your incredulity concerning Love for none are able to imagine his power without they feel it nor believe the relation of others unlesse themselves have experimented it But I had rather you had remained in that condition than feel it to your own sorrow You know I have made you the depositary of my secrets and have trusted you with my life and honour I hope my being in your power will not give birth to any dishonourable suggestion for be confident my life which I brought to have sacrificed to love shall be as freely violented to save my honour Were I capable to reanswer your love these speeches might be inoffensive but you must take what I have spoken for a fable if you think I can hear them without disturbance You say you crave nothing but pity but alas alas what good will that pity do which is not accompanied with help If I were capable to help you I should pity you pity you I show I do pity you and desire your good by desireing and councelling you to subvert the structure of this new love before it be too fast setled crop this bud before it pullulate too far Account me as a shadow who am about to pass away I am leaving not only you but the whole world what mean you to love that which is going hence Your courtefie hath obliged my respect but I shall injury you by my stay if my presence augment your flames And doubt not but if my presence have kindled a fire that my departure will leave water enough to quench the same These words said Bruadenor though they were a corasive to my heart yet pronounc'd with so sweet an accent that it mitigated the sharpness of them and were as if vineger and oyl mixt together by love and anger had been given me in a potion to drink I had time but to telâ— her that she might assure her self that my life should a thousand times depart my body before I would harbour the least thought prejudiceable to her honour and not correspondent to the rules of vertue when my mother entring the place where we were put a stop my speeches and her return The next day I presented my self armed in her presence and would not rise off my knees till she permitted me to go my self to find out Subelta and to be her Advocate and that I might do some small service for her as the mark of my growing affection which yet had greater regard to her safety than my own Love I immediately departed and to be the less taken notice of took no company but my Squire and so went straight to the Santons Countrey I travelled without any disturbance till being almost at my jorneyes end very early in the morning I met three men disguised with a woman behind one of them whom I judg'd by her tears and lamentations to beforceably born away by those villanies Though the number were unequal and the danger I should incur to oppose them were enough to deter me yet invited by the lacrymations of the weaker sex especially when espying me she implored my assistance I could do no less than resolve to aid her though it were to the hazard of my life Riding up to them I sought with gentle speeches to convince them of an error in which they were resolved to persist Bruadenor saith one of these disguished ones who had the deplorable creature behind him thou hadst more need use thy tongue to save thy self than perswade us to leave this prize thou art the only man I desir'd to meet to render this friend into thy bosome drawing out his Rapier that thou mayest acknowledge thy error when it is too late to repent the gods propitious to my designes have put thee into my hands from which thou shalt not so soon escape Whilst he uttered those words with a disagreeing tone I had time to draw my weapon and his fellow-Camrades to disburden his horse of the Subject of our strife We reiterated our blows with forceable verberations and with many endeavours wounded one another at last fortune sending a gentle aura upon my devoirs with a vigorous thrust which struck into his shoulder bone I turned him over the crooper of his horse Whilst his body was precipitating to the earth one of the other whose soul possest not the least spark of generosity with a cowardly blow made me feel the like fortune as my opposer Enraged at this vile usage receiving no wound through the goodness of my armour under an upper coat I soon recovered my leggs and with a thrust passed the other off his horse who had got the damsel behind him and before any of them could assail me with a leap I ascended the horse before her making him show the nimbleness of his heels to my opposers He that had not lost his horse pursued me with the like velocity till we had lost the sight of the other two Not induring to fly before one I let the damsel reside the horse and met my adversary in his carrere where with many thrusts we sought to end the quarrel by unmortallizing one another Whilst we pursued our advantages the last man I had made to kiss the earth reincountred me both using the utmost of their skill to kill me but their fury carrying them without the guide of reason made them disreguard all the rules of Art and gave me many advantages to annoy them In the mean time he that received the first fall though wounded had recovered his horse and overtook us but leaving the other two to decide the quarrel he seased upon the damsel who stood quaking to see the event Her screeks gave me notice of her Ravisher and turning my head aside I saw notwithstanding the strugling that affrighted one maid he had laid her before him upon his horse and to be assured of his prey he made a forward fugacity The desire that possest me to rescue the damsel out of that fugitive's tallents gave me a vigor not ordinary so that passing and repassing my sword through one of my adversaries I laid him on the earth to breath his last and the other fainting sunk from his horse I made no stay but pursued the abacted damsel quickly overtaking the Ravisher being hindred much by her striving and the tardiness of his horse onerated with a double burden Stay base villane said I thou art not so soon escaped the hands of Justice nor shall thy slight be able to hinder the just vengeance the heavens will inflict upon thee by my arm for the wrong done to this damsel I gave him no liberty to reply but adding more wounds to his former I reduc'd him to supply the defect of his vigor with his tears and with a confession of the injury done to the damsel to beg his life at my hands After I had taken off his disguisement I was a little astonisht to find it was Subelta and straight began a combate between passion and reason whether to slay
beauty had tempted many Romans but her hatred to that nation would not let her condescend to marry any of them so that as yet she remained in her Virgin state This added fuel to my fire and suscitated more ardent flames for the invisaging this princesse Finding a pleasant titillation in these thoughts I began to have a more plausible opinion of the Amorous Deity and giving scope to my thoughts I permitted them to wander into the Wantons labyrinth At the first exhibition of an opportunity I relinquisht the company of Bruaâ—enor and Floria that I might with more freedom contemplate the beauty of Amenia's picture Having included my self in my chamber I set that bewitching effigies before me and with profound considerations beheld all its lineaments Breaking out in the midst of my silent cogitations Ah beauty said I is it possible to resist thy attraction or to shut our eyes against so fair an object Can thy venust exhibitions be seen by any without passion for thy possession I have been too grand an enemy against your Soveraignty but to expiate that crime I will become as much a slave to your greatness A desirable object who cannot but adore those lily-intermixed Roses which expand themselves on thy cheeks and consider the motion of those bright twinklers in the Astrolabe of a subjected mind which casts as great an influence on the heart of a lover as the coelestial bodies do on terrene substances Many such ejections were emitted whilst my thoughts were extended on the object and whilst my considerations lasted that Amorous fire burnt my soul and deeply insculpted the character of Amenia on my heart Thus whilst love conquered my liberty was orewhelm'd and I ran into the foulnesse of love through the fairness of a picture and so far introducted through the considerations of that effigies that it was impossible for me to return into the state I was in before I saw it I lost many houres and I spent much time in viewing and reviewing that delectable object and I spent much time in viewing and reviewing that delectable object and truly I made it my daily exercise whilst I was there sometimes silently to behold it sometimes passionately to basiate those Rubrick corals which gave so many bewitching attractions and gave me singular delight in those cold exosculations sometimes as if I had been infatuated I made very foolish and impertinent speeches to those surded ears with as much care as if before the substance of that shadow It shames me since to remember my follies and it would shame me more to relate them had I not undertaken to shew my extravagancies that you may see the folly of these insuls Amoretta's But to abbreviate the relations of these follies I shall only tell you that my soul was so imbrued with that foolishly foolish Love as I was resolved to depart into Spain to see the substance of what I had seen in shadow for having so much lik't the shadow I should much more like the substance but most of all could the love of that substance be acquired The great demonstrations of Love which was shewn me by Bruadenor and Floria and their ingeminated intreaties to have me at their Hymen was my only Remora for the Loves of Bruadenor and Floria being come to a faire issue they contracted themselves and resolved with all speed to celebrate their marriage Bruadenor having sent to Floria's father to acquaint him with the welfare of his daughter and of her great desire he should accord to her choise the men returned with Letters from him which testified his exceeding joy that his daughter was not only alive but had made choise of one who in all things surmounted his wishes assuring them his desires corresponded with theirs and had not his age with fear of disturbancies amongst his people in his absence deterr'd him he had personally shew'd the joy he conceiv'd at the match in the place where they celebrated their Hymen Sending to them both many rich and costly presents to testifie the good will he bore Bruadenor You may conceive what joyful newes this was to the hearts of these two lovers who desired nothing more than the fruition of their nuptial pleasures which made them accelerate their Epithalamy and that it might be more celebrious we removed to Vindana the chief Town in his Signorie I was fain to forgo that delectable object which had entertained my eyes and pleased my phansie not having confidence to request its removal least it might too perspicuously manifest my folly and it was well reason was not utterly abandoned considering how deeply I had precipitated my self I left it with regret enough and parting from it I gave it thousands of deosculations Whilst we remained in Vindana preparing for Bruadenor and Floria's Himenean triumph some men whom I had sent to fetch Araterus from the Desolate Island returned but with no news of him At first I was sensible of his losse but Love being like the soporiferous Opium caused so great Lethefaction that I retained nothing in my memory but the infarsings of Love As Opium causeth stupifaction by the abundance of sulphureous spirits which it contains so that agitating fire of Love causeth oblivion through the intense operation of the faculties of the soul I might compare my self then to a full vessel which could not receive any thing because of its plenitude for having imbibed the delicious draughts of the Dionean youth it so fill'd my soul that I was not capable to receive any thing else so that I could not conceive much sorrow for the losse of Araterus at that time Vindana was now full of many people who were congregated some to behold and others to help at the nuptials and the day being come a great deal of pomp was shewn which was not usual with those whom the Romans call Barbarians before their conversation amongst them After the Ceremonies used according to the fashion of the Romans to whom Bruadenor was a great friend many being present and assistants at the Spousals made the streets eccho Tallassius After a very sumptuous feast wherein Bruadâ—nor shew'd his liberality every one repaired to a place without the town where Bruadenor had caused many solemn playes to be exhibited The Romans being expert in those sports shew'd wondrous activity in their deportments both at the races on foot and horseback and with Chariots and at their fighting with whirlbats and at their disgladiateing combats at all which exercises I was expert in my youth and therefore I appeared amongst the rest gaining the honour of the best maintainer of the Hastick sport and casting of the dart for which they empaled my brows with the wreathed Palm When man hath lost the freedome of his Will by the captivity of love how different are his actions from those before his soul was imbued with that self-distracting fancy Being in freedome he hath the liberty to consider things without passion to see another look on the same beauty with
service when you were tri'd Woman said I with an angry tone tell me not of doing her service in so unlawful an action I know it would be the greatest disservice I could do her to blemish her honour eternallie by illicit actions the very thoughts thereof are to me more cruel than death would there were but any occasion offer'd to do her service wherein her nor my honour might be contaminated you should see how willinglie I would embrace a death in the performance I honour Clotuthe and I honour her so much that I will first lose my own life before I will defile hers or I will banish my self this place seeing I have made others criminal After these words I walked a turn or two in a very confused posture and then stopping suddenlie with an action not to be expressed I cannot believe said I looking again on the letter that Clotuthe can be guiltie of this letter the virtuous Clotuthe could never do it this is some plot of my enemies to beguile innocent Euripedes but O my enemies you shall never intrap him in such illicit actions The woman seeing me so transported had not the confidence to interrupt me but hearing me go on in this she at last fell into a thousand protestations adding innumerable oaths calling all the gods to witnesse that it was no design of my enemies and that it was onely Clotuthe who waited but her return to receive her death therefore she desired me to take pity on her and remember how careful she had been of me and that I should not cause the death of the fair and amiable Clotuthe by standing upon a foolish point of honour I was so moved that I heard not many other words that she said Ah would the gods at last cry'd I out had verified my hopes and have given me no cause to complain against Clotuthe by letting it have been a plot of my enemies with how much less trouble could I have bore it and with what shame should I have confounded my enemies Think not by your perswasions said I turning to the woman nor by your implorations to gain me to that which must be a spot of infamy to us both eternallie Have I received so much kindness so much honour so much love from Lilibilis and shall I abuse it with so great deceit so much vileness and so great an abuse as to defile his bed the gods certainly would dart thunders upon my head and the great God of Hospitalitie would Eternally plague me should I be guiltie of such a thought O Clotuth would instead of preserving it you had abandon'd this life to ruin then had I never been guilty of hearing this proposal nor it may be you altogether so criminous O Lilibilis how well indeed should I requite your favours by doing you the greatest of injuries To defile Clotuthe and dishonour my self for ever No no cease to urge me to so great a crime That impudent woman replied thus Sir I did not think you would have been lesse generous in this action for Clotuthe than you have been in all things else if you consider her love and life they will bear down those weak reasons you alledge For what dishonour or infamie can it be to love her whose love is so unparallelable and when none in the world else can discover it and when you receive an affection that any in the world besides your self would account a happinesse to be envied of the Gods themselves That reason of Honour is nothing it being but an outside and can receive no distain but in the eyes of others which cannot be procured by this being unknown Besides in my mind that is the greatest honour whereby we receive proofs of it from others to the advantage of our selves which you do in this the other being but imaginarie this real though secret But if she is willing to forgoe that point for you why should you be so scrupulous as not to do so much for her seeing she lives not but by being yours why then should you refuse to be hers Nevertheless if her love cannot move you let the consideration of her death cause you to pity her if I grant you that it is a crime which can hardly be thought so seeing the Gods themselves have authoriz'd it by their own actions think whether it be not a greater crime to cause her death by so much rigor than to preserve her life with so much ease and pleasure to your self Fear not that the Gods will punish that which themselves are examples of no they are too just to do so and as for Lilibilis it would be far greater indignitie to destroy Clotuthe for all his favours than to save her life with no wrong to him especially being unknown Consider I beseech you her death is inevitable and if you refuse her her shame will not let her live Oh be not so hard-hearted if you cannot do it with complacencie force your self to save a life which else will be lai'd to your charge I admire how I heard her so long but she had proceeded farther if I had not put an end to her speeches my choler being rais'd to the height Woman said I my face shewing my resentment wert thou not of that sex which would be a dishonour to me to hurt I would cruelly chastise thee for these speeches I know Clotuthe never gave you so large a Commission to treat as you do her Letter though it be criminal is not so inverecund I believe she her self would punish thee if she knew it and be ashamed of what thou hast spoken in her behalf being thou belongest to her whom I truly honour I force my self to forget what you have said that you may not appear before me as a Monster Tell Clotuthe that it is impossible for me to be ingratefull but I cannot satisfie her no other wayes than by laying my life at her feet if she looks for other satisfaction I have none however I will be so carefull of her Reputation that even my self will forget that ever I received such a Letter from her that she may not appear criminal in my thoughts Tell her I would come to visit her but that I doubt my Companie would be but a disturbance and suscitate those motions which I desire my absence may banish and make her incur danger of discovering to others what her prudence hitherto hath hid and which rather than it should be known my life should expire at her feet With these words I left the Woman and entring a Closet in the Chamber I gave her leave to depart There I call'd to my remembrance Clotuthe's former kindnesses her speeches and past actions and with what fervency and care she performed many things for me I could then perceive there was a passion in all she did and her ambiguous speeches were now manifested and in fine I wondred that I could not perceive it all that while being openly enough exhibited but I was so far from thinking
given her this defilement by force Excuse her and rather turn thy fury on thy selfe for that thou art of a sex so injurious or on all other men for the sake of the contaminator But think canst thou withdraw that Love which binds the insollubly to the object canst break those irrefragable bonds of Cupid where with thy heart is linkt to that criminal try try thy strength but 't will be in vain Ah cruell and unmercifull power of love to cause me love that which I desire to hate to make me still dote on a beauty defiled with pitch and though I know that which may be would make others loath and an abhor yet it is not powerfull enough to remove my desires or abate the force of my Love Ah lovely Atalanta I must love thee as well with thy blemishes as with all thy gloâ—ious indowments This will give her occasion to see the strength of my love this it may be will make her hear my state and cause that spirit to bow which otherwise might have been too too loâ—ty and have scorned to stop at so low a prey She is not the lesse lovely for her fault Love hides thousands let 's find a place in ours to hide this Such like complaints as these were continually emitted by me Love and hatred wracking me miserably sometimes I detested my love by and by blamed my selfe for detesting sometimes I thought to depart and then againe I found it impossible for I no sooner beheld Atalanta but all my resentments ceased and I found that my chaines were nothing loosned with the knowledge of her crime her eyes still transpierced me and my flames burnt as ardent as ever However a week passed away in which I dayly lamented my misfortune in hers and with that excesse of trouble which could not be concealed that they wondred at the interest I took in hers She poor soul dared scarcely to behold me so much shame was seted in her eyes which made her with an humble dejection project them on the earth her countenance being cloathed with so much sorrow and her penitentiall teares were so many that they were strong motives for the taking away all ill opinons of her and to move one rather to pity and compassion than to any upbraidings or to the increasing of her griefe which was so excessive Ah! Sabane would she sometimes say canst thou now blame my teares doth not my crime deserve greater penances is it possible that thou do'st not detest me doe not you think me worthy of death and unworthy of your company and friendship Oh Gods how unjustly ye prolong my Life no no it is just that thereby ye prolong my misery But may I not violate your restraining Lawes and give my selfe liberty by a voluntary expiration as well as I have violated those of chastity Speake Sabane by what death shall I redeem my honour Alas it is now too late I cannot break the chains of life but I must murther the innocent In this manner she would run on whilst my teares kept pace with her words both in consideration of her griefe and my misfortune All the comfort I could administer was too weake to stop her complaints or the effluence of her Christal fountaines which with a kind of miracle carryed flames in the midst of those waters Sorrow it self giving a kinde of I know not what lustre to her beauty and her teare bedewed countenance spake so eloquently and pathetically that it made me forgetting my self to run out into such fury against our sex devowing to be revenged with my own hands on him that had caus'd that fair on such dolor and had done her such despight For that end desiring her to let me know who it was I beseech'd her to give me leave to let him feel the fury of my so just resentment To give satisfaction to my desires and that I might see she would withold nothing from me she commanded her maide and chiefest confident to give me a brief relation of her fortune who in obedience to her commands gave me the relation in these termes Who would give any audition to the oathes to the vowes and invocations of men Who would believe them when they swear who would pity them when they seem to groan themselves to death And who would grant them the least favour before Hymen tye the indivissible bond of matremony when they are so wicked so deceitfull so instable such egregious Imposters delighting to deceive our weaker sex and when they have vitiated our honours leave us to reap the fruit of shame and ignominy My Lady I confess hath exhibited the weakness of our sex and shown how easie our natures are to be beguil'd who for wit and judgement in so tender years for beauty in so springing a blossom and for all the other endowments of nature is not to be parallel'd in all Iberia yet hath been beguil'd by the most false and abominable among men and hath been betray'd by the deceitfulness of Love and the susceptibleness of her own nature into the arms of folly But to tell you briefly how and by whom this misfortune happen'd know My Lord Prince of the Turditanes and father to the Princesse Atalanta being forced by the chances of war and fortune to vail his Crown to that of the Romans took up his residence in the pleasant City of Hyspalis and under the tuition of those generous enemies liv'd with the same security as amongst friends I was then given to Atalanta to be her consort and her servant my duty and my love bound me indivisibly to her interests and from that time she made me her Confident and Repository of her secrets For beauty begining to break forth through the clouds of her infancy and that fair and decorous bud beginning to expand it self in the blossom of riper years perstring'd the eyes of many a warlike Roman and made them languish with desire to crop so fair a Rose Every day added new lustre to her eyes and every week planted fresh roses in her cheeks Each hour brought new captiv'd hearts enchain'd to render adoration at her shrine and the Maâ—tialists receiving the fire of their courage from that of her eyes confest that the power of Venus was far greater than that of Mars Whilst thus she encreased the glory of the City by the same of her beauty and whilst she had as many Lovers and Adorers as Spectators Love seeing her inexorable to all was hatching a man to plague her for her cruelty She was now in the prime of her beauty her fair flower fully blown and in its chiefest lustre when the most perfidious vagabond Marcipsius being expulsed Affrica arriv'd in the Amaene City Hispalis To see Attalanta at that time and not to love her was impossible Fame made Marcipsius covet the sight of Atalanta which intuition set that wicked one all on fire he being the tinder of Cupid and inflam'd him with I know not what kind of lustfull and
