were to my advantage and yet shee spake all these things with a pleasantnesse which gave me cause to hope well and I would have gone to intreat Emilia that she would be Judge of our difference when Marcelin came in to breake our discourse We gave place to him and after some speaking of what had beene done that day I left him with Camilla and making shew as if I would have busied my selfe in the meane time upon something I tooke a Harpe and sung these verses which I made heretofore when I lov'd Epicharis WHat grace hath she in refusing How are her rigours favourable And how her eyes by despising Produce such torments desirable If ever those faire ravishers Would change their disdaines to pleasures What fortune would surmount my glory Since being now so full of rigour I scarcely thinke that in all story There is found a happier lover Be gone Despaires at my command Spightfull enemies of my fire Give place and leave t' a gentler hand The ruling of my soules Empire Faire eyes I like your tyranny 'T is to you I yeeld me onely I feare no more your sweet despights Since this you learn'd me I retaine To recompence as great delights The cruelties of your disdaine Great God whom all Lovers adore How are thy goods unlimited Since being pleas'd or punished They love thee ne're the lesse nor more But though my heart well pleased is And seemes t' enjoy a perfect blisse Yet Love be not thou weary or leave The favourizing my desire If ills with graces I receive What would my pleasures then require Camilla perceiv'd well they were addrest to her yet seeing shee was too much employ'd with Marcelin I set by the harpe and Melintus longing to tell me what he had done for mee advertis'd mee to goe out I tooke leave therefore with satisfaction sufficient for that I had made my entrance with Camilla but the condition of my affaires was yet in better termes on the other side for being retir'd at home Melintus told me how Emilia began to speake thus to him What thinke you of your fortune to day That it is favourable said he in what least concernes me and contrary in what I most desire And what can Melintus wish for replied Emilia that he may not obtaine with those advantages he is possest of The honour of your good graces said hee which I seeke for with such passion I will not said she have it my fault that this day be not entirely happy to you for I give you that place in my soule which you can desire there I receive said he this favour with the submissions I am bound to acknowledging my selfe unworthy of it and make an oath upon this faire hand never to abuse it Are you content replide she with me More answers Melintus than I could ever have hoped But I am not said shee satisfied with the present I have made you but in imitation of the Emperours magnificence and acknowledgement to your deserts that are better knowne to me than to him I make offer to you also of what ever shall please you to desire of me my honour reserv'd Melintus feigning a joy unhoped for said to her Seeing it pleases you to grant me so much grace I accept it and to make it appeare that I perfectly love what I have undertaken to serve I aske you no other favour but to order the matter so that Palamedes service may be accepted of Camilla afterwards I may think of making my selfe happy I beleeve said Emilia that this day you have forgot your selfe to consider the contentment of others but seeing this is your request you shall see in what fashion I will employ me with her yet for all that I will not have this be to you in stead of any obligation Melintus thank'd her for this assurance and represented her with the paine I was in and the need I had of her succour when Camilla forsaking mee went to breake off their entertainment Deare sister you may imagine how well pleas'd I was at these newes for knowing that Emilia desir'd to give greater proofes of her love to Melintus I assur'd my selfe she would let her sister be quiet untill she had given her good words for me and I was not deceiv'd with this hope for I perceiv'd Camilla began to make more esteeme of me besides to beleeve these assurances I gave her of my love and to oblige me by her answers and in the end to expresse an affection to me nay one day she told me I had a good friend of her sister You know me too well to thinke I would lose these advantages so I urg'd her in such wise that by little and little she engag'd her selfe to me allowing me little favours whose permission made me an easie way for greater In such sort that serving my selfe with the occasion one day as I found her upon a bed Ariana blushing interrupted him and said hold you there brother I feare you will tell me things I would not heare Then said Palamede to her Sister I find it very pleasant you should feare to heare tell of my good fortunes and be in no apprehension by and by to understand the misery came upon us I shall ever be glad said she to know that all good fortune attends you but you ought to be silent in these particulars Palamede replide how he was not altogether ignorant how it became him to speake to her and that he was very sory nothing had pass'd that might have oblig'd him to conceale it for that having found her upon that same bed he could never obtaine any thing of her with all his labour and intreaties whereof he would make no relation because she was not pleas'd with it then he went on I vow I have not retention enough long time to conceale a good fortune I began to be weary of my discretion that bound me to dissemble before the meanest of that house besides me thinks it were to shew ones selfe unthankfull to fortune not to publish her benefits and if I were govern'd by my owne humour she should never have cause to complaine of me because I would alwayes make her favours greater by my repetition of them to confesse my selfe the more beholding to her Neverthelesse being to follow the advice of Melintus and commands of Camilla who fear'd to have our intelligence knowne to Marcelin because he held her in an Imperious way I was some while surmounting my selfe and admiring the discretion I observ'd But in the end seeing that a chamber-maid nam'd Cyane was for the most part about us and made me lose the good houres I had pass'd with more freedome but for her I resolv'd with my selfe to gaine her to the end that if she were an ordinary witnesse she might also be a complice I kept me close from Melintus to practise this maid which I have since repented sufficiently because without doubt he had let me seene the misery I went to engage me
my Mistresse so well that I shall receive their rules upon their word without examination and submitting to your reasons I will make you have obligation to me too for the paines I free my selfe of in the search of contrary reasons They were then come to a passe of a river something difficult which hindred Melintus and Eurylas reply to him to minde where the easiest place of going over might be Palamede having first sounded the depth of the water and being on the other side betooke him to singing CUpid in his childish flitting Changeth station day by day Above the heavens he makes his way Then upon earth he takes all homage fitting If my heart seekes thus to remove Am I not like the God of love The same diseases Love importune Varieties doe more provoake Him that in using many a stroake Wounds now the faire one now the browne by fortune If my addresses thus remove Am I not like the God of love Cupid besides hath no delight But in preparing some new blow Then slily laughs under his bow At all the mischiefes come from his despight When I my pleasure would remove Am I not like the God of love It will be a very difficult matter for us sayes Epicharis to Melintus to gaine any thing upon him by instructions for see if he be not already return'd to his first errour You give a wrong judgement answers Palamede of my intentions because I meane to make these false opinions come out at my mouth as it were some poyson or ill nourishment I had taken and I have no other meanes to rid me of them The same censure you are to give of all I shall hereafter say contrary to fidelity in answering your arguments for I shall receive yours in hearkning to them and let goe my owne as I mention them to you Here 's a pretty device indeed sayes Epicharis to contradict us all his life long under the pretext of letting out his false reasons I am afraid truly replide Melintus ours get not out of his minde as easily Give mee them said Palamede good ones and strong enough to the end they may take so sure root there as nothing shall be able to shake them for going out Take beed replied Melintus the fault be not in the reasons but in the place that peradventure is so slippery that nothing can remaine firme in it They sweetned the tediousnesse of the way with these discourses that held them untill the evening and chancing upon a place commodious enough to eat what they brought with them they stayed their journey and let their horses feed upon the grasse but after supper they resolv'd to goe all night for avancing their voyage Being a horsebacke againe they entred into a Forest a little before Sun-set and had not gone through the halfe of it when night began to approach Palamede and Epicharis were together and went before Melintus was about twenty paces of them and entertain'd his imaginations when there appear'd to him an apparition upon a great blacke horse his face of a fearefull blacknesse his body all cover'd with long and bristly haire and holding a club on his shoulder A man lesse assured than Melintus would have beene terrified at so dreadfull a vision but he in no amazement stood still and ask'd him boldly if he had any thing to say to him Know answers the spirit that thy death approaches Thou tell'st me no newes replide Melintus I know it approaches every day That monster without a returne would have discharg'd upon his head a blow with the mace but he avoyded it by bending his body and presently tooke his sword in his hand Then hee saw comming to him another monster a horsebacke like to the former and without trouble to see himselfe amongst these Devils he began to charge him that had spoken to him and at the same time thought how the other might doe him no wrong Palamede and Epicharis that saw Melintus did not follow them return'd backe againe and wondred strangely to finde him engaged in a combat against such fearfull spirits Epicharis was seized with horror but Palamede that would not have feared to assaile all the powers of hell to succour his friend tooke his sword in his hand and set upon him that came last At that time Melintus had runne his sword into the other he first tooke him to in many places escaping with nimblenesse the blowes of his club and in the end made him fall from his horse Palamede delivered himselfe too in a small time from him he had taken in hand and these two friends were very glad to see those spirits had a life to lose since they poured out so much bloud being fallen to the ground and had no more motion left in them They alighted from their horses and considering them found they were two men that had black'd over their faces and their hands and drest them in skinnes it may be to skare passengers and kill them with the more ease Epicharis had gone afarre off for feare and they had much adoe to re-assure her and make her come neere to see those dead bodies At last she came on and wondred extremely that Melintus was not terrified at the first appearing of these phantasmes The Moone gave them light enough for not wandring out of their way and to beware they were not againe assaulted by the like monsters but yet they came out of the wood without danger when the night was even spent and at breake of day they met with a man on foot who seeing them comming demanded if they had not encountred the two spirits that had slaine so many men within seven or eight dayes Yes answered Melintus but they did us no harme at all I wonder replide that man they should spare you Indeed said Melintus they somewhat affrighted us but from whence come they doe men thinke They say replies he they are infernall gods that were constrain'd to quit the Temple of Proserpine at Rome when it was burn'd and how they will never give over killing till they have built them another For my part I am not so desperate as you for I am going round about the Forest to Rome for feare of falling into their hands Friend said Melintus to him smiling those gods were not immortall then feare not passing by the Forest you shall finde their bodies lying on the ground which we have depriv'd of life and assure your selfe they were but theeves disguis'd into spirits to kill and rob passengers with more facility after they had affrighted them This man would not beleeve him for all that they swore to him all three it was true and that if hee were weary of going a foot he might chance to finde one of those wretches horses and get up to ride but hee could not be perswaded what ever assurances they gave him and would not take the way of the Forest so hard a matter is it to cast out feare and the beleefe of fabulous stories
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
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
that which is perfect and certaine and for this reason she her selfe is her owne end and recompence there being nothing in the world perfect and certaine but shee So hath valour no satisfaction but in it selfe and this is that wee call honour which is nothing else but the glory that is in us for not failing in what valour requires at our hands what disgrace soever may happen because fortune hath no power over vertues hee that has this quality in perfection is as valiant being overcome as when he is victorious and is conscious to himselfe of the same glory Victory and honours cannot be the principall objects of it because these are not things we can be assur'd of In like manner the perfect love cannot have pleasure for his principall end because it is not certaine but depends on the will of another and for that cause his end cannot be to be lov'd neither these being things that are without us and we cannot dispose of but his onely certaine object is this to love perfectly So the end of this perfect love is in it selfe and can never faile it If it chances one be loved or receives some contentment these are but fruits of love and not the end even as victory and honours are to valour otherwise it must be necessary that after the satisfactions love receiv'd and the honours that valour possess'd both this and that should cease and have no more operation as being arriv'd at their end You see that imperfect loves that have no other end but pleasure dye as soone as ever they have attain'd that pleasure and this might serve for an infallible reason to make you beleeve there must be an end farre more noble and more assured than pleasure to crowne a perfect and never decaying love I beleeve said Epicharis to Palamede you would be much troubled to answer these reasons 'T is very easie for him sayes he to vanquish an enemy that feeles his conscience wounded being to maintaine an evill cause for all the disasters I have met with and reason with this very dispute learne mee thus much that we are to love but one thing which is perfectly lovely and for this cause that it is you alone I am to love I pray you said Epicharis make not Melintus weapons serve your turne against mee and yet I shall not bee displeas'd that he instruct you and when you have had time enough to bee made wise I shall demand of him what I ought to thinke of you Sweare said Palamede you will alwayes report your selfe to him That will I surely said she so much confidence have I in him that hee shall herein be Judge with Ariana Melintus said there was hope of amendment in Palamede and that he would promise if Epicharis joyn'd her helpe to make of him a perfect lover one day for her sake having already a Master very affectionate and a Mistresse very lovely Assure your selves replied Palamede that I knew before how to love very well what ever I said for I love none but the faire Epicharis 't is she I love perfectly and will love her so for ever Do you take these little searches I make to others for infidelities What be they else sayes Melintus I would faine know went Palamede on if to love so perfectly as you pretend you abstaine from all sorts of pleasures as hunting pastimes exercises and what ever else may content you That were not reasonable answer'd Melintus So then said Palamede these little favours are of those pleasures we are not to avoyd The choyce a man has made once in his heart continues still there and by this meanes he attends with patience till the cruelties of her he seekes be over and the time may bring some ease to his desires I finde this said Epicharis an easie way of loving and if all were of your disposition there would not be heard such complaints and desperations of lovers because they would so soone know wherewith to comfort them 'T is not replied Palamede a particular humour in mee but reason that makes mee love after that fashion and every one finds contentment by it for having a cruell Mistresse I seeke for consolation to the usage she makes me and in the meane time leave her in repose When all comes to all replide Melintus you would perswade us that you love extremely but desire moderately and if you can make these two agree you have reason for what you say Although sayes Palamede I follow not these desires so ardently thinke you I desire the lesse for that Contrariwise I more honour her I love not to torment her seeing her resolv'd to grant me nothing and appease where I may the violence of my desires But replide Melintus they are not the desires you have for her which you goe to ease otherwhere they be some other Sometimes answers Palamede I imagine I am easing those very desires perswading my selfe I enjoy her and receive those favours at her hands Ah ye gods cried out Melintus what crimes are here together And why said Palamede am I so criminall First of all replide Melintus in seeking these favours from others you serve your selfe of the same words and the same oaths which you use to her you love see there prophan'd the fairest meanes you can have to make your selfe be loved imploying them indifferently upon a thousand subjects unworthy of the vertuous designe you ought to have What poorenesse it is to lye and which of them all can beleeve you having but the same protestations to give in all places after all this if you love but one person can you still finde another lovely and there stay your eyes for as for pastime which you alleage a man may seeke that without injuring his love but one beauty may stand in competition with another and if you can make much of any with or besides that you love 't is infidelity But what crime can be greater than that your imagination commits in the favours of another and will your fancy then needs have it her you are courting who receives your discourse with affectation who either yeelds with weaknesse or prostitutes her selfe with shamelesnesse and doe you perfectly love her you imagine to your selfe with all those defects You charge me very criminally said Palamede but I protest to you I have not so vile an intention No no pursues Melintus you must resolve with your selfe either to beleeve your affection is very imperfect or else to purge it of all those errors if you desire to make it perfect See there said Epicharis one good lesson already and if every day he tooke but such another I thinke he might be reduced into the right way To heare you both speake replied Palamede it seemes I have beene instructed in an ill Love-schoole and must endevour to forget the false principles I there learn'd but I doe still finde something in me repugnant to the austerity of your precepts Neverthelesse I honour my Master and love
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
dearest friend I have so much confidence in your discretion as not to feare relating to you the whole story Three or foure yeeres agoe went she on amongst the most accomplish'd of of this City there was one call'd Polydamas who besides many other excellent qualities had so great a discretion that it made him be lov'd of all the world He was of kin to Ardania and that consideration made them see one another often they had each a very great esteeme of other and their affinity giving them still cause to love they were indeared with much affection and did communicate together with a great confidence I was at that time one that knew all Ardania's secrets and I perceiv'd that nothing pleased her like unto Polydamas for she ever made me relations to his advantage and if he then made her not in love with him at the least he made her have contempt for all other men Hee was engaged above two yeares before in the search of a Maid nam'd Elusina who loved him with so much constancy that she suffered for his sake all the cruelties a furious father can inflict when he sees his daughters passion contrary to his designes Ardania knew of Polydamas all that passed in that affection but because he was more loved than he lov'd himselfe he pursued that enterprise with coldnesse enough and seconded not the endevours Elusina made to attaine to what they desir'd onely he contented himselfe to render her such duties as hee could not deny her without expression of much forgetfulnesse and contempt Ardania sometimes reproach'd him before me for the small care he had of Elusina and he confessed to her selfe that she was cause that he could never have a love to any to be in love with In the end the constancy of Elusina gave way to the violencies of her father she resolv'd with her selfe to obey him and for this demanded leave of Polydamas that she might be deliver'd from the vexations she was made to endure He did at that time an action that might seeme to proceed from a good sincere affection but that was indeed a testimony of his coldnesse He wrote to her that not able to see her eternally endure he had resolved to intreat her the same thing for which she had desired leave of him that losing all hope she ought to give satisfaction to her friends to preserve her selfe from misery that he prayed her to forget him if it were possible for not being all her life miserable that for this purpose he return'd her all the pledges he had of her friendship and remitted her all the oaths she had made him to the end that engagement hindred not her repose Hereupon she married and left Polydamas at liberty who but poorely resented this misfortune Ardania continued Melicerta has a brother call'd Misander who with other base qualities is possess'd of so heavy a melancholy as he is distastfull to all company Lepantus was there interrupted by Amyntas who told him I have sufficiently knowne Misander to my cost Ariana added it may be 't is the same Misander Erycine spake of to me The very same replied Amyntas whose humour made us suffer a long time both of us I perceive then went on Lepantus you know him better than I doe by sight but yet peradventure I know more than you the effects of that sad humour that vexes himselfe and has given so much trouble to others Polydamas continued Melicerta though he despised Misanders humour yet he gave not over making shewes of kindnesse to him that he might be often with Ardania whose company he was very well pleas'd with One day Misander heard how they spake of marrying Polydamas and when they were all three together he told this newes to his sister as if it had beene very agreeable to them whereupon Ardania blush'd Polydamas observ'd this action for there is nothing so soone perceived as that which makes for our advantage and he judged that she was interessed much in him That made him thinke of a thing he was not yet well advised in which was to seeke her affection having but till then desired her friendship Ardania was farre more handsome than Elusina and it was very easie to kindle a fire after the beginning of heat that was betweene them There had beene nothing but the consideration of their kindred that hindred Polydamas from casting his eyes upon her for to marry her but then he knew that since she made no difficulty of it hee ought not to be more scrupulous than she See him then resolv'd to testifie much passion to her and without seeming to have apperceiv'd her inclination that she might not be asham'd for having prevented him he judged that he was to feine to have lov'd her of a long time with a conceal'd affection Upon that occasion he made many verses whereby hee said it was at least permitted him to put in writing what hee suffered without telling the subject of it and to comfort his mind in this sort for so many cruell thoughts that tormented it and would breake out At the same time hee was more carefull than ordinarily in his respects to Ardania and expressed to her by his sighs and some interrupted words that he dyed for love of her At the first testimony she had of it she learn'd me the newes that Polydamas lov'd her as a thing extremely desired of her and that possessed her with joy I was then at her house when he shewed her those verses and shee was very glad to have him read them before me to the end I might know how much passion he had He imputed all his coldnesses for Elusina to this secret love he had for another a long time since and feined to have done many things out of necessity which were not done then without designe We ask'd him many questions upon this secret love he yet declared not to all which he very well satisfied and Ardania tooke great pleasure therein Hee knew very well we understood all he would say and from that time we tooke a custome of speaking together without declaring of any thing openly and yet we failed not to tell all things as intelligibly as if he had told the name of her he loved I found him very happy for treating on this fashion because that under the coverture of the kindred he tooke such liberties as would not have beene permitted him if he had beene declar'd for a lover as to bring neare often his mouth to hers and to hold and kisse her hand incessantly Thus was it that he gave birth to the most violent passion that ever was because this faire Cousin refusing him not those caresses and obliging him with a streight confidence he felt himselfe so redeuable towards her and at the same time so touched at her beauty that he kindled a fire not of a long time to be quenched Misander saw not very willingly this great intelligence yet hee could not judge then that it were other
