near unto you that I believe my self to be in company Tarsis reply'd she excellently I never better saw that they would chase me away than when they sport themselves with me as you do and then she yet made another attempt to withdraw her self and go forth But Tarsis opposing himself thereto a second time and taking her by the hand how say you that I will drive you hence reply'd he since that I act even to incivilities to retain you Whilst they discourst thus Philiste having repeated unto me the inquietude of her Sister we laughed together to see her fallen unawares into the gin and snare even at the self same time when she thought to shun it Zelie doubted and did that but in her Sisters despight and quick enough withdrew her hand from Tarsis who had layen hold of it to stay her when she would have gone although her Sister could say unto her what she did as before We immediately recited her apprehension to Tarsis who upon that subject gave her these lines or stances I bemoan my self that you thus scorn me Seeing you so fair and fiery and yet cold And in the mean time fair Shepherdess They tell me that you fear me But tell me whence comes this fear Is it from my esteme of you is that the cause of your fright fair Zelie is it for me a subject of Joy and Complaint Always the fear of what they depaint to us accompanies a heart when it loves alas friendship it self is in the heart which fears But who knowes not that the timorous Sheep trembles at the Wolf which follow it that the Lark fears and flyes from the flight hasty course and speedy passage of the ravenous and violently impetuous Sparrow-hawk That a Shepherdess advizing upon the pace of the Serpent whose skin is speckled and spotted is surprized with a speedy and suddain fear and yet loves it not But should it be so with fair Zelie whose heart feareth even as it doth feareth it as it fears one whom it hates feareth it as it feareth one whom it loves I will add unto you here said Telamon that Tarsis shewed me these lines before she gave them to Telamon and I signified unto him that I found them passable but I did not counsel him him to give them unto her He very discontentedly asked me the reason and I answered I deemed it expedient for the success of his Love immediately to conceal it from Leucippe and Melicerte with all the care imaginable because that whil'st they believed him not in love with their Daughter they would freely give him the liberty of their house as my Brother but from the first moment they should perceive his design they would undoubtedly without fail cause him to withdraw as rendring him suspicious because I very well knew their thoughts were upon a design of making a new Alliance But my dear Brother reply'd me what will it serve me then to love if they do not know nor discern that I am amorous of their Daughter My dear Brother reply'd I be you prevalent by the success you have in their house and with the reputation that you have acquired make it there more discernably apparent by the sweetness of your Spirit and Wisdom and your other good Qualities to make your self to be beloved there Gain the heart without seeming to have a desire that 's the most effectual meanes to succeed well there and better than to cause a defiance You know they never surprize a place when once they discover their design of attacking it you have to do with Persons who know how to observe and compare the nature of things indeavour only to make your self valued and prized by those on whom you set a value and put your self in a state and condition where they may wish that you might be beloved before its discovery Ah dear my Brother reply'd he behold here are excellent counsels given but by what meanes shall they be followed think you that others have that opinion of me that your friendship gives and advizeth and what have I that can wake me deserve Zelie but the pure and perfect love whereof I make a Profession My dear Tarsis reply'd I imbracing of him thou knowest not thy own worth I say unto thee take courage and afterwards leave it to our cares both in point of time as well as with a due respect to thy good fortune I left him therefore resolved to be a little more reserved in the demonstration of his love and in the sequel made him sufficiently sensible that I had given him good counsel for you shall see that of Leucippe only had any doubt of his design he would immediately have used all his indeavours to frustrate his design and hindred him from seeing or entertaining his Daughter The first thing to which Tarsis applyed himself it was to gain the heart of Melicerte he did it for two reasons The first because that this Shepherdess as she was one of the first Persons of the World who had both wit and vertue she was also one of those which made the greatest observation in that of others and penetrated into the sublimest of all and that he had effectively an esteem and veneration for her who would have caused a research by all meanes imaginable to have gained her good Will though there he had had no other kind of interest The second reason was because that although that Leucippe did not permit her self to be governed by any person she knew notwithstanding so compleatly and dexterously to manage it that she still insensibly practised and contrived it to the end she designed These Papers that you see are therefore divers tickets that Tarsis writ to Melicerte then when he was returned to Cenâ—me and which without doubt she gave in charge to Zelie but I pass by what above to return to our Lines or Verses Behold they were made in an unpleasant and irksome occasion but were by the event sufficiently advantageous to my Brother and which contributed not a little towards the obtaining the savours of Melicerte and even those of Zelie One Evening they walked in a Plain which you may have seen below Callioure towards the Sea side In the middest there is a small River which glides along and disgorgeth it self into the Gulph it is deeply profound and sometimes large enough and she passed sometimes upon two Planks or Bridge In that walk Zelie marched before singing and gathering of flowers and Tarsis led Melicerte who went more slowly and leisurely behind Be it that these two Planks or Bridg was rotten be it that they were ill placed so it was that as Zelice was upon them she fell down into the water and into the River where the great Raines had swelled it to a most prodigious and horribly monstrous dreadful and terrible Torrent ghastly alone to behold I leave you to judg of the horrid fright and amazement wherewith Melicerte was surprized for she tenderly respected and loved
Jealousie cannot torment a Soul with more alarms and violence than his was agitated with Ergaste knowing him could not with all his cruelty hinder himself to be touched I know not therefore if it was through Compassion or Bravery but so it was that he said unto him How now go to Celemante I have not yet but kindness for Cillesie but to tell thee the Truth I know not what can become of that Wilt thou avow unto me freely if that be capable to give thee some disturbance or jealousie and I will yet break the course whilst I am yet the Master I promise thee if thou wilt I will never revisit nor see Cillesie again Never was a proposal so pleasing and acceptable to Celemante as was that and he opened his Mouth a hundred times to avow his debility and weakness to Ergaste He was quite ready to leap upon his neck and to Imbrace him a hundred times to testifie him his acknowledgment but he was with-held and I could not tell wherefore For be it that he was hindred through timerousness that this Great Empire that Ergaste had Tyrannically Usurped over him had laid an Impression on him be it that it was by a false complaint for him be it that it was through shame that he had to testifie some doubt of Cillesie after having so frequently Vaunted and Boasted of her fidelity be it that it was by a litle Jealousy he would try her himself so it hapned that instead of confessing his Debility and Weakness to his friend he would contrarily counterfeit the Confident and Dreadless one and besought him to act in such sort that they should have but one and the same Mistress But what effect or endeavor soever Celemante made and dissembled I am well assured that he acquitted himself so ill that it was easy for Ergaste to know that he spake against the Sentiments of his heart However Ergaste was so Inhumane as to take him at his word and made a new Progress in the heart of Cillesie This Barbarous Man not so contented but willing to conduct his Vengeance by the same Degrees and Steps by which he believed himself offended he became so Assiduous near to this Maiden that Celemante saw him not almost more then at her Dwelling and could not see her but in his presence he went yet much farther and that Cruelty would not fall into the heart of a Scythian He came one day to find Celemante and said unto him My dear Celemante I will not longer conceal from thee a piece of news that is that I am desperately in Love with Cillesie At this discourse a Blushing covered the face of Celemante and he was all confused but Ergaste not making any semblance or shew of observing him added I do not demand thy pardon for thou hast not only Testified to me that thou wouldst not be angry but thou hast besought me that we might have even one and the same Mistress both of us After all what part soever I have in the good favour of Cillesie thou well knowest that thou shalt also have the first and I will have there but that thou wouldst not also I pretend not to be happy but by thy means and as thou art the most Generous Friend in the World I come to thee to pray thee to manage for me thy Self some place in the Grace and Favour of that Fair one for if Cillesie had not more kindness for me then she hath had until now I believe not but that I had dyed During this discourse Celemante was agitated with divers motions which combated one with the other that left him not Liberty nor Opportunity to unfold them Now despight and rage Animated him against Ergaste then he reproached himself with the Imprudence he had Ingaged in the Love of Cillesie and then he believed that Ergaste came to discourse unto him his Feigned Passion that by reducing him to avouch his weakness to demand his pardon to try his mercy and to request him not any farther to push forward in his Conquest Celemante had too much for that but to the quite contrary he counterfeited the Confident and exhorted Ergaste not to Rejoyce nor be Foiled nor Rejected in one word he promised him all that he believed himself able to obtain for him that 's to say not to Endamage his Love But the Subtilty of Ergaste knew well enough that it was not any more in the Power of his Friend to do it and that he was not come there but that he was certain of her Favour The same Evening in returning from the dwelling of Cillesie he met Celemante and although he very well knew that this same had not seen her since they both saw her and spake with her and that Celemante had even promised to serve him However he came to him as soon as he perceived him with a Countenance full of Joy and Satisfaction and Accosting him my dear Celemante said he unto him I should be the most Ingrateful of all Men if I did not publish every where that you are the most generous for in fine you have saved my Life and I am come from Resenting so well the effect of your Recommendation to Cillesie that having nothing more to desire there remains nothing to me but to pay you for so Sensible a Favor as the preserving the same Life which is owing to your Conservation The Thunder-Bolt that fell at the feet of Celemante would not so have astonished him as did these words he thereunto replyed with so much Disorder and Confusion that being Ignorant of what he said he sought an occasion to quit with the greatest speed he could the Cruel Ergaste and having left him he remained an hour in the street without doing any other thing but going to the Gate of Cillesie and returning to his own without any possibility of resolving if he should enter into her House or should never revisit her Now he had a Design to go and reproach her a thousand times then would resolve to signifie her his Disdain in Despising her and leave her without daigning so much as to speak any more to her now he doubted whether what Ergaste had told him were the real truth and thought it Behoved him to be Enlightned by her before he were Transported and as this last part had mixed some Hope that flattered him yet in his Passion it was this that he Embraced for there was not place to doubt a long Time the Infidelity of Cillesie For first he observed that he grew red and blushed and appeared abashed and out of countenance as soon as he entred and he was in fine by a Thousand Signs and Tokens so well assured of the Perfidy of his Friend and of his Mistress that he was resolved to deliver himself for Ever from the Tyranny of both Ergaste was yet so Cruel that he would Insult over this Unfortunate one and that some dayes after seeing Celemante had altogether a Rupture with Cillesie he
impose upon us a new Oath of Allegiance He appointed him also his principal Troops to place them in Garrisons within our Cities But by this means he became so Potent that this Governor being a little afterwards in League with Lysimachus King of Thrace and a little after with Ptolomee Ceraune eldest Son to the King of Egypt to drive away his Master from Macedonia he advanced himself as a kind of Soveraign But Ceraune having in conclusion bin defeated and Antigonus son of Demetrius being by that remounted upon the Throne of his Father Alcime who knew that this young Prince prepared himself to come and punish his Treason immediately used indeavors to conclude a Peace at least to put himself under the protection of some King who might support him and possibly it might be that to transact something on this Subject that the Prince of Crete should come to Pidne where Alcime made his residence But however it be my Lord if it be permitted me to offer the House of a Shepherd to so great a Prince I dare tell you that my Father and one of my Brothers have each of them one in this Valley where you may continue as long time as you please unknown and where you may at your leisure liberally take such measures as you shall judge expedient for the success of your Designs Amalecinte thanked him very courteously and having testified him what he judged convenient for their security they imbarqued the self same night and together took the way from the Marriners house arming themselves for all hazards each one with a Sword They already found all this Family alarmed with the Accident whereof we have spoken and it was immediately that they were transported with such joy when they saw the young Prince to return that he absolutely lost all suspicion which he had had that the people had betray'd him However he was amazed when he would have pressed the Marriner to depart observing the old Dotard to recoil always with new excuses so that the young Prince being by little and little warmed in conclusion grew impatient and so taking his Sword in one hand and with the other seizing the good Man compell'd him by force to the bark and made him enter it with such precipitancy that he had even forgotten to change Apparel which before he resolv'd upon Tarsis having seen him depart betook himself to run here and there upon the Rivers bank his mind still preoccupied with the transportation of Zelie and so allarmed that he could not express himself It was then a Season when the Nights are shortest so that the day appeared immediately after and with the Day light appeared also three Shepherds whom he had known to be Telamon Ergaste and Celemante Telamon was that Brother whose House he had offered to the Prince of Chypre He was the most sagacious and judicious Shepherd of all the Country and was bound to Tarsis in such a perfect bond of friendship that it exceeded even their affinity He had espoused Philiste eldest Sister of Zelie and was marvellously prevalent by means of this alliance to savour the love of his Brother Inquietude had caused him to go forth very early in the quest of Tarsis Telamon very well knew that at least by some extraordinary accident he would not have fail'd his word Ergaste and Telamon were both neighbours to Telamon who came from the next Village or Hamlet driving together their Flocks to feed by the Rivers side and that Telamon had a little before joyn'd them to inquire of them news of his Brother Telamon and Ergaste entertain'd themselves yet together when Tarsis discerned them Celemante plai'd upon a Flute a few Paces behind them after they had seen Tarsis Telamon ran to him very joyfully and although he had imbraced him he ceased not afterwards to reproach him for the perplexity wherein he had put him Ergaste and Celemante approached him immediately afterwards and Celemante who had checkt him betook himself even to jest with him as if he had believed that Tarsis had bin retain'd by night by deputation of some Shepherd But they were all much amazed when he made them all sad by recital of his adventure They could not doubt of the truth of some part of that which he declared them because he had led them into the Wood where were yet found the bodies of two of the Guards whom he had slain but they could not yield to that which he had related them of Zelie For said Telamon they must either have conveyed her away or must have caused her to be conveyed away by force That she was carried by force there was no manner of appearance because that besides the Words that we have recited you she would not have failed to answer you nor yet to have demanded your aid and cry'd out then when you were mentioned to her To believe also that she caused her self to be carried away that supposition is absolutly repugnant to the vertue and incomparable Wisdom of Zelie Dear Tarsis reply'd Ergaste shall I tell you my thoughts That part of your adventure hath the very face of a Vision your imagination is forestall'd by your Love so that all that you see personates Zelie all that you hear seemeth to be her voice and this is not the first illusion by which an amorous Person hath bin deceived after this rate Ha! through favour do not jest Ergaste reply'd Tarsis for I am throughly disquieted by a thousand thoughts I also jest not reply'd Ergaste do you not call to mind that which you have formerly learnt in the Schools of Divine Plato that our Memories do bring to our thoughts the Ideas of all the things we have seen and causeth so great an amass or heap of thâ—se that we have very often seen and which to him are so delectable that in the abundance of that whereof he is glutted for so I express it she represents her self sometimes contrary to our imaginations it s that which abuseth and makes us believe we have seen the things that we have not therefore done Ergaste added still laughing Celemante that which I have often learnt in the Gardens of the great Epicure that the Air is full of certain Images which every moment comes forth of the body and representing themselves to our view form those Visions which the Vulgar call Ghosts and Scarcrows He still persisted in jesting if it comes out of all Bodies it must also come out of that of Zelie and as Tarsis hath told us that at the moment that he believed he had seen him he was turn'd to the Rivers side towards the hamlet of Calioure where she dwelt 't is no wonder that he saw some kind of Image come forth which resembled her You may jest with me as much as you please said Tarsis but would to God that what I have told you were not a very great truth But my Brother added he sadly beholding Telamon is it possible that Lencippe
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
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
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
for him and commanded him to go to Athens to solicite a litigious process and great suit of law and we came Philiste and my self upon the point of coming to establish our Affairs and settle them at Cenome and to abandon the House of Leucippe where we had still lodged ever since we were Married Although the distance was not great from the place whence we intended to remove as you see yet it was a double affliction to Tarsis whose love considered the smallest things as very important first because it seemed to him that there was no cause of fear whilest we were present and saw all that past at the house of Leucippe and Melicerte in the second place because we should always serve him for a pretext to be almost always at Calioure But that which disquieted him the most was the long Voyage wherein he saw himself obliged to go to Athens The consolation wherewith he prepared himself was that he should not depart at least until he had clearly and manifestly demonstrated to Zelie the assurance and reality of his Love nor without sounding her heart to know if she would correspond with his desires and hopes For although the services he had done her were considerable enough to give him large hopes however his affection and his modesty caused him to make very light of these things that he trembled almost all times when he dreamed of declaring himself That which rendred also the execution of the design difficult was that he seldom or almost never saw Zelie but in the presence of her Mother before whom he durst not presume to discover it and when he found her alone and thought to speak to her of his love she had always some means or found out some way to defeat his design her vertue not permitting her to receive this declaration out of the presence of her Mother In fine he hazarded himself one day when Leucippe was gone into the fields and it casually hapned to be the same that two Shepherds came to visit Melicerte to propose unto her another marriage for Zelie For whilest they spake very softly our Lovers ignorant of their subject Tarsis who believed Melicerte very attentive to what they said finished some Airs which he sang before with Zelie and said unto her with a very low and soft voice My fair Scholar tell us also we pray you our secrets in particular since that others conceal theirs from us for to tell theirs also I know one that I am very impatient to let you learn Zelie mistrusted in some sort that which it was and as she would not enter into this discourse with him Tarsis answered she very loudly as I my self imagine that it was some good news since you apply your self to declare it to me I pray you attend a little that my Mother may have a share thereof Tarsis was angry in that he having spoken to her in secret she had answered him so loudly but that it was impossible they should not be understood What reply'd he softlier than before it seems you conceive not that behold other Persons besides Melicerte will be able also to hear you Pardon me answered Zelie yet aloud but it 's no secret nor have I any that I will conceal from any one Tarsis well believed that what she did was to no other end than to scoff or dally but as he would not remain there You will make these Shepherds believe answered he still very softly that I mistrust them In speaking softly reply'd she in the same tone she had began you would make them yet more believe it your self They may continued he still softly impute it to my discretion and of the fear I should have to interrupt them You had that fear so soon said Zelie laughing when we sang louder than I speak He was sometime without answering her and in a sweat afterwards he reply'd thus still continuing to speak softly as he began and had done It is not a piece of news that I would have you learn but it is for counsel that I demand of you Ah Tarsis interrupted she what I have need of for my self I ask it of Melicerte But added he answer you me that I may be able to discover it to Melicerte with security As I know not your affair continued Zelie I cannot answer you to any thing but if there were no security in telling it to Melicerte there would have bin no more in telling it to my self You see well Agamèe continued Telamon that it is not through aversion that she keeps her self so at a distance but altogether on the contrary she seemeth by all this discourse to incourage him to discover himself to Melicerte and in effect it was her design for as she knew the esteem that this Shepherdess had for him she doubted not but that he should be favourably received but her scrupulous vertue hindred her to declare it to him more openly If Tarsis had therefore thereunto taken good heed he had seen that she had given him the best counsel that she could possibly in making a pretence of refusing him but he who took and apprehended it quite otherwise he had an extream despight to see and find that she would not only not understand him and more than that when he discours'd to her so softly the more she affected to answer him very loudly He accused her in his heart for some kind of ingratitude believing that she ill corresponded with his love but he had yet more displeasure then when these two Strangers were both gone forth Melicerte had made known unto him all she had understood for she hath the Ear marvellous subtle and a Spirit and Wit so quick and lively that she can when she lifteth be attentive to three or four things all at one time What controversy had then Tarsis therefore so soon with Zelie said she unto him laughing indeed it is an ungrateful Schollar thus to refuse the counsel of her Master Tarsis blusht at this discourse and found himself so surprized that in lieu and stead of being prevailed upon the fair occasion he had to discover himself he estranged himself by some defeat which I know not was what in his imagination which suggested or prompted him to in this ill time Melicerte who had he Wit too penetrating not to be already mistrustful and diffident of the truth would not dig deep nor dive into its profundity and though she was better intentionally to him than he durst to hope however as she took notice how he blushed she made a scruple to press him But she designedly administred him another occasion yet more favourable than the former for altering her discourse all at once Know you well Tarsis said she that we are going to marry your Schollar and that these Shepherds come to speak to Leucippe but not having him they have addressed themselves to me You may judg continued she laughing if I went to iâ—gage the Schollar without demanding advice of her Master Admire
