more of incommodity then content I shall not alter my minde replyed Philoxypes for what you say but must once more affirm that doubtlesly the Gods have in a moment inspired you with what others have much adoe to learn in their whole lives For that you should be the fairest maid in all the world and fairer in a Cottage then Queens are in their Palaces though this be very much yet is it not impossible but that living amongst Woods and Rocks you should behave your self and speak as you doe 't is this fair Philocrita that I cannot comprehend nor can I imagin that you were born here amongst these savage Rocks 'T is true Sir said she I am not of this Island by birth but was so young when I parted from Creta as I hardly remember any thing thereof T is true the conversation which I have here cannot have given me the accent of the Countrey for I speak with none but those of this family who are no more of Cyprus then I. What Policrite said Philoxypes do you spend your whole time without speaking and yet speak as you do Once more this Cottage is unworthy of you and some means must be found out to draw you hence I am so well contented here Sir said she as I should thereby receive an injury and I imagine you have no such design therefore I conjure you to leave me in that solitariness that you found me for neither will I say much more unto you not being able to speak any thing of mine own experience Philoxypes who observed that this yong maid was indeed troubled to see him tarry so long with her though it were in no dis-obliging manner was loth to anger her so as with much violence used upon himself after having saluted her with such reverence as if she had been upon a Throne he offered to be gone But Sir said she with much candour you know my name is Policrite and I cannot tell my Father what his name is that hath done him the honour to enquire after him You may tell him replyed this Prince transported with love my name is Philoxypes Alas Sir answered Philocrita I beg your pardon if I have not used you with such respect as I ought Is not then said he my name unknown unto you No Sir said she and I have heard my Father though he knows you not himself say such things of you by the report of others as I am sure will make him rejoyce exceedingly when he shall know that you will do him the favour to command him any service Philoxypes inchanted to hear Policrite speak in such sort said unto her a thousand passionate and obliging things if she would have understood them to which she still replyed with such readiness and modesty as he still became in love with her more and more He then took his leave of her and departed from this Cottage with an unconceivable sorrow being come to the same place where he first saw her he stayed and beholding on the one side his goodly and magnificent Palace of Claria and on the other side this little Countrey Cottage Ah Philoxypes cryed he who would believe that in the condition thy soul is in thou canst prefer this unlucky Cottage before that stately Palace and that thy heart so insensible of love and so ambitious of true glory can abase it self before Policrite's feet But then said he again is it possible that Philoxypes should love any thing which is not the handsomest thing in the world And if it bee so Policrite ought to be the object of his desires and love I say Policrite in whose looks is no art whose words are sincere all whose thoughts are innocent who knows not what a sin is whose heart is not prepossest with any passion who as yet loves nothing but the Woods Fields Flowers and Fountains who is hardly conscious of her own beauty and whose inclinations are doubtlesly all vertuous But when all is done said he after a little pause love is a weakness from whence I have till now defended my self onely because I did verily believe that it was handsome not to be capable thereof but to love a personage of so unequal birth is a folly which I ought by all means to withstand For in fine with what face shall I dare to appear at Court How fair soever Policrite bee I dare not shew the irons shee makes me wear they must either be broken by force or so cunningly conceald as no man may ever discern them With this resolution did Philoxypes return home and from thence to Paphos but he was so possest with melancholy as hee was forced to fain himself sick The King who saw him that very night both with himself and with the Princess Aretephile perceived his perplexity and pressed him to know the cause But Philoxypes answered him as he had done the rest The Court was very great that day and all that was gallant was there which occasioned Philoxypes in his ravings to inquire of himself an hundred and an hundred times why since he was to love it was not some of those illustrious personages Yet though he would use violence upon himself and endevor to love by reason he could never cōpass it And Policrite's image was so deeply imprinted in his heart as nothing could eface it He passed over 3 days thus with very much disquiet and on the 4th maugre himself he returned to Claria and from thence to Cleanthes whom at his first approach he found leaning upon that little Pallisado of Lawrels which incompassed his Court. As soon as this wise Old man saw him he stept unto him and received him with such Civility as had nothing of Rustick in it Sir said he I thought my Daughter had been deceived when she told me your Name which kept me from coming to Claria to receive your Commands to boot that 't is hard to imagine that a Man of my Fortune and Age may be any wayes serviceable to such a Prince as you Vertue and worth