the love of Epicharis gave desire and impatiency enough but the discretion of that wench moderated him who knowing that he should commit a great fault to marry her being aslave had forbidden him the hope of it as long as she continued in that condition Palamede notwithstanding in this occasion not enduring to see so many persons made happy and himselfe so farre off enjoying the same pleasures said to her Faire Epicharis how long doe you meane to deferre satisfying the passion I have for you desire you I should attend an infinite time and in the meane space live with you the most unfortunate of men feare not to have me doe any thing unworthy of me by marrying of you your merit abundantly recompences the default of your liberty and my uncle cannot refuse to give it you when you shall be my wife What occasion more favourable may we hope for Now all things are here in disorder if we commit a fault it will easily be considerable Can you faile by imitating the actions of Ariana and Cyllenia and must my condition which you judge more exalted than yours be the sole cause of making me unhappy Palamede answered Epicharis if you could judge how much I esteeme my selfe oblig'd to you for your affection I thinke you so reasonable as you would have cause to be satisfied with me but you shall pardon me if I cannot consent to what you desire I know well the difference of our affections 'T is a passion something blindish that makes you love me but 't is reason onely that causes me to honour you You consider not well what I am when you expresse so much love to me and without doubt turne away your thought from a defect that accompanies me while you esteeme me worthy of you Contrariwise the more I open my eyes to see what your worth is the more cause I finde to love you and thinke my selfe indebted to you But loving you with reason I love your honour as much as I doe your person and it would shew I had out small care of that if I should make my selfe happy to the prejudice of it That which is fit for the faire Ariana and Melintus to doe is not so for us and the same reason that permits them to marry against the desire of Dicearchus is that which ordaines me to continue still a Maid against yours Palamede I beseech you to temper your desires and assure your selfe that if the gods are pleased with our affections they will so bring affaires to passe that honor and fitnesse shall not be separate from our contentments Thus did this wench full of wisdome and courage stay the transports of Palamedes affection who the farther off he found himselfe from contenting his desires the more he admir'd the vertue and generosity of Epicharis and increas'd his passion by them Melintus sent to have brought out of his ship much riches whereof he was provided for to make that day as famous and magnifique as he was able in a place so distant from their acquaintance He made to be taken out thence many sumptuous moveables vessell of gold and silver and what ever hee thought necessary to make himselfe seeme worthy of Ariana if Dicearchus receiv'd him into grace at Corinth Ariana and Cyllenia that ought to have bin the fairest ornament of that happy day failed not to prepare against the morning all that might make their beauty appeare more resplendent but nothing could render their charmes more pleasing than the excesse of their contentments which not able to be contained any longer in their hearts were now discovering themselves upon their faces Every one us'd the greatest care he could not to be without pomp and grace and at last that morning arrives so much desired of all When all things were ready and they putting themselves in the way to goe to the Temple they heard Trumpets sounding in the City Ariana thought Melintus had sent for them from his ship to lead her to the Temple with more solemnity but he stood in amaze at it and having sent to know what it meant they brought him word that a publike cry was made by which was commanded to all those that were subjects of the Empire to seize upon Melintus and Palamede Sicilians where-ever they were found and to send their heads to Rome because they were the enemies of Caesar and the people of Rome and for the better knowledge of them they gave all their markes This cruell newes troubled all their joyes and filled their soules with astonishment and sadnesse They durst not now goe abroad for feare of being knowne and they could not tell what counsell to take in such an excesse of misery When they fled from Dicearchus fury see them fallen into a farre greater misery having the Romans for enemies whose Empire being of so large an extent they could not hope to get out of it without being discover'd upon the wayes They shut up their house as carefully as they could staying till they might thinke upon some remedy though they had but small hope to find any Ariana fell a crying to see a persecution so cruell against her deare Melintus and her brother Cyllenia accompanied her teares out of compassion the others sought to encourage the resolution of these faire Ladies against this unhappinesse but they that took upon them to comfort others were no lesse afflicted themselves Lepantus and Amyntas offered to go learn what they said about the Towne but because they were strangers in that place they feared lest they might give some suspition of those that dwelt in the same house All that day passed with much sadnesse and feare and the next day also without inventing of any expedient Epicharis whose wit was full of a thousand inventions told them she saw well that it appertain'd to none but her to save their lives as she had once already done at Rome that she would goe about the Towne to see what passed and for this cause she was to be disguised in a man that habit being fatall for their safety Neverthelesse that they should not be so secure in her devices but they might try to finde out other meanes besides Melintus said he could finde no better than to send away some to Corcyra to advertise Eurymedon of the danger they were running that he comming by with his forces might deliver them Amyntas would goe thither to do them this service and because he would not take their ship for feare they might have need of it themselves he went away in a Skiffe towards Corcyra Epicharis on the other side made no matter of cutting her haire once again being accommodated with a mans clothes and a sword by her side she went out of the house one morning with a designe to goe gaine the Porter of the City to let them out by night She had mistrusted the conduct of another in this occasion fearing he might cause a suspition and being apprehended discover them but she was assured
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
his face and body of more fulnesse with a fashion alwayes cheerely and who seemed but seldome to entertaine his mind with care or troubles Otho a Knight of Rome that was afterwards Emperour was at that time the most powerfull in credit with Nero and hee above all others esteem'd their friendship and had favour'd the beginning of their reputation at Rome by making it appeare that they were the two famous Sycilians of whom there was ever report made in the newes that came thither of the victories of Corbulo Lieutenant of the Emperour against the Parthians under whose conduct they had given proofes of a most excellent valour Many times were they the first that mounted at assaults and leapt downe together from the top of walls into besieg'd Townes to shew the way to the Souldiers many times were they the cause of winning battels by opening the thickest Squadrons with furious blowes of their Javelins and Swords which nothing was able to resist In such sort that they were endear'd to all Gentlemen and admir'd by the people being knowne to be of the most ancient houses of Greece adorn'd with many rare qualities and amongst the rest with a valour that did alike render them lovely and redoubted But Fortune jealous of a vertue so high that shee fear'd it might sometime have the mastery of her was pleas'd to crosse their lives by her most cruell rancontres for not content to have reduc'd them so neere their end shee provok'd the fury of Nero against them and made him resolve to send to kill them in their lodging so to revenge himselfe for the accident happened to him the night before They scarce beganne to ope their eyes to see the day light when some came to advertise Melintus of that cruell purpose which would give them no long time to enjoy their life But all was conceal'd from Palamede who was in a state sufficiently miserable without adding to it the feare of that evill that must presently give him so unfortunate a cure Melintus knew besides that the night combat hapned by an Ambuscado that was laid for them by Nero himselfe under the direction of Marcellin and that the Emperour had beene hurt in the hand and Marcellin in the arme This man was one of the chiefest Ministers of the passions of that young Prince whose love to Camilla and jealousie of Palamede made him attempt the dispatch of him and Melintus and so give pastime to Nero who was delighted to walke up and downe by night fighting with and killing all hee met Marcellin having faild that first bout and seeing the Emperour animated to revenge himselfe of his wound sufferd not his rage to be cooled but resolv'd on this that a Tribune by night should goe with guards to massacre them in Maximus his house whither they thought them retir'd because that was the place where they liv'd This newes that might have daunted the boldest spirits wrought no astonishment in Melintus who being too couragious to feare death prepar'd himselfe to receive it being uncapable for his wounds either to resist or flye for although the Emperour at that time knew not where they were yet that must needs quickly come to his knowledge That heape of deadly mishaps filled the house with sorrow some were dumbe with amazement others desperate to see their losse inevitable Emilia and Camilla would not be comforted and could not dissemble before all to expresse the excesse of their griefe Onely Melintus continued invincible against so many mis-fortunes admir'd of by all that saw him so well prepared to suffer without dread the blowes of Fortune Arcas Melintus slave who never forsooke his Master from his youth and had alwayes beene a witnesse of his extreme vertue and valiant actions seemed to have drawne profit from so faire an example for he was very courageous and had formed in him so great an affection towards Melintus that nothing could parallel the care he had to his service This slave could not consider the constant face of his Master and the extremity of his miserie but that his heart overprest must needs send forth teares into his eyes In the end inspir'd by some God or carried away by his owne courage he was bold to propose that if the place where they were could be for a while conceald he would assure their lives and that no more search should be made for them They would know of him what meanes he had invented but he bade them onely be carefull of that hee had declar'd and they should presently know the effect of his resolution He went instantly out of Emilia's house towards Maximus his having along with him another slave only that belong'd to Palamede called Nisus whom hee was assur'd was as affectionate as he for the safety of his Master When they were come thither and shut close within Melintus and Palamed's Chamber Arcas sayes to him Nisus I have made choyce of thee to assist mee in the designe I have thought on for the saving our Masters lives I am resolv'd to dye for Melintus and if thou hast courage enough thou shalt dye too for Palamede Nisus without being amaz'd ask'd him what was to be done Arcas answers Wee will each of us take a sute of clothes of theirs and for feare we be discover'd by those that shall come from Nero we will have Helmets on our heads and wee 'le arme our selves with swords and poynards as of set purpose either to defend our selves or else to fell our lives deare when they shall enter the Chamber after we have resisted a while wee may disfigure our face with blowes of our poynards as we receive our deaths and so soule it with blood and wounds that we shall be taken for our Masters and so appease the Emperours vengeance who will no more thinke of the matter Nisus standing mute and musing on the order of this invention Arcas beleev'd hee had not resolution enough for so brave a deed and said to him What Nisus doubtst thou to dye for a cause that shall make us the fairest examples of courage and fidelity in the world Hadst thou rather live in the basest condition of men than dye as the most renowned of the age having so vertuous and valiant Masters have we not so much learn'd as to doe an action wherein they may be imitated by us Nisus interrupted him saying Arcas leave off perswading mee I am as resolute to dye as you In vaine have I exprest so continued affection to Palamede if I should not shew it now in the most important occasion of his life thou shalt see with what joy I will entertaine death and my soule should goe her way with more content if before her depart shee might know that our Masters were in safety The gods replyed Arcas will doe the rest let but us doe our duty we cannot but dye well satisfied for if they be to dye our surviving them would be impossible and if wee preserve them what glory will it
so vertuous a friend but constraind his prudence to obey the transports of my youthfull fancies If the gods are resolv'd rather to take my life from me than make me wise by these accidents I submit to their justice praying them to give you another friend as affectionate but more moderate than I Yet if your friendship cannot easily change the subject of it I have another my selfe whom I may well call more deserving than I I leave behind me a sister whom I desire you to love if already as I beleeve you have not esteem'd her worthy your affection I know your merits be above hers but yet I am assur'd she will never give her selfe to any man of lesse worth than you This consolation I shall have at least after my death when I shall know that with the goods I am to leave her she is to possesse the greatest I was able to procure The first words of Palamede had possest with sadnesse the soule of Melintus and his eyes with teares but the last surpriz'd him with astonishment not thinking that Palamede had ever had knowledge of the secret love hee had to the faire Ariana his sister and not willing to avow it seeing shee her selfe would not have it discover'd at all to any he contented himselfe to give him this answer It were not possible for me to have more joy receiving so deare witnesses of your friendship if the occasion thereof were not so unfortunate But I cannot choose but give you thankes for the first and regret the other and I will yet hope that the gods will not so soone separate us but that the occasion of my discontent shall cease and I long time enjoy the affection of so perfect a friend If the estate wherein you are suffer'd me to accuse you I might complaine of you for beleeving that I could ever blame your actions If at any time I have dislik'd them it was rather because my humour was contrary to them than my reason Cure your selfe onely and imagine not of giving me any person that may hold your place I would not conceive the like thought of you that after me you could love any thing Melintus conceal'd so violent and respectfull a passion for Ariana that he durst not pronounce her name nor speake one word of her and so left off his discourse Palamede when he had stayd a while said to him And what say you to my sister This replyed Melintus is a matter that I find so farre above my merits that I cannot thinâ—e upon it without presumption and besides that Aristides your father hath his designes more high in all reason wherefore I content my selfe to honour her with all the respect I may Palamede would have answer'd this but Melintus told him that hee could no longer endure to heare him speake with so much paine and desir'd hee would remit that discourse to another time and rest himselfe for feare of some greater danger I will make but one request to you said Palamede to send into Sicily as speedily as you can to my father it may be I shall be alive yet some dayes in which time hee may be here with my sister or at least render me the last duties of a friend if my death prevent their arrive I have no greater wish than this that I may see them before I dye Melintus tooke that occasion to leave him after telling him that he went instantly to dispatch one of his men and that hee hoped for all that when they should be come to Rome they would have more cause to rejoyce for his cure than to mourne his losse Then studying how hee should write for putting Aristides and Ariana into too much feare he determin'd to dissemble his griefe as much as might be and wrote these Letters Melintus to Aristides I Was not able to refuse Palamede this service he desir'd of mee to advertise you of some wounds he receiv'd in a combat and to beseech you by the affection you beare him to come to Rome to him with his sister The feare he hath to dye without seeing you was stronger than all the prayers I could make that hee would not give you so much apprehension and paine But in satisfying of his desire diminish your owne feares and beleeve that your sonne defying all remedies will not be beholding for his cure but to your sight He put this other apart to be deliver'd in secret to Ariana Melintus to Ariana IT is with sorrow that I make you understand newes that will a little trouble your mind Neverthelesse when you shall know that the brother that is so deare to you feares to dye for any wounds and desires to see you thinke not this misfortune so neere but rather that your happy destiny hath brought forth this accident to have the fairest person of the earth appeare in the chiefe City of the world You are not to thinke it strange that he will have you gaine this glory with the prejudice of a little feare you shall there find men to whom love cannot be favourable farre off from Syracusa and that wait but for your presence to cure them In the meane time I mistrust no ill fortune nor can I judge the cause ill that shall produce so faire an effect as the happinesse to see you Melintus that had not yet dared to make a full discovery of his passion to the faire Ariana had taken this liberty to write to her since his depart from Syracuse and for this reason was he permitted to doe it because Palamede was over negligent and that she might heare often from them so as hee spake but insensibly of his affection to her intermingling covertly that which nearest touch'd him in the things that passed without giving her any cause to accuse him of unadvisednesse And shee her selfe was very well pleas'd to receive testimonies of his passion without the ingaging of her honour by feigning ignorance of his designe and so they did both deceive one another willingly if we may call deceit the secret knowledge they mutually gave of a vertuous and inviolable affection After Melintus had clos'd these Letters hee gave them into the hand of Arcas his faithfull Freeman and instructing him what was to be done gave him charge to make all haste to report Palamedes disaster in such a sort that they might not be too much affrighted and to say that he would have written himselfe but for a hurt in his hand then hee went backe againe to his friend and dispatch'd this bearer in his presence to let him see how he obeyed his request and to give him this content at least Marcellin that had alwayes before made esteeme of Palamede and Melintus because of their merits and had not declar'd himselfe against them his jealousie having not yet burst forth full of despight that they had twice escap'd the death he had prepared them and not thinking that hee was knowne the Author of those treacheries counterfeited himselfe to be
fallen sicke and sent to know how they did and that hee was in paine till hee heard from them When he had learn'd that his chiefest enemy was in the worst condition he sent him an oyntment as an excellent remedy for his wounds but Melintus having receiv'd it would not have his friend make triall of the Drug comming from a place so suspect The faire Camilla sent for a Dog that they presently strucke with a knife then she made the Oyntment be applyed to the wound and foure houres after the Dogge was found dead this composition hauing envenomed the sore and penetrated in a small time to the very heart The knowledge of this treason made Marcellin be as much hated of Camilla as he had before time beene loved and when he came to see her after his sicknesse she shewed such displeasure at him that he well perceived hee was lost with her Melintus afflicted with his friends evill though it was not then judg'd mortall and seeing himselfe constrain'd to feigne a passion for a Lady he loved not passed a very troublesome life in that house Emilia that could not beleeve these coldnesses and distasts of his proceeded from the small affection he had to her but rather imputed the cause of them one while to the misfortune had arriv'd to them another to his desire of being reveng'd on Marcellin never ceas'd rendring him her most passionate cares One day when he was in bed she said to him Melintus It grieves me to see you so sad in a place where it is desired you should be most content Madam answered he the greatest discontent I have is to put you to so much trouble and I could wish you would be pleas'd to remit the paines you take to them that serve us so I should be eas'd of the halfe of my evill No no Melintus replied she hide not your selfe from me this is not the cause of your griefe for if you love me you desire to be loved of mee and you cannot receive at this time other testimonies of this than my assistance so as my paynes must rather be agreeable than troublesome to you But in good truth dreame you not of revenging you on Marcellin for the villanies by which he pursues the life of Palamede Melintus who was glad to conceale the principall subject of his sorrow was very well pleas'd at her abuse and that he might entertaine her still in it he sayes Madam 'T is true his treasons possesse me with horrour and feare for I see that he will not leave practising against us and it will be more difficult for us to warrant our selves from a coward and traytor than an open and valiant enemy Leave that care to mee answered shee we must by little and little banish him our company and afterwards wee shall know how to preserve our selves from his designes my sister already hates him and this have I gained of her representing to her how much this fellow is to be detested There is no doubt replyed he but his company is very dangerous and that sometime or other those that are of so mischievous a disposition will make others that converse with them partakers of the miseries of their owne lives I beginne though late sayd Emilia to see the truth of this you say for I tooke him for a man capable of doing a mischiefe yet seeing hee did us so many good offices I could not beleeve hee would attempt any thing that might occasion our displeasure I will not proceeded shee reproach you with the service I did you in the person of Palamede making him accepted with my sister yet I must needs let you see what affection I beare you and what power I have with her by estranging Marcellin from her heart to whom we cannot deny but we had singular obligations Whereof if you have leisure I will make a short relation to you Melintus who was well content to let her have the talke desir'd her to take the paines and shee replyed thus Three yeares agoe my sister and I married on one day two Knights of Rome my sister Decius and I Antonine But scarce had six moneths passed but Decius quitting the affection he had to my sister fell in love with mee at least he would make me beleeve so I discreetly resisted him because I would not have his intention come to my husbands or my sisters knowledge for indangering the friendship that was amongst us and I hoped also that hee would retire himselfe from it of his owne accord This mildnesse made him beleeve that in the end I would let my selfe be gained and that nothing retained me but the affection I had to my husband On the other side judging of others by himselfe he thought Antonine was in love with my sister and was againe loved of her because they entertain'd one another familiarly enough without any great occasion whereupon hee conceiv'd so furious a jealousie that he resolv'd to make them both away this rage of his being usefull also for the love he made to me for he pretended to marry me after he had dispatch'd those two persons One day when wee dined with him I was amaz'd to be held backe by him taking me by the arme as I was going to eat of a dish of meat whereof there was but little in it and well seasoned to appearance he feigning to remember me of something he had to say to me entertain'd me till Antonine and Camilla had eaten the most of that was in the dish then he made it be taken away At that time I perceiv'd nothing at all but presently after dinner my sisters young stomacke beganne to worke and was strong enough to expell the poyson she vomited Antonine that was more in yeares and had eaten the most of it finding in like manner some gripings did what he could to cast out that hee had taken in but he could never doe it whatsoever remedies were given him and dyed the day after The crime and designes of Decius being apparant enough you may conceive how I was transported to lose a husband I honour'd and with what fury I attempted to revenge me on him and hee above all this would have had me attributed his action to the excesse of love he had to mee and that I was beholding to him for it But this mad man being not yet satisfied but desirous to have my sister dye what ever happened I could then devise of nothing but the preserving of her life by taking her home to me where I was resolv'd to live free without ever marrying againe In that time Marcellin fell in love with Camilla with so violent passions that there was nothing he would not have enterpriz'd for her sake and seeing us ever in teares my sister and I she because Decius sought by all meanes to put her to death and I for the losse I endur'd he tooke in hand to revenge us both and to free us for ever from so cruell an enemy A little