had been so blind so long The next time she was alone with Dardanus as she was walking she suddenly stopt and speaking to him Brother said she you accused me for causing the trouble of Argelois but I tell you his life lies in your power and none besides your self can recover him Dardanus wondering at his sisters speeches reply'd If it lies in my power this shall be the last moment of his trouble were it with the parting of my Life It may be said Panthea it may be something dearer than your life Pray said Dardanus hold me no longer from the knowledg of that thing that may give ease to the better part of my life Brother reply'd that afflicted one I have hitherto hid nothing from you I have communicated to you all the thoughts of my heart as you may well judge in that I have not hid my insulsities nor been asham'd to confesse to you my Love yet I am affraid to tell you this left you will not be so generous as you think you can be Fear not said Dardanus but my love to Argelois will carry me to impossibilities why then said Panthea Argelois is in Love with Eliana 'T is for her he dayly sighs 't is she that hath made him loose those formosities that were so exceeding in him 't is she alone that hath consumed him and that hath brought him to the sadness that you see Dardanus was startled at these words and standing still he exlubited by his lookes he made some difficulty to beleive them You hardly can credite what I say went on Panthea truly I would not believe my own thoughts till I had satisfied my self by observing what I never denoted before 't is too true and by that time you have considered his lookes and mark'd his actions you will say as I do 'T is very strange what you tell me said Dardanus but I must satisfie my self with those observations you speak of before I can force my self to believe it Dardanus in few dayes satisfyed himself and though none in the world could be moâ—e cautious in that secret of Love than he yet Dardanus gathered enough by the sighes that escaped him unawars and that forced their way through the impetuosity of his passion and by those pity-praying lookes that he cast at Eliana But for that he hop'd to draw it from his own mouth the next time he was alone with Argelois he begun thus Dear Argelois I must accuse thee for breaking those linkes of amity by which we are conjoyn'd and by which of two we are become one This is contrary to the nature of union for you to smother those thoughts in your own breast which by the right of friendship I may claime interest in None can be so blinde as not to see the trouble of your soul by the delineated sadnesse in your face and none can be so ignorant as to think that sadnesse to proceed from no cause Hide not from me my dear friend that which is able to give you such cruciations let it be what it will be the Love I bear you will carry me to do those things that you may account impossibilities my life is the least thing that I esteeme so it may free you from this sadnesse Leave these impieties against your self said Argelois I am too much honored by the least notice you are pleased to take of me Indeed the excesse of Love you have shewn me hath made me forget my own condition and sure you forget what I am when you speak so lavishly Cease dear Argelois said Dardanus I have often told thee that 't is thy virtue that has conjoyned me to thee and thou art not to dispute that now since thou hast granted me that entire and indissoluable Love which is compacted between us Now it is that you begin to rebell and to break those reciprocall Lawes of friendship made between us by withdrawing the knowledg of those things that causes these sad and pityfull looks Do not think I will be put off for I cannot live and see you so grieved certainly you know not my affection that you dare not trust me I have not the least suspicion of your love and constancy reply'd Argelois it is far beyond what ever I have or can deserve though my life were to continue in your service to the end of the world Had I any thoughts worthy your knowledg they should not be hid from you but this sadness that hath lately exhibited it self in my face is a kind of a strange humour which hath stolen upon me by degrees and will suddenly vanish Every thing must have its period and I am conscious to my self this is allmost at an end That is it I fear said Dardanus embraceing him very passionatly thy life and it will end together well I must and will remedy it and you shall see that I will think nothing to dear to give content to Argelois Dardanus with these words lest him but essay'd at many other times to gain the knowledg he desired which was assoon to be done as to gain water out of a slint for Argelois determined to end his life and make that known together He try'd all wayes to gain that from him which he kept so secretly but he could never extract it out of him which made him give over at last to solicite him and to gain the knowledg of it some other way In the mean time what ever ' ere the thoughts of the fair Eliana were she did not much denote those wan lookes of Argelois but when that she beheld that they exhibited the danger oâ— his losse as insensible as she appeared to be she at last let him know that she pitied him those sadnesses As they were walking together one day Eliana observing very narrowly those shaddowes of former beautie in his face was moved with a great deal of pity towards him He answered to most of her discourses so broakenly and confusedly that she saw the agitations of his minde not only to alter the forme of his body but also to disturbe his intellectualls I wonder said Eliana at this great alteration in you surely it cannot be the effect of a small trouble that can have such dominion over your body and minde as to alter the one and disturb the other Argelois startled at these words seeing she took notice of his agitations Madam said he such is the effect of Melancholy that it gives to them that discourse with such persons matter enough to exercise their patience to hear their tautoligâ—s and for their goodnesse to pardon their insulsities This is not reply'd she the effects of melancholy as it is naturally a passion without some extraordinary cause for it is contrary to your constitution 't is some strong passion which you smother with so much art to your own detriment These words raiz'd him quite out of his stupidity and as if he had receiv'd some quickning from that angelicall voyce his cheeks indu'd a faint blush It is
made at me who desired rather to perish than live in so much misery But my horse fearful of his approach by running away sav'd my life with its own carrying me like a liveless statue upon his back environ'd with so much misery that I thought death a sweeter companion The night which was fully entred into the darke shades of the wood with the concussion of the leavie boughs and the ugly noise of those Nocturnal creatures which echoed through the Wood and my solitude with the apprehension of the late bloody spectacle I had beheld cast me into so great an agony heightned by the frailty of my sex that you may better imagine than I relate My horse having the liberty of his head carried me all night up and down the Wood not being contradicted with the least check of the reine so that in the morning whose approach had so often been wisht for I found my self on the outside of the Wood and happily meeting with a shepheard I desired the liberty of his house to repose my perturbed mind and rest my defatigated limbs which hy the best of mettals I procur'd The encounter of my thoughts disturbed the rest of my body and the agitation of mind took away the desire of sleep But as the noise of the waters lulls one to sleep so the commotions of these inward billows at last procured me a sweet oblivion which yet was disturbed through the injections of Morpheus for I saw a great Cage with this inscription Nec vi Nec Arte an Emblem surely of my future miseries for by and by I saw my self fast enclosed in it and besieged with a great company of beasts but at last I saw a man who came and cut off the head of the chiefe conductor of the brutes and dispersing the other gave me liberty I know not proceeded the fair FLORIA whether this was any supernatural representation from the gods who often times forewarn us of our future miseries by manifest signes were not our eyes sealed with disregard or whether it might be the operation of my affections and obturbed thoughts representing those Ideas it had preconceiv'd according to the distemper of the natural body or whether proceeding from the imagination or the effects of the suscitated vapors and humours working upon the fancy but when I awaked I found it left greater impression in my minde than dreames ordinarily do After I had given some repose to my body though little through the discomposure of my minde I hired the shepherd to conduct me to Subelta's habitation disguising my self as well as I could for the better security of my person After much travel I came to Condate where I understood Subelta was in my fathers countrey with Artesa The indisposition of my body weakned through the assaults of my mind rendred me unfit for travel therefore discharging the shepherd I remained sometime there hoping Subelta's return would some way terminate these discomposures But stay being incompetable with my hasty desires I resolved to encounter him where he was not considering into what preciptation I ran my life and honour for the one I cared not how soon I lost it but for the latter I should have had more regard But having left Condate in this precipitancy I would not return at my second thoughts but proceeding in this capricious journey with a resolution to evolve my self out of this labrinth of disquiets by the fatal stroke of death I have received some comfort in that through a special providence of the gods I have met one to whom with a confidence not usual I have made known my condition And now said she looking more stedfastly in my face with eyes that penetrated to my heart and whose flames had already almost consumed it to ashes you have heard without any latitation of my defects the whole scene of this sad interlude whose last act must compleat my Tragedy but could you but see the integrity of my heart in these Caprichio's with the strong influences that ascendant Love hath diffused on my soul you will not altogether vituperate disconsolate Floria for these inconsiderate and capricious actions Here went on Bruadenor letting her vaile slide down over her face to hide those pearly drops which the fire of Love through the declaration and consideration of her own case had distilled it seemed to me as the interposition of the earth between Sol and bright Cinthia whose umbrage casts so dark a vail or as the Sun darkned through the embraces or intervention of his less splendid sister Love exhibiting the beauty of her intellectuals as well as that of her form by this time had taken a full and free possession of my soul and had gained the chief ascendancy over my heart so that first giving way to some sighs I said Madam Deserts are not always favoured by fortune neither is Love alwayes a pleasurer of the will for if the gods cross our desires we should shew our patience in bearing their afflictions and more resolute are those Lovers who evaporate the heat of their flames by sighs and mittigate it with the moisture of their tears then those who lese patient of delayes run themselves into a thousand precipitations for self-murther is not the mark of a valiant person but rather shews more cowardize in that he dares not stand out the battel with that which causes his desperation but to avoid it gives himself that which is not justifiable but by the hand of another I cannot blame you in that you Love or that its vigor hath caused you something to transgress the Pudor of your sex though your actions may be ill censured by many tongues But I cannot without admiration and astonishment consider the obdurate heart of your despiser and against him fulminate most just increpations Subelta hath alwayes been my enemy and hath sought occasions to endamage me but the considerations of these impudicities hath rendred me his and if this honour may be given to your entertainer as but to command him into your service you shall see how soon he shall be reduced to a more plyant humour To this Floria returned me an answer full of mildness and affection not induring to hear of Subelta's being reduced by any other means than by the relapse of his own will We were now come to the entrance of my Castle which put a period to our discourse giving my thoughts liberty to study complacencies to cause her stay I rendred her into the hands of my mother who knowing by me who she was cherisht her in the place of a daughter The night being come we retired to take our repose but the agitation of my mind banisht sleep his wonted residence for entring on a deep contemplation on the lustre of those beauties which adorned the face and mind of Floria. I ran so far into a sea of thoughts that I could not reach the Haven of repose that night This was a new world to me who resting before in the quietude
or save my Antagonist but having before freely given him his life it would have been incompetable with my honour to have required conditions besides my interest stopped my mouth from speaking for Floria yet considering what anger it might suscitate in her breast I left him and coming to the damsel I desired her to make use of me to conduct her to her habitation She told me the eternal obligations with which I had bound her were not to be solved with the services of a thousand lives and seeing that I would do her the honour to conduct her home her condition with the desire she had to see my wounds cured made her accept it with an immense gratitude I repli'd The service I undertook my honour and compassion obliged me to and that I look'd for no other guerdion for my pains than the knowledge how she came into the hands of those Ravishers After she had given me some direction which way I should take I mounted her behind me and whilst we went forward she said Of whom can we expect any worthy and generous actions but of those whose vigor is accompanied with valor whose valor with honour and whose honour with vertue What glory is it to be strong and not valorous what to be valorous and not honourable and honourable and not vertuous therefore he is truly couragious he is truly valiant who is endued with these three I have seen the effects of your strength I am freed by your valour and have tasted the goodness of your vertue which extending to help the distressed is an act worthy of perpetual fame But not to fill your ears with my applause I will give you the account you desired My name is Artesa I was born in this Countrey and am daughter to a Lord of a Castle not far distant our usual abode is at a pleasant place from whence this night I was ravished and where by a loss I doubt I am made perpetually miserable but when I am assured on 't my dayes shall terminate with its knowledge Tears said Bruadenor gushing from two limpid fountains at the remembrance of some past evenements stopped the passage of her words till two or three forceable suspirations had reclear'd the way then proceeding I have been said she so unhappy as to be lov'd by that unworthy one whom your valour last overcame whose name is Subelta Lord of the Redons if Love can be said to harbour in so Tyrannick a breast or in one who hath dealt so cruelly not only by me that hateth him but by a Lady who hath intirely lov'd him as by his own relation I understood This Subelta being entertained at the Castle of the Chief Lord of the Santons his daughter the fair Floria so they call'd her at Rome which name she hath since kept fell in love with him Unworthy wretch dispising her Amoretta's and caresses he put her into an affliction which produced a sickness that almost cost her her life He hath often recounted to me the joy he should conceive at her death that he might be rid of an importunate Suter and hath recited her endeavours her caresses and showen me her letters which though full of passion yet also implete with modesty I have wondred when I saw so evidently her passion for him that he should despise her and accost me who am far inferior in birth and beauty and I ever councell'd him not to let her languish in despair and forsake the substance for the shadow using all the perswasive arguments my weak Genius was capable of But as it is natural for us to despise what 's profer'd and crave what we cannot obtain so he left a beauty that accosted him and sought to acquire me who despis'd him For having before given my heart to another though a stranger yet one whom I accounted worthy of my love his allurements could not incite me to relinquish him nor the illectament of preferment to be perfideous to my pretendant When I perceiv'd if his suit continued it might put me to much trouble and if he intended what he said he might gaining my father force me to marry him I treated him after a vigorous and rough manner which did but suscitate his ardour of obtaining I cannot but think went she on but that his passion was real and impos'd upon him by the just deityes for his cruel disdain to Floria for having recovered her sickness very lately as she was travelling through a large wood she was strangely convey'd away with her maid unknown to any of her company which news so afflicted her father that he scarce could recover strength to live At his command the wood was throughly searcht and in their perquisition they found some part of the body of Floria's maid and clothes which had been the reliques of the feast of some fierce animal Thinking Floria her self had run the like fortune they returned with part of a cacrase miserably laniated which spectacle with the consideration of his daughters loss had almost suffocated his vitals and as yet he remains in a languid condition in consideration of her detriment All that knew her or had but heard of her beauty or vertues could not but resent her disaster and plunge themselves into the waves of a just sorrow this wretch excepted who told me her misfortune with the Symptomes of Joy This caus'd me more than ever to hate him seeing his inhumanity and to shew him a more severer brow His haughty disposition not able to bear my deportments He addressed himself to my father gaining him to make me his wife if I would consent Assoon as I understood by my father how Subelta had delt with him to have me and that he began to perswade me I had no other way but with my tears to supplicate my mother who had a great ascendencie over my father to frustrate the design of Subelta and not to force me by that marriage to end my dayes miserable My mother following my interests obtain'd this boon at the hands of my father The next time he importun'd my father concerning it he told him if he could gain my good will his desires accorded with his request but his indulgence had made him promise not to force me to any marriage Subelta thought himself highly affronted to be denied in that manner yet hiding it what he could he sought to acquire me by the great protestations of his affections But at last his sight being as odious to me as his company was troublesome I let him know in very sharp terms how much I hated him bidding him never imagine or think of obtaining me for he should sooner bring the heavons and earth together than obtain my love commanding him to avoid my sight This sudden mordacity stâ—â—ted my pretendant rebating his love it suscitated his passion and with a truculent countenance he told me that ere long I should repent of my peevishness and be glad to accept of that honour which now I despis'd In
seeing after so impetuous a storm they had so happily met they raised a hope for their future fortunes and with great alacrity began their enterprize Whilst Bruadenor mustred his men and gave order for his intendments I sought a nurse for the infant Fortune had cast into my hands that being â—id of that nursery I might the better imploy my endeavours to his help I soon found a woman whose child was newly interr'd with whom I left the child and money for her pains I reserved a little bracelet which surrounded the childs neck in which was a remarkable stone hoping by that if fortune cast me into their company to find out the parents of the child I gave the woman charge to call the child Marinus which she promised to do and to take him into the place of her own Bruadenor having understood by his scouts that the next day Subelta resolved to give an assault to the Castle not as yet understanding of his arrival he desired not to lose that opportunity of assailing him in the midst of his dispute For this end we marched all night in by-places through the help of certaine guides so secretly that it was not known to Subelta for those we met we took along with us that they might not discover us By day break we came within the sight of the Castle and of our enemies the morning we spent in sleep to rest our wearied limbs to be the better able to perform our Devoirs being hid from the sight of our enemies by the umbrage of a Wood. Assoon as Subelta had begun the assault with much vigor we attended till they had spent their chief strength against the walls and the defendants letting them persist till they had throughly wearied themselves we remained spectators But seeing a gate in danger to be lost by the continual pressure of Subelta who was signaliz'd from the rest we gave a signe to our Troops and all together like an impetuous stream came rushing upon the backs of these assailants You may imagine whether our unexpected coming did not amaze our enemies and give no less courage to the besieged seeing succour arrived when they least expected it The greatness of our slaughter augmented their amatement and by a sudden vicissitude made them relinquish being assailants and become defendants Victory was already seated on our side and we fought with the greater animosity seeing her on our side Bruadenor performed wonders seeing the battlements of the Castle graced with his Floria who with the rest of her sex were mounted the Tarasses to behold the performances of this help Fear began to scare Subelta's soul and he manifested his fear by his retreat for being pressed on all sides they made use of their legs to save their lives But those within the Castle issuing out we made a general slaughter Bruadenor seeking for Subelta with his own hands ended his Tragedy Floria having exterminated Subelta the confines her heart found no intestine motions at the sight of his death but giving a good reception to his conqueror manifested the content she receiv'd by her liberty They honoured me by taking notice of the small service I had done them and were careful to dresse some wounds which I had receiv'd in the conflict After their mutual congratulations Bruadenor return'd to give order for to sepulize the dead and to festinate some troops who were going to reduce those places which Subelta had taken which in short time they effected reducing his Signiory to his pristine state Having enjoyed some time the conversation of Floria I consider'd Bruadenor had not reported amiss of her beauty nor was the beauty of her wit less graceful than that of her face I who till then had consider'd women with a constant eye never saw attractions in any face which had power to raise commotions in my heart and whilst I enjoy'd that happy liberty I breathed in the aire of felicity but after Love had rendred my heart susceptable of his impressions I found my self bound with the chains of captivity now perceived by some instinct in nature they were made desirable to men I had considered them as shadows not so much as desiring but rather shunning their conversation admiring at those men who bewitched with their attractions gave them the encomiums of Deities The conversation of Floria abolisht those thoughts not that I had any desire or thoughts for her more than any other but that as praelibations they rendred my heart susceptible for greater flames and took off the precogitated opinion of the indignity of their sex That little tyrant of hearts was now resolved to plague me for my contumacy and as I had accounted them as shadows to make me love the shadows of them and because I had disregarded beauty beauty should cause my disregard For one day in viewing the several rooms in the Castle which till then I had not seen I beheld the effigies of a Lady which hung for an ornament in a very fair chamber The painter to shew the rarenesse of his skill had with his art so â—ively imitated nature that had not the frame discovered my error I had took it for a true substance The skilful pencil of the workman had given such lively dashes to the eyes and so sweet a frame to the mouth that the one seem'd vivacitly to move whilst the other attâ—acted the eyes with a sweet subrision her hair ty'd up with azure knots seem'd nets to catch love-despising fouls the structure of that beautiful face was supported with a neck whose alabaster resemblance exhibited no less suavity but the exhibition of two fair orbs which were but half â—iâ—covered gave more attractions than my averse humor could resist It was very strange to me that the eyes of an inanimate portraiture should beget â—uch lively sparks in my obduâ—ate breast and that a shadow should shew more attractions than I had observ'd in any substance In my heart I must confesse I call'd my self fool for those emotions which I felt producted by those lovely and lively looks because it was but a shadow and it may be delineated from the phancy of some painter to shew the rarity of his Graphical art I had lost my self in the contemplation of it had not Bruadâ—nor asked me if it were not well done seeing they took notice of my observance I highly prais'd the piece according as it deserv'd And taking hold on that opportunity I told them I took great delight in good pictures which made me take the boldnesse as to entreat them to let it adorn my chamber whilst I was with them My intreaties and their grants were all one so that it was immediately transported to my chamber I forgot not to ask them whether it was the portraiture of any living and of whom Bruadenor told me he had bought it of a famous Apellean and that it was the true and lively effigies of Amenia daughter to Lilibilis the chief Ruler over the Austures adding that her