said Philoxypes makes friends unto it self of all Ages and of all Conditions But Cleanthes the only thing I desire to know of you is whether it be out of necessity or out of choice that you inhabit this little House for if it be the former you shall not tarry long here and if the latter I will come and live with you sometimes at which Cleanthes smiled and said Poor Cottages Sir are no proper abodes for great Princes 'T is very true said Philoxypes neither ought great Worth to be confin'd to little Cottages but doth much better become great Palaces I therefore proffer you my House Claria where you and your Family may live more commodiously then here Sir replyed Cleanthes 't is handsome for a personage of your condition and worth to be willing to relieve the distrested but it were not just to abuse that Goodness which may be better employ'd on some better occasion For in fine Sir I suffer no want
without art let me alone I say amongst our woods and rocks and get you to your palaces where you will be much better then here Philoxypes was astonished to hear Policrite speak thus when throwing himself at her feet no no divine Policrite said he you are not what you appear to be and though you were so yet would your vertue place you in a degree above all the Queens in the world Sir said shee raising him up think not that I am to be wonn by flatteries for though I know not the world by mine own experience I know it by my Parents relation I therefore know that love is a dangerous passion and not knowing precisely what it is I know it ought to be avoided and that I ought rather to apprehend that love which you say you bear me then any other And wherefore Policrite said he do you thus treat that innocent passion which you raised in my heart because said she it cannot be but injurious to Philoxypes or to Policrite but say for God's sake said he suppose that Policrite were a Princess or that Philoxypes were of the same condition that Policrite is what would you then think of him I cannot tell said shee but this I know sir that though I should esteem him never so much nay though I should love him very much Cleanthes and Megisto should alwaies absolutely dispose of me Say then said he if they should be favourable would you without any repugnancy obey them Sir said shee smiling a little I have been so told that I must not lightly trust any one as I think it not convenient to reveal so great a secret to you Hereupon Cleanthes and Megisto returned and broke off their discourse Philoxypes presently observed that these two persons were troubled at his visits he therefore resolved not to be so frequent in them least he might for ever lose a happiness which now he might sometimes enjoy Thus Sir Philoxypes after some short discourse departed and returned not onely to Claria but to Paphos whether the King had also sent for him not being able to let him be so long alone and solitary all the Ladies and the whole Court complained of him and could not comprehend the reason of his so long retirement The King continued to give him new testimonies of his affection by bestowing on him the government of Cithera which was falne void by the death of the former governor He acquainted him with what had befalne him during his absence with Princess Aretephile and conjur'd him to speak alwaies to her in his behalf For said he Aretephile hath taken a phancy to be sure of the Crown of Cyprus before she give me her heart and I will have her give me her heart before I give her the Crown Philoxypes promised the King to speak to Aretephile but it was with such sadness as all the Court took notice of it He did almost always little better then rave he would mistake and say one thing for another he shunn'd company and as soon as he could he returned to Claria He found more resistancy in Policrite then he thought to have met withall for she fearing all things durst hardly look upon this Prince the difference of his condition though it made her more obliged unto him in her soul yet was it the reason why shee treated him so coolly Philoxypes would have presented the whole Family but they all refused to receive any This mean while he was stil more unhappie for though he loved Policrita passionately and that he valued her more then all the world besides yet could he never put on a resolution of making any one acquainted with this his so meanly placed passion He would certainly have been able to live with Policrita in any desert Island but he knew not how he could avow the marrying a Maid of her condition to the world yet did he still love her with a respectfull affection not giving way to any sinfull desire That pure and unartificial vertue which he saw in Policrita infused into him a greater respect for her then if shee had been seated on a Throne he then perceiv'd he loved without hope of ever finding a remedy for his evil upon lesser tearms then resolving to abandon the Court and Kingdom and to ask Policrita of Cleanthes upon so vexatious tearms but that which most of all afflicted him was that he knew not how he stood in Policrita's affection he found her milde and civil he observes no marks of hatred in her countenance but there was therein also so great a reservedness and so exact a modesty as he could not penetrate her thoughts He thought also that Policrita was grown somewhat more melancholly then shee had formerly been and indeed he was not mistaken for Philoxypes his handsomness his good behaviour his wit and civility being things not to be seen without likeing young Policrita could not see her self belov'd of such a Prince as he without having