not so simple to be content with every thing they told neverthelesse he beleev'd part of it and well knew how to excuse the rest In the end Palamede and Ariana came backe againe into that Chamber and the day being neere spent Aristides and she tooke leave of all with a promise to returne the next day to see them They retir'd them to Maximus his house their ancient host with whom Palamede and Melintus had beene ever bold since they came to Rome when they were gone Emilia and Camilla entred upon a discourse of Ariana's perfections with great admiration Palamede confessing himselfe very proud in having so compleat a sister Melintus spake but coldly of her but Emilia observ'd a great deale of constraint in all he said and was perswaded that if he might freely have spoken of her not any in the company would have done it more to her advantage The evening pass'd away in those discourses and when Melintus found himselfe alone calling for those faire objects Ariana's presence had renued in him he began thus to be entertain'd with himselfe Ah! divine Ariana how deare is thy sight to mee and how every time I see thee dost thou appeare with new perfections It seemes you came hither to my reproach that my soule conceiv'd not perfectly enough of you before and that you will forme in it a new Idea more faire yet than that I have cherisht beauties that shall never find your equalls can I sufficiently affect you nay rather can you be more affected No considering the love I have for you cannot be greater than it is but why so seeing I feele it to be every day augmented by the new graces which are continually bred in you Oh! the sight that so ravishes me Ah Ariana how the glittering of your beauty replenishes my soule with light and how receiving you is my imagination possest with joyes But confesse too deare Idea that thou art receiv'd into a very pure place and regard with how much ardour and respect thou art there ador'd These sweet thoughts hinder'd him pleasingly from sleeping all night he was vexed at nothing but that he was found in that house whereupon he would faine have satisfied Ariana's mind The day after she came in the morning with the maid she lov'd so well cal'd Epicharis having left her father at home to repose him after the wearisomenesse of his journey When she knew her brother was not yet awake she went into Melintus chamber who receiv'd her with great joy and respect and Epicharis being away when she was set downe ready to speake to him and enquire of the state of his sicknesse he prevented her thus I am much confounded for this honour you doe mee Madam but yet I am more asham'd to see you in a place where vertue never entred but in your attendance Never will I answered she be of this beleefe seeing you your selfe are come hither before mee Ah! Madame replies he flie from this house too unworthy to be honour'd by your foot-steps if I have ever beene so happy to be approved by you for any quality I must needs lose that esteeme being found where I am and I conjure you not to prophane your selfe by the conversation of these Ladies that are so farre from the honour of your life I know well answers she what occasion hath brought you hither against your will and so farre is it from giving mee cause to blame you as I shall therefore admire your vertue while I live When I see you among ill company I should still beleeve it was but to correct them by your example and not to imitate them I am assur'd how much your honour is deare to you and am to thanke you for having care of mine whereof I would not feare to give you the direction if I doubted of my owne He replide To doubt of your wisedome Madam never did so criminall a conceit enter into my heart That were to call in question the thing in the world I have the most perfect knowledge of But pardon mee if I desire to see you be gone from a place which even my honour cannot endure but with horrour and where my indisposition retain's mee with so much violence The rules they here follow are so contrary to those you observe that I can expresse no contentment in the place but in compelling my mouth to contradict all my thoughts Melintus said Ariana I would from this very houre follow your advice if it were not yet a greater offence to forsake my brother and that man that never yet forsooke him Palamede replide Melintus is out of danger and may goe home to you and since your arrive I find my selfe too in estate to be able to be carried thither but I beseech you to retire you from hence and to receive this prayer I make you for the greatest service I shall ever be able to give Strange effects of a vertuous passion Melintus in stead of favouring the presence of his faire Ariana could not endure to see her in a place where he himselfe would not have beene his pure and perfect love taking offence at the least approach of things vicious and he did even seeme to foresee the mischiefe that was to come upon them by the stay she made in that lodging because that Marcelin came to visit Melintus and entred into his chamber when Ariana and he were speaking together This sight surpriz'd them both but much more Melintus to see a person he had so much cause to hate for Ariana not knowing him thought only Melintus had reason to wish her farre from thence since the entrance to that house was permitted to all persons and this man might give a strange censure of her Neverthelesse Melintus dissembling receiv'd him with a countenance open enough and Marcelin after he had inquir'd of his health began to regard Ariana with eyes of wonder and surprize But she to avoyd this curious viewing and the birth of some desires in him made as if for civilities sake that they might be free together she left them and went into Palamed's chamber then presently she went out of the house after she had desir'd him to returne that very day home to his fathers where she went to retire her Marcelin fail'd not to demand of Melintus who that handsome stranger was to which he was oblig'd to answer that she was Palamed's sister that was come with her father from Sicily upon the report of her brothers sicknesse and was to returne speedily thither againe finding him whole I did not beleeve sayes he that your Sicilian women had beene so faire you would but wrong your selves to come to seeke beauty at Rome Things answered Melintus that come from a farre off or that are sought in a farre country seeme ever the fairest for as for mee I would quit all Sicilians for one Roman Ladie And I replies he all the women of Rome for this Sicilian That discourse pleas'd not very well Melintus and he would
from Dicearchus and his Neece but Pisistratus came thither himselfe being in paine for Ariana he was so extremely in love with and it was he with some others that having seene Dicearchus demanded to salute Palamede and Melintus After the embracements of the dearest friends and the ordinary civilities of the rest Melintus knew that the very Deputies of the City were comming to see him He went as farre as out of the house to meet them and they perceiving him alighted from their horses and saluted him severally Then one of the number said to him that the great affection he had exprest to his Country could not be acknowledged but by the like care for every thing that might concerne him and in particular for the conservation of his life which they were now come to congratulate for that death had depriv'd him of a reasonable faire recompence he was to receive as to see himselfe blest the remainder of his dayes by all the people how that heretofore in Pisa he had acquir'd a victory glorious for him and for Syracuse but that the other he obtain'd at Rome surpassed that by farre as being both honourable to himselfe and profitable to his Countrey that it seemed he was not borne but to vanquish and to bee the safety of all being no sooner entred into Sicily but that he found new occasions of gaining honour to his owne person and preserving both the honour and lives of others He prayed him in conclusion to make haste to receive the praises and good wishes of so many as were made happy by his meanes and assured him that if the gods granted but the least part of the vowes were every day made for him he should be without doubt the most contented man in the world Melintus answered that hee receiv'd too much honour for so little merit that the services men doe to their Countrey are simply duties that there was not one amongst them that would not have sought the same benefit for Syracuse and that he was onely the happiest of them for having met with the occasion that if the Syracusians desir'd to put a greater obligation still upon him hee demanded not out of acknowledgement but grace that he might be heard in publike concerning a cause that was of consequence to him and that hee should have wherewithall to make triall of the peoples love in a matter of justice he was to require at their hands Not the eares alone said they but the mouthes too and hearts of the Syracusians are made your owne and if they finde the occasion of rendring you the good-turne they have had from you they will reckon that day in the number of the most fortunate of their life He desired them to be mindfull of that and from thence carried them to Dicearchus who honourably entertain'd them and was well pleas'd that they had given Melintus that honour making it his designe then to give him Ariana In the meane time that Dicearchus was busie with them and Palamede with Pisistratus and the rest Melintus got him from them all to goe finde Ariana and not to lose the time he might passe in her company Hee saw Erycine and Epicharis that had but now made an end of dressing her with so many advantages as he stood in a maze and spake nothing Shee feined a necessity of those ornaments being to receive so many persons of quality as were arriv'd but the principall cause was to give if it were possible more love to Melintus and indeed he was so ravish'd with seeing her that he almost forgat to make the relation of the Deputies he came from entertaining He told her at last they should be all oblig'd to returne that very day because the people would needs see them that hee could no longer also deferre the contentment of Telephus and Hyperia and besides that Dicearchus would wait on the Deputies into the City Ariana seeing they had so little time to be together tooke Melintus and Erycine by the hand and giving Epicharis charge to follow went with them downe a little winding staires that led into the Parke without passing by the Gardens and told them they were to take that time to walke in at liberty while they might be thought to be still a dressing When they were come to the great Allies Epicharis willing to favour these lovers made as if she would shew Erycine the places that best pleased her and went from them Hardly can Melintus his contentment be represented at what time he saw himselfe alone neere to his faire Mistresse after the measure of losing sight of them hee felt himselfe advanc'd to so high degrees of joy that hee could not expresse them with his owne eloquence Ariana knowing his silence proceeded from excesse of pleasure was willing to ease him and spake first to him I promis'd to shew you places here you had not seene before and to my liking the fairest that belong to the house I will carry you to a place here hard by that I have often visited since the wofull newes of yours and my brothers death you will finde that nature seemes to have made it of purpose to entertaine any thoughts one has a minde to but as heretofore it hath beene a witnesse of my sorrowes so will I have it now be of my contentments Madam answered Melintus if your satisfaction be as perfect as mine I esteeme you the happiest of the world but I doubt whether it may be equall to it being impossible you should have those faire causes of raptures that are presented to my soule Melintus replide Ariana it becomes me not to expresse to you the excesse of my joy and yet shame must needs give place to truth and I must confesse that yours cannot easily surpasse mine at the least you are depriv'd of this pleasure which is extreme in me to see you alive after I had mourn'd your losse for you cannot be sensible of that contentment not having beene tormented with the like griefe for me And I had lesse cause answered Melintus to hope for the honour of your affection than you to see me living and this happinesse ought to be much more sensible to me for my life cannot be so greatly beneficiall to you as the expressions of your affection are to me Ending this discourse he came to the place whither Ariana conducted him It was foure delicate springs of water that issued forth with noyse and spred themselves severally there about those Country places in the middest of them was a tuft of trees bent together that made a most delightfull shade underneath those trees slept a Diana of white Marble that in her returne from hunting seem'd to have chose the fraisheur of this place to repose in Melintus vow'd he had never seene any thing so delicious and being entred under those leavy Arbors Ariana sate her downe at the feet of the Diana and Melintus layd him upon the grasse at Ariana's feet not letting goe her hand A little after she
your good graces She could not answer me because some company came neare us and I was reasonably well pleas'd for having express'd my affection to her and the poore esteeme was made of Tygranes before I was separate from her I parted from Archelaus Court with a purpose to goe to Rome and to returne as speedily as I could into Armenia to acquit me of my charge where when I had stayed as little as I possibly might I was resolv'd to goe re-visit Pasithea the privation of whom was so cruell to mee that all the moments I passed without seeing her were so many years to me of insupportable punishments Judge Eurymedon continued he what misfortune 't was to mee to be taken by you at that time my very voyage it selfe was tedious enough to me and what kinde of life I must lead in this place where peradventure I lose the fortune of my Master and the dearest of my owne hopes Then teares abundantly flowed from his eyes whereat I was touched but yet more to know that I was the cause of so great a trouble in the affaires of Tyridates and the loves of that Prince all which obliged me to say to him I beleeve your greatest griefe comes from not daring to hope for any courtesie at our hands but I will let you see that my soule holds nothing of the cruelty of Pyrats I thinke the gods have sent you hither for my safety and it may be too they have made me be borne to serve you From this present I give you liberty without expecting your ransome any longer and render you all those that remaine of your men with the riches you have which are still intire but 't is upon condition you grant the request I will make you I have had a long desire continued I to quit the life of these Pyrats amongst whom I have beene educated against my will and thereupon I related to him all you have heard touching the incertainty of my birth and the manner of my living untill then Now added I you may make your voyage to Rome and depart when you please I onely desire this of you that we may live eternally friends and that you tell me where I shall finde you at your returne whether in Armenia or Troas for after having abandoned this Isle for ever I will returne to you in equipage worthy of a Prince that wee may no more be separated Araxes at the beginning of this discourse knew not if he should beleeve what I said but seeing at last that I spake seriously he cast himselfe upon his knees before me and said That he made no doubt but my birth was of the most illustrious since I did