me to part with you having you in my possession and could I believe you would stay with me willingly I would never constraine you it is nothing else but fear of losing you and of depriving my self of that happinesse of seeing you that makes me act thus altogether against my inclinations I have not been free from all those fears love uses to suggest since your departure and having recovered that sickness which my grief had caus'd there yet remained some suggestions of hope and now to satisfie my self in part be not offended if I detain you by constraint I would not have you think so ill of me but that my grief was real for Lilibilis his death and that though so much against the interests of my love I could wish him alive again but seeing that is impossible it would be a folly to precipitate my self to death by thinking to lose you also and whilst my duty oppos'd I had so much power over my self as to withstand the incitements of my love and deny my self the taking of these liberties but now my love is so powerful that it banishes all those considerations of modesty and decency She was once again going to embrace me when casting her eyes on the other side of the bed she espied Lascaris whom her passion before had not given her leasure to take notice of though she had seen him she knew him to belong to Amenia which made her face seem all of a fire being troubled that she had made any other besides my self witnesse to her weaknesse withdrawing from the side of the bed with an action that shewed her trouble how came this man to accompanie you said she I answered her demand as well as I could and told her he had left the Citie in that confusion when the Romans entred it and found me out to give me notice thereof hoping I might relieve it in that necessitie and that since that time he had waited on me being I had told him I would bring him to Amenia to whom he belongs I know he doth very well answered Clotuthe and I see the gods are resolved to make my foes acquainted with my follies I cannot believe Madam returned I that any who have the honour to wait on your daughter in Law can be your foes She was so extreamlie shamed at this surprisal that she would not speak a word more but with a face as red as fire with anger and shame she cast her eyes towards me and turning her back was hastning out of the room I was very unwilling to let her return without some more knowledge of Amenia and I had not the patience to stay for another visit this desire made me to recall her by these words Madam you sent me word you had something of importance to let me know I hope this is not that you promised besides you promised that I should know what hath hapned since my departure and what is become of Amenia I pray do not defer it till another time That which I have to tell you said she I will not declare before any witnesse and I have spook already too much for my shame If you please to procure leave for Lascaris to go out said I he shall be no obstacle to what you have to say She was very willing to utter her mind and she saw that I was unwilling she should depart and I believe she did not mistake the cause but after a little pause she bid her woman to go forth into another room with Lascaris and being left alone with me she returned and sat down upon the side of my bed After she had sat silent for some time with her eyes very intentive upon me I will no longer dissemble with you Euripedes said she nor hold you in suspence of that which you desire to hear Amenia is not dead but I know you had rather wish her so then where she is I am not ignorant of your affection to Amenia and that she was the only obstacle that hindred the fruition I desired no Euripedes it was not the consideration of Lilibilis nor of vertue so much as that of your love Yes it was the beauty of Amenia that had preposses'd you and that rendred mine so despicable in your sight and that hindred me of all I could desire of Euripedes So long as hope was remaining you might persue your love as you thought to your advantage but now there is no hope of enjoying her who lives in the arms of Mandone you will not exhibit so great a follie as to persist in it still and to love her who never lov'd you for if she did complie with you in any thing it was in consideration of her own interests and in hope of that benefit she might reap by your labours and that you may know it was nothing else when she saw you were no longer able to withstand the destiny of her Countrey she abandoned you fighting for her and ran into the arms of Mandone without any regard to your love and services and that she might not have any thing to do with you see here the letter you sent her which she left with me that she might not have any thing near her that might cause her to remember you You may imagin by the relation of the Love I bore Amenia how much this discourse perplex'd me and for all the resolution I had taken not to exhibit my Love if she had certified me of her death I was not able in this sudden knowledge of her unworthinesse to withstand the assaults of my passion nor to with-hold the giving of a perfect knowledge to Clotuthe by my actions of the great love I bore Amenia all the blood in my face and all other parts was run to the heart to strengthen it which had need of all its forces at that time to with-hold it from falling under that burden this fatal news had charg'd it with it had so supprest the passages of my speech that I could not express it but by actions At last I confirm'd my self in the opinion by knowing the letter that I sent Amenia to be the same Clotuthe presented me I was so afflicted that I was not able to bring forth one word but sinking down upon my pillow I gave Clotuthe time enough to prosecute her discourse and I remember though with much ado she said thus Ah fortunate Amenia to be so highly lov'd by Euripedes But ah unworthy and base Amenia to require it so basely and persideously But Euripedes said she taking me by the hand she deserves not to have any thoughts bestowed on her acquit her to Mandone and let her enjoy him whom she hath acquired through her persideousnesse to you If her beauty were more esteemed by you than mine yet my love far exceeds hers and all other mortals Euripedes be not so cruel to Clotuthe as to let her so often sue to you let the basenesse of Amenia oblitterate that affection you bore her und let
memory but it was impossible for me to extinguish that fire which consum'd me in the midst of those deserts in a place where the raies of the bright Chariot-driver scarce ever penetrated so much power had love over my soul the cause of all my miseries for had I never lov'd I had never been unhappy In this place I remain'd the term of an whole year feeding on that which nature without compulsion yielded and drinking the water of a clear rivulet which ran close by my domicile with this food not usual to me but more especially with the continual grief of my mind I was so altered in my countenance that my most intimate friends would scarce have known me But to contract my relation my life being now a burthen to me and I desiring nothing more than death sith neither company nor solitude could divert the tortures of my mind I resolved to abbreviate my life with my own hands but in the presence of Cynthia Leaving my Cottage with this intention I travelled with a world of pain and trouble being much debilitated till I had gain'd the sea where I embarkt and arriv'd safely at Thessalonica My mind giving my body little rest assoon as I had prepar'd what I thought requisite for my determination I gain'd but with much trouble the sight and speech of Cynthia I had vestited my self with poor accouterments and was so chang'd in my Countenance that I was utterly unknown to her at the first but after she had commanded her Servants at my request to withdraw except one that allwayes was Conscious to her privatest actions I discovered my self to her and with many words desired her to excuse me for the breach of her severe command in that I had appeared before her and sith that it was impossible for me to live any longer separated from her I begg'd her not to deny me the happinesse of expireing in her sight and that she would accept of the oblation of my life for a full expiation of all my faults At the conclusion of these words drawing out a dagger which I had prepared I lifted up my arme to have perpetrated my determination But at that instant I perceived by her teares the true badges of her sorrow that pity had won the fort of her obdurate heart I had neverthelesse effected my purpose had she not taken hold on my arme with commanding me to forbear my bloody execution and to hope for better usage at her hands I could not disobey her commands since she had been so absolute over me I therefore left that purpose of dyeing and reassumed my despared hopes by her permission I bought me cloaths suteable to what I formerly appeared in with some gold which I had yet preserved How soon was my fortune changed where I expectected nothing but death and assured destruction I found life and comfort inrased hopes but ah constant inconstant power how oft hast thou befool'd me for when I expected the Consummation of my felicity with a strange caprichiousnesse thou replung'd me into a sea of miesries After I had resum'd my formet habit and with my endeavours brought my body to its former plight I followed the acquisition of Cynthia's love with so much hapinesse as I thought that at last she dissembling wretch confest that I had obtain'd it and promised me all that I could require of her My thoughts being all regular I pitcht upon a day of mariage which she also consented to and exhibited as much love as I could expect from a pudicite maide Her grandmother being conscious to it seemed also willing to accord with our desires Thus arrived I at the summit of my Joyes fortune having brought me from the bottome to the top of her wheele where I sat triumphing over all my past miseries But see how soon I was dejected and how in one moment was blasted all the harvest of my hopes My immodick love did not without ground beget a Zelotyp feare which at first insinuating it self for all the opposition of a contrary beliefe made me with a diligent scrutiny seek after my own death it being the nature of a Jelous person to desire draughts of poyson in the Cups of Curiosity Whilst I with great dilligence sought the love of Cynthia I had observed a gentleman of Thessalonica to resort thither who to give our enemies their due for the outward lineaments of the body the sweet vivacity of the eyes the proportionable feature of the face the exceeding pulcritude and harmonious consent of all the members of the microcosme was not to be parallal'd in all Greece but his birth and fortune was but meane This Gentleman was seldome out of the Company of Cynthia and I never visited her but I sound him in her company The great show of amity which she showed me as I have told you after my last returne wraping me into the enjoyments of a fancied happynesse diverted the first motions of Zelotypieâ— but afterwards Jealousie being more pressing and exhibiting the attractions of that gentleman gained possession of my soul which gave me as great inquietudes as ever Love had done and the more it affected me the more reason me thought there was that I should be Jealous every day through my inspection bringing forth concurrents of my fear and confirmation of my Jealousie It was in its highest opperation when she consented to my disposition and agreed on the time of our mariage but all this was too weak then to make me reject my former suspition nor so powerfull an antidote as to expell the poyson I had received I did beleeve that she had no intentions to marie him yet I had not observed somuch virtue in her as might make her reject the attractions of his beauty Being adusted with this fire I sought by all meanes I could devise to know the truth which I effected thus I first blinded the eyes of her cheifest maids fidility with the ponder of injection when I knew she must be conscious to what her mistres did what with adulatâ—on and the lunar mettall I gan'd her to confesse that which was allmost my death to hear oh the deceite of a wicked woman to promise me her faith and be naught with another This knoâ—ledg could not content me but that I must make my own eyes wittnesse to her falshood this having gain'd that maid to my devotion I did through her meanes The time drawing neer which we had determined for our mariage I pretended that I would go into Cilicia both to fetch my friends and to come accompanied with an equipage sutable to my quality and for those things that were wanting to make the day Celebrious This she willingly consented to and having taken my leave I departed Our plot being laid before I lodged very privately in Thessalonica not far from the house of Cynthia Night being come I repaired to a back dore of Cynthia's where I was mett by this maid and conducted into Cynthia's lodging chamber and hid behind
suddenly after the interment however I resolved to follow him and perpetrate my design though in the armes of his beloved With this resolution without discovering my selfe I left Lixus and at last arrived at Tingis Some few dayes I awaited an opportunity to meet with him which at last was given me as happily as I could wish for walking in a little grove hard by the pallace it being almost evening I saw him come forth of a back dore of the pallace garden only with one squire He descended into the grove and musing with himselfe gave me liberty to come very near him before he espied me when I was come up to him my resentments stimulating me to a revenge Traitor said I laying my hand upon my sword at this very instant thou must give satisfaction with thy blood and life for two murthers committed by thee that of thy father and that of thy wife Marcipsius was startled at this sudden encounter steping back and being nothing daunted drew his sword I am lougth reply'd he to take away your life for your temerity but you ought before you encounter any with your tongue to observe them well with your eyes and not let your rashnesse induce you into errors that would with one lesse mercifull than my self before this time have cost you your life No Monster reply'd I am not deceiv'd 't is you that are deceived in thinking so I see you know me not but know I know you to be the most perfidious and patricidicall Marcipsius to be the ravisher and vitiator of divine Atalanta who suffered the stroke of death in bringing into the world the infant form'd of thy most lustfull seed it is to her Ghost that the expiation of thy life in the first place must give satisfaction and in the next place to thy empoysoned father who through thy venefication scelerous wretch hath ended his dayes and this must be by the hand of Lonoxia who hath liv'd hitherto but to give satisfaction to their Umbrae by immolation of thy life He was much amazed in seeing me and seeing me ready to sacrifice his life with the sword of vengance he saw there was no time to delay defending himself for I assaulted him with a free violence His fury and despair assembled in him an unwonted force and had I not with the like agility evaded his first thrust he had stocadoed me and given a period to my Life and fury our duel lasted some time till at length he fell having a thrust through his right arme and another through his body so that I thought him dead and leaving him I departed that night in a vessel for Spain As we were passing the narrow frete that divides Spain from Affrica we were set upon by a vessell of resolute pyrates we were but few in number to them and they thought it a folly to gain death by a resistance but I that sought ardently for that megre champion since I had obey'd the commands of Atalanta resolved to loose it desperately amongst them and at the last extinguishing of my taper to give the greatest blase of my valour Assoon as they had boarded us I alone resisted them and leaping amongst them irritated them by the blowes I gave them at first thinking me mad with folly or rashnesse they did not much regard me but when that they saw how fast I fell'd them they all began to dispute it with me with their swords and to deprive me of the life I was resolved to loose but with their deaths In this encounter fell their captain with nine more that expired through their blood and wounds at last everpowred I was born down and expecting death fortune to spight me gave me life I looked for no generosity amongst those Barbarians nor no pity from such irritated soules But they made it appear that valour had some estimation amongst them and that they were not altogether so Brutuall as I thought them Taken with the small puissance that I had shewed amongst them they preserved my life and proffer'd me my liberty notwithstanding the slaughter I had made And seeing their captain dead they all joyntly prayed me to accept of their vassallage and his place and power I many times deny'd them and proffer'd to be their companion but they told me that my valour which they so much respected deserved the preeminency and that they should account themselves happy under my protection and that they would fear nothing under my conduct but if I would accept of their proffers that they would swear a blind obedience to my commands and would follow me to death it selfe I pondered for some time on their words and believing that to be the readiest way to find the death I sought I yielded to them and accepted of their offer For my sake they spared the vessel they had assaulted and carrying me to a strong fort on the side of Affirica placed between two rocks sufficient to frustrate the efforts of a strong army where when all their pyratick vessels were come in they proclamed me with a generall consent to be their captain and with ceremonies peculiar amongst themselves crowned me with a Diadem made of cable ropes untwin'd in which was placed many precious stones and swore their obedience to me never to forsake me though in the greatest peril never to disobey my commands or thwart my designes or to ransaek the prey but to stand to my division of it amongst them By this means they ever were in obedience amongst themselves and in their common storehouse had treasure enough to defray the charges of an army of an hundred thousand men I led this pyratick life about two years in which time I receiv'd a thousand proofs of the Pirats valour and obedience which was as perfect as the greatest monark could receive from his meanest subjects In it I found a life if I may say so for the consideration of the unlawfullnesse of it that was pleasant and free from the versatilousnesse of Fortune and I seemed now as if I tryumph'd over the power of that deity There was nothing the world could afford or the industry and power of men could gaine so absolute a regency had I acquir'd over the hearts of those that serv'd me that if I desired it they would sacrifice all their lives but they 'd content me All outward blisse attended me and I wanted nothing of the pleasures and deliciousnesse of the greatest princes But yet Atalanta was a spectre that alwayes appear'd before my eyes and seem'd to desire my company in the Elisium Indeed I sought death every where where I hop'd I might finde it I led them to most apparent dangers which yet their valour still conquered and in the greatest atchivements came off victorious and without murmuring at my actions and with a desperatnesse of a man resolv'd for death I fought against all opposers and incurr'd all dangers which rashness they accounted the effects of an extream valour and their love made them