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
the sweetnesse of his imaginations Emilia was come to her sister into Palamedes Chamber and had interrupted a discourse that was very agreeable to them Camilla already overcome with the love and good grace of Palamede and finding moreover that she was transported with pitty to see him so ill for hersake had thus addrest her selfe to him Palamede what thing can be capable at this time to give satisfaction to your mind and comfort to your griefes Your presence sayes he Madam which causes in mee these two effects for although Fortune hath handled me cruelly enough I know not how to be angry with her in what case soever she hath led me hither to give me the happinesse of seeing you at all times But I would not answer'd she have you buy my favours at this price often for then my good will would be farre more cruell than all the rigours you could receive Well see what it is you desire of mee your affection sayes hee which I demand but of grace though it may seeme I have purchas'd it with my bloud You should not be here replyes she if this affection were not yours already but I will assure you besides by an oath I make you to banish from me what ever you would have me to love but you onely Palamede willing to thanke her tooke her hand and lift up his head from the bolster in paine to kisse it Camilla making as though she would have placed him right againe as he was for feare he might take harme came neare him with her head and kiss'd him and because that at the same time hee gave a straine that made him feele a shooting in all his wounds Oh gods said he what envious Demon thus intermingles paine with joy Then Camilla bowed downe and kissing him againe said I will not have you be the last in paine Madam sayes he I am asham'd to let you goe all the way but if I were cur'd you should not thus prevent mee We must sayes shee take pitty of the sicke and doe for them what they would willingly doe themselves in another season Madam answers hee if it please you sometimes to take this paines for me I promise to returne you foure times as much when I am in health I will not ingage you replies shee in so great debts that you shall never be able afterwards to pay me I sweare to you sayes hee that as soone as I am well these scores shall the first be acquitted Emilia surpriz'd them in this loving entertainment and after some common discourse shee advertis'd them what Melintus and she had consulted of concerning Marcelline but just as they were speaking together there came a messenger to Palamede from his father with these Letters Aristides to Palamede MY Sonne I doubt not but Rome hath wonders enow to stay you there all your life but consider that you have a father that loves you and would be glad to see you againe and a sister whose marriage is but now resolv'd on with Amyntas and who waits but your returne to deliberate upon the happinesse and repose of her life leave therefore all things for our sakes and come home to enjoy our friendship if it be still at least deare to you Ariana that lov'd Melintus though she would not he should know it had foreseene that this Letter might produce great perturbations in his minde and therefore shee accompanied it with this other which shee wrote to her brother knowing well he would not faile to shew him either of them Palamede when he had read the first opened his sisters Letter which was thus Ariana to Palamede MY deare Brother you will much wonder that my designes should be differing from my fathers but I will tell you thus much that you need not hasten your returne for the newes he sends you for I attend you but for this to declare that I will never marry Amintas for some reasons I shall let you know hereafter It is therefore in your choyce to come or not to come as it will be one day in mine to determine with whom I am to live Palamede was of opinion that the reasons of his sister which made her assume this liberty of speech and leave her accustomed modesty must needs be important Then he sent for Melintus to communicate the Letters with him And he presently rose from his bed and came to him and the sisters leaving them alone Melintus tooke the letters out of Palamedes hand and could not choose but change colour sometimes as he read them which Palamede observ'd well enough but knowing he desir'd to keepe secret his affection hee was wel content to favor this discretion of his since he lov'd to live after that fashion and so was resolv'd never to enquire for any knowledge in that matter but at what time Melintus should think it seasonable so much respect had he to this vertuous friend of his When he perceiv'd he had done reading that he might keep him from suspecting of his regarding of any thing he prevented him thus The letters you sent them since the dispatch of these will make our excuses if we should so suddenly goe to them The excuses answered Melintus are very lawfull but yet they will not be very acceptable to them and now I finde you past all danger I repent me that I obeyed you and gave them so much feare My sister replies Palamede will not be angry that I have given her this occasion to see Italy but that they may finde us both in good estate returne you to your bed againe for I am sure you have need of rest for the paines you have taken for me Melintus went backe againe to his Chamber where being alone he thanked Ariana in his mind for the care she had taken to send this letter to secure him from feare well perceiving it was rather addrest to him than to her brother and judging more to his own advantage of the state of his loves than he durst have hoped heretofore hee was resolv'd to endure patiently the constraints wherein he found himselfe obliged to Emilia and his wounds being clos'd up agâ—â—ne he employ'd all his time with his friend Wherein he was so carefull that Palamede with the helpe of the Ladies was in case to be able to lift himselfe up though it were still not without much paine ARIANA. The Second Booke WHen Melintus was most comforted for the health his friend recover'd he was himselfe surpriz'd with a fever The losse of blood he had sustained the watchings and labour he had endur'd during the extremity of Palamedes sicknesse had so weakned him with the cares he was tormented with that his body was not able to resist so much paine This accident renued Emilia's feares for his life and she blam'd her selfe for suffering him to be so carefully diligent about Palamede Neverthelesse with the remedies they applied that Fever was not very violent It was at that time that newes was brought them how
all her lovers but contempt and indifferency yea some had shee handled with so much cruelty that despaire had reduc'd them to extreme resolutions for there is no doubt but she hath charmes unavoydable to any other but Melintus and is skill'd in the managing of wits with so much dexterity that she acquires an absolute command over all that approach her among the rest she was more continually serv'd by one call'd Trebacius Captaine of the Emperours guard who for all the passionate duties a lover could performe had proved all the rigours that a Mistris could inflict But that woman that had brought forth so much love without receiving any did at this time take without giving any At first meeting she receiv'd with joy Melintus offers as a conquest she had desir'd having then no other plot but to keepe that acquisition yea she dissembled not to glory of it and to signifie her contentment to her other lovers the more to provoke them she us'd them with more cruelty and contempt than ever in such sort that Trebacius not able to indure such sensible objects of ill intreaty and jealousie was in the end forced to resolve with himselfe never to see her more But love that would be reveng'd of all her disdaines made her observe so many perfections in Melintus and sweetnesse in his conversation that she began to feele cares and unquietnesse when he was absent and motions of joy which were not ordinary with her when she saw him She would have rejected those torments which were not knowne to her but by the complaints of them she had made suffer so much but it was impossible for her and in the end she was brought to that passe to comfort her selfe in this beleefe that Melintus felt no lesse torment for her Melintus soone perceiv'd the effect as well of his words as of his duties and thought it fit for the good ordering of this advantage that he must faigne not to seeke out of discretion what he shunned out of designe He gave me advice of all and we had so order'd the matter that for not provoking of Marcelin I was not before him to expresse any purpose for Camilla but rather to make him beleeve that we had too much respect to him for to enterprise upon his loves This assurance wee gave him and some good offices wee did him gained us intirely his friendship even so farre that he made report of us to the Emperour and made him desirous to see us Then lived I happy enough because Melintus willing to avoyd the occasions of being alone with Emilia that he might not have cause to presse her had found out a device to deliver himselfe out of that pain and give mee much commodity and content For having observ'd that Marcelin made himselfe a states man and would seeme able to speake upon any kind of subject yet and sought his entertainment to make it appeare that he loved no company to that of the learned at what time Melintus saw him most busie about Camilla he entred in his discourse with Emilia upon subjects that were very high and Marcelin lest he might seeme to recule for ignorance left Camilla to joyne himselfe to those discourses which Melintus knew how to prolong and then to begin others wherein Marcelin was so farre ingag'd that he lost the remembrance of Camilla and so left me the place free while Melintus also deliver'd himselfe from the discourses he had beene oblig'd to hold with Emilia altogether contrary to his thoughts Since the cruell answer Camilla gave mee I dar'd not take up that language any more fearing I might wholly ruine my selfe only I rendred her little devoires and complaisances staying till Melintus might oblige Emilia to speake something in my favour in the end was this occasion presented Marcelin had spoken of us to the Emperour and amongst other of Melintus qualities had commended him for making excellent Greeke verses and had said of mee that I could play on the Harpe nay more that therein wee had beene Victors in Greece at the Olympique games these were then the dearest pastimes of that Prince to compose and repeat verses upon the Theatre and to play and sing in presence of the people to the envy of those that were acquainted with such exercises Melintus and I having saluted Nero he commanded us to prepare our selvès two dayes after to ascend the Treatre with him and dispute the prizes appointed for the Conquerours It was against his will that Melintus resolv'd to obey and appeare in an action so little becomming the greatnesse of his courage But yet though it were some shame to see so great a Prince so passionately to seeke for honours so vaine and so unworthy of his Majesty when I saw my selfe upon the Theatre proudly clothed with the chiefest men of the earth upon cloth of gold and purple the Emperours guards about us and an infinite number of people showting with acclamations and applauses my heart conceiv'd joyes my mouth is not able to expresse Only I will tell you that Melintus appeared in his rang attir'd like Orpheus when he went to hell to demand Euridice and repeated that Elegant Poeme you have sometimes heard him speake of with which he so ravisht the peoples eares that the end of his repetition was followed with a thousand acclamations of applause I was disguised into Apollo and had a laurell neare me to represent him when Daphne whom he pursued was chang'd into that tree and accommodating my voyce to the Musique of my Harpe I sung these verses LOvely daughter of Peneus That hadst compel'd mee to thy lure And is thy life departed from us Into this wood a tree t' endure Alas for to avoyd my love Thou many cryes to heaven didst send Thy voyce hath mov'd the gods above A God could never make thee bend Lesse quick I wished thee to be Heavens smiling when I prayed Immoveable by rendring thee More than I desir'd have stayed Thy running did me much importune Thou wert in dread of my embrace And our desires by this thy fortune Were heard and turn'd to our disgrace O Daphne what funest desire Hath made thee thus the light despise Sweet Daphne or to life retire Or else restore my liberties Why doe I tempt a thing impossible I lose my words that lost my way If when a Nymph she was insensible These branches heare not what I say Let thy leaves be greene for ever Laurell of my ill glorious Let them alwayes my head cover And front of the victorious Camilla and Emilia were not very farre off us and I was more pleas'd that Camilla approv'd with a nod of her head that I had sung than with some clapping of hands that followed in my favour When all had beene presented in their turnes and they were to judge of the prizes Nero was proclaim'd Conquerour Yet the second honours were adjudg'd to us Melintus receiv'd a crowne of gold inrich'd with diamants and pearles and I
the sight of mee might not offend the happinesse of so many graces by the contagion of my mishaps or else lest her regards which are more cruell to me might not make my evill incurable by new hurts I will hope that the remembrance of that I have seene but one moment may in time be effaced and I perceive well that I should make it immortall if I suffer'd it to acquire more strength He besought him after that to make his excuses to Melintus for going his way without seeing him Palamede protested to him that he lamented his torment and that hee was willing to ease him with the losse of his bloud in satisfaction for so many favours wherewith he had oblig'd them Otho gave him thanks for his good will and having learn'd a secret backe way out tooke leave of him to carry with him into Spaine a memory of Ariana which both made the way irksome to him and a great part of his staying there also but in the end his farre remove time and his ambition more than all things cur'd that wound with much adoe so powerfully does a rare beauty imprint her marks upon a soule that is noble and delicate Palamede being return'd to Melintus made relation to him of the occasion of Otho's trouble discourses and resolution Melintus in his heart was not offended for his remove seeing himselfe freed from a rivall too puissant although he had sorrow to lose a friend so affectionate and that had heretofore so much credit Neverthelesse he dissembled what he thought to wonder at so sudden an affection then after he had said how it was not needfull to make that accident at all be knowne Aristides Emilia and Camilla came neare to whom Melintus conceiv'd he might discover Otho's disgrace seeing it was already divulg'd at Rome Every one bemoan'd him because hee had many excellent qualities and among the rest a liberality without example Palamede tooke his sister againe to tell her what had come to passe at that time he saw the rest ingag'd in that discourse and having led her into the other chamber he made her blush when hee acquainted her with the sudden love of Otho which matter being not fitting for her to heare continued shee to breake it off oblig'd him to finish the history he had bogun whereof shee was impatient till she had learn'd the end He consented to what she desir'd and thus reassum'd his discourse I beleeve we were interrupted when I was telling you how we went out of the Theater where we had gotten honour enough if it were honourable at all there to appeare After we had left the Emperour we were accompanied to our houses by our friends and a part of the people but it was a very long while to me ere I was rid of so much company to goe see Camilla We feined to be weary of the tumult and croud which made them all take leave of us and instantly I pray'd Melintus to goe along with mee to the sisters They were then alone for Marcelin had waited upon Nero to the Palace and at our comming come sayes Emilia let us goe receive these Conquerours with the honour is due to them Melintus putting one knee to the ground said to her We come to present these Conquests at your feet seeing that we hold them of you Yet did not I replyes Emilia compose the verses you recited and for me sayes Camilla I cannot play on the Harpe The love said I to her we have for you is so powerfull that it made us vanquish all that is in Rome It was sufficient added Melintus that you favourably look'd upon us because fortune can refuse nothing to them that have that happinesse The pleasing Camilla replied with her accustom'd mirth If our eyes obtain'd this victory I find them to be excellent Poets and good players on the Harpe I said to her they are farre more cunning than wee for they can make themselves be loved which we have not bin able to doe yet This is a difference said Emilia we must end in particular and drawing Melintus apart left me with the faire Camilla When we were set I was a little astonish'd not daring yet to speake freely of my affection to her Neverthelesse swollen with the good fortune of my victory and seeing her looke with a very cheerefull countenance I sayd to her that there was no contentment that was not accompanied with displeasure and at that very time we are accounted most happy we have often most occasion to complaine of Fortune It is true answer'd Camilla but what cause have you to speake this Because said I the people to day thought me well pleas'd and I find before you my condition very miserable If that be so replies she you are to avoyd my presence with great care and seeke for publike assemblies where Fortune is so favourable to you But said I to her if I cannot wish for happinesse without you it would be but an untoward way to be happy to flye from you If you seeke said shee this good to be esteem'd of as much as t is possible for a person of your merit to be you ought not to thinke your selfe miserable with me The merit continued I is not great when it cannot prevaile to make me belov'd Your merit said shee is powerfull enough since it makes it selfe belov'd of me And my person said I then I esteeme it answered shee Nothing else replide I. I honour it added she Oh the gods cried I out what of honour what of esteeme and no love I know not said she what you speake of Of a thing answered I you are not ignorant of seeing you have learn'd it me so well 'T is then sayes she a want of will Wherefore went I on will a person of such perfection have this want ha well sayes she I will have a will for you But answered I I would have a good one And I will give you sayes she an ill one I replide Would you then be so cruell Will you continued she that we fall to an agreement This said I is the favour I demand Let us part sayes she equally you shall have an indifferent one I expected some more favourable answer and replied to her that I would not have a thing shee was so free of to all the world Had you rather sayes she have particular evils than common goods I assur'd her that I desir'd neither one nor other Neverthelesse answer'd she you are to choose and I said to her I had rather leave you both of them I will said she prevent you and so she left me going away towards Emilia who being angry because she interrupted her discourse with Melintus ask'd her why she had quitted me Camilla answered her in laughing and walking up and downe the chamber he is a man that pretends to more than one victory in a day I could not tell then whether I should account my selfe happy or unhappy having taken hold on no word that
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
have beene glad to have beene at Syracuse with Ariana for that he suspected lest Marcelin losing Camilla's favour might not make his addresses to her and give them many crosses that way And so had he purpos'd but that which confirm'd Melintus in that apprehension was because Marcelin impatient to see againe at leisure her that had so well touch'd him with love in so little a time staid not long to counterfeit a desire to goe see Palamede and parted from Melintus to goe into the other chamber where he found her no more so as he was forc'd to entertaine her brother thinking he might have need of his helpe to see and be well receiv'd by her but they had strange plots one upon the other That entertainment was not of continuance because when there is question of feigning the discourses are not long-breath'd each fearing to discover himselfe and so the time pass'd away the greatest part of it in silence As soone as ever Melintus could come to speake to Palamede he counsel'd him to goe out of that lodging that very day and told him he had perceiv'd the displeasure Aristides tooke for finding them there that it were better he went his way alone than stay for him that they were to tell the Ladies how Aristides weary of the journey was fallen sick for him that he would follow him the day after and so they ought to retire one by one for feare the depart of them both might not at one time too much surprise them Palamede resisted some time this advice for the passion he had to Camilla whose sight he enjoyed with such commodity Neverthelesse it became him to give place to that friends counsell he had too much neglected to his losse and this resolution taken they were to take leave of the sisters Emilia that had never observ'd in Melintus any strong passion what-ever favour she had exprest to him began to be in doubt of the cause of his coldnes to her since the arrive of Ariana This stately woman who all her life time saw her selfe ador'd without having ever any love died for despite to finde her selfe sleighted and when she heard the newes of his retrait at first shee gently replied to the courteous words of Melintus but to his replies shee us'd reproaches and from reproaches she enter'd into fury That rage brake all the chaines of discretion and modesty What said shee after I had disdain'd the most powerfull men at Rome am I brought to this passe to become suppliant to a stranger and a man unknowne This ingratefull man this Traitor after receiving so much honour at my house after having bin drawne by me out of the hands of death dares yet forsake me and refuse a few daies at my intreaty Melintus to stop the current of those words said to her Madam I am neither traytor nor ungrate I have lost neither the respect I owe you nor the passion I had for you it needs not to employ intreaties where you may command and that which makes me be accus'd for disacknowledgement is that should rather let you see how well I can acknowledge the cares it pleas'd you to take of me since I desire to free you of them Will you reduce mee to that never to be able to satisfie the obligations I have to you by never ending my importunities and that I suffer all my life to be serv'd by you without a power to doe you service Beleeve you that when I am at home I shall have the lesse affection to you and will you not so much as permit that I put my selfe in the way to render you my duties Although I honour your favours extremely the excesse of them begins to be weighty upon me seeing I no more obtaine them by my services Madam if you have hitherto taken pleasure to expresse so good will to me envy me not at my turne the contentment of offering you my cares and obliging you by my submissions to continue this affection to me I beleeve that to a person of courage there is no punishment comparable to this without ceasing to receive and never give and this is that you would have mee eternally endure Emilia something stayed by these speeches stedfastly regarding him said How happy should I be Melintus if you were true but I feare this faire language proceeds not from the heart too much order has it to expresse a passion and you seeme rather to affect to speake well than to love well t is no matter I will beleeve you so you will grant me yet two dayes more stay during which you may find your selfe in better health Melintus not willing to put her into desperation answer'd her that shee might dispose not onely of two dayes but all those of his life without asking him leave So they were at accord together And Camilla much better assur'd of Palamede's affection not being made to oblige her by any compulsion suffer'd him to goe his way well knowing she should ere long see him againe The displeasure this stay brought to Melintus came from hence that hee saw himselfe depriv'd in that time of seeing Ariana and knowing Palamede would not faile to report to her the cause that retain'd him he would write this Letter to her Melintus to Ariana T Is not my sicknesse now that retaines me here but another's that is more insupportable to me than my owne rather out of despite than pitty I have of it 'T is a cruell thing to be unfortunate by too much good fortune and not to be able to escape out of that is in my owne power I beleeve I am destin'd to contemne all my time the good things are offer'd me and to consume my selfe by desiring those I cannot possesse When Fortune uses me the most cruelly she makes me become cruell too then ordaines a punishment for my disdaines in stead of rewarding them being so just But since she is blind I appeale from her to your judgement and aske of you not that which I refuse to take of others that were too great presumption but that I even refuse them which is a little compassion though it may seeme I am unworthy of it in that I deny to give it Melintus gave this Letter in Tables to Arcas his faithfull Free-man to whom alone was the secret passion of his master disclos'd who would not hide himselfe from him in many things he had occasion to employ him This good servant the day after that Palamede was return'd to Maximus with his father tooke the occasion to goe see how hee did from Melintus and gave his letter secretly to Ariana who receiv'd with it so much content that after she had read it she promis'd to give him an answer Never had she done him that favour but having lately had intelligence of so many vertues and merits by her brothers report of the contempt hee had made of one of the fairest Ladies of Rome for not giving offence to her love of the honours he
