hath placed it in Health as thou hast done in Riches Telamon in Wisdom and others in Diversity of things various all from each other in the Interim Happiness is not in effect in any one of all these things as for example if it it were effectually in Riches it would follow that all that were Rich were happy and every one knows that that is not In like manner there are many people in good Health there are some that are Wise and if you ask any of them none of them will say that he finds himself happy But as for that which relates to Wisdom it is Happiness that 's for him who being Wise placeth his Happiness in his Wisdom for him whose Health is his Happiness for him who being Healthy placeth his Happiness in that Health in what then consisteth the Happiness It is not to be in Health to be Rich nor to be Wise but in placing the Happiness in that of these Things which they possess so that that Happiness precedes not the imagination nor the imagination which precedes the Happiness but the Happiness springing rising first appearing or coming into the World from the assembling closing or joyning together and from the concurrs of the imagination with the thing which they possess thou seest imagination agitateth when the Happiness riseth and springs up all at the same moment Euriloque feeling and finding himself vanquished and overcome conceived such a despight and vexation that not knowing how better to answer Tarsis he had an inclination and desire to quarrel with him All that thou hast said is rediculous said he unto him blushing and an Happiness where there needs so much imagination can be no otherwise than folly Tarsis began to laugh when he saw him grow angry and he only answered him all the difference that there is Euriloque it is that in folly is when the imagination disorders and irregularly governs the judgment and that in the happiness whereof I tell thee it is the judgment which regulates and governs the imagination That was not ill said as you see but Euriloque who began to burst and cleave assunder through despight and anger and jealousy and principally because all the World applauded Tarsis could not suffer that which my Brother said Go said he they well see that thy imagination disorders thee when thou speakest so and since that every one should place his happiness in that which he hath I approve the putting thine in the place of thy folly You may very well believe that Tarsis was not to remain without a forcible reply but considering that he was in the Chamber of Leucippe in the presence of Melicerte and Zelie and that he had bin to them very displeasing to see a sport terminate in a quarrel he resolved to convert the thing the best he could into a merriment Wise Shepherdess said he turning himself to Melicerte let 's learn for My honor to Euriloque our song yesterday in the Evening and at the same time he began to sing the Verse which he had made at table the day preceeding and the burden whereof was To rejoyce in being a fool is to be wise but I will not read it unto you because I believe it hath run through all Greece and I see not a Person that knows it not Agamée having also signified that he knew them Telamon continued in searching for new Papers This jeasting caus'd Euriloque to be inraged in such sort that step by step he came to the last or highest point of chollar and spleen Tarsis never replying a word but laughing but yet in a pleasing and bold hardy manner both together wherein he demonstrated at the same time his dispising and contempt of Euriloque and respect for them that were present and wherein Melicerte and others who knew his courage admired a thousand and a thousand times his discretion And indeed Euriloque having himself acknowledged his fault came to demand his excuse the succeeding day Now as I have told you these two occasions advancing well the affairs of my Brother with the hearts and minds of Melicerte and Zelie for that which he had done in her fall extreamly touched both the one and the other in their sencible acknowledgments towards this Shepherd and such as merited the service which he had rendred and his moderation in this last incounter caused them in an infinite esteem of his prudence and discretion Also he was so well received at the house that then when he came from Calioure Leucippe himself retain'd him often to lye with him and as my Brother had there that advantage which you see he was almost more often there than at my Fathers He always saw Zelie as if she had bin his Sister and Leucippe and Melicerte did not scarce make any difference between him and their own Children However he found himself netled wrackt and tortured because he durst not entertain her with his love openly and as since the scruple which I had put in his Mind he very well knew that 't was my counsel that procured him the advantage of living with Zelie without suspicion and to be received as the Son of the house of Leucippe he rendred himself very exact not to give him any cause of diffidence or mistrust He contented himself in conformity to my advice to essay and attempt to bestow his love without open demonstration and to cause their wish that he loved before he speak it however he was not able to live without speaking in some sort to Zelie of his passion and in that constraint he had found a sufficiently pleasing means to entertain her Zelie had a voice sweet enough and Melicerte who very much delighted to hear her sing testified her willingness that she should there learn But there were no Masters at Calioure so that my Brother although he knew not very much of the Art of Musick said smiling he would serve for one He betook himself then pleasantly to give her some Lessons and even to call her his Schollar that he might always by the more familiarity introduce her by names Now all that he instructed her in was songs it was as many Verses as he had made on the subject of his love and these two great leaves of Paper that you see are full of nothing else Agamée seeing that Telamon passed them What said he to him Is it that you believe that I know not to make my self read skilled and acquainted with songs that you do not read them unto me In saying so he took one of the leaves out of the hands of the Shepherd and read that which followeth In Prose Go you Sighs you light Spirits that in a moment can carry my heart to Zelie since 't is my Love which gives you life Of this same Love be you the Messengers they serve to make you be born serve to let them know it thou who counsellest me to love my heart how canst thou suffer and yet hold thy peace since thou inspirest me
own self to fasten himself entirely to his Wife and her Conduct where all their sweet Pleasures and Complaisance converts its self into Acrimony Exasperation and Aggravations and wilful obstinacy Now Tarsis I know very well that they still seem better to be than they usually are and I my self thought it the first and thought it even so as you have bin able to see with enough of appearance In the interim I have bin deceived as others have also and I can say that very many others are and shall be as I. I would not therefore go far reply'd Tarsis to seek you out an example of these happy Marriages whereof I speak I would not that of Telamon whom you see with Philiste and this Marriage Agamée gives me occasion and ground to pretend a semblable Happiness for Zelie is Sister to Philiste they are of the same Blood they have had the very self same Education their inclinations mode manner had a Sympathy yet more than fraternal It is true continued Ergaste that I never have had a desire to be married but when I have seen Telamon and Philiste in their Conduct and menagery of Matters This pleasant Sweetness this respectful Familiarity and this mutual Complaisance which they have one for another hath made me to take them a hundred times for a Model of two happy Persons and I believe if there be any felicity in the World it is in a Marriage such as is theirs Ergaste reply'd Telamon laughing you remember your self no more of that which Agamée hath lately told you that it is not necessary to confide in appearances Think you that Philiste and my self go to shew our ill Humors before you seriously added Celemante I would believe Telamon and Philiste happy if they could be so still in the Marriage State But I am of Agamée's side But yet howsoever not for the same Reasons as he for I believe not that it is so very difficult as he makes it to find wise Women and good Marriages But that which I uphold that even the Pleasures and sweetest Delights of the best Marriages are pains incompatible and disagreeing with Rest and Pleasure I speak not that it must be so that a Man who will live in this State renounceth as he hath said his Friends his Liberty and himself to give himself up wholly and entirely to a Woman although these be the ordinary Reasons for I very well conceive that when one loves a Woman very well one willingly quits all others for her by reason that with her he passeth easily by from all the rest But that which I