to the pleasant notes of those wood Choresters whereby his senses with the pleasure were rapt into a sweet repose and for a season gave some ease to those inquietudes that possest his amorous breast But at last remaining in that kind of stupidity he was assaulted by a violent rushing in of those passions which had through that small repose received some stop to their wonted current but then overflowing the banks of his silence he uttered to the senseless trees that which his breast was too weak to contain Ah cruel and unsupportable flames said he that neither danger nor distress can quench what torments put you my soul to what cruelty do you exercise on a soul who so much adores your Deities and hath your power in so great veneration that it endures those pains you inslict without the least murmuring Why exercise you not your cruelty on those who oppose your regency and make them feel the heat of your penetrating flames Ah! no those polluted souls are not worthy your visitation nor their defiled breasts capable of receiving your sacred fires Seeing it is an honour to die by the hands of love I shall desire not to be freed its bonds but quickly to receive a welcome death for thus to live in continual torture is more than morâ—als are 〈…〉 bear And yet the continual sight of that fair deity the object of my love and passion makes me yet live to enjoy that blessed sight so that thâ—ough the assaults of pain and pleasure I am at once both kill'd and made alive It seems to me sometimes better to die than to live and sometimes better to live than die sometimes I pray for the one sometimes for the other But O you powers which rule us Mortals What need I sigh out my misery to you when you know and are the Causers of it Surely not for my disobedience but that I may know your power Ah! I must be content for ever to endure this torment which yet no other ever knew because hope is wanting I am like one who admires the Sun but may never reach him I love an object more requisite for the gods than man much less I who know not whence I am nor by what fortune I came into the world How dare I then aspire to serve a Princess so far beyond my reach I must blame ye Deities for binding me with an infragible chain so that it is not possible for me to live and not love Eliana whose very name transportes me Love her I cannot chuse that that I must do admire and adore her O Heavens me thinks I find some sparks of a generous soul which tells me I am not form'd out of the common earth of Plebians May your Divinities make known my stock and that may extricate me from this Labrinth of love and confusion or else with my life end my misery That I confess is the most feasible for such humble thoughts best befit mortals grouling at the shrine of such a supereminent divinity as I adore Dye ah that 's all my hopes The conclusion of these words shewed the unsuppertable burthen of his sorrowfull mind for pointing them with a sigh able to penetrate an obdurate heart he entred into so profound a cogitation with his eyes fixed on the earth that he heard not the obstrepency which one made in coming till he had approached him with these words Sir accidentally hearing the complaints of your too amorous soul and I know not by what power feeling your torments stirring up a pitty and curiosity together in my breast I have thus rudely adventured to approach you and also out of a desire I have prompted by a more than ordinary violence to enter a discourse with you and if it might be to shew you the precipices of this Tyrannous love by too many experimented Tryals I have before now observed your melancholy resort into these shades my habitation is nigh and unknown where I have a freedome to study at large Dictates of reason against such youthful excurrances Pardon Sir this rude addresse and exact what punishment you please after having given me the favour I desire Argelois at his first speaking had lifted up his eyes obscur'd as they were with the clouds of sadness to behold him who thus had disturb'd his melancholy humour and they were incountred with a gravity that allayed the cholor that began to arise through this disturbance but being suppressed through this grave object he arose and saluting him thus expressed himself Though it be the greatest of disturbances to be interrupted in these pleasing cogitations and nothing hardly lesse pardonable with a Lover yet the gravity which accompanies you and some intereor motion which moves me by I know not what power I am well satisfied with this your interruption and desire to know that laxating drogue which you seem to promise The stranger invited by Argelois seated himself by him on that pleasant bank exercising his eyes in beholding the incomparable features and most attracting graces which accompanied this Heroe and at last being not a little astonished that such a brave aspect should complain who deserved justly the title of incomparable I cannot but wonder said he that nature having dealt so favourable with you Love and fortune should so much oppose you for nature hath made you rather to be sued to by the fairest female than to sue to any whatsoever and given those graces which others want but love it seems crossing her intentions makes you leave that which you have to seek beauty where it is not to be found but in your self and fortune being of the conspiracy strives to make you equally miserable by hiding from you the knowledge of your extraction and birth this I understand by your complaints which though I may not help altogether yet I may give some remedy for those plagues of love I will shew you my experiences as marks to shun his deceits and shew you how my utter ruine came from thence which makes me have a just cause to complaine against sin and forwarn others that they may not precipitate themselves blinded with his deceits It may be sayes Argelois that the fault lay in your self not in Love and and through your own fault lost that which Love had ordained for you and so were the cause of your own misery which you impute to Love I know not iâ— I have err'd replyed the stranger but if I have it was because I was blinded for I account it altogether impossible for any to be deeply engaged in that folly for so I must term it and not to degress the precepts of wisdome I have had my share in it which made me hearing your complaints so far to pity your estate as to present my self before you to acquaint you with the experience I have had of him and though Love deal not with all men alike yet it is seen for a time he undoeth most When in my youth I felt those heart tormenting flames
a powerfull and secret Sympathie one with another and that life I have accounted amongst the most happiest of my dayes which I have spent in the company of Amenia whose innocent and pleasing conversation often put my soul into a posture of tranquillity and rapt my soul into a contemplative enjoyment of that which afterwards I received more really but hardly with more delight Thus I had almost passed over the winter in the sweet conversation of Amenia never breaking my imposed silence when Lilibilis had notice given him that the Chief of the Gallicians desired him with the chief of his men to meet them on the borders of the Austures that they might consult for the general good concerning their next Campaign and in what manner they should oppose their enemies They sent him word that Caesar was returned to Rome and had left the Legions with Antistius a valiant Captain and who with all speed was mustering his Forces to assail them and to begin the War though it was so soon Lilibilis soon departed with the chief of his Commanders leaving a great charge on Clotuthe to be carefull of me and desired me to contribute what I could to my health that I might be in a condition to render him that help which he hoped for from me and on which he depended more than on his Army I would have perswaded him to let me accompanie him but he utterly refused it in consideration that my weaknsse was not so well recovered but that so sudden a jorney might have thrown me into a relaps When I saw he would not let me accompany him I told him that I would cherrish my self as much as his absence possible could give me leave and that I only desired my life to loose it in his service to which I had destinated the remainder of my daies He replyed in very civil terms having nothing of Barbarism in him and after our mutual imbraces he departed leaving me to the care of those whose love had made them uncapable of having their care of my health augmented by his commands or entreaties The second day after Lilibilis his departue I was set in my chamber by the fire in a very deep melancholy ruminating on the different tyrannies of the God of Love and considering how deeply I was engaged in a passion that had cost me so many tears and so much trouble and yet had receiv'd nothing but a severe Law from the mouth of my goddess when her Melanthe suddenly entred my Chamber and surprized me in the midst of those tears which my ardent passion had extracted from my eyes That Maid whom affection had tied to my interests excused her so sudden and uncivil entrance as she termed it with very good language and desir'd my pardon for her incivilitie I soon made her understand how glad I was of her company and how much I desired an opportunity of entertaining her alone She told me she came from her Mistriss who had sent her to excuse her in that she had not seen me that day by reason of an indisposition which had made her keep her Chamber I replyed I was unworthy the honour she did me in taking so great a care of my well-fare and that I could entertain the assurance of my own death with less trouble then to understand she was indispos'd in her health The Maid reanswer'd that there was no fear of any danger in her Mistriss indisposition and that she made no question but that she would visit me the next day and pay me interest for that dayes neglect we spent some time in these interlocutions till at last after I had forc'd her to sit down I uttered my self in these terms ' Melanthe you cannot be ignorant of the cause of those tears you have surpriz'd me in which are but a small part to what I dailie and almost hourlie offer to a severitie which hath made me mute You know I have manifested my love and you do not ignore to what a cruel silence I was condem'd I have not hitherto transgressed it though all the world is ignorant with what torment I undergo it I continually sigh languish and spend my time in tears and yet dare not declare my misery which is the only and considerable ease others troubled with the like passion enjoy Was there ever such a Law impos'd on any as is on me which makes me live in the continual languishment of my soul and in the dailie conversation and intuition of the object of all my suspirations and still to lock up my lips by severity not to be parralel'd I know Melanthe though sickness hath not kil'd me that grief will if not mitigated by some relaxation but if I die it will be a happiness in that it is by keeping a Law impos'd upon me by that mouth which I so much adore whereby she shall see Euripedes can never be guiltie of transgressing the severest of her commands I find some ease in declaring this to thee what allevament should I find in disburdening my self to her but since she hath enjoyned the contrarie I must I will undergo it with silence to the death and last expiration of a soul totallie hers and which lives onlie to do her service She did not bid me Melanthe to speak of love to no body else therefore I hope I have not transgressed in speaking to you nevertheless I desire you not to make her acquainted with it lest her severity may impute it as a transgression to me I dare not sue or desire O Melanthe to have this imposition taken off but you may conceive with what joy I should receive the revocation of so strict a Law but I doubt I am faulty in in that I desire to have that taken off which was imposed by Amenia though it be more grievous and less easie to be born than death Sir replyed Melanthe your vertues have made me inseparably yours as far as the duty I owe my Mistriss and the pudicity of my sex give me leave I will not tell you how often I have endeavoured her to revoke that which she had impos'd upon you and which I saw you bore with a patience not to be parralel'd because my andeavours prov'd in vain to cause her revoke what she had once commanded I know the severity of her humour is such that she will endure the greatest afflictions rather than break it and this severity is very strange which she useth towards you strange in that she afflicts you whom she desires not to afflict and strange in that she no less afflicts her self in that she is so severe to you and that her humour is so strictly tyed to the severity of her own Law that she will rather endure what she suffers than break it She her self hath told you Sir therefore I may say it without any infidelity to my Lady that you are not indifferent to her but being tied by the cruel Lawes of duty cruel in that it makes her contradict