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
downe the second time bearing a man that had the appearance of a god all glittering in gold and precious stones She came neare againe to Ariana and said Vertuous Ariana see here the husband I present you with I know the greatnesse of your mind and wisdome you can never satisfie the generosity which the noblenesse of your blood gives you but by the great honours and riches he is possest of nor see your owne vertue contented but by that which shall accompany him all his life long Receive him from my hand and be assur'd that in obeying me you shall in like manner enjoy the greatest good fortune that hath beene ever tasted upon earth Ariana filled with a new amazement and seeing a goddesse whose brightnesse and discourse confounded her senses never thought how she was naked before a man but when her sight was more confirm'd and she knew him to be Marcelin she then recover'd her senses and having no respect to the Goddesse she came out of the water putting about her a great linnen cloth and all wet as she was hid her selfe in the bed so inwrapping her about that shee could neither be seene nor touched Diana ascended againe into heaven and left that which remained to be finished by Marcelin who carefull of Ariana's health before he spake any thing to her would have Epicharis dry her and while she was busie at that office he aboorded his Mistresse with these words Why hide you your selfe from me divine Ariana I am not so terrible None in the world besides you flyes from me I have Nobility and honours Doe not despise me faire Ariana you see that men and the gods conspire to make me powerfull and happy I am lov'd not onely of the Emperour but of the Divinity also you adore how shall you dare hereafter to addresse your prayers to her if you refuse obedience to her pleasure You know in what sort she approves the violent passion wherewith I love you Abate oh cruell one the cruelty of your heart and render you if not to the intreaties of men yet at least to the counsell of the gods can you thinke to doe amisse following their advice and hope to live content upon the earth by not following them The more Marcelin continued his discourse the more did she hide her in the bed but he seeing his speeches were to no purpose went on speaking for all that Alas Ariana I will not take advantage from the succour of the gods but be beholding for all my fortune to your favour alone give me but some hope to asswage the ardent affection that torments me After that laying him downe upon the bed as dying for love he said Helpe me faire Ariana and give me my life I dye to see you so hard-hearted and am brought to this point but for adoring you with too much respect But Ariana deafe to all those supplications constraind him in the end to cry out O gods Oh Cupids ayd mee and suffer me not to dye of the wound you your selves have given me Then the heaven open'd againe and the six Cupids descended and three of them staid to hold Epicharis while the other three flew upon the bed going to uncover Ariana and give her up to the power of Marcelin This faire creature had no recourse but to her shriekings Ah! yee gods said shee are you accessary to such a wickednesse she defended her selfe as well as she might from Marcelins attempts labouring to teare his very face but her forces had beene all in vaine the Cupids holding already her armes had it not beene for Virginiaâ—… helpe who open'd the Chamber doore and came in with some other Maids that had heard the voyce of Ariana and Epicharis crying out for helpe She ran instantly towards Marcelin and stopping him said Ha! the gods what fury is this Is this the oath you sware to me Goe out from hence prophane man I renounce your friendship for ever Marcelin answered the Priestesse My designe being lawfull and favoured of the gods the effects of it could not be criminall but since you are a hinderance to me let me returne to the gods that shall revenge my cause and in spight of you give me Ariana Then hee went up againe into the heaven which open'd as before time and closed againe In the meane time Ariana that thought she had beene divinely succoured as she was before divinely surprised knew not what Deity to thank nor what to detest seeing that Diana her selfe was a complice of the misery she was upon the point to suffer and all in confusion she let her selfe be dressed by Epicharis and those Maids whom shee conceiv'd to be so many Nymphs and made them many excuses for enduring the honour they did her In the end she gave them thanks for their helpe and still full of disorder shame and despite she went out of the Temple to be in safety at Maximus house where she presently told her adventure to her brother and Melintus Every one made thereupon differing judgements Ariana was so prepossest with those deities and lights that one while she fear'd shee had offended Diana another while she was fully resolv'd not to obey her at all Epicharis perswaded them that Diana and all the marvels of heaven did never appeare more visibly to any than they had done to them Palamede beleev'd they had not invented all those particulars and was amaz'd with them at a thing so extraordinary But Melintus that was of a more piercing wit and could not imagine Diana was so carefull in Marcelins affaires that was a Traytor and assasinate desired them to beleeve this was not the time of seeing deities upon earth any more and that there was some couzenage secretly practised in it Ariana resisted his reasons a good while saying she was neither asleepe then nor Epicharis and that it was impossible any artifice could bee able to sustaine in the Ayre without any supportation a Diana and the Cupids Neverthelesse she waver'd betweene the assurance she had in her eyes and the doubt Melintus considerations brought her to but some dayes after shee was fully perswaded of the truth It was found out that Virginia was sister to Marcelin who being unable to approve either his wicked desires or his designe to marry Ariana though she were very nobly borne to the end hee might at Rome match himselfe into a Patrician family and knowing the distaste this faire Maid had to her brother was resolv'd one day as shee saw her in the Temple to discover the whole plot of Marcelin to her that on her side shee might find out some meanes to put him off his enterprise Shee confest to her that the first time they spake together Marcelin was in the Temple and that when she was gone out he came to know of her what Ariana had to say to her which shee presently declar'd to him whereupon hee mused sometime then he desir'd her to suffer him to see her in the bath that at
should suffer so much unquietnesse in my mind Diocles comming to be rich in a little time as the rumour went then by the acquisition he had made of the goods of certaine banish'd men was willing to stay himselfe upon the authority Dicearchus had in the City but my uncle oppos'd it because Diocles had ever beene of a faction contrary to his neverthelesse Aristides did what he possibly could to perswade his brother seeing nothing more advantageous for me in Syracuse It was at that time thou wert given me by Dicearchus who having bought thee very young upon the Sea coast had bred thee still in hope that his wife Acidalia might have children that thou mightst serve for company and entertainment too but Acidalia being dead he was resolv'd to give thee to me perceiving I had inclination to love thee I shall never forget interrupted Epicharis that happy change of my condition for I may well say that I began but to live since I was at your service which I would preferre to the most exalted estate that were upon earth for I never had but vexation with Dicearchus and his wife though they brought me up with much care and honour but since I came to you my life is become as happy as I could have desir'd I know well replyes Ariana what contentment thou enjoyest being certaine of my love to thee but give me leave to goe on and thou shalt see if I be not as much assur'd in thine Then she continues Melintus fearing to seeme impatient was foure or five dayes without seeing me except one time at the Temple but Palamede going to visit him as he did often Melintus intreated him to bring him to our house and present him to mee He had then an esteeme of me great enough and I also thought there was not in the world a spirit more sublim'd than his in such sort that wee were both fearfull at this meeting and for the good opinion that each had of themselves wee desir'd also both of us to make our selves be feared After I understood he was come in I collected all the confidence I had and Palamede bringing him to salute me sayes to me Sister see here a man that as well deserves you should receive him in private as you have done in publike and whom you must love if you love me for we are both but one and the same thing I answered him Brother I shall never be wanting to honour that which you love and if I esteem'd not Melintus qualities I should feare singularity and to be left alone of my party Madam said Melintus then if you should be alone in making small account of me your party should at the least be the most just if not the greatest Melintus sayes my brother interrupting him let us not lose time in telling what your worth is my sister knowes it by the report I have made of it to her and by your owne reputation She must of necessity confesse there is not a man upon earth more accomplish'd than you but confesse you too that I have a sister very lovely Brother sayes I to him speake not of me we may have better entertainment besides how would you have Melintus give a judgement of that he has yet no knowledge of Thereupon I invited him to sit downe and Melintus replies Madam I already knew the beauty of your minde by the letters Palamede receiv'd from you and since that of the face is knowne as soone as it is seene suffer me to judge of you at this very houre and that I tell you that fame which is accustom'd to increase the desert of every thing it would commend hath beene constrain'd to diminish yours being impossible to bee publish'd according to the greatnesse of it I answer'd him I pray you leave there your praises which civility obliges to give rather than truth I did not thinke you could have resolv'd to flatter any body such an opinion had I conceiv'd of your vertue Praises replies he are not flatteries but when they are spent upon subjects unworthy of them but vertue it selfe refuses them not for her recompence It is true sayes I to him but they that know their owne wants as I doe ought to take praises as reproaches for not having those qualities are attributed to them and there are no people love them like those that beleeve they deserve them which â—s a vanity in supportable He knew by this I endur'd not commendations and that hee must treat with mee otherwise than with many other women which I observ'd by the amazement appear'd in him and because changing the tune of his voyce he said to me Pardon me Madam if I must still commend you when I shall tell you it is a marke of great vertue not to be able to endure to be commended and they that have a soule well order'd blush ordinarily at it which restifies a kinde of anger and that one takes offence Neither had I ever attempted to judge of you if Palamede had not obliged me to confesse that you were very lovely My brother then mingled his wilde discourse to ours and said That after he had a long time hearkened to us he found my humour was very contrary to that of all the women he had practis'd with and that the beleefe of Melintus was very differing from his also for he thought he could not doe a greater pleasure to women than to tell them they are perfectly handsome that he never attaind to their good graces but by this entry and how after hee had beene willing to perswade them that they had no defect in the end hee was so perswaded himselfe and found them more lovely T is true answers Melintus that many times one prospers that way for that commonly there is some fault and this fashion is not to overcome but to let ones selfe be vanquish'd on either side and this is rather out of weaknesse to be engag'd one to other than by dexterity to engage that which one loves It matters not said my brother provided one be content Be assur'd replide Melintus that you never obtain'd a favour by those meanes but that you found some remarkable defect in her you sued to by which she let her selfe be caught T is true answer'd my brother but never would there be aconquest if the defect were not found and I love those of that sort much better than those whom severity makes inaccessible They are more proper for you said Melintus for the favours you desire of them but confesse if in your judgement you doe not more esteeme the other There is no doubt answers my brother but I give them over because they esteeme not me sufficiently I gave eare to this their discourse and was very glad that Melintus approv'd modesty and exprest with such a grace and vertuous conceits the same thoughts I had The rest of the day past away in such discourses as these whereby I was perswaded that the spirit of Melintus had
other carelesly stretched upon the bed but yet in such a fashion that it kept her from being easie to be uncover'd Her bosome that this way of sleeping gave repose to and breathing at ease was not cover'd but with the end of the sheet that by chance met there the rest was very modestly compos'd I stood confounded to see her so handsome for it seemed her eyes in despight that they were not open for securing her from me pierc'd through their lids to wound me so strangely did I feele my selfe moved And yet not satisfied with what I saw I softly uncover'd all her neck but I vow to you Melintus I never saw any thing so faire I could no longer containe my selfe then but bringing my mouth thither I press'd her a little more than I should have done and made her wake That was a strange spring of hers she gave when she saw her selfe betweene my armes at her awakening and with ease delivering her from me because I would not anger her at this first encounter she inveloped her selfe in her sheets and after blaming my boldnesse for comming into her chamber while she slept prayed mee to goe out then asham'd to lose so faire an occasion I put my selfe upon her bed and embracing her urg'd her by all the prayers I could devise to ease my affection and in this while I put her to a little paine hoping to obtaine what I desir'd by a sweet violence but she after some resistance at last lift her selfe up and said to me with a confident looke Palamede I beleeve you are not so unreasonable as to have a thought to take that by force from mee which is the dearest thing I esteeme in the world it may be you hope I will be vanquish'd with your importunities but know this that there is no punishment so cruell as that I shall make choyce of for you and then for my selfe too after the losse of my honour my condition hath diminish'd nothing of my courage let it satisfie you therefore to have attempted this the crime is great enough to go no further and I shall never pardon you while I live if you leave me not now presently in as much repose as I was in when you found me If you goe on in this vile intent your labours will be but all in vaine nor shall the difference of our fortunes keepe me from having your life in revenge of your indiscretion She spake these words with so severe a fashion that I had no heart to presse her any more I besought her to excuse the rapture of my love and would not let her alone till she had pardon'd me Afterwards I had alwayes a great opinion of her vertue and was not wanting to doe her all the services I was able untill I went my voyage to Athens I protest to you sayes Melintus breaking him off I am greatly delighted to heare such generous demonstrations of a courage doe but consider a while how vice serves to advance vertue for there is no doubt that without that wicked desire in you to attempt upon her honour you could never have knowne to what height she had brought that honour I will avow to you replied Palamede that since that time I respected her as much as she had beene the most noble of our condition and the more practice I had with her the more I observ'd qualities in her that could not proceed but from a good birth as you shall understand by this that followes Then he goes on Before my depart for Athens I was aware that Epicharis seeing my over-free humour chang'd into a respect and my violent passion into a vertuous love had also somewhat moderated her too great rigour to oblige me with an honest friendship and no occasion to serve me was presented but she perform'd it with a great deale of care but so modestly withall that I could not imagine it were to gaine me any way besides It seem'd onely that shee exprest to have some obligation to mee for the affection I had to her and during my voyage I continually receiv'd proofes from her that she remembred me At my returne I had a great contentment when I knew my uncle meant to give her to my sister and the day she was to part out of his house I went thither to see her but at my entrance I perceiv'd in a corner the poore wretch Asylas busie at a great reckoning to which he was so attentive that he saw me not he had a little booke he was looking in then he counted one while with his fingers another with casting counters but I well saw he could not make his account right At last I had pitty of him and ask'd him what hee did Hee was asham'd to be taken at that occupation neverthelesse I offered my selfe in so good fashion to helpe him that he desired me to count for him It was a number of yeares wherein there were many dayes to be added and many also to be taken away but I had a minde to know what the meaning of it was He confest to me that after he had a long time sought the good graces of Epicharis at length he could obtaine of her nothing else but that after six yeares service she might receive his affection and how moreover they had put into the agreement that according to the quantity of the services shee might take away some of the daies and in like manner she might adde to them as she pleas'd if he did any thing to displease her either wilfully or by misfortune that for this purpose he made use of the little booke to keepe a true account withall and now Epicharis was going to dwell out of the house hee would see in what estate affaires were I began to laugh within my selfe seeing his simplicity and this device of Epicharis wit to mocke him When I had therefore comprehended his meaning I look'd into the booke and saw how every day that pass'd was taken away and that sometimes there was writ for one service foure dayes to be diminish'd but by and by after was set downe in another hand for not saluting with a good grace ten dayes to be added for speaking indiscreetly fifteene dayes and all that was to bee augmented so was written with Epicharis hand I refrain'd from laughing as well as I could and after a true supputation I found that he had still above eight yeares to serve and there were two past already since they made the bargaine When I had stayed his account and he saw himselfe so farre backward he could not choose but weepe I comforted him what I could with a promise so to use the matter with Epicharis that shee might oftentimes diminish the dayes for my sake But he ceas'd not weeping and said he should not find out so many occasions more to serve her and I answer'd him there should not be so many occasions neither to displease her After I had somewhat restor'd him againe I went to
tell this encounter to Epicharis with whom I laugh'd a good while at Asylas affliction for finding himselfe so backward in his account She confest she had invented this way to rid her of him and for merry pastime when she desir'd it But in the end I said to her And for mee how many yeeres will you ordaine mee There needs many said she because it may be you would often find the meanes to oblige me and I should feare you would never doe any thing to displease me If that were so answer'd I you ought to wish the terme might soone end to possesse him that would not displease you Looke you then sayes she there must be some other person besides me to make you happy but I sweare to you also I should never give my selfe to any lesse than you And if fortune restores me not to a higher condition you may be assur'd no man shall ever enjoy me in that I am now in The greatest of my desires is come about that I may live with the divine Ariana your sister 'T is with her I will end my dayes in the height of felicity I sweare to you Melintus that hearing her speake with so great a heart I knew not what it was kept me backe from taking her by violence out of my parents hands to give her liberty and marry her after but knowing she her selfe would never consent to that for feare of angring Dicearchus Aristides and Ariana I did nothing but augment my love by the experience of her vertue Some time after she pleas'd me againe so well that I was neere upon the losing of all respect or consideration I beleeve you were then in the Countrey with Telephus when my sister made a dance of Egyptian women I have heard said Melintus of something there was done in my absence which I shall be glad to heare of You know replies Palamede how Epicharis sings and playes on the Lute very pleasantly We were all assembled at my uncle Dicearchus his to receive this Masque I saw her enter with three other women in the number of whom was my sister and when the noyse was appeas'd she recited these verses in Musicke FOure Sisters we be come from Egypt together To appeare in these parts Vnknowne were the loves of Cypris our mother And Mercury god of Arts. Our father at our birth left us for portion Dexterity of hand And Venus she gave us beauty in proportion Mankind for to command Now seene shall it be if any of this City May easily escape If our hands he avoyd our eyes farre more witty Shall finely him intrap I was one of the nearest of the spectators and so rapt with seeing and hearing her that I had lost the use of my other senses to make happy those of sight and hearing onely which made me I tooke no heed when one of these Egyptians put her hand into my pocket in the meane time and tooke away what I had there When the recite was ended and the dance following it they that saw I was robbed made shew to looke if they had lost nothing by these she-robbers I did as much and instantly cried out that I had beene robbed and ran to Epicharis to intreat her to give me againe what they had taken from me then to my sister and the rest of them but they all denied the theft and I had no newes of it till the next morning when I saw comming into my Chamber a young boy I knew not that brought me what I had lost with a little paper wherein were writ these words The Egyptians are content to let you see that they know how to get more than they desire to keepe acknowledge their power and thanke their courtesie I urg'd this young childe to tell me who sent him but he would never be knowne of it and all I could get of him was to give me leisure to make an answer And I went to write thus To the most Gentile of the Egyptians IF you had purpos'd to returne me all you tooke from me I should have found a heart amongst the things it pleas'd you to restore but if you thinke it fitting I consent it stay still with you as earnest of the fidelity I sweare to you All these Gentilesses gave me intirely to her and yet since that time I serv'd her with a great respect because the commodity at our house being the fitter to make attempts upon her I perceiv'd that she did the more refraine expressing her good will towards me for feare I might not take the more boldnesse but I confesse to you that what ever intreaty she made mee I never left commending in my minde her carriage My sister was very well pleas'd with my affection knowing this wench to be very discreet and was perswaded she would find the way to moderate my over-hasty humour if I tooke pleasure in obeying her She alwayes therefore us'd me very seriously but one time when I assur'd her of the love I had to her And may I said shee have some proofe to confirme it I was amaz'd and glad withall she desir'd some service at my hands and made offer of all I was able to doe to please her Know if it be possible said she to me of Dicearchus what my birth is for I beleeve certainly hee knowes it 'T is not that I am weary of living as I doe for to serve Ariana I would forsake the most free condition of the world but I should have cause to rejoyce in waiting on her service purely out of good will and not out of necessity I commended her desire and promis'd to use all the intreaties I could to that end then I added would to God my faire maid our conditions might in some fashion meet one with another I should have as much cause to joy at that perswasion as you your selfe for I beleeve I shall never have power to dispose of my selfe untill I see what fortune shall have resolv'd of you I will not answer'd she make any profession to you how much I am oblig'd to your affection for that were unusefull but if ever the state of my life may change you shall finde I will not forget the least of your respects I prayed her to beleeve I would alwayes serve her after that manner and proffer'd my selfe in case my uncle gave me no light to know what she were to goe to the farthest parts of the world that I might learne the truth of it But when I had put Dicearchus upon that discourse I could never draw any clearing of the question from him He told me indeed that he had her of the Pyrats upon the Sea coast towards Camarine but that made me never the wiser and I was very angry for having understood nothing else to satisfie Epicharis desire Presently after the occasion of going to Rome was presented and when I bade her adiew she said Take heed fortune upon the Sea make not you of my condition and by equalling you