see the cause But since you have been pleas'd to take off that vail and to let me know the cause give me leave to tell you that I see no reason why you should afflict your self And I wonder that you account to Love a crime since it is enforced upon the will with so much rigor and violence we do not use to impute the crime to them who are forced against their wills to the commitment nor count them noxious that are forced contrary to their own spirits to commit an errour it is the consent of the will that makes us culpable which cannot be laid to your charge seeing there is so absolute a forcement and without the least indulgencie on your part your repugnancy shewing how unwilling you were to lose your liberty It is not in this as in other things where the will is able to make its choice for we are able and have so much power left us that rather than lose our honour with a generous resolution to sacrifice our Lives but in this we are so suddenly surprized that even the will is forced to that which you call a crime and then to offer a Life is not a choice but an expiation but of what of that which even the gods themselves had forc'd us to which would be blasphemy to say their actions are worthy of expiation and therefore you need not imagin that a crime nor think your self guilty when you are clear You see with what confidence aâ—l the world entertains this Deity few or none escaping the touches of his flame being once arrived at the age of puberty though some have it more violently injected than others There seems mighty difference in the actions of love in some he seems to be the causer of vice in others the causer of vertue which hath made some account him as they have seen his effects whether good or bad which difference is not to be imputed to the nature of Love which is constant pure and unchangable of it self but to the different dispositions of those people that possesse him and cleaving to the habit of their mind is regulated according to their dispositions and though in effect it keep its Soveraignty over the Will in that it cannot chuse but Love yet it leaves it free to act and gain the object that it Loves according to its own disposition or inclination and this is it that makes so many different faces in Love as there are different humours in men And this is manifest in that we see some to gain what they desire through the passion of Love become most mercilesse Tyrants seeking all the wayes of vice painting their way with blood using all wayes their evil hearts may suggest and yet in appearance caus'd by the passion of Love Others by the same passion seek to attain their wish'd desires by the rules of Vertue submission duty and obedience all things contrary to the former which makes Love either a virtue or a vice according to the actions and several dispositions of men or women therefore to Love is no crime but the impudicity of our actions that makes us criminal But Madam as the basenesse of our actions who are troubled with this passion be a disgrace to Love in the eyes of those who are not able to judge right of him so the goodnesse of their actions that are virtuously possest with the same passion redound to his Complement and without doubt having suffered by the impudicit action of others and knowing the severity of your humour he hath call'd you from all the world to restore him the good opinion he once had in the eyes of the world and lost by the folly of others Therefore Madam fea rt not that this deity will do any injury to so considerable a servant but expect him to infuse the like virtue and the like passion into the object of yours if he hath not already effected it and for the rest wherein my duty and fidelity is expected you need not doubt having vow'd my life to your service but that I will employ it to the utmost of my abilities In this manner Melanthe sought to ease the disquiets of Amenia who returned her an answer to what she had said and being somewhat setled reposing much in the abilities of Melanthe she made her to return to her bed and gave her self to a repose that might fit her for the intuition of the next dayes sports Had I had but that happinesse to have known with what affection Amenia beheld me I should not have felt those torments which I did endure that night and many others for her sake having past it over with Loves usual disquiets and very little sleep I arm'd my self with those flames which represented those within my breast and in the same manner at the hour appointed I entered the lists as I had done the day before I shall be brief and pass this over only I may tell you and I think without vanity that I dâ—d more that day than I had done both the dayes before to the admiration of all the Spectators not being moved out of my Saddle at the decursion of all those who that day I made to kiss the earth The better part of the day being spent and the long intermission since any had appeared to oppose me made us think the sports had been ended and we were about to break them up when there entered at the other end of the lists a Cavalier of a good port having his sword ready drawn armed with fair green armes and over them a strong paludament his caske was plumated with green and white intermixed he attracted all the eyes of the beholders upon him but his motion was so furious that it gave them hardly leasure to behold him His furious pace soon brought him up to me and being come near with a voyce that shew'd anger had prepossess'd him he said Proud man is this the way to raise your glory having ambitioned a happinesse thou art not worthy of by the breaking of a few reeds which is rather a sport for boys than an exercise for men if thou hast not lost all that courage which fame hath told us you shew'd against the Romanes let us see it in defending thy self against me who am thy mortal foe with as much animosity as thou hast shewn pusillanimity in maintaining these juvenile sports I am come purposely to deprive thee of a Life before these Spectators which cannot be in safety so long as I live and to let thee see on what weak foundations thy aspiring hopes are built He spake these words so loud that they were easile heard by Lilibilis Amenia and those that accompanied them Lilibilis thought he knew that voyce but the unexpected evenement and his bold carriage took off his imaginations from calling to his remembrance who it might be and only took care to prevent a combate he saw so much desir'd on both sides For whilst he uttered his audacious speech I
a powerfull and secret Sympathie one with another and that life I have accounted amongst the most happiest of my dayes which I have spent in the company of Amenia whose innocent and pleasing conversation often put my soul into a posture of tranquillity and rapt my soul into a contemplative enjoyment of that which afterwards I received more really but hardly with more delight Thus I had almost passed over the winter in the sweet conversation of Amenia never breaking my imposed silence when Lilibilis had notice given him that the Chief of the Gallicians desired him with the chief of his men to meet them on the borders of the Austures that they might consult for the general good concerning their next Campaign and in what manner they should oppose their enemies They sent him word that Caesar was returned to Rome and had left the Legions with Antistius a valiant Captain and who with all speed was mustering his Forces to assail them and to begin the War though it was so soon Lilibilis soon departed with the chief of his Commanders leaving a great charge on Clotuthe to be carefull of me and desired me to contribute what I could to my health that I might be in a condition to render him that help which he hoped for from me and on which he depended more than on his Army I would have perswaded him to let me accompanie him but he utterly refused it in consideration that my weaknsse was not so well recovered but that so sudden a jorney might have thrown me into a relaps When I saw he would not let me accompany him I told him that I would cherrish my self as much as his absence possible could give me leave and that I only desired my life to loose it in his service to which I had destinated the remainder of my daies He replyed in very civil terms having nothing of Barbarism in him and after our mutual imbraces he departed leaving me to the care of those whose love had made them uncapable of having their care of my health augmented by his commands or entreaties The second day after Lilibilis his departue I was set in my chamber by the fire in a very deep melancholy ruminating on the different tyrannies of the God of Love and considering how deeply I was engaged in a passion that had cost me so many tears and so much trouble and yet had receiv'd nothing but a severe Law from the mouth of my goddess when her Melanthe suddenly entred my Chamber and surprized me in the midst of those tears which my ardent passion had extracted from my eyes That Maid whom affection had tied to my interests excused her so sudden and uncivil entrance as she termed it with very good language and desir'd my pardon for her incivilitie I soon made her understand how glad I was of her company and how much I desired an opportunity of entertaining her alone She told me she came from her Mistriss who had sent her to excuse her in that she had not seen me that day by reason of an indisposition which had made her keep her Chamber I replyed I was unworthy the honour she did me in taking so great a care of my well-fare and that I could entertain the assurance of my own death with less trouble then to understand she was indispos'd in her health The Maid reanswer'd that there was no fear of any danger in her Mistriss indisposition and that she made no question but that she would visit me the next day and pay me interest for that dayes neglect we spent some time in these interlocutions till at last after I had forc'd her to sit down I uttered my self in these terms ' Melanthe you cannot be ignorant of the cause of those tears you have surpriz'd me in which are but a small part to what I dailie and almost hourlie offer to a severitie which hath made me mute You know I have manifested my love and you do not ignore to what a cruel silence I was condem'd I have not hitherto transgressed it though all the world is ignorant with what torment I undergo it I continually sigh languish and spend my time in tears and yet dare not declare my misery which is the only and considerable ease others troubled with the like passion enjoy Was there ever such a Law impos'd on any as is on me which makes me live in the continual languishment of my soul and in the dailie conversation and intuition of the object of all my suspirations and still to lock up my lips by severity not to be parralel'd I know Melanthe though sickness hath not kil'd me that grief will if not mitigated by some relaxation but if I die it will be a happiness in that it is by keeping a Law impos'd upon me by that mouth which I so much adore whereby she shall see Euripedes can never be guiltie of transgressing the severest of her commands I find some ease in declaring this to thee what allevament should I find in disburdening my self to her but since she hath enjoyned the contrarie I must I will undergo it with silence to the death and last expiration of a soul totallie hers and which lives onlie to do her service She did not bid me Melanthe to speak of love to no body else therefore I hope I have not transgressed in speaking to you nevertheless I desire you not to make her acquainted with it lest her severity may impute it as a transgression to me I dare not sue or desire O Melanthe to have this imposition taken off but you may conceive with what joy I should receive the revocation of so strict a Law but I doubt I am faulty in in that I desire to have that taken off which was imposed by Amenia though it be more grievous and less easie to be born than death Sir replyed Melanthe your vertues have made me inseparably yours as far as the duty I owe my Mistriss and the pudicity of my sex give me leave I will not tell you how often I have endeavoured her to revoke that which she had impos'd upon you and which I saw you bore with a patience not to be parralel'd because my andeavours prov'd in vain to cause her revoke what she had once commanded I know the severity of her humour is such that she will endure the greatest afflictions rather than break it and this severity is very strange which she useth towards you strange in that she afflicts you whom she desires not to afflict and strange in that she no less afflicts her self in that she is so severe to you and that her humour is so strictly tyed to the severity of her own Law that she will rather endure what she suffers than break it She her self hath told you Sir therefore I may say it without any infidelity to my Lady that you are not indifferent to her but being tied by the cruel Lawes of duty cruel in that it makes her contradict
this parting will prove satall I cannot but fear I shall never see Euripedes more but let me once more entreat you not to precipitate your self into danger and check the exorbitancy of your courage by your Love and by remembring that I impose it upon you and that I have desir'd to see you return for the encouragement whereof I tell you again my self will endeavour for your happinesse in all things wherein I am not prohibited by the precepts of duty virtue and honour Madam replied I bowing almost to the ground think not but I shall obey your Commands and with more care observe them than those of the Gods themselves and I question not but you can raise me to farre greater happinesses then they can without you You have had so much trial of my obedience that you cannot justly doubt but that I will lose my life a hundred times were it possible sooner than fail in observing them especially when they are so glorious and contribute so much to my own happinesse You need not fear that the power of the Romanâ—s is able to take away this life since you have been pleas'd to conserve it and with it you have given me so great animosity that I need not fear but victory will attend me At the finishing of these words Amenia entring a little Closet faut out a blew Scarse with a very large fair fringe all wrought with Gold and Silver in flowers and other curious work partly wrought by her self and partly by Melanthe bringing it in her hand here Euripedes said she wear this for a remembrance of what you owe me I received it upon my knee with a world of satisfaction Madam said I you are too deeply insculpted on my heart to need any remembrancer and I am too great an observer of your commands to forget them I will receive this as the most glorious of gifts and esteem it above my Life since it comes from the hand of my adored Amenia In receiving it I kissed it and being filled with Raptures I cemented my lips to that fair hand and gave it some most ardent suaviations She permitted it a little but believing I trespassed too much upon her modesty she withdrew it and raising me up Go Euripedes said she and conquer where ever thou comm'st and where it is not lawful for thee with thy Armes use thy Virtue and none can withstand you These words made me blush but I answered Madam I cannot fear to lose the Victory since you have bid me conquer but I shall not glory in all the Victories the Gods can give me or in being a greater Conquerer then Alexander so much as in being your Captive aye there lies my happinesse and there lies my glory After these words I took my leave and I saw some teares drop from Amenia's fair eyes at my deceding which gave me a consolation not to be uttered and that night I spent in the contemplation of my Happinesse where I had spent many in that of my miseries I have been longer than I thought to have been continued Euripedes in the relation of my Amoretta's but the great content I receiv'd in them then hath conserv'd them fresh in my memory to this day though I have pass'd troubles enough since to oblitterate them if I had had no worser successe in the latter than in the former I might not perchance have been so opposite to Love but those Aerumnal Loves far different than the former rectified my reason and made me see with clearer eyes than those of a Lover Love they say is a most noble passion and leads one to most generous actions true if you consider it without that effect of it desire whilst that it interest 's not it self in any thing but solely loveth the obiect because it is lovely truly then it is noble it is free and all actions that it produceth are truly generous but if you take Love as most do though you consider it in those whose Virtues were never blemish't by it yet all those actions they exhibit to the world which may seem most generous and most noble are neverthelesse servile and abject whilst desire as an inseparable accident accompanies their Love and makes those actions of seeming generosity to be but the effects of their own desire and in all they do serve their own ends I do not make mention of those whose Loves carry them to base ends being converted to Lust and to do things odious to them in their right reason you l say that none that are virtuous can be led to such actions whilst that Virtue lasts I confesse they cannot but I believe and know by experience that this passion whereon we treat is able to stifle the motions of Virtue and to insinuate those of Vice and make those persons do that which being clear from this passion they would detest and which could not be attributed to their natures but to the enforcement of their passions Some I know whose Virtues are Eminent do not yield in the least to their passion but overcome it by their Virtue and though they Love they cannot be said to be subjugated by it because it is subordinate to their Virtues I do not speak this without reason and this small digression may be some preparative to what I shall relate for in my first Loves I acted nothing against the precepts of Virtue but afterward whether my passions were more violent or lesse pure they drew me into actions that made me justly hate both my self and that passion which was the cause of them which when you have heard though it may not make you hate a passion so deeply setled in you yet it may excuse my aversion in that it caus'd me to do actions so detestable and unworthy of my self which hath drew thousands of teares from my eyes for some small expiation of my follies But I would not have you think I am an enemie to Love rightly stated for Love is the purest spark of the soul and that which illustrates the whole man and I may truly say that it is the fountain of all good and without it man were not man so the want of it is the chiefest cause of all evil But by this I mean that Love which never introduced any desire but being an emanation of the gods acts it self to that which is most pure and doth most partake of its essence and I cannot call this a passion but a fire taken off from the altar of the Gods communicating nothing but what is most pure and Celestial and making the possessor of it like to the Gods themselves In this our two Geniis find a great matter of Contestation for if the one inspire it or rather the Gods and that seek to preserve it our black Daemon endeavours to subvert it and knowing that it is apt to work upon what is fair and like it self it exhibites beauty and formositie and then stirring up a sensual desire contaminates that lustre and almost
to deprive me of my life not thinking her selfe safe whilst there remained a witnesse of her cruelty I was forc'd for my owne safety to write to her not to persist in seeking my life unlesse she would force me to discover her and to rest contented that the child being dead I intended not to discover but only to detest her cruelty and inhumanity I believe those few lines I sent her gave her satisfaction especially when she understood that Palemedon was dead for after that I heard no more from her but remained free from her assasinous attempts Long it was not before I was once more constrained to leave the happy sorte of Content pleasure and quietude being forced thence by the Shaftes of that sworne enemie of my rest Cupid My age nor all my former miseries were bulwarks sufficient to keep off his fires nor free me from those passions which had ever been my ruine Alas as if I had been born onely to love or as if it had been my naturall element wherein I was only to live I could not have had a more propensitie to it I once more found my frozen years melted away with loves ardors and that over youthfull God inspired me with his youthfull flames and with Medean art brought back the spring of my age makeing it finde a repulluation under the heate of his fires The object of this last love was a widow in whom beauty and wit equally strove for mastership her birth was noble but her fortune meane which made her exercise her wit to maintaine her state being also touched with that plague Ambition the mother of all mischief and the wicked Daemon's eldest daughter The Gods thwarted my other loves and made me lose that which I sought to obtain for which I rendered them a thousand reproaches accounting them enemies to my happinesse therefore it was Just that I should acknowledge the plagues of my own acquirements and see that the Gods in denying were friends to my happinesse I obtained what I ardently desired being she whom I Sought desired it no lesse not out of love but ambition and avarice hopeing to make a Son that she had heire of that estate I possest Content cannot last long where mutuall love tyeth not the affections the love I bore her serv'd but to extinguish my reason and blinde my eyes from Seeing her projects and the respect she bore me was but forc'd for her own interest and till she had made her selfe master of what I held The first appearing of her enmity was at my denial of certaine unreasonable demands for her son Wherein she exhibited that her desire was for nothing more then my death and that the advancement of her son was the scope of all her projects however though it was too apparent not to be seen yet could I not use any remedy against it Five yeares having consumed themselves since our marriage her desires being growne too bigg to be contained within its limits and her projects being fully ripned she suddenly effected them for having great friends among the Romans through their aide she possessed her selfe of all I had and by force maintained her selfe in it useing me as her profest foe and would could she have effected it have put a period to my dayes Love that before appeared to me as the most beautifull goddesse and with a luster that begat her adoration now seemed to be converted into a most ugly Erinnrs worthy of all detestation the scales began to fall from my eyes and I began to see my folly and to recount those enormities it had made me run into and finaly recovering my reason I profest my selfe a foe to that passion which before I so much observed Endeavouring to recuperate that which was violently withheld from me I in some time effected it with the aide of my friends where I spent some more years but being subject to the complotting of my wife and her Sonne having a desire to spend the rest of my dayes in contemplation in a place free from the accesse of men I sould my estate and leaving my ungracious persecutresse taking with me the two Sons of Lascaris and very few servants else I repaired to this place being known to me to be a place as full of pleasure as Solitude and where I might be free from the perquisitions of my friends and plotts of my enemies By the way to this place I happily met with Lonoxia and understanding each others fortunes being tyed with a mutual Love and friendship we resolved to spend the remainder of our dayes together This place being designed for our habitation we added art to perfect nature and by the help of both we compleated this domicile as you see in which we have spent some yeares without any evenement or seeing any stranger but your selfe beeing a place so unfrequented and this adjoyning grove being the utmost of our ambulations Here neither the troubles of Love or armes assolt us here neither the envies or plots of our enemies annoy us here quietude and peace accompany us and here being sequestred from the world the knowledge of its affairs doth not deturb us but being naruralized to this solitude we finde a pleasure which all the Empires of the world cannot give us I have now concluded my narration wherein you cannot but perspiciously see if that passion wherewith you are so inbued hath not already exoculated you that Love hath been the cause of my miseries made me the Sport of Fortune and tyraniously triumphed over my Liberty and who lastly with so many vicissitudes hath made me an abject to my self Here Euâ—ipedâ—s absolved his narration and Argelois beholding him some time in silence till having collocated his thoughts he in few words display'd them thus Give me leave to represent in briefe those Speculations which I have observ'd in your narration where you so satyrically inveigh against love which indeed if we retroâ—pect into the often vicissitudes of your fortune and into those Hurricanes of passions and dangers into which you have been driven by love we cannot but in Justice excuse you But as I conceive we are not to increpate a passion for the irregularities of others or of our selves for if virtue be adjoyned to it its effects are glorious if vice abominable So that the passion produceth effects according to the virtuous or vicious disposiof the person it agitates This distinguisheth Lust from Love for Love without virtue is Lust and Lust concatinated to virtue is Love This distinction it may be may be thought too grosse for the stricter and more refined Lovers will not admit of Lust though as I conceive it is the same which they call desire which being involved in the actions of virtue and as it were chain'd to it it cannot be perceiv'd to have a being and therefore so refined Lust is imperceivable and wholly converted to love Love some distinguish thus undetermined is Lust Lust determined to one Love This cannot be to those who as