believe is that this self same Love and this same Amity and Friendship which you call the happiness of Marriages are even themselves the greatest Misery of the World See I pray you two Persons who mutually love one another as Telamon and Philiste One of the two are either of them Sick it must be that both suffer the one through his Malady the other of that of his Companion for love and Amity have that of Evil that they make you Sick enough of the Malady or Disease of those whom you love But if you are sick your self they never make you whole by their Health much worse both the one and the other are they in Health You see them always in he apprehension that one of both falls again or Relapseth The one is he more ruddy than ordinary The other seemeth unto him to be Paler Doth he sleep Or Yawneth or Gapeth he at an unseasonable time or out of time Behold the Inquietude that he is in who perceives it and behold both of them sick of their folly when they are not of another evil Tarsis it were better for him to do as I do To live of himself alone not only exempted from Love but even exempted from all Friendship if it be not that simple Friendship which ordinarily they call good Will which must be had for Decency Comliness Congruity and Correspondency nay even tor civil Society I speak by experience and as Jupiter and Juno had recourse to Tiresias to know which was most pleasant to be a Man or a Woman because he had been both It must also be so that they come to me to know which it is to be best Amorous a Friend or Indifferent for favours to Ergaste and to one of your Fair Ladies of Athens I have been all three one after the other and am return'd from Love and Friendship Agamée Telamon and Ergaste could not refrain from Laughing all the discourse of Celemante and Ergaste replyed thereunto in these terms Were it even so Celemante That thou never hast had neither Love nor Friendship but quite on the contrary all that thou says there made us see that thou never hadst had neither the one nor the other if it were not a false and counterfeit Friendship For seest thou my Friend It is of Vertue as t is of Coyn there is of that which is True there is of that which is False Both the one and the other have a Similitude but there is much difference within for as the true and real Coyn is of Gold or of Silver within and the false is not but of Iron or of some other ill mottle or matter so true Love is no other than joy and pleasure within I say within even the very Inquietudes which thou blamest so much There where in that which is false it s no other than pains and tiresome Lassitudes Weariness Tediousness Vexation Toyl For a man who intermedleth in giving me Lessons upon the subject of Love reply'd Celemante it seems to me thou know'st little what it imports or meaneth since thou callest Love a Vertue that which is but only a passion And that is truly that in which thou deceivest thy self reply'd Ergaste for Love which is but a passion is that very thing which is false and counterfeit but know thou my poor Celemante that there is another Love that is a Vertue which is between a Husband and a Wife and which also may possibly be between a Lover and his Mistress when t is founded upon true merit Now it s even this which not only is full of Tranquillity but which knows how even to change pains and vexatious troubles into rest Without lying or dissembling I find thee admirable reply'd Celemante to be willing to speak of the Tranquillity of Love Thou who art always seen at every moment to be at discord with thy Mistress and to whom thou pretendest Love as others do to make quarrels In very deed thy Love and Friendship are therefore very false and counterfeit since that be it with Arelise be it with me they have always caused thee so much trouble I avow it thee reply'd Ergaste but I have this consolation that it hath not been my fault that they were not true for thou knowest that which Love and Friendship saith it is that there is correspondency between Hearts Now I have not found this
unparallell'd Resolution which her anxious and perplexed state had made her to undertake She was tempted a thousand times to go her self personally to ponyard the Tyrant but after she had seen the impossibility of this Interprize by a young Maiden after consideration had of an Attempt of this nature without any effect would serve but as an advertisement to Clearque and thereby oblige him to hold himself well guarded and precaution him against all hazards and events She sent for her Lover and having shew'd him the Body of her Mother stretcht out all bloudy upon the floor of her Chamber Kion said she melting into tears you see the consequences of the Cruelties of Clearque and to what Extremities he reduc'd my Mother after he had bin the barbarous Executioner of my Father That 's to say Kion that I must dye for you would not see me recompensed as a Slave but also I must tell you that it behoves you to revenge me and thereby give me some illustrious Tokens of that Love you have so often times sworn unto me and if my supplication is not yet so effectually forcible thereon to resolve you behold Kion behold how I command you At these Words having drawn a Ponyard which she had hid under her Attire and therewith twice pierced her heart which he could not in any wise hinder and immediately fell down dead upon the Body of her Mother adding only these few Words It 's Clearque who hath slain me O Kion revenge me of Clearque These Words pronounced from the Mouth of a dying Mistriss wrought a strange effect on this poor Lover and the consequence made appear that he had too much love to survive her if he had not courage enough to revenge her This Stranger aged only twenty five or twenty six years had a younger Brother than himself named Leonides with whom he was bound in such a strict degree of friendship the like whereof was rarely exemplify'd amongst men I have never bin able to learn their Countrey nor yet their Birth only I learnt since that they had both studied in the Schools of Plato and that there was two years that curiosity of Travels had caus'd them to roam the World and that they were return'd from Gaul whence they declared their Original was Their design had bin immediately to pass farther and after they had seen as they had done the major part of Europe to run over all Asia but the love of Kion and the delectable fellowship of Leonides for his dear Brother had stay'd them both at Heraclea Kion being then come as well as he could from the view and sight of that dismal and bloudy Spectacle ran towards his Brother his heart pierc'd with Love and Grief declared to him with a thousand regrets and sighs the deplorable piece-meales and passages of this tragical Accident and in the transport of his Desperation imbraced him and demanded his Succour to revenge the death of Olympie Neither the friendship nor the great courage of Leonides could not permit him to refuse any of the Supplications or Desires of Kion And behold a resolution truly worthy of the Love of the one and friendship of the other and the courage of both The Tyrant never walked but in the middle of two hundred of his Guards He had the insolence to call himself the Son of Jupiter and as a badge or mark of his Extraction he caused to be carried before him an Eagle of Gold and his Busquins or Boots all embroidered with precious Stones and Jewels So that this Slave being apparrelled with the Pomp State and Authority of a King made all Heraclea tremble by the sole port and equipage of his Person and of his Train and Attendants All that which there remain'd amongst the Citizens were Groans under the weight of his Tiranny There pass'd not a day that he perpeted and imbrued himself in some sanguinary Murder there was neither Wealth nor Liberty but only for Slaves and in the mean time these poor Citizens had their Souls so amated and dismayed and their Hearts so violently quelled and born down that they served themselves only with wishing the death of the Tyrant without the courage to undertake it and saw themselves so Massacred one after another not one daring to revenge it But this part seemed not possible to come forth from any other than from the hand of some God and there appeared not a possibility in Men to give a Deaths wound to another who never would leave himself to be approached but across through two hundred Halberdtiers However Kion and Leonides undertook it and the honor of the deliverance of Heraclea from the most abominable of all Tyrants joyn'd to the Transports and to the excellent Movements Agility and Disposition of love and friendship wherewith they were animated they resolved without difficulty or hesitation to expose their own lives to render themselves Masters of his They therefore armed themselves immediately each one with a Ponyard and went to the Pallace demanding speech with Clearque under pretence of having some difference betwixt them of some great Importance which they would refer to the King and being by this artifice introduced and way made to the