while after we understood that Decius had beene slaine in the Appian high-wayes and Marcellin confessed to us he had caus'd it to be done for our sakes which gave me a great satisfaction and brought so much ease to my sister that for recompence she dissembled not to give her selfe to him Since that there hath beene no kind of assistances wherewith he hath not pleasur'd us and for which wee account our selves much oblig'd to him But to his misfortune went shee on smiling Melintus is come from Syracuse who furnished with merits that cannot be refus'd any thing hath made me endevour to pull out of my sisters affection a man that she was much ingaged to and to set Palamede there in his place I tell you not these things to let you see that you are beholding to me nor yet to entreat you to pardon Marcellin in consideration of us but that it may appeare to you that having had so much power over my sister as to put that person so farre out of her heart I may be able also to put him as farre out of her sight Melintus who heard this discourse with much attention and in the meane time gave his censure to himselfe of the lives of these women that had caused all those tragedies not beleeving that all such jealousies happened without cause and knowing that women that live with honour have not such disordered fortunes dissembled neverthelesse those thoughts to give her this answer Madam you alwayes give mee so great testimonies of your friendship that I shall remember them every day of my life but it is not reasonable that for our occasion you should be ingrate towards Marcelline I had rather for your sakes pardon him than you should detest him for mine one feare have I onely knowing Marcelline by your discourse to be a man of bloud that we be not forced to goe from Rome or depriv'd of your sight to avoyd the effects of his hate and you may judge how unpleasing these two things will be to us Melintus said Emilia doe not thinke of leaving us I had rather lose Marcelline for ever than the sight of you one moment It may be replide Melintus Camilla had not the same desire Assure your selfe said she that she for the most part does what I perswade her to Madam answered Melintus what ever we doe it will be the most expedient to dissemble on your part as well as ours and in the meane time to keep us to our guards I beseech you therefore continued he to intreat Camilla that she would not use him so hardly for making him declare against us and then we must needs depart this City where hee is too powerfull and lose you for ever Emilia taking him by the hand answered we will doe all you desire doe you but something in our favour and love us but as much as we desire to be loved of you Madam replied he it is impossible for me to love you more than I doe and this I call the gods to witnesse that know the secret of my soule I will beleeve this said she for my owne satisfaction then she left him to go tel her sister what they had devis'd together to keepe them a longwhile with them Melintus seeing himselfe alone beganne to entertaine his thoughts thus Faire Ariana what would you say if you were present Would you accuse me for feigning an affection to Emilia or would you rather pitty me for the constraint I endure To accuse mee would be but injustice in you for dissimulation is here too necessary and why should you refuse me your pitty knowing that I suffer so much paine but for loving you well But seeing she is not present how unnecessary are these discourses This faire creature is now in Sicily who knowes not my griefes or if shee imagines I am not exempt from them for her love shee thinks I am not vexed but with the cares of absence not being able to fancy this cruell burthen that is come upon mee Yet for all this why should she not know my troubles If I love her is she not in my soule and if she be there is she not witnesse of all the torments that accrue to me for not failing of my fidelity to her This beauty that alwayes forbade me to discover my passion to her doth not for all that despise it but desirous to judge with more certainty of it shee hath lodged her selfe in my very soule where finding she was loved with so much ardencie and adored with so much respect she leaves not that place but beholds with joy the crosses which afflict me as faithfull proofes of my love and her deserts What consolation could I have if my memory did not let mee see as oft as I please this divine image without which my life would be insupportable Upon this meditation he rested him and shutting his eyes to have Ariana's beauties the better represented to him with all the graces and lights that accompanied them in his imagination in this pleasing trance hee made these Verses REmembrance deare as my desire Sweet entertainement of my fire Doe not confine me to this place But for thee surely life had left me Even from the time I left that face Which of my liberties bereft me Griefe for an absence importunate Horrour of being unfortunate That intercepts all hope of ever her espying My violent desires where no effects are gained My cares my furies barre my life to be sustained But thy lovely object doth forbid me dying Dresse thy selfe then with all thy charmes And glister in thy fairest Armes Happy subject of my torment Reigne alone within my memory And sustaine my dayes extent For my love onely and thy glory Divinest imge of my faire one A trusty consort and rare one Who still to follow me had dreaded no distresse Who tak'st not in disdaine my lot of misery Cast from thy splendour but one beame to comfort me And dissipate the cares that vex my quietnesse Then my Soule in part relieved Of the evils she was grieved Shall live content with thy decree Thou shalt be securely feared And in a place pure like to thee Please thy selfe to be adored I perceive my cloud to separate Already this same heavenly pourtrait Dispels my troubles with her Soveraigne-ruling eye Shall I e're well endure the brightnesse of her light Now I see her now she comes entirely to my sight As faire as Phoebus seemes within the elearest skye Victorious of all my paines Heavenly Bewty that ordaines Such happinesse for all my woe Now that such a rare delight Makes me forget all my sorrow Let nothing take thee from my sight I care not much in this content Though they prepare me punishment Although they doe conspire besides my life to take Full of repose my thoughts I 'le have in order placed While they consider thee and hold thee still embraced Since that 's the onely good my passion can partake While Melintus was carried away with
had acquir'd for himselfe and benefits he had procur'd for his Countrey with the respectfull cares he had witnessed for her at the last visit she could not any longer time refuse him that grace But going to write she was prevented by Marcelin who feigned to make a visit to Palamede which courtesie oblig'd her to entertaine him while her brother came where they were she knew well he sought to fall upon some words of affection but she was wary so finely to avoyd his discourse by turning it to some other purpose that he perceived it would be a hard matter for him to enter in discourse with her upon the subject of his passion in such fashion that Palamede being come she left him without having at all advanc'd but that he had signified his desire onely after that shutting her selfe up shee wrote and came to give her tablets to Arcas who rejoycing to beare to his Master so deare a pledge flew till he came to Emilia's and Melintus receiving them with excesse of contentment read therein these words Ariana to Melintus I Have a great desire to let you know that I am sensible of your paine and to comfort you besides with this that there is the like prepar'd for me The visit I receiv'd of Marcelin makes me see that I shall be importun'd also as well as you are but the severity of my sex will easily know how to put off that which the honour of yours hardly permits you to refuse Consider that the courtesie which were in me a crime is necessary in you and that at least you are to come out by an honest composition But because dissimulation hath put you to all this paine it must also draw you out of it and you are permitted to give for your ransome as many assurances of love as you shall thinke convenient In the meane time be confident that when the desires of Ladies are so earnestly addrest to you there is nothing which your owne may not attaine Those faire Characters were kist a hundred times by Melintus and although he receiv'd no very open expressions of affection hee did not give over the good assurance of it knowing how deare those few words had cost Ariana which she had added in the end of the letter Hee was therefore resolv'd to follow her counsell and afterwards ceased not to let Emilia see how much his affection was augmented by the daily cares she had taken for him and that he desir'd nothing so much as to be in perfect health that by his services he might recompence a part of so great paines In conclusion he was so cunning at dissembling that she beleev'd him and two dayes after shee suffer'd him to be gone upon condition he would often come to see her But when he was with Aristides he saw himselfe reduc'd to fainings of another nature for in stead of counterfetting an extreme passion which it behov'd him to doe at Emilia's having none at all here was he forc'd with much care to hide that he had indeed for Ariana His discretion was very great but the paine this constraint put him to was not lesse Onely hee eas'd his griefes by some Verses he let Ariana see such as these are MY eyes retaine with care so faire a flame as this Whereof by fond regards you would depriv'd have bin Thinke of retiring all those lovely fires within That none of them escape no not a spark amisse What doe you weepe my eyes to heare a law so cruell Why should you be seeking for misfortunes evident Those fires though faire indeed were not for that lesse ardent The sight of them was pleasing but the taking mortall Hide Hide unfortunate what ever you have tane Redoubt as well the anger as the fierce disdaine Of those faire eyes that may correct your insolence But is not this beside to complaine wrong fully When those you have rob'd intend to force you onely Closely to keepe your thefts for all their vengeance Alas said he to himselfe how is 't possible this fire should continue thus alwayes and not onely not come forth but not so much as be ever seene Yet she forbids me this but to what purpose doe I so respectfully obey the lawes of that defence for if she loves mee why does shee let mee suffer so much and if she loves me not why will I not comfort my selfe at least by expressing the evill I endure But againe if I love her how should I disobey her Durst I oppose my selfe to her desires Or having acquainted mee once what her will is can I make a doubt whether I am to follow it it may be she mean's to prove by so cruell a constraint the extremity of her power and my affection should I cowardly lose so faire an occasion to make the greatnesse of my love appeare to her No no let us suffer my soule let us burne my heart and hold our sufferings well rewarded because she ordain's them us It is enough that she knowes the cruelty of our paines and knowing them she will know also to acknowledge them But while he fortified himselfe with resolutions his fire seem'd to increase in emulation to ruine them and this combat being within him he felt the whole torment of it Neverthelesse loving equally his love and his discretion he labour'd to make them both friends to dwell together peaceably within him and not that one should be constrain'd to give place to the other his love impetuous and boyling never ceas'd to agitate him and at some time he addrest these verses to it APpease thy selfe my flame and cease thy sore complaint That I conceale thee in my bosome with such care Canst thou be ignorant what my intentions are 'T is that I love thee dearely not for thy constraint The eyes whose rigour doe forbid thy being seene Are those that gave to thee thy being heretofore Thou art not to refuse this duty to their lore Obey them without words that have thy authors beene Alas in vaine I pray to this rebellious flame That still my loving torment more doth amplifie For having to her father a severe faire eye To be faire and cruell too she will get a name Ariana saw all those verses and acknowledg'd the height both of his passion and of his constraint but she thought it was not yet time to give comfort either to one or other by avowing she would love none but him She waited the change that was to be in their fortunes at their returne in Sicily and in the meane time favour'd Melintus in whatsoever honesty might permit her They would gladly have beene gone for Sicily but Palamede could not yet abide travelling for a great hurt in his thigh that was not well heal'd and Melintus was all that while forc'd to keepe his bed waiting for a perfect cure in Palamede for feare of being oblig'd to wait upon Emilia who never gave over sending to heare from him This faigning gave him the commodity to entertaine Ariana
should suffer so much unquietnesse in my mind Diocles comming to be rich in a little time as the rumour went then by the acquisition he had made of the goods of certaine banish'd men was willing to stay himselfe upon the authority Dicearchus had in the City but my uncle oppos'd it because Diocles had ever beene of a faction contrary to his neverthelesse Aristides did what he possibly could to perswade his brother seeing nothing more advantageous for me in Syracuse It was at that time thou wert given me by Dicearchus who having bought thee very young upon the Sea coast had bred thee still in hope that his wife Acidalia might have children that thou mightst serve for company and entertainment too but Acidalia being dead he was resolv'd to give thee to me perceiving I had inclination to love thee I shall never forget interrupted Epicharis that happy change of my condition for I may well say that I began but to live since I was at your service which I would preferre to the most exalted estate that were upon earth for I never had but vexation with Dicearchus and his wife though they brought me up with much care and honour but since I came to you my life is become as happy as I could have desir'd I know well replyes Ariana what contentment thou enjoyest being certaine of my love to thee but give me leave to goe on and thou shalt see if I be not as much assur'd in thine Then she continues Melintus fearing to seeme impatient was foure or five dayes without seeing me except one time at the Temple but Palamede going to visit him as he did often Melintus intreated him to bring him to our house and present him to mee He had then an esteeme of me great enough and I also thought there was not in the world a spirit more sublim'd than his in such sort that wee were both fearfull at this meeting and for the good opinion that each had of themselves wee desir'd also both of us to make our selves be feared After I understood he was come in I collected all the confidence I had and Palamede bringing him to salute me sayes to me Sister see here a man that as well deserves you should receive him in private as you have done in publike and whom you must love if you love me for we are both but one and the same thing I answered him Brother I shall never be wanting to honour that which you love and if I esteem'd not Melintus qualities I should feare singularity and to be left alone of my party Madam said Melintus then if you should be alone in making small account of me your party should at the least be the most just if not the greatest Melintus sayes my brother interrupting him let us not lose time in telling what your worth is my sister knowes it by the report I have made of it to her and by your owne reputation She must of necessity confesse there is not a man upon earth more accomplish'd than you but confesse you too that I have a sister very lovely Brother sayes I to him speake not of me we may have better entertainment besides how would you have Melintus give a judgement of that he has yet no knowledge of Thereupon I invited him to sit downe and Melintus replies Madam I already knew the beauty of your minde by the letters Palamede receiv'd from you and since that of the face is knowne as soone as it is seene suffer me to judge of you at this very houre and that I tell you that fame which is accustom'd to increase the desert of every thing it would commend hath beene constrain'd to diminish yours being impossible to bee publish'd according to the greatnesse of it I answer'd him I pray you leave there your praises which civility obliges to give rather than truth I did not thinke you could have resolv'd to flatter any body such an opinion had I conceiv'd of your vertue Praises replies he are not flatteries but when they are spent upon subjects unworthy of them but vertue it selfe refuses them not for her recompence It is true sayes I to him but they that know their owne wants as I doe ought to take praises as reproaches for not having those qualities are attributed to them and there are no people love them like those that beleeve they deserve them which â—s a vanity in supportable He knew by this I endur'd not commendations and that hee must treat with mee otherwise than with many other women which I observ'd by the amazement appear'd in him and because changing the tune of his voyce he said to me Pardon me Madam if I must still commend you when I shall tell you it is a marke of great vertue not to be able to endure to be commended and they that have a soule well order'd blush ordinarily at it which restifies a kinde of anger and that one takes offence Neither had I ever attempted to judge of you if Palamede had not obliged me to confesse that you were very lovely My brother then mingled his wilde discourse to ours and said That after he had a long time hearkened to us he found my humour was very contrary to that of all the women he had practis'd with and that the beleefe of Melintus was very differing from his also for he thought he could not doe a greater pleasure to women than to tell them they are perfectly handsome that he never attaind to their good graces but by this entry and how after hee had beene willing to perswade them that they had no defect in the end hee was so perswaded himselfe and found them more lovely T is true answers Melintus that many times one prospers that way for that commonly there is some fault and this fashion is not to overcome but to let ones selfe be vanquish'd on either side and this is rather out of weaknesse to be engag'd one to other than by dexterity to engage that which one loves It matters not said my brother provided one be content Be assur'd replide Melintus that you never obtain'd a favour by those meanes but that you found some remarkable defect in her you sued to by which she let her selfe be caught T is true answer'd my brother but never would there be aconquest if the defect were not found and I love those of that sort much better than those whom severity makes inaccessible They are more proper for you said Melintus for the favours you desire of them but confesse if in your judgement you doe not more esteeme the other There is no doubt answers my brother but I give them over because they esteeme not me sufficiently I gave eare to this their discourse and was very glad that Melintus approv'd modesty and exprest with such a grace and vertuous conceits the same thoughts I had The rest of the day past away in such discourses as these whereby I was perswaded that the spirit of Melintus had
when so neare my heart their flames I spied Must I be burn'd said I for feare I drown'd should be Long time I did endure because I loved them But in the end surmounted by their heat extreme I tooke my leave of you to ' scape a fire so sore To the water I return'd to seeke a remedy Although I had despite to crave so suddenly An ayd from that which would have drowned me before Then from a hundred clowds the heaven upon me powres What-ever it contain'd of tempests or of showres To ravish from your eyes the honour of my dying So came I backe to you faire Starre of my desire For in your sight I chose and in that flame t' expire Then perish in the waters never you espying In the end Amyntas desirous to be free of the importunities of Misander and knowing his humour advised of a tricke as phantasticall as he knew his wit was for the kinde and we had discours'd of him sometimes Amyntas and I and were both perswaded that he would be engag'd by contempts and put off by favours he chanc'd to tell me once that he could not thinke well of the least liberty a Maid tooke to expresse an affection to a man judge you if he perswaded me to make any appeare to him So Amyntas writ a letter in my name and having superscrib'd the direction of it to Misander he made me beleeve being with us that he had receiv'd it from Reggium with some others and prayed a wench I had to carry it him for he lodged very neare us without telling where she had it I knew since that it was thus Erycine to Misander Your respect hath vanquish'd my coldnesse and your modesty hath acquired you all the esteeme you could have hoped for of me but because the restraint you use permits you not liberty enough I was willing to prevent you with this and to assure you I shall take it very well that you let me know by yours the quality of your affection Amyntas after he knew of his receiving it would see how his plot tooke he went to him and entring into discourse with a friendlike familiarity told him hee came from quitting mee and that hee beleev'd I would make him dye for love and hee should never be able to move mee by his affection or by any other duty Misander answered him You that are of so jolly dispositions you know not how to serve Ladies Doe you thinke that all your freedomes are so acceptable to them There must bee discretion and that no common one neither but of the perfect stampe such as that I serve her with What said Amyntas laughing doe you beleeve that your sadnesse and your silence pleases her that were to love the most troublesome thing in the world Hee would oblige him by this meanes to let him know his good fortune and Misander failed not therein for with a smile that seem'd to mocke at the other hee answered him Neverthelesse this sadnesse and this silence gaine me the favours which your jollities ought not to pretend to Amyntas to engage him further pursues And what perswasion have you ever had that Erycine approves your humour He answered him walking up and downe and going with a stately pace By the certaine demonstrations I have receiv'd of it Yoa replide Amyntas you must have dream'd it then this last night for I have heard her speake of you in a fashion that was not very advantageous for you Hee return'd Shee conceales by that the good shee wishes mee but read this sayes hee in presenting him the Letter and you shall know the truth of the matter if you know what belongs to writing Then Amyntas tooke the Table-booke and after he had read it hee feined to enter into a rage to see him favour'd to his prejudice hee blotted out what was written and then cast the Table-booke into the fire that I might not receive harme by it if hee should have shewne it to some body else and in the end said a thousand things to him against me as transported with love and fury Misander would have beene angry for that hee had so us'd his Letter What said Amyntas can you put an estimation upon the favours of that woman that first writes to you and takes a liberty that is unpardonable for a Maid for my part take her to you in this humour shee is of she must needs have a great longing to have her letters seene since shee cannot stay till shee receives any and is not content to write to one alone I would but put a tricke upon you thinking my selfe had beene the onely man shee oblig'd by such a favour as this See continued hee taking out of his pocket a letter of the same writing if I had not cause to be confident in her good graces but I scorne a thing shee makes so common and sweare never to see her while I live then hee threw the Letter in the fire as he had done the other and before he went away so wrought upon Misander to bring him to what hee desired that they protested one to the other never to see mee more I finde Ariana interrupted that hee something endangered your reputation onely to get himselfe the liberty of seeing you more at his ease 'T is true replied Erycine and when he made mee the relation of this I was angry with him but hee told mee that if Misander should chance to boast of that I had written to him as little as I were knowne or he either never could it be beleev'd So lost I this lovely Misander but Amyntas did not long time enjoy his artifice and had no great trouble to hide himselfe from him for comming to our house because hee was forced to keepe away by a misfortune that arriv'd Diocles and my father had some contestation in pursute whereof it was forbidden Amyntas to come at us and me to receive him A little after I heard of the sute Diocles made to have you for him and one day when he came to mee in the Temple and would expresse to me the regret hee had for that misfortune of being hindred seeing mee I told him These are not the speeches you are to study for the faire Ariana you must rather make you provision for some first offers of service Hee answered me I know very well that Ariana is the desire of all Syracuse and that you have cause to thinke I esteeme her knowing that shee is one of the most perfect we can see but assure your selfe I will never turne my eyes towards her merit for to faile in the fidelity I have sworne to you I said to him How dare you speake thus to mee since I know the sute you are making to her Say rather if it please you replied he that my father makes to her but albeit he beleeves I would not oppose my selfe to his intention yet I hope many things will fall out before he obtaines that he desires Dicearchus loves
your good graces She could not answer me because some company came neare us and I was reasonably well pleas'd for having express'd my affection to her and the poore esteeme was made of Tygranes before I was separate from her I parted from Archelaus Court with a purpose to goe to Rome and to returne as speedily as I could into Armenia to acquit me of my charge where when I had stayed as little as I possibly might I was resolv'd to goe re-visit Pasithea the privation of whom was so cruell to mee that all the moments I passed without seeing her were so many years to me of insupportable punishments Judge Eurymedon continued he what misfortune 't was to mee to be taken by you at that time my very voyage it selfe was tedious enough to me and what kinde of life I must lead in this place where peradventure I lose the fortune of my Master and the dearest of my owne hopes Then teares abundantly flowed from his eyes whereat I was touched but yet more to know that I was the cause of so great a trouble in the affaires of Tyridates and the loves of that Prince all which obliged me to say to him I beleeve your greatest griefe comes from not daring to hope for any courtesie at our hands but I will let you see that my soule holds nothing of the cruelty of Pyrats I thinke the gods have sent you hither for my safety and it may be too they have made me be borne to serve you From this present I give you liberty without expecting your ransome any longer and render you all those that remaine of your men with the riches you have which are still intire but 't is upon condition you grant the request I will make you I have had a long desire continued I to quit the life of these Pyrats amongst whom I have beene educated against my will and thereupon I related to him all you have heard touching the incertainty of my birth and the manner of my living untill then Now added I you may make your voyage to Rome and depart when you please I onely desire this of you that we may live eternally friends and that you tell me where I shall finde you at your returne whether in Armenia or Troas for after having abandoned this Isle for ever I will returne to you in equipage worthy of a Prince that wee may no more be separated Araxes at the beginning of this discourse knew not if he should beleeve what I said but seeing at last that I spake seriously he cast himselfe upon his knees before me and said That he made no doubt but my birth was of the most illustrious since I did actions that appertained not but to the gods and the greatest Princes of the world that if he receiv'd of me so great a grace he had an obligation to me which all his services could never acquit him of and that if he were so happy as to see me one day in Armenia I should acknowledge what resentment he had of so singular a favour In the end he made me a thousand oaths to assure me that never man was so redeuable to another as he should be to me after having receiv'd an office so important to his life I lift him up againe and having embrac'd him to sweare yet to him an eternall friendship we consulted together and found that he requir'd at least two moneths for his voyage he demanded of me that terme within which time he would without faile render himselfe in Troas with the Princesse Pasithea if there arriv'd to him no second misfortune that yet he ought not so to cal the incounter he had made of me since he had gained more in this mis-adventure than he could ever have acquired in the most happy accidents of his life I furnish'd his vessell the best I could wherein I made to be re-imbarqued all his men with what he had lost besides I added to that some presents of my owne to the end he might remember me whilest I should dispose of my affaires to forsake secretly those that had bred me without their doubting of my designe My companions had sorrow enough to see so much riches carried away from them but they respected mee with so much honour that they never durst expresse any thing of it to me At last I let Araxes depart from our Ile after many embracements accompanied with protestations of friendship Afterwards I was some time amongst the Pyrats living more than ever after their mode and approving all their actions to the end they might have no mistrust of me But when I saw the time approaching that Araxes had given mee I began to choose out those that were the most affectionate to me to follow me in my enterprise One day having assembled them I represented what our course of life was incessantly to purchase wealth without knowing whereupon to employ it For said I to them in the ordinary life of men I finde excusable those that labour to accumulate goods for the sustentation of their families or for satisfying their ambition which cannot be done without their succours But wee have no children for whom we might have cause to travell and for the degrees of honour we deferre them not to the most rich but to the most valiant What fury then possesses us to thrust our selves incessantly into perill and to trouble the repose and commerce of all other men This same valour wherein we surmount others may make us gloriously acquire in the wars that which now we infamously gaine by rapine If all the world feare us we feare all the world also and measuring our number with that of the rest of men we have farre the greater part our enemies Others againe have this advantage above us that being in our power either they goe out by ransome or else receive their death with innocence and we are certaine being taken to dye by the most shamefull punishment can be inflicted upon villaines Besides all this I doe not beleeve the Romans will let us any longer live in repose there is no doubt but in the returne from the Parthian warre Corbulo will scowre the Seas of Pyrats as easily as Pompey heretofore did The more valiant we have beene of late the more complaints have wee provok'd against us and the more we have made our selves redoubtable with the more puissance and resolution will they come to assaile us Why shall wee continue living after this fashion when we may be seene among other men with more honour and safety and with as much advantage I beleeve I will not give place in valour to any Captaine in the world and I am assured there are no Souldiers in Corbulo's Army more courageous than you in the meane time we let them beare away the spoyles of all the earth and the applauses of all men while we amuse our selves unworthily in running over the Sea to wait for the passage of a Merchant Let us goe my companions
the love of Epicharis gave desire and impatiency enough but the discretion of that wench moderated him who knowing that he should commit a great fault to marry her being aslave had forbidden him the hope of it as long as she continued in that condition Palamede notwithstanding in this occasion not enduring to see so many persons made happy and himselfe so farre off enjoying the same pleasures said to her Faire Epicharis how long doe you meane to deferre satisfying the passion I have for you desire you I should attend an infinite time and in the meane space live with you the most unfortunate of men feare not to have me doe any thing unworthy of me by marrying of you your merit abundantly recompences the default of your liberty and my uncle cannot refuse to give it you when you shall be my wife What occasion more favourable may we hope for Now all things are here in disorder if we commit a fault it will easily be considerable Can you faile by imitating the actions of Ariana and Cyllenia and must my condition which you judge more exalted than yours be the sole cause of making me unhappy Palamede answered Epicharis if you could judge how much I esteeme my selfe oblig'd to you for your affection I thinke you so reasonable as you would have cause to be satisfied with me but you shall pardon me if I cannot consent to what you desire I know well the difference of our affections 'T is a passion something blindish that makes you love me but 't is reason onely that causes me to honour you You consider not well what I am when you expresse so much love to me and without doubt turne away your thought from a defect that accompanies me while you esteeme me worthy of you Contrariwise the more I open my eyes to see what your worth is the more cause I finde to love you and thinke my selfe indebted to you But loving you with reason I love your honour as much as I doe your person and it would shew I had out small care of that if I should make my selfe happy to the prejudice of it That which is fit for the faire Ariana and Melintus to doe is not so for us and the same reason that permits them to marry against the desire of Dicearchus is that which ordaines me to continue still a Maid against yours Palamede I beseech you to temper your desires and assure your selfe that if the gods are pleased with our affections they will so bring affaires to passe that honor and fitnesse shall not be separate from our contentments Thus did this wench full of wisdome and courage stay the transports of Palamedes affection who the farther off he found himselfe from contenting his desires the more he admir'd the vertue and generosity of Epicharis and increas'd his passion by them Melintus sent to have brought out of his ship much riches whereof he was provided for to make that day as famous and magnifique as he was able in a place so distant from their acquaintance He made to be taken out thence many sumptuous moveables vessell of gold and silver and what ever hee thought necessary to make himselfe seeme worthy of Ariana if Dicearchus receiv'd him into grace at Corinth Ariana and Cyllenia that ought to have bin the fairest ornament of that happy day failed not to prepare against the morning all that might make their beauty appeare more resplendent but nothing could render their charmes more pleasing than the excesse of their contentments which not able to be contained any longer in their hearts were now discovering themselves upon their faces Every one us'd the greatest care he could not to be without pomp and grace and at last that morning arrives so much desired of all When all things were ready and they putting themselves in the way to goe to the Temple they heard Trumpets sounding in the City Ariana thought Melintus had sent for them from his ship to lead her to the Temple with more solemnity but he stood in amaze at it and having sent to know what it meant they brought him word that a publike cry was made by which was commanded to all those that were subjects of the Empire to seize upon Melintus and Palamede Sicilians where-ever they were found and to send their heads to Rome because they were the enemies of Caesar and the people of Rome and for the better knowledge of them they gave all their markes This cruell newes troubled all their joyes and filled their soules with astonishment and sadnesse They durst not now goe abroad for feare of being knowne and they could not tell what counsell to take in such an excesse of misery When they fled from Dicearchus fury see them fallen into a farre greater misery having the Romans for enemies whose Empire being of so large an extent they could not hope to get out of it without being discover'd upon the wayes They shut up their house as carefully as they could staying till they might thinke upon some remedy though they had but small hope to find any Ariana fell a crying to see a persecution so cruell against her deare Melintus and her brother Cyllenia accompanied her teares out of compassion the others sought to encourage the resolution of these faire Ladies against this unhappinesse but they that took upon them to comfort others were no lesse afflicted themselves Lepantus and Amyntas offered to go learn what they said about the Towne but because they were strangers in that place they feared lest they might give some suspition of those that dwelt in the same house All that day passed with much sadnesse and feare and the next day also without inventing of any expedient Epicharis whose wit was full of a thousand inventions told them she saw well that it appertain'd to none but her to save their lives as she had once already done at Rome that she would goe about the Towne to see what passed and for this cause she was to be disguised in a man that habit being fatall for their safety Neverthelesse that they should not be so secure in her devices but they might try to finde out other meanes besides Melintus said he could finde no better than to send away some to Corcyra to advertise Eurymedon of the danger they were running that he comming by with his forces might deliver them Amyntas would goe thither to do them this service and because he would not take their ship for feare they might have need of it themselves he went away in a Skiffe towards Corcyra Epicharis on the other side made no matter of cutting her haire once again being accommodated with a mans clothes and a sword by her side she went out of the house one morning with a designe to goe gaine the Porter of the City to let them out by night She had mistrusted the conduct of another in this occasion fearing he might cause a suspition and being apprehended discover them but she was assured