encrease and the Injuries that I receiv'd were allmost innumerable inso much that it defatigated my patience and made a Tedium of my life But now the time was come wherein my unlucky hand freed my self of these miseries but involv'd my self in far worser dolors one day which was very inauspicate Massanissa being with me in a garden adjacent to our house upon some small differnce between us about Casting of our darts stroke me a box on the eare adding some Stimulating speeches which provokement bannisht all former fear and naturall Love filling me with wrath and disdaine My passion blinding my reason gave me no liberty to thinke into what precipices I slung my self but drawing my sword I shew'd him it was impossible for me any longer to take his affronts Massanissa not declineing this unnaturall combate opposed me with his sword and expressed a desire to end all quarrels with a duell We both prosecuted this fight with strange fury no hatred being so strong as that between brothers yet had I had ever so little respite my reason would have overcome my passion but this duell was soon Consummated for at the third thrust I passed my sword thorow his body tumbling him dead at my feet Then and not till then did I consider what I had perpetrated Remorse straight ways seized upon me and Repentence converted my eyes before dry'd with anger and flaming with wrath into standing pooles which overflowing discharg'd themselves into Rivers of tears all the faculties of my soul were now turn'd into grief all ceasing their operations to give this the more scope At last seeking to revive him with the eyes of pity I cast my self upon him mingling teares of repentence with his crimson blood and washing his wounds with those distillations addressing vaine implorations for forgivenesse whilst he expir'd in my armes When I saw that he had yeilded to fate new considerations unlockt new springs till the excesse of grief had froze those currents to my cheekes and had as it were converted me into a marble statue wherein was neither life nor motion In this posture my father and my brother Marcipsius coming Casually into the garden found me and seeing me at a distance with one lying by me approperated as to behold some novelty but appropinquating they soon beheld that sad spectacle So sudden and unexpected an in counter put them into an astonishment and takeing away the faculty of Speech left them no power but by their eyes to demand the cause of his death My Conscience interpreting the dum language of their eyes I cast my self at the feet of my father and with out excuses punctually and truely related what had hapned betwixt us Marcipsius not more sorry for the death Massanissa than glad that I had slaine him that the wrath of my father might immolate me to the Ghost of my brother stimulated him to excecute his resentments immediately upon me who provoked equally with his words and passion devaginated his sword to have slain me But I startled to see death appear in the hand of him who gave me life consented to the present motion of my spirits and fled the furie of his wrathfull hand Wrath invigorating his ancient limbs made him follow me with nimble strides but yet my velocity left him behinde some paces and fear made me too nimble for winged death who carrying me into the armes of my mother made her prove the Coale of Life For meeting her at the entrance into the house I cast my self at her feet As you have been the author of my being said I so now it is you only can preserve it but that I cannot begge seeing I have been the distruction of anothers in whom you had a maternal interest suffer me only to disburden my Life at your feet the approach of my father stifled the rest of my wordes my mother agast at this incounter could not reply but trembling in this astonishment she stood till the exceeding love she bore me excited her for my safety assoon as she saw at whom the wrath of my father extended Casting her self therefore at his feet she so strictly embraced his knees that she stopt his further pursute and overcame his strugling with her strickt embraces mingling her tears with plaintive words and those with such overcoming gestures that she stifled his fury and made him withhold his eger revenge to give her an account of what had hapned biding her not to retard that Justice he ought to inflict upon a murtherer Her tears stopped her words for some time both in consideration of Massanissa's losse and my danger but at last to appease his wrath still embraceing him on her knees she sought to mitigate him with implorative words to this effect Ah sad disaster Ah double misserie wherein the blood of one Son must be the oblation for the blood of another Ah! thinke you not my miserie great enough to lose one Son but that I must see another also fall by the hand of his own father Let my teares conjure you to consider first the action before you perpetrate any thing in your wrath for that cannot be done in justice which is ballanc'd by passion for if you do it now it is not so much for satisfaction of the Gods as of your self and passion and not so much in consideration of Justice as for to fulfill the effects of your wrath I will not in the least excuse his wicked perpetration for I cannot have lesse interest in the death of Massanissa than your self but yet in punishing Lonoxia by death we shall augment our evil by a double losse besides I find too much imbicility to withstand another surcharge which this unnatural slaughter will inevitably bring upon me it will be impossible but that I shall make one in the Tragedy therefore at least spare him his life and execute Justice by some way lesse severe rather banish him and disowne him for your son than he being a son should be slain by the hand of a father in which you will shew some mercy as a father and yet not fail of the duty of a Judge These and many other perswasions her motherly affection emitted to save my life which could not but overcome the heart of my father had it been much harder her words being accompanied with showers of teares and her sighs seeming stops in the dolefull harmony of her words and her actions harmonizeing with her plaintive voyce alltogether sent forceable penetrations to the soul of Marcipsius who ever bearing great love to my mother could not entertaine them without the exaction of some teares But yet to be just though he consented to spare me my Life he commanded that I should immediately leave that Country and see him no more least my fight should instigate him to that which through the perswasions of my mother he had omitted This was greif enough to my mother and gave anxieties not to be known but by such who have had the like affection and
felicity and that the Gods themselves had a finger in my prosperities True indeed I receiv'd so great happinesse and content in the pleasing conversation of Atalanta that I blest the time though not the occasion that I left my fathers house whose terrible remembrances were now swallow'd up in my blessed felicities In a little time the habit and gestures which I had assimulated were grown so naturall and habituall as if I had accompanied them from my Infancie so that I had no fear of discovering my selfe by any inassuety Think not but Shame sometime set before me my muliebrity and upbraided me with meanness of spirit in leaving my more noble for so ignoble condition and in accommodateing my self to so great imbecillitie And in representing the future I found so many difficulties and unlikelynesses of effecting what I desired that sometimes I began to repent my designes I fear'd I should instead of her love acquire her hatred when that she should know how greatly I had deceived and abus'd her And to think of living allways in that condition without discovering my self would have given adaequate pain to my pleasures and have rackt me between two contraries But all objections both of honour and danger fled at her presence and then I found it as possible to think of leaving my condition as to transforme my self in verity into the sex I had assimulated so great was the pleasure I receiv'd in her company and so great was the power of affectionate Love to hold me I remain'd seven weeks in this Sardanapalean condition my flames still encreasing with my pleasures in which time Atalanta exhibited so perfect a friendship that it was impossible in the condition I was in to desire more To unite our amity in the greatest nearness she would have had me lain with her but fearing to be overcome with so great temptation I was allmost incivill to deny her But by her imposition we call'd one another sisters and seldom but when we rested were one minute out of the fight of each other Sometimes though in the midst of these pleasures I should evaporate sighs and in spight of all my delights the charctars of sadnesse would be wrot upon my face which proceeded from the suppression of my flames Atalanta taking them to be the reflections of my former distresses would apply such pleasing comforts and adapt such endeared expressions that I could not but find solace in them though the cause was far from that she suppos'd So that at the same time she was both the object of my sighs and Joy Although that extreamly courteous one sought to dispell my sadnesse with her dear expressions and actions and to administer all the solace she was able yet I perceiv'd that her heart was full of mestitude and that her dolor no ways decreased She had not as yet communicated the cause of it to me and I perceiv'd she did not desire I should take notice of it so that I would not exhibit my curiosity by asking it Besides I fear'd least in knowing it I should find my own ruin and that Love preoccupied her mind and was the cause of those troubles which best corresponded with that which I had secretly heard from her own mouth But that I might allevate Atalanta I exhibited a greater alacrity than the consideration of my pensive thoughts would willingly have admitted I sought all divertisements and made it my sole pragma to administer solace by diverse recreations Some times I would endeavour to divert her minde by the relation of divers stories and accidents some fabulated and some true and by many discourses on severall Subjects Sometimes again I sought to make her find some refreshment in the delicate viridias of the gardens and pleasing places of the groves and sometimes again I would exercise her in running in the Hypaethryums and paradromes of the house and when the imbrick Auster irrigated the ground in the Xystus And when the calmness of the evening gave leave we made use of her wonted solace upon the Tagus where my self often times us'd the oare for her transportation and I never visited the walke where in I first saw her without a benediction on the place She was naturally very nimble and she allways would be very well pleas'd with any exercise I would challeng'd her to wherein most times we did not exhibit our utmost industry or strength out of a desire to make our adversary conqueror One day having challeng'd her to run a race for some small jewel or other to such innocent sports had love made me to condescend I let her win the prize by a voluntary retardation But that cursory motion had dyed the cheeks of Atalanta of such a scarlet hew which rendred her so lovely that I could not but cry within my self Ah! murtherous Atalanta Schaeneis wounded only the Calydonian bore and used her shafts against the ferocious beasts but you insensibly wound my heart with inumerable shafts which proced from those lovely eyes whose sharpe Cuspides hath split the stony rock of my heart and given issue to whole streams of Love But coming up to her Atalanta said I facetiously you inherit as well the nature as the name of the Schâ—nean maid yet I hope you will not prove so rigerous to the vanquished but were I a man I should despise all danger to adventure for such a prize though I think that he must obtain the same gift of Venus which heretofore she bestow'd on Neptun's nephew who must overcome you You are very pleasant sister reply'd she smiling but I may thank your voluntary tardity that I am victoresse In many such innocently loveing striveings we sought to give each other victory glorying more in looseing than in winning And indeed I could not find greater content in the world than in the sight and content of Atalanta whom I had made the sole object of desires and sole businesse to serve If she was content I thought my self happy and if I saw serenity in her face from the clouds of Sorrow I received more Joy than if half the world had been given me to possesse Atalanta's governesse seeing the Love and care I bore to her and that I made it my whole businesse to divertize her perceiving also that Atalanta bore me a great deal of Love remitted her wholy to me finding a great easment of that burden which I had so willingly taken upon me so that I was very often alone with her and had opportunity enough to discover my self had not a timerous respect continually banisht those Cogitations and represented her just anger more terrible then death so that I was forc'd to smother those thoughts and content my self with the felicities I enjoy'd But whilst my resurging flames were suffocated with a continual depression they were as much sufflated by a continual presence which gave me an intollerable inustion made me do things almost enough to have discovered my passion had they not been so extreamly blinded by
proving too weak to strive with the violence of that impetuous storm they committed it to the mercy of the winds and water and prepared themselves to receive an inevitable death Morning appearing but the storme not ceasing we still rode upon the dangerous waves till at last our barque shattered with the continuall batteries both of Boreas and Neptune gave entrance to that aquatick enemy into its very bowells and running a leak presantly was fill'd with water Every one sought to save himself but there was no meanes to escape perishing some cut the tackle others the masts others cast themselves before hand into the sea at last the ship sanke at which so horrible and lamentable a cry proceeded from those deplorable wretches that I thought it would have relented the Gods of their Cruelty to have sav'd them miraculously The child being laid in the chest which admitted no water was tossed upon the waves and caried out of my sight in a moment The desire I had to see Atalanta made me endeavour to save my life which I cid by gaining the mast of the Ship on which I sat and beheld the rest perish in the sea without being able to afford them help I was driven for Some howers by the waves which many times had allmost made me forgo my hold with their violences and playing with my looser garment had put me to much trouble to keep steady on that dancing pole when at last by the favour of the Gods I was espied by a vessel which yet tryumph'd o're the storme which at that time slackning its violence gave them the liberty of saving me The vessell was bound for Spain so that they were easily induc'd to land me at Olisippo for the rewards I profer'd them all the jewells and things of worth that were about me I bestow'd on them The pilot being very skillfull in his art set me ashore in the Haven of Olissippo in spite of the raging waters I presently repaired to Atalanta's Ile and being admitted I was made acquainted that she had not many minutes to live The greif that then afflicted me its impossible to relate I ran to her bed side and like one distacted ask'd her many foolish and impertinent questions as why she for sake us and why she should not endure any companies in this world and why she would not overcome her grief and sorrow The old lady with her chiefest maids weeping by her made a very sad and dolefull spectacle but she glad that she was departing from this world wherein she had received so much sorrow and greif lay smiling at the frowns of death and embrac'd him with a chearfull countenance Assoon as she saw me she invited me with her dying eyes to draw near in the mean time those that stood by her bed side seeing she desired privacy withdrew a little She first ask'd me concerning the child whose misfortunes I hid from her lest the knowledg of that might have shortned those few moments she had to live I told her that it was safly provided for and that she should not fear but that I would imploy the remainder of my dayes in fullfilling her desire This is all then said she besides what allready I have told you that you let Marcipsius know he was the cause of my death and if he publisheth my dishonour I hope though he be your brother that you will desend me One thing yet grievs me and that is that I must part with Sabane her teares and weaknesse stopp'd her here and I with the excesse of passion could not answer her one word but kneeling down I gave her an assurance by my eyes that I would effect what ever she commanded my teares shew'd her with what resentment I beheld her dyeing and the greatnesse of my grief clearly deprived me of my senses At that time arrived Atalanta's father whom they had sent for and coming where his daughter lay he shewed his love was excessive for beholding her ready to expire he fell by her side and had almost deceived all their hopes of ever fetching him again but at last coming to himself he embraced the dying Atalanta who had the content to expire in his armes When they saw she was dead then began a heavy ejulation all seeking to express their passion by their several gestures and actions The old man toâ—e his hair and beard and calling aloud on his daughter seemed as if he would have made his voice pierce to the centre of the earth and revoked the absent spirit of his daughter every one was copartner with him in his grief so that 't was difficult to know who were most interested in her death A heart of slint must have melted at those lamentâ—ble mournings and bewaisings and it was not a few houres that gave them respite in their passion I had got on the further side of her bed and placeing my self hard by her dead caâ—casse I fell on her pillow with the extremity of my passion and there lay so senslesse that it was hard to judge who was deadest But after a long time my senses returning to exercise their functions I cast my eyes obscured with teares on that face which triumphing over death carried yet weapons enough to have captivated the stoutest hearts The conquering lillies began now to overcome the roses in her cheeks and they as it were yeilding to the hand of fate sunke their blushing heads under the snow of her cheeks which gave a kind of a dying tincture to the white There was nothing to be seen of death but want of heat and motion and had you but seen her you would have said that it was the fairest of the graces that in the kingdome of Morpheus was taking her sweeter repose My griefe permitted me not to read to my self lectures of mortality but by stimulating considerations put me into motions of sury Oh! how often I secretly curst that cruell brother how often I vowed her revenge and how often resolved I to sarcrifice the Life of Marcipsius on the altar of vengance 't was these resolutions that kept me from following that faire one to the Elisian shades and ty'd me to endure those sorrows by living which I was necessitated to undergo since she was dead But the old Lady having fâ—r different considerations fearing as 't was suppos'd the indignation of the Prince since she was the seeming cause that his daughter was remov'd thither where she dyed retiring into a closset pierc'd her ancient breast with a ponyard and so emitted her soule to follow Atalanta's Atalanta's maide with some others whose others whose love to her had transported them had effected the same emission of life had they not bâ—en hindred by others so that the opinion of the Indians seem'd to possesse them that souls want the service of others in the other world and that they out of a sence of love and duty would follow Atalanta to the Elisium When that they had tyred but not satisfied themselves with weeping
or Love proceeding from similitude of qualities or manners or of morall love generall or particular to men or naturall to children or parents all whose causes are indifferent and besides that passion on which I insist and which cannot be without diversity of sex as the other may But the cause of this as generally the chiefe cause of all love is an attractive power which causeth an expansion or emotion of the soule and spirits to an object which she thinks convenient for her and which must be a conception of need or want of the object Now privation it selfe is evill and love being privation and want of an object is therefore evill for the effect of it beeing desire seeks the possession of that object and so makes the love circular to attract that to the soule which she seemes to want Now if we then wanted nothing we should not desire any thing which shewes we are not compleat in our selves and desire being the exhibition of want and the effect of love shews that the foundation it self is evill for that it is grounded on want Then besides if you look upon the outward cause of attraction whether it be beauty or any other exterior quality of the object beloved and the possession of it desired which is alwayes suffulted with hope the very causes themselves being vanity or not worthy objects for the soules egression to or opperation upon that desire and that love cannot be good the causes themselves being not absolutely good but vain and transitory But this by the way the chief thing I proposed was to insist on the effects of this passion which plainly exhibit the evils of it and out of which as from the fountains head all other evill passions have sprung This also we may consider in relation to the body and to the soule First consider this in relation to the body and that must be relatively and as it is joyned with other passions whose motions cause the diversity of motions in the body Through this the body which is as it were the case of the soul is imbued through the conjunction of the soule with the body with pain with languishing with restlesseness and all the senss feel the effects of this passion upon the soul by exposing the body to danger by wounds by torments and oft times by death all which happen through the exuscitation of other passions Now the soule suffers innumerable evills for first all passions as griefe hatred envie wrath malice revenge disdain and divers other particular passions which spring from this love all which falling upon the body agitate it to diversity of motions and without rest causes the soule to a continuall solicitous care of obtaining the object of its desires which if once hope faile then dispair the foretunner of mischiefe carries the soule into wonderful precipitancies and if in its best estate that hope continues it is never without fear jealousie and a soâ—icitrous care of conserving the object of its love so that the soul is under a continuall agitation by those paâ—sions that necessarily accompany love and so cannot enjoy the rest it ought to have But now to leave this kind of Philosphicall discourse let us speake of it morally and let us consider the evill effects it hath produced in the world and then we will define it thus Love is a most fatall plague a most venemous poyson a most ardent and foolish desire and the source and fountaine of all evill Men when once they are entred into this passion quite lose their former natures for this passion contaminates their reaâ—on tyranizeth over their wills makes them subject to the egregious fancies of the object they seek to acquire it deprives them of Jugdment â—â—ills them with all manner of passions which caries them into aâ—l mannâ—â— of preciptation their minds are continually tost to and fro on the wheel of love being stimulated with that Oestrum they are jacted câ—â—â—â—ted agitated versated by this passion and fill'd with exanimation distinction direption and accompanyed with cares feares jealousies false and faint comforts disquiets languishings longings rage and what not that is evill and all but for the acquiring of a little vain pleasure which vanisheth assoon as 't is caught And besides all these folly lust sinne doings turbulent motions and precipitancies wait on lovers And if we should go about to summe up the bad consequences and effects of this passion with the evils it hath caused we should find them innumerable for what disturbances what commotions what hurly burlies what distractions what battalls what slaughtars hath it caused and what rapes what sinnes what polutions what sueds and what murthers hath it committed was it not the cause of the distruction of ancient Troy was it not the cause of the banishing Kings out of Rome Was it not the cause of the abolishing the Decemveri hath it not been the cause of many murders was it not the cause of the wicked and inhumane slaughter of Absyrtus the brother of Medea was it not the losse of Megara when Nisus lost his fatal hair by his daughter Scylla Alas it would be endlesse to recount these things so well known and generall hated and yet this dispicable unprofitable and dangerous passion cannot be shunned but embraced by those who acknowledge the evills of it but yet wilfully maintaine its interests They cannot take example by others nor shun the precipicies they see others fall into before their eyes but that they also must rush into them Neither can I see any good at all that this passion doth produce but on the contrary those that are free from it enjoy all the quiets felicity ease pleasures and freedome which the other are incapable of and which is most miserable of all of free men and unconstrained they become slaves subjects and bound to obey the motions of their owne passion and will of an inconsiderate mistris who it may be is as dispicable in the unblinded eye of another as she is lovely in his Nor let it serve any to excuse it by saying they are forced and cannot decusse it for it is impossible for all men to mastre this passion if they resolve to set their wills to doe it but so long as they account it good and best for them they are not able to overcome it because they doe not seek it truly but cherish and obey every motion that cometh from it But if they were once convinced of the evill of this passion and were resolved to forsake it I make no question of the possibility of their effecting it There may be divers wayes proposed for the decussion or prevention of this evill the chief of which as I suppose is a constant imployment of the mind either in study or armes whereby it may have no time to fall into that which as they say is accquired by a supine and idle life fit to entertaine such a guest and justly sent as a plague from the Gods to such a soule Other