her heart a little toucht with acknowledgement yet seeing her self in a condition so farre beneath his and out of a sence of vertue shee must resist this budding affection she could not but be afflicted at this conquest which shee had made and to bemoan her self thereof to her dear Dorida who had wit enough Sister said she unto her how happie are you in comparison of me who can take pleasure in walking abroad in gathering of Flowers in hearing birds sing and the fall of waters and in not being reduced to a condition of complaining of too much good fortune For in fine Dorida Philoxypes heart is a conquest which I am sure the greatest Queens would be proud to have made yet whilst they might innocently rejoice thereat I must be therewithall afflicted I could wish I had never seen him or at least I think I could For when all is done though methinks I could heartily desire that he would love me no more yet am I glad to see him But if love repli'd Dorida be so powerfull a thing as it is said to be how know you but that Philoxypes may love you well enough to marry you Ah Sister answered she as I would do nothing misbeseeming me so neither would I that Philoxypes should do any thing that might misbeseem him to do But said Dorida by like then you love Philoxypes since you interest your self in his honour against your self Policrita blusht at this discourse and looking confusedly upon Dorida if you were better acquainted with this passion then I said she I would tell you whatsoever my soul is sensible of to the end I might know what to think of it But I cannot yet believe that this dangerous disease be yet got into my heart for if you remember well we have heard Cleanthes say and we have read it more then once that love makes one lose their reason that it causeth a thousand pains and vexations that it sometimes makes people do amiss and I thank heaven I do not yet feel any
of all this me thinks my reason is free enough and I am well enough pleased with the melancholly which possesseth me For t is true I oft times talk I know not what but I delight in doing so and though I would not love Philoxypes yet there are certain moments wherein I am well enough pleased that he should love me But as for any thing of fault so farre am I from being willing to commit any as I protest unto you that were it for no other reason then not to lose Philoxypes his esteem and good opinion I would die a thousand deaths rather then do any thing that should be unjust You may then believe that whilst I love vertue and would become worthy the affection of so great a Prince I will never do any thing contrary to reputation I believe you answered Dorida but for all this Sister mine you deceive your self if you believe you love not Philoxypes For in a word you do not love what you lov'd before you knew him you are somewhat more comely you consult oftner with the Christall fountains and you are quite another thing then you were Ah Sister replied Policrite if that were true which you say I would quickly take order for it I would never see Philoxypes but to use him harshly to the end that he hating me I might no longer love him These two young people having entertained themselves thus upon the bank of a little rivelet Cleanthes and Megisto who had altered their minds came thither and bidding Dorida withdraw a little Megisto began to say Policrite it is not many days since I told you that in respect of your condition you should never look upon Philoxypes but with a great deal of respect but fearing lest through that inequality which you may believe to be between you and him you may not appear to be so much obliged to him for his affection as indeed to put somewhat too great an estimation thereupon Cleanthes and my self have resolved to tell you that your true condition considered you are not bound to behold Philoxypes at any time but with a great deal of indifferency For in a word said Cheanthes not to disguise the truth from you any longer you are what you think not your self to be and we are likewise that which you know not and what you shall not as yet know because the Gods have not permitted us as yet to let you know it But to shew you how much you are more obliged then you think for to be vertuous know Policrite that you are of as Noble blood as any is in all Greece And how answered Policrite interupting him am I not what I alwaies thought to be No daughter said he to number Kings amongst your Ancestors is not the greatest mark of honour that you make boast of There is somewhat of more August in your race then what I speak of Therefore that I might raise up your heart I thought it good to trust you with this important secret which I charge you not to reveal to any one as also to let you know the better how much bound you are not to doe any thing unworthy of your Fathers house nor of the condition you are born in Policrite was exceedingly joy'd to hear Cleanthes speak after this manner though her joy was not over quiet for shee was in trouble to know more precisely what was told her Father said shee leave me not in such perplexity tell me a little more plainly I beseech you so pleasing a truth and let me know who I am The Gods have forbidden us it my daughter answered he by the mouth of an Oracle you must be content with what you have heard but make use thereof to defend your self against Philoxypes love and far from looking on him as on a Prince who hath don you too much honour look rather on him as on one whom you shall favour by your permittance This is not said Cleanthes to deny but that Philoxypes is indow'd with all the virtues and