was Corinna he had encountred in the passage going to have surprised Eurylas and how she was forc'd to get her gone at Melintus comming He confest to them also that willing to goe find Corinna and put himselfe upon her bed he had in stead of her embrac'd that man that had awak'd and seiz'd upon his body at the instant that he was strangely amaz'd to feele a beard and a man that would not let him escape did he what he could that in striving together they were fallen from the bed and Curio undermost whose fall must needs have well dazled him for that he did not so much as dreame of calling for helpe that in the end he thought he was to make as if he had beene mistaken and to call him brother to have him beleeve he tooke him for Melintus and was in a wonder he should be in so great a madnesse as not to let him goe what ever he did to get out of his hands They never ceas'd laughing the rest of the night at these rancounters Neverthelesse Melintus reproached Palamede for having had a thought to such an enterprize He excus'd him by the example of Corinna whose attempt was no lesse unchaste and intreated Epicharis to pardon him that crime which she willingly did not being able she said to take offence at a thing that had made them so much mirth About morning they fell asleepe and waked not till it was neere noone and being up it was told them Corinna kept her bed They went to see her and to know how she did and meeting with Curio in the chamber express'd againe to him the displeasure they had for being cause of her sickenesse then they came towards the bed where they found her with her forehead bound up but yet very curiously and as if in that disorder of her face she had not beene over negligent in dressing her Palamede made her a thousand excuses for his ill fortune and a little after going aside with Melintus to entertaine Curio Corinna tooke Eurylas by the hand saying to him What will you doe for one that has beene thus handled for love of you Madam sayes he all that ever I can doe in the world I offer you in assurance that I am too much ingag'd to you and dying for griefe that I was not able to receive the favours you would have permitted me Palamede would favour the contentment and pleasing deceit of Corinna for he drew Curio on the other side of the bed as he spake to him and Corinna taking the occasion said to Eurylas I see very well you must forsake me now but promise me to returne hither one day and you shall see what affection I have to you As shee spake those words she brought Eurylas head close to hers and kist him with a great transportation and besides she uncover'd all her neck to him that he might be the more in love with her Eurylas had trouble enough to refraine laughing and to recompence her with the like favours could wel have shewn her as much but he was content to give her kisses back and promis'd her it should not be long ere he came to see her againe They were at last to give over that delightful exercise for fear of being taken by the husband that came for Eurylas to lead him to dinner The sweetnesse of Melintus conversation had wholly gained that man and at dinner he told him that some Jewels they had still hidden about them but it would bee hard to change them for things that were more necessary as horses and other provisions Curio promis'd to accommodate them and presently they went to his stable where they made choyce of three horses for which Epicharis gave him a Ring that was of a farre greater value because she would recompence him for the good entertainment they receiv'd at his house Curio gave them besides to every one a sword and something with them to eat the rest of the day then they went to take leave of Corinna who wept to see Eurylas part yet shee conceal'd her teares and Curio having seene them a horsebacke let them goe with a great deale of sorrow They were no sooner a good way off out of their sight but having liberty to laugh they were dispos'd to mocke at the abuse of Corinna and her so passionate farewell The incounters of Palamede also serv'd them for no small pastime and Epicharis flouting him that his desires had beene so rewarded I finde sayes he there is nothing so delightfull as that which falls out in love for if a man has that he desires nothing is more happy and the greatest disgrace that may arrive is but matter of laughter I sayes Epicharis but the mischiefe is you are laugh'd at to your cost I finde you onely happy in this that you are of a humour that shrinks not for any accident befals you It is true said Melintus for I beleeve never any man was so often deceiv'd and punish'd as he At Athens he began his apprentiship with a thousand tricks were played upon him at Rome he hardly scap'd dying in the trade and here see what an adventure 't was to goe cast himselfe into the armes of an husband and so to be quit for the hurt he receiv'd in his face Besides all this replide Epicharis his greatest unhappinesse is that experience cannot make him wise How well you are both agreed said Palamede to despise my humour but tell me whose courage doe you esteeme the greater of him that puts himselfe into many hazards comes well off with some is hurt in others but never yeelds or his that never attempts any thing Would you have one after he has beene wounded in a combat quit armes for ever and grow wise by experience You have reason answer'd Melintus to make a comparison with love and valour but as valour is a vertue so you ought to compare with it a vertuous love that is not fastened but to a faire and perfect object like as valour that has nothing for its object but honour no differing considerations to move to the duties of it so in love he that shall have but one designe and ever maintaines that is more couragious than he that will alwayes be changing the subject of it Palamede replide if you will needs compare Love to Valour in my conceit this is exercis'd upon differing subjects and divers encounters one while in the siege of a Towne another at a battell another againe in a private combat Yet ever 't is but one valour sayes Melintus cutting him short Neither is it but one love answer'd Palamede that makes me cherish every thing that is amiable But this valour said Melintus hath but one object which is honour And this love replide Palamede hath but one object neither which is pleasure Pleasure said Melintus cannot be the object of a vertuous love and if you will heare me I beleeve you will be of my minde Vertue never has any thing for object but
out of vulgar spirits They went on their way and after they had sufficiently spoken of this rancounter they tooke up their last dayes discourse for to instruct Palamede in the lawes of fidelity Epicharis ask'd him if he would have Melintus give him another love-lesson I had rather sayes hee take it from you for from the very first I should prove a Master There needs him no other instruction said Melintus but to examine well his life past and hee will finde that ill desires have brought him nought but shame and misfortune and that he never tasted pleasure but in vertuous affections for I will have him confesse to me if the honest behaviour of the wise Eriphile and her sweet entertainments in the very refuse were not more pleasing to him than the favours he thought he had enjoy'd of her in the deceit was put upon him But said Epicharis may not I know that story I shall blesse replide Palamede that deceit all my life for giving originall to the friendship of Melintus and me Now you give me said Epicharis a greater desire to know it for 't is a thing I never yet heard of and if Melintus would take the paines to make this relation to me I would thinke the service I have done you well rewarded Palamede replide Melintus might better tell you all the particulars of it but since I can acquit my selfe so good cheape for that I am indebted to you I will not lose the occasion Epicharis told him If that be too small a request mingle with it your owne story besides and tell me all that happened to you at Athens and in your voyage into Asia It is but reason said Melintus you should know how the lives have pass'd which you have beene the preserver of This relation added Palamede will be very delightfull to you if with it he reports all the glory and the advantages he acquired for I feare that for this cause he will conceale from you the fairest adventures of all You would willingly said Melintus have me leave to you this occasion of discourse to satisfie Epicharis but you shall finde other services to render her I would be very loth replide Palamede to hinder her from hearing you but take it not ill if you forget any thing that I remember you of it Melintus was content after hee had rejected the praises they gave him and some time after he began thus History of Melintus Eriphile and Palamede THere are very fortunate passages to be met with in the life of men which if they would make right use of they might easily addict themselves to vertue and glory and I finde that fortune is of maine consequence to good designes providing the meanes both to undertake and to execute enterprizes I tell you this not to have you thinke I had by this meanes acquired any quality but to confesse unto you that I am the lesse excusable if I have not made use of this good fortune and facility that have alwayes accompanied me When I was sent by Telephus to Athens hee directed mee to the house of one of his friends called Ephialtes whose wife Eriphile was very handsome and one of the wisest women I ever knew And her husband had such trust in her vertue that he was not afraid to receive me into his house although I were very young and handsome enough at that age nay he never had so much as a jealousie for the cares she since tooke of me for I confesse she loved me as her owne sonne although she was not above two or three yeeres elder than I and seeing that I had conceiv'd an affection to her great enough she would make use of this good will of mine to get a power over mee to have me learne with passion all my Arts and exercises In such sort that finding me to be of a very willing disposition she sometimes commended mee to encourage me sometimes she kist me on the forehead for a recompence but yet farre from her husbands eye and I sweare to you that greatly serv'd to advance my studies because I employ'd my time in them for love of her quite after another fashion than I had done for my owne sake Besides knowing her vertue I was in awe of her and durst not attempt any thing that I was not sure would be pleasing to her I gave her account of all I learn'd which made me carefull in spending my time well and presently she became as learned as my selfe On the other side she taught me honest manners and the good fashion of living those of our condition are to follow so as one taught the other what he knew and learn'd of the other what hee was ignorant of and thus was it a very delightfull schoole After imparting my studies to her I let her see the improvement I made at our exercises I did my armes in her presence I wrastled I lanc'd the Javelin and Ephialtes that was one of the prime men of the City having alwayes faire horses besides those were mine I exercis'd them before her and when shee approv'd my riding I thought my paines well rewarded At the beginning I lov'd her as shee had beene my mother but comming to more age and understanding which gave me the more credit with her and dispens'd so great submissions to me I loved her as my sister so as entring into her confidence shee had now no secret to hide from me Palamede was then at Athens too and spending more time at his exercises than at his studies hee came off with much dexterity and grace in them We did every thing in emulation one of another without any other acquaintance but that wee were both of the same City Palamede shall confesse with me that one of us suffer'd with some displeasure the commendations were given to the other and this spurre serv'd also to make us more diligent in well-doing so as there was not any there besides that might exceed us But leave we this discourse of our exercises to speake of his amorous humour After having loved some Ladies of Athens where there is no want of those that are flexible enough and being weary of favours so easily obtain'd as those he had enjoyed to his cost one day he saw Eriphile and fell in love with her without delay he gave testimonies of his affection to her by the care he had to see her in all places where she was to come but he well knew he should have trouble to obtaine what he desir'd of her for her modesty was very great and by her speeches shee never gave him any hold whereby he might take the boldnesse to propound any thing that might offend her honour Neverthelesse having learn'd that she frequented sometimes at a womans of meane condition who was called Harpalice married to a freed man of Ephialtes and that this woman was very crafty and covetous he hop'd to gaine her by her covetousnesse and that she might gaine Eriphile by her craftinesse
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
never the farther from loving me At that time I gained also the affection of Misander if I may so call the desire he exprest to see and speake with me fot doubtlesse you will laugh at the humour of that man I have heard say interrupted Ariana that he is of Reggium and comes often to Syracuse but that he is very melancholicke It is impossible replide Erycine you should imagine to what degree he is so He came one day to see me in the company of Amyntas that was his friend at that time Hyperia my mother was very sicke and in danger to dye my affliction which he found to have some sympathy with his sad humour caused as I beleeve the good will he had to me His discourses were to make me see that I had cause rather to bee afflicted than comforted his wit affording him no reasons for to vanquish my griefes and after he had employed some words to expresse the part he tooke in my sorrow he thought he had sufficiently declar'd his affection to me since it may be I was the first he had obliged by that compleasance Thinking therfore he had got familiarity enough with me by this first encounter he came to revisit me when my mother was in better health and I rejoyced at her recovery my jollity truly made not his affection dye which my sadnesse had produc'd but standing mute to all the discourses wherein I express'd a satisfaction in him he would peradventure have had mee beleev'd that his silence proceeded from love and some dayes after seeing me to receive him with a great deale of kindnesse as I am accustomed to use all that come to see me he tooke the liberty to complaine of me and would have mee thinke that I dealt unjustly with him not to acknowledge the affection hee bare me although he had made none at all appeare to me whether by discourse or any other way For my part having no cause to satisfie him it was no difficult matter to me to keepe him in that plaintive humour and every time he saw me he seem'd to have obtain'd what he desired for when I us'd him with harshnesse or contempt he set himselfe to discourse that he was the most miserable of men that those women that had a sweetnesse for all other had nothing for him but disdaines that his encountring was so unfortunate that at the same instant he appeared he inspir'd refuses and rude usage into them he desir'd most to be esteem'd of that in his very presence they affected a favouring of others to give him the greater displeasure To end upon the subject of the misery of his life there came a torrent of words from him which was impossible to be stopped I laugh'd within my selfe that he was satisfied after that fashion in making all those complaints and reproaches to me his soule loving to feed on nothing but such ill nourishment as this You describe a man to me interrupted Ariana of a very strange nature and yet pleasant enough withall I cannot replide Erycine sufficiently represent this miserable humour for I have observ'd that it 's impossible to please him giving a sense to all things that confirmes his opinion of being miserable If I us'd him with any sort of kindnesse he tooke it for feining if I treated him with coldnesse it was a certaine contempt If I spake to him it was said he in a certaine fashion whereby he perceiv'd well enough the small account I made of him if I held my peace it was to let him see that he was troublesome and to give him leave to be gone In the end I found very true what I had heard my brother say of him that of all the passions he thought he had none but the displeasant and unfortunate ones as sadnesse feare jealousie despaire distrust and the rest And upon this subject he made an observation which I have found a very pretty one and am like to retaine it in my memory that the most things have two faces which diversly regarded make effects as divers As in a combat a man of courage considers nothing but the glory of vanquishing and makes sure of it a poltron regards nothing but death which brings horrour and trouble upon him Even so Misander being within corrupted with this same blacke humour regarded but the ill sense of all things and interpreted all my actions to his disadvantage I had two servants then very differing one that complain'd incessantly without having cause the other that alwayes satisfied himselfe what-ever rigour he receiv'd I confesse to you Amyntas displeas'd me not for the other you may judge if he were love-able yet although he were a man I had reason to banish my company the softnesse of my nature suffer'd me not to anger him enough to drive him away Amyntas knowing by the intreaty I made Misander that himselfe was not ungracious with mee ceased not seeing me and had not failed of greater attempts but that I made him know his duty and my modesty altogether stayed him Misander had so contagious a melancholy that he was a vexation to all he came neare Amyntas brought me his acquaintance but he repented him sufficiently of it for my sake and more yet for his owne because Misander never left me and hee could not entertain me as he desir'd 'T is true that if I had an enemy I should wish him to endure the love of a man of this humour for I beleeve there is nothing in the world more insupportable If you stay at home they will besiege you cruelly without speaking sometimes a word in a day and will weary out the most resolute that might thinke to attend their depart to speake with more freedome if you have businesse abroad they will still accompany you and not give you so much as one houre of respite and in the meane time they will have their sighes be taken for the sweetest entertainments of love their silence for an admirable discretion and their importunity for services that cannot be sufficiently rewarded I remember one day Amyntas came to our house feining to save himselfe from the raine he was taken in as he had ever some pleasant excuse to come often thither and finding Misander there whose presence importuned him sufficiently without adding to his trouble any thing by this sorry humour he was not able to endure that constraint and went out to be delivered of it in spight of the raine that still continued but when hee was abroad the storme so increas'd as he was forced to come backe againe to us where we passed away a day as blacke as can be imagined as well because of the weather as for the humour of Misander On the subject of that raine Amyntas the day after gave me these verses Last day faire Erycina with a storme assail'd At your house I beleev'd I should have shipwracke fail'd As at some happy Port by heaven granted me Soone by their radiant beames your eyes me dried But
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