rest I replied that I desired nothing lesse than life and that to accelerate my death I used all the meanes they had left me and which they were not able to deprive me of they dressed my wounds as it were by force and much against my will and they were all fain to beg with teares in their eyes and upon their knees for me to take sustenance and not so wilfully to persist in my death they exhibited their love by an unanimous imploration which made me use violence against my own inclinations to satisfie some part of their love and care by taking what they desired and by letting them endeavour to preserve my life only to avoid those implorations which they daily continued but I would not mittigate the least part of that grief and dolor that I endured through the apprehensions of her death and they were so violent that without doubt I had continued much longer had I not been miraoulously preserv'd One and twenty dayes had now past over sine the last battel wherein I received those wounds which with the augmented grief for Amenia's death had kept me in bed when some of those few men who accompanied me going out aswell for provision as to hear whether there was no hope of recovering their own out of the Romans hands had met with a man who made an earnest enquiry after me he was disguised which made them not think it safe to discover me but being prest very much by him and seeing he was but a single man they at last brought him to me They first certified me how they had met him and his desire to speak with me though I was incapable almost to take notice of any thing yet at last I bid them bring him in So soon as he was entred my Tent I knew him to be a young man that belonged to Amenia the sight of him renewed my grief Ah cri'd I out with vehemency art thou come to confirm that which I already know but too much for my repose or to reproach me in that I retain a Life after the losse of Amenia's speak for thou canst not augment the dolor I have conceiv'd by the confirmation of that which makes me asham'd of my self in that I live so long after the first knowledge of it The young man not knowing my meaning shewed he was something amazed by his silence but at last seeing I expected his answer he replyed Sir I believe you are not ignorant that I have the honour to belong to Amenia 't is in her behalfe I have sought you to give you this Letter Whilst he was a pulling it out I replyed hastily why where is Amenia what is become of her is she alive or no prethy tell me all that thou knowest and hide nothing from me Sir replyed the Lad I know nothing of her destiny nor what is become of her but two dayes after we had heard that you had lost the last Victory against the Romans we understood those that came from Lancia were almost at our walls those souldiers that were in the City being terrified at their approach abandon'd us to their fury and with abundance of the Inhabitants left the City I was in it when I saw the great confusion and tumult of those that fled which made me haste to the Pallace and going up the staires into the outward Hall I met Melanthe descending in very great haste Assoon as she had espied me I never met thee said she more gladly than I do now nor in a time wherein thou mightst expresse thy fidelity to Amenia so much as now thou mayst I was going to seek one whom I might entrust with what I desire and I know none more capable than thy self of doing it with thy wonted fidelity After I had given her all the assurance I could of it and of the Joy I conceiv'd that I should do any service acceptable to Amenia she proceeded thus You are not to take thought what will become of us in this approaching danger only you are desired by me to depart the City immediately with this Letter which she put into my hand and enquire after Euripedes if he be alive deliver it to him if he be dead bring it back again to me but use all your diligence to find him out and with all the speed you can for in doing it you will do Amenia the greatest piece of service you ever did her in all your life and if the Gods preserve her she will requite you for it She had hardly ended these words when three or four men in very great haste came to her saying they all waited for her and conducting her away in great hast left me alone upon the staires I immediately preparing for my Journey departed the City within an hour and for all the diligence I have us'd I could never hear the least word whether you were living or no till this day being almost out of hope after so long search I met with those who have conducted me hither to deliver this Letter with which I was entrusted I heard him with hope that he might give me some knowledge that she liv'd but seeing what he had said neither confirm'd nor contradicted it I remained in my former perplexity but said I as I received the Letter from him dost not thou know that Amenia is dead Sir said he I know nothing of it and I have related faithfully all that I know it may be the Letter may give you more light I then fell to opening it but with mortal apprehensions of what it might contain I dreaded the confirmation of that which had so debilitated me but unclosing it I found it was Amenia's hand which gave me as much Joy I could possibly receive in that condition My teares for some time hindred me the reading of it through those apprehensions that continually assaulted me but at last with some hope I began and with a world of consolation ended the reading of words to this effect Amenia to Euripedes SEeing that the gods after the ruine of our house have imposed a necessity of my being a captive I had rather to be so to Euripedes than any man living and to live under his protection whose fidelity I know and in whom I can confide without distrust Duty which before compel'd me not to think on Euripedes cannot now oppose my inclinations being taken away by the gods to make me more ingrate if not having that excuse I continue in my severity to Euripedes and if I do not consider him according to the justice of his services merits and virtue Euripedes I declare therefore I am a prisoner because I am forc'd against my inclinations to him whom Lilibilis had assign'd for my husband though my inclinations were ever averse and though I believ'd that the gods would some way redeem me from it but now having my will at liberty I am forced by constraint and abreption to leave this Countrey and to abandon you whilest for my sake
that which we had prevented her in Amenia's indignation was raised at this confession but she took no other punishment on her that deserved greater but banished her her service for ever but Clotuthe entertained her for her infidelity Amenia was cruelly afflicted that she knew so much of her affaires because she lay open to all her machinations having none now to guard her from her devices for she knew Clotuthe both spiteful and subtil enough to work her mischief and she had some little suspition that she was her corrival though you never intimated so much Clotuthe and Amenia after this knowledge met not in a long time after being segregated to their afflictions and by reason of Clotuthes unwillingnesse to meet Amenia but at last they met one another where Amenia stuck not to tell her of her ill actions but with a great deal of modesty and civility But on the other side Clotuthe falling into great passion uttered words extream misbecoming and soon gave Amenia to know the authoritie she thought she had over her after she had vented her passion against Amenia at their parting she uttered some such words as these that gave Amenia a good cause to feare her complottings No no Amenia said she speaking in answer to the justifications of Amenia against her aspersions do not justifie your self against that which is so apparent you were too carefull of his life not to love him you gave him a charge not to be too forward in battel least you might lose him you car'd not how great the losse be so you lose not Euripeâ—es nor how much dammage your Country receiv'd by the backwardness of his valour so he was not in danger this doth not favour of too much affection Amenia He might as well have wrote to me as to you but he cares not to pay what he owes to civilitie and decency so he payes what he owes to his affection and yours But stay Amenia do not you think the death of Lilibilis disengages you to Mandone he hath promised you to him and though he lives not to perform it you ought this way to exhibit your love to him by performing what heengaged and do you account me your enemy and your foe by endeavouring to finde out your affection to Euripedes and by trying to convince you of your errour when Mandone may claim you for his wife by right by the itterated promise and engagements of your father which ought not to die with him and when you cannot marry Euripedes without great dishonour flatter your self no longer for if you will not be Mandone's by Love and fair means he hath yet power enough to force you notwithstanding the power of Euripedes who is a stranger and not so worthy as Mandone a redoubted Iberian Anger had suscitated a fresh crimson in the cheeks of Amenia and she had answered these speeches had Clotuthe staid to have heard her but finishing her discourse she would not stay for a reply but left Amenia somewhat disturb'd at her words Amenia saw not Clotuthe after that but retiring to her chamber considered her disasters with much weeping In this she continued till a surcharge came which I thought would have been the greatest it was the news of your last overthrow she heard the valour of the General recounted but she could not learn whether he was slaine or no or whether he survived that cruel encounter Truly this consideration more then the losse of her Countrey made her finde new springs of teares which she thought her former grief had wholly exhausted and the Flood-gates of her eyes were hardly wide enough to let forth those torrents which impituously gushed out thereat The next newes she heard did not so much trouble her being fore-seasoned with a greater as otherwise it might have done and it was the approach of our enemies towards Asturica having taken Lancia and our own men who were left to guard it abandoned us to their fury This disaster was hardly considered when a greater befell us by the meanes of Clotuthe who had most maliciously sent for Mandone and given him notice both of the Letter and of your Love to Amenia I was sitting that morning that the Romans entred Asturica with Amenia in great heaviness considering our disasters and what would become of us in that confusion and in a very sad posture were we when Mandone entred the Chamber with two or three more This sudden and unexpected coming of Mandone's so surpriz'd Amenia that she was not able to rise from the seat where she sat which gave him liberty to use all those civilities which he was accustomed to pay her Madam said he Although the gods are resolved to subjugate these Countreys to the Romans for an addition to their glory yet have they had so great a regard to your person that they have sent me for your preservation and for that end only have they preserv'd my life that I might preserve yours in this extremity Our fortunes are alike Madam and I hope our affections are not unequal since by the will and command of both our Parents we were accounted individual if you have lost your father the gods also have taken away mine if you have lost your Countrey I have also lost mine if you have been abandoned by your friends and are in danger to be ruined by your enemies I have run the same fortune and my life is solely given me for your preservation I am come therefore in this very exigent to carry you forth of the jawes of these cruel Romans make not now my endeavours fruitlesse nor sacrifice both our lives to our foes by your delay for our safety consists in a speedy departure the Romans are even at the walls and there is scarce time for these words Amenia by this time had recollected her self and rising at that time from her feat I am not Sir said she lesse daunted then I thought she had been so afraid of death but that I can embrace it joyfully having already tasted too much misery to desire life I had rather be buried in the ruines of my Country than to flye it in its deepest misery and offer this life to the hands of those that have sacrificed the lives of my Country-men slain my friends and taken away the life of my father to be slain by their swords than leave this place I am very sensible of your care of me and render you many thanks for your paines but let me desire you to leave me to my disasters and not engage your self in them nor look that you are obliged to it for me more then any other woman since I am about to leave all the world that all the world may leave their pretensions to me I desire not nor care for safety therefore leave me to receive death the chief object of my desires Madam replyed Mandone suddenly somewhat startled at her resolutions the consideration of your honour ought to festinate your abscession for you cannot continue here
Characters both the sorrow our separation had caus'd each to other and the joy our re-meeting brought Silence at last gave way to abundance of words that I emitted in demonstrating the anxietie and dolor I had undergone for those perplexities that had befallen her and her Country and for my cruel detainment in that I was made uncapable to help her I told her how that I valued not my life longer than I might retain it solely for her serivce and for that end had I overcome those miseries which else might have rendred me among the extinct I have spun the thred of my Narration longer than I intended I shall not therefore extend it by relating our Discourses at that time but indeed her presence gave me not more joy than her words which were conduceable to my happiness in that she gave me an assurance of that which before I could never draw from her She acknowledg'd that she did but what was just yet had not that exigent enforc'd her to it she had been for a longer time ingrate to my merits in denying me the knowledge of that Soveraigntie Love had given me over her soul her modestie and severitie still proving obstacles to that Confession At last she consented since the bonds of dutie were unloos'd and those of Love more firmly fastned by afflictions to leave that perplexed Country and return with me into mine she then gave me charge to expedite her abscession and remitted her self into my hands I never undertook a charge with more joy nor more desired then this I doubted not but that the Gods would favour my enterprize since they had been so propitious to my last designes That small spark of animositie which I then possest would not have had me bore away Amenia so secretly and without the death of my competitor could I have gained the consent of gentle Amenia but she absolutely forbad those thoughts of doing injurie to Mandone since only Love had made him my Enemie and in her abscession I should punish him more than by death I yielded to all her desires and gave her as absolute a power over me as she could have wish't That night was one of the happiest I ever enjoyed though I was not permitred any other liberties than sometimes to ravish some kisses from those lillyed hands which notwithstanding at that time were sufficient to give me more content than the gift of Empires I am not able to exhibite nor none able to imagine the content and pleasure I received in her companie after so long absence but those who have experienced the ardencies of the Idalian fire and whose chast Loves have found opportunitie mutually to communicate in the midst of difficulties and hazards You must help me out of this pleasurable content with your thoughts for I am as little able to give you a perfect knowledge of it as to describe the splendor of the Sun As our affections work adequate so were our joy and content which made us think Father-time had added more plumes to his Wing to accelerate his speed for my thought I had newly begun but to taste the sweets of her Companie when Lascaris giveing me notice of the approach of the early godesse we were fain to disjoyn least danger should prosecute my bold attempt She prohibited my returning thither any more till I came to take her with me least I might incurre that danger which might put a period to out lives and Loves together Having sealed my Adues with many suaviations on her hands I returned by the same help undiscried to my Lodging where I had time enough to consider the meanes how to carry Amema from those Towers I entertained many projects and I found them not over difficult because her will corresponded with my desires But not daring to commit this secret to any one I was constrain'd to send Lascaris to Taracone to prepare a vessel ready for our transportation against we came It was a great deal nearer cut to the Cantrabrick ocean but then I considered that we ran an assured danger of being met with at the Herculean frete and although this was more troublesome and incommodious for Amenia yet it was more secure and cut off that great compasse we must have taken by sea After Lascaris was gone I was visited almost every day by Melanthe for Mandone being as it were assured of Amenia the marriage day being now very near and not finding her so obstinate as she had formerly been which she did to facilitate her escape he did not keep her as a prisoner but gave her all the liberty she could have desired for he did not perceive any inclination to escape from him if she could There lackt but four dayes for Mandone as he thought to have had the full possession of Amenia when I having provided two easie Palfrays for Amenia and Melanthe thus effected my design Melanthe had given notice to Amenia and had packt up her richest Jewels preparing every thing against the night and to facilitate our escape she had gotten of the Gardner the key of a back gate at the further end of the garden this she had done divers other times and returned it him again to divert his suspition but this night she kept it on purpose to save Amenia the labour of getting over the wall At that gate she appointed me to appear in the dead time of the night which I failed not to effect at the hour appointed I did not stay there long before Amenia and Melanthe appeared of all the others that attended her she had not confidence enough in any besides Melanthe to communicate this secret so that she left them all ignorant of her departure So soon as I saw her I fell upon my knees and in the humblest terms Love was able to infuse I expressed my acknowledgement of all those obligations wherewith she had bound me She would not permit me long in those agnizements but raising me up put me in mind of the danger we should incur if through our cunctation we should make our design ineffectual After this remembrance without further delay I seated them on their horses and with what speed we could we hastened our flight The heaven favouring us spread over his face a dark vail that we might travel with the more security Nevertheless fair Cynthia sometimes peep'd through the chinks of those dark clouds being proud to illuminate the steps of a beauty which in that obscurity seem'd to out-shine hers We made so good use of our time that before Aurora had ushered in the Sun we were got further from Juliobriga than our pursuers could imagin I know the want of Amenia put Mandone the next day into an unparrallel'd confusion and I make no doubt but that he sent throughout the Countrey to retake us but our diligence speed and care made all his scrutiny in vain we endeavoured to avoid all the great towns and to take our lodgings in small villages and sometimes in some lone cottage
his disfavours and my misfortunes wherein you may well perceive how for one moment of pleasure he gave me years of pain and unmatched misery For your sake I will not stick to undergo some pain and trouble which the remembrance of these past events will unavoidably bring but I may well endure some small pain in the relation since I have endured so great in the suffering them Methinks I cannot tell how to frame my self to leave the stage of my content and happiness to begin the scene of my misfortunes and miseries but seeing I have promised it and am resolved to perform it I shall only desire your pardon if I give you not so large a relation of my following miseries as I have of my precedeing fortunes nevertheless although I intend to be concise I will not omit any of the chief evenements Joy and content never found so ample a residence in the breasts of any as in us for through the mutual harmony of our souls we ravisht each other with a continual Symphony We lived not but by the eyes of each other and with so perfect agreement and Sympathy we were knit that we had but one Will one desire and one soul distributed in two bodies which seeking an inseparable junction almost expir'd at all those places wherein it found a free egression We even strove to outvie each other in this delectable exhibition and love never enkindled more ardent and immaculate fires than those that encompassed our hearts In fine we injoyed a paradysical happiness and unparrallel'd felicity Alas Whilst I liv'd in this heaven of content and day of joy I did not think I could ever have felt the hell of misery nor have been wrapt in the night of sorrow I did not consider that joyes pleasures and contentments rode on the wings of time and that they had no long residence in this world but at last I found it true for this short day had a long night this moment of pleasure years of pain and this short content was followed with a world of woe The first and most grievous disaster was the death of Amenia by a sudden and short fickness which ere I was aware depriv'd me of her and wrapt her in the leaden sheets of death I need not tell you for I believe you do not doubt that I endured a cruciation equal to my former Joy for my love not being any thing abated it is impossible to declare what dolor I endured and if you had heard the complaints I uttered and had seen the actions I did you would never have believed that I could ever forgotten her memorie to have lov'd another But then the dolor I felt and the excess of sorrow I gave my self over to had brought me to the very brink of the Stygian lake and I was not recovered without the exceeding great care of my friends After I had recuperated my health I celebrated her funerals and spent much wealth on a stately monument for her memorie which finished I betook my self to a melancholy life having no children the joy and life of the parents to delight in in which state I intended to have finished my dayes but the gods otherwise dispos'd I continued in this solitary condition full of dolor till my mournfull dayes had equaled my joyful ones and three whole years were now expired since the sad dissolution of Amenia in all which time I had secluded my self so strictly that I knew not what vicissitudes or changes had happened in the world being wholly sequestred to my melancholy thoughts I had reâ—ired for that purpose from my wonted habitation into a place convenient and agreeable to my humour being seated in the midst of a wood whose trees groaned under their own burdens and whose shades made a perpetual evening Here I had a dumb Converse with the trees and to those deaf Auditors I poured out daily complaints being full of mestitude and grief Here I bemoaned the loss of Amenia hearkning with some content to the sad crooking of the Turtle who bore a part in my miseries and seem to tune her agreeable Notes to my sad tones I seem'd to my self a shadow or a carcase without a soul having neither breath nor life and that small remnant that was left me seem'd to be preserv'd by the agreeable Converse with the Idea of Amâ—nia which presenting its self to my imagination seem'd not wholly to have left me To deliver me out of this voluntary exile my friends used all the means they could devise and my Uncles fearing that kind of life would have shortned my dayes by the exuberance of entreaties gain'd me from thence endeavouring by all manner of inventions to make me so get Amenia and to cast off those melancholy humours which I had acquired since her death There was nothing of outward means wanting nor no pastimes or recreations wherein they did not force me to be one to divert the intentiveness of my thoughts but still their endeavours fail'd of their expected issue and I still persever'd in my pensiveness But at last one of my Uncles having an occasion to go into Greece earnestly invited me to be his associate my propensitie to travel gain'd too much upon me and at last I accorded to that unhappy journey Being in Tessalonica I was on a sudden strucken dead by the thunder bolt of beauty for in beholding the fair Dames of that City at a feast I was on a sudden surprized with the beauty of one surpassing the rest now the Idea of Amenia beginning to vanish seem'd to take up her residence in this beauty and imagining a Pythagoraean transmigration I perswaded my self it was the soul of Amenia that had entred the body oâ— this beautifull Cynthia for so she was named The more I beheld her the more it confirmed my vain opinion for me thought so did my fancy flatter me her face was compos'd in the very lineament of Amenia's and the very features of my lost one exhibited themselves in this Cynâ—hia Her actions her speech her courage and gestures were so conformâ—ble that I could not but see Amenia as it were resuscitated from the dead in this Cynthia Whilst I considered her thus intentively Love by this mockeâ—y whâ—llâ— subdued me and me thought I did not transgress to love her whâ—â—eem'd to be compoâ—'d of nothing but Amenia All my former ardenâ—ies were now renew'd and I now became an altered man my Elegies for Amenia were now turned into Sonnets for Cynthia and all my mournfull expressions into Courtships and Complements I now began to cast my mestitude and heaviness and to exhibite alacrity in my face and eyes and after some weeks time forgetting Amenia I wholly imploy'd my self to gain Cynthia My Uncle observing an alacrity not usual in me I discovered to him what had hapned to me but I know not whether he was more glad that I had forsaken my sadness or sorry that I had involved my self into those new Amoretta's Some weeks
have done me being nothing but death could make me cease from affecting her yet seeing she could not be mine I would never desire any thing of her contrary to vertue and her honour and seeing that she restrained me for fear I should injure the life of Palemon I promised her that I would not effect any thing against him not for to gaine my liberty but to rid her of her fear and to shew her how obedient I would be to every thing that she desired and that for my liberty I wholly remitted it to her self being but requisit that she who commanded my soule should have the disposall also of my body and further that she needed not to doubt but that I would effect any thing that she could desire of me but that I would not do it to gaine my liberty but only for the affection that I bore her Agauve shewed her self extreamly joyfull that I had so freely promised her however she made me sware to do that which she would desire of me I would first have known what it had been but that she mightily desired the contrary so that at last I consented to take a blind oath imagining that the worst thing she could have commanded would have been to have banisht me from her and that I would not have done any thing against her husband but the proposull of this ambitious woman was quite another thing and which both amazed me and troubled me that I had swore to do it The King Palemon had had by his other Queen two children a Boy and a Girle the young Prince in whom all the people of the nation had treasured their hopes was at that time but two years old named Palemedon the young princesse Panthea the chiefest starre of beauty in our Horrizon was little more than a year old the Queen her mother dying bringing her forth into the world the King marrying Agauve as you have heard presently after the death of his other Queen whose birth beauty and virtue were unmatchable had by her the Prince Dardanus one truly noble and valiant as most of the world can witnesse Argelois here interrupting Euripedes I cannot be silent said he at the mentioning of the worthy Prince Dardanus and refrain from giving him those collaudations which are deserv'd by his merits having so highly experienced his generosity and do still bear the tokens of his favour none less ignore the valour of that Prince than my self which should I go about to declare would prove too large an interruption you 'l pardon this in that I give you to understand that I am well acquainted with him in whom the very quintessence of affability dwells and that I have heard him express great trouble for the loss of the little Palemedon whom you mention not considering his own interests and that he gain'd a Crown by his death but I perceiv'd both he and all the Court ignor'd by whom that child was taken away which it may be seeing you know so much of those affairs you may declare Argelois stoping sometime and seeing Euripedes did not proceed judging aright of the cause Let not this knowledge of me said he that I am conversant with Dardanus be any obstacle to your relation for if you dare to credit me I will engage my life that no danger shall accrew to you thereby Euripedes thankt him in very affable words and telling him that he would not doubt neither of his secresie nor generosity he proceeded in his relation thus Ambition the ground of all evil being seated in the breast of Agauve soone found the young Palemedon an obstacle to her desires and never beheld him but with an eye of envy Her evil Daemon suggesting her to most pernicious designes she thought of nothing more than betraying this young princely child into the arms of death that by his falâ— she might raise her son Dardanus to the Crown of Pontus This was the cause of her visite and this was the condition she would release me upon and to which she had made me most rashly swear that I should either effect or see effected the death of Palemedon She urg'd many arguments and reasons for the performance she confest the desire she had to have Dardanus raign she urg'd that thus I might revenge my self on the King â—gain my liberty perform my oath and shew her the greatness of my love that I would perpetrate a thing so contrary to my nature for her sake After I had heard her discover her self I was very much amazed at the temerity of my oath and sought by all perswasions to cause her to forego so mischievous a design But she still persisting in it with such fascinating adulation such carriage and flagitation still pressing me with the considerations of my love and oath that at last oh hainous to think it she made me yield to see it perpetrated although I would not do it my self I hope now your self will excuse me for my aversion to a passion that made me so enormiously consent to so wicked an act I must impose my whole fault on my passion for it was that which overcame me through her fascinating words and not my consideration of revenge or liberty I told you before that I knew by experience that Love hath been able to extingush the coles of vertue and enkindle those of vice Judge you therefore whether I speak without just cause against that which made me act against all Justice After I had a longe time sought to stop the stream of this exorbitant motion with the dam of perswasions and that I saw it still bore down with the impetuousness of her will not able longer to contradict her I was carried down with its rapidity in the slender boat of my affection where consenting to what she required I steer'd into a harbour of misery For being set at liberty on these sad terms I endured the continual wrack and torment of my conscience and I never thought of my perpetration without horror but having sworn to effect it and being still bound by the chains of my passion I enforc'd my self to resolutions of perpetration But in the mean time this cruel Agauve searing lest pity and vertue miâ—ht overcome me had gain'd three of her own Countrey men to assist me with a charge not to be perswaded by me if I endeavoured to hinder the execution of the infant after we should have it in our power promising them very considerable rewards for their assasin knowing that was most avidously desired by those fordid spirits Being conjoyned with these by the order of Agauve we remained some time secretly in Tomus awaiting an opportunity for our design which was propitiously offered us presently after The night before we seized on that young Prince being extreamly troubled in my thoughts at what I was about to perpetrate I felt a continual torment till sleep had freed me from those cogitations But being in the kingdome of the image of death me thought I met a
to deprive me of my life not thinking her selfe safe whilst there remained a witnesse of her cruelty I was forc'd for my owne safety to write to her not to persist in seeking my life unlesse she would force me to discover her and to rest contented that the child being dead I intended not to discover but only to detest her cruelty and inhumanity I believe those few lines I sent her gave her satisfaction especially when she understood that Palemedon was dead for after that I heard no more from her but remained free from her assasinous attempts Long it was not before I was once more constrained to leave the happy sorte of Content pleasure and quietude being forced thence by the Shaftes of that sworne enemie of my rest Cupid My age nor all my former miseries were bulwarks sufficient to keep off his fires nor free me from those passions which had ever been my ruine Alas as if I had been born onely to love or as if it had been my naturall element wherein I was only to live I could not have had a more propensitie to it I once more found my frozen years melted away with loves ardors and that over youthfull God inspired me with his youthfull flames and with Medean art brought back the spring of my age makeing it finde a repulluation under the heate of his fires The object of this last love was a widow in whom beauty and wit equally strove for mastership her birth was noble but her fortune meane which made her exercise her wit to maintaine her state being also touched with that plague Ambition the mother of all mischief and the wicked Daemon's eldest daughter The Gods thwarted my other loves and made me lose that which I sought to obtain for which I rendered them a thousand reproaches accounting them enemies to my happinesse therefore it was Just that I should acknowledge the plagues of my own acquirements and see that the Gods in denying were friends to my happinesse I obtained what I ardently desired being she whom I Sought desired it no lesse not out of love but ambition and avarice hopeing to make a Son that she had heire of that estate I possest Content cannot last long where mutuall love tyeth not the affections the love I bore her serv'd but to extinguish my reason and blinde my eyes from Seeing her projects and the respect she bore me was but forc'd for her own interest and till she had made her selfe master of what I held The first appearing of her enmity was at my denial of certaine unreasonable demands for her son Wherein she exhibited that her desire was for nothing more then my death and that the advancement of her son was the scope of all her projects however though it was too apparent not to be seen yet could I not use any remedy against it Five yeares having consumed themselves since our marriage her desires being growne too bigg to be contained within its limits and her projects being fully ripned she suddenly effected them for having great friends among the Romans through their aide she possessed her selfe of all I had and by force maintained her selfe in it useing me as her profest foe and would could she have effected it have put a period to my dayes Love that before appeared to me as the most beautifull goddesse and with a luster that begat her adoration now seemed to be converted into a most ugly Erinnrs worthy of all detestation the scales began to fall from my eyes and I began to see my folly and to recount those enormities it had made me run into and finaly recovering my reason I profest my selfe a foe to that passion which before I so much observed Endeavouring to recuperate that which was violently