Royal signature yet I was never called to their Councils nor my consent or advice demanded in any affair of importance The Tyrant perplexed me with his daily visits and still discoursed me his passion I confess with little alteration of respect but he did so plague me with his own and the sollicitations of others to espouse him as his cruel persecution often drove me beyond the bounds of that moderation I had proposed to my self One day by an excessive redoubling these kind of torments he had put me past all my lessons of patience and after I had suffered him a while not without constraint to talk me his amorous trash Tyribasus said I hold your self to your first intention which is to Reign or to name it better to tyrannize over my Aethiopians and trouble your self no more with the other on which you would have never bestowed a thought if your ends had not led you to dress Ambition in the cloaths of Love had you loved the Person and not the Crown of Candace you would have sought out some other way to express it than by usurping her Estate and detaining her person in cruel captivity and if you cannot make that Crown sit sure upon your head without espousing the legitimate Heir know you shall never be lawful King of Aethiopia the shortest way for you had been to cut me off from the world and though I now knew you resolved to be my Executioner that full assurance could not render me more your Enemy than those hateful injuries you have already offered me He seldom got better language than this at my hands which yet he received with an unmoved aspect expressing by all his words and actions that he fixed his fairest hopes upon time for the change of my humour In the mean time I sighed away my sad hours in this deplorable Captivity while the King my neighbors my allies and most of them my
retir'd and coming to my beds side when the Coast was clear with a wax Taper in her hand Well Madam said she what reception have you given the news from Artaban and how do you relish that success which conducts you to the Crown of Media I can do no less than rejoyce as I ought said I at such events as advance the fortune of our family and I quadrate mine with the King my fathers resentments who from Artabans victory reaps a grand assurance of his own estate and growing hope to increase it by the spoils of his Enemies and do you not feel replyed Urinoe you that are the great wheel of all actions for whom alone he lavishes his blood and life a gladness that intirely depends upon it self and singly grows up from its own root Ah Mother said I turning away my head to the other side with a troubled look will you eternally torment me with the memory of that man whose ambitious flames have kindled my disdain and anger And instead of helping me to disdain against his presumption must I ever be persecuted with the grandeut of his services and the merit of his person If I could hold my peace reply'd Urinoe without ingratitude and injustice I would leave him out of my discourse to please you but all the care and complacence requir'd in a servants fidelity cannot make me blot out the remembrance of a man to whom I owe all for the love of you and whom I would not love but because you ought to do so Sure Urinoe said I you have lost a large part of your discretion and I find of late so little reason in your words as I know not whether innocence will allow me to listen any longer to them You may pass what judgment you please upon me reply'd Urinoe with a serious visage but if you tax me with imprudence for so slight a cause I fear you will judge me à convicted fool when I have told you that I lately receiv'd a Letter from Artaban directed to your hands with an ingagement of all the credit that my care and your goodness has given me in your thoughts to perswade your perusal Be not astonish'd Madam pursu'd she remarking some amazement in my looks I would sooner have taken my death than this imployment if I thought it might justly offend you and you would wrong me to believe that my own life is not less dear to my desires than your interests 'T is true Artaban is no Prince but his vertue has already rais'd him above the greatest and will doubtless place him in a rank that shall overtop the best of those that enoble that title Besides Artaban adores you with the same respect that he owes the Gods Artaban fights for you and possible in shedding the last drop of his blood at this moment in your quarrel Urinoe followed this discourse with a long train of other arguments arm'd and authoriz'd with so much power deriv'd from my education as in spite of all my repugnance she forc'd me at last to read Artaban's Letter though I think she had not gotten so cheap a victory upon my resolution if the treachery of my proper inclinations had not aided her and my own desires struck as many blows as her perswasions in the combat Madam I have made you a confession which then I would not own to Urinoe and to that end indeavouring to possess her with a belief that to her alone Artaban was endebted for all the obligation I suffered her to approach with her candle and she open'd the Letter wherein I read these words Artaban to the Princess Elisa I Know not Madam what success I ought to expect from the continuation of my faults since my fate enforces me still to offend you and if fortune be so kind to conduct these blots to your bright eyes and so noble to lose a few moments upon the object you will read an unhappy obstinacy in my crime that may provoke a heavy doom from your anger yet Madam I have no power to repent it and though I were sure my ruine were infallibly tyed to the perseverance I would run with a greedy haste to embrace it as my last felicity To die for you is a thousand times more glorious than to put on laurel for the conquest of Media or make the spoil of Asia wait upon the triumph and the victories I may win for the King your Father must ever yield precedency to the honour of being vanquish'd by you I know you cannot chuse but blush at the conquest nor rank a private man without shame among your slaves since 't is the duty of all the Kings upon earth to submit to you and wear your chains as their greatest ornament but we have no power to fight against the force of destiny and as mine has not suffered me to fasten my regard upon any thing that is not above me so yours can let you see nothing that is not as much below you you will hardly find an equal to your self if you seek it among men and if that poverty of merit in mankind be suppliable in part for default of a full proportion it can be no other way than by such thoughts of respect and veneration as mine I know the present pitch of my short winged fortunes disgraces all the proof I can give of any zeal to serve you but possible the Gods may one day permit me to put longer feathers to their opinions and strengthen my plea to that priviledge by supplement of vertue which my birth has refused me In the mean time Madam do me the grace to receive my services without aversion and suspend your judgment which doubtless by the vote of your first resentments could not choose but be rigorous till the sequel of my actions may better inform you whether justice will enjoyn you to sign my pardon or pronounce my condemnation This was Artaban's Letter which at the solicitation of Urinoe I read distinctly and though I found some cause to be vexed at the process of his boldness yet I had not reason enough left me to confute the reasons that induc'd me to pardon him Urinoe read more than half a confession of this in my visage and willing to compleat her discovery after she had taken up the letter which I had thrown by with a regardless action Ah! Madam said she why will you do this violence upon your self do you taste any sweetness in this constraint or does my fidelity begin to be suspected is it to me that you ought to disguise your thoughts and do you believe that you hazard any thing in telling me that you are not willing to hate Artaban These words spread the Crimson livery of shame upon my cheeks and covering the blush as well as my hand would do it Urinoe said I you have almost put me past the power of answering and if customary freedom did not give me a larger Commission of boldness with you than other persons I should
divert him from his design if he had heard them without passion but he could hardly endure the discourse and looking with an evil eye upon those who uttered it There must be said he other perswasions than yours to make me change my resolution and all the considerations upon earth will scarcely be able to do it the judgements of my neighbours and of all the world besides are all of small importance to me so I satisfie my self and they who shall understand that I have revenged the cruel injury done to our family by the blood of Anthony 's son and appeased my Fathers Ghost which still cries out against his murtherers they will find less cruelty in that action than pity and respect to the memory of my Father Augustus himself cannot but approve of it when he calls to mind that Artibasus was his Ally and that it was partly for his interests that his Enemies put him to death and because the sollicitations of Alexander 's kindred may possibly oblige him to intercede for his safety by the speedines of the execution I will prevent the request he may make upon that account and I will not put my self in danger either to disoblige Caesar by refusing what he shall demand or grant him a thing which no power but his nor possibly his neither should ever obtain of me In these terms he declared his intention and the mean while to render himself the less odious to Caesar he was willing to observe some formality and shadow of justice in his revenge and commanded they should make my Process not only as I was the Son of Anthony but as an enemy who was come disguised into his Court and had continued there a great while with the designs against his State and life Artemisa hearing of this precipitation was so troubled at it that she continued a long time not knowing what counsel to take and after she had in vain essayed to prevail with her brother by their Prayers whom he loved best she resolved to hazard her own finding no repugnance which might hinder her from rendring what she thought was due to that she loved She visited the King in his Privy-Chamber where she had never been since the words he spake to her that day I was taken and finding him in a condition to hearken to her Sir said she though I have seemed and perhaps may still seem suspicious to you yet I will make no difficulty to implore your pity for Alexander's safety and to represent to you that he is so innocent of the injury we received from his relations that you cannot lay the punishment of it upon him without making your self to be accused of a vice which eternally brands the memory of Kings I observe such stains in you replyed the King smartly interrupting her that you will never wash off whilst you live and if your interests which ought to be the same with mine were but as dear to you as the Enemy of your Family you would abandon him without doubt to wipe away our suspicions If he were innocent in Alexandria he is not so in Artaxata and it is a crime great enough in him to fix his love in a Family where he ought to expect nothing but hatred Sir answered the Princess I will confess whatsoever you shall please to accuse me of and if this confession may any way conduce to Prince Alexander's safety I will confess Sir that I love him more than my self I am possibly so much obliged to him that I may make this acknowledgment without fear of being blamed but all the affection I ever had for him could never draw me from the submission I owe to your pleasure and the Gods are my witnesses that I never had a thought to engage my self to any person but by your command O Gods cry'd Artaxus stopping two or three paces back what is this I here what Artemisa do you confess without blushing that you love Alexander I do love him Sir replyed the Couragious Princess and if my affection could have made me blush at the confession of it I should never have loved him I owe so much to the former compassion he had of our misfortune to the memory of Artemisa which he hath so dearly preserved and to the danger whereinto he is come to throw himself for love of me that except I were insensible to all things I cannot be so to his affection yet the Gods know and I protest to you before them that he always passed for Alcippus in my thoughts as well as in yours and after I knew him to be Alexander I never spake to him but only that day he was taken and the end of my discourse then was only to command him to retire the interest I have in his misfortune as being the sole cause of it tenders me passionate for his safety and makes me hope I shall obtain it of your Majesty if you render Artemisa's welfare I loved Artemisa answered the barbarous Prince as long as she was worthy of my friendship but now that she prefers the amity of my enemy before mine I cannot look upon her but as my enemy With these words he left her without any farther hearkning to her and went into a chamber by leaving her full of confusion and mortally afflicted her grief was observed in her countenance by all those who saw her retire to her apartment and when she was at liberty to express it she did it in such a manner as made all her maids that were near her melt into tears of compassion Cruel man said she thou needest pronounce but one sentence to rid thy self of two enemies at once and at one blow thou wilt finish the destiny of the Son of Anthony and the Daughter of Artibasus that heart of thine which is unaccessible to pity may satiate it self with a more entire revenge by destroying together with Alexander that which he loves better than himself and thy zeal will appear much greater in revenging our father's death when in shedding a strangers bloud thou hast not spared thine own She spent part of the day in these complaints and in the evening Narcissus having sent her word by Leucippe that he had prevailed with one of my Keepers and if she had any thing to impart to me she might do it with confidence she joyfully embraced the opportunity of writing to me what was upon her heart In the mean time if I were afflicted and suffered much in my imprisonment it was more than any thing else for the displeasure I had neither to see nor to hear from her my two Squires were permitted to serve me in the prison but they had not the liberty to go out and Narcissus who without had not permission to see me neither did he dare to appear there for fear of being surprized and so made unserviceable to me Being ignorant as I was of all that passed I knew not yet whether I ought to complain of Artemisa or commend her and I
hours after Sun-set but the Moon shone very bright the weather was very fair and pleasant I rode softly along with Dion and drew near some trees which grew in the form of an Alley where I overheard the voice of some women who discoursed hard by us I stood still to lend them the greater attention and as my destiny would have it at the first sound that reached my ears I believed I heard the voice of the person I sought for which in that little time she had talked to me remained as deeply engraven in my memory as if I had been acquainted with it all my life time Ah Dion said I quite transported behold without doubt my divinity her self and at the same time casting my eyes towards the Alley I perceived as well as the light of the Moon would give me leave two women walking under those trees Being quite ravished or rather quite astonished at this rancounter I leaped down from my horse and leaving him in charge to Dion whom I commanded to stay for me without coming on any farther I crept along by the trees upon that side where I saw the two women as softly as possibly I could because I would not fright them nor give them time to slip out of my sight but at that same time their walk was interrupted by some flashes of lightning which our eyes unexpectedly met with and the noise of thunder which began to rumble over our heads The timidity of their sex caused these persons to apprehend the change of the weather and she whom by the tone of her voice I judged to be her to whom I had given my heart taking up the discourse Let us retire said she to the other accompanied her for I am extreamly affraid of thunder After some claps more which redoubled their apprehension and hastened their retreat to an house which was at the end of this Alley they took one another by the hand and went away a great pace but I followed them at a great distance amongst the trees and did not lose the sight of them till they entered the house and presently the door was shut after them If I was troubled at the losing of them so soon I was much comforted by the knowledge I had gained of their retreat and having confirmed my self in my belief by the second hearing of this voice I walked in this Alley with more hope and satisfaction than I had for diverse days before I returned to the place where I had left Dion and having imparted my happy rancounter to him 'T is very much for me said I to know the place where that I love is enclosed but this doth not satisfie the impatience of my love that would have me see her again yea and see her again this very Evening let us seek out some honest opportunity to do it if it be possible It is no difficult matter for you said Dion and you have power enough in this place to command the doors open and to enter at what hour you please No Dion replyed I this is not the way that I intend to act I have already conceived a respect for the person I love which will not permit me to serve my self with the priviledges of my birth in relation to her I would enter into the place where she is if it be possible without troubling or molesting her and I should be very sorry to purchase my dearest contentments at the rate of the least of her displeasures Whilest I was talking in this manner the favour of Heaven concurring with my desires after some more claps of thunder it began to rain and the sky being covered with clouds the rain was very violent Behold Sir said Dion the most favourable occasion you could desire and if you were not what you are you might desire shelter in that house against this storm I approved of his opinion and thanked the Gods for the extraordinary grace they did me we approached near the gate but though I was not born without courage and in some occasions should have given testimonies of it yet my love had rendred me so fearful that I went upon this business as upon a very dangerous enterprise and my passion had possessed me with so much weakness that I trembled at every blow of the knocker that Dion gave against the gate They made some difficulty to open it at such an hour and at last Dion was fain to tell them aloud that it was the Prince Philadelph who desired shelter from the rain that name which was not hated in Cilicia gave us free entrance and having crossed the Court with some speed I went into a low Hall where I found divers women that carue to meet me at the door The Mistress of this house was a good widdow woman whose husband had been an Officer in the King my Fathers house and since her widow hood she was retired to this private place to live there in tranquility and repose my face not being unknown to her she received me with all the marks of respect and affection that could be and it was out of the knowledge she had of my humour which was not enclined to give distaste that she would not permit those persons that were with her to conceal themselves as they had an intention to have done at my arrival after I had thanked her for her civilities and the testimonies of her affection I cast mine eyes with impatience upon those persons that were by her and at the very first thought she kept at a distance and partly covered her face with a vail I knew her whom I fought for amongst three or four others and I should have discerned her amongst ten thousand and in the thickest darkness by the marks I had of her in my heart there proceeded a lustre from her face much more glorious than from the tapers which gave us light and uniting it self to that which was already enkindled in my soul it enflamed me in such a manner that my ardor could not be covered and what care soever I should have taken it was impossible for me to conceal my emotion this fair person was also troubled at the sight of me and by the Idea's which she might retain of my countenance judging that I was the same man whom she had found in the wood and that spake some words to her full of passion this unexpected rancounter surprised her with some astonishment Though I saw it was impossible for me to dissemble what I felt yet at least I desired to conceal some part of it making that pass for an unexpected adventure which proceeded from a premeditated design and feigning that Chance only presented this fair Lady to my eyes I made as if I were amazed and in the condition I was then I had no trouble to accommodate my countenance to astonishment O Gods cryed I am not I the most deceived man in the world or do I see that divine beauty which fortune shewed me some days
would furnish them with means of returning into their own Country Delia and her Aunt returned their humble thanks in terms full of acknowledgement but Delia calling to mind my love though the Princess had made no mention of me to her nor signified that she had any knowledge of it and believing that she ought not to cast her self upon occasions of receiving new testimonies of it resisted her desires a long time telling her that in the condition of their fortune and the grief they resented for the loss of some of their nearest relations they ought to avoid the Court and great companies and continue in a solitude more conformable to their affliction This was all Andromeda could get from her the first day of their conversation and this resistance whereof she might well suspect the cause made her esteem Delia much the more and conceive a real desire to obtain her company as well for love of her self as upon my consideration and having sent for her divers other times she courted her with such winning language that at last either by the charms which Andromeda is really Mistress of in surprising of hearts or by the hope she gave her of causing her to be re-conducted into her own Countrey when she had no mind to tarry any longer with her she desired and from that day forward she retained her together with her Auut and Sister in her house placing her Aunt with her women and Delia and her Sister among her Maids of honour She continued a while longer in the Country to take away all suspicion from Delia that this was an affected action and a design premeditated for my advantage but she wrote to me concerning the success of her voyage and by that news possessed me with such a joy as I could hardly contain Why should I detain you any longer with this discourse after some daies continuance at Siloe in which time Andromeda having taken notice of the admirable qualities of Delia gave her almost as full possession of her own heart as I had done of mine she returned to Tharsus and brought Beauties with her to that Court which gave a new lustre to it and in particular caused a new day to dawn in my benighted soul I received Andromeda as the tutelary Demon of my repose and life and I expressed my thankfulness for her goodness in such terms as made her clearly apprehend the greatness of my passion and when we passed from these first actions of acknowledgement to some other kind of discourse Well Sister said I have you found me real in the relation I made you concerning Delia and have you not observed parts in that divine person which have caused you to finish that without repugnance which you began for love of me Delia is so amiable replied the Princess smiling that I love her already as much as you do and if hitherto I have tendered her reputation upon my own interest upon her own account for the future I will never permit that you should entertain any thoughts that might be injurious to her I tell you really continued she with a more serious look I will permit you to see her and speak to her as you have hitherto done to those of my Maids which you esteemed above the rest But if I can ever perceive any thing in this business that displeases me or only signifies to me that your intentions are bad as well as I love this Maid I shall take order to send her away with so much diligence that you shall never hear more news of her When I heard Andromeda threaten me thus I confirmed the promises I had made to her and after I had freed her from all fears she might conceive upon that occasion I went to visit Delia who had not yet stirred from the Lodging assigned to her it being the Princess 's pleasure that they should not shew themselves till they were habited like the rest and put in a condition to present themselves in her Chamber I could not see Delia again without transport and whatsoever assurance her innocence might give her she did not see the without a blush After the first complements of reception which I made to her Aunt her Sister and her self in general addressing my self more particularly to her My adorable Delia said I you have left your solitude which your presence rendred more glorious than the Courts of Kings and by the lustre you have brought into ours you have dissipated that darkness which in your absence had taken possession of my soul I could not replyed Delia disobey the pleasure of the Princess who hath commanded me to continue a while with her and though possibly no place of residence were supportable to us in the present condition of our affairs I have at the first sight conceived too great a respect for her to do any thing that may cross her desires Would it had pleased the Gods answered I that you had done that upon another motive which you have done upon this consideration and that I had been indebted to your pity for what I owe to the affection you have had for my Sister yet I am obliged to her for this benefit and do confess that I am reduable to her for all the repose of my soul and for my life which I could not have preserved any longer without seeing of you again but I would if you please be beholding to you for the remainder of it and hope that henceforward you will have some sence of my sufferings and some regard of a condition whereunto out of a state of liberty and tranquillity you have for ever reduced me It will not be difficult for you replyed Delia to reassume that liberty which you have so easily parted with all and when you shall make a reflection upon my fortune and my person you will easily lose those impressions you have received without being acquainted with me Ah! Delia cryed I I shall never cease to love you till I cease to live and I cannot reflect upon the Subject of my love without strongly consirming my self in this passion to which I have devoted all my daies But Sir added Delia with a more serious countenance than before do you not consider that you are in a condition very different from that of common persons and that you have not so much liberty in your actions or affections as a private man there is no law answered I that can force a mans inclinations and though the King hath commanded me and doth command me still every day to love and serve the Princess Urania he shall never obtain of me an effect of obedience that will never be in my power and though he were more powerful than he is he shall never be able to deprive Delia of that heart which I have given her and which cannot be transported to any other place by any duty or upon any other consideration Ah Sir replyed Delia I should be very much afflicted if I should be the cause
of disobedience or disorder in your family and if for the sake of an unfortunate stranger you should draw upon you the indignation of the King your father I will not contribute to the trouble you may receive upon that account and it were much better that you should engage your self in some affection wherein you might find your establishment and repose than to amuse your self about a small ill-grounded inclination which in reason you cannot bestow so much as a thought upon I will never have any thought for you answered I that you may justly condemn and though to make you an ingenuous confession I have loved you hitherto without any other design than to love you I shall be capable of whatsoever you approve rather than you should not be capable of some sence of affection for me I protest it to you by all the Gods that if in the course of this love which layes me at your feet without an interest I can be but so happy as to understand that you dispose your self to love me you shall quickly know that my desires aim at nothing superior to your self and as there is no dignity to which you may not rightfully aspire so there is no consideration which can hinder me from placing you there when my person shall be so agreeable to you as to cause you to receive the effects of my love without repugnance Delia blushed a little at these words which possibly she had not expected so promptly from me and after she had continued a while without replying I shall never have any repugnance said she either for your person or the testimonies of your affection but what design soever you may have to my advantage I will never approve of it so long as other persons may have reason to condemn it and the splendor of preferments and dignities cannot possibly charm me so much as to make me willing to purchase it with the displeasure of seeing a fault committed by a person whom I esteem and honour as my duty is By these words which proceeded from a courage infinitely high Delia augmented the respect I had for her and regarding her with a new admiration You are worthy without doubt said I to her of a much higher fortune that I can advance you to and I know you too well to believe that the hope of greatness is more powerfull upon your spirit than the proofs of a faithful and respectful passion but if besides his heart and soul the gift whereof hath exceeded all that he can do more a Prince should offer you 'T is enough Sir answered Delia interrupting me and I beseech you pardon me if I oppose the sequel of your discourse I do neither expect nor desire these propositions from you and as you may content your self if you please with the respect I have for you so I shall be satisfied with the particular esteem which you express to me without framing designs contrary to appearance and reason This was all I could obtain of Delia not only at this first conversation but in all the rest that I had with her a long time after and she kept her self so within the limits of an immoveable moderation that by all the proofs of my love I could never incline her spirit to a complatency which might cause her to remit any the least thing from the highest and severest vertue yet for all this she treated me with a great deal of sweetness she alwaies looked kindly uppon me and expressed by all her actions that she esteemed my person upon other considerations than that of my birth but this was all that I could get of her and she was so far from giving her self the liberty of granting me the smallest favours that she did not speak so much as one word to me that proceeded from terms of good-will and I confess that I contented my self with this fortune and maugre the inequality of our conditions I had formed an Idea of this admirable person to my self that rendred the smallest thing that related to her precious to me In the mean time this miraculous beauty appeared at the Court like a resplendent Star which with its lustre eclipsed all the rest and after she had been there a few dayes there was no discourse but of the fair Stranger which was in the Princess 's service The King and Queen beheld her with admiration and she had hardly begun to shew her self but she had made a thousand sighs for her and adored her they all crowded to her to give her the first testimonies of it but she treated them all with so much indifference and disdain that the boldest amongst them had hardly the confidence to renew their suit I saw her every day with facility enough but never without the company of her sister or some of her companions and in all the conversations that I had with her though she were of a softer sex and younger years than I yet she gave me examples and precepts of vertue which might have swayed my inclinations that way if I had capacity enough to profit by them Alas how many times in this happy season after I had passed some hours in her company with incredible ravishments have I cried out to my self with transport that all kind of employments and conditions in the world ought to give place to the glory of serving Delia how often have I prayed the Princess my Sister that she would interess her self and often bear a part in our society and to confess that the world had nothing comparable to Delia and that she was a thousand times more beholding to me for the occasion I had given her of gaining the company of this admirable person than I was obliged to her for the benefit she had procured me by it She likewise took no notice of the precautions she had made for the honour of her family and reposing an entire confidence in the vertue of Delia she left her to the conduct of her own life without troubling her self in relation to the interest she might have taken in it In the mean while she loved and caressed her in such a manner that this Maid being obliged to her amity whatsoever desire she had to return into her own country durst not require the performance of the promise which was made of conducting her back again thither and alwayes when she was about to open her mouth to that purpose Andromeda entertained her with such fine expressions and represented her with such tender and pressing caresses that she could not live without her that she insensibly engaged her to a much longer stay than she had intended In the mean time I had so abandoned my self to my love that I had no thoughts left but for Delia only and I did less interess my self in the affairs of Cilicia and all those things which in all likelihood might concern me than those would have done which were the meerest strangers to them Though I saw Delia divers hours
already told you being despoyled of his Kingdom by Phraates King of Parthia or rather by the valiant Artaban General of his Troops who with a prodigious valour had reduced Media under his Master's Dominion in a less time than would well have served to have seen it all came to seek refuge among his Neighbours and Allies He made some stay first in Cappadocia and by the compassion which his misfortune wrought in the breast of King Archelaus he not only obliged him to protect him but interessed him so in his affairs that Archelaus a Prince of great Vertue offered to raise an Army for his re-establishment and to march with him in person to re-invest him in his Throne Archelaus alone was possibly too weak to put this design in execution and Tigranes having engaged him in this manner to his succour came into Cilicia believing he should find all manner of assistance in the amity of the King his Uncle He was received at Tharsus not as a despoyled Prince but as if he had enjoyed his former dignity and the King who had always dearly loved him treated him as if he had been his Son or his Brother and disposed himself to render him whatsoever he might expect from his affection he was already prepared by the news he had received of his misfortunes to assist and serve him and during the stay he had made in Cappadocia they had begun to make levies to that intention I will not spin out this discourse into a tedious length within a few months that Tygranes continued with us all things were put into an handsome condition for his assistance and Tygranes not being willing to permit that the King should make this Voyage in Person by reason of his age and for divers other considerations I received the commission and disposed my self to march with Tigranes in the head of ten thousand horse and five and twenty thousand foot which the King gave me for this expedition You may well judge Madam that it was not without regret that I prepared my self to leave Delia and You will believe nothing but the Truth when You shall believe that my soul was sensible of a cruel violence at this separation I could not without a mortal grief so much as think of being so far and so long distant from her whom I could not leave for a moment and when I reflected upon the evils which this absence would make me suffer all my courage could hardly furnish me with resolutions enough to dispose my self to it Besides I left Delia in a place where a little before they had cruelly made an attempt upon her life and though by the care the King himself took of her and the little interest the Queen had in the business I was almost assured on that side yet my love making me fearful for that I loved raised such fears in me as all my reason was not able to destroy but that which moved me most was that I went from Delia without being able to oblige her to engage her self to me any more than she had done before and understood so little of the reasons she alledged to me and the hopes she gave me that I could receive but a very imperfect comfort from them For all this I must be gone the considerations of my honour were strong enough to overcome all others and I was of such an age as obliged me to the prejudice of my repose and the peril of a thousand lives to pursue the occasions of glory which called upon me Neither did I much waver in the business but to shorten my discourse the day came which necessitated my separation from Delia. All the time before I had sollicited her in vain to declare her self in my favour more fully than she had done before I had spared neither prayers nor tears to move her but I could not by any expressions either of my love or grief remove her from her former resolution The last day going to take my leave of her I really sound some signs of sorrow in her countenance and she expressed to me divers ways that she sympathised with me in the displeasure I had to leave her After some passionate discourses whereby I expressed to her my just resentments I go Delia said I to her and what is most cruel and insupportable to me I part from You without any certainty of seeing You again and unassured of the condition I stand in your thoughts After such testimonies of my love as possibly would not have been ineffectual in relating to any other person but Delia and which possibly might have prevailed with any courage but hers I see my self as ignorant of my destiny as I was that moment that I gave my self to you I satisfie my self as well as I can possibly with the hopes You give me and seeing that I shall never have any desire but what may be conformable to Your will I endeavour to comfort my self with the expectation of a good which I cannot conceive but Delia I cannot vanquish my grief and what blind confidence soever I have in You 't is hard for me to take notice without a mortal displeasure how little progress I have made upon Your spirit I go from you with all manner of ill presages and if my fears deceive me not I am in great danger of never seeing you again if it be so Delia I shall abandon my self to the most cruel death that ever was suffered and You will live with the remorse of having bestowed such a recompence upon the most real and perfect that ever was I had some other discourse with her upon the same subject the length whereof hinders me from repetition and Delia having quietly hearkned to me and endeavoured to hide some marks of pity which appeared in her countenance Prince said she I will willingly endure all your reproaches without complaining and though possibly I might deserve that you should impose some belief in me I will expect that from you when those things you are now ignorant of are known to you In the mean time you may go with this belief that you have made a greater progress upon my spirit than you suppose and I should say you had done too much in that respect if I did not believe that I cannot be too acknowledging of your affection I shall not be always in a condition wherein I can only satisfie you with such hopes as you cannot comprehend and if fortune be not contrary to me my condition will be changed at your return I shall then be free from divers scruples which a Maid of my humour cannot tell how to overcome and you will be at liberty to demand that of me without hurting me which then I may grant you without fear of reproach Give if you please an absolute credit to what I tell you and receive a thing which I will trust no body with but your self that may in time make you change the unjust opinion you have of my humour
age could not possibly have charged on horse back more vigorously than my self nor have better come off from a troublesome piece of business wherein a strong constitution was necessary My father who was conscious of it feared lest I should give him the slip and possibly I should have done it after I had oftentimes unprofitably assayed to obtain his permission but at that time whether it were for this consideration or to find a retreat where he might peaceably pass his dayes or for other reasons to me unknown he quitted Egypt and led me into places where I could not be tickled by near occasions with a desire to take up arms whereby he was afraid to lose me he would not retire himself into any of the Kingdoms interessed in either of the two parties he likewise avoided all those which had any dependance upon the Roman Empire and taking our way along the banks of Nile he went to establish our abode in Ethiopia We arrived at Meroe where the Kings ordinary residence was and it was in this Court that my father made no difficulty to produce me believing through the affection wherewith he abused himself that I had qualities whereby I might advance my self and reap some fruit of the generous inclination which he believed he saw in me I was likewise so much favoured by Fortune that in a small time I was more favourably looked upon than I could expect from my condition and my Father by his acquaintance which his vertue easily procured him at Meroe having found a means to cause me to be presented to the King this Prince found me so much to his liking that after he had seen me divers times and marked in me as he said something above my birth by his special favour he placed me among divers young men of mine own age born of the noblest bloud amongst the Ethiopians which he particularly dedicated to the service of the Princess Candace his only Daughter and the Inheritrix of his Crown Tyridates who till then had heard and beheld the Unknown with great suspicions finding the confirmation of them in these last words I doubt no longer said he interrupting him but that you are Britomarus and I find in your fortune your humour and your person all things so conformable to the relation I have heard made of him that I take you for him with an almost entire certainty The Unknown though a little surprised with this discouse replyed to Tyridates without being moved It is true said he that my Father gave me the name of Britomarus something near his own and which divers persons of his Country and Consinguinity too had born but I never thought I should have found persons here who would possibly have known it It is sufficiently known replyed Tyridates and together with this name I know also the most remarkable adventures which befell you in Ethiopia and part of the first actions you did in other Countries but besides that the relation I have received is very confused the King of Mauritania understands nothing of it and you may if you please continue your narration without interruption though some things may be come to my knowledge I will obey you answered Britomarus and though the first action of my life may scarce be worthy your attention yet I will recount them unto you that you may comprehend the order of my Fortune which in the course of my whole life hath contracted an habit in my affairs from which she never departed I was no sooner in the service of the Princess Candace but that by all sorts of cares I endeavoured to merit the honour which I had received and though according to my ambition all things of my capacity seemed below me yet I found this Princess so worthy of all services which could be rendred her in all sorts of conditions that I made my lofty humour comply without repugnance to all the employments which my companions had near her There was none more astiduous nor more industrious to seek out occasions to please and obey her and though my inclinations carried themselves to arms a great deal more than to other employments they themselves in a short time engaged me in a place and to things which I had never staid upon but only in consideration of my Fortune Candace was really one of the fairest persons in the world and I would say she was the prime beauty of the Earth if some beauty had not afterwards appeared to my eyes which might equal it and possibly in some respect surpass it To the perfection of the body was conjoined that of the mind and all the qualities which might render a Princess accomplished I know not whether it were through the propension which we naturally have to love things beautiful that I suffered my self to be taken or through my pride which perswaded me that I could love nothing more low than the Daughter of one of the greatest Kings of the world This presumption was ridiculous in me and though alwayes in all the other actions of my life I may possibly have managed it with reason enough yet it was never possible for me to vanquish it Howsoever it came to pass I became really amarous of the Princess of Ethiopia and to accuse my self the more I will say that all the appearances whereby I might condemn my love were not strong enough to oblige me to resist it and that I never opposed my reason against the birth of a passion whereof I could not probably expect any good success I believed I might love Candace without offending her and I thought my self of as great a value as a Prince although the conditions of a Prince was elevated above mine What tyranny said I ought to oblige me to offer violence to a gallant inclination and what consideration can hinder me from loving Candace if nothing but she alone seem amiable unto my eyes If I have not birth I have a courage worthy of her and if by my courage I cannot supply the default of my birth it is better to perish nobly rather than to abase my thoughts What know we for what the Gods reserve us and why may we not hope all things if we find our selves capable to undertake all things In this sort I flattered my self in my audacious thoughts and if at any time by the reflection which I made upon the state of my condition I desired to regulate and submit them to more reasonable terms I repented a moment after and blushed for shame to have offended as it seemed to me that courage by which my desire was to equal my self with the greatest All the Ladies attending upon the Princess whom I might regard with more equality and amongst whom there were some who might pass for very beautiful if the brightness of their Mistress had not defaced theirs were not capable of possessing my thoughts for one moment and if at any time I turned my eyes upon them it was with so much indifferency or
easily defaced out of the heart of a person of the age that I was of when I parted from Ethiopia and those which I had received in mine were not so strongly setled as to vanquish the despight which scorn enkindled in my heart It was then almost free when the beauties of Arsinoe presented themselves unto me with charms against which it was difficult to make any defence I likewise did but weakly defend my self from them and whether it were by their power or my own weakness or by my destiny which did not permit me to fix my thoughts upon any but Daughters of great Kings but I suffered my self to be taken without consulting my reason and without making any reflection upon those things which might divert me Neither this second engagement nor that which you will understand in the progress of my discourse proceeded from the lightness of my spirit and naturally I have no inclination to change if I be not carried to it by some more powerful motive than my love I should have loved Candace to my grave if the love I had for her in so tender youth had had time to render it self more powerful in my soul than the aversion I had for her scorn but as I have naturally this unreasonable presumption as to believe that the inequality which is between me and that I love ought not to expose me to disdain and evil usage so by the knowledge I received of it my resentments were strong enough to banish from my soul a passion not well setled I say a passion ill setled for the last I have received into my spirit hath placed it self there after another sort and hath taken such profound root there that neither regret nor despite nor jealousie nor all that the Gods and Men can oppose to impede its course will be capable to alter it for one moment In fine I could not take notice of the amiable qualities of Arsinoe without loving her and though recalling to mind the usage I received in Ethiopia I made some efforts against the birth of this love whereof in probability I ought to expect no better success than of the former yet if this resistance served a while against the sight only of the beauties of Arsinoe it prevailed nothing at last against so many miracles of her mind whereby the advantages of her body were surpassed This inability of defending my self was seconded by the flattery of my natural ambition and looking with Pride upon the beginning of a Fortune which I believed due to my self alone What hinders me from hoping said I but that by this valour whereof the first effects are so handsome I may render my self worthy of being an avowed Servant of Arsinoe and what ought I not to expect from a Sword which hath already advanced me to a rank where possibly it never placed a Person of my age in so short a time Undertake daring Britomarus all that thy courage can inspire thee with it is too good to betray thee and by it thou mayst one day see thy self in a condition not to be disdained neither by Arsinoe nor any Princess upon Earth If Royal Blood and Crowns be wanting to thee thy vertue may supply the defect of the one and may possibly give thee the other this Fortune is not without Example and divers persons of a Birth inferior to thine have attained by their valour to a royal Dignity Arsinoe whose Spirit is not of the common stamp will know how to discern in thee that which is most precious and worthy of her esteem though perhaps concealed under disadvantagious appearences she will conceive that if thou beest not a Prince possibly thou meritest to be one and thou appearest now before her in another condition and in another kind of posture than thou didst before Candace by whom thou couldst not be regarded but as one of her meanest Domesticks and to whom thou couldst not be considerable by any action which could render thee superior to those of thy birth I animated or rather flattered my self in this manner and by indulging my passion I suffered my self to be but too deeply enengaged all things contributed to it and Arsinoe her self was partly culpable of it by the kindnesses she shewed me and the marks of a particular esteem which she daily gave me As she was perswaded that I was owner of some vertue so she gave it as much respect in my person as she would have done in a great Prince and this was that which deceived me and which made me conceive hopes in her goodness whereby I found my self abused Henceforward my love began to produce its ordinary effects I lost my repose and sleep and I saw my self exposed to all the inquietudes which accompany this passion yet mine were greater than those of other persons who have permission to ease themselves by complaint and discourse and knowing my self obliged by the eminency of that which I loved to bury my thoughs in a rigorous silence I suffered without doubt in this cruel constraint what I should not have suffered if I had the liberty to declare my mind I saw the Princess every day and by the account the King made of me and the state he made me take in the Court I had free ingress into places whither none but Persons of Quality were permitted to come the Princess did me the honour to speak often to me she was pleased with my discourse and oftentimes preferred it before that of the Grandees of Armenia by her goodness I was more enflamed and though I received it with a respect which tyed up my tongue more and more yet it could not hold my eyes nor my sighs in the like constraint and they continually spake a language to the Princess which she might easily have understood if all appearances had not been contrary to it Amongst the Persons whose amity I had acquired during the stay I made in Armenia Artamenes a Young Armenian of a very sublime condition and allied divers wayes to the Royal Family was the Man to whom I was the most engaged and which testified most affection to me He had inclinations altogether vertuous and a great sweetness of spirit joyned with a great and lofty courage the rank he held in Armenia caused me at the first to use some submissive respect towards him but in a short time he banished all ceremony out of our Society and esteeming some quality in me which he preferred before Birth and Fortune his absolute will was that we should live in an entire equality and that we should banish all constraint from our conversations and seeing me without any other estate than what I received from the King and what I might hope for from my sword he would often have made me to participate of his and have put me in a condition to out-brave necessity if Fortune should prove contrary to me but I had but too much dis-esteem for things of so mean a value and I alwayes