qualities requisite for a great Prince but t is my childe to let you know that there is a certain pride which doth not mis-become a young maide to defend her self thereby against love when we have an esteem for those that are above us t is hard to gainsay if they intreat And on the contrary when we believe them to be beneath us or at least but our equals we stand not much upon denying them unjust things Policrite assured then Cleanthes and Megisto That though shee had known nothing of what they now had told her shee should never have done any thing contrary to that decency which shee had learnt of them But how much were they mistaken if their design were to hinder Policrite from loving Philoxypes Sometimes shee was filled with joy to know that she was of Noble descent and afterwards being willing to make use thereof to drive thereby the begining of affection which Philoxypes worth had already raised in her out of her heart shee found it the more fortified by this knowledge For said shee the knowledge of what I am doth not take from the obligation which I ow him since he knows not that I am any thing more then what I seem to be But for me who now know what I am why should I not hope that the Gods permitting Philoxypes to know my true conditition may not so order it as that I may love him and be blameless and be beloved by him innocently No no Policrite added shee let us no longer defend our heart any longer with such opiniatrecie let us content our selves with concealing our recentments do nothing that shall be faulty let us not reject as a mischief the love of a Prince to whom the wisest king of the world would not refuse to giv his daughter But it may be said she that Philoxypes doth but counterfeit that he hath sinful thoughts towards thee and that thy simplicity abuseth thee Stay then said she to be resolved herein and make trial of his constancy and fidelity by an appearing indifferency which may leave him without hope Thus was Policrite minded when Philoxypes came to her as soon as she saw him she bâ—gan to go towards her Cottage but he advancing hastily stayed her yet not being above twenty paces from it and there being two of her women-servants at work in a Close hard by them she stayed What Policrite said he you shun a Prince who shuns all the world for love of you Sir said she after somewhat more an imperious manner then before though she intended not so to do I do what peradventure you ought to doe For in fine what advantage can you hope for by your visits and solicitations The contentment said he to hear from your fair mouth that you do not hate me If that be all you desire to be satisfied in replyed she you may easily compasse your desires but ask no more upon pain of refusall What lovely Policrite said he
love be hardlie dealt withal by for certainly there is never a Ladie in all my Court who would not glorie in having wonn his heart and moreover I have not observed that he hath applied himself to converse with any one in particular yet doubtleslie Philoxypes is in Love Sir said I be not so resolute in your assertion till you have stronger proofes thereof and till you may at least conjectture who it is he is in love withall The King began then to number over all the Ladies of the Court one by one found not any one of them that he was likelie to be in Love withall He then began to walk not saying one word soon after I saw some colour com in his face and presently me thought he was much disquieted Leontydas said he you know more then you will tell me Sir said I I have said nothing but truth unto your Majestie For in fine Phyloxypes his Ambition is satisfied he hath no enemies that I know of and if I be not deceived the fairest Ladies of the Court have no great power over him Ah! Leontydas said he you conceal the truth from me but I know it without your telling Yes Leontydas said he Philoxypes doth Love and so love as doubtleslie he is much afflicted thereat and which he will withstand and overcome were not my thought true he would not make his passion so great a secret But good Gods said he how unfortunate am I and to what strange extremitie am I reduced for in fine Leontydas said he confess the truth Phyloxypes mauger himself is become my rival and his grief for it is the cause of his melanchollie Ah! Sir said I not having leasure to think of what I said I know not the cause of Philoxypes his melanchollie but I very well know he is not in Love with Princess Aretephile and that he too much respects your Majestie to suffer such a thought enter his brest Think well Leontydas said he on what you say you assure me you know not the cause of Phyloxypes his melanchollie and yet you know he is not my rivall once more Leontydas if you know the business let me know it or if you know it not confess my suspitions are well grounded and fear not for all this that I wish any harm to Phyloxypes on the contrarie I shal be beholden to him for it I was extreamly troubled to hear the King talk thus for without violating what we hold most sacred I could not reveal Philoxypes his secret which he had made me swear above a hundred times not to do To consent likewise that the King should suspect him to be his Rivall me thought it was a business of too great importance to leave him in that opinion but the more I perswaded him to the contrarie the more firmly did he believe it No said he I am cause of mine own misfortune and of Phylxoipes his misfortune too t is I who made him visit Aretephile more then any other t is mine own hand that hath enthrall'd him and t is I who am the cause of all his sufferings For said