actions that appertained not but to the gods and the greatest Princes of the world that if he receiv'd of me so great a grace he had an obligation to me which all his services could never acquit him of and that if he were so happy as to see me one day in Armenia I should acknowledge what resentment he had of so singular a favour In the end he made me a thousand oaths to assure me that never man was so redeuable to another as he should be to me after having receiv'd an office so important to his life I lift him up againe and having embrac'd him to sweare yet to him an eternall friendship we consulted together and found that he requir'd at least two moneths for his voyage he demanded of me that terme within which time he would without faile render himselfe in Troas with the Princesse Pasithea if there arriv'd to him no second misfortune that yet he ought not so to cal the incounter he had made of me since he had gained more in this mis-adventure than he could ever have acquired in the most happy accidents of his life I furnish'd his vessell the best I could wherein I made to be re-imbarqued all his men with what he had lost besides I added to that some presents of my owne to the end he might remember me whilest I should dispose of my affaires to forsake secretly those that had bred me without their doubting of my designe My companions had sorrow enough to see so much riches carried away from them but they respected mee with so much honour that they never durst expresse any thing of it to me At last I let Araxes depart from our Ile after many embracements accompanied with protestations of friendship Afterwards I was some time amongst the Pyrats living more than ever after their mode and approving all their actions to the end they might have no mistrust of me But when I saw the time approaching that Araxes had given mee I began to choose out those that were the most affectionate to me to follow me in my enterprise One day having assembled them I represented what our course of life was incessantly to purchase wealth without knowing whereupon to employ it For said I to them in the ordinary life of men I finde excusable those that labour to accumulate goods for the sustentation of their families or for satisfying their ambition which cannot be done without their succours But wee have no children for whom we might have cause to travell and for the degrees of honour we deferre them not to the most rich but to the most valiant What fury then possesses us to thrust our selves incessantly into perill and to trouble the repose and commerce of all other men This same valour wherein we surmount others may make us gloriously acquire in the wars that which now we infamously gaine by rapine If all the world feare us we feare all the world also and measuring our number with that of the rest of men we have farre the greater part our enemies Others againe have this advantage above us that being in our power either they goe out by ransome or else receive their death with innocence and we are certaine being taken to dye by the most shamefull punishment can be inflicted upon villaines Besides all this I doe not beleeve the Romans will let us any longer live in repose there is no doubt but in the returne from the Parthian warre Corbulo will scowre the Seas of Pyrats as easily as Pompey heretofore did The more valiant we have beene of late the more complaints have wee provok'd against us and the more we have made our selves redoubtable with the more puissance and resolution will they come to assaile us Why shall wee continue living after this fashion when we may be seene among other men with more honour and safety and with as much advantage I beleeve I will not give place in valour to any Captaine in the world and I am assured there are no Souldiers in Corbulo's Army more courageous than you in the meane time we let them beare away the spoyles of all the earth and the applauses of all men while we amuse our selves unworthily in running over the Sea to wait for the passage of a Merchant Let us goe my companions
remaines of these miserable men and he will not faile to take us for the same Vessell that brought you away This proposition was found very good by the Princesse who smiled hearing the invention of it and at the same time strucke a thousand wounds into my heart I tooke her by the hand and made her passe into my Brigantine and instantly I caused divers holes to be made in that we came out of whereby it tooke water on all sides and a little after appear'd nothing of it above the Sea I had impatiency till this other Vessell arrived so desirous was I to please this faire Princesse whose sweet Majesty already bound my heart with a thousand chains At last I see it appeare and withall gave order to make them feine a slow flight and that when they should aboord us they would let a part of them enter I tooke onely a helme and put downe the visiere for feare they should be shye of entring seeing unknowne faces The Captaine of the other ship was armed just so when he leaped into ours and he said as he entred Ha traitors I shall reward you well for carrying away such a Princesse but he found what he never expected for I received him with so great blowes that he perceiv'd with astonishment that they spared him not I sweare to you I was asham'd for so facile a victory yet having promis'd the Princesse to punish him before her eyes I strucke him downe at my feet and willing to cut off his head I made her be called that he might dye in her presence but when I snatch'd off the helmet from this wretch that lay at my feet I stood immoveable to see it was Araxes Then my spirit was troubled with a thousand confusions to have thus treated him I went to seeke in Troas and on the other side I had promis'd the Princesse not to spare him whereat she wondering I very sadly regarded her and casting me downe at her feet said Ha! Madam how miserable am I I must either disobey you or kill my friend She embrac'd me to lift me up and said to me How is 't possible you should be friend to so wicked a man being so generous as you are Neverthelesse I will be satisfied for your sake with the punition he hath received and will have you give him his life I thanked her for this grace she gave us both and went to make Araxes bloud be stopped which he lost on all sides He was so ashamed and confounded for what he saw being yet scarce disabused that he durst neither lift up his eyes to me nor to the Princesse that was the faire Pasithea his Mistresse yet he let his hurts be accommodated and in the meane time I went to demand of the Princesse if she desired not I should wait on her backe to Lesbos This is that said she I beseech you to doe Presently I made Araxes be return'd into his owne ship and recommended him to his people commanding them to follow mine Having given order for every thing I had now no more care but to entertaine this faire Princesse and although the friendship I had promis'd Araxes strove to impeach the birth of my love yet it kept not so good guard but that there entred by little and little much passion into my soule and I did my selfe turne away my thought from that friendship to favour the surprise and betrayed it of purpose to let my selfe be taken This Princesse made me so great thanks that I knew not what to answer to her obligeant words and the more she express'd her selfe redeuable to me for the succours I had so timely brought her the more she reduc'd me to have need of hers After having assured her of my service and that she might dispose of my life I intreated that she would not declare Araxes for author ofher carrying away which she promised me At length we arrived in the Port of Mitylene where there was already come running together much people with the King Archelaus her father who was then in that I le and much troubled to set out Vessels for to follow after those that carried away his onely daughter We descended and the King comming to embrace his deare daughter demanded her how she had beene saved See there said she to him shewing me the man to whom I owe my honour and life which his valour hath conserved me The King came to embrace mee and assured me that I might dispose of all his estates in exchange of so deare an assistance He asked who those might be that would have stollen her away and I well knew she would oblige me at what time she answered I beleeve they were some of these Sea-coursers of whom there was not left a man for that their vessell was sunke to the bottome Araxes replied the King has not he met with you No answered she and it may be he has taken some other course But continued Eurymedon I cannot but recount to you the peoples rejoycings for Pasithea's safety there were nothing but exclamations of joy round about us and so great a throng that we were in danger of stifling I knew very well that she was infinitely beloved but the cause of that love I shall tell you some other time I commanded those of my ship to returne to Sea along the coast to goe meet with Araxes his who yet appear'd not and to advertise him not to faile to returne to the Court to have himselfe cured and that the King had no suspition of him I retain'd by me two or three of mine only and with them accompanied the King and Princesse to the Palace where they would have me be lodged as long as I desir'd to remaine in that Countrey Archelaus demanded me if there were no meanes to know whom they had so great an obligation to I told him they called me Eurymedon as for my birth that I knew it not my selfe and how they that bred me would perswade me that I was of a royall bloud They were satisfied with that for the time then conducted me into a chamber where they prayed me to repose but I told them my travell had not beene so great as to oblige me to take rest before night I reconducted them into their retiring chambers and by the way admir'd the number of Lords that came to kisse the Robe of Pasithea and expresse their extreme joy to see her againe And indeed the qualities of this Princesse were admirable as I came afterwards to know Besides her marvellous beauty she had so many charmes in all her actions whether in the sweetnesse of her looks or in the obliging familiarity she used to all that approacht her that she acquir'd not the benevolence onely but the passionate love of all those that could see or speake to her All the strange Princes that came to her fathers Court could no more part from her those of the Countrey that had beene acquainted with her of a longer
feined not to understand what he would say to me but for all that I was not sorry when he came neare me and I tooke the paines to entertaine him with the best discourse I was able Dicearchus was not in that esteeme with me because I knew him to be a violent and an artificiall man and I judged that his humor would never agree well with mine My mother soone perceiv'd the purpose of Hermocrates and was well content therewithall so as she was never displeased that he should speake to me and the first time he found the occasion to come to our house she assur'd him that the entrance to it should ever be open for him He receiv'd this permission with a great deale of respect and made very discreet use thereof but Dicearchus could not suffer to see a rivall so well intreated and to finde himselfe so distant from our good graces beleeving that he was not so removed but by the advancement of Hermocrates He had recourse to a thousand devices and at last counterfetted a letter which he sent to my mother as if Eryx who was Hermocrates father had written it to her wherein he advertis'd her not to receive any more his sonne at her house and that he had other designes for him that if shee of her owne accord hindred not those frequent visits of Hermocrates hee should himselfe be forc'd to doe it by a meanes that would be heard with no very agreeable noyse to her See what a crafty plot here was see my mother then in a great wonder and more offended withall As soone as Hermocrates came to see her she prayed him to come no more at her house neverthelesse with so much temper as she express'd no discontentment at all to him beleeving that he had no part in what his father had written to her Hermocrates although my mother us'd him with no discourtesie was yet in a great surprize and besought her an hundred times to tell him what fault he could commit against the respect he ought us She would reveale nothing of the matter to him but in the end she told him that Eryx was not well pleas'd with their friendship He confess'd that his father indeed had propos'd a marriage for him but that it was a thing so unlikely that he beleev'd verily he thought no more of it No no Hermocrates replied she he has forbidden me by writing to receive you here any more but I thinke he might have express'd his aversion to us by something a civiller way Ha Madam sayes he is it possible this you tell me 'T is so true answer'd she that without opposing his desire or my owne honour I can no longer suffer you in this house Then he went his way overcome with displeasure and not knowing how hee should make shift to live any more because that as hee had a great respect and love towards his father so he had also as great a resentment of the injury he thought he had receiv'd from him in such sort that piety and choler began a combat in his soule which gave him no repose at all When he was at home he durst not lift up his eyes upon Eryx for feare of offending him with an ill looke for it had beene impossible for him to see him without paine He would not wish his father any evill and yet he could not desire any good to him so as having liv'd some time in this trouble of spirit he could not rid himselfe of at last he fell sicke and the more care Eryx express'd to have of him the more did his sicknesse increase This good father full of griefe to see in that danger his sonne whom he had reason to cherish as well for the lovelinesse of his person as because he was the onely one he bad who for all this gave no comfort to his sorrow not enduring the sight of him and refusing from his hand the remedies he offered him knew not whence this aversion should proceed of his sonne towards him and shed teares abundantly Hermocrates on the other side seeing his father in that perplexity accused himselfe for an ungracious sonne so to torment his owne father and could not tell whether he should wish himselfe dead or alive well knowing that if he dyed he should but heape sorrowes and anguishes upon the old age of those that brought him into the world and by living he could expect no contentment from them nor give them any But at length Eryx prayed his wife to aske him what cause he had not to love him and if ever he had given him any occasion to be displeased with him that having receiv'd of the gods a sonne so vertuous and obedient hee should thinke himselfe very ingrate towards them and himselfe too if ever it should happen that he gave him any displeasure His mother labour'd to get this secret out of him but he could never be perswaded to accuse his father and hee was resolv'd rather to dye than a word should escape him that shewed any want of respect She forced her selfe many times to make him declare his griefe which she doubted he concealed though she knew no cause he had for it but it was impossible to draw any thing from him In the end this good father outraged with affliction could no longer containe himselfe but approaching his sonnes bed he put himselfe on his knees before him and full of teares prayed him to tell him if ever he had displeas'd him in any thing Hermocrates ashamed at this submission and beleeving he received an injury rather than an honour by it kneeled him downe upon his bed and bowing towards his father desired him as he embrac'd him to rise up and not make his pitty guilty of shame by an abasement unworthy of him No sayes Eryx to him I will never rise untill you have told me wherein I have given you displeasure Ha my father sayes he must I have beene so unfortunate as not to have inviolably followed all your desires and that my affections should be repugnant unto yours What would you say replied Eryx speake more clearely my sonne for I doe not think you have ever oppos'd the thing I desi'rd of you and besides I promise you never to be contrary to any thing you shall desire of mee No no father answer'd Hermocrates be well assured I will never be disobedient to you and I shall take order with my selfe for your sake for ever thinking upon Euphrosyne but. Then he made a stop and his father said to him Goe on sonne and feare not to tell me what you desire you shall learne me what I know not yet and peradventure what I shall as much desire as your selfe Ha! father sayes Hermocrates if it be lawfull for mee to put a reproach upon you your letter made no such expression that you would desire it What letter answered he But not to seeme troublesome to you continued Euphrosyne the good father knew at last there had beene sent to my