spake to me in this manner and we had had more discourse upon this subject if we had not been interrupted by some persons which came into the place where we were and intermingled themselves in our conversation In the mean while my passion augmenting made me more melancholy and solitary than ordinary it made me oftentimes to avoid the assemblies of great companies and the societies wherein I was accustomed to entertain my self and for the most part when I paid the visits to which I was particularly obliged and could dis-engage my self from Artamenes whose friendship and sight were really very dear to me I went alone to take my walks in the most retired places and there I entertained my self whole hours together with the fair Idea which I had in my heart I was often surprized there by Artamenes who took care to find me out and though he opposed this change of my humour yet he knew he had cause enough to pardon me for it One day having sought my solitary walk in the King's Park which is near one of the Gates of Artaxata and suffering my self to be carryed by my agreeable imaginations into the most private Allies in a quarter where divers Allies met I lighted upon the two Princesses who with divers Ladies of her ordinary train sought their divertisement in the Wood. Although I endeavoured to avoid other companies which might divert me from my flattering thoughts yet that of Arsinoe had charms for me which I could not flie and I no sooner saw her appear but instead of retiring as I should have done for any other encounter I advanced before her with a little emotion which might have been perceived in my countenance if it had been curiously observed The Princess looked graciously upon me and receiving me with a deportment Majestically courteous What Britomarus said she are you then become melancholy since you came amongst us and do you now seek solitude in a Country wherein your vertue hath already gained so much acquaintance At a discourse so obliging I expressed as much humility as I could possible and endeavouring to vanquish a weakness which we naturally have for that we love Madam replyed I the satisfaction of the Persons whom I honour is as dear to me as mine own and I do all that I can possible to spare my Friends the trouble of my bad company Say rather answered the Princess that you find in your self that which you cannot find in others and that your thoughts entertain you more agreeably than the company of your Friends can do Your Highness replyed I hath spoken part of the truth and certain it is that I can hardly find in the conversation of my Friends the entertainment which my thoughts may furnish me withal But Britomarus said Arsinoe shall not we be too curious if we should desire to know something of these thoughts which we judge to be very sublime by the knowledge which we have of your courage And may it be permitted to ask you if it be Love or War which furnishes you with the matter of them my inclinations answered I lean no more to War than to Love but in that which you call War and that which you call Love I find War altogether and the God which is President of War doth not cause more cruel combats amongst Men than those which the God of Love excites in our spirits I believed replyed the Princess that that which you call Love had been a more pleasing passion than you present it to be but seeing it is so dangerous by the effects which it produces it ought to be avoided with precautions proportionable to the greatness of the evils which it may make one suffer It is certhin said I that Love hath its sweets but it hath likewise its bitterness capable at least to counter-ballance its sweetness and as there is no felicity comparable to that of a spirit satisfied in its Love so there is no such hard condition as that of a Lover to whom Fortune is contrary in his passion Divers things in Love contribute and concur to our felicity the satisfaction of loving a thing amiable to our eyes and judgement the facility of giving testimonies to it for our Love and that which is yet more powerful the assent of the Person beloved and the correspondence to our affection and it is very true that when a Lover is arrived to this degree of happiness there is nothing amongst all the things in the world which is not infinitely below him but those benefits are sufficiently equalized by evils as powerful and we are not more happy by these good successes than we render our selves unfortunate by the cruel inquietudes which torment us by pains of absence the vexation of jealousie and more than all by the insensibility or repugnance of the Person beloved Upon this account said the Printess Artemisa who till now had not spoken they which are well advised being in a peaceable and quiet condition of life will never cast themselves into this passion wherein good and ill are confounded together and wherein the evils far exceed the good The choice of these two conditions replyed I is not ordinarily in our power and it is neither by the counsel of our Friends nor of reason it self that our minds are most frequently engaged but by a violence which beauty exercises upon our Souls and by forces which ours are not capable to resist but if the election should depend upon our will I shall never be of their party who prefer this tranquility or rather indolency of life before the benefits purchased by some afflictions and I shall never complain of the dayes and years of my sufferings if they be only accompanied with hope which may sweeten them and if by them I may attain to the least degree of this supream fortune You discourse of this passion answered Arsinoe smiling as if you had grown old in it and yet you have passed so few years that you have hardly had time to take notice of what you describe having performed so many brave actions as you have done in so small a time By this preference said I which tranquility may have in some spirits above a disquieted life I should be happy if the judgement which your Highness makes of my condition were true but although in this passion whereinto I am fallen by my destiny and by powers wholly caelestial besides the evils which I have spoken of divers others more great and more formidable do yet prepare themselves against me and that by my last misfortune I am abandoned by the hope which might render them supportable yet I should be verry sorry to return to my former condition and to change these torments which for me are glorious with the repose wherein I have passed the first years of my life Can it be possible added the Princess that you should lose it in this Court and that during the little stay you have made here there should be found a
that you desire alliance with a Family against which you have had so bloody an hatred and a passion which causes such strange effects as those which it produced in you is not eradicated by a light impression Ah! answered I all transported I am not only entirely free from it but all the motions of hatred which I have sometimes had are changed into motions of love and for your sake I will love all your Relations as much as I ever hated them I know not added the Princess whether You can expect the same change from them it will not be easie for me to turn my inclinations towards You after that which I have beheld with my eyes and what I have heard You relate concerning the cruelties You have exercised against my Brother Cleopatra was not over-prudent to make this declaration to me in a condition wherein she was totally in my power but whether it were that she well knew her power over my spirit or whether indeed her courage could not degenerate from it self more than what she was at that time by her fortune and did not by dissembling seek that assurance which she believed due to her in what condition soever she should fall into Ah cruel Princess said I to her if You do not take heed You go about to cast Your self into the same vice wherewith You reproach me and You will lose the advantages of innocence and goodness which You have hitherto had over me if You appear more inexorable and more void of pity than my self I fear not that reproach answered Cleopatra and I shall be sufficiently exempted from it when I shall never procure you nor wish you ill Alas replyed I to her with a sigh what greater evil can you wish me than that whereunto I see my self exposed by your rigour Do you believe that what I would have made your Brother suffer was more cruel and are you ignorant that the torments of the body are not less violent than those of the mind I made her divers other discourses upon the same subject to which she answered with her former coldness though knowing the power I had over her she endeavoured sometimes to dissemble part of the repugnance she had against me In the mean time we sailed but slowly towards Alexandria and before the end of the day we arrived some furlongs from the Coast but yet above the City where as I told you I had no intention to land The Princess seeing her self in this place prayed me to conduct her to the City but I payed her with an excuse and told her that soveraign Princes were not wont to enter into others Territories without giving them notice and that I was obliged to advertise Augustus of my coming and desire permission to come into his Dominions before I set foot upon the Land The Princess took this reason as well as she could and in the interim we passed this night in this place our Vessel being covered with a great Rock seemingly expecting those whom I feigned to send to Caesar but indeed waiting for a favourable wind to return towards Armenia This night was likewise to me as full of inquietudes as the former and the next morning I no sooner saw the Princess but accosting her with a very submissive action Fair Cleo atra said I to her you are sufficiently revenged upon my cruelty and those Friends of yours who are interessed therein will not order more cruel torments for me themselves than I have suffered since I have been with you have some regard of them if you desire to maintain your self in the justice of your cause and do not disdain a King who not only sacrifices his resentments to yours but offers up his own self to the indignation which his actions may have produced in you against him The Princess as I judged afterwards constrained her self not to answer me according to the hatred which she had conceived against me and not so much as looking upon me I have no disdain for you said she but I am but little mistress of my self and there are persons to whom my birth hath made me subject whose consent you rather ought to seek than mine in relation to the offers you made me And who are those persons said I to whom you have left this disposal 'T is Caesar replyed the Princess 'T is Octavia and above all 'T is Alexander my Brother whom you know to whom I have remitted the care of my destiny I know well enough that she was spiteful in this discourse and what she spake of Alexander only to set before mine eyes the usage I had made him In this thought beholding her with eyes which made some complaint of her rigour Ah! Princess said I to her your spirit is more revengeful than mine and that very Alexander with whom you reproach me would without doubt be less obdurate himself against a Prince of whom he is sufficiently revenged By the carrying away of my Sister he is satisfied for all the outrages he had received in Armenia and I assure my self that in exchange for my Sister he will not refuse me his The Princess seeing her self pressed in this manner answered me no more and the respect which my love caused in me to her hindred me from importuning her any farther A little after those whom I had sent to Alexandria to learn the news and not to present themselves to Caesar returned and reported to us that Caesar was not yet arrived at Alexandria but was expected there within two or three daies and that he staid at Pelusium where he landed after had lost part of his Vessels At this discourse after I had continued some moments very pensive I am sorry Madam said I to the Princess that this obstacle doth for some daies retard the desire you have to see your Friends and it is necessary either that I attend here the arrival of the Emperour or that I send to Pelusium to render him the same respect which I ought to have done at Alexandria I know not replyed the Princess whether you have need of this precaution or not but I to whom it is not necessary am permitted to enter into Alexandria without giving notice unto Caesar and you may if you please let me be conducted thither by those of my own men that are left without putting your self to the trouble Ah! Madam replyed I The Gods forbid I should so much injure the duty I bear you and that I should leave to others an honour which is dearer to me than my life I will present you to Caesar my self and I shall be glad to make it known that Kings only are worthy to be your Conductors I used other discourses to her to defend my self from the urgent desire she had to be set on shore and to be left at liberty to retire her self by means of which she opened her eyes to the truth and plainly perceived that she had no longer any power to dispose of her actions She
known I did not believe she durst call any other than my self yet knowing it depended upon her choice and distrusting her humour I did not present my self as I should have done at another time but the Emperour himself made a sign to me to advance I rose from my place to obey him and approached to Julia but she saved me the labour and when I was near enough to give her my hand she turned her self another way and called Drusus to come and render her that office The greatest part of the persons that were in the Temple interessed themselves in the affront which I received and if Livia Tyberius and those of their party were satisfied in it not only Octavia and they that took my part but Augustus himself was so troubled at it that had it not been out of respect to the sacredness of the place he had publickly made his displeasure appear For my part I was so much moved at it that I was quite out of countenance and not daring for divers considerations to express in publick my resentment to the Daughter of Caesar I retired to my place full of choler and confusion and a little after not being able to stay any longer in a place wherein I had received this affront I slipt into the press and got out of the Temple without staying till the end of the Sacrifice When I was come to my lodging I quitted my self of those who had taken the pains to accompany me thither upon my entreaty that they would grant me an hours liberty to do some business and a little after knowing that the most affectionate among them partly imagining my intention would not be far from me to avoid the trouble of visits which I could not have endured in the bad humour I then was and the obstacles which might cross my design I went down secretly by a private pair of stairs into the Garden and from thence attended by one Squire only I went to the house of Sulpicia a Roman Lady of eminent quality one whom you know and in whom I had very great confidence It was before her that I highly exclaimed against the infidelity of Julia and made my complaint freely as well of this last injury as of those which had preceded and did violently out with all which lay upon my heart Sulpicia did all she could possible not to excus the inconstancy of Julia for she was one of the first to condemn her but to hinder me from taking the effects thereof so much to heart and to moderate in part the transports wherewith I was troubled If I were Marcellus said she to me I would deal after another manner than you do and the spirit of Julia will better be reduced by marks of indifferency and coldness than by this boiling humour and these violent resentments whereinto you precipitate your self And if I were Sulpicia answered I to her I should give this counsel to my friends but seeing I am Marcellus interessed in my repose and in my honour and to my misfortune still passionate for that unfaithful Princess I cannot contain my self within that coldness and that indifferency which you express My love is not extinguished for being injured and it is through the indignation of Heaven that these effects of ingratitude have not been able to banish it out of my mind I have not ceased from loving her though I have forborn in part to render her the devoirs to which I was daily obliged and if I have supported with moderation the secret testimonies of her change the publick ones have wronged me too much for me to be able to dissemble them After these words and some other discourses that I had with Sulpicia I called for paper and without consulting any more with my former respect in my transport I wrote these words to Julia. MARCELLUS to the Princess JULIA AS long as you injured but my love only I supported your inconstancy with patience enough and I have not demanded any reparation for it because I believe that by preferring Drusus before me you had sufficiently punished your self you are obliged to me besides for this that forsaken as I was I have alwaies out of love to you kept secret what I could not discover but to your disadvantage and confusion but since you have been forward to publish it your self and that to the infidelity which only wronged my love you have been pleased to add an injury which wrongs my courage and my honour you must not think it strange if I grant that to my honour that possibly I owed not to my love and that I seek the satisfaction which it demands of me by those waies which hitherto the respect and consideration I had for you hindred me from After I had written this Letter I gave it to the Squire who waited upon me with order to carry it to Julia the same day and after his departure staying a while longer but in vain to find out some means to execute my design with little noise I took at last an horse and a foot-man from Sulpicia's house and without any other company I went out to seek Drusus and to make him draw his sword wheresoever I could meet him I went directly to his house but having understood at his gate that he was not returned since he went forth to go to the Capitol and that he had dined with Mecenas I went to pass by Mecenas his house and by good fortune as I came near the gate I saw Drusus come out there a horse-back attended only by persons on foot who were not capable to hinder the effect of my resolution I no sooner saw him but my resentment violently re-inforcing it self I could hardly forbear running upon him with my Sword in my hand yet I moderated my self as much as I possibly could and accosting him with a visage wherein he might read part of my intentions Drusus said I to him I have a moments business with you Drusus did not stand to make himself farther intreated to hearken to me but withdrawing twelve or fifteen paces from those who attended him What do you desire of me sayes he to me when we were at liberty of speaking without being over-heard I desire said I to make you know that you have gained by your fortune only what could be due to none but my self by the way of merits and services and that after the knowledge you had of my designs for Julia and my engagement to her you could not employ your self in her service nor serve your self against me with the inconstancy of her spirit without declaring your self my Enemy and giving me just occasion of proceeding to extremities with you I am not obliged replyed Drusus without being troubled to consider your interests to my own prejudice and since that which you have done against us for the Enemies of our Family there hath been no amity between us which might hinder me from following my inclinations and seeking my own advantages out of
number of persons which made haste to part us and stop the passages out of the City My friends upon my going alone from Sulpicia's house from whom they understood some part of my resentments and Drusus his friends upon my coming to seek him at his house contrary to my custome and in the condition I was and all of them upon what had passed at the Capitol and upon divers other appearances had conjectured the truth and were separated into divers troops that they might not fail to find us and hinder the execution of our design I thought we could have escaped from the first that appeared by another street but when I saw great troops coming on every side whithersoever I could cast my eyes I was seized upon by as violent a displeasure as ever I had been sensible of in my life and turning my self towards Drusus with an action that sufficiently expressed my choler We can go no further said I but we will not quit one another in this manner and before the people who are coming to us can have time to part us one of us will have time enough to draw bloud of his enemy I had no sooner made an end of these words but I had my sword in my hand and Drusus having been no less forward than my self to that action we thrust at one another with a great deal of animosity Ptolomy obliged Tyberius to the same and in the presence of a thousand witnesses all four of us began a Combat which could not have been of any long continuance by reason of its violence though the great number of those who ran to part us had not hindred the sequel At the first pass I received a great wound in the thigh and Drusus was run through the shoulder and young Ptolomy having charged Tyberius like a Lion they slightly hurt one another at the first bout but when we would have gone to it again we had not the liberty and we were environed by so many persons that whatsoever Drusus and I could do it was not possible for us to engage any more This hindrance of my most violent desires made me exceed the bounds of moderation towards my most officious friends and in stead of thanking them for the care they took of my life I expressed my displeasure in such terms as they would not have taken at my hands if they had not been really my friends Nevertheless there was a necessity that I should be patient and Agrippa with divers of the most noble Romans conducted Ptolomy to Octavia's house whilest Domitius with a great number of others carried home Tyberius and his brother Octavia though she were endued with a great courage the Princess Cleopatra and my Sisters could not see me bloudy without fear and grief but they were better satisfied when my wound having been searched was not found dangerous though it were great Ptolomy was hurt in one of his arms but it was very slightly and the Princess his Sister who was afraid when she saw the bloud upon his habit was not sorry that by that little he had lost he had testified his amity to Marcellus and his courage to all the Romans The report of our quarrel being presently spread abroad the whole City took part with our interests but I may truly say that how great so ever the credit of Livia was my part was the greater and the most powerful and besides the affection which through my good hap all the dis-interessed Romans bare me the authority of Augustus who for all the love he bare his Wife did not stick to declare himself for me fortified it very much He did me the honour to come and see me when my wound was scarce dress'd and he was no sooner come near my bed but embracing me with as much affection and tenderness as if I had been his own Son What Marcellus said he to me are you so prodigal of a life that is as dear to me as my own and do I see you in danger at Rome close by me by the children of Livia after you had escaped so many dangers against the arms of our enemies Sir said I to him I have been but in few perilous encounters and that were not enough to oblige you to the care which out of an extraordinary goodness you take of me No danger replyed Caesar can be so slight in relation to you but 't is very terrible to me and you know I love Marcellus well enough to be as sensible of his hurt as if I had received it my self but in fine what is the occasion that hath urged you to so violent extremities against the Son of Livia Sir answered I it was for some words which Tyberius and Ptolomy had together concerning Cleopatra and I loving the children of Anthony as my Brethren as you and the Princess Octavia would have me could not separate my self from their interests any more upon this than any other occasion Augustus shook his head at this discourse and looking upon me with an action which sufficiently assured me that he did not believe me I only asked you this question said he that I might receive from your own mouth the confirmation of a thing which I have the true relation of already from my Sister your discretion is admirable that when you have such just cause to accuse the inconstancy the ingratitude and the imprudence of Julia you do not open your mouth to complain of it but I shall know how to take such order as is fitting both as the Father of Julia and as being interessed in the repose of Marcellus and I shall let Drusus and Julia know the displeasure I have received from the ambition of the one and the ill conduct of the other Ah! Sir cryed I the Princess Octavia could not afflict me more sensibly than in rendering me criminal as she hath done both towards Julia and towards your self and if in the transports of my passion I have made complaints to her sometimes as to my Mother she should have remembred that persons in love are not alwayes rational in their discourses and actions I have no cause to complain of the Princess Julia I have received favours from her above what I could justly pretend to and if I could not render her so much affection or acknowledgment by my services as I could desire I have no body to accuse for it but my self on whom the Gods have not bestowed qualities sufficiently amiable to merit the affections of Julia. Marcellus replied the Emperour by your procedure so full of discretion and goodness you render Julia yet more criminal and I will let her know how sensible I am of the displeasure she hath done me in such a manner that for the future she shall be more circumspect to avoid the occasions of it Ah! Sir said I with an action full of transport you cannot upon my consideration expose the Princess to the least displeasure without bringing me to my Grave and though it were
some despair in Arsanes of qualifying his Master's spirit and after that Marcellus melting with compassion at this deplorable adventure was sate down by Tyridates to hear this sad narration Arsanes with a great deal of pain began in these terms The History of Mariamne I Will relate to you Sir seeing you command me and my evil destiny will have it so the end of a great Queen who was worthy of your affections and the admiration of the whole earth I will recount to you the particularities of it in a few words as I have understood them from such of her Domesticks who best knew them in Jerusalem where the Queen rendred up her Soul two daies before I arrived Herod's humour and manner of life with Mariamne is sufficiently known to you Sir and you have not forgotten in what condition you left her at your departure from Judea Jealousie to which he was inclined above all other men tormented him at that time with very great violence and during some daies his rage expressed it self by all the marks he could give it without coming to those cruel extremities to which he was since transported he complained highly of the Queen whom he termed unfaithful and against whom he vomited out whatsoever his unjust passion could put into his mouth and the wicked Salome whose rage was augmented by your departure and the scorn you made of her affections inspired these resentments into him as much as possibly she could and did not let slip any occasion to exasperate him more and more against the Queen whom she could only accuse of having robbed her of an heart to which she pretended but in vain This savage spirit being susceptible of all bad impressions easily received what this wicked Sister would have him and in this rage to which he was immoderately abated he continued divers daies without seeing the Queen or hearing her spoken of by them who out of a good zeal interposed for their reconciliation Mariamne thought her self never the more unhappy for this and the caresses of this cruel man being as insupportable as the effects of his choler she would have been contented to have continued in the same condition with him if she had not been accused to have drawn this disgrace upon her self by some action wherewith she might be reproached and whereby she might seem to have deviated from that sublime vertue to which she had alwaies born so great a love The resentments of Herod continued as long as possibly they could but at last they gave place to his love and he really bearing a very violent affection to the Queen his Wife by this force the indignation he had conceived against her was dissipated and he returned to her more kind and humble than before he expressed his repentance for what was past and conjured her to retain no memory of it as he would forget the suspicions which he had conceived against her fidelity The Queen whatsoever repugnance she had against the person and humour of Herod did yet respect the character of an Husband and being full of a generous goodness by the regret which he testified to her by very significant expressions she was pacified as she believed it was her duty to be and she was reconciled unto him as far as the disproportion of their manners and the memory of the cruel injuries she had received in the death of all her relations would permit Herod's mind was in some repose and there were general appearances enough of it in the Court Salome only and those she had drawn to her party even dyed with despight in the publick tranquility and could not endure peace in the Royal Family without having a cruel war in their hearts Herod was continually with the Queen and expressed to her the same ardency of affection as he did in the beginning of his passion and by your absence having lost the object which might put him again in distrust he continued a long time without shewing any mark of jealousie only the unwillingness of the Queen to endure his caresses caused sometimes some disorder between them and as it was a difficult thing that this Princess should keep her self in an eternal constraint and for a Man whom she had so many reasons to hate so she could not choose sometimes but receive him with coldness and express but little sweetness or complacency to him Herod's spirit was then transported with very violent excesses and Salome seeing him in this condition lost no time nor occasion to represent to him that the disdains of Mariamne proceeded from the memory of Tyridates which absence could not blot out of her mind Herod's jealousie easily renewed it self at this discourse and as long as he was tormented by it he flew out into discourses and sometimes into designs full of violence but at length love returned more powerful than Salome and all that the solicitations of that wicked Creature had raised against the innocent Queen was overthrown by this predominant passion in Herod's soul In this sort they passed a whole year that one could not tell what to call their kind of life peace or open War and possibly they might have lived a longer time in this manner if the destiny of this fair Princess had not been hastened by a terrible disaster Herod having one day sent to intreat the Queen to come into his Chamber she whether she were busie about something which was more dear to her than the sight of that cruel Man or whether she were then in the height of aversness from him as the memory of the injuries she had received renewed in her mind refused divers times to go and at last being extraordinarily pressed to it she disposed her self to render him this visit but she did it with a countenance whereupon Herod might easily read the repugnance she had to give him this satisfaction Herod upon this discovery being netled with a violent displeasure could not dissemble it any more than she and greeting her with a discontented look I am very sorry Madam said he that you are obliged by any law to offer that violence to your self that you do and if I had not this violent passion for you which by your bad usage you endeavour to banish out of my soul as you can possibly I should less often give you the trouble of seeing an Husband which by his misfortune is become so odious to you The Queen was little troubled at Herod's words and looking upon him with a disdainful eye I hate You not answered she the God whom we serve and my duty forbid that but you may well imagine that my affections could not be strengthned towards you by such bloody displeasures as you have done me Ah! ungrateful Woman replyed the Jewish King proud cruel and irreconcilable spirit wilt thou never put an end to thy unjust reproaches wilt thou eternally serve thy self with the pretence of injuries and displeasures to palliate the natural aversion thou hast against thy husband Though
looking upon her with eyes which partly signified his intention But Madam said he now I have acquainted You with these small trifles which You desired to know of me shall I be too curious my self or rather shall I be indiscreet if I take the liberty to enquire of You the name and the condition of this admirable person to whom by my good fortune I have rendred some small service without knowing of her and who though unknown is in as high esteem with me as if she were the Wife or Daughter of Caesar 'T is not upon any design of abusing it that I express this curiosity to you but only out of a desire of finding greater opportunities to serve you in a more plenary knowledge of You. Cornelius spake in this manner and the Queen who was already prepared for this rancounter and had premeditated with Clity what to say seemed very little surprized at Cornelius his discourse She did so far acknowledge the Obligation she had to him as to have declared to him the truth of her life and the condition of her fortune if she could have done it without interessing and endangering her dear Caesario whom she knew to be in that Country and to have all Caesars friends for his declared enemies Upon this precaution which she believed was due to the safety of her beloved Prince she resolved to conceal her name her birth and the greatest part of her adventures and upon this design after she had signified to Cornelius with obliging expressions that his curiosity was not importunate to her she told him that she was born in Ethiopia of very noble Parents who during the life of King Hidaspes had enjoyed the highest dignities of that Kingdom but that afterwards being desirous to testifie their fidelity to the Queen Candace his Daughter when she was deprived of her Kingdom by Tyribasus that Tyrant being too powerful for them had ruined them and so eagerly pursued them that they were constrained to put themselves upon the Nile with part of their most portable goods from whence sailing down into the open Sea with an intention to seek out a Sanctuary from his Tyranny they fell into the hands of the Pirate Zenodorus After this passage she concealed nothing of the truth of him but only what would have obliged her to make mention of Caesario and relating to him the dangers which she had escaped by reason of the Pirate's insolence and the flames of the Vessel which she had fired and the Waves into which she had cast her self she powerfully moved him upon divers accounts and filled him full of admiration at her vertue and greatness of courage When he had given due praises to that noble resolution of sacrificing her life to the preservation of her honour looking upon her with an action much more passionate than before I should be ungrateful to the Gods said he if I should not be thankful to them as long as I live for the favor they have done me in guiding me to the occasions of serving you and in giving me the means to conduct you into a place where I can offer you part of what you seek but if my interest might be considered to the prejudice of yours and if I might afflict my self as much at my own ill as I ought to rejoyce at your good fortune possibly I would say that in this rancounter I have no more cause to commend than to complain of my destiny and that it is as much for my loss as for your safety that the Gods caused you to land upon this Coast and lead me into the Wood where I defended you against the violence of Zenodorus Gallus spake in this manner and the Queen though she almost comprehended his discourse and received it with a very great grief pretended for all that that she did not understand him and that she might not continue without a reply she answered him without being moved I should be very sorry that my arrival in this Country should occasion any damage to a person to whom I engaged for the preservation of my life and honour and to prevent the future since it is not in our power to recal what is past I shall depart without regret from a place where you have given me refuge if my continuance here be never so little offensive to You. Alas replyed Gallus with a sigh how unprofitable would your departure be now since you cannot carry away the wound that I have in the midst of my heart together with the eyes that made it or rather how cruel would it be to me now since in parting from me you will deprive my days of all that makes them desirable to me and possibly bereave me of a life whereof all the remaining moments are dedicated to you Whilst he spake thus the Queen oppressed with a violent grief upon this occasion of new crosses which former passages made her foresee in a moment studied for terms to explain her self both according to the greatness of her courage and the condition of her present fortune whereby she saw her self absolutely subjected to Cornelius his power and when he had done speaking composing her countenance to a more serious posture than before which with the Majesty that Gallus observed in it strook him into some awe I am obliged to you said she to him for my life and honour and I should be much more engaged to you if you would preserve the glory of your benefit entire and not diminish the price of it by the offence you do me If it be an offence to love you replyed the Pretor and if it be an infinite offence to love you infinitely I confess that there is not a man in the world who hath offended you more than Cornelius but if love in the Country where you were born be not different from that which we have observed in ours if it makes a man abandon his liberty to bestow it upon that he loves if it makes him forget his own proper interests to sacrifice himself entirely to the Person beloved and in fine if it produce no other effects than what we have seen it produce in those places where I have passed my life I cannot easily comprehend the ground of the offence which you can find in the love I have for you I know not replyed the Queen coldly either the effects or qualities of that passion but the discourse of it is not conformable to my humor and I should be very much obliged to you if you will find some other matter of entertainment Cornelius though a little repulsed with the answer which made him partly understand the difficulties he should have to conquer the spirit which he had attempted prepared himself to speak when he saw the Princess Elisa approach who having understood that Candace had been walking upon the Terrace a great while had made her self ready with all speed to come and find her to enjoy in her company that little consolation which she
to his love that I gave it way to encrease to conceive hopes and to form designs which offended Heaven and Nature But when with a little more Age I had gained a little more knowledge I observed in his affection and in his caresses some things that did not please me and I began to distinguish the transports of a violent passion from the effects of a pure and innocent amity I hardly began to doubt but that I received assurances from his own mouth and one day after he had continued a good part of it expressing his thoughts with more ardor than I desired at his hands finding my humor more repugnant to his kindnesses than he had observed before he took notice of my sighs What is the matter Sister said he and what have I done that can have diminished your affection as much as mine is augmented Is it because I love you too well that you cease to love me Brother said I I shall never cease to love you neither is it necessary that you should love me too much for all excesses are to be condemned and I shall alwayes content my self with a moderate and rational amity such as a good Brother may have for his Sister Ah! Olympia said he for the name of a Sister is cruel and cross to me how far is that moderate friendship which you require from that which I have for You and how contrary is Heaven to me in not causing you to be descended from the greatest stranger in the World rather than from the King our Father You wish me ill replyed I dissembling my thoughts and making as if I knew not his and if I were born of any other Parents I should not be your Sister That would be my greatest felicity answered Adallus the nearest of blood is the greatest obstacle that hinders the repose of my mind and the peservation of my Life Yes Olympia I love you I do not love you as a Brother with a weak and languishing amity but as an inflamed Lover and as a man so desperately in Love that if your pity doth abandon me I shall abandon my self to despair Be not amazed Olympia at this Declaration my passion is not without example even in our own family the laws of Love are stronger then those of blood and those that may retain common persons are not powerful enough to bridle Kings and oppose themselves to the repose and lives of Soveraign Princes upon a weak and slight consideration This discourse the understanding whereof I could no longer dissemble stroke me with an an unparallelled astonishment and troubled me in such a manner that for a long time I was not in a condition to reply You terrifie your self added the Prince seeing me in that confusion but if your affection doth but a little correspond with mine You will find nothing strange either in my discourse or my designs Juno was the Sister and the Wise of Jupiter amonstg our ancestors a like proximity did not hinder a more particular alliance and at this day amongst divers nations of the World brotherhood is no impediment to marriage To these words he added divers others upon the same subject at the close whereof having had time to compose my self a little and looking upon him with an eye that sufficiently signified the repugnance I had against his horrid propositions Adallus said I to him for the name of Brother in you is as little conformable to your discourse and designs as the name of Sister in me you fill me with so much shame and confusion that I know not how to behave my self one moment in your presence since I heard the words you pronounced but now Heaven Nature you and I are offended by them in such a manner that I would willingly give the best part of my blood that I could give my ears the lie and restore innocence to the most criminal thoughts that ever fell into the mind of a Prince Ah! Sir if you have any sense of vertue left oppose the motions of a horrid passion and do not dis-honour your life with a stain so black that all your blood can never wash out I find no shame replyed Adallus interrupting me in loving that which the Gods have made most amiable in the World and beauty in the person of my Sister is as powerful upon my Soul as in a Stranger Princesse we have so many examples of a passion like to mine that I shall but little fear the reproaches of men for a love which I feel no regret in my conscience which would be the first to accuse if there were any thing of criminal in it and in fine though it were a crime and a shame to love you I am carried to it by a power which I am not able to resist and engaged by a necessity which will force me to love you to my Grave without any consideration of reproaches or all the obstacles that you can oppose me with And for my part replyed I I am obliged by vertue and the nearness of blood which makes me look upon your intentions with horror and detesttation to fly from You henceforth as from a monster that would devour me and to offer violence to that amity which the relations of blood and reason had wrought in me to a Brother by the aversion I ought to have even to my Grave against Your detestable thoughts You may do it added the Prince and you may behold my death with the same eye that You look upon my passion and I do not know in which of these two actions you will be the less criminal either for having loved you brother or for having caused your Brothers death You will not dye said I when you shall render your self Master of this horrible passion which causes all the shame of your life and though you should dye upon that account I should be very innocent of a death to which I shall have contributed nothing but what I owe to my honour which is dearer to me than Your life or mine own I believe replyed Adallus that You will easily comfort Your self for it I shall comfort my self better for that answered I very briskly than I should do for the crime which you propose to me and though together with the loss of your Life I mustconsent to part with mine own I should more easily resolve upon itthan upon a detestable action the only proposition whereof makes me to tremble I did not believe replyed he I should have found you of so bad a nature possibly time may alter it and make you to consider that it is not so bad a crime as you imagine to throw a Brother and a lover into his Grave I must part with my life for my Brother said I I will do it without repugnance but as for a Lover in the person of a Brother I will avoid him as long as I live if it be possible as my most dangerous Enemy We had more discourse besides by which with as much