become plyant gentle meek humble indues such as enter its school with loquacity elegant speech quickens their obtuse understandings makes the ignorant to become wonderfull learned by infusion fills the mouth of the rustick with complements causes rare and exquisit inventions helps to wisdome makes the soldier magnanimous the coward valiant the timorous fearlesse furthereth great archivements it also excites bounty liberality patience and fortitude and what indeed cannot the force virtue and power of love doe for it oft times so transports nature that it makes her capable of effecting things that seem impossible and puts such vigor that it will adventure on any difficulties It despiseth all dangers nay seeks to acquire them out of a hight of generosity to free the object beloved It overcomes death not with a foolish precipitancie but out of a setled resolution and joy for the object it delighteth in And though in the way to the end there be many vexations and troubles yet the enjoyment is thereby made more sweet and strengthned the more by it and recompences all troubles with it's deliciousnesse Now to what you alledge concerning the effects of it in the world how wicked and abominable they have been I will grant you that it hath effected more evill than good but this ariseth from the evill and poysenous nature of men and must not be laid upon the passion and though I grant what you inferre concerning its exorbitancy you erre much to think this passion effects nothing good and though I cannot cite so many and notorious examples as you may for the other yet I know there are those worthy of notation and recoâ—dation And againe as it hath been the occasion of much strife so it hath been the cause of much concord amity peace and quietude And is it not the greatest ligament in the world to concord when it joynes either sex in the bands of Hymen unites Kings states Lords and private men who are enemies and opposers of each other and causes them to become friends and in amity Is it not the chiefe effectriss of life when it attains the object of its desire We should never be regular in our lusts if we were not in the bonds of Love for that hinders the fancy from flying to diversity and causes an immoration on an object which it counts worthy of its emotions so that it is the conserver and not the destroyer of government and good order But to conclude I say the only thing to reconcile us is to put that just difference between the passion simply from whence all the good proceedes and the exorbitancy of it whence all the evill proceeds For in a pure soul it is like water in a Christall glass but in a polluted contaminated soul it is like clear water put into a polluted vessel whereby it becomes naught and good for nothing And though I have said it is a thing impossible to love without desire of attaining and enjoying yet in some it is made not the proposed end and doth not altogether partake of that brutality of lust but is of a purer nature not desireing the use of the object but to become one with it to be incorporated with it and not to take any thing from it but to immerge it self in it and very like the true love of friendship wherein is exercised all virtue and where love is of a more celestiall nature though that be not without desire of the good and of the welfare and continual presence of the object and this love to a different sex may participate much of that of friendship though it rarely is so perfect because we desire something to our selves But lastly to the close of your discourse I am not clearly of that opinion which you inferre that this passion may be shun'd or discussed by labour and industry by all I grant that we may become masters of it and regulate it to our wills and that time may slaken it or take it clean away in some the mind exerciseing its functions and in difuseing our love on more generall objects whereby it may be recalled from intention by expansion and I believe that it may be long prevented by meanes but that it may be decussed at pleasure or that we may so prepare our selves as not to be agitated by it I cannot grant For it is so suddenly caused that we have not time to fore-arme our selves for sometimes an exquisite beauty or other object wherein we are surpriz'd with admiration which causes desire which accompanied with hope gaines a possession suddenly sometimes it insensibly slides into the heart when through long conversation with an object natures sympathizing through a similitude of qualities it is fixed in the breast which innate Love growing to maturity and furthered by desire is hard to shake off and almost impossible And as you proposed means for the shaking off of this passion so I say those that are imbued with it though they may not have the power to decusse it yet they may have this power which the Gods in justice leaves them not so absolutely to give over their wills to another as to be ruled by their own passion for we may do the same thing in error and in judgment and it shall be evil in the one and not in the other though it be not evill in the act but in the manner for if we commit any indifferent thing by the guidance of our passion only without the examination of the understanding and ordination of the will it is evil But when we do the same thing out of a clear Judgment that it ought to be so and will it to be so then we do it not out of passion but out of Judgment so that the passion quickens the understanding when it gives it leave to work and leads to precipitancy through obcaecation when it is guided by its own temerity Therefore they must look to all exorbitant motions whatsomever to the regulation of their desires and to the freedom of their will though they have passion for their mistresses and then their virtues will be exercised their graces will be exhibited and their end will be glory Argelois thus ended and Euripides smiling I did not beleive said he you had been so strong in arguments for your passion I thought you could better have deffended it with your sword then by reason but I see there is nothing wanting to your compleatment I will no more differ with you and if it be possible I 'le make my self believe you however I will injure you no longer by keeping you from a happinesse you so much esteem but let me desire you to make my grote happy by your visits so long as you reside so near me for other obligations I remit my self into the armes of your generosity Argelois replyed with his wonted grace and sweetnesse and promising him to visit him as often as his passion and opportunity would give leave they parted Euripides returning to his grot
Argelois said Dardanus since it is so contrary to you yet give me leave to admire the greatnesse of that soule that can deny a happinesse with so much generosity Such like discourses had these two perfect friends when occasion gave leave Panthea in the mean time suffered all those torments incedent to despareing lovers which were the more augmented by that engagement that lay upon her to hide her from the eyes of Eliana and by suppressing those ordinary allevaments of a love sick heart least her aboundance should discover her weaknesse All the comfort that she had was but to encrease her ardences with beholding that face which was the cause of her misseries which dayly grew pale under the smoak of its owne fires Love had made a kind of contrary mixture in these souls and bestowed shafts of a contrary opperation in their vulneration Panthea sought all occasions of acosting Argelois and he all means to avoid her speeches which he effected so cunningly that she could never have the liberty she desired The complaints she made to her brother were very bitter and deplorable but the love of friendship was too strong to be shaken by that of affection so that she gained little comfort from either which when she saw she was faine to continue the martyr of Love and silently endure those torments which had almost finished the life of that faire and lovely creature the lustre of whose beauty came little behinde that of the incomparable Eliana Argelois not only avoided with all dilligence the company of the princesse Panthea but even that of Dardanus began to be disgracefull to him which made him seek out new places of retirement in the woods where he often made deplorable speeches amongst the Driades and thought to quench the fire in his heart by the waters of his eyes some few weeks passed over in which time the excesse of torment he continually without any intermission endured had so dejected him that he was hardly to be known That fair face in which majesty and lovelinesse strove for Mastership was become wholy the seat of palenesse Those eyes who vivacitly enkindled ardors in the hearts of beholders seem'd to have left all their fires and were become dead and without motion He seemed to be but the shaddow of what he had been or as if sicknesse had enchained him to his bed many moneths There is nothing can alter the body like the extream passions of the soul and their is no passion so terrible as that of love and almost impossible it is not to discover it in the face for by how much the more secreetly it burnes by so much the more furiously it flames These fires had so long inusted the heart of this noble Heroe and so secreetly that now he began to sink under its power and to yield his life to dispair Panthea whose love interested her in his looks found there also augmentations of her troubles but all that palenesse could not hide from her eyes that lovelinesse which was wont to exhibit it self she at least fancied she saw it through the cloudes the eyes of love being more piercing than any others or else she fed her fires with those ashes that she saw strew'd on the face of Argelois She daily solicited her brother to his comfort who accused her for being the cause of his miseries 'T is nothing but because of your passion said Dardanus he is so sensible of your trouble but being too generous he thinks he cannot satisfie you without debaseing you below that quality which you were born to that he does pennance for the injury of his looks doe you leave to love him and he will leave these sadnesses Ah! cruell fair cry'd Panthea cannot you be only insensibly but envious too is your disdain so of great that you will force me not to love by such severe meanes Tell him ah tell him that he shall have the comfort to see me die to rid him of that trouble to which his disdain praecipitates him Let him no more trouble himself Panthea will tryumph over all her misfortunes and with a second thrill free that heart love hath allready peirced Dardanus much troubled at his sisters transport It is his pity said he that afflicts him his heart is not capeable of that evil you accuse him of Torment not your self except you desire to drive him to a further despaire Panthea at leasure thought on these words and when she was by her self can I beleive this said she ah false brother to inject it alas can Argelois be so pitifull and cruell in one instant Can contraries mix in one body Ah! how happy should I be if this were true if that insensible one should leave to be impassible and should alitle resent my miseries and pity my afflictions though he never intends to fullfill my desires Ah! strange generosity that can withhold one from enjoying a happinesse desired ah vaine thought foolish Panthea canst thou believe it no no 't is too fond and foolish a vanity to thinke it These thoughts agitated this faire soul some time and made her in a silent kind of stupor walke a great while about her chamber At last as it were awakeing out of a dreame wherein some strange thing had betided she stopt with a sudden scriech ah straing injection cry'd she out and then stop't Some moments after Ah! blinde eyes cry'd she ah foolish and insulse Panthea where hath been thy senses Where hath been thy witts how was it possible that thou couldst be so foolishly blind all this time do'st thou doubt it no no call to thy remembrance all his actions pass'd and you will see it as clear as the day Doubt no longer 't is Eliana that he sighs for 't is she that hath brought him to this passe Thy beauty is not so despicable but he would have accounted himself happy to enjoy what thou proferest without those vaine considerations were not his heart allready conjoyned to Eliana Ah! cruel Eliana to rob me of a heart that thou hast no passion for and which thou art not like to enjoy What say I alas can she behold that fair one that wonder of nature that mirror of men and not behold him with passion doubt it not though she hath that power to conceile it Well heaven hath so ordained it thou must dye and Eliana must enjoy that thou art not accounted worthy of These thoughts extremly added to her torments and cast her into utter despair for whilst she thought him free she had some hopes to have mollified his obdurate heart but these thoughts lost all her hopes She confirm'd her self in her opinion by denoteing the actions of Argelois Jelousy open'd her eyes and made her see what she had taken no notise of before she observ'd his looks his cariage and his speeches before Eliana she took notise of his sighes and by all gestures words and signes she gathered somthing to confirm her opinion and admir'd with her self that she
impossible to let you know the palpitations of his heart at that time but Madam said he trembling I know not what it is you call passion but I rather think 't is some growing disease not ordinarily known for if I dare say so I find in the midst of these sadnesses a strange kind of pleasure which yet is afflictive and yet desired So that I cherish my disease and wish for no remedy for what appears so grievous in the eyes of others 'T is very strange reply'd Eliana that you should Love that which is your torment 'T is the part of a resigned soul answered Argelois to be content with what the Gods shall send if their hand hath afflicted me with this strange sicknesse I ought to accept of it as their gift knowing it proceeds from the powerfull hand of an uncontrouling deity The Gods seeme unjust reply'd Eliana to punish so severely the virteous and to let the most vicious go untouched We are not said Argelois to prescribe a way to heaven or to tell him who they are that ought to be punished for we are not able to peirce into the sins of men which are perceivable only to the penetrating eyes of Heaven He that seems most holy in the eyes of men may be most vicious in those of Heaven You know not Madam what I have deserved Truly my aspiring mind in that it hath given me audaciry above those of my quallity to so glorious a converse with your self hath deserved these thunders of dejection Virtue cannot sore to high return'd Eliana and it is but a vanity that possesses rhe great ones of the world to consider great births more than virtue for true honour proceads from virtue and is regulated by it therefore the Gods cannot do so great injustice as to punish you for making others happy by your company I rather thinke it is the meannesse of our deserts that make the Gods to interrupt the felicities we received by your conversation Men cannot be more pitifull than the Gods and I pity your dejection with all my heart That is enough said Argelois to make me happy and to establish me in my pristine condition for your pity is restorative Dardanus coming to them put an end to their discourse but Argelois finding the virtue of her speeches to operat much upon his soul and to relax the continual agitations of his thoughts he often engaged into the like discourse but with a great diligence lest he might discover the cause of his sadnesse and Melancholy Whilst he enjoyed that happiness of conversing with Eliana her words still prov'd a Nepenthe to his soul and gave some relaxation to that sadness that peâ—petually afflicted him But it lasted so short a time that 't was scarce perceiveable and no sooner had he left that Sun but his heart was contracted by the cruel frost of dispair which ushered in those killing thoughts that were most commonly his Companions and which very often had like to have precipitated him to death Dardanus seeing he strove in vain to perswade him out of that mestitude or to gain the knowledge of it from him resolv'd to satisfie his desire being his intent was only for the good of his friend by a secret auscultation of his miseries He often perceiv'd that he stole out to secret places of the woods where he believ'd he play'd the usual part of afflicted people who not having to whom they may commit their secrets blab them to the senseless trees or dumb animals whereby they find some ease but no remedy for their complaints Dardanus watch'd him one day and following him unseen to the wood crope near to the place where he lay amongst the thickest of the bows which intexed their leavy arms in one another and sheltred him from his sight sufficiently It was a long time before a world of ingeminated suspirations would give him leave to speak but at last casting his eyes up to heaven having laid himself upon an oblique bank he began to disburthen those oppressing thoughts by most pitifull complaints O Heaven said He with a pitifull tone will you force me to be my own executioner Will you not yet give leave to Atropos to conclude my destiny and free me from misery It is an act of your mercy to take away a life so unsupportable I beg not to be eas'd of my grief any other wayes than by death since it cannot be but by wronging the best of friends But what say I Do I ask for that death as will be so prejudicial to Dardanus since he loves me No let me live only for his sake O Gods ye are just and 't is sit that I endure these torments for the crimes I commit Ah! dear Dardanus Can you ah can you forgive me the crimes that I dayly commit against you in loving that beauty which is ordained by heaven for you and which is too divine for any other mortal than your self Yes Dardanus that shall be the last thing I will request when I leave this Love consumed carcase and I doubt not but thy goodness will forgive thy Argelois a crime which is forced upon him by the uncontrouling power of love who though he hath made me to love Eliana shall never cause me to injure thee by a thought of obtaining her were my birth answerable to her greatness No Dardanus dear Dardanus I hold that tye of friendship too dear to be broken for all the content of the whole world My life shall be sacrificed to maintain it and it shall be kept inviolable though for it I expire After some time of silence breaking forth with another tone Ah damnable thoughts cryed he what evil Daemon is this that gives these injections that tells me Love considers no friendship that for the consideration of Love we may lawfully break that tye That Rivals in love are unsupportable though friends or brothers That I ought to account him my enemy that is so to my desires and content That I ought to afflict my self when I may take the obstacle out of the way by a noble Combate which will be allowable in a rival O wicked cruel and deadly susurrations avoid all evil thoughts and know that 't is my self that is rival to my self It is Dardanus it is no other that is my rival were it any besides him he could not have lived so long to my torment though I had reaped nothing by his death Love must be satisfied and Rivals must share the prize by their deaths But 't is Dardanus to whom I ow more lives than one and 't is a great comfort to me ah my dear Dardanus that t is for thy sake I endure this torment Yea were it far greater which is impossible it should not be murmured at by Argelois but borne with patience as the most glorious tryall of my ftiendship After some little time of pausing and sighing Ah! more pleasing thoughts said he but yet unjust and unrighteous and that do not throughly consider
the nature of friendship You 'd have me to make my love known to Dardanus you perswade me he will pity me you tell me it is possible he may seek to content me and to leave his interest for me nay seek to gain Eliana to me You mind me that he beggs to know the cause of my saddnesse and that I do ill to deny it him and that it makes him suspect my love you tell me it will ease my miseries and put an end to my trouble Ah! pleasing thoughts true indeed I doubt not of generoâ—â—ty and excesse of friendship all this may be But must I be so selfish to rob my friend of that which is so much estemeed by my self No it is contrary to the nature of friendship to covet that for my self which will be a loss to my fâ—iend No no friends lay down their lives willingly for one another and how easie could I sacrifice many if I had them for to save thine Dardanus but this is far greater to endure a living and continuall death and to deny my self of what I love with so much passion this is the highest act of friendship and didst thou know it Dardanus thy self wouldst say so Yea Dardanus I can be content to deny my self and to see the fair Eliana thine without repining thou alone dost deserve her I will continue my abnegation and persevere in it till I am utterly consummated by my silence No Dardanus were I sure thou wouldest satisfie me and give me what I can wish and what alone will make me happy I mean the possession of Eliana I would not discover it to thee No no 't is far better that Argelois shold dye than that Dardanus should be deprive'd of that happinesse of enjoyning Eliana It is better for to let thee suspect my friendship than to discover this to thy hurt for 't is thy generosity that I fear and thy Love lest it should make thee consider me more than thy self How soon shouldst thou know it were I sure thou wouldst put a period to my life with thy ponyard for the wrong I do thee and for my audacity in loving Eliana How willingly should I receive it from thy hand and how glorious should my death be No no thou wilt be apt to pardon such a wretch as I therefore thou shalt not know my passion 'till death hath seal'd up these eyes nor then neither but to clear my self of the suspition of breach of frindship But ah misserable wretch cryed he out more vehemenâ—ly and looking discontentedly upon himself what unpardonable crimes hast thou committed and dost dayly commit against that divine princesse in whom is seated something more than mortall in takeing her name into thy mouth Oh unpardonable and deserving the worst of torments that thou who art ignobly and it may be spuriously borne thou that knowest not thy self and only raiz'd by the excesse of love in Dardanus that thou shouldest dare to offer to raise thy thoughts and so audaciously sublimely love a Princesse the fairest and divinest of princesses oh horrible thou deservest not one moment of life for sinning against Eliana and abuseing the goodnesse of Dardanus After the sending forth a few sighs and teares Ah divine Eliana went he on pardon me ah pardon me I confesse I love but 't is impossible for me to contradict a power so unconquerable Ah I do but conserve those flames in my heart that took their origenall from your eyes I preserve flamâ—s presumptious ones I confesse yet are they pure and châ—st flames and those that make me but adore you as a deity too good to be poluted by our defiling thoughts I confesse my self punishable in the hiâ— heâ—â— deâ—reâ— but yet am I unable to helpe my crimes I am forc'd to sin against you but pardon me ah divine Eliana that shall be one of the last requests I will make Dardanus that he gain your pardon after my death and that you may at last confesse though I was presumptuous and incomperably bold yet withall that I was conscious of my duty in repressing those flames that consum'd me with so much impetuosity and also that I knew that none was worthy of the incomperable Eliana but the matchlesse Dardanus Dardanus who heard this generous and pitifull complaint was oppressed with extreme agitations in his mind Fancy and friendship struggled for the victory and love and desire equally oppos'd each other it was sometime before he could overcome his resentments but at lâ—st that noble and invincible mind to whom both love and generosity were inseparable gave the palme of victory to his friendship and resolv'd to do an act worthy of so Heroic a soul What said he to himselfe after long strugling wilt thou have thy Argelois overcome thee in all things dost not thou hear his immense generosity ah true friend and wilt thou love lesse or lesse generously than he But greater considerations ought to move you than these 't is the love and life of Argelois How often have you said that the beauties nor other considerations of the whole world could be able to rob him of one graine of the love you bear him and shall the love of your self now stand in competition with it shall he dye for you by denying himself and cannot you foregoe that princesse for whom you have no passion to save his life dear Argelois I have commited a crime by expostulating so long that cannot be clear'd but by gaining thee the object of thy passion and full fruition of thy desires 'T is done Argelois be content thou art mine more than all the world and thy interests shall disengage my own And what hitherto I have sought for my selfe I will seek to acquire for thee Whil'st he was in these silent disputations Argelois had renewed his complaints ah heavens said he in what perplexities am I brought I am not able to endure the torments of life and yet I dare not wish my ease by the stroake of death love forbids me to live and love forbids me to dye At these words Dardanus not able to forbear longer ' rose from in the place where he was hid which action causing a rusling amongst the bowes so near to Argelois put him besides his complaints and made him forsake the earth and cast himselfe upon his feet to see what it was Dardanus rushing suddenly from among those close woven trees cast himselfe upon the neck of Argelois No Argelois shall not die said he but shall enjoy what he so passionatly desires Dardanus loves him too well to see him expire when 't is in his power to help it Argelois shew'd by his countenance how amazed and angry he was at this accident for not able to utter one word he cast his eyes about as if he would accuse the trees the birds and the heavens for contributing to this discovery or for having some intelligence with Dardanus I know not how many changes in his countenance were seen in a moment
to hide but presently smothering that word Ah! dear brother said she casting her self upon his neck but turning her face towards Argelois and looking upon him with eyes that exhibited her passion how come you thus wounded come let us leave this place where nothing inhabites but ravenous and cruell beasts or some lethiserous and inhumane creatures What hand was it that could be so immane as to wound thee ah brother ah Argelois where were you at this perpetration let 's know these assassins that we may revenge our selves on them Dardanus perceiving to whom she spake and believing the pleasure he did her to let her vent her passion let her go on a great while without interrupting her Argelois beheld her with wonderfull compassion being none of those insensible ones that cannot be mov'd neither with blood not teares he knew too well the insufferable pangs of love which made him extreamly sensible of that poor princesse passion giving a kind of dolefull air to these words she utter'd and her eyes shewing the languishing of her heart encreased his commiseration Madam said Argelois at last the Prince is not wounded the Gods have more regard to his person his clothes are onely stain'd with blood that flow'd through a small wound which I have accidentally received Eliana glad of Panthea's transport made good use of it to settle in the mean time I know not what signes of inward emotions which appeared in that beautifull face But the prince and Argelois had cast their eyes upon her before she had throughly recollected her selfe and found that excesse of snow had obvolved the Hyacinths in her cheeks and that her eyes shewed a kind of disturbance which they knew not how to apply She noteing their looks soon gave life to those blushing flowers which use to expand themselves upon sheets of snow and resetling her selfe Panthea said she intends to ingrosse all to her self and give me no interest in your wounds They are not many said Dardanus 't is only Argelois that infortunately hurt his arme which will be no hindrance at all to your defence if need were You think us very selfish then replyed Eliana and that we desire your welfare but for our own ends you are much mistaken our natures are not immane we cannot chuse but pity our enemies in distresse much more our friends I had no such uncharitable thoughts replyed Dardanus Argelois was ready to sinke under the cruciations that he felt within him through the encounter of thoughts that suffer'd an Antiperistasis which the Princesses attri buting to his wound desired Dardanus to give him ease by speedy dressing They went into the Princes loging together where his surgion presently applyed what was requisite and promised them a speedy cure Whilst he lay under the cure of his self-given wound that which he had receiv'd from love having no such charitable surgions grew worse and worse blood and spirits continually effused themselves there at and had scarcely left enough to maintain the vitall part The palenesse that display'd it selâ—â— in his face shew'd that his sicknesse was more viscâ—rall than the wound in his arm and that the paines he endur'd from that were nothing to the pangâ— of that of his heart How ever as the one grew worse the other amended and healed and though it be strange it was the same â—aâ—ve that wrought such contrary effects that cured the one and festeâ—'d the other you may believe that Love and pity attracted the eyes of these faire princesses to an intuiâ—ion of his wound at every dressing you may also believe that the virtue of Elian's eyes was the panacea that â—anated his wound and that the aspects of those heavenly oâ—bs conjected more life and virtue than all the medcines could be apply'd But on the other side those piercing flames that darted fâ—om her eyes were too corrosive for that tender Cyprian wound They made too great incision and attracted too strongly the small remainder of life wâ—ich was preserv'd by the care of Dardanus This generous prince is the sole preserver of his life and his comfortable remonstrances are lenitives to his wound He daily and continually diswades him from his purpose of dying and by speeches as full of virtue and power as of nobleness and generosity at length compells the languishing Argelois to be rul'd by him and to consent to that abnegation so worthy the noble spirit of Dardanus Alas cry'd Argelois resenting his favours I must then be overcome by generosity noble Prince I yeild my self captive to those chaines you offer and will indue them since 't is your pleasure But think not that I can ever think of enjoying Eliana were I in a capacity or to desire the satisfaction of my love till your passion leads you to the adoration of some other star which the Gods must parposely create for to repay your exceeding generousnesse whilst Dardanus thus sought to ease the passions of Argelois love which was altogether tyrannicall stimulated the princesse Panthea and giving her cruciations which were intolerable made her do that which otherwise she would have accounted inaequitable Cythera's little son in these few persons exhibited his tyranny and his blindnesse the one by those raging â—its with which he agitated these poor lovers the other by his promiscuous dartings which thwarted each other affections Jealousie which seldome can keep secrecy made Panthea slacken those favours she was wont to shew Eliana her love being but extrinsecall must give way to that caused by the imperious shaft 's of the amorous Deity And her affection giving way to anger and jealousie cauâ—'d the sight of the lovely Eliana to be troublesome and irksome Panthea was no disembler nor could she have power to hide her resentments which made her exhibite somewhat more then she was willing of her passion and aegritude Livor began to be exuscitated by Love and to be entertain'd in a breast which never had spot till it entertain'd love and to finde residence where till now nothing could be found but the purity of the incontaminate lily 't is very contrary to the nature of this princesse which is all charity and out of which envy can scarcely draw poison enough to maintain her selfe so that you are to hoâ—e this snaky hag will soon desert her and you are also to judge so charitable of so â—â—ir a soul as to believe it could not have entertain'd the least ill thought if it were not impressed by a power altogether imperious But whatsoever signes of discontent she exhibited there was not found the least on the part of Eliana but rather a nearer uniteing of her love and affection so that 't is to be hoped those suavous carriages and overcoming attractions will soone dissipate those cloudes envie begins to raise in the breast of Panthea In the mean time the carefull Chiron as skilfull in his art as the sabulated Centaure had perfected the cure of Argelois's wound and had rendâ—'d him sound into
with what ardency he desired his life It was two dayes before he opened his eyes but then being insensible of those images they received he shut them again The third day he spoke which extremly rejoyced the Prince these were the first words of that revived man Dear Panthea have I satisfied your severity or is there yet any thing more to be done Chiron hath conducted me to the walk of Lovers and I find many as gloriously tragidized as my self amongst these Stygean shades But surely Charon hath not dealt so charitably with me as others they seem to have forgotten their past-miseries and are not tormented as I am Surely I mistook and drunk of Mnemosyne instead of Lethe But 't is no matteâ— I ought not to forget Panthea and though death hath taken me he cannot take the remembrance of that glorious Princess which shall be my comfort in the lower shades as it was my life above We perceived by these speeches that he thought he had been dead but Chiron told Dardanus that it would be very prejudicial and dangerous for him to talke which made the Prince endeavour to make him sensible where he was but he could not effect it Weakness made him leave speaking but in lieu of that he emitted abundance of suspirations The wound of his side began to heal and all things agreeing with the desires of the Prince he began to take that rest which his love and charity had denyed him We were accompanied with what the meaness of that Cottage could afford which although it were but evilly yet it greatly contented the Prince in that he never had tasted the like morsels nor lay so hard but when he was a souldier The Prince remembring that he had not heard how Arizobanes was brought to that exigent sent for Lamedon and telling him his desire he relatee it in these words Sir said he the Prince Arizobanes being called from the Court of the King your father by letters from his which imported that a Prince amongst the Parthians called the stout Pampatius being in that Countrey was faâ—n in love with his daughter the fair Philadelphia and had desired her of him in marriage and that he would not give him any answer till his reture with wonderfull regret and had it not been for so important business all the world could not have withdrawn him from that fair Princess whom he so passionately lov'd her attractions being stronger than all the world besides Panthea blushed at these words and interrupting Epidauro you may said she save your self the labor of relating such circumstances and only tell us the matter Madam replyed Epidauro I hope you will pardon me seeing I do but render the words of another and being I should be both unfaithfull and a Detractor should I leave out such glorious expressions of Lamedons 'T is but reason said Argelois that he should give us the relation entire I I will not contradict you said Panthea turning to Argelois though I little deserve them Their silence inviting Epidauro to proceed he continued his relation thus The squire said he thus went on 'T is impossible for me to represent with what passion the Prince was accompanied and how often he sighed out of the glorious name of Panthea in his jorney He went by the motion of his thoughts and all our speed seem'd like that of a snail to those desires that hastned his return We were not long in getting to Sinope where the Prince was wellcomed home by the joy of his Parents and his sister there he found that stout Prince who rendred him a great deal of civility and was reanswered by Arizobanes with the like The good King Pharmach knowing the wisdome and great discretion of the Prince his son was resolved to be ruled by his Counsel in this match The Princess whom I dare compate to none but your sister having her spirit as full of meekness as her face of beauty found a great antipathy in her against Pampatius and could by no means away with his rough nature being every way more fit for a souldier under Mars than Venus and his looks accompanied with so much fierceness that they were rather a terriculum than an allurement to Ladies There was nothing in him that was amiable or to be regarded but strength and valor Philadelphia being afraid lest she should have been given a prey to this Monster soon discovered her mind to the Prince and assaulted him with so many tears that he assured her no consideration of state whatsoever should make him yield to any thing contrary to her mind This resetled that fair one and expelled the fear that had a long time cruciated her Arizobanes stimulated by the remembrance of Panâ—hea hasted to dispatch this affaire what he could and delivering his opinion to his father accompanied with many reasons made him resolve oâ— give his answer in the negative to Pampatius who having receiv'd the answer and seeing his hopes and vain expectations frustralled left the court with as much brutishnesse and incivilty as might be threatning that they should know whom they had offended The King was something fearfull of the sequele but being comforted by the Prince he was resolved to stand to his determination Philadelpha she receiv'd her name from the City in which she was born rendred her brother abundance of thanks for what he had done for her and thank't the Gods for that delivery moâ—e than she would have done for the preservation of her life Pampatius having heard that Arizobanes was the chief frustrator of his desires intended to wreak all his fury upon him and within two or three dayes after his departure sent him a challenge very secretly The Prince knowing him valiant would have no suspition of treachery and being valiant himself promised to meet him at the place appoynted Arizobanes having called me to him commanded me to bring him his most approved arms as secreetly as I could into the back garden belonging to the pallace Having perform'd his will whilst he fastned his armour I brought a couple of horses and mounting I follow'd him not dareing to ask him his intent When we were a dozen furlongs from the city he told me that he was going to parley with Pampatius about his sisters marriage I understood him presently erected my thoughts to the caelestiall deities for his preservation We were come to the place appointed which was in a valley about two miles from the City compassed about with hills and woods where we found Pampatius with his Squire according to the agreement Their armours were both chosen for the strength and not for gallantry there being no spectators to behold the beauty of their armes 't was no tornement in a theator and the shining steel was not aureated nor enricht with stones The Parthian coming up with much boldnesse told Arizobanes that although he had deny'd him the possession of his sister he should not deny him for recompence of it his life The Prince told him
him a little while immovable Fatall face cryed she to attract but more fatall and cruell heart to despise and to be so invincible against Love How what said I No no Argelois those pale cheeks discover the secreet flames of thy heart Thou art not exempt from his tyranny that wounded me Yes you cannot deny it and 't is Eliana too Argelois was extremely troubled at these words but Dardanus having before made him acquainted with her suspicion he was the better able to answer her Madam said he I hope you will have more charitable thoughts than to thinke I should offer so much dishonour to a princesse as to set my affection so aspiringly You judge of me by the greatnesse which I am ariv'd at by your immens favours and not by that which otherwise I am You may said the princesse deny it if you please but these are no arguments to contradict what I say for it is no voluntary action to love and I cannot account that an injury which one is impelled to Yes Argelois I know her charmes to be more attracting than mine and I will yeild her the victory but it shall be with my life Argelois would have answered her but that Eliana and Tribulus walking by the place caused them to joyne company with them where they passed good part of the day in those umbracula's in severall discourses whilst their hearts entertained divers Cogitations The next day Argelois having not visited Euripides a good while was walking towards his grot when meeting with Epidauro they discoursed together of severall particulars till they came to the Grove Argelois believing he should do Euripides a pleasure to let him hear some actions of Dardanus took his favourite with him Euripides embracing him gave him his wonted reception which was all kindnesse being as it were ty'd to him by those charmes that allwayes accompained his presence Euripides understanding for what end he had brought Epidauro gave him many thanks and presently prepared for the audition Epidauro understanding from Argelois what they desired of him was nothign difficult to perform that taske at the request of his masters greatest friend Argelois being desirous to repose himself or rather to give way to his wonted amorous meditations slung himself upon a bed Euripides and Lonoxia takeing Epidauro by the hand led him into another room where haveing placed him between them they invited him by their silence to what he knew they expected After a little recollection he began thus THE HISTORIE of DARDANUS MY years not exceeding those of the Prince declare that what I speak from his infancy were the dictates of those who were both this masters and his servants Palemon after that notable overthrow of Mark Antonie living in great fear of the Romans for the affection he had shewn that Prince retired amongst the Getes and pitching in Tomos lived amongst a people civilized by the swan-like notes of the Sulmonian bard Marying with Agauue the nece of Tarcondemus King of Celisia they produced Dardanus the fruit of that conjunction into the world About that time by a strange misfortune Palemedon son to Palemon by his other wife was lost being ravished out of the arms of his nurse by some wicked Assassius Euripides could not but but shew his interest in that speech by a sigh that he emitted but it not being noted Epidauro continued thus But sure the Gods fore-seeing the virtues of the prince my master shewed by this action that he deserved to be something more than second to the Crown There was great lamentation for the loss of that young Prince and the King had not been to be comforted but by the sight of Dardanus who now received the whole influence of the Kings love which else must have been shared between them After that the Romans had reduced Capadocia Comagena and other kingdoms into provinces and that the King saw they did not disturb him they removed to Chalcedon where he made his peace with the Romans And for some tribute which he was forced to pay them they assigned him Byzantium for his court and gave him good part of Thrace and in Asia all that along the Pontic sea In the mean time the young Prince Dardanus haveing tutors that were most excellent grew so expert in all the sciences that he shewed that the barbarity of the place where he was born had contributed nothing to his nature and made all expect the incomparable fruit of so fair blossomes He not only excelled in litteâ—ature but also in armes in which in a very little time he seemed to be rather a master than a tyro and soon exhausted all the knowledg of his preceptors In a word Nature had with a lavish hand bestowed those favours which might make him excell all men He was but young in years when the King perceiving that his tutors was not sufficient for his large cappacity sent him to Athens where in that nurse of the muses his pregnant wit ran through and peirc'd into the profundity of Philosophy I had then the honour to accompany him and to be his servant In that place it was that he fell acquainted with the amiable and no lesse generous Argelois The parity of their yeares their consimilitude of their featurs the profundety of their wits and the correspondency of thier affections composed an amity indissolvable but by the power of Eternall Night They were seldome a part and for all the submission of Argelois knowing Dardanus to be a Prince yet he would give him no other appellation than Brother and commanded him to do the like They were the mirror of Athens both for frindship and all things else at prizes they strove to make each other conquerer and to conâ—er the honour from themselves upon each other glorying more in one anothers victory than for their own There was no prize that could be got from them nor no â—â—â—rell crown but it addorned one of their heads whether it were for learning or Martiall sports This continued untill Argelois was sent for home by his too indulgent father this mesage raized a war betwixt love and obedience in Argelois but the last lecture he had read being so full of paraenetick instructions concerning obedience to parents he was forced to leave his friend Dardanus by the strong impressions thereof This separation was not without teares and reciprocall ingagement on either side to overcome time and absence by their constant and intire affection They vow'd that friendship which was to last eternally and which was not to be defaced by any accidents of Forune or Time He had not long lest the Tritonian towers but that my master found the miss of that incomperable man in his eyes the Muses had accompained his friend and left their ancient seat The graces were no where to be sound and the City seemed dissolate and melancholy since the absence of Argelois Epidauro said he to me I can no more find that delight a suavity in these dull lucubrations
places which sheltred them from our fury Dardanus and Argelois shewing their valour dayly to be augmented with their travel and labour made Tribulus for the good service they had done him to build two trophies on the two hills Codrus and Davarus on both which they had exhibited the utmost a mortall arme could be able to effect Valour hath a secret force in gaining of hearts and causing Love but not only the valour of these two heroes but their amiable cariage and pleasing conversation had so won Tribulus that he wisht his enimies yet to subdue that he might longer have enjoyed their company For these warrs being finished the Prince resolved to return that he might ease the hearts of so many hundreds that languished in his absence Before we lest the generous Tribulus he opened as I may say the secrets of his heart to the Prince and discovered some things conserning the Princess Eliana which but few in the world knew of besides himself and shewing him letters which he had received from his wife at Rome complained much against the insolencies of Piso son to the murtherer of Germanicus These freedomes caus'd the Prince to discover himself to him and to proffer him the shelter of his fathers court against those enimies Fortune had raised him And promised him to go and visit Eliana and to be her guardian till he could disengage himself from those warrs to come to Rome These generosities caused Tribulus to embrace the Prince and to desire his pardon for that his ignorance had made him not to treat him as a Prince Tribulus seing Dardanus his resolutions gave him his tables for his wife and after a thousand embraces and expresions of the nearest amity he parted from the Prince and Argelois leading his victorious troops towards Artaxata to meet with Vitellus we presently began our journy to Rome and before we came thither the Prince accidentally heard that Caligula had employ'd abundance of emissaries for the finding of a man that had abused him in Neapolis whose head he had set a large price upon and that he had offered large summes for a Praemium for him that could bring him either alive or dead The Prince perceiving the danger he ran in entring Rome would not for all that breake a promise which he had made to Tribulus but sufficiently disguizing himself under the habit of a woman my self assuming that of her waiting maid we entred that Metropolitan which infer'd chaines on all the world Argelois owning the Prince for his wife We spent ten days very securly but all our endeavours to find out the wife of Tribulus was in vaine for she had forsaken her house and was retired so secretly that none of her friends could give us any directions where to find her We had given over that investigation and were about to leave the city when in viewing the pallaces and other rarities of the City Caligula had espied the Prince in his womanish habit but not knowing him he sent one of his â—ervants to Fonteus to desire that he might know who she was Fonteus told the messenger that she was the wife of his master who was a stranger and who had not been long in those parts He presently coming to Argelois with a great deal of Eloquence begun his civilities and acquaintance to which Argelois answered in very obliging termes and resolved all his questions with extemporary fictions That brute at last casting his eye on my Prince Your wife said he to Argelois doth so much resemble a man that lately did me the greatest injury in the world that did not you aver her to be your wife I should thinke 't was that impostor under a female habit He parted after these words and we not mistrusting the least from that dissimulator who verily is one of the greatest in the world passed along laughing to see how neatly we had beguiled him But whether it were the extream beauty that accompanied the Prince under that dresse or whether the same face now more beautifully garnished stirr'd up the hidden fire of Calugula I know not but so it was he was all on fire and in Love with the wife of Argelois and before we could gain our lodging met us again with so many men that in spite of all the Resistance of Argelois he forc'd us two counterfeit females from him leaving him almost dead with the wounds he had received in our defence having no other guard than his sword we were presently carried to a strong house as prisoners but not knowing whether we were discovered or noe we counterfeited the woman as much as we were able After those that had brought us thither had left us within the liberty of severall chambers rich enough to have entertained a princesse and strong enough to have retained a Hercules Caligula came to us haveing drest up and perfumed his deformed and rotten carcase that had my mistres been in Love with clothes and perfumes she had there met with the object of her desires He approached her with a great deale of respect and told her that 't was only Love had made him commit that violence which was contrary to his nature and disposition and that deity had not wounded him by halves but that he had bestowed all the dartes in his quiver upon him so that he was all wounds and all flames and that no other hands than hers could recuperate him The Prince making but a jest of this danger seeing he was not discovered was resolved to play upon him and faining not to understand him Sir said she I am very ill acquainted with the language of Rome and I know not how to interpret words that cary another sence with them They are paradoxes to me you tell me you have fell into the flames and received many wounds when I see neither scarr nor burning But if it be so and that my hand hath that virtue which I was ignorant of you needed not to have used this violence to one who accounts it the highest degree of virtue to be charitable Maâ—iam said he these flames are too internall to be seen and are far beyond the scorching of the elementall fire 't is a metaphor which we take up to expresse the ardencie of our Love and were there any thing that could better expresse it mine is so reall you may be sure it would have dictated it to me Sir reply'd my Prince I can never trust a double tongue for how can I believe him that speaks one thing when he means another We women do not understand your mysterious kind of speaking and had I known that they had spoke in Rome by metaphors I would have brought one of those priests who use to interpret our Hierogliphiks it may be he might have given me the true sence of your words and told me 't is some hot burning feavour that you have got or else the Erysipilas which to cure I am utterly ignorant of Alas madam reply'd Caligula I do not
perceives to be most daring and valiant At last he espies the generall of the Siranans doing actions that presently made him envious of his glory Not examining the danger he made way thâ—row the opposing troops and comming to handy stroaks with him might have given him a satall testimony of his courage had not his horse to his great misfortune fell dead between his leggs through the wounds that he had received Then it was that fear and griefe depainted it selfe most virely in the eyes and face of the Queen Who not able to see him in that exigent fell into a sowne in the armes of her Ladies who attributed it to the working of her immagination on these dreadfull and dying objects This made her loose the sight of the bravest actions in the world for he despairing of life resolved to sacrifice as many as he could to love his actions were incredible and he soon made him a rampart of dead bodies still defending his life from the most daring till the generall loth to loose a man of such importance rescued him out of that danger and mauger the opposition of the enemies mounted him on another horse Ours began to get the better when their last battails joyned with so great impetuosity that it rendered the victory doubtfull and made them make use of the utmost of their courage and force to withstand them I shall not lye if I say that the actions of Araterus disposed the victory on our side for they were so signal and daring that they both encouraged the Sornaleans and made desperate our adversaries Whilst Araterus gave hopes of the victory on one side Peomontile had almost lost it on the other for loosing above fifty thousand men himself was taken prisoner by the Prince Araterus hearing this with enough that readily followed him made hast to that place of damage but by the way meeting with the General of the Sinanans engaged himself a second time with him in a particular combate and at last notwithstanding the resistance of the enemies he deprived him of his life through two or three mortal wounds Flying like lightning thorow the midst of the enemies he recovered the General and gave him that liberty which they were about to deprive him of following his good luck he encountred next with the Prince who coming at that instant wounâ—ed Peomontile very dangerously on the head for requital of which Araterus wounded him in the thigh and pressing hard upon him made him shelter himself amongst the thickest of his Troops Then it was that victory having hung a long while in suspence came and setled upon our standards for at that instant all those of the Navey being landed came on them with a fresh encounter in their flanks and crying out victory victory did such execution that it terrified them all and seeing their ships burnt their General slain and their Prince wounded they began to despair of victory and to retreat disorderly The Sornaleans perceiving the fear of their enemies renewed their courages and crying out victory on every side perswaded their enemies that it was so before they had it At last they forgot their order and sled confusedly being slaughtered on every side by their enemies who then slew more then they had done all the day before and of so numerous an Army let very few escape the punishment of the sword Araterus being in the chase took the Prince prisoner and so saved his life from the enraged multitude some few escaped to those ships that the fire had left and so recovered the sea the rest escaping into woods and such places of shelter saved their lives and left the Sornaleans victorious and triumphant The Sun weary of beholding so bloody an execution hid himself in the occidental waves and the obscuring night drawing on a pace sought to hide that blood and horror that was spread ore the superficies of those plains A hundred new springs of crimson waves â—an along the fields to find a passage into the Ocean where ingulsing themselves they converted the waters into a sea of blood It is impossible to tell you the number of the slain on both sides but they were so many that they moved the cruelest to pity when the first heat of their fury was over Neither will it be much to the purpose to tell you the number of the wounded or prisoners Araterus sinning himself wounded in two places in the arm and in the face retired to the Generals tent and finding that his wound in his head was very dangerous he left him and went into another hard by set up by the Generals order where he had his wounds dressed by Peomontiles own Surgions The Queen having seen the end of the battle saluted the gods with her prayers and gave them innumberable thanks for the protection they had sent her in the person of the valiant stranger She immediatly descends into the Camp and having visited the General she came and carressed Araterus with so much joy and giving him those praises and Collaudations that he accounted himself over and above satisfied for the pains and travels he had taken He told her what he had done was but his duty and that it did not merit the least of those acknowledgements she was pleased out of her goodness to give him That 't was the merits of her cause that gave her the victory not their valour That the gods could not in Justice deny their protection to the innocent and 't was her own prayers which were more prevalent than their arms that had vanquished her enemies and sacrificed so many thousands in the place that for his part all that he had done that could be attributed to manhood or prowesse was but the effects of her goodness upon his soul Such like speeches passing between them Araterus presented the Prince of Sinana at her feet who having a soul that yielded to the disaster of fortune did not dare to lift his eyes from the ground on which he fixed them Receiving him from Araterus with very many thanks and acknowledgements Degenerate man said she to him somewhat enraged at his base spirit this meanness of spirit little becomes a Pâ—ince that hath dar'd to pretend so high and who in prosperity used the highest insolencies and insufferable Pride This dejection doth but illustrate the baseness of thy heart and tells us that it was never capable but of the blackest of crimes wherein was nothing either of ambition or of love things which make crimes sometimes pardonable No thine hath proceeded from nothing but pride and insolency accompanied with rage and temerity You have often told me you have been my prisoner now you are really so and we shall have time to consider your deserts with this turning from him she gave order for his securement and appointed him to be had to Sinda which was done accordingly The night coming on apace she gave order to the Chirurgigions to have as much care on Araterus as on her self and returned
be ignorant of it and that it was requisite she should know it being best able to remove it for she doubted not but that some of her subjects had given him some cause for discontent unjustly and that I should therefore discover it though my Masters generosity would not permit himself to do it that she might punish the author of it for an example to others After I had heard this I told her that 't was requisite she should be obeyed in all things that I was sorry I could not exactly obey her commands for that I was ignorant that any of her subjects or any other had given him the least cause for discontent that I believed he had so acquired their loves by her favours that none would be so malicious as to do any extraordinary action that might disquiet my master and that I knew it was no small thing could move the tranquillity of his mind This answer nothing satisfying she prest me to tell her if that none oâ— her Subjects had given him any cause for this sadness and whether I were ignorant of the cause of it I knew not what to answer presently to this demand but bethinking my self I told her that certainly that though her favours were so immense as to make any man forget his own nâ—tive Countrey with joy having the happiness to be entertained in her service yet that I believed he could not remember his friends without a just and unblameable regret seeing at what a distance fortune had brought him from them I know not what it was whether she could perceive any thing by my countenance she did not believe me She told me that Araterus had given her the knowledge of the passages of his life and that not being tyed by the bonds of affection she did not believe those of nature could cause so great trouble and that if it were so she knew he would have desired her assistance for the reward of all his pains and good services for to have returned into his Countrey I replyed that it might be he could not be so disrespectfull as yet considering the esteem she had of him and the favours she had done him as to ask a thing which he imagined might be displeasing to her that although he were inferior to no Prince in his own Countrey and that the gods had given him an estate according to the Nobility of his birth where he might injoy all the happinesses there that he now enjoyed except her presence and service yet I believed that he preser'd that to all the rest and made him so back-ward in asking a thing which he could not but desire This I spake for the interest of Araterus and to beget a good opinion of his Nobility and birth in the Queen which took very good effect and much advantaged his love I am sorry said she that Araterus never intimated thus much to me before and I must lay all the blame on my ignorance that I have not respected him as I ought I know Madam replyed I that he esteems your service the greatest honour and happiness in the world That sha'nt excuse him said she for hiding from me his birth and quality But is it so as you tell me added she earnestly I saw that it would be for the interest of Araterus and if he prosecuted his Love I thought it would be impossible otherwise to arrive at a happy end thetefore being imboldened I amplified his birth and gave her such an ingenuous relation of him making him no less than a Prince that I saw a kind of joy sparkling in her eyes before I had finished my relation Many things concerning his Countrey and our adventures on the sea she had heard from him before and finding them to agree exactly with what I speak she made no question of the rest and believed that he hid his birth out of a generous humour having told her never any thing exactly of it Have you told me every thing said she have you omitted no passages But one Madam said I which I am not sure that I may tell without an infidelity to my master This made her the more pressing to know and I at last seeming vanquished by her impoâ—tunities told her how he met with a Prophesie that had fore-told him all had hapned to him since and that there were somethings in it yet remaining to be effected which it might be was the cause of his grief but that he kept them so secret that I doubted I had been unfaithfull for speaking so much I thought said she that you were not ignorant of your Masters sadness and I know not what good genius made me not to believe you but for your fault you must of necessity tell me what it is I seemâ—d extreme unwilling to tell her though I did all this out of a design but after that she had commanded me many times promising me that it should be no prejudice to me I told her I thought it did not become me to captuilate with her highness yet if it would please her Majesty not to ask me any more questions I would answer her I promise thee said she 'T is love then Madam said I that causeth Araterus's trouble I am conscious I have spoke too much but neither entreaties nor torments shall extract any thinâ— more from my mouth and I hope Madam that you will keep this last thing as a seâ—ret that I ought not to have told lest the knowledge of it cause my master â—o reward my infideliâ—y At that instant that I told her the câ—use of Araterus's sadness the Queen changed her countenance and notwithstanding her endeavours she could not hide some alterations in her face But I taking no notice of it made her an obeisance for a chain of Diamonds which she caused to begiven me and so dismist me bidding me not to fear but that she would do as I beg'd of her Returning presently to Araterus I gave him an exact account of what I had done telling him the oppinion of his birth would prove very advantaâ—ious for his Love neverthelesse I could hardly perswade him to acknowledg that for truth which I had spoke of him so far was he from accumulating honors to himself which he was conscious did not belong to him though he were assured that none there could convict him of an untruth I was fain to tell him if he would not acknowledge what I had said of him for a verity I should be accounted an impostor to the Queen which would reflect on him and it may be bring himself into such disesteem as not to be believed That what I had done was for his fidelity that on it depended the good or bad success of his love that 't was impossible otherwise to arrive at the end propos'd That he would both ruin me and undoe himselfe and both he looked upon I not better than impostors with such like reasons I was forc'd to perswade him to a thing which others would have been
caresses and complements of his friends all of them testifying their resentments for his disguiseing himself and that with so much address and civility that he stood amazed to see it so far from Rome The Queen desirous it should be known caused it privated to be declared so that it was soon known publickly through the whole City every one regarding him as a Prince and worthy of that which he aspir'd to And notwithstanding Araterus's desire to the contrary she caused him to be served with more state and after the manner of the Princes of that Countrey encreasing both the number of his servants and the riches of his pallace so that his train and port was little less then the Queens his quality stifling envy that having a kind of respect to greatness The Queen had now nothing to oppose against Araterus and her joy had been compleat but for that which I had told her concerning him that it was love that troubled him This caused a new Certamen in her thoughts she began to be jealous she feared Marina she thought on the fairest in the Court she watched Araterus to see if she could discover her she hoped it might be her self and yet she feared to have it so lest her severity should increpate his boldness She was loth it should be any other and yet she could not consent that it should be she so that she feared what she desired She found trouble enough in these Capâ—icho's but advising alwayes with Marina they thought it best to discover it if they could though she told the Queen that she was confident none could be so powerfull as to captivate Araterus but her self Marina the first opportunity sought to make me confess who it was that was the object of Araterus's passion I not daring to discover it wond my self out of her intreaties and told her that it would be no hard matter to draw it out of Araterus himself when that he had confes'd that he was in love and that she might see I had rather hazard his displeasure then not to content her she might use her own discretion whether she would tell him that I had intimated so much to enduce him to discover it himself Not long after Marina being alone with Araterus they sell into a discourse concerning the Prince of Sinana Araterus complaining that the gods had not furnisht that Prince with vertues sutable to his other qualities and greatness that he might have been worthy of the happiness he sought for calling it an oversight of the gods to give any one the goods of body and of fortune and not those of the mind to employ them rightly when all three conjoyn'd together makes the Possessor happy the one illustrating the other Marina who hath wit enough told him that it was a kind of impartiality of the gods so to distribute their favours that none might be wanting of their gifts and that it may be according to their own wishes this man hath honour and riches another beauty and wit a third vertue and grace all which in one man would be too much and which is not seen in an age every one contented with his own shews the variety of gifts of the gods and their impartiality But faith she were it in your choice which would you chuse I should quickly chuse those of the mind before those of the body or fortune replyed Araterus for to have the other without the first is to have the ring without the stone and truly without wit will power judgement and the like the goods of fortune cannot be made use of rightly and they are rather fair beasts then men but the most deformed man is more excellent than the loveliest beast so in my judgement those that have the goods of the mind are to be prefer'd to those that have either those of body or fortune You speak not like a Lover saith Marina for he profers the object of his passion above all things which you know is to be accounted amongst the goods of fortune for if he sacrifices his life and I am sure he looses his reason judgement and understanding with all the goods of the mind Fair Marina said he I would not have you count me among these unreasonable men No saith she I have observed of late a great â—adness in your face and I am apt to call all sad and melancholy men Lovers knowing it to be a great symptome of Love Araterus would very fain have avoided this discourse but Marina prest him so far that he could not avoid telling her that he esteemed one more then all the world and that may be it was that which was usually called Love But he told her that it had not made him loose his reason nor understanding for that he did it not so much out of inclination as choice But when Marina would have known who his Mistriss was he told her secrecy was the first and chief rule of Love and that to do so was to shew his disrespect to her he loved by making known the unworthiness of her servant whatever Marina said she could not draw him to a confession she so much desired but contented her self that she knew from his own mouth that he loved which gave the Queen more trouble than she thought she would have gained through her curiosity being crucified betwixt hope and fear Half a year past away Araterus still continuing in his estate and continually burning in those amorous flames which scorched his soul more then the heat of the Countrey his body The Queen was not free from the like cruciations though every dayes conversation with him gave her a clear sight that she was the object of his love Love and her high humour had a long certamen but at last love remained victor and left her contented with the inclinations of her servant The more she considered his vertues the greater her ardencies grew and was almost angry that his love had not forced his respect for in all that height of honour he had not forgot himself nor had the ardency of his affection made him oblivious of the Queen he shewed her as much submission as at the first and as much affection as would stand with respect He was too quick-sighted not to perceive the affection of the Queen and yer he forbore an agitation which he had some perswasions might have been well accepted but he contented himself that he had covertly given her to understand his affection and that he saw she understood him Their Conversation was alwayes free and pleasing to each other I remembred this above the rest because it was remarkable for Araterus's discovery of himself He was in the company of the Queen when his love causing a more then ordinary disquiet in his soul exhibited a kind of sadness in his face the Queen noteing it I perceive said she to him that you have not forgot your Countrey nor your friends their remembrance notwithstandinging our endeavours still exuscitate a melancholy that
fear then that she will think either of his inferiority or her greatness but of her place and duty Love is the mother of obedience for who obeys the gods better than those who love them neither fear or honour can beget so true obedience as love the other are servile this free and ingenuous There is then no fear of those disunions disjunctions and disagreements which he imagins Love being the conjoyner no fear that she will usurp more authority over him than is meet and that she hath gained over his affection But these are vain and idle suppositions for may not the gods cause a disunion and disjunction where they please These things must be left to them who take a special regard over Princes and Kingdomes placing titular Demons or inferior spirits for their safeties If they are minded to unite hearts for the prosperity and felicity of a kingdome what disparity can be an obstacle but if they will disunite and disjoyn the hearts of the Princes for a plague to us what love can bind For this we should make our dayly orations this should be the subject of our prayers and petitions to the gods that they would continue their unity and concord In the the next place my Lord was much besides himself in saying Araterus was one of whom we have had but small experience I wonder what experience he would have can there be greater than we have had can there be more Hath he not given us an essay of his valour prudence magnanimity policy courage and animosity Hath he not been sufficiently trusted with the Army with the Navey with the City what mischief might he have done us had he been false how beneficial hath he been to this kingdome and how much experience have we had of him what greater would he have what greater can he have and yet this man tells us that he is one that we have had small experience of when for this two years he hath been sufficiently employed by the Queen who with all others that are not as malicious as himself have had sufficient experience of his vertues and generosity I am sorry I have said so much to evince a truth so obvious and which in spite of envy himself was forc'd to confess when he goes to eclipse his valour What and every good Captain may not make a good King yet 't is requisite that every good King ought to be a good Captain and he that proves fortunate in the field is most likely to prove fortunate in the Throne and he that is bad in the Camp is not likely to prove good in the Court Their discipline is not so far different as he imagins and though it be granted that he who knowes how to rule an Army may not know how to govern a Kingdome I am sure he that knowes not how to to govern an Army cannot rule a Kingdome for how can he that cannot rule few govern a multitude Is it not most likely that he which can rule himself should rule others and he which can govern an Army govern a Kingdom How can he which cannot rule himself govern a family How can he which cannot govern a family rule a City And how can he which cannot govern a City rule a Province So how can he which cannot rule an Army govern a kingdome But Araterus can tell how to rule an Army therefore we have no fear but that he knowes how to govern a Kingdome He hath shewed himself valiant in the Camp and therefore most likely to shew himself wise in the Court. And truly good Kings ought to be good Captains for where a good Captain comes to be a King there most commonly is the best Government for he which cannot rule few can never govern a multitude At last he would fain insinuate into us a Maxime of policy fram'd to beat down aspiring minds That Princes were only indued with a capacity from the gods to rule others to obey which I deny and though it be little to the purpose I cannot let it pass unanswered I could stop his mouth thus by telling him that Araterus was a Prince and therefore by his own Maxime of a capacity to reign But the falsity is so perspicuous that I need but mention to you the experience we have had of many Princes about us that have lacked a capacity to rule and of others far from the line of Nobility which have received their Titles and Kingdomes and have not only had the capacity to rule but to rule well Is the gods inspiration into Princes any other than education They having a greater means to beget Majesty and magnanimity knowing besides the excellency of Teachers that they are born to a Crown and to rule And were they ignorant of their birth and not nursed up in those princely employments we should see that the gods inspiration is secondary through education But again my Lord mistakes to think we would make our Queen mercenary we know he hath merited much and he hath been well rewarded and we know his modesty would not have accepted the honours the Queen hath given him neither is it his seeking nor our desire as he thinks to reward his deserts with the Queen and kingdome But that my Lord might see that he hath the art to continue its happiness and peace Alas how weak hath he shewed himself in repineing at Araterus's valour when the enemies themselves acknowledge it And though he pleads that his praise was against equity and Justice I never heard him yet superlaudated nor did I hear any ascribe more to him than he deserved Shall we repine at the valour of a man though it eclips'd that of the Sornalians so long as it was for their safety and welfare is this according to equity and justice is this his best gratification for his being instrumental in saving the Kingdome and us What if he beat not the Sornalions himself He cannot deny but that he was the chief cause of their overthrow what if many others ventured their lives as freely what if they were not equally rewarded was there any that did deserve it I believe though that none returned with life from the wars ever complained to him or any else of the ingratitude of the Queen or that they were not satisfied But Araterus's glory is too splendent to be eclipsed with this durt What he is pleased to reflect upon me I value it not though it be contrary to the use and custome of this place to move secret suspition If he thinks me guilty of any thing worthy condemnation let him accuse me according to the way and order of our Lawes For I protest I do it not in any way of gratification to Araterus for that life which I confess I hold from his valour but that I think in my conscience it will be for the happiness and prosperity of the Kingdome Alas what avails it to be vertuous since it cannot shelter from the Calumniator How wickedly and maliciously goes
he about to defame Araterus and to make all those vertues he is indued with to be the effects of his dissimulation I need not go about to clear him since he is so well known to you all and I verily believe none of you had such thoughts of him as my Lord Maurishia His suppositions are so far from reason that it would be a folly to answer them those vertues which Araterus exhibited are so genuine and natural that those who see not with the eye of malice may know that they are not fain'd or forc'd I know you could not but smile that my Lord should go about to make you believe that Princes could not dissemble as well as other men I wonder what was his reason to say so when in my mind they have most reason of all to dissemble Is it not often seen that the vices of Princes before they have come to the Crown have given cause to others to usurp their places and to repell them from their rights the people never pitying the vicious Had not a vicious Prince then need to cloke and palliate his vices for fear lest they might alienate him from the hearts of the people and make them glad to imbrace any opportunity of depriving him of ruling rather than subject themselves to one who shews himself so vicious before he attains his power Is it not for this very reason that many Princes have dissembled and palliated their evil natures till they have attained their aims and have been able to warrant their enormities My Lord tells us too that many are courteous generous good c. in a meaner condition but that dignities and places change their hearts and dispositions Will he exclude Princes from this change too do not we frequently see that good Princes have become very evil and vicious Kings Why then must we needs expect the Prince to prove the same with a King and have not the like thoughts for Araterus In the next place my Lord mistakes and would fain draw you into an error to insinuate that the Queen limitted us to her sutors or neighbour Princes No she gave us our liberty to elect any whom we pleased and thought most convenient for the good of the Common-wealth whether of the Princes or Nobility My Lord need not speak of the Queens dishonouring her self by so mean conjunction being that it is not so But if 't were that were a thing inconsiderable to the good and benefit of a Kingdom and the Queen shews her excess of love to the people in accepting one though mean if chose by you for the good of the Kingdome and in this she doth most worthy of her self and place regarding the good of her people before any thing else in the world I would not have you think that the Queen is not so weak as not to stand to what you do or if you should nominate Araterus to withdraw the liberty she hath given you No I believe she will stand to your election and rather accept of him than any other whom she hath partly denyed Do you not think the people would be glad of such a Soveraign as Araterus whom they so much affect under whose banner they fought couragiously and came off victoriously one whom they never accounted among themselves but rather for the Majesty he boâ—e the vertues he shewed the wonders he did they accounted descended from the gods and themselves happy in his company you need not fear then that they should malign what they have desired or hate him whom they have so fervently loved As for their ambition I am sure it alwayes ceded to their own good His conclusion I have answered before and if Araterus be chosen by you and accepted by the Queen I hope with my Lords leave it is no usurpation and therefore a happy issue to be expected pray let all things be well weighed and considered and I hope if you elect Araterus that as he hath ended a war happily so may he conserve us in peace continually Meador having finished reading these speeches proceeded thus This business was mightily debated amongst them and Maurishia at last was quite silenced Cleopotulus that he might render some service to Araterus endeavoured all he could for him and speaking after Peomontile he told them that he much wondred that they were so opposite to Araterus being a man that was every way fit and capable of that charge That although he were a stranger by birth yet that they had full tryal and experience of his vertues and that having learnt their language and manners the Queen had made him as one of the Countrey That she had honoured him and stiled him with the Title of Prince so that he would be no dishonour to the Queen That vertue was more to be considered than any other thing yet in him they would find youth beauty courage prudence magnanimity generosity and every thing that should accompany a Prince That they should be mindfull of what he had done for the Countrey and observe the hand of the gods who by things so unusual had brought him from his own Countrey oppos'd him to hazards and dangers and all as it were purposely for their safe-guard so that the gods themselves as it were had elected him and that it would be no part of their wisdomes to resist the hand of Providence That in him they were sure to run no hazard of change either in government or religion which was to be expected in stranger Princes That he was extreamly beloved of the people honoured at Court and respected by the Queen That this fame had spread far into the Neighbour-Countries so that none would dare to oppose or injure them having so valiant a Prince for their leader in fine that 't was the best way to conserve their peace and to enrich the Common-wealth by the election of so good a King This was so closely followed and press'd so much by Pâ—omontile and his party that at last they carried it and causing their consents to be drawn up they sent it to the Queen who the next day gave them notice that she confirmed their Electionâ— being it was for the benefit of the Common-wealth It was then made known to Araterus who accepted it with a great deal of humility and joy more for the possession of the Queen than the Kingdom Things being brought to this issue Maurishia seeing it concluded thought it no policy to gain Araterus's disfavour by not subjecting to him He no sooner crav'd his pardon but it was granted with a great deal of freedome and obligement Araterus and the Queen conspired in their joyes and there was nothing now that could prove any obstacle to the fruition of Embraces But lest fortune might turn her wheel and dash all their joyes with some cross as she usually doth they determined the time for Arateruus's marriage and coronation That time at last came and it was effected in the City of Sinda very celebriously and with much rejoycing The
of my minde was diseased now with the disturbances of Love My mind unequally ballanc't was tossed upon the waves of my cogitations sometimes entring the lists for Love sometimes opposing it as an adversary wracked by torments and contrary thoughts I cry out Ah Bruadenor must thou also be enumerated amongst those who have listed themselves under the extravagancies of Love must thy folly be denoted or is it an inseparable accident to all mortals is it not better to live free than a captive and to be a master than a slave why then dost thou debase that will which hitherto hath been free and make it become a slave to beauty and to a God that delighteth in tyranny by these beginnings of thy disquiets thou mayest judge the effects Consider how many this passion hath overthrown recount but the tragedies it hath committed and thou wilt find innumerable examples of murder and rapine nay she whom thou adorest is so involved in Love with another that a door of hope is impossible to be opened unto thee unfortunate take example by others consider the precipitancies it hath run her into and deracinate this folly before thou hast too much involved thy self in this common errour As if these words had given power to my will I thought to have decussed this troublesome passion but whole troops of cogitations conducted by Love gave these oppositions a most violent chocque rebating their courage he displayed his banners subjected my reason and led captive my will and with a voice more beautifull to my eares insuserrated these words Dost thou think thy self more wise than the Ancients who have honour'd me for a suppressor of follies and call those extravagant who list themselves under my banner Consider the innumerable follies attending upon youth and consider how regularly I marshall their exorbitant motions and replenish them with many excellent and commendable virtues Neither count thou my captivity a slavery for though a bondage yet full of sweet liberty and though a prison yet full of freedom where tyranny is not exercised but to the content of the lover If Mars have delighted in my thraldome the muses have no lesse honour'd me by coronizing my head with a crown of flowers acknowledging the Deity I possess the one in that I make the cowardliest valiant and the timorous to atchieve that which without my assistance he would have fainted to have thought on the other in that cropping the weeds of vice I sow the seeds of virtue and render the heart susceptible to the dictates of knowledge I have made the ignorant become wise and the learned infused with my spirit render themselves as mortal Deities and will you call me extravagant who am the author of all science Consider my power and not disabuse your self for you are no more able to redeem your self out of my captivity than the Gally-slave to free himself out of his chains In these violent contestations I spent the time that Sol resided in the other Hemisphere rising from my bed wholly captivated with the love of Floria. Love now began to subtelize my grosser spirits and infuse devices fitting for Amoretta's For knowing the irrecoverable losse I suffer'd if Floria departed I used all the eloquence and Rhetorick Love and passion could infuse which so far prevailed with the loved Floria that she condescended to stay and to let me send one into her fathers countrey to learn their deportments at her losse as also to know the certainty of Subelta's being there A day or two passed wherein I contemplated the beauty so despised by the unhappy Subelta unhappy in that he saw not his own happiness finding no delight but in her company and conversation whilst she with continual showers of darts from those sparkling eyes more lively than the coruscing diamonds pierced my susceptible heart I seemed not to live but in her sight and I joyed in no other company than hers but I continually died when I considered my miserable estate and though the motions of my eyes might have discovered the secrets of my heart yet in her I perceived not the least regard Oh the pains oh the anguish my soul felt when I thought of discovering my mind to her fearing a killing repulse and dreading the thunder of her anger for a true Lover continually lives in fear But seeing she read not my mind by my countenance nor my eyes the true messengers of the heart I resolved having a fit opportunity in being alone with her in a boury to explaine my self but as often as I was about to begin fear repulsed my determination but at last with a faultring tongue I emitted these words Lady I have often heard of the wonderful and strange effects of Love and the power of its operation but I could hardly give credit to those speeches because I never felt its flames but being confirmed by your self with a more powerful influence I have quitted all pretentions to unbelief And if it may be inoffensive to your ears and the boldnesse of your servant not suscitate anger let me tell you that I not only believe but feel the power of that powerful Deity I may be well vanquished when the most powerful potentates are subject to his yoak Shall I say your beautie your modestie your chastitie or your virtue hath overcome me one was enough I confess but all assaulted me and have eternally captivated me Think it not strange that I thus address my self to you knowing already how your affections stand I do it not to ask your love for I am unworthie of it but to crave your pity in that you are not ignorant of these torments If you Love without hope of obtaining I live in despaire of having If you are tormented without regard yet let not me feel the same torments without your pity for who can better Sympathize with the grieved than those who feel a coequal paine you cannot be insensible of my flames if you weigh but the torments of your own O happy Subelta couldst thou see thy own happiness hadst thou eyes given thee to see the beautie that loves thee the chastiâ—y that follows thee the virtue that desires thee and that person which is about to sacrifice her self unto thee Unhappy Subelta unhappy in that thou rejectest one whose vertues equal thy vices whose love thy hatred and whose passion thy disdaine Oh cruel cruel to thy self cruel to others Being hurried into this passion said Bruadenor remembring my self I stopt and proceeded thus I hope you will pardon this excursion which proceeds from a passion that usually committeth irregularities I have no better basis to found my hopes upon for your pardon than your own gentleness which if it contrary my expectations I must needs accompany you in your precipitation for I am not able to live tormented with disdain Whilst many suspirations gave a period to my discourse fixing her eyes upon me which pierc'd my heart she returned me this answer I marvel not at all at
and spare them not that would rob Lilibilis of his right it grieves me that I shall not live to have a share in your glory I knew she particulariz'd her self but the answer I return'd her could give her no light that I understood her so I made her a very low obeysance and left her but Lilibilis hearing her speak of death cast himself again into her armes from which embraces I saw he was not likely soon to depart and having heard he had before bid his Daughter farewell my impatiencie made me immediately depart to Amenia's Chamber whether I alwayes had a free access She had disposed her self to receive me kindly and had none but Melanthe with her I entred not without trembling for fear I should break at last what was impos'd upon me Assoon as I saw her I cast my self at her feet and embracing her knees fully transported I was not able to utter one word I remained some time in that posture till my ingeminated sighs had clear'd the passage for some words Madam said I this favour is so glorious and so far beyond the merits of Euripedes that it hath over and above satisfied for all trouble teares and sighs which the most violent of passions and most severest of Commands have afflicted me with Ah how glorious a recompence I find But may I Madam continued I trembling and shewing that fear which possest me by my eyes and faultring of my speech may I have leave to break that I could not go on through the appehension I had of offending her but casting down my eyes I exhibited my shame for going about to transgresse Amenia's silence gave me liberty to lift up my eyes full of teares to hers which I saw fix'd intensively upon mine and to proceed thus Consider Madam ushering them with a sigh I am going whether the Gods only know if I ever may return nay I shall account it no disaster but a glory to die in the service of Amenia If I am troublesome to her or if I have offended her my death will be most welcome in â—hat it will take me from the world wherein I have no life but what I enjoy by her presence rewarding me for my presumption it will deter a farther arrogancy and through her goodnesse may expiate that crime I have committed in aspiring to love her but with so much purity that the Gods themselves could not be capable of more pure affections and if my death content her it will also content me being her Joy and her Grief are inseparably mine But if Amenia will out of her goodnesse not regarding the meannesse of my merits let me not to be so indifferent to her as to desire my death but rather that I should return in safety that also confirm'd by her fair mouth will give me this comfort if I die that Amenia not regarding my presumption in exhibiting my passion had out of her abundant goodnesse pitied me and not seen my death without regret this will be glory enough for Euripides with that of dying in her service and would give him no other cause of trouble but that of leaving her Ah Madam vehemently sighing again have I not observ'd your Commands hitherto though more terrible than death how far easier had it been for me to have died then to have observ'd this silence you have impos'd upon me must I still stopping a little then with a supplicating Air and must I depart without telling you I dar'd not to proceed but stopping with a fear that seis'd me least I had proceeded too far and should abuse the favour she did me I fell into a trembling that made her extreamly pity me My passionate words accompanied with more passionate actions and gestures not to be expressed but by those whose passions inspire them naturally rais'd so great compassion comitated with that great Love she bore me that made her say more than she had intended and forc'd her severity to give place I cannot but admire considering the vehemency of her passion which she protested to me afterwards that she had been so long Mistris of it Observing the trouble I was in and being mollified with compassion she rais'd me from my knees with these words Euripedes I have bid thee already hope that thou maist not be indifferent to me I do not yet forbid thee to hope it and I think I have in some part exhibited it by this reception though I confesse I owe more to the merits and services of Euripedes Euripedes is going to conquer Euripedes is going to expose his life against my foes and to redeem our Liberty with the expence of his own blood and could I do lesse than give Euripedes this favourable reception at his parting I would not have Euripedes think I can take any content at the losse of a Life which I have with all my abilitie endeavoured to save No think not Euripedes that I can part without trouble and do not believe but the sweet conversation of Euripedes hath gain'd too much upon my spirit as not to make me extream sensible of his losse nothing but the hopes of your return with victory and more glory than ever could mittigate a lawfull trouble for your departure therefore by that power you say I have over you I command you not to expose that Life to unnecessary dangers which shall be still priz'd by Amenia I have not disregarded your obedience and you cannot utter more than you have done already I can see that it continues without your declaring it by words what need you tell me you Love me if I believe it These words tincted her cheeks with a new Vermillion but she went on without stop I have bid you hope and were I not prohibited by the Lawes of Duty I would say more what can you desire of me Euripedes is not this sufficient She uttered these words with her wonted sweetnesse which wrought that effect upon my soul as you Argelois being so deeply touch't with this passion may conceive in the like case They had cast me into extraordinary Raptures and I hardly remembred what I did but casting my self at her seet though she sought to hinder it Ah Madam said I I shall find a very different death from what my sorrows would have caus'd If I expire now it will be in the greatest content in the world and will hinder me from seeing any more trouble and were not my Joy mittigated with the consideration of leaving you it would so exceed that it would work the same effects as a killing sorrow Alasse what is Euripedes that you should have thus felicitated him with a more sensible happinesse than if the Gods had plac'd him among themselves I cannot fear my enemies now were I to encounter with the whole world Amenia forc'd me to rise and shedding some teares I know not Euripedes said she what it is that thus afflicts me but I never felt a sadder heart in all my life and I cannot but fear that