secret Acidalia knew well I spake as one interessed and that made her doubt the goodnesse of my reasons and yet she beleev'd me for a while But at last Attalus having perceiv'd her inclination which she could nolonger conceale began to be more sparing of his buffonnery in all companies and express'd to her that he made use of those actions but onely to please her This oblig'd her entirely and Attalus knowing what progresse he made in her good graces set himselfe forward to take other liberties of her without any great hazard for if shee would not suffer him it was excus'd by the free humour of Attalus and if she would suffer him he knew well how to use the same favour often All this I saw with a great deale of despight but could not remedy it and still I loved her infinitely and my love increasing augmented my rage to see him receive favours I durst not pretend to Acidalia let her selfe be so transported with this foolish love of Attalus that she could now conceale it no longer if he were in any place she must instantly leave what company soever to goe to him and she was so blinded in admiring all he did as shee perceiv'd not the visible appearance she made to every one of her passion I represented to her as discreetly as I could what injury she did her selfe and let her see that she ought to esteeme of me otherwise than oâ— him but shee could not endure to heare me speake any more after that fashion and I perceiv'd she began to shun me for feare I should importune her with this discourse and had no care now but for her Attalus I must needs relate to you in the end the cruellest of my griefes and the subject of all my shame One day I went to her house something late in the afternoone and knowing she was gone out to walke I resolv'd to attend her in her chamber and layd me downe upon a bed where insensibly I fell asleepe But yet I awaked when she came in and saw Attalus alone with her in the Chamber she knew not I was in the house so as I remov'd as farre as I could toward the farther side of the bed into the darke for feare of being perceiv'd but so as I could see what they did She tooke off the handkercher that cover'd her necke and presently Attalus set himselfe to kisse it freely enough because she tooke pleasure in those caresses and in the conceited flatreries wherewith he admir'd the beauty of that necke and confessed himselfe beholding for the liberty she gave him then he added in mockery But truly Madam you ought to grant the like favours to Dicearchus that loves you so seriously and she answered him If I should permit him the same he would never take them with so good a grace as you doe I was strucke to the quicke at those words but yet I endur'd farre more sensible blowes after They sate them downe upon seats that were at the bed feet where indeed I could not see them but I might easily heare what they said After some discourses expressing that she permitted him great privacies I heard her say Ha gods Attalus let me alone are you not yet satisfied and a while after she added Well are you now content I beleeve for the present that she onely permitted him some liberties which yet are not to be suffered but then my jealousie forced me to beleeve that those words signified he had obtain'd the very last favours of her and never casting so much as a doubt of it I entred into so great a fury as I repented me a hundred times that I had not a poniard about me for to kill them both but being unable to revenge my selfe at that time my shame and my despight constrain'd me to hold my peace for feare they knew I had beene a witnesse of their kindnesses They went away soone enough for being surpriz'd and for me having stayed some time full of confusion and rage I retir'd me as secretly as I could with more feare of being discovered than if I had done an action my selfe that were very shamefull When I was at home I shut my selfe up alone and there my love provoked by so cruell an offence abandon'd me to fury and despaire I tore my haire I outrageously strucke my selfe and acted all that a violent rage forces one to doe I saw well enough that I might despise this Acidalia and leave her at liberty with her Attalus but I was so powerfully engaged to love her as I beleev'd I had receiv'd as great an injury from her as if already shee had beene my wife I considered her in her fault and then despised her but presently I imagin'd her as handsome as might be and then I could not so much as endure the thought that another should possesse her But what said I shall I love her still and not rather have in disdaine a person defiled the shame of her sex and the reliques of Attalus Shall I still continue to desire what I ought to have in horror and esteeme my selfe miserable for having beene a witnesse of that she endured in stead of rejoycing for having knowne her levity and weaknesse No no let us be more wise and expell out of our minde this beauty that hides so many defects and hath not offended my love but in destroying it selfe I remain'd some time in this resolution and a little after this Acidalia return'd into my mind with more charmes than ever and it seem'd my imagination was pleas'd in representing her to mee the more gloriously to keepe me from forgetting her and embroyle me in a greater trouble Then I replied thus What then shall I leave her in the possession of another and while I am in paine to be deliver'd from so sweet and cruell a remembrance shall Attalus peaceably enjoy Acidalia and taste as many delights as I torments Whither shall I flye Wretched man shall I stay at Corinth to see continually my owne misery and be the more sensible of it or rather returne to Syracuse to see on the other side Hermocrates happy with Euphrosyne whose contentments will every houre renue in my memory those of Attalus with Acidalia Acidalia thou cruell ingrate foolish unchaste woman can I still love thee But againe Acidalia full of beauty of graces and of charmes can I not love thee Spirit unworthy to be loved of me but beauty worthy of all the vowes of the earth O despight O love what am I to doe Shall I love her or shall I not love her My soule was thus agitated with a thousand furious and extravagant thoughts and my rage so transported me as I conceived a resolution whereat you will blesse your selfe not finding the like to have beene taken by any man in all the ages of the world No said I 't is certaine that I ought not to love her but contrariwise that I am to pursue with a mortall hate her that hath done
ARIANA ARIANA IN TWO PARTS Translated out of French and prsented to my Lo Chamber Sold by Tho Walkley at ye flying horse neare yorke House Melintus Ariana ARIANA. IN Two Parts AS IT WAS TRANSLATED OUT OF THE FRENCH and presented to my LORD CHAMBERLAINE LONDON Printed by John Haviland for Thomas Walkley 1636. To the LADIES FAire sex to whom Nature hath given what she had most rich and lovely spring of most agreeable delights that hold in your faire hands the Empire of the Universe since you command over men and distribute to them at your pleasures either good or bad fortune 't is to you alone I present this worke I addresse it to the most delicate objects of the earth and as you are that which most pleases in the world so is it you also I desire most to please If the very power of love depends not but on yours whatsoever appertaines to it owes no homage but to you and these adventures that are effects of Ladies beautie are not to be offered but to those that may produce the like I hope there is not one amongst you that will not finde here how to passe away some houres with pleasure The severest will not be offended that this booke speakes to them of love and will not feare as they read it to tell themselves that they would be loth to heare from the mouthes of men Those that suffer onely to be loved without loving and will have much respect and ceremony shall here find such Lovers as they desire And those that are softer and who to ease the flames of their servants are willing to take a part of them shall have some satisfaction to see their owne passions here authoriz'd by examples But because amongst those that love there are some constant and some wanderers and this booke altogether takes part with the first I should feare lest the other side might not take offence to see their humour ill intreated if I did not give them reasons to defend themselves against those that are alleaged in this worke The most severest Judges would finde it a hard matter to resolve which is more commendable either to know how to keep a passion in spight of fortunes traverses or to change it to good purpose It is indeed a very glorious thing to make an invincible love appeare that feares neither heaven nor earth that is the stronger for very opposition and that would not be shaken by the ruine of the whole world Such affections as these cannot be so perfect but that they are founded upon vertue and reason having bred them they must of necessity last alwayes it being impossible that what was once reason should be so no more There is none but must confesse this kinde of loving admirable but it is as rare withall The most part of loves grow of light causes a little charme surprizes the eies and takes from them the knowledge of many defects Constancy in these affections in without doubt more vicious than change and very often they call inconstancy that which in effect is but a judicious retrait Change is sometimes a vertue more strong and more couragious than Constancie it selfe 'T is by it one tames a passion of many yeares and repaires all the disorder that was in the soule Men that have alwayes more cause to love fall least into inconstancy and Ladies that find in us so many defaults do oftentimes by reason by a generous striving that they are thought to do but out of weaknesse The law that forbids change is only more rigorous for us for it seemes we are oblig'd to suffer to the very extremity rather than be unfaithfull and women are excusable for changing the least unquietnesse love gives them Constancy is a quality too serious and too melancholike for so agreeable and delightfull a sex That which destroyes beauty ought to be detested amongst you as much as old age or sicknesse This same Constancy would appeare valiant in you and capable to support vexations at the charge of your richest treasures 'T is shee that extinguishes that lively brightnesse of the eyes that effaces the colour that ruines the good looke and that to gaine you the glory of loving well makes you lose the other of being loved Lightnesse hath much more jollity and charmes and if by some cruell accident in love there must happen one of these two changes either of the wit or of the beauty you may very well be pardoned if you chose that which preserves the thing in the world you account dearest And these are the reasons the inconstant may allege they that follow the lawes of fidelity shall finde enough in the book to answer them I counsell every one of you to continue in the opinion that is most conformable to her humour and demand of you this grace onely that those that are pleas'd to be unfaithfull blame not the austere fidelities they shall finde here describ'd and that those that love constancy accuse not the inconstant But I stay you while peradventure you are impatient to entertaine Ariana I leave you then with her and yet before quitting of you I must advertise you that she is somthing bashfull because she hath alwaies bin shut up and never yet seene the world and that if you desire her entertainment should divert you you must not addresse you to her altogether to learne her adventures Shee could not then tell which of you to satisfie and in the tumult would lose many of her graces Take her each of you apart into some retired place and then giving her attention and silence she wil freely recount to you all her life and tell the very least of her thoughts She cannot love noise or assemblies since repose and solitude gave birth to her ARIANA. THE FIRST PART ROme began to resent with griefe the violences and furies of Nero after having suffered with patience the first debauches of his youth and the people that was proud with the spoyles of all the world groned under the cruelties of that Prince when Fortune was pleas'd to bring forth accidents to crosse the most vertuous affections of the earth and suffer'd that the Cirque where Combats were made onely for pompe and recreation should bee watered with blood by a detestable treason But that basenesse could not have its full effect and was not left unrevenged for that by a prosperous foresight of heaven those who were appointed to assault were prevented by a terrour which taking from them their courage and judgement preserv'd the lives of those that were ordain'd to destruction Two young Sicilians going by night through the City one of them carried by love the other out of complaâ—sance onely for his friend and passing neere the Cirque with foure or five of their traine after they had made a noyse with their swords upon some designe they had were set upon by a troope of men at Armes whose disorder made them rather seeme persons affrighted than resolute for the