depredations in my soul 't was impossible for me to dispose my self to it and to deny Ericia the permission to see me which she desired on his behalf I saw him not without trouble and emotion I saw him as he appeared to me in my dream which came incessantly into my remembrance and I saw him in a condition capable to overthrow all the resentments that I had mustered up against him in my spirit He spake to me as I thought with a great deal less assurance than before and I believed that every time I spake to him I discovered some part of my own disorder I will not amuse you with the particularities of all our discourse which proceeded no farther yet than to things indifferent or at least very distant from those thoughts which took up the most room in our Spirits we talked concerning the incommodities and miseries of our shipwrack what hopes we had of our safety from Heaven and what resolution we ought to take to die couragiously if we received no succour before the little provision we had was spent and when we were upon this Subject I plainly perceived that the fair Unknown expressed more resentment for the danger which threatned me than for his own The more he proceeded in his discourse the more he spake to me with an assured countenance his words were alwaies accompanied with sighs and his looks which were sometimes fixed upon my face lost all their confidence when I looked upon him Though I had no design to engage my self to this Unknown person who probably was not of a Birth proportionable to mine and with whom in the evident danger we were I could not contract any friendship without the imputation of folly yet I confess my heart having made him way it was with some joy that I observed this alteration in his spirit and having been afraid till then that besides the disproportion of his birth he had but little disposition to love me I could not begin to dissipate that fear without some satisfaction I had a great desire to be informed by him of his Name his Country and Extraction but then I met with great difficulties and I no sooner opened my mouth to ask him about the business but it was stopped with the fear I had to understand something that might dsplease me He was not forward of himself to declare himself and I durst not venture to desire any fuller intelligence of him for fear of finding something in his extraction that might make me condemn the thoughts I had for him This fear really hindred me from expressing my curiosity and alwaies when this desire urged me this fear expelled it so that I had not the confidence so much as to enquire of Ericia to whom he might have discovered himself more familiarly than to me Divers daies passed in this manner I not daring to inform my self any farther and in the interim I found so many amiable parts in this Unknown or rather so many parts capable of surprizing the hearts and souls of persons less apt to receive the impressions of Love that neither the difference that I believed to be between our conditions nor the uncertainty of being beloved by him nor the apprehension of an approaching death wherewith we were so evidently threatned could hinder me fair Princesses I speak it with some confusion could hinder me I say from loving him It must needs be that this affection was decreed from above seeing it received its original by such extraordinary wayes and in a condition when according to all probability our Spirits should have been incapable of its impressions but in conclusion whether it were out of Sympathy which ordinarily produces such effects or by destiny which acted conformably to my dream in this adventure I began to love this Unknown to the prejudice of mine own interests and all the resistance I could make was not strong enough to defend the entrance of my heart I fear Ladies that you have not indulgence enough to pardon this weakness in me and that you have reason to find it a thing very much to be condemned in a Kings Daughter to have so hastily engaged her inclinations to a man of whom she had no knowledge but the good opinion she had conceived of his person one that she had never seen but a few dayes befoee and to whom she was not beholding for any service or obligation and truely I will not excuse it either by the extraordinary merit of the Unknown or by any of those reasons which are wont to be alledged in a justification of this nature but I will impute it only to the force of my destinie which as you will judge by the sequel of my discourse acted extraordinarily in this engagement of my soul 'T is true I began to love this fair Unknown whatsoever endeavours I used to the contrary but I conserved command enough over this growing affection to frame a very strong resolution never to make the least discovery of it till I knew that his condition was such that without any blame I might hope one day to receive him for my Husband if the Gods were pleased to prolong our daies by those succours which were necessary for us to get out of this little desart Island where in all likelihood we could hope for nothing but death and if it were my misfortune not to find him such as I might desire to suffer death rather than ever to declare to him my affection in which without eclipsing my honour and incurring reproach I could not rationally expect any good success This was my resolution and I found my self capable of putting it in execution a great deal more than I was to resist this passion which had assailed me with so much impetuosity and from this moment I began to curb my looks and to lay a restraint upon all things that might give the Unknown any intelligence of the advantage he had gotten upon my Spirit I entertained him as seldom as in civility I could and he observing that I retracted somewhat of that which I permitted him at first became a great deal sadder than ordinary and favoured my design himself more than I would have wished in seeking solitude in the most retired places of our little Island I confess for all that I was troubled at it and though I did all that I could possibly to avoid him yet my desire was that my distance only might separate us one from another without his contributing any thing on his part and I was well pleased thai he should look after me though I was sometimes troubled to meet him Yet the complacency I had with my affection made me suspect that it was not out of aversion that he kept from me and that I had possibly wrought something upon his Spirit which rendred him more circumspect in avoiding the occasions of displeasing me but the uncertainty I was in very much troubled me and the condition of my Spirit being strangely changed I was as
I look for it no where but in death but only I would desire of you without any longer discourse for the pressing condition wherein I am in doth not permit me to converse any longer with you the means of pursuing the Ravishers of Cleopatra who was lately carried away in my presence having been too faintly defended by me What said Agrippa interrupting him are you then that valiant man who alone and without arms slew so many armed men for the defence of Cleopatra I am that Wretch replyed Coriolanus which had not valour enough to guard that Princess from the violence of a few Barbarians I have now arms upon my back but I am on foot and I have so wandred in the Wood that I cannot find the way back to the place where I might recover Horses to post to the assistance of that Princess Such a grand action answered Agrippa as that whereof we saw the marks upon the place where it was done must needs proceed from such a hand as Yours I was going as you were to Cleopatra's assistance and just as You did I wandred and lost all my company in the turning of the wood the obscurity of the night If You could stay till day You should find all manner of assistance amongst us but in that urgency which You express I can only offer You this Horse which you may make use of as one of the best the World affords to go whither Your desires or Your Fortune shall direct you Coriolanus what necessity soever he had at first refused Agrippa's offer making some difficulty to leave a man of that importance alone on foot in the Wood and in the dark But Agrippa being offended at his modesty When you are upon a business of such consequence said he you ought not to stand upon punctillio's I would not deal so with you upon the like occasion and You use me as an an Enemy if You refuse any longer that which is now in my power to offer You You will constrain me to follow You on foot if You continue obstinate my attendants are not far off the worst that can come to me is to pass the rest of the night here in expectation of them at a season when my stay will not be incommodious I have no reason to fear any accident in a place where all persons are my friends and where I shall find no body from whom I may not receive assistance Though Agrippa had added a great many more and more pressing expressions Coriolanus would never have suffered himself to be overcome if he had had any other business in hand but the assisting of Cleopatra but upon a necessity of that importance at last he closed his eyes against all that civility could possibly represent to him and receiving the horse which Agrippa presented to him Both You and my bad fortune said he constrain me to do an action which I would never have consented to for the recovery of my Kingdom the Gods will recompense You for it if I cannot and in the mean time rest assured that during the small remainder of my life I will treasure up in my heart as I am obliged to do the memory of so generous an action As he ended these words he put his foot into the stirrop and mounted into the Saddle Agrippa holding the Bridle of the Horse himself and promising him that when he found his Men he would post after him to Cleopatra's aid Adieu generous Agrippa said Coriolanus to him at parting pardon this action which You force me to do and believe that if I live never so little while I will not die ingrateful for this good office Having spoken these words he parted from him and turning the head of his horse that way which he thought might lead after Cleopatra he posted away amongst the trees with as much speed as the darkness would permit Agrippa remained amazed at this accident as well to find that Prince in so strange a condition and in so unexpected a manner in a place where there was little likelihood of his being found when he thought him to be a great way off as to hear him express so much interest and so much earnestness for Cleopatra to whom he thought as well as a great many others that he had been unfaithful He reflected then upon it not having had time during the conversation they had together or at least Coriolanus his impatience not having permitted him to enquire why he tormented himself so for a person whom according to the vulgar opinion he had ingratefully forsaken This consideration took up his thoughts a good while before he could pass any judgment upon the uncertainty which this adventure afforded but a little after he believed that Coriolanus whose generosity was known to all the World might do that meerly upon the score of Verture which another would have done for love and that having seen the Princess whom he had dearly loved in some danger he had fought for her and was so passionate to assist her onely out of the motions of his Vertue He did not find it strange knowing himself to be capable of doing as much and easily guessing by his own inclinations at the thoughts of vertuous persons he meditated a while upon this accident and turning his memory with compassion upon the divers revolutions of Fortune who did so differently sport her self in the life of this brave African whom ever since his birth she had made the object of her inconstant Capricio's making him fall before he was born from Royalty into servitude favouring him in a thousand gallant actions which had acquired him immortal glory amongst men and after she had caused him to remount his Throne maugre all the forces of the Empire tumbling him down again with the same suddenness into the loss of all into misery and that deplorable condition wherein he had met him he could not but be very much moved at it and lifting up his eyes to Heaven with a sigh O Gods said he how incomprehensible are Your judgments and how inconsiderable is the life of man since the greatest and most vertuous are subject to so many misfortunes 't is in the Fortune of this Prince the bravest person that ever the Sun shined upon that the instability of humane things is easily remarkable and thence we learn a very observable lesson how little confidence we ought to have in things so inconstant and so apt to perish He had stayed longer upon this consideration which produced powerful effects in such a soul as his if his new passion which at that time left little room for other thoughts had not insensibly banished thence another mans interests to take full possession of his mind it self By the misfortunes of Coriolanus which love alone for the most part had produced he foresaw what he might fall into himself by the same passion and making a short meditation thereupon Alas said he that which I deplore in another may possibly ere long
befall my self and Elisa without doubt is able to cause the same disorders in my soul and Fortune that Cleopatra had caused in Coriolanus's I have all the reasons that can be to fear it seeing in the space of one night and a day that imperious beauty hath ruined my repose which to all appearance was so well established and hath made a greater progress in this little time than another could have done in divers years I feel and suffer already all that persons grown old in Love can feel and suffer and if in the very beginning my passion handles me with so much violence what may I expect when its forces are augmented and its powers are absolutely established over this heart which it spares so little already Ah! continued he a little after though I should have all the reason that might be to be afraid of this fatal engagement of my heart yet it is too handsome for me to make any attempt to break it off and that destiny that brings a divine beauty from the farthest parts of Asia and from out the midst of our cruel enemies to work that upon my soul which the Roman beauties could not do binds me up already so powerfully that it hath not left my will so much as one single motion or desire to disengage my self As he uttered these words he laid himself down at the foot of an Oak being resolved to pass away the rest of the night there for it was at that season of the year when they are at the shortest In this place he used some vain endeavours to catch some sleep which fled from him and the Image of Elisa which gained an absolute power over his spirit more and more did not a great while permit him to find any repose in the least conformable to the first violences of his Love What said he with a little motion of choller or resentment have I lost all in so little a time and will sleep approach my eyes no more since the beauties of Elisa have fatally appeared to them Well pursued he let us submit to the force of our destiny and seeing we must watch let us watch with the Stars which bear us company and which can only bear witnesse of our sighs and the words which love draws from our mouth Agrippa spake these words as he thought very loud certainly believing that at such an hour and in that desart place he was not over heard by any body and that he really had only the Stars as witnesses of the effects which his passion might produce but he was deceived and that night being to him a night of adventures 't was the will of Fortune that a few paces from him there lay a man under the trees passing the rest of the night and expecting the approach of day in imployments not much different from his This Man whose soul was much more enflamed with love than Agrippa's was and possibly as much as a soul was capable of no sooner heard the amorous words which Agrippa had uttered but he found some consolation in that rancounter and after two or three impetuous sighs beginning to speak loud enough to be distinctly heard by Agrippa Alas said he is it possible then that I am not the only man whom Love causes to spend the night in this dark and solitary place whilest sleep Exercises its Dominion over the whole Earth Agrippa who expected not that accident was a little surprized at it at first thinking that he had been in a place where he might freely discover his thoughts to the face of Heaven yet being of a Spirit not easily daunted he quickly recomposed himself and finding as well as the unknown some consolation in meeting with an amorous person he thought it not amiss to enter into a discourse with him that might render their solitude the more comfortable and returning an answer to those few words he had spoken without stirring from his place No said he you are not the only man whom Love causes to sigh at these hours in solitude and though fortune hath conducted me hither yet 't is certain that Love only keeps me company and takes up all my thoughts They cannot be more worthily employed replyed the Unknown and even amongst those whom hope hath almost deserted there are some which find all the entertainment of their life only in the thoughts of their Love As for those answered Agrippa whom hope hath abandoned their thoughts cannot but be very full of grief and affliction and hope doth not ordinarily leave us but in such extremities when we hardly can tell what to think upon Yea divers persons believe that after the loss of hope Love cannot be easily preserved and as hope in Love cannot be intirely lost but by the loss of the Object beloved so by the same losse it is probable that Love abandons us together with our hope Alas added the Unknown with a sigh how little experience have you so far as I can judge in the effects of this passion to which neverthelesse it seems You have submitted your Spirit 'T is true answered Agrippa that I have passed a good part of my Life in liberty enough and 't is not long since that my soul hath been made Loves subject by such powers as have disarmed my heart at the first sight and which at the very beginning have already made me feel whatsoever others have felt most violent in whole years I easily believe it replyed the Unknown and I do not doubt but that at the first sight a heart may be disarmed and submit it self to Loves greatest cruelty I have had experience enough of it my self to make me believe it upon anothers account but if Your passion be yet in its infancy upon which all Souls do not equally fix themselves at first or at least if you be not so far ingaged that you have no power left over your Spirit avoid if it be possible for you any farther engagement and stop the course betime of an infinite number of paines and sufferings in comparison of which all others are trivial and by which life is rendred worse than the most painful death O Gods continued be with a new supply of sobs how different would mine have been from this deplorable condition wherein I miserably spend my dayes if I had followed the counsel which I venture to give to others how many evils had I been spared from under which my unfortunate Soul alwayes groaned how many troubles both of body and mind had I avoided under which both have deeply suffered And yet O my adorable there he stopt because he would not name her and yet O dear Mistriss of my heart how sorry should I have been if I had followed these counsels which were profitable indeed as to my repose but contrary to the glory and the satisfactition which I find in passing my dayes for your sake in these miseries which are a thousand times more sweet and more dear to me than all the pleasures
than of those whom Fortune had best befriended that way You need not fear any thing answered Arsinoe for besides your birth and your Crowns you are endued with all the qualities which may make a person considerable and more than that you have the advantage of so many services and of so many precious proofs of affection that I should be the most ingrateful person of the world if I should not prefer you as long as I live before the Masters of the Universe But to finish my narration I will tell you that we would have continued our voyage towards Armenia but the Prince my brother prayed me first to hear the relation of his adventures and having discoursed them to me in the same place where he acquainted me with as great and as wonderful things as ever I heard of which you shall hear at better leisure either from his mouth or mine he let me know at last that he was necessarily obliged to be at Alexandria with all possible speed believing that in that place only he might hear news of a person to whom he had absolutely devoted his life and without whom he could have neither repose nor comfort Though I had a great desire to return to my native Country and though the memory of you might make me fear on your behalf that if I had any place still in your thoughts you would seek for me in Armenia to no purpose yet my brothers interest was so urgent and of great importance as you will understand when I shall acquaint you with it that I should have been absolutely void of friendship and respects towards him if I should have expressed the least repugnance to go that voyage before I went to Armenia Ariobarzanes gave me to understand that we went to seek in that Country for what he had lost that being the only part of the world where he believed he might receive intelligence and that if the Gods would permit him to find satisfaction there we should go into our native Country full of joy and contentment but if fortune crossed him he would reconduct me out of Egypt into Armenia the shortest and the easiest way I loved Ariobarzanes so well that I desired his repose as much as mine own and by the relation which he made me of his strange adventures I did so much interess my self in the fortune of that person for whom he sought that I was the first that urged that voyage and told him that all the trouble I could endure upon that account was not considerable in relation to a design of that importance Ariobarzanes embraced me with tears in his eyes as well in respect to the marks of affection which he found in me as to the memory of the deplorable condition of his fortune wherein I did so participate that he hardly seemed to be more afflicted than I. We turned about our Vessel and the wind not being contrary to us in a short time we entred into the Syrian Sea but as ill luck would have it either the troubles of my mind or the toyl of my body made me fall sick and it came to such an extremity that Ariobarzanes notwithstanding the impatience which carried him along in that voyage perceiving that in that condition I could not brook the Sea landed us at Sidon where to make as quick dispatch of a thing of so small importance as I can possibly whatsoever care I took to forward my recovery I was not in a condition to endure the Sea for above a month After that time we put to Sea again where contrary to my expectation I suddainly recovered my health The man which Britomarus left us accompanied and served us all the voyage with a great deal of affection and by the diligence and good conduct of his Mariners without any adventure worth speaking of we arrived yesterday in the evening upon this coast But our Vessel was in so bad a condition having born the brunt of a furious Tempest but a few days since that we did not think we could lye there all night in safety and leaving the care to our men to re-accommode it we came out of it in that condition wherein you met us to come to this City but it was so late that night surprized us in the Wood and so dark that not knowing the way we were constrained to take up our lodging under the trees where we spent the night and whither our common destiny conducted you to render you what you sought for with more trouble than I deserved and to give me the comfort of seeing a Prince again who for so many reasons ought to be most dear to me and highly esteemed by me as long as I live Arsinoe ended her discourse in this manner and when she had done speaking the passionate Prince throwing himself at her feet and embracing her knees with tears of joy expressed himself with so much ardor that the Princess to whom the testimonies of his love were not disagreeable was more moved to tenderness than ever she had been before and gave him all the marks of affection that he could expect from so eminent a vertue as Delia's was The end of the Sixth Part. HYMEN 'S PRAELVDIA OR Loves Master-piece PART VII LIB I. ARGUMENT Candace and Elisa bestow a second Visit upon the Princess Olympia and find her in a very hopeful way of recovery At their desire she goes on with her Story and acquaints them that the fair Stranger whose life she had saved in the desart-Island is Ariobarzanes Brother to the King of Armenia She relates their deplorable Condition in that place and the strange manner of their Delivery out of it Ariobarzanes saves Adallas 's life and is like to lose his own by Adallas 's Jealousie but is dismissed with a strict prohibition never to set foot in Thrace nor to see Olympia Adallas being detained in Cyprus by his wounds sends into Thrace to know the Condition of his Kingdome Intelligence is brought that his Kingdom is invaded and almost quite lost Adallas hastning homewards is hindred by a Tempest but after a long stay for a Wind he puts to Sea again and near the Coast of Thrace meets some of his Subjects who inform him That by the incomparable Valour of a Stranger named Ariamenes now their General the remainder of his Dominions was preserved and the progress of his Enemies retarded Adallas understanding the Coast to be clear continues his Voyage and arrives at Byzantium THE fair Princess of the Parthians and the beautiful Queen of Ethiopia had conceived so much esteem and amity for the Princess Olympia that they could not permit her to continue long in the trouble wherein they had seen her without disposing themselves to render her a second Visit as soon as might be and to use all possible means to administer some ease and consolation unto her This was no slight effect of Olympia's excellent qualities to have produced in so smal a time this interest for her
interressed presently perceived it and reproached me with it upon the place I took little care to justifie my self before a man to whom I thought my self to owe no Duty and if I did take any 't was more for Ariobarzanes's security than out of any respect to my self When he was gone forth the King constraining me to sit down by his Beds-side set his passion defore my eyes in the most moving rerms that it could furnish him withal and representing to me the pains and the hazards to which he had exposed himself in following me as proofs of affection for which he judged I was very reduceable to him but the more he spake of it the more repugnance I had to hear him and at last my patience being tired I so much encouraged my self that contemning all the power he could have over me and looking upon him with a disdain not conformable to the thoughts we ordinarily have for a Brother and a King Adallas said I to him Do not think thou hast found any favourable change in thy condition by this encounter and think that Olympia is not so fallen into thy hands but that she can get out of them when she pleases the wayes are alwayes open to persons who like her know how to condemn death and thou may'st be well assured that to flie thy Arms she will make no difficulty to cast her self into the embraces of death Do not think therefore to triumph over my former Resolutions by the power which Fortune seems to have given thee over me and believe with an absolute certainty that at that moment when thou shalt go about to abuse it I will either throw my self into the Sea in thy presence or sheath a weapon in my Breast or if these means of avoiding thy Tyranny be taken from me by force I will infallibly obtain that by fasting which may be denied me by any other assistance I spake these words with such a resolute action that Adallas did not doubt but that I had Courage enough to execute what I expressed and having a fresh example of what I had lately done he certainly believed that a person who had braved death with so much assurance and by the memory of the dangers which she had lately escaped was not staggered at all in her designs was capable of undertaking any thing and of throwing her self self into greater extremities than the former when she should see her self constrained to it The reflection he made upon it kept him a long time from speaking lifting every moment his eyes to Heaven and using such gestures as did sufficiently express the trouble and the inquietude of his spirit At last breaking silence and looking upon me with an action full of the marks of his passion Olympia said he to me the gods are my witnesses that if it were in my power to cease from loving you I would cure my self of this passion which is so disagreeable to you for our common repose and that hence forward I have so little hope to conquer your inclinations that I would no longer endeavour to contest with them but seeing that in the violence whereunto my love is arrived this hope is forbidden me I cannot Olympia I cannot promise you that I will cease to love you Neither will I promise you that I will give you no more testimonies of my love by my discourse and actions it will be difficult for me to live near you without making that appear to you which takes up my whole life I will love you to my Grave and to my Grave I will testifie to you that I cannot cease to love but I will promise you and do now promise you before all the gods That I will never employ any thing whil'st I live but love perseverance and all the devoiers of a true lover to perswade you without having recourse to the Authority which my Birth gives me and I was heretofore resolved to make use of Yes Olympia you may be very certain that you shall never be forced to give me those testimonies of your affection which I might desire if you be not induced to do it by my love and services and with the assurance you may return without fear into a Kingdom where you shall reign as in my heart but withall believe assuredly that I will never consent whil'st I breath to anothers happiness but will rather undo all and bury my self in the ruines of our Family than permit that any body else should obtain that of you which you so cruelly deny me In fine Olympia I will never enjoy you by force nor will I ever suffer any other to possess you as long as I shall have any life left to hinder and if it be possible for me I will be the death of all those who shall have the intention to do it These words made me tremble upon Ariobarzanes's Account to whom this menace was particularly addressed but finding some consolation in the promise which Adallas made me never to force me to marry him I thought it best to make use of this good motion in expection that Heaven might send more absolute assistance and that by time and the Accidents which might happen in my life there might arrive a greater change in my Fortune Sir said I to him upon this thought you would undoubtedly obtain a very glorious Victory if you could banish out of your Soul this passion which is so fatal to your repose and so injurious to your Reputation and you secure me but from one half of my pains in reserving to your self the liberty of loving me and of continuing to give me testimonies of that fury which you call love Yet I will endure them more patiently than the violence which I feared at your hands and if you observe the promise you have made me never to use your Authority to constrain me I will be contented to wait till the gods shall change your inclinations without using any extremity against my life The King being well pleased to see me a little recomposed confirmed his promise to me and conceived some small hope that time might work some favourable revolution in my Fortune In the mean time the Chyrurgions prayed the King to give some intermission to this long and vehement Conservation if he would not have his wounds grow worse and 't was with a great deal of constraint that he resolved to keep silence and to let me go from him for some few hours I had the liberty to walk in the Vessel and so had Ariobarzanes too the King having taken no care to retain him any other way knowing very well that he had no means to get out of his power but by throwing himself amongst the waves but though I saw him and had a thousand things to say to him yet I durst not speak to him seeing my self observed by all the Kings Retinue who were as so many Spies and could not have informed him that I entred into a particular Conversation with Ariobarzanes
the Forces he could raise and the places being defended but with very small Garrisons part of them had their Throats cut by the Inhabitants part of them were forced to yield and the rest being intimidated marched out upon composition leaving Merodates absolute Master of that which he had lost not long before And seeing himself possessor of that which lawfully belonged to him he did not bound his Ambition there but after he had strengthned his Troops with divers Levies which the Countries which were reconquered furnished him withal and which he sent for out of Chersonesus to make a strong Attempt with a considerable Body of an Army he marched into Thrace and being prudently Politick he wasted all with Fire and Sword that made any resistance and used all those very gently who submitted to him without farther trouble The whole Kingdom seeing it self deprived of its King and being disfurnished of Forces and necessary preparations to withstand a sharp War was very much staggered and those whom Merodates had a long time practised withall did not fail to publish all abroad That their King had abandoned them and that they were fools and wretches to suffer themselves to be killed and to expose themselves to all the miseries of a cruel and a bloody War to preserve their Fidelity to a Prince who delivered them up to their Enemies and had quitted the defence of his Kingdom and his Subjects to go and fill the world with the report of the horrible love which he bare his Sister And to this Merodates added Manifestos which he spread all about by which he endeavored to make the King odious to a people which he had had so little care to protect and exhorted them to put themselves under the dominion of a Prince descended from their lawful Kings a Prince who instead of abandoning them would defend them with his blood against all the powers upon earth To this he adjoined great promises to those who should come in to his Party and great threatnings to those who should make any resistance And in brief he had wrought in such a manner either by his perswasions or by the terrour of his Arms that a great many persons of considerable quality either intimidated or corrupted or discontented and ill-affected joined with his Party and divers Cities opened their Gates to him Eurimedes to whom the King had left the Government of the Kingdom had used all possible Remedies with all Fidelity and diligence and of all the Troops which he could raise and in levying and conduct whereof he had employed and encouraged those persons of quality which were well-affected to the Service of their King having composed the Body of an Army of more than Twenty thousand men he marched against Merodates and too unadvisedly gave him Battel The despute was doubtful cruel and bloody but at last the victory fell to Merodates and Eurimedes being vanquished hardly saved himself with part of his Cavalry all his Infantry being cut in peeces After this Victory the insolent Merodates marched directly towards Bizantium causing himself to be stiled King of Thrace and receiving every day the Towns which submitted to his obedience There were some which by the strength of their scituation or the Valour and Fidelity of the Inhabitants caused some trouble to the Conqueror but at last he made himself Master of them and used those so rigorously who had resisted to extremity that it was much to be feared that the rest were discouraged and would rather follow the example of the others who by their facility in yielding to the Vanquisher had received all manner of good usage Eurimedes was near to Byzantium where he raised new Forces and a great many Loyal persons came in to him but it was beleived that he would not be a long time in a condition to hazard a second Battel neither was it judged safe for him to venture it though he had Forces equal to those of Merodates In the mean time he fortified the City and the Haven of Bizantium and by his orders and example divers Governors put their Garrisons into a posture of defence but there was a general terror amongst all little Fidelity in the hearts of the meaner People and in brief a great deal of danger of the loss of the whole Kingdom if the gods and the presence of the King did not prevent it This was the News which was reported to Adallas and which maugre his passion caused a great deal of trouble and grief in his Soul He continued a good while not able to open his mouth and afterwards turning his eyes toward me and prefacing his intended Discourse with some sighs Behold Madam said he behold the fruits of the Love I bear you it is not sufficient that for your sake I should be deprived of my Repose but for your sake too I must lose the Kingdom of my Ancestors By this Sir answered I you may judge how much that Love displeases the gods seeing they punish you for it with so extream a rigor and if you would appease them and render them more favourable to you you must rid your self of that unjust passion which hath provoked them against you All the afflictions they can lay upon me replied the passionate Prince shall never reduce me to that and if to the loss of my Crown they do not add the loss of my life too they shall never deprive me of the Love which I have for Olympia to whom I would willingly have sacrificed Crowns and Empires far greater than that which I have received from my Ancestors Ah! Sir added I if you would make good use of the instruction which you received from Heaven you might yet without doubt gain assistances thence which might resettle you upon your Throne and would give you an absolute Victory over those Enemies to whom your unjust passion only hath given all the Courage they had to invade your Dominions Let us talk no more of it cryed the furious Adallas let us talk no more of it but let us go without any farther delay to the assistance of a Kingdom which is not quite lost There possibly in a little time you shall see what vengeance I will take upon my Enemies or at least by my utter overthrow you shall be perpetually freed from a wretch who lives only to persecute you with his Love and not to be beloved by you Upon these words though he was not as yet fully cured he commanded that all things should be prepared for our departure against the next Morning as well to accomode the Vessel if it had any need as also for the Provision of Necessaries for our Voyage In effect all things being prepared as well as they could be in so short a time the next day we put to Sea and began to make towards Thrace with all our Sails We prosecuted our Voyage with a great deal of diligence and success for the first dayes and Adallas being inflamed with a desire of Revenge did
didst expect from a King obliged to thy Valor be not found in an injured and desperate Love As he finished the words he turned towards Sosias and Eusthenes the Captains of his Guards and commanded them to seize upon the person of Ariamenes and to be responsible for him upon pain of death At this Command all those who had followed Ariamenes and who with the rest of the Army had conceived a marvellous Affection for him could not forbear to murmur aloud at it and those that came along with the King who were acquainted with the merit and services of Ariamenes could not hear it without a deal of displeasure Ariamenes seemed to be the least tcoubled at it and if he was was only with some motions of Choler and that Passion of which till then he had rendred himself Master upon the consideration of his Love could not be so absolutely restrained in a fierce and fiery spirit as Ariobarzanes's was but that at last it would in some measure appear I should lye said he to the King If I should say that I expected any other usage from thee and thy Actions have so much congruity with that gallant Passion by which thou would'st excuse thy ingratitude that the value of thy life and Kingdom could not make me expect any other recompence than what thou bestowest upon me It suffices me for my satisfaction to see thee declare that thou art beholding to me for thy life before those who know already that thou art obliged to me for the preservation of thy Kingdom and I am sufficiently satisfied and revenged upon thee by the shame which I leave thee for using those so to whom thou confessest that thou owest thy Crown and Life After these words seeing Sosias and Eusthenes though very much troubled at the employment to draw near him and demand his Sword This Sword said he laying his hand upon the Hilt hath done too good service in the defence of your King and you to endure to pass out of my hand into hands unworthy to bear it but seeing that it is to no purpose to defend it against an Army I render it to the Princess Olympia and 't is to her only continued he throwing it at Sosia's feet that I charge you to present it as being the only person in Thrace who can deserve that honour and that hath reason to glory that she hath made Ariamenes yield up his Arms. These words pronounced with an admirable Grace re-inflamed the Kings anger afresh and not being able to dissemble it Thou hast pronounced the sentence of thine own death said he in pronouncing the Name of Olympia and that fatal Love whereof thou makest so publick a Declaration in throwing thy self into thy Grave shall give a fair example to such audacious Youngsters as thou art to be more regular in their Ambition Thou may'st judge what thou pleasest of my thoughts replied Ariamenes but if I love the Princess Olympia know she is not offended by my Love as she is highly injured by thine and seeing that I am neither her Brother as thou art nor of a Birth inferior to hers she might receive that from me without wronging her self which she cannot endure from thee without detestation Upon these words the King had almost made his indignation appear in some Tragical effect and seeing himself covered with shame and confusion by the reproaches of Ariamenes he was ready to run him through with his Sword at last retaining himself though with much difficulty I endure any thing said he from a man whom I can punish at my pleasure a man devoted to death by my just resentments and his own confession Take him out of my presence and whil'st there is order taken for his punishment we will learn if his Birth be not inferior to mine Thou shalt know it possibly replied Ariamenes sooner than thou desirest and upon this hint which I have given thee consider more than once how thou wilt proceed against the Son of a greater King than he of Thrace Having spoken these words he turned another way without having any longer Conversation with the King who being unwilling to have him conducted into the Army where he was adored by his Souldiers and where he was afraid of some Commotion if the Souldiery had seen their valiant General a Prisoner commanded Eusthenes to carry him to Bizantium with a Convoy of Five hundred Horse and to stay there to Guard him till he received farther Orders but he expresly forbade him upon pain of death to permit me to see him protesting to him That if any such thing hapned he would never pardon him Eusthenes having received this Order with regret and yet being forced to obey it caused Ariamenes to mount upon another Horse instead of his own and putting him into the middle of the Troop which was to conduct him he caused him to march towards Bizantium Before that he arrived there the Report of his being taken and of all that had passed upon this occasion was already spread abroad and I was one of the first persons that had the Relation brought to them You may imagine what effect this News produced upon my spirit and you need not doubt but this sad Adventure made me fall into the most violent grief that any Soul could be sensible of Indeed the danger whereunto I saw this young Prince whom I loved as much as his merit and affection did oblige me to do exposed for the love of me did so nearly touch me that I should tell you nothing but the Truth if I should protest to you That I would willingly have been in his place and have been made the mark of all the mischief that was aimed at him By the new proofs which he had given me of his Affection in coming without any care of his life to make such a generous and noble search after opportunities of seeing me and serving his most cruel Enemy upon my-Account he had as I conceived so far obliged me That I could not without ingratitude deny him as much Affection as he expressed to me And in that my fair Princesses I acquitted my self as I ought loving him as dearly and as sincerely as my Soul was capable to do O gods what did I not think what did I say at this cruel News And what Testimonies did I not give to all the persons which came near me how much I interested my self in this Accident One while I complained of the cruelty and ingratitude of Adallas which could not but render him odious to all the world for the unworthy usage which he shewed to the valiant Defender of his Dominions and the preserver of his life Another while I accused Ariobarzanes of rashneness and want of consideration as to my Repose for coming and casting himself so imprudently into the hands of a man almost mad with Jealousie who had so seriously threatned him and sometimes I checked my self knowing very well that I had partly contributed to this disaster
but in the condition wherein you are and the great confidence which your excellent qualities may cause in you you have no need of those Fictions which Poetry might furnish you withall to express those thoughts which with more boldness than any other person you may openly discover I cannot agree with you modestly answered Agrippa in the flattering Discourse you make me and I find in my self but little reason for that confidence to which you would perswade me but though I were such as you represent me or as possibly our friendship would make you desire me to be I could not find any thing in the knowledge of it that might dispense with that which we owe to persons worthy of our respects and when our Soul is once made a Subject to the Empire of a Beauty and of a Beauty accompanied with all other advantages which may confirm its Domination that boldness which carries us through in Combats and dangerous Enterprizes doth not accompany us before those Soveraign Mistresses at whose feet our heart is disarmed of all its Forces The boldest man that is if his boldness be not vitious and do not pass the limits which reason ought to prescribe loses without doubt a good part of his Audacity when being upon the point to venture himself the Beauty which is predominant over his spirit darts him an imperious look wherein he may read the condemnation of his rashness or passes into such a coldness as freezes up all his hopes and stifles his expressions in his mouth Upon such an Account as this my dear Ovid 't is advantagious to have a particular Address to explain ones self and by this means a man doth not so rashly commit himself to Fortune which oftentimes is doubtful and makes us fall into displeasures which by a respectful silence we might have avoided T is certain said Ovid That by a respectful or timorous silence which tyes up the tongue upon these occasions one may secure himself from bad success but then he continues in a condition which possibly is not to be preferred before that which may be feared from a venturous Declaration yet it is not that I approve of an indiscreet presumption or think it convenient to manifest presently to the person beloved the passionate thoughts a man hath for her but in a little time and with a little Discretion one may easily find an opportunity and do that handsomly and seasonably which at another time would be inconvenient To this end I have alwayes thought it necessary to prevent the Declarations of our love by some Actions that may make it known to the Party beloved and to prepossess her mind by those services and effects of compliance which ordinarily are produced by that passion before we venture to express it by Discourse this way you are almost sure of the event before you put it to the hazard and if the person beloved be averse from your love and is afraid of a fuller Declaration of it than you have made by your Actions she will never give you way to put it to the venture but will so deprive you of all confidence and opportunities that if you have never so little prudence left you will never expose your self to it I do not doubt said the Queen Candace to Ovid interrupting him but you have often practised the Lessons which you give to others and have been sensible sometimes of that passion which you have so handsomly described in your writings 'T is certain Madam replied Ovid that I have not lived thus long without loving something and that I have not received so much dulness and stupidity from Nature as to have seen a great Number of considerable Beauties without any sensibility But if you have loved added the sad Elisa being of the humor that you are you did not suffer long before you discovered your love 'T is true Madam answered he That I have loved and have alwayes made my passion known to those persons who took notice of it and in this I have carried my self differently according to occasions according to the humour and sometimes according to the quality of the persons that I loved Tot hose in whom I observed most facility or most disposition to receive my love I discovered in almost before it was formed but when I was to deal with those that were more severe I waited till time and my serviees had wrought some effect upon them and if neither time nor my Actions rendred me that good Office which I expected I served my self as the great Agrippa lately told you with such inventions as my wit could furnish me withall Sometimes under other names I let them see whatsoever my passion for them inspired my Pen withall and when by little and little I had reduced them to approve of my thoughts and to grant me that the person for whom I had conceived and expressed them could not be offended at them I did insensibly acquaint them with the Truth and obliged them too to thank me for the respect I expressed to them by this Address Sometimes in Heroical Epistles upon which Argument I have composed some Elegies which I perswaded them to read in the passions of Theseus Achilles and Paris I let them see my own and when I knew that I had moved them to pitty Paris I desired them to bestow the same compassion upon Ovid. I made use of divers other inventions which do not deserve to be related to you but I may truly say without vanity that which way soever I went to work and though I never addressed my self to mean persons yet 't is certain for all that that of all the persons to whom I discovered my passion which possibly have been a great Number there was never any that was offended with it or at least that ever expressed any anger upon that Account that lasted above a day The Company could not choose but smile at this Discourse which Ovid made them with a great deal of grace and ingenuity and Cornelius taking a hint You were very happy said he and all persons that have loved and ventured to declare themselves as you did have not had the same success He spake these words looking upon the Queen of Ethiopia who not being able to be so far Mistress of her resentment as to forbear a Reply 'T was said she because they did not follow his Maxims and wait as he did till their Services had gained the heart of the Party beloved before they ventureed to discover themselves Prudence added Virgil who as yet had not interposed in their Discourse is none of the vertues which ordinarily accompany love and if Ovid had it either for the Companion or Guide of hie amorous Adventures his passions have not been very violent I have had replied Ovid those that were violent and those that were moderate and though possibly I have resented those which were strong enough to discompose that little prudence I might have received from Nature yet in