feined not to understand what he would say to me but for all that I was not sorry when he came neare me and I tooke the paines to entertaine him with the best discourse I was able Dicearchus was not in that esteeme with me because I knew him to be a violent and an artificiall man and I judged that his humor would never agree well with mine My mother soone perceiv'd the purpose of Hermocrates and was well content therewithall so as she was never displeased that he should speake to me and the first time he found the occasion to come to our house she assur'd him that the entrance to it should ever be open for him He receiv'd this permission with a great deale of respect and made very discreet use thereof but Dicearchus could not suffer to see a rivall so well intreated and to finde himselfe so distant from our good graces beleeving that he was not so removed but by the advancement of Hermocrates He had recourse to a thousand devices and at last counterfetted a letter which he sent to my mother as if Eryx who was Hermocrates father had written it to her wherein he advertis'd her not to receive any more his sonne at her house and that he had other designes for him that if shee of her owne accord hindred not those frequent visits of Hermocrates hee should himselfe be forc'd to doe it by a meanes that would be heard with no very agreeable noyse to her See what a crafty plot here was see my mother then in a great wonder and more offended withall As soone as Hermocrates came to see her she prayed him to come no more at her house neverthelesse with so much temper as she express'd no discontentment at all to him beleeving that he had no part in what his father had written to her Hermocrates although my mother us'd him with no discourtesie was yet in a great surprize and besought her an hundred times to tell him what fault he could commit against the respect he ought us She would reveale nothing of the matter to him but in the end she told him that Eryx was not well pleas'd with their friendship He confess'd that his father indeed had propos'd a marriage for him but that it was a thing so unlikely that he beleev'd verily he thought no more of it No no Hermocrates replied she he has forbidden me by writing to receive you here any more but I thinke he might have express'd his aversion to us by something a civiller way Ha Madam sayes he is it possible this you tell me 'T is so true answer'd she that without opposing his desire or my owne honour I can no longer suffer you in this house Then he went his way overcome with displeasure and not knowing how hee should make shift to live any more because that as hee had a great respect and love towards his father so he had also as great a resentment of the injury he thought he had receiv'd from him in such sort that piety and choler began a combat in his soule which gave him no repose at all When he was at home he durst not lift up his eyes upon Eryx for feare of offending him with an ill looke for it had beene impossible for him to see him without paine He would not wish his father any evill and yet he could not desire any good to him so as having liv'd some time in this trouble of spirit he could not rid himselfe of at last he fell sicke and the more care Eryx express'd to have of him the more did his sicknesse increase This good father full of griefe to see in that danger his sonne whom he had reason to cherish as well for the lovelinesse of his person as because he was the onely one he bad who for all this gave no comfort to his sorrow not enduring the sight of him and refusing from his hand the remedies he offered him knew not whence this aversion should proceed of his sonne towards him and shed teares abundantly Hermocrates on the other side seeing his father in that perplexity accused himselfe for an ungracious sonne so to torment his owne father and could not tell whether he should wish himselfe dead or alive well knowing that if he dyed he should but heape sorrowes and anguishes upon the old age of those that brought him into the world and by living he could expect no contentment from them nor give them any But at length Eryx prayed his wife to aske him what cause he had not to love him and if ever he had given him any occasion to be displeased with him that having receiv'd of the gods a sonne so vertuous and obedient hee should thinke himselfe very ingrate towards them and himselfe too if ever it should happen that he gave him any displeasure His mother labour'd to get this secret out of him but he could never be perswaded to accuse his father and hee was resolv'd rather to dye than a word should escape him that shewed any want of respect She forced her selfe many times to make him declare his griefe which she doubted he concealed though she knew no cause he had for it but it was impossible to draw any thing from him In the end this good father outraged with affliction could no longer containe himselfe but approaching his sonnes bed he put himselfe on his knees before him and full of teares prayed him to tell him if ever he had displeas'd him in any thing Hermocrates ashamed at this submission and beleeving he received an injury rather than an honour by it kneeled him downe upon his bed and bowing towards his father desired him as he embrac'd him to rise up and not make his pitty guilty of shame by an abasement unworthy of him No sayes Eryx to him I will never rise untill you have told me wherein I have given you displeasure Ha my father sayes he must I have beene so unfortunate as not to have inviolably followed all your desires and that my affections should be repugnant unto yours What would you say replied Eryx speake more clearely my sonne for I doe not think you have ever oppos'd the thing I desi'rd of you and besides I promise you never to be contrary to any thing you shall desire of mee No no father answer'd Hermocrates be well assured I will never be disobedient to you and I shall take order with my selfe for your sake for ever thinking upon Euphrosyne but. Then he made a stop and his father said to him Goe on sonne and feare not to tell me what you desire you shall learne me what I know not yet and peradventure what I shall as much desire as your selfe Ha! father sayes Hermocrates if it be lawfull for mee to put a reproach upon you your letter made no such expression that you would desire it What letter answered he But not to seeme troublesome to you continued Euphrosyne the good father knew at last there had beene sent to my
ARIANA ARIANA IN TWO PARTS Translated out of French and prsented to my Lo Chamber Sold by Tho Walkley at ye flying horse neare yorke House Melintus Ariana ARIANA. IN Two Parts AS IT WAS TRANSLATED OUT OF THE FRENCH and presented to my LORD CHAMBERLAINE LONDON Printed by John Haviland for Thomas Walkley 1636. To the LADIES FAire sex to whom Nature hath given what she had most rich and lovely spring of most agreeable delights that hold in your faire hands the Empire of the Universe since you command over men and distribute to them at your pleasures either good or bad fortune 't is to you alone I present this worke I addresse it to the most delicate objects of the earth and as you are that which most pleases in the world so is it you also I desire most to please If the very power of love depends not but on yours whatsoever appertaines to it owes no homage but to you and these adventures that are effects of Ladies beautie are not to be offered but to those that may produce the like I hope there is not one amongst you that will not finde here how to passe away some houres with pleasure The severest will not be offended that this booke speakes to them of love and will not feare as they read it to tell themselves that they would be loth to heare from the mouthes of men Those that suffer onely to be loved without loving and will have much respect and ceremony shall here find such Lovers as they desire And those that are softer and who to ease the flames of their servants are willing to take a part of them shall have some satisfaction to see their owne passions here authoriz'd by examples But because amongst those that love there are some constant and some wanderers and this booke altogether takes part with the first I should feare lest the other side might not take offence to see their humour ill intreated if I did not give them reasons to defend themselves against those that are alleaged in this worke The most severest Judges would finde it a hard matter to resolve which is more commendable either to know how to keep a passion in spight of fortunes traverses or to change it to good purpose It is indeed a very glorious thing to make an invincible love appeare that feares neither heaven nor earth that is the stronger for very opposition and that would not be shaken by the ruine of the whole world Such affections as these cannot be so perfect but that they are founded upon vertue and reason having bred them they must of necessity last alwayes it being impossible that what was once reason should be so no more There is none but must confesse this kinde of loving admirable but it is as rare withall The most part of loves grow of light causes a little charme surprizes the eies and takes from them the knowledge of many defects Constancy in these affections in without doubt more vicious than change and very often they call inconstancy that which in effect is but a judicious retrait Change is sometimes a vertue more strong and more couragious than Constancie it selfe 'T is by it one tames a passion of many yeares and repaires all the disorder that was in the soule Men that have alwayes more cause to love fall least into inconstancy and Ladies that find in us so many defaults do oftentimes by reason by a generous striving that they are thought to do but out of weaknesse The law that forbids change is only more rigorous for us for it seemes we are oblig'd to suffer to the very extremity rather than be unfaithfull and women are excusable for changing the least unquietnesse love gives them Constancy is a quality too serious and too melancholike for so agreeable and delightfull a sex That which destroyes beauty ought to be detested amongst you as much as old age or sicknesse This same Constancy would appeare valiant in you and capable to support vexations at the charge of your richest treasures 'T is shee that extinguishes that lively brightnesse of the eyes that effaces the colour that ruines the good looke and that to gaine you the glory of loving well makes you lose the other of being loved Lightnesse hath much more jollity and charmes and if by some cruell accident in love there must happen one of these two changes either of the wit or of the beauty you may very well be pardoned if you chose that which preserves the thing in the world you account dearest And these are the reasons the inconstant may allege they that follow the lawes of fidelity shall finde enough in the book to answer them I counsell every one of you to continue in the opinion that is most conformable to her humour and demand of you this grace onely that those that are pleas'd to be unfaithfull blame not the austere fidelities they shall finde here describ'd and that those that love constancy accuse not the inconstant But I stay you while peradventure you are impatient to entertaine Ariana I leave you then with her and yet before quitting of you I must advertise you that she is somthing bashfull because she hath alwaies bin shut up and never yet seene the world and that if you desire her entertainment should divert you you must not addresse you to her altogether to learne her adventures Shee could not then tell which of you to satisfie and in the tumult would lose many of her graces Take her each of you apart into some retired place and then giving her attention and silence she wil freely recount to you all her life and tell the very least of her thoughts She cannot love noise or assemblies since repose and solitude gave birth to her ARIANA. THE FIRST PART ROme began to resent with griefe the violences and furies of Nero after having suffered with patience the first debauches of his youth and the people that was proud with the spoyles of all the world groned under the cruelties of that Prince when Fortune was pleas'd to bring forth accidents to crosse the most vertuous affections of the earth and suffer'd that the Cirque where Combats were made onely for pompe and recreation should bee watered with blood by a detestable treason But that basenesse could not have its full effect and was not left unrevenged for that by a prosperous foresight of heaven those who were appointed to assault were prevented by a terrour which taking from them their courage and judgement preserv'd the lives of those that were ordain'd to destruction Two young Sicilians going by night through the City one of them carried by love the other out of complaâ—sance onely for his friend and passing neere the Cirque with foure or five of their traine after they had made a noyse with their swords upon some designe they had were set upon by a troope of men at Armes whose disorder made them rather seeme persons affrighted than resolute for the
lives of those strangers Neverthelesse their number was such that had it not beene for the extreme valour they encountred they would soone have made themselves free passage But they that were assail'd being ignorant of their purpose shewed such dexterity and valour that after a great fight the other party was constrain'd to say It was the Emperour At that name the strangers gave the day over when they had done a thousand actions too brave to have had no other light but the Moones and let their enemies retire But they remain'd so charg'd with wounds that one of them fell downe presently in a sowne for losse of blood and the other going to helpe his friend was surpriz'd with a like faintnesse Their servants who melted into teares to see their valiant Masters in that extremity were preparing to lift them up from the place to carry them to their houses when two Ladies richly clothed and whose beauty received a lustre from the Torches that two young boyes carried before them came thither with their servants to learne the cause of the noyse they had heard before their lodging but seeing those that lay along upon the place and knowing them to be the brave Melintus and the generous Palamedes the love Emilia had to Melintus put her into an extreme sorrow to see him for her occasion in so deplorable an estate and Camilla gave some teares to Palamedes misfortune of whom she knew she was so passionately loved These two Sisters after they had a long time express'd their griefe caused the bodies to be carried home to their house to make tryall of remedies that might make them come to themselves againe and put them in severall places into beds becomming the richesse and luxuriousnesse of that age And there Melintus by the assistance of Emilia returning as it were from a profound sleepe and at last opening his eyes asked where Palamede was Emilia that knew well their friendship told him hee was not farre off and that he was hurt as well as himselfe but if it pleas'd the gods they were both in no great danger Then he intreated Emilia that she would let him goe see him But she would in no wise suffer him because he might not yet rise for his wounds and was satisfied in this to assure him that hee was in the next Chamber in as great need of rest as he Leave me then said he to my rest I pray you and not able to endure the sight of her he turn'd himselfe to the other side of the bed Emilia being gone he beganne thus to complaine to himselfe Ah Palamed what faults doe I incurre by your friendship against the purenesse of my love Was not my feining to love Emilia at your request insupportable enough to me but it must still draw on more disasters What couldst thou expect but vengeance from the gods after thou hadst so often betrayed my soule forcing my words to be contrary to all my thoughts In stead of ordering all that is in me by a common consent to adore but one thing I have permitted a division within my selfe my mouth and actions sacrificing to false Deities while my thoughts ador'd but one most pure and holy one But for all this could I deny Palamede any thing or could my love refuse to bee forced thus for his sake that was Author of it And when hee desir'd my helpe should I have alleag'd the severity of our Lawes to brand my selfe with ingratitude Alas how hard is it to live exempt from blame and how oft for satisfying one duty doe men quit the consideration of another At least thou my Soule wilt witnesse for me and thou Divinity that art present to my remembrance that if my words have given a respect to any other thing my thoughts have still disavow'd them and despis'd such subjects unworthy of their consideration and farre differing from the perfect cause of my affection Hee stayd himselfe some while upon that conceit that gave him comfort then seeing in how many places he was hurt hee continued thus thinking Must the wounds of that true affection I labour under be invisible while for a disguis'd love I beare so true and visible hurts hurts sometimes marks of glory but to me shamefull how shall I conceale you from my offended love Fortune that my constancy despis'd hath not lost the occasion at what time my actions might well be blam'd for infidelity and after shee had graven on me by these wounds the eternall remembrance of that same encounter in spight of my designes hath brought mee to these beds I so carefully avoyded But Fortune doe what thou canst thou shalt never make my soule consent to lose the quality of loving well I am reveng'd of thee by despising thy favours so desired of others one while thou presentst me them under the charmes of sweetnesse and facilitie another while thou lead'st me to them by the force of thy inevitable accidents for to ruine in mee a perfection that scornes thy Empire And I have nothing to oppose them with but the memory of the beauty I love for to render all their devices unprofitable No no deceiver never hope to have mee forsake this constancy thou art enemy to thou mayst well make my affection unfortunate but thou shalt never be able to make it decline so much as one degree from that height it hath attain'd Such different thoughts tormented or comforted his Spirit as it received each kind of them and entertain'd him till the next day when hee found himselfe constrain'd to keepe his bed because of his wounds although there was none of them mortall But Palamede was a great while longer without shewing any signe of life but that his heart did yet beat Neverthelesse by force of medicines they made his sight returne at last and his wounds being searcht were found very dangerous These two friends had a great estimation at Rome for their Nobility accompanied with many admirable qualities and acquir'd the friendship of all that loved vertue since their honest desire to see the seat of the Empire had caus'd them to follow an Embassie which the Syracusians sent to Nero to be eas'd of certaine new impositions They had made themselves recommendable in that employment and gain'd the glory to bee accounted the most accomplish'd men in the world but yet by differing qualities Melintus that had a wise and perfectly discreet spirit was the more reserv'd and more opportunely manifested his naturall vertues and those Sciences he had learned But Palamede was the prompter and more undertaking yet with such grace that for the most part his designes ended in a prosperous and glorious issue They were both of them exceedingly faire and handsome Melintus was the higher and of a freer making his haire which he wore long curl'd was something browne and besides he had certaine Charmes in his face with such a pleasing Majesty that made him lov'd and respected of all that beheld him Palamede was flaxen hair'd
were to my advantage and yet shee spake all these things with a pleasantnesse which gave me cause to hope well and I would have gone to intreat Emilia that she would be Judge of our difference when Marcelin came in to breake our discourse We gave place to him and after some speaking of what had beene done that day I left him with Camilla and making shew as if I would have busied my selfe in the meane time upon something I tooke a Harpe and sung these verses which I made heretofore when I lov'd Epicharis WHat grace hath she in refusing How are her rigours favourable And how her eyes by despising Produce such torments desirable If ever those faire ravishers Would change their disdaines to pleasures What fortune would surmount my glory Since being now so full of rigour I scarcely thinke that in all story There is found a happier lover Be gone Despaires at my command Spightfull enemies of my fire Give place and leave t' a gentler hand The ruling of my soules Empire Faire eyes I like your tyranny 'T is to you I yeeld me onely I feare no more your sweet despights Since this you learn'd me I retaine To recompence as great delights The cruelties of your disdaine Great God whom all Lovers adore How are thy goods unlimited Since being pleas'd or punished They love thee ne're the lesse nor more But though my heart well pleased is And seemes t' enjoy a perfect blisse Yet Love be not thou weary or leave The favourizing my desire If ills with graces I receive What would my pleasures then require Camilla perceiv'd well they were addrest to her yet seeing shee was too much employ'd with Marcelin I set by the harpe and Melintus longing to tell me what he had done for mee advertis'd mee to goe out I tooke leave therefore with satisfaction sufficient for that I had made my entrance with Camilla but the condition of my affaires was yet in better termes on the other side for being retir'd at home Melintus told me how Emilia began to speake thus to him What thinke you of your fortune to day That it is favourable said he in what least concernes me and contrary in what I most desire And what can Melintus wish for replied Emilia that he may not obtaine with those advantages he is possest of The honour of your good graces said hee which I seeke for with such passion I will not said she have it my fault that this day be not entirely happy to you for I give you that place in my soule which you can desire there I receive said he this favour with the submissions I am bound to acknowledging my selfe unworthy of it and make an oath upon this faire hand never to abuse it Are you content replide she with me More answers Melintus than I could ever have hoped But I am not said shee satisfied with the present I have made you but in imitation of the Emperours magnificence and acknowledgement to your deserts that are better knowne to me than to him I make offer to you also of what ever shall please you to desire of me my honour reserv'd Melintus feigning a joy unhoped for said to her Seeing it pleases you to grant me so much grace I accept it and to make it appeare that I perfectly love what I have undertaken to serve I aske you no other favour but to order the matter so that Palamedes service may be accepted of Camilla afterwards I may think of making my selfe happy I beleeve said Emilia that this day you have forgot your selfe to consider the contentment of others but seeing this is your request you shall see in what fashion I will employ me with her yet for all that I will not have this be to you in stead of any obligation Melintus thank'd her for this assurance and represented her with the paine I was in and the need I had of her succour when Camilla forsaking mee went to breake off their entertainment Deare sister you may imagine how well pleas'd I was at these newes for knowing that Emilia desir'd to give greater proofes of her love to Melintus I assur'd my selfe she would let her sister be quiet untill she had given her good words for me and I was not deceiv'd with this hope for I perceiv'd Camilla began to make more esteeme of me besides to beleeve these assurances I gave her of my love and to oblige me by her answers and in the end to expresse an affection to me nay one day she told me I had a good friend of her sister You know me too well to thinke I would lose these advantages so I urg'd her in such wise that by little and little she engag'd her selfe to me allowing me little favours whose permission made me an easie way for greater In such sort that serving my selfe with the occasion one day as I found her upon a bed Ariana blushing interrupted him and said hold you there brother I feare you will tell me things I would not heare Then said Palamede to her Sister I find it very pleasant you should feare to heare tell of my good fortunes and be in no apprehension by and by to understand the misery came upon us I shall ever be glad said she to know that all good fortune attends you but you ought to be silent in these particulars Palamede replide how he was not altogether ignorant how it became him to speake to her and that he was very sory nothing had pass'd that might have oblig'd him to conceale it for that having found her upon that same bed he could never obtaine any thing of her with all his labour and intreaties whereof he would make no relation because she was not pleas'd with it then he went on I vow I have not retention enough long time to conceale a good fortune I began to be weary of my discretion that bound me to dissemble before the meanest of that house besides me thinks it were to shew ones selfe unthankfull to fortune not to publish her benefits and if I were govern'd by my owne humour she should never have cause to complaine of me because I would alwayes make her favours greater by my repetition of them to confesse my selfe the more beholding to her Neverthelesse being to follow the advice of Melintus and commands of Camilla who fear'd to have our intelligence knowne to Marcelin because he held her in an Imperious way I was some while surmounting my selfe and admiring the discretion I observ'd But in the end seeing that a chamber-maid nam'd Cyane was for the most part about us and made me lose the good houres I had pass'd with more freedome but for her I resolv'd with my selfe to gaine her to the end that if she were an ordinary witnesse she might also be a complice I kept me close from Melintus to practise this maid which I have since repented sufficiently because without doubt he had let me seene the misery I went to engage me
have beene glad to have beene at Syracuse with Ariana for that he suspected lest Marcelin losing Camilla's favour might not make his addresses to her and give them many crosses that way And so had he purpos'd but that which confirm'd Melintus in that apprehension was because Marcelin impatient to see againe at leisure her that had so well touch'd him with love in so little a time staid not long to counterfeit a desire to goe see Palamede and parted from Melintus to goe into the other chamber where he found her no more so as he was forc'd to entertaine her brother thinking he might have need of his helpe to see and be well receiv'd by her but they had strange plots one upon the other That entertainment was not of continuance because when there is question of feigning the discourses are not long-breath'd each fearing to discover himselfe and so the time pass'd away the greatest part of it in silence As soone as ever Melintus could come to speake to Palamede he counsel'd him to goe out of that lodging that very day and told him he had perceiv'd the displeasure Aristides tooke for finding them there that it were better he went his way alone than stay for him that they were to tell the Ladies how Aristides weary of the journey was fallen sick for him that he would follow him the day after and so they ought to retire one by one for feare the depart of them both might not at one time too much surprise them Palamede resisted some time this advice for the passion he had to Camilla whose sight he enjoyed with such commodity Neverthelesse it became him to give place to that friends counsell he had too much neglected to his losse and this resolution taken they were to take leave of the sisters Emilia that had never observ'd in Melintus any strong passion what-ever favour she had exprest to him began to be in doubt of the cause of his coldnes to her since the arrive of Ariana This stately woman who all her life time saw her selfe ador'd without having ever any love died for despite to finde her selfe sleighted and when she heard the newes of his retrait at first shee gently replied to the courteous words of Melintus but to his replies shee us'd reproaches and from reproaches she enter'd into fury That rage brake all the chaines of discretion and modesty What said shee after I had disdain'd the most powerfull men at Rome am I brought to this passe to become suppliant to a stranger and a man unknowne This ingratefull man this Traitor after receiving so much honour at my house after having bin drawne by me out of the hands of death dares yet forsake me and refuse a few daies at my intreaty Melintus to stop the current of those words said to her Madam I am neither traytor nor ungrate I have lost neither the respect I owe you nor the passion I had for you it needs not to employ intreaties where you may command and that which makes me be accus'd for disacknowledgement is that should rather let you see how well I can acknowledge the cares it pleas'd you to take of me since I desire to free you of them Will you reduce mee to that never to be able to satisfie the obligations I have to you by never ending my importunities and that I suffer all my life to be serv'd by you without a power to doe you service Beleeve you that when I am at home I shall have the lesse affection to you and will you not so much as permit that I put my selfe in the way to render you my duties Although I honour your favours extremely the excesse of them begins to be weighty upon me seeing I no more obtaine them by my services Madam if you have hitherto taken pleasure to expresse so good will to me envy me not at my turne the contentment of offering you my cares and obliging you by my submissions to continue this affection to me I beleeve that to a person of courage there is no punishment comparable to this without ceasing to receive and never give and this is that you would have mee eternally endure Emilia something stayed by these speeches stedfastly regarding him said How happy should I be Melintus if you were true but I feare this faire language proceeds not from the heart too much order has it to expresse a passion and you seeme rather to affect to speake well than to love well t is no matter I will beleeve you so you will grant me yet two dayes more stay during which you may find your selfe in better health Melintus not willing to put her into desperation answer'd her that shee might dispose not onely of two dayes but all those of his life without asking him leave So they were at accord together And Camilla much better assur'd of Palamede's affection not being made to oblige her by any compulsion suffer'd him to goe his way well knowing she should ere long see him againe The displeasure this stay brought to Melintus came from hence that hee saw himselfe depriv'd in that time of seeing Ariana and knowing Palamede would not faile to report to her the cause that retain'd him he would write this Letter to her Melintus to Ariana T Is not my sicknesse now that retaines me here but another's that is more insupportable to me than my owne rather out of despite than pitty I have of it 'T is a cruell thing to be unfortunate by too much good fortune and not to be able to escape out of that is in my owne power I beleeve I am destin'd to contemne all my time the good things are offer'd me and to consume my selfe by desiring those I cannot possesse When Fortune uses me the most cruelly she makes me become cruell too then ordaines a punishment for my disdaines in stead of rewarding them being so just But since she is blind I appeale from her to your judgement and aske of you not that which I refuse to take of others that were too great presumption but that I even refuse them which is a little compassion though it may seeme I am unworthy of it in that I deny to give it Melintus gave this Letter in Tables to Arcas his faithfull Free-man to whom alone was the secret passion of his master disclos'd who would not hide himselfe from him in many things he had occasion to employ him This good servant the day after that Palamede was return'd to Maximus with his father tooke the occasion to goe see how hee did from Melintus and gave his letter secretly to Ariana who receiv'd with it so much content that after she had read it she promis'd to give him an answer Never had she done him that favour but having lately had intelligence of so many vertues and merits by her brothers report of the contempt hee had made of one of the fairest Ladies of Rome for not giving offence to her love of the honours he
to take some rest but she said to her Cease my deare maid to comfort me if thou knewest the losses I sustaine thou would'st complaine as much as I doe my misfortune There is yet no cause sayes Epicharis to despaire Arcas hath told you how they desir'd not to have their lives but would only take them prisoners And dost thou thinke said Ariana they would not revenge the deaths of them they kill'd in their owne defence and then a torrent of teares stopt her speech I know well said Epicharis that you love nothing in the world so much as that brother Thou knowest that interrupted she but thou art ignorant how deare the other person is to me that I lose with him and this double losse makes that I cannot have teares sufficient to represent to thee my sorrow Epicharis a little a maz'd let her weepe some time then replide thus Madam in your affliction I have a certaine kind of joy to learne the truth of a thing which I have all my life passionately desir'd for I ever thought that nothing but you was worthy of Melintus and that Melintus only was worthy of you The gods without doubt will favour so discreet and vertuous a friendship and not permit you be long time separated Alas Epicharis said Ariana what miseries doe I foresee if once I returne without him into Sicily and yet he ordaines me this desiring rather to dye than see me in the hands of these in famous ravishers for assure thy selfe Epicharis never was there an affection so perfect or so full of respect as this he hath to mee He has ever had so much feare of displeasing mee knowing how I have in horrour all those fooleries of love that unlesse the gods had produc'd in me an affection like unto his that gave him leave to expresse something of it to mee I should scarce have had any knowledge thereof yet And I doe not know also whether he would be pleas'd with me for discovering so much of it to thee as I have done Madam answer'd Epicharis you know what fidelity I have vowed to you it would be an injury to the passion I have for you to conceale your secrets from mee knowing how much I desire to serve you and ease your troubles I beleeve he would not be sorry for my knowing it if he knew the desire I had to see you both happy together Deare Epicharis replies Ariana knowing our humours dost thou beleeve ever any enjoyed a like felicity if this might come to passe But thou knowest to whom I am destin'd by my father and this last disaster is of that nature that I can hardly hope ever againe to see alive either him or my deare brother Ariana ever renuing her weeping and Epicharis knowing how her sorrow was diverted when she spake of the affection of Melintus said to her Madam the gods will preserve for you this lovely Melintus and since they have given him you will not suffer any dispositions of the earth contrary to their will Live at more repose and be confident in their goodnesse in the meane time because you cannot sleepe I shall take it for a great favour if you please to take the paine to tell me how you came to know the beginning of this affection I will then said Ariana spend in so deare an entertainment what remaines of the day before we are to part and having taken care that no body might over-heare them after she had wiped her eyes she spake thus History of Melintus and Ariana I Will beleeve what I sometimes have heard the wisest say that the gods have establisht certaine Genies to rule the order of all things who being just and good suffer not craft and oppression long to triumph over innocency and bring to light the most concealed secrets to give in the end to nobility and vertue the honours and recompences they deserve I beleeve also they have given to every one of us in particular other Genies that inspire us with secret knowledge of the qualities we are to acquire and make us conceive desires whereof we know not the cause to guide us to the possession of that which is most honest and most profitable for us Thou wilt find these very true observations by that I shall tell thee of the strange fortune of Melintus of the perfections he has been carefull to get and of the esteeme we had each of other even before ever we saw one another for you must know that I knew him not before he went from Siracuse to Athens for to learne all the sciences and exercises fitting for a person of his condition In all which he was so prosperous that they that return'd from Greece spake of nothing but his perfections and the facility he had to have good successe in what ever he undertooke One day my brother in his letters gave me notice of the friendship they had made sure to one another with so many advantageous words for Melintus and expressions of joy for himselfe that I thought Melintus must be something above the common sort since my brother that was none of the least esteemed conceived to have gained so great a good fortune in his affection I signified to him by my answer the part I tooke in his contentment and beside that the profit I should have by it by hearing newes of him at Telephus house that was father to Melintus when he were carelesse of writing Palamede shewed him this letter and he approv'd it for a certaine thing he said pleas'd him and afterwards in those he writ to Telephus he alwayes mention'd something concerning Palamede and me so as when ever I was in paine for the health of my brother I sent to Telephus that made no difficulty to let me see the whole letters of Melintus But I protest to you I saw there a fashion of writing so sweet and a respect he gave Telephus so great and yet mixt with an honest boldnesse that I had a great desire to be acquainted with him one day On the other side I wrote to Palamede with more care that if it hapned he shewed my letters to Melintus he might have a more favourable opinion of me I was not mistaken for after that he exprest to me when he had seene what I had writ and knowne me by some relation my brother made him what great desire he had to accomplish the time that was prescrib'd him by Telephus that he might come home into Sicily and see mee During that time there passed occasions that augmented still the esteeme wee began to have each of other for he went away with the honour of horse races at the Olympick games and the glory of making the best verses as my brother also had the prize of the Harpe So happily that they made our City glorious above all the townes that sent to those games the excellentest men they had for all exercises On the other side a prize having beene propounded at Siracuse for the