was sate making the last Effort and Endeavour to finish the putting him in a condition either to follow these two unknown or to go and cast himself at their Feet according as he should there determin by his last Resolution but after he had understood these words his Strength and his Hope left him all at once and he fell again through weakness at the Foot of the same Tree as at the felling down of a Man whose sence of feeling had abandoned him He remained a long time in that state and so much out of himself that these Persons went away farther off without his speaking to them nor had he any desire to do it However he retook his Spirits and in some sort came to himself and Love which in a moment came to stifle in him all sorts of Curisioty had no sooner let him loose the occasion of satisfying it but it reflamed and rekindled to torment him afresh and gave him a more impatient desire than ever before to know what these unknown Ones were The name of the Son of Alcidias that they both had pronounced made him see enough if he had not some Interest in this Adventure himself undoubtedly some of his Brothers had But this consideration contributed nothing to the desire he had to rejoyn them his Love permitted not his Heart should possibly be sensible of other Motives but of those that concerned his Passion He was not tormented but by the Inquietude to know how this vail of Zelie was fatally fallen between the hands of these Strangers He railed himself more unquiet than ever and impatient to repair the fault which he had committed in not enlightning himself he ran with all his might to the place where he imagined those Women were gone but be it that he understood them walking they hid themselves behind some Bush be it that he took not the way that they had held so that it came to pass that it was impossible for him to find them again That was then a strange redoubling of his disquiets although that they were already such before that time that it seemed that they could not augment for this poor Shepherd sought in his mind what he would have asked of these Strangers and interrogating himself of the manner wherewith these precious Relicks of his Shepherdess could possibly come into the hands of one unknown he drew out the most dismal Conjectures and of all that he had said himself he said nothing but what would bring him to despair It must not be more doubted cryed he but that Zelie is dead and it cannot be but by reason of her death these spoils could fall into other hands Ah Fortune Fortune Wherefore delayest thou so long to assure me of the Death of Zelie Oh Oh Fortune why dost thou take Pleasure to abuse me and prolong my Life by such deceivable Hopes But idle Shepherd replyed he a little afterwards it 's of thy self that thou shouldest complain much rather than by that of Fortune Had she not already sufficiently advertized thee of thy Misfortune Couldest thou doubt of the loss of Zelie after all that had past that deplorable night where she made thee understand out of her own mouth that she had an intent to loose her self Was not this enough to infuse Courage in thee to follow her Was not that enough to incite thee to seek the Remedy that the Gods have in the end bin obliged to Counsel thee themselves by their Oracles and when thou had'st not bin assured that Zelie was not more in the World the sole doubt of her loss should not that have bin more than sufficient to oblige thee a hundred times to dye Without doubt this was fortunately that his hand found it self disarmed in the time that he abandoned his Soul to the Transports of his Grief for if he had had his Dart yet it could not longer have deferred to have put an end to a Life that he conserved but by regret and which he believed he could not prolong without shame The precipitation of the Course wherein he found himself engaged to follow these unknown Ones had not given him leisure nor time to retire from the Body of that furious Bruit that he had slain and the night permitted him not any longer to disintagle himself from the place where he had left it he was obliged to retire himself without doing himself at that time any more evil than those mournful and cruel News had given him But his despair held not there a long time The Morrow Telamon arose very early in the Morning to go to see Agamée as he had promised the preceding evening Philiste who would go to render her Devoirs to the wise Melicerte whom she saw every day after the accident of her Sister cloathed her self to take the Air and chiefly to take occasion to walk part of the way with her Husband he would not go forth before he had made a turn in the Chamber of Tarsis to learn why he retired so late the preceeding night and also to know if he would not be one of the Party to which he was very willing to engage him whereby to have diverted him he opened the door of his Chamber and entring was very much surprized to see him in all his Cloaths upon his Bed which appeared not to be unmade and much more yet when he observed his head uncovered his Hat upon the Floor one of his Arms hanging over the Bed with some signs and marks of Blood and the other folded under his Body in so odd and constrain'd a posture that it could not have bin possible for him to have had any rest or repose But it was a much greater amazement when he approached him nearer and saw the Coverlet all be bloudied and poor Tarsis weltring in his Blood He made a great cry called for Succour and all in confusion seeking and searching after the Wound of this unfortunate Lover he observed that he was layen upon an Arrow which the weight of his Body had broken which yet he held under him with the right hand the point whereof was sunk into his Stomack At the view whereof Telamon thought of dying himself with the Wound of his dear Brother and all his Wisdom could not defend him from the reach and stroak of the most forcible and violent Pain and Grief Ah Philiste cryed he to her seeing her enter poor Tarsis is dead and behold the Issue of this dismal Oracle and undoubtedly the cause of this suddain and unexpected Joy whereof we were all astonished yesterday at night At these words poor Philiste appeared as smitten with a Thunderbolt She immediately became pale silent and immovable afterwards pouring forth abundance of Tears all at once from her eyes O Gods cryed she what have we done unto you to over-whelm us all at once with so many Evils At the same time she went to cast her self upon the Body of poor Tarsis which she watered with a Thousand Tears Telamon
succeeding Lines Her Name is graven on the Trees And her Portrait is graven in the Heart It was not difficult for him to divine who was the Author the Love of Tarsis being known unto him and that what Subject soever he had himself to bewail this Passion he had his Heart very sensible and naturally feeling he took Pleasure to see himself in a place where a Lover was filled with the marks of his own In entring into the Wood he met another small Stream which followed the declension and descending towards the lower part of the Meadow The Water was fairer and the bank or brink garnished and adorned with a most pleasant green Turfe able enough even to tempt a melancholly One. He could not refrain from sitting down in that place if he had not perceived a little Closet composed of many young Trees planted round about whose Branches intermixed above framed a kind of Vault so thick that the Sun could hardly be able to penetrate it The entrance of this Closet or Arbour served as an Issue to the Stream or Current which went out by the midst leaving only on every side the passage for one person Agamée being entred into that place met there the pleasant Source and Spring of that Water That certain place was elevated and raised up higher than the rest So that descending a little from on high it made a little noise which in despite of Fate invited one to talk idly and fantastically Above the Spring was one Tree bigger than the others which seemed to embrace the Vein of it's roots and whose foot apparelled with green Moss offered a commodious Seat to all those who came to the place Although that Agamée carefully enough shunned being alone because there was little but his Memory that revived and recovered him from the Ideas that he fled and which gave him not a thousand disgustful Thoughts howsoever he could not refrain himself for this once to take pleasure there in a place which seemed to be made expresly to talk Idly and the little time that he had bin at Tempé had also already caused him sufficiently to see diversity of things to give him wherewithal to entertain the Adventures and Accidents of others without afflicting himself by the remembrance of his own He therefore sate at the Foot of this great Tree with a design to meditate there some moments But he had not any thing to do to trouble himself he should find wherewithal to entertain himself Fortune there provided him a sufficiency enough For first in sitting down he saw that the Stock of this Tree which was extraordinary big was all covered over with an Inscription fresh recent and new enough It was very small by reason there was very much thereof But as it was also fresh and new enough and the Character very clear he with facility could there read these Lines The other day in this Solitude one over-whelmed with Love and Care bemoaning himself of his disquietudes by these Lines the desolate Tarsis which made him go loose his Life I dye and I cannot be cured but I dye for fair Zelie am I not too happy to dye O my eyes pour down no more tears to the rigour of Destinies which attend me Death hath always too many charms when the Object that causeth it hath so many there was no more than that upon the first Tree but there were other two some what less near unto that there upon every of which was Engraven One of these two other fair Streams which my fair Shepherdess so often warms with her eyes the Sun sees it when it enlightens thee with so much Heat and so much Light as they What hast thou done with the portrait of the fair one which in thy Bosom was so often graved Ah! fair Water I am much more faithful and my Heart hath much better conserved it Agamée which loved the Fancy and who was himself sometime entangled having read this drew his writing Tables out with design to copy them out wherein there was something appeared to him to be tender enough of and in part also signified to Tarsis he hoped to see very soon and whom he had not charged to divine the Accident the esteem he had made of his Composition But as he had finished to set them down he felt something to pluck the Tables from his Hand That which surprized him most was that he saw no body about him but the noise that he had heard having obliged him to look athwart the Arbour or Closet he discerned among the Willows a Man who had a Sword by his side and who in flying made great burstings forth of Laughter This Man lifted up even from time to time his two hands in the Air in one whereof he yet held the Table-Book that he had pluckt from Agamée afterwards bending all his Body he leaned upon his two Knees betaking himself to laugh more and more Agameé was extreamly astonished at this Eruption He went forth of the Arbour to follow him and because this Man returned from time to time he had by this means the opportunity to look him in the Face However he found not himself better enlightned for he knew him not and believed he had never seen him before He therefore doubted that this unknown one had taken him for another then when he saw him stop to read that which was in the Table-Book and in the Sequel the same Man approaching himself to him with a swift pace drew out of his Pocket a Paper which he presented him Read that said he in a strange and incompatible manner and remark it's Stile Agamée having by this means the liberty to consider him came a little nearer and found I know not what wandring in his eyes which was suitable to the extravagancy that he had before demonstrated and therefore caused him to doubt if the Man was very wise And indeed he had great reason to doubt it For behold who he was as he learnt immediately after It was a Roman Knight named Marcel whom the desire of Travelling had brought from Italy into Greece In passing by Callioure he became amorous of Zelie by having only once seen her in the Temple and this Love having made in his Heart an Impression worthy of the excess of so great a Beauty had caused him to remain one or two years at Tempé During that time he had not only found means to introduce himself into Leucippe's House but he had also demanded Zelie in Marriage and the refusal that they had made him had born him away to so great an excess of Trouble that he was fallen very dangerously sick and recovered not his bodily Indisposition but with a Malady in the Mind much more dangerous in his Folly his Vision was that the Gods had destinated him to marry Zelie so that he called himself The predestinated Knight He had even publickly sworn to carry away that Shepherdess he had suborned People expresly and extravagantly said every where that if
Dear Arelise I request you be not angry with me if I have failed this Morning am not I punished enough to have lost ever since that time the pleasure of speaking to you of my Love Ergaste replyed she very coldly those faults put you in very little Pain but I am very glad to let you know thai I also very much scorn and despise your Repentance and I replyed Ergaste with an Air much more passionate than before I protest to you that there is not any thing in the World that I apprehend or dread so much as your Displeasure and if I were so wise as I would be I would never give you any Ground Subject or Gause but what will you Arelise think you to find Lovers Wise and would you reform the World no replyed she fiercely and it is for that also that I will have none Well Arelise continued he receive me not as your Lover but pardon me as your Friend At the time that he said this they were very near to Celiane and her Company to whom also were joined Agamée and the other two Shepherds The Athenian who had not yet seen Celiane saluted her and afterwards rendered the same civility to Alce Alce was a Shepherdess who was not very fair but had wit and whom a certain Air of Freeness and Frankness made her beloved of those who knew her and above all to Celiane The Sun was then upon its Setting it seem'd to have no more Beams but what was requisite to enlighten Delectably the Company and areigning Zaphir or Planet throughout all the Plain rendred this hour the Pleasantest and most Commodious for walking after some other discourse they continued the walk in taking the way of Ceris and Celiane to reconduct them and every one without choice having offered his hand to the Shepherdess nearest to whom he found himself mett Ergaste amongst others met with Arelise and Celemante with Celiane Ergaste soon recommended his first converse with Arelise who could not so soon return from her Displeasure continued still to refuse him her hand and even to endeavor to withdraw farther at a distance from him not willing to listen to his Excuse The Shepherd who could no longer support himself nor bear her fury and rage seeing all his Words and Speeches too feeble to Mollifie and Sweeten her at last casting himself at her knees and tenderly embracing them Fair Arelise said he to her must you also yet be more Inexorable than the Gods who in spight of the Offences that we commit against them every day are always ready to pardon us from the Moment that we crave Mercy at their hands you see that I make you all the submissions that I could be able to render to themselves I confess my Fault I demand your Pardon I put my self upon my knees before you I embrace yours and that there may be nothing wanting to the Satisfaction I ow you Impose upon me what pain you please for my Default and I promise you and protest you I willingly will submit thereunto provided it be not that of seeing you a longer time angry with me Arelise not any way heeding this discourse but disintangling her self out of the hands of the Shepherd she returned to join Coris to whom Agamée gave his hand Celiane who knew nothing of their affairs and intricacies and on the contrary understood the great kindness that was betwixt them was astonished to see the coldness of Arelise and demanded the cause of Celemante Amiable Celiane answered he her when you shall see Ergaste and Arelise without being angry together demand of me then the Subject and Cause for then there must be something very extraordinary but what can I say unto you when they do but what is usually done every day and what reason to render you of a thing which is not but Natural to them Celemante made her this Reply so loud that Ergaste heard it and for as much that he saw well that the hour of his Reconciling himself with Arelise was not yet come that the Humor which he knew her to be of he should lose his Labor and thereby make her more obstinate then at that time and therefore must leave her to come to her self he used his Endeavours to conceal his Vexation and dreamed only of fencing himself from the Jests of Celemante he therefore to that effect came up from the place where he had been on his knees However at the time when he thought to speak he was interrupted by Celiane who answered Telamon Shepherd you are Malicious for I know that there were never two Persons that loved one another better then did Ergaste and Arelise I say not the contrary replyed Celemante but you must know Fair Celiane that it is their particular manner of Loving Some do believe that to live together in Unity and Peace one by another is Love and they hold that it cannot be done but only in War and Contention See you Shepherdess that Love is an Ape which always counterfeits the Natural Qualification of all those he meets It is peaceable in a Sweet Temper a Quarelour with one Naturally Prompt and Hasty Merry and Pleasant with those Persons who are given to Sports and Rejoycing Ergaste who still Intended to speak when Celemante had finished seeing that he prepared himself to continue longer yet in discourse Interrupted him at last and addressing himself to Celiane said Amiable Celiane if Celemante knew the Nature of Love he would give you a better then that to what you have required of him Love Fair Celiane is a kind of War where every one seeks nothing else but to Conquer his Adversary That is who shall surprise him shall wound him shall surmount one another and it being so should you be astonished always to see both Parties in Strife and Division Ah! I accord with thee cryed Celemante undoubtedly Ergaste Love as thou managest it is a War and I should so be perswaded if I were Arelise I would not approach thee without putting on my Head-Peice and array me with my Armour Helmet c. Cap-a-Pe from head to foot at all hazards Ergaste who apprehended what he would say rejoyn'd him smiling Celemante it is a War where no blows are dealt but what are received and felt with pleasure and provided the Adversary pleaseth there is nothing but pleasure in being wounded that 's the reason why thou seest that they will give to truth the offensive Arms to the God of Love as well as to that of War and that they paint him with a Bow and Arrows as they do Mars with a Sword but thou seest also that they give him not therefore any Defensive Arms as to the other and that on the contrary they paint him all naked as if he were afraid not to receive all the Shots that they had Aimed and Levelled and made against him and least he should lose one in his Attire Celemante had replyed but seeing that Celiane would speak he
as well as by the Actions of this unknown Person that she was without doubt some extraordinary one and of eminent Quality replyed with wonderful respect and modesty Madam the name of a simple Shepherd as I am is no way worthy your Curiosity and the very small service I have done you is over-paid by the honor I have had in being imploy'd for you Of a Shepherd quoth she you surprize me in saying that Shepherds have that capacity courage and civility which appears in you and if it be so which I can hardly believe the Shepherds of this Countrey do equal those of the most honourable and the most generous that are to be found in the Courts of the greatest Princes Madam reply'd the Shepherd you would be very injurious to the Shepherds of this Country if you doubted that there were not here those who in all respects were much more worthy than my self He stop't there because he sought no other occasion than to finish this Discourse and to remove where he was importuned by perplexity and by his Love Only he would willingly have known in few Words who this unknown was to find out whether his Fortune had not disintricated him in something with that of Zelie when she answer'd him I believe all the advantages that may be produced in a Countrey whence you sprung But you shall never perswade me but that you are more than a Shepherd and you handle the Dart too well then to make me believe that you were born to no other than that of a Crook However it be refuse me not the satisfaction and delay not to tell me who you are The Shepherd was not naturally willing to speak of himself but besides this natural repugnancy he was so taken up by his perplexity and grief that all other thoughts were as to him infernal Notwithstanding he was too civil with an ill grace to repulse that obliging Curiosity of a Person who appeared a Lady of quality and yet he was altogether as uncapable to tell his Name but that in hopes thereof he might ingage her to declare her own That which he then did was solely to abridge the Discourse and without entrance into the particularities of her Life to tell him singly her Name and to explicate also that of her Quality Madam saith he since it s your command I will declare unto you that I am named Tarsis and to assure you that which is most considerable in my Person it s in telling you that I am one of the Shepherds of this Valley I will add that our Original is French and that there are Olimpiades that our Fathers being sprung from the Gaules as have done for some two or three years other Gaules under the Conduct of the renowned Brennus and having bin very serviceable to the Lacedemonians and also to the Thebans in the Peleponnesian War the Greeks asign'd them by the treaty of Peace an habitation at the foot of these Mountains with the Territories of some Cities that surround them so that by this means they were rendred Possessors of this pleasant Valley Now in the Division which these Gaules made The Knights elected this here for their Habitations and Places of aboad And whereas in other Colonies the Captains dispose themselves within the Cities and give the circumjacent Land to the meaner and more inferior Souldiers for tillage and to be cultivated These here in conformity to the Course and Custom of their Nation do no more shut up themselves within the Cities than do the meanest Souldiers and chuse out for themselves the Villages and Hamlets of this delightful Valley As it abounds in Medows and hath its principal Revenue consisting no otherwise than in breeding up of Cattle upon which consideration by succession of time the Nobility which seemed to be born only for War bent themselves soly to Pastures so that they changed even the name of Knights to those of Shepherds so that quite contrary to what in Ages past hapned at Rome where the simple Shepherds turned themselves to be great Captains it appears here that Eminent Captains take complacency in being Simple Shepherds Brave Shepherd reply'd the unknown there needs no further discovery than what you have already made of your self nor to perswade my self better of you than you have said or of your worth But since you have taught me who you are it is but just you should know also who I am and besides it may not perhaps be out of season not to return so soon to the House whence we came I find my self so much indebted to your Worth and the Spirit of your Wisdom and Discretion hath so anticipated me that I shall not dissemble but confide in you the Secrets unknown to all the World besides The condition also wherein you see me will perhaps reduce me to have further need of you and this acquaintance will facilitate the occasion to continue me in your generous offices On these Words having turned about to see whether any person followed them she took him by the hand and advanced further into the Wood even into a Place more obscure and out of the way where they might remain undiscovered Tarsis in going marvelled at the Confidence which appeared in a Virgin so young that would ingage alone with a Man unknown in the mid'st of a Wood and in the Dark and although the state of her present Fortune gave no place to his present curiosity yet he impatiently attended the issue of this chance because he knew not as we have said whether he should there find some manifestation of hers When this unknown young Person discovered the amazement wherein he was having obliged him to sit by her in the thickest of the Forrest she spake unto him in these Terms History of Damalecinte IS it not true Tarsis that you find me a little too bold for a Maid and that these Passages must render me ill in your Opinion But be it known unto you also such a one as you conceive and that this Attire derogates from my Sex and covers the body of a most unfortunate Prince by so tragical an occasion and necessity and by the most amazing Encounter that hath hapned within the memory of these Ages Tarsis extremely astonished at this Discourse reply'd My Lord that which you now discover me is in effect very surprizing But permit me therefore to tell you that I am less astonish't at a young Prince under the Attire of a young Virgin than I was before to see a Virgin as couragious as an Hero And as he thus spake out of respect he would have risen up from the place whereon they sate to put himself in a posture which he thought due to a Prince but the Prince holding him by the hand and in civil treatment continued his discourse thus Have you known nothing of the Disasters of the unfortunate Nicholas King of Chipre the deplorable history of his House is too much proclaimed through all the World to be unknown