for the most eminent aim that I could choose The thought of being looked upon by that fair and great Princess for any reason whatsoever did at first agreeably tickle my conceit and gave me no slight blow to the persecuting remembrance of Cipassis's beauties I was puffed up with a kind of pride which made me judge that the least expressions of Julias good-will were able to comfort me for the repulse I received in the passion I had conceived for that fair stranger and having not only a good opinion of my self but some courage too I resolved to pursue my Fortune and to try if it could be possible that I should find any place in the Princesses esteem 'T was not without a very great violence that I resolved to attempt the breaking of Cipassis Chains but besides that that passion was not grounded upon any hope which might authorize the continuance of it I knew that instead of offending Cipassis I should do her a pleasure in freeing her from my importunities and that she would not take it ill at my hands that I had expedited my cure by all possible means nor that I had sought it in the sublimest place that I could propose to my self I had no sooner determined what to do but I felt my self half cured of my former passion so true is it that in love as in distempers of another nature Afirm resolution is a good part of the remedy Then I began to meditate in what manner I should proceed with Julia to let her understand that her obliging expressions had elevated my Ambition and thought I was no Puny in all the procedures of love having by long practice gained a great experience in them yet my love had never aspired so high and there was a necessity that I should carry my self after another manner towards such a person as Julia was than I had done towards the other Roman Ladies upon whom I had formerly bestowed my inclinations I see Sir you cannot but smile at the little solidity there was in my pertensions and you will ask of me what aim my intentions could have in loving and that with Design rather than out of a violent inclination wherewith I might have been prepossessed the Daughter of Cesar designed for Marcellus who was one day to enjoy the Empire and her too and from whom I could never hope any solid Affection But to this I will answer you First That in Affairs of this Nature I scarcely ever made reason Umpire in my deliberations but without sounding the depth of Consequences I sought my present satisfaction when I could compass it without the hazard of my honour And then let me tell you that never having had any Design of marriage for those persons who were of mine own Rank and by a far stronger reason not having folly enough to look upon Julia with that thought 't was indifferent to me in relation to the end I aimed at whether she were designed for Mercellus or absolutely married to him And in fine never having loved but to make my self beloved if it were possible I might endeavour to make my self beloved by Julia and in what condition soever she should be the smallest Testimonies of her Affection could not be very advantagions to me He that will may laugh at this manner of loving but I will maintain that 't is the only way that can be conformable to a real love and that those persons who seek for securities and precautions in love and do embark in t that passion till they have foreseen the Consesequences and the advantagious successes of it may be termed prudent but not amorous and engaged in a Design but not abandoned to love This Noble Passion admits not Philosophy into its Counsels and 't is to such as Demetrius and Anthony and not to such as Phocion and Cato that it is ordinarily addressed My Soul hath alwayes been more addicted to honest pleasure than too severe a prudence and 't is that which hath rendred me more inclinable to love and much more expert in it than a temperate Numa or a sullen Fabricius But to return to my Discourse I will tell you that my spirit being already filled with the Ideas of Julia which did agreeably flatter it laboured to find out some gallant and extraordinary way to discover my audacious thoughts and to let her understand that I wanted not Courage to raise them as high as any scope would be given to my Ambition but I had no need to torment my self much for a thing which she her self did facilitate and three dayes were not yet past since our last Conversation when seeing me one Evening in her Chamber where as you know the greatest part of the Court do ordinarily pass the Evenings and observing that I was retired alone into a Corner with a pensive and melancholy Countenance which was not ordinary with me when my spirit was at liberty she came from her place as she had done the time before and after she had taken two or three turns about the Chamber and spoken some words as she passed by to two or three persons to the end that it might not be observed by her Action that she had any particular Design she drew near to me and accosting me with her usual Charms Well Ovid said she Will you not confess to me that you are now a thinking up on Cipassis No Madam answered I and if you command me to confess the Truth I may say that I do no longer dream of mortals but elevate my thoughts as high as the goddesses themselves Julia smiled at this Discourse and looking upon me with an eye that had nothing of severity in it Then you have thought said she and reflected upon the Counsels which I gave you I have so meditated upon them replied I that they have not been out of my memory for a moment and I confess that if it were as easie for me to render my self one of those extraordinary persons whom you permit to look upon Divinities as to have an inclination to raise my thoughts to them I would never dream any more upon terrestrial things 'T is no difficult matter answered Julia for you to believe your self to be an extraordinary man and you are indued with such uncommon qualities that they who should take you for an ordinary person would be thought to want common sense themselves Upon this assurance said I I will gloriously venture to present my offerings and turn my eyes from all that is inferior amongst men to sacrifice my Vows and Adorations to a great goddess I know not what my Destiny will be but though it should be parallel to that of the audacious Ixion a famous and illustrious Tomb is to be preferred before Crowns and if a man must perish by fall 't is better fall from Heaven than from an ordinary Precipice You have less reason added the Princess in a merry fashion to doubt of your destiny than another man who is less acquainted
drew afresh from their fair eyes After they had employed themselvs a good while in this mournful exercise and had wished to the Manes of Tiridates all the Repose which his Vertue and Fidelity might make him hope for in the Elisian Fields the Princess of the Parthians raising her voice a little but with a tone conformable to their sad employment Arsacian Prince said she receive that which a Princess descended likewise of the blood of Arsaces can at present offer thee and since her destiny and thine hath not permitted her to close thy eyes and to render thee the last Offices which thou mightest expect from the persons of thy Family in Countries far remote from the place of thy Nativity content thy self faithful spirit with the tears which she bestows upon thee since her Fortune permits her to do no more and by the glorious example which thou hast give her not to survive the person beloved she hopes shortly to enjoy in the next life a sight which was denied her in the former Elisa uttered these words in so sad a manner that Candace was moved with a fresh compassion and rising up from the place where they had kneeled they cast their eyes upon the Epitaph which was lately fixed upon the Pyramid and there they read these doleful words To the Eternal Memory of a Prince who had a share of all the Vertues though Fortune and a Brother's Cruelty left him none in the Empire of his Ancestors YOu that acknowledg Love's Empires Pay Homage to the Manes Of Tiridates Who renders the puissance of that goddess More redoubtable by his Example Than by all his precedent Triumphs Tiridates Great in Birth Great in Valor Great in all the Vertues Was greater yet in his Love Seeing that without the Aid Of Sword or Poyson or Sickness Love alone brought him to His Crave And caused him to exspire his faithful Soul Having lost the person Beloved As if the person beloved and Tiridates had been animated But with one Soul and That by one single Thread Destiny had cut off the Web of both their lives The mournful words found so much conformity with the humor of the sad Elisa that she desired to read them over divers times and whil'st she amused her self about this lamentable exercise Candace who on the contrary endeavoured to divert her self from these mortal objects removed her self some paces from the Tomb and calling to mind the remembrance of her interest which Tiridates's death had caused her to suspend for some moments she meditated as she walked softly along what means she might use to obtain elsewhere the assistance which she had expected from Tiridates She had measured a few steps when casting her eyes towards the house where that unfortunate Prince lay dead she saw two men come that way on foot and when she could discern them she perceived that one of the two leaned upon one side upon his Companions and the other upon a staff which he held in his hand expressing by his feeble and languishing pace that he was not in good health and she had more reason to think so when at a nearer distance she might perceive that his countenance was very pale But though it was very much changed yet she thought that she knew some of the features in it and the nearer he came to her the more she confirmed her self in that opinion not that she sound so great a resemblance as to ground her judgment upon it considering that between the Age of Seventeen or Eighteen and Four or five and twenty years there happen very considerable alterations in a face and it may be she would not have absolutely given credit to that similitude if the man whose steps were addressed to Tiridates's Tomb coming near to her and having rendred to the Majesty of her countenance and the condition wherein he found her the salutation which he thought was due to her had not seemed to have been very much astonished at the meeting of her He cast his eyes upon her two or three times with all the signs of a profound admiration and Candace's Visage having suffered less alteration than his he the sooner perceived the resemblance of it and not being able to master the first emotions of his transport O gods said he starting back a step or two Can it be possible that I should see the Princess Candace The Tone of his voyce and these words caused the Queen who till then could give no credit to his imagination no longer to doubt but that this man was Britomarus who was educated in her Fathers Court though she had not seen him since he went out of Ethiopia after the Combat he had had with Cesario The Queen hearing her self named confirmed her self presently in her opinion and believing that she could not conceal her self from him Yes said she drawing neer to him I am Candace if you are Britomarus I am Britomarus without doubt replied he and though your disdain did heretofore do me some displeasure which almost brought me to my Grave yet I know very well that nothing can excuse me from the respect and veneration which is due to you nor hinder me from offering you all the Services that you can expect from me upon those occasions which have conducted you into these Countries With these words he set one knee upon the ground and kissed the hem of her garment with the same difference which he had formerly rendred her when he was brought up in her Service Candace giving him her hand with a great deal of sweetness and Majesty caused him to rise up and began to question him about the condition of his life and what adventure had brought him into that Countrey when she saw Elisa approach and believing that the Princess would have the curiosity to see the bold Britomarus of whom she made mention to her in the Relation of her life and had acquainted her with the generous quarrel he had with Cesario Madam said she to her be pleased to come and participate with me in the adventure I have had to meet with one of my most ancient acquaintants come and see the bold Britomarus for whose Courage I expressed so much esteem in the Discourse I made you of my fortunes At the name of Britomarus who as Elisa remembred had a great share in Candace's story the Princess was really sensible of a desire to see a man whose former Actions promised something worthy of Admiration and came near to the Queen to look upon him but she no sooner cast her eyes upon his face but with a loud exclamation she let her self fall between Cephisa's Arms who by good Fortune was close by her to hold her up Britomarus whose astonishment was less and whose Courage was more undaunted than Elisa's was did not lose his senses as she did but seeming transported with a vehement passion he ran to throw himself at her feet and kissing them a thousand times with an Action full of extasie he
made the name of Artaban as famous as Caesar or Pompey the Great so that Agrippa upon the Relation of his great Actions divers times felt a generous emulation in himself towards a man that in the Parthian Empire did so highly merit that glory which he sought for amongst the Romans He had a hundred times desired to be acquainted with so great a man and not doubting at that present but that it was he after he had viewed him from head to foot with an Action that expressed the thoughts he conceived for him If you be the Great Artaban said he as your Discourse doth make me judge you have reason to believe that a Crown shall not be more considerable to me than your Vertue and though I would not deny what is due to the Royal Dignity Trigranes must not be offended if I say that those men who dispose of Crowns are to be no less esteemed of than those that wear them and that such men as Artaban being not so common as Kings are will find amongst those that know what Vertue is that which Kings can never expect from their Diadems I will not only therefore assure you of Caesar 's protection and amity but likewise desire your Friendship as a benefit of so high a value as cannot be purchased at any rate Upon these words taking notice that Artaban was alighted because his Horse was wounded and was no longer able to bear him he alighted too to go and embrace him and Artaban the most fierce and daring man in the world towards those that undervalued him and the most humble and submissive to them that honoured him and those whom he thought worthy of his esteem received Agrippa's Caresses with all the respect he could have rendred to Augustus and looking upon him as a man whom his Vertue rendred far greater than his Fortune Generous Agrippa said he Fame hath but done you justice though she proclaims you to be the greatest of men and the honour you render to that little vertue wherewith she would flatter me makes it apparent that you possess it in the highest degree Whil'st Agrippa made much of Artaban Elisa was transported with joy at it and Candace who coming again to her embraced her a thousand times participated of her Friend's contentments as if they had been her own But Tigranes was ready to dye with grief and despight to see the advantages of his Rival and not being able to endure them any longer with patience Great Agrippa said he the esteem you express to Artaban ought not to make me fear that you will protect him against justice but leaving you at liberty to render him all the honour you can think him worthy of I only desire my wife of you and do believe you are too just to desire to keep her from me Elisa who heard this Discourse was minded to prevent Agrippa's Answer though she thought it would be for her disadvantage and drawing near to him I should have been Tigranes's wise said she if I would have consented to those violences which they would have done me in his favour but having alwayes resisted them as my Duty was and as I might well do being born in a free condition he never was or ever shall be my Husband and instead of acknowledging him for such I desire Augustus's protection and yours great Agrippa against the violence he would do me Tigranes would have made a Reply when Agrippa taking up the Discourse Tigranes said he you need not fear any injustice in any place that yields obedience to Augustus's Authority and if the Princess of the Parthians acknowledg you for her Husband and be willing to go with you we will be no hindrance to you but if she hath no such intention we will not suffer any violence to be offered her in those places where she cannot suffer it without prejudice to Caesars Authority whose protection she desires It shall be before Caesar if you please that you shall dispute your pretensions and you need not doubt but that he will preserve your interests if Justice be on your side In the mean time we will reconduct the fair Princess to Alexandria whither you are permitted to retreat as well as she and where you may expect if you please the arrival and judgment of Caesar Cornelius advancing upon these words confirmed Agrippa's Proposition to Tigranes and believing that so much Civility was due to the Royal Dignity he offered him as Pretor of Egypt what retreat he could desire in Alexandria Tigranes sighed divers times for grief and could not consent to the injury they did him in keeping Elisa from him but at last considering that he had not power enough to change the condition of things according to his wish and judging too that there was a great deal of equity in Agrippa's procedure he told him that seeing there was a necessity for it he would go to Alexandria and there expect the arrival of Caesar believing that he would restore him his Spouse and not deny him that Justice which he rendred to all the world All things being thus pacified Tigranes with his men marched towards Alexandria whither before he met with Elisa he had a Design to go and Cornelius though he parted unwillingly from Candace thought himself obliged in Civility to bear them Company and to take care of providing lodgings for them and Agrippa undertaking the conduct of Elisa caused her to mount again into the Chariot with Candace and though upon a confused report of the loves of Artaban and Elisa he already looked upon that great man with thoughts of jealousie he made the motions of that passion give place to Vertue so as to render him all the assistances that were due to him and supposing by the condition wherein he saw him that he could not be long on Horseback without inconvenience he desired him to enter into the Chariot with the Princesses leading him as it were in Triumph over the advantages he had gained over his Enemy O how much sweetness did Elisa and Artaban find in these delicious moments after so many tears and fears and dangers and if Artaban was proud to see himself at the feet of his adorable Princess how much was Elisa satisfied to see him so near her upon whom a few hours before she had bestowed so many tears Their mutual contentment would have been far more absolute if they had had the liberty to discourse together but Agrippa deprived them of that marching alwayes by the boot of the Chariot where the Princess sate At this time she endured his Company and Discourse more patiently than she did the last nor could she indeed look ill upon a man who besides the great qualities he was Master of had lately rendred her Services of such grand importance He could not speak to her but only concerning those things which had hapned that day and Agrippa following his vertuous inclinations rather than the motions of his jealousie continued to Caress Artaban and
you imagine that my Captivity alone compleats my Grief And judge you that I bestow not on Coriolanus whom you have seen it may be dye in our defence an equal portion of tears with yours for Alexander If you consult my thoughts replied Artemisa you will be doubtless more affected than I thought you had been for the marvels which I have observed in his person during the little time that I have seen him assisted by those you a few moments before related to me of the great actions of his life and Noble proofs of his love makes me judge that you ought to deplore his loss at least as much as I deplore my Alexanders but after the Treatment you have given him in my presence and the complaints I have heard you utter against his Infidelity whereof you have given me no light by your Discourse I imagined your Soul so over-charged that there remained not the least favourable inclination for him and though you were touched with the danger whereunto we saw him exposed and whereof I my self was very sensible yet generosity alone I supposed to be the cause and not any reliques of affection Generosity alone replied the afflicted Cleopatra might certainly have produced this effect and had my Soul never been touched with the least affection for the son of Juba or had all that which his great Services could have introduced been torn up by his Infidelity to the last root I could not have seen him in the condition wherein we left him for our interests without suffering great inquietudes for his safety and without expending many tears for his death if my cruel destiny commands that he suffer it for the love of me But Artemisa believe that besides what we owe to generosity and compassion the ancient and only affection which my Soul hath ever received hath not left it tranquill enough nor sufficiently dispolyed of all the tender resentments wherewith it inspired her to see Coriolanus perish upon my account with the same sensibility I should have for the rest of mankind By his Infidelity he may root out of my Soul the sweet and acknowledging thoughts I bare him and possess me with horror for his Perfidy and cast me into a resolution of addicting my whole life to the consideration of my misfortune without ever turning to the remembrance of the tokens of his love unless it were to render his Treason more odious to me yet scarce could it intirely blot out of my Soul the Character of an innocent affection which I thought I had with reason received and which I cannot retain but to my misfortune But my Sister added the fair Artemisa will you not tell me what Infidelity this is wherewith you reproach him and whereof I have seen so little appearance in your Discourse and much less in this Incounter and the last actions of that Prince I intended answered the Princess to have given you a Relation yesterday in the Wood where we passed almost the whole day and where we had this fatal meeting I learnt in that place replied Artemisa part of your Noble adventures and you forgat nothing as I believe of the most memorable passages which hapned until the wounding of Tiberius and the leave which Coriolanus took of you in the Garden of Octavia and his departure from Rome for Mauritania to conquer the Kingdom of his Ancestors it was just at this separation that our Discourse was interrupted so well as our walk by meeting the sleeping Prince and to a less adventure I believe I had never consented to remit its continuation Since my Discourse answered Cleopatra finished where you mention it is certain you have heard nothing but what speaks advantagiously of the love of Coriolanus and would to Heaven that the gods had here terminated the course of my life but in that part whereof you are ignorant whose Relation I will no longer defer if I have strength enough to make it and you patience enough to give this intermedium to your grief you will but too clearly behold this Infidelity which composeth all the misfortune of my life and which I should more bitterly detest did I not fear that he who committed it is dead for my sake and if this fear did not make some part of my legitimate resentments give place to compassion At these words the fair Princess was silent and Artemisa having not only testified that she would hearken with attention but that her displeasures by this Discourse would receive a sensible allevation she bethought her self some momencs on the order of her recital which a little after she began on this manner The Continuation of the History of the Princess Cleopatra IT is certain that before the unfortunate Voyage wherein the Fidelity of Coriolanus was ship wrack't I had reason to be satisfied with all the Actions of his life and even in those whereunto glory seemed to pretend with the greatest right He alwayes reguarded me as his only mark no! Glory it self could not rival me in his heart for he in such a manner despised the powers which govern the Earth and the offer which Emperor made him of the Crown of his Ancestors and threw himself for my sake into perils so great and manifest thatany one less easie than me would have been perswaded of the grandure and verity of his affection I can also say that I appeared not insensible at these proofs of his love believing that the point to which it was come and the vertue which I had always observed therein might secure my acknowledging thereof without blame So great it was and so true that Coriolanus himself reasonable as he then was durst not demand more I had so well as he refused very considerable establishments and I had so well as he irritated the soveraign powers without considering what I ought to fear or hope It is true his love made all the fortune and all the designs of my life and as I caused all my felicity to consist in the knowledge which I had of his affection so I made it the whole imployment of my thoughts to render him what I thought was his due and to second with all my care the strong inclination which I had for him Alas how many tears did this true affection cost me at that mournful departure How many did it cause me to expend during the time of his dolorous absence And what a Spring hath it for ever establish't in these eyes which seem not to have been conserved but for this use only What proofs gave I not to this ungrateful person of an inviolable affection and fidelity when after the cure of Tiberius I saw the persecutions of Livia begin again arming against me more than ever the whole Authority of Augustus With what constancy did I resist their flatteries promises and threatnings And with what Resolution armed I not my self at last when being reduced to the utmost extremities by the power of Cesar I feared not to declare openly how much I
believ that a man of Volusius's quality amongst the Romans and of Theocles his Rank amongst the Moors would act without Authority or address themselves to Cesar with an imposture of so great importance No said I it is not permitted thee to flatter thy self and this Prince so charming the beloved of the unfortunate Cleopatra is too truly convinced nothing can justifie him neither hath he the same care which thou hast for his justification and herein he is more criminal against thee in that he would have his Crime known to thee and hath not sought either the obstacles of the Seas which separate us or the desarts of his Africa to hide it from thine eyes but must needs cause it to enter Rome as it were in Triumph by one of the most injurious proceedings that was ever practised amongst men must thou needs expose me to the sight indignity and disdain not only of the Romans but also of the whole world Ah Son of Juba by which of mine actions have I merited this disgrace If I am not possest with qualities amiable enough to conserve thy affections yet what could'st thou find in me worthy of this injurious treatment and unworthy of the consideration and respect due to persons of my birth If amongst the African-beauties thou hadst chosen one who hath blotted out of thy Soul the impressions it received amongst the Romans or if for the establishment of thy Monarchy thou hadst been constrained to make the Maxims of thy State take place of those of thy love I would have excused thy change so much as I could and then I might have said That either with reason thou hadst laid down thine Arms at the feet of a greater beauty than Cleopatra's or that Cleopatra was not of value sufficient to be put in competition with the security of a Crown but it is for neither of these reasons that thou hast forsaken me and since 't is for Julia that thou leavest me it must follow that thy love took its birth in Rome and not in Mauritania and this love was Master of thy Soul When thou appeared'st most passionate for me even then when thou ran'st to kill Tiberius even then when in appearance for me only thou braved'st the Emperor and all the powers of the Empire and at that time when for me alone thou generously refused'st the Kingdom of thy Father Ah! No Coriolanus added I a little after it is not the love of Julia that I ought to accuse for thy infidelity neither Julia nor Cleopatra found place in the Soul of a Conqueror and thou for sookest Cleopatra not for Julia but for the alliance and protection of Cesar which thou judgest more advantagions towards the maintenance of thy new Monarchy than the love of an unfortunate Princess Ah! Coriolanus whom I to my misfortune have too much loved and whom to my misfortune I fear I shall never sufficietaly hate since that Heaven and thy cruel ingratitude hath ordained that thou shalt never be mine and that so many sweet and dear hopes are for ever rowled from me return me at least ungrateful man those testimonies of mine innocent affection which were sometimes so precious to thee return me those favours which all pure and innocent as they were are become criminal through thy Crime return me cruel man return me those reliques of my heart which thou detainest in despite of me and which notwithstanding thy infidelity I cannot recover With such thoughts was I miserably tormented and I should not in a long time conclude should I recite them all The day appeared ere I could find any consolation nor had I then left my Bed had not Octavia sent to advertize me that the Emperor would see me to whom and to all those who knew not the secret of my heart I was resolved to conceal some part of my grief In order to this design I did my self no little violence and all that I could do was a little to compose my countenance against Night which was the time of the Emperors Visit Agrippa and Marcellus were with him and to give me the greater confirmation he brought along Volusius and Theocles the two Ministers of my griefs I will not relate all the Discourses of the Emperor I 'le only tell you that after he had sufficiently exaggerated the treason of Coriolanus and shewed the power which he had given to Theocles and Volusius to treat about the Peace and Marriage and the Letter of Credence which he had written by himself and all sealed with the Seal of the Kings of Mauritania Cleopatra added he what part soever I take in the displeasure which you resent I am not a little glad that you have nothing to do with our common Enemy and as I have a great consideration for your Vertue and after the example of my Sister do esteem you as though you were really my own Daughter I protest unto you in sincerity that my resentments against the Son of Juba have received an increase by the Justice of yours and that I will for the future pursue him as well for the injury which he hath done you as for that which I have received my self leave the care of our common vengeance to me and in the mean while rest assured that in me you shall alwayes find a Protector and a Father and one that will prosecute your interests as affectionately as though you were the Daughter of Octavia To these words he added many more full of love and I received them with the acknowledgment and respect I ought without saying any thing that might irritate him more against Coriolanus than he was already which made him imagine that I drew some consolation from the vengeance he promised me Volusius made me an ill-favoured Complement for his proceedings and told me That what obligation soever he had upon him for the Courtesies which he received from Juba he would not have taken the charge of his Commission had he known my interest therein I answered coldly to his Discourse and the Emperor recalling in my presence the Command which he had laid upon him never to speak more on this business whil'st he lived caused Theocles to draw near and beholding him with an assured countenance You may tell your Prince said he that had not his past actions rendred him unworthy of my Alliance I would nevertheless have denied it to a man smutted with baseness and perfidy and it would be little prudence in me to trust him after he had betrayed his Mistress and his Friend Let him maintain if he can his new Dominions and expect a more full knowledg of my intentions by an Army of a Hundred thousand men whom he shall see within a few dayes in his Countrey Theocles took charge of this Commission and after that day I have not heard that he was ever seen in Rome In the mean time I was almost daily visited by Tiberius and he failed not of his utmost endeavours to make his advantage of his
was not more than twenty years of age and having not as yet resented any of those displeasures which did afterwards something alter his health and good Mine he appeared to Menalippa with all the beauty he had received from heaven and in it's highest splendour or rather he appeared as a person admirable and to which Menalippa had never seen any thing comparable but in her Glass I know not whether it was an effect of the good Mine of Alcamenes or the destiny of Menalippa but certain it is the Princess beheld him with some emotion and her high fierce heart which amidst so many Princes that adored her never beheld any but with disdain lost part of its pride and abased it self to a particular attention for this extraordinary object she ran over the beauty and proportion of his face considering his person from head to foot and the more she regarded him the more worthy she judged him to be regarded she devoured him with her eyes yet thought she saw him not half At first this attention for an object so charming did much delight her but a little after conceiving some despight and retiring her eyes from a magnetick which even forceably attracted them Ah! what interest so great have I said the half-angry so curiously to observe this Unknown and what consideration can arrest me who till now with disdain have beheld the rest of man-kind Is this he to whom the Gods have destined the ruine of the King of Scythia and is this he to whom I am designed as the price of that so famous Revenge At these words she turned from Alcamenes and approached the Fountain to quench her thirst but when she endeavoured to retire and take Horse it was impossible for her to follow this motion or hinder her once more casting her eyes upon the sleeping Prince At this second view she was more taken than at the first and began to perceive the poisonou's subtil insinuation through her eyes into her heart this forced blushes into her checks as though she had committed a fault in the presence of such who had power to condemn it and began to reprove her weakness with resentments of a true choler Yet with all this she continually beheld Alcamenes and not to hold you longer with this description that great heart which till then had beheld all men with repugnance and disdain and who could never imagine her inclinations would bow to receive a husband though from the Queen her Mothers choice saw it self in a few moments disarmed of all its fierceness and began truly to love an unknown person ignorant whether she should be ever beloved again Ah! Menalippa said she within her self what is thy destiny and by what strange adventure goest thou to revenge those in whom thy disdain have caused just resentments O fatal O impoisoned sight She stopped at these words and supporting her head with one of her fair hands If it please the Gods continued she that he for whom heaven and my fortune reserves me resemble this Unknown how much shall I be obliged to their bounty But alas pursues she with a sigh I feed upon vain imaginations for I am a Maid and incensed Whil'st she thus entertained her thoughts the Prince whether by any noise she made or that his sences were satisfied with sleep awaked and no sooner opened his eyes but they were dazled with the sight of Menalippa and this Princess who rose so soon as she saw him move appeared with so much splendour and majesty to his sight that he became altogether confounded The beauty of Menalippa is such that few in the universe can equalit and amongst all those whom I have seen in the world yours only Madam continued Megacles addressing himself to Cleopatra can pretend to any advantage over it 't is a majestick and enlightning beauty a beauty which strikes at the first sight without the little affiances of art or converse Her Complexion sur passeth the whiteness of the Scythian Snows the lineaments of her face form'd after the most regular proportion her blew eyes may pass for the fairest in the World their motions are so sweet and imperious together that they never inspire love without fear nor make themselves fear'd but lov'd also the beauty of her neck and hands yeilded nothing to the rest and for the make of her Body it would be the fairest of the world were it not a little-thing extraordinary for her sex and approaching to the pitch of Alcamenes who is one of the properest men of Scythia Menalippa such as I have in a few words described her though a thousand times more fair could not so unexpectedly appear to the astonisht Alcimedon without possessing him with emotions preportionate to the marvels of this encounter and at that prodigious brightness which possess him at the same instant with astonishment veneration and fear inspiring him with no other thoughts than those which tended to adoration After he had with a trembling and ill-assured action run over this Marvel with his eys the fashion of her habit and the divine beauty of her person made him take her for Diana and without ballancing this opinion he cast himself at her feet Great Goddess said he pardon to a stranger the errour he may have committed against your Divinity had I known this sacred place I would not have prophan'd it by my preseuce not have incurred the punishment of Acteon by a fault parallel with his This action and these words of Alcamenes though pronounced in an humble posture were yet so full of Grace and Majesty that they gave fresh spirit to that fatal draught which the Princess had rereived into her bosome and knowing the stranger's error though she beheld the cause thereof with joy yet would not leave him in it but raising him with a sweetness never used to any Brave stranger said she I am no Goddess or if I were I could not be displeased to meet you for the encounter of such persons are neither disagreeable n or unfortunate and I am glad that my presence is neither troublesome nor unpleasant to you With these words she raised him almost by force and the Prince beholding her with more assurance than before observed those charms in her person against which his young liberty though maintained fierce and invincible against all other beauties made not a moment of resistance I know not whether destiny or their own merits produced this prompt effect but it is certain that never mutual affection was more suddenly form'd or rather never fire catcht with more facility the most combustible matters But Alcamenes and Menalippa being born one for the other that which in some persons years would not have done became perfect in the souls of these two Heroes in an instant Alcamenes lost and burning beheld this Mistress of his heart with an unassured regard and the countenance of a person attainted of some crime Gods cryed he where could be born or from whence come a person such
a one as appears to my dazled eys What Land can contain her or what men are worthy to adore her Menalippa was ravished with joy at these words and the passionate action of Alcamenes knowing that her beauty had produced his astonishment and part of that effect which she desired in a moment she read in the eyes of this Prince the motions of his passion and scarce able to dissemble her satisfaction I am not said she with a modest action such a one as you would perswade me to be and were you no stranger as you words and divers marks expresse you to be you had possibly known the Princess Menalippa At the name of Menalippa Alcamenes ' was troubled though by very great appearances he supected the truth before yet could he not apprehend it without trouble considering that in the person who had forced his heart the first moment he saw her he should find Menalippa his mortal enemy destined to the destruction of his House and murther of his Father This knowledge wounded him sensibly yet made him not dispute the victory with this triumphant beauty and he secretly vowed after a reflection of some moments that had Menalippa been much more the cruel enemy of his father and himself also he could not but yield nor live but slave to Menalippa The fair princess who observed his emotion though ignorant of the cause was willing to draw him out of it I know not said she whether the knowledg of my name hath given you any displeasure but I should be very glad to learn yours and I see things extraordinary enough in your person to become inquisitive after your condition The Prince having time to recollect himself gathering an assurance and lifting up his eyes which till then were fixt upon the earth Great Princess said he the knowledge of your name hath not surprized me neither do I find any thing in your person less great than your fortunes and I am not amazed to see you hold a rank upon earth nothing below that which I gave you in my first opinion of which I can scarce as yet divest my fancy I should rather take you for the Soveraign of the Universe than the Princess of Dacia and you ought not to expect less homage from all men than from those who are born your subjects and amongst the most humble adorers of those marks of Divinity which appear visibly in you you may number continued he kneeling and kissing the border of her Garment him whom his good fortune hath conducted to your feet and who will esteem himself exceeding glorious if that little service by which he hath endeavoured to render you the name of Alcimedon hath arrived at your ears At the name of Alcimedon Menalippa recoyled some paces for it was a name so known in the Court and over the whole Kingdom of Dacia by the brave actions of its bearer for the service of that Crown that she could not hear it pronounc'd without surprize and very much joy to understand that the person whose beauty had conquered her in a few moments was more worthy of that fortune by the charms of his valour O how agreeably did this famous Name touch her ears how did she please her self with the destiny of her till-then unconquered-heart who receiving the yoak by a caprice of fortune rather than a judicious choice found that the beauty which captivated her was even it self a captive to the valour and other vertues of its bearer she secretly thanked the Gods and again raising the prostrate Alcimedon you could have told me said she nothing more pleasant than this and as you take me for something above my self so I shall find no great difficulty to believe you to be that valiant Alcimedon to whom this Crown hath so many obligations and whose Reputations is so beautiful amongst us by so many glorious actions which you have performed for our interest that Princess which speaks to you is the most obliged to acknowledge them which doubtless she will if to the great engagements we have to you you add this of accompanying us to the Court. The Princess spake thus to a Prince already perswaded by his own passion to yield when she saw her self accosted not only by Belisa but also by a great part of her Train and a little after by all those that composed the Chase the Prince Barzanes was there who no sooner saw Alcimedon but he knew him and having demanded leave of the Princess by a gesture full of respect ran to him with open arms caressing him with as much tenderness as if he had been his own Son rendring him the honour could be given to a Prince of the most elevated dignity The name of Alcimedon ran presently from mouth to mouth through this noble company and if those that knew him in the Army prest to imbrace this valiant man who by his vertues had gain'd a powerful ascendent on their hearts those that knew him only by his reputation strove no less ardently to see him and beholding with astonishme it that the reports made of his good Mine were exceedingly below the truth They regarded him with a marvellous attention and loaded him with praises which his modesty could not endure Barzanes as the most affectionate and him that knew him best was the most diligent about him testifying a high joy at this arrival and acquainting the Princess with many things to his advantage Merodates Prince of the Taurick was there and from this first moment conceived an envy and jealousy against him yet could not refuse to his fair reputation nor those excellent appearances he found in him those things which he thought due and testified the esteem he had of vertue in the person of him that possest it At last Alcimedon in obedience to Menalippa's will to Barzanes prayers but most of all through the perswasions of a powerful inclination which attracted him to Menalippa received his Horse from his Squires and followed the Princess who entertained him during the way to Tenasia His passion was scarce born but it became great and violent and the Princess as she hath since protested already loved him passionately These two great souls knew each other at the first approach and the sympathy was greater between them than the hatred of their Families or other obstacles which seemed to oppose the birth and course of this affection The same day Alcimedon was presented to the Queen by the Princess and the Prince Barzanes and Amalthea who ardently desired to see him partly out of the love she bare to his vertue as also the use she intended to make of him in the War with the King of Scythia received him with all the marks of esteem and good-will which she could give to that person of the world whom she most dearly loved and forgot none of those caresses and favours which might engage him to her service Moreover he was firmly establisht in the Court for having in a little time made
Path nor Retreat In the Estate wherein he was nothing being more odious to him than life which he so neglected that few dayes would have put an end thereto had not the diligence of his Squires prevented He left off those fair and famous Arms which under the Name of Alcimedon had rendred him so well known in Dacia and all other places where he carried them and delivering them to his Esquires to keep he covered himself with black ones in their stead imbroydered they were with branches of silver underneath which he doubted not to remain unknown I will not relate his continual sorrows wherein he alwayes reserved a profound respect for Menalippa not permitting himself the consolation of a murmur against her commands At length he arrived upon the Frontiers of Dacia and his Esquires not knowing what would be his Design saw him fall sick of a Disease which proceeded from his Grief and had like to have brought him to his Grave they found the commodity to conduct him to a little Town though against his will where they concealed both his true Name and also that of Alcimedon by his own order and there they serv'd him so carefully that what neglect soever he had for his life they preserved it by their diligence and intreaties yet could not this health be restored in some Months during which time though he yielded to the will of his Esquires and received the succors of nourishment which they gave yet he lived in such a manner that his life could not be properly called any other than a continual death In the mean while the great Discourse was concerning the preparations against Scythia and being perfectly cured of the indisposition of his body he left the little Town to continue his Journey hearing that the Rival Princes had joined their Troops with those of the Queen of Dacia and had begun their march towards Scythia What Despair soever possessed his Soul and how great an indifference he shewed to all things that regarded not the cause of his grief he could not but kindle at this report and as he loved Honour as dearly as Menalippa and alwayes preserved great tendernesses and respects for his Father the almost extinguisht flame of courage began to rekindle neither could his mortal sadness forbid him to go whither his Honour and Paternal Love and the hatred he bare to those presumptuous Rivals call'd him He found himself daily more and more confirm'd in this solution but it was resisted by the love of Menalippa and considering that he could not take up Arms for his Father without turning them against his Princess he knew not how to satisfie both his duty and his love nor please the one without offending the other How would he say shall I not succor the King my Father against those unworthy Rivals who perhaps aim more at his Life than his Kingdom And alas replied he How shall I fight against Menalippa to whom maugre her cruelty I will perserve a faith inviolable so long as I live But ah I must not leave the King my Father without assistance in the extremities to which his life may be expos'd so long as I can hold a Sword and yet shall I carry my Arms against Menalippa No the dues of Nature cannot disingage me from those of love With these Contests he grievously tormented himself visiting many unknown Provinces or rather many Forrests and horrible Desarts where he ordinarily sought his Retreats unable to to take any certain resolution and I think he would have remained irresolute to the end without being able to declare either against Love or Nature if in passing near a Temple of Apollo famous for the Oracle it gave he had not consulted that god at the solicitations of his Esquires whose answer was thus THE ORACLE Go Thy Father help thy Mistress see And so Repress that Grief which presseth thee This Answer so clear beyond the custom of the Oracle wrought very much upon the spirit of Alcamenes and resolved the doubt of what resolution he ought to take and something eleveated his abated hopes he resolved therefore without weighing the business any further to march and succor his Father and Countrey and he fancied that by the command of the Oracle which injoined him to revisit his Princess he ought to hope for a change in his Fortune the storm of that anger which made her banish him being blown over These meditations dissipating part of his sadness gave him his health and intire forces and put him into a condition of serving his Father against the lovers of Menalippa He entred Scythia a few dayes after covered with the same black Arms he had born ever since his depart from Tenasia and marcht directly to the City of Serica where the King made his abode but before he got thither he understood that the King was gone to meet the Enemy and by good Fortune lighting upon Two or three thousand Horse which were the last Levies of the Province of the Issedons and the choice of Oronte's Cavalry Alcamenes made himself known unto them and putting himself at their Head marcht with all possible speed to Nicea and reacht it on the day of Battel as I have related On this manner the Prince Alcamenes passed his life since his depart from Tenasia and because there hapned nothing memorable to him during that time I have comprised it in a few words but will relate at large the following Events which seem to me more worthy your attention Scarce had the Prince whose resentments were divided betwixt Love and Duty rendred as he thought what was due to the one but he felt himself sollited to do the same Justice to the other and as in succouring the King his Father he had obeyed part of the command of the gods he believed to that whereby they commanded him to see the Princess Menalippa was due an equal obedience and he found himself powerfully enough carried by his inclination though he had not been obliged thereto by Religion He already resolved of the order he ought to take though it was not without trembling that he disposed himself to appear before Menalippa and it may be valiant as he was he would never have had the assurance to have done it if by the command of the gods he had not been incouraged and by the success of the beginning he had not expected a like event to the last effects of his obedience The morrow so soon as he was up he called Cleomenes a young man whom he loved dearly and who had been nourisht with him in age and person so like they were that a great part of the Scythians supposed him a subreptitious Child of the King Orontes he had indeed exceedingly the hair of the Prince whereby you might judge him next to Alcamenes the handsomest man amongst the Scythians he waited not on Alcamenes in his Travels because he was not with him in the Province whence he departed having a little before sent him to the