lives of those strangers Neverthelesse their number was such that had it not beene for the extreme valour they encountred they would soone have made themselves free passage But they that were assail'd being ignorant of their purpose shewed such dexterity and valour that after a great fight the other party was constrain'd to say It was the Emperour At that name the strangers gave the day over when they had done a thousand actions too brave to have had no other light but the Moones and let their enemies retire But they remain'd so charg'd with wounds that one of them fell downe presently in a sowne for losse of blood and the other going to helpe his friend was surpriz'd with a like faintnesse Their servants who melted into teares to see their valiant Masters in that extremity were preparing to lift them up from the place to carry them to their houses when two Ladies richly clothed and whose beauty received a lustre from the Torches that two young boyes carried before them came thither with their servants to learne the cause of the noyse they had heard before their lodging but seeing those that lay along upon the place and knowing them to be the brave Melintus and the generous Palamedes the love Emilia had to Melintus put her into an extreme sorrow to see him for her occasion in so deplorable an estate and Camilla gave some teares to Palamedes misfortune of whom she knew she was so passionately loved These two Sisters after they had a long time express'd their griefe caused the bodies to be carried home to their house to make tryall of remedies that might make them come to themselves againe and put them in severall places into beds becomming the richesse and luxuriousnesse of that age And there Melintus by the assistance of Emilia returning as it were from a profound sleepe and at last opening his eyes asked where Palamede was Emilia that knew well their friendship told him hee was not farre off and that he was hurt as well as himselfe but if it pleas'd the gods they were both in no great danger Then he intreated Emilia that she would let him goe see him But she would in no wise suffer him because he might not yet rise for his wounds and was satisfied in this to assure him that hee was in the next Chamber in as great need of rest as he Leave me then said he to my rest I pray you and not able to endure the sight of her he turn'd himselfe to the other side of the bed Emilia being gone he beganne thus to complaine to himselfe Ah Palamed what faults doe I incurre by your friendship against the purenesse of my love Was not my feining to love Emilia at your request insupportable enough to me but it must still draw on more disasters What couldst thou expect but vengeance from the gods after thou hadst so often betrayed my soule forcing my words to be contrary to all my thoughts In stead of ordering all that is in me by a common consent to adore but one thing I have permitted a division within my selfe my mouth and actions sacrificing to false Deities while my thoughts ador'd but one most pure and holy one But for all this could I deny Palamede any thing or could my love refuse to bee forced thus for his sake that was Author of it And when hee desir'd my helpe should I have alleag'd the severity of our Lawes to brand my selfe with ingratitude Alas how hard is it to live exempt from blame and how oft for satisfying one duty doe men quit the consideration of another At least thou my Soule wilt witnesse for me and thou Divinity that art present to my remembrance that if my words have given a respect to any other thing my thoughts have still disavow'd them and despis'd such subjects unworthy of their consideration and farre differing from the perfect cause of my affection Hee stayd himselfe some while upon that conceit that gave him comfort then seeing in how many places he was hurt hee continued thus thinking Must the wounds of that true affection I labour under be invisible while for a disguis'd love I beare so true and visible hurts hurts sometimes marks of glory but to me shamefull how shall I conceale you from my offended love Fortune that my constancy despis'd hath not lost the occasion at what time my actions might well be blam'd for infidelity and after shee had graven on me by these wounds the eternall remembrance of that same encounter in spight of my designes hath brought mee to these beds I so carefully avoyded But Fortune doe what thou canst thou shalt never make my soule consent to lose the quality of loving well I am reveng'd of thee by despising thy favours so desired of others one while thou presentst me them under the charmes of sweetnesse and facilitie another while thou lead'st me to them by the force of thy inevitable accidents for to ruine in mee a perfection that scornes thy Empire And I have nothing to oppose them with but the memory of the beauty I love for to render all their devices unprofitable No no deceiver never hope to have mee forsake this constancy thou art enemy to thou mayst well make my affection unfortunate but thou shalt never be able to make it decline so much as one degree from that height it hath attain'd Such different thoughts tormented or comforted his Spirit as it received each kind of them and entertain'd him till the next day when hee found himselfe constrain'd to keepe his bed because of his wounds although there was none of them mortall But Palamede was a great while longer without shewing any signe of life but that his heart did yet beat Neverthelesse by force of medicines they made his sight returne at last and his wounds being searcht were found very dangerous These two friends had a great estimation at Rome for their Nobility accompanied with many admirable qualities and acquir'd the friendship of all that loved vertue since their honest desire to see the seat of the Empire had caus'd them to follow an Embassie which the Syracusians sent to Nero to be eas'd of certaine new impositions They had made themselves recommendable in that employment and gain'd the glory to bee accounted the most accomplish'd men in the world but yet by differing qualities Melintus that had a wise and perfectly discreet spirit was the more reserv'd and more opportunely manifested his naturall vertues and those Sciences he had learned But Palamede was the prompter and more undertaking yet with such grace that for the most part his designes ended in a prosperous and glorious issue They were both of them exceedingly faire and handsome Melintus was the higher and of a freer making his haire which he wore long curl'd was something browne and besides he had certaine Charmes in his face with such a pleasing Majesty that made him lov'd and respected of all that beheld him Palamede was flaxen hair'd
while after we understood that Decius had beene slaine in the Appian high-wayes and Marcellin confessed to us he had caus'd it to be done for our sakes which gave me a great satisfaction and brought so much ease to my sister that for recompence she dissembled not to give her selfe to him Since that there hath beene no kind of assistances wherewith he hath not pleasur'd us and for which wee account our selves much oblig'd to him But to his misfortune went shee on smiling Melintus is come from Syracuse who furnished with merits that cannot be refus'd any thing hath made me endevour to pull out of my sisters affection a man that she was much ingaged to and to set Palamede there in his place I tell you not these things to let you see that you are beholding to me nor yet to entreat you to pardon Marcellin in consideration of us but that it may appeare to you that having had so much power over my sister as to put that person so farre out of her heart I may be able also to put him as farre out of her sight Melintus who heard this discourse with much attention and in the meane time gave his censure to himselfe of the lives of these women that had caused all those tragedies not beleeving that all such jealousies happened without cause and knowing that women that live with honour have not such disordered fortunes dissembled neverthelesse those thoughts to give her this answer Madam you alwayes give mee so great testimonies of your friendship that I shall remember them every day of my life but it is not reasonable that for our occasion you should be ingrate towards Marcelline I had rather for your sakes pardon him than you should detest him for mine one feare have I onely knowing Marcelline by your discourse to be a man of bloud that we be not forced to goe from Rome or depriv'd of your sight to avoyd the effects of his hate and you may judge how unpleasing these two things will be to us Melintus said Emilia doe not thinke of leaving us I had rather lose Marcelline for ever than the sight of you one moment It may be replide Melintus Camilla had not the same desire Assure your selfe said she that she for the most part does what I perswade her to Madam answered Melintus what ever we doe it will be the most expedient to dissemble on your part as well as ours and in the meane time to keep us to our guards I beseech you therefore continued he to intreat Camilla that she would not use him so hardly for making him declare against us and then we must needs depart this City where hee is too powerfull and lose you for ever Emilia taking him by the hand answered we will doe all you desire doe you but something in our favour and love us but as much as we desire to be loved of you Madam replied he it is impossible for me to love you more than I doe and this I call the gods to witnesse that know the secret of my soule I will beleeve this said she for my owne satisfaction then she left him to go tel her sister what they had devis'd together to keepe them a longwhile with them Melintus seeing himselfe alone beganne to entertaine his thoughts thus Faire Ariana what would you say if you were present Would you accuse me for feigning an affection to Emilia or would you rather pitty me for the constraint I endure To accuse mee would be but injustice in you for dissimulation is here too necessary and why should you refuse me your pitty knowing that I suffer so much paine but for loving you well But seeing she is not present how unnecessary are these discourses This faire creature is now in Sicily who knowes not my griefes or if shee imagines I am not exempt from them for her love shee thinks I am not vexed but with the cares of absence not being able to fancy this cruell burthen that is come upon mee Yet for all this why should she not know my troubles If I love her is she not in my soule and if she be there is she not witnesse of all the torments that accrue to me for not failing of my fidelity to her This beauty that alwayes forbade me to discover my passion to her doth not for all that despise it but desirous to judge with more certainty of it shee hath lodged her selfe in my very soule where finding she was loved with so much ardencie and adored with so much respect she leaves not that place but beholds with joy the crosses which afflict me as faithfull proofes of my love and her deserts What consolation could I have if my memory did not let mee see as oft as I please this divine image without which my life would be insupportable Upon this meditation he rested him and shutting his eyes to have Ariana's beauties the better represented to him with all the graces and lights that accompanied them in his imagination in this pleasing trance hee made these Verses REmembrance deare as my desire Sweet entertainement of my fire Doe not confine me to this place But for thee surely life had left me Even from the time I left that face Which of my liberties bereft me Griefe for an absence importunate Horrour of being unfortunate That intercepts all hope of ever her espying My violent desires where no effects are gained My cares my furies barre my life to be sustained But thy lovely object doth forbid me dying Dresse thy selfe then with all thy charmes And glister in thy fairest Armes Happy subject of my torment Reigne alone within my memory And sustaine my dayes extent For my love onely and thy glory Divinest imge of my faire one A trusty consort and rare one Who still to follow me had dreaded no distresse Who tak'st not in disdaine my lot of misery Cast from thy splendour but one beame to comfort me And dissipate the cares that vex my quietnesse Then my Soule in part relieved Of the evils she was grieved Shall live content with thy decree Thou shalt be securely feared And in a place pure like to thee Please thy selfe to be adored I perceive my cloud to separate Already this same heavenly pourtrait Dispels my troubles with her Soveraigne-ruling eye Shall I e're well endure the brightnesse of her light Now I see her now she comes entirely to my sight As faire as Phoebus seemes within the elearest skye Victorious of all my paines Heavenly Bewty that ordaines Such happinesse for all my woe Now that such a rare delight Makes me forget all my sorrow Let nothing take thee from my sight I care not much in this content Though they prepare me punishment Although they doe conspire besides my life to take Full of repose my thoughts I 'le have in order placed While they consider thee and hold thee still embraced Since that 's the onely good my passion can partake While Melintus was carried away with
had acquir'd for himselfe and benefits he had procur'd for his Countrey with the respectfull cares he had witnessed for her at the last visit she could not any longer time refuse him that grace But going to write she was prevented by Marcelin who feigned to make a visit to Palamede which courtesie oblig'd her to entertaine him while her brother came where they were she knew well he sought to fall upon some words of affection but she was wary so finely to avoyd his discourse by turning it to some other purpose that he perceived it would be a hard matter for him to enter in discourse with her upon the subject of his passion in such fashion that Palamede being come she left him without having at all advanc'd but that he had signified his desire onely after that shutting her selfe up shee wrote and came to give her tablets to Arcas who rejoycing to beare to his Master so deare a pledge flew till he came to Emilia's and Melintus receiving them with excesse of contentment read therein these words Ariana to Melintus I Have a great desire to let you know that I am sensible of your paine and to comfort you besides with this that there is the like prepar'd for me The visit I receiv'd of Marcelin makes me see that I shall be importun'd also as well as you are but the severity of my sex will easily know how to put off that which the honour of yours hardly permits you to refuse Consider that the courtesie which were in me a crime is necessary in you and that at least you are to come out by an honest composition But because dissimulation hath put you to all this paine it must also draw you out of it and you are permitted to give for your ransome as many assurances of love as you shall thinke convenient In the meane time be confident that when the desires of Ladies are so earnestly addrest to you there is nothing which your owne may not attaine Those faire Characters were kist a hundred times by Melintus and although he receiv'd no very open expressions of affection hee did not give over the good assurance of it knowing how deare those few words had cost Ariana which she had added in the end of the letter Hee was therefore resolv'd to follow her counsell and afterwards ceased not to let Emilia see how much his affection was augmented by the daily cares she had taken for him and that he desir'd nothing so much as to be in perfect health that by his services he might recompence a part of so great paines In conclusion he was so cunning at dissembling that she beleev'd him and two dayes after shee suffer'd him to be gone upon condition he would often come to see her But when he was with Aristides he saw himselfe reduc'd to fainings of another nature for in stead of counterfetting an extreme passion which it behov'd him to doe at Emilia's having none at all here was he forc'd with much care to hide that he had indeed for Ariana His discretion was very great but the paine this constraint put him to was not lesse Onely hee eas'd his griefes by some Verses he let Ariana see such as these are MY eyes retaine with care so faire a flame as this Whereof by fond regards you would depriv'd have bin Thinke of retiring all those lovely fires within That none of them escape no not a spark amisse What doe you weepe my eyes to heare a law so cruell Why should you be seeking for misfortunes evident Those fires though faire indeed were not for that lesse ardent The sight of them was pleasing but the taking mortall Hide Hide unfortunate what ever you have tane Redoubt as well the anger as the fierce disdaine Of those faire eyes that may correct your insolence But is not this beside to complaine wrong fully When those you have rob'd intend to force you