Tyrant they took their time so oportunely that in the very instant that Clearque list'ned to him who first spake the other drew his Ponyard and with the very first stab wherewith he was pierced this infamous Captain of Slaves fell stark dead at his feet Immediately the Guards ran upon them but their number dismayed them not and resolving to dye yet to sell very dearly their lives they set upon the Souldiers athwart their Pikes and Swords and ceased not killing until they were in conclusion borne down with blows they deferred putting them to present death reserving them for a barbarous and cruel Execution and in that resolution they shut them up in the very Chamber where were the Corps of the Tyrant and they placed Guards upon them In the mean time the rumor and â—ame of this Action was spread immediately throughout all the City of Heraclea It awakned the courage of the Inhabitants who running to their Arms and impatient to have at least the Bodies of their Deliverers in the hands of those by whom 't was said they were slain came in Troops crowding to the Pallace And beleaguering it they at last forced the rest of these unfortunate Slaves who kept it to redeem their Lives in the surrendry of Kion and Leonides into their hands It 's in no wise possible to express the joy they conceived when they found them living nor yet to describe what Marks and Tokens all the Popullacy sparkled and glittered forth in testimony of their grateful resentments Some immediately seized the Corps of the Tyrant dragging it through the Streets and i' th' end tearing it in a thousand pieces Others sounded and echo'd out Elegies and magnificent Triumphs setting forth Trophies in memory of their generous and unparrallell'd Deliverer you had said they
precipitates against the Rocks with a great Noise to go and loose it self in the Sea The Rock bending it self on high is there formed like a Vault hung with Moss naturally the entrance is shadowed even with some Trees which take their nourishment and sustenance from the Veins of the Rock and which renders that place one of the pleasantest and most delightful of the World For from thence they may at all times in the noise of that natural Cascade be out of the piercing of the Sun and falling of the Rain and even sheltered from all incommodious Winds see all that which passeth on the See and with pleasure consider all the neighbouring Coasts It is there in that place that Fortune conducted Philadelphe and he was no sooner at his view thereof but he there discerned a thing surprizing enough You know how the Painters draw Minerve the head-piece or Helmet on the Head the Corselet upon the Back the half Pike in the Hand The Prince saw at the entrance into this Vault a Maiden in that equipage who was sate upon a seat of Moss which Nature seemed to have made on purpose but a Maiden whose Viâ—age was formed with Drafts so delicate and so well proportion'd whose Glimpse was so glâ—ttering and admirable that he was only capable of taking her for a Divinity Her Complexion and Hue of an equal whiteness in similitude equal to that of a Lilly she was animated as with Vermilion in the Cheeks and raised with a little Mouth like a Carnation that the most lively Limner or Painter cannot imitate A peaceable quiet and profound Sleep which the Head â—ull'd along had obliged to bend and bow and lean it self on one of her Hands and such a quantity of Tresses of fair Hair loose which hung apart upon her Neck that there was nothing but their Beauty which could consolate Philadelphe to lose that which they conceal'd and hid from him and could not freely see the little that her attire left uncovered from so fair a Breast It is very true that he yet had wherewith to recompence himself by the view of one of her Arms the whitest fairest and the best framed of the World by reason the posture wherein she held them whereby to lean her Head gave occasion to the Sleeve which being broad and large fell and left it appear naked even to the Elbow whilest the other wherein she held the half Pike being carelesly stretched the length of her Robe displayed the whiteness and just proportion of a Hand capable to deface the shining whiteness of the Snow it self But to paint and better delineate it to you in one word my Prince often said unto me that he was so troubled with this first view that she was the Dâ—â—sse or Goddess Minerve her self which was come to repose her self in that Rock and that he felt himself by this fair One unknown in so profound a respect of Soul that he was almost ready to prostrate himself before her to adore her In conclusion he resolved with himself to approach her a little nearer whereby to judge better but it was with all the circumspection imaginable for fear of awakning her Admire here the prompt ready and violent effect of this sight in the heart of Philadelphe he came from a sad mournful and cruel Shipwrack his Body all wearied with the agitation of a Tempest of two dayes and nights his hair and Attire all moistned and wet of all sides as you may think of a man which comes out from the middest of the Water and although in that state as if he had bin smitten with a suddain Blow he felt nothing but his Love springing He waited to contemplate of this fair unknown One and instead of awakning her to demand where he was or to go at least to seek out some certain place where he might dry his habit and repose himself he turn'd himself to my Son and striking him gently on the Arm he said unto him with a low voice Stilpon doest thou see her Gods What shall this be anon if her Stature and her Eyes carries a resemblance to that which appears And at the self same time he betook himself to consider her as if he had bin fully resolved to wait there until she awaked and as if he had nothing else to do My Son notwithstanding their disgrace and in despight thereof could not abstain from Laughing at the Design of the Prince and as for him nothing hindred him to resent the Incommodity of their Shipwrack My Lord said he to his Master we will return when it shall please you to see if the eyes and the Stature of this fair One is worthy of the rest But for the present you will permit me to tell you that my advice is that you think of going to a house which I perceive is near this Place to dry you and repose your self This discourse occasion'd him in some sort I say Philadelphe to come again to himself he himself was astonisht at his own Transport and knowing well that the thoughts of my Son were then more reasonable than his own I see well said he to him laughing that Stilpon is not so Gallant as Philadelphe and that when he is well wet he would pass never a day to consider of a fair One. At these words he endeavoured to make himself retire and parting from that place there the softlyest that he was able for fear of awakening this unknown One he descended still following the same Path-way towards a House which my Son shewed him in a Plain which is the other side of the same Rock All the way they walked the Prince entertain'd him almost with no other discourse than that of the unknown and they could not in effect frame to themselves by any reason why a Maiden could be in that Place with those kind of Habiliments and Attire They arrived a little afterwards at that House and at the entrance they met with a Man of whom they demanded in the Greek Language the name of the Countrey and some Place where they might Lodge This Man being stricken or Inspired by the amiable Countenance of Philadelphe and altogether as much with his disgrace which appeared sufficiently by his apparel answered him As to the Countrey that they were in the Island of Corcyre appertaining to the Athenians and as for Lodging that there was neither City nor yet Village from which they were not distant seven or eight Furlongs but if he would be willing to pardon the incommodiousness of his Habitation and would be received under his Roof he offered him his House for a Retreat Philadelphe made use of the Civility of this Man who placed him with my Son in a Chamber As the Island belong'd to the Athenians who had not then a good understanding with the Egyptians he would not there make himself known and had he bin in a Countrey less suspect perhaps it would not have bin proper for him to declare who he was