if it be true that I have succoured my Father with successe it is as true that this sight of Menalippa which you ordained me is the greatest misfortune that can happen to me in my life since by this visit I have found her more cruel and inexorable than I could have imagined nor have I seen her O Gods but to present my Sword unto her beautiful breast and to draw blood from her fair Body Speaking thus he felt his Grief boyl into rage and casting his eys by chance upon the Sword which he had used in the Battel and upon which he might still have observed some drops of Menalippa's blood had not the mixture of so much which he had spilt that day confounded it Perfidious instrument of my crime cry'd he the first service thou hast rendred me hath been sufficiently fatal to me if I had the Sword of Alcimedon which I left with Cleomenes and which is now in Menalippa 's power it would possibly better than I have known Alcimedon 's divinity and would have denyed obedience to the sacrilegious hand which drew it against her but this first service shall be the last I will receive from thee for I shall be ashamed to wear the criminal steel that hath drawn blood from Menalippa Saying thus he brake it into several pieces not without a revery of some moments whether it were not better to plunge it into his breast Thus did he passe the Night tormenting himself and the day appearing ere he had either sought or found a moment of rest one of his Squires who entred his Chamber related that the Queen Amalthea under pretence of carrying off her dead demanded of the King Eight Days Truce Alcamenes who well knew into what condition the Enemy was reduced and that if the King would take his advantage he might ruine them in a day had reason to fear that he would refuse the Queens demand and finding himself too culpable towards Menalippa he sent and instantly desired the King to grant Amalthea's desire The King Orontes who naturally was an excellent Prince and who beheld with regret this effusion of blood considering also the prayer of his Son he thereupon granted Amalthea the Eight Days Truce and having given orders to fetch off and bury the Dead and incamped his Army further off by reason of the infection of the Air he went into his Son's Chamber with a spirit full of tenderness and quite bent upon a resolution which he now discovered He found Alcamenes in the condition I represented him and though he indeavoured to recall himself in the Kings presence yet was it difficult to hinder the whole appearance of his grief from him The King having sometime entertained him with the affairs of the War and seeing he could not draw a word from him which was not diffected into sighs and sobbs he resolved to oblige him to disover his heart to advance which design he took one of his hands and pressing it between his own with much affection My Son said he I cannot taste with satisfaction the advantages your valour hath given us nor rejoyce to see in a few days my Kingdom intirely delivered from its Enemies so long as you appear in this condition wherein to my extream sorrow I behold you I alwayes hoped better things from your courage what reason soever you had to afflict your self and I must believe it exceeding great since it can conquer a heart like that of Alcamenes I thought yesterday upon the first observation of your sadnesse that it proceeded from drawing your Sword against a Woman and a fair Princesse but seeing you this day in the extremities of the most violent grief I believe it could not render it self so powerful over your spirit were it not fortified by some other passion and it is not impossible but that in the moment wherein the fair face of Menalippa appeared to you in the Combate it might produce love enough in your Soul to resent the violence of your Sword against her and for having drawn some drops of her blood Blush not Alcamenes continued the King seeing him change colour if this be the true cause of the sadnesse wherein you appear to the eyes of a Father who dearly loves you you shall receive no hindrance from him to the compleating your felicity and though the action of Menalippa hath something in it very contrary to the sweetnesse and moderation of her sex yet hath she many vertues as I have heard by the common report which makes me look-over this action And born she is of a Blood and in a Fortune which might make you hope from me an approbation of your love and indeed the Heir of Dacia is a person considerable enough to surprize the affections of the greatest Prince and the repose of Alcamenes is dear enough to me to make me overcome those resentments I might have against my Enemies If your sadnesse may be dispell'd by this proposition I will offer peace to Amalthea in a time when she can no longer make War against us and with the Peace propose to her the marriage of Alcamenes with Menalippa She will not perhaps be so obstinate in her hatred towards me as to shut her eyes against so great advantages and she will be ill advised to refuse a Peace when it lyes in our power to ruine her or reject for her Daughter the greatest and most advantagious Match she could wish Whilst Alcamenes heard the King speak thus though he received by this discourse but an imperfect joy yet could he not dissemble it and kissing the Kings hand with a profound reverence and some sighs which he could not retain My Lord said he beside the obligations which are common to me with all children I have particular ones to your bonnty which I cannot dissemble without ingratitude I will not deny to your Majesty since you have discovered it against my will that the face of Menalippa inspired me with love when my Sword was upon the point to have given her death I will say no more nor give bounds to a bounty too great for Alcamenes But if your Majesty hath any inclination to this alliance I will receive it with all the respect I ought I doubt only that all the advantages which Amalthea can find will not bow the spirit of Menalippa and I beseech your Majesty not to use the authority of the Queen to force her inclination Alcamenes said no more and the King who knew his intent and who as I told you was weary of the War though it had continued but a little while and preferring the repose of his people before a bloody Victory having commanded the Prince to comfort himself and to hope all things from his care left the Chamber and past into his own where sending for Amphimachus Prince of the Tauro-Scythes he largely instructed him with his intention and giving him a Letter to Queen Amalthea caused him to depart towards the Enemies Camp Here it was that Grief
go into an Arbour where Tullia acquaints her with her love to Ptolomey and is over-heard by him and Lentulus who thereupon falls desperately in love with her The solemnity of Augustus 's Birth-day the several exercises and divertisements of it described wherein the Unknown Lover of Antonia being declared Conquerour receives accordingly the Prizes which he presents at the feet of Antonia and she upon the command of Octavia accepts Having so done he conveys himself out of Lists yet not so but that being perceived by Mithridates he is by him pursued and overtaken in a Wood where they engage and Mithridates is overthrown Archelaus perceiving Mithridates departed out of the same motive of jealousie follows him to discover the Unknown Lover and comes up to them just as he had worsted Mithridates Archelaus seconding Mithridates engages with the Unknown who after a little fighting perceiving some coming from the City unhorses him yet not so but that the other laying hold of his cask the chin-pieces broke and his head being by that means unarmed he is discovered and known to be Drusus the Son of Livia and Brother to Tiberius Marcellus and Ptolomey coming in upon this he makes his apology to them and is by them carried away immediately to be presented to Antonia who upon the mediation of Augustus Livia Octavia Marcellus Ptolomey and others entertains him as her Servant Archelaus goes into the wars against the Parthians Mithridates is made by the Emperour King of Comagenes Polemon of Pontus and Ptolomey continues his devotions to Marcia ' T IS since the losse of our Brother Julius Antonius as I told you that so many memorable accidents have happened in our Family such as no doubt but he would have concerned himself in as he ought to have done had he not been absent nay it may be absolutely lost It was much about the time of his departure that Coriolanus made the first addresses of his love to me or it was then at least that I was come to an age wherein I seriously began to take notice of them I have already acquainted you with all that hath befallen me since even to the most inconsiderable circumstances so that I am dispensed withall as to any relation that concerns my self though what hath happened to me be of greater consequence than any thing else that hath befallen our Family For what relates to Alexander you have been acquainted with the adventures of his first years to his departure from Rome and for what hath happened to him since I have learned it from your self who must needs have been the best acquainted of any with his adventures as having been the onely occasion thereof All then that now lyes on my hands to do is to give you an account of young Ptolomey of the Children of Anthony and Cleopatra and of those of Anthony and Octavia of my two Sisters Agrippina and young Antonia whom you have so particular an affection for For Ptolomey he is yet of an age wherein it cannot be expected he should meet with many adventures though the World hath from several particular actions of his conceived very miraculous hopes of him and for my Sisters I shall punctually acquaint you with all you desire to know concerning them These two Princesses born no doubt to all the perfections of nature have extreamly improved and heightned them by an excellent education for I need say no more to you than that they have been brought up by their Mother Octavia to let you understand what advantages they might derive from that Agrippina is certainly a very rare and exquisite Beauty hath a great command of understanding and is of an exemplary vertue nay it will haply be found that the World is but poorly stored with persons whose accomplishments and perfections may come into the ballance with those of this Princesse Yet is it as certain that Antonia surpasses her in all things and though Heavea hath bestowed on her a Beauty of the first magnitude among those terrestrial Constellations whose influences the earth adores and is guided by yet is this Beauty of her person much below that of her mind and that of her inclinations Never was there any one of her Sex that had a mind fixed with so much soliditie refined by so much purity and heightned by so great a disengagement from things that are inconsiderable and beneath her It discovers such a consonancy of sweetnesse and severity as amounts to a just moderation and all her actions are guided by so certain a rule that they defie whatever the most irreconcileable malice durst object against them I could tell you much more of her Sister and yet be in some fear I might not speak enough since it is undeniable that taking her in all things there cannot be any thing more accomplished then Antonia and it is generally acknowledged in Rome that Octavia the honour and ornament of her Time could not have furnished the World with any thing else that were more worthy her self or more like her Mother in all her great and excellent perfections It is not many years since Domitius Aenobarbus a man Illustrious enough by his extraction but much more for his great employments and the noble actions he did addressed his affections to Agrippina and afterwards became an earnest and constant Servant of hers And in regard his engagement in this design was not without the approbation of the Emperour Octavia and in a word of all those persons whose countenance he stood in need of Agrippina out of pure compliance with Octavia entertained his addresses with the esteem and acknowledgement she was obliged to and without any repugnance or violence of passion was resolved to submit to the disposal of those persons to whom she ought an obedience But on the contrary Antonia having a dis-inclination to love and an aversion for whatever had but the least appearance of gallantry had spent all the years of her life to this very last not only without loving but even without so much as enduring any discourse or indeed the least discovery of any such thing though her extraordinary Beautie and the amiable excellencies of her person had raised her no small number of servants among those of greatest quality upon earth Among the most eminent of those that had any thoughts for her Archelaus King of Cappadocia a young Prince of great valour and abundance of vertue was one of the first that declared himself a servant of hers and certainly if an excesse of merit heighthned by services full of passion and respect might have had any influence on the heart of Antonia it was not improbable they should faile of their effect on it on the behalf of that Prince His alliance with Caesar or rather his dependance on the Empire to which his dominions were tributary as were those of most Kings upon earth obliged him to be very much resident at Rome where all other Kings as well as he were forced to make their constant addresses
already acquainted you with Are you so much in love with my grief as to be delighted with the unhappy demonstrations I give you of it Or would you have me out of a reflection upon so many acknowledgements as I have made of my unhappiness weaknesse and cowardice to dye for shame and confusion before you If it must be so my dearest Emilia I am content and since you are and ever shall be while I have a minute to breathe the onely person to whom I shall discover my misfortune I am willing my most secret imaginations should passe out of my heart into yours and wish you may be moved with pitty for the misery which my inflexible destiny hath forced me into I say my destiny Emilia for it is that onely that I can justly charge with all the misfortunes I am fallen into Do not imagine it any effect of the celestial vengeance upon me for the rigour I expressed towars Julius Antonius Though I have contribted very much to his absence and am charged as the occasion of it yet have I not been troubled with the least remorse for any deportments of mine towards him Being Cicero 's Daughter I could not upon the first addresses of his affection to me be obliged to entertain any such thing from him and reflecting on the death of Cecinna whom being to be my Husband within three daies he killed in my sight upon my account I was certainly dispensed from whatever the expressions of his love might require of me in his favour And yet the powers of Heaven are my Witnesses that I never hated him that I never wished him any ill fortune that I have acknowledged his great worth and that I do at this day confess notwithstanding my present sentiments that he is as great as to point of merit and as amiable as to his person as Ptolomey is himself So that there is no ground to imagine that the gods should inslict all this as a punishment of my cruelty but that it proceeds meerly from my destiny which in this emergency acts against me as it hath done through all the misfortunes that have happened to our house But my dearest Tullia replied Emilia since you would not be flattered in your passion may it not be represented to you that the same reasons which you alledged against the love and merits of Julius Antonius before he became an impardonable criminal by the death of Cecinna might with much more ground be urged against the affection which you have conceived for his Brother since that not being obliged to him for any the least demonstration of love you cannot but look on him as the Son of Anthony which he is you know no less than his Brother I am no question replyed Tullia obliged by the same reasons to do the one as the other at least in some part for yet I might tell you did I stand upon my justification that Ptolomey is not by his birth such a criminal to us as his Brother was since that he is Son to Queen Cleopatra who contributed nothing to the death of Cicero and not to Fulvia who alone engaged Anthony in that design and exercised her cruelty upon the body of my Father even after death by a many abominable indignities but such was my misfortune that I could not make use of them and I need not tell you that in those of this nature the assistances of reason are not always infallible You may further argue that I have hardly seen Ptolomey above once that he is a Prince younger than my self by five or six years and a person that neither does nor haply will love me while he lives All the answer I have to make to these Objections is That my misfortunes are so much the more to be bemoaned and that the rather out of a consideration that I have not contributed any thing thereto my self and have endured this violence to tyrannize over my heart without the least complyance of my will Pitty me then if you please Emilia and charge me not with an offence which I see no reason I should take upon me T is not in the power of either Vertue or the Study of Philosophy to make us uncapable of passions but onely teach us how to struggle with them and if they have not been able to make good the little garrison of my heart against the assaults of that which now disturbs my quiet they will so weaken it as that it shall not produce therein any effects that may stain my reputation at the present or my memory hereafter I have been able to look on the Son of Anthony but it seems under an unhappy constellation which made me indeed but too sensible of what I thought amiable in his person I have been able to preserve the remembrance of it too dearly for my own quiet I cannot think of him without tenderness I can speak of him with delight I can communicate my sufferings to you I can sigh and as you see weep and bewayle this sad exchange of my condition But this Emilia is all that this destructive passion can work in my soul so that all the tempests it is able to raise there shall not eclipse those lights of wisdom which it is not in the power of any blindness to extinguish I can pine away yet conceale from all the World Emilia only excepted the reason why I do so and if I must endure even to death it self I can easily do it not onely rather than open my lips but rather than become guilty of a wish that should any way stain my reputation or cast a blemish on the former part of my life But when all is done replies Emilia to speak sincerely could you not wish that Ptolomey loved you or can you with all your Wisdom and Philosophy oppose such a wish To this Tullia could not for some minutes make any positive answer but having a little after shaken off that suspence and reassuming the discourse with a certain blush wherewith Lentulus could perceive her face all covered The desire of being loved said she by that which one loves is a thing so natural in us that I durst not tell you that I did not wish my self loved by Ptolomy but you are withal to assure your self that this wish is so innocent as not to injure my vertue nay I must adde thus much that though it should prove effectual yet would not my condition be any thing the more fortunate and that Ptolomey himself though he should love me should not know while he lived that I ever had any affection for him I should avoid him as an enemy though he were dearer to me than my own life nay though it shoúld cost me this very life I should keep to the last gasp from the knowledge of all the earth those sentiments which have broke forth to that of all the Romans But what is then your meaning replyed Emilia what course do you intend to take in order to your own
quiet To dye answered the Daughter of Cicero to dye my dearest Emilia if occasion require and I am very much unknown to you if you imagine that I think my life so considerable as not to sacrifice it to preserve my reputation But I shall do what lies in my power to struggle with this enemy that hath possessed himself of my heart and if the strength and assistances of heaven which I daily implore prove such as that I may not gain the victory you shall find Emilia whether I have not learned to dye rather then be guilty of faults which might make you blush for my sake I have acquainted you with the secret of my heart because there hath not been any transaction there which you have not known but did I imagine it should come to the knowledge of any other person in the World besides your self I should think one hour along time to survive the shame I should conceive thereat and you should bestow on my death those tears which compassion obliges you to shed to accompany those which my unhappiness forces from me As she made an end of these words she could keep in no longer those showers of tears which fell down from her eies in abundance which yet hindred not but that Lentulus who looked on her with attention or rather with transportation thought her so beautiful in that condition and was so much moved at her discourses the grace wherewith she delivered them and the fortune that obliged her thereto that pitty which had by degrees taken place in his heart was of a sudden changed into a violent passion For though he had seen Tullia several times before yet did it not raise in him any inclinations for her other than what her merit might raise in all that knew her but now in this little interâ—â—el wherein grief appeared so amiable in her countenance he became her absolutely devoted vassal and in love with her after such a manner that he had not the least strength to oppose it and was not able to hear the reason which should have disswaded him from loving a person whose affections were otherwise disposed of and one from whom either upon occasion of that discovery or out of any consideration of her own humour he was in all probability never to expect any thing In a word Love here knew no degrees but as soon as he could be said to love he might be said to do it violently insomuch that sympathizing with her in the affection wherein he saw her involved he participated thereof so far that when he turned toward Ptolomy my Brother perceived his eyes were red and big with tears For his part he had not been at all moved either at Tullia's words or the discoveries of her affection whether it proceeded from the resentment he had in heart against that Lady or that naturally he had a soul not over-susceptible of love or that all the affection it was capable of was already devoted to Marcia a Princess of excellent beauty and one to whom he ought abundance of obligations He was already desirous to remove from that place when Lentulus fearing they might be surprised and perceiving by the discourse of Tullia that it would trouble her infinitely if she should discover that Ptolomey had heard her took him by the arm and carryed him away They went thence as softly as they had come thither and made so little noise that they were not perceived or heard They went out of the little Isle and walked a good while ere they spoke one to another Ptolomy know not what to say of that adventure so much was he surprized at the strangeness of it and Lentulus whose soul was wounded by what he had seen and whose spirits were in some disorder by reason of his newly-conceived passion could not think of words whereby to express himself and was content only to look on Ptolomey in whom he could not perceive the least alteration upon that accident and knew not whether he should out of considerations of compassion advise him to love Tullia or out of those of his own love and interest entertain him with the sentiments he had for her himself At last having taken some few turns they were just falling into some discourse when coming to the end of a walk that abutted upon that wherein they were they met full-but with the two Ladies who had left the Arbour in a manner as soon as they had and without the least fear that they had been over-heard by any one had reassumed their walk They were all very much surprised at that meeting and particularly Tullia as being the least prepared for it and the most concerned in it Her eyes were still red with weeping which Lentulus perceiving and consequently the condition she was in could not look on her without a certain trouble and disturbance They were so neer one another that it was impossible to pass by without salutes and Lentulus submitting to the Ascendent which now began to govern him could not follow Ptolomey who after a salute full of respect turned aside Emilia who took notice of his carriage not consulting at this time so much decorum as minding the friendship she had for Tullia called him and having obliged him to turn back What now Ptolomey said she to him do you shun the Ladies No Madam replyed he but it is not fit that the Son of Anthony should come near the daughter of Cicero Enmities replyed Emilia should not be eternal and I shall not be friends with Tullia if she make no distinction between the Children of Cleopatra and those of Fulvia who alone wrought all the unhappiness of their house Both the one and the other are equally guilty by their birth replies Ptolomey nay though they were innocent enough to deserve that Tullia should wish them no hurt they cannot be so far such as to hope for any of her conversation This fierce young man not guilty of that tenderness he was in civility obliged to would needs out of an affected malice repeat the same words to Tullia which she had sometimes said to his Brother as he had heard it related so that after this last complement he went away and would have no further discourse with Emilia In the mean time Tullia had not spoken at all though Lentulus had come to her but had fastned her eyes on the ground as being in some doubt whether she should approve the proceeding of Emilia whose intention seemed good to her but her action indiscreet enough So that her courage and the affection she had for my Brother raised no small distraction within her but when she heard those last words and saw him go away with so much disdain her face was of a sudden deprived of all colour and grief and vexation pressed upon her heart in such manner that after she had with some precipitation said to Emilia that she was not well and was not able to stand she fell into a swound in her
arms Lentulus whose eye was but too much upon her ran to her and though her misfortune touched him to the very heart yet was it some joy to him to have her in his arms while Emillia sate down on the grasse and with the assistance of Lentulus layed Tullia by her and took her head upon her lap Ptolemey who had not had the time to go far thence turned about at the cry which Emilia gave and seeing though confusedly what they were doing he suspected what the businesse might be though it is possible he might not think himself absolutely the cause of that accident However though he was not subject to much love yet would he not be a wanting in point of civility and consequently as to that assistance which he thought due to her sex so that when being come neer he saw her in a swound Emilia loosning her garments and Lentulus in such amazement that he knew not what to do he ran to the next rivulet and having taken up some water in both his hands he brought it and cast it on Tullia's face Whereupon she immediately opened her eyes and that time enough to see the action of Ptolomey and to perceave that it was from him that she received that assistance I know not whether the joy or the confusion she conceaved thereat were the greater but being well furnished both as to courage and reservednesse she betrayed not her thoughts of it and giving my Brother a look suitable to the different passions she was then engaged with I receave this kindnesse from you said she to him in requital for what I did your Brother in the like conditions but it is enough for an enemy and you are too too tender of the concernments of your house to do me any more With these words she turned gently towards Emilia and spoke to her softly to entreat them to depart to which end Emilia making signs to them they went their wayes but after several manners Ptolomcy with such indifference as if he had not been any way concerned in the adventure and Lentulus so moved and so distracted in his thoughts that he hardly knew what he did Being come some paces thence they met with the women that belonged to Emilia and Tullia whom their Mistresses had left behind that they might walk alone and having acquainted them with the accident that had happened they obliged them to go to their Mistresses When they were gotten a good distance from that place Ptolomey who walked after his ordinary posture of freedom and cheerfulnesse observing the disturbance Lentulus was in as well by his silence as by the several expressions thereof that were visible in his countenance Is it possible said he to him that you are so much troubled at this adventure as you seem to be But is it possible replies Lentulus that you can be so little as your face and actions discover you to be I assure you for my part saies Ptolomey that I am not troubled a jot at it and that I look on this adventure as if it had happened to any other body How continued Lentulus hath neither what you heard from the mouth of Tullia of the love she hath for you nor yet what you have seen of the effects of your disdain on her spirit raised no trouble or alteration in you Not a jot replies Ptolomey And besides the aversion I had for that Lady I am not much taken with what is bestowed on me upon such occasions if it hath not cost me something before so that I shall not make any advantage of this adventure and all that I shall do for Tullia that speaks any thing of obligation is that I shall not divulge it and that I do I do upon the account of discretion and her sex So that it seems saies Lentulus you do not love her nor feel any inclination to do it I do not only not love her now answers Ptolomey but I protest to you I never shall love her If it be so replies Lentulus I am some what lesse unhappy then I thought my self that I am fallen into a passion which I should have wrastled with while I lived had it been any way prejudicial to our friendship And since you are the dearest of my Friends I shall make no difficulty to tell you that being come with you into this garden as free as your self from any love I had for Tullia I am now fallen infinitely in love with her to so high a degree that it is impossible your brother could be more These words made Ptolomey look on Lentulus somewhat amazedly as if he could hardly imagine his discourse to be serious How said he is it possible Lentulus that in so short a time and by so strange an accident you should fall in love with Tullia So deeply replies Lentulus that all the words I can use are not able to expresse it and I thought Tullia so beautiful in her grief and so amiable in her singing and discourse that my soul is bestowed on her without ever consulting my will I say bestowed and that in such a manner that I am not in the least hope ever to retrive it out of her power I know I put my self to strange extremities and that attempting to serve a Lady prevented by a strong passion for you and one that hath studyed constancy and resolution such as Tullia is I embarque for a voyage wherein I am sure to meet with many storms but when all is done it is the pleasure of my destiny it should be so and it is not in my power to oppose it Lentulus went on with abundance of discourse to the same effect which the length of this relation obliges me to forbear repeating to you though it put Ptolomey into such an astonishment at the fantastick adventure that he could hardly imagine it to be real He entreated him since he was not resolved to affect that Lady never to speak ill of her nor let the World know what he did concerning her passion which haply the account and acknowledgement he made thereof might in time oblige her to forget My Brother promised never to speak of it while he lived to any one but to me from whom he was not able to conceal any thing and engaged for me that I should not suffer that secret to take any further aire Accordingly he failed not to come that very night to give me an account of all that happened to him conjuring me to secrecy and I could not but be amazed as well at his relation of tee love of Tullia as that of Lentulus whose misfortune I much bemoaned because he was a person of a most illustrious birth and very recommendable among the Romans for his many excellent endowments I had also some compassion for Tullia though I had no reason to love her and I blamed Ptolomey for the inflexibility of his heart but having great respects for Martia and looking on that allyance as most advantageous for my Brother
fair Elisena and married her The Nuptials were solemnly celebrated in Artaxata and I had gotten into my possession that beauty for whom I had suffered so much and in the possession whereof I found much more sweetness than I had imagined to my self Alass can I reflect on these things without dying and though my mind be grown brawny by reason of the accidents I have run through and the barbarous employments wherein I have spent my life Can I resist the resentment they should produce in me I became possessor of Elisena and with her of all the excellencies both of body and mind that can be wished in one single person Nay what is contrary to what ordinarily happens the possession encreased my love and through the more particular knowledg that I had of my Elisena I discovered a many excellent qualities which I had not observed before in their full lustre After I had made some stay in Armenia I took leave of your Majesty I departed and carryed away my dearest Elisena that she might take possession with me of that little estate which my Father had left behind him I was there received as their soveraign and began to lead the most pleasant and delightful life that could be imagined Thus far my Lord hath my life been known to you thus far was it innoceâ—t Now may your Majesty be pleased to understand what hath happened to me since and to have so much goodness for me as to charge my adverse Fortune with some part of my crimes In my little retirement with my Elisena I knew not what meant the â—â—â—st disturbance from abroad and enjoyed all imaginable felicity at home My government though of no great extent was such as I was content with and though it were envyed by Herod who was too powerful a neighbour for me yet with the assistance and protection of some others I could make a shift to maintain my own the love I had for Elisena having had such an influence over me that I had given over all thoughts of the wars to which I had before sacrificed all my inclinations My amiable Elisena though she had marryed me purely out of the compliance she had for the commands of her Friends yet had ever after so much accommodated her affections to her dutie that she had an extraordinary love for me assoon as she was convinced that she ought to love me Accordingly might it in a manner be said that we were inseparable for that at all hours of the day whether we stayed in the chamber or wâ—nt a walking or a hunting whither I carryed her sometimes and in all manner of divertisemâ—nts Zenodorus was never seen without his Elisena Heaven it self I fear me envyed our felicity or it may be I was not born for that pleasant kind of life and those who know me at this day would find it no small difficulty to imagine I could ever spend my time as I did then The first year of our marriage was not yet run about when among those persons whereof our little Court consisted I took notice of a young man lately come thither for sanctuary as he said himself against certain enemies that were more powerful than himself who had forced him to leave those places where he was born and who having been very courteously entertained among us set up his staff there He was called Cleontes and this I may truely say of him that of all the men I ever met with I never saw a handsomer or a more gentile person in all his actions nor a more amiable in all that appeared outwardly of him Suitably to these good endowments â—e immediately insinuated himself into the affections of all the World in so much that there was no divertisement appointed between persons of either sex but the am able Cleontes was invited thereto All the world courted him all the world spoke well of him and all the world were extreamly desirous to oblige him He very pleasantly received those demonstrations of kindness and friendship which were rendred him and though he seemed not to be above eighteen years of age yet did he discover such prudence and conduct in his behaviour as is seldom in persons of a far greater age Yet was this particularly observed in him that slighting ordinary persons nay indeed many Ladies by whom he was not a little courteâ— he enjoyed himself in no other conversation but that of Elisena whom he accordingly honoured with his constant attendance In so much that at last he got a haunt of visiting her so often that he was in a manner perpetually in her company And whereas it was none of the most inconsiderable perfections of Elisena that she was admirable in matter of discourse and that Cleontes was infinitely pleasant in that kind also they passed the best part of their time away with abundance of mutual satisfaction Among all â—â—e reâ—t that perceived it I took notice my self of the great kindness and familiâ—rity that was between them but at the first looked on it without the least disturbance and out of the extraordinary opinion which I had of the vertue of Elisenâ— I not only harboured not the least suspicion of them notwithstanding all the complyances services and constant addresses which Cleontes had for her but also took notice without the least worm of jealousie that Elisena looked very favourably on him and dissembled not the pleasure she took in his company beyond what she did in that of divers other persons that came to see her Several moneths were past and gone in this manner before ever I conceived the least suspicion of the demonstrations of friendship that past between them and though I was indeed of opinion that their familiarity was greater than there ought to have â—een between a person of the quality of Elisena and a man of the age and beauty of Cleontes yet did I attribute their weaknesses to their youth and the friendship which Elisena naturally had for persons of good pleasant wits In a word their manner of behaviour made greater impressions on other mens minds than it did on mine and among the many persons that conceived an ill opinion thereat there happened to be some indiscreet enough to act the part of the unlucky crow and to bring me the tidings of my own unhappiness One above all a person I very much credited egged on by an imprudent zeal came to me on a day and pumping not without some difficulty as I could perceive for words wherein to dress his expressions the more modestly My Lord said he at last is it possible your voluntary blindness should be such as must reduce your most faithful servants to a necessity of giving you those discoveries of their fidelity which they cannot do without regret and violence to themselves Or are you resolved not to open your eyes to see what is done against you while it is yet in your power to remedy things by mild and gentile courses and that evils are not come to
the difference wherein Phraates was so much exasperated against Herod and which bred the war that hath happened between them since and which was begun by Phraates not long after the carrying away of Phasela and old Hircan In the mean time I made a shift to get away with a certain number of ships destitute of all friends and supply nay indeed lost as to all things for having applyed my self every where for assistance all proved ineffectual all denyed me Insomuch that my mind exexasperated by the constant malicce of my Fortune I became lost as to all vertue and morality and thence out of an assurance I had that all the World were enemies to me I became an enemy to all the World While my grief for the loss of Elisena continued strong upon my spirits I was but little troubled at the loss of my Estate and Friends but when time had wrought some abatement of it I could not without indignation and rage look on the change of my condition and see Herod possessed of all I had and so powerful through the authority of Augustus who maintained him in it and there was but little probability of ever getting it out of his hands This put me upon resolutions of getting that elsewhere which had been wrested out of my hands at home and having yet a number of ships under my command I began to make a Sea-war first against those only that had taken away my Estate and afterwards against all Nations without any choice or distinction of parties I had gotten with me my Nephew Ephialtes as valiant and daring a person as ever followed this course of life who contributed much to the carrying on of my design insomuch that when I had by a great number of rich prises got together abundance of wealth I bought more ships and so reinforced my Fleet and lur'd in a many Souldiers who found better service and pay in our war than they would have done in any lawful one In fine I became so powerful that I had squadrons of ships on all Seas Having made Ephialtes my Vice-Admiral in those parts of the Sea which admitted not of any communication by Sea we went and met by Land having Horses and private retreats for that purpose So that of a desolate man and one that in all probability should have spent his whole life in weeping over a Tomb I became terrible and dreadful to all Nations the terrour of all that had any business with the Sea and famous for thousands of Prizes which had made me the richest of all the Pyrates that ever were This course of life have I led for these ten years very neer and yet I shall not entertain you with the most considerable actions I have been engaged in not only because it would require a long relation such as possibly might prove very troublesome to your Majesty but also for that I am confident you have already had some account thereof and have not without astonishment heard of the several changes of my Fortune I shall therefore only tell you that during the space of ten years that I have followed this trade there hapned not any thing memorable unto me in comparison of what hath come to pass within these few days upon these very coasts there having in a manner at the same time fallen into my hands two of the most beautiful preys that the whole universe can afford And this I am confident you cannot but acknowledge when I have told you that in two days time I had in my power and disposal the fair Candâ—â—â— Queen of Aethiopia and the Princess Elisa the only daughter and heir of the great King of the Parthians I took the Queen of Aethiopia just at the mouth of the Nile and this soul of mine which since the death of Elisena had not entertained the least impression of love nor ever thought it could have been capable of any remitted some part of its Forces upon the first view of that Princess and by degrees became absolutely subject to her Beauties I was ignorant both of her name and quality and yet love made me at first slight the proffers she made me of a considerable ransome and when afterwards she told me that she was Queen Candace I would not absolutely believe what she said out of an imagination that she might take that name upon her purposely to keep me within those terms of respect which she perceived I should not be long able to observe During that uncertainty I did all that lay in my power to perswade her to my will and having found all the waies I took ineffectual I hoped at last to effect my own satisfaction by making use of the power I had overher when that during the space of one night which I had allotted her to fix on some resolution this Princess daring above her sex and beyond all example set my ship on fire which broke forth in several places and cast her self into the sea within some few stadia of this river You may well imagine what an astonishment I was in when it came to my knowledge that I had lost her in that manner I made the best shift I could to repair the breaches which the fire had made in my ship that I might the sooner make after her into this river whither I conceived she might get upon planks with the assistance of some men who had cast themselves over-board at the same time with her We were very busie a mending of our ships when it was the pleasure of Fortune to make me some requital for the former losse to send me a vessel wherein was the Princesse of the Parthians which having with much adoe escaped wrack in the great tempest that had been and being not furnished with men to maintain her came and â—ast her self into our hands We boarded her without any great difficulty and the first thing I was entertained with was the shouts of certain slaves whom I found to have been my souldiers and some of those that I had left Ephialtus They presently gave me an account of the death of my Nephew and pointing to a person that stood neer the Princesse they told he had been his murtherer I cast my eyes on the man and not withstanding the admirable things I could observe in him yet was I resolved his life should be sacrificed to the Manes of my Nephew whom I had so dearly loved and thereupon caused the points of all our swords to be tuâ—ned upon him But good gods how strangely did he behave himself for passing through our armes without any fear he comes up to me takes hold of me by the midle and cast himself into the sea with me in his arms I was relieved and taken up again by my own men not without much difficulty but when I had recovered the danger cast up the water I had drunk and put on other cloaths the presence of a Beauty which all the World might admire but that seemed orewhelmed
with an insupportable grief could not make me forget her who may be said to have set my heart a fire as truely as she had done my ship And thereupon resolving to follow her living or find out her dead body about this river I came hither and landed with thirty of my men leaving the fair prize I had taken in my Vessel under the care of a Lieutenant whom I trusted her with I wandred up and down the river-side all that day and could not make the least discovery of what I sought and the nextday after I had spent some part of the day in the same enquiry and having divided my men into several parties in order to visit more places I came at last accompanyed onely by two of them neer a spring where I saw two men engaged in a furious combat They were both persons of an admirable goodly presence their arms rich and magnificent but there was nothing comparable to the valour wherewith they fought but the animosity they expressed in the combat One of the two had upon his armes which glittered with gold the Roman Eagle spread in divers places and those of his adversary remarkable for certain Lyons causing me to observe his stature and action I at last discovered him to be the same person that had cast himself over-boord with me in his arms and whom I had given over for drowned I was at a losse what I should do upon this occasion when notwithstanding the attention whereto it might be thought the combat obliged him he cast his eyes towards me and immediately calling me to mind he retreated a little before his enemy and having said something to him which I could not here he left him and fell upon me with as little mercy as a bird would on his prey I was astonished at the violence of his proceeding but though I had then no other arms about me but my sword yet I saw there was a necessity I should put my self into some posture of defence When I saw falling dead at my feet upon the dealing of but two blows my two companions who had set themselves before me I must needs confesse that this sudden execution frightned me a little and seeing my self without arms to engage with a man armed all over I was afraid to meet with him and so made away from him as fast as ever my horse could carry me I rid a great way flying still before him and he had very neer overtaken me when coming into a pleasant valley I met with a person on horseback very sumptuously and richly armed who secured me from him and in the very same place had I a sight of the admirable Princesse whom I sought after I was not a little encouraged at this happy adventure but being not in a condition to carry her away without some assistance I returned to my companions and having met with some of them I came back again along with them into the Valley and with their help carryed away the fair Candace on horseback T is true the greatest part of my souldiers were killed by those valiant men that engaged with us at our coming into the place insomuch that I had but one about me by that time I got to the river side Here it was that I was satisfyed as to the inconstancy of Fortune who had treated me so odly in one and the same day for my ships were all gone and casting my eyes toward the sea I saw them at a good distauce making as much saile as they could away However I resolved not to quit my prize and accordingly carryed her into a Wood that was hard by in spight of all the resistance the could make At last having made a shift to get from me while I was upon the point of recovering her again I was set upon by divers men on horseback and being run through with a sword I fell down to the ground with very little hopes of life That Souldier of mine who had followed me saw me fall at a good distance from the place and when our enemies were gone away with the Princess he came back to me meeting in his way with another party of his companions which I had sent some other way and had not been engaged in the fight we had had They were extreamly cast down to see what condition I was in and perceiving there were some remainders of life in me they carryed me to a poor Country-mans house not far from that place This man was sent into the City for a Chyrurgion having before engaged himself to keep all things secret and my men having put them both into hopes of extraordinary rewards for the good they should do me they have accordingly done as much for me as I could have desired them I had about me both money and jewels to engage them to fidelity and attendance and I must confess they have done all things with so much good success and secrecy that they have brought me into the condition you now find me in without the least discovery of any thing During the time I remained at that house such of my men as had gone several times to Alexandria purposely to see what news were stirring brought me word that Candace was in Alexandria that it was the Praeteor himself that had wounded me and that the very same day those whom he had sent to Sea had taken my ships killed all the rest of my men together with my treacherous Lieutenant and recovered the Beauty I had left with him who had discovered her self to be Elisa Princess of the Parthians Till then had I been ignonorant who she was but had learned Candaces name from her own mouth as I told you before though my people told me that she was not known in Alexandria for any other then a Lady of great quality born in Aethiopio and one whom it was thought the Praetor was fallen very deeply in love with In a word my Lord having lost my ships my men and the noble prizes I had taken with the assistance I have happily met with I am gotten into the condition wherein you see me and this very day as I was thinking of my departure from that house Aristus seeking out where there were any provisions to be sold comes in We had been heretofore very intimate friends and notwithstanding the alteration which so many years must needs have made in our faces yet after we had looked a good while one upon the other we called one another to mind we embraced and after we had enquired one after another what accidents or occasions had brought us into these parts he told me that your Majesty was hereabouts and made me believe that my own service and that of these men I have left me might be worth your acceptance and contribute somewhat to the furtherance of your designes Whereupon I thought my self obliged to follow him which I did with the greater joy for that it gives me some occasion to satisfie you
heaven with eyes sparkling with indignation and an action expressing the very depth of despair Though gods and men cryed he and all the elements combine to ruine me yet shall they not abate a jot of my courage and if I must perish implacable destinies you shall find I can do it without either basenesse orremorse With these words he returns to Coriolanus as conceiving it absolutely necessary that he should be dispatched out of the way before the enemy were come up and thinking it now past time to dally and that he was to make all the haste hë could with him he comes up to him in such manner that the Prince after he had warded off certain blows which the other had made at him struck him over the head with all the strength he had The goodnesse of the head-piece saved him from death but it was not able to hinder him from being stunned in such wise that after he had staggered a while he fell down within some few paces of the Princesse Cleopatra Megacles ran immediately to help him and Artemisa out of the excellency of her good nature remembring what she ought her own bloud came to him and took up the visour of his head-piece to give him a greater freedom of breathing and more aire While he continued in that condition Cleopatra running to those that were still fighting against Coriolanus and who possibly notwithstanding his miraculous resistance would have dispatched him at last comes up to them without any fear and lifting up her voice that she might be the better heard Hold your hands said she to them and if you expect any favour from those whom you see coming to our assistance make no further attempt on the life of a Prince on whom your own will within these few minutes depend T is the onely way you have left you to secure your lives for you are not to hope for any mercy if you betake you not to your own Prince and by complyance make your selves worthy the pardon which I promise you These words proved effectual upon some part of those that heard them and particularly upon the Armenians who were most of them persons of considerable quality These were content to do as the Princesse would have them and giving over fighting went to see how their King did but the Pirates in whom the death of their leader and the despaire of pardon wrought a different effect were obstinate in the designe they had conceived to take away Coriolanus's life and though there were but one half of them left yet despaired not of revenging the death of Zenodorus The Prince perceiving himself eased not onely of the greatest part of his enemies but also of the most dangerous and most valiant valued not much those that remained and though he must needs be very much weakened as well by the continual action he had been in as by some slight wounds he had received yet was he now in greater hopes than ever of gaining the victory and delivering Cleopatra In the mean time Artaxus who had onely been stunned with the heavy blow he had received comes at length to himself by the assistance they had given him but ere he had so far recovered himself as to know all that were about him and become master of his strength that is before he was in a condition to discern what passed in the ship and to give out orders about any thing the other that was coming in to the assistance of Cleopatra and which had already been known to be one of those of Alexandria was gotten so neer that they could hear them hollow that were within her and in a manâ—er discern their faces Artaxus having got up and taken his sword again looked about him of all sides and perceiving that all his hopes were vanished he was convinced his final ruine was at no great distance He sighed again for very grief and rage as coâ—ceiving himself not to be in a condition either to execute his revenge or keep Cleopatra in his possession and therefore was at such losse and irresolution that he knew not what side to take Whiâ—e in the interim the other ship came on still with such speed and such hollowing that it was out of all question she was an enemy and indeed within a few minutes after Cleopatra and Artemisa perceived in the head of those that were coming to their assutance Prince Marcellus and Prince Alexander who that they might be known to the Princesses had raised up the visours of their head-pieces If their joy was extraordinary the grief of Ataxus who upon the first sight knew Alexander was no lesse violent He blâ—sphemed against Heaven and railed at his evil fortune and that hateful sight filled him no doubt upon the first apprehension thereof with satal resolutions We must perish cryed he but it is but just we bury under our ruines those that should derive any felicity from our destruction And for thy part Alexander said he loud enough to be heard by him assure thy self thou shall not laugh at the dâ—feat of Artaxus With these words he comâ—s up to the two Princesses and looking on them with eyes red with blood and fire he put them into a greater fright then ever they had known before See bere said he these are either my security or my victimes what shall escape my love shall never escape my revenge and if it be lost to me it shall be lost to all the World besides As he uttered these words he took Artemisa in the left hand and with the right presenting the point of his inhuman weapon to the fair breast of Cleopatra he directs his fatal looks on Alexander and Marcellus just at the instant that they were preparing all things to fasten the grappling-irons and addressing his speech to the Son of Anthony Alexander said he to him hope not thou shalt have any thing to rejoice at in the misfortune of thy enemy and think not to triumph over me so many several wayes as thou hast through the malice of my fortune and the persidiousness of Artemisa It was through the basenesse of this Princesse that she ever came into thy power and the revenging gods have been pleased that Cleopatra should fall into mine but if my Sister hath been too susceptible of thy love thine hath been too ungratful to entertain the affection I have had for her Thou returnest again conducted by that Fortune which hath ever been in hostility against me with a design and haply in a condition to force them both out of my hands but know that thy hope hath deluded thee and all thou art to expect from this enterprize is the death of these two Princesses Thou maist save their lives by directing thy course some other way and leaving me at liberty to pursue mine but if thou losest a single minute in considering what resolution thou should take thou shalt find me already resolved to sheath this sword in the breasts of Cleopatra and Artemisa
though all the world should be against him yet was happiness so surely grounded on the affection of his Princess that nothing could shake it Amidst these imaginations wherein it might be said he placed a certain felicity his greatest disquiet was that he wanted the sight and presence of his Elisa for some few hours and the impatience he was in to see her again made him look on that one night and a peice of the next day as if it had been a year so trivial seemed to him the consideration of his rest in comparison of that of his Love But if his reflections troubled and interrupted his sleep that of the great Agrippa might be said to be subject to greater distraction For the passion he had for Elisa having already arrived to its full strength and being come to such a height as that all the force of his understanding and discourse was not able to oppose it the effects it had wrought in his soul were accordingly so violent that he could expect no other issue thereof but perpetual and inevitable disquiet And though it had been meerly out of the consideration of his own vertue which would not suffer him to deny the doing of a good action when an opportunity offered it self to do it that he had protected Artaban against the armes and power of Tygranes and purely out of generosity had taken his part rather than that of the King of the Medes yet was it not in his power to forbear looking on him as his Rival and that not as a Rival out of favour and slighted as Tygranes was but as one much esteemed by Elisa and consequently as the only person that had been so fortunate as to engage her affections He had it seems that very day observed very evident demonstrations of the mutual respects that passed between them And whereas on the other side the revolutions which had happened in the Kingdome of the Parthians and that of the Medes by the valour and conduct of Artaban were of such consequence as that they were known all over the world in like manner his inclinations for Elisa and the ingratitude of Phraates made no small noise among the Romans and by that means was come to the ears of Agrippa so that when he looked on Artaban he must needs consider him as that person who of all men was the most likely and most able to cross him in his love or rather as the only man that could ruine all his pretences This consideration made him sigh for very griese and if his vertue had not been so great no question but he had repented him of the assistance he had given him but having withal a great and gallant soul and all his resentments conformable to the noble fame he had acquired he could not be troubled that he had done what he ought to have done and thought it sufficient only to quarrel at the crossness of his Fortune without being guilty of a wish that should any way derogate from his Vertue Nay he was not able to conceive any aversion for such a Rival and those excellent qualities which might oblige him to fear Artaban were no less powerful in obliging him to love him as representing to him that he might by the same means deserve the friendship of Agrippa as he had obtained the love of Elisa And yet all this hindered not but that he wished himself loved by Elisa and all the great vertue he was master of could not oppose in him a desire so natural to those that Love nor prevaile with him to quit Elisa to Artaban though he were very much in her favour and not unworthy her affections He was satisfied that how earnest soever he might be to gain her love all his endeavours would prove ineffectual and yet hâ—s passâ—on exasperated by that kind of despair seemed to grow more and more powerful and to seat it self in his soul with more empire and authority From this therefore he concluded that it was impossible for him to give over loving Elisa and thereupon resolved to do all that lay in his power to force her inclinations from Artaban and to give a check to the favour she was pleased to afford him But in regard that all his thoughts were conformable to honour and generosity and out of a consideration that he could not without prejudice to both disturb a noble affection grounded on extraordinary Services and that between persons that had cast themselves under his protection in a place where he had all power in his own hands and where in all likelihood he could not make use of his authority without a certain kind of tyranny he sought but a mean to reconcile his Love to his Vertue and to manage the former without perjudice to the latter Upon these reflections he resolved to dispute the business fairly with Artaban without any advantage to matter of power and to strive with him for the heart of Elisa by desert and services and not make use of his credit in the Empire or the authority of Caesar Being confirmed daily more and more in that resolution What injury said he do I do Artaban by being desirous to engage with him in a combat wherein all the advantage is of his side And what quarrell can be justly have against me when I shall with no other force than that of Love assault a heart already delivered up to his disposall and that a heart favourably prepossessed for him with all that may make him happy to my prejudice I am not engaged to him either upon any account of Friendship or obligation and wherefore sit no reason that should perswade me tamely to sit down in my own misery out of a fear of thwarting his happinesse There are few persons haply that have such a command of their inclinations as to confine themselves to those rules which I propose to my selfe and it is in Love rather than policy and to gain the possession of what a man most affects rather than to gain a Kingdome that it is lawful to employ all armes and to make use of all manner of forces And yet to avoid the reproach I might make to my selfe of having abused my Fortune against persons to whom it is contrary I will by no means make use of Augustus's favour or the power I have in the Empire but shall be content to be unhappy while I live if my happiness cannot be effected by other waies than those Having so said he recollected himself for some few minutes as if he were extreamly well satisfied with the resolution he had taken But not long after reflecting on the difficulty of his enterprise and the little hope he had to bring it to any effect It is true continued he that by this course I should avoid that remorse and those scruples with might rise in my mind for oppressing by my power a man whose vertue is not inferiour to my own but alas if thus be the way to quiet my conscience it
so free as to give you this advice which assure your self proceeds from a heart full of grateful apprehensions as also if I presume to beg no other love from you then such as you would afford a Brother since that you perceive by the posture of my affairs that I cannot love you otherwise then as a Sister I had not till then spoken in such terms to Eurinoe whence it came that she was the more surprized thereat in somuch that for a long time she was not able to make any reply And yet I think she had bethought her of something to say when our discourse was interrupted by a little noise which we heard behind the hedg-row against which we were sate and not long after by the appearance of a man who being come into the walk made all the hast he could towards the place where we were Eurinoe's thoughts being empâ—oyed at that time much more than mine I took notice of the man before she did and saw that he was of a very goodly presence a noble and majestick air and had a very fair countenance for a man of that Nation though he seemed to be weak and brought very low and discovered in his eyes some dreadful resolution Being for my part ignorant what occasion might bring him thither I was very glad of a sword I had by my side which Eurinoe had given me the day before I had begun to wear it but that very day to make use of â—f need were in a Country where I was to suspect all things but Eurinoe who had thought before that it was either Eteocles or Pelorus cast not her eyes on him till such time as he was come up almost to us At the same time the woman that was with her gave a shriek which she hearing and endeavouring to find the cause of it in the countenance of that man she immediately found it when she knew him to be her unfortunate Teramenes on whose death she had bestowed so many tears and on whose body she had made so much lamentatition and done things that sufficiently argued her extravagance and despair At this sight she gave a great â—hriek and she brought forth the name of Teramenes and the terrour she conceived thereat was so great that she fell into a swound upon the seat where she was sate Her action that of the woman that was with her and the name of Teramenes which they pronounced put me into an imagination it might be his ghost or haply he himself preserved by some miracle During that uncertainty retreating back a little when he was come up very neer us and putting my hand to the hilt of my sword Stand there said I to him and if thou art only the ghost of Teramenes disturb not any further by thy approaches those whom thy presence hath frightned Were I only the ghost of Teramenes replied the man it were to thee that I should address my self as having been my murtherer but since I am Teramenes living and recovered of the cruel wound which I received from thee in the battle thou shalt not need to fear in this deplorable condition him whom thou couldest look upon without any dread in the head of an Army I am Teramenes the over-faithful Lover of that faithless Woman whose heart thou hast gotten from me after thou hadst taken away my life not only in her opinion but in that of all the world besides I was thine Enemy upon the concernments of Tiribasus who was my Friend I became thy Enemy upon the wound I received from thy hands which hath brought me to the extremities of life and death and I have yet a more just ground to be thy Enemy for the injury thou hast done me in Robbing me of the affections of Eurinoe which I was in possession of and had well deserved I must further acknowledge that this last injurie though thou hast done it innocently had armed me against thee and that I came abroad this day though the first of my stirring with a resolution which might have proved fatall to one of us but the words that have fallen from thee and which I have over-heard have wrought a change in my thoughts and I have found so much vertue prudence and goodnesse in them that they have taken off all the indignation I had coâ—ceived against thee I come therefore no longer as an enemie but as a person that hath a veneration for thy vertue and as one that is an humble suitor to that generosity which thou discoverest as well in thy actions as thy words to beg that heart of thee which thou hast taken away from me without making any advantage thereof and which thou keepest from me yet wouldst rather be without it Restore to me Cleomedon a thing which thou hast no mind to preserve or if thou wouldst be further revenged on the Friends of Tiribasus behold the sacrifice which I shall now offer at the feet of an ungratefull woman of a life which must now be as detestable to her as my death was grievous at the last moments of her affection While Teramenes disburthened himself after this manner and that I hearkened to him with attention and astonishment Eurinoe by the assistance of her woman and that of Eteocles and Pelorus who came in at the same time was come to her self again and might have heard some part of what Teramenes said while Pelorus who had cast himself at her feet assured her that he was really living and craved her pardon for having put such a tick upon her The woman was so strangely at a losse between horrour astonishment shame and possibly grief into the bargain for the return of a man she had then no affection for that she knew not in a manner where she was was not able to speak and had not the confidence to look upon him With this she found it no small difficulty to be perswaded that Teramenes was living though Pelorus had by protestations assured her of as much as but too too well remembring the last kisses she had given his cold and bloody body and the orders she had given for his enterrement While she was in this perplexity Teramenes comes towards her though by her shrieks she sufficiently discovered the fear she was in he should come near her and thereupon stopping at the distance of some few paces from her because he would not disturb her any further and looking on her with a countenance where in his passion was extreamly visible Is it possible Eurinoe said he to her you should be so much affrighted at Teramenes living when you could find in your heart to give him kisses when he was dead and wash his face with so many tears But can I think that change any miracle cruel and ungrateful Euninoe when I am so well acquainted with that of your soul and that I am not ignorant how that in the same minute you were seen to pass from the effects of the most violent passion in the world
dependent of the Empire This proposition must be made with all the solemnities requisite to so great an Embassie and in regard we are at a great distance from Mauritania so that there is not any commerse between us and that Country and that as things stand at the present there 's little hope we shall have any it is impossible we should be discovered And though it may be thought somewhat unlikely there should be so sudden a change and so beyond all expectation in the affections of Coriolanus yet there happens daily things no less strange which notwithstanding their distance from probability are yet neighbours to truth and there will be those whom it will not be hard to perswade that his Ambition hath made him forget his Love and that in the condition he is now arrived to desirous of a rest he never yet met with he could no way better effect it than by making a peace and courting the alliance of Caesar of whom he might expect the former upon the conditions proposed though he took him not into the latter And we shall find it a matter of so much the less difficulty to make Cleopatra sensible of his infidelity for that I have it from very good hands that since his departure she hath not heard any thing from him and that she hath already conceived no small jealousie of what we would perswade her to By this intrigue I shall not only turn that love which Cleopatra hath for Coriolanus into a higher degree of aversion for him which is the only rub that lies in my way to happiness but I shall also dissolve that Friendship which Marcellus hath for him by making him believe that Coriolanus addressing himself to Julia whom he loves and looks on as designed for him is no less perfidious to him then to Cleopatra And by that means I shall deprive our Enemy of a Friend whose interest with Caesar hath hitherto been the greatest obstacle I have had to struggle with and instead of those supplies which he secretly receives from him and the good offices he daily does him with Cleopatra he will have the greatest indignation and most irreconcileable hatred that can be against him So that to arrive to the felicity I aim at and to make my revenge the more compleat I shall not be opposed either by the love of Cleopatra or the Friendship of Marcellus which will be both destroyed by an artifice that cannot be discovered in many years I hearkned with a great deal of patience to this discourse of Tiberius and sound in it many things not easily digestible as such as must needs bring us into many inconveniences but I overcame the greatest part of the difficulties I should meet with by the great desire I had to purchase his friendship and protection Whereupon assuming the discourse when he had given over speaking My Lord said I to him though your design seems to carry in it much danger and requires no small daringness in those that are employed in it yet all must be hazarded to serve you and we shall not be discouraged by any considerations whatsoever from effecting your satisfaction But I shall take the boldness to propose it to you whether it were not fitter to demand some other person rather than Julia so not to draw on you the displeasure and interest of Marcellus whom we must visibly engage against us by demanding of Caesar a person whom he is in love with and that is designed for him By this demand replies Tiberius we break the friendship that is between Marcellus and Coriolanus which it concerns me most of any thing I do But we do not thereby any way injure Marcellus and you do not run the hazard of encuring his displeasure though you may well be assured that your party shall not be weaker then his after the union of our interests considering what you may expect from our house for as it is not hard for you to imagine there is little likelihood that this personated Embassy of Theocles from Coriolanus should any way prejudice Marcellus or that Caesar should prefer the allyance of that African his Enemy before that of his Nephew whom he loves no less than if he were his own Son and designs to be his successor No doubt all he will do will be to laugh at the extravagance of Juba's demand but though the effect it will have upon him will signifie nothing in Cleopatra and Marcellus it will do all that I expect it should so that I am in some hopes to enjoy Cleopatra long before the truth be discovered And if ever it should come to light I promise you that through the power of the Empress who will be absolutely for us we shall reconcile all it being to be performed that the Emperour will not be much displeased at an artifice which hath no design in it but that of assuring me of the enjoyment of Cleopatra and is not prejudicial to any but his greatest Enemy To these Tiberius added a many other reasons to encourage me to engage in his design so that there needed not much to enflame the disposition I was already in to serve him into a resolution to do any thing he would have me and by his own natural eloquence and the inclination I had of my self to be perswaded he took off all the difficulties I could make to my self when he first made his proposition to me After I had reiterated the protestation I had made to him we called Theocles to whom Tiberius repeated all those things he had said to me and without any difficulty brought him to a resolution to undertake any thing which he the sooner was perswaded to as well by reason he was naturally mischievous and revengeful but withal very indiscreet and inconsiderate as by the hopes he was put into by Tiberius of great fortunes and assistances among the Romans At last he resolved to endeavour any thing should be proposed to him and made no difficulty to personate the Ambassadour of his King and to take all his instructions from Tiberius We stayed together all that day and the best part of the night to take all the order requisite in our design and when we had setled all things and thought our selves fully instructed Tiberius departed from that house to go and endeavour my peace with Augustus having desired us not to stir thence till we had heard from him but with as much secrecy as might be least there should be any suspicion of our interview We accordingly staid there as he had ordered us while in the mean time Tiberius having made a full discovery of his design to the Empress and represented to her that all the happiness of his life consisted in the hope he was in to enjoy the Princess Cleopatra Livia who had a very great tenderness for him after some few difficulties were satisfied engaged in our design upon you and promised him all the assistances she could afford him to effect it
differences So that looking on my self as of a considerable rank among the Romanes and sufficiently advantag'd as to all those things that come into the considerations of Marriage I might with reason entertain a confidence that Cicero and all Tullia's Friends would not have slighted me had I acquainted them with the design I had to serve her since they had before allowed of the addresses of Cecinna who I may speak it without flattery to my self could not be preferred before me But I should rather have submitted to the absolute defeat of all my hopes then endeavour the attainment of my felicity by that way And though I had some reason to imagine that Cicero would the more to oblige me have forc'd his Sister to a compliance as one that notwithstanding the prae-disposal of her affection would have out of Prudence submitted to his desires yet should I have chosen rather to continue unfortunate all my life then make a Conquest of Tullia by any other disposal then her own or owe my happiness to any thing but her free inclinations And this manner of proceeding I thought very rational for if after I had applyed my self to her Brother Tullia her self should have refused to comply with his intentions or that her Brother sensible of her aversion thereto would not have exercised the power he had over her to my satisfaction I must have born all the shame and regret of such an overture and it on the contrary Tullia conforming her self to the will of Cicero would have consent to my pretensions as it might be hoped from such a prudence as she was owner of I must needs with no small regret be assur'd as being satisfi'd of her affection for Ptolomey that to prosecute my own contentment I should make a person I lov'd beyond my self the most unfortunate upon earth and so might justly fear that notwithstanding all her vertue I should never have the absolute possession of a Heart which lay so strongly engaged elsewhere This Heart therefore was that I resolv'd the conquest of or rather to dispossess it of the Love it was fortifi'd with for Ptolomey and this resolution I saw well enough could not be effectuated but through a many difficulties it being no ordinary Master-piece in the Art of Love to force out of a Soul an impression engraven therein by an excessive merit especially such a one as that of Tullia who had expressed such a height of constancy in the generous opposition she made against the love of Julius Antonius a Prince truly great and shining in all those qualities that make a person amiable 'T is true I could not but conceive a little weak glimpse of hope from the assurance I had of Ptolomey's backwardness to meet her love or rather from the profession he had made to me that he would never love her while he liv'd and accordingly infer thence that the great courage of Tullia would at last be tir d out by the disdain of that young man and that she would endeavour to break those bonds which could not but make something for my advantage But Madam be pleased but to favour me with a slight reflection on the strange posture of my affairs and consider how much I deserv'd compassion No question but it must needs be a great satisfaction to me that Ptolomey would not love Tullia and that I grounded not my happiness on any thing so much as the a version he had for her Yet were there certain intervals wherein the sincere affection I had for her put me upon wishes much against my self as such as wherein I should be far from desiring he might not love her for loving her beyond my self how advantagious soever it might prove to me I could not wish her perpetually unfortunate through the aversion of what she so much affected During those reflections I knew not how I ought to demean my self towards him but certain it is I durst not without a great violence to my self have intreated him to continue his cruelty towards a person whom I ador'd and though I should have been much troubled to see him earnestly fallen in love with Tullia yet had I such a tenderness for her contentment when my own was so much concern'd that I never made it my request to him that he should not love her In the mean time I thought it long to have another sight of those fair eyes that hath wounded me so deeply but having no great acquaintance at Cicero'e house but being well known to Emilia and her Husband Scipio of them it was that I expected some assistance and consequently to them was it fit I should address my self The first visit I made to Emilia I intended not to make any mention at all of Tullia to prevent an imagination she might conceive that I visited her onely out of some design I had upon her But she spoke of her first and whereas the accident that had hapned to her in our presence gave her occasion enough to bring her upon the Stage she soon engag'd me upon that discourse and put me into no small affliction when she told me that ever since that fatal day she had lain very sick nay that her sickness was not without some danger as to her life Had Emilia taken notice of my countenance when she gave me thataccount of her she might have observ'd in it such a change as would in some measure have acquainted her with what passed in my Heart That I was extreamly troubled at the misfortune of her Friend was a thing I could not dissemble as what might have been attributed to pure civility and the respects I had for her whereupon I took occasion to tell her That I had conceiv'd an infinite esteem for that excellent person and should take it as a great obligation done me might I â—e admitted to wait on her in a visit to that distressed Lady Emilia told me that might easily be done when Tullia's indisposition were a little remitted and that she would take me with her when she were to be seen but for that time her condition was such as that she in a manner saw none but her self and hardly bore with the conversation of her nearest hindred In a word Madam it is not easily imaginable what strange things passed in Tullia's thoughts at that time and since my relation is to dilate it self into an historical account of her as well as my self I shall acquaint you with that part thereof which hath since come to my knowledge That excellent person in whom a Passion raised by the indignation of Heaven might well disturb her enjoyments but neither alter her vertue nor abate her courage had been sensibly mov'd at the insulting behaviour of Ptolomey towards her And whereas there could nothing fall from him but must be levell'd right at the Heart the disdain he had exprest towards her prov'd not onely the occasion of her swounding and the weakness consequent thereto but also left in her mind
upon the least resolve or reflection to that purpose as knowing not in what manner I could discover my love to a person whom I knew pre-engag'd in another affection and so far from being in a condition to entertain that which I had for her Upon this consideration I passed away several days in a languishing condition and I think I should have kept silence yet a while longer if chance had not befriended me with that which I could not so soon have expected from my resolution Tullia was by this time recover'd though still languishing and melancholy by reason of the indisposition of her mind which suffer'd not the body to advance to perfect health and though she were extreamly given to solitude yet could she not avoid the entertainment of divers persons that came to visit her Having always been very much inclin'd to Study and Learning and that onely she of her House inherited some part of the knowledge and Eloquence of her Father she was particularly visited by all those who were remarkable for their skill and command in the noblest Sciences Among these the famous Mathematian Thrasyllus whose reputation is so great all over the world and whom the friendship and protection of Tiberius had engag'd to follow Augustus's Court came often to see her and conferred with her sometimes of the discoveries he made in humane affairs by the help of his Science One day we casually met together at her Chamber whither came also Emilia and some other Ladies of her nearest acquaintance with whom I passed away the time while Thrasyllus was â—n private discourse with Tullia I was at no great distance from him and though I talked with Hortensia yet heard I some part of what he said to Tullia In fine perceiving he went on very seriously in his discourse I hearkened to him more attentively and heard that after some words which I repeat not I shall not continued he conceal any longer from you what I have found out of your Destiny and the state of your Mind No doubt but you are passionately in love and are also as passionately lov'd but this love is not disposed with with justice in that without making any one happy it makes two persons extreamly unfortunate Thrasyllus being a person better acquainted with the Stars then versed in matters of Courtship and common civility spoke these words with so little discretion and so loud that Tullia could not but imagine I had over heard them A suddain rednesse immediately spread it self over her face such as since her sicknesse was not very ordinary there and she was in such a confusion of thoughts that she was absolutely at a losse what to say or what answer to make Thrasyllus I know not whether the notice he took of it occasion'd his parting from her but leaving her he comes up to Hortensia whom I was in discourse with whereupon seeing Tullia disengaged I went to her and left Thrasyllus with Hortensia Tullia continued still in a thoughtfull pensiveness having not conquered the confusion into which the words of Thrasyllus had put her or rather the perswasion she was of that I had over-heard them and the reflection she could not but make thereon drew from her certain sighs which she ineffectually endeavoured to smother I looked on her for some time in that posture and growing somewhat confident upon her silence Madam said I to her may I not presume to ask you whether your thoughts are not employed about the last words Thrasyllus spoke to you Upon these words she recovered her self and looking on me with a countenance languishing yet not without mildness It seems then you over-heard said she to me what Thrasyllus said to me whence I perceive you make it your business to hearken to the discourses of others while you were thought engaged in the entertainment of Hortensia I have indeed replyed I over-heard Thrasyllus 's discourse though not out of any design I had to do it and indeed he spoke it so loud that it was hard not to hear it to the place where I sâ—te And if I am chargeable with indiscretion for acquainting you with the notice I took of it you should pardon it out of a consideration of the concernment I have therein and the skill I have in some measure to explain to you what you may haply think obscure in it I find it all so obscure replyed she that I do not apprehend any thing of it But though I am well satisfied of Thrasyllus 's experience and knowledg yet do I not believe it alwayes infallible nor think my self obliged to trouble my thoughts to find out the explication of all he may say to me The last thing he said to you reply'd I is in my judgment of great consequence and contains something mysterious but without any direction of the Stars I could my self and that with more certainty then Thrasyllus have acquainted you with one half of what you have heard from him and if I am ignorant who that felicifi'd person is that may deserve your affection I am on the other side but too infallibly certain that it is Lentulus adores you and Lentulus that dies for your sake Tullia was a little surprized at these words but not long after recovering her self I see then said she to me that your knowledge of my Destiny is much below Thrasyllus 's or at least that you dissemble what you do know and would speak after another rate if you were either better skilled in it or spoke more sincerely For my sincerity reply'd I you need not I conceive question it while I shall tell you things that stand in such a complyance with probability and for the knowledge of your Destiny the interest I have in it makes me say that I am more seen in it then Thrasyllus But without medling with the other part of his discourse wherein I find little likelihood or at least little justice I shall fasten only on that which I have undertaken to explain and accordingly assure you that I am the person meant by Thrasyllus by whom you are passionately belov'd but I shall withal protest to you by whatever I think most sacred nay by your self whom I religiously adore that nothing shall ever hinder me from being yours to the last gasp of my life This protestation I made trembling and by all the action thereof discovering the reality and violence of the passion that forced me to speak and Tullia who had heard it with a countenance more serious then she expressed before rejoyning to my discourse with an excess of modesty I am no more obliged said she to me to credit this confirmation then I was your former discourse but shall tell you that having those respects I have for you 't would be one of my greatest afflictions it should be true What affliction reply'd I with an accent submissively passionate can accrue to you from an Affection full of respect innocence and vertue and why will you envy me the
attend the company that brought him thither I returned into the Chamber with him and making no stay took my leave observing such a cloud of sadness in Tullia's countenance that I concluded it not fit for me while she continu'd in that humour to importune her with my visits About this time Cicero her Brother stood for the Dignity of Edile one of the most considerable places of trust among the Romans and imployed the interest and sollicitations of all his Friends to obtain it No question but his Rank might warrant his pretence thereto but besides that his person lay under some contempt by reason of certain imperfections of his understanding and that he was not generally belov'd there were Competitors that were more powerful than he as such as were more considerable at Rome for their worth and several other reasons so that it was commonly believed he could not desist the prosecution of that attempt without some dishonour to him I thought my self oblig'd to lay hold on that occasion to serve him though 't were meerly to do something that Tullia might take kindly at my hands so that resolv'd to take his part against all pretenders though at some other time I should have been more like to serve those that opposed him I sollicited all my Friends whereof upon that occasion I found a considerable number that stuck close to me and prosecuted the business so hard my self that I got the mediations of Drusus Marcellus nay of Agrippa himself to the Emperour and Senate and with their assistance things were carried on with such eagerness that notwithstanding the credit of our adversaries and all the rubs we met with in our Design it came to a glorious period and Cicero was created Edile contrary to the general opinion and to their confusion that opposed it This Honour bred a consideble quarrel between him and Metellus the most powerful of his Competitors who no doubt was of greater credit then he and would have carried the business by the number of Friends had I not over-power'd him with mine who in all the Briars of that difference were too hard for those of Metellus and forc'd him to an accommodation with Cicero who by that means got the better of the day both as to his pretention to the Edile-ship and the difference He was soon made sensible that all his good success was the effect of my appearance for him and though he was more inclin'd to pleasure than any thing that was noble yet was he not awanting in point of gratitude and omitted nothing whereby he might express his resentment of the good offices I had done him and which raised him to a more considerable Rank in Rome then he had been of before He was not ignorant of the affection I had for his Sister though I had never spoken to him of it and having observ'd without any dissatisfaction the first discoveries I had made thereof finding afterwards the advantage of my Alliance he after that obligation was very earnestly desirous of it would gladly have offer'd me if he durst what he knew I should have desir'd of him in relation to Tullia 'T is true she took kindly the service I had done her Brother and House as much as could be expected from a rational person as she was but it is as certain it was not without affliction that she thought her self oblig'd to a man she could not love and that she sighâ—d out of a regret that she could do so little for one to whom she imagin'd her self so much engaged In all the discourses we had upon that occasion she expressed abundance of gratitude and desires to acquit her self towards me by all the assurances of a high esteem she could give me but she confined her self to those terms insomuch that I had no great hopes ever to raise in her any other sentiments for me For some time I supported this unhappiness of my condition and opposed the malice of my fortune with all the courage I could command but at last I began to flag or at least grew so far unable to bear the weight of my Love that all the assistance He could afford me was not enough to secure me against the cruel attempts of my passion I fell into a sad melancholy humour and my Friends vainly expected in me that chearful liveliness which they had sometime affected me for and which made me one of the first in all divertisements suitable to persons of my age The companies I had been most taken with grew burthensome to me and now I was altogether for silence solitude and obscurity I was not to be seen at the Emperour as Octavia's nor at the Princess Julia's or any of those noble Assemblies whereto I was wont to run nay it was with some difficulty that I could afford a few minutes in the company of Crassus Servilius Albinus and Ptolomey my most intimate Friends They all bewail'd my misfortune which as to some part they were acquainted with and did all lay in their power to disengage me from that fatal passion wherein I had so lost my self The Emperour himself spoke to me of it and employed others to do the like several times and the Empress the Princess Julia and Octavia did all they could to disswade me from loving one whose cruelty had already wrought too too fatal effects There was yet a stronger reason then all these which they might have alledged to me but they knew it not and I did all I could to conceal it from the world In fine the body began to participate of the indisposition of the mind and my countenance suffered a change suitably to that of my humour It was a certain satisfaction to me to observe the paleness of it as conceiving it might have some operation on the inexorable Tullia But when I thought to make my advantage of that change in my face she made me observe as much in hers would perswade me by that sight and her discourses that I should not with such obstinacy prosecute an affection for her when she was upon the point to destroy all her Beauty and whatever she might have had that were amiable either in body or mind Her discourses and the sincerity I imagained to my self therein very much aggravated my affliction and many times the compassion I had for her misfortune made me suspend all sentiment of my own During these intervals I was several times ready to discover to her what I knew of her love to Ptolomey and considering the extremities I was reduced to I conceived there was not any reason could oblige me to dissemble it any longer but the fear I was in to displease her had in my soul the mastery and command of all other considerations And calling to mind that I had heard her say in the fatal conversation that passed in Lucullus's Garden that she would run upon her own death if she thought her passion were discoverd I had some ground to believe that