not beleeve thee so wicked But what reasons canst thou alleage to colour the usurpation of what was his For if thou hadst no meaning to keepe it why didst thou mocke at Telephus when he advertis'd thee not to aspire to the daughter of Aristides by the support of those riches because Hermocrates sonne was living and if thou wouldst not beleeve that why didst thou not restore those goods to them of the race of Hermocrates since they belong'd not to thee See there then the treasures thou hast acquired without running Fortune either by sea or land see there the excessive gaine thou hast made returne of giving nothing in exchange for so many possessions but thy faith and thy conscience which thou hast forsaken This Trafficke was made within thy selfe and thou hadst nothing to doe but to deliberate whether to get that estate thou wert not to betray thy soule Thy avarice disputed against thy fidelity and the decree thy judgement gave in behalfe of it is the sole title of these new acquisitions But 't is but to abuse the cares of the Iudge and of the people to seeke for other proofes after a case so cleare it stands thee then upon to disavow the writing of Hermocrates and thy owne too and after that to report the titles of all thou art possess'd of and all this being impossible I demand of the Syracusians that they condemne thee to restore the goods thou injustly detain'st from me whereby I might from henceforth sustaine the quality of my birth and that they ordaine for thy infidelity that punishment it hath deserved When Melintus had made an end of his speech all the people began to clap their hands and to cry out Condemne Diocles but the Judges having made the noyse cease commanded him to speake Then he requir'd time for to consider upon his justification and said that hee could not answer in the field to all Melintus his impostures that he well knew how to defend himselfe from them but that he must have some leisure to make the falsnesse of what he had said appeare They gave him the writings that Telephus brought in and demanded of him if he knew them He could not disavow his owne hand-writing nor that of Hermocrates but hee said all this made not against him but that he might have gotten the goods before his depart The Judges enquir'd of him if he had the Contracts of the sale that passed betweene them He answered that they were at his house and that he onely desired time to produce them They order'd that hee should send his sonne Amyntas who was present to goe bring them but then he sayd they were not in place where he could finde them and that he himselfe had need of terme for to put them in order All these answers being but shifts and the people never ceasing to cry out against him the Judges assembled together to deliberate and after a long time speaking what they had to say some excusing Diocles that had to that time beene ignorant who Melintus was others shewing more severity and saying that how-ever the case stood he was willing to retaine what appertain'd not to him In the end the Magistrate pronounc'd this judgement That Diocles was condemn'd not onely to restore into the hands of Melintus all those goods he held of Hermocrates but besides to pay him the revenue for the time he had possessed them and that for the infidelity he had committed he was banish'd for three years The people by their applauses seemed to be well satisfied for this sentence and Melintus making a signe with his hand that he would againe speak all was silent and he said I have hitherto onely demanded justice of you and now I demand a grace at your hands which is to revoke the banishment of Diocles in my favour and for the revenue of my estate for the time that is past I give it to Amyntas whose good qualities I esteeme and will be a friend to him Every one having admired the generousnesse of Melintus towards the father and his liberality towards the sonne he obtained all that he desir'd and this last action brake off the assembly Melintus tooke Ariana's hand who was full of satisfaction for the happy successe of their desires and brought her backe to her house with Palamede and their friends Diocles full of sadnesse and shame retir'd him to his owne house not knowing whether hee were to complaine of Melintus or commend him from whom in so small a time he had receiv'd so many displeasures and so many graces Dicearchus who had not assisted at the playes because of his place which he quitted to his Nephew learn'd this newes of a friend of his that presently went his way to advertise him of it for to advise together how they were to live with Melintus since hee was knowne for the sonne of Hermocrates When they were upon that doubt Melintus comes in bringing Ariana Palamede made the recite to Dicearchus of all had passed and so to Melintus his advantage that he was oblig'd to confesse to him that he rejoyced for that good fortune But after all was retir'd when Palamede said to his uncle that they were to esteeme themselves very happy in this that nothing hereafter could be found wanting in Melintus for giving his sister to him since his birth and estate were as great as he could desire them to be Dicearchus answered how that deserv'd well to be thought of at leisure and for that time could get nothing else from him This acknowledging of Melintus for sonne of Hermocrates was cause of the death of two persons Diocles whether it were that he was seized with griefe for seeing himselfe fallen from so great a fortune or whether hee repented for having committed so great an infidelity was found dead the day after in his bed and Hyperia who till then beleev'd she possessed an inestimable good having a sonne so accomplish'd as Melintus receiv'd a farre greater affliction when she knew she was not his mother than she had done when the newes was brought her of his death and not able to resist this dolour lost her life some dayes after Melintus having much resented the losse of a person that held the place of a very affectionate mother to him could not for all that keepe any long time this displeasure in his minde being too much diverted by his hopes and seeing himselfe restor'd to the possession of all that could appertaine to him he thought nothing could now retard his contentments being assured of the affections of Ariana of Dicearchus and of Palamede He came every day to visit them and had conceiv'd too high an estimation of his felicity receiving every moment new testimonies of Ariana's love had it not beene for some coldnesse that Dicearchus made apparent to him though he endevour'd to hide it with a feined courtesie Pisistratus too rendred many duties to Ariana and Melintus seeing that Dicearchus made more esteem of him than
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
off feinings to speake more open and plainly to me It was a strange resolution of mine I wished he would love mee and thought I lov'd without being loved but when I saw him submit to me without knowing my designe I tooke upon me so absolute an authority over him that I would make him suffer as rigorous a government as if I had hated him and would put him to the cruellest trials of it Since that time he liv'd with me as before thinking I had receiv'd his excuse neverthelesse I would not stay there and my desire was admirable I had a minde that he declar'd himselfe to me and was for all that resolv'd to take away all hope from him So I sought the occasion as well as he did and one day as I spake to him of a dreame I had had he told me hee had put one of his into verse which he shewed mee that very time they were these FOnd man what have I done ah wretched bold device Have I then dar'd to breake theice Of a respect so long preserv'd And hath my fury then at last usurp'd this licence Me speake of love she heard And for this I am banish'd evermore her presence Those faire eyes without mercy more to justice bent Have added for my punishment Fierce anger unto Majesty I feele their venging fire she flyes away unkinde To a woods privacy And I in following her lose both force and wind Stay cruell one to satisfie you I entend For if my mouth could you offend My hands to right you shall not spare But all is darke as night and reaching but my arme I take but a light aire Gods I 'm in bed and but a dreame is all my harme O fortunate awake that favours innocence What her anger and my offence Are they into ayre vanished My respect triumphantly laughs at these Chymears And my senses ioyed Are safe from such fantasticke miseries or feares Goe dreame the terror of soules amorous Bearer of visions hideous Brother of shady ghosts and spirits Cruell impostor goe and plunge thee in the deepe Of hell devoyd of lights Where nought but crimes and monsters sadly keepe Are you still then said I to him upon this restraint not to dare declare your selfe Ah Madam answered he you have given me a lesson not to put me to that hazard All women said I are not made of this mould I told you before replide he that she without giving you offence is made just as you are I pray you doe not desire me to runne that fortune lest aspiring to blessings I dare not hope for I deprive not my selfe by imprudency of those I now enjoy I see her I speake to her and content my selfe with the esteeme she makes of me since I cannot pretend to be lov'd of her But replide I what can you hope will become of your affection if she have no knowledge of it He answered me Since she will not heare speake of it before shee knowes it she must know it before she heare speake of it What know you said I to him but that she knowes of it already and that there remaines not something more to be done besides assuring one another Promise me said he that she shall not be angry and I will take that liberty I promise it you said I for the power I have over her He answered me you have all the power over your selfe and for this cause I presume once againe to tell you that it 's you I love and that you are to be fully perswaded of it since you know well there is not a person in the world besides you that I can love You imagine said I coldly to him to make me answer againe in the name of her you love and to try me the second time No return'd he there is no feining at all in this I tell you now and what ever severity I may prove I am forced to say it by the excesse of my affection and by the assurance you have given me not to be offended I will not be angry with you said I since I have beene so oblig'd in the businesse but I forbid you ever speaking of this affection if you love me you will feare to disobey mee and if you love me not I will never heare your dissimulations Then growing pale as if hee had receiv'd an arrest of death hee durst no longer endure my sight and casting downe his eyes he said to me Madam at this time I am not faulty but for having obeyed you and since to obey your commands is to faile my disobedience to that you ordaine me shall not be any more a crime You are for all that answered I him to resolve you on this or never to see mee This last blow confounded him altogether and tooke his speech away some that came in upon us found us in a great silence which hee never brake but in his going out when he said to me I had rather be depriv'd of speaking to you than of seeing you and since you are so cruell I promise I will obey you all my life Neverthelesse he could not refraine from taking up this discourse againe another time whereupon I alleag'd the promise hee had made mee and would heare him no more The day after hee let mee see these Verses YEs I have promis'd and will keepe my word Hard-hearted woman whose record Holds onely what exasperates my paine To suffer alwayes and to hold my peace Inhumane inhumaine Keepe then as I doe all your promises Those eyes that hid a soule without all pitty Vnder a vaile of amity Assur'd me to your grace to dare pretend But now they are my cruell'st enemies Where me they should defend Why doe not they observe their promises When I resolv'd to send unto your prison My heart together with my reason Your beauty promis'd them so sweet a bondage Vpon those hopes to irons they were led But to endure your out-rage Is this to keepe what you have promised I grant a spirit without love as you May live as well and ne're be true But I alone will make my promise certaine And heaven that laughs at lovers perjuries Shall never be in paine To mocke or pardon my disloyalties Againe I vow to hold my peace for ever And if I chance to faile hereafter I will endure the worst of your disdaines All things will speake for me my paine will speake That on my face remaines And tell the griefes I suffer for your sake My silence more disert than my discours Will be ready at my succours To let you know the evils that compasse me And this amaze which your perfections In your presence give me Will tell you the excesse of my affections When you consult your glasse early or late The two bright Planets of my fate So worthy to be lov'd my love will tell And without crossing that you me enjoyne Your owne faire mouth as well Shall tell it to you in default of mine I confesse to you
lesse accomplish'd that it might have beene doubtfull whether I esteem'd him or not and not knowing how to be reveng'd of this common opinion sometimes I was resolved to abandon him and I consented to make my selfe miserable and him too for to ruine this beleefe at our owne cost it is true hee has payd very deare for that glorious and haughty vertue he taught mee and that I well serv'd my selfe against him of this greatnesse of spirit to which hee had advanc'd mee that perswaded me it were better to lose all the contentments of my life than it should be said I were in love In the meane time I considered not how there is nothing more lawfull than to chuse by honest meanes him one thinkes shee shall be happy to live with and when that happinesse is arriv'd one cannot but bee thought wise That errour made mee commit faults I shall deplore all my life time Though my father had let Artemidore see that Lepantus was not to thinke of mee yet hee refrain'd not sometimes to put him upon that discourse and represented to him what fault it was to refuse this good fortune for his family that hee despis'd in Lepantus the qualities that other fathers would desire to meet with for their daughters that if hee loved mee with so much passion it was rather a happinesse than a thing to make him culpable that the whole City would have an obligation to him for the stay of a person of that merit with them for the greatest part of his estate being about Corinth hee offered to settle himselfe there and never forsake my father but all this prevailed nothing upon him That which rendred Lepantus recommendable was that which did him the most harme my father having this wofull opinion that he was rather to chuse a sonne in law lesse able than hee and that would be more carefull of his affaires But yet I beleeve the strongest reason was that my father although a knowing man retaining the nature of old men that will have all their opinions passe with authority was envious of Lepantus's knowledge and desir'd not to have ordinarily at his house a person that could contradict him though Lepantus well knew how to give way to all he said with much discretion My father had not so much reason to refuse him as I had to love him and he could not but perceive the desire I had because I was not able to suffer any body that spake to mee to the disadvantage of Lepantus and farre rejected the parties that presented themselves I know very well that if I had declar'd to my father that I could not consent to any other search he would at last have beene flexible to the tendernesse hee had over me and the merit of Lepantus but fearing lest so absolute a resolution came to be knowne in Corinth I never had that assurance In the meane time I was tormented with Lepantus vexations and with my owne too I saw him at the Temple but rarely and with a face so changed that Death hath not a more forlorne one His letters were not filled now but with the misery of his life and modestly he remembred me of my promises I acknowledg'd he had reason and that his good fortune was in my hands but I could not resolve me and this severity that made me insensible to his griefes and prayers in the end wrought in me also an insensiblenesse to his affection All that came neare mee were instructed to speake in contempt of Lepantus and because I knew him too well to beleeve them if they told mee any thing that were contrary to the truth they did onely disguise his vertues and made them passe for so many vices Thus the charmes hee had to make him bee lov'd of the ablest and respected of the meanest were but an imperiousnesse and a tyrannicke authority which he usurp'd upon all that haunted him his discretion was dissimulation and his courtesie artifice all his good qualities in their judgement were so many defaults I confesse to you I beganne by little and little to give place to their reasons Lepantus absence effaced every day out of my memory some one of his perfections I said that peradventure my affection blinded me and made me imagine merits that were not in him that those that were without passion judged of him otherwise at last beleeving I was farre more quick-sighted and more perfectly judicious I perceived not that I became blinde and without all judgement Neverthelesse there still remain'd in me a certaine respect for Lepantus that I durst not offend him by expressing my coldnesse I was asham'd to give him that displeasure that never yet had the fortune to displease me His letters were still full of love and sorrow for seeing me no more and because hee knew that the gentilesses and points of wit he wrote were very agreeable to me he ever mingled some of them maugre the cruelty of his fortune and the torments he endured and many times he so forc'd himselfe that laying aside his griefes they were throughout filled with sweetnesses and elegancies and to any but my selfe would have seem'd to come from a man very well satisfied For me I knew well his constraint and lamented it but then when my affection diminish'd I changed my opinion and judged that if hee had beene much in love he would not amuse himselfe with those finenesses if his passion carried him away to expresse some despaire to me I said it proceeded from the respect hee ought me if hee gave mee any advice I tooke it not well hee should trouble himselfe to counsell me or that hee mistrusted my owne direction if I met him and he appear'd to me with a very alter'd face finding no more in him that which heretofore was so acceptable to me I thought I had reason to withdraw my affection and if some hope made him recover his ordinary complexion I said hee was not much troubled with love In the humour I was in it had beene hard for him so to have compos'd his face and his actions as I should not have found something to distaste in them He judg'd well that the cause must needs be very ill that produc'd so great a change for that heretofore hee did nothing which I would not have approved yet his discretion alwayes so perfectly maintain'd it selfe that he never complained of me what cause soever hee might have He never made knowne any of the assurances he had receiv'd to expresse what wrong I did him So hee dissembled his griefe not daring to accuse me and hoping I would use his affection better but that good will I had had for him began to be quite extinguished At the beginning I made answer to his letters and gave him new assurances with some instructions for his conduct since I tooke upon mee to represent to him the difficulties a little after I receiv'd his letters without answering him and at last I sent one of his backe
againe without seeing it and closed as I had received it The same night that I did his affection that outrage and that hee receiv'd that usage so unworthy of him I understood how hee hardly escap'd dying his affliction assailed him in such sort that they thought hee would have beene strangled but for the remedies were brought to ease him I thought I could no more receive his letters since I suffered the sute that Callias renewed I let my selfe goe with the common opinions that all the women that live in the world have not husbands so perfect and yet are no lesse contented with those they have that it were better to obey ones father than satisfie the desires of a person that was before unknowne and if there remain'd in mee any consideration for Lepantus I said that hee having a strong and a constant spirit would learne resolution by the losse of me and with this vile reason I defended that cruelty that sent him death into his bosome I often considered upon the excesse of his respect and love that never suffered him to make so much as one complaint of me and the resolutions hee tooke afterwards made mee plainly see that this silence proceeded of no little resentment hee was affected with In the end I consent to the marriage of Callias and hee is receiv'd at our house Every one wonders at my resolution and how Lepantus had so dis-ingaged me from loving him Callias was not very vicious and had no remarkable imperfection in him but hee was of the number of these middle and indifferent sort for whom those that have wit and courage have so much contempt At first I compared him to the most part of them I knew married and I found that hee might equall them But all on the sudden see my traiterous memory that had sometime concealed Lepantus from mee how it came to represent him with all his perfections and making comparison with Callias to him I found so great a difference that I was asham'd of the fault I went about to make In stead of a right shape and majestuous countenance I saw a heavy body and gracelesse in stead of that exalted spirit that handled rare subjects with so much facility and so pleasingly diverted mee I found a languishing entertainment and that was capable of nothing but the meanest things in stead of that so native courtesie and gentile carriage I saw a man that observ'd no civilities but those he tooke from the imitation of others I begin to regard him with coldnesse afterwards with disgust and in the end with a contempt that was more cruell to me than to him neverthelesse I had let all things be resolv'd on and could no more goe backe The day that Lepantus knew the agreements were to be signed when I went to the Temple he came neare me unseene and said to me Never will I be brought to make any reproach to you while I live but the death I am going to seeke will never leave you in repose At the same time he with-drew himselfe from mee I had not knowne what to have answered him so much did his sight and words trouble mee and seeing him no more an horrour seized me and so great a shaking withall that I could hardly stand upright Yet recalling all the resolution was left me I thought it had beene the last agony of our dying friendship I estranged therefore as much as I could Lepantus from my imagination and rejected the exact consideration of what I was going to doe but when all was setled and by my hand too and that I had shut my eyes to take this poyson comming to open them againe I perceiv'd that all those that lov'd Lepantus could no more endure the sight of mee the pitty of the sicknesse he could have no cure for made them have mee in detestation and they esteem'd me unworthy to have beene so well loved of him in stead of a common rejoycing there was a generall silence and there was none but the most contemptible persons that express'd any joy All this amazed mee one while Lepantus presented him to my imagination reproaching mee with my infidelity all his faire qualities came to assault mee one after the other and seeing Callias in the place he was wont to hold I turned away my eyes and could not endure him Every one acknowledg'd my phrensies but they imputed them to my humour which they tooke to be something proud and singular At last the day arriv'd that I was led to the Temple betimes in the morning and having knowne that Lepantus was gone out of the City for not being a witnesse of an action so shamefull for mee and so unfortunate for himselfe I never had so great desire to heare newes of him as then to learne what would become of him After I had beene married I perceived at the doore of the Temple a man that was not knowne but I knew he belong'd to Lepantus and ghessing hee was not there but to bring this newes to him I said to him passing by Goe tell thy Master what thou hast seene and at what houre soever it be come againe to tell me what he has done after thy relation Judge faire Ariana what care I could have of him after the action I came from The rest of the day I was so full of trouble that to see my face they thought I had beene sicke It seemed the cruellest of thoughts attempted to assault me all at once for to put mee into the greater disorder and sometimes they provok'd mee with such fury that but for the restraint our sex is obliged to I beleeve I had given up my selfe to desperation My soule was already filled with these confusions when about evening I knew that one ask'd to speake with mee I presently imagined it was newes from Lepantus and went in great haste but trembling withall to know what the matter was I saw it was the very same man that having taken mee apart told mee with the teares in his eyes that having passed in a Squiffe as farre as Naupactum hee found Lepantus that attended him upon the banke of the Sea to whom hee told what he had seene with that hee heard mee say and how â—â—pantus had answered him Stay not a moment to goe tell her againe what thou art about to learne and suddenly hee had got up to the promontory that avances into the Sea and from thence precipitated himselfe into the Gulph he being unable to have come neere to hinder him Hearing this wofull newes I cryed out Oh gods I have made him dye and staying no longer by the man I bade him withdraw himselfe and I went againe into the great Chamber all in trouble and with wandring eyes They enquired what I ailed but presently I fell into a weaknesse My father Callias and the rest astonish'd for this accident laboured to bring mee againe and by force of remedies I opened my eyes then I was carried to my bed where I was