in quest of her for he verily conceived that she could not be gone out of the Island and doubtless he would have gone if my Sâ—n had not imploy'd all that might be thought imaginable in his Endeavours to divert and disswade him In short Stilpon acted so well that he obliged him to imbark and having made him quit all his amorous designs and no more to dream of them till his return they fortunately passed over into Sicily Agatocle as I have told you was then waging War with Dinocrate and my Prince went to find him in his Army He offered himself as a Voluntier without naming himself and would not then make himself known but by his laudable and honourable Feats and Actions I will here pass by the retayling of them for in so doing his Merits would give us subject and matter sufficient for a long History But all that being no part of but quite besides my design I will content my self to declare to you that my Prince did there so signalize himself by such very extraordinary Exploits that Agatocle immediately considered him above any amongst all his Troops It cannot be expressed with what Honours he received him when Philadelphe made himself understand by that which was nor by how many Marks he signified to him his esteem and his acknowledgment After the War was finisht he would have made him make a solemn and publick entry into Syracuse and determin'd a kind of Triumph but my Prince was unsensible of all these Honours and although he had made the War as if he had had but that in his mind he had no other thing there than only Love Arsinoé return'd without surcease or any intermission into his imaginations and that which is unceivable as if he had had some Joy in those occasions wherein he signalized himself it was not but that he dreamed that he should be more worthy of Arsinoé Will you not admire this effect of Love Philadelphe as great a Prince as he was yet notwithstanding conceived himself unworthy of a simple Maiden whom he saw in a condition so disproportionable to that of his and his Passion made him appear to her a subject of emulation to make him to research with pleasure the most difficult and perilous occasions in exposing himself But this is yet much more strange the War continued two years and at the end of those two years his Love that so many important and diverse occupations should dissipate appear'd no other than much more forcible and violent My Son was extraordinarily surprized for he believed that that fantasy had bin absolutely past because he had seen him so fixed to functions and feats of Arms that one would have believed that he had forgotten all other things but he soon made it appear that it was a fire which lay hid under the ashes and that it was not shut up but to gather together all its forces and to shine glitter and beam forth in its time with much more ardour and violent heat Stilpon then was much astonisht when that some days after the return of Agatocles unto Syracuse my Prince said unto him Well Stilpon do you now find that I remember my self of the Design which made me quit Egypt and that I have in some measure filled and satisfied the expectation that thou did'st conceive of a Son of the great Ptolomée My Son who knew not to what this Discourse tended answer'd him with testimonies of esteem and admiration that all the Island of Sicily had by his great courage and by his gallant Exploits observ'd his worth And then the Prince reassumed thus 'T is too much Stilpon it sufficeth me that I have done no more shame to the Name of the great Ptolomée that thou reproachest me no more but that I seek to relinquish my self before the labour and that thou believest I have at least desevred some moments of rest which I will go to take at Corcyre My Son who immediately understood him and who still apprehended for him that amusement would answer him but Philadelphe interrupted him saying Listen Stilpon I have had enough of time to consult of that design to tell me even to my self all the things that thou canst represent unto me and if they were to vanish it would have done it after the indeavors through which I have fought these two years but I could never yet be able to take my self from the thoughts of my imagination and I can only dream of joy not of rest but in thoughts of making another voyage to Corcyre After all this discourse he commanded my Son to prepare all things in readiness for their departure and some days afterwards he departed from Sicily and made for Corcyre leaving after him an universal regret not only in the King but all the Court I cannot describe you the joy nor yet the ravishments that he had when he approached Corcyre for they exceed not only Expression but Imagination also He made us to land at the Port the nearest could be to the house of Stesicrate and without delay he walked there alone with my Son leaving all the rest of his Retinue in the Ship He past first by the house where they formerly had both lodged there to speak and to inform them of the news of Arsinoe and was much surprized to learn that neither she nor Stesicrate nor Argene had dwelt in the Island that astonisht him so much more because he expected there to find them upon the report of a Man whom he had sent there express from Sicily some days before his departure Alas what is become of them demanded the Prince all abasht My Lord answered they There are about fifteen days since they imbarked themselves in a strange Vessel and knew not well whence she was But there ran a secret or heedless report that it was a great King had sent to fetch Arsinoe At these words the love of the Prince fail'd not to put into his Mind a thought whereof all others than a Lover had never bin capable of For he believed that this King had undoubtedly sent for her to espouse her and his jealousy immediately possessed him therewith mixing it with his imagination Ah Stilpon cry'd he it 's doubtless a Rival hath carried her away but however it be he is more worthy of Arsinoe than Philadelphe because he hath not treacherously hesitated as he upon an imaginary inequality in point of Birth Not so my Lord reply'd he who had spoken to him for they said she was his daughter The Spirit of the Prince was somewhat revived by this discourse but I deceive my self for he passed and went only from one Passion to another of Jealousy and incredible transportations and astonishments of joy Arsinoe daughter of a King reply'd he much moved I know not precisely nor exactly if it were a King answer'd the other but they said at least that it was some great Prinâ—e Philadelphe was sometimes in a sweat then presently turning to my Son Hah
Nations Arabia Ireland and a thousand other Countreys have they not practised and do they not yet practise this Custom to espouse their Sisters of which Egypt hath advised and considered of only since some Ages to have it in horrour The Carians within the memory of Arthemise and of Mausole do they not reverence and adore the Alliance of a Sister and a Brother Do we not our selves make so much within the Feasts and Holy-days of Isis and of Osiris which we celebrate and solemnize every year That love was it not innocent every where and necessary even at the birth of the World And Jupiter I say Jupiter the great hath he not made his Wife of his Sister Wherefore will they then that this usage be contrary to Nature If that were it would never have bin just for nature hath bin from all times and it would be prohibited throughout the World for Nature is universal I left him to say all he could that so he might listen to me the more attentively when he would have any thing more to object unto me besides that I admired his reasonings and took much pleasure in harkning unto them although I signifyed him nothing After he had held his peace I reply'd to him in these terms Permit me to tell you my Lord that all that you alledge me of authorities and examples are not good reasons and that the sentiments of Zenon of Chrisippe nor those of the Chaldeans do not justify yours They might as well be deceived as you and to shew you that it 's not impossible but that even intire Provinces have bin abused that is that Arabia Egypt retaining to this day two Opinions so contrary it must necessarily be that one of the two must be deceived However my Lord they may say that they both have good reason that there is nothing naturally just nor unjust but that the Laws alone with usage justify and render evil all Actions So your love is criminal since that neither our Manners nor our Laws cannot suffer it and those of the Arabians cannot serve you to any purpose since you live in Egypt It is not but that there was some greater appearance in believing that Nature oppugâ—s she hath even given horrour to the very Beasts you may have read in Aristotle that the Horses have precipitated themselves to be fallen into the like default and she seemeth to apprehend in such a manner the incestuous union of the Brother and Sister that when she ingenders them together she separates them from one Membrane which is not found between two Boys twins nor between two Maidens I did not convince him by these reasons but in conclusion I dispos'd him to rise and go see the King Queen and Princess As to that of visiting the King Queen and Antigone there was yet no difficulty in the managing of that but it 's not conceivable with what emotions of Soul nor with what troubles of Spirit he entred the Chamber of Arsinoe He knew not where to commence his discourse he knew not almost even how to name her for to treat her as a Princess as a Stranger that seemed him to be too cold to a Sister to call her also his Sister that was too repugnant to his love as for Arsinoe she had not the same perplexity for as I have said the esteem and friendship which she had begun to conceive at Corcyre for Philadelphe served but to dispose her to receive a Brother with more joy Her heart was not nor had yet bin preoccupied as that of the Prince by the thoughts of an Alliance contrary to the proximity of blood and all that the change of her condition had bin surprize in her ended and terminated in a surprize pleasingly delightful and advantageous So that she had in this Incounter but a facile and delectable rejoycing in his Personage and therefore from the first moment she saw him enter into her Chamber where she was yet apparelling her self she advanced before him with a very joyful Gay and jocund Countenance and imbraced him with a thousand tender respects and with extreme demonstrations of joy O how had these tender and precious caresses rendred him happy some days before but the more he dreamed that formerly they had bin sweet and delectable pleasures the more he then conceived of Regrets It was a long time before that sweet name of Brother that she had repeated him so many times could draw from his Mouth any other then Sighs The Princess discern'd it but imputed it to no other than his indisposition that he had dissembled or feign'd the day preceding and 't was therefore that she often tenderly asked him what ailed him and whether he were yet sick and indisposed Philadelphe answered hre No but in so mournful a manner that the Princess was much troubled and disquieted and as she seared some disgrace had befallen him and that the presence of her Ladies of Honor hindred him to open his heart in the discovery she made them signs to withdraw and afterwards said unto him What aileth you my dear Brother for both my duty and inclination makes me to take so great a part and share in all that concerns you that I conceive I should demand why you seem troubled without signification of any indiscreet curiosity By your good favour my dear Brother free me from this inquietude and pain and let me thereby see that you consider me as your Sister At these words the Prince uttered a dâ—ep Sigh then looking upon her with the eyes of Love and Grief who unfolded and display'd themselves together he reply'd you ask me what ayleth me Alas Arsinoe Do you not even your own self tell me by the names of Brother and Sister what you give to both of us O Arsinoe Added he Arsinoé that you would bewaile me and that you would bewaile your own proper misfortune if you loved me as I love you The Princess who knew not to what excess and extremity the love of Philadelphe had bin would produce or extend unto and knew not yet the effects of a Passion that she had not resented was enough surprized at these Words and however as she called to mind how little the Prince had formerly expressed himself to her and that as she had an infinite quick pregnant accute and lively Spirit and Wit she omitted not to Divine of something so that she answered him O my Brother What reproaches do you make me I should have much more cause to tell you that you love not your Sister your self being you will recover her with so little Joy or at least you love her not as you ought I knâ—w not reply'd the Prince if I love you as I ought but I know I love you so well and so much that I bemoan my self and you ought to have Compassion upon me For in fine Princess the Prince Philadelphe hath the same heart that that unknown One had whom you saw at Corcyre and the Princess of Egypt hath the
the Father upon hers Berenice had bin constrained to feign that Arsinoe was dead as soon as she was born and that in the Interim she had privately sent her to be nourished and brought up at Corcyre by Stesicrate and Argene his Wife both her Domesticks in whom she had Confidence in expectation that the Death of her rival would permit her to be made known by Aridée But Olympias having survived that Prince she had never durst made it to be known and that he had bin a long time after her second marriage with Ptolomée without making it known to himself by an awful Timidity and scrupulous Bashfulness as if she had apprehended that that was not capable of giving him some Ombrages of her Vertue That her maternal Love had in the end forced her to this confidence in him and to recommend him her Daughter in a malevolent Disease wherein this vertuous Queen thought to dye during the absence of Philadelphe and that for him who was not ignorant neither of the furious rage of Olympias nor the feeble Complaisance by which Aridée had left her to Sacrifice one part of her Family and who yet better knew the Wisdom and the incomparable vertue of Berenice he had immediately not only sent to fetch away Arsinoé from Corcyre but that loving no less the Children of his dear Wife than those who properly were his own he would have her also pass for his Daughter whereby to assure her a part of his Wealth in recompence of those of her Father For in the conclusion pursued Ptolomée I avow to you that I love Arsinoé no less than my own Daughter and that it is to testify unto her that I have for her the Love of a Father that I will give her to my own Son Philadelphe listned to all this with so much astonishment so much Joy and so much Impatience that he almost lost the attention and he cared not how the thing did happen provided that it was so After having signified and testified as much as was possible his Acknowledgments and Obligations together with his Joy to the King his Father he quickly and nimbly ran to Arsinoe and ran there so transported with Love and ravishing joy that he did not almost feel himself I doubt not but that you would take great pleasure to understand after what manner he reviewed this fair Princess and how he was received If I should undertake to make a draft of the lineaments of this Picture and to depaint all the most rare and the most tender passions the World inspired them in this reunion so fortunately happy and so unexpected and unawares but for that it would be needful for me to have twice as much time as undoubtedly remains to us to finish our course since it seems to me I discover from hence the house of Alcidias upon that adjacent hillock or eminent rising It suffiseth that you know that Arsinoe who had bin prepared by Berenice for that interview corresponded with the joy of the Prince so much that he could exact and require it from her Modesty and chast Pudicity and Purity and advantageously repared and made up in these first Moments all the displeasures all the troubles and pains of many years Eight days after the return of Philadelphe they celebrated in Alexandria the Feast of Isis pursuant whereunto preparations were to be made for the Marriage and Coronation of Philadelphe The solemnity of this Feast had something of barbarity for those who knew nothing of the Manners and Theology of the Egyptians For first of all after a Sacrifice that the Priests made in the Morning with Cakes on which there is the figure of a Sea-horse tyed they made a procession in which four Priests having their hair and beard shaved conducted the Ox or as they say the God Apis. Four others afterwards led the Dog Anubis with the like Ceremony and all the other Priests followed after them singing of Hymnes and all vested and arrayed with Robes of Linnen They walked so in order to a large and hollow Fountain which stands without the City of Alexandria in which they drowned the Ox and at the self same time the Gates of a little Temple which is very near approaching opening as of themselves they beheld the coming forth of a new Ox and one Heyfer Every one of these Animals carried on his Neck a Maiden which there is seated much in similitude to those that the Limners represent us in Europe upon a Bull and these Maidens are always Princesses or Persons of the highest Quality because they do upon this occasion represent the Goddess Isis for she that sits upon the Heyfer signifies Isis then when being the Nymph Io she was changed into an Heyfer by the Artifices of Jupiter and she which is upon the Ox there then represents that being the Wife of Osiris and Queen of Egypt she taught these People to cultivate and sow their Lands They made them afterwards mount twice upon the Nile in a Vessel which conducted them to an Isle in the Sea some miles from its Mouth and where there is a Temple of Osiris on the Altar whereof is a Chest of Iron where they said Osiris was shut up and drowned They yet make there the sacrifice of an Ox and afterwards all the procession return by the light of a thousand Torches and at the sound of Flutes Pipes or Tabers of Drums and Trumpets which makes the Air on all sides to resound ring and yield an Eccho At another time I will explain you the Mysteries of that Superstition as to the present it suffiseth after I have explained you the order of that Solemnity to tell you that the Princesses Antigone and Arsinoe had bin chosen to represent at this time the Goddess Isis And to speak truth they could not better choose whereby to give a greater Idea to the Goddess nor to imprint the respect and the veneration in the Spirits of these People for they had both the one and the other such Beauty as would draw and attrackt the Eyes and adoration of all the World Certainly I can assure you as having bin the Witness of it never was any thing so admirable as they appeared that day the one and the other Antigone as the youngest represented the Goddess or the Nimph Io. Her Robe was of Cloth of Silver sowen with Pearles and her Hair was trust and tuckt up under a Crown of Flowers her white and fair Arms appeared deckt and garnished with rich Bracelets of Pearles and they saw on her a kind of half Moon blazoned in silver upon the fore-head in sign of the change of the Nimph. Arsinoe represented the Queen Isis and that therefore was the reason why it was more magnificent and Royal being all imbroydered with Gold and covered with precious Stones Her head was covered with a Crown of Gold in fashion or similitude of an Ear of Corn interlaced with a great number of Emeralds Rubies and Stones of divers exquisit