my misfortune that hath given me this benefit to make her lye in the same chamber with me for whom I have had so many longings Palamede said Epicharis if I have so freely put my selfe into your hands take no other advantage of it besides the testimony I give you of an honest desire to serve you for if you abuse this my freedome I shall know how to punish you well enough and my selfe too for having obliged an indiscreet man She spake these words something in passion but Melintus said to her No no Epicharis I shall be his surety assure your selfe Palamede has not so lost his judgement as not to know what respect wee are to beare to your sex and honour to your courage She knowes that well replies Palamede if I be not deceiv'd in her humour and if I honour it I have beene sufficiently instructed to my cost how I ought to live with her and learn't more discretion in her company than my wit hath seem'd capable of Neverthelesse she knowes withall that I must alwayes be jesting These occasions sayes she permit no jesting content your selfe that I love you as my Master and Melintus as my brother Melintus admir'd her vertue and gentilenesse and gave her many thanks for the good will she had for him without any obligation of his part to have ever moved her to it Melintus said she you are of more worth than all my services give me leave only to doe for you what I am able and for this time doe me the favour to let me sleepe for I had never so much need of rest Melintus intreated her to take their bed for her selfe alone because it was more commodious than her owne but she would never consent to that and went into another very little one that was made ready for her after she had prayed them to remember she was called Eurylas and no more Epicharis They promis'd her to have care of it and then they all three held their peaces to go sleepe The next day she arose before them and went to make acquaintance with all of that obscure house then having understood there were some Romans come that desir'd to speake with the two friends she went to them to know what their desires were They signified to her they were come to offer them their goods and services Epicharis went to aske the Gaoler if she should let them in but he said that was expresly forbidden and shee made answer to them that it was not possible to speake with them but how they were best to employ themselves with the Senators to make their innocence appeare to them and what the actions of their life past had beene which they promis'd to doe and went their way after she had knowne the lodging of some of them to make use thereof if need were Melintus in the meane time that waked long before Palamede entred upon the consideration of his good fortune and commended this accident for making him receive so deare an expression of Ariana's affection as to send her faithfull Epicharis to assist him with her brother when shee could give them no helpe her selfe He doubted not of escaping that danger seeing himselfe strengthened with such a helper and spent all his thoughts in the remembrance of Ariana and the fortune of his loves which he found to be in a very happy condition For although he might thinke shee had not sent this maid but for her brothers sake yet he found this action to be too gentile and too generous to proceed from a simple friendship and not rather to be a Love-invention and then resting him upon that meditation he said within himselfe And dare I also to pretend to so much happinesse and can I without presumption beleeve that she loves me for if I beleeve her altogether perfect I am to be perswaded that she hath an excellent judgement and with what vanity can I hope she should thinke me worthy of her and yet because her judgement is so perfect she knowes to what degree my passion has proceeded and peradventure she will have the perfection of my love be comparable to the greatnesse of her desert Should I then be so happy that for this reason she had found nothing in the world besides me worthy of her that she had separated me out of the number of all men to be made choyce of and that in her soule she had kept her to that choyce Pleasing but too ambitious thoughts whither doe you lead me are you so bold to compare me to this Divinity that nothing was ever yet comparable to where are your respects and your feares Let us continue in a submission and not expect her grace but by adoring her and not in equalling our selves to her But is not this againe to wrong the perfection of my love to abase it in humility in stead of acknowledging the beauty and greatnesse of it Things that are arriv'd to this degree are of a glory too transcendent to suffer contempt of us they will be admir'd and confess'd to be as divine as they are indeed Pardon my love I had rather let thee alone than offend thee equall thy selfe if thou beest willing to so many merits 't is by thee alone I have hope It may be this faire soule loves thee already and embraces thee taken with thy perfection and if wee doubt of this let us continue in the beleefe that is more fitting for us and at least not give over the contentment of hope These delightfull fancies entertain'd him with great pleasure when all on a sudden he felt himselfe embrac'd of Palamede who said to him Pardon Epicharis alas Epicharis I aske you pardon Melintus embrac'd him in like manner and spake to him that he might continue this discourse hee made in his sleepe but Palamede awaked and confest to Melintus that he dreamt hee was taken by Epicharis making protestations of love to Camilla and that hee fell downe at her knees to cry her mercy Then looking about in the chamber and seeing she was gone out he continues There is no doubt but the love of this wench comes alwayes to challenge the place it had in my soule what ever lightnesse may possesse me for I loved her before I went to Athens where you are a witnesse how many Mistresses I serv'd at our returne from thence to Syracuse I had no sooner seene her but I was more subjected to her than before time being come to Rome I loved Camilla and you have seene how coldly I made use of those advantages you obtaind for me since she arriv'd there with my sister now shee covers my wound more than ever by the care she takes of us and by a thousand pretty devices her wit is continually working For my part said Melintus I cannot thinke her borne of a servile condition she has too many faire qualities for so wofull a birth and I vow to you I shall never blame your affection for being carried away with such
assure your selfe that when I shall be able to doe you service I will not thinke upon reproaching you Then Melintus declar'd to him all the manner of his birth to which Palamede harkened with so much contentment that he would not so well have resented the like good fortune had it hapned to himselfe He ceas'd not admiring at a fortune so unordinary and doubted not but that Diocles would bee convinced by those meanes they were prepar'd of that if there were at last need of violence he was not a man to make resistance against them This is it replide Melintus that kept me from discovering me untill now to you for the friendship you have to me would have prevail'd with you to make this appearance before it may be there were cause for it and now is the fittest time by farre you will confesse Melintus went through with all that discourse assuredly enough but when he was purpos'd to discover to him the affection he had for his sister he scarce dar'd to pronounce the faire name of Ariana Palamede after some words knowing from whence that difficulty of speech proceeded would encourage him and said My deare Melintus it is not necessary you tell me that I know as well as you and you have heard from my selfe how greatly I desire that happinesse as well for my own contentment as yours if I could binde me to you by an alliance yet more streight I would seeke it so fearefull am I that we are not yet sufficiently united give leave therfore that from this very houre the name of brother be common to us we are already brothers in wils and I hope we shall be so in effect very shortly I make no doubt but my sister acknowledges your deservings and acknowledging them loves you besides the obligations she hath to you and for my uncle he but now made me a discourse when wee left you there in the Parke that shewed plainly how his designe might easily correspond with ours Oblige me said Melintus and tell me what he thinks of me You would not beleeve replies Palamede how much the assistance he receiv'd of you this day has wrought upon him and he desires nothing more than to render you one day if it be possible as great a pleasure The occasion sayes Melintus interrupting him offers it self for he may in like manner oblige mee for my life He is not farre off this answered Palamede because having no greater intention than this which is to maintaine the authority he hath in Syracuse he told me that although Telephus had not beene his friend he saw none so fit as you whereupon to stay the credit and esteeme we might keep there for the peoples love was already set upon you and that we had a faire meanes to binde us for ever to you by a person whom it seemes you have fairely wonne going to take her out of those Souldiers hands and that he beleev'd too she would not make resistance to this because certaine words escap'd her when she knew you that gave him cause to thinke she hated you not and that you were also in love with her That hee was very glad hee was no further engaged with Diocles nor with Pisistratus of Corinth who is come hither drawne by my sisters reputation and for that he found himselfe still at liberty to deliberate upon our good fortune and yours which he would seeke as much as in him lay in satisfaction of what he owes you There wanted but little to have this discourse as pleasing to Melintus as the entertainment he had with Ariana her selfe in the end hee knew how there remained no other doubt in Dicearchus minde but the difficulty of his estate which was not so great as Ariana's but Palamede added that the newes he was to bring him would soone cleare every thing that might hinder their common contentment Melintus esteem'd himselfe very happy in the opinion Dicearchus had conceiv'd of him and after they had passed a great part of the night in so deare discoursing as this they fell both asleep and waked not untill it was something at the latest But whereas they spent the beginning of the night in their entertainment Ariana and Erycine that lay together gave the end of it to theirs they began to speake as soone as they waked which was afore day and when that appear'd Erycine perceiv'd Ariana had put the sheet from off her because of the heat and saw hereby so many wonders that she could not containe her selfe from saying Who shall that happy man be that shall one day enjoy all those beauties Ariana smiling answered her It may be a person you have some interest in Erycine blushed thinking she meant it by Amyntas whom she was in love with and who loved her too and because she would seeme crafty told her I have no interest in those that have none in me Ariana knowing her mistake replied And of whom thinke you doe I meane to speake Of Amyntas replied she because you have heard say that hee loved mee Assure thy selfe deare Erycine sayes Ariana that I am very farre from thinking of him he is a man I never spake to and whom I will not know whilest I live And yet answered Erycine but a while since 't was thought your marriage was resolv'd on Never replide Ariana came it to that point yet for I take not my resolutions on that fashion and though I should have consented to it the returne of my brother and yours gives me other thoughts for the present But went she on how could Amyntas endure the search of me after he had loved you Whence came that coldnesse Was it on your part or on his On neither answered Erycine and if you will assure mee never to marry Amyntas I shall not faile to tell you all that passed betweene us I may well sweare that to you replide Ariana and if you have any designe one to the other be certaine that I will not bee the cause of our being all three unfortunate but you shall doe me a great pleasure to learne me something of your life and I pray therein spend the time that is left us before wee are to rise This assurance said Erycine and your friendship obliges mee to conceale nothing from you then she began her story thus History of Amyntas and Erycine THe affections that are bred with us and which we have as it were sucked in with our milke are turn'd into so powerfull habits and take so deepe rooting that they are not to be plucked up but with violences that are as so many deadly blowes and I rather beleeve the impossibilitie of ridding ones selfe of them because the passion that findes it selfe growne before the birth of reason knowes its owne strength when reason begins but to appeare and so alwayes masters it not onely as the first borne but as superiour I confesse to you this is the reason why I have suffered so many troubles with a pertinacious constancy in
never the farther from loving me At that time I gained also the affection of Misander if I may so call the desire he exprest to see and speake with me fot doubtlesse you will laugh at the humour of that man I have heard say interrupted Ariana that he is of Reggium and comes often to Syracuse but that he is very melancholicke It is impossible replide Erycine you should imagine to what degree he is so He came one day to see me in the company of Amyntas that was his friend at that time Hyperia my mother was very sicke and in danger to dye my affliction which he found to have some sympathy with his sad humour caused as I beleeve the good will he had to me His discourses were to make me see that I had cause rather to bee afflicted than comforted his wit affording him no reasons for to vanquish my griefes and after he had employed some words to expresse the part he tooke in my sorrow he thought he had sufficiently declar'd his affection to me since it may be I was the first he had obliged by that compleasance Thinking therfore he had got familiarity enough with me by this first encounter he came to revisit me when my mother was in better health and I rejoyced at her recovery my jollity truly made not his affection dye which my sadnesse had produc'd but standing mute to all the discourses wherein I express'd a satisfaction in him he would peradventure have had mee beleev'd that his silence proceeded from love and some dayes after seeing me to receive him with a great deale of kindnesse as I am accustomed to use all that come to see me he tooke the liberty to complaine of me and would have mee thinke that I dealt unjustly with him not to acknowledge the affection hee bare me although he had made none at all appeare to me whether by discourse or any other way For my part having no cause to satisfie him it was no difficult matter to me to keepe him in that plaintive humour and every time he saw me he seem'd to have obtain'd what he desired for when I us'd him with harshnesse or contempt he set himselfe to discourse that he was the most miserable of men that those women that had a sweetnesse for all other had nothing for him but disdaines that his encountring was so unfortunate that at the same instant he appeared he inspir'd refuses and rude usage into them he desir'd most to be esteem'd of that in his very presence they affected a favouring of others to give him the greater displeasure To end upon the subject of the misery of his life there came a torrent of words from him which was impossible to be stopped I laugh'd within my selfe that he was satisfied after that fashion in making all those complaints and reproaches to me his soule loving to feed on nothing but such ill nourishment as this You describe a man to me interrupted Ariana of a very strange nature and yet pleasant enough withall I cannot replide Erycine sufficiently represent this miserable humour for I have observ'd that it 's impossible to please him giving a sense to all things that confirmes his opinion of being miserable If I us'd him with any sort of kindnesse he tooke it for feining if I treated him with coldnesse it was a certaine contempt If I spake to him it was said he in a certaine fashion whereby he perceiv'd well enough the small account I made of him if I held my peace it was to let him see that he was troublesome and to give him leave to be gone In the end I found very true what I had heard my brother say of him that of all the passions he thought he had none but the displeasant and unfortunate ones as sadnesse feare jealousie despaire distrust and the rest And upon this subject he made an observation which I have found a very pretty one and am like to retaine it in my memory that the most things have two faces which diversly regarded make effects as divers As in a combat a man of courage considers nothing but the glory of vanquishing and makes sure of it a poltron regards nothing but death which brings horrour and trouble upon him Even so Misander being within corrupted with this same blacke humour regarded but the ill sense of all things and interpreted all my actions to his disadvantage I had two servants then very differing one that complain'd incessantly without having cause the other that alwayes satisfied himselfe what-ever rigour he receiv'd I confesse to you Amyntas displeas'd me not for the other you may judge if he were love-able yet although he were a man I had reason to banish my company the softnesse of my nature suffer'd me not to anger him enough to drive him away Amyntas knowing by the intreaty I made Misander that himselfe was not ungracious with mee ceased not seeing me and had not failed of greater attempts but that I made him know his duty and my modesty altogether stayed him Misander had so contagious a melancholy that he was a vexation to all he came neare Amyntas brought me his acquaintance but he repented him sufficiently of it for my sake and more yet for his owne because Misander never left me and hee could not entertain me as he desir'd 'T is true that if I had an enemy I should wish him to endure the love of a man of this humour for I beleeve there is nothing in the world more insupportable If you stay at home they will besiege you cruelly without speaking sometimes a word in a day and will weary out the most resolute that might thinke to attend their depart to speake with more freedome if you have businesse abroad they will still accompany you and not give you so much as one houre of respite and in the meane time they will have their sighes be taken for the sweetest entertainments of love their silence for an admirable discretion and their importunity for services that cannot be sufficiently rewarded I remember one day Amyntas came to our house feining to save himselfe from the raine he was taken in as he had ever some pleasant excuse to come often thither and finding Misander there whose presence importuned him sufficiently without adding to his trouble any thing by this sorry humour he was not able to endure that constraint and went out to be delivered of it in spight of the raine that still continued but when hee was abroad the storme so increas'd as he was forced to come backe againe to us where we passed away a day as blacke as can be imagined as well because of the weather as for the humour of Misander On the subject of that raine Amyntas the day after gave me these verses Last day faire Erycina with a storme assail'd At your house I beleev'd I should have shipwracke fail'd As at some happy Port by heaven granted me Soone by their radiant beames your eyes me dried But
his custome was beleev'd it was but to make him a more honourable refuse yet for all that they were exceedingly amaz'd when Palamede having prayed his uncle to resolve on the marriage of Melintus hee gave him this answer that it was necessary he went first to Corinth with him and his sister to see their kindred and advise with them about it that for this purpose they would goe in Pisistratus's ship that was to returne and that they should both prepare them for this depart Palamede would oppose some reasons to this resolution but all was in vaine and when he brought this newes to Melintus and his sister he fill'd them both with confusion Melintus made Dicearchus be intreated by Palamede that he might accompany them in this voyage to make himselfe knowne to their friends at Corinth but he said that was not fitting and it would seeme he went to speake of a thing resolved if he were with them That answer troubled Melintus still more not knowing for what designe he intended that voyage and made those difficulties For hee thought he had sufficiently oblig'd him by saving of his life and more againe by his oath to make him forget those ancient enmities Neverthelesse all prepare to depart and Melintus one day finding Ariana amaz'd for this necessity of parting full of sadnesse said to her Madam what signifies this wofull voyage I know not what end it may have but the beginning is too sad to promise me any good When I thought my selfe the happiest of men I finde that good fortune absents her the more from mee and forbids me so much as following her Melintus answered Ariana I know not what my uncles designes are but mine shall ever be like yours and finding that I am seconded by my brother there is no force can possibly over-rule me Live I pray you in repose as much as you may during this absence and if my being away causes sorrow in you let the assurance of my affection diminish it Madam return'd Melintus how happy doe these expressions make me in so unfortunate an occasion but may I be assured that no constraint shall ever change your minde You ought not onely to beleeve this said she but you doe me wrong besides to make any doubt of it for it seemes you judge me capable of lightnesse and ingratitude Pardon Madam said he never thought I these defaults could have place in your heart but losing so many blessings by your absence me thinks nothing can ever restore them againe to me What may I hope for more after the losse of those deceitfull assurances that have these late dayes flattered me Will you have this misfortune of seeing you no more promise me any good when my very greatest contentments have brought me nothing but so cruell a disaster Melintus sayes she all contentments are followed with displeasures and all sadnesse with joy things that are contrary succeed one another we shall have a little to suffer being separate so long but after a while enduring the returne will be more glorious and more agreeable to us afflict me not I pray you with your sorrowes my owne are sufficient for mee and after I shall know that you support with constancy this separation I shall have courage enough to imitate you I am of the opinion replied he that to have so much courage is to have but small love for what strength can be able to resist the displeasures of my soule being depriv'd of the happinesse of seeing you Resolution can doe nothing to ease an evill which judgement finds more hard to master the more it seekes wherewithall to give it consolation to give over sorrow I must of necessity give over remembring you and that can I not but with my life Melintus sayes Ariana I know this very well that our misfortune is great but doe you complaine of it to me to this end that by my reasons I might endevour to comfort you or else that I by knowing it might be sure to suffer as much as you For the first you confesse your selfe that reason can doe nothing and for the other you would be cruell to desire an augmentation of what I endure Let us rather comfort us on both sides and as I betray my griefe to expresse a constancy to you so doe you seeme to have one too that being content with our miseries we may at least be deliver'd from those we seeke to bring one upon another These words that came from the excesse of a rare friendship brought the teares into Melintus eyes and it was a paine to him so seized was he to frame this answer Madam that I had a meaning to increase your griefe were impossible having so much love for you but I am brought to that passe as not to know how to speake to you for if I expresse my sufferings you complaine of me and if I expresse them not at all to you what will you thinke of my affection Ariana perceiving his difficulty of speech to give him comfort interrupted him and said I will have no more expressions of this affection for if I still had need of them you should not already have receiv'd so much of mine No my deare Melintus I am more assur'd of you than of my selfe but these mutuall assurances serve for nothing but to make us be more sensible of this accident if we loved one another lesse we should be lesse touched for this separation let us then esteeme our griefe glorious since it hath so faire a cause and not complaine any more since we would not have lesse affection to suffer the lesse paine Melintus full of seizure and touched besides at these deare speeches could not pronounce a word himselfe but only kist Ariana's hands that were all wet with the great teares that fell from him He was a good while in that posture and Ariana giving way to an object so sensible let fall too some teares from her faire eyes which she dried willing to hide her affliction from Melintus who at last addressing him to that he held never lifting himselfe up said Faire hands must I forsake you and abandon the sweet pleasures you favour me with promise me at least never to receive others in the place of mine Sweare it to me faire hands by your sweet restraints I will beleeve you will never be unfaithfull to me for you are too delicate to enterprize my death and too white not to be innocent Ariana answered I promise you for them all you desire and will have you said she in presenting them to him kisse them againe for pledge of their fidelity then she rose up to divert her from her sorrow and that shee might not be taken in this trouble by any one that came in For Palamede chanc'd to arrive a while after with whom they discours'd upon the occasion of this voyage whose true causes they could not understand He promis'd Melintus to advertise him by his letters of all that passed and to come
of him to his advantage I would have wâ—â—hed he had seene me oftner and since that seeing there passed few dayes â—hat he came not to us and finding him in a sadnesse that was not ordinaâ—â— with him I imagin'd that hee loved some Lady that used him ill or that â—e could not easily see and came to divert his griefes with me One â—â—ile I wished ill to that faire Lady for the sorrow he suffer'd for her anothâ—r while I was not angry for the small satisfaction he receiv'd for the interâ—â—t I had in him and what-ever were the cause of it I was very glad to see â—im oftner He had the reputation to be lov'd of some Ladies but they weâ—e such as never troubled my minde for he told mee all the defects he founâ— in them some were too facile others had no other pride but to get quantity of Lovers and to keepe them all by different meanes and because I knew thâ—t vanities and affectations were insupportable to him I was sure he would never have a passion for those subjects I enquir'd after the places he most hunted but I found none that deserv'd his stay and in my soule I doubteâ— not but that he approv'd me as much as he did any else At length one day when we were alone I shewed him some verses were given me and in reâ—ompence he let me see others he had made himselfe and they were these SHall I then suffer an eternall silence Of my sad griefes to hide the violence Extinguishing my dayes most happy season And can this beauty that my thoughts adore The use of voyce deprive me evermore After she had depriv'd me that of reason And shall the ardor of my secret fires Still kindle in my soule so vaine desires And no excesse of rigour mollifie Still shall her eye upon me fulminate And pittilesse my hopes to dust translate As into ashes my heart multiply Where art thou Courage have I lost that strife That carries all to their owne good and life My just resentments where have you remain'd What magicke poyson what deceit might keepe Your power in most necessity asleepe When I these unknowne traitors entertain'd Ah! Whither will my senslesse fury take me The discreet bridle of cold feare will make me Soone disavow these transports of my tongue The torments of my rain'd soule I nourish The enemy that kils me I must cherish If I no reason have my plaints are wrong They 're wrong t is true my fetters are too faire Causelesse complaints my want of worth â—clare To free me of them 't is not my designe The honour of her sight is recompence And I too happy am without offence Alwayes so neere my heart to beare her shriâ— Said I her shrine ah 't is her selfe 't is she I feele her there within too cruelly Kindling the coale that nourishes my torment 'T is she her power makes her well appeare Who in that heat is pleas'd she caused there And lives in fire as in her element Thou that liv'st in me beauty inhumane What need I speake thou well behold'st my paine Wilt thou establish peace within thy dwelling What! my ills horror makes thee insensible But if thou art but ice alas is 't possible Thou shouldst not quench the ardor of my loving Is 't possible said I giving him the verses againe Lepantus should stand mute before her he loves Not onely mute answered he but so full of respect and feare that not so much as a looke hath ever given her an expression of my love You must needs said I to him feare her extremely for I know but very few that would not gladly receive the offer of your service I wonder replies he you should thinke that so strange when you are one of those that cannot endure to be loved Speake not of me return'd I to him for I have reason not to beleeve that any can love me but she you are in love with being without question very lovely may well beleeve what you might tell her concerning your affection Contrariwise goes he on I love her not but because she resembles you and this is that makes me feare that I be not sensible of the same severity in her which many others have made trial of in you I answered him but it was not Lepantus that made me those offers and being unsatisfied with my owne beauty I could not beleeve any great effects could proceed from so meane a cause besides I must tell you that though I be not worth the paine to be lov'd I have not hitherto found a man worthy of my spirit and though some one might present himselfe I should use him as if I thought him the least of men and my selfe one of the perfectest women This answer surpriz'd him and for a time he stood as if he had beene without all sense then recovering speech he said to me I have then some cause to feare that this beauty resembling you banish me not her sight if I prefum'd to declare my love to her or at least that she thought not her selfe offended at me and her provoked eyes were not to be endur'd All said I to him are not so ill-natur'd and I would willingly know her to perswade her to thinke well of you May it please the gods said he you had as much will to helpe me as you have knowledge of her I sware to him I would employ my selfe heartily therein if he would let me know her That would be answered he to speake of love to you which you will never endure That concernes me not said I will never offend me If she resembles you replide he both in beauty and humour she must have a like thought to yours and to make triall by your selfe of the usage I should have of her I will tell you Cyllenia I love you What would you answer But said I that is not so and therefore I cannot make you the answer I would There is nothing more certaine continues he and all the discourse I made you was but to make way for this declaration I blush'd and asham'd that I had thus forc'd him to discover himselfe told him Lepantus if the freedome I use with you cause this boldnesse you shall not long time abuse it for you must either lose this liberty or my sight He nothing amaz'd answered me You will confesse then I had cause to conceale my affection from her that resembles you for I apprehend as cruell an answer from her as that I have drawne from your mouth I was now more asham'd than before for having beene so deceived and but for the comming in of some company I had gone to complaine of him for thus playing with me yet for all that I flatter'd my selfe with a beleefe that his discourse might well be true and all night long I did nothing but fortifie me in that opinion that he would but sound me on all sides and that if my answer had beene more gentle he would have left
lesse accomplish'd that it might have beene doubtfull whether I esteem'd him or not and not knowing how to be reveng'd of this common opinion sometimes I was resolved to abandon him and I consented to make my selfe miserable and him too for to ruine this beleefe at our owne cost it is true hee has payd very deare for that glorious and haughty vertue he taught mee and that I well serv'd my selfe against him of this greatnesse of spirit to which hee had advanc'd mee that perswaded me it were better to lose all the contentments of my life than it should be said I were in love In the meane time I considered not how there is nothing more lawfull than to chuse by honest meanes him one thinkes shee shall be happy to live with and when that happinesse is arriv'd one cannot but bee thought wise That errour made mee commit faults I shall deplore all my life time Though my father had let Artemidore see that Lepantus was not to thinke of mee yet hee refrain'd not sometimes to put him upon that discourse and represented to him what fault it was to refuse this good fortune for his family that hee despis'd in Lepantus the qualities that other fathers would desire to meet with for their daughters that if hee loved mee with so much passion it was rather a happinesse than a thing to make him culpable that the whole City would have an obligation to him for the stay of a person of that merit with them for the greatest part of his estate being about Corinth hee offered to settle himselfe there and never forsake my father but all this prevailed nothing upon him That which rendred Lepantus recommendable was that which did him the most harme my father having this wofull opinion that he was rather to chuse a sonne in law lesse able than hee and that would be more carefull of his affaires But yet I beleeve the strongest reason was that my father although a knowing man retaining the nature of old men that will have all their opinions passe with authority was envious of Lepantus's knowledge and desir'd not to have ordinarily at his house a person that could contradict him though Lepantus well knew how to give way to all he said with much discretion My father had not so much reason to refuse him as I had to love him and he could not but perceive the desire I had because I was not able to suffer any body that spake to mee to the disadvantage of Lepantus and farre rejected the parties that presented themselves I know very well that if I had declar'd to my father that I could not consent to any other search he would at last have beene flexible to the tendernesse hee had over me and the merit of Lepantus but fearing lest so absolute a resolution came to be knowne in Corinth I never had that assurance In the meane time I was tormented with Lepantus vexations and with my owne too I saw him at the Temple but rarely and with a face so changed that Death hath not a more forlorne one His letters were not filled now but with the misery of his life and modestly he remembred me of my promises I acknowledg'd he had reason and that his good fortune was in my hands but I could not resolve me and this severity that made me insensible to his griefes and prayers in the end wrought in me also an insensiblenesse to his affection All that came neare mee were instructed to speake in contempt of Lepantus and because I knew him too well to beleeve them if they told mee any thing that were contrary to the truth they did onely disguise his vertues and made them passe for so many vices Thus the charmes hee had to make him bee lov'd of the ablest and respected of the meanest were but an imperiousnesse and a tyrannicke authority which he usurp'd upon all that haunted him his discretion was dissimulation and his courtesie artifice all his good qualities in their judgement were so many defaults I confesse to you I beganne by little and little to give place to their reasons Lepantus absence effaced every day out of my memory some one of his perfections I said that peradventure my affection blinded me and made me imagine merits that were not in him that those that were without passion judged of him otherwise at last beleeving I was farre more quick-sighted and more perfectly judicious I perceived not that I became blinde and without all judgement Neverthelesse there still remain'd in me a certaine respect for Lepantus that I durst not offend him by expressing my coldnesse I was asham'd to give him that displeasure that never yet had the fortune to displease me His letters were still full of love and sorrow for seeing me no more and because hee knew that the gentilesses and points of wit he wrote were very agreeable to me he ever mingled some of them maugre the cruelty of his fortune and the torments he endured and many times he so forc'd himselfe that laying aside his griefes they were throughout filled with sweetnesses and elegancies and to any but my selfe would have seem'd to come from a man very well satisfied For me I knew well his constraint and lamented it but then when my affection diminish'd I changed my opinion and judged that if hee had beene much in love he would not amuse himselfe with those finenesses if his passion carried him away to expresse some despaire to me I said it proceeded from the respect hee ought me if hee gave mee any advice I tooke it not well hee should trouble himselfe to counsell me or that hee mistrusted my owne direction if I met him and he appear'd to me with a very alter'd face finding no more in him that which heretofore was so acceptable to me I thought I had reason to withdraw my affection and if some hope made him recover his ordinary complexion I said hee was not much troubled with love In the humour I was in it had beene hard for him so to have compos'd his face and his actions as I should not have found something to distaste in them He judg'd well that the cause must needs be very ill that produc'd so great a change for that heretofore hee did nothing which I would not have approved yet his discretion alwayes so perfectly maintain'd it selfe that he never complained of me what cause soever hee might have He never made knowne any of the assurances he had receiv'd to expresse what wrong I did him So hee dissembled his griefe not daring to accuse me and hoping I would use his affection better but that good will I had had for him began to be quite extinguished At the beginning I made answer to his letters and gave him new assurances with some instructions for his conduct since I tooke upon mee to represent to him the difficulties a little after I receiv'd his letters without answering him and at last I sent one of his backe