taken with so violent a fever that it troubled my judgement and made me furious I lost all respect and knowledge and when Callias came neare mee I cryed out Take away that Monster that would devoure me ha the villaine beast I am undone see his venome that he casts upon mee and I retired mee as much as was possible If my father came to restore mee to my wits with gentlenesse I said to him Ha! hangman of thy owne blood goe cruell man thinke not to put mee into the clawes of this Dragon I will kill my selfe rather No no thou shalt never carry mee thither see Lepantus there comming to my succours then turning me againe I said Generous Lepantus how doe you come to my defence since I was cause of your death What have you pitty enough of mee to goe set upon him Well on then goe kill this Monster and take heed hee does not enwrap you with his taile Courage my deare Lepantus see already one paw strucke off Courage his blood is lost Lepantus one blow more looke looke hee is dead then I rejoyced and thought to embrace Lepantus as victorious and demanded his pardon for making him dye with a thousand prayers that were followed with a torrent of teares I cannot relate to you all my franticke humours knowing nothing of them but what they told mee afterwards but my transport ceased not but when Callias and my father betooke them out of my presence Then returning to my ordinary sense I could not beleeve what they told mee of my madnesse although I felt great vexation of minde for the losse of Lepantus and the displeasure of my errours And I consider'd into what misery I had enengaged my selfe when I preferred to be miserable before any should know that I loved since I was then both miserable and knowne to bee in love But againe my fever and fury tooke mee as soone as ever they return'd to see me as three or foure dayes after seeing how my life was indangered and no appearance this marriage could be consummate for what I had exprest for Lepantus and against Callias they were resolv'd at last to assure mee that he should not be my husband then my fever much abated and when all the agreements were quite broke because of my aversion by little and little I recovered my health but I had still left so great a griefe for Lepantus death that never since could I finde any contentment At all instants his faire qualities and the obligations I had to him came into my minde the fault for having brought him to dye is to mee so cruell a remembrance that it gives mee no repose and I have found too true that he fore-told mee In the end I was resolved to put my selfe into this Temple for to spend my dayes in the service of the gods since I so ill knew how to use the good fortune they had offered me amongst men And this is that my deare Ariana I have to tell you of my life that it may serve you for example and hinder your falling into the same faults that have beene cause of so much affliction to mee for I see that your affaires take the very same way that mine did and if you be no wiser than I you will make your selfe as miserable Ariana who had given great attention to this discourse then brake her silence and said I have had much contentment to heare the particular of your life but as much displeasure withall to know the misfortune of it I finde that in some things you are blameable and in others excusable because you were injurious to forget the merit of Lepantus and to be changing in effect but on the other side the authoritie of a father is very great and I doe not know how I my selfe should have resisted it Heretofore answered Cyllenia I thought this authority was not given to fathers but to this end that wee might not doubt to render the respect we ought to the wisedome of their counsels but since examining all things I have found that there is nothing so tyrannicall and that they onely hide their owne phancies under this cloake of goodnesse and love towards us Ariana assure your selfe our parents have their designes quite differing from ours after wee have well considered of choosing a person vertuous accomplish'd and conformable to our humour to passe our life with in honour and repose they come to regard him with other eyes they will be onely satisfied and suffer no inconvenience our happinesse is the least thing they consider if they have some little cause of hatred against that we desire or some interest that obliges them to desire what we avoyd to conceale the true cause of their owne passions they will blame ours they will represent us the obedience we owe them and what shame it is to make our selves be spoken of serving them of our very vertues for to make us miserable then they employ their power against our weaknesse for there is no doubt and you will confesse that in this subject I have made my selfe very learned to my cost that if our understanding bee not well fortified by reason it will many times waver in the execution of an enterprise and be driven out of the considerations upon which it was founded by other very light ones for the most part We ought to doe nothing we have not well thought of and approved that nothing afterwards may be capable of making us repent for the lightnesse of our judgements for repentance makes the thing ill which of it selfe was good and the election that is founded upon a certaine science and firme discourse of reason ought never to be changed Thus when wee have knowne a person to be of a happy birth endowed with all honest qualities and for these just respects have found him worthy of our friendship and have beene willing to expresse this esteeme of him that we have received his assurances and returned him ours there is no more consideration that should dis-ingage us our soule is given to him when wee have entertain'd his heaven hath allied us our vertue can no more consent to undoe what we have done and the thoughts that move us to dreame upon other subjects are all of them criminall and against the honour of our sex that cannot endure there should exist a man to whom in effect we have given our heart while another shall enjoy our bodies this meditation alone is a perpetuall executioner to us what-ever face we put on and what pretence soever we take for the excuse of our Fightnesse I perceive interrupted Ariana that you have well studied these considerations and shall have cause to mistrust my owne courage since yours being grounded on so good sense was able to give way to difficulties Truly replied Cyllenia peradventure you need not feare falling into the like errors that I have done because the authority of an Vncle is not so powerfull as that of a father and besides
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
time kept in their hearts her old-inflicted wounds and the Gentlemen that were ordain'd to serve her were all pale and languishing to feele themselves consumed by an hopelesse love As soone as ever she desired any thing all the company round about her ran to have the happinesse to render her service if any indisposition hapned to her it was a generall affliction and if the gods had desired humane victimes for the restitution of her health there was not a man in the Isle nor yet in all Troas that would not have sacrific'd himselfe for her It is not for any affectation in her to make her selfe be loved nor that she employed any kinde of artifice thus to acquire all hearts but it was so naturall to her to please every one that not thinking thereupon she produc'd alwayes these effects and sometimes she was angry at her selfe for so rare a gift of nature that contrary to her desire gave hurts to those very persons she had a will to oblige It was then no great marvell if being so universally belov'd she was so of me too but yet herein was it very strange for me to obtaine without paine the honour of her esteeme which so many Princes of a long time had sought with a thousand duties and by such an hazard as scarcely can at any time be encountred Araxes being departed from our Island by the favour I shewed him was gone in all diligence to Rome then he return'd againe into Armenia and presently he had rendred himselfe in Troas having employed no more than two months in all those voyages so pressed was he with the desire of seeing Pasithea and the King Archelaus desirous to passe away a part of the Summer in the Isle of Lesbos that appertained to him he had followed them because hee would not forsake the Princesse whose good graces he labour'd to gaine by all sorts of artifices In the end not able to obtaine of her any favour that might encourage him to attaine them he was resolv'd to carry her away when she were walking upon the coast in company of her Maids only for that she had set houres to be free in without any man to be present But consider what misery was that of Araxes and what fortune I had he would have the Princesse oblig'd to him for his artificiall deliverance and my good fortune would have me give her a reall succours which intirely procur'd me her affection I acknowledg'd her good will to me by this that being in her chamber after the King was retired she said she would walke in the Gardens before supper and gave me her hand to expresse that she would be waited on by me I was so taken with this honour as I am not able to repeat to you the transport I was in I confesse I had not yet loved any thing was but new to begin in the entertainment of Ladies I was young without experience of the civilities are to be observed having bin alwayes upon the Sea among Pyrats onely I call'd to my remembrance what I had seene in Greece during the stay I there made Much company passed before us and others followed us with the Maids as farre as to the Gardens where the Princesse separating from the rest that went off out of respect brought me to a walke and wee were left alone together then desiring to make her some entertainment as she seem'd to invite me to doe I said to her Madam what greater fortune could arrive to me having a purpose to see this Court than to have had entrance by so favourable a meanes She answered me This encounter is happy onely for me because without your finding me at Sea you would ever have beene a welcome man here but if I had not met with you I should at this present have beene the most miserable of the earth Madam replied I there is no Judge but will avow that your encounter being infinitely more agreeable than mine I must be the most happy in this occasion if it be not for this that so rare a sight bring me not more misery than I can yet foresee I can very well said she to me take from you that feare and assure you that if my sight be not happy to you at least it shall never be unhappy as long as your good fortune may depend upon my will The greatest glory I have in the world is not to be hated of any and I must be so in a great degree of you if after so many satisfactions you have given mee you should receive little from me I was strangely ravish'd at those obliging words and mee thought they gave me occasion to presse her further that I might receive greater testimonies of her favour but contenting her selfe with that shee had said to me she brake that discourse to demand of me whence came the acquaintance I had with Araxes Madam said I to her I can tell you nothing of this subject unlesse I recount to you my whole life and because I will not conceale any thing of it from you give me leave to remit that entertainment of you untill you shall be more at leisure I beseech you onely to beleeve that I have too little knowne him for having ever participated of his maliciousnesse Remember you then said she of this promise for I hope to receive a great pleasure by understanding your fortune it can be no ordinary one and I expect to heare of you actions very contrary to those of Araxes You must know continued she that the first time he saw me was when being sent to Rome by Tyridates he passed by Troas to see the King my father I know not what designe he had for me but after hee was willing to expresse an affection to me by some sighes hee was so insolent in taking his leave as to speak contemptuously before me of Tygranes my Cousin thinking much to avance his owne affaires by reculing those of Tygranes whom the speech went I was to be married to I had temper enough not to give him offence then by returning to this indiscretion what would seeme but reasonable But beleeving I should never see him againe I would let him depart without discontentment About two months after I saw him return'd to Trous having power againe to make some other treaty with the King my father while Tyridates was gone to Rome for to receive the Crowne of Armenia from the hands of the Emperour I cannot relate you the tricks and villanies he used to gaine some advantage upon my will The mildnesse I expresse to all I see made him so insolent that he feined not to attempt all he could upon my wit which it may be he esteem'd but weake and susceptible of many impressions For to abuse mee hee consulted with Priests and Sooth-sayers who would have made me beleeve that by their science and by their immolated sacrifices they knew my good fortune could come from no other part but Armenia that a
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
receiv'd by him more courteously than I hoped for at my first comming he was much rejoyc'd to heare newes of you for he beleev'd until then that you were dead and accepted with a great deale of difficulty the presents I brought esteeming them as he said too rich for the small service he had rendred you I demanded of him if there was nothing spoken of you he told me he had heard nothing at all concerning you but two dayes after word was brought us that there was a publike cry made whereby it was ordained that Melintus and Palamede who had escaped the prisons of Rome should be killed in what place soever they were found for that they were enemies to Caesar and the people of Rome This newes strucke a terror into me and instantly I prayed Maximus to goe to the Palace of Nero for to know in what manner the speech went of them He reported how he had understood that Trebatius Tribune of the Emperor's guards had a command to goe with three companies of souldiers in search of Melintus and Palamede to Syracuse or any other place where they thought to find them and that he furnish'd a ship for this purpose Although I had much trouble in my mind I left not thinking what I was able to doe to serve you I resolv'd with my selfe to make me a souldier of Nero's guards and enter into the companies that were to follow Trebatius Maximus brought me acquainted with a Centurion whom I gave an honest present to presently he receiv'd me and made shew of much affection to me I did my reverence to Trebatius who finding me ready to serve regarded me favourably enough and began to have a confidence in me he many times after that put commands upon me and at last gave me the charge of Marshall of the lodgings to my company When we embarked us I observed neare him a young Roman very handsome whom he had a great respect to and much care over he wore a helmet on his head that gave him much grace and I saw that all his actions were accompanied with much delicatenesse I imagin'd that I had seene his face heretofore but I could not tell who he should be Trebatius had given me charge to take care of some stuffes and I was laid downe amongst them to keepe them more sure This young Roman came to sit downe by me never seeing me because I was laid Trebatius who lost not sight of him came presently neare to him and never thinking there had beene any body that saw them or could listen to them he put one knee to the ground before him and taking his hand said to him It seemes you flye from me and what care soever I take to doe you service I observe nothing in you but coldnesse to me not to say contempt Trebatius answered he him excuse the violence of the thoughts I am possest with I forget not the due acknowledgement of the paines you take to satisfie me and I shall one day know how to expresse the obligation I have to you Ha! Madam said he I was strangely amaz'd pursued Arcas to heare that word never having thought it had bin a woman That made me give eare more attentively Ha! Madam I say continued he what have you then ordained concerning me and if it hapned that I could never finde what you are seeking should I alwayes be miserable Trebatius answered she use herein the greatest care you can for be assured that I shall never make you contented till I be revenged Ha! said he how cruell you are to me What would you have Trebatius replied she one passion hinders the other as long as I shall have vengeance in my heart I can never have love there But replied he againe may I not know what cause you have of so great a hate against Melintus Oblige me by telling me it to take part in your passion that I may afterwards oblige you to take part in mine Tell me faite Emilia what Melintus has done to you What! was 't Emilia interrupted Melintus ah is not she dead That name went Arcas on surpris'd me as much as it does you and presently I call'd to memory that it was she her selfe disguis'd in a mans habit That made me apprehend being knowne by her neverthelesse being not fallen yet into that accident I was resolv'd to avoyd her presence as much as I could then I trusted in the change that was made of me for she had not knowne me but a slave and shorne and ever since you gave me my liberty I let my haire grow that quite altered me Is it very true then replied Melintus all astonish'd that she is living Give me leave answer'd Arcas to pursue the rest and you shall know if it be she or no. Ha gods said Melintus againe there remain'd nothing but to make the dead rise againe against us and I thinke there is not a thing now in the world that has not conspir'd our ruine Arcas went forward thus Emilia answer'd Trebatius Since you desire to know the cause I have to hate Melintus I will not deny you this satisfaction if you can receive any at all by learning how much love I have had to him for I must confesse to you that he is the onely man that hath had the power to produce this passion in me But he has made me pay well with usury for the time I deferr'd to receive it into my heart and has reveng'd to the full upon me the contempts I had untill then of you and some others Know continued she that this traitor insinuated him into my heart by a very great appearance of vertue and merits observing a dissembling modesty that knowes as often how to conceale vice as vertue I deny not but he hath qualities that render him admirable but he must of necessity have a presumption in him that perswades him there is nothing in the world worthy of him On the other side he affects so great a contempt of glory and praise that one could hardly beleeve he has any vanity I sweare to you that since I have cause to be his enemy considering of all his qualities I know not what I ought to thinke of him for if he were vertuous why did he expresse a love to me without having any and if he were not so why did he refuse the offers of my good will Well he made love to me and I loved him Afterwards having beene hurt before my lodging and left for dead I made him be carried home to my house where I assisted him with more passion than a mother could have done the dearest of her sonnes This insensible man began to receive my endevours and my assistances with coldnesse and disdaine and I perceiv'd that my presence was alwayes troublesome to him At first I beleev'd that the paine of his wounds caus'd his ill humour or that it was griefe for a long sicknesse but since a certaine Ariana sister of Palamede came from Sicily
than any of these persons here for having corrupted my men in my owne house and I had ordain'd you to punishment but I was constrain'd to give your life to the intreaty of Melintus the most vertuous of men and from henceforth you hold it of none but him Dicearchus was allasham'd once againe to have an obligation for his life to a person whose death he prosecuted but Melintus knowing his disorder would comfort him and went to embrace him then putting one knee to the ground he began to undoe his irons and ask'd him pardon for having given him much displeasure in that he was forced by his love to carry away his Neece Ariana at the same time was upon her knees before her uncle and desir'd his favour for the fault she had made in going away from Corinth and it was an action that drew teares from the assistants to see a captive at the same time suppliant and sought to and that the same persons demanded grace and gave it Dicearchus weeping also could not tell what to say to them only he embrac'd one while Melintus another while Ariana At last Trebatius said to him that he should receive Melintus for the husband of Ariana and for the most apparent happinesse that could arrive to his family that he himselfe acknowledg'd him to be the most valiant most vertuous man of the earth that he wondred how he could possibly have such animosity untill then against a person of so admirable qualities Live sayes he from henceforth happy together being oblig'd to one another by many important services and make much of the repose that fortune sends you The embraces then redoubled in testimony that they confirm'd the advice of Trebatius and a little after they consulted what they had to doe Trebatius said he would goe to finde his souldiers that were still searching Palamede in the Vessels to whom he resolv'd to say that Palamede had beene found in the City and put to death that at the very houre he would embarke them and returne to Rome with Emilia in whose company he hoped to passe away his dayes happily As for them he counsell'd them as well for their owne safety as his to change their names and retire to some part of Asia where the Emperour should never heare more of them besides they ought not to retire them to places commanded by the Roman Governours but into some Kings dominions either of Troas or Câ—mmâ—gena These advices having beene approv'd they tooke leave one of another with a thousand embracings and as many wishes that they might live all of them in prosperity and repose the rest of their dayes Nothing now remain'd but to finde out Epicharis and they judged that she had return'd to the first lodging they were in because she knew not they had changed it but there she was not to be found neverthelesse the day after having knowne that Trebatius was departed with all his troop they would remove againe into that lodging which was very great staying untill they might heare newes of her and sent the faithfull Arcas who remain'd amongst them to have brought thither what they had transported into the other house to the end they might in that place celebrate the marriage of Melintus with Ariana and Lepantus with Cyllenia which had so cruelly beene deferred but now was resolv'd on by the very consent of Dicearchus who was so ashamed for being so many times redeuable to Melintus that he could hardly lift up his eyes before him Palamede in the meane time went to the bay where the vessell was hid for to have it returne and to see if Epicharis were not along the Sea-coast somewhere but all his care proved unprofitable That very day they tooke out of the ship all they thought necessary for them to goe away by land as farre as the Hellespont and from thence to passe into Asia because the way was much shorter and withall they were in hope to finde Epicharis Afterwards they sent away the Vessell to Syracuse with charge to goe secretly advertise at the houses of Dicearchus of Melintus and Telephus what fortune they had met with and to bring them all the commodities they could get together out of their estates to the end they might be able to live in Troas where they would settle and that those were sent to them should come the same way they went not to faile of encountring them they gave marks also whereby they should be found and instructions concerning all they had to doe About evening when every one re-began the preparations for the next day they were told there had beene in that house some dayes a sicke woman that was landed at that place and appear'd very venerable They had the curiosity to goe see her and offer her what assistance they were able but when they were entred into the Chamber and came neare her bed she cried out having perceiv'd Dicearchus Ha ye gods Who presents this hangman to me this traitor and continued a thousand outrageous speeches against him in such sort as they thought her sicknesse was some burning fever and having recommended her to those that waited on her they left her A little while after Dicearchus by chance repassed by this womans Chamber who beginning afresh her injuries and maledictions made her selfe at last knowne to him to be the sage Euphrosyne wife of Hermocrates and mother of Melintus Dicearchus then full of confusion to finde himselfe guilty of all the miseries that had hapned to Hermocrates and her knew not what to doe with himselfe whether he regarded her or return'd towards Melintus whose sight he could not endure for having so much offended him and for being so oblig'd to him At last he resolv'd to goe nearer and he said to her that in satisfaction of so many miseries and displeasures he had brought upon her hee thought himselfe happy for having a meanes to give her as much contentment now presently as before he had given her troubles and griefes Euphrosyne not able to judge what he meant to say ask'd him if hee would not still continue his deceits and treasons and assur'd him that the gods would one day revenge her for all his villanies Dicearchus fail'd not to goe out and finding Melintus he said to him with a heart touch'd by repentance that he esteem'd himselfe at last very happy for having found out in his misfortune wherewith to pay him in part for so many obligations he had to him not onely in granting him Ariana for his wife but also in making him an inestimable present for which without doubt he would be extremely joyfull Melintus having given him thanks and not able to imagine what he could give him let himselfe be conducted by him into the Chamber where Euphrosyne was to whom he presented Melintus for her sonne and said to Melintus that he gave him Euphrosyne for his mother and that he rejoyc'd for that the gods had offered him this meanes to give them