and Milicerte have not advertised you of this fatal accident I came out so early reply'd Telamon that I was not able to tell you the news With the like Discourse they approached again to the River whence casting their Eyes over to the other side they perceived a great number of Persons a little below Calioure and they observed even in the crowd Lencippe and Melicerte Father and Mother of Zelie When Tarsis had even till then doubted of his Misfortune that which he saw would have done no other than to have too much confirm'd him for it was easy to judg by their Action that they were in some trouble and it could not be doubted but that it was for their Daughter Ha! my Brother cryed out immediately this desolate Shepherd in turning himself towards Telamon all is lost and without further discourse betook himself into the first Boat he met withal and went directly where he saw Lencippe and Melicerte they were surprized at his approach for as much as there was already some time past that he had not further visited them for reasons that hereafter shall be explicated and their astonishment principally was augmented when he inquir'd whether his Misfortune were true and whether they sought not for Zelie And indeed as it was that that they were come they knew the love the Shepherd bare towards her the length of the research which he had made the Obstacles that Lencippe there had brought what resolutions are capable of a passion so extraordinary as those of Tarsis and besides all that a Man whom they had sent to Telamon had reported to them that he went in quest of Tarsis who had pass'd the night without the Hamlet it was impossible but that they should fall into great suspision of this Shepherd However the freedom and ingenuity with which he related to them that which hap'ned the preceding Evening the tears which fell in abundance from his Eyes and above all the knowledg they had of his vertue effaced all these Impressions Melicette declared to him then how Zelie had bin conveyed away without their perception till the morning and she related him all the circumstances which she knew the tears in his Eyes with the perplexity that might be imagined on this occasion in the Mind of the tenderest Mother throughout the World While she spake the Shepherd stedfastly fixed his Eyes downwards and gathering together all the circumstances that he had learnt on this occasion he verily had good ground to believe that Zelie had caused her self to be convey'd away And because so great a love as his is susceptible of all fear imaginable a little jealousy made him apprehend she had not done it but that through the disposition of some new affection and in effect he could conceive of no other cause O just Heaven cry'd he in that thought could it be possible that Zelie had forgotten so much vertue and that the most retentive and discreetest of all the Shepherds was become the most .... The respect stopt him there and instead of finishing No Melicerte added he beholding her with tears still in his Eyes I rather imagine some other thing than to permit the least thought to wound the vertue of the incomparable Zelie In thus discoursing they descended along the River and Melicerte recounted to Tarsis that after some Weeks that he had withdrawn from Zelie that Shepherdess had lived in a retiring and extraordinary solitude not suffering the company of any whosoever except one Nephew of Melicerte who lately was returned from a long Voyage and who was named Alpide At this word Tarsis remembring himself to have heard this name Alpide by the old Marriner whom he had taken the preceding Evening for him recounted that passage to Melicerte with some shew of suspicion which he began to conceive of him and because he was there amongst those that sought after Zelie Melicerte immediately asked him to see whether he believed that he was the same whom he had seen the preceding night in the Boat Tarsis who knew him not because that Alpide was not returned to Calioure but since the Shepherd went not there lookt for him a long time but besides that it had bin difficult for him to know the visage of a Man whom he had not seen but during an obscure night being swimming in a River and during the trouble and anguish of Mind as we have described Alpide himself also testified so much of anxiety and grief at the loss of Zelie and he manifested so much concerned in her research that his Action together with the near Affinity which he had with the Shepherdess caused them to abandon also the suspicion that they could have had of him Some time afterwards Tarsis and Melicerte still descending they arrived almost at the mouth of the River and when they were over against a Boat which was there fastned to a Willow Melicerte casting her Eyes there by chance perceived in the bottom a great Roll of Papers which he seem'd often to have seen with Zelie Tarsis to whom she shewed it ran readily to gather it up and knew that it was a parcel of Letters and Verses that he had formerly composed upon the subject of their Love whereof this Shepherdess had taken pleasure to collect together and often carryed with her The Shepherd having often brought them to Melicerte both one and another were so astonished that they knew not almost what to say After they had descended a little lower they found themselves near a little House which reached or stood over the water where Melicerte enquir'd for news whilst Tarsis stood to question the herdmen which there kept some Cattle She found the door open and seeing no Person in the first Chamber she called aloud to cause some one to come At the same time came forth an old Woman out of another Chamber who made signs with Eyes and Hands not to make so much noise and who approaching to her very softly said that there was on the other side one sick who slept and besought her not to awake her Melicerte on these Words conceived some hope she being much moved demanded who this sick one was and declared her the subject of her anxiety as of her demand Then the old one taking her by the hand led her out of the door to speak with more freedom and afterwards declared to her that the preceeding day about Noon a Boat who carried four or five Persons having bin wrackt at the Rivers mouth her husband who was a fisherman had saved a young Maid of admirable beauty who was named Hipolite that her Parents as she had told them had sent into the Isle of Daphnides to be there a Nun. She added that according to their small apprehension this Maiden had no great inclination to proceed there and that it was true that the indisposition caused by her accident had not permitted her to effect it that she was at present lull'd asleep not having doubtless taken rest
all the night These circumstances being lively and properly declared by this Woman caused Melicerte to judge that this unknown was no other than Zelie however as all was to her suspect she had the curiosity to see her The old one therefore led her as soft as possible into the Chamber where she reposed and Melicerte had no sooner set in her feet but was well assured she was her Daughter for she discerned near the Bed Attire which had no similitude to those of Zelie She observed even what Papers were scatter'd upon the Table there to be dryed and in approaching knew that they were recommendations for this Maiden whose name she saw was that of Hipolite She therefore retired without any further enquiry and returned mixing her moans and regrets to those of the disconsolate Tarsis In the interim this tragical accident having bin divulged of all sides a company of Shepherds came to offer themselves to Lencippe because he was one of the most considerable of the Country and a multitude of Shepherds also came to make their Complements to the wise Milicerte and to the vertuous Philiste wife of Telamon who promptly came to render himself to his Mother since she had advertized the accident of her Sister Tarsis whose anxiety rendred the company so much the more insupportable that every one on this accident cast his Eyes up in regard there was not any Person to whom his love was unknown insensibly stole himself from the press went and thrust himself into a small Grove which was hard by there to bemoan himself with more liberty He there sate upon the Grass his back leaning against a Tree his Hat fallen over his Eyes with his Arms across and in this state having burst forth a thousand Sobs he betook him again to perplex his Spirits with a thousand reflections wherein he neither became more knowing nor yet consolate But contrarily the torment and toyl which he gave to his Spirits through so many melancholy thoughts a hundred times reverberated served for no other use than to overwhelm him with dispair Now he doubted that Zelie had not bin conveyed away by force then that she had not caused her self to be carried off and sometimes he fell into conceit that she might be drowned and in that thought he was ready to precipitate himself in the same Waves where he believed her buryed After many confused reasonings and revolvings on all these Imaginations he meditated or contemplated this roll of Papers which he had set upon his knees and opened them to see whether he should not there meet some writing or other of Zelies which might enlighten him in the Design he had resolved upon He therefore unknit the string which bound them together and unfolding them before him the first Paper which fell into his hands contained these lines Of a Charm so sensible and so delicious And of so many Pleasures the Soul finds it self ravished from the first moment that they saw you adorable Zelie That she tastes here below all the Pleasures of Heaven But amongst all the transports of an infinite joy A poyson so subtil and pernicious Even from the bottom of the heart Trickled down from the Eyes That must soon or late cost loss of Life So that by two effects in equal Prodigies You make so many benefits And cause so many Evils That remaining confused in the doubt wherein we are We cannot judg if the Gods in displeasure For our Chastisement gave you amongst Men Or if they had pitty upon Vs Ha Tarsis thereupon cryed this poor Shepherd that this doubt is now explained and 't is this day easy to judge that the Gods cause thee not to see Zelie but to make thee suffer the most exquisit Torments that the most culpable are chastized with After these Words he remain'd a small space of time without speech his Eyes fixed before him however unfastned on any Object and in such a manner that it might be well seen that all his apprehensions were contracted in him and that he was solely taken up with his anguish He returned in conclusion with a profound sigh and took the second Paper which he found under his hands which he did but run over slightly where there were these Words Since thou wilt know why thou seest me pale and wan Melancholy and languishing Learn Telamon that I Love And so much the more because that I am absent But alas it is but too little to tell what or who I Love The Object that I love hath so many attractives That there was never one of the same Nor will they ever see any Her Stature her Visage and her Eyes full of flame Displayeth us a thousand treasures And I know not whether her Soul Can be more fair than her Body A thousand and a thousand Shepherds adore this fair one But they are all fair that adore her thousands do sigh after her Not one can cause her to sigh Nere her alone I have found some favour She hath some kindness for me Or rather 't is too much audacity She hath taken some pitty They would say what suffers she her self in her own heart The Evil or Sorrow with which mine is overtaken And if the Shepherdess love me not I believe that she at least condoles me Demand not therefore why thou seest me languishing Melancholy and grown wan Since thou Shepherd knowest that I love thee And that that which I Love is absent Poor Tarsis continued he for he remembred since he cast his Eyes on those Lines of the occasion whereof they were made what Complaints oughtest thou not now to make if thou so bemoanest thy Self in a time wherein thou wert happy Thou wert absent but it was to see Zelie again very speedily and thou perhaps shalt never see her again In thus speaking he took a third Paper wherein was traced what followeth Tarsis and Zelie My amiable Shepherd it may be I have in effect some wrong to afflict my self so much and that I should comfort my self in all my Evils only to think that you lov'd me Therefore then conceive that this second Voyage of Athens wherewith they menace me is at least a Months absence Certainly when I thereof think I doubt almost whether I am not to much solaced because there are already two days that they discourst me concerning that Voyage and yet am still living If I must yet abandon Zelie in that deplorable condition wherein you see me I must relinquish Life for of that Malady they never escape twice TARSIS Ha Fortune cry'd Tarsis in putting up this Paper in some heat wilt thou present me with no other than these things or who speaks of the beauty of Zelie to repeat the displeasure I have at her loss or by the memory of a light absence makes me contemplate the difference that there is betwixt my present Evil with that which is past and how more unfortunate I am this day than I have bin in all the disgraces I have
and it must have been a greater matter to provoke him to anger Ergaste was melancholy he took no pleasure very few things but his Books or in the Society of his most intimate friends and hated above all things new Acquaintance Celemante in the reverse diverted himself equally every where and took pleasure at all times to know all men The first was exact and circumspect with his friends and as he never came short towards them in the least Obligation of Friendship so he could in no wise brook their reciprocal disrespect towards him the other did not so narrowly regard it and as he was of humour in all points indulgent towards others he expected the like treatment In summ they were observed also to be almost always in dispute one against another but never in one that was repugnant to friendship That which Ergaste had moreover in particular is that there was never a man that was deceived less than himself in his Judgments and in nothing less be they Persons be they Books be it in other things within his verge He had found both good and evil with such exactitude that the most tedious Contemplations of others were uncapable to add any thing therunto Celemante yet gave out that praise of Ergaste that he had never known man which would so well love him to whom he pretended love and moreover said that if he knew himself to be a good friend he had had an Obligation to Ergaste But that this had been taught him as a Master doth to little Children that is to say in reproving him and in grumbling without intermission and almost with the Rod in hand Telamon said not so much to Agamée he contented himself in letting them understand they were his Relations and near Friends knowing that he would soon be sensible of all the rest They were half way from the small Grove where they went to seek Tarsis when some persons inform'd them that they had seen him repass the River and take the way to Cenome They presently went there but found him not They stay'd no longer there than the time of taking a small repast or light meal because 't was late and thence went towards Hipique following the Road as Tarsis had signified to them Telamon and Agamée walked before and entered together Ergaste went sweating behind them and Celemente walked by his side But because his friend said nothing to him and his naturally pleasant temper could not suffer a moments Melancholy After he had unprofitably spoken of many things endeavouring to fix some conversation with him he began to sing a Song which he had formerly composed and which began after this sort Reign solely in my heart with freedom tranquility and joy Wealth is not wealth without you You are of those whom the Heavens have sent The most solid and the most pleasantly sweet And the only one worthy of Vs Since he betook himself to sing Ergaste returned to him with a serious Countenance and lifting up his Shoulders twice or thrice shook his head to signifie to him that he sung much out of Season and in an occasion so unpleasing where he saw his best friends afflicted Moans had been much more graceful than Songs Celemante immediately held his peace and without contest with his friend excused himself that he not having entertain'd him in discourse his singing had escaped him unheedily But a little after Ergaste being set to raving Celemante persisted also insensibly to sing without Dreaming the advertization of Ergaste How Love flatters those who are Amorous with vain hopes of Delights it s most considerable Contentments are to the wise but places of Execution and Death Did ever Lover live without uttering a Multitude of Sighs without bewailing Inhumanity its pleasure is even a pain and if it were without pain it would be without pleasure Reign solely in my heart with freedom tranquillity and joy Wealth is not wealth without you You are of those that the Heavens have sent us the most solid and the most amiably sweet and the only one worthy of us The sweetest passion is always a very great evil if it be not an affliction t is at least an inquietude the more vexation crosseth an Amorous desire the more pleasure also abounds but the greatest pleasure of the World if it gives me Anxiety it s no more a pleasure to me Reign solely in my Heart with Freedom Peace and Joy Wealth is not wealth without you You are of those whom the Heavens have sent us the most solid and the deliciously sweet and the only one worthy of us Celemante would have persisted but Ergaste who had already look't twice or thrice upon him to cause him to hold his Peace without the heed of Celemante observing that he continued without intermission in conclusion he began to speak to him saying Without doubt Celemente it must be avowed that thou hast but little judgment For how indifferent soever thou art for thy friends at leastwise thou shouldest use thy endeavours to conceal thy defaults and to contain thy self when thou seest them in affliction and 't were better for thee not to offer thy self to Telamon than to come with him only to sing and let him see by thy Actions how little regard thou hast to his displeasure Celemante who as we have said without any reflection betook himself to sing and by a kind of Habit of diverting himself in one sort or other had no sooner perceived his fault but joyning his hands he turned to Ergaste and said Oh! my poor Ergaste I demand thy Pardon and of Telamon also I protest unto thee I remember not hitherto any more of thy reproofs and I thought no more of thy singing Ergaste did not thus believe him and as the kindness he had for him joyned with a little inclination he had to reprove all that he disliked of perswaded him easily to make him out some Lessons on his defaults and on this Subject it was sufficiently long Celemante took it in good part for though the Reprehension was perhaps more earnest than he had deserved he knew too well that what Ergaste had done was through excess of friendship but he would not therefore acknowledge that he was so much overseen as he would have possessed him he had been and he fixed himself thereon so much the more willingly that he might thereby find means to ingage him in some discourse My Instructor replyed he then laughing you blame me after all for a thing for which I think you ought to commend me if I sing and if you see me joyful in occasions that are questionable in employing my self for my friends believe not that this is a fault to interest my self in that which concerns them but contrarily this which I I do him of good Will that I concern my self merrily when I serve them without regret Behold a very fair conceit said Ergaste My Friend when men take a share at the displeasure of their Friends they have
had bin taken for Gods They fell before them in Troops upon their knees lifting them upon their Shouldiers and so pompously carried them to the publick Guild-Hall or town-house and through an extreme zeal which they suppos'd to be more fatal to the lives of these two illlustrious Brothers than the very hands of their Enemies they for some time minded not but utterly forgot the dressing and healing of their own Wounds by a kind of an indiscreet ardour they had to render them the Honor worthy their acknowledgments In an instant the face of the whole City was changed the joy and allacrity pierced the hearts and was visibly demonstrated in the Visage of the Citizens when it had for a long time bin banished and exiled there was then seen no more heaviness but in those of the Slaves and Kion This generous and faithful Lover could not survive his Mistriss and after he had executed his Commission it seemed he would go and render her an account of it neither reason nor prayers could act any thing towards the mitigation of his Dolour there remained nothing but Friendship and Amity could oppose the mournful effects of his Love His brother and himself would willingly have bin set in one Chamber so that Leonides seeing the resistance that Kion made to all remedies Brother said he I believe I have sufficiently testify'd to you that I fear'd not to dye with you but I must also let you know that I cannot yet live without you Wherefore if you have resolv'd to dye tell me frankly and freely that I may not give my self the trouble unprofitably to labor the conservation of a Life which to me is of no value without yours Upon these Words he commanded the Chyrurgeons to cease and discharged them from further attendance in expectation of his reply Kion tenderly and gingerly look't upon him and would have obliged him to let them persist indeavouring to perswade him that he had neither cause nor reasonable subject to hate his life but Leonides having protested to him that he would not permit any further care to be taken of himself then should be seen that his Brother should take care of his own Kion was in fine constrained to live only to preserve the Life of his dear Leonides It 's true their care and recovery was very tedious and leisurely because their Wounds were great and grievous and for a considerable time almost desperate so that it occasioned the world to believe that they were dead but you will soon see they were reserved for more strange Adventures After the example of Heraclea the major part of the Cities of Pont were also held by small Tyrants who from being simple and petty Governors under old Antigonus had erected themselves to be so many Soveraigns shaking off the yoke of Tyranny and declared for Liberty but in regard these petty Kings chased from usurped Thrones were in League together to re-enter there with Satyre brother of Clearque the Cities likewise united amongst themselves and having levyed Troops for their universal and common Defence they elected for their Chieftain one valiantly unknown named Ariamene upon whom they conferr'd all the Authority of their Arms under the Title of Defender of the Liberties of the People My Lord I will not tell you any thing of this Ariamene a whole volum would be necessary separately to recount to you the History of his high Feats For over and above that the Renown of them is manifestly famous throughout the earth you will without any doubt have known that he had defeated Satyre and his Comrades in five different Battels that in the latter and that he himself with his own proper hands had slain three of these petty Tyrants and in sum had acquired so considerable a Reputation of Valor Liberality and Justice among the People of Pont and Cappadocia that after having fought during the term of four years for their sole Liberty they had voluntarily renounced him to submit it to Ariamene and that they had crowned him their King after they had had him four years for their Captain But let 's return to the History of our two brave Brothers The People of Heraclea being united and in league with other Cities of Pont levyed Troops which they sent to joyn with those of Ariamene and for a badge of Cognisance towards Kion and Leonides they remitted them to their sole Conduct These valiant Brothers so acquitted themselves of this trust and charge that it exceeded the possibility of all Expectations they declared to me that the grand Ariamene had divers times confess 't himself that he ow'd a considerable part of his Victories to their Valor Satyre and his Allies having bin defeated the two first Battels craved assistance of the King of Thrace and ingaged him in their Succour through hopes that they would even make him King of Asia This was my Lord at the self same time when the King your Father did me the honor to send me his Ambassador in Ordinary to Lysimachus and I learnt by the way that the King of Thrace had already pass'd into Asia with an Army composed of threescore thousand Men against the valiant Ariamene I was then obliged to find him in Asia and I arrived at his Camp only three days before this great Battel which was the commencement of his Losses the Success whereof I writ the King your Father It 's certain that when I arrived among the Thracians the Reputation of Ariamene how considerable soever it was did in no wise obliterate that of Kion and Leonides They were not only signalized by a hundred valorous Actions their amity and friendship did no less contribute to render them Illustrious They made it shine and glitter even against Envy and Emulation by a thousand remarkable passages nay in their Habiliaments and Array In effect they were seen always attyred after the same Mode and Method and armed in such sort as was sufficiently significant Their Heads were covered with Caskets or Helmets adorn'd with the figure of two Men aiding each other to sustain and uphold one heart in the midst whereof were plumes of Feathers of the colour of fire sorting or issuing it in guise of Flames to express the ardour of their friendly Amity This Motto was engraven under their Hearts One alone animates both For on the Scymeter were seen the trunk of a Man with two heads compassed and bound with a Crown of Laurel with these Words on the bust Amity makes but one On their Bucklers was depainted each of them peeping into a Looking-Glass which instead of his Visage represented to him that of his Friend Although these Portraits were small yet that did not leave them otherwise then to be marvelously resembling each other and the famous Protogene their friend had there so counterfeited the natural that having even demonstrated their Amity upon their Faces he seemed to have found the secret to paint their hearts That was the Body of the Devise or Embleme
and he obliged my Son to continue the same pretext of their sojourning in that house till the next day imagining with himself that as he would have had more time to resolve to depart he would find less pains in loosing and disingaging himself However on the morrow he felt himself there yet more indisposed than the first day So that the curtesy and the generosity of his Hostess seconding his intentions and more yet a very real indisposition which unexpectedly concurred to my Son by reason he foâ—nd himself more unable to sustain and support himself under the wearisomness lassitude and pains of the late shipwrack which the Prince did not feel he continued fifteen days with them without believing almost that he had there spent one intire day It is not possible to declare how much care he took in the mean time to find a favourable convenient opportunity or moment of time where to entertain and discourse the fair Arsinoe alone but be it that this vertuous Person defyed be it that it was by a simple scruple of her modesty and of her shamfastness pudicity or chastity so that so many times as he sought occasions so many times she took the trouble to shun and avoid them In such sort that he could never speak unto her but in the presence of Argene or Stesicrate However in despight of the compulsion constraint and violence all this presence gave him how many new pleasures delights and subjects of love and admiration did he not find in this charming conversation which discovered him so many rare bright fair and shining lights in the delicate Wit and Parts of Arsinoe and which demonstrated him in the end some part of those wonderful and marvellous Qualities which adorned and garnished the Soul of this divine Person Truly althoâ—gh that at every instant he essay'd to prepare himself for the mournful time of departure which he fore-saw necessary The more he indeavoured to dispose himself thereto the less he found himself capable so that although my Son was perfectly healed if however Philadelphe had not bin a fraid to render him suspect by too much importunity I believe he would never have bin able to resolve to quit and to take leave of the house of Stesicrate In fine Stilpon being healed the Prince took leave of his Host and he would in parting have left him some marks of his liberality drew out for that end the fairest Diamond in the World out of a little Casquet that my Son had by good fortune saved from shipwrack and as he believed it too small a thing for the Father or the Mother he presented it to the Daughter Arsinoe refused it she blushed even as if ashamed to have bin believed capable to receive it and never was it possible for Philadelphe to make her accept of it His indeavours were also all in vain to Stesicrate and Argene whom he unprofitably conjured to make them constrain their Daughter to take it and he was forced to content himself with the acknowledgment of words alone I will not exaggerate or yet aggravate you the new effect that the generosity of Arsinoe made yet upon the heart of this generous Prince but this there was that being parted from thence he declared to my Son that he was resolved not to go very far from that house that he had not yet had the satisfaction to see again that amiable Person and to entertain her once at least in particular and for that purpose he told him that he would lodge in some neighbouring house whence he might more easily spy an occasion Stilpon Stilpon said he to my Son still speaking of her I avow that this Maiden hath neither the air nor the heart of a countrey Maiden My Son who would divert him from this springing and rising Passion whereof he fore saw not any good effect answered to that which the Prince had told him I avow it my Lord but she hath the birth and that is enough to make you conceive she is not worthy of you and that you ought not to remain here What sayest thou my friend what sayest thou for the Son of a Philosopher and thereupon he recited him these Lines out of a Greek Poet. In what Rank soever one may be born Love knows how to equal Shepherds and Kings and all those who conform to their Laws are all equally Subjects to the self same Master It decides all Debates Of all Fortunes and Ranks among those who assemble and unites them together And there sets them equally at one where be found them not so After many Discourses of this nature they met with the House of a Peasant very near them and Philadelphe ingaged him by a liberality considerable enough to lodg them some dayes without their discovery There they confirmed him a thing which he had already known at the house of Stesicrate to wit that Stesicrate and his Wife were strangers in the Isle and that they had not bin there above thirteen or fourteen years but he could never precisely know neither their Countrey nor their Condition nor yet their Fortune only they told him they had lived there always a simple People yet notwithstanding sufficiently well with much reputation and honor and of general integrity and uprightness They made him also a thousand Elogies of Vertue Piety and an infinite number of fair and admirable Qualities met in young Arsinoe whom he had too well known They gave him to understand that as young as she was she had notwithstanding already bin sought after and courted by the most considerable and potent Persons of the Island but that hitherto neither she nor her Parents would listen to any and they even said that she would not be married All this discourse was to no other use for so we may say but to cast Oyl into the Fire they did but inflame the heart of Philadelphe They spent that Night incommodiously in that Cottage but Philadelphe preferr'd it to all the Palaces of Egypt by reason it was neighbouring upon that of Arsinoe He went out early the next day although he verily believed that she would neither be yet abroad nor out of bed however he conceived some pleasure in indeavouring at least to review the Place and House where she was and lest he might be rendred suspect he resolved that if he were there met by Stesicrate or any others of the house to pretend that he had lost his Diamond and that he was returned in quest thereof He designed to practice the same pretext even towards Arsinoe perswading himself that when he should meet her possibly she might fly from him and that he could not otherwise do it without suspicion and therefore would by that means indeavour to ingage her in some discourse and converse with him His design succeeded fortunately enough he saw her after some time go forth from thence and followed her undiscovered to a little Temple or Oratory desart and half ruined which was but a furlong from
her self with a Man all alone was presently moved with anger against Philadelphe verily believing that he came not there without a Design and although she wanted not an esteem nor it may be a favourable respect for him she could not however refrain from giving him some marks of dislike My Lord said she when I seek an Eccho I go to the Rocks which are here hard by and for this time I sought no other than solitude and as I likewise believe you sought it for your own part I withdraw and give you place that we may not frustrate the designs each of other At the pronouncing of these Words she would have gone but Philadelphe could not so resolve to lose so opportune an occasion without a further explication of his Mind unto her Wherefore the Prince fixing himself before her Passage said Divine Arsinoe it is not solitude but it 's your self I seek and I pray you do not fly from me as you have formerly done until I have told you the design that led me here I demand of you but a small moment of expressing my self unto you and if there be a less thing that can cause you to repent your yielding me that favor I consent not only that you make me do it during your life but even to dye immediately at your Feet Arsinoe reply'd him My Lord I believe you are capable of no other than good designs but how Innocent soever you are in what you tell me or have to say you know it could not be to listen to it here and if you have an inclination to discourse me ther'e 's no great distance betwixt this Place and my Fathers House On this expression she began to advance further but the Prince being passionately in Love stay'd her by laying hold of one part of her Vesture with that Liberty that the proportion of their conditions and civility seem'd to permit him very well fair Arsinoe continued he I consent to follow you there fair Arsinoe but at least let me know henceforward if I shall not there be Importunate in going there to make you an offer of my Heart and that with the strongest the most faithful and the most passionate of the World my Prince pronouncing these words observed a suddain Blushing to spread over the Face of Arsinoe which he Interpreted not disadvantageous to himself and yet he found no great Subject wherewith to be satisfied in her Answer I can answer you nothing reply'd she while you retain me thus like a Prisoner for what advantage could you have by a word that you could not have drawn from me other than by fear and Violence Ah! reply'd the Prince still holding her you would erre exceedingly if you should impute violence to me Alas Arsinoe it 's I that am your Prisoner and from the first moment that I saw you I found my self fastned to you by so strong and powerful Tyes and Ligaments that I am more a Captivated Slave than I should have bin in the hands of Pirates and that which is worse I am not only ignorant of means to extricate my self out of these Bonds but I find no disposition nor willingness thereunto Complain not therefore Arsinoe if I detain you for a Moment you who detain me Captive for so long time and undoubtedly a Captive during my Life My Lord answered Arsinoe using endeavours to escape should I retain you which I will never believe it would never be through Violence since you your self say that you will have it so but can you excuse your self and must I not impute you blameable with offering Violence to me since you arrest me and detain me in despight of what I can do Truly my Lord. I shall have good cause to complain if you shall refuse to dismiss me after so many Instances and Supplications wherewith I have besought you Yea I obey you fair Arsinoe reply'd the Prince but however at least favour me therefore before hand with a Boon which the most barbarous People do to their Enemies when they have vanquisht them Avow me for your Prisoner and if I dare to demand more testify to me that you will well use your Victory I will so well use it reply'd sharply Arsinoe yet with wonderful Grace that I will now freely give you your Liberty for my own O Arsinoe reply'd my Prince it 's difficult for you to give me the Liberty you speak of Alas I am bouâ—d by Ligaments and Tyes that neither you nor perhaps my self could be able to unloose were we willing but it is not so much my Liberty that I demand of you but a little of sweetness and pleasure within my Prison This fair One answered him not because the Prince dreading her displeasure had let go her Garment she presently retired into the House He believed that after that time it would not be facile for him to find her again and that she would therefore for future keep her self upon her Guard whererefore he return'd very sad to find my Son whom he had twice commanded to let go all alone fearing his presence might have abstructed his design After he had declared to him the success of this interview he signified to him he was in great Trouble how he should act for time to come and asked his Counsel as to that Point My Son who had already as I have told you disswaded him as much as in him was possible to Imbark himself in that Passion reply'd him with the Liberty he permitted him because they had bin brought up together That which I Counsel you my Lord is to remember your self of the design for which you came out of Egypt Alas to what end or purpose will it be said that the Prince Philadelphe shall vaunt and boast himself of going to make War at Syracuse aâ—d that all his Courage will determin in coming only to make Love and Court a Maiden in Corcyre My Lord they pardon these amusements for a day to those who take them to relinquish and abandon them after the Victory and as our Poets say they excuse Mars to repose himself some moments between the Arms of Venus But that your first Actions and Attempts shall determine in Attacking and Combating with the Heart of a simple and contemptible Countrey Wench of Corcyre and that so many Gallant Designes with which they have seen you to divide and share with Alexander should as may be said be here Shipwrackt with your Vessel My Lord pardon me if I dare say that this is a Thought unworthy and unbeseeming one of the Sons of great Ptolomée This Discourse touch't the Heart of the Prince with Grief and some sort of confusion he was not therefore angry with my Son for amongst the qualities of this great Prince there is this very admirable that ther'e 's not in the World that would receive with a better Grace than him the Counsel and advice of his Friends But after he had heard him Stilpon reply'd he I well observe there is much
of truth in some part of what you have told me But there is yet therefore no long time that I am here that they should reproach me for abandoning the Design for which I left Egypt What if it be permitted to relinquish it after a Victory ought there not therefore a time of repose to be allowed after a Shipwrack Go go Stilpon when I shall pass more yet eight dayes at Corcyre I shall not have bin a longer time than there would have bin necessity to repair our Ship when we were saved from the Storme judge and consider if having bin wholly lost my retardment was not an excuse lawful enough my Lord my Son asked him What do you think to do in those eight dayes that you are willing to spend here I think reply'd he I may in some respect gain the favour of Arsinoe And when you have got her favour reply'd my Son do you make account to abandon her Ah Stilpon cryâ—d he that as Treachery whereof thou oughtest not to believe me capable of My Lord answered presently my Son avow therefore that you deceive your self when you think of being here but eight days more But would they not also say that you think not to go out of your Way and Life and that you set a bound here to all your Designes and Hopes Think you only neither of making up your Equipage and Furniture nor of providing you a Ship or Vessel as for the rest what hopes is there for you to succeed near to Arsinoe you avow me your self that she flyes from you that she will not listen to you alone out of the presence of her Parents and if you have been many days waiting to speak with and discourse her once when she did defye you you will be some years without effecting it now when she hath Ground and Cause to precaution her self In one word my Lord you are so hopeless on this point and subject that you are reduced even to come to me to ask Counsel and Advice I avow to thee that that gives me trouble reply'd the Prince But wherefore should I not discover it to Argené nor to Stâ—sicrate What my Lord continued my Son you think to make a Father and Mother Confidents of a Gallantry for their Daughters Why not Stilpon added Philadelphe I have so pure and respectful a Passion for Arsinoé that I am assured that neither Stesicrate nor Argené can never find a reason wherewithal to oppose or gainsay it But my Lord continued my Son you pretend therefore to espouse Arsinoé for in fine I believe not that neither Father nor Mother as Wise as they can find Honesty in a Passion which should have another reach Thou pressest me too much Stilpon cry'd here the Prince ask me not that which I do not yet apprehend my self All that I can say unto thee that is thou can'st if thou wilt prepare all things for our departure But whatever may or can arrive or come to pass I will yet once again speak with Arsinoe My Son would not lose the occasion from the ensuing day and forward he went into the Neighboring City to make Sale of some Diamonds of those which he had saved and from thence to the next Port where he hired a Bark to transport them to Sicily and having made an agreement he came to render an account to his Master Philadelphe had spent that day in strange disquietments For on one side the sensibility he had for all the things of Honour caused in him some shame to lose time for a Maiden when for Reputation and Glory sake it behoved him to have a care of rendring an account to the King his Father and on the other side his Love dethroning and destroying all the efforts and endeavours of his reason caused him to reject and pass by all that Glory and Repute only for one fair Chimera and left him not the Solidity to consider but only the pleasures and delights that he could hope for in the Society of Arsinoe the fair But that which Tyranized the most that he himself did not very well conceive his Designs For he well enough saw on one side that he should not expect any thing from Arsinoe that might invalidate her Vertue and he loved her with so pure true and sincere a Tenderness that he himself durst not infringe it nor yet desire it He judged very well also on the other side that he was neither of Age nor in Place nor yet in a state to dream of Marriage and which is yet more in despight of all the preventions of his Love his reason still reproach'd him with I know not what Treachery or rather absurdity to be left so absolutely overcome and vanquisht at the first shock or meeting of a simple Maiden and who had obliterated and forgotten all even to the honour and dignity of his Birth In this Combat of Honour and of Love he observed all the reasons on one side but all his own proper Inclinations carried him to the other and there arrived him in this encounter that which occurrs to all those who not daring to take the part between two puissant adversaries and willing to please and manage them both render the one and the others Enemies In sum he resolved to finish his Voyage in Sicily to go there and spend some years in seats of Arms and signalize himself there by some Exploits worthy his Name But before hand to assure himself if it were possible of the Heart of Arsinoé to discover himself to her and promise to return to her when he had rendred his Birth that which he ought it and even to do in time all things that might be conducible to the happy and laudable success of his Love So he gave a shock to his Passion in quitting Arsinoe he shockt his Honour by the thoughts of an alliance so unequal he exposed himself to the reproaches of Honour and of Love he rendred them both Enemies and instead of placing his Mind in rest and quiet from one side or the other he Cumbred and intricately intangled himself with both He made these Resolutions walking about the dwelling of Arsinoe when he met a Slave who approached him with a design to have gained him and to ingage him to carry some Ticket but he was much amazed when this Slave told him that Stesicrate and Argené were departed the self same Morning very early to make a Voyage some Months in a place that this Slave knew not of and where they had conducted Arsinoe with them Philadelphe presently believed as it was true and so much he understood afterwads that he had bin the cause of that departure his Presence having given them some cause to suspect him after he had made a discovery of his Love to Arsinoé and its impossible to me to delineate or depaint what the affliction of this Prince was at the report and certainty of this piece of News He fayled not immediately to take a resolution to go