than a simple friendship Polydamas seeing that he had need of this melancholicke man gave him in the meane time all sorts of duties for Ardania had but a mother who was very old and all the power of the house was in the hands of this Misander who though of a weake and heavy spirit had yet the authority because of the harshnesse of his disposition which they were afraid to displease Ardania and Polydamas perswaded him for the most to what they had a minde to by gentlenesse of spirit but they feared him when he should have come to know of their love for he had other projects for his sister One day Misander whether out of simplicity or of purpose intreated Polydamas to perswade Ardania to a marriage she resisted Polydamas found himselfe oblig'd to speake of it to her and it chanced to fall out in my presence He represented to her all the considerations that ought to move her for the choyce of that husband whereto at the beginning she replied with laughter as if she thought he did but mocke her but he urged her so in speaking seriously concerning this affaire in plot as I beleeve to prove her that at last she was angry and said to him that she tooke this ill at his hands more than at any other She discover'd her selfe thus and it was the first word had escaped her whereby she shewed that she approved his affection Then he appeased her and would make her beleeve he had so spoken to know her thoughts and to tell them to her brother She feined not to tell Polydamas often that she should be the most miserable woman of the world if the resolution she had prosper'd not but although he knew that he was well lov'd of her yet he knew it not then so well as I did to whom Ardania told a thousand things touching his affection that made me see never woman was more in love Afterwards there was presented a party to her which gave them many fears and troubles The businesse had beene debated amongst the kindred before communicating it with Ardania because they would not so much as doubt of her will in such sort as all was in a good forwardnesse when shee learn'd the newes of it Consider her then full of apprehensions and all she could doe was to represent some difficulties She acquainted Polydamas with it who knew not what remedy to invent and their affection not daring yet to breake forth they were both of them in great paine One day he came in to Ardania's when the friends of either party were assembled to remove some difficulties concerning that marriage Misander came out to meet him and Polydamas signified to him that he would be gone since they were busie No no said Misander you shall stay if you please because you have as much interest in this affaire as any one that is here As little said Polydamas to himselfe then suffer'd to be led to the place where they were that debated the differences Ardania was present as pale as if she had beene ready to be condemned to death but when shee saw Polydamas enter shee conceiv'd some hope and tooke a little courage He was in the esteeme of so great vertue and so good a judgement that presently they propos'd the difficulties to him for to consider and judge of them himselfe At first he pretended that he would accord all things having for all that no other designe than to breake this assembly and said that they were to yeeld on either side and that small respects ought not to hinder an affaire of great importance He insinuated himselfe by this meanes into the credence of both parties but when they would precipitate the marriage he said that was not reasonable and that that which regarded the whole life deserv'd to be thought of at more leisure In the end he was so skilfull in managing their wits that he brake this assembly and made the resolution be deferr'd to the next day Ardania at the beginning knew not what to thinke of Polydamas hearing him speake but seeing he had so well brought about his designe she was very wel satisfied Then being alone with Misander and his mother he declar'd how they were to distrust those that would dazle their eyes by so sudden a resolution as they oblig'd them to take that there was some great defect conceal'd under it and time were necessary to finde it out After he had put these suspitions into them they made so many adjournments as they gave despite to the others and at last all was broken off to the great contentment of Ardania and Polydamas who were of opinion that they could not alwayes so turne off the stormes that should be presented and that it was time for them to declare The succours Polydamas had given Ardania in this last occasion had so obliged her that she was intirely bound to him and gave him all the honest assurances Love is able to accord They consulted of the meanes they were to use and provided them of persons that might make her mother consent There was but this troublesome Misander who was too wild a beast to be easily governed so as there were but few to be found that could perswade him Polydamas that had an empire upon his minde had beene the onely man sufficient to bring him to any thing he was willing to have him if he had beene to speake to him for another but for to serve himselfe of him he remain'd without force Upon these attempts the mother sickens and dyes Ardania after having rendred her the last duties receiv'd no consolation but from the faithfull company of her deare Polydamas who beleev'd not that any thing was able to hinder their good fortune since she was left Mistresse of her selfe There was made betweene them a renuing of assurances they lived in so strict an union and had as particular cares for one another as if they had beene already married together Then were presented more parties for her so as they resolved to conclude their affaires and to make the proposition of them to Misander to whom she had purposed to declare her absolute will and to pray him to consent thereto if not to passe forward Polydamas made choyce of one of his friends to speake to Misander and he acquitted himselfe so well shewing him a thousand respects that ought to oblige him to desire that marriage that if he had been of any judgement he could not have refused to consent to a thing so desired of all He receiv'd this overture with a great deale of sadnesse neverthelesse he promis'd to speake of it to his sister but within his minde he conceiv'd a furious hatred against Polydamas in stead of the neare friendship was betwixt them and he beleev'd as there was much appearance for it that Polydamas had not express'd affection to him but for this designe So unworthy soules faile not to acknowledge their owne defaults and the merit of others through the
darknesse that encompasses them and in stead of cherishing the vertue of those that excell them they hate and shun them for feare of being over-ruled Misander being return'd to his house makes himselfe sicke and refuses to eat they aske him what his griefe is he is angry and spightfull hee knowes not to whom to take him for to wreake his choler on and his whole project is but to counterfet the mad man and inraged in testimony of his aversion to his sisters designe Ardania doubted that all his transports came from the declaration had beene made him whereof she was well advertis'd and knew not how to speake to him in this unquiet humour At last he tooke him to his bed and then sent for his sister to come to him and when they were alone he said to her Well sister I knew at last the cause of your coldnesses and of all the refuses you made of the parties were offered you I perceiv'd my suspitions were well grounded when I could not approve such secrecy with Polydamas I know well 't is from your advice that he makes you be demanded in marriage See if it be a thing you have resolv'd on I can no longer hinder your purposes will signe you what consent you will have me but assure your selfe that I will not live two dayes after Yes I will dye and make him dye too for having mock'd mee all his life and abused my freedome for to deceive me and you also There fell in continuation a torrent of enraged words against Polydamas and Ardania and after that his fury had taken some respite she told him that she knew not why he should be so transported that she was ignorant of Polydamas designe but that if he had an affection to her he honour'd her by it that shee would tell him truly that if he consented to it he should doe her a great pleasure for she could never be happy but with him I would rather said he to her throw my selfe downe headlong and strike a poynard into your bosome No no I shall hinder the effect of your fancies well enough or else bloud shall be seene spilt Ardania perceiving that his transport made him speake strange follies left him without expression of any great care she tooke at his words and they both pass'd away a night that gave them but little repose I had beene chosen continued Melicerta by these two lovers to be their confident during the traverses which they had foreseene and it was impossible for them to see one another after that declaration Misander having shut up all the avenues so as Polydamas the next day came to see me to know what had passed I told him that affaires were much embroyled and that there was a rumour in the house that Misander was mad and Ardania resisted his rage the best she could But it was a strange thing to see the small force of Ardania shee could not indure her brothers choler and seeing that he would not eat she went to beseech him not to be angry and she would doe nothing contrary to his will I durst not tell Polydamas of this weaknesse seeing to what point of sadnesse he was brought because Ardania had not spoken with so great a resolution as he expected She on the other side seeing her brother pacified recover'd her forces and express'd affection to Polydamas Misander then made the mad-man as before and constrain'd his sister to give way to him That combat betweene Ardania's love and Misanders rage endured a long time and when this was cooled the other had the advantage In the meane time Polydamas seeing no more Ardania that put not in effect what she had promis'd him was tormented with many cares and unquietnesses and the more facility he saw of executing their designes the more griefe he had to see that she could not resolve to despise her brother But to come to the infidelities I told you of said Melicerta which were punished one by another I will let passe all the strifes Ardania made then the weaknesses which made her release with all the complaints and reproaches Polydamas us'd to her who yet was so discreet as he never complain'd of her but to her selfe and to me He had beene false to Elusina without her knowing of it and she too had beene unfaithfull to him in abandoning him to deliver her selfe from misery although shee beleev'd that he still lov'd her Love to revenge Polydamas on Elusina made her being married have her husband in such a contempt that she feined not to seeke to Polydamas againe who despised her Againe to revenge Elusina on Polydamas he caused Ardania to forget the greatest affection that ever was and I beleeve that which made her unfaithfull was the fidelity of her glasse which representing her complexion to her effaced with cares What now said she shall I lose my beauty that procur'd me so many vowes and commendations to maintaine my love that brings upon me so many mischiefes No no let us quit this love the trouble of my soule and the ruine of my dearest treasures and forgetting it for ever let that beauty returne which for one lost lover shall gaine me above a thousand See her then deliberating to become handsome againe and for the recovery of her good lookes quite unwilling to heare speake of Polydamas any more I wondred with my selfe at so strange a change and when I reproach'd her for her lightnesse she had the boldnesse to deny to me all she had told me when she lov'd Polydamas even thus farre as she would have made me beleeve that shee never had any affection at all to him At that time a young man call'd Cyllarus sought her he had loved Danaide a woman he had beene beholding to for all the civility he knew with Ladies for she had taken the paines to instruct his youth whereupon Cyllarus being ingrate renounc'd her friendship and pursued the affection of Ardania Love that had already taken vengeance of Elusina and Polydamos was revenged at one blow of two unfaithfull persons joyning in marriage Cyllarus with Ardania to punish them one by the other This delicate woman that thought her charmes so puissant could not stay that wanderer who was no sooner married but that he return'd to Danaide and without considering of the displeasures he gave his new wife sought by all the wayes he could to re-enter into her good graces Danaide in revenge of her selfe mocked him a long time whereat he receiv'd so many sorrowes as he could not hide them before Ardania She on the other side seeing her selfe despised began to regret her faithfull Polydamas she had forsaken so as being both of them in bed they lay off from one another as farre as they could and suspired each of them apart one for Danaide the other for Polydamas But a while since Cyllarus has found the meanes to re-joyne with Danaide and this is that Ardania but now told me said Melicerta at least she
what sicknesse soever was upon him he spake no more but of retiring from me to goe to her I knew then he had never lov'd me and was tormented with a cruell jealousie that gave me no repose I saw well that I had no cause to retaine him since he lov'd me not and yet I could not endure he should forsake me Never had I experience of so many troublesome passions as then distracted me but I confesse there cannot be imagin'd a more cruell torment Love hatred the resentments of contempt and jealousie put me into such a disorder that my mind was in 〈◊〉 perpetuall fury There rested for all that in me I know not what hope that beleeving him to be of a great spirit he could not but esteeme himselfe much oblig'd to me for so many duties I had rendred hi 〈…〉 neverthelesse this ingrate this perfidious man prayed me at last to give him leave to retire I expected that blow with a great deale of feare and receiving it I forc'd my selfe some time to perswade him to stay still with me but seeing him resolv'd to be gone I perceiv'd there is nothing so sensible as the contempt and the ingratitude of that one loves I could no longer containe my selfe but gave him all the reproaches an outraged lover could make in calling him traitor villaine ingratefull and all that may be said in a furious anger This artificiall man having given free liberty to my rage to make it lose its force began to pacifie me by little and little by the most flattering words deceit it selfe could have invented He perswaded me to what he would being so weakned by the agitations of my soule that in that estate it was easie for him to vanquish me Then he labour'd to make me beleeve things that were so pleasing to my desires and that in such sort flattered my hopes that I conspir'd also with him for to abuse my selfe Never had he express'd so much passion to me as he did at that time he spared neither protestations nor oaths for to assure me of his love and his fidelity and feining some dayes that he could not be farre from my presence he obtain'd insensibly leave to be gone in making me hope that he would returne to me every houre Being thus escap'd out of my hands he counterfetted himselfe sicke that he might not be oblig'd to see me againe untill hee return'd into Sicily I sent often to heare of him and was advertis'd of all that passed at their house by the meanes of a young boy call'd Damis slave of Maximus who reported to me that nothing was so agreeable to Melintus as the deare assistance of this faire Ariana It consum'd my heart with jealousie and despite that he had thus deceiv'd me to get away I attended still a good while and the more time passed away the more he made me lose hope of seeing him ever againe This outrage seized me in such wise as I became sicke and willing to prove to what degree his ingratitude would proceed or whether pitty might not doe that which love could not obtaine I gave out every where that I was at the extremity to try if he would not render me at least some office in the very last moments of my life But this cruell man this Barbarian was never touch'd for any accident that could arrive to me and had lesse care of me than if he had never knowne me Not content yet with that triall I made it be reported that I was dead to see if he would not come to visit Camilla and to heare being closely hid what he would say to her upon the regret of my death and I will tell you truly what my fury was then I was resolved if he came to come forth of my ambuscado after I had heard him a while and to teare him in peeces with my teeth and with my nailes but all that mov'd him no more than if he had had no soule and I knew beside that he had hindred Palamede from comming to see my sister upon the accident was thought to have befallen me I knew not now in the extreme dolour I was in what artifice to use nor what resolution to take when the passion of others was neare to have succour'd mine and supplied the defect of my inventions Marcelin as I knew of Damis to be reveng'd of these Sicilians to whom he was enemy attempted to burne them all one night in their house or if they got out to kill Melintus and Palamede and to carry away Ariana in that disorder for to give her to the Emperour This enterprise as I came to know since succeeded not well for Marcelin who was slaine without the City by Melintus and Ariana sav'd her selfe by I know 〈◊〉 what meanes but the day after Palamede and Melintus were taken and brought prisoners to Rome Never pursued Emilia had I so much joy as to learne that they were destin'd to death being accused for having set fire on the City and when I was advertis'd that they were to be brought before the Senate to have judgement I disguis'd me in the same estate as I am now for the present in to see what countenance they had and to what punishment they should be condemned and slipping into the Senate-house among the crowd I so wrought that I got a place whence I could see them at my ease I saw this traitor present himselfe without any amazement and in seeing him I became pale and a shaking horror surpriz'd me that tooke from me all strength The trembling that had seiz'd me quitted me not as long as I beheld him but when he began to speake I felt my selfe even gone so was I taken with the different passions that perplexed me In the end I recollected a little force and courage and seeing in what sort he defended himselfe Ha! said I to my selfe see how this deceiver spake to me when hee would abuse me How well he knowes to disguise the causes of their misery and his love for Ariana He dares not pronounce that name for feare of being troubled And yet I confesse to you that I felt my selfe affected with the things he said and my hatred was not powerfull enough to resist the force of his discourse I would have had them adjudged him to death and yet I well saw that it was impossible to condemne him I attended his judgement with as much trouble as if it had beene my owne and for all I desir'd he should dye I surpris'd my selfe sometimes in the estate of having a feare for his life But yet for all that I saw they were about to absolve him and I was angry and content at the same time but when they came from Nero to command the judgement to be surceased for that he would declare his will upon the matter I cannot expresse in what state I was in I well perceiv'd how the Emperour feared lest they should have beene dismissed and quitted and that this signified
satisfaction Euphrosyne and Melintus knew not yet if they should beleeve it or no and continued silent and astonished No no replied Dicearchus never doubt of what I tell you Euphrosyne knowes who she is and for you sayes he to Melintus open your brest to her that shée may see the marke of the heart which will assure her that you are her sonne Melintus shewed her that marke and then Euphrosyne said opening her arms Ha my sonne is it you indeed whose sight I have so longed after and whom I could never heare any newes of Ha Dicearchus how from my heart I pardon you all the torments you have made me suffer and if Hermocrates were with us how happy should I esteeme my selfe for the present At the same time a streame of teares bedewed her face all over Melintus had his heart so pressed to feele himselfe embrac'd by this vertuous mother whose losse he had so often lamented that he could not be at ease but in letting fall also many teares This object so tender and so pittifull mixt with regrets and satisfactions with sorrow and joy could not be seene but with weeping which serv'd for two uses being capable to represent both the resentments of griefe and the excesses of contentment Melintus presented afterwards Ariana to his mother and having told her a part of her vertues and of their adventures let her know that she was destin'd to be his wife if shee were pleas'd withall Then they embrac'd one another with much transportation and Euphrosyne said that after so much happinesse she had nothing to be sorry for but the losse of Hermocrates Melintus express'd to her that his greatest desire was to know what their fortune had beene since their exile from Syracuse and in what sort she had encountred in that place She let them know that she was very willing to give them this contentment beleeving now she had strengh enough to performe it but Dicearchus foreseeing how that discourse could not be made but that he must receive the stings of many a reproach withdrew himselfe with Palamede leaving Melintus Ariana Lepantus and Cyllenia in preparation to hearken to Euphrosyne who began thus her discourse holding Melintus by the hand History of Hermocrates and Euphrosyne MY deare sonne if you desire to know the originall of our misfortunes and what the great Hermocrates your father hath beene I must of necessity take up my discourse something from afarre off for to let you see that at what time I married him fortune never brought together any couple that had cause to expect more happinesse and yet proved so unfortunate as wee Under the reigne of the Emperour Tiberius Hermocrates of whose illustrious birth I will make no relation to you because I beleeve you are not ignorant of it would goe to Rome being very young His father and mother having no other child but him were in trouble to have him so farre remov'd out of their sight but in the end he obtained leave As soone as hee was at Rome he stayed not long to put himselfe into the acquaintance of the great Prince Germanicus who then was the refuge of what ever there was vertuous upon earth Hermocrates that was perfect in all kinds of excellent qualities and among others had a wisdome and a valour to be admired was presently lov'd of him and a while after the occasion of the German warres was presented wherein he followed that Prince and made so many proofes of his valiance and prudent government that he gave him great commands in the Army and honour'd him divers times with many crownes and advantageous praises After these warres were finished he return'd to Rome with Germanicus and admiring the vertue of this great Prince he could not forsake him Germanicus on the other side loving Hermocrates dearely gave him cause enough not to abandon him and knowing his noblenesse and his vertues beleev'd that he alone was worthy of his friendship They were a long time in this sort inseparable and if the gods willing to punish the earth by the cruell Emperours they gave since had not so soone taken out of the world this lovely Prince whom by a just title they call'd the delights of humane kinde I beleeve I should never have knowne Hermocrates nor beene to him the cause of all his miseries But Germanicus having beene poysoned by Piso and Plancinus in Syria Hermocrates could not endure to see Rome any more where there was an Emperour so execrable who envying the vertue of his Nephew and the love that all the world had to him had cruelly depriv'd him of his life so as he return'd to Syracuse but with such a regret for the death of Germanicus that his sadnesse appeared visibly upon his face and made him be affected the more by others to see him faithfull to a Prince so lamented of the world At that time was I one of the most considerable of Syracuse although I were not originary of that Countrey but the Nobility of my birth was well enough knowne for that my grand-fathers that went out of Carthage when it was destroyed by the Romans were of the race of the Princes Hamilcar and Hannibal and therewithall I had an estate if I may say it equall to my Nobility and my mother onely was left me of my kindred all whose cares tended to the choyce of some party that might be for my advantage Dicearchus many ages since descended of Timoleon and having a sufficient estate to sustaine the ranke that his birth gave him was one of the chiefe that presented themselves He was wanting in no care or practice for to order his affaires so as he might marry me and labour'd by a thousand wayes to give my mother great impressions of his honesty for he knew her to be of so great a vertue that he well saw she would be impregnable any other way but this But Hermocrates arriving at Syracuse obtained without thinking what the other tried to gaine by a thousand subtilties for every one being already prevented with his great reputation it was acknowledg'd not to be without cause that renowne had so high advanc'd him because his Nobility was accompanied with so many vertues and he added to his other good qualities so honest a modesty with a sadnesse that was still more gracefull in him that there was not a person but bare a love and respect towards him At the same time having beene bred under the government of the wisest mother in the world I made my selfe also sufficiently esteem'd by a great restraint I observed endevouring to imitate her vertue and give her all the contentments she could expect from a daughter I know not what it was Hermocrates saw in me that pleased him whether appearance of vertue or some other thing but he express'd with a great grace and respect the designe he had to serve me As for me who had no desire to make a choyce but would leave my selfe to my mothers judgement I alwayes
secret Acidalia knew well I spake as one interessed and that made her doubt the goodnesse of my reasons and yet she beleev'd me for a while But at last Attalus having perceiv'd her inclination which she could nolonger conceale began to be more sparing of his buffonnery in all companies and express'd to her that he made use of those actions but onely to please her This oblig'd her entirely and Attalus knowing what progresse he made in her good graces set himselfe forward to take other liberties of her without any great hazard for if shee would not suffer him it was excus'd by the free humour of Attalus and if she would suffer him he knew well how to use the same favour often All this I saw with a great deale of despight but could not remedy it and still I loved her infinitely and my love increasing augmented my rage to see him receive favours I durst not pretend to Acidalia let her selfe be so transported with this foolish love of Attalus that she could now conceale it no longer if he were in any place she must instantly leave what company soever to goe to him and she was so blinded in admiring all he did as shee perceiv'd not the visible appearance she made to every one of her passion I represented to her as discreetly as I could what injury she did her selfe and let her see that she ought to esteeme of me otherwise than oâ— him but shee could not endure to heare me speake any more after that fashion and I perceiv'd she began to shun me for feare I should importune her with this discourse and had no care now but for her Attalus I must needs relate to you in the end the cruellest of my griefes and the subject of all my shame One day I went to her house something late in the afternoone and knowing she was gone out to walke I resolv'd to attend her in her chamber and layd me downe upon a bed where insensibly I fell asleepe But yet I awaked when she came in and saw Attalus alone with her in the Chamber she knew not I was in the house so as I remov'd as farre as I could toward the farther side of the bed into the darke for feare of being perceiv'd but so as I could see what they did She tooke off the handkercher that cover'd her necke and presently Attalus set himselfe to kisse it freely enough because she tooke pleasure in those caresses and in the conceited flatreries wherewith he admir'd the beauty of that necke and confessed himselfe beholding for the liberty she gave him then he added in mockery But truly Madam you ought to grant the like favours to Dicearchus that loves you so seriously and she answered him If I should permit him the same he would never take them with so good a grace as you doe I was strucke to the quicke at those words but yet I endur'd farre more sensible blowes after They sate them downe upon seats that were at the bed feet where indeed I could not see them but I might easily heare what they said After some discourses expressing that she permitted him great privacies I heard her say Ha gods Attalus let me alone are you not yet satisfied and a while after she added Well are you now content I beleeve for the present that she onely permitted him some liberties which yet are not to be suffered but then my jealousie forced me to beleeve that those words signified he had obtain'd the very last favours of her and never casting so much as a doubt of it I entred into so great a fury as I repented me a hundred times that I had not a poniard about me for to kill them both but being unable to revenge my selfe at that time my shame and my despight constrain'd me to hold my peace for feare they knew I had beene a witnesse of their kindnesses They went away soone enough for being surpriz'd and for me having stayed some time full of confusion and rage I retir'd me as secretly as I could with more feare of being discovered than if I had done an action my selfe that were very shamefull When I was at home I shut my selfe up alone and there my love provoked by so cruell an offence abandon'd me to fury and despaire I tore my haire I outrageously strucke my selfe and acted all that a violent rage forces one to doe I saw well enough that I might despise this Acidalia and leave her at liberty with her Attalus but I was so powerfully engaged to love her as I beleev'd I had receiv'd as great an injury from her as if already shee had beene my wife I considered her in her fault and then despised her but presently I imagin'd her as handsome as might be and then I could not so much as endure the thought that another should possesse her But what said I shall I love her still and not rather have in disdaine a person defiled the shame of her sex and the reliques of Attalus Shall I still continue to desire what I ought to have in horror and esteeme my selfe miserable for having beene a witnesse of that she endured in stead of rejoycing for having knowne her levity and weaknesse No no let us be more wise and expell out of our minde this beauty that hides so many defects and hath not offended my love but in destroying it selfe I remain'd some time in this resolution and a little after this Acidalia return'd into my mind with more charmes than ever and it seem'd my imagination was pleas'd in representing her to mee the more gloriously to keepe me from forgetting her and embroyle me in a greater trouble Then I replied thus What then shall I leave her in the possession of another and while I am in paine to be deliver'd from so sweet and cruell a remembrance shall Attalus peaceably enjoy Acidalia and taste as many delights as I torments Whither shall I flye Wretched man shall I stay at Corinth to see continually my owne misery and be the more sensible of it or rather returne to Syracuse to see on the other side Hermocrates happy with Euphrosyne whose contentments will every houre renue in my memory those of Attalus with Acidalia Acidalia thou cruell ingrate foolish unchaste woman can I still love thee But againe Acidalia full of beauty of graces and of charmes can I not love thee Spirit unworthy to be loved of me but beauty worthy of all the vowes of the earth O despight O love what am I to doe Shall I love her or shall I not love her My soule was thus agitated with a thousand furious and extravagant thoughts and my rage so transported me as I conceived a resolution whereat you will blesse your selfe not finding the like to have beene taken by any man in all the ages of the world No said I 't is certaine that I ought not to love her but contrariwise that I am to pursue with a mortall hate her that hath done
Pasithea his daughter Eurymedon blush'd at that discourse being angry he had not appear'd at the battell in the habit of a man because none could more lawfully have pretended this honour than himselfe The King perceiv'd his rednesse and ask'd him the cause of it I wil tell it you another time answered Hermione but let us see whom you wil give the Princesse to If you were a man said Archelaus without doubt she had bin won by you for you are the person that has shewne the most valour but being it is not so I will not faile for all that to give you the honour of this victory Then he made signe to the Princes that he would speake to them and he pronounc'd these words Since we are all redeuable to the only courage of the valiant Hermione for the Scythians defeat there is none but she that ought to pretend any honour and since in the person of my daughter the kingdome of Troas and of this Isle was destin'd to him that should have carried away the prize I am obliged by my oath to make Hermione Queene of my estates if I were not oblig'd at all to it by my affection The Princes were greatly amazed and though Hermione appear'd with many beauties and graces yet they could not be satisfied with her The King tooke her then by the hand and made her be placed with him in a Chariot that attended him for his returne to Mitylene with the victorious troops that accompanied him The people that was advertis'd how the King desir'd to many this Princesse already called her their Queene whereat Eurymedon smiled within himselfe Archelaus having her beside him would know what reason she had to blush when she heard speake of his daughter Pasithea Because answer'd she I beleev'd you had had no children and that word surpriz'd me I have sayes he but this daughter though it would be better for me I had her not for the displeasure I have receiv'd by her then he fetch'd a deepe sigh Hermione demanded what cause she had given him to complaine of her A while since answers Archelaus a young stranger came to land in this Isle and after I had receiv'd him with much honour he knew so well how to gaine her as he made her in love with him This villaine avoyded my anger by flying away and I was constrain'd to shut up my daughter for ever in a place where she can never heare more newes of him I pitty you indeed sayes Hermione if she were so unfortunate as to have offended her honour I doe not thinke replies the King she has so farre forgot her selfe but I surpriz'd her one day as this young man that call'd himselfe Eurymedon was kissing her hand Ah! great King returned Hermione this alone deserves not so cruell a punishment But continues she what was this Eurymedon was he a Prince or else a person unworthy of the Princesse good graces He call'd himselfe Prince truly answers the King and had many excellent qualities nay we had some obligation to him my daughter and I but very hardly could I have beene assured if he were of Royall blood since he knew it not himselfe and it was too much boldnesse for him to enterprize the search of my daughter without my consent seeing fortune had given him nothing whereupon he might ground that hope Love sayes Hermione to him hath not all those considerations and the faults he is subject to are rather excusable errours than crimes and if this Eurymedon had some good qualities I doe not finde that the Princesse hath committed so great a fault and intreat you by the affection you expresse to me not to be so cruell to your owne blood but to set her at liberty in my favour Archelaus was willing to oblige Hermione and promised to deliver her before eight dayes because she desired it He led her into the Palace where she was lodged as if already shee had beene the Queene and all the Princesses and the Ladies came to doe their reverence to her Hermione very well acquitted her selfe of all those ceremonies and seem'd to have beene bred in them all her life but the time seem'd tedious to her untill she saw Pasithea Neverthelesse she was afraid to be discovered if she spake of her too often to the King He on the other side had no other wish than to be married to Hermione but there was no appearance of making that marriage untill first he had well provided for the safety of his kingdome on all sides after the defeat of the Scythians Yet he gave not over expressing to her his impatience and Eurymedon call'd the gods to witnesse and prayed him to beleeve that he desir'd the honour of his alliance as much or more than he himselfe Whereupon the King gave him thanks never understanding the sense of Eurymedons words who meant the alliance he desir'd to make with him by marrying his daughter At length two dayes after Hermione entred into discourse concerning Pasithea and expressing a great desire to see her obtain'd leave of the King to goe visit her in the Castle where she was kept upon condition she were not accompanied but with her Maids I was one of that number continued Amyntas so as I went with Hermione into that Castle which within was guarded onely with women They all of them shewed a great deale of honour to Hermione knowing she was destin'd to be their Queene and we were conducted to the place where the faire Pasithea was who came out to meet us and having heard speake of Hermione and of all that was said concerning her she receiv'd her with a very great respect as the person she beleev'd she should one day wholly depend on Hermione embrac'd her and kiss'd her a long time then having taken her aside ask'd her if she remembred not one she had seene very like her Pasithea blush'd and durst not tell her she resembled Eurymedon very much because she fear'd to produce that name before her that very shortly was to be her Queene Eurymedon knew the feare she was in and for her re-assurance said to her Faire Princesse feare not to discover your secret to me I am sister of the Prince Eurymedon that am come into this Isle for no other end but to serve you and my deare brother that dyes for your love I have bin so happy as to succour the King your father in the battell and give him passion enough to make him desire to marry me But I will never while I live accord to what he desires untill you be first married with Eurymedon Madam answer'd Pasithea something confounded I should thinke you meant but to surprize me by these words if I remarked not in you all the features of Eurymedons face and seeing you have beene willing to expresse so perfect a friendship towards him I will also avow to you the extreme love I beare him which makes me esteeme my captivity very pleasant Hermione kiss'd her to shew how