onely Closely to keepe your thefts for all their vengeance Alas said he to himselfe how is 't possible this fire should continue thus alwayes and not onely not come forth but not so much as be ever seene Yet she forbids me this but to what purpose doe I so respectfully obey the lawes of that defence for if she loves mee why does shee let mee suffer so much and if she loves me not why will I not comfort my selfe at least by expressing the evill I endure But againe if I love her how should I disobey her Durst I oppose my selfe to her desires Or having acquainted mee once what her will is can I make a doubt whether I am to follow it it may be she mean's to prove by so cruell a constraint the extremity of her power and my affection should I cowardly lose so faire an occasion to make the greatnesse of my love appeare to her No no let us suffer my soule let us burne my heart and hold our sufferings well rewarded because she ordain's them us It is enough that she knowes the cruelty of our paines and knowing them she will know also to acknowledge them But while he fortified himselfe with resolutions his fire seem'd to increase in emulation to ruine them and this combat being within him he felt the whole torment of it Neverthelesse loving equally his love and his discretion he labour'd to make them both friends to dwell together peaceably within him and not that one should be constrain'd to give place to the other his love impetuous and boyling never ceas'd to agitate him and at some time he addrest these verses to it APpease thy selfe my flame and cease thy sore complaint That I conceale thee in my bosome with such care Canst thou be ignorant what my intentions are 'T is that I love thee dearely not for thy constraint The eyes whose rigour doe forbid thy being seene Are those that gave to thee thy being heretofore Thou art not to refuse this duty to their lore Obey them without words that have thy authors beene Alas in vaine I pray to this rebellious flame That still my loving torment more doth amplifie For having to her father a severe faire eye To be faire and cruell too she will get a name Ariana saw all those verses and acknowledg'd the height both of his passion and of his constraint but she thought it was not yet time to give comfort either to one or other by avowing she would love none but him She waited the change that was to be in their fortunes at their returne in Sicily and in the meane time favour'd Melintus in whatsoever honesty might permit her They would gladly have beene gone for Sicily but Palamede could not yet abide travelling for a great hurt in his thigh that was not well heal'd and Melintus was all that while forc'd to keepe his bed waiting for a perfect cure in Palamede for feare of being oblig'd to wait upon Emilia who never gave over sending to heare from him This faigning gave him the commodity to entertaine Ariana
for she assisted him very carefully yet so much respect had he to her that there was nothing but his eyes that durst make love to her and of every thing else they communicated one to another with much confidence One morning she came to him and bringing a little table booke with her she pray'd him to read what was written in it where he saw these words Marcelin to Ariana FAire Ariana since your eyes forbid me speaking pardon me if I have recourse to this meanes to make you know the affection wich your perfections have brought forth If you be come hither to begin the acquisition of all the hearts of the Empire I blesse the fortune that hath made me the first of your conquests and ranging mee without reluctancy under your obedience I will be bold to hope for some part in the honour of your good graces if they may be aspir'd to by services eternall and a passion infinite These letters said Melintus put us to no paine in guessing to whom they are addrest nor who sends them but Madam added he who gave you them Epicharis said Ariana found them on my table as I was rising without being clos'd for feare I beleeve that I should leave them in the same state But what would you advise me to doe Madam said Melintus your heart is free you may dispose of it as you please you may be deceiv'd for all that answer'd she but this is not the thing I aske you what shall I doe with these tables if you desire sayes he to answer them you need but efface the wax and then write what you please You laugh at me replies she and by whom shall I send them when I know not who brought them You are but to put them sayes he in the same place and who ever laid them there will know where to take them againe well enough And what if I will replide Ariana that they be never more spoke on You may said he cast them into the fire I am very glad sayes she they have beene condemn'd by your mouth and at the same time threw them in Melintus considering this action said to her well enough satisfied if hee meanes to write often to you he must make great provision of tablets It will be as necessary for him answered she to be provided of patience but if he be opiniated I shall not be without trouble neither Yet our depart shall quickly deliver us of all Palamede thereupon comming in and seeing the tables burning ask'd his sister why they were throwne into the fire She a little surpriz'd said she would no more make use of them Is it long since you have used said he such things since I came to Rome answered she Ha! sister cryed he out why are you so secret to me you had them but this morning and if I had beene willing you had never seene them at all Ariana blushing told him I protest that if I had beene able I had hid them from my selfe and I thought not they had come to your knowledge if there had beene fire in my chamber I had not burnt them in this where I found that Melintus was not so curious as you for he never inquir'd as you have done what the matter was But continued she can you tell who brought me them No said he but going into your chamber while you were yet sleeping I saw them upon your table and put them as they were since they were not directed to me I find you sayes she very discreet but you had done well to have kept mee from the sight of them See replied Palamede if I be not good to a man that has done me so much ill but I am assur'd you will doe him no great good I wish only said she for his punishment that he may love me all his life as much as I shall detest him for your sake In the meane time Melintus made himselfe very ignorant of those tables and in the end ask't them what it was T is a letter replies she Marcelin made mee receive by I know not what meanes looke if it be not directed to a good place for a very favourable reception His desert sayes Melintus is very considerable but his misfortune is extreme to fall into your hands to revenge us of his Aristides comming into the chamber brake off this discourse and Ariana leaving them went out of the house to the next temple coverd as she was accustom'd with a great vaile that hindred her from being seene at all being not desirous to make her selfe knowne at Rome for the small time she had to stay there Marcelin that set a spie to watch her going out fail'd not to follow her and approaching to her when she seem'd most attentive at her prayers said The gods grant to your desires as much happinesse as you may give me She as in amazement lift up her scarfe to see who spake to her and let him see her extreme beauty but armed with so much severity that the sight infinitely astonisht him and he receiv'd from her eyes an answer more cruell than her mouth had beene possibly able to make him That usage made him see that she was not accustom'd to suffer such words and he beleeved that the faire stranger would never satisfie his love if he sought not out honester meanes to possesse her There remain'd a scruple in the soule of Ariana for having entred Emilia's house She thought her selfe prophan'd and that her honour might be stain'd with that reproach Every houre the discourse Melintus had with her to make her get out of that place came into her minde seem'd to accuse her so as she was resolv'd to be purified in Diana's temple That very day she spake of it to the priestesse who was cal'd Virginia and told the cause she had for it Virginia promis'd her the chamber of purifications for the day after but the next day she put her off to the eighth day telling her for excuse that some Roman Ladies whom she could not refuse were to be purified during that time Ariana was forced to have patience till then and when the eight dayes were past she was receiv'd into that chamber with Epicharis only to wait on her This place was as it were a second temple added to the first but yet lesser and of a round figure whose roofe was bigge enough and that without appear'd to end in a vault but within at that time a heaven represented hid the arches of the vauting Ariana brought in by the priest was amaz'd to see so much riches in the place The hangings were the ground of gold and the figures imbrodery of silke In the middest of the chamber was a bed whose valences were of purple imbroyder'd with gold of a most rich worke and the curtaines of a carnation stuffe with little flowers of gold Neare the bed was a cisterne of white marble next to the wall out of which came two great pipes of gold that were
my misfortune that hath given me this benefit to make her lye in the same chamber with me for whom I have had so many longings Palamede said Epicharis if I have so freely put my selfe into your hands take no other advantage of it besides the testimony I give you of an honest desire to serve you for if you abuse this my freedome I shall know how to punish you well enough and my selfe too for having obliged an indiscreet man She spake these words something in passion but Melintus said to her No no Epicharis I shall be his surety assure your selfe Palamede has not so lost his judgement as not to know what respect wee are to beare to your sex and honour to your courage She knowes that well replies Palamede if I be not deceiv'd in her humour and if I honour it I have beene sufficiently instructed to my cost how I ought to live with her and learn't more discretion in her company than my wit hath seem'd capable of Neverthelesse she knowes withall that I must alwayes be jesting These occasions sayes she permit no jesting content your selfe that I love you as my Master and Melintus as my brother Melintus admir'd her vertue and gentilenesse and gave her many thanks for the good will she had for him without any obligation of his part to have ever moved her to it Melintus said she you are of more worth than all my services give me leave only to doe for you what I am able and for this time doe me the favour to let me sleepe for I had never so much need of rest Melintus intreated her to take their bed for her selfe alone because it was more commodious than her owne but she would never consent to that and went into another very little one that was made ready for her after she had prayed them to remember she was called Eurylas and no more Epicharis They promis'd her to have care of it and then they all three held their peaces to go sleepe The next day she arose before them and went to make acquaintance with all of that obscure house then having understood there were some Romans come that desir'd to speake with the two friends she went to them to know what their desires were They signified to her they were come to offer them their goods and services Epicharis went to aske the Gaoler if she should let them in but he said that was expresly forbidden and shee made answer to them that it was not possible to speake with them but how they were best to employ themselves with the Senators to make their innocence appeare to them and what the actions of their life past had beene which they promis'd to doe and went their way after she had knowne the lodging of some of them to make use thereof if need were Melintus in the meane time that waked long before Palamede entred upon the consideration of his good fortune and commended this accident for making him receive so deare an expression of Ariana's affection as to send her faithfull Epicharis to assist him with her brother when shee could give them no helpe her selfe He doubted not of escaping that danger seeing himselfe strengthened with such a helper and spent all his thoughts in the remembrance of Ariana and the fortune of his loves which he found to be in a very happy condition For although he might thinke shee had not sent this maid but for her brothers sake yet he found this action to be too gentile and too generous to proceed from a simple friendship and not rather to be a Love-invention and then resting him upon that meditation he said within himselfe And dare I also to pretend to so much happinesse and can I without presumption beleeve that she loves me for if I beleeve her altogether perfect I am to be perswaded that she hath an excellent judgement and with what vanity can I hope she should thinke me worthy of her and yet because her judgement is so perfect she knowes to what degree my passion has proceeded and peradventure she will have the perfection of my love be comparable to the greatnesse of her desert Should I then be so happy that for this reason she had found nothing in the world besides me worthy of her that she had separated me out of the number of all men to be made choyce of and that in her soule she had kept her to that choyce Pleasing but too ambitious thoughts whither doe you lead me are you so bold to compare me to this Divinity that nothing was ever yet comparable to where are your respects and your feares Let us continue in a submission and not expect her grace but by adoring her and not in equalling our selves to her But is not this againe to wrong the perfection of my love to abase it in humility in stead of acknowledging the beauty and greatnesse of it Things that are arriv'd to this degree are of a glory too transcendent to suffer contempt of us they will be admir'd and confess'd to be as divine as they are indeed Pardon my love I had rather let thee alone than offend thee equall thy selfe if thou beest willing to so many merits 't is by thee alone I have hope It may be this faire soule loves thee already and embraces thee taken with thy perfection and if wee doubt of this let us continue in the beleefe that is more fitting for us and at least not give over the contentment of hope These delightfull fancies entertain'd him with great pleasure when all on a sudden he felt himselfe embrac'd of Palamede who said to him Pardon Epicharis alas Epicharis I aske you pardon Melintus embrac'd him in like manner and spake to him that he might continue this discourse hee made in his sleepe but Palamede awaked and confest to Melintus that he dreamt hee was taken by Epicharis making protestations of love to Camilla and that hee fell downe at her knees to cry her mercy Then looking about in the chamber and seeing she was gone out he continues There is no doubt but the love of this wench comes alwayes to challenge the place it had in my soule what ever lightnesse may possesse me for I loved her before I went to Athens where you are a witnesse how many Mistresses I serv'd at our returne from thence to Syracuse I had no sooner seene her but I was more subjected to her than before time being come to Rome I loved Camilla and you have seene how coldly I made use of those advantages you obtaind for me since she arriv'd there with my sister now shee covers my wound more than ever by the care she takes of us and by a thousand pretty devices her wit is continually working For my part said Melintus I cannot thinke her borne of a servile condition she has too many faire qualities for so wofull a birth and I vow to you I shall never blame your affection for being carried away with such