withheld from me I in some time effected it with the aide of my friends where I spent some more years but being subject to the complotting of my wife and her Sonne having a desire to spend the rest of my dayes in contemplation in a place free from the accesse of men I sould my estate and leaving my ungracious persecutresse taking with me the two Sons of Lascaris and very few servants else I repaired to this place being known to me to be a place as full of pleasure as Solitude and where I might be free from the perquisitions of my friends and plotts of my enemies By the way to this place I happily met with Lonoxia and understanding each others fortunes being tyed with a mutual Love and friendship we resolved to spend the remainder of our dayes together This place being designed for our habitation we added art to perfect nature and by the help of both we compleated this domicile as you see in which we have spent some yeares without any evenement or seeing any stranger but your selfe beeing a place so unfrequented and this adjoyning grove being the utmost of our ambulations Here neither the troubles of Love or armes assolt us here neither the envies or plots of our enemies annoy us here quietude and peace accompany us and here being sequestred from the world the knowledge of its affairs doth not deturb us but being naruralized to this solitude we finde a pleasure which all the Empires of the world cannot give us I have now concluded my narration wherein you cannot but perspiciously see if that passion wherewith you are so inbued hath not already exoculated you that Love hath been the cause of my miseries made me the Sport of Fortune and tyraniously triumphed over my Liberty and who lastly with so many vicissitudes hath made me an abject to my self Here Euâ—ipedâ—s absolved his narration and Argelois beholding him some time in silence till having collocated his thoughts he in few words display'd them thus Give me leave to represent in briefe those Speculations which I have observ'd in your narration where you so satyrically inveigh against love which indeed if we retroâ—pect into the often vicissitudes of your fortune and into those Hurricanes of passions and dangers into which you have been driven by love we cannot but in Justice excuse you But as I conceive we are not to increpate a passion for the irregularities of others or of our selves for if virtue be adjoyned to it its effects are glorious if vice abominable So that the passion produceth effects according to the virtuous or vicious disposiof the person it agitates This distinguisheth Lust from Love for Love without virtue is Lust and Lust concatinated to virtue is Love This distinction it may be may be thought too grosse for the stricter and more refined Lovers will not admit of Lust though as I conceive it is the same which they call desire which being involved in the actions of virtue and as it were chain'd to it it cannot be perceiv'd to have a being and therefore so refined Lust is imperceivable and wholly converted to love Love some distinguish thus undetermined is Lust Lust determined to one Love This cannot be to those who as
with her attendâ—â—ts to come forth thereat who it may be were excited thither by my vociferation Marcipsius fearing his wickednesse should be discovered drew his sword and presâ—nting it to my breast swore if I departed not immediately he would transpierce my heart I was nothing solicitous of my life being enraged at his wickednesse so that I stopt not for his threats but continued calling him traitor stuprator and what ever rage first exhibited He made a thrust or two at me although he knew I had no weapon nor was of a sex to contend with him but I shifted well enough and to plague him the more I ran towards the Lady crying beware of this villaine this facinorous Marcipsius that trator that violator of faith and honesty that corruptor and vitiator of virgins The wicked Marcipsius cried out to them have a care of that mad man and running with his sword drawne made as if he had defended them till they were got within the posterne when he following them left me still craving the Gods to punish him for his Scelerity After I had wearied my self with exclaiming I return'd into the city and embarquing for Spain I at last after some retardation by the winds got safe to this place where I gave my fair mistresse this sad relation which was the cause of that heavy dolor you found her in when your sympathizing tears mixt with hers Wonder no more at her excesse of Laments since you know what cause she hath to complaine Atalanta's confident thus ended her discourse and casting her eye upon me to expect those words which I ought to have express'd against so egregious a perfidy she saw that I sat like an image wherein neither life nor soul had any residence She spake to me she toucht me she pull'd me but I neither hear'd nor felt for indeed grief so much augementd by the knowledg that I must loose the sovereign of my soul caus'd through my brothers wickednesse had taken away the use of all my senses and left me altogether impassible If before I could have lov'd her after her pollution I could not think now of enjoyning her after I knew it was my own brothers defilement Grief and amazedness held me a long time in this benummedness which the maid seing fearing some sudden sicknesse screem'd out being affrighted at my palenesse Atalanta came thither before I had recovered my selfe from that kind of Syncopy But in coming to my self ah cur'st traitor sigh'd I out ah inevitable ruin of my Life Atalanta wonder'd at the extraordinary passion and interest I shew'd at the knowledg of her misfortunes which did endear me the more unto her But seing me in that condition they would have conveigh'd me to bed till I at last perfectly recovering my self diverted their intentions and asham'd at the trouble I had put them to I excus'd it as well as I could Dear Sabane said Atalanta you are too much mov'd at the misfortunes of another I cannot but wonder that your magnanimous soul bearing your own so well should be so much troubled at the audition of mine The most saxean hearts madam replyed I cannot but commiserate your condition nor none that shall hear your misfortunes but will curse that perfidious Marcipsius But that which so much amazed me was that that wicked vitiator should be so blinded as not to see his own happynesse but should forsake a beauty to which the Gods themselves might have lay'd a clame as being too good for the best of men These words imbued the native virmilion of her cheeks with a deeper crimson in graine See see continued I poynting to the wall which at that time by reason of a damp stood full of moyst drops on his hard side the very stones send forth their sudor and seem to generate teares out of their rocky substance that they might make you see by their weeping they have some kinde of feeling of your misfortunes can you then wonder how I should be so much mov'd when inanimates else would convince me of obduratenesse I see replyed she a little smiling that there is no contending with one that out of all objects will raise some evincing argument I that before was a comforter lack'd now to be comforted I that allwayes coveted the company of Atalanta now oftentimes shun'd it that I might secreetly vent my complaints and feed my sadnesse with solitary soliloquies all things were quite altered and I could not but be amaz'd as griev'd at the versutous power of that mutable Goddess They all saw my change but they could not well divine what might be the reason of 't I was now wholly eaten up with sadnesse and consum'd my time in trouble in teares and complaints against heaven earth Marcipsius and my self In the very extreemity of my trouble I should oft cry out ah I am constrain'd I am constrained to leave thee Atalanta began to repay those comfortable speeches I was us'd to solace her with and to become my physitian as I had been hers which indeed insted of comforting me encreast my dolor when I thought on my loss for by how much the more she was good to me and by how much the more the goodnesse of her nature was exhibited by so much the more I bewail'd my losse and considered the greatnesse of my misfortune This grief and trouble continuing it at last induc'd me to a sicknesse which perplexed every one of that small family by reason of the Love they bore me but Atalanta principally seem'd to forget her own trouble to engage her self into mine and sought the acquireing of my health almost with the losse of her own In this sicknesse I found some relaxation of my grief and by degrees began to overcome it and to be contented with my fortune Not that I lost any part or jot of the love I bore Atalanta but framing my selfe seeing I could no longer love her as a mistres to love her as a sister and to keep my love entire without desire of any other possession then I enjoyed To comfort and please my self with this kind of Platonick love to love only for virtues sake to have a passion with out carnal defires I sought many arguments to maintaine it to my self that it was the best love and seem'd most Caelestiall I would thus sometimes say to my self What is a little moment of pleasure that I should endure thus much pain for it For what is all this grief but because I cannot enjoy Atalanta It is not because she loves me not or because she despises me but because I have lost that carnall pleasure which I had hop'd to enjoy Surely that Love cannot be good which so poorly covets for its own ends I love her why because I might enjoy her Shall I not love her â—ow I am sure I shall not enjoy her or shall I pine my self to death for that which often times quenches the flames of love No doubt but Marcipsius lov'd her before he enjoy'd
happinesse without which he was no longer able to live he invented a figment to deceive you and all this time hath been an impostor and now knowing through a strange providence how nearly you have been engaged to his brother he quits all pretensions of being your servant any further than the laws of civillity and duty bind Atalanta at that instant let goe my hand and looking upon me with an eye in which I saw at once both pity and anger killed and revived my soul at the same time Blushes and palenesse took their turnes in her cheecks and amazed she stay'd in a suspence not knowing how to answer which caused me to speak thus Maddam behold a criminall that implores your goodnesse though I must confesse my crimes of so high a nature that they are almost impardonable with the most mercifull I deserve to be hated if I had been innocent in that I am allied so nearly to hatefull Marcipsius But ah Atalanta forget these resentments and let pity exuscitate your pardon remember that you have promised of what nature soever my crimes were to grant it remember the love you have borne Sabane let it not be converted to hatred to Lonoxia That is it I beg may be continued that your opinion of my goodnesse may not be diminished by this knowledge Alas to forgive my crimes and to hate me is but to kill me through grief I will freely offer my life as an expiament for my imposture so that after my death you will but retain me whole in your memory without remembring my crimes Remember that Sabane though an impostor never did any thing that may make your virtue blush to remember it It was love made me excurre into this crime on that I lay all the fault that you may be the better induced to forgive me since your selfe have been deceived by him Love I say Love hath been of such force as to make me thus disguise my self happy disguise under which I have received so many favours of divine Atalanta under which I have received that content which might have been envied by the Gods under which I have enjoyed the sight of my titular angell But cursed disguise under which I have prov'd an Impostor to innocent Atalanta I have loved you hoping rhat time might have made me worthy through my long services to have attained to that which now is not lawfull to thinke on But by a peculiar providence of the Gods finding that my brother hath made you his though accursed he hath forsaken you my designes which were honest are diverted and I forced at length after my sorrow and sicknesse to confesse it neverthelesse though I desire nothing at your hands my Love is inconvertible but it beares the same stamp that a brothers hath to a sister or is the same that your self divin Atalanta bore to the faigned Sabane after this free agnition let the remembrance of Sabane stir up your pity your pity your pardon and your pardon give life to Lonoxia who else dies to satisfie you for his imposture I ended with these words and my eyes being full of tears I awaited her sentence Remaining thus for somtime I saw that this sudden and unexpected accident had made her immovable What maddam said I cannot you yet determine what sentence to passe on this wretch whether life or death Alas though you 'r lought to emit so severe a sentance from so meak a soul I perceive you 'd have the impostor dye but you 'r lought to passe the sentance from your mouth you are not in a suspence whether he ought to live or no but whether you ought to command it Well! I le satisfie you without bidding the crime is too great to be pardoned yet say dear Atalanta as I have been an impostor so â— have been obsequious and faithfull in the love I bore you consider all the ancidents of Sabane and you will be forc'd to say that although Lonoxia followed the motions of his love passion yet he never transcur'd the bounds of vertue and lastly say I was wlling as far as able to satisfie for all my crimes At that instant trembling and casting my eyes about I espied a knife at the beds feet which I suddenly snatched and plucking open my bosome I will I will Madam cryed I give you satisfaction this shall execute your will As I lifted up my hand to have let her seen that I regarded my life lesse than her love and fear'd the loosing of it lesse than the acquiring her anger she caught hold on my arme Sabane said she so I must yet call you I cannot consent to this rigorous chastizement I confesse you have much amazed me and I should be more difficult to believe what you tell me did I not see the same virtue Sabane hath hitherto exhibited to remain still in Lonoxia But I command if my words may have any power that you forbear to injure your self and give me some time to revolve this accident in my mind Madam said I letting go the knife which she took from me I obey you I have wholly devoted my self to your service and though I may have purchased your hatred and displeasure it shall never be acquired by my disobedience Saying this I kissed her hand and departed I betook my selfe to the solitary walks and found a great relaxtion in my mind in that I had passed over that difficulty that so oppressed me and that I perceiv'd the Love she bore me in the faign'd condition of Sabane had taken too great an impression to be obliterated by the knowledge that I was Lonoxia I had not walked two hours but that the confident of Atalanta came to invite me to her mistris's chamber I followed her with perturbation enough I there found her governesse with her to whom she had related who I was who riseing from her bed side as I came in I know not said she what compellation to give you not how to behave my self towards you since the knowledg of your sudden Metamorphosis We are so accustomed to Sabane that we know not how to call you Lonoxia But since you are no longer what we have taken you for you must not be discontented if we are more severe since modesty commands it You have put Atalanta into no small passion by the knowledg of what you are since she has shewn those favours to Sabane which shames her to think they were given to Lonoxia And indeed it was enough justly to purchace her hatred had not the love she bore to Sabane made her consider the virtuous deportments of Lonoxia and forces her not to follow the dictates of her irritated humour I have at last pacified her and she hath given me leave to tell you that she will equally ballance the vertuous cariage care love and troubles of Sabane against all the crimes of Lonoxia and the Love she bore you under that name against the hatred you might have acquired under this So that she seales