Stilpon continued he â—id I not still tell thee that Arsinoe had neither the Heart nor the Temper nor Spirit of a Countrey Maiden and that her great and marvelous Qualifications decyphered the magnificence of her Birth He indeavoured afterwards to learn from that Man other particulars in relation to this wonderful Incounter but not being further able to draw forth more ample Instructions and Informations he quitted him and went directly to the former dwelling house of Stesicrate indeavouring to be more throughly inlightned and further informed by those whom he should there meet withal Never did so many different Passions attack a Soul at one time and agitate in this Incounter the amorous Spirit of Philadelphe He had some times an inexpressible ravishment dreaming that Arsinoe was the Daughter of a King and in a condition which might reasonably approach them nearer both the one and the other and consequently there might be a probability of their Marriage Then again grief seized him and assaulted him when he conceived that in this condition she should be exposed to other reserches also and that the conquest of her would be infinitely more difficulty Sometimes fear and inquietude seized him in the ignorance where the Countrey and Kingdom was where this fair Princess should be gone He apprehended that it was with some great Prince at enmity with the King his Father then supposing it was a friend he apprehended he should be prevented by the demand of some other whilest he was in quest of the place where he should seek after her But that which gave him most trouble and confusion was the doubt wherein he sometimes was that that Royal birth was not a fable and Chymera that the Inhabitants of the Island might preposterously frame or figure it and in all that he had heard there might be nothing of veriâ—y but the absence or rather the loss of Arsinoe With these thoughts he arrived at the house where formerly Stesicrate was lodged he found there a new Host and new Informations but still with new causes and grounds of trouble and perplexity For he who Inhabited there was a friend of Stesicrate who confirmed him that there was some came to fetch away Arsinoe with great and magnificent preparations of Equipage c. and although that Stesicrate had not had so great confidence in him as to have imparted to him any more than half his Secret however he had not left him so ignorant but that she was the Daughter of a great Prince that Argené had with her taken their voyage towards Egypt and that they might hear tidings of them at Alexandria All that Philadelphe could learn till then had given him no other than an imperfect joy because they had bin always mixed with some considerations that troubled and perplext him but there appeared in this last none than subjects and grounds of hope and some joyful ravishments Arsinoe daughter of a great Prince made no great disproportion in their birth Arsinoe in Egypt and in Alexandria left in him no great difficulty or more doubt of their Marriage He returned to his Vessel with a rash and furious pace with much precipitancy altogether transported with excess of joy impatience and love and having no more of perplexity than the thoughts of the great Prince whose daughter this Arsinoe could possibly be There was many in Egypt because Ptolomeé had three or four Brothers who had left a great number of Children and there were even yet many of the Family of the ancient Kings So that did not put him in any great trouble because that amongst them if there were any Daughters there would not have bin one but would have thought themselves happy in being sought unto by Philadelphe He therefore imbarked in his Vessel and caused them with full Sayl to make for Alexandria and had no more trouble in his Mind than only delay and all Winds seemed him too slow and dull and to second his impatience it must have bin almost necessary that he were driven into Egypt by another Tempest In fine after a few days sailing he arrived in the Evening at the Port of Alexandria and the first thing he there made inquiry for was after the Princess Arsinoe and if they knew not whence she was My Lord answered one to whom he spake We must surely be very great strangers if we should not know whence she was and you may see her if you please even before you enter into the City for behold there she walks upon the bank of the River with the King the Queen Berenice and the Princess Antigone In saying this he shewed him a crowd of People by the Sea side four or five hundred paces from thence where Philadelphe ran or rather flew transported with ravishing joy and content The King Queen and Princess were afoot having alighted from their Chariots which waited upon them hard by and I had the honor to walk by and then spake and discourse with the King and therefore I can declare to you the original of all that past at this Incounter As soon as Ptolomée perceived the Prince his Son he knew him and was so fully transported with joy that he advanced even some paces towards him to imbrace him Philadelphe saluted the King the Queen and Antigone as a Father Mother in Law and a Sister whom he loved with a respect and tenderness unconceivable They reviewed him as the Person of the Worâ—d which above all was most dear But Philadelphe principally was attentive in seeking after the sight of Arsinoe and 't was not long before he found her For besides her beauty which immediately invited all Eyes to behold her and those of the Prince were led and lighted by Love he had no sooner imbraced Berenice and Antigone â—ut the Queen her self presented him Arsinoe Come my Lord said she unto him come also and imbrace this dear Sister and at the same time turning her self towards Arsinoe my Daughter quoth she behâ—ld this Brother which I promised you Love waited not any long time to receive these Words of Berenice nor caused them to be remarked by the Prince Philadelphe They did not in an instant only penetrate his ears but his heart and this fraternity unexpected so contrary to the Designs wherewith he flattered himseâ—f dissipated in a moment all the of joy his Spirits and also defaced and razed all the marks in his Countenance and there left but only the Indexes and evident significations of an incredible and unconceivable amazement and astonishment He continued for some time almost confused amated and immoveable in that respectful Submission with which he approaâ—hed to salute her He had scarce the strength and courage to rise up and those who a moment before looked upon his countenance almost in a moment afterwards did not know it On the other side Arsinoe appeared no less surprized when having beheld this new Brother she knew him to be the Stranger whom she had seen at Corcyre who had there began
colours to signify the divers sorts of Herbs and Flowers which spring up among the Corn and instead of a Scepter she carried in her hand a Coulter or share of Gold which they had made very light lest they should wrong or over-press her hand with its weight But scarce did they only take notice of these exterior Ornaments as those which of hers were natural and drew inticed and allured the Eyes and Attention of all which beheld them All Egypt which seemed to be gathered together and assembled at Alexandria for the solemnity of that Feast avowed that she had never seen any thing so worthy the Greatness Magnificence and Majesty of Isis and it seem'd that Fortune envying our joy took pleasure to redouble our acclamations and our congratulation to render afterwards our Moans and Regrets more sensible The Sacrifice being finished in the Isle all the Court were upon the Port expecting by the lustre and tansparent clearness of a thousand Links and waxen Torches lighted the return of these two fair Princesses The Prince Philadelphe alone went before them in a little magnificent and gallant Boat made expresly when a bark returning from the Isle with all diligence of the Rowers reported to the King that Antigone and Arsinoe were carried away by some People hid in an unknown Vessel which lay behind the Island and who had not appeared but when they were ready to go to Sea It is not possible to express unto you here the Alarm nor the trouble that in one instant this news produced Immediately the King gave order to hasten away after them and caused all the Souldiers to be imbarked that could be found upon the first Vessels that were ready in the Port or could be met withal But very strange of two hundred Vessels that were there there was not found one in a readiness or which wanted not either Ropes or Sailes or Rudders or other things necessary There must something more appear to the King to be known and that there was some Treason here under hid and concealed He caused Pylots and Captains of Ships to be taken but 't was not possible to draw any thing out unless it were they themselves were surprized having believed all things in good condition On the other side Philadelphe being as I have told you gone before the Princesses in this little Bark which he had caused to be built more for appearance than service had no sooner received this fatal news that he became like one thunder-struck so unawares Never did pain nor grief make so suddain and so violent an effect and change as was in him and I believe that there had bin no need of any but himself for his Princess which conserved him his life and rendred him apart of his Forces after he had almost lost them all Ah my Friends cryed he to them that were with him all desolate and hopeless We must perish or save our dear Princesses Grief and pain permitted him not to discourse any more and in the mean time without consideration of the little succor that they could receive from him in the state wherein he was he commanded the Marriners who conducted his Bark to row with all their strength although the night deprived them of all knowledg But behold another Mischief scarcely had this poor Prince advanced one Mile that some pieces of his Bark being loosned the one from the other as if by set purpose he found himself down in the Sea Happy it was he was not far from the Island so that he saved himself by swimming with all those of his Retinue one Marriner only excepted whom they saw no more But that which afflicted him a thousand times more than death was that he found himself there without any means to pursue the forcible Ravishers away and a nin impossibility of succouring his Princess To what extremities was he not ready to expose himself in this Encounter But above all imagin you that which became of him then when he regain'd the Port of Alexandria in an ill favoured Gondoso which was â—ound by hap-hazard and thinking to go upon some good Ship to seek after Arsinoe he knew the state in which they were all found Every one saw the Treason was manifest but they could not and they durst not almost suspect the Traitors for the love of Ceraune who was one of the Robbers as you will soon observe had not yet broken out And besides he himself appear'd at Court with the Countenance of a Man who took too great a share of the Calamity to be one of them guilty of the Crime But the Crime was too black to remain unpunished and the Gods ought to indicte the Author for their own proper Vengeance since that haviâ—g troubled the Ceremonies of one of their solemn Feasts they themselves were there in some sort interested You shall know then Kion who by force and means of searches and perquisitions had made serious Inquiry they learnt in the end that Ceraune and Menelas Nephew of Ptolomée and who had the Office of Admiral were the Authors of this violent Robbery the former being unfortunately fallen in Love with Arsinoe and the second with the Princess Antigone That which much conduced to their Discovery was their flight for they disappeared the self same night They knew that it was they themselves who had secreetly caused a part of those Vessels to descend for fear they should be sent after those who had made the Rape that it was they who had subborned and corrupted with Mony a Carpenter who had built the Bark of Philadelphe that it might be made in that manner as to fall a sunder as it had done in taking away only a Pin of wood the which had bin effected by that Marriner who had disappeared a little afterwards In a word they knew that 't was they who had caused those to agitate themselves and to put them all at work and act in this fatal Tragedy The King had till then conserved and reserved some paternal tenderness for Ceraune but it was not possible for him more to resist the justice of his Wrath when he saw this last Feat and Perfidy of this graceless and worthy Son and his flight with that of his Accomplice and Comrade having finished their conviction the King caused that the Morrow their process should be made Amongst other things he declared Ceraune unworthy and uncapable of the Crown and because they should not take this Vengeance to be a simple Menace he put it in execution in such manner that it hath without doubt bin known all the World over but I will not omit to repeat it unto you because you will be well pleased to be assured to learn by retale a thing which until this time never had an Example and possibly may never have He caused to assemble together all Orders and Degrees throughout his Kingdom at least those that were found in and about Alexandria and having appointed Philadelphe to follow him to the
publick Place where all the Souldiers were in Arms and all the People attentive and in expectation of what would follow such great preparatives he there made a long Oration upon the affections which he had alwayes had for his People and the cares he had taken to educate and bring up his Children in an inclination and disposition of Peace necessary for the better Government of his Subjects from thence he fell to discourse of the different Manners and Qualifications of his two Sons and putting again into the Mind and Memory of the Egyptians of the magnificent and famous Feates and honourable Actions of Philadelphe wherewith all his Subjects were very exceedingly satisfyed and well pleased he there afterwards those of miscontent and displeasure which he and they had received from Ceraune After he had aggravated the three fratercides wherewith this cruel Prince would have caused his Brother to perish and to be destroyed the violent ravishment and carrying away the two Princesses his Confederacy and Treaty even with the known Enemies of the State for they knew he made one with Lysimachus to assure himself a retreat into his Kingdom after he had amplified and laid open at large all the circumstances of his Crimes he at last publickly declared his Dissheirison and thereby declared his Son Philadelphe his sole and only Successor And that there might be no shadow nor ground nor cause of contest against his Title I say to impede or hinder what possibly might be questioned after his death and to take and deprive Ceraune from all means of imbarking the People in Civil-War and intestine jars and commotions he added that it was his Will and Declaration his Resolution of putting Philadelphe in present possession of the Crown and that he appointed and published him King of Egypt resigning into his hands all his Power Privileges and Prerogatives Royal reserving only unto himself the Degree of his Prime and Principal Subject and Captain of his Guards At the same Even the self same moment having caused Philadelphe to approach who had not followed him there but against his Will because he dreamt of nothing else but his departure in quest of Arsinoe and was importunate against all things that might delay or any wise frustrate his design the King repeated to him the precedent declaration and having constrained and obliged him to sit down upon a Royal Throne which he had purposely and expresly commanded to be prepared he with his own hands placed the Crown Royal upon his head the Scepter in his hand and then and there swore himself his faithful Subject and declared and owned him to be his Master his Leige Lord and Soveraign King If this Oration and memorable Action which immediately followed it caused an astonishment amongst the Egyptians it gave them ground cause and subject of much more incomparable joy and admiration for as much hatred and aversion as they had and conceived against Ceraune even so much love and respect had they for Philadelphe But Philadelphe for his own self in particular was so surprized and so confused in receiving such marks and signs of deference and submission from a Father for whom he had such obsequious and venerable respect that he could not possibly resolve to accept these rare and illustrious Testimonies of a Love so Royal and Paternal What wonderful Miracle was that not that the Land of Egypt beheld not on that day Certainly future Ages will scarcely have faith to believe it It saw a great King which was the delight of his People and the terror of his Enemies voluntarily descend from the Throne and there to cause his Son to ascend it and I there saw the Son refusing to mount into the Throne and use all his utmost indeavours there to retain and hold his Father In sum so it must be that Philadelphe yielded and gave place unto the absolute Will of Ptolomée but it was not by a deference and it may be said that he consented not to be King but to give a pregnant demonstration of obedience both as a Son and as a Subject In the interim do not in any wise believe that this great change and transmutation of the condition and state of my Prince made any kind of alteration in his love nor yet grief and dolour believe not that he judged the gift of a Kingdom was capable to consolate him to ballance the loss of Arsinoe Ambition had not power to suspend remove or discharge him one moment from the thoughts nor perplexing inquietudes of his Love and all that which Prince Philadelphe had resolved for the recovery of this Princess Philadelphe the King would also execute He had already sent to all Parts and Coasts to learn news of the two Princesses but that was a thing that appeared to him but little worthy of his Love to seek after them by the means of others only his passion defyed him the cares and diligence of all others He would therein imploy himself and in that very resolution and design he would depart the following Night without speaking any thing to Ptolomée knowing he would have opposed it Only he resolved to leave a Letter with some of his People to give unto the King after his departure and began one in these terms Philadelphe to King Ptolomée Health SIR I a thousand times beg pardon of your Majesty if I dare without his leave depart from being near her and if it appears that I acted the part of an ill Son it will soon make an Apology for me to so good a Father But Sir one so good as your Majesty is merits him the conservation of all his Children so that if I remove one from him for some few dayes I protest to your Majesty it 's not but to essay to return them to you very suddainly altogether I entred into his Chamber when he was there with his Letter and although he presently resolved not to discover his design unless it were to those that to him were necessary so it came to pass that my presence and the kindness he had for me tempted or prompted him to make me a participant I was not surprized with that resolution for I know the fervour and greatness of his Love But as it seemed to me on this occasion to be altogether blind I took the liberty to tell him my Sentiments I then represented to him that Philadelphe King of Egypt ought not hence forward to imagine himself yet to be Prince Philadelphe that in receiving the Crown he had well changed conditions and obligations Think you my Lord said I that you are now to your self as you then were to dispose of according to your passions and willing inclinations and to run about the World as a single and simple Adventurer and to expose your self to all the fantastical conceits humors and capricio's of Fortune Know my Lord that you now at present are united by very streight tyes and strong ligaments and by indispensable obligations to your Estate that
this Agamée Not only had Tarsis very much vivacity but he was even naturally bold and hardy and in the interim he remained in this incounter inhibited injoyned to the contrary and as one stupid so much is a great and prodigiously respectful love accompanied with timidity and bashfulness He grew pale he blushed and apprehended not well himself he disintricated disintangled unpestered himself of this passage as if he would have done from a trap and snare that is to say he attempted and essayed to delude and dally and content himself to know without seeming to make or take thereout a more particular interest that Melicerte had answered that Leucippe was not yet resolved nor designed to marry his Daughter He was even so blind that after his being gone forth he knew not whether he were willing to be discovered undoubtedly he said to his own self Melicerte her self being mistrustful of my Love by the discourse which I had held with Zelie hath not intention but to sound me and if I had left my self to have bin taken or surprized by appearance I should fall into the inconvenience that Telamon had foretold me of But after having had some time these Sentiments he passed into others quite contrary For making reflections upon the discourse of Zelie and afterwards upon these of Melicerte and above all upon the goodness that this Sage and generous Mother had testified to him day by day he there found wherewith to perswade himself very strongly that it was impossible but the Mother and Daughter had some favourable intentions for him and that they desired but that he should or had discovered it to Melicerte In that Thought he returned to find her fully resolved to cast himself at her Feet and whatsoever could or might arrive to make her confident of the passionate Love he had for Zelie He found Melicerte all alone who wrote a Letter and as the Designs which seem to us to be accompanied with some Perils and Dangers are always full of so much Timidity that there needs but one nothing to divert them and principally in matters of Love by reason that Love being but a desire is naturally mixed with Fear Tarsis was no sooner in the Chamber of this Shepherdess but behold all his Resolution vanished away That was not a Truth without a Pretext for our debility and weakness still makes one or other But see if that which should be capable to stay him since that it was no other thing unless that finding her occupied and taken up in writing a Letter he believed there would have bin some incivility in her Interruption He did no other then pass through her Chamber but scarcely was he gone forth but he stopt and making some reflection upon his little Resolution he made a confusion within himself He feared most that this Letter had some Relation to the Marriage of Zelie and that it was an Advertizement that she gave to Leucippe and that it was that which should encourage him the more to make his Declaration and thereby prevent some other engagement As he re-entred by one Gate I entred there by another so that Tarsis who was not prepared to see me there nor yet to speak before me made yet a pretence to his little Hardiness and Resolution He repassed therefore only through the Chamber so little knowing that which he did that although in passing by him I asked him where he went he made me no answer But he was no sooner in his own then behold the Remorse which again surprized him What said he I have not been willing to declare my self before Telamon Alas is it not all contrary is it not his presence that should encourage me since he was there to confirm my Request He returned a third time being resolved to make his Declaration before me but as I had observed Melicerte taken up and employed in Writing I did no other than pass into the Garden so that Tarsis found me no more there and he met no Body there but Malicerte which came from sending her Letter This will not seem strange unto you the reason why Tarsis had bin so soon interrupted in his Design was because Melicerte was writing the second Time that he found me present At this third he found me not there at all and Melicerte wrote not any more and in the mean time he durst not yet discover himself But that which is most pleasant is that his Timidity was pretended upon Reasons all opposite to the formers He whom my Presence had astonished began to find himself Weak through my absence and the Letter of Melicerte being sent he thought that since that was done nothing did press him more than to discover himself That which was yet admirable is that Melicerte seeing him pass and repass so many times could not refrain to ask him in conclusion what he sought for Tarsis who found himself not in a condition to Imbark himself with her in Conversation answered her to defeat himself that he sought Philiste Philiste who was then in a Closet very near approaching came forth at the same Instant and asked him what he would have whereupon Tarsis who sought her not effectually was so surprized that he knew not what to say to her I have recounted this to you Agamée to cause you to understand how much he loved since he feared so much for it is certain that we form not unto you the great Peril that the Proportion of the esteem had that we made of the benefit of the privation wherewith it menaced us in conclusion the day of departure and ours also came and behold what was his only Consolation Zelie and Philiste loved one another tenderly and that day they were almost all in Tears as if we were to go very far and as if they were not to see one another for a long time A little before we departed Tarsis having perceived them alone in this mournful Estate in a Closet or Arbor of the Garden went unto them and whilest Philiste who also saw me arrive after him came forwards towards me to declare something unto me my Brother entered into the Closet where seeing Zelie wiping her eyes he said unto her I should be happy my fair Shepherdess if I could pretend some Share Part or Portion in these fair Tears and that I should find consolation in a departure where death only is able to give it unto me If I had more Tears than I have reply'd Zelie I should owe all to the departure of my dear Sister But if I had more remaining and that that could serve you I believe I have Obligations enough to you not to refuse you so small a thing Ah fair Zelie reply'd Tarsis if I have bin happy enough in rendering you some Service it hath not bin but over-payed by the Honour and by the contentment that I have my self received and you know not the price and value of your Tears when you believe them owing to Obligations of this