with presumption to do it give me the courage at least to express it and if I dare not speak it let me at least have the liberty to sigh Another cease you diverting singers and part not my Sences any more by the consenting and concording charms of your Melody The object which occupies them hath many more repasts I think of fair Zelie you birds cease troubling me That pleasing remembrance which I am entertain'd with makes the sweetest moments that I ever passed in my life All other pleasures are to me superfluous I think of fair Zelie birds give no trouble Another Shepherds I love in two certain Places and dye for both the one and the other at one and the self same time but those two adorable places are your Mouth and Eyes They therefore seem enemies one destroys what the other hath promised demonstrate less of sweetness by your Eyes or with your little Mouth give us a more favourable treatment It 's true I have vaunted my self when I knew not the art of pleasing you and that in despight of your fury your heart and my Vows shall not be more contrary I will not dedicate my self in opposition to your anger I have said else where and again it again before you call me proud haughty timerarious prepare a hundred torments with which to punish me I know the art of pleasing you you cruel one for whom I go to dye You who see desarts as absent from Zelie I mournfully spend my life be you witnesses of my faithfulness and fidelity Ah without ceasing I think of her and possibly the cruel one never thinks of me Is it not true Desarts what of my sad moans you even the Rocks have attainted and convicted it and do bewail my torment so many Ecchoes do they hear which demonstrates that their hearts are more soft and tender than archers to the sighs of her lover Agamée would have continued but Telamon interrupted him I counsel you said he that we cease these lines to pass forward to the rest What reply'd Agamée is it that you less esteem Verses to carry the name of Songs It must be so possible reply'd Telamon and as there is nothing more difficult in well doing there is nothing also more to be esteemed For there must be very much sence and passion in a very few words and you know the most sublime efforts and indeavours of Spirits as well as of nature is to shut up much in a little space and room But it is as in beholding a so great Number I had rather lend them to you to read them in your particular because that you easily and sufficiently understand them alone I will only add to you touching these same Songs that Zelie mistrusted much that they were made for her and yet she counterfeited to seem to believe that he made them not but that there she should set her name instead of some other because that otherwise she should believe her self obliged for good behaviour and courtesy sake to learn them as she did Tarsis was not angry himself that Leucippe and Melicerte had that thought and for that end often singing them in their presence he there placed the name of Delie instead of that of Zelie that he might still avoid the suspicion of his love Sometimes therefore he made them so convenient for the subject and looked upon her with so much passion in singing them that they saw well that it was her own proper person that was expressed as for example this here which he composed on that which he shewed to this Shepherdess to sing I have no otherwise said than loved with a dying voice and languishing sound with an all resembling Air and a like Accent my Shepherdess said the same but I alas see well that we understand it not In the same words that I sigh I see her sigh just so as I did I see her repeating all my proper wishes that which I have said to her she saith to me must it be alas that we understand not our selves admire my extreme audacity I will teach you to sing though I know not how to do it my self but alas wherefore should I be astonished you apprehend not how they love and if you knew it not All that which you sing is very just to the very last point I am charmed at your understanding that which I would have you apprehend therefore you do not comprehend Gods the fair port of voices the sweet flection and bending one shall never sing the same but then when you say I love better to enter into passion The amorous Tarsis flattered a little therefore his evil by this address and so much the more sweetly that she served him the same time for a pretext to be every day near Zelie But he wearied himself therefore in not expressing him otherwise than in Misteries and enigmatical riddles and I call to mind when he would take an occasion to declare himself to her One day he stood to behold this Shepherdess who was attiring her self and coysing her self and dressing her head in the Chamber of Melicerte and was putting her self in the best posture that possibly she could to go to a Feastival that was made in these Hamlets she asked him if he found her well Tarsis answered that he found her vâ—ry ill for him But as she saw that he said that smiling she also smiling asked him what that was which he had to contradict and he observing Melicerte attentive about other matters replyed very softly Quartian prepare as many flights darts arrows to reinforce and redouble your strooks This Shepherdess is too cruel alas make you not so fair and amiable have some pitty upon us What Tarsis replyed she ought you not rather to know me grateful and essay and attempt to have me fair that I might not be evil in your Eyes Think you reply'd Tarsis that there is more danger in wounding the Eyes than the Heart I protest unto you fair Zelie that you have already so wounded mine a long time since that I know not what will become of me in the end if you have not some compassion on me She had no sooner understood this discourse that as if she believed not that a Maiden should ingage in that discourse she brake off pretending that she had lost something in the chamber where she would hasten seeming to go and fetch it Since that in reading you these lines I am insensibly ingaged to make you an historical narrative or recital of the affections of Tarsis and Zelie and that you as well have signified me your desire and how much inclination you have to learn it I will declare to you here in passing some particularities pleasant enough which I call to mind which will cause you to observe to what a point and pitch of love this poor Shepherd was reduced and how far his strong passion carried him both as to respect fear timidity and trouble At this time my Father sent
Wealth reasonably sufficient for the condition wherein I then lived In a word when I Married her I thought I could have lived with her in a profound peace with much Tranquility and being loosned and disintangled from Ambition as I was I believed my self to have bin one of the most happy and Fortunate Men in the whole Universe In the Interim it is here Tarsis that I demand and require your particular attention and these three words that remain more for me to tell you should or ought to make your consolation and all those Unfortunate Lovers In the mean I say I Espoused her and found my self very far distant from my accompt All my happiness consisted in hopes and I soon knew the truth of what I had heard spoken to a great Personage that its needful to espouse a Woman to know her and as another Philosopher said we must not Judge by the Shooe because t is handsome and well made since it is not but in the wearing of it that we discover whether it hurts us It sits too ill upon a Man to discover the secrets of his homely affairs to entertain you here by retail our matters they ought to be mysteries kept also as secretly as were those of Ceres But that which I can tell you that all Wise all Pious all Fixed to the interest of her Husband and his Affairs In fine all the vertues which seemed to meet in Esinie she knew how to persecute me by an Execution and Torment of these fair and Lovely Vertues in such a manner that after six years patience she rendred my Marriage and my Domesticks so sadly Unsupportable that I was forcibly constrained to quit and abandon all and I resolved to