was rare indeed for the wonders of it but yet more recommendable for the antiquity for they tooke it to be the very same house that the Syracusians made present of to Timoleon to stay him amongst them with his wife and children which he had brought from Corinth and which he receiv'd at their hands for to enjoy himself the rest of his dayes the peace and liberty that he had purchased to all Sicily and for markes of this antiquity had Dicearchus left in a place out of the way some ruines which he brought Melintus to see where there were besides entire columnes of that same faire Corynthian worke but some yeares agoe he had himselfe made that house the fairest that was in all Sicily for beside the richesse of the buildings the beautifulnesse of the gardens and walkes was so delightfull for the quantity of fountaines and channels that Melintus never left admiring that delicate place and failed not to observe what-ever was most esteemeable to please Dicearchus yet he could not but admire above all things the rarities of a great Parke where reserving only that the allies were made by Art nature appeared in her pure richesse The fountaines that sprang out in many places the little rivolets that came of them and the faire meadowes they watered flatter'd Melintus's humour in such sort that Dicearchus perceiv'd well enough how in that place he had given over compleasance to make a true estimate of what he liked best Palamede having advertis'd him to leave Melintus there for that he loved nothing so much as to lose himselfe in so delightfull solitudes by little and little they went away from him as if they had had something to say together and Melintus making as though he favour'd their entertainment out of discretion withdrew himselfe from them with much joy for to converse with his thoughts in that happy condition he was in As soone as he had lost sight of them he chose a fit place to repose in and laid him downe upon the grasse neare a Fountaine that pleased him and there his minde represented his fortune to him in the highest and sweetest point a Lover could possibly have desir'd it His heart wanted place to containe all the joyes that assembled there Ariana's gracious words too came to strike his eares with so melodious a sweetnesse that there is no harmony able to cause so much ravishment This charme reduc'd his passion to that contentment brought his hopes to that height and placed his soule in a heaven of such divine pleasures that he was even ready to expire in this pleasing extasie In the end retiring him out of this abysse of joyes to consider his good fortunes particularly he forgat not one of them that he might be the more sensible how many sorts of happinesse accompanied him and after he had a long time entertain'd so deare imaginations he employed the time that remain'd in making these verses YOu deare delights unto my heart Hopes onely friends of my desire That flatter with so sweet a quire The ardour of my happy smart You agreeable fore-runners Of that good which made my horrors Be accus'd of perseverance Refuse me not your blandishment Or be changed to assurance If you will suddenly be spent Alas I scarce have faith to spare For my felicity of Fate O heaven what pleasures me translate What fortune may with this compare Her eyes that pitty would not move Now change into regards of love Their severer influences And hence-forth freely them disarme Of their sharper inclemences To wound me gently without harme That front whose sacred Majesty Such terror strucke into my face Becomes more mild and there doth place In stead of feare security Her soule that better to admire It selfe had seemed to retire In a rampart inaccessible To render her will now dispence In those forts no more invincible To my respectfull violence The sweet and perfect harmony That our wils now equalizeth Both of time and chance despiseth The proud-disdainfull tyranny Her heart for chaste love excelling In me chooseth out her dwelling My wishes more to favourize And renders mine too-well apayd If heaven be pleas'd to authorize The present which to me she made Ye verdant meadowes and cleare springs Ye sweet-murmuring rivolets How may a Lover when he sets By you enjoy his wanderings But fare-ye-well I must away To follow the declining day Houres that endure as long as dayes Daughters of aged Time make haste And dayes that have whole yeares delayes Bring me my happinesse to taste Melintus having finish'd those verses quitted the place hee was in to returne to them he had left whom he found in a great plaine Court waiting to carry him to supper Ariana and Erycine rose to keepe them company being but simply drest and yet this negligence of their dressing was to their advantage The more cause Melintus had to approach to Ariana to enjoy the perfect union they had made the lesse dared he scarce giving his eyes leave to looke often upon her neverthelesse he knew well enough how to governe his discretion not to make his constraint appeare nor too much affect dissimulation The whole course of their adventures furnish'd them with entertainment enough during supper-time and after they were rose from Table Dicearchus who began to admire the wit of Melintus and could never heare him speake enough tooke him from the company to entertaine him and willing to know if hee were as well capable to manage publike affaires as to treat of any other discourse he appear'd so able in he turn'd warily all he had to say upon that subject but Melintus seemed to be practis'd all his life long in no other thing and not onely satisfied Dicearchus in what he demanded of him but upon every proposition too added so rare considerations as he had never heard the like that he was forc'd to avow that so able a Genius deserv'd more than a publike government and seem'd to be borne to sustaine a Crowne and Scepter In the end they all parted to goe to bed and the Ladies being retired Melintus was brought to a Chamber richly furnished He ask'd Dicearchus if it were that Palamede ordinarily lay in because they had sworne never to lye from one another when they should be in the same place After some Civilities Dicearchus left them to their liberty then being together and in bed when they were alone Melintus continued a while without speaking any thing and a little after came to embrace Palamede and told him It is time deare friend you should know the secret of my life which you have hitherto beene ignorant of Is 't possible sayes Palamede that you have conceal'd any thing from me You will confesse replide Melintus that I was bound to conceale it from you and will not be offended thereat when you shall know that the excesse of the affection you beare me oblig'd me to it My deare Melintus answers Palamede haste you then to tell it me and
his custome was beleev'd it was but to make him a more honourable refuse yet for all that they were exceedingly amaz'd when Palamede having prayed his uncle to resolve on the marriage of Melintus hee gave him this answer that it was necessary he went first to Corinth with him and his sister to see their kindred and advise with them about it that for this purpose they would goe in Pisistratus's ship that was to returne and that they should both prepare them for this depart Palamede would oppose some reasons to this resolution but all was in vaine and when he brought this newes to Melintus and his sister he fill'd them both with confusion Melintus made Dicearchus be intreated by Palamede that he might accompany them in this voyage to make himselfe knowne to their friends at Corinth but he said that was not fitting and it would seeme he went to speake of a thing resolved if he were with them That answer troubled Melintus still more not knowing for what designe he intended that voyage and made those difficulties For hee thought he had sufficiently oblig'd him by saving of his life and more againe by his oath to make him forget those ancient enmities Neverthelesse all prepare to depart and Melintus one day finding Ariana amaz'd for this necessity of parting full of sadnesse said to her Madam what signifies this wofull voyage I know not what end it may have but the beginning is too sad to promise me any good When I thought my selfe the happiest of men I finde that good fortune absents her the more from mee and forbids me so much as following her Melintus answered Ariana I know not what my uncles designes are but mine shall ever be like yours and finding that I am seconded by my brother there is no force can possibly over-rule me Live I pray you in repose as much as you may during this absence and if my being away causes sorrow in you let the assurance of my affection diminish it Madam return'd Melintus how happy doe these expressions make me in so unfortunate an occasion but may I be assured that no constraint shall ever change your minde You ought not onely to beleeve this said she but you doe me wrong besides to make any doubt of it for it seemes you judge me capable of lightnesse and ingratitude Pardon Madam said he never thought I these defaults could have place in your heart but losing so many blessings by your absence me thinks nothing can ever restore them againe to me What may I hope for more after the losse of those deceitfull assurances that have these late dayes flattered me Will you have this misfortune of seeing you no more promise me any good when my very greatest contentments have brought me nothing but so cruell a disaster Melintus sayes she all contentments are followed with displeasures and all sadnesse with joy things that are contrary succeed one another we shall have a little to suffer being separate so long but after a while enduring the returne will be more glorious and more agreeable to us afflict me not I pray you with your sorrowes my owne are sufficient for mee and after I shall know that you support with constancy this separation I shall have courage enough to imitate you I am of the opinion replied he that to have so much courage is to have but small love for what strength can be able to resist the displeasures of my soule being depriv'd of the happinesse of seeing you Resolution can doe nothing to ease an evill which judgement finds more hard to master the more it seekes wherewithall to give it consolation to give over sorrow I must of necessity give over remembring you and that can I not but with my life Melintus sayes Ariana I know this very well that our misfortune is great but doe you complaine of it to me to this end that by my reasons I might endevour to comfort you or else that I by knowing it might be sure to suffer as much as you For the first you confesse your selfe that reason can doe nothing and for the other you would be cruell to desire an augmentation of what I endure Let us rather comfort us on both sides and as I betray my griefe to expresse a constancy to you so doe you seeme to have one too that being content with our miseries we may at least be deliver'd from those we seeke to bring one upon another These words that came from the excesse of a rare friendship brought the teares into Melintus eyes and it was a paine to him so seized was he to frame this answer Madam that I had a meaning to increase your griefe were impossible having so much love for you but I am brought to that passe as not to know how to speake to you for if I expresse my sufferings you complaine of me and if I expresse them not at all to you what will you thinke of my affection Ariana perceiving his difficulty of speech to give him comfort interrupted him and said I will have no more expressions of this affection for if I still had need of them you should not already have receiv'd so much of mine No my deare Melintus I am more assur'd of you than of my selfe but these mutuall assurances serve for nothing but to make us be more sensible of this accident if we loved one another lesse we should be lesse touched for this separation let us then esteeme our griefe glorious since it hath so faire a cause and not complaine any more since we would not have lesse affection to suffer the lesse paine Melintus full of seizure and touched besides at these deare speeches could not pronounce a word himselfe but only kist Ariana's hands that were all wet with the great teares that fell from him He was a good while in that posture and Ariana giving way to an object so sensible let fall too some teares from her faire eyes which she dried willing to hide her affliction from Melintus who at last addressing him to that he held never lifting himselfe up said Faire hands must I forsake you and abandon the sweet pleasures you favour me with promise me at least never to receive others in the place of mine Sweare it to me faire hands by your sweet restraints I will beleeve you will never be unfaithfull to me for you are too delicate to enterprize my death and too white not to be innocent Ariana answered I promise you for them all you desire and will have you said she in presenting them to him kisse them againe for pledge of their fidelity then she rose up to divert her from her sorrow and that shee might not be taken in this trouble by any one that came in For Palamede chanc'd to arrive a while after with whom they discours'd upon the occasion of this voyage whose true causes they could not understand He promis'd Melintus to advertise him by his letters of all that passed and to come