satisfaction Euphrosyne and Melintus knew not yet if they should beleeve it or no and continued silent and astonished No no replied Dicearchus never doubt of what I tell you Euphrosyne knowes who she is and for you sayes he to Melintus open your brest to her that shée may see the marke of the heart which will assure her that you are her sonne Melintus shewed her that marke and then Euphrosyne said opening her arms Ha my sonne is it you indeed whose sight I have so longed after and whom I could never heare any newes of Ha Dicearchus how from my heart I pardon you all the torments you have made me suffer and if Hermocrates were with us how happy should I esteeme my selfe for the present At the same time a streame of teares bedewed her face all over Melintus had his heart so pressed to feele himselfe embrac'd by this vertuous mother whose losse he had so often lamented that he could not be at ease but in letting fall also many teares This object so tender and so pittifull mixt with regrets and satisfactions with sorrow and joy could not be seene but with weeping which serv'd for two uses being capable to represent both the resentments of griefe and the excesses of contentment Melintus presented afterwards Ariana to his mother and having told her a part of her vertues and of their adventures let her know that she was destin'd to be his wife if shee were pleas'd withall Then they embrac'd one another with much transportation and Euphrosyne said that after so much happinesse she had nothing to be sorry for but the losse of Hermocrates Melintus express'd to her that his greatest desire was to know what their fortune had beene since their exile from Syracuse and in what sort she had encountred in that place She let them know that she was very willing to give them this contentment beleeving now she had strengh enough to performe it but Dicearchus foreseeing how that discourse could not be made but that he must receive the stings of many a reproach withdrew himselfe with Palamede leaving Melintus Ariana Lepantus and Cyllenia in preparation to hearken to Euphrosyne who began thus her discourse holding Melintus by the hand History of Hermocrates and Euphrosyne MY deare sonne if you desire to know the originall of our misfortunes and what the great Hermocrates your father hath beene I must of necessity take up my discourse something from afarre off for to let you see that at what time I married him fortune never brought together any couple that had cause to expect more happinesse and yet proved so unfortunate as wee Under the reigne of the Emperour Tiberius Hermocrates of whose illustrious birth I will make no relation to you because I beleeve you are not ignorant of it would goe to Rome being very young His father and mother having no other child but him were in trouble to have him so farre remov'd out of their sight but in the end he obtained leave As soone as hee was at Rome he stayed not long to put himselfe into the acquaintance of the great Prince Germanicus who then was the refuge of what ever there was vertuous upon earth Hermocrates that was perfect in all kinds of excellent qualities and among others had a wisdome and a valour to be admired was presently lov'd of him and a while after the occasion of the German warres was presented wherein he followed that Prince and made so many proofes of his valiance and prudent government that he gave him great commands in the Army and honour'd him divers times with many crownes and advantageous praises After these warres were finished he return'd to Rome with Germanicus and admiring the vertue of this great Prince he could not forsake him Germanicus on the other side loving Hermocrates dearely gave him cause enough not to abandon him and knowing his noblenesse and his vertues beleev'd that he alone was worthy of his friendship They were a long time in this sort inseparable and if the gods willing to punish the earth by the cruell Emperours they gave since had not so soone taken out of the world this lovely Prince whom by a just title they call'd the delights of humane kinde I beleeve I should never have knowne Hermocrates nor beene to him the cause of all his miseries But Germanicus having beene poysoned by Piso and Plancinus in Syria Hermocrates could not endure to see Rome any more where there was an Emperour so execrable who envying the vertue of his Nephew and the love that all the world had to him had cruelly depriv'd him of his life so as he return'd to Syracuse but with such a regret for the death of Germanicus that his sadnesse appeared visibly upon his face and made him be affected the more by others to see him faithfull to a Prince so lamented of the world At that time was I one of the most considerable of Syracuse although I were not originary of that Countrey but the Nobility of my birth was well enough knowne for that my grand-fathers that went out of Carthage when it was destroyed by the Romans were of the race of the Princes Hamilcar and Hannibal and therewithall I had an estate if I may say it equall to my Nobility and my mother onely was left me of my kindred all whose cares tended to the choyce of some party that might be for my advantage Dicearchus many ages since descended of Timoleon and having a sufficient estate to sustaine the ranke that his birth gave him was one of the chiefe that presented themselves He was wanting in no care or practice for to order his affaires so as he might marry me and labour'd by a thousand wayes to give my mother great impressions of his honesty for he knew her to be of so great a vertue that he well saw she would be impregnable any other way but this But Hermocrates arriving at Syracuse obtained without thinking what the other tried to gaine by a thousand subtilties for every one being already prevented with his great reputation it was acknowledg'd not to be without cause that renowne had so high advanc'd him because his Nobility was accompanied with so many vertues and he added to his other good qualities so honest a modesty with a sadnesse that was still more gracefull in him that there was not a person but bare a love and respect towards him At the same time having beene bred under the government of the wisest mother in the world I made my selfe also sufficiently esteem'd by a great restraint I observed endevouring to imitate her vertue and give her all the contentments she could expect from a daughter I know not what it was Hermocrates saw in me that pleased him whether appearance of vertue or some other thing but he express'd with a great grace and respect the designe he had to serve me As for me who had no desire to make a choyce but would leave my selfe to my mothers judgement I alwayes
advancing my designe one while employing magnificence to shew the grandeur of my estate and birth another while using an extreme modesty for to gaine her mothers heart who approv'd not superfluous expences In the end I turned me a thousand wayes to vanquish her finding that I was ingag'd both by honour and love to carry her from all the rest neverthelesse I acquired nothing upon the spirit of Euphrosyne or her mother But when Hermocrates was return'd from his voyages wherein he had followed Germanicus I found my selfe more reculed yet by farre from what I pretended because Hermocrates having prevented the Syracusians by a great reputation they had of him even before he was return'd every one fixt his eyes upon him as soone as ever he appeared and it seem'd they would not so much as take the paines to regard me That contempt so animated my jealous ambition that I feared not to declare my selfe his enemy having as then no other cause of hating him but that he was more honour'd than my selfe and the more lovely he rendred him to all men the more did I see him with displeasure But when he attempted to love Euphrosyne my jealousie went upon a visible foundation and I practis'd what I was able both openly and secretly for to destroy the opinion was had of him Yet for all this obtaining nothing that way and perceiving how by my expulsion he was receiv'd at Euphrosyne's I cannot expresse to you what rage I felt within my heart at last I found the invention to drive him from that house by meanes of a letter counterfetted from Eryx father of Hermocrates to the mother of Euphrosyne wherein he intreated her not to suffer his sonne at her house because he had destin'd him some where else This crafty device succeeded for a time every one being ready to resent that which touches upon their honour and you know that an offence of this kind so surprises that its impossible one should then thinke of doubting whether the thing be true or false Euphrosyne's mother presently banish'd Hermocrates her house without hearing any defence he could make And for me knowing what had happened to him I inforc'd my selfe to the uttermost of my power for to gaine Euphrosyne in that resentment of injury hoping that to worke Eryx despight they would turne their eyes upon me But Eryx and Hermocrates having made all cleare together my plot wrought its effect against my selfe and in a small time the marriage of Hermocrates and Euphrosyne was agreed on and soone after accomplish'd I conceiv'd such a despite at the contempt they made of me and at the good fortune of Hermocrates that a hundred times I resolv'd to have him dye but seeing there was no remedy to undoe what was already done I could no longer endure to live at Syracuse where I should be constrain'd to see perpetually an object that was so troublesome to my sight but went my way for a long time to Corinth When I was there arriv'd all my acquaintance labour'd to divert me and I sought nothing else my selfe but to expell the griefe that tormented me I went often into companies and at last willing to chace away the passions I travell'd with by one that might be more happy for me I had a designe to make another love and casting my eyes upon Acidalia that was the fairest of all Corinth I enterpriz'd to love her I was willing at my first comming to dazle the eyes of those of Corinth by aproud bravery of clothes and traine which made me be honour'd throughout all companies All the Maids that love these externall ornaments regarded me with a desire and attended with much unquietnesse the choyce I would make of some one of them so as when I made my addresses to Acidalia she received me with a great deale of contentment and I perceiv'd as soone the plots of some other women that labour'd to put me off from this affection by a thousand malicious inventions against Acidalia but those attempts wrought no effect upon me contraiwise the intelligence I had of their purpose caused me to be farther ingag'd with her and because she was very handsome by little and little I was taken with a very violent passion She used much coldnesse at the beginning to assure her selfe the more of me and confess'd not that she would love me but after a long time But when she saw me intirely submitted she tooke a kinde of Empire over me notwithstanding she oblig'd me with a great confidence and so mingling her favours to some affected rigours she made me so in love as I could not live any where but besides her At that time a young man call'd Attalus frequented with us who was well enough borne but that made himselfe so acceptable by many pleasant actions and jesting humours that they thought there could be no good mirth if he were not in the company 'T is true he was of so merry a disposition and so borne to buffonnery as the features of his face his armes his legs and all the rest of his body were not deficient in executing what everslights his wit ordained them There was not a ridiculous person that he imitated not no subtilty he was ignorant of but he had so studied to counterfet the discourse of impertinent and stupid people as it would have beene a difficult matter for him to speake seriously I perceiv'd that Acidalia tooke a little more pleasure than was fitting in whatsoever Attalus did As soone as ever he spake she admired the quicknesse of his wit if he turned but a foot or a hand she made an observation of the gentilenesse of his postures and alwayes gave advice to the very first of his motions for feare hee might lose the praise of any one action I was angry for that she was something overmuch carried away in the estimation of him judging it proceeded from a weake spirit to thinke that highly commendable which was simply ridiculous I endevoured to make her lose by little and little this good opinion she had of Attalus giving her to understand that he had reason thus to counterfet sots and fooles because he could never make a discourse himselfe that expressed an ability to any thing that such wits as these were not proper but for laughter and that we were to have a care of trusting them with a secret or expecting any counsell from them in a matter of importance besides we see ordinarily that women and maids love these persons in publike to make them laugh but for thinking them worthy their affection they are well aware of because this sort of men cannot have the conditions that are necessary long time to entertaine a friendship for said I to her respect discretion and fidelity are qualities too serious for such ready wits they are so free and flitting as they cannot endure a constraint and rather than lose a good word or a pleasant action they will quit all considerations of keeping an affection
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
by severity that he would remember also how he made himselfe forsworne never thinking to have a law of the Scythians observ'd whereto he had bound himselfe by oath But that above all these things he declar'd to him how he that call'd himselfe Alcydamas was that Melintus destin'd to death by the Emperour that had been proclaim'd every where enemy to Caesar and the people of Rome that hee would make Nero become such an enemy to him as would never pardon him when he knew that Melintus had beene in his power and not put to death and that he drew upon himselfe the same punishment he sav'd Melintus from as for him that he was resolv'd to advertise the Prince of it in satisfaction of the allegeance he ought him and that Arimin should not thinke it strange if he gave advice of Melintus his being in his hands who to the crime of high treason had added that other of violating the lawes of Warre Arimin troubled at these words and entring into the due apprehensions of the fortune he ran not being able to thinke his owne life safe as long as Melintus liv'd gave over all considerations of the friendship he bare him and albeit with regret to see himselfe forced to destroy such a vertue resolv'd to put him to death but because he was so valiant and so belov'd in Larissa he judged that he was to proceed in the designe with a great prudence and deliberation He sent for all the Captaines of whom againe he tooke the oath of fidelity and advertis'd them that Alcydamas was that Melintus enemy of Nero and the people of Rome that if they let him escape their owne death would be inevitable After having thus perswaded them and they had promised to preferre the fidelity they ought to Nero to the conservation of Melintus hee sent troops that very morning to seize upon his lodging one of the Captaines entred in with his souldiers and finding him in bed commanded him from Arimin to dresse himselfe and follow him That command surpriz'd him not knowing what change had hapned since the day before and having put on his clothes without any amazement he demanded whither he was to goe This Captaine executed the command much against his will for the esteeme hee had of his great courage and was asham'd thus to surprise without Armes him that in the warres would not alone have fear'd the encounter of a thousand enemies so as by the way as he led him to the place appointed for his prison hee told him that one Pisistratus was come to declare to Arimin that his name was Melintus and that he was the Emperour's enemy and condemn'd to dye that he had withall threatned him to give Nero advice of his disobedience if hee let him escape Melintus advertis'd from whence his misery came upon him was resolv'd for death seeing it was now unavoydable and he was carefully shut up for feare some violence might be offered on their part that were affectionate to him In the meane time was a guard also set to keepe within their house Palamede Amyntas Lepantus and all those that were able to make any attempt for his deliverance who knew not how this great alteration should come to passe and there was nothing but astonishment and crying in that house The faire Ariana Euphrosyne Cyllenia and Epicharis mingled their teares together and the lesse they knew whence their griefe proceeded the more did they resent it The Gentlemen of Thessaly that loved Melintus dearely were not wanting to him in this occasion but deputed some to goe and obtaine his safety of Arimin Those of Larissa too finding themselves redeuable to him for all they had in the world went and threw them downe upon their knees before the Governour to demand his grace for him but nothing was capable to make him relent so fearefull was he of Nero and that if he pardoned they would never pardon him The people desir'd but to resist this injustice yet they were retain'd by the souldiers they saw in Armes on all sides and at last the life of Melintus was brought to that passe that there was no deliberation now but what kinde of punishment he should suffer Arimin to make it appeare he was no violater of oaths would needs have that law of the Scythians executed which he had sworne to observe if any offence were committed against the prohibition made concerning fighting although it seem'd very inhumane to him that a living mans heart should be torne out of his bowels to have his head cut off afterwards Neverthelesse he would at once both satisfie his owne oath and Nero's desire knowing how great a pleasure he should doe him to bring him newes that his enemy had beene punished after so strange a manner for the love he had to new inventions of cruelty He sent in all haste for the Priest of Larissa who serv'd at the goddesse Thetis Temple telling him how by oath he was engaged to see executed a law of the Scythians that ordained for the punishment of every man that fought against order given to the contrary although he had return'd with victory that the criminall having beene carried in triumph through the City should be brought upon a scaffold where the Priest was to open his stomacke and take out the heart to be burnt with honour but his head was to be cut off by the hangman The Priest asked him what reason there was for that barbarous law he answered him that the Scythians conceiv'd how the heart that was the seat of courage ought to be honoured and the head that had fail'd in government and obedience to be punished This Priest of Thetis refus'd the execution and said he should thinke himselfe polluted by shedding of humane bloud and incapable of ever sacrificing to the gods againe who loved not the murder of men but were content with the ordinary sacrifices of beasts especially that effusion of humane bloud was forbidden them by a particular Oracle of Thetis which he could by no meanes disobey Arimin when he could not dispose him to serve that execution sent him away and call'd for the old sacrificer of the Scythians who had taught the Law when he was brought before him hee commanded him to performe the service since he better knew in what fashion it was to be observed This good man would have excus'd himselfe and said he knew not the law but by recite had never seene it practised and should thinke himselfe very unfortunate to lend his hands to so cruell a punishment but Arimin threatned him with death if he contradicted him any longer So this old man was constrain'd to put on his habits of high Priest and prepare himselfe for that miserable ceremony He taught with much regret what was to be done and presently they sent to gather together all the arrowes they could get of the Scythians last defeat then they ordain'd they should be distributed to all the Thessalians that had assisted Melintus every
man to carry his load of them at the triumph and afterwards to put them on a heape wherein the victorious heart was to be burned Melintus who was advertis'd of all that passed by him that had him in keeping seeing that he was to dye and knowing that Pisistratus alone was cause of his death meerely out of malice sent word to Arimin that he desir'd but two favours at his hands the first that he might fight with Pisistratus before he dyed and punish him for his wickednesse and the second that Ariana might accompany him in the Chariot going in triumph and that hee might have the consolation to hold her by the hand during the punishment for to dye betweene her armes Arimin who was not cruell nor hated Melintus granted him these two requests provided that Pisistratus consented to the first and he beleev'd Melintus had found out this invention to let himselfe be kill'd in the combat rather than endure the shame and cruelty of the punishment and because Pisistratus might be in feare of Melintus as a man whose valour was of that esteeme he sent for him and told him that Melintus his designe was to dye his armes in his hand rather than by punishment that for this occasion he had said that Pisistratus was a traytor and a base fellow of purpose to provoke him to fight with him that he might therefore acquire much honour with little danger by taking away the life of so valiant a man that had no other designe but to lose it Pisistratus who wanted no courage was easily perswaded by Arimin finding himselfe flattered also with the hope of putting his enemy to death by his owne hand and answered him that he accepted the Combat to make it appeare he was neither traytor nor base fellow the onely griefe he felt in this case was to fight with a man condemned All that day passed on in these contestations and in preparations for the cruell ceremony Palamede was distracted with fury to be shut up and not able to know what they did with his friend All was full of sorrow in that house and Ariana never ceas'd pouring forth teares for the feare shee had of what might befall her deare Melintus But the day after when they came for her to goe to him and she knew what passed though they indevour'd to put a resolution into her and perswaded her to a constant support of that misfortune she swooned at the very first hearing of so horrible a punishment Neverthelesse after she was a little come to her selfe againe they carried her into the prison and set her beside Melintus who astonish'd all the world by his admirable constancy and seeing her without colour and voyce and so transported with griefe address'd his speech to her thus Faire and deare Ariana you that have taken part in all the accidents of my life refuse me not at this last the assistance I desire of you Since I have bin so fortunate as to deliver you from the Barbarians and returne you safe suffer me some time to enjoy the happinesse of seeing you and assist mee also now death is going to deliver me from the Barbarians that have ordained it mee Courage Ariana let the world see there never was so perfect a friendship as ours and that it has beene as constant in well suffering as in well loving Ariana have a care you deface not by these teares the glory of your excellent courage Shall not she that has vanquish'd the Scythians overcome sorrow which is not made strong in us but by our weaknesse Deare Ariana if we have followed all our life the lawes of wisdome let us inforce our vertue in this last action and in stead of giving pitty give admiration to the whole world Shake not I pray you the force of my resolution by the assaults of your griefe and since the greatnesse of your merits hath advanc'd my courage ruine not you your owne worke but finde in your selfe the same vertue which you have produc'd in me Let us goe my deare Ariana I demand no other favour of you till my death but that I may hold this faire hand you have given me and after my soule is departed this body that you would expresse love enough to be able to survive me Never had Melintus Eloquence an effect so contrary to his desire for the more reasons he alleaged to perswade her unto Constancy the more griefe had Ariana to see so great a vertue so cruelly outraged She could make him no other returne but deep sighes and teares being impossible for her to have better answered that she could not be comforted than by letting it appeare that she could not answer When Melintus knew that all things were prepared he call'd for his faire Armes that had serv'd him the day of the battell they were brought him streight and after he had entirely arm'd himselfe except his head he intreated Ariana againe to resolve to accompany and assist him to the very last breath since this favour was accorded him by Arimin She let her selfe be led away not able to stay her teares and dying a thousand times for sorrow to see her deare Melintus destin'd to a death so barbarous and shee alone the cause of it The streets and the publike place were bordered with Arimin's souldiers to hinder disorders and commotions The Thessalians who had followed Melintus in that glorious defeat his onely crime were commanded to goe before disarmed and bearing their bundles of arrowes When all were passed in their order they set up Melintus in a golden Chariot armed as he was having his head onely uncovered and his casque at his feet The desolate Ariana was set by him whom he held by the hand The Priest went afterwards on horsebacke and about him those that were necessary for the sacrifice the hangman followed on foot carrying a hatchet and after him some other officers So began to march this funerall triumph that drew teares from all the company every one considering the glorious cause Melintus was to suffer in His face so cleare and his countenance so assured neare so cruell a death affected the hardest courages that were present but the softer natures as the greater part of the people by their complaints and cryes testified how sensibly they were touched with compassion On the other side the continued teares and heavy fighings of Ariana broke all hearts with pitty in such sort as the constancy of the one and the weaknesse of the other wrought an equall displeasure in all But the sage discourses of the vertuous Melintus whereby he endevoured to resolve her being heard added great astonishment to the common griefe and in the end when they had thus passed the streets and gone round about the place the Chariot was driven to the foot of the scaffold that had beene erected in the middest of which was an Altar where the sacred knives lay By and by arriv'd at the place from another side Arimin bringing with him