behalf she managed it to my best advantage with much earnestness and omitted nothing which out of the compassion she had for her and me and her Friendship towards both she could or ought to have said In the mean time I was come home to my own house orewhelmed with affliction no less for Tullia's sufferings then my own And I was hardly retir'd into my Chamber but Ptolomey was brought in coming to give me a visit How great Friends soever we might have been I could not look on him that day but as the Author of my misfortunes though I was not unsatisfied of his innocency and he had not said many words to me but interrupting him with some precipitation Ptolomey said I to him there is no longer any mean for me in the extremity whereto I am reduc'd and you must of necessity either love Tullia or be the death of Lentulus You may indeed wonder to see me seek to those remedies for the preservation of my life which in all probability are more likely to hasten my death but know that Tullia's life is much dearer to me then that of Lentulus and that I die much more cruelly by the miseries of Tullia then I can do by my own While I have had any hope to deprive you of the heart you so much disdain I could not have desir'd nay was in some fear you should have lov'd Tullia but now I find that nothing can divert her from the Love she hath for you and that the aversion you have for her onely makes her the more unfortunate without contributing any thing to her recovery of two Evils which my malicious Fortune presents me with I ought to choose the more supportable since it were better for me to be unfortunate through the aversion Tullia hath for me or rather the incapacity she is in to bestow on me a heart which is yours then the regret I must conceive to see her unhappy without making any advantage of her unhappiness That miracle of her Sex for understanding wisdome and excellent endowments hath lost all forgotten all for yoursake and that Beauty which was considerable even rmong the greatest is defac'd by affliction and moulders away to utter ruine Love Ptolomey love the amiable Tullia both for my sake and your own There cannot any thing under Heaven be more worthy your affection since your Brother a person as great in all things as ever any among the Romanes did not onely judge her worthy his own but did that for her aversion which I desire of you for her love Ptolomey was so much amaz'd to hear me talk after this rate that he knew not at first how he should take my discourse But perceiving with what earnestness I spoke he concluded my words proceeded from my heart Yet was a while to seek what answer he should make me but at last putting on a more serious countenance then he was wont to do in any thing concern'd me as conceiving it more suitable to the condition he saw me in then stood with his divertive humour Lentulus said he to me I should be much troubled the misfortune which disturbs your Reason should make a breach in our Friendship and since I am so unhappy as to do you any prejudice contrary to my intention I will do all lies in my power to serve you in all the good offices you can hope for from the best of your Friends I should find it a difficulty to make any serious answer to your discourse were I not from many discoveries satisfi'd that you feel no less affliction then you express in your words but I should find it much more to believe that you really desire me to love Tullia were I not assur'd of your being a great Lover of sincerity and truth I cannot promise you I shall love Tullia and besides that it will haply be prejudicial to your quiet you know that these inclinations are not in our power and that it is not unlikely it would be as hard for me to love her as you find it not to do so My Soul is not much subject to Passions of this nature and if it could be you know that what hath passed between me and Marcia and the great obligations cast upon me by Octavia are such that it should be in some measure my care not to shew my self unworthy thereof by my ingratitude For these reasons but indeed much more out of a respect to the Friendship I bear you I should not put you into any hope that I shall love Tullia But this I dare promise you That if you desire it my behaviour towards her shall be much otherwise then it hath hitherto been that I will visit her if you think fit and that I shall have as much compliance and civility for her as a man can express towards those persons he most highly esteems Nay I might tell you that I would pretend to love her for your sake but that you know dissimulation is wholly inconsistent with my disposition though I did not make it a conscience to abuse a person you love nor believe it against your interest that Tullia should be perswaded I had any affection for her This was the tenour of Ptolomey's discourse to me and I found so much Prudence and Reason in it that I thought I could not rationally desire more of him and before we parted I took him upon the promise he made me that he would see Tullia if she desired it either at her Lodgings in case she could oblige Cicero to allow his Visits or at Emilia's and do what lay in his power to flatter her affliction and restore her to her former enjoyments He made me this promise telling me that I knew not what I desired and that it was not for my advantage he should express any submission to Tullia But I reiterated to him what I had already said and protested that loving Tullia much beyond my self I would endeavour her satisfaction though with the loss of my own and would much rather be unfortunate alone then see her perpetually such The next day Emilia sent a Message to me to come to her to be acquainted with something she had to say to me I presently imagin'd it was about the words I had written in Tullia's Letter and so went to her with an intention not to conceal any thing from her that she should be desirous to know I was no sooner come but she related to me all that had passed at Tullia's since my coming thence intreated me with the same ingenuity to acknowledge not whether I had written the words for that she doubted not but I had but by what means I could have learn'd the engagement of Tullia's inclinations and how I could have concealed my knowledge of it from her if it were true that I had known it any considerable time I made her answer with a freedom suitable to her own and after I had begun my discourse with a complaint I made to her that
obligation in it for a person that 's too ungratefull and if my Sister hath not answered as she ought the demonstrations of your affection she must needs be her self prepossessed by some Passion that disturbs her Reason I have very much suspected it by the change I have observed both in her disposition and countenance and I should haply have been the more confident of it if I had not heretofore known her mind to be far from all manner of engagements It is certainly at this present more then ever said I much troubled to find him inclining to that opinion and as the concernment I have in her inclinations makes me the more vigilant to observe them so I can assure you there 's no man in the World so happy as to be lov'd by Tullia and that I can charge my unhappiness upon nothing so much as the general aversishe hath for all our Sex or at least for a Passion which she can raise in us but not be sensible of her self No certainly nothing can be the object of her love as there is nothing that deserves to be lov'd by her and you cannot without aggravating my affliction entertain the least suspicion of any such thing This I should have pressed further as being unwilling to leave him in that opinion knowing that Tullia would be extreamly troubled at it if there had not appear'd at the other end of the walk certain persons that were coming towards us Whereupon I being desirous of solitude and consequently loath to engage in that Company intreated Cicero to go and entertain them and leave me to the freedom of my walk Cicero to humour me did so whereupon coming to a place where there was a passage into another Walk I left that I was in before with an intention out of that also to steal into some more private place But I was hardly gotten into the other walk but I unexpectedly met with the fair Tullia who having walk'd on the other side of the Palisade and hearkened to our discourse had over-heard all we had said without missing a word of it I was not a little surprized at that meeting and Tullia reading my astonishment in my countenance Pardon me said she to me with an attractive mildness if I trouble your solitude and take it not ill that I have over-heard all the discourse you have had with my Brother I have found in it so many expressions of Goodness Wisdom Discretion and an Affection which I have not deserv'd that the service of ten years could not have gain'd so much upon me and you may thence imagine that I am no less to be bemoan'd then you since my misfortune is such as suffers me not to make any advantage of an affection which no doubt would exchange my unhappiness to a proportionable degree of felicity ......... At these words she made a stop with an action attended by a certain confusion and observing I still had my eyes fixt on the ground without making her any reply I know added she that you are acquainted with my misfortune and notwithstanding that out of interest or resentment you might have publish'd it you have not onely concealed it from all the World but have chased away the jealousies which my Brother had conceiv'd thereof Nor have you cast a slight obligation on me in the contempt of his proffers because they are contrary to my unhappy inclinations and these effects of your goodness I have such a resentment of that if you knew what struglings pass in my soul upon your account no doubt you would not charge me with an excess of severity I found somewhat in these words which to my apprehension made more to my advantage then any thing she had said to me before and attributing them to pure acknowledgement and her gratitude whereof I had already receiv'd several assurances I conceiv'd I ought to entertain them no otherwise then the rest Whereupon lifting up my eyes to fasten them on her countenance with an action wholly passionat I do not charge you with any thing said I to her and I appeal to both Gods and Men. That all I bewail is my own misfortune without the least repining thought against you I have undergone it hitherto with all the constany Heaven was pleased to afford me but now my strength is spent and I am reduc'd to such necessity as to imagine there can be no remedy for me but onely in Death I need not haply go any further then my own grief to find it but the effect might prove so slow as to tire my expectations so that I must be forc'd to court it in those wayes wherein so many great persons have have met with it I will go and spend in a Military employment the unfortunate remainders of a life that was so odious to you nor is the Universe so peaceable as not to afford War enough to dispatch one whom his miseries have long since sacrific'd to Death These words I utter'd with such an action as produc'd some effect on Tullia's mind already softened into compassion so that when she was going to make me some answer she perceiv'd coming into the Walk where we were Cicero and the company newly arriv'd who came along with him to find us out Yet not willing to leave me without some reply in those terms of despair wherein she saw me No Lentulus said she to me do not think of any such resolution the Gods have haply some compassion reserv'd for us and will work some change in our fortunes These few words were all she could say to me nor had I the time to reflect much upon them by reason of the coming up to us of Cicero and those that were with him whom we found to be Scipio and Emilia and two other Ladies of Tullia's more intimate acquaintance that came from Rome to visit them The arival of Emilia and Scipio brought me all the consolation I was at that time capable of but my condition was such as that joy could not make any impression on my mind And though I entertained both with all the kindness and caresses I was able yet did they discover what observation they made of my affliction by what they expressed themselves Cicero a lover of pleasure even to excess endeavoured above all things the diversion of the company he had in his House and for the space of two days I endeavoured compliance to avoid disgusting my Friends as also to find in Tullia's last expressions some ground to hope But my Melancholy having infected all my apprehensions and left in my soul nothing but sadness and distractions I could derive no more encouragement from them then I had done from the precedent as proceeding from a compassion whereof she had given me many fruitless marks such as had nothing common with Love Emilia would perswade me to the contrary when I gave her an account of it and endeavoured as having as she said observed somewhat more then ordinary in her Friends
said he I make no question but you observe in my look some disorder for having fallen into a misfortune which hath given you a seeming just cause of displeasure but indeed it more deserves your pity then the reproaches you have given me I acknowledge Artaban that I love the Princess of Parthia I nor can nor will dissemble it yet let me protest to you that the love I bear her is not an effect of my will I summoned my Reason to my help out of my respect to you and the esteem I have of your Vertue begot in me a mortal affliction to behold that which I cause in you though more through my misfortune than inclination Besides all this I must tell you and the Princess her self can witness it that I adored her before I ever saw you that I had no obligation to oppose my own passion for the interest of a person I knew not that as soon as ever I saw you I knew you to be my dangerous Rival yet the knowledge thereof could not hinder me from giving you my esteem aâ—d affection Herein perhaps I have been more just then you but you will further acknowledge me to be so when you understand that in a Court where I might hope much from the Prince's affection who declared himself on my behalf I would not make any advantage thereof but refused an assistance not despicable which would have been very necessary for me considering the advantages you have above me Know generous Artaban I would not oppose Fortune to Vertue but chose to undertake this combat with unequal arms rather then to arm my self with the favour of Caesar against a person I acknowledge but too worthy of that for which I would contest with him Judge now Artaban of my condition in this enterprize who to the many services you had done Elisa to the many great merits of which you are Master and to the affections of the Princess who hath already declared that she favours you can oppose nothing but an intention to serve her and some proofs of my affection which doubtless would find but ill entertainment considering the constancy of hers for you This is the only hostility I shall make use of to conquer Elisa's heart and which in all likelihood will not prove very effectual Having made you this protestation hate me not if you possibly can forbear and be perswaded that the condition I am in well considered I am rather to be pittied than blamâ—d I should find some comfort in this promise replied Artaban if in the fortune of Agrippa I met with the person of Tigranes and that I stood not more in fear of your Vertue than your Interest but I have already told you that the former is more terrible to me than the latter and that it is upon the excellency of your person you may dispute Elisa with me rather than the authority you have in the Empire Either you esteem me beyond what I deserve replies Agrippa or are not satisfied of your own worth But to do you the justice I think but your due I am forced to avow that of all men you may pretend to the greatest desert and that it is much to my grief that I am sensible of the advantages you have over me How ere it may be if you can instead of reproaching me bewail my misfortune out of an assurance you shall never have just cause to complain of any effect of my will Artaban would have made some reply to this discourse had he not perceived coming in at the other end of the Gallery Julia with several other Ladies returning from the Empress's Lodgings to her own and finding not himself in a condition to fall into any pleasant conversation with the Princess to avoid meeting with her he took a shorter leave of Agrippa then he thought to have done and left him at liberty to wait on the Princes that were to dine with him The End of the Second Book HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. XI LIB III. ARGUMENT Augustus entertains the Princes and others whom he brought with him and found in Alexandria with the Combats of Gladiators and savage Beasts Among other Gladiators are brought into the Arena two persons who instead of fighting as was expected fell to embraces upon which the more to divert the people a Tygre is let out upon them which having kilâ—ed they discovered themselves to be Princes born and are set at liberty by Augustus Being brought to Agrippa they discover themselves to be Arminius and Inguiomer the one Son the other Brother to Clearchus Prince of the Cherusci Inguiomer entertains Agrippa with the Loves and Adventures of Arminius who in the fifteenth year of his age is sent to the Court of Segestes Prince of the Ingriones where he falls in Love with the fair Ismenia Segestes upon the advance of Tiberius 's Army makes an Alliance with the Romans unknown to Arminius which occasions a War between the Cherusci and the Ingriones wherein Segestes is taken Prisoner but released by Arminius out of a respect to Ismenia who is ungratefully by him design'd for Marobodes Son to the Prince of the Suevi who not long before had also made an Alliance with the Romans But Arminius having notice from Ismenia how things past intercepts Marobodes as he was going to marry her defeats his party and rescues the Princess but ere he could get into his Countrey is met with by the Romans his party kill'd he left for dead in the field and the Princess carried away by them Recovering afterwards he thought no way more likely to find out where Ismenia was then by taking Varus Prisoner in which attempt he and Inguiomer were taken and upon the ignorance of their quality sent with other slaves to the Master of the Gladiators THe Emperour desirous to entertain the illustrious Company which then filled his Court with all the Shews and divertisements that were used in that Age especially among the Romans appointed for that day there should be Combats of Cladiators and savage Beasts which was a recreation the people doted on above any though it agreed not with their humours who could not bear with that kind of cruelty One part of these Combats was perform'd by Men against Men another by Beasts against Beasts and sometimes Men were engag'd with Beasts True it is that upon those occasions there came only Malefactors formerly condemned to death and those such as preferr'd the destiny of dying by the hands of their companions nay to be torn in pieces by Beasts before that which they should have undergone in the punishments were according to Justice to be inflicted upon them This consideration made these kinds of fights be thought the more innocent insomuch that custome also contributing its part people made no difficulty to be present thereat and yet the best part of the Ladies and no small number of the men forbore them as often as they could with civility do it And certainly that
whence it came that he stood so much upon his extraction before Augustus I should say more of him did not the same bloud run in my veins as if I thought his modesty would pardon my insisting on those advantages without any necessity You know that during the calamities of Cermany whereof the greatest part by a Fate common to them with so many other Nations hath been reduced under the yoke of the Roman Empire the Cherusci have ever maintained their LIberty with extraordinary constancy and valour and if sometimes they have been forced to submit to the contrary Fortune yet have they at some other by an invincible courage recovered themselves again and have in fine defended their Rights so well that they are at this day in a condition equal to what they were in before the Roman Power was known in Germany It was in those Provinces that Arminius was born among the Cherusci where I also had my birth some seven years before and twenty years after the Prince his Father and my elder Brother Though I am really his Uncle yet is not the difference between our ages so great but that I may say we were in a manner brought up together besides that Arminius having out of a transcendency of courage from his very infancy slighted those employments that are pardonable in such an age grew by degrees more and more ambitious of the conversation of men contracted solid Friendships and perform'd those things which might well become a much more mature age I shall say of him since he is absent that he was born with the greatest and noblest inclinations and such a height of courage as nothing could ever abate Nay that which was most laid to his charge was a natural excess of fierceness and before Love had moderated what seemed somewhat harsh in his disposition he was generally look'd on as one rather hewn out for the Wars then design'd for the enjoyments of a civil life And indeed it was on the War that all his thoughts were bent and amongst those things which he was taught as requisite and commendable in a Prince he was much more desirous tobe well skill'd in the exercises of the body then in the Sciences though it might be said he is not ignorant of the most necessary and particularly what concerns the Languages wherewith he is well furnished but in fine he was much less inclined to read then to ride a Horse or be medling with Arms which gave all those that saw him occasion to conclude that his inclinations were wholly martial He accordingly became Master in those things whereto his affection naturally lead him insomuch that in the fifteenth year of his age it might have been said there was not any man in Germany commanded a Horse with more grace and vigour then he was more expert at the casting of a Dart or better knew the use of all sort of Arms in all kinds of engagements He was also desirous to harden his body by laboriousness accustoming himself to the weight and inconveniences of Armour passing away whole nights and days together on Horseback and slighting those delicacies where-in a Prince of his Rank might have been brought up But I shall say no more of him as to that particular and were he present his modesty would have been much exercised to bear with this discourse His Brother Flavius younger then he by two years had been sent to Rome a Hostage for the performance of a Treaty made between us and the Romans while yet a very child and hath been bred up there ever since so that as it is reported he hath shaken off all the inclinations he might have to his own Countrey to embrace those of the Nation wherein he hath had his education For my part since you expect I should give some account of my self in this discourse I am to tell you that having been brought up by the Prince my Brother and Soveraign with as much tenderness as if I had been his own Son and having in some measure answered his expectations from me as soon as I was arrived to an age fit to bear Arms I went into those parts of Germany where the War was then hottest as Pannonia and Dalmatia where in some engagements of no small consequence I was so fortunate as to gain some repute in our Nation The Cherusci had enjoyed a Peace of some years when their Prince desirous of a fast correspondence with his Neighbour Princes and to enter into a kind of association with them against that Power which had so long attempted our Liberty made an Alliance with Segestes the nearest of them Soveraign Prince of the Ingriones and the Casuares a People lying between the Rhine the Adrana and the mountains of Melibocus a person of very great name and authority in Germany Segestes is a man born with great endowments of abundance of courage constancy to his resolutions and much experience in military affairs but of a violent nature and implacable when once incensed There had been for many years together between him and Clearchus a very intimate Friendship and they thought the surest way to make it indissoluble and eternal and withal to unite their interests against the common enemy was to negotiate a match between young Arminius and Segestes's Daughter of whom there were miracles reported all over Germany though she were two years younger then Arminius Having taken that resolution with a design to execute it when Arminius who was thenbut fifteen years of age were come to greater maturity Clearchus and Segestes were jointly desirous he should be brought up for some years in Segestus's Court the better to accommodate his inclinations to those of the Princess design'd for him and to work in those two young persons that consonancy of affection which the Father 's wish'd in them as an introduction to their future happy Marriage Upon these terms was Arminius sent to Segestes's Court with a retinue suitable to his quality and being my self not long before return'd from the wars of Dalmatia and having contracted a Friendship with him much different from that which ordinarily finds place in persons of his age he desired my company along with him which finding me as willing to grant him he was extreamly satisfi'd thereat We were very nobly receiv'd by Segestes magnificently lodged in his own Palace and Arminius looked on as a Prince of great hopes and designed to marry the Princess But it is now time I give you some particulars of that excellent person since she is the onely cause of all the great Adventures of Arminius And my onely fear is I shall not be able to speak worthily enough of her nor conformably to the passion of Arminius Certain it is that there is no beauty in all Germany that yields not the precedence to that of Ismenia nay that she may find a place among the most eminent in the Universe But the excellencies of her soul are yet much more considerable then those of her
and were not but too well satisfied that I cannot slight Glory without being my self slighted by Ismenia I shall not only tell you that a slave of the Romans deserves not to be yours nor is it the aversion I have for that yoak whence proceeds my greatest unhappiness But being confident that my Father will run the hazard to loose all his Dominions with his life into the bargain rather then submit thereto I cannot embrace it with Segestes without proving false to a Father and renouncing a Duty wherein my Honour is inseparably concerned 'T is therefore this Honour that I must part with or quit those dear hopes of being happy in the enjoyment of Ismenia See my fairest Princess what a misfortune I am involved in between these two cruel extremities and command me to do what I ought by all the power you have over my heart For in fine though Love and Honour may be at difference in my apprehensions yet do I feel a certain suggestion that tells me the obedience I owe you will decide it and settle all my irresolutions To this effect was the discourse of Arminius delivered by him with such a grace as rendred him more amiable then ever in the eyes of the generous Ismenia And when he had given over speaking the fair Princess looking on him with an action infinitely obliging Arminius said she to him I equally participate with you as well in your grief as your generous sentiments and I am not more troubled at our common misfortune then I am satisfied as to the justice of your suspence Love Honour Arminius no less then you do Ismenia and assure your self that it is onely Honour that Ismenia can love as much as she does you I have for you an affection which I dare acknowledge before all the world since it is countenanc'd by the consent of my Father nay it is such as I should haply be as much troubled at your loss as you might be at mine But in regard I set an equal value on your Person and your Honour fear not I shall upon any account of the power you have given me over you determine ought against either As Daughter to Segestes I cannot advise you to engage your self in a party contrary to his as sensible as I ought to be of of your affection I cannot out of any consideration desire you should leave me and as having a great tenderness for your glory I cannot condemn in you what you shall do for the preservation of it Whether you will be guided by the inspirations of your Love or those of your Vertue be it your consideration but be withal assured that what side soever you take the affections of Ismenia are inviolably yours Arminius was in a manner transported at this generous discourse of Ismenia and when he had heard the conclusion of it and found it so obliging and so consonant to his own desires Ah Madam cryed he how shall I be able to acknowledge the obligations I receive from this excessive goodness in you whereby you raise my crushed hopes And what fear or what interest can move me if nothing can deprive me of my Princess What I have said replies Ismenia relates onely to my affections and not to my person this is in the power of a Father who may dispose of it as he thinks fit but he hath not the same right over my affections and having commanded me to bestow them on you it were in vain for him by a second Command to order me to dispose of them to any other Be therefore confident that no consideration of merit service interest no not of any command my Father may lay upon me shall ever engage me to love any other then Arminius But imagine not I shall bestow my self on you against his consent and think not I forget my own Duty while I advise you to do yours Ah! Madam replies the afflicted Prince how truly great and generous is what you say but how different is it as to me from what I thought I had understood I Yet is it so rational replied Ismenia that I am confident you approve it and by the repugnance you find in your self to quit the party of your Father and renounce your Duty you but too well know at least to condemn it what I am obliged to in relatâ—on to my Father and my Duty 'T is very true Madam says Arminius to her that I have discovered to you the aversion I have for unworthy actions but I think I have withal declared to you that my resolutions depend on your commands and I should not be in any suspence whether I ought to obey had I the knowledge of them You cannot therefore with any justice alledge that unhappy example to destroy all my hopes and how great soever may be the love I have for Liberty Countrey my Father and my Glory all shall comply with the affection I have for you and thereâ—s nothing I shall not renounce to preserve it inviolably yours while I live It will be better replied the prudent Ismenia that we â—oth do what we are in duty obliged to and continue our affection but unchargeable even with that reproach which we may make to our selves Fortune will not haply be so malicious against us as we imagine she may and the inclination of Segestes which hath already suffered so sudden and unexpected a change to thwart our designs may suffer a second to further them But if that happen not it is not impossible but that the same considerations which have prevailed with my Father may also with yours and that he will of himself be inclined to hearken to an Alliance with the Romans if they offer it him upon advantageous and honourable terms If things come so to pass you may without reproach suffer the love you have for Liberty and for your Countrey to give way to that you have for me and I should have just cause to be dissatisfied with your proceedings if out of pure obstinacy would continue in a party contrary to that which your Father had embraced But if that happen not far be it from me to desire or approve in you an engagement in our interests against those of your Father and your Honour which I am no less tender of then your self I know my Father would never consent to your Alliance while yours should disapprove it and were not his Friend and I have already told you that all I can do in this unfortunate posture of my affairs would be to continue my affection inviolably yours without suffering a change for any other whatsoever but that I cannot dispose of my person without the consent of Segestes Arminius found so much prudence vertue in this discourse of Ismenia that could he not condemn her that fair Princess exercised the power she had over him with so much discretion that he could not but approve the design she had to keep within the limits of her Duty while she left him at liberty
up to us nor indeed have you lost it for your being brought among persons whom you may as freely command as the most inconsiderable of your own subjects Be pleased to pardon the discourse my Uncle hath entertained you with as proceeding meerly out of the compassion he hath for my misfortune and since you cannot be mov'd thereat follow your own inclinations without any fear that the advantage the chance of the war hath given us shall any way prejudice your liberty Nor is it out of that consideration that I would make any Proposal to you or press you at a time when you thought your self not free to a thing which at any other I should not with much more confidence have demanded You shall this day return among your own people if your health will permit it and from what hath happened in this War I derive not any power over your person or pretension to your Countrey but for what I have to Ismenia I am so far from being resolved to quit it that I will dispute her with those whom you have designed her for nay with all the world to the last drop of my bloud Segestes though exasperated as he was yet could not forbear a certain confusion at the generosity of Arminius but he persisted in his resolutions thinking it enough to tell him that if Fortune should in the sequel of the War declare her self of his side he would acknowledge upon a like occasion the honourable treatment he had received After this Arminius would not have any thing said to him but what related to his departure and as soon as he had dined causing Horses to be brought for him and all the prisoners taken with him he garded him in person till they came in sight of Amasia which was one of his Cities whither he was willing to retreat as having ordered his Lieutenants to rally all his broken Forces near that place As he took leave of him he begged his pardon for the affliction he might conceive at his being taken whereof he had been as sensible as himself told him resolute enough that as for his person he should ever consider it as sacred but that excepted he would not spare any thing in the world and would carry War Fire and Sword where-ever he came or become possessor of Ismenia Though this procedure of Arminius was the effect of more generosity then policy yet me thought it argued so much gallantry that I could not condemn it notwithstanding his precipitation into things which his Father might haply disapprove such as the setting at liberty of a man who at that time was an Enemy to us upon other accounts then the Love of Arminius and whose person while in our custody might prove very dangerous to our party Yet could not Arminius repent him of it as hoping his Father would pardon what he had done out of the affection he bore him and the compliance he had for his Loves especially seeing he had impowered him to do any thing conducing to his design and was content he should marry Ismenia though Segestes continued his Alliance with our Enemies Some days after he received a recompence for that action by a Letter of Ismenia's which was delivered him by a man who suffered himself to be taken by our Scouts and desired to be brought before him He open'd it with certain eruptions of joy and found the Tenour of it to be this The Princess Ismenia to Prince ARMINIUS OUght I to love you Arminius because you love me and persist in your fidelity to me or should I hate you because you are in Arms against us and spread terrour and death through my Father's Dominions I was in suspence or at least I ought to have suspended between these two contrarieties when news was brought me both of your Victory and of the generous treatment you have afforded my Father 'T is worthy you and I find it so far worthy my affection that to satisfie so great an obligation I can do no less then assure you of my remembrance of it which the condition we are in may haply make criminal in me and confirm to you the promise I have made you never to be man's if I cannot be yours Arminius read it thousands of times and as often kissed all the characters of it with such transports as his Love and Youth only could plead excusable in him He afterwards fell into discourses the most Passionate amorous imaginable and made so considerable presents to the Messenger that he will have reason while he lives to be satisfied with his condition The next day he sent him back to the Princess with this Answer Prince Arminius to the Princess Ismenia THat you are obliged to love me is because I have your promise to do it because Segestes hath enjoined you and that I shall love you while I live beyond what any other possibly may do and if there be a necessity you should hate me 't is because I am unfortunate But I am satisfied your respect to Justice is greater then to cast your hatred on that which deserves your compassion I should have feared the taking of Segestes might have displeased you had I not presumed you satisfied that the affliction I conceived there at was equal to his and that I would have been glad with the loss of much of my bloud to have spared him the confusion it put him into Pardon my dearest Princess these sad effects of my misfortune and give me leave ever to hope that if Fortune favours you will not oppose my designs Mean time we were advanced a days march beyond the place where the Battel was fought but we went forward but slowly expecting a supply of seven or eight thousand men which Clearchus was to send us and by the strict orders were issued out our Forces behaved themselves very civilly in the Countrey of the Ingriones as being unwilling to ruine an innocent people for the unjustice of their Governour Many places submitted to us without resulance while Segestes was fortifying himself at Bogadium whether he had retreated so that we became Masters of all the Countrey of the Casuares except some few Cities those not very strong which could not hold out against us the Countrey all about being at our devotion Having brought things to this pass our designs received a sudden check by the intelligence we received at the same time from the Cherusci by a man whom Clearchus had sent from the Ingriones by certain persons about Segestes whom the noble treatment they had receiv'd from us had made our Friends By the Envoy from Clearchus we understood that the King of Suevi who was the nearest and most powerful Neighbour of the Cherusci one that not long before had engaged in the party of the Romanes made an Alliance with Segestes instead of sending into the Province of the Ingriones the supply we spoke of before to make a diversion that might restore peace to the Ingriones had made
had gotten so well that our enemies durst not stir out of their Frontier Towns and Clearchus having sent another Body under the conduct of Egilochus to the Borders of the Ingriones he took such order that he prevented the exasperated Segestes from attempting any thing About that time we understood that imagining his daughter had been with Arminius and incensed against her no less then against Arminius he married purposely to cut her off from being Heir to his Provinces and we heard likewise that Marobodes was not dead of his wounds and that there were hopes of his recovery but that the King his Father extreamly afflicted at that accident had after some days sickness ended his days and that the Crown was fallen to Marobodes who being not by reason of his indisposition in a capacity to mind either the War or Civil Government of his Countrey was forced to commit all to the management of his Leivetenants till such time as he were perfectly recovered In the mean time Arminius as soon as he was able to sit on Horseback came to the place where I was with a resolution to wander all the world over but he would find Ismenia Having understood that she was taken by the Romans we had sent several persons to Rome to make enquiry whether she had been brought thither but they returned without the least account of her so that Arminius and my self concluded there was no way more likely to hear of her then by becoming Masters of the liberty of Varus who had taken her or at least his Forces and that if we might be so fortunate as to take him Prisoner the delivery of Ismenia should be the price of his Liberty To that end drawing back our Forces further then they were into the Countrey of the Cherusci under pretence of the season which began to be harsh and cold in Germany we engaged in an enterprize proceeding rather from the suggestions of Love and Youth then those of Prudence and having learned from the Spies we continually had about him that Varus naturally negligent enough was not very careful to secure himself and that he was encamp'd upon the banks of the River Albis with not many about him and in a place far enough from the other Quarters to be soon reliev'd we departed Arminius and my self for I would not quit him in this enterprize for the regret I conceiv'd at his misfortune in the precedent taking a long march which held us all night with Six hundred Horse we were by break of day ready to beat up his Quarters We broke through all that opposed us cut in pieces all that were about him and made our way to his Tent and had certainly taken him if as ill Fortune would have it he had not been relieved by the main body of his forces which then accidentally passed by to go and encamp on the other side You have understood what hath happened to us since how we were taken after the loss of all our men and how Varus whom our confidence had raised an admiration in as well as frightned not able to learn who we were either from our selves or those of our men who were taken with us and not supecting to find Princes and Generals much less Arminius and Inguiomer engaged in an enterprize fit onely for the execution of desperadoes and Souldiers of Fortune sent us with divers other Captives to a City of the Romanes where we were strictly watched and since disposed of us to him that hath the oversight of the Gladiators imagining from what he had seen us do we were very fit for that exercise Nor shall I trouble you with the hardships Arminius suffered during our Captivity nor tell you that his Love was a greater torment to him then all the miseries of impisonment nor the shame he conceived at the exercise we were put to The relation would prove long and tedious and you may supply it your self my Lord by the reflection you may easily make on what a violent Love and a too just affliction may produce in such a Soul as that of Arminius The End of the Third Book HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. XI LIB IV. ARGUMENT The Princess Julia coming to Agrippa's to see the two famous Gladiators Arminius and Inguiomer brings among others Cipassis along with her who upon sight of Arminius falls into a swound and is discovered to be Ismenia Daughter to Segestes Cleopatra Candace and Elisa walking in the Garden in expectation of Caesario meet with Artaban they discourse of their affairs and are over-heard Julia brings Arminius and Inguiomer to kiss the Emperours hands A Hunting-match being appointed for the divertisement of the Court and Candace Cleopatra and Elisa going in a Chariot together to participate of the sport are letray'd by the Artifices of Tiberius Tigranes and Cornelius and like to be carried away by a set party of theirs but are rescued first by Coriolanus alone who is seconded by three strangers till at last came in and joyned with them Alcamenes Artaban and Arminius Coriolanus singles out Tiberius they fight a long time till at last the latter is worsted INguiomer was upon the close of his Narration when Arminius having with the persons appointed to wait on him by Agrippa seen all the most remarkable places about the palace returns into the Closet Agrippa considering him upon the discourse of Inguiomer much beyond what he had done by the bare name of Arminius though it were of great reputation among the Romanes entertain'd him with all the expressions of the real esteem he had for him and after he had obliged him to sit down I have been informed said he to him by Prince Inguiomer of your noble but dolefull Adventures and concern my self therein not as a Roman but as one of your Allies The same of your vertue that of the Prince your Uncle was not a little spread among us but I have now been acquainted with particulars which oblige me to a far greater esteem for your persons a more sensible regret for your misfortunes It should be one of my heartiest wishes I could afford you any assistance as to what relates to your Loves as it is in our power to do in what concerns the other inconveniencies you have undergone that it were as easie for me to restore I smenia to you as it will be to give you an honorable entertainment here to accommodate you for your return with all safety into your native Countrey By the Intelligence we have lately receiv'd out of Germany we understand that all things there are in a quiet posture and that the Prince your Father who after your loss maintained the advantages he had gained upon his enemies by the assâ—ance of the Turingii hath made a Truce for several years with Segestes and Marobodes who still continue their fidelity to our side and who have been the more willingly induc'd thereto out of a belief they both were of that you
had so much as a sight of Caesario as well as by reason of the meetings she was forced to be present at as the several companies she could not disenagage her self from had found a means to give him notice by Eteocles whom Clitia had that day spoken with to come at night into the Garden and expect her in such a Walk as she had appointed him Cleopatra who had such respects for so great and deserving a Brother as made her equally earnest to see him with Candace her self would not suffer her to go upon such a design alone and Elisa acquained with their intentions would needs accompany them as well out of the Friendship she had for them as by that means to avoid a visit from Agrippa They had already crossed some Walks in their way to that where they were to meet with Caesario when they perceive passing at no great distance from them a man who as they themselves seemed to avoid company and to alleviate his affliction was desirous of the enjoyments of solitude Passing somewhat close to them being it seems in such a distraction of apprehensions as that he minded not much what way he took and the Moon-shine being such as that it was easie to discern objects at so small a distance Elisa discover'd him to be Artaban and neither she nor her companions were troubled at the accident as well in regard he was a person they durst confide in and that Cleopatra and Candace out of the esteem they had for him were much satisfied it was in their power to procure him the conversation of Elisa as that they were more resolute having his company in a place where the very consideration of the darkness might a little frighten them Though Elisa had the greatest reason to be desirous of his company yet was it the officious Candace that call'd him and Artaban who it seems had not perceived them till he was gotten very near approaching upon the hearing of himself nam'd and perceiving who they were acknowledged the indulgence of the Gods towards him in so fortunate a meeting receiv'd it with all the satisfactifaction imaginable While he was with all possible submission saluting the Princesse Elisa in whom the grief which she saw him so burthen'd with upon the competition of Agrippa made more then ordinary impressions and who was desirous to divert the thoughts of it in him by all the demonstrations of affection which decency and civility could admit went on some few paces before her two Friends and reaching her hand to him after a more familiar manner then she was wont to do What Artaban said she to him you desire solitude as well as we Solitude is not all I seek replyed he but I would with it entertain something of comfort to fortifie my mind against the assaults of my malicious fortune as having thought my self considering the disturbances I am in absolutely unfit to appear before you this day Your sadnesse replies the Princess hinders not but that your presence comes ever infinitely to my satisfaction But I hope you will find less reason to be afflicted then haply you have imagined and that the Gods will afford us their assistances in this occasion as they have already done in several others I shall never despair thereof replies Artaban taking her by the hand she reached forth to him to lead her by it and I should little fear the obstacles it is in the power of men to raise against me could I but be confident of the continuance of your favour towards me I speak not this added he perceiving Cleopatra and Candace went some distance before purposely to give them a greater freedome of discourse out of any the least distrust of your Goodness but that I cannot make any Proposal to you and withall avoid a strange confusion For in addressing my services to Elisa I address them to the greatest Princess in the World and though it may be lawfull for an unfortunate wretch who can pretend to nothing but a Noble Birth and Sword to adore the Princess Elisa as one that had the absolute Soveraignty over his heart yet is there no confidence can heighten his desires so as to aim at the Heiress of the vast Parthian Empire lest it be thought an effect rather of his Ambition then Love to aspire to the affections of Elisa out of a design to get into the Throne of the Parthians And this haply contributes not a little to my affliction nay trouble me haply no less then the cruelty of Phraates and competition of Agrippa and were I born Son to Phraates and that the extraction of Elisa were suitable to that of Britomarus I should think my self so much the more happy that I might the better press you to the kindnesses you express towards me without changing that presumption on any thing but my Love Artaban replies the Princess add not the trouble you thus put your self to without any necessity to those which Fortune raises us and be assured you haue sufficiently expressed the greatness of your Soul by that of your Actions to free you from any interest that should abate the value of your affection I could never imagine the Crown of my Ancestors able to add ought thereto and therfore would not have you ground your misfortune on any such consideration but let me intreat you to be satisfied with what Vertue will permit me to do on your behalf and be absolutely confident that I should not do more were you Son to Phraates or I born in the condition of Britomarus While Elisa and Artaban were thus engaged in discouse Cleopatra and Candace who went some paces before were gotten into that walk where they expected to meet with Caesario and they were no sooner in it but they perceived the Son of Caesar attended by his faithfull Eteocles coming towards them Candace received him with all the demonstrations of an affection whereof she gave him without the least violence to her self all the assurances he could desire of it and the fair Daughter of Anthony caressed him as a Brother whom upon the obligations of bloud and desert she infinitely esteemed Elisa and Artaban came immediately up to them and no sooner had Caesario rendred what civility required from him to the Princess of Parthia but those two reconciled Enemies made it appear by their mutual embraces that the knowledge they had one of the other had changed their former resentments into a sincere Friendship Caesario set himself between Cleopatra and Candace and forasmuch as Cleopatra had a very high esteem for Eteocles as well out of the obligation she owed him for the safety of her Brother as the extraordinary fidelity he had ever expressed to their House she would needs have him come and take her by the arm on the other side Elisa and Artaban came on some paces behind them but at such a distance as that they might well participate of their conversation and thus they walked along by a Hedge-row