for she assisted him very carefully yet so much respect had he to her that there was nothing but his eyes that durst make love to her and of every thing else they communicated one to another with much confidence One morning she came to him and bringing a little table booke with her she pray'd him to read what was written in it where he saw these words Marcelin to Ariana FAire Ariana since your eyes forbid me speaking pardon me if I have recourse to this meanes to make you know the affection wich your perfections have brought forth If you be come hither to begin the acquisition of all the hearts of the Empire I blesse the fortune that hath made me the first of your conquests and ranging mee without reluctancy under your obedience I will be bold to hope for some part in the honour of your good graces if they may be aspir'd to by services eternall and a passion infinite These letters said Melintus put us to no paine in guessing to whom they are addrest nor who sends them but Madam added he who gave you them Epicharis said Ariana found them on my table as I was rising without being clos'd for feare I beleeve that I should leave them in the same state But what would you advise me to doe Madam said Melintus your heart is free you may dispose of it as you please you may be deceiv'd for all that answer'd she but this is not the thing I aske you what shall I doe with these tables if you desire sayes he to answer them you need but efface the wax and then write what you please You laugh at me replies she and by whom shall I send them when I know not who brought them You are but to put them sayes he in the same place and who ever laid them there will know where to take them againe well enough And what if I will replide Ariana that they be never more spoke on You may said he cast them into the fire I am very glad sayes she they have beene condemn'd by your mouth and at the same time threw them in Melintus considering this action said to her well enough satisfied if hee meanes to write often to you he must make great provision of tablets It will be as necessary for him answered she to be provided of patience but if he be opiniated I shall not be without trouble neither Yet our depart shall quickly deliver us of all Palamede thereupon comming in and seeing the tables burning ask'd his sister why they were throwne into the fire She a little surpriz'd said she would no more make use of them Is it long since you have used said he such things since I came to Rome answered she Ha! sister cryed he out why are you so secret to me you had them but this morning and if I had beene willing you had never seene them at all Ariana blushing told him I protest that if I had beene able I had hid them from my selfe and I thought not they had come to your knowledge if there had beene fire in my chamber I had not burnt them in this where I found that Melintus was not so curious as you for he never inquir'd as you have done what the matter was But continued she can you tell who brought me them No said he but going into your chamber while you were yet sleeping I saw them upon your table and put them as they were since they were not directed to me I find you sayes she very discreet but you had done well to have kept mee from the sight of them See replied Palamede if I be not good to a man that has done me so much ill but I am assur'd you will doe him no great good I wish only said she for his punishment that he may love me all his life as much as I shall detest him for your sake In the meane time Melintus made himselfe very ignorant of those tables and in the end ask't them what it was T is a letter replies she Marcelin made mee receive by I know not what meanes looke if it be not directed to a good place for a very favourable reception His desert sayes Melintus is very considerable but his misfortune is extreme to fall into your hands to revenge us of his Aristides comming into the chamber brake off this discourse and Ariana leaving them went out of the house to the next temple coverd as she was accustom'd with a great vaile that hindred her from being seene at all being not desirous to make her selfe knowne at Rome for the small time she had to stay there Marcelin that set a spie to watch her going out fail'd not to follow her and approaching to her when she seem'd most attentive at her prayers said The gods grant to your desires as much happinesse as you may give me She as in amazement lift up her scarfe to see who spake to her and let him see her extreme beauty but armed with so much severity that the sight infinitely astonisht him and he receiv'd from her eyes an answer more cruell than her mouth had beene possibly able to make him That usage made him see that she was not accustom'd to suffer such words and he beleeved that the faire stranger would never satisfie his love if he sought not out honester meanes to possesse her There remain'd a scruple in the soule of Ariana for having entred Emilia's house She thought her selfe prophan'd and that her honour might be stain'd with that reproach Every houre the discourse Melintus had with her to make her get out of that place came into her minde seem'd to accuse her so as she was resolv'd to be purified in Diana's temple That very day she spake of it to the priestesse who was cal'd Virginia and told the cause she had for it Virginia promis'd her the chamber of purifications for the day after but the next day she put her off to the eighth day telling her for excuse that some Roman Ladies whom she could not refuse were to be purified during that time Ariana was forced to have patience till then and when the eight dayes were past she was receiv'd into that chamber with Epicharis only to wait on her This place was as it were a second temple added to the first but yet lesser and of a round figure whose roofe was bigge enough and that without appear'd to end in a vault but within at that time a heaven represented hid the arches of the vauting Ariana brought in by the priest was amaz'd to see so much riches in the place The hangings were the ground of gold and the figures imbrodery of silke In the middest of the chamber was a bed whose valences were of purple imbroyder'd with gold of a most rich worke and the curtaines of a carnation stuffe with little flowers of gold Neare the bed was a cisterne of white marble next to the wall out of which came two great pipes of gold that were
him Aristides beleev'd already he saw his daughter wife to a Roman Senatour equalling the pompe and glory of the chiefest of the Empire But Ariana would not let her selfe be wonne by these vanities and more prized the least of Melintus qualities than all those honours that were accompanied with so many miseries she therefore dream'd onely of the meanes that were capable to breake off this blow At last the day came that Marcelin was to come to the house where Maximus did what hee could to receive a person of so great worth and prepar'd the rest to give him the honours were worthy his order They dined altogether with much silence every one meditating apart the designes he had in his mind then they return'd into the Chamber where they must receive this lover Aristides a while entertain'd his daughter with the discourses shee was to make him wherein she was not resolute to satisfie him altogether then he gave Maximus his place to set upon her with the same perswasions and went to finde Palamede to dispose him to shew a well pleas'd countenance They were all thus busied attending Marcelin that was something tedious Palamede said it became the Roman gravity to be waited for Some houres passe away more at last Maximus impatient that he came not sent to Martian's house who sent word that he had not seene his sonne since the day before and that he was in paine for him Aristides begins to wonder at this humour in Marcelin to neglect a thing he had before so much sought for Yet for all that they could heare no newes of him every one thereupon gave his different opinion but not one of them could ghesse the cause of that action Marcelin's people appear'd to be in great trouble for him and one of them said that the night before he had accompanied him very neere to the Tyber that there he had commanded him to returne home and how he knew not but he might be drown'd in the darknesse of the night His fathers feare thereupon increas'd and all the day after past also and no body could learne what should be become of him Aristides had a suspition that his sonne willing to hinder the marriage and revenge himselfe had handled him the night past in the same manner he had beene us'd by him when he was left for dead and made him be cast into the Tyber yet he durst not signifie to him any thing of this surmise About the evening Melintus Palamede Ariana and Epicharis being together and not knowing to what they might impute the cause of Marcelin's absence What may we thinke said Ariana is become of him For mee sayes Melintus I thinke in what place soever he be he burnes for love of Ariana It suffices me sayes Palamede he be drown'd It seemes replied Ariana you know something of the matter have you indeed serv'd him as hee would have serv'd you They protested both they had not imagin'd to doe him any harme T is true sayes Palamede that before hee had married you some thing like this might have befallen him but I thought not it had beene time yet for that Ariana added let him be drown'd or burn'd or let the earth have swallowed him it little concernes me provided hee appeares no more Epicharis having some while hearkned to them could not refraine from telling them I am assur'd I can ghesse better than you all three And what thinkst thou said Ariana is become of him I imagine answer'd she that he is neither burn'd nor swallowed up nor drown'd but that at this present he is dying for hunger Ariana thinking she had but jested and whereupon ground you sayes she that beleefe rather call it sayes she assurance If you will give him any thing to eat I will bring you to the place where he has as much need of it as ever he had in his life Ariana urg'd her to tell her what she knew I feare sayes she you three will be more gentle than I for I have condemn'd him to dye and if I discover to you in what manner it may be you will preserve his life to destroy afterwards your owne That made them the more eager to know what she could say of the matter and they so prest her that at length she told them You know that at the end of the garden of this house in a place remote enough there stands a little lodge neare to the gate opens upon the Tyber Marcelin waits for Ariana in that place since before yesternight and I can assure you that never lover was so impatient of seeing his Mistresse They were so astonish'd at this newes that some while they spake not a word But Ariana desirous to know how she had beene able to draw him to that place You know said Epicharis you commanded me to goe to the Temple in your habit and vaile which I did and Marcelin scarce daring to come neare me I lift up my veile a little so as he could not see me and made him a signe with my hand to come to mee but in stead of saying to him that you commanded me to say I began thus speaking very low Marcelin hitherto I have profest to you nothing but coldnesse not but that I acknowledg'd the honour you doe me but in satisfaction to a brother that cannot love you and will never give his consent I be yours wherefore I will make to appeare the affection I beare you and you shall expresse yours to me if this night you come alone to our house by the gate that lookes to the Tyber there you shall receive assurances of what I would doe for you and I will make my brother resolve to consent to my desire when I shall let him see that you are already my husband Marcelin gave me a thousand thanks for so many graces and promis'd me not to faile comming thither at the houre I had appointed him I came backe from the Temple and would not tell you what I had done yea I fear'd mee lest hee might doubt some malice and not come but at night stealing from you I went to stay for him at that same gate where I miss'd not to finde him and after I had let him in I told him I had charge from Ariana to put him into that lodge while her father and the rest were asleepe where I so well shut him up that he never got out since besides I tooke the key of the garden for feare any one going by that way should heare him crie out and I had resolv'd to let him die there for hunger to make him pay for the conzening villanous tricks he had wrought in the temple and deliver you out of all paine which I thinke you are to resolve on too for this man will be a cause of a thousand misfortunes to you in the end and you may revenge you all three of the mischiefs he hath done you it will be easie for us afterwards to cast him into the Tiber and
not to take part in their delights Ariana after a great sigh at last opening her eyes with one looke only banisht all the liberties of Melintus and remitted in place of them a respect as great as ever then she said to him Alas Melintus where are wee Wee are answers he in safety I am only in paine for Aristides and Palamede and but that I am afraid to forsake you I would returne to helpe them As he was thus speaking he perceiv'd by the light of the moone and flames a man running after him whom he tooke to be one of their troupe So as alighting from his horse and setting upon the greene grasse the sweet charge he carried he prayed her to rest her while the rest of the company were come together They began to behold that great City on fire and to be amaz'd at the accident when seeing to approach him that followed them Melintus knew him to be Marcelin suddainly getting up a horse-back for feare of being surpris'd which his enemy Ah traitor sayes he darest thou at length alone assault me Marcelin not answering him at all came straight towards him and gave him a blow with his sword Melintus avoyded it giving spurs to his horse and soone gaining the crouper thought to have struck his sword into the very reines of Marcelin but it brake having met with armes under his casack I was in a great wonder said he then at thy valour but this shall not hinder but thou shalt pay for thy trecheries and seeing that Marcelin could not mannage his horse after his minde he set foot to ground and at the same instant leaping up behind him got hold of his armes with one of his and with the other was going to strike into his head that which was left of his sword But Marcelin striving hard Melintus was forc'd to let himselfe slide downe in pulling him back-ward and having laid him along upon the ground snatch'd from him his sword He was about to kill him but at the very instant he heard Ariana crying out to him for helpe This sweet Lady had seene the beginning of that combat being but in a desperate condition yet although she judged that if Marcelin remain'd conquerour she should fall into his hands neverthelesse being confident in Melintus valour she could not resolve of going farre away But when she saw his sword broke she fell downe in a soune and was no sooner come to her selfe againe but she saw she was in the armes of a souldier that was alighted from his horse to carry her away Then was it that she call'd Melintus and this name that demanded succours was at the same time succourable for that Melintus looking where she was saw behinde him two men a horse-back that were about to kill him He lift up himselfe suddainly and sustain'd the first with Marcelin's sword in one hand and the rest of his owne in the other Never had man so much choler and griefe together He desir'd to defend him from these and at the same time to helpe Ariana but seeing he could not save her but by the death of those that set upon him he gave one of them such a blow that if he had not beene armed he had divided his shoulder from the body and yet the sword entred a good way into the coat of armes The second came up to him and thought to have stab'd him into the belly but Melintuus defended it with the guard he had in his left hand and at the same time gave him a blow under the curasse which made him fall dead from his horse He that had beene first struck by him set on him behind and Melintus was not so skilfull but that he was a little hurt in the shoulder but in turning about he gave a reverse blow upon the horses head and making him caper he tooke his time and thrust his sword under the thigh of this last man and plung'd it even into his bowels This wretch falling back-ward brake his neck and the fall stop'd his breath which now on all sides dropped away with his bloud Melintus seeing himselfe freed of these two men and having about him none but Marcelin living which had much adoe to returne from the dazeling of his fall left off finishing his death to run towards Ariana who had till then hindred by a thousand devices this souldiour from setting her upon his horse to carry her away Melintus cryed out to him afarre off Insolent fellow wilt thou let alone that Lady thou art unworthy to touch But he seeing him comming and willing to prevent him left Ariana to get up a horse-back and presently setting spurres pricked towards him thinking to overthrow him Melintus lightly turned him aside and as he passed struck him on the left arme with so great a wound that he filled with bloud all the place where about he ran At the same time Marcelin recovering force and courage lift himselfe up and taking one of the dead mens swords came to second him that Melintus hard hurt and rather filled with rage than resolution rash't him upon him Melintus husbanding the forces and advantage he had after warding of two or three blowes gave him one in the thigh and went to redouble it when he that had beene hurt came to put himselfe betweene for the safety of his Masters life but he paid his owne for it receiving the blow which Melintus struck so deepe in that he clos'd up his sword within his armes This man dying let go the reines of his horse that ran away Melintus unwilling to let his sword goe so followes him and at last drew it out with paine and with that violence and the amazednesse wherein he was he fell back-wards In the meane time Marcelin that felt his strength diminish seeing Ariana standing still and troubled with so many fears went towards her his sword in his hand for to kill her to the end that if he dyed another should not enjoy his loves The comming of this furious man and brightnesse of the sword awakened the lost senses of Ariana and gave her wings to run to Melintus whom she call'd to her aide and it was just then he was fallen and Marcelin was in good hope to vanquish him yet thinking he was hurt Neverthelesse Melintus prepar'd himselfe getting up and then they began the combat hand to hand and more equall though Marcelin were arm'd because the bloud that ran out of his wound lessened that advantage Untill then Melintus had not fought but for saving his owne life but now he reveng'd the injuries of Ariana and that desire encouraging him with the presence of his faire Mistresse he made account he should soone see an end of that adventure so having warded some thrusts of Marcelins he with one blow from all the force he had overthrew him and therewith cleft his head Another Souldier came on running in all speed and Melintus wearied with so many travels thought this combat would never have
a great sympathy with mine and he considered also in what manner he was to demeane himselfe with me and that there was no hope I could be gained by flatteries After this visit he quite alter'd his discourse for instead of speaking to me either of my beauty or his love he seem'd very farre from all passion and all our entertainments were concerning the passions of others wherein we observ'd a thousand faults and as many poorenesses of spirit and insensibly we taught one another how we were to be according to our owne desire both to love perfectly and make us worthy to be loved In the end it seem'd that speaking of others we spake thus to one another Since you have such thoughts as these I can love you well so He durst never tell me he lov'd me but his actions sufficiently did it and then when hee thought no body saw him but I his cares to please me were too intelligible See how strange our humours are a thousand services he rendred me were very agreeable yet for all that I should be offended at the least expression of love he made me by his mouth and forbade him my sight So as he was forc'd to discover himselfe by other meanes were pleasing enough to me as by many verses he gave me a part whereof I would repeat to thee if my affliction permitted me to thinke of such gentillesses But I must needs at least tell thee the encounter I made of a lover very differing in all manner of qualities 't was of the proud Garamant of whom thou hast heard told pleasant tales enow but yet never camest to know what pass'd betwixt us because the affaire was kept secret He had his originall from Africa and for this that we knew not his extraction hee labour'd to make great additions thereby touching his birth and upon that ground he would not beleeve there was any body in all Sicily that durst dispute pedigree with him nay he maintain'd the excellency of his arrogant humour with certaine reasons whereby he would prove that one could not have a good spirit unlesse he had as much pride as he I was importun'd with his visits neverthelesse being acquainted with his proud and ridiculous humour he sometimes serv'd to make me laugh and I did often please my selfe in mocking at him feigning that I beleev'd his vanities Hee contrariwise thought I made a very great estimation of him and that I beleev'd the greatest honour could arrive to me were to see my selfe lov'd by a man of that importance One day when I was alone he came to see me and not willing to lose the opportunity of speaking to me he told me in a cold fashion that he had news to let me know which would not be unacceptable I desir'd him to tell mee it 'T is this sayes he that I have quite broke with Aspasia that was one of the handsomest in Syracuse And wherein sayes I to him may this businesse concerne me Because answers he there was nothing but the trust I had in her that hindred me giving my selfe to you And this was the newes that must be so welcome to me Is it possible said Epicharis interrupting her the man could be so impertinent Wonder not at that replide Ariana heare onely that remaines then shee went on I was willing to entertaine him in this vaine humour as I had accustomed and told him Truly you could not have brought me a more agreeable newes if it were to be beleev'd but I dare not hope you are minded to doe me so much honour acknowledging my selfe unworthy of it No continued he I will have you beleeve it although your modesty makes some difficulty and I hope our intelligence shall prove most perfect for as I make my selfe as contrary as may be to the humour of those cowards that lose the advantages of our sex submitting themselves to Ladies by a thousand flatteries so I perceive not in you the arrogancy of these disdainfull women that acknowledge not the defects of their sex and by this I find that our judgements are equally disabused of those ordinary errors and are firme in the true opinions that each of us both ought to have of himselfe I smiled looking on him and wondred to what end this poore wretch lost himselfe in his vaine ravings Hee contrarily beleev'd that I laugh'd for excesse of joy that he would take the paines to love me and had this foolish conceit that the more he lessen'd me the more I thought my selfe beholding to him At last because I would see to what point his presumption would attaine I told him that since it was his will to make mee so happy I intreated him to instruct me how I might please him by living with him to the end I might never be wanting in the respect was due to the greatnesse of his merit My minion said he taking me by the hand and thinking to oblige me much by this kind word only love me and consider what my worth may be and then you shall ever give me honour enough as for my friendship you may be assur'd of it as long as you shall live after this fashion I will not abuse you with a thousand oaths as others doe or with crouchings that were unworthy of my selfe you see how I am not disguis'd but what I speake must of necessity be that I thinke Herein he had very good reason There are many said he that esteeme that pride which is in effect but a good spirit and a wholesome knowledge of ones selfe T is a signe a man feeles a want in himselfe when he does abase him out of complaisance and amongst men that which they call courtesie and honesty I call cowardlinesse and basenesse It is to testifie that one cannot subfist by himselfe when he goes about seeking the good will and sustentation of others It seemes you would be oblig'd to them for letting you alone in quiet and submitting to their mercy you held not your owne life but at their favour I made as if I approved all he said and admir'd the good apprehensions he had of all things For me goes he forward I am determin'd to despise all the world as though I defied every one to hurt me and were assur'd against so many persons by my owne strength alone It seemes that I oppose my selfe alone to all the world together and finding how those that approach mee come with respect and silence I am pleas'd in my selfe to see how I thus triumph over all and that my only countenance makes me so dreadfull He made me a thousand such like discourses but the estate I am in that cannot suffer fooleries will not permit me to repeat them no nor so much as to remember them I confesse to thee Epicharis I had a great delight with my selfe at so strange a folly but I wanted a third person to laugh with and mock him and it was an extreme displeasure to me to be alone at this fine
concerning you I am too much obliged to your freedome to hurt you I am but troubled with you for the fashion you are to use in behaving you in the midst of so many enemies Madam saies he that 's the least care I have seeing you so favourably entertaine my secret and I hope it shal be one day so well confirm'd to you that you wil not repent you to have done so many favors to a person of my condition Melintus saies I to him the knowledge you give mee of your illustrious birth addes very little to the esteeme I had of you already and you expresse so much confidence in mee as I am thereby obliged from henceforth to have as much interest as you your selfe in all that may concerne you especially I wish you to resolve of nothing without me concerning the carriage of your selfe so much part will I take in all thing shall arrive to you Hee was so transported for this testimony of affection that hee tooke the boldnesse to kisse my hand in stead of thanking me that was the first favour hee obtaind of me and the onely I have since that permitted him then we advised to let some time passe during which many things might be cleared To assure him I sware to him that I would never marry Amyntas and in the meane time we found it very expedient that Telephus should not discover him and that he should make what friends he could to strengthen himselfe which would be no difficult matter Above all that he sought the peoples good will wherein a few dayes since he had a very favourable occasion having obtaind of the Emperor the exemption of Tributes and that when all things were prepar'd they might accuse Diocles and verifie the birth by those witnesses Telephus should bring then to demand of him the evidences of the goods he had usurped which would be impossible for him to shew He protested he would follow my counsell and gave me such passionate thanks for the care I took of his fortune that it was impossible for me to resist so much affection and from that time without ever making love one to another we were assured that there was not so perfect a one as ours We thought it best not to let Palamede know any thing because of his too forward nature that would with all violence declare himselfe for Melintus against Diocles which we judged unnecessary Melintus made Telephus consent not to discover him yet and told him hee was assur'd that Palamede knew well how to hinder his sisters marriage for me I let Amyntas know that I was not resolv'd to marry yet this yeere and that he should take heed he made no propositions thereof before wherein he promis'd to obey me Afterwards the occasion being presented of the Ambassage to Rome from Syracuse Palamede had a minde to that voyage and I made Melintus resolve to accompany him upon the assurance I gave him privately that in his absence there should passe nothing to his prejudice besides I told him he might find occasion to serve his Countrey and get a reputation with the Ambassadors by his counsels and interpositions In all which thou hast heard what good successe befell him and what honours he had receiv'd at his return into Sicily if fortune at this present had not beene so contrary to him Thou seest then Epicharis whether I trust thee or no in revealing to thee the secret of Melintus and mine but I desire the gods would send him no other misfortune but that I feare might happen to him by thy indiscretion Epicharis had bin so attentive to all this discourse and so ravish'd with hearing so many strange passages that she seem'd to have lost the use of her speech but then she began to say Madam I thinke I never receiv'd so much contentment as in hearing your discourse as well for having understood so pleasing relations as for the confidence you have in mee I assure my selfe that such faire fortunes as yours and such vertuous affections shall not have so unfortunate an end as that you feare and the honour you doe me obliges me to undertake any thing that may conduce to yours and Melintus service Alas Epicharis replide Ariana I can hardly ever expect to see him in a place where I may resolve of any thing to his advantage or where thou mightst be able to serve us Madam sayes Epicharis raising up her selfe I beseech you to suffer that this very houre I may expresse the passion I have for you What canst thou doe answers Ariana He has left you sayes she Arcas and given him charge not to abandon you Give mee him in exchange and give mee leave to stay in this Countrey to learne what may become of them to assist them and send you newes of them How sayes Ariana canst thou be able to doe any thing being but a wench and besides that all alone in the Country Madam replied she the disgrace that fell to me by the burning of my haire shall much advantage my designe I will disguise my selfe in a boy and this night 't will be easie for me to escape from you in the wood when you are upon parting Epicharis said Ariana thou art too couragious I feare thy labour will be but unprofitable and in the meane time I shall bee deprived of thy company and consolations Madam sayes she I have taken this resolution and should remaine here against your will if you would not thinke it fitting but I beseech you to give your consent Ariana at last accorded to that device and seeing there yet remain'd day enough before they could depart they fell both of them asleepe ARIANA. The fifth Booke ARistides not knowing the designe of Epicharis after hee had slept a while considered upon all the resolutions were to bee taken in this disaster one while he would have return'd to Rome to defend his sonnes cause if hee were in the hands of Justice and to move compassion both with the Judges and the Emperour On the other side hee would not carry his daughter thither nor yet let her goe alone into Sicily seeing Nero had such desires to her At last knowing it was necessary for him to follow Arcas his advice and to goe out of Italy where they should not faile to be alwayes pursued he could not be comforted for abandoning his sonne in so great a hazard of his life and yet he determin'd to leave some one in the Countrey that might advise of means to assist Melintus and him and keepe them from any misfortune Hee found none so fit for this as Arcas and intreated him to take the employment on him but he assur'd him he had no greater desire than to doe this service but that he had oblig'd himselfe to Palamede by an oath not to forsake them till they were in Sicily and therefore this commission must be given to another Aristides chose out the most advised of his servants that was call'd Hermes and having instructed
tell this encounter to Epicharis with whom I laugh'd a good while at Asylas affliction for finding himselfe so backward in his account She confest she had invented this way to rid her of him and for merry pastime when she desir'd it But in the end I said to her And for mee how many yeeres will you ordaine mee There needs many said she because it may be you would often find the meanes to oblige me and I should feare you would never doe any thing to displease me If that were so answer'd I you ought to wish the terme might soone end to possesse him that would not displease you Looke you then sayes she there must be some other person besides me to make you happy but I sweare to you also I should never give my selfe to any lesse than you And if fortune restores me not to a higher condition you may be assur'd no man shall ever enjoy me in that I am now in The greatest of my desires is come about that I may live with the divine Ariana your sister 'T is with her I will end my dayes in the height of felicity I sweare to you Melintus that hearing her speake with so great a heart I knew not what it was kept me backe from taking her by violence out of my parents hands to give her liberty and marry her after but knowing she her selfe would never consent to that for feare of angring Dicearchus Aristides and Ariana I did nothing but augment my love by the experience of her vertue Some time after she pleas'd me againe so well that I was neere upon the losing of all respect or consideration I beleeve you were then in the Countrey with Telephus when my sister made a dance of Egyptian women I have heard said Melintus of something there was done in my absence which I shall be glad to heare of You know replies Palamede how Epicharis sings and playes on the Lute very pleasantly We were all assembled at my uncle Dicearchus his to receive this Masque I saw her enter with three other women in the number of whom was my sister and when the noyse was appeas'd she recited these verses in Musicke FOure Sisters we be come from Egypt together To appeare in these parts Vnknowne were the loves of Cypris our mother And Mercury god of Arts. Our father at our birth left us for portion Dexterity of hand And Venus she gave us beauty in proportion Mankind for to command Now seene shall it be if any of this City May easily escape If our hands he avoyd our eyes farre more witty Shall finely him intrap I was one of the nearest of the spectators and so rapt with seeing and hearing her that I had lost the use of my other senses to make happy those of sight and hearing onely which made me I tooke no heed when one of these Egyptians put her hand into my pocket in the meane time and tooke away what I had there When the recite was ended and the dance following it they that saw I was robbed made shew to looke if they had lost nothing by these she-robbers I did as much and instantly cried out that I had beene robbed and ran to Epicharis to intreat her to give me againe what they had taken from me then to my sister and the rest of them but they all denied the theft and I had no newes of it till the next morning when I saw comming into my Chamber a young boy I knew not that brought me what I had lost with a little paper wherein were writ these words The Egyptians are content to let you see that they know how to get more than they desire to keepe acknowledge their power and thanke their courtesie I urg'd this young childe to tell me who sent him but he would never be knowne of it and all I could get of him was to give me leisure to make an answer And I went to write thus To the most Gentile of the Egyptians IF you had purpos'd to returne me all you tooke from me I should have found a heart amongst the things it pleas'd you to restore but if you thinke it fitting I consent it stay still with you as earnest of the fidelity I sweare to you All these Gentilesses gave me intirely to her and yet since that time I serv'd her with a great respect because the commodity at our house being the fitter to make attempts upon her I perceiv'd that she did the more refraine expressing her good will towards me for feare I might not take the more boldnesse but I confesse to you that what ever intreaty she made mee I never left commending in my minde her carriage My sister was very well pleas'd with my affection knowing this wench to be very discreet and was perswaded she would find the way to moderate my over-hasty humour if I tooke pleasure in obeying her She alwayes therefore us'd me very seriously but one time when I assur'd her of the love I had to her And may I said shee have some proofe to confirme it I was amaz'd and glad withall she desir'd some service at my hands and made offer of all I was able to doe to please her Know if it be possible said she to me of Dicearchus what my birth is for I beleeve certainly hee knowes it 'T is not that I am weary of living as I doe for to serve Ariana I would forsake the most free condition of the world but I should have cause to rejoyce in waiting on her service purely out of good will and not out of necessity I commended her desire and promis'd to use all the intreaties I could to that end then I added would to God my faire maid our conditions might in some fashion meet one with another I should have as much cause to joy at that perswasion as you your selfe for I beleeve I shall never have power to dispose of my selfe untill I see what fortune shall have resolv'd of you I will not answer'd she make any profession to you how much I am oblig'd to your affection for that were unusefull but if ever the state of my life may change you shall finde I will not forget the least of your respects I prayed her to beleeve I would alwayes serve her after that manner and proffer'd my selfe in case my uncle gave me no light to know what she were to goe to the farthest parts of the world that I might learne the truth of it But when I had put Dicearchus upon that discourse I could never draw any clearing of the question from him He told me indeed that he had her of the Pyrats upon the Sea coast towards Camarine but that made me never the wiser and I was very angry for having understood nothing else to satisfie Epicharis desire Presently after the occasion of going to Rome was presented and when I bade her adiew she said Take heed fortune upon the Sea make not you of my condition and by equalling you