I spent my years in bringing up this plant my brother Marcipsius having taken upon him the crown of Tingitana and gaining the confirmation if it from Augustus by his presents and bribes to his chiefest favourites promising an annuall tribute and acknowledgment that 't was from his donation married his coâ—sen the princesse of Bogudiana and enjoy'd that basly purchased crown some yeares in peace Marinus now entring into his fifth lustre I made known to him his parents which till then I had hid from him and exhorting him to virtue and patience and to the exercise of Hâ—roick actions and generosity which would obliterate the blot of his mother and his own extraction I gave him all the Instruction and admonition of a father and by my indulgency exacted from him a filial reverence and fear At last I desiring he should be known to his father I would not permit him to lye any longer in such obscurity and accompanying him my self to Tingis noâ— imagining the fire of malice and hatred could have been preserved alive so many years in the King my brother I presented him to him and discovering my self and Marinus I made known to him how he was his son But that wicked one having laid aside all sence of nature and humanity instead of forgetting my injuries and remembring I was his brother and that his son caused us to be imprizon'd and that very closely for fear we should be known who we were lest that the anger of his Queen for his crimes past or the discontent of his subjects for my imprisonment might cause some disturbance to his quiet We endured this restraint with a vertue which we made out of necessity near five years when on a sudden and unexpected by us our prison dores were broke open and we carried to the head of an armie of thirty thousand men to be their guides and conductors against Marcipsius This was occasioned through the evill reign of my brother and the discontents of his subjects and the great a version they allwayes had to him so that many and that of the cheif about him conspireing together procured this revolt and raised this army with great secresy in his further provinces They had not kept our imprisonment so close but that 't was known to some of these who knowing who I was design'd me presently for his successor and for their Generall They made very large remonstrances to me of the equity of their doings the wickednesse of their King and the affection they had to have me succeed Ambition and injury both at once solicited me but remembring that he was my brother and King I told them As I would not approve of the follies and weaknesse of their King so I could not tell how to take armes against a brother and a Prince whom I ought to obey I told them that the Quallity of a brother prohibited me revenge and that of a King swallow'd up all Injures And that what before I had acted against him was not for injuries done to my self but being bound by the obligations of love greater then those of Nature I was forced to what I did and haveing sufficiently compensated for that I could not revenge injuries done to my self And if they could not perswade themselves but that they ought to perpetrate their designes that at least they would not make me the executioner but rather return me to the prison from whence they brought me if I must be necessitated to obey one I had wholly frustrated their expectations if Marinus being more sensible of my injuries than of nature to a father so monstrous and obdurate had not engag'd himself to them and so perswaded me at least to bear him company in the field and see whether he could performe the practick of the Theory his tutors had taught him Father said he if the Pellaan heroe as my tutors have dictated to me acknowledged himself more beholden and bounden to the Stagyraean Sage for his learning and precepts than to Philip his father for 's life who lov'd him left him a kingdome and means to raise him to that stupendious greatnesse he attained to How much more ought I to acknowledg you and to revenge your injuries that have given me life by saving it that have educated cherisht and spent your selfe upon me on a father that begot me into misseries that hates me that imprizons me that seeks my death and ruin Let me give you this proof of my affection and shew you how sensible I am of injuries done you and that for my sake suffer me to make my father acknowledge me for his son by force and when it lyes in our power to use mercy I 'le make him give satisfaction for injuries done to the best and cheifest of my fathers and then we 'l put on the duty of a son and begg pardon for our selves Not to use any more of those arguments he us'd to perswade me the Love I bore him and the discretion I perceiv'd in those young yeares ty'd me to him inseparably and made me to accompany him in the warr which lasted long and was very Tragicall This war continued five years in which time we had many great battels many slain towns taken Cities and places dismantelled houses burnt the country forraged and all those sad disasters which inseparably follow a civill war The three first years victory still attended us and a sensible successe made us doubt of nothing that might crosse us But Marcipsius having gain'd notable experience in the warrs of Caesar kept himself so secure by the certain intelligence he had of all our councells by his agents so that there was nothing that we resolv'd on but he had notise of it before hand and still frustrated our projects and designes whether it were in knowing our intended marches that he might way-lay us with ambuscadoes or our intended besiegments that he might sufficiently prepare it against us or our sudden assaults that he might prevent us and having mony and men enough he keept us from advancing very neer Tingis The fifth year we came to a pitcht battell which prov'd fatall to us all the whole strength of both sides engaged and on the victory depended the decision of the Quarrell and Crown Both sides were very resolute and fought it out to the last man at least thirty thousand fell on both sides and the plain was like a sea of blood the contrary side prov'd victors Marinus was slain cover'd over all with wounds falling upon a rampart of dead bodies that he had slain My self kill'd in Marinus and having lost all the blood in my body fell amongst the dead But being preserv'd against my will by those that came to gain by the dead and cur'd of my wounds I left Africa With the like sorrow that I left Spain after the death of Atatanta I retired amongst those Pirates that I once commanded and the love they bare me not being extinguished in that intervallation of years that I had been
or Love proceeding from similitude of qualities or manners or of morall love generall or particular to men or naturall to children or parents all whose causes are indifferent and besides that passion on which I insist and which cannot be without diversity of sex as the other may But the cause of this as generally the chiefe cause of all love is an attractive power which causeth an expansion or emotion of the soule and spirits to an object which she thinks convenient for her and which must be a conception of need or want of the object Now privation it selfe is evill and love being privation and want of an object is therefore evill for the effect of it beeing desire seeks the possession of that object and so makes the love circular to attract that to the soule which she seemes to want Now if we then wanted nothing we should not desire any thing which shewes we are not compleat in our selves and desire being the exhibition of want and the effect of love shews that the foundation it self is evill for that it is grounded on want Then besides if you look upon the outward cause of attraction whether it be beauty or any other exterior quality of the object beloved and the possession of it desired which is alwayes suffulted with hope the very causes themselves being vanity or not worthy objects for the soules egression to or opperation upon that desire and that love cannot be good the causes themselves being not absolutely good but vain and transitory But this by the way the chief thing I proposed was to insist on the effects of this passion which plainly exhibit the evils of it and out of which as from the fountains head all other evill passions have sprung This also we may consider in relation to the body and to the soule First consider this in relation to the body and that must be relatively and as it is joyned with other passions whose motions cause the diversity of motions in the body Through this the body which is as it were the case of the soul is imbued through the conjunction of the soule with the body with pain with languishing with restlesseness and all the senss feel the effects of this passion upon the soul by exposing the body to danger by wounds by torments and oft times by death all which happen through the exuscitation of other passions Now the soule suffers innumerable evills for first all passions as griefe hatred envie wrath malice revenge disdain and divers other particular passions which spring from this love all which falling upon the body agitate it to diversity of motions and without rest causes the soule to a continuall solicitous care of obtaining the object of its desires which if once hope faile then dispair the foretunner of mischiefe carries the soule into wonderful precipitancies and if in its best estate that hope continues it is never without fear jealousie and a soâ—icitrous care of conserving the object of its love so that the soul is under a continuall agitation by those paâ—sions that necessarily accompany love and so cannot enjoy the rest it ought to have But now to leave this kind of Philosphicall discourse let us speake of it morally and let us consider the evill effects it hath produced in the world and then we will define it thus Love is a most fatall plague a most venemous poyson a most ardent and foolish desire and the source and fountaine of all evill Men when once they are entred into this passion quite lose their former natures for this passion contaminates their reaâ—on tyranizeth over their wills makes them subject to the egregious fancies of the object they seek to acquire it deprives them of Jugdment â—â—ills them with all manner of passions which caries them into aâ—l mannâ—â— of preciptation their minds are continually tost to and fro on the wheel of love being stimulated with that Oestrum they are jacted câ—â—â—â—ted agitated versated by this passion and fill'd with exanimation distinction direption and accompanyed with cares feares jealousies false and faint comforts disquiets languishings longings rage and what not that is evill and all but for the acquiring of a little vain pleasure which vanisheth assoon as 't is caught And besides all these folly lust sinne doings turbulent motions and precipitancies wait on lovers And if we should go about to summe up the bad consequences and effects of this passion with the evils it hath caused we should find them innumerable for what disturbances what commotions what hurly burlies what distractions what battalls what slaughtars hath it caused and what rapes what sinnes what polutions what sueds and what murthers hath it committed was it not the cause of the distruction of ancient Troy was it not the cause of the banishing Kings out of Rome Was it not the cause of the abolishing the Decemveri hath it not been the cause of many murders was it not the cause of the wicked and inhumane slaughter of Absyrtus the brother of Medea was it not the losse of Megara when Nisus lost his fatal hair by his daughter Scylla Alas it would be endlesse to recount these things so well known and generall hated and yet this dispicable unprofitable and dangerous passion cannot be shunned but embraced by those who acknowledge the evills of it but yet wilfully maintaine its interests They cannot take example by others nor shun the precipicies they see others fall into before their eyes but that they also must rush into them Neither can I see any good at all that this passion doth produce but on the contrary those that are free from it enjoy all the quiets felicity ease pleasures and freedome which the other are incapable of and which is most miserable of all of free men and unconstrained they become slaves subjects and bound to obey the motions of their owne passion and will of an inconsiderate mistris who it may be is as dispicable in the unblinded eye of another as she is lovely in his Nor let it serve any to excuse it by saying they are forced and cannot decusse it for it is impossible for all men to mastre this passion if they resolve to set their wills to doe it but so long as they account it good and best for them they are not able to overcome it because they doe not seek it truly but cherish and obey every motion that cometh from it But if they were once convinced of the evill of this passion and were resolved to forsake it I make no question of the possibility of their effecting it There may be divers wayes proposed for the decussion or prevention of this evill the chief of which as I suppose is a constant imployment of the mind either in study or armes whereby it may have no time to fall into that which as they say is accquired by a supine and idle life fit to entertaine such a guest and justly sent as a plague from the Gods to such a soule Other
impossible to let you know the palpitations of his heart at that time but Madam said he trembling I know not what it is you call passion but I rather think 't is some growing disease not ordinarily known for if I dare say so I find in the midst of these sadnesses a strange kind of pleasure which yet is afflictive and yet desired So that I cherish my disease and wish for no remedy for what appears so grievous in the eyes of others 'T is very strange reply'd Eliana that you should Love that which is your torment 'T is the part of a resigned soul answered Argelois to be content with what the Gods shall send if their hand hath afflicted me with this strange sicknesse I ought to accept of it as their gift knowing it proceeds from the powerfull hand of an uncontrouling deity The Gods seeme unjust reply'd Eliana to punish so severely the virteous and to let the most vicious go untouched We are not said Argelois to prescribe a way to heaven or to tell him who they are that ought to be punished for we are not able to peirce into the sins of men which are perceivable only to the penetrating eyes of Heaven He that seems most holy in the eyes of men may be most vicious in those of Heaven You know not Madam what I have deserved Truly my aspiring mind in that it hath given me audaciry above those of my quallity to so glorious a converse with your self hath deserved these thunders of dejection Virtue cannot sore to high return'd Eliana and it is but a vanity that possesses rhe great ones of the world to consider great births more than virtue for true honour proceads from virtue and is regulated by it therefore the Gods cannot do so great injustice as to punish you for making others happy by your company I rather thinke it is the meannesse of our deserts that make the Gods to interrupt the felicities we received by your conversation Men cannot be more pitifull than the Gods and I pity your dejection with all my heart That is enough said Argelois to make me happy and to establish me in my pristine condition for your pity is restorative Dardanus coming to them put an end to their discourse but Argelois finding the virtue of her speeches to operat much upon his soul and to relax the continual agitations of his thoughts he often engaged into the like discourse but with a great diligence lest he might discover the cause of his sadnesse and Melancholy Whilst he enjoyed that happiness of conversing with Eliana her words still prov'd a Nepenthe to his soul and gave some relaxation to that sadness that peâ—petually afflicted him But it lasted so short a time that 't was scarce perceiveable and no sooner had he left that Sun but his heart was contracted by the cruel frost of dispair which ushered in those killing thoughts that were most commonly his Companions and which very often had like to have precipitated him to death Dardanus seeing he strove in vain to perswade him out of that mestitude or to gain the knowledge of it from him resolv'd to satisfie his desire being his intent was only for the good of his friend by a secret auscultation of his miseries He often perceiv'd that he stole out to secret places of the woods where he believ'd he play'd the usual part of afflicted people who not having to whom they may commit their secrets blab them to the senseless trees or dumb animals whereby they find some ease but no remedy for their complaints Dardanus watch'd him one day and following him unseen to the wood crope near to the place where he lay amongst the thickest of the bows which intexed their leavy arms in one another and sheltred him from his sight sufficiently It was a long time before a world of ingeminated suspirations would give him leave to speak but at last casting his eyes up to heaven having laid himself upon an oblique bank he began to disburthen those oppressing thoughts by most pitifull complaints O Heaven said He with a pitifull tone will you force me to be my own executioner Will you not yet give leave to Atropos to conclude my destiny and free me from misery It is an act of your mercy to take away a life so unsupportable I beg not to be eas'd of my grief any other wayes than by death since it cannot be but by wronging the best of friends But what say I Do I ask for that death as will be so prejudicial to Dardanus since he loves me No let me live only for his sake O Gods ye are just and 't is sit that I endure these torments for the crimes I commit Ah! dear Dardanus Can you ah can you forgive me the crimes that I dayly commit against you in loving that beauty which is ordained by heaven for you and which is too divine for any other mortal than your self Yes Dardanus that shall be the last thing I will request when I leave this Love consumed carcase and I doubt not but thy goodness will forgive thy Argelois a crime which is forced upon him by the uncontrouling power of love who though he hath made me to love Eliana shall never cause me to injure thee by a thought of obtaining her were my birth answerable to her greatness No Dardanus dear Dardanus I hold that tye of friendship too dear to be broken for all the content of the whole world My life shall be sacrificed to maintain it and it shall be kept inviolable though for it I expire After some time of silence breaking forth with another tone Ah damnable thoughts cryed he what evil Daemon is this that gives these injections that tells me Love considers no friendship that for the consideration of Love we may lawfully break that tye That Rivals in love are unsupportable though friends or brothers That I ought to account him my enemy that is so to my desires and content That I ought to afflict my self when I may take the obstacle out of the way by a noble Combate which will be allowable in a rival O wicked cruel and deadly susurrations avoid all evil thoughts and know that 't is my self that is rival to my self It is Dardanus it is no other that is my rival were it any besides him he could not have lived so long to my torment though I had reaped nothing by his death Love must be satisfied and Rivals must share the prize by their deaths But 't is Dardanus to whom I ow more lives than one and 't is a great comfort to me ah my dear Dardanus that t is for thy sake I endure this torment Yea were it far greater which is impossible it should not be murmured at by Argelois but borne with patience as the most glorious tryall of my ftiendship After some little time of pausing and sighing Ah! more pleasing thoughts said he but yet unjust and unrighteous and that do not throughly consider