he I easilie comprehend he seeks out all this solitariness onely to rid him of this passion nay I have observed that of late he hath been troubled as oft as I have spoken to him to speak to Aretephile that he hath shun'd such Commissions as much as he could and I am too much perswaded that he hath argued the business stifly with himself and I am the onely cause of what he suffers Good gods said he how great is my misfortune there is not any one man in all my Kingdom whom I should not hate if he were my rival unless it be he and there is not any Ladie in the Court in whose Love he would not have been happie except Aretaphile But Sir said I again I protest unto you he is not in love with her and I protest to you replied he expressing an extream grief that Philoxypes is my Rival for were it not so he would not conceal his passion from me The respect he bears to you said I ought to hinder him from so doing if he were in Love No no replied he you shall no longer abuse me and I am equally perswaded of Philoxypes his love of his innocencie and of my misfortune For in fine that the man in the world that I love best should fall in Love with the oneliest Ladie that I can Love and that I should see my self cruelly necessitated either to forsake Aretaphile or to see Philoxypes die it is an unsufferable adventure Sir I beseech you said I expect till she hath once more seen Phyloxypes and have absolutelie commanded him to discover his heart unto her before you resolve on any thing and if you please I will bring him hither to morrow morning No no replied the King you shall not stir out of the Pallace this day nor shall you see Phyloxypes before me In effect this Prince gave one of his servants charge over me and commanded me to withdraw into a Chamber which was appointed for me in the Pallace 'T would be too difficult a thing to represent unto you my vexation and the Kings disquiet since to tell you true he had as much friendship for Philoxypes as Love for Aretaphile Who ever saw said he for he himself told it afterwards an adventure like to mine I have a Rival whom I must love in despight of me and who gives me more occasion to love him for the affection he bears to my Mistress then for all the service he ever did me and then for all the good Offices he hath done me to her it being certain that I need onely look upon him to see what he suffers in my consideration and that I need onely consider what life he leads to see how much I am beholden to him I observe in his eies a melancholly which makes me apprehend his death and I seein all his actions visible signs of his love to Aretaphile and of his respect to me What shall I do said he shall I seem not to know this passion and let Philoxypes die But t is no longer time to conceal what I think since Leontidas knows it Leontidas who is so much his confident and shares so deeply in his friendship shall I also tel Philoxypes that I know his love and not complain of him and if I should complain how weak a succor would this be I should peradventure hasten his hour of death by making him dispair But shall I quit Aretaphile and let my friendship exceed my Love Philoxypes his passion is unjust but passions are not voluntarie and he hath done what ever he could or ought to have done since not being able to keep from loving he hath yet kept from making his love known and hath rather chosen to hazard his life by his respectfull silence then to preserve it by making his passion known which he knows will displease me The King past the night
famous Laws at Athens went from thence resolving to forgoe his Country for ten years to the end that he might make no alteration there he came to our Court Philoxypes who was then but eighteen years old had a great affection for him as he had likewise for Philoxetes insomuch that as long as Solon abode in our Isle Philoxetes gave over all his other delights and the frequenting of the Ladies companies to fasten himself totally to him whom that he might enjoy with the more freedome he carried him to a Town of his which is called Apia built by Demaphon in a very strong but rocky situation and of hard accesse all the Countrey about it being craggy dry and exceeding barren Solon being come thither shewed him how that they that laid the foundations of that Town might have made it much more pleasanter if they had built it upon the banks of the River Claria in a spacious and fertile plain which lies at the foot of the Mountain where the other Town was situated hardly had Solon spoke his thought when Philoxypes resolved to put it in execution and began already to give all necessary orders for it And indeed Solon was the Architect who guided this great enterprise Philoxypes giving him the glory thereof for he called this new Town Soly to perpetuate the memory of the name of Solon This place being not far from Paphos one of our Kings most usual abodes they went oft to the Court where our Ladies complained sometimes of Solon who by bereaving them of Philoxypes bereft them of their fairest ornament and to shew you how great this Prince his inflexibility was Solon whose vertue is not austere to justifie himself to those that blamed Philoxypes for this telling him that love was a passion which sweetned all other passions and which did sometimes exceed them all That for his part he confest he would never set his whole heart against it and that he thought it no shame to be once in his life overcome thereby Philoxypes said in his defence that he loved all that was lovely that he had a passion for all beautiful objects and that no man ever lov'd so much as he