quit her for lost if I could even unto a remembrance and never more have that object of Anguish and trouble before mine Eyes In fine Illustrious Shepherds after some other Voyages which I have made having heard so often speak of the Sweetness and Pleasure and of the Tranquillity of your Life I came there to pass or spend some time amongst you if you will consent to receive me there When Agamée had spoken and finished his Discourse Telamon reassumed his Speech on behalf of all to signifie to him that they would esteem it a great honour to have such an Hoste amongst them for he call'd to mind that whilst his discourse lasted to have heard say to some that came from Athens that Agamée had bin made an Areopagite four or five years since by the Suffrage of the Progeny of the Stock-race and Families and that he was the most considerable of the Senate Agamée had not in any thing intermedled with or in his own History because he despised all that strange Honour which came from Dignities and Offices and that he was too much a Philosopher to make that a case which was derived from Vertue Also he did honour to himself in estimating merit because he extreamly had it for over and above that he naturally had very much Wit had he Cultivated it by the Study of excellent Literature and there were very few Sciences whereof both in despight of time and War love and his office had taken it from him he had notwithstanding the first and Principal Knowledges Familiarity Intelligence and Apprehension His Age was but forty years however his Domestick cares had changed the colour of his Hair which being naturally black began already to be mixed with white His Temperature was Chollerick and Testy and yet Melancholy his Air fierce and furious although his Pitch in point of height and stature was not great and yet he was more in Discourse than Countenance But it was not but with them whom he knew not or with the great ones which he apprehended with contempt and scorn with his equals and inferiors there was not any more facile nor more submissive and as he could not hold any Person whatsoever above him so he held none below him In one word he knew no difference amongst Men but those that merited and had Vertues Also Telamon contented himself not only to signifie to him the Joy which he should have to see him amongst them but he reiterated him the offer of his House which he had already made the preceding dayes and prayed him with new Instances to accept it No replyed Agamée at arrival I descended the day before Yesterday at evening at the House of the knowing Nephelocrate who hath as all Greece knows flourished at the Bar of Athens in the reputation of a knowing Jurisconsult or Lawyer and whom the desire of Rest hath allured and enticed amongst you for above two years I shall offend him if I shall take any other Lodging than his I will not be incomodious to any but him alone As for tor others I will endeavour to contribute to their Divertisements for my part and I am already sorry to be to you of no Utilities in causing Tarsis to see by an example so pressing that we know not what we wish when we wish for a Woman and that which we call an unfortunate success in Love causeth very frequently our soveraign Happiness In saying this he arose from amidst the place where he sate and the Shepherds did like to advance on their Way During all the Discourse of Agamée Tarsis was always buried in profound and idle Fancies and he had almost understood nothing of that History But he awaked at the Close when he heard himself named by Agamée he answered him thus Pardon me Agamée if I tell you that a particular example concludes nothing in things so general and if we were to Combat and Contest with examples on the Subject of my Sorrow I would make you see Women who lived so well with their Husbands and Marriages so suited matched garnished in so perfect a mutual Concord that you your self would avow to me that Persons that so live surpass in Felicity all the rest of the Earth and that he who loveth a Mistress capable of giving him these Contentments looseth all that which there is of the most rare and the most precious in the World You say very well Tarsis reply'd the Areopagite that is all that there is of the most rare For I pray you where are those Mistresses and who is able to be assured of finding one you see enough of fair Women you even see the most sweet and the most Complaisant for their Husbands But the fair are Pratling and Proud Gossips a fisking or flipperous Minx the spiritual Glorious or Fantastical the Sweet and the Complaisant have other faults and defects which are not less and who make their Vertue to be very dear bought Never a Husband renders them any thing to their Liking the Complaisance they have for him and as they are ordinarily fixed to their Carriage they would also that a Man had there the same Tye as they It must be so that he renounce his Friends his Acquaintance and as I may say even him his
impatience that you see he hath to come out from thence Let 's reconduct him I pray you to Tempé and see only before a few Lines that his Impatience constrained him to make out You know undoubtedly Erasistrate the famous and so much renowned Physitian not only by the excellent Experiences which he hath manifested by his Art but by the profound and eloquent Meditations which he hath written above all that there is most concealed in the Nature of Man Yea assuredly interrupted Agamée and I have admired a Hundred times amongst his Works his Tract his rare Draft of the Passions where teaching us to know them he teacheth us also to combat with them and to cure our selves of those Diseases of the Mind whilst he prohibits us those of the Body That is the very same replyed Telamon you know the Friendship that the great President of the Areopagites hath for him My Brother who had need to hasten the Judgment of his process and litigious Suit which was the only Obstacle of his return to Zelie prayed Erasistrate to speak to him in his Favour and because he deferr'd it twice or thrice he thus pressed him I languish for some days of a Disease which according to appearance if I receive not some assistance must necessarily take a course bad enough This Disease is called Impatience which naturally still grows and increaseth and I see without speedy Succour my Cure apparently hopeless Famous Physitian of Souls and Bodies I ask not for those noble Efforts and Endeavours which render you famous from Gange even to the Gades Only vouchsafe to succour me with two words that I be not the first sick one whom you will have left to dye These words Telamon pursued produced two advantageous Effects to Tarsis The first that Erasistrate effectually made him have a very speedy Expedition The second that this illustrious Personage having tasted and sounded his Wit would contract Friendship with him Now behold another piece which makes me call to mind an occasion where this acquaintance was yet of more Utility to the Love of Tarsis But although they are both in the same Leaf by reason they are for the same Person behold the cause why others were made between them both it will be good therefore that we read them before-hand these here were made at another House in the Countrey that Alcidias hath a little off the other side of Gonnes Melicerte and Zelie were come there to spend some time and Tarsis was there with them After they were departed and returned to Calioure he sent them these Lines I was seiz'd near to you O divine Zelie with a thousand Transports of ravishing Joy but for these pleasant Moments I have sad and mournful days and so pass my Life did I think to recal your amiable Presence by the deceitful Charms of a sweet Memory all speak to me of your absence when I would think of you go I to walk in the Wood where Zelie came to take the fresh Air and the Shadow unfortunate one that I am all that I see there is that the fair one is departed Thou seekest her every where my Eye with Care and Fidelity following that of my Love the error which deceives thee thou â—eest a hundred places where the fair one was but there she is not Thou hast but the Pleasure there yet to see the green Turfe where Zelie leaned after her Paces thou knowest it by the bait of a hundred Flowers that she made there to disclose and open All the Grass hath taken a new Life in those certain places where the fair One walked thou seest Drought and Yellow with desire that which her Foot hath not touched In some places said they that she came to appear they see that of a fair Green the Earth is painted they saw the Trees through desire grow the Cherry to ripen was much more prompt and her Hands chusing the ripest of its Fruits made the others to blush with shame because they had not bin gathered they yet saw there things metamorphosed a thousand prodigious and surprizing Effects and of the Miracles which she hath done they yet see a thousand things but what serves that to the happiness of my Life all that 's of my Dolour I conceal and conclude that there I saw Zelie but in