the nature of friendship You 'd have me to make my love known to Dardanus you perswade me he will pity me you tell me it is possible he may seek to content me and to leave his interest for me nay seek to gain Eliana to me You mind me that he beggs to know the cause of my saddnesse and that I do ill to deny it him and that it makes him suspect my love you tell me it will ease my miseries and put an end to my trouble Ah! pleasing thoughts true indeed I doubt not of generoâ—â—ty and excesse of friendship all this may be But must I be so selfish to rob my friend of that which is so much estemeed by my self No it is contrary to the nature of friendship to covet that for my self which will be a loss to my fâ—iend No no friends lay down their lives willingly for one another and how easie could I sacrifice many if I had them for to save thine Dardanus but this is far greater to endure a living and continuall death and to deny my self of what I love with so much passion this is the highest act of friendship and didst thou know it Dardanus thy self wouldst say so Yea Dardanus I can be content to deny my self and to see the fair Eliana thine without repining thou alone dost deserve her I will continue my abnegation and persevere in it till I am utterly consummated by my silence No Dardanus were I sure thou wouldest satisfie me and give me what I can wish and what alone will make me happy I mean the possession of Eliana I would not discover it to thee No no 't is far better that Argelois shold dye than that Dardanus should be deprive'd of that happinesse of enjoyning Eliana It is better for to let thee suspect my friendship than to discover this to thy hurt for 't is thy generosity that I fear and thy Love lest it should make thee consider me more than thy self How soon shouldst thou know it were I sure thou wouldst put a period to my life with thy ponyard for the wrong I do thee and for my audacity in loving Eliana How willingly should I receive it from thy hand and how glorious should my death be No no thou wilt be apt to pardon such a wretch as I therefore thou shalt not know my passion 'till death hath seal'd up these eyes nor then neither but to clear my self of the suspition of breach of frindship But ah misserable wretch cryed he out more vehemenâ—ly and looking discontentedly upon himself what unpardonable crimes hast thou committed and dost dayly commit against that divine princesse in whom is seated something more than mortall in takeing her name into thy mouth Oh unpardonable and deserving the worst of torments that thou who art ignobly and it may be spuriously borne thou that knowest not thy self and only raiz'd by the excesse of love in Dardanus that thou shouldest dare to offer to raise thy thoughts and so audaciously sublimely love a Princesse the fairest and divinest of princesses oh horrible thou deservest not one moment of life for sinning against Eliana and abuseing the goodnesse of Dardanus After the sending forth a few sighs and teares Ah divine Eliana went he on pardon me ah pardon me I confesse I love but 't is impossible for me to contradict a power so unconquerable Ah I do but conserve those flames in my heart that took their origenall from your eyes I preserve flamâ—s presumptious ones I confesse yet are they pure and châ—st flames and those that make me but adore you as a deity too good to be poluted by our defiling thoughts I confesse my self punishable in the hiâ— heâ—â— deâ—reâ— but yet am I unable to helpe my crimes I am forc'd to sin against you but pardon me ah divine Eliana that shall be one of the last requests I will make Dardanus that he gain your pardon after my death and that you may at last confesse though I was presumptuous and incomperably bold yet withall that I was conscious of my duty in repressing those flames that consum'd me with so much impetuosity and also that I knew that none was worthy of the incomperable Eliana but the matchlesse Dardanus Dardanus who heard this generous and pitifull complaint was oppressed with extreme agitations in his mind Fancy and friendship struggled for the victory and love and desire equally oppos'd each other it was sometime before he could overcome his resentments but at lâ—st that noble and invincible mind to whom both love and generosity were inseparable gave the palme of victory to his friendship and resolv'd to do an act worthy of so Heroic a soul What said he to himselfe after long strugling wilt thou have thy Argelois overcome thee in all things dost not thou hear his immense generosity ah true friend and wilt thou love lesse or lesse generously than he But greater considerations ought to move you than these 't is the love and life of Argelois How often have you said that the beauties nor other considerations of the whole world could be able to rob him of one graine of the love you bear him and shall the love of your self now stand in competition with it shall he dye for you by denying himself and cannot you foregoe that princesse for whom you have no passion to save his life dear Argelois I have commited a crime by expostulating so long that cannot be clear'd but by gaining thee the object of thy passion and full fruition of thy desires 'T is done Argelois be content thou art mine more than all the world and thy interests shall disengage my own And what hitherto I have sought for my selfe I will seek to acquire for thee Whil'st he was in these silent disputations Argelois had renewed his complaints ah heavens said he in what perplexities am I brought I am not able to endure the torments of life and yet I dare not wish my ease by the stroake of death love forbids me to live and love forbids me to dye At these words Dardanus not able to forbear longer ' rose from in the place where he was hid which action causing a rusling amongst the bowes so near to Argelois put him besides his complaints and made him forsake the earth and cast himselfe upon his feet to see what it was Dardanus rushing suddenly from among those close woven trees cast himselfe upon the neck of Argelois No Argelois shall not die said he but shall enjoy what he so passionatly desires Dardanus loves him too well to see him expire when 't is in his power to help it Argelois shew'd by his countenance how amazed and angry he was at this accident for not able to utter one word he cast his eyes about as if he would accuse the trees the birds and the heavens for contributing to this discovery or for having some intelligence with Dardanus I know not how many changes in his countenance were seen in a moment
faintly cease to exclaime against one who can do nothing injustly and from whom I ought to receive far more torments without murmuting These words bringing the Prince Dardanus out of one astonishment into another made him no longer doubt of that Prince but that it must needs be Arizobanes Pity brought him presently from his amazednesse when he saw he had forsaken his pen with these words Lamedon speaking to his squire I can write no more my sight is gone but be thou my faithfull depository and deliver this poynting to what he had written into the hands of the fair Pan he sanke at these words The Prince Dardanus running to him caught him in his armes and by the words he spake and teares he shed exhibited his sad resentments of his death See here said Epidauro pulling forth the rine wrapt up what love dictated at that time it may be these sanguinious characters may speak more movingly by insusing some part of that spirit that wrote them than I have done Argelois took them of Epidauro and turning to Panthea asked her if she would be pleased to hear them That princesse who was all Goodnesse and pity when she saw her interest in Epedauro's discourse was immovable She could object nothing either against the nature person or behaviour of Arizobanes he had quailities winning enough and a Prince worthy of that title by this action you have heard you may judge of his courage and to what exigent Love had drove him 'T was nothing but the imperious Love she bore Argelois that made her disregard that Prince and drive him to that despair Remorse seized on her and she repented of her last action that drove him to that precipitancy Pity and compassion sometimes is the procurer of Love and ushers it under their disguize Panthea felt something more moving than ordinary and she had believed at other times that she could have heard of his death and have been impassible But now she found the contary and all the courage she had could not suppresse those sad thoughts that oppressed her She looked upon her self as the murtherer of that Prince and imagined that his wound spake very dolefully and upbraided her for her obduratenesse Whether love or Pity 't is hard to be decided or both caused her teares but unwilling to discover them to Epedauro she turned her head toward Argelois and gave way to those drops which could not but be expected from so tender and susceptable a soul At last fixing her eyes upon Argelois she seemed to accuse him and to make him the cause of the disaster She suppressed her resentments what she could but yet there secreetly escap'd some of those assured messengers of an afflicted soul After she had continued in a sad and silent posture for some time turning to Epedauro and is the prince dead then said she could he not be recovered yes maddam â— reply'd Epedauro if it may be any comfort to you the incomperable Chiron hath shew'd the wonder of his skill and hath made known that he hath done as great a cure as Esculapius when he recovered virbius But yet madam went he on although he hath as it were been new born into this world he hath not forgot his old love and though Chiron hath sanated his wound yet it was impossible fot him to cure that of Love it must be a fairer hand than his that must close up that It is the cheifest cause of the Prince Dardanus's stay to perswade the newly recovered Arizobanes from perpetrating the like For fearing least he should be compelled to break your severe command he is dayly ready to offer a second sacrifice of himself There is no consideration can work with him for he thinks it his duty to die since you have banished him your fight Panthea was very joyfull that he was recovered though she found a great abatement of that pity which but now stimulated her the consideration of Argelois being too powerfull for its continuance But said she to Epedauro to put him besides that discourse he was in how did you recover him and how got you this writing you have brought Madam went he on my Lord the Prince having for a long time deplored the case of Arizobanes at last asked Chiron whether it were impossible to recover him and whether he could not shew he deserved the name he bore by making known the utmost of his care and skill Chiron immediately searching the wound with a probe found it large but not very deep and that the intestines being intacted he said he could with facility enough heal up the wound had he but blood and life in his body Life had issued out with his blood for that having had so large a passage had scarce left one drop in his body Châ—ron dispair'd for ever reviving him and would not have done his devoyres had it not been for the Prince I cannot believe said he that the gods will be so unjust as to let so great a soul die so iâ—nâ—bly being forc'd to it by the most spurious of all the gods who shews his malice to all the other Olympick Numens in forcing the vertuous and the righteous into such Lethal precipitances Try Chiron you know not what vertue may accompany your endeavours it may be Vitunus may inspire life through your means and recover a soul that hath nothing in him to be condemned but that he beareth the insignia of so cruel a God Chiron more to please the Prince than of any hopes he had to recover him desired he might be carried to some place where he might dress him with convenience Having call'd rhe rest of the servants and being conducted by Arizobane's Squire we carried the Prince in our arms to a small cottage about three hundred paces from the wood in which was none but two decrepit people who seeing the Prince dead fill'd their little Domicil with ejaculations we laid him in a bed and obscuring the room leâ— no light come in but what we received by tapers The Prince Chiron and my self being lest alone with Arizobanes and his Squire Chiron nearly stitching up the wound applyed those things which he believed most conduâ—eâ—n to its cure Presently we poured down his throat essences and other things that the incomparable Chiron had prepared and with hot cloaths and frications the Prince himself contributing his charitable hand to those labors sought to give new fire to that inanimate body We had laboured so long and found so little sign of life that we believed we had attempted a vanity and were about to give over a work carried on by the extream desire of the Prince when Chiron assured us the operation of his essences had played the part of Prometheus and had injected fire from their hidden vertue Before it was night we could all discern that there was life and that it was not impossible for us to revive him The Prince would not leave him all night but indefagitably continuing his charities shewed