I came to be so strangely blinded as not to have been more careful of my self after I had understood from Volusius that he was hereabouts and discovered not him self to any Whereupon after they had expressed a joy for the good fortune they had had their goodness was such as not to wish those Lovers whom they could not consider otherwise then as enemies a greater mischief then what had befallen them and without desiring they should meet with any greater they only wished themselves secure from their persecutions admiring not without much satisfaction how that the same fortune which had wrought a friendship between them had as it were twisted together their three Destinies and had almost made them all three equally unfortunate by one and the same Adventure This accident common to all three made the knot of their Friendship the more indissoluble and confirm'd Candace in the resolution she had taken to expect with Caesario what would be the fortune of her two Friends and to oblige them to accept the refuge she had proffer'd them in a Countrey whereof she had the absolute disposal This night passed away differently among so many illustrions persons whose fortunes were so different though those who thought themselves the most happy were so generous as to sympathize in some measure with the misfortunes of others The Emperour having rested very ill in the night it was far-days ere he awoke and consequently could be seen insomuch that several Princes ere they could be admitted to wait on him had the opportunity to make other visits Though Philadelp had disengag'd himself from having any hand in the interests of Tigranes as well out of a consideration of the injustice of his procedure as the great civilities his Arsinoe Ariobarzanes and himself had received from the generous Artaban yet had he still a Friendship for him greater then that of the Median towards him And though he blamed his engaging in such an enterprise as much as they who had most opposed it yet hearing he was brought wounded to Alexandria he would needs visit him and do him all the good offices he could without offending those Friends of whom their vertue obliged him to a greater esteem He found him in a sad condition though not very dangerously wounded and easily perceived that grief and shame did him as much hurt as his wounds Philadelph comforted him with much mildness and blamed him the less out of a consideration of the posture he was in but the King of Media was so ore-burthen'd with with affliction that he could not hear of any comfort nor indeed could well endure discourse The chiefest end of his visit was to induce him to a desire of his own recovery to entreat him so to contribute his own endeavours thereto as not to make those of others ineffectual through that excess of grief he seemed to be in He represented to him that many other enterprizes had proved as insuccessful as his and what he should most fear was the danger of his wounds and not the resentment of the Emperour which in all likelihood would go no further then it had done Tigranes hearkned to this discourse of Philadelph with much impatience and distraction as looking with no great confidence on a Prince who out of respect to Vertue disapaproved the unworthiness of his designs but calling to mind withal that it was through his assistance he had been re-seated in his Throne and that he had not forgotten the esteem he ought to have for him he in some measure smother'd his own sentiments to give him the less occasion to complain and pretended much compliance to his though in effect it was no more then pretence Philadelph desirous to know how he had been engag'd into that enterprize was told by him That ever since his arrival at Alexandria he had found Cornelius very much inclined to be his Friend and that that disposition had obliged him at first to make his complaints to him with much confidence and afterwards to discover himself more fully to him That Cornelius obliged by the freedome of his carriage towards him had by way of requital discovered to him the Love he had for Candace even befor he knew her to be Queen of Aethiopia and that that equallity of Fortune that is of loving without being loved again had made a certain union of their interests and obliged them to mutual proffers of services upon that occasion That however they would hardly have taken the resolution which they would have executed the day before if the very night of the Emperours's arrival and that after all were retired from the meeting had been at Julia's Lodgings Tiberius had not come unknown to Cornelius's who had been his ancient Friend and was obliged in some respects to Livia for the favours he had received from Caesar That Cornelius had been much surprized to see Tiberius in that condition and that having asked him the reason of it after he had by many expressions and Oaths assured him of his Friendship he with much confidence acquainted him with the design he had to carry away the Princess Cleopatra by force after he had ineffectually try'd all other ways to gain her seeing that the Emperour who in all things else treated him as his Son had neglected him in that affair or at least had resolved not to use his Authority to make him possessor of Cleopatra as he had sometime been willing to do and that he had a fair opportunity to carry her away at that time then he had had in his life before there being not any who knew of his coming to Alexandria but thought him very far from it That he had Men and a Vessel lying lieger at a place where it was not easie to discover them but that it would be hard for him to effect his purpose by reason of the like accident that had happened to the Princess not many days before which might oblige her to have a greater care of her self if he afforded him not his assistance and furnished him with those things which he easily might do without running the hazard of being discovered That he had added to this discourse thousands of proffers which he had made to Cornelius which yet had not at some other time made that impression in him which they did then that Cornelius otherwise very much a creature of Tiberius's but in other circumstances would not easily have been perswaded to engage in any thing whereby he might incense the Emperour finding in the present occasion a means to interess Tiberius in his fortunes by sacrificing himself to the furtherance of his designs had forgot all other considerations and made no difficulty to discover to him his affection to Candace and acquaint him that the King of Media who was in a condition not unlike theirs and who had gallant and faithful men about him would gladly joyn with them in such an enterprize and would afford them a retreat in his Countrey till that by the
little eminency where he stood observing him among his people and upon that sight feeling the indignation he had against the usurper of his fortunes and persecuter of his life heightned in him he breaks towards the place where he was with a fury which nothing was able to resist and making his sword his guide through the frightned enemy he made a shift to come up to him before Augustus whom his own people forsook and who was in some disorder upon that unforeseen danger could think of a retreat till it was too late Tigranes had been laid along on the ground by a blow he had receiv'd from the hand of Coriolanus Mithridates was employed elsewhere with the chiefest of the Romans who were advancing supplyes and Polemon having been knock'd down by Caesario Augustus stood fairly before him deprived of the relief of so many men whom fear or other employments had forced to some distance from him The furious son of Caesar runs to him with his sword lifted up and to execute many revenges at once was going to let it fall on him with a force and weight that would have crushed whatever it had met with when the dreadfull blow was received by a strange buckler held out by an arm from which he had little feared that opposition or Augustus hoped that assistance Caesario turning to him who had pervented his revenge knew him to be the King of Mauritania who setting himself further between them Hold Caesar's son said he to him and if thou wilt not spare thy Father's blood spare the father of Marcellus who is to dye with thee Though the examples of Vertue were familiar to the son of Cleopatra yet he was surprised at this and smothering his resentment to comply with the generosity of his Friend and the respect he had for Marcellus he turned his sword another way sighing while Caesar whom the sight of that danger had extremely frightned made a shift to get among his own people after he had well observed the action though he knew not the persons nor had distinctly heard the words of Coriolanus The Princes were upon thoughts of prosecuting their design when at two corners of the place whereof they were already become masters they perceiv'd two great bodies advancing led by Petronius and Licinius and the Emperor recovered out of his fright in the the head of them more terrible then before That sight convinced them it was impossible to maintain the place any longer so that having called to their men to make towards the Bridge they came on last themselves and had no more time then needed Petronius and Licinius making all the hast they could after them Caesar saw in the Rear of his retreating enemies those two men whereof one had put him to such a fright and the other so generously relieved him who ever and anon facing about to facilitate the retreat of their men were no small terror to those who pursued them and it 's not impossible but that sight raising in him a reflection on the danger he had been in he conceived either a certain amazement or respect which hindred him from pursuing them with that violence which he had expressed at the beginning of the engagement In fine the Princes got up their men and setting foot last on the Draw-bridg they caused it to be raised upon them and went into the Castle leaving Augustus and his men no less astonished at their admirable valour then troubled at the loss they had received Augustus was extreamly troubled to see his men dead and dying in the Moat the Ladders broken and how they had been beaten off the second assault and was much perplexed in his thoughts what resolution he should take to be suddenly revenged for the injuries he received when Petronius coming up to him My Lord said he to him what are you so much troubled at and what affliction do you put your self to for the reduction of enemies who must to morrow fall into your hands without so much as the loss of a man I must pity those you have without any necessity already lost and no doubt it was your fury that blinded you so that you considered not what you did Here are some continued he shewing him those souldiers of Levinus who were come out of the Castle who can tell you that in the Castle there are not provisions for the great number now in it not for the remainder of this day and that Lev inus who furnished himself every day from the City and was not prepared for a siege had not made any provision Let your enemies be blocked up on all sides so as it may be impossible for them to escape and let hunger do the rest a more cruel enemy then those you would employ against them Augustus much liked the advice of Petronius and wondred the impetuosity of his fury should so far blind him as to put him upon reducing that by force which he might have had with so much ease 'T is true he considered that Marcellus would be exposed to hunger as well as the rest but saw he would be no less to the other dangers that he should find some means to deliver him from by the authority of Octavia and love of Juiia which he would employ to that purpose and what ever might be the issue of it his resentments over-mastered all considerations of friendship and made him resolve rather to lose what he loved if necessity would have it so then pardon what he hated and that so much the more by reason of the late affront he had received Having thus resolved he set all things in order for the execution and caused all the avenues of the Castle to be blocked up with strong guards assigning a considerable number of men for every place least they should be forced and desirous to besiege it also by Sea he drew out of the Port all the ships of War and disposed them in the channel about the Castle at such distances as deprived the besieged of all manner of communication and all hope of relief Having taken this order with more judgment then he had expressed all the day before he was more calm then he had been and having left the command towards the City to Petronius and Licinius and towards the Sea to Fulvius he retired to the Palace to rest himself after the trouble he had been in He was no sooner come thither but he had all the Princesses at his feet Octavia and Julia demanded Marcellus Agrippina and Antonia with Marcellus desired of him the children of Anthony their Brothers and if Antonia durst not openly desire Drusus yet might it be seen that all her wishes were not for her Brothers Artemisa sollicited for Alexander Marcia for Ptolomey and except Livia who what affection soever she might have for Drusus seemed only to mind the interests of the Emperour there were few Princesses and Ladies of quality in Augustus's Court who mediated not for the Illustrious besieged Elisa and
towards me nay though I am satisfied that neither Caesar nor Queen Cleopatra had any hand in the last misfortunes of Pompey and that it is not unlikely Caesar would have been moderate in the advantages of his fortune if that of Pompey would have permitted it yet I entertaine the proffer you make me of your friendship as a pure effect of your Vertue and am to assure you that next to the obligations I have to Candace there is not any thing I more value Whereupon embracing one another upon the new confirmation of their Friendship Artaban gave Caesario a short account of the particulars of his birth and the assurances he had of it as he had received them from Briton By this time night was drawing on and the Princes having caused a distribution to be made of what provisions there were in the Castle found much to their grief there was hardly to afford a light repast for so many persons and that the next day they must either be miraculously supplyed from heaven or suffer through hunger what they had avoided by the sword The Princesses and Princes made that poor meale with much constancy neither Cleopatra nor Candace discovering any thing of weakness upon so strange a misfortune Coriolanus and Caesario seem'd the only persons troubled as reflecting it was upon their account that their Princesses and Friends were fallen into that extremity and the grief which seemed to be legible in the countenances of Artaban Drusus and Alexander proceeded from their remembrances of Elisa Antonia and Artemisa rather than the danger that threatned them Drusus and Alexander discovered so much the less because they had left their Princesses safe among their Friends and feared not any thing might happen to them but Artaban was much in disturbance and though he were resolved out of a consideration of honour to perish with his Friends if he could not avoid it and had a courage great enough to face death without any trouble yet could he not reflect that Elisa was in the power of Augustus and that to be revenged for the injury he had that day received he might force her to marry Agrippa without an affliction that proved extremely a torment to him He was upon the rack of those considerations when Coriolanus and Caesario came to communicate their grief to him and ask his advice in the extremity they were reduced to and all the Princes being called to deliberate together what resolution should be taken it was without any contradiction resolved that when the night was a little advanced they should endeavour to force their way through the Guards and with the Princesses and all the men that were in the Castle endeavour to break through the Enemy on that side which led to the Ethiopian ships not but that the execution of this enterprise would prove difficult and dangerous yet was it to be embraced before the death they were assured of in the Castle being of that kind which was most unworthy their courage This resolution taken about an hour after they set things in order for the execution of it and the Princes having satisfied the souldiery of the necessity there was they should behave themselves gallantly Coriolanus Artaban and Caesario led them on and ordered the two Princesses with their women to come behind conducted by Marcellus Drusus and the three sons of Anthony That illustrious company consisting of what was most great in the world either as to Valour or Beauty went in that posture out of the Castle with a courage no less remarkable in the Princesses than the Princes and the three Chiefes who had severally commanded so great armies and were now all reduced to the command of so small a number fell in with such fury upon a guard placed almost at the end of the bridge and immediately forced it with such success that having cut some to pieces the rest fled in disorder to the next post This not only encouraged the souldiers but put their valiant commanders into some hope but when turning their faces towards the sea they would charge those that kept the passage that way they found their attempts would prove ineffectual the wayes being made up with barricadoes and great beames and maintained by above two thousand souldiers commanded by valiant men So that having set upon them very desperately but to little purpose and perceiving it impossible to get through and that upon the loss of some of their men the rest were unwilling to advance upon a design absolutely desperate they were forced to make what hast they could towards the Castle having out of a prudent foresight lest Briton and Eteocles at the end of the Bridge with fifty men to prevent the enemy from getting into it during the engagement and accordingly Marcellus Drusus and the Sons of Anthony conconducted the Princesses thither while Artaban Caesario and Coriolanus made their retreat so as to keep the Enemy in play till they came to the Castle gate into which they were the last that entred Upon this last act of misfortune was it that griefe and exasperation wrought their saddest effects in the two Princes who saw so many illustrious persons that were dear to them exposed to certain death upon their account Caesario fell at the feet of Candace to divert her from the design she had to dye with him and intreated his Brothers to leave him in an extremity wherein he could make no advantage of their generosity He pressed the same thing to the Great Artaban putting him in mind of his obligations to Elisa and representing to him that he should slight all things for the service of that Princess But the son of Juba was transported in such manner as would have raised compassion in the most insensible hearts and betraying what might be thought the effects of weakness in him had he been reduced thereto out of any respect to himself he endeavoured both by words and tears to prevail with those persons in whom the expectation of sudden death produced no such effect to leave him to his own misfortunes He lay prostrate at the feet of Cleopatra washing them with his tears and with much ado recovering the freedome of speech if ever said he to her Love begat compassion in any soul and if you would have me at the period of my life flatter my self with the glory of having been loved by my Princess my adored Princess by that love which I shall inviolably preserve in the other life by all you acknowledge sacred and in submission to those Deities whom you have ever reverenced and now incense by the injustice you do me force me not to die the most terrible kind of death my Enemies could have invented for me and think it enough that after the example of the Queen your Mother you have satisfied the world how easily you can slight death for his sake whom you love without exercising to the utmost this strange kind of cruelty upon me For in fine imagine not that when
remembred that within its little compass a passion had received its birth which caused all the care and engagement of his life As we entred into the Vessel Ariobarzanes who led me understood that the Master of the Vessel and of the persons that were in it was in his Cabin with the Principal of his Retinue where he had already caused his wounds to be dressed and waited with great impatience to see the valiant Defender of his life again We went immediately thither without staying amongst the rest of the persons but as soon as the door was open the first man that met us had no sooner cast his eyes upon my face but stepping backwards all amazed O gods cryed he This is the Princess Olympia At the name of Olympia his Master who lay upon his Bed though much incommodated with his wounds raising himself up and turning his head toward me repeating the name of Olympia made me see that which I avoided with the hazard of my life and that was the face of the King my Brother Imagine my Princesses the greatness of my astonishment or rather fancy to your selves the greatest that ever any Soul was surprized with and you will conceive a part of mine At the sight of this face which was so terrible to me I was suddenly blasted my Visage grew pale my Tongue was immoveable I trembled all over and wanted but little of losing all sence and understanding The most hideous thing that I saw upon the waters when we were exposed to their fury and the most cruel thing that I imagined in the approaches of that death which I had lately escaped was nothing so dreadful to me as this Encounter and I wished divers time in that moment rather to be exposed again to the fury of the waves and the merciless famine than to have been in Adallas's presence but I was not alone in my surprize never was there a more general astonishment in any Company and if mine was easie to be observed in my countenance Adallas's was no less depencilled out in his and Ariobarzanes's was as great as either Adallas looked upon me with a variety of passions which he could not express and he looked upon Ariobarzanes with an emotion which was legible in his eyes and the troubledness of his countenance I looked upon Adallas not only as my Persecutor whom I had fled from by Sea at the mercy of so many dangers but being sensible of some small reproach or at least some accusation because of Ariobarzanes's presence and the affection I bare him I looked upon Adallas as my Judge with so much fear that I durst hardly fix my eyes upon his face and I had not so much confidence as to look upon Ariobarzanes and Ariobarzanes who by what he saw did already comprehend the Truth looked upon Adallas not as my Brother but as my Lover and as his Rival and cruel Enemy and out of the fear he had to displease me and the part he took in my confusion he durst not raise his eyes up to my face All these looks proceeding from so many different passions were accompanied with an equal silence throughout the whole Cabin and all the persons which were there discoursed with their eyes instead of their tongues in an amazement whereof they all participated and as they were all persons interessed either in Adalla's thoughts or mine they all waited with fear or uncertainty for the end of this silence and the event of this interview Ariobarzanes had no opportunity to speak first I had not the confidence to do it and 't was Adallas at last that brake the silence which had been so long observed Yet he continued a good while considering which of all his passions should put the first words into his mouth and as to my misfortune his love was the most prevalent so that was the first that desired to make it self appear and express some marks of his joy for my recovery rather than of his displeasure for my flight or of his growing jealousie at the meeting of Ariobarzanes O gods cryed he Do you then restore me back Olympia whom I despaired of seeing any more and in the Arms of death which I beleived to be inevitable do you cause me to find Olympia He made a stop at these first words to observe by my eyes how I had received them but seeing me cast them down without replying with an action which sufficiently confirmed him in the knowledge he might have of my displeasure I see very well Olympia replied he I see very well that you are still Olympia that is that cruel and pitiless Princess whim I have not been able to mollifie by all the effects of my passion that implacable Enemy that flies me throughout the World as a Monster that to avoid me casts her self into the most dreadful dangers and at present is more afflicted with meeting of me than she was without doubt with the fear of that death which she had present before her Eyes when Fortune conducted me to her assistance In the time he was speaking these few words having recovered some Courage and looking upon him with more confidence than before Yes Sir said I to him I am as much afflicted at the meeting of you as I should be comforted if I found you such as you should be towards a Sister The gods know that if you had recovered your rational thoughts or had never fallen into those which cause so much horrour in me I should have been so far from throwing my self into danger to avoid you as a Monster that I should have exposed my self to all manner of sufferings rather than have seperated my self from the presence the friendship of my Brother but to avoid those detestable persecutions which have made me despise and hate my life all that hitherto either tempest or famine could threaten seems so light to me that to escape a lesser mischief I should willingly throw my self into far more manifest dangers Those very dangers replied Adallas by which you prove to me the greatness of your hatred do equally declare to you the greatness of my love and if to avoid me you exposed your self to the fury of the inconstant Seas and to other miseries by which possibly the gods had a mind to punish your cruelty to seek you I have not only thrown my self upon the same Sea and into those cruel Adventures wherein you saw me to day and by which I am reduced to this condition wherein you see me now but together with my person I hazard a whole Kingdom which I abandoned for love of you and left to run after you upon the point it may be of a greater Revolution But Olympia continued he raising his voice and delivering himself with a more terrible accent I need not seek any longer for the last causes of your flight your hatred was not the only ground of it and love without doubt had a share in it I had good reason to doubt that
it was not sufficient for you to hate Adallas but that you must needs love something else to be inspired with so much Courage and at last I perceived the truth of my doubts by the meeting with this too handsome and too valiant unknown whom you have sought after or rather whom you have followed in your flight He made me a short stop at these words and Ariobarzanes and I opened our mouths both at the same time to make a Reply but he prevented us by the continuation of his discourse and looking full upon Ariobarzanes with an action full of fury and of grief Ah! said he with a loud Exclamation Whosoever thou art Thou valiant Defender and cruel Tormentor of my dayes Ah! How dearly dost thou sell me the life which I hold of thee And to how much greater an extremity hast thou reduced me than that was wherein thou sawest me stand in need of thy succour in taking from me by the obligation which I have to thee for this unfortunate life the means of depriving thee without ingratitude and baseness of thine which I cannot leave thee but with the loss of all the repose and all the felicity of mine own He spake these words with such an action as made me tremble Ariobarzanes changed colour too but it was out of resentment being not accustomed to endure threatnings patiently and I saw very well by his countenance that the fear of displeasing me or of rendring my condition worse than it was by his Discourse was the onely cause of his greatest trouble I took too great a share in it to neglect the occasion of easing him of it to the utmost of my power and suddenly preventing the Answer which he intended Sir said I to the King you may give what credit you please to my Discourse and I will not seek to justifie an action so innocent that I may rather expect to be commended than to be blamed for it but I desire of the gods which in part of my miseries I have not invoked in vain that they would leave me destitute of all succour in my last disgraces if ever I beheld this stranger if ever I thought of him or ever heard speak of him before I found him in the Island where it pleased the gods he should be for the defence of your life whether by a shipwrack like to ours he was carried half dead upon the shoar the same day that our Vessel was cast away you know well enough what means we have had to seperate our selves since and you accuse him very unjustly for having any hand in my flight seeing what reproach soever you cast upon me you cannot possibly be ignorant that I have vertue enough to have done that upon the single consideration of my Duty which you impute to the assistance of another passion which I was never sensible of If you were not sensible of it then replied the King you may have been touched with it since and so without doubt you are I knew it by your countenance and by your Discourse I knew it by the expressions of the unknown when he prayed me to free you from the danger wherein you where I know it by all your actions which know not how to deceive such eyes as are so interessed as mine and I know it more than by all other marks by the qualities of this unknown which are too great and too amiable for my repose and without doubt have been so to for the conversation of yours Sir said Ariobarzanes at last to him with a very confident action and a composed countenance I am neither Master of those great qualities whereupon you seem to ground your suspition neither would the Princess your Sister if she had discovered any such in me have possibly looked upon them in an unknown person and of an inferior Birth to hers This is in my thoughts as much as I can say as to her sentiments but as for mine Sir I leave you freely to judge of them nor will I go about to disguize or justifie them out of the fear of death which I have seen this very day in divers forms without expressing much fearfulness and with which I was never threatned by any one before Thou wouldest justifie thy self replied Adallas and thou wouldst disguize thy self in vain from me either out of fear of death or upon any other consideration thy qualities are but too remarkable and I see nothing in thy person but what makes me judge thee to be of no mean extraction and the higher it is the more fatal shall my knowledge of it be to thee and thou wilt never be so odious nor so cruel an Enemy to me as when I shall see thee in a condition publickly to aspire to the possession of Olympia Let me therefore know no more of it and take notice that Fortune hath given me this day a greater occasion than ever she could offer me to exercise all my vertue I will do all that possibly I can to avoid the reproach which may be cast upon me of ingratitude and baseness towards thee and yet I will do my endeavor too to hinder thee from triumphing over my misfortune and the acknowledgment I owe for the benefit I have received of thee and I will make such use of it if I can that thou may'st have no cause to complain nor yet to deride me As he ended these words by misfortune Ariobarzanes cast his eyes upon my face and mine at the same moment being turned towards his Adallas surprized us in that mutual aspect which possibly had something more of tenderness and passion in it than ordinary looks The sight made him fall into a fury which he could not disemble and raising his voyce more than before Ah! this is too much cryed he this is too much to be declared to a spirit which was but too well informed of this truth before your looks do sufficiently interpret your thoughts and thou want'st but a little thou too too audacious stranger of forcing me beyond the limits which I would prescribe to my just resentments in the name of the gods do not provoke any farther a Soul tormented with the most cruel passions and leave me some hours at liberty to deliberate of thy destiny and mine My destiny said Ariobarzanes who began to be moved and would not have endured so much if he had not been afraid to displease me would not be at thy disposing if I had not prolonged thine by my Valour I know it too well interrupted Adallas I know it too well and if the memory of it were not fresh thou should'st not see me waver as I do in a cruel uncertainty Ariobarzanes went out of the Cabin without making any Reply but not without expressing to me by a stollen look the divers agitations of his Soul and the violence he used to himself upon my consideration I saw him go out with an emotion which it was impossible for me absolutely to dissemble Adallas being
would intreat you to be so far assured it is so as not to hate one whose incapacity to love you is the pure effect of her misfortune Ah! Tullia cryed I adorable and cruel Tullia if what you say be true the whole prediction of Thrasyllus must also be such and you will give me leave to be your remembrancer that he saith not You are were passionately beloved till after he had said You were passionately in love If it be so replyed she blushing and putting one hand over her eyes I think you so much the more unfortunate for if my soul hath already received another impression you will find it no small difficulty to efface it If Thrasyllus be creditable in the whole replyed I I should not despâ—ir the doint of it for it is evident from his discourse that that affection was not mutual and that it is very unlikely that with all the merit and courage you own you can always obstinately love a person by whom you are not beloved And there indeed I suspect there may be some falshood for I shall never be perswaded there can be any man whatsoever so happy as to be loved by you without having purchased your affection by demonstrations of his own nor any so insensible as being loved by you should not passionately love you again I am not replies Tullia so well opinioned of my self as you seem desirous I should be and if I could love persons of whose affection I had not received any assurance it may also happen that the same persons would not love not me though they were loved by me and that much more probably if they are supposed ignorant of my affection And is it so easie a matter with you replyed I to conceal your affection from a person you can love and so without any necessity do your self such a violence as would make you truly unfortunate If it were replied Tullia to a person who might lawfully claim it both by the demonstrations of his own and the consent of those to whom I am to submit my self I should make no great difficulty to let him know what were or ought to be approved of all the world but if through the malice of my fortune I had conceived an inclination which ought not to be approved and which I should condemn my self there 's nothing so certain as that I should conceal it while I lived though that violence to my self should cost my life I hope added I the gods will be more merciful then to suffer that to happen and protest to you in their presence that this wish proceeds not so much from any concernment of mine as yours that your sufferings would be as insupportable to me as my own and that I should not be more unhappy in the affliction it would be to me to love you without any hope of being loved by you then in what I should see you suffer in loving a person by whom you should nâ—t be beloved again These sentiments said she speak abundance of Goodness but there is a thing called Justice also and if that misfortune should befal me you would have much more reason to bewail my condition then attribute your own misfortune thereto I shall what lies in my power endeavour to prevent it that I may not put you to the trouble of that obligation Ah Madam said I to her with a sad accent I much fear this misfortune is already happened and that there is some ground I should be assured of it as well from the discourse of Thrasyllus as all you have said your self For in fine if it were not so what other reason could oblige you to tell me that the obstacle of my happiness is in your disposition and not in my person and that your incapacity to love me is to be attributed onely to your misfortune since you have a heart that may be moved and that it is known you were not insensible of the affection of Cecinna Those who were better acquainted with me then you are replies Tullia know that I had no love for Cecinna till his death because it was upon my account that he came to it and that all the sentiments I had for him proceeded meerly from pity without the contribution of any other Passion and that as to my resolution to marry him it was according to my duty out of compliance to my Brother who was more fit to appoint me a Husband then I to choose one And if your Brother said I somewhat hastily designed me to the same happiness would you not oppose his disposal I should still do what in duty I ought replies Tullia but your Vertue secures me as to any such design the knowledg I have of it frees my me from all fear that you will take that course to possess your self of a person to make her unfortunate while she lives Your belief as to that point is rational replyed I and how violent soever I may be for the enjoyment of that happiness I should certainly refuse it though 't were offered if I were to receive it otherwise then through your own inclinations Nay further Madam added I with a sigh I should in my own judgment be very unfortunate should I contribute ought to your being such and I am ready arrived to some degrees of it in that I heard those cruel words which have left me neither hope nor love for life That you are in Love Madam is a thing out of all question pardon me the Passion that forces me to tell it you and if you were not in love you would not fear to be unfortunate with a man that adores you and you acknowledge worthy some esteem These last words I spoke with an action full of heat and earnestness insomuch that Tullia was for some time at a loss what to reply as being doubtful how she ought to take them At last endeavouring to dissipate or dissemble some part of the confusion she conceived thereat 'T would very much trouble me said she to me the world should think of me as you do but if the opinion you are of any way furthers your recovery out of the misfortune you suffer contrary to my desires far be it from me to be displeased thereat And indeed it may well become your Prudence so to subdue your Passion as to forbear further hostility against a Heart which you believe pre-engag'd in another affection that a Heart wherein impressions are not so easily either entertained or remov'd Be it then your business let me intreat you know since you pretend to understand me so well that if I love not any thing I will continue in that condition while I live and that if I do affect any thing death only shall put a period to that affection I am already of that mind replyed I but that cruel knowledge contributes nothing to my recovery as it was your desire it should nay haply had it preceded my Love it had not been able to hinder the
enter but they two and Sempronius all those that came along with them being stayed at the gate The Princess Cleopatra had past away that night in the same Chamber with Coriolanus and though Levinus had preffered her another yet would she not by any means accept of his courtesie out of a fear that if she once left Coriolanus she should not be permitted to see him any more Vainly had the Prince imbraced her by the knees with the most earnest intreaties he could possibly make to leave a place so unworthy of her and to return to Octavia nay he was so far from perswading her thereto that at last she grew angry with him and forbidding him with all the Authority she had over him to speak to her any more of it she was desirous to be informed what she yet knew not of his adventures and to understand what she had but confusedly heard concerning the artifices of Tiberius and Volusius and the particulars of his own sentiments and those of Marcellus It being about the time of the year when the nights are at shortest they had spent the whole night partly in contestation partly in discourse and though according to Caesars order Levinus had been with them most part of the time or in his absence such of the guard as he appointed for that purpose the Prince and Princess being reduced to that extremity as not to either fear or hope any thing from the discovery of their affairs entertained one another before those witnesses with as much freedom and indifference as if they had been alone The Princesses Women having also staid with Coriolanus had much ado to perswade him to take any thing of what Levinus had sent in but could not by any means oblige him to cast himself on a bed for ever so little time and though they doubted not but that as soon as it were day Octavia and the Princesses her Daughters and such other persons as Augustus should permit would come to get her thence yet had she several times professed to Coriolanus that nothing should prevail with her so far as to force her away without him and that she should find a way to be her own death upon the first offer of any violence to that purpose The Prince equally transported with grief and joy expressed both with much disorder when word was brought Levinus of the arrival of Marcellus and Drusus by the Emperours order whereupon going to the gate to receive them in he immediatly returns with them and conducts them into the chamber Cleopatra and Coriolanus had indeed conceived very great hopes from the generosity of Marcellus but imagined not to find him attended by a brother of Tiberius and were not a little astonished to find them together Coriolanus was of opinion that Augustus would not have permitted Marcellus to come unless it were with a person who to further the interest of his brother should oppose what Marcellus out of his friendship might attempt against his Rival but Cleopatra acquainted with the vertue of Drusus judged otherwise yet not satisfied what construction to make of it she patiently expected what would be the issue of that visit Coriolanus being the person that stood most in need of the assistances of his friends upon that occasion and whom the son of Octavia was particularly to satisfie for the injuries he had done him it was to him that he ran with open arms and a countenance all tears and the Prince having received him in a like posture those two Illustrious friends embraced one the other with all the demonstrations of a tender affection which could be expected upon the like occasion The first discoveries of their friendship which could not be expressed by words kept them a long time silent but at last Marcellus recovering himself Brother said he to him here comes that cruel or rather that unfortunate friend who hath been able to hate you and to endeavour the loss of a life which he should have valued above his own and since I can do no less then sacrifice my life to make satisfaction for such a crime I bring it to that purpose resolved to lose it with you if I cannot preserve yours Augustus would have me to advise nay to conjure you by all the friendship between us to save it by disclaiming all pretensions to Cleopatra but since I am satisfied of your courage your constancy and the value you set on the worth and affection of my Sister I can rather die then make any such proposition to you If Heaven therefore and their power whom fortune hath made our masters will not suffer you to live and enjoy Cleopatra and if I cannot obtain of Augustus the life of my Friend but upon terms more cruel then the death prepared for him let us die brother let us dye together examples of love and friendship and convince our enemies that neither artifice nor authority can break those knots which tyed by vertue are indissoluble If fortune will have us crushed by the power of a person she hath raised above us friendship makes us triumph over his cruelty and we shall be sufficiently revenged of him in that with one whom he hates as an enemy there dies another that he loved as his son While Marcellus was thus speaking Sempronius and Levinus hearkned to him with much astonishment and if the day before they had been amazed at the deportment of Cleopatra they were now much more at that of the Prince in whom they could not have imagined that friendship should produce so extraordinary an effect insomuch that Sempronius not able to dissemble it any longer nor expect what answer Coriolanus would make What my Lord said he to him is it thus you execute the Emperors Orders or have you forgotten you are his sisters son or rather his own the darling of his affections and hopes of the Romans Sempronius replies the Prince not permitting him to proceed any further you may tell Caesar that I disclaim all the hopes he hath put me into and all the assurances I might receive of his affection since he denies me the most considerable I could desire of him in denying me the life of a friend without whom he knows I cannot live that I derogate not from the respect and the acknowledgments I owe his affection since I express not my own towards my friend otherwise then in dying with him without any recourse to arms in his defence that against any but Caesar I should make use of all things either as to his relief or revenge but that it being not lawful for me to lift up my hand against my Soveraign Lord and Benefactor though for the safety of my friend there is no reason should divert me from dying with him You may also tell the Princess Julia that I dye constant to her service and that if I injure the love I have for her by sacrificing my life to friendship she may remember how I sacrificed friendship to love when a
cruel misapprehension armed me against my Friend and that the offences which love made me then commit against friendship are now to be satisfied for that she may yet employ the interest she hath in her Father on our behalf but withal be confident I will run the fate with Coriolanus Go Sempronius and give Caesar nay if you please all the world this account of me and be assured that nothing shall any way shake this resolution Stay Sempronius says the King of Mauritania and return not to Caesar to acquaint him but with one half of this adventure You have been a witness of the generosity of Marcellus and shall not be of the baseness of Coriolanus but know that death is not so terrible to him but that he can receive it alone without such a companion I am apt to believe this an effect of Augustus 's hatred who would consummate that by friendship which he hath begun by love since that after the Princess Cleopatra he sends Prince Marcellus to make death more insupportable to me by the design they have against their own lives But what ground soever I may have to quarrel at his cruelty you may tell him that Marcellus is much more dear to me then Caesar is odius that I am so far from giving my consent to the death of Marcellus because of the revenge I might imagine to my self upon him that for Marcellus his sake his person is sacred to me and I would hazard my life to serve him though my persecutor and enemy because he is loved by Marcellus Whereupon turning to the Prince Cruel Friend said he to him more cruel in the effects of your friendship then in those of your aversion why will you disturb my last hours by the affliction you cause me why will you not suffer me to entertain the joy I should conceive at the return of your friendship without adding thereto the grief I must needs be sensible of upon the design you discover I was but too too happy in the affection of my Princess and yours and sufficiently satisfied with the resentment which you might both with justice have conceived since it was not impossible you might be surprized by these artifices which deceived allthe world so that there needed not this cruel reparation Go then dearest brother go and resign your self to a man nay rather to a father to whom you are more obliged then you are to me go and resign your self to Julia to whom you owe your self wholly and believe I shall dye with much satisfaction when I shall be assured that you might live happily All things seem to favour you the whole Universe contributes to your assurance of a glorious life it is not therefore just that a wretch exposed from his birth to all manner of mis-fortunes should disturb the course of so hopeful a fortune Many vertuous men have lost friends that were dear to them and have found comfort after those losses in time and their own courage you may expect the same good office from both and will find occasion enough to afford my memory such assurances of your affection as I shall more value then those you offer me I shall continue with you in the person of Cleopatra and if possible put you in mind that you were ever her Brother and that you ought to endeavor the furtherance of her fortunes and enjoyments no less then if she were born of Octavia I cannot receive a greater consolation at my death then what I have in leaving her between your arms and I hope that by the kindnesses she shall recieve from your friendship her fortune may be happy when it shall be dis-ing aged from mine The passionate son of Julia would have said more if the Princess had not with much precipitation interrupted him Forbear said she to him forbear recommending Cleopatra to the friendship of Marcellus and only divert him from his unjust resolution without troubling thy thoughts at the destiny of Cleopatra Thou art not ignorant at least shouldst not be if thou knowest me well that after the Protestation I made to thee yesterday nothing shall be able to separate me from thee but death and I should have continued within those limits which modesty had prescribed me if there had been anything in the world which might have hindred us And thus much I had to say to Coriolanus but for you brother continued she turning to Marcellus I have but too great reasons to oppose the unjust resolution you have taken And I have such as are invincible says the Prince interrupting her to persist in it such as yours will ineffectually oppose and though I had no other then to see it is by his means whom of all the world I ought most to respect I lose the person I most affect and that to rescue my friends life I cannot attempt that of the enemy who destroys him there is no other mean to be taken then for a man to die with his friend and therefore assure your selves what ever you may alledge against it I will either save Coriolanus 's life or suffer death with him While these three generous persons outvyed one the other in this noble contestation and that Drusus not interrupting them with admiration heard what passed Sempronius addressing himself to him What shall we do in this misfortune said he to him and with what confidence can we give the Emperor an account of this strange adventure you may do as you think sit replies Drusits but for my part I am already resolved what to do and since you are to acquaint the Emperor with the resolution of Marcellus you may tell the Empress that my intentions are the same with those of Marcellus and that having by my tears and intreaties vaiuly endeaveured to divert him from his cruel resolution I have my self taken that which my love and my vertue inspired me with that she should not have countenanced me in my inclinations for Antonia if she were resolved to she 'd the blood of her relations and by her cruelty deprive me of a hope she had suffered me to conceive That she had brought two sons into the world of much different inclinations but that I will expiate what is odious in me upon the account of my birth by an action that may render me worthy the affection of Antonia and friendship of Marcellus that by delivering my self up to those whom it is her design to ruine I would give them an hostage for the punishment of her cruelty and in a word That I came not along with Marcellus but to run fortunes with him to the end to undergo the same destiny with Marcellus and Cleopatra This discourse of Drusus as it had been least expected so did it raise the greater astonishment insomuch that Marcellus turning to him with a certain precipitation What Drusus said he to him shall your destiny be the same with those for Marcellus and Cleopatra It shall Marcellus replies Drusus and I have so violent