by its bright and radiant light when it commenceth its Career Course and Race Tell me wherefore your Hand by the shot of an inhumane Pen deprives me of you of my view thereof Why set you down and concealing your self hide under this dark and cloudy Epilogue O Shepherdess do nothing are you afraid of being known then when you do me good Why therefore this great and black vail which hinders me here to see you there Wherefore in this Assembly the front open why have you not appeared is it not that you have believed that a Virgin in publick ought to be hooded and vailed But what am I going to imagin it's easy to divine what 's that here which is the effect of this Prophecy wherewith the World hath bin menaced I see it in fine accomplished and the Sun is eclipsed But wherewith do you menace us With a new and fatal Eclipse the influence is it Mortal shall I dye alone shall we all dye Is it towards me alone that it looks forth Is it upon me alone that she lanceth her Darts The Influences of an evil lot Should it be to me so considerable Or otherwise should I be so culpably guilty That an Eclipse was necessary to foretel my Death I was so much hindred that I could interrupt you said Agamée But I would not but I pray you now to lend me these lines to read them in particular for that which I have heard prompts me to a desire to read the rest I have found them sufficiently excellent and polite replyed Telamon and therefore I will carry them with me in returning my Sister to Calioure to cause them to be seen there by Melicerte And to take an occasion to discover to her the love of Tarsis of whom I believed she had reason in all this time to place some confidence and of whose real passionate love to her Daughter Zelie I hoped she would well be assured after so many signal testimonies I took an hour wherein we were alone and after I had read them to her Well Wise and Sage Melicerte said I to her poor Tarsis shall he dye for I very well know that 't is you alone that I should consult withal alone for his Destiny Melicerte at these Words betook her self to laugh and answered me you know the Eclipse hath not done so much evil as they think and I believe not that Tarsis should only be more sick than others I answer you generous Melicerte replyed I that this poor Shepherd is in a pitiful state and he doth no other than languish and bemoan himself ever since he departed from your house But I suppose you are not now to know his disease and that there was no need of those lines to make you know how amorous he was of my Sister Melicerte made not use of any kind of dissimulation with me she declared to me she was mistrustful and to make it to you short she testified to me with all the goodness and generosity imaginable that she had as much amity and friendship for me and as much esteem for Tarsis that she would serve him as a Mother and would contribute all that might be possibly imaginable in her towards Leucippe for the good success of our Interprize I was not wanting immediately to make my Brother a participant of our entertainment and discourse and behold the Letter which he writ upon this subject to Melicerte In saying this Telamon took another Paper to continue his reading to Agamèe then when Tarsis being come out of his Chamber came to find them in the Closset where they were He was in some confusion when he understood from them in what they were taken up and imployed in expecting him and reproached his Brother for entertaining Agamèe so ill Almost at the same time also arrived Argaste and Celemante who were astonisht and amazed to see the change that the displeasure had already made upon the countenance of Tarsis since the little time that there had bin past that they had seen him O! Shepherd said Celemante unto him seeing him I believe also that you are in love with Zelie for in sum 't is not Tarsis that we see there and 't is to do you a favour that we take you for his shaddow or his Ghost Tarsis answered him not but with a profound Sigh that he made as he joyned his hands lifting up his shoulders and casting his Eyes upwards towards Heaven as if he would have said that his disgrace was such that there were none but the Gods that could give him some remedy or consolation After some other discourse Telamon who had in his thoughts no other care than to divert him or at least to mitigate and asswage the grief of his dear Brother proposed them variety of Walks and ingaged them in conclusion to go to the Temple of Jupiter Olympia under pretence of shewing that marvellous piece to Agamée but it was in effect because he called to mind that he had heard Tarsis say the preceding Evening that he should be very well pleased to consult the famous Oracle on the subject of his doubts The Athenian and the Shepherds being of accord in that proposition and concurring which they could easily enough execute by reason of the proximity of the Temple Telamon gave them a Dinner with him lest they should lose too much time in assembling together and having taken their repast early to have more leisure in this pleasant Journey he made them yet call to mind at rising from Table the shortness of the time so that they walked altogether The End of the Fifth and last Book of the first Part. Tarsis and Zelie The Second Part. The First BOOK IN the beginning of the way the loss of Zelie was all the Subject and Argument of their discourse and entertainment For the desolate Tarsis returned without intermission to that discourse although all others used all their efforts and endeavours to divert it However their Conversation by little and little returned to be more pleasant because Ergaste and Celemante were of the Party that they could never be a quarter of an hour together without contesting one against the other and all their disputes always furnished fitted and made ready some kind of Diversion to those who were present Witnesses Ergaste for that time affected even to Jest and Flout Celemante to change the Discourse and to divert Tarsis from the Application he made to his displeasure and seeing that his Friend attempted by very serious Reasons but very unprofitable to bring some Consolation to Tarsis he interrupting said unto him Seest thou Celemante I permit all others to undertake the consolating of one afflicted but thou interposest to speak of affliction and I declare unto thee that I cannot suffer nor brook it Celemante who neither sought nor endeavoured any thing rather than to dispute against Ergaste to divert himself the first omitted not so fair an occasion He turned himself about towards that Shepherd and
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
the Omnipotency of the Gods of the Gods not so reply'd Ergaste since they have created Man and by an alone Breathing they have animated a little Clay they can make the same thing of a Marble But I set a very great difference between that which the Gods do and that which the Gods can The Gods Telagie can do all manner of Miracles But they do it not for that by reason they judge it not to purpose And in fine to tell you my thoughts I esteem that as it would be to do wrong to a Prince and accuse him of imprudence to believe that he were at all times obliged to change his Laws at the Supplication of the meanest of his Subjects and to transgress himself the Laws and Statutes which he hath enacted and established in his own Kingdom so it is to do wrong to the Gods who have established and appointed a fixed dormant unrepealable certain Law in the World and to think that they are at all Moments obliged to change it in doiog Miracles according to the capriciousness of Men who demand it For to do a Miracle is no other than to stray and swarve and wander out of the way if it be permitted so to speak of the course of the Water In truth Ergaste reply'd Agamée it is not necessary to listen to you too long time to discredit our Oracles But I would willingly also that Celemante would tell us his Sentiment In saying this Agamée turned his eyes about to seek him out and not observing him truly continued he smiling I am afraid that Celemante hath suffered himself to be drawn by Timothy and that he be gone to render himself the Victime or Sacrifice Thereupon Ergaste and Arelise began also to perceive that he was not with them and even to remember themselves that they had not seen him since he entred into the Temple for until then they had bin so occupied by means of all that they had seen that they had made no reflection upon his absence so that they were troubled for him without considering the humour of which they knew him they judged well that if he had quitted them it would have bin but better to spend his time elsewhere In effect behold that which was become of him From the moment that Celemante had seen the Shepherds enter into the Temple he stole himself from them without saying a word to go and see a Shepherdess whom he loved although he would not avouch it It is true that he quitted them not but with an intention to return before they went forth of the Temple and that he had no design to miss to act his part as he had done to evacuate and determine before Agamée the contest that he his Sister had had against Ergaste which he had taken the Areopagite to be Judge of But in that hepromised himself a thing whereof one may say that his Humour left him not to be Master of The Shepherdess whom he went to see was named Corys and she was a very fair Person that is not that the Lineaments and Features of her Countenance were the most regular But she was wonderfully fair and white and clear animated with the most amiable Carnation of the World her eyes quick lively and sparkling of little Stature but very upright a marvellous complaisance cheerful Spirit full of Alacrity of a certain kind and manner of living free and disingaged from many Scruples ordinary with Women and Maidens wherein howsoever she lived with much Prudence Wisdom Retention and very staid Her Humour above all returned upon Celemante and also that of hers pleased Celemante exceedingly And therefore if he saw her more frequently than any other she would also more willingly permit him than others Moreover there was great Pleasure to see them together for both the one and the other had publickly declared against Marriage and Love and however there were certain times and seasons that Celemante would very willingly had his liberty for Corys and where Corys had quitted all things for Celemante but neither the one nor the other durst declare themselves by reason that Corys had often said before Celemante that she loved her Liberty even to hate the best of her Friends if he only had but had the thoughts of espousing her as Celemante had also frequently said in her Presence that to make him hate the most amiable and fairest Person in the World it was needful to do no more than to look upon her as his Wife And in effect it was the very thought both of the one and the other then when they so said But Love against which they were so strongly bent and had both an Aversion unto made them very soon repent for in the sentiments wherein they were ingaged they durst not make themselves further known those which they had commenced to have as well for the shame that they had to retract themselves as for that there was not either of both who believed not but that it had bin to be hated by his or her Companion than to testifie that he had a love for her so that in this extremity and exigency where they were reciprocally reduced neither the one nor the other daring to declare their Passion they made out their love by a Stratagem extraordinary enough in pretending and seeming to have none at all and affecting to speak against those that had it This Shepherdess dwelt not in the Hamlet of Telamon But at another which was between that and the Temple Celemante went this way with much diligence and yet notwithstanding found it too long so much he began involuntarily to be disquieted by the motions of an amorous Passion This Molestation was not therefore in him but a certain tickling and flattering delectable Motion of heart which re-animated and revived his Joy without ever giving him the least Sadness and when he entertained himself alone it was not to afflict himself as do the major Part of other Lovers by the consideration of all that which may be vexatious in their Fortune he dream't but of that which might be delightful in that of his Also they never did see alone but that he sang if it was not but that he had some pleasant Thought the entertainment whereof diverted him and as if they take not good heed thereto the desires which are not satisfied have always some thing which stings them he never dream't of those which gave his Love Birth and beginning who in composing some Verses or some Songs on this Subject to make a diversion of the same thing whereof others create themselves a pain and trouble In going therefore to the dwelling of Chorys he entertain'd himself no otherwise but with the Pleasure which he should have by being with this fair Shepherdess instead of bemoaning himself as others possibly had done of the Misfortune he had to Love a Maiden who would not suffer Love and in which he could not hope to have correspondency and the way
the Shepherdesses they went to seek Agamée and him in a certain Place out of the way to finish altogether their Lecture The Sequel of the History of Tarsis and Zelie IT seemeth to me Agamée said Telamon unto him in unfolding of his Role of Papers that we were staid upon these Verses that my Brother wrote me from Athens for answer to those I had sent him from Hippique I declare unto you that they served me as an occasion to manifest his Love to Melicerte and to obtain from that generous Shepherdess the contract I wished for so long time Now Behold diverse Letters that he writ to Melicerte by way of Gratitude when I had signified to him with how much Candour she had listned to me and the favourable hopes she had given me But I stayed not there by reason that all those transports of Love of acknowledgment and Joy have not ordinarily any thing desirable but to those who resent them or who cause them I pass also by the same reason all the other Letters that he writ to Melicerte and to Zelie in a second Voyage which he yet since made to Athens Agamée observing that he so passed by all the Letters without reading them interrupted him to say unto him Permit me Telamon here to condole my self of a Robbery that you would have me make If it be not that in these Letters there be some Secret that all the World must not know For in that case I shall say not any thing more and 't is for that sole reason that I have not presumed to insist this Morning when you past over so many others It is not for that which I have done it reply'd Telamon for there is nothing wherein I would willingly confide in your Discretion But it is that I am perswaded that all the Letters when they are good are not but for those to whom they are addressed if there be not some moral Letters which contain Instructions for manners or those for Persons who have bin in publick Negotiations which teacheth us some important Point of the History Yet the first are no other than the form and name of Letters and they are to take them in the right sence rather short Treatises and Treaties As for all the others one may almost generally say that they are nothing worth when they are good for Strangers For you know that Letters ought not to be but a Picture of a familiar Entertainment accommodated only to the Humor of the Person to whom they are written to the manner that they have to live with and sometimes of little Intreagues and a thousand light Circumstances which are passed amongst those which write and make Letters and those for whom they are framed Now all these things being peculiarly and particularly between them and unknown to Strangers how can they Judge if they are good is it not as if one pretendeth that a Person judgeth well of the goodness and likeness of a Picture without seeing the Original It is not but as in the same Picture and Portrait a Man versed in Painting will not omit to know or acknowledge the delicacy of the Hand of the Limner and sometimes his Genius and Imagination in like manner one cannot judge of the Stile and Wit of him who writes by seeing his Letters but assuredly a Stranger cannot see all the great Beauties That which you say is in such wise true replyed Agamée that I have seen Persons at Athens after having acquired great Reputation by others Works have wrackt themselves by Volumns of Letters which they have given to the Publick although that they were elsewhere People knowing and of great Merit And that is why I cannot sufficiently admire the inimitable Genius of this Callias whose Letters they have given us after his Death and of whose Reputation you are not ignorant but well know You there clearly see that he hath not written but for the Persons to whom they are addressed and in the Interim there is not any who ever he be who takes not an infinite delight in reading them But that hinders not I pray you but let me see those of Tarsis Well done chuse them therefore your self reply'd Telamon I should also be very much hindred to shew them unto you in that order wherein they have bin written It seemeth to me therefore added he Behold the first that ever he writ to Zelie It was afterwards that by my instant requests I had in the end obtain'd the permission for him from Melicerte TARSIS to ZELIE VVOuld you believe my fair Shepherdess that after having had so much pressing to demand the Permission to write to you I found my self perplexed by that wherein hey consented to me It is therefore true that I know not almost how to serve my self I think I have a thousand things to send to you and yet I have found no more in my heart but one alone Yet I know not if you will permit me to entertain you nor if you will read that which you never would understand You ought therefore desire to know it and a thing so rare and perfect that my Love undoubtedly deserves to touch you with some Curiosity From elsewhere my fair Schollar you who are so generous apprehend you not that you are ungrateful towards your Master And are you not afraid to love him less than you ought by reason you know not how much he loves you In reality were it only for Gratitude alone you ought to study to Love well and not neglect a Science which is so necessary to you for the exercising of one of the principal Vertues Also it seemeth to me that in quitting you that all things that could render a Person accomplish't you are most Ignorant of that and it would be a great blemish unto you not to be able to learn under a Master so skilled and knowing in that matter that which all other Companies do learn without a Master I can if you permit me give you hence Lessons I will do no more than propose you the Love I have for you by example Without Vanity I defye the greatest Masters in giving you a more perfect Model than that there and judge of that which ought to succeed well for a little Pains that you should take to imitate it since I propose it to the most perfect and the most spiritual of Schollars Zelie did not make him any answer persisted Telamon but Melicerte had the goodness to write to him frequently and behold that which this wise Shepherdess gave me to inclose in my Packet I saw that Tarsis gave it likewise to Zelie afterwards and that she kept it with her Letters Agamée read there that which followeth A Reply from Melicerte to Tarsis IT is permitted to the Master to write to the Schollar but not to give her Lessons of Love That 's a Science they wish not she should learn so soon she must learn others well before that and I have heard say that they never
know but in confusion those which are shewed before a seasonable Time Adieu Tarsis to the wise Melicerte Health I Cannot believe most sapient and prudent Melicerte that you have permitted me to write to Zelie without permitting me to entertain her my Love When they give any one a Liberty to speak it is apparently to leave him to say that which he thinks and to explicate it in the Language known Are you ignorant that there is a long time expired that I have no other thought than that of my Passion and that I know no other Language than that of Love If you prohibit my explication thereof it were as well to condemn me to remain Dumb or Mute all my Life I very well know that this is a Language that fair Zelie is not versed in and it would be as well and as soon necessary to speak Arabick to her But it 's good to inure her thereunto by little and little gradually as young as she is I am very well assured that they cannot instruct her therein too soon There is no need to press the Spirits to such things wherein they have naturally a Disposition But to correct Nature it 's almost necessary to Commence with her They never tame nor reclaim Bears nor Lyons if it be not done when they are young Apprehend you not Melicerte that Zelie learns with time the Science that I will teach her I am much more afraid that she knows it not soon enough and you will permit me to tell you that that which we have hitherto seen justifies my apprehension more then yours Tarsis to his fair Shepherdess IT 's a great Consolation to me to write unto you but it 's a little cruelty in you to make me never an Answer Think you fair Zelie that is goodness to listen to an unfortunate one without daigning to speak a word to consolate him and is it not rather a badge of insensibility than of Compassion I well conceive your Scruple you believe it would reflect upon your modesty to write to a Shepherd that which possibly you would not refuse to say unto him and that Letters are something more then single words but my Shepherdess it 's necessary to perswade you if you please that words spoken or written are but the same thing to a Lover who is discreet and how indiscreet soever he may be the sole difference that there is that one may abuse words said in changing them but one cannot change the others because they always remain for a Testimony and Evidence of the Truth However it be it belongs not to Persons such as are you that this difference should give any Scruple That would be good for those who are not weaned from the Wisdom nor from the Discretion of their thoughts But what have you to fear my Zelie you who never have bin but to be so modest and so vertuous You should wish your own proper Reputation that all the World knows These shall be so many Lessons of Honour and of Vertue for all your Sex and of the Humor whereof I know you I am assured that there will never be but ours which shall not be able to profit Tarsis to the amiable Zelie ALthough they assure me of your Health I cannot learn it without fear but that you have bin sick and I am out of my self to think only of the peril and danger that you have run They say that there is nothing so couragious as Love and that when that animates us there are no dangers which it makes us not to despise and scorn But I know not where they that say so have taken it As for me I find nothing so Timerous How would he give me courage in sight of danger who makes me tremble at the remembrance thereof Reassure me by your good Favour my Shepherdess and deliver me from a mortal Fear The thing shall not be difficult unto you there needs but four words from your hand to render me the most hardy the most bold and the most contented of Men. Behold interrupted Telamon a Ticket that Zelie sent him for reply that is therefore but a Coppy which she kept as you will see in the foot of the Letter Admire the Circumspection of this Shepherdess She would not hazard a word written to a Man who loved her without retaining as much to have always wherewith to justifie her self from all the Steps Paces and Postures of her Conduct ZELIE to TARSIS MElicerte orders me to write you that I am in a better State in point of Health and that my indisposition did not deserve the Inquietudes which it gave you I would not dare to say more to you for you have asked from me but four words and you already see that I have already passed much beyond the Bounds which you have prescribed me Adieu Tarsis to his adorable Shepherdess I Avow my Shepherdess that you have more of generosity than I boldness I durst not presume to demand more than four Words and you have written me four Lines but you must withal confess also that you have much less Affection than I have I could not write you a word without speaking to you of my Love and you write me four Lines and there is not one word of Friendship You would even be very angry that I should believe that you writ to me through Affection you would have me know that it is not but by order of Melicerte Well done Zelie It is needful to be innured to your Scruples I will well owe all my good fortune to Melicerte but diminish not before your self the Obligation that I will have to her and that I owe her much be not so retentive in rendring me some Signals of your Friendship and Amity The afflicted Tarsis to his Divine Shepherdess THey now tell me news that makes me desperate the Judgment of the affair of Alcidias is suspended for a Month and in a State wherein he prohibits me to abandon it I avow to you my Shepherdess I believe not but that I shall dye all the force of my Soul is worn out and spent by the long time I have wasted here and I shall have never enough to make more resistance against my Grief It 's true on the other hand that the hope of the revisiting the fair Zelie should reanimate the courage of the most amated Ah! If it must be so that yet another time I shall revisit her in these divine Moments so worthy of my Faith I reply you not any more for my self Great Gods through the excess of my Joy and amongst these Transports so charming and so sweet I know not if I shall be able to believe that my Honour is yet less than your Glory and that I am in greatness inferior nor less happy than you Agamée yet willing to retake others Telamon withholding him said smiling Ah! in very deed Agamée he goes there by your Compassion not to retain poor Tarsis a longer time at Athens by the
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