backe himselfe to Syracuse if need were For to make any resistance to their uncle into whose hands Aristides at his death had committed Ariana they could not thinke it fitting From that day till the depart Melintus could never entertaine Ariana in private onely he let her see these verses which he gave a borrowed name to that they might be read before all WHat fortune envious at my love Or what command imperious Absenting Cloris farre from us Doth my soules better halfe remove And shall I for my punishment See her depart and give consent To this absence to my misery Destinies jealous heavens inhumane Let me part and her accompany Or in her hands my life retaine Will any this injustice offer And must I now till her returne The more for love of her I burne The more condemned be to suffer Already feare and discontent And cares that never durst attempt To seize me in her heavenly presence At her depart their powers will try On me and threaten my innocence With their insulting tyranny Cloris can you be so resolute The god of our hearts to despise And yeeld to the severities Of a sorry force lesse absolute I cannot make you pitty me Nor by my loves extremity Nor by the fountaine of my teares Come forth my weepings I will have My eyes cast out these armes of theirs That were too weake her stay to save And can this so constant humour In all duties lawes so tried Never to see me be denied And pretend the name of Lover Cloris your love is not like mine My heart with jealousie must pine At such a cold tranquillity For but that in your eyes I vent My passions livelier ardency I should be smother'd where I went Are you so cruell then to leave me Can nothing hinder this remove No sense of pitty can her move That has no pitty to releeve me Adieu then severest beauty Adieu heart full of durity No vainer hope can joy recall Hereafter let us nought pretend I lose my life my speech and all And I am ruin'd without end The griefes Melintus felt at this depart can hardly be describ'd those of Ariana were no lesse but she so well conceal'd them that Dicearchus never knew the unwillingnesse she had to be gone They were accompanied by their friends to Pisistratus his ship and Melintus could not bid farewell but with his eyes to the faire Ariana but this adieu was so sensible to them that she betooke her selfe with Epicharis into one of the Cabins of the ship to lye downe upon a bed where she was drowned in teares and Melintus after having taken his leave of Dicearchus and quitted the deare embracings of Palamede seeing her no more and the ship sailing away let himselfe be so carried away with griefe that he fell downe betweene the hands of Arcas and was a long time ere he return'd out of his fainting His sute and his love were now divulg'd in Syracuse and the more he was loved the more pitty did his sorrow move in the end full of discontent and weaknesse he was reconducted to his owne home for he lodged no more now with Telephus since he had beene restored to his estate and his friends laboured to divert him from his griefe which none but himselfe could have experience of the greatnesse of Pisistratus thinking to have the wind of love as favourable as that that filled his sailes went his way to Corinth proud with the spoyles hee imagin'd to carry away and the conquest he promised to himselfe Dicearchus gave him great assurances Ariana's discretion forbade him not to hope and Palamedes courtesie made him beleeve he would not be displeased with his alliance He nothing wondred for that Ariana shunned his entertainment judging that in these occasions of being sought to maids will appeare modest Dicearchus who receiv'd him with more freedome was his ordinary company and Ariana had no other consolation but in speaking of Melintus with her brother and her deare Epicharis Palamede that became more and more in love with the beauties of this Maid never ceas'd rendring her honest testimonies of his passion but every houre hearing the reproaches of so many lightnesses he resolv'd hereafter to make himselfe be knowne for a faithfull man and submitted to all the proofes she could desire Having passed the Isle of Cephalenia they entred into the gulph of Corinth to which they had but lately given the name of Lepanto At last they arriv'd at Corinth where Sebastus a Cousin of Dicearchus came to receive them and bring them to his house and there they were entertain'd according as the quality of Dicearchus and the magnificence of Sebastus requir'd This old man was renowned for his authority in the City and more yet for being one of the wisest of all Greece he brought to salute Palamede and Ariana a young daughter of his called Cassiope whom they found very modest and handsome but when Ariana heard tell of the marvellous qualities of another sister she had named Cyllenia who was among the Maids that serv'd at Iuno's Temple shee had a great desire to know her Her beauty had given her the prize above all those of Corinth but her wit had made her still more recommendable and the extreme love which the vertuous Lepantus had to her lessened not that reputation Ariana was impatient till the next day came to goe see her and Cyllenia that heard speake of this divine Ariana had no lesse desire to judge of so many perfections Pisistratus being come in the morning to see them conducted Ariana and Palamede to the Temple and when the sacrifices were made these two faire Ladies encountred with so much rapture on either part that there was never satisfaction equall to that Their sight was so busie in judging of their beauties that they never thought of speaking one to another Ariana had a brightnesse that farre surpassed that of Cyllenia but sweetnesse and modesty were very equall in them the admirations they had then one of another were since followed with mutuall protestations of friendship and in stead of having jealousie for the advantages that each saw in her companion the knowledge of those merits bred more esteeme and affection in them Presently faint civilities were banisht from them to make place for a freedome that permitted them to conceale nothing from one another The resemblance of their beauties and of their wits joyned their soules together and by and by after that of their fortunes made this friendship perfect Dicearchus that would put into practice the promise he had made Pisistratus declar'd at last to Palamede that he had not brought them to Corinth but to make up the marriage betweene him and Ariana that he would never while he lived consent to marry her to Melintus the sonne of his greatest enemy and that this was the resolution they were to take Palamede astonisht at this discourse labour'd to divert him from his designe represented to him the obligations he had to
you have more strength of wit than I but above all never perswade your selfe that the affection you have for Melintus can be annihilated whether by resolution or by time for feare you abandon not upon that hope all the prosperity of your life See then Ariana when by a mature knowledge of vertues and deserts two wils are encountred equall 't is now no more a passion but 't is reason that loves We cannot hope that ever such affections should be separate from our soules there arrive many times accidents that may trouble us and make us receive false opinions but when those fancies are dissipated the first impressions that cannot be dissolved appeare as ingraved as ever before and are felt in their whole strength and judge you in what estate one is if during the trouble of judgement one has committed so great a fault as cannot afterwards be repaired We must confesse answered Ariana that men have much more force in resolutions than wee for when they have once conceiv'd a designe that is of importance to the good of their whole life they maintaine it to the very last breath and doe all things possible to put it to effect Contrariwise our spirit slackens to the least obstacle we know not what will become of us and our feeblenesse hinders us from clearing the meanest passage for the attaining of supreme felicities 'T is true pursues Cyllenia but why should not one woman be found amongst us to expresse a resolution and to relieve the honour of our sex Faire Ariana if I have thus failed for want of courage doe not you the like acquire to your selfe with much glory much contentment Nature hath given us secret desires not onely to conserve our lives but also to make them happy for the first she has given us the love of our selves and for the second she will have us love some other thing but because the love of our selves is first the more the thing we love resembles us the more happy are we when we can possesse it So when two soules meet alike in goodnesse sweetnesse and vertue 't is a treasure cannot be esteemed and such a rancounter is made but once in an age and these are to despise all the hinderances they finde of uniting themselves together to the end they may enjoy the perfect contentments of so faire a friendship for after they be once knowne and lov'd one of another if it chances they be divided it cannot be without an insupportable violence and without suffering afterwards as cruell punishments as they had promis'd to themselves pleasures of eternall conversation together We must needs thinke replied Ariana that these felicities are exceeding great since the onely hope I have to live one day with Melintus ravishes mee for to tell you the secret of my thoughts I doe not beleeve that any thing but the death of one of us can ever be able to keepe me from them I thinke the time long till he be here arriv'd with my brother that you may judge whether I have reason to love him and that we may all together take counsell how we are to divert my uncle's designes for the favouring of our owne I shall be very glad answered Cyllenia to give my advice in those conferences and assure your selfe my resolutions shall not be lesse generous These faire Maids entertain'd one another often thus during the absence of Palamede and attending with impatiency his returne and Melintus his sometimes the gentile Epicharis interpos'd her counsels being lov'd of them both as much as her wit and discretion deserv'd Dicearchus many times came to see them and pursued his Neece to consent to his designe whereupon she referr'd her resolution to the returne of her brother Neither did Pisistratus faile of his respects to her hoping to gaine by the expressions of his affection what Melintus had already acquired by so great a number of merits and services that Ariana's dis-acknowledgement had farre surpassed that of her uncle if she should have so much as made a doubt of satisfying the promises shee had so solemnly sworne to him The end of the first Part. ARIANA. The Second Part. The first Booke SInce the cruell depart of Ariana Melintus had banish'd from his soule all kinds of joy and seem'd to have lost by absenting her from his sight so many faire qualities that made him admirable This spirit so generous so sage and courteous now languish'd overwhelm'd with griefe without any appearance of vertue receiving his friends respects without expressing a resentment to them and altogether carelesse of returning any He hated as much as his disease the divertments that might ease him and cherish'd nothing but that profound sadnesse that consumed him He had no contentment but when he redemanded of his memory the deare pledge it had in keeping the divine Idea of his faire Ariana which never presented her to his imagination but with a pomp worthy of her accompanied with lights that rendred her all bright full of charmes and graces and who seemed to send him amorous regards for to comfort him in this absence and assure him of her fidelity But still this pleasure was troubled with many vexations presently was bred a wish to see those beauties otherwise than by Idea then followed an impatient desire if not to possesse them at least to enjoy the favours that were heretofore permitted him but this unfortunate desire being acknowledg'd impotent and destitute of all succours replunged him into the excesse of his afflictions They are but senslesse people that can be happy by phantasie because their judgement nothing operative and unable to discerne the false from the true they receive and resent their imaginary good things as true ones Melintus on the contrary was not miserable but for having too much sense the solidity of his judgement repelled in despight of himselfe these vaine illusions and brought him to see and feele the truth of his disgrace with all the miseries that accompanied it If he sometimes laboured to releeve himselfe by meditations of vertue which teacheth to contemne humane accidents as things that are without us and whereof wee have not the jurisdiction and if his courage made a hard strife to find comfort in this separation considering it was to end and that evils that have a terme prefix'd receive consolation from hope suddenly a thousand cruell suspitions overthrew his resolutions He found that the hasty voyage of Dicearchus had no apparant thing in it that could be to his advantage hee consider'd the prosperity of Pisistratus who seem'd to triumph over him having had the power to carry away in his ship and to hold in his owne disposition his deare Ariana with those that dispos'd of her the advantage of this rivall to be in his owne countrey assisted by his friends favour'd with a thousand meanes having Dicearchus present Ariana and her brother whom hee would endevour to overcome by all the wayes he could invent whilest himselfe in the meane time
darknesse that encompasses them and in stead of cherishing the vertue of those that excell them they hate and shun them for feare of being over-ruled Misander being return'd to his house makes himselfe sicke and refuses to eat they aske him what his griefe is he is angry and spightfull hee knowes not to whom to take him for to wreake his choler on and his whole project is but to counterfet the mad man and inraged in testimony of his aversion to his sisters designe Ardania doubted that all his transports came from the declaration had beene made him whereof she was well advertis'd and knew not how to speake to him in this unquiet humour At last he tooke him to his bed and then sent for his sister to come to him and when they were alone he said to her Well sister I knew at last the cause of your coldnesses and of all the refuses you made of the parties were offered you I perceiv'd my suspitions were well grounded when I could not approve such secrecy with Polydamas I know well 't is from your advice that he makes you be demanded in marriage See if it be a thing you have resolv'd on I can no longer hinder your purposes will signe you what consent you will have me but assure your selfe that I will not live two dayes after Yes I will dye and make him dye too for having mock'd mee all his life and abused my freedome for to deceive me and you also There fell in continuation a torrent of enraged words against Polydamas and Ardania and after that his fury had taken some respite she told him that she knew not why he should be so transported that she was ignorant of Polydamas designe but that if he had an affection to her he honour'd her by it that shee would tell him truly that if he consented to it he should doe her a great pleasure for she could never be happy but with him I would rather said he to her throw my selfe downe headlong and strike a poynard into your bosome No no I shall hinder the effect of your fancies well enough or else bloud shall be seene spilt Ardania perceiving that his transport made him speake strange follies left him without expression of any great care she tooke at his words and they both pass'd away a night that gave them but little repose I had beene chosen continued Melicerta by these two lovers to be their confident during the traverses which they had foreseene and it was impossible for them to see one another after that declaration Misander having shut up all the avenues so as Polydamas the next day came to see me to know what had passed I told him that affaires were much embroyled and that there was a rumour in the house that Misander was mad and Ardania resisted his rage the best she could But it was a strange thing to see the small force of Ardania shee could not indure her brothers choler and seeing that he would not eat she went to beseech him not to be angry and she would doe nothing contrary to his will I durst not tell Polydamas of this weaknesse seeing to what point of sadnesse he was brought because Ardania had not spoken with so great a resolution as he expected She on the other side seeing her brother pacified recover'd her forces and express'd affection to Polydamas Misander then made the mad-man as before and constrain'd his sister to give way to him That combat betweene Ardania's love and Misanders rage endured a long time and when this was cooled the other had the advantage In the meane time Polydamas seeing no more Ardania that put not in effect what she had promis'd him was tormented with many cares and unquietnesses and the more facility he saw of executing their designes the more griefe he had to see that she could not resolve to despise her brother But to come to the infidelities I told you of said Melicerta which were punished one by another I will let passe all the strifes Ardania made then the weaknesses which made her release with all the complaints and reproaches Polydamas us'd to her who yet was so discreet as he never complain'd of her but to her selfe and to me He had beene false to Elusina without her knowing of it and she too had beene unfaithfull to him in abandoning him to deliver her selfe from misery although shee beleev'd that he still lov'd her Love to revenge Polydamas on Elusina made her being married have her husband in such a contempt that she feined not to seeke to Polydamas againe who despised her Againe to revenge Elusina on Polydamas he caused Ardania to forget the greatest affection that ever was and I beleeve that which made her unfaithfull was the fidelity of her glasse which representing her complexion to her effaced with cares What now said she shall I lose my beauty that procur'd me so many vowes and commendations to maintaine my love that brings upon me so many mischiefes No no let us quit this love the trouble of my soule and the ruine of my dearest treasures and forgetting it for ever let that beauty returne which for one lost lover shall gaine me above a thousand See her then deliberating to become handsome againe and for the recovery of her good lookes quite unwilling to heare speake of Polydamas any more I wondred with my selfe at so strange a change and when I reproach'd her for her lightnesse she had the boldnesse to deny to me all she had told me when she lov'd Polydamas even thus farre as she would have made me beleeve that shee never had any affection at all to him At that time a young man call'd Cyllarus sought her he had loved Danaide a woman he had beene beholding to for all the civility he knew with Ladies for she had taken the paines to instruct his youth whereupon Cyllarus being ingrate renounc'd her friendship and pursued the affection of Ardania Love that had already taken vengeance of Elusina and Polydamos was revenged at one blow of two unfaithfull persons joyning in marriage Cyllarus with Ardania to punish them one by the other This delicate woman that thought her charmes so puissant could not stay that wanderer who was no sooner married but that he return'd to Danaide and without considering of the displeasures he gave his new wife sought by all the wayes he could to re-enter into her good graces Danaide in revenge of her selfe mocked him a long time whereat he receiv'd so many sorrowes as he could not hide them before Ardania She on the other side seeing her selfe despised began to regret her faithfull Polydamas she had forsaken so as being both of them in bed they lay off from one another as farre as they could and suspired each of them apart one for Danaide the other for Polydamas But a while since Cyllarus has found the meanes to re-joyne with Danaide and this is that Ardania but now told me said Melicerta at least she