But notwithstanding all his universal affections there was no one so fair in all the Court who could boast in her particular to have inthralled his heart and who peradventure had not more then once consulted with her glasse to know by what innocent art this so famous heart might be taken but at last after having staid a good while Solon went his way much taken with Philoxypes his vertue and made some verses in his praise before he imbarked for Egypt He who was commended by all Greece did highly commend this young Prince saying that Nature had taught Philoxypes in eighteen years what Art could not teach in an Age and that a man might see in him by way of prodigy all the ages of man put together that is to say the innocence of infancy the charms of youth the fortitude of a more advanced age and the wisdome of old age After his departure Philoxypes was somewhat melancholy but this humour being over he spent some time in travel and did not only see whole Greece but likewise the famous City of Carthage which did then wage war with the Massiliens who inhabit a place which they have of late made famous by a cry'd up Academy wherein eloquence and all the Grecian Sciences are rarely well taught I will not relate unto you all the gallant actions he did in Africa nor what befel him during that Journey which continued till some moneths before you came to Cyprus where Solon stayed awhile again not suffering himself to be seen almost by any one But I will tell you that Philoxypes at his return to Court charm'd all the world and that the King himself grew so far in love with him as never was known so great a favour as his nor yet so little envyed neither did he make use thereof but for his Masters glory and to do good to as many as he could he rceceived no rewards but to enrich such as stood in need thereof all the advises he gave were good he did none but good offices and thus he stood fair in the opinion of the great ones and of the people as well as in that of the King and there were none but our Ladies who continued to accuse him of inflexibility Thus did he live amidst delights in the stateliest and most gallant Court of all the world without envy without love and without melancholy But the King was not this mean while so happy as he for after having had some flitting passions which had notwithstanding much disquieted him he fell mightily in love with the Princesse Aretephile who certainly is very beautiful and hath an hundred good qualities but who withal this was extreamly ambitious The King was no sooner aware of the violence of this his passion but that he discovered it to Philoxypes and entreated him to intercede for him with Aretephile who at that time did often visit the Princesse Agarista sister to Philoxypes You may imagin this Prince did not refuse to assist him since his affection was innocent yet did he sometimes crave pardon of the King if he did not much bewail him in his disquiets For Sir said he love being a malady which I am not acquainted with and which I have much to imagine is so great as man would have it thought I confesse I doe not so much compassionate your Majesty as perdaventure I ought consequently I may perchance not so fully exaggerate your sufferings as I should do when I speak with the Princesse Aretephile Fear not Philoxypes said the King that I complain of your inflexibility on the contrary if you had a more tender heart I would not have chosen you for the confident of my passion and did I think that you could become my rival I would not give you Commission to speak so of ten with my beloved Princesse But my intention not being to speak of the Kings love otherwise then as it relates necessarily to Philoxypes adventures I will only tell you that though Aretephile were ravisht to see her self beloved by the King yet aiming at the Crown of Cyprus she thought she was a little to disguise her sense thereof and to make it a harder matter for the King to win her then she had found it to win the King So as this Princesse behaved her self with much discretion and reservednesse and mingling continually severity with mildnesse the King stood long in need of Philoxypes assistance whom Aretephile who knew what power he had with the King used with all possible civility Philoxypes was notwithstanding sometimes much troubled at the continuance of this passion which made him for his recreation go to a very stately house which the famous Solon had caused to be built for him neer Soly and wherein he had made a collection of whatsoever Greece had of most rare
Aretephile I would fain know whether Philoxypes heart could resist a personage who should perfectly resemble this picture Since I have been able replyed he to behold all these Ladies that are here without daring to professe my service it is to be believed I should be as insensible for her or rather as full of respect for her as I have been for all the rest that I see who are no less fair then he this Venus T is not notwithstanding said he smilingly and without any other design then to say somewhat of gallantry to entertain conversation that I am not glad that this picture is only the effect of the famous Mandrocles imagination For I confess unto you there is a certain charming modest and passionate aire in the eyes of this Goddesse which would peradventure please me too much were it a living beauty Philoxypes had no sooner said this but all the company began to smile at this first mark of his tendernesse which they had never before observed in him There was not any one of them who would not willingly if it had been possible have inspired life into this picture that they might see whether Philoxypes might be bent by her or no and whether his rebel heart to love would prove proof against her extraordinary charms If this could be said Princess Thimoclea I wish at least that this fair personage should have as much sweetness in her soul as in her eyes to the end that nothing might be wanting to Philoxypes happiness On the contrary said the Princess of Salamis me thinks it were to be wisht that to punish my brother for his inflexibility she were as cruel as fair and I doubt me added Aretephile whether for his greater punishment she were not to be wisht to be proud and stupid or rather said Princess Agherista inconstant fickle altering her humour every day and for his yet farther punishment added the King smilingly that she were all that you all have said At these words Philoxypes desired so much favour of them as that they would suffer him to enjoy that quiet which liberty bestowes on them who possesse her but the Sun being already low he mentioned a walk to this fair company who without resistance gladly accepted thereof He led them into a large plot of ground which makes an Island for he had drawn a branch of the River of Claria round about it Passing from thence over a little bridge with ballasters of brass he led them into an allie of Orange Trees twelve hundred paces long which the Sun could never get into so large are those Trees and so thick covered with leaves and flowers Amidst this Allie there crosses a Channel of running water at last you come to a place where eleven Allies cross one another at the end of which the river is every where seen as if it were so delighted with that place as it were loth to leave it All these Allies are either of Orange Trees or Citron Trees or Myrrhe or Lawrel or Pomegranats or Palm Trees but after being come to the end of one of these Allies into which Philoxypes sent them they found themselves in a large Meadow which is cut through in the middle by the River which gathered together in that place seems to be a great channel which hath on its banks neither canes nor rushes nor reeds nor little shrubs but is only bordered by thick turff and all besprinckled over with Flags of differing colours with Narcissusses with Lillies and all other flowers which love moisture and freshness There are likewise on this River great store of Swans which swim so demurely as you would think they were afraid to trouble the water which bears them up and that there might nothing be wanting to this entertainment Philoxypes had so ordered it as this River was all covered over with Boats made like Gallies painted with lively colours and guided by young Boyes in Maratin apparel but very handsome who rowing gently with Oars painted red and green came to the bank to receive this gallant company who were played unto on rustick Musick by yong Shepheards very quaintly clothed who drove heards along that Meadow on the other side of the River Their Shepheards crooks were all trimmed with brass guilt over strewed over with cyphers their Flutes and little Bagpipes were as well deckt as were their sheep all whose horns were loaded with flowers In divers parts of this Meadow were an hundred lovely Shepheards clothed in white with hats of roses who to make the place the more pleasing mixt the melody of their voices to the rustick Musick aforesaid So sweet a place being doubtlesly proper to infuse joy and pleasure being no disposition to cruelty the King found Aretephile a little more gentle and all the worst treated lovers of this company found at least some truce to their sufferings and were maugre themselves delighted with so lovely a place which was bounded about by a very high Pallesade wherein Niches placed at equall distances were statues of white Marble the rarest that were ever seen in Greece But I may seem to be my self inchanted in a place so full of charms since I stay so long thereon I must then haste to make this fair company depart whom Philoxypes waited on back to Paphos after having offered them a famous banquet Some few days after being teturned home with intention to entertain himself alone there for two days he spent all that time very contentedly But Philoxypes his humour lying rather to like general beauties wherein art hath nothing to do then those where art undertakes to perfect nature went out of his Park and unaccompanied by any save one servant he went to the River side intending to walk along it till he should come to the head therof which is not far from thence and which certainly is one of the goodliest things in the world For this miraculous Spring-head which of it self makes a River is inclosed by Rocks of an unaccessible height at the foot of the greatest and highest whereof is a large cave which extends it self even to the loss of sight both on the right hand on the left under unaccessible Rocks At the bottome of this Cave is a silent spring which sometimes riseth up to the top of the den and sometimes falls so low as it is not above five or six foot high This inequality is the cause why the River of Claria as well as all the others of Cyprus pass rather for a fair Torrent then for a River though this be not positively so for it is never altogether dried up as are all the rest As he went towards this Cave he got off horse-back leaving his horse with his servant commanding him to wait his return and not to follow him Thus did he walk all alone along these Torrents with the sight and noise whereof he was much delighted when raising up his eyes he might see some twenty paces off a very handsome woman though in a