to me separate not us both for ever I would willingly said I to her redeeme your liberty and my contentment at the charge of foure yeeres servitude I could have no greater wish than that it were my chance to serve your kindred in recompence of the services you have rendred mine Oh gods how happy should I be if in the end I might come to the knowledge of them and give them intelligence of the place you are in for to make us both free by a happy change It would never grieve me to endure neither yrons nor the cruellest tortures of slaves to obtaine so great a good These are speeches saies Melintus interrupting him very powerfull and affectionate for such an unfaithfull man as you are for you were no sooner here but you forgat all those protestations to love Camilla I beseech you replies Palamede doe not reproach me with that for the affection I have for Epicharis seemes to be a strong and sure passion that keeps ever one direct course letting passe a-crosse it those little lightnesses without being moved and I hope it shall also one day attaine the end it hath pretended to Palamede would have finish'd what remain'd to be told of that depart when Epicharis entring brake off their discourse and finding them still in bed she accus'd them of slothfulnesse Palamede in laughing told her they had but too much time for the journey they were to make that day Then shee told them what she had done with their friends As for Maximus although he had reason to be ill satisfied with them for the detriment he had suffer'd for their sakes having sav'd himselfe also from the fire after them with much trouble and though he had enough to consider of his owne affaires yet hee had not failed to promise her all sorts of assistances for them that the fire was not yet out in the City but yet they ought not to lose the occasions that were offer'd to save themselves that it would be easie for her to bring them a very small cord wherewith they might draw up a great rope shee would have without the Tower which she now had all in a readinesse of an excessive length because the height of the Tower was very great There was no other difficulty but for them to get to the top of that Tower for being alwayes close shut up in their chambers Three or foure dayes pass'd on still in their deliberating upon some meanes whilest the burning continued alwayes But they were surpriz'd one morning being sent for to appeare before the Senate Epicharis was in despaire for having delayed so long to invent a meanes for their delivery and feared they should be that very day condemned Melintus and Palamede in lesse trouble were brought before the Senate where entring with a modest assurance they were set upon seats very low to the ground The Consull having commanded the accusers to speake Martian goes out from the company because he was a party in this cause and then they were accus'd with much vehemency for having by an abominable practice set fire on Rome and to be the cause of the greatest ruine and desolation that City ever suffer'd that not content with that horrible impiety they had added the murthering of Marcelin and many others whereof proofe was made by Marcelins sword that Melintus was found seiz'd of and for that he was taken all bloody For these crimes it was concluded by the accuser that they deserv'd the cruellest punishments that were Melintus seeing that no body presented himselfe for them demanded permission to defend himselfe and having obtain'd it hee was a while looking downe to the ground to thinke of what hee had to say then lifting up his eyes towards the Senators he spake thus MY Lords if I were to speake before Iudges that were lesse equitable than you I should have great cause to feare the oppression of our innocence I consider the authority of our accusers all the City of Rome animated against us and if the crimes they suppose us guilty of were true you your selves my Lords interessed by your losses to punish us Against all these powers may two strangers forsaken of all things pretend to defend themselves Neverthelesse we doe not esteeme our selves altogether destitute having in heaven the gods for witnesses of our life and upon earth the justice we are in hope to finde amongst you We have nothing but the truth for our defence and this truth being naked and simple I will also make you a simple relation of our misfortune whose causes may very easily be justified Being arrived at Rome for no other end but to behold her glories and make our selves knowne for persons desirous of the best things wee entered to our misery into the acquaintance of Marcelin who after he had made us great professions of friendship in the end conceiv'd a cruell jealousie against us for a womans sake and resolv'd to kill us Those that knew him can tell if hee were capable of such a practice One night we were set upon by a number of men that left us for dead and had it not beene for the succours of Emilia and Camilla before whose house the noyse was heard wee should have had no mere paine to defend our owne lives Camilla will be a witnesse of this truth and all her house whither we were carried who will tell also how Marcelin not beleeving we had knowne his treachery sent Palamede an oyntment that was found to be ranck poyson Neverthelesse wee advised to dissemble and absent us from hence having such an enemie Since that Aristides father to Palamede being come hither with his daughter Ariana upon the rumour of his sonnes danger Marcelin fell in love with Ariana and had a purpose to marry her But Palamede having him in detestation as his mortall enemy and Ariana shunning him as the murtherer of her brother his love contemned turn'd into rage and knowing we were upon parting to returne into Sicily he plotted our death but the cruellest one that could bee imagin'd by him Because he would not let us be gone without a revenge he encompassed with armed men the house of Maximus where we liv'd and then set fire to it on all sides having resolv'd either to burne us there or kill us at our comming out when we had no other thought but how to save us from the flames They of Maximus house can witnesse how they saw these furious men setting fire with Torches in their hands and that two slaves were killed going to fetch water at the Tyber For mee I determin'd with my selfe to take a horse and save mee by running through flames and swords Palamede did the like but tooke another way than that I went Marcelin seeing himselfe on foot and that I went farre away made a horse be given him to pursue me and overtooke me being all alone where furiously assaulting mee I had the good fortune to kill him though he were armed Two others came
all supp'd together But it was impossible for Corinna to dissemble the affection shee had to Eurylas when her husbands eye were off and Palamede that began to have a good minde to Corinna seeing she was very gentile and of an humour free enough did the more observe the looks she sent to Eurylas which made him wish this affection were rather addrest to him that he might make some use of the good fortune That which perfected her dying for him was that Eurylas finding a Lute tooke it and fitting his sweet voyce to it sung these verses WHile amiable youthfulnesse Inflames within us faire desires Let us prove the dearest pleasures Our fortune to us may addresse And suffer not a day remove Without some sweet delights of love The season of our borrowed light Ought not to passe away in vaine Wherein we doe so freely gaine The power as well as appetite To suffer not one day remove Without some sweet delights of love Those that have ruder phantasies Reproach our happy times so spent Malicious or malecontent With their despight or jealousies But let not us one day remove Without some sweet delights of love There little wanted that Corinna transported with love had not gone to kisse the delicate mouth that sang with so many charmes but the presence of her husband and the company served for a bridle to her 'T was no difficult matter for her to be perswaded by Eurylas song into this humour and to take the occasion her love offered her and she thought he gave her advice of what she had to doe and Palamede was of this mind too who never look'd off Corinna whilest Melintus entertain'd the good man Curio that began to have a very great esteeme of his guests When it was bed time Curio and Corinna brought them to a chamber neere unto those where they us'd to lye apart one from the other wherein there were two beds Melintus and Palamede chose the biggest for they said they would never be separated and left the least for Eurylas Corinna was very glad for that resolution and when she left them gave the good night to Eurylas so as he well perceiv'd the affection mingled withall Palamede consider'd all her actions and having learn'd that she lay in one chamber and her husband in another hee thought that if in the night he could make her beleeve he was Eurylas hee might easily enjoy her so as he was resolv'd to rise from Melintus and goe secretly into Corinna's chamber imagining that without doubt the love she had for Eurylas would hinder her from sleeping and he might easily be received of her On the other side Corinna being retir'd with her husband had the same designe to rise out of her bed and come to lye with Eurylas not beleeving him to be of a disposition to refuse a faire Lady And Curio willing they should shut up these strangers close into their chambers for feare of some accident shee was not of that opinion for that were said she openly to mistrust them that it suffic'd to shut the doores of the house sure and they would not dare to attempt any thing That being appointed Curio by misfortune would needs lye with his wife that night to whom this purpose was very unwelcome Neverthelesse when he was asleepe she rose and pursued what shee had to doe Corinna and Palamede at the very same time went out of their chambers without any noyse-making and meeting one another in the darke at a passage knock'd their heads so rudely together that they were even falling backwards withall and yet having each of them but scandalous intentions and not willing to be discover'd they kept themselves from crying out or expressing any paine for the blow They would neither of them enter into their owne chambers for feare they should be knowne Palamede ignorant of what hee was best to doe stood still in the same place and lean'd himselfe against the wall but Corinna better acquainted with the turnings slid her softly downe the steps Palamede taking heart and thinking it was some groome gave not over going into Corinna's chamber and she hearing no more of him she had encountred went up the staires againe and entred into the chamber of Eurylas She came neere his bed then sitting her downe upon 't making no noise she embrac'd Eurylas and kiss'd him to make him awake gently Epicharis feeling as she began to wake some body that press'd her on that fashion cried out and would have got her selfe loose but Corinna laboured to make her hold her peace and told her she was Corinna that moved with a love to him was come to give up her selfe to his bed and offer him all the favours he could desire of her Melintus wak'd with that noyse and not feeling Palamede neere him thought he was practising upon Epicharis and went towards the bed to hinder him Corinna hearing him come escap'd and ran into her owne chamber where she stumbled upon two persons that lay upon the ground and fell with her head so cruelly against the bed as she was not able to rise againe Shee cryed out and call'd for a light and in the meane while heard a man that said why brother are you mad I am Palamede you torment thus At last a light was brought Melintus and Eurylas came running also thither and found three downe all along upon the place Corinna hurt and Curio with Palamede that held one another fast and were wrastling together But when Curio knew it was Palamede he was in a great wonder and ask'd him wherefore he was come to his bed Palamede for his part seem'd as much amaz'd to see himselfe in that chamber and said to Curio he thought he had come to his owne and gone againe to bed to his brother and how he had cause to thinke strange Melintus should take such hold of him if hee were not mad Curio ask'd him pardon and told him he tooke him for some robber that would have kill'd him feeling a man as he wak'd that held his armes Epicharis and Melintus had paine enough to keepe from laughing seeing them in that disorder Corinna putting her hand to her broken face and leaning it against her forehead said that having heard a noyse upon the staires she would know what the matter was and at her returne found them in that posture to give her the fall The suspition Curio might have of his wife was changed into pitty to see her in that case and after they had all of them got up and some remedy was applyed to two or three hurts she had on her face and to those of Curio and Palamede for they had fallen from the bed one upon another Palamede desir'd their pardon his error having caus'd all that disaster and every one retir'd to his chamber where Melintus Palamede and Epicharis shut themselves up for feare the noyse of their laughter should be heard which they refraind as much as was possible Palamede knew then it
affaires to all I met Epicharis looking on Melintus ask'd him If you were in love would you not have a friend to be confident in I never knew any yet said Melintus I durst be assur'd of in so important a secret And doe you not thinke answer'd she Palamede loves you enough not to deceive you I should doe an injury said he to doubt of it but he might be deceiv'd himselfe and not thinking any thing discover that which I should have much adoe to keep secret my selfe And what would you thinke of me replies Epicharis that I might be brought to reveale any thing if you had trusted me with a secret that was to be kept with discretion I confesse to you answered Melintus that you are the onely person I dare be confident of for a thing that were so deare to me Let it not grieve you then said she taking hold of his hand that I am acquainted with the whole secret of your life but live most assured for all that that I would rather suffer death than one word to be drawne from me of that you desire should be conceal'd And because thereupon he stood still in a great amazement she added Melintus I had not so freely spoken to you but that I am resolv'd to employ my life at your service and I desire you to beleeve there is not a man I honour so much as I doe you and that my minde shall never be contented unlesse yours be so too since your interests so neerely concerne those of my Mistresse Melintus seeing how she knew so much as she did said to her Is it possible Epicharis she should tell you any thing of this for I beleeve you have perceiv'd nothing by me not so much as from my eyes Doe not seeke to informe your selfe said she how I come to know it let it suffice I am not ignorant either what you are or how vertuously you love her and I have no greater joy than when I hope my services may be of some use to you Then is my soule answered Melintus and my life in your hands but I am not sorry for it assuring you that next unto her there is not a person I esteeme as I doe you nor of whom I desire more to be esteemed Melintus replide shee beleeve this the affections I have to you are not of the common sort and if I doe you no extraordinary great services the fault shall not be for want of employing all the powers are in me I well know said he what you are capable of and I shall thinke my selfe happy in this onely that your will is good Palamedes returne brake off that discourse who came to tell them there was never a Ship in the harbour and that there was none expected there notwithstanding they determined to continue in that desart place untill there might some arrive About Noone Epicharis walking about met with a little house that leaned against the backe of the mountaine whereinto entring shee found an old man and his wife of the same yeares that got their living by making certaine houshold commodities of wood which they carried to sell at Cumae After she had inquir'd of their manner of life she perceiv'd they had two or three beds and ask'd them if they had any children Presently the teares came into the eyes of these good people and Epicharis desirous to know the cause of their displeasure they told her they had lately but one daughter remaining alive whose husband dying a yeare agoe left her two children and about a moneth since having them in the wood with her a shee-wolfe carried them away to be devour'd after shee had strangled the mother Epicharis lamented with them that accident and to stay their weeping gave them some money then she ask'd them if they would lend her the beds they had to spare for two or three dayes They offer'd her all their house and Epicharis well content that shee had found out a lodging whilest they could depart went to advertise Melintus and Palamede of her adventure and brought them to this poore house where they accommodated themselves as well as they might They lived on that they brought day by day from Cumae and one while Melintus another while Palamede went a horsebacke to the Port to see if there were any vessell come They passed thus eight or ten dayes with much incommodity and wearinesse for this stay was very grievous and deferr'd great joyes as well from them as from those they desir'd to deliver out of paine in Sicily One day as Palamede was at the Port of Cajette hee perceiv'd a man a horsebacke that look'd upon him all astonished he knew him to be Arcas and brought his horse close to his to embrace him The poore Arcas was so confounded that he durst not yet be sure it was Palamede and said to him Alas and is it you I am seeking for dead and doe I finde you living 'T is not a shadow answered Palamede thou seest but the good friend of thy Masters And what is become of him replies Arcas Hee is not very farre from hence answers Palamede and I long very much till hee see thee Arcas not able to recollect himselfe out of his amazednesse Palamede prayd him to come away to goe to Melintus The gods saves Arcas favour all your designes for the good newes you tell mee alas does my Master then live still and have the gods had care of your innocency I thinke the time long ere I see him and embrace his knees after so many feares and griefes that tormented me when I thought him dead They went on then in their way to goe to Melintus and in the meane time Palamede knew that his father and his sister were happily arriv'd at Syracuse and had nothing else to trouble them but the extreme displeasure for leaving him in so great danger But Arcas reserv'd the report of the voyage he had made since their landing at Syracuse where he had presently left them to returne to helpe his Master if he might be so happy as to come to him in time They went in such haste that they were soone come to the little house where Melintus and Eurylas being at the doore and seeing a man comming with Palamede afarre off knew not what to thinke but when they saw 't was Arcas they went for joy to meet him He cast him downe at his Masters feet and embrac'd his legges without being able to take himselfe off Alas said he my deare Master doe I see you once againe Melintus stooped downe also for to embrace him and with excesse of contentment held his head with both his hands at last he ask'd him how they did at Syracuse Very well answered Arcas and when they shall see you againe alive they will doe better yet But went he on with a great sigh how is 't possible you escap'd out of the Tower By the assistance of this young man sayes Palamede shewing him Eurylas to whom we
him not and will never give his consent Ariana hath too great a spirit and will never make esteeme of mee especially not seeking to her by any duties and though all things were resolv'd on be assured that I would get mee farre enough away for their ever seeing mee untill the faire Ariana were married She deserves at the least an intire heart and mine can never be but Erycina's I make an oath here before these gods we adore and desire them to punish me as perjurious if I ever quit an affection which I have maintain'd from my birth and will take a course to preserve it to my grave Hee spake this to mee with so much assurance that I had an opinion he did not deceive me and I answered him that nothing but time could make me judge if he were true or no. Ever since he hath continued the same protestations to me and what-ever bruit ran of your marriage I never found his passion at all abated Thinke faire Ariana went Erycina on if I had not cause to esteeme my selfe much indebted to him for at that time he saw himselfe so rich the change of his fortune chang'd not his affection but since what fidelity would not have given way to the hopes of possessing this divine Ariana That word made her blush and oblig'd her to desire she would use her with lesse flattery Permit me replide Erycira to speake thus of you for there is no doubt but that this change had beene too advantageous for him Notwithstanding I was assured hee abus'd me not because I knew that he came not at you and you cannot imagine what torments I endur'd in these traverses for the occasions of loving him still continued and I saw lesse appearance than ever that our marriage could be Consider for the present what contentment I receive by the assurance you give mee that you are yet farther off from thinking any such matter than hee is and by seeing you now in a power to be no more constrain'd against your minde since you have no more father to rule you There is no doubt answered Ariana but you are oblig'd to love Amyntas for I can assure you he hath never sought to give mee the least testimony of affection and in stead of thinking amisse of him for making so small account of the search of me I extremely commend him for not failing of his faith to you In the fashion you have describ'd him to me hee must needs have his heart in a good place and I hope your affections shall attaine their desired end so farre am I from hindering it that I could wish I were happy enough to serve you therein and satisfie the obligation I have to you for not concealing from me your secrets But replide Erycine who can then be that person I have interest in that may one day enjoy you Deare Erycine said Ariana I give you leave to ghesse but you shall never know it from my mouth Truly answered she you pay mee well for the freedome wherewith I have told you the dearest thoughts of my soule Then shee goes on My Brother shall he be so happy That may be replide Ariana and yet never shall my husband be your brother I comprehend not your meaning said Erycine There are many other secrets also replied Ariana that concerne you and Amyntas too as much as my selfe but upon this subject words are forbidden mee and within a few dayes nothing shall be hid from you onely content your selfe that I hope to finde the meanes to make us both happy As they ended that discourse Epicharis that was up came to them and Ariana reaching out her armes to her made her come nearer to embrace her againe and said to her My deare Wench is 't possible I should see thee againe and that with thy selfe thou shouldst bring mee so many contentments Can I ever love thee sufficiently for so many services thou hast rendered mee Madam answered Epicharis the satisfaction I have for having done any thing to please you has place of a great recompence with mee yet I refuse not the honour of your love without which I confesse I could not live Erycine said also that shee was much beholding to her for her brothers safety And because it was now late they were surpriz'd in this entertainment by Palamede who came into the Chamber bringing Melintus with him and opening the Curtaines called them sluggards for being still in bed Melintus who was more retentive said they had endur'd paine enough the day before for to rest yet the whole day 'T is not reason said the faire Ariana that you should be walking up and downe alone by your selves to day and although my uncle has shewne Melintus all he thought worthy to be seene in his house I am sure I shall let him see beauties which he cannot see unlesse I be there Without all doubt replied Melintus where you are not many beauties are wanting That 's not my meaning said Ariana but there are certaine places in the house whose beauty is unknowne but to my selfe and I will carry you thither to see if you will be of my opinion If they please you replide Melintus I make no question but they will be pleasing to me and they will be so the more when you are there Let us then dresse us said Erycine and goe you downe to stay for us in the garden where we will presently come to you They could not deny them this leisure and so the two friends went out of that place sorrily where so many beauties were not so carefully hid but that some one would still discover it selfe that seem'd never to have seene day before so white and delicate it appeared They had word brought them that certaine men inquir'd to speake with them in the Court of the Castle and impatient to see who it was they went to them whilest these faire Ladies dress'd them with all the curiosity they could devise ARIANA. The eighth Booke THe accident that had happened to Dicearchus the day before was knowne that very night in Syracuse and every one rejoyced that they had all of them escap'd the danger but when they learn'd how this was done by the succours of Melintus and Palamede that were living there was a publike joy so great that never did any people expresse the like Telephus and Hyperia could hardly beleeve so happy a newes after they had mourned for Melintus as dead and resented his losse with as many griefes as his desert and their good nature could produce in them Telephus had not fail'd to have come to him if he had beene in a friends house but hee was content to send him word to come away suddenly to see them and that he would no longer deny them this contentment Dicearchus chiefest friends came from Syracuse to congratulate his good fortune and the friends of Melintus and Palamede came in great haste to see and embrace them Diocles was not wanting to send to heare
backe himselfe to Syracuse if need were For to make any resistance to their uncle into whose hands Aristides at his death had committed Ariana they could not thinke it fitting From that day till the depart Melintus could never entertaine Ariana in private onely he let her see these verses which he gave a borrowed name to that they might be read before all WHat fortune envious at my love Or what command imperious Absenting Cloris farre from us Doth my soules better halfe remove And shall I for my punishment See her depart and give consent To this absence to my misery Destinies jealous heavens inhumane Let me part and her accompany Or in her hands my life retaine Will any this injustice offer And must I now till her returne The more for love of her I burne The more condemned be to suffer Already feare and discontent And cares that never durst attempt To seize me in her heavenly presence At her depart their powers will try On me and threaten my innocence With their insulting tyranny Cloris can you be so resolute The god of our hearts to despise And yeeld to the severities Of a sorry force lesse absolute I cannot make you pitty me Nor by my loves extremity Nor by the fountaine of my teares Come forth my weepings I will have My eyes cast out these armes of theirs That were too weake her stay to save And can this so constant humour In all duties lawes so tried Never to see me be denied And pretend the name of Lover Cloris your love is not like mine My heart with jealousie must pine At such a cold tranquillity For but that in your eyes I vent My passions livelier ardency I should be smother'd where I went Are you so cruell then to leave me Can nothing hinder this remove No sense of pitty can her move That has no pitty to releeve me Adieu then severest beauty Adieu heart full of durity No vainer hope can joy recall Hereafter let us nought pretend I lose my life my speech and all And I am ruin'd without end The griefes Melintus felt at this depart can hardly be describ'd those of Ariana were no lesse but she so well conceal'd them that Dicearchus never knew the unwillingnesse she had to be gone They were accompanied by their friends to Pisistratus his ship and Melintus could not bid farewell but with his eyes to the faire Ariana but this adieu was so sensible to them that she betooke her selfe with Epicharis into one of the Cabins of the ship to lye downe upon a bed where she was drowned in teares and Melintus after having taken his leave of Dicearchus and quitted the deare embracings of Palamede seeing her no more and the ship sailing away let himselfe be so carried away with griefe that he fell downe betweene the hands of Arcas and was a long time ere he return'd out of his fainting His sute and his love were now divulg'd in Syracuse and the more he was loved the more pitty did his sorrow move in the end full of discontent and weaknesse he was reconducted to his owne home for he lodged no more now with Telephus since he had beene restored to his estate and his friends laboured to divert him from his griefe which none but himselfe could have experience of the greatnesse of Pisistratus thinking to have the wind of love as favourable as that that filled his sailes went his way to Corinth proud with the spoyles hee imagin'd to carry away and the conquest he promised to himselfe Dicearchus gave him great assurances Ariana's discretion forbade him not to hope and Palamedes courtesie made him beleeve he would not be displeased with his alliance He nothing wondred for that Ariana shunned his entertainment judging that in these occasions of being sought to maids will appeare modest Dicearchus who receiv'd him with more freedome was his ordinary company and Ariana had no other consolation but in speaking of Melintus with her brother and her deare Epicharis Palamede that became more and more in love with the beauties of this Maid never ceas'd rendring her honest testimonies of his passion but every houre hearing the reproaches of so many lightnesses he resolv'd hereafter to make himselfe be knowne for a faithfull man and submitted to all the proofes she could desire Having passed the Isle of Cephalenia they entred into the gulph of Corinth to which they had but lately given the name of Lepanto At last they arriv'd at Corinth where Sebastus a Cousin of Dicearchus came to receive them and bring them to his house and there they were entertain'd according as the quality of Dicearchus and the magnificence of Sebastus requir'd This old man was renowned for his authority in the City and more yet for being one of the wisest of all Greece he brought to salute Palamede and Ariana a young daughter of his called Cassiope whom they found very modest and handsome but when Ariana heard tell of the marvellous qualities of another sister she had named Cyllenia who was among the Maids that serv'd at Iuno's Temple shee had a great desire to know her Her beauty had given her the prize above all those of Corinth but her wit had made her still more recommendable and the extreme love which the vertuous Lepantus had to her lessened not that reputation Ariana was impatient till the next day came to goe see her and Cyllenia that heard speake of this divine Ariana had no lesse desire to judge of so many perfections Pisistratus being come in the morning to see them conducted Ariana and Palamede to the Temple and when the sacrifices were made these two faire Ladies encountred with so much rapture on either part that there was never satisfaction equall to that Their sight was so busie in judging of their beauties that they never thought of speaking one to another Ariana had a brightnesse that farre surpassed that of Cyllenia but sweetnesse and modesty were very equall in them the admirations they had then one of another were since followed with mutuall protestations of friendship and in stead of having jealousie for the advantages that each saw in her companion the knowledge of those merits bred more esteeme and affection in them Presently faint civilities were banisht from them to make place for a freedome that permitted them to conceale nothing from one another The resemblance of their beauties and of their wits joyned their soules together and by and by after that of their fortunes made this friendship perfect Dicearchus that would put into practice the promise he had made Pisistratus declar'd at last to Palamede that he had not brought them to Corinth but to make up the marriage betweene him and Ariana that he would never while he lived consent to marry her to Melintus the sonne of his greatest enemy and that this was the resolution they were to take Palamede astonisht at this discourse labour'd to divert him from his designe represented to him the obligations he had to
Melintus the love of his friend to his sister and after all the oaths by which he had promis'd never to wish him ill for his fathers sake and that if he failed there the gods would not pardon him Dicearchus answered him that his intention thought but upon Telephus not on Hermocrates when he made that oath and though he were oblig'd to performe it yet he was not for that ingag'd to give him his Neece Palamede employed all the eloquence he was capable of to bring him to reason reproaching the life Melintus had conserv'd him and what injury he did himselfe in expressing so much ingratitude but nothing could bend this opiniated and vindicative spirit that would besides have Palamede advertise his sister of it for to take her resolutions accordingly This cruell newes in such wise surpriz'd her that she lost speech at it but Palamede seeing this faire sister to be transported with griefe and out of all heart encourag'd his owne for to assure her that he would not suffer this tyranny that their uncle ought to have over them a milde authority but not an unjust Empire that he knew well how to defend himselfe and her too from this oppression and that though he were not at all so engaged to Melintus the fashion Dicearchus us'd sufficiently oblig'd him not to give way to him Ariana somewhat restor'd by this resolution prayed her brother to try first if he could gaine her uncles spirit by sweetnesse but she was much amaz'd when Dicearchus himselfe signified to her that nothing should ever divert him from that designe and not knowing how to be free of her uncles cruelties and Pisistratus importunities she advis'd to shut up her selfe with Cyllenia in the Temple of Iuno where shee should onely have Epicharis with her while Palamede return'd to Syracuse to advertise Melintus of what passed and to resolve together how she should behave her selfe The next day shee prayed her uncle to give her leave to be some dayes with Cyllenia who thinking he could better be assured of her in that Temple consented and Palamede feining that he went to see his friends at Athens departed and embark'd him secretly to take the way of Syracuse As soone as Ariana was alone with Cyllenia she made her part of her griefe and after she had conceal'd nothing from her concerning Melintus and her selfe asked counsell of her what she had to doe You have reason said Cyllenia to make your addresse to me in this occasion it is impossible for you to finde a person more knowing than I am upon this subject to tell you what is necessary for the ordering your affaires and avoyding what is to be feared and since experience hath so well taught me I will tell the greatest part of my life which will be the best instruction you can receive Ariana having desired her to make her so profitable and delightfull a discourse Cyllenia began to speake thus History of Lepantus and Cyllenia FAire Ariana you have conceiv'd so good an opinion of me that it grieves me to diminish it by the recite I am going to make you for you shall heare such sad accidents that hapned to me by my owne fault onely that you will hardly beleeve I was ever able to fall into a blindnesse of that nature yet in respect of the care I have of your good fortune I had rather preferre your safety to my reputation with you that by my example you might receive counsels that may be of use to you I shall not feare to re-uncover my wounds for your sake and to strike terrour into you to the end you may escape the same precipices whereinto I am fallen Some comfort shall I have too in my miseries if they may but serve to hinder you from being miserable Know that Lepantus whom you have heard tell of was of Naupactum a Towne not farre from hence situate at the mouth of the Gulph of Corinth who having lost his father and mother was not content with the cares they had taken to have him instructed in all necessary studies and exercises but after he had married a sister he had to one of the chiefe of Athens hee came to this City drawne hither by the reputation of the great Philosopher Artemidorus who was a particular friend of Sebastus my father for to learne of him the most hidden and sublimest Sciences Though those studies were very serious and that requir'd an intire wit yet hee was not so taken up with them but that he diverted some times to all other sorts of arts and gentilesses where he prosper'd with so much glory as if his birth furnish'd him with a good successe for all he tooke in hand Artemidorus admir'd this excellent genius and sometimes entertain'd my father with wonder at it Hee came very often to our house where they conferred together concerning their studies and being very courteous he many times escap'd from them to come to speake to me as if hee were tir'd with the high discourses they treated of and he passed away the time in my company with so pleasing discourses that I should have thought his onely advantage had beene to entertaine Ladies but that I knew how much he was esteem'd for things of more weight so I made a farre greater account of him for that and honour'd him as a person distant from the ordinary sort of men Hee exprest too that hee tooke great pleasure in my company for that I lov'd to quit the common discourse of Maids and sought to make my spirit capable of things our custome is to be ignorant of so as accommodating him to the sufficiency of my judgment he learn'd me faire considerations by meanes that were very intelligible and when he advanc'd a little and saw that I attained him he strengthned me in that estate with thoughts of a higher nature and bred in mee a disdaine of our ordinary conceits with a desire to polish my soule and make it more perfect It seem'd he had framed himselfe what he attempted to love and on my part being much indebted to him for that paines I studied to please him and so to use the meanes as to be thought worthy of his esteeme Some jealousie I had when I understood that every body favour'd him or that he pleas'd himselfe in any company having a feare lest the kindnesses of some Ladies might not take him from me or that hee encountred not some one whose wit he might finde more equall to his owne It seem'd there was a designe in it that those that came to see me ever spake of Lepantus and thought me happy for seeing him sometimes as if all things conspir'd to make mee love him and if he came to our house at the same time they gave him these praises I well saw they were not affected because every one offer'd them him with so much honour and approved what he said with so great pleasure that I could not be wanting after so many persons to give censures