not beene for a mischance that befell Palamede for his foot slipt when he was going to redouble his blow and he was constrain'd to quit the bridle of the horse which carried away his Master so farre that he could never overtake him Palamede was forced to returne the way he came and having found his owne horse againe he rode backe into the City when the daylight began to appeare Being come to his lodging he told his adventure to Melintus and the rest and counselled them that without troubling themselves more about their wedding they should depart as suddenly as they could because Pisistratus having escaped out of his hands would not faile to goe to Maxentius if his wounds hindred him not This newes brought no small trouble againe to the contentments they expected Ariana then besought Melintus that he would no more desire to have their marriage perform'd till they were in a place full of repose and security and said he should first of all thinke upon his owne safety and afterward she would endevour to make his life as happy to him as she possibly could Melintus was constrain'd to obey her and Euphrosyne approving the wisdome of Ariana was of her opinion Instantly they all considered upon the retreat and they repented them for having sent away the vessell because they would have sav'd themselves more certainly by Sea although the way were longer neverthelesse they were resolv'd to goe by land and to put their baggage into Carts and they were perswaded that there being above fifty of their troop counting the traine they had nothing lesse than an Army would assault them So they encouraged themselves to depart that they might get out of Epire before Maxentius the Governour were advertis'd by Pisistratus and having bought as many horses as they needed they put into the way trusting in the gods and their owne courage This troop so faire and so persecuted of men had the good fortune to passe Epire in three or foure dayes journeyes and at last arriv'd in Thessaly without any adventure They wanted no diversions or pleasures having at least with them what they made most of for which they accounted themselves so happy as it seem'd they desir'd nothing but the continuation of the same kinde of life Yet Melintus gave not over his admiration that misery should persecute them with so much eagernesse and not permit them so much as one day of repose for to let them enjoy a blessing they desir'd and which ever escaped them when they thought to have attained it and upon this thought one day he made these verses FOrtune incessantly adverse Eternall source of miseries What mean'st thou by a new reverse To hasten our calamities O gods by what severe decree Are you inrag'd so suddenly When we beleev'd you were appeased For me I can no more complaine Thinke you to make me feare the paine Of death which you have me refused 'T is surely some immortall strife Whereby the Stars are all conspiring To vex the pleasures which my life Has beene too earnest in desiring These Stars in their malignant spight Some storme or other still excite Iust as I thinke at Port t' arrive Then forced by my innocence They mitigate their violence And dare not me of life deprive 'T is true the blessing I desire Transcends all mortall faculties And I preferre where I aspire To that of having sacrifice Heaven be not jealous any more If I see her and her adore For there my pleasures all abound Then temper thy excessive rage Since in this blessing I asswage My other vast desires around Tedious griefes before her presence Durst not make attempts upon me Fierce anger and impatience Fly from me when her face I see And then despaire as in disgrace Forsakes me too and giveth place To mirth and sports of innocence Love quitting then his envious spights Offers me all the deare delights Wherewith he ravishes our sense Alas one feare does onely hant me I speake too unadvisedly If heaven knowes how thus I vant me I shall have some new misery Conceale my soule this joy of thine That jealous eyes it may decline If long thou wilt thy blisse enjoy Or soone this heaven inexorable To render thee more miserable May take thy happinesse away Thus did Ariana's presence give a great ease to the love of Melintus but in all the troop there was not a more afflicted man than Palamede who regretted Epicharis and met not a passenger that he demanded not newes of her Besides he was in a kinde of constraint with Dicearchus not daring before him to let that affection appeare and so was depriv'd of this consolation at least in the power of free complaining Euphrosyne had no greater pleasure than to make Areas or some other relate the admirable life of her sonne and with how many marvellous qualities heaven had furnished him whereat she ceased not to give the gods thanks and esteeme her selfe very happy She had already passionate cares for the faire and vertuous Ariana whose respectuous duties she receiv'd with much contentment Lepantus and Cyllenia were no small ornament to this faire company but recreated them with their sweet humour and gentilenesse of wit and all of them together made up a troop of as pleasing travellers as could be found in all the world againe Already had they traversed all Thessaly and were approaching to Larissa which is neare the Sea when they entred a village where they saw all the inhabitants in great trouble They all ran up and downe divers wayes not able to finde security in their owne houses and not knowing to what part they should retire Melintus address'd him to some of these forlorne men and asked the cause of this affrighting and disorder They told him how a fearefull number of Scythians after having crossed Thracia and pass'd the Egean Sea was come to land in Thessaly and plonder'd all those coasts in drawing towards Larissa Melintus re-assur'd them the best he could and was of opinion they should all retire them into that Towne as speedily as they could that to be better receiv'd they were to carry with them the most of the Corne and other victuals they had he promis'd he would serve them for a leader and prayed them to have no feare This resolution being taken among them he rallied all those that were scatter'd and having made them load into Carts all the provisions they had he armed the strongest of them who made three hundred men besides those were with him then he appointed to set a good watch all the night and the next day in the morning he disposed the old people with the women and baggage in the middle and put those that might serve to fight part of them in the head part on the flanks and the rest in the rere He gave the vantgard to be led by Lepantus the rere-ward to Palamede and reserv'd to himselfe the grosse for to have an eye over all Hee would have given the command
agreed to his desire and Ariana being set upon Arcas horse who went by her side Alcydamas gave order they should all march three by three bearing the bundles of bowes upon their shoulders and he put himselfe into a ranke in the middest and went beside the faire Ariana who triumphed also over the Scythians with bow in her hand and quiver in a skarfe Alcydamas was ravished for having found her and to see her now in this habit of a souldier which added a majestuous fiercenesse to so many graces she had before and augmented the affection of Alcydamas his valour even falling in love with Ariana's and in this equipage they marched all towards the Towne In the meane time they were in a great fight within Larissa for Arimin having sent to know about midnight if the supply were entred word was brought him that not a man appear'd but contrarily that Alcydamas was gone out with certaine troops he had drawne out of all the companies This amaz'd him not being able to imagine what Alcydamas project was and having let some houres more passe without receiving any message from Alcydamas they inform'd him at length that without doubt he was gone to save a Maid he loved whom the Scythians stole away when they were in the Towne because he had done nothing all day but mourne for her after having search'd all places Arimin could not then perswade himselfe that Alcydamas with so few men hoped to make his party good against all the Scythians but he beleev'd that to redeeme his Mistresse he would deliver to the Barbarians the best of his men he brought them for that purpose wherewith the Towne being weakned he might easily also bring the Scythian in to oblige them still more to render him that Maid He sent in all haste for Polydore who was in bed but when he was up and gone to him Arimin told him that Alcydamas was a traytor and a villaine and that he should answer for him Polydore after he was made acquainted with what had hapned assured Arimin that Alcydamas was no traytor that peradventure he might have attempted something out of despaire because the Scythians carried away Ariana but he was very certaine he would not lose those he tooke with him much lesse sell them whereof he gave him his owne life for caution Arimin caused Polydore to be surely guarded and not fully satisfied for what he had told him went to visit all the Towne-guards and the people were left in great feare not having above three or foure thousand men remaining to make resistance against so many enemies The Ports were therefore guarded with extraordinary care when Alcydamas with his troop demanded entrance They went to advertise Arimin that he was at the gates with those that went out with him and requir'd to be let in This newes restor'd the spirits of Arimin who for all that fearing a surprise commanded they should not suffer them to enter but one after another And this order serv'd to make more glory and praise be given Alcydamas for his souldiers entring thus separately charged with bowes the people gave acclamations to each of them as he came in and when they were all within the Towne they put themselves into the same order they march'd in before and went to the Temple to thanke the gods for so renowned a victory All the inhabitants for joy lift up their hands to heaven to see so many spoyles and so few persons to beare them away and they were in a wonder to behold by Alcydamas side that young Warrioresse who seemed to have a great share in this victory and to attract the eyes and vowes of all the world After Alcydamas had thanked the gods for the safety of Ariana and the victory they had given him he prayed Amyntas to conduct Ariana to their lodging and gave Arcas charge to accompany them but he with the rest of his troop went to finde Arimin He besought him to excuse the transport of his affection which had obliged him to abuse him and goe forth without his leave to deliver Ariana out of the Scythians hands and told him how the victory he had gained was so great that when he knew the truth of it hee hoped he would easily forget a fault that had beene followed by so happy a successe and freed all Greece of so many enemies Arimin in admiration of so wonderfull an effect though it had cost him many a feare was constrain'd to honour Alcydamas and smother all resentment he might have at his disobedience and when they had a long time discoursed after what manner the combat passed he suffered him to retire to his rest and gave Polydore his enlargement When they were come to their lodging Alcydamas was constrain'd to betake him to his bed and repose himselfe after so many combats cares and watchings Ariana on the other side was receiv'd with a thousand joyes by Euphrosyne and her deare Cyllenia who had taken no rest since her carrying away as well for the regret of her losse as the danger her belov'd Lepantus was in because of his wounds which now began to be in better estate Euphrosyne full of contentment to see them againe ceased not to take care one while of her sonne another while of Ariana and visiting them severally at their Chambers she obliged them to sleepe though it were then but mid-day A little while after Polydore and Amyntas hearing a rumour in the street look'd out at the window and spied a distressed Maid that certaine souldiers would have taken against whom an old man and a youth defended themselves with more courage than force They presently went downe to hinder that un worthy violence and labour'd by words to make those souldiers retire then seeing they would doe nothing by entreaty but continued to presse the old man and the youth they were forced to take their parts and defend them two other souldiers seeing this supply joyned them to the first but in a short time Polydore and Amyntas killed three of them and the rest tooke their heeles Then they desir'd to see safely bestowed those that had thus beene pursued and going towards the young man that so courageously had defended himselfe Polydore was advis'd that it was his deare Epicharis He embrac'd her in his armes full of joy to see her againe and for having secur'd her from that danger Amyntas had as much cause to rejoyce also seeing she that Epicharis defended was the faire Erycina his Mistresse and the old man was Telephus Erycina's father Embracements followed their admiration for so happily encountring one another some to be defended others to have succoured them and all of them having great impatiency to know how they were met together entred into the house where Polydore receiving her he had so much regretted Faire and valiant Epicharis sayes hee to her for the happinesse you give me in seeing you againe I will give you newes that will be very welcome to you but promise