fine see her no more let 's now return to our Work But before it be read unto you it 's requisite to you to observe that a little after Tarsis was returned from Athens Erasistrate being fallen sick caused himself to be carried to Tempé there to take the benefit of our Waters whose Reputation you know is famous all over Greece There were then a considerable number of Persons of Quality that by the self same design had there bin conducted and there was not one but would have bin very willing to see and entertain Erasistrate As he was indisposed and not in a condition to pester and intangle his Spirits with the Maladies of others he had provided for that trouble in declaring at first that he would not only not make but would also receive nor accept of any Visits Leucippe who was also then sick a Bed had an unexpressible Passion to see him But he could not have that Priviledge Tarsis alone had Erasistrate who even in his Indisposition could not dwell Idle wrote at Tempé a Treatise upon the Nature of the Light and a little before he had finished it he shewed it to Tarsis with whom he took pleasure to communicate his Works Tarsis was so charmed that two hours after he had quitted him he sent him these Lines Finish the principal of the Work to which none is comparable make appear the day in it's Supreme degree give light even to light it self and from new Beams enlighten the Sun God drew out of the Chaos the bright shining Light Do with thy Pen what he did with his Voice and by the Divinity of thy learned Quill draw Light out of the confused Chaos a second time Until now it 's splendor scarce visible The day to us is dimmed and dazled the more are we sensible thereof and from it's proper and from its bright Glimps comes it's Obscurity But pursue thy Race and persist in thine Exercise and three of thy days Journeys goes throughout the whole universe to give more Light which the Sun hath not done since three thousand years Although these Lines speak of the Creation of the Light more according to the Opinion of Moses whose Books my Brother had read which followeth that of the Greeks who determin not that it was done with or by a Voice nor since what time the World hath bin made Howsoever Erasistrate unto whom this strange Doctrine was known so approved of this Piece found it so to his good liking and so much obliging that although he was at the even of his Departure he could not yet leave Tempé without sight of my Brother and went to seek him even to Callioure in
and my self as young as we were that they conceived a Displeasure when she and I were together that they testified nothing but joy when they saw us make any Love or Caresses to their Children and that they punished us but for the Faults that I committed against his Daughter and the Divisions which sprang betwixt Eliante and his Son If we would obtain any thing of him we must feign to quarrel Eliante and my self and it came even to such an excess of Jealousy betwixt us two that we durst not speak together unless we were resolved to draw upon our selves some ill Treatment from him On the other side we could not Live neither Eliante nor my self without testifying our Affection and when it was needful to wipe away a thousand Dolors Infinitely beyond those which were Invented against us by our Persecutor I would have Despised and Rejected them to have only the Pleasure to tell Eliante how much I Loved her But because in giving us this satisfaction we exposed our selves Mutually to these hard Persecutions we obliged our selves to Manage it for the Love of one another if we would not do it for our selves Love is a Great Master and Infancy the most Simple and the most Ingenious one becomes Expert and Skilful when it comes to Instruct not daring to speak together we advised one another to write all that which we would have made known to one another The Negligence that they had affected to make us Instructed was cause that we Immediately drew to our selves Evil enough But Love soon taught us that which the Masters had not done They observed us so strictly that we could scarcely make or hold our Tickets now we would give them one to the other in passing then we would slip them in our Cloaths now we served our selves of Certain Lurking Holes which were convenient for us where I put my Letters and where I went to fetch her Answers we oftentimes changed the places lest they should mistrust us in seeing us go there too often We passed some years sweet enough and although it were to us a great Evil as that we durst not always speak I found it on the the side by the kindness that Eliante had for me and this kindness was to me so great a Treasure that I thought to have had yet more subject to praise my self than to complain of my Destiny But Fortune in the end betrayed all our Precautions and Perinte having casually found one of my Letters in the cleft of a wall where I had put it and where Eliante should have taken it his Father thereby discovered our Commerce Unfortunately for us this Letter was the most tender and the most forcible that ever I wrote to Eliante for after having reiterated her all the assurances possible of my Love I there bewailed the Perfidy of our Guardian I there spake of the aversion I had against his daughter I declared her that I impatiently expected the age wherein the Laws would leave us to our own conduct to press her to execute the Will and Testament of our Father In conclusion I there Discovered all that the Interest of our Love Obliged me most to hold our Peace to our Cruel Enemy I cannot nor could not better Delineate you how much he was Incensed then by the Strange and Cruel Resolution that he took He spake to Merchants who went to Traffick towards the Pillars of Hercules made an agreement and bargain with them to carry me so far that I should never return and afterwards made me depart not Advertising me two hours before and made me believe that he would send me to spend away a Year in Greece there to learn my Exercise I do not tell you of my Surprize nor my Grief at the Order of this Terrible Departure A Clap of Thunder had not Rendered me so Confused as I was and I believe I had learnt news of my Death with more Constancy and Resolution For in fine although Eliante was then but thirteen years of age we were however yet she and my self depending on his Condition and all my resistance served not but only to render us both more Unfortunate But conjecture you what was also the astonishment of Generous Eliante when I went to bid her adieu she had yet known nothing of this sad news and I also found her thereunto very little prepared but what shall I say what other preparation must there be on the like occasions then the Testimony of the last Grief is there any thing that better cuts asunder then that of the seizing of hearts the disorder of the Spirit and the abundance of Tears it is that which I observed in this fatal moment in the Fair Eliante if otherwise or notwithstanding I dare say I was my self in a condition to remark something In fine I parted and we came and Imbarqued upon the Mediterranean Sea In the sixth day after our Sailing our Ship having been a long time battered with a Tempestuous Storm they perceived they had sprung a leak or cloven asunder and not being in a Condition to bear so great a weight any longer they must Necessarily perâ—sh or discharge the Men and Merchandize without Diligence Compassion is a Vertue unknown to Mariners They have no Laws but for Interest nor yet any Maximes but those which inspires into them their Avarice They hoped for a profit for their Merchandize they waited upon none of the Traveller so they resolved to put off the men and to preserve the Merchandize In this Design they chose people unprofitable to themselves I was of the Number and designed to be cut off By Casualty we had been cast neer to an Island which is but a days journey from Crete alias Candia but very far from the ordinary passage of Ships It is an Island Desart to which I think there is not so much as a name given and where there are but Birds and Serpents for their hoasts nor for retreat but only Woods and Rocks But yet it was a Good Fortune in an extremity of this Nature it was a Port of Safety for the Unfortunate who without that had been cast into the Sea The Captain of the Ship made us there to go and land and by much Favor gave us only a little Bread with Bows and Arrows and Darts for Hunting that we might thereby be able at least to Subsist for some time waiting till he might return to retake us in as he Promised us or that we should have some succour by some Vessels passing But we well knew that he promised us the one but to deceive us and that we durst not attend the other but by Fortune we were thirty that Disimbarked there They say that the Miserable Consolate themselves together but I experimented wholly the contrary on this occasion I was a thousand times more afflicted by the Complaints by the Cries and by Despair of my Comrades then I was by the apprehension of Death it is true I Imputed not to