off feinings to speake more open and plainly to me It was a strange resolution of mine I wished he would love mee and thought I lov'd without being loved but when I saw him submit to me without knowing my designe I tooke upon me so absolute an authority over him that I would make him suffer as rigorous a government as if I had hated him and would put him to the cruellest trials of it Since that time he liv'd with me as before thinking I had receiv'd his excuse neverthelesse I would not stay there and my desire was admirable I had a minde that he declar'd himselfe to me and was for all that resolv'd to take away all hope from him So I sought the occasion as well as he did and one day as I spake to him of a dreame I had had he told me hee had put one of his into verse which he shewed mee that very time they were these FOnd man what have I done ah wretched bold device Have I then dar'd to breake theice Of a respect so long preserv'd And hath my fury then at last usurp'd this licence Me speake of love she heard And for this I am banish'd evermore her presence Those faire eyes without mercy more to justice bent Have added for my punishment Fierce anger unto Majesty I feele their venging fire she flyes away unkinde To a woods privacy And I in following her lose both force and wind Stay cruell one to satisfie you I entend For if my mouth could you offend My hands to right you shall not spare But all is darke as night and reaching but my arme I take but a light aire Gods I 'm in bed and but a dreame is all my harme O fortunate awake that favours innocence What her anger and my offence Are they into ayre vanished My respect triumphantly laughs at these Chymears And my senses ioyed Are safe from such fantasticke miseries or feares Goe dreame the terror of soules amorous Bearer of visions hideous Brother of shady ghosts and spirits Cruell impostor goe and plunge thee in the deepe Of hell devoyd of lights Where nought but crimes and monsters sadly keepe Are you still then said I to him upon this restraint not to dare declare your selfe Ah Madam answered he you have given me a lesson not to put me to that hazard All women said I are not made of this mould I told you before replide he that she without giving you offence is made just as you are I pray you doe not desire me to runne that fortune lest aspiring to blessings I dare not hope for I deprive not my selfe by imprudency of those I now enjoy I see her I speake to her and content my selfe with the esteeme she makes of me since I cannot pretend to be lov'd of her But replide I what can you hope will become of your affection if she have no knowledge of it He answered me Since she will not heare speake of it before shee knowes it she must know it before she heare speake of it What know you said I to him but that she knowes of it already and that there remaines not something more to be done besides assuring one another Promise me said he that she shall not be angry and I will take that liberty I promise it you said I for the power I have over her He answered me you have all the power over your selfe and for this cause I presume once againe to tell you that it 's you I love and that you are to be fully perswaded of it since you know well there is not a person in the world besides you that I can love You imagine said I coldly to him to make me answer againe in the name of her you love and to try me the second time No return'd he there is no feining at all in this I tell you now and what ever severity I may prove I am forced to say it by the excesse of my affection and by the assurance you have given me not to be offended I will not be angry with you said I since I have beene so oblig'd in the businesse but I forbid you ever speaking of this affection if you love me you will feare to disobey mee and if you love me not I will never heare your dissimulations Then growing pale as if hee had receiv'd an arrest of death hee durst no longer endure my sight and casting downe his eyes he said to me Madam at this time I am not faulty but for having obeyed you and since to obey your commands is to faile my disobedience to that you ordaine me shall not be any more a crime You are for all that answered I him to resolve you on this or never to see mee This last blow confounded him altogether and tooke his speech away some that came in upon us found us in a great silence which hee never brake but in his going out when he said to me I had rather be depriv'd of speaking to you than of seeing you and since you are so cruell I promise I will obey you all my life Neverthelesse he could not refraine from taking up this discourse againe another time whereupon I alleag'd the promise hee had made mee and would heare him no more The day after hee let mee see these Verses YEs I have promis'd and will keepe my word Hard-hearted woman whose record Holds onely what exasperates my paine To suffer alwayes and to hold my peace Inhumane inhumaine Keepe then as I doe all your promises Those eyes that hid a soule without all pitty Vnder a vaile of amity Assur'd me to your grace to dare pretend But now they are my cruell'st enemies Where me they should defend Why doe not they observe their promises When I resolv'd to send unto your prison My heart together with my reason Your beauty promis'd them so sweet a bondage Vpon those hopes to irons they were led But to endure your out-rage Is this to keepe what you have promised I grant a spirit without love as you May live as well and ne're be true But I alone will make my promise certaine And heaven that laughs at lovers perjuries Shall never be in paine To mocke or pardon my disloyalties Againe I vow to hold my peace for ever And if I chance to faile hereafter I will endure the worst of your disdaines All things will speake for me my paine will speake That on my face remaines And tell the griefes I suffer for your sake My silence more disert than my discours Will be ready at my succours To let you know the evils that compasse me And this amaze which your perfections In your presence give me Will tell you the excesse of my affections When you consult your glasse early or late The two bright Planets of my fate So worthy to be lov'd my love will tell And without crossing that you me enjoyne Your owne faire mouth as well Shall tell it to you in default of mine I confesse to you
I had a great power with my selfe to use him so cruelly for there was not any thing in the world I could esteeme like him nor that I had a greater desire to please yet knowing that he valued nothing so much as a vertue separate from the common and that he would love me the better for thus resisting his first attempts I thought I must live with him after that fashion But judging then that I had proved him enough and full of joy to see him so touch'd with love it became me to yeeld a little and changing my countenance I said to him with a smile Lepantus I will have you obey me all your life time by never speaking of your affection for I will be altogether assured of it thinking you too vertuous to be a deceiver Hee was so surpriz'd at this discourse never dreaming on so happy a fortune that taking me by the hand he could not tell what to answer At last he said to me It suffices that you have knowledge enough of your selfe and mee to be instructed what you are to beleeve of either And you have reason not to desire any words for your assurance since all the actions of my life shall declare nothing else to you Lepantus replied I you have sufficiently knowne how much I esteeme you If I must love something it cannot be but you I permit you to beleeve this and prescribe you no law for your manner of living with me hereafter being certaine that all your desires are regulated by vertue Madam said he to me kissing my hand my passion hath for its object a thing too perfect for to permit me a thought that may be unworthy of the cause of it and I receive no small joy for the assurance you are pleas'd to have of it whith makes me beleeve that you judge it as great as it is indeed though that be very hard to doe Let us leave said I to him these common protestations and live without doubting one of another 'T is not your words that have taught me what to thinke of you and one word onely from me ought to assure you of my friendship since I durst say it There is no more to be done then replide he but that you order how it shall please you to have me live whether you desire I should declare my selfe or else keepe still my affection hidden It were better said I to him not to discover us so soone because at that time Callias sought me you know added I what my father desires and I must breake that blow before it be knowne that I have another desire in the meane time live so discreetly that none may perceive your designe I receive answered he this ordinance for an extreme favour and you shall see in what sort I shall observe it From that time we liv'd together in a most perfect confidence which we conceal'd with a marvellous discretion and there were very few that could suspect us of intelligence which made us both severally be thought insensible of what belong'd to love as finding nothing worthy of us I advertis'd him of whatsoever passed whereupon he gave me counsell and receiv'd it of me also in that which concern'd him I told him good tales of those that attempted to love-me how they behav'd them in it and in what fashion they were receiv'd he pittied some and laugh'd at others If there happened any thing to me I longed to see him to make my report to so did hee also make mee so exact an account of his life and satisfied all I desir'd of him with so much care and respect that I became too much assured of the power I had in him But I sweare to you nothing was so agreeable to me as his discretion nothing seem'd so farre from any designe of loving me as he He never dissembled in presence of all and of my father too to speake what he had to say to me or knew of me under termes so pleasant and with so much dexterity whether in making any relation or to the purpose of what was spoken in the company that without being understood of any body we did understand one another as well as if we had spoke openly For the space of a yeare we lived after this manner but in the end having broke the marriage of Callias with much adoe and seeing how difficult it would be for me often to make the like resistance to the duty I ow'd my father since he express'd that he had no other desire than to see mee very soone married to one of the chiefe of Corinth I counsell'd Lepantus to lose no more time but to discover himselfe though I foresaw many difficulties for notwithstanding that my father esteem'd him as much as was possible and saw his condition as considerable as his owne yet was he farre from having a thought of him being unwilling to make an alliance out of Corinth Wee therefore consulted together of the wayes we were to take and although Lepantus receiv'd with much joy the permission of demanding me yet he never left fearing for all that for he saw that if fortune were contrary to him he should not onely lose the benefit of having me but besides the commodities he enjoyed before as to see and entertain me with so much facility Well for all this we were to resolve and I promis'd him to expresse in his favour whatsoever my honour might permit nay I gave him all the assurances of my affection he could desire and upon the sadnesse I saw him in I told him Lepantus are you not content with the words I give you tell mee what you would have them and you shall see if I have not a purpose to doe all I can for you Madam answered he the honour you doe me is so great that my silence in part is for not knowing how to give you thanks I have nothing to desire of you but what it shall please you to command me I had rather from henceforth be obliged to your good will for the favours I shall receive of you than to the promise I have drawne from you but give me leave a little to apprehend the hazardous fortune I am running there is no mid-way for mee I must either be the happiest of the world or dye for be you assured that if I see my selfe depriv'd of living with you the readiest death I can find shall be my deliverer Lepantus said I to him fortune it may be will not be so cruell to us and before you lose all hope I must first lose all sorts of meanes whereby you might have satisfaction The power answered he you have herein is so great that if you employ it I make no doubt of my happinesse you have a father that loves you and that has no cause to hate mee I dare say our conditions are equall but a light difficulty many times overthrowes important considerations 'T is not here as with ordinary marriages where after the proposition is
taken with so violent a fever that it troubled my judgement and made me furious I lost all respect and knowledge and when Callias came neare mee I cryed out Take away that Monster that would devoure me ha the villaine beast I am undone see his venome that he casts upon mee and I retired mee as much as was possible If my father came to restore mee to my wits with gentlenesse I said to him Ha! hangman of thy owne blood goe cruell man thinke not to put mee into the clawes of this Dragon I will kill my selfe rather No no thou shalt never carry mee thither see Lepantus there comming to my succours then turning me againe I said Generous Lepantus how doe you come to my defence since I was cause of your death What have you pitty enough of mee to goe set upon him Well on then goe kill this Monster and take heed hee does not enwrap you with his taile Courage my deare Lepantus see already one paw strucke off Courage his blood is lost Lepantus one blow more looke looke hee is dead then I rejoyced and thought to embrace Lepantus as victorious and demanded his pardon for making him dye with a thousand prayers that were followed with a torrent of teares I cannot relate to you all my franticke humours knowing nothing of them but what they told mee afterwards but my transport ceased not but when Callias and my father betooke them out of my presence Then returning to my ordinary sense I could not beleeve what they told mee of my madnesse although I felt great vexation of minde for the losse of Lepantus and the displeasure of my errours And I consider'd into what misery I had enengaged my selfe when I preferred to be miserable before any should know that I loved since I was then both miserable and knowne to bee in love But againe my fever and fury tooke mee as soone as ever they return'd to see me as three or foure dayes after seeing how my life was indangered and no appearance this marriage could be consummate for what I had exprest for Lepantus and against Callias they were resolv'd at last to assure mee that he should not be my husband then my fever much abated and when all the agreements were quite broke because of my aversion by little and little I recovered my health but I had still left so great a griefe for Lepantus death that never since could I finde any contentment At all instants his faire qualities and the obligations I had to him came into my minde the fault for having brought him to dye is to mee so cruell a remembrance that it gives mee no repose and I have found too true that he fore-told mee In the end I was resolved to put my selfe into this Temple for to spend my dayes in the service of the gods since I so ill knew how to use the good fortune they had offered me amongst men And this is that my deare Ariana I have to tell you of my life that it may serve you for example and hinder your falling into the same faults that have beene cause of so much affliction to mee for I see that your affaires take the very same way that mine did and if you be no wiser than I you will make your selfe as miserable Ariana who had given great attention to this discourse then brake her silence and said I have had much contentment to heare the particular of your life but as much displeasure withall to know the misfortune of it I finde that in some things you are blameable and in others excusable because you were injurious to forget the merit of Lepantus and to be changing in effect but on the other side the authoritie of a father is very great and I doe not know how I my selfe should have resisted it Heretofore answered Cyllenia I thought this authority was not given to fathers but to this end that wee might not doubt to render the respect we ought to the wisedome of their counsels but since examining all things I have found that there is nothing so tyrannicall and that they onely hide their owne phancies under this cloake of goodnesse and love towards us Ariana assure your selfe our parents have their designes quite differing from ours after wee have well considered of choosing a person vertuous accomplish'd and conformable to our humour to passe our life with in honour and repose they come to regard him with other eyes they will be onely satisfied and suffer no inconvenience our happinesse is the least thing they consider if they have some little cause of hatred against that we desire or some interest that obliges them to desire what we avoyd to conceale the true cause of their owne passions they will blame ours they will represent us the obedience we owe them and what shame it is to make our selves be spoken of serving them of our very vertues for to make us miserable then they employ their power against our weaknesse for there is no doubt and you will confesse that in this subject I have made my selfe very learned to my cost that if our understanding bee not well fortified by reason it will many times waver in the execution of an enterprise and be driven out of the considerations upon which it was founded by other very light ones for the most part We ought to doe nothing we have not well thought of and approved that nothing afterwards may be capable of making us repent for the lightnesse of our judgements for repentance makes the thing ill which of it selfe was good and the election that is founded upon a certaine science and firme discourse of reason ought never to be changed Thus when wee have knowne a person to be of a happy birth endowed with all honest qualities and for these just respects have found him worthy of our friendship and have beene willing to expresse this esteeme of him that we have received his assurances and returned him ours there is no more consideration that should dis-ingage us our soule is given to him when wee have entertain'd his heaven hath allied us our vertue can no more consent to undoe what we have done and the thoughts that move us to dreame upon other subjects are all of them criminall and against the honour of our sex that cannot endure there should exist a man to whom in effect we have given our heart while another shall enjoy our bodies this meditation alone is a perpetuall executioner to us what-ever face we put on and what pretence soever we take for the excuse of our Fightnesse I perceive interrupted Ariana that you have well studied these considerations and shall have cause to mistrust my owne courage since yours being grounded on so good sense was able to give way to difficulties Truly replied Cyllenia peradventure you need not feare falling into the like errors that I have done because the authority of an Vncle is not so powerfull as that of a father and besides
remaines of these miserable men and he will not faile to take us for the same Vessell that brought you away This proposition was found very good by the Princesse who smiled hearing the invention of it and at the same time strucke a thousand wounds into my heart I tooke her by the hand and made her passe into my Brigantine and instantly I caused divers holes to be made in that we came out of whereby it tooke water on all sides and a little after appear'd nothing of it above the Sea I had impatiency till this other Vessell arrived so desirous was I to please this faire Princesse whose sweet Majesty already bound my heart with a thousand chains At last I see it appeare and withall gave order to make them feine a slow flight and that when they should aboord us they would let a part of them enter I tooke onely a helme and put downe the visiere for feare they should be shye of entring seeing unknowne faces The Captaine of the other ship was armed just so when he leaped into ours and he said as he entred Ha traitors I shall reward you well for carrying away such a Princesse but he found what he never expected for I received him with so great blowes that he perceiv'd with astonishment that they spared him not I sweare to you I was asham'd for so facile a victory yet having promis'd the Princesse to punish him before her eyes I strucke him downe at my feet and willing to cut off his head I made her be called that he might dye in her presence but when I snatch'd off the helmet from this wretch that lay at my feet I stood immoveable to see it was Araxes Then my spirit was troubled with a thousand confusions to have thus treated him I went to seeke in Troas and on the other side I had promis'd the Princesse not to spare him whereat she wondering I very sadly regarded her and casting me downe at her feet said Ha! Madam how miserable am I I must either disobey you or kill my friend She embrac'd me to lift me up and said to me How is 't possible you should be friend to so wicked a man being so generous as you are Neverthelesse I will be satisfied for your sake with the punition he hath received and will have you give him his life I thanked her for this grace she gave us both and went to make Araxes bloud be stopped which he lost on all sides He was so ashamed and confounded for what he saw being yet scarce disabused that he durst neither lift up his eyes to me nor to the Princesse that was the faire Pasithea his Mistresse yet he let his hurts be accommodated and in the meane time I went to demand of the Princesse if she desired not I should wait on her backe to Lesbos This is that said she I beseech you to doe Presently I made Araxes be return'd into his owne ship and recommended him to his people commanding them to follow mine Having given order for every thing I had now no more care but to entertaine this faire Princesse and although the friendship I had promis'd Araxes strove to impeach the birth of my love yet it kept not so good guard but that there entred by little and little much passion into my soule and I did my selfe turne away my thought from that friendship to favour the surprise and betrayed it of purpose to let my selfe be taken This Princesse made me so great thanks that I knew not what to answer to her obligeant words and the more she express'd her selfe redeuable to me for the succours I had so timely brought her the more she reduc'd me to have need of hers After having assured her of my service and that she might dispose of my life I intreated that she would not declare Araxes for author ofher carrying away which she promised me At length we arrived in the Port of Mitylene where there was already come running together much people with the King Archelaus her father who was then in that I le and much troubled to set out Vessels for to follow after those that carried away his onely daughter We descended and the King comming to embrace his deare daughter demanded her how she had beene saved See there said she to him shewing me the man to whom I owe my honour and life which his valour hath conserved me The King came to embrace mee and assured me that I might dispose of all his estates in exchange of so deare an assistance He asked who those might be that would have stollen her away and I well knew she would oblige me at what time she answered I beleeve they were some of these Sea-coursers of whom there was not left a man for that their vessell was sunke to the bottome Araxes replied the King has not he met with you No answered she and it may be he has taken some other course But continued Eurymedon I cannot but recount to you the peoples rejoycings for Pasithea's safety there were nothing but exclamations of joy round about us and so great a throng that we were in danger of stifling I knew very well that she was infinitely beloved but the cause of that love I shall tell you some other time I commanded those of my ship to returne to Sea along the coast to goe meet with Araxes his who yet appear'd not and to advertise him not to faile to returne to the Court to have himselfe cured and that the King had no suspition of him I retain'd by me two or three of mine only and with them accompanied the King and Princesse to the Palace where they would have me be lodged as long as I desir'd to remaine in that Countrey Archelaus demanded me if there were no meanes to know whom they had so great an obligation to I told him they called me Eurymedon as for my birth that I knew it not my selfe and how they that bred me would perswade me that I was of a royall bloud They were satisfied with that for the time then conducted me into a chamber where they prayed me to repose but I told them my travell had not beene so great as to oblige me to take rest before night I reconducted them into their retiring chambers and by the way admir'd the number of Lords that came to kisse the Robe of Pasithea and expresse their extreme joy to see her againe And indeed the qualities of this Princesse were admirable as I came afterwards to know Besides her marvellous beauty she had so many charmes in all her actions whether in the sweetnesse of her looks or in the obliging familiarity she used to all that approacht her that she acquir'd not the benevolence onely but the passionate love of all those that could see or speake to her All the strange Princes that came to her fathers Court could no more part from her those of the Countrey that had beene acquainted with her of a longer
a Harp he accorded his voyce to it and sung these Verses Soule be no more to torments so subjected Heart quit vexation and to joyes aspire I see my fortune passes my desire Where I sought death I finde my life protected In place where deadly envy I suspected And happy Spouse's armes her to combine Without all thought I tooke her into mine Where I sought death I finde my life protected When my sad griefes by fury were directed I sought to dye but Seas could not me drownd Where I ne're sought my fortune there I found Where I sought death I finde my life protected After that Lepantus had made an end of singing and they had much commended his voyce and the grace he had in touching the Lute they prayed him to tell how he had beene sav'd from the Sea and what his life had beene since for Ariana had already related part of that which hapned to him before He was very willing to give them this contentment and seeing every one set and prepar'd to listen he quitted the Lute to put himselfe in the middest of them and began thus Continuation of Lepantus History TO avoyd the reproaches I might seeme to put upon Cyllenia I will make no repetition of the resentments I had to see that I was by little and little abandoned of her yet I shall onely let you know how I flattered my selfe with a beleefe that she would prove to what extremity of griefe my fidelity might resist For I could not imagine that her spirit that seem'd to me so raised above the ordinary of women and had honoured mee with so perfect a confidence could forget that estate we were in together and draw a veile before what had passed betweene us to lose the remembrance of it for ever but in the end I learn'd how to make Callias happy shee had signed the arrest of my death Untill then I thought all her coldnesses to mee were but feinings and even when I understood my misery I could scarce beleeve it my minde being unable to be so soone dis-abused it may be too I did beleeve it seeing no cause at all of doubting but that my soule astonish'd at so unfortunate a blow was then in a dizzinesse that hindred so soone an apprehension of its misery I was at last forc'd to confesse so visible a truth and to be sensible of those stings of sorrow that accompanied so cruell an accident Not knowing what to doe with my selfe I went into a Boat and fled away to Naupactum beleeving to ease my misery by avoyding the dwelling with those that were cause of it but I was to have the power to escape from my selfe too that was then my cruellest enemy my minde producing continually furious imaginations for to teare it selfe in peeces I was not content to see my selfe in so miserable estate but still to augment my fury and despaire I sent backe one of my servants to Corinth in the same Squiffe for to goe to the Temple where Cyllenia was to be married and bring me newes after what sort she would governe her selfe in that action I expected that newes with as much unquietnesse as if I had hoped for the greatest pleasure of my life by it but when he was return'd and I knew that after shee had given me my death she added blowes that seem'd to come from an extreme inhumanity as to desire to know what I had done after hearing she was married my soule could not endure this anguish it chased away my reason and receiv'd in place of it desperation which getting the mastery ordain'd me to say to the man that spake to me Goe and faile not to tell her what thou art about to know and suddenly I gained the height of a great rocke that avances into the Sea and cast my selfe downe in his presence But who can doubt after what I shall tell you of the continuall care the gods have over us for it is impossible to attribute to fortune that is blinde and imprudent many assistances we receive in the greatest hazards of our life which cannot be given but from a better and a more advised hand In stead of losing my selfe I fell as I may now say happily into a great Fishers net who were with their Boats under that same rocke My fall was so sudden before the eyes of these men that I was at the bottome of the water before they could judge what it was and they thinking it was some monstrous fish that had thus leap'd out of the water and then fallen in againe drew up their net with great expectation and hope When I came to appeare they could not yet know what it was because I was intangled with the net and store of weeds that involved me but at last when they had dis-intricated all with much carefulnesse they found to their great griefe that it was a man Neverthelesse their hope was turned into pitty and after they had made me voyd the water I had drunke they spread me upon their cloaks and labour'd very carefully by all wayes to make me come againe I opened at length my eyes and when I knew the place I was in I was much amaz'd yet after I had learn'd in what manner I was preserv'd from death and a long time studied upon so strange an accident I knew that the gods were not willing I should dye That consideration affected me with piety and feare all at once and brought me to understand what fault I had committed against them when I followed the blind transports of my despaire This gave me the resolution to live but not to comfort me and I intreated these people to carry me in their Boats to some remote place where I would reward them for their paines They set up then a little sayle and because the wind was good to goe to Cyrrha which is a Towne of Phocide something neare that place we arrived there presently I found that they had taken away nothing that was about me so I had enough to content them with I had besides remaining some Diamonds which now were happily at hand wherewith I beleev'd I might make a voyage in such sort as I tooke upon me to goe on not yet knowing in what part I should chuse my abiding and having no other purpose than to flye the circuits of Corynth But yet I could finde no corner of the earth where to live without sorrow I had bin very happy if in any place I could have lost my love and my remembrance My fidelity had too profound a rooting to be shaken and inconstancy was not acceptable to me but in the continuall change of places that gave some diversion to my unhappy constancy I wander'd thus over all Greece avoyding those places I had any acquaintance in and for that reason I would not see Athens which is a Towne that might have much diverted my griefe because of Eriphile my deare sister who is married to one of the best men of this
dearest friend I have so much confidence in your discretion as not to feare relating to you the whole story Three or foure yeeres agoe went she on amongst the most accomplish'd of of this City there was one call'd Polydamas who besides many other excellent qualities had so great a discretion that it made him be lov'd of all the world He was of kin to Ardania and that consideration made them see one another often they had each a very great esteeme of other and their affinity giving them still cause to love they were indeared with much affection and did communicate together with a great confidence I was at that time one that knew all Ardania's secrets and I perceiv'd that nothing pleased her like unto Polydamas for she ever made me relations to his advantage and if he then made her not in love with him at the least he made her have contempt for all other men Hee was engaged above two yeares before in the search of a Maid nam'd Elusina who loved him with so much constancy that she suffered for his sake all the cruelties a furious father can inflict when he sees his daughters passion contrary to his designes Ardania knew of Polydamas all that passed in that affection but because he was more loved than he lov'd himselfe he pursued that enterprise with coldnesse enough and seconded not the endevours Elusina made to attaine to what they desir'd onely he contented himselfe to render her such duties as hee could not deny her without expression of much forgetfulnesse and contempt Ardania sometimes reproach'd him before me for the small care he had of Elusina and he confessed to her selfe that she was cause that he could never have a love to any to be in love with In the end the constancy of Elusina gave way to the violencies of her father she resolv'd with her selfe to obey him and for this demanded leave of Polydamas that she might be deliver'd from the vexations she was made to endure He did at that time an action that might seeme to proceed from a good sincere affection but that was indeed a testimony of his coldnesse He wrote to her that not able to see her eternally endure he had resolved to intreat her the same thing for which she had desired leave of him that losing all hope she ought to give satisfaction to her friends to preserve her selfe from misery that he prayed her to forget him if it were possible for not being all her life miserable that for this purpose he return'd her all the pledges he had of her friendship and remitted her all the oaths she had made him to the end that engagement hindred not her repose Hereupon she married and left Polydamas at liberty who but poorely resented this misfortune Ardania continued Melicerta has a brother call'd Misander who with other base qualities is possess'd of so heavy a melancholy as he is distastfull to all company Lepantus was there interrupted by Amyntas who told him I have sufficiently knowne Misander to my cost Ariana added it may be 't is the same Misander Erycine spake of to me The very same replied Amyntas whose humour made us suffer a long time both of us I perceive then went on Lepantus you know him better than I doe by sight but yet peradventure I know more than you the effects of that sad humour that vexes himselfe and has given so much trouble to others Polydamas continued Melicerta though he despised Misanders humour yet he gave not over making shewes of kindnesse to him that he might be often with Ardania whose company he was very well pleas'd with One day Misander heard how they spake of marrying Polydamas and when they were all three together he told this newes to his sister as if it had beene very agreeable to them whereupon Ardania blush'd Polydamas observ'd this action for there is nothing so soone perceived as that which makes for our advantage and he judged that she was interessed much in him That made him thinke of a thing he was not yet well advised in which was to seeke her affection having but till then desired her friendship Ardania was farre more handsome than Elusina and it was very easie to kindle a fire after the beginning of heat that was betweene them There had beene nothing but the consideration of their kindred that hindred Polydamas from casting his eyes upon her for to marry her but then he knew that since she made no difficulty of it hee ought not to be more scrupulous than she See him then resolv'd to testifie much passion to her and without seeming to have apperceiv'd her inclination that she might not be asham'd for having prevented him he judged that he was to feine to have lov'd her of a long time with a conceal'd affection Upon that occasion he made many verses whereby hee said it was at least permitted him to put in writing what hee suffered without telling the subject of it and to comfort his mind in this sort for so many cruell thoughts that tormented it and would breake out At the same time hee was more carefull than ordinarily in his respects to Ardania and expressed to her by his sighs and some interrupted words that he dyed for love of her At the first testimony she had of it she learn'd me the newes that Polydamas lov'd her as a thing extremely desired of her and that possessed her with joy I was then at her house when he shewed her those verses and shee was very glad to have him read them before me to the end I might know how much passion he had He imputed all his coldnesses for Elusina to this secret love he had for another a long time since and feined to have done many things out of necessity which were not done then without designe We ask'd him many questions upon this secret love he yet declared not to all which he very well satisfied and Ardania tooke great pleasure therein Hee knew very well we understood all he would say and from that time we tooke a custome of speaking together without declaring of any thing openly and yet we failed not to tell all things as intelligibly as if he had told the name of her he loved I found him very happy for treating on this fashion because that under the coverture of the kindred he tooke such liberties as would not have beene permitted him if he had beene declar'd for a lover as to bring neare often his mouth to hers and to hold and kisse her hand incessantly Thus was it that he gave birth to the most violent passion that ever was because this faire Cousin refusing him not those caresses and obliging him with a streight confidence he felt himselfe so redeuable towards her and at the same time so touched at her beauty that he kindled a fire not of a long time to be quenched Misander saw not very willingly this great intelligence yet hee could not judge then that it were other