safe in Sinope Leaving that poor Domicile with riches enough for these two entertainers to raise themselves a better fortune By easie jorneys we came to Sinope the Prince Dardanus receiving a great deal of honour from the King in consideration of those courtises Arizobanes had received in your fathers Court. After we had been there a little while the Kings courtesies and the Princes disquiets engaging his Highness to a longer stay he sent me expresly to let you know of his divertisements and to give you these bloody testimonies of Arizobanes's affection with the relation of these accidents Epidauro having thus finished his relation with a low reverence left the place The Princess Panthea must have forgot her self and have chang'd her nature if she had not resented these actions of passionate Arizobanes She found them too moving to leave her impassible and though they could not force her to love yet they compel'd her to a loving pity No consideration but that of the incomparable Argelois could have been able to have dissipated those clouds which a new Love began to raise in her thoughts She found more pity towards him than she willingly would have given him and that amorous deity had like to have surpriz'd her had she not at that instant cast her eyes on Argelois which dispel'd all those thoughts which began to assault her She found him busie in reading what Arizobanes had writ Let 's hear said she what that rash Lover hath wrot doth not he charge me with his crimes Argelois beginning those sanguinious lines read as foloweth The dying Prince ARIZOBANES to the incomparable Princesse PANTHEA BE not affrighted at these sanguinall characters nor account me immanâ— for sending you the picture of my Death delineated with my blood I possesse a place that could afford no other implements and I am sure none could speak better than these I have made use of This red inke hath a commixion of Love which should mitigate its territion and induce you to believe that 't is but the modesty of this rustick paper which blushes between those lillyes that hold it haveing never received such honor before But these blushes have a language which tells you that they were not formed by that extrinsicall blood which flowes in the veines but that it is that which allwayes incircled the heart of Arizobanes and that it is made purer than the rest by its vicinity to that fire which was injected into this heart from those faire luminaries that behold it This heart Madam hath a mouth too which tells you that it yet preserves that fire which is immortall and knowing you to be the Creator of it it comes to resigne the last sparks which it yet conserv eunder its palenesse It tells you silently that Arizobanes hath obeyed you commands and hath lived so long as he was able without that life you had deprived him of But it tells you too that he could sooner dye than break your comands and that without murmuring since it is for your repose I have but few minutes to live and that crimson stream which I freely shead hath almost exhausted its fonntaine and therefore I must contract those deprecations I had intended into this one that you will pardon all those insulsities caused by the vigor of my passion and believe after my death that his heart speaks true when it tells you I Lov The Prince said Argelois was forced to this imperfection by that fainting which accompanied the losse of his blood but I verily believe if strength had permitted that he would have added love with a passion unâ—atchable and intire to last the gaspe the fair princesse Panthea and that there was no content to that which he received in dyeing in obeâ—ience to your commands You have concluded it very well replyed she but the greatest enemy poor Arizobanes has is your self And I maddam said he professe my self his greatest friend and it is both contrary to my will and knowledg if it be otherwise It cannot be unknown to you replyed the princesse though it may be contrary to your will for I have broake through all those obstacles pudicity would have exhibited to make you know it At the end of these words she gave Argelois so languishing a look that it peircede to the noble seat of his soul But being willing to divert her from those thoughts which he saw agitate her Truly said he if I maynot be too bold I should tell you that Arizobanes did deserve a lesse rigorous chastizement and his passion might have been some excuse for any fault he might heve committed through the ardency thereof for I know it was too pure to cause any thing unpardonable pray madam what was the reaason that moved you to such a sudden severity Do you aske that reply'd she her resentments were so strong that it forced some tears from her eyes Yes Argelois I will tel you though thereby I must upbraid you with your inhumanity You were not ignorant Cruell one that the fire of Love was the cheifest inflammation of my blood and that which caused the greatest fire of my seavour You know that my debility had chained me fast to my bed when you desireous to kill me left me with an inhumanity innate to none but Tigers Yes you and my brother with the princesse Eliana left me and though I was recovering yet you know that it might have been the only remedy to have cured me of my love and life together I will not trouble you for I know it is erksome to tell you of those cruciations proper to those are diseased by the Cyprian ague 'T is enough to let you know I was in the midst of those unequall sits when to augment them Arizobanes came to court He might well observe in my face that I badly resented his company and that 't was intolerable whilest I sometimes fried in flames and at other times was frozen in Ice I endured his ardences and company as long as I could but when I saw that it hindred me from those thoughts I had given my self up to I fell into impatiences and unusuall angers which made me I confesse at last prohibit his stay any longer but I did not judge his passion would have led him to such a praecipice But I see now I revenged my self on the wrong object for after his departure I found no ease of that torment that before possest me every thing seemed to disturb me and indeed if I may say so I was not my self Arselia fearing I would have been distempered and have relapsed into my feavour perswaded the Physitians that solitarinesse was not agreeable to me and that my love to Eliana made me extreamly wanting of her company Those Aesculapians believing that the chainge of air would do me good perswaded the King my father to let me come hither to Eliana which was effected and you may believe if you please that it was nothing contrary to my will After she had beheld
studies he would give him leave to follow the exercise of armes that if ever he came to possess that Crown which his father enjoyed and which he wished might sit long upon his head he might know as well how to make use of his arms in war as of his learning in peace that by the one he might quell the rebellious and by the other maintain in peace the disobedient With this letter he dispatched Chiron with hopes of his sudden return The day being come wherein Argelois according to his promise was to meet those forces destined for Armenia we departed from Miletus the Prince using that liberality that evermore accompanieth able and generous spirits Miletus and his wife could not restrain those tears which natural Love extracted at the abrepsion of their son whose vertue indeed every where acquires the Love of the most barbarous When we were come to the place of randezvous the Captain of those Legions made Argelois a Centurion whose authority he equally shared with the Prince being at the height of his contentment in having so dear and noble a Companion If it might be lawfull to commemorate the actions of Fonteus and my self with those of our Masters I would tell you that we sought to imitate them in an affection so cordial and intire Fonteus and my self then began that amity which ever since we have kept inviolably and which cherisht our duties and love to our masters We having the honour to attend on them we marched into Armenia enduring those hardships which are attending on sudden and hard marches We there found a potent enemy to deal with but the courage of the soldiers and I may say the valour and judgement of the Prince and Argelois made us rather victors than else though their number almost trebled ours Tiberius was too slack in sending forces to this war which was maintained a long time with the ordinary Legions but at last perceiving the consequence of it He made Vitellus General of all the forces in the Orient and Lord President of Syria Whilst he was gathering his forces together that he might come to us with a considerable body we gained a notable victory against Artabanes in which conflict my Prince through the heat thar animated him had so far engaged himself that he was surrounded with his adversaries and had undoubtedly lost his life in a Corona of two or three hundred Parthians if his tutular Angel the invincible Argelois had not with a kind of prodigie broke that troop with the force and fury of his arm and made them know by the terror that he brought that there was nothing impossible for him to effect when the life of his friend was in danger Two more scirmishes we had before the Arrival of Vitellus in both which the Prince my master encountred with Arsaâ—es son to the King of Parthia and by the valor that he shewed made himself fear'd of the Parthians and esteemed of the Romans Artabanes supplying the slain with fresh men made up the breaches we had made and had got a very considerable body before Vitellus came to us Assoon as he was come he gain'd in Pharasmanes to assist him King of Hyberia to whose troops those were adjoyned which Argelois led We came at last to a battel with Orodes another son of Artabanus and one whose valor was much esteemed Dardanus that day made himself remarkable by the terror which he carried where ever he went He had cut himself a way through the midst of his enemies and with a lane of dead bodies came where Orodes was animaring his men and both by words and deeds instigateing them not to sink under the force of their enemies To him the Prince buckled who entertained him with courage and skill a long while they fought hemmed in with intermingled troops of Parthians and Romans who for the defence of these two leaders made the greatest conflict of the battle Dardanus at last wounded Orodes in many places who had undoubtedly died by his victorious hand had not a fresh supply thundred in amongst us seeing the danger of their Prince and carried him wounded as he was from under the sword of the Prince It was on him they sent all their fury for sleying those that opposed them they hemmed him in and thought to have triumphed over his life with their numbers I that was bound to follow him accompanied him in that exigent and saw those marvels he did which should I relate they would make you think I hyperbolized his actions or spake more by the rule of my affection than the verity of them So many death-giving weapons which surrounded him were not able to take away his life the boldest sell under his sword and served for Rampers of defence against other invaders he defended himself though wounded in many places and drowned in blood and sweat It was impossible but he must have yielded to their number wounds loss of blood and saintness and at last have fell amongst the extinct if Argelois had not arived who hearing of the danger of the Prince broke thorow with some resolute followers and there doing some of his usual wonders gave life and freedome to Dardanus and an absolute victory to the Romans By these and other exploits Argelois and Dardanus acquired so great fame amongst the Romans that they thought them somewhat more than men and gave them more applauses than their modesties would permit them to take The most noblest sought to acquire their friendship and both the Generals and Souldiers sought to give them testimonies of their common resentments with their applauses and civilities At last the Parthians were beaten and Vitellus with the chief of his Army retired to Artaxata where they made great preparations for the crowning of Tyridates King of Arminia At the same time the Clites a people of Capadocia rebelled against whom Vitellus sent Tribulus with four thousand of the legionary soldiers with the choisest of the Auxilliaries This Tribulus above all the rest had in great estimation the Prince Dardanus and had shewed his affection by his many civilities Dardanus on the other side shewed that his vertue and his valor had won him to a very great familiarity and that he presered him to all the Romans in the Army There being now no longer occasion of shewing their valor in Arminia that being the chiefest cause of their jorney they put themselves amongst the forces of Tribulus who extraemely joyfull of their company told them that he accounted his enemies already slain fince he was accompanied with that valor that was invincible He gave them the cheif command under himself and by many other civilities made it appeare that his love and affection was sincere You must not doubt but that those people we went against were soon over come having to deal with the conquerers of Nations and the two invincible youths my Prince and Argelois We indeed routed them and quieted that nation notwithstanding those scopulosous and nemorosous
as resolute as my selfe by which means as fortune had rob'd me of my content and dispossessed me of my greatest riches so now becoming her executioner I made others miserable by their losses who seemed to be her favourities and enriched the coffers of my praedonians with inaestimable treasure taken on the Seas It was now that fortune gave me a very happy encounter and made me some amends for her former injuries I was gliding over the Tuscane sea when I perceiv'd one of my vessels in fight with another I bore up to her to afford her my helpe and to make sure of the prey but before I came I perceived that she was taken and my men slain and prisoners a thing not usual it was to see them overcome which made me believe I should find so stout a resistance that I should not seek any further for the death I wish'd for I came up encouraging my men to revenge the death of their fellows and falling abord on them I expected a sufficient number of them to resist me but I wondered to see so many slain and taken prisoners by the prodigious valour of one man A shamed to assault him with so many I commanded them to keep their ship and to leave me the glory of that combate They obeying me I entred the ship wherein Euripedes had done such wonders for it was he and encountering him I found that I had need of the assistance of all my men to overcome him I sustained the sury of his arm at least an hower but not without wounds and undoubtedly I had fell under his strenuous arme had not my men at that time breaking their wonted obedience through the great fear they had of my life rushed all into the ship to assaile him I was extraordinarily moved at their basenesse and fearing their temerity I turned about and defended my enemy What said I opposing them with my sword after all your loyalty will you now give me proofs of your disobedience I had thought you had not been capable of such basenesse I have hitherto opposed my self against a valour that is invincible but now I 'le defend my enemy rather then suffer this ignobility These words stoped their motion and made them retire turning about to Euripdes Sir said I you shall have no odds le ts finish what you have so bravely begun Euripeles being truly generous replyed It is a folly to opose you since you have two weapons which make you invincible valour and generosity it is enough that you have overcome me with the first let me not be altogether conquered in the last I proffer you my sword and service and give you all the signals of victory Alas said I how unjustly you attribute this to me which I ought to have given you But we must finish our combate 't is not out of hopes that I shall prove the victor 't is a thing I desire not but out of a desire I have to receive the death I have so long sought by the hand of one so valorous You shall never find it under mine reply'd the generous Euripedes I will not commit so heynous a crime as to offend my defender but if you 'l honour me with your friendship I shall prize it above the victory if not yet give me leave to render you proofes of my servitude With that he offered me the pummel of his sword I was vext at his refusal to fight and stepping back I bid him stand upon his guard and thinking to irritate him with my blows I renew'd the fight he indeed defended himself but would not strike to hurt me What said I very angry you esteem me not worthy enough to exercise your valour upon with this giving him a forceable blow his guard being low I cut his hand wrist and as fortune would a braslet which surrounded it This put a period to my anger for I no sooner saw it but I knew it by a remarkable stone in the midst of it to be the same that I had put about the neck of Atalanta's child I took it up and with an action that testified my amazedness I beheld it and assuring my self that it was the same I was not slack to know of him how he had acquired it He very courteously satisfying my demand I must live now cryed I out since duty binds me to perform what I owe to Atalanta O gods what ought I to expect from that infant since ye have preserv'd it so miraculously I presently crav'd pardon for my insolencies and it was as soon granted by generous Euripedes I gave him a brief relation of Atalanta's misfortunes and my own whereby he saw what interest I had in the child and entring into a very near league of friendship I conducted him and the fair Amenia into the Issick gulf He gave me direction to find Marinus which name he kept for the imposers sake and with wonderfull expression of his amity he left me to go and redeem the child which by a miracle fortune once more gave me I hasted back to my fortress and from thence to the place where Euripedes had left Marinus I found him redeem'd him and brought him back to the fort he was so well grown for those few years that I should scarce have believ'd it to be the same child that the storm had rapt from me had not the semblance of his mother and these tokens which were yet preserv'd that were lost with him sufficiently testified it It was a long time before I could get from the Pyrates so loth were they to part with me but at last I effected it through my continual importunities and desires and landing at Lixus with Marinus I discovered my self to my friends and was welcom'd with as great kindness as the sence of former obligations and a strict amiry could work in generous souls I was forc'd to make my self known but to few and those whom I knew neither the power of gold nor the sea of ruine could have any power upon to induce to prodite me for fear of the implacable hâ—â—e and revenge of my brother who not dying of those wounds I gave him had been recovered and sent out divers to murther me if I could be â—ound In this manner I spent many years in a private life among my friends having treasure enough to recompence their kindnesses and to serve me though I spent prodigally all the rest of my my dayes which the Pirates compell'd me to take with me The remembrance of Atalanta so often dejected me that had not the care education and protection of her Image put a necessity upon me of living I believe I had not reacht these dayes I made it my duty and delight to give him all the education both in literature and arms that others of his rank us'd to learn which he receiv'd with a nature propense to the highest attainments and prov'd so good a proficient in both that he was equally lov'd and admir'd of his â—utors Whilst