Tarsis replyed she unto him I will hope that the Aversion of Leucippe will change and I could wish that we would hope it together What replyed Tarsis you replace me therefore yet in the change of Leucippe and I shall always be unhappy if he changeth not Tarsis continued she if 't is requisite for us as you said before to be happy there needs but Fidelity and Constancy you shall so find me as long as I live But it concerns me not more to answer you to any thing if you demand of me that which depends not but upon Leucippe As she finished Leucippe entred into the Chamber and surprizing them both there one near to the other though in the presence of Melicerte he could not refrain to signifie Displeasure and passed into the Garden not uttering nor speaking one word to Melicerte This Wise and Vertuous Woman as I have said dreading nothing more in the whole World than to anger him went there all disquieted after him with her Daughter and I admired a thousand times the address the sweetness the complaisance wherewith she essayed to repair restore and revive his Spirits In the mean time Tarsis had in his Soul many more regrets and anxieties than I can depaint and principally when he dreamed that his love having sparkled forth he would always be rendred suspect to Leucippe and deprived of that sweet liberty he had before to live near to Zelie in the familiarity of a Brother and that consequently he should loose his very principal Consolation 'T is not that Leucippe did not continue to see him with a very good eye in the House for as he knew by means of Melicerte and acknowledged a great Friendship for Tarsis he had always for her that Complaisance to receive him civilly into his House But he would no more permit him to have any Conversation with Zelie imagining it was that which entertained their Affection and thinking to repulse them by little and little by this Constraint A great errour not to know that Love is a Fire whose Heat is the more redoubled by it's being held shut up and 't is a Torrent which doth no other than swell greater by the Obstacles that one opposeth it It is true Leucippe knew not that their Love was yet formed or well knit and he believed it to be but only Friendship as yet In such sort that to hinder them to pass further he observed them with so much exactness that Tarsis suffered infinitely for to please him he abstained not only to speak to Zelie but it must be so that he hindered him to look upon her unless it were with a kind of indifferency and was constrained that for keeping his Court with Leucippe he must also almost testifie an Aversion against his Daughter In such wise that before Leucippe the two Persons of the World which loved most one another to be in a Chamber without speaking without approaching yea even without looking one upon another if their Amity did not sometimes steal a look unprevented by the Father but I more bewail Zelie than Tarsis by reason that in this vexatious Constraint it was necessary that she should pretend Liberty and Joy when Tarsis went and passed a long time without sight of her That was the time that she must manifest more of Merriment for that was the time when she was most observed and the least sadness she had missed not but to be imputed to her Affection It is true she had a marvellous command over her Spirit and Wit and she did so well counterfeit sometimes her Indifferency that Tarsis himself was sometimes thereby deceived and she would make him reproaches Now I have told you a part of all this to give you some sight and understanding of this Elegie that Tarsis made on the Subject of this Constraint Bewail a little my Lot adorable Zelie give some Sighs to the misfortune of my Life and refuse not the dolorous Complaints of a Lover that which the least Evils easily obtain you know the rigours of my sad Fortune I demand not but that they may be to you common can you be happy and I alone unfortunate I will only have all the Ills but let 's both bewail them The Heavens which made you to be born in such an adorable State made you not so to be miserable you would have had much less Grace which gives not so much of it to those whom it loves not but if it have not made you to be miserable it was not also to be unpitiful if it mixeth Tears in your eyes it hath so many inticements Ah! it was to weep over the Evils that they have done they have done all mine beloved Zelie I should not have had without them such bitterness of Life they would see me in Tranquility and Free even to the last Point and I should be happy for I should not love But what do I say Ah! Zelie excuse this Blasphemy if there be any one happy it 's he whom you Love and since your eyes have deigned to charm me I should be too happy if I durst love you it 's not my Love whereof I have cause or place to complain I complain much rather because they would extinguish it and that an obstinate Father will not permit me your heavenly Presence liberally to adore in all places he spies me and without Intermission he takes notice of me or if I accoast you or look upon you one cast alone towards you is scarcely permitted me if it be not one of those given to an Enemy or Enemies What Torments great Gods what difficult Constraints to be seen reduced to these cruel Pretences and that uneasily great Passions can subject themselves to so many Afflictions Alas must a legitimate fervour lie conceal'd in the same Method that one would conceal a Crime must a Man see himself so reduced to betray himself and to love so much and yet pretend to hate I am not more able to do it Zelie and my Soul is constrain'd this day to finish this mortal Dissimulation my Love goes to appear and I go to discover it Zelie they go to see and I go to dye Tarsis had taken a time when Leucippe was gone to fetch a Walk to present the foregoing Lines to Melicerte and Zelie and the Mother gave them her Daughter to read when the Rain unawares drove in Leucippe and he found them in the Hands of the young Shepherdess She was presently much surprized and would rashly have hid them but even that put an edge to the desire of Leucippe to see what it was and I cannot tell you what complaints he made not to Melicerte when he knew it Tarsis and Zelie for a very long time in this mournful manner led their Life but in fine the Friendship of Leucippe for Melicerte carried him away by her Policy so that by the generosity of this incomparable Mother whom we seconded Philiste and my self by all our cares Tarsis saw himself at the Even
of his good Fortune after which he had sighed after so many years I will not stay here to mark you out his Joy nor his Transports to the change of so desirable a Fortune for as you your self have very much loved you should better be able to conceive these things I will only read you these Lines he made in that time of his Patience to press Leucippe to conclude this Marriage He made them in form of a Request and very much after the method of those that he had seen when they served the Senate at Athens whilst he was there solliciting the litigious Suit of my Father A poor and unfortunate Lover humbly remonstrates and makes request saying that the same days Journey that his eldest Son by Hymeneé entred your House the younger was clapt in Prison The unfortunate one without Defiance and under the fidelity of an Alliance came to the Solemnity of a Marriage contracted and for this Ceremony he led the Company made the Sports the laughter the chearfulness the youth the liberty the pleasures and the indifferency and amongst the joy and delight the Imprudent took no heed to the Snares and Ginns that they prepared for him When Love learnt the mystery and Hymen that had done it without having bin contracted in this Divinity the whole Destiny having conducted wholly this sacred Himenée Then he became furious Fire sprang up in his eyes through despight he poured forth Tears and arming himself with all his Weapons he ran nimbly and lightly and protested to avenge himself and in his irredoubtable Fury without discerning the Guilty for a Sacrifice offered up himself The first he met withal Alas I was that miserable One. Immediately with a thousand or rather a hundred Darts he over-whelmed me He emptyed his Quiver but I therefore resisted him when I perceived my self that Zelie was of that Party also and perfidiously sent him the last Dart that he cast at me This Arrow done to satisfie him that which his own were not able to do for immediately I was felled down and even at the same Instant wholly overcome and soon without Compassion he loosned the string from his Bow and with a thousand inhumane Knots binding my hands and Feet delivered me as a Reward into those of the Shepherdess who a hundred other blows gave me and wickedly imprisoned me but in a Prison so strong that it 's not possible for me to get out and that her self could not thence draw me though she would for this Tragical Adventure was wholly done by Magick Art and you only have a Right to undo the Enchantment This therefore considered my Judge my Redeemer Refuge attended that being innocent and for a long time languishing it is not for your Justice to prolong my Torment By your gracious Favour let it be appointed that rest may forthwith even immediately be given me and that for to make recompence and reparation for my Pain within three days at most the inhumane One for a punishment may be committed to my Discretion to order a Correction in effecting which you will execute Justice Telamon having finished the reading of this Paper the Areopagite took it out of his Hand and as it was in some respect one certain piece of his Occupation he took Pleasure to read it over again Leucippe also found it very much to his satisfaction Telamon continued the Sequel and he was pleased to sign it with his own Name So you see that this Marriage was wholly resolved on But admire the misfortune of poor Tarsis for the succeeding day Leucippe fell Sick I know not whether it was through a purely natural Indisposition or by the Vexation that his litigious Suit had given him or by the Efforts and Endeavours that he had made upon his Spirits to overcome himself on this Marriage But so it was that a high Feaver seized him with such Malignity that in less than eight days he raved and talked idly There Desolation came and took place instead of the Joy that prepared it self Behold the prudent Melicerte who passionately loved him grieved excessively and Zelie in an Affliction inconsolable For besides the Love she had for her Father as Melicerte loved her Husband that is to say infinitely Besides the Obstacle that she saw in the success of her Affection that is that Leucippe perpetuallly named them she her self and Tarsis in his raving Fits That was not strange by reason that being fallen Sick at the time that he had the Marriage in his mind the fresh Impression and Smack thereof might make him naturally speak more of that than of any other thing even as those who rave rage ordinarily dream of the Thoughts wherein they were when they fell asleep In the interim Zelie by a scruple of Friendship and Tenderness for her Father went and put it into her Mind that she undoubtedly was the cause of his Disease and that possibly she should be the cause of his Death Behold her therefore in so great grief and trouble of Mind that she also fell Sick her self with Affliction and almost even to Extremity I will not however declare the Complaints and Moans and Alarms of poor Tarsis nor yet speak of the care and good Offices that he rendred her during her Illness She was fortunately restored and revived before Leucippe But however I know not if I ought to say Fortunately for it was not but with a Resolution undoubtedly worthy of a high Vertue but which cost poor Tarsis exceeding dear Leucippe yet continued Sick but however a little better when Melicerte whose Cares Toyls Troubles and Afflictions that she had had through the indisposition of her Husband was reduced to the necessity to think of her self she came to walk on the bank of the River to take the benefit of the Air and exercise her self a little I gave her my Hand on one side she with the other hold Philiste by the Arm and my Brother aided the fair Zelie in walking holding her by one Arm and she held in the other Hand her Crook leaning on it her weakness by her late Indisposition constraining her to follow softly after us not being able to go faster During the time of the Walk Tarsis told me that he found her speak Idly and Fantastically so that he understood not what she meant or said and through the disquietude he had by reason thereof he frequently asked her if her Disease reseized her At length after much pressing he saw her betake her self to Weeping Tarsis yet more alarmed impatiently asked her what she ailed and seeing the first Instances served to no purpose he conjured her by her Love and by all he knew might have most influence on her to declare to him the cause of her Trouble At length Zelie having discharged her Stomach of the Hickhocks or Yexing which hindred her Voice and seeing us so far as not to to be able to hear her resolved to speak to her thus Alas Tarsis you press me to tell
he could not compass his end by force he knew the means how to succeed by forcery Although Leucippe took all that as from a Fool however he was alarmed and sometimes was unwilling to suffer Zelie to go forth lest she should be exposed to some affront Melicerte had written a Letter full of Wit and Jestingly to Tarsis who then was absent That Letter amongst others mentioned that after his departure Zelie could not go forth any more that there was come a Knight a Magician to Callioure who had held her in an enchanted Prison and that he had besought him to consult some Oracle or some other Magician to know how they might be able to take off the Inchantment Tarsis had answered to this jesting by another in verse that he had addressed to Zelie and in conclusion it was therein mentioned that Tarsis was upon the point of his return in effect and sent her word he would soon come to deliver her Melicerte having found these Lines sufficiently pertinent had caused them to be seen amongst some of her Friends and there had run Copies one whereof had fallen into the Hands of Marcel Zelie having therefore disappeared afterwards as we have said This Vision Fantasy or Apparition put it into his mind that it was Tarsis who had carried her away and it was that wherewith he vaunted and boasted in his Verses So that in this ridiculous imagination he came to seek him to quarrel with him when in passing by this Wood he had met Agamée Immediately Marcel who knew that this Wood was not far from the dwelling of Telamon and that Tarsis came there frequently enough to walk was not near approached to Agamée but to see athwart the Arbour if it was not that Shepherd and although that being near he had very well observed it was not he however finding the Table-Book in his Hand he omitted not through Extravagancy to snatch it away and then to fly as we have said But afterwards having rested and stayed to read that which was therein he there saw these Lines of Tarsis the Copy whereof Agamée had taken as we have said before and having found them so passionate for Zelie and made in the name of Tarsis in a place convenient and beseeming the very Solitude where he met this Athenian his Folly had in a moment caused it to come and mount up in his Brain that Agamée was Tarsis and was come from composing these Verses for Zelie but having perceived him fear had obliged him to conceal himself under another Visage as he had read another time among the Poets that the same had hap'ned to some certain Ones Behold therefore the reason why he was returned so furiously to him and he had presented him the Paper whereof we have spoken to let him know the Verses for it contained nothing but the Reply of Tarsis to this enchanted Prisoner whereof Melicerte had written to him and indeed Agamée having thereon cast his eyes he there read these Words A Stanza to Zelie I Have bin advertised fair Shepherdess that by a casual Lottery a predestinated Knight keeps you a Prisoner at your home and that when you thought to depart you could not go out but by a strange Adventure you who made your self to be feared you now this day fear your self and that your Prison avengeth me for that wherein you held me that a Soul a little vindicative should receive the Consolation to learn in his true feeling and sensible Apprehension the disgrace which happens unto you have I not a little Amity and Friendship to be able to be without Pitty I would insult over your Pains I would laugh at your Bonds and all your inhumane Evils as you have done at mine There were also diverse Lines afterwards but as Agameé saw he understood nothing because he was ignorant of the Labyrinth and Intrigue they did nothing but consider the extravagancy of this Man so that being unwilling to maintain Conversation with an unknown One whereof he had this Opinion he rendred them to him coldly after having only read these two Lines and in rendring them to him he said unto him very well and demanded of him his Table Book How well perfidious Tarsis cryed the other Thou callest to me to deliver Zelie then chargest me to have carried her away Render render me Zelie and in saying these words he seized him by the arm rudely enough Agamée did but smile and as he knew that it was requisite to treat some sort of People with gentleness as he saw in what state he was he took him only by the Hand with the other he had laid hold on him that he might release his hold in saying unto him you take me for Tarsis nor am I Tarsis nor do I pretend to be the deliverer of Zelie and I have never yet seen her Thou dissemblest in vain that which thy Table Book makes me learn replyed Marcel and thou unprofitably attemptest thou cowardly and treacherous Ravisher to conceal thy self under a false Visage and under grey Hairs As if I had not learnt in a very good Author that Vlysses had formerly done so much to disguise himself from his Wife or Son either thou must presently dye or thou shalt render me Zelie In saying this he would have put his hand to his Sword But Agamée leapt upon him to take it away and endeavouring still to disabuse him that wherewith you reproach me said he unto him is impossible for a Man Know you not since you have read Homer that it was not Vlysses who had disguised himself so and that he was not changed but by the Power of Minerva Ah Traytor Tarsis cryed he even this furious One again thou art not unprovided of the Gods who also take care of thee Love that thou sayest in thy Verses to be the deliverer of Zelie hath well made other Metamorphoses and he knows much more of all that Fact there than Minerva Render me Zelie I say unto thee or render me my Sword that I may kill thee Agamée who in the Interim had disarmed him reylyed to him As for Zelie I have already told thee that I know not where she is and as for thy Sword I promise to give it thee at thy home when thou shalt be there retired The great Noise they made had drawn to that place some Shepherds and some Shepherdesses who kept their Flocks there hard by The Spiritual Ergaste and the chuffy Celemante were there amongst others with Arelise They all three were much astonished to find two men laying hold one of another with a drawn Sword The two Shepherds approacht to separate them when Agamée who being seized with the Sword and disintangled out of the hands of this furious One he knew both the one and the other Ergaste and Celemante betook themselves to laugh at this pleasant difference when they saw them conclude without appearance of Evil and much rather when they knew how it was caused but to disingage
themselves from Marcel they assured him that Agamée was not Tarsis and having appeased him and well informing him of the Truth they sent him away with his Sword The first thing that he did was to seek that Tree where Agamée had told him he had taken a duplicate of the Verses and having found it he there gave it a hundred stroaks with the edge of his Sword to break away the Bark and the Writing afterwards he treated in the same manner all those where he perceived the name of Tarsis On the other side Arelise Ergaste and Celemante having separated themselves from other Shepherds discovered the Riddle to Agamée they told him who Marcel was and the History of his Love which was known all over Tempé It was Ergaste who made the Relation and Celemante resuming the discourse afterwards added Well said Agamée see if one can too much hate Love which makes Fools so importunate and foolishly furious and if I had not yesterday much more reason to condemn it than had Ergaste to uphold it Ergaste say I whom we shall undoubtedly one day see even as Marcel Speak no more Celemante answered Agamée you have lost your cause since you durst not appear yesterday at the Assignation Sincere and upright Agamée replyed Celemante you are too just and equitable to condemn a Man without hearing him and I am assured that you are not accustomed nor used so to do at or in Areopage But replyed Agamée How can one understand a Man that flyes It 's true that I absented my self yesterday replyed Celemante But you go to see that it was not but to think upon my defence If I had not written this turbulent Ergaste would never have given me the Patience to explicate it unto you But hold Agamée see now if my cause be not the best I had taken with me the Paper with a design to carry it to you this day At these words he gave him the same writing which he had done the preceeding day Agamée saw that there was this Title A Manifesto of Celemante against Ergaste Ho! Ho! cryed Ergaste after he had also read it I well see that it 's a great War that thou wagest and denouncest against me because thou must have Manifesto's and notorious Evidences Doubt it not replyed Celemante I pretend to arm all Greece against thee and Agamée shall judge if I have not as much ground and subject as Menelaus formerly had to lead him to the Siege of Troy since thou hast robbed me of a Mistress Ergaste who mistrusted what he would say betook himself to smile and replyed to him In truth Celemante I take thee even thy self to be also as very a Fool as Marcel and I put no difference thereunto unless that thou art a pleasant Fool and he is a melancholly One. They will not believe you Ergaste replyed Agamée smiling also let us see his Reasons But it seemeth to me that it would be proper and to purpose that we were sate for the Manifesto is a little long and the Affair well merits to be examined leisurely I would only that Telamon and Tarsis were here to declare also their Advice because they were present at the breaking out of the difference Arelise who yet knew not any thing no more than the others of the tragical Adventures of Tarsis said it would be worth the while and she should be glad to have them called because the Lodging of Telamon was near and that the Wood and the Meadow which they saw on the other side appertained to him and Agamée condemned Celemante to take the Pains because that to justifie him they assembled In the Interim for reposing himself they went to sit with Arelise on the other side of the Wood on the edge of the plain where their Flocks were and they shewed him the certain place where they would expect him Although that Celemante had promised to return immediately However after he was departed impatience took them to see the Writing that he had given to Agamée and they were well pleased to read it in his absence to speak their Sentiments with the more Liberty They had no sooner sate down but they saw Choris pass by who sang and who sporting with her Crook went to see Arelise Arelise who mistrusted it called her and Agamée was ravished to know her having understood that she was the good Friend of Celemante they easily engaged to sit down with them and to hear the reading of the Paper Celemante had left them Agamée having opened it read there that which follows The Manifesto of Celemante THe bloody War which Celemante declareth and denounceth against the unfaithful Ergaste desire that all Posterity which shall understand it may also know the causes of their Rupture and that they remit not to the Judgment of one single Age the Decision of a thing so Important Celemante studied at Athens in the Gardens of the great Epicurus and from the very first year he was rendred more skilful than his Master For he extreamly loved Pleasure exceedingly hated Grief and Dolour sought but to give himself over to past time and would consider of things no farther than they could contribute to his Joy He lived exempt from all inquietudes and passions not establishing soveraign Felicity but in the Health of the Body and Mind and he was possessed of both the one and the other when perfidious Ergaste made a Conspiracy against his Rest and Repose that 's to say that he undertook to make him his Friend It is difficult to imagine for what Reasons for there was little Sympathy betwixt them Celemante was more peaceable and more sweet and gentle than a sucking Lamb A great Lyon is not more furious nor full of rage and Choller than Ergaste However this Ergaste proposed to the other to band Friendship and Amity together and Celemante replyed to him in this manner Ergaste I esteem thee I love thee and I will serve thee with Pleasure sooner than any whomsoever on all occasions wherein I am capable to do it If it be that thou callest Friendship unprofitably thou proposest to me to make any for that is already all on my side made and thou hast no other than to use even the self same on thine but if it be something more I counsel thee not to demand or ask it from me for I would not answer thee Hast thou no shame replyed Ergaste already almost in a rage to be ignorant what belongs to Amity and Friendship and not to know the first and the most amiable Vertue of Civil Society I would through Charity draw thee out of thy Ignorance Know Celemante that Friendship first and principally requires that we prefer our Friend to our selves Continue and remain there Ergaste immediately interrupted Celemante for I tell thee that if I would make a Friend I would make him by reason of my own self and not doing it but because of my self I shall always love my self more than he I have
came to rejoyce with him as if it had been some Great Happiness he Vaunted himself to him that this Breach was the Production of their Friendship and would have made it pass for an Obligation so sensibly that Celemante was therefore Indebted to him See said he see Celemante to what point I desire we be Eternally Friends I never had a passion for Cillesie and in the mean time I have been able to constrain my self even to pretend Love for her and yet to subject my self to all those small trifling things by which one gains the heart of these sorts of Maidens for to make thee sensible of thy Error I would have thee see the wrong thou doest thy self to Abandon a Faithful Friend for an Unconstant Mistress and the difference that there is between a Sollid and Vertuous Friendship and a Foolish and Unruly Passion Go Ergaste Go Rejoyned him Celemante Animated with to much Just Anger you your self are the most unfaithful of all men you are not only contented to betray the pleasant and merry heart of your Friend but you have done it to betray him yet for or by Cillesie and not content with your own proper Perfidy you have Inspired it into his Mistress You should yet be more excusable if you had been in Love as you said it and one could pardon all the Imprudence that I have seen to be willing to engage you therein and at the Violence of a Passion which primarily Tyrannizeth over us then when it constrains us to do evil to others but to be there carryed there well tempered setled with sober and sollid Reason by a Premeditated Disign by pure Malicious Envy to betray me 't is a Detestable piece of Perfidy 't is an Ambush prepared with a set purpose to intrap ensnare and deceive wittingly and willingly it is that which cannot find pardon among the Gods nor excuse amongst men I have two things to reply unto thee thereon and to subdivide rejoyned him Ergaste smiling First Celemante I avouch unto thee that there are certain sorts of Love whic hought to be Inviolable and as we so say Sacred between Friends but thou must not believe that of all On the contrary there are others where not only it is permitted us but wherein it is our duty to deceive them We owe them Fidelity in all just and honest Love but in debauched Love know that the Complaisance of a Friend is Criminal and his Infidelity is Officious Dutiful Serviceable Diligent Courteous and Friendly In the second place I ask thee if thou didst not pray me and engage thy self in despight of me to try and prove the Fidelity of Cillesie and if thou didst not even as good as compel and force me thereunto in fine if thou hast not an Obligation to me to disabuse thee in an error that would have made thee Sacrifice all to an unconstant Mistress He added a thousand ill reasons more in similitude like to those there but Celemante had too much power to be overcome thereby and his Liberty Captivated so long a time reclaimed too highly against the Tyranny of Love and Friendship He protested therefore both to Renounce the one and the other to have no more Love then is necessary for the pleasure of life nor of friendship but what is requisite for Civil Society He denounced and declared a Mortal War against the other Love and the other Friendship whereof are made so many Passions and Tyranies and above all against the Perfidious Ergaste who had given him so much Torment from the one and the other So finished the writing of Celemante and when they had ended the Lecture they testifyed to have found it altogether Delightful Another then cryes who had as much right as he to pretend kindness to this Shepherd had not possibly bin able to refrain having a little Jealousy of this first and principal affection or a few Alarms from the Resolution that she there had made him take to have no more but what disposition soever she had to receive his friendship she had none to have any Jealousy and yet less cause to be angry if Celemante had not loved her contrary in that to Arelise because Arelise would not that Argaste should have any Love for her and yet she was Jealous she had it for others and would possibly been angry if he had less Loved thereon Chorys would willingly in her heart that Celemante might Love her but she had seen him indifferent for her without despight and Amourous of others without Jealousy After they had all testifyed the pleasure they had received in the reading of this Lecture Ergaste amongst others reassumed Speech thus well said Agamée must not there patience be had to listen so peaceably as I have done a great Volumne that Celemante hath compiled against me and more must be to shew you that I am not so prompt and ready as he hath rendred me it is true replyed Agamée that I would very much commend your Moderation without being hindred by any thing What then replied Ergaste Divine said Agamée unto him I know not how to Divine replied Ergaste if it be not so that this writing hath perswaded you against me and that you could not resolve your self to praise a man of whom one hath told you so much evil So much it must be replied Agamée it is that I find that Celemante hath written for you and I would Condemn him upon his own proper Plea not to have known to Correspond with a Friendship so tender and so perfect as yours And I said Arelise I condemn them both Celemante to be engaged so forward in so foolish a Passion and Ergaste to be served of a remedy so dishonest to withdraw him The one not to have avowed his weakness to his Friend the other to have dissembled and feigned to be of his side to deceive and cheat his own the one of having been so Liberal in his Love the other to have been too Imperious in his Friendship and to have been willing to have exercised a kind of small Tyranny Ergaste saw well that Arelise said not this without design by reason she had frequently enough made the same Complaint of him This Shepherd being deeply in Love with Arelise and willing with too great Imperiousness it seemed him would prevaile upon the Friendship which she had for him to oblige her to correspond with his Passion A little even before having met Agamée they came yet to have another management on this subject and Ergaste Prompt and Ready as he was went not out without some sort of anger So that when he heard Arelise who Condemned him he replyed her in Smiling at the truth but however with some kind of Despight Sheepherdess you are not of my Judges wherefore find it good that I tell you that I neither will be Absolved nor Condemned by your Mouth How what Said afterwards Coris shall no Person speak here for this Poor Celemante truly if I were of
his Judges I know what would be for him not that I find he hath reason but it makes me pitty him that he is so Abandoned of all the World Arelise who well saw that Ergaste was angry and to whom that would cause trouble and pain through the kindness she had for him the time was not long but she sought to be reconciled to him and to that effect Resuming Speech and Addressing her self to Agamée our Judge said she unto him you shall not be quitted of so good a proceeding you have Judged but of half the Difference and if Ergaste hath gained his Process against Celemante I pretend that he will loose it against me I give it you gained already replyed Ergaste afterwards turning towards Coris I dream no more to gain mine but near by this Amiable Shepherdess He spake this very far fom his thought but as he was angry with Arelise because she would not Correspond with his Love and that he knew how much even in her Friendship she was Naturally Susceptable Capable and prone to Jealousie he was well pleased to yeild to her in making shew of being Amorous of Coris and to punish her there for the Evil she had done him or rather he was glad to excite and kindle some spark in her Heart well knowing that there is nothing more proper to kindle Fire than is Jealousie It was therefore for that reason that he would pretend to Love Coris This Shepherdess who knew well the Humor of the one and the other immediately apprehended the design of Ergaste and as she was naturally merry and given to jesting and would not therefore give occasion of offence in the Company she took a delight to endeavour to entangle the Shepherd but he had a Vivacity wherein he disintricated himself pleasantly amongst all This Shepherd having therefore said unto her that he dreamed of nothing more against her he replyed him what Ergaste you would gain a process against me Ah! I pretend not that we have it together You will therefore accord with me in that which I demand of you said Ergaste if it be otherwise I am firmly resolved to make you one Ha! what can you demand of me answered she him Your Heart replyed Ergaste for mine wherewith I will make you a present for yours replyed Coris I would therefore demand of you my self that which you formerly demanded Celemante if you have many Hearts for you have given him one another to Arelise I must therefore have the third It is true added Ergaste that I had given it to Celemante but you have seen that he hath rendered himself Unworthy Arelise to whom I had made a Present afterwards hath deserved as her Brother to loose it behold therefore that I can now dispose thereof But before it be accepted of replyed Coris if it be they that have rendred it to you For I do not see that Arelise accords and I would not have the Wealth of another Whatever design Arelise had to reconcile her self to Ergaste this discourse changed in a moment the entire situation of his Mind and this natural propensity that she had to Jealousie having produced it 's ordinary effect they saw in an instant that pleasant and merry Air with which she recommenced the dispute turned into a serious Tone whereupon she reply'd to Coris I declare you I pretend nothing at all to the Heart of Ergaste Well done Coris added readily the Shepherd glad to see the success of his feigning to second his Intentions you see that the one and the other are agreed and of one accord for as Arelise declares that she pretends nothing thereunto you have seen also that Celemante hath rendred it me too It 's true replyed Coris But will you that I tell you Ergaste a heart that they so willingly render you begins to make me become suspect And since to tell you the Truth I am a little vain-glorious and I will not have what others have rejected Hah say not so Coris cryed Ergaste for I go to demonstrate you that if I give you it at the present it 's a Sign and Token that I esteem of you more than I do them I apprehend not how Coris It is replyed Ergaste that having bin deceived twice by them it 's requisite I esteem you infinitely for having confided in you for a third But added Agamée laughing the question is if Arelise hath deceived you But continued he afterwards more seriously I think that before it be decided it would be good to see if nothing be hapned to Celemante for it seems to me that he is long in returning since you said the House of Telamon is so near It is true he might have bin gone and returned twice persisted Ergaste who also began to be in trouble for his Friend and I know not what could have detained him if it be not that he hath yet again sported us with a turn as he yesterday did after dinner In saying this they perceived this Shepherd who returned with a Countenance so far from that Jocundity and Pleasantness wherewith his had always bin accustomed to be animated that they could scarcely believe he was Celemante However Ergaste not imputing this seriousness but to some fantastical Humor which occupied him cryed out unto him at that distance whence he perceived him Ho! ho Celemante darest thou appear before me after the outrage thou hast committed against me by thy Writing Truly I believed that the fear of approaching me had after that detained thee But I imagined myself also continued he that Repentance hath surprised thee and 't is for that reason so serious and almost afflicted Ah my poor Ergaste replyed Celemante in approaching still towards them I avow you I would have bin willing to dispence my return rather than to bring you such ill Tidings Poor Tarsis is much wounded and I know not whether there may be any reasonable Hopes of Life These words caused an incredible surprise and displeasure not only of Ergaste but also of Agamée and the two Shepherdesses who understood them and as they all had a kindness and an extraordinary esteem of Tarsis it cannot be expressed how they appeared allarmed they approached to Celemante asking him mournfully how this distaster hapned Celemante related it them with the manner how he had learnt it from the Mouth of Telamon and declared to them that was the cause that detained him After bewailing this Accident as a Calamity which was common to them all in general and the most sensible they all resolved to go to the dwelling of Telamon Ergaste and Agamée to testifie him their resentment and the two Shepherdesses to consolate Philiste Tarsis and Zelie The Second Part. The Fourth BOOK IN The Interim the news of this sad Accident being spread over all the Valley of Tempe every one came from all Coasts to know it by Retail Leucippe and Melicerte omitted not to send there They permitted not any Person to speak to him lest that any
yielded her Place and Precedency by Civility so that the Shepherdess replyed thus That which you speak Ergaste is Gallant and Comely but however I do not well understand how you compare Love with War since that contrarily Love in my apprehension tends not but to Peace and Union of hearts And War Amiable Celiane replyed Ergaste tends it to any other thing than Peace Celiane not answering any thing Celemante took up the Cudgels for her and said no Ergaste not so Wars arise from the Disunion of Heart and thou wilt avow me that Love Ariseth and Springeth from Union and Correspondency That is that in which thou deceivest and cheatest thy self replyed Ergaste Love as well as War Springs yet from Disunion of Minds and Spirits and Tempers At this Discourse Celemante betook himself to laugh and turning himself to look after Philemon said Philemon behold here is news for you for what shall we be assured of in the world hereafter if Ergaste goes to make proof unto us as he saith that Love Springs from Divsunion of Hearts and Minds that is not very difficult replyed Ergaste Is it not true that Love is no other then a desire now all Desire comes from the absence of a good we wish and as we may say from its Disunion with us for if we were United in the thing we Desire we should surcease wishing for it being impossible to Desire that which we are in possession of already and with which we are United therefore thou must necessarily Avow me that Love being a Desire and Desire Springing from Disunion Love Springs likewise from the same Celemante would have replyed but Agamée Interrupted him thus I believe Ergaste that you would say as our Poets that the Man and the Woman were not formerly but one and the same person which were Disunited and Separated in two halves and to hold upon this Foundation that since that time one half dreams of nothing else nor seeks to Unite themselves as do the Parts of a Serpent cut in two prices so that when a Man loves a Woman or that a Woman loves a Man it is that they have both refound the half whereof from they had been Disunited Celemante having commended the thoughts of Agamée replyed him if that which you say should be true Agamée it would still be true that Love did Spring from Union and not from Disunion as Ergaste said For this Inclination of two halves to resemble themselves would not come to pass but from that which other whiles they would have been United But also it is certain that Ergaste Dreams not nor Conceives nor Apprehends what he says and that if the Spirits should not Unite before they Loved one another they should never be capable of Affection Hast thou sometimes taken Notice Ergaste of this Fatal Moment which giveth Birth to Love hast thou observed that which passeth in this first Interview of a Shepherd well shaped who meets with a Fair and Amiable Shepherdess I know well that they frequently long will look upon one another before they will joyn in Love and that other times they will never Love and that even many times they will conceive an Aversion one for another but also you will sometimes see that their Eyes are no sooner met then they feel themselves Inseparately tied one to another and so Love one another That is certain said Ergâ—ste but what conclusion doest thou draw or infer from thence that Love replyed Celemante never Springs but from Union of hearts My Poor Friend replyed Ergaste I see not but that returns too much to that which thou wilt shew us more then thou believest said Celemante For these different effects from the first interview come from this that Certain Spirits which commonly go out of us as the Beams go out of the Sun mingle themselves in a Moment one with another almost after the same manner as thou seest the Atomes and Motes fly from the Air. And as thou seest yet these same Motes to meet one another to knock one another to recoil sometimes one upon another sometimes to pass beyond and not to touch one another and sometimes to grasp one another together it arrives in the self same manner in the Medly and Mixture of Spirits sometimes they are long before they fix together and Unite together Whence it comes that it is a long time before they love one another other times in meeting they knock and justle one another and thence comes the Aversion sometimes they pass further without touching one another and from thence Springs the Indifferency But also sometimes they do no sooner touch they graple one another as one may say and they Unite together and 't is thence that this suddain Love ariseth which takes Birth at the very first Interview So thou seest that Union is always the Sole and True Cause of Love O Celemante cryed Coris all that is unknown to us think you that we know what is of the Spirits and what they are and that we can Imagine how it is possible that the Spirits Unite and as you say graple one another Dear Coris replyed he concieve you how that happens in the Body undoubtedly replyed Coris and I think that there needs not much skill to apprehend how a thing which is grapled and clasped is fixed to another thing in the like manner how a clasp or hasp holds to a Buckle how a Stone remains in the Iron Head of my Crook which is hollow nor how in fine how a Body which hath a Figure is fixed to another which likewise hath a Figure and Frame which is proper to it But how will you that I comprehend that of Spirits who have neither Body Frame nor Figure Amiable Coris said Celemante unto her behold you are therefore more Skilful and Expert then I am since you conceive that in the Body for in fine the Bodys and the Spirits are but one and the same thing the sole difference is but only in the Name They call those Bodyes that are Gross Ponderous Visible and Composed of many others They call Spirits Small Subtile Bodys that are Simple Light Imperceptible and whereof others are Composed But in Truth they are equally of the Body and the smallest of all have their Frames and Figures even as others Truly Celemante replyed Ergaste it Admirably becomes thee to speak here of these Small Bodys and so to Act the Doctor amongst Women Friend replyed Celmante that here is but a Doctrine of Love and I believe that he is not a Gentle-man but would very readily Learn or Teach how it is to Love such Fair and Amiable Shepherdesses Agamée who was ravished with joy to hear him said unto him They would pardon you Celemante if you did not also leave us in the same doubt where we were concerning that which hath given place to your Contest For we have told you enough how two Persons Love how they are indifferent and even how they hate but you teach us not how
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
them all consented that they had not well apprehended those of Olearque and it was of him they would demand the Signification or declare it I will never tell it but to the King alone replyed he and yet that shall not be but in case his Majesty Commands me to do it upon Pain of his Disfavour That which he said gave me yet more Curiosity to know the Explication for I was so Estranged and so far at a Distance as I have told you to think of the Folly that he had put in his Mind that I should never have been diffident of it I passed then laughing into my Closet and there I asked him the Explication in particular and in way of Merriment and Sport only But I was much surprized when in explicating it he gave me to understand that in the first device those Clouds which hide the Sun from other Birds was my disguise which stole the knowledg of that which I was from all my Subjects and that it was he that would willingly Figure himself to be that Eagle who alone had the cleer View that by a part of these same things he would mark in the second that he would only believe me worthy to stay his Eyes and that in the third by that Eagle which carryed the Thunder-Bolt he would have me understand that being as he Vaunted Descended from the Ancient Kings of Lesbos the Scepter was not above his Legitimate Pretensions It is impossible for me to express you the Amazement and the Indignation I was in and principally when I saw the Audacity and the Insolence wherewith he durst so to discover himself unto me as if he had esteemed and accounted that I should not or ought not to have found it strange If I had believed my Fury I think I should have sent him Prisoner from the same place but in the State and Condition wherein I was a Maiden in my Minority and in my Kingdom where I had not mine Authority founded but on a Fable I depended in some respect on him and on his Father it was then requisite for me to serve my self of all that Power that I had over me to use Dissimulation and I contented my self to answer him with a Sound where-he might however mark and take notice of my intention and vexatious despight You have done well Oliarque to say nothing of all this before the World for you would have made your self Laughed at Mocked and Scorn'd and there is none but my self can or could excuse such an Extravagance Immediately I passed into my Chamber but with so much Confusion that he could not possibly avoid the observing it In the mean time he recoil'd not nor would be repulsed for that and although he saw that after that time I spake to him less then ordinary and that I never did it but with even a Serious and severe Countenance he gave not over hoping but that he should succeed in his Designs He redoubled his Cares and Assiduities and his respects and I would have had too much Subject of being Contented if I had not known the cause All that not giving me again Incouragement to be with him nor that Familiarity which I hod done he counterfeited to be Sad Penitent and even to be Sick in fine I thought he had in his heart that which he testified without and I believed he would become or had been more Wise but I was very soon disabused One day he ingaged me to go to Supper to one of his Houses in the Country where he caused to be prepared a Sumptuous Feast under an Arbour of Trees in the Branches of which hung an infinite number of Lamps of Chrystal which seemed to brave the number of the Clear Shining and Glittering and Sparkling of the Stars Under the space or distance of the Trees he had caused to be Enchased great Tables or Pictures which served as Walls ramed after the manner of a great Hall or put us under and Vailed from the Winds After the Supper he made us take three different Divertisements The first was of a Dance where they represented the Loves of the Moon and of Endymion The second a Comedy of Loves of Venus and of Adonis and the third the explication of those Pictures which three or four Actors came to interpret the Subject in Verses in Form of a Dialogue and it was found they were the Amours or Loves of Cephale and Aurore That Affectation in all these three Subjects which represented the unequal Alliance of three Goddesses with men made me well Judg that that was not but with some Design and principally because in the Verses be they of Balls or Dances be they of Comedies be they of the Explication of the Pictures there had been the greatest part in Praises and Commendations of the Generous Passion and Disinterest of the Goddesses and the Fidelity that they had found in Men more then the Gods But possibly he believed that I yet apprehended not the end sufficiently since that the next day all the World having very much commended the Order and Oeconomy of the Feast or Banquet and all that which had followed and seeing I said nothing he asked me if it could be possible that he could be so Unfortunate that I should find nothing there that pleased me I answered him coldly enough that his Feast was not too orderly and that I was angry he had been at that great expence My Lord said he unto me I have not hoped for your approbation of the Feast and it sufficeth me if your Majesty refused it not at the Action of the three Great Goddesses who have had the Honour to direct you He said that unto me aloud but with the Equivocation that you see that those before whom he spake unto me might believe that he understood the speaking of the representation of their Loves and he well Judged that never any one of those who were present did not comprehend him after another manner But as for me I had already the knowledge of his intention I well saw that he otherwise understood it and I knew it better by the manner of his expectation of an answer looking stedfastly upon me with a suspended Action as I may say betwixt Joy and Fear and with eyes who sufficiently enough declared his thoughts I did not at all seem to comprehend him because I should have bin obliged to testifie him in the Countrey my resentment and my Anger I answered him only that the Dancers and the Actors had very well done He who would not leave me in doubt replyed unto me Your Majesty at least approves of the Goddesses as well as the Actors I could not hinder my self from blushing at his Impudence although I very well knew that no Person but my self could understand his true meaning and unless I had explicated it to others I had then testified him all my Indignation But I contented my self to reply him with a cold and severe Countenance Olearque it becomes not men