receiv'd by him more courteously than I hoped for at my first comming he was much rejoyc'd to heare newes of you for he beleev'd until then that you were dead and accepted with a great deale of difficulty the presents I brought esteeming them as he said too rich for the small service he had rendred you I demanded of him if there was nothing spoken of you he told me he had heard nothing at all concerning you but two dayes after word was brought us that there was a publike cry made whereby it was ordained that Melintus and Palamede who had escaped the prisons of Rome should be killed in what place soever they were found for that they were enemies to Caesar and the people of Rome This newes strucke a terror into me and instantly I prayed Maximus to goe to the Palace of Nero for to know in what manner the speech went of them He reported how he had understood that Trebatius Tribune of the Emperor's guards had a command to goe with three companies of souldiers in search of Melintus and Palamede to Syracuse or any other place where they thought to find them and that he furnish'd a ship for this purpose Although I had much trouble in my mind I left not thinking what I was able to doe to serve you I resolv'd with my selfe to make me a souldier of Nero's guards and enter into the companies that were to follow Trebatius Maximus brought me acquainted with a Centurion whom I gave an honest present to presently he receiv'd me and made shew of much affection to me I did my reverence to Trebatius who finding me ready to serve regarded me favourably enough and began to have a confidence in me he many times after that put commands upon me and at last gave me the charge of Marshall of the lodgings to my company When we embarked us I observed neare him a young Roman very handsome whom he had a great respect to and much care over he wore a helmet on his head that gave him much grace and I saw that all his actions were accompanied with much delicatenesse I imagin'd that I had seene his face heretofore but I could not tell who he should be Trebatius had given me charge to take care of some stuffes and I was laid downe amongst them to keepe them more sure This young Roman came to sit downe by me never seeing me because I was laid Trebatius who lost not sight of him came presently neare to him and never thinking there had beene any body that saw them or could listen to them he put one knee to the ground before him and taking his hand said to him It seemes you flye from me and what care soever I take to doe you service I observe nothing in you but coldnesse to me not to say contempt Trebatius answered he him excuse the violence of the thoughts I am possest with I forget not the due acknowledgement of the paines you take to satisfie me and I shall one day know how to expresse the obligation I have to you Ha! Madam said he I was strangely amaz'd pursued Arcas to heare that word never having thought it had bin a woman That made me give eare more attentively Ha! Madam I say continued he what have you then ordained concerning me and if it hapned that I could never finde what you are seeking should I alwayes be miserable Trebatius answered she use herein the greatest care you can for be assured that I shall never make you contented till I be revenged Ha! said he how cruell you are to me What would you have Trebatius replied she one passion hinders the other as long as I shall have vengeance in my heart I can never have love there But replied he againe may I not know what cause you have of so great a hate against Melintus Oblige me by telling me it to take part in your passion that I may afterwards oblige you to take part in mine Tell me faite Emilia what Melintus has done to you What! was 't Emilia interrupted Melintus ah is not she dead That name went Arcas on surpris'd me as much as it does you and presently I call'd to memory that it was she her selfe disguis'd in a mans habit That made me apprehend being knowne by her neverthelesse being not fallen yet into that accident I was resolv'd to avoyd her presence as much as I could then I trusted in the change that was made of me for she had not knowne me but a slave and shorne and ever since you gave me my liberty I let my haire grow that quite altered me Is it very true then replied Melintus all astonish'd that she is living Give me leave answer'd Arcas to pursue the rest and you shall know if it be she or no. Ha gods said Melintus againe there remain'd nothing but to make the dead rise againe against us and I thinke there is not a thing now in the world that has not conspir'd our ruine Arcas went forward thus Emilia answer'd Trebatius Since you desire to know the cause I have to hate Melintus I will not deny you this satisfaction if you can receive any at all by learning how much love I have had to him for I must confesse to you that he is the onely man that hath had the power to produce this passion in me But he has made me pay well with usury for the time I deferr'd to receive it into my heart and has reveng'd to the full upon me the contempts I had untill then of you and some others Know continued she that this traitor insinuated him into my heart by a very great appearance of vertue and merits observing a dissembling modesty that knowes as often how to conceale vice as vertue I deny not but he hath qualities that render him admirable but he must of necessity have a presumption in him that perswades him there is nothing in the world worthy of him On the other side he affects so great a contempt of glory and praise that one could hardly beleeve he has any vanity I sweare to you that since I have cause to be his enemy considering of all his qualities I know not what I ought to thinke of him for if he were vertuous why did he expresse a love to me without having any and if he were not so why did he refuse the offers of my good will Well he made love to me and I loved him Afterwards having beene hurt before my lodging and left for dead I made him be carried home to my house where I assisted him with more passion than a mother could have done the dearest of her sonnes This insensible man began to receive my endevours and my assistances with coldnesse and disdaine and I perceiv'd that my presence was alwayes troublesome to him At first I beleev'd that the paine of his wounds caus'd his ill humour or that it was griefe for a long sicknesse but since a certaine Ariana sister of Palamede came from Sicily
consolation to all the company presently they resolv'd to follow the propositions of Lepantus and to depart that house to goe into that Arcas had reserv'd for himselfe It was done that very night and what ever they had more precious than other was transported into that lodging which was commodious enough the house they were in was left to those it belonged to whom they tooke leave of feining to goe and embarque themselves they left them reasonably well rewarded and obliged them by their presents not to tell that any of them had stayed in that place Arcas went towards the ship which he sent away to that same Bay with a charge that if they were found they should not tell whose men they were but to feine any thing rather ARIANA. The fourth Booke THe next day after that cruell one wherein so many miseries hapned in stead of so many expected joyes Trebatius and Emilia made an exact search throughout all the City except the houses where the Roman souldiers were who had all of them given their faiths that no Citizen was lodged with them Arcas made himselfe the busiest man of all in ferretting all the corners of houses being certaine that they would never goe into his About evening he failed not to appeare there and assure his good Master and all the company that he hoped to keepe them from being discovered and that Epicharis was to be admir'd at for her resolution not to disconceale them especially that she had remov'd the opinion of their being in that Countrey at all shee fear'd onely lest they might not expose her to some punishment That word so transported Palamede as he resolv'd either to dye or save her He enquir'd of Arcas in what part of Trebatius house she was shut up and how many persons were appointed for her guard and when he had learn'd all the particulars he desir'd to know he feined no more thinking of her and went to bed But when he thought every body asleepe he descended downe the window by his sheets into the street having no other armes but his sword He went to Trebatius lodging at the gate whereof was a Corps de guard where being entred without any trouble because they tooke him for one of the souldiers he went on towards the descent of the obscure place where Epicharis was enclos'd and finding a souldier that kept the entry he threw his cloake about his head for feare he should cry out and at the same time stabbed him twice or thrice into the body and went not from thence till the souldier had expir'd He went downe afterwards without feare into that obscurity and was come even to the doore of the dungeon where was another souldier with the keyes and a little light about him This souldier surpriz'd ask'd him who he was but Palamede not willing to give him the leisure of knowing him assail'd him with good blowes of his sword and presently laid him dead at his feet Then he tooke the keyes and with the helpe of the little light he had open'd the dungeon doore Epicharis beleev'd that they came for her to propound more questions or else to make her confesse something by torment but when she felt her selfe embrac'd by Palamede she tooke him for some indiscreet souldier and repuls'd him rudely But for all that Palamede making him knowne to her and expressing a thousand joyes for seeing her againe she was exceedingly amaz'd and ask'd him how he was able to come thither He related to her all he had done then he said how they were to lose no time and prayed her to make haste to goe out with him I am fast sayes she by the feet and I am much afraid that all your paines have prov'd unusefull and that you be not here in great danger for having slaine my guards Neverthelesse searching among the keyes they were so fortunate as to finde those of her irons Palamede open'd the locke and full of rapture for delivering his Mistresse kissed her faire feet and cursed a thousand times those that had made so delicate a person endure such misery At last Epicharis after having tried a while if she could goe well resolv'd to be gone Palamede was of opinion she should goe out alone as he had entred alone and that he would follow her presently after and for feare she should be knowne he made her take the Coat-armour and the Casque of one of the two souldiers he had kill'd to the end they might let her passe without difficulty She would have had him goe first alone but it became her to give way to the love of Palamede She passed therefore without feare so disguis'd through the Corps de guard and being escap'd she stayed some time in a place for to goe along with Palamede whose fortune had beene very different from hers for having delayed the time a while he was going out also after he had taken the Casque and Coat-armour of the other dead souldier but when he was very neare out a souldier stayed him by the arme and ask'd him whither he went He answer'd him in the Roman language that he was going out by the command of Trebatius but when he was demanded the word he could not tell it and though he tooke his sword in hand to escape by valour yet they fail'd not to encompasse and seize upon him By and by after the dead souldiers were found and they knew that Epicharis was escaped Palamede was kept till the next day attending the waking of Trebatius and betimes in the morning he was brought before him but when Dicearchus was sent for to know him there cannot be describ'd an astonishment like to that of this old man who prosecuted the death of Melintus never thinking his Nephew had beene with him but that he was still at Athens whither he thought he had gone In the end being come to himselfe againe he intreated Trebatius to save his Nephew's life who was in no sort guilty of what Melintus had done but Trebatius willing to satisfie the command he had receiv'd of the Emperour and revenge the death of his souldiers by punishing the hardy enterprise of Palamede commanded him to be set in the place of Epicharis and if he would not tell where Melintus was that within two dayes they should put him to death Palamede said it was a long time agoe ere he had seene Melintus and that his uncle could witnesse for him with whom he parted from Syracuse to goe to Corinth and after that had taken leave of him to goe to Athens that he had a desire to see in order all the Cities of Greece and Epire and being arriv'd at this he had learn'd that Epicharis was retain'd prisoner whom he lov'd sufficiently for to undertake her deliverance that since he had beene so happy as to effect it he tooke no more care for any thing could happen to himselfe Trebatius said how this encounter of him and Epicharis made him beleeve it was not true he told
his house and could not sufficiently wonder at the great courage of Melintus and his resolution for the safety of Palamede Emilia was well pleased to have Melintus in her power and was casting in her minde what kinde of death she should give him being resolv'd to kill him with her owne hand Then word was brought them how Palamede had beene saved and there was a souldier that accus'd Dicearchus for having beene towards the prison thereupon those that guarded him being not to be found they conjectur'd that Dicearchus had gained them whereat Trebatius being offended made him be put into the same dungeon where his Nephew had beene before neare unto that wherein Melintus was and was resolv'd to put him to death for having dar'd to corrupt his men and save the enemies of Caesar and at the same time he made Pisistratus be banish'd from his presence On the other side Palamede being got out knew not what to thinke to see all the City in a rumour and yet considering of nothing at that time but his owne safety he regained the lodging of Arcas never enquiring what the matter was But he was greatly amaz'd when he understood that Melintus was gone out with eight souldiers and he could not imagine for what designe he had stollen away from his troop in that equipage Instantly he would depart for to goe seeke and succour him but he was hindred by the arrive of Arcas who learn'd them all that had passed The faire Ariana who began to dry her teares for her brothers return felt then a new affliction that open'd afresh the source of them Every one was in such a despaire at this calamity for the affection they bare Melintus that in stead of comforting her they express'd by their extreme griefe what cause she had to afflict her selfe Palamede seeing in what sort he was oblig'd to Melintus for having conceiv'd so generous an enterprise for his safety was fully resolv'd to render him the like but he could not yet invent the meanes to effect it and he onely mingled his despite with the extreme displeasures of his sister Lepantus and Cyllenia In the meane time Emilia that meditated of nothing but the meanes of intirely satisfying her vengeance having in her hands the subject of all her furious passions consider'd that if she could get Ariana into her power she might have wherewith to punish her for being cause of her torments and an occasion besides to aggravate the punishments of Melintus by the resentments he should have at that she would make Ariana suffer before she put him to death and doubting that she might be in the same place since Melintus was met there with Palamede and Epicharis she made a further search in all parts to have her in her hands But Arcas knew so well to divert the scrutiny that might be made in his house that she could never learne any newes of her Many dayes were thus consum'd in this search about the City and some places adjoyning in the end not able any longer to deferre her revenge and Trebatius urging her to put an end to the life of Melintus for to give a beginning to his happinesse she resolv'd one morning to goe her selfe and kill him with her owne hand She tooke a ponyard and Guides to conduct her to the dungeon then being sure that Melintus could not defend himselfe from her because he had his hands tyed behind him and irons at his feet she sent away those that were with her to enter alone into that obscurity with a torch in her hand having yet some shame left to commit that action in the presence of another What said she to her selfe in entring it seemes I tremble and that my body feares to execute what my minde has so resolutely undertaken Can I yet doubt whether I be to revenge my selfe having run over so many Seas to finde the occasion No no let this cruell man feele the fury of a woman justly provoked and repay all the torments he has made me endure She encourag'd thus her selfe for to fortifie her heart that seem'd not over much assured and went her way towards Melintus conducted by the torches light in designe to make him have a sense of the death shee would give him Melintus knew her presently and seeing that she sought him among the shadowes he would prevent her and said Come Emilia that you bring me is very agreeable to me Those words troubled her because this voyce heretofore so loved surpriz'd her and she thought not that Melintus could know her beleeving her dead and seeing her in the habit she was in Ha! traiterous Sorcerer said she at length what spirit hath learn'd thee that I am Emilia Yes I am that Emilia the object of thy contempts and thy ingratitudes that am come from hell to ravish from thee thy perfidious soule and abandon it to the furies Well then replied he gently dispatch Emilia doe that you have enterpriz'd behold my brest uncover'd strike the ponyard in and assure your selfe that the death you are going to give me I shall receive it not as a punition for having offended you but as a recompence for the good service I have done you Done me good service replied she instantly Ha! Villaine call'st thou that good service to have mocked at my love and to have rewarded my cares with disdaine and ingratitude call'st thou that good service cruell man when after thou hadst escap'd from me by subtilty thou wouldst no more thinke there remain'd an Emilia in the world to whom thou wast so much oblig'd call'st thou that good service thou ingratefull wretch when neither the sicknesse that hapned to me for the regret of seeing thee no more nor my death so neare nor my very death it selfe could oblige thee to give one visit to our house Emilia replied Melintus to what purpose serve these reproaches since you are resolv'd to make me dye Dispatch Emilia see my brest ready for you give the blow and beleeve that you never yet oblig'd me so much as you shall doe at this houre by taking away my life No answered she I will know first wherein traytor thou hast serv'd me Ha! Emilia said Melintus will you have me to your shame present before your eyes so trouble some remembrances Did I not serve you well when seeing that this same Emilia whose wit and vertue I had before admir'd let her selfe loose to desires that were not very honest I endeuoured to asswage that heat by my coldnesses for feare she should bewaile all her life time the fault of a few dayes Did I not serve you well when deploring with my selfe the wandring of your soule and comparing your abasement with the honour of your preceding life I was not willing to take advantage at your blindnesse but maintain'd you pure at least from ill effects since I could not hinder the impurity of your desires and thoughts And did I not well serve you when seeing that my presence rather
than any of these persons here for having corrupted my men in my owne house and I had ordain'd you to punishment but I was constrain'd to give your life to the intreaty of Melintus the most vertuous of men and from henceforth you hold it of none but him Dicearchus was allasham'd once againe to have an obligation for his life to a person whose death he prosecuted but Melintus knowing his disorder would comfort him and went to embrace him then putting one knee to the ground he began to undoe his irons and ask'd him pardon for having given him much displeasure in that he was forced by his love to carry away his Neece Ariana at the same time was upon her knees before her uncle and desir'd his favour for the fault she had made in going away from Corinth and it was an action that drew teares from the assistants to see a captive at the same time suppliant and sought to and that the same persons demanded grace and gave it Dicearchus weeping also could not tell what to say to them only he embrac'd one while Melintus another while Ariana At last Trebatius said to him that he should receive Melintus for the husband of Ariana and for the most apparent happinesse that could arrive to his family that he himselfe acknowledg'd him to be the most valiant most vertuous man of the earth that he wondred how he could possibly have such animosity untill then against a person of so admirable qualities Live sayes he from henceforth happy together being oblig'd to one another by many important services and make much of the repose that fortune sends you The embraces then redoubled in testimony that they confirm'd the advice of Trebatius and a little after they consulted what they had to doe Trebatius said he would goe to finde his souldiers that were still searching Palamede in the Vessels to whom he resolv'd to say that Palamede had beene found in the City and put to death that at the very houre he would embarke them and returne to Rome with Emilia in whose company he hoped to passe away his dayes happily As for them he counsell'd them as well for their owne safety as his to change their names and retire to some part of Asia where the Emperour should never heare more of them besides they ought not to retire them to places commanded by the Roman Governours but into some Kings dominions either of Troas or Câ—mmâ—gena These advices having beene approv'd they tooke leave one of another with a thousand embracings and as many wishes that they might live all of them in prosperity and repose the rest of their dayes Nothing now remain'd but to finde out Epicharis and they judged that she had return'd to the first lodging they were in because she knew not they had changed it but there she was not to be found neverthelesse the day after having knowne that Trebatius was departed with all his troop they would remove againe into that lodging which was very great staying untill they might heare newes of her and sent the faithfull Arcas who remain'd amongst them to have brought thither what they had transported into the other house to the end they might in that place celebrate the marriage of Melintus with Ariana and Lepantus with Cyllenia which had so cruelly beene deferred but now was resolv'd on by the very consent of Dicearchus who was so ashamed for being so many times redeuable to Melintus that he could hardly lift up his eyes before him Palamede in the meane time went to the bay where the vessell was hid for to have it returne and to see if Epicharis were not along the Sea-coast somewhere but all his care proved unprofitable That very day they tooke out of the ship all they thought necessary for them to goe away by land as farre as the Hellespont and from thence to passe into Asia because the way was much shorter and withall they were in hope to finde Epicharis Afterwards they sent away the Vessell to Syracuse with charge to goe secretly advertise at the houses of Dicearchus of Melintus and Telephus what fortune they had met with and to bring them all the commodities they could get together out of their estates to the end they might be able to live in Troas where they would settle and that those were sent to them should come the same way they went not to faile of encountring them they gave marks also whereby they should be found and instructions concerning all they had to doe About evening when every one re-began the preparations for the next day they were told there had beene in that house some dayes a sicke woman that was landed at that place and appear'd very venerable They had the curiosity to goe see her and offer her what assistance they were able but when they were entred into the Chamber and came neare her bed she cried out having perceiv'd Dicearchus Ha ye gods Who presents this hangman to me this traitor and continued a thousand outrageous speeches against him in such sort as they thought her sicknesse was some burning fever and having recommended her to those that waited on her they left her A little while after Dicearchus by chance repassed by this womans Chamber who beginning afresh her injuries and maledictions made her selfe at last knowne to him to be the sage Euphrosyne wife of Hermocrates and mother of Melintus Dicearchus then full of confusion to finde himselfe guilty of all the miseries that had hapned to Hermocrates and her knew not what to doe with himselfe whether he regarded her or return'd towards Melintus whose sight he could not endure for having so much offended him and for being so oblig'd to him At last he resolv'd to goe nearer and he said to her that in satisfaction of so many miseries and displeasures he had brought upon her hee thought himselfe happy for having a meanes to give her as much contentment now presently as before he had given her troubles and griefes Euphrosyne not able to judge what he meant to say ask'd him if hee would not still continue his deceits and treasons and assur'd him that the gods would one day revenge her for all his villanies Dicearchus fail'd not to goe out and finding Melintus he said to him with a heart touch'd by repentance that he esteem'd himselfe at last very happy for having found out in his misfortune wherewith to pay him in part for so many obligations he had to him not onely in granting him Ariana for his wife but also in making him an inestimable present for which without doubt he would be extremely joyfull Melintus having given him thanks and not able to imagine what he could give him let himselfe be conducted by him into the Chamber where Euphrosyne was to whom he presented Melintus for her sonne and said to Melintus that he gave him Euphrosyne for his mother and that he rejoyc'd for that the gods had offered him this meanes to give them
they carried him away to a place where now I beleeve he has ended his daies All my entertainment and consolation in the cruell vexations I endur'd was in the nurcing I had of the little Prince which was called Eurymedon who also bare me a great affection and as he grew gave testimonies not onely of the greatnesse of his extraction but of a minde very generous also When he saw me afflicted he labour'd to appease me and comforted me by the hope he gave that as soone as he had any power he would restore my liberty and endevour to discover where Hermocrates was that he might be mine againe Neverthelesse when he had the command over all the Pyrats he could not so soone effect what he had promis'd me being retain'd from doing it for not offending their lawes About a yeare since desirous to goe to Sea he promis'd me that I should goe with him but I fell so sicke that it was impossible for me Some dayes since he return'd for to assemble all the Pyraticke forces with a designe to goe upon some great enterprize whence fearing never to returne and willing to deliver me the Pyrats never knowing of it he intreated one called Amyntas that was come to finde him in a Squiffe from some of his friends to save me secretly with himselfe when hee return'd hither to finde out those persons he sought for This Amyntas had a care of me as if I had beene his mother and brought mee into this City where not encountring those he thought to have found he left me with the people you see for to serve and accompany me unto Syracuse Amyntas knowing that Eurymedon was here hard by for to assist those he was in paine for is gone to finde him and I beleeve they are gone away together having heard no newes at all of them As for me attending the recovery of the sicknesse is fallen upon me and the labour I endur'd in my flight I made a stay in this lodging where I was in a great wonder to see this same Dicearchus the author of all our displeasures all whose wicked practices I learned of Eurymedon and to whom for all this I cannot wish ill since he hath restor'd me my deare Melintus and makes me conceive some hope being become our friend that hee will helpe us to finde Hermocrates your father Euphrosyne thus ended and Melintus told her how they knew who Eurymedon and Amyntas were and that he hoped very soone by meanes of Eurymedon to learne what was become of his father wherein he would employ all the diligence he could possibly use He entreated afterwards this vertuous mother of his to pardon Dicearchus for his deare Ariana's sake which she promised him and they embrac'd one another with much affection He told her then the greatest part of what had happened to them and among other things the faithfull friendship of Telephus and the infidelity of Diocles and how hee had beene knowne for the sonne of Hermocrates Then these discourses being ended every one retir'd to goe to bed and to attend with repose the ceremonies and joyes of the next day ARIANA. The fifth Booke WHile the sage Euphrosyne thus entertain'd Melintus Palamede whom Epicharis losse gave no repose to would not lose the time he might employ in search of her hee tooke a horse and rode out of Nicopolis and went into all places thereabouts to see if she might not be retir'd somewhere out of the Towne In vaine he spent all the evening in this search and a great part of the night that was very darke and as he return'd towards the City he heard two men on horsbacke comming to him who spake of Melintus and Ariana expressing a great deale of angry malice against them He could not know who they were because the obscurity was so great as he did not so much as see them But when they were past he had a minde to know more of their secrets and after he had tyed his horse to a tree he overtooke them on foot as speedily as might be then going a light pace by them without making himselfe be heard he listned their discourse some while not able yet to understand any thing but in the end one of the two replied thus What have I brought from Syracuse with such respect and care this traiterous and perjurious old man have I so long courted him at Corinth and since followed him through all the ports of Greece for to revenge his injuries and now he is satisfied himselfe shall he take no care whether I be so too or no Palamede knew then by this discourse and by the voyce that it was Pisistratus who went on And shall I suffer Melintus to marry her that is promis'd me whose love brings so many desires and unquietnesses upon me Shall they goe away together contented and leave me here full of despite of shame of rage In the meane time must I appeare without heart and not make them feele what a man of my condition is able to doe betrayed on this fashion and wanting no resentment No no though they have escaped the hands of Trebatius they are not yet safe from mine and if they stay here but one day more for to marry together I am certaine to make a funerall-wedding of it But answered the other that accompanied him are you very sure they are still living I saw this evening replied Pisistratus Arcas the free-man of Melintus leading Dicearchus bound and bringing him into a house I sent one of my servants to follow them and commanded him to enquire what they did in that lodging making as if he had some businesse there He brought me word that hee saw Trebatius Melintus Palamede Ariana and Dicearchus at good accord together and that there was nothing but rejoycing amongst them and I make no doubt of what he told me because he knowes them all as well as I doe But returned he whom he spake to when you have spoken to the Governour of Epire to put to death Melintus and Palamede because they are the Emperours enemies and told him how Trebatius had beene sent from Nero for the same purpose doe you thinke he will beleeve you Pisistratus answered you doe not know then how they have beene proclaimed throughout all the Provinces enemies of Caesar and of the decree that is gone out to kill them in what place soever they be found No no Maxentius cannot deferre their putting to death because he is advertis'd of the Imperiall order and if he makes any difficulty of doing it I will threaten to accuse him too before Nero. Palamede knowing in what sort Pisistratus would be revenged resolved to prevent him by killing him first presently he drew his sword and staying him by the reines of his horse for feare he should escape strucke him a great blow into the body Pisistratus cryed out that they murder'd him he that was with him tooke his flight and Pisistratus had never escap'd that danger had it
advancing my designe one while employing magnificence to shew the grandeur of my estate and birth another while using an extreme modesty for to gaine her mothers heart who approv'd not superfluous expences In the end I turned me a thousand wayes to vanquish her finding that I was ingag'd both by honour and love to carry her from all the rest neverthelesse I acquired nothing upon the spirit of Euphrosyne or her mother But when Hermocrates was return'd from his voyages wherein he had followed Germanicus I found my selfe more reculed yet by farre from what I pretended because Hermocrates having prevented the Syracusians by a great reputation they had of him even before he was return'd every one fixt his eyes upon him as soone as ever he appeared and it seem'd they would not so much as take the paines to regard me That contempt so animated my jealous ambition that I feared not to declare my selfe his enemy having as then no other cause of hating him but that he was more honour'd than my selfe and the more lovely he rendred him to all men the more did I see him with displeasure But when he attempted to love Euphrosyne my jealousie went upon a visible foundation and I practis'd what I was able both openly and secretly for to destroy the opinion was had of him Yet for all this obtaining nothing that way and perceiving how by my expulsion he was receiv'd at Euphrosyne's I cannot expresse to you what rage I felt within my heart at last I found the invention to drive him from that house by meanes of a letter counterfetted from Eryx father of Hermocrates to the mother of Euphrosyne wherein he intreated her not to suffer his sonne at her house because he had destin'd him some where else This crafty device succeeded for a time every one being ready to resent that which touches upon their honour and you know that an offence of this kind so surprises that its impossible one should then thinke of doubting whether the thing be true or false Euphrosyne's mother presently banish'd Hermocrates her house without hearing any defence he could make And for me knowing what had happened to him I inforc'd my selfe to the uttermost of my power for to gaine Euphrosyne in that resentment of injury hoping that to worke Eryx despight they would turne their eyes upon me But Eryx and Hermocrates having made all cleare together my plot wrought its effect against my selfe and in a small time the marriage of Hermocrates and Euphrosyne was agreed on and soone after accomplish'd I conceiv'd such a despite at the contempt they made of me and at the good fortune of Hermocrates that a hundred times I resolv'd to have him dye but seeing there was no remedy to undoe what was already done I could no longer endure to live at Syracuse where I should be constrain'd to see perpetually an object that was so troublesome to my sight but went my way for a long time to Corinth When I was there arriv'd all my acquaintance labour'd to divert me and I sought nothing else my selfe but to expell the griefe that tormented me I went often into companies and at last willing to chace away the passions I travell'd with by one that might be more happy for me I had a designe to make another love and casting my eyes upon Acidalia that was the fairest of all Corinth I enterpriz'd to love her I was willing at my first comming to dazle the eyes of those of Corinth by aproud bravery of clothes and traine which made me be honour'd throughout all companies All the Maids that love these externall ornaments regarded me with a desire and attended with much unquietnesse the choyce I would make of some one of them so as when I made my addresses to Acidalia she received me with a great deale of contentment and I perceiv'd as soone the plots of some other women that labour'd to put me off from this affection by a thousand malicious inventions against Acidalia but those attempts wrought no effect upon me contraiwise the intelligence I had of their purpose caused me to be farther ingag'd with her and because she was very handsome by little and little I was taken with a very violent passion She used much coldnesse at the beginning to assure her selfe the more of me and confess'd not that she would love me but after a long time But when she saw me intirely submitted she tooke a kinde of Empire over me notwithstanding she oblig'd me with a great confidence and so mingling her favours to some affected rigours she made me so in love as I could not live any where but besides her At that time a young man call'd Attalus frequented with us who was well enough borne but that made himselfe so acceptable by many pleasant actions and jesting humours that they thought there could be no good mirth if he were not in the company 'T is true he was of so merry a disposition and so borne to buffonnery as the features of his face his armes his legs and all the rest of his body were not deficient in executing what everslights his wit ordained them There was not a ridiculous person that he imitated not no subtilty he was ignorant of but he had so studied to counterfet the discourse of impertinent and stupid people as it would have beene a difficult matter for him to speake seriously I perceiv'd that Acidalia tooke a little more pleasure than was fitting in whatsoever Attalus did As soone as ever he spake she admired the quicknesse of his wit if he turned but a foot or a hand she made an observation of the gentilenesse of his postures and alwayes gave advice to the very first of his motions for feare hee might lose the praise of any one action I was angry for that she was something overmuch carried away in the estimation of him judging it proceeded from a weake spirit to thinke that highly commendable which was simply ridiculous I endevoured to make her lose by little and little this good opinion she had of Attalus giving her to understand that he had reason thus to counterfet sots and fooles because he could never make a discourse himselfe that expressed an ability to any thing that such wits as these were not proper but for laughter and that we were to have a care of trusting them with a secret or expecting any counsell from them in a matter of importance besides we see ordinarily that women and maids love these persons in publike to make them laugh but for thinking them worthy their affection they are well aware of because this sort of men cannot have the conditions that are necessary long time to entertaine a friendship for said I to her respect discretion and fidelity are qualities too serious for such ready wits they are so free and flitting as they cannot endure a constraint and rather than lose a good word or a pleasant action they will quit all considerations of keeping an affection
by severity that he would remember also how he made himselfe forsworne never thinking to have a law of the Scythians observ'd whereto he had bound himselfe by oath But that above all these things he declar'd to him how he that call'd himselfe Alcydamas was that Melintus destin'd to death by the Emperour that had been proclaim'd every where enemy to Caesar and the people of Rome that hee would make Nero become such an enemy to him as would never pardon him when he knew that Melintus had beene in his power and not put to death and that he drew upon himselfe the same punishment he sav'd Melintus from as for him that he was resolv'd to advertise the Prince of it in satisfaction of the allegeance he ought him and that Arimin should not thinke it strange if he gave advice of Melintus his being in his hands who to the crime of high treason had added that other of violating the lawes of Warre Arimin troubled at these words and entring into the due apprehensions of the fortune he ran not being able to thinke his owne life safe as long as Melintus liv'd gave over all considerations of the friendship he bare him and albeit with regret to see himselfe forced to destroy such a vertue resolv'd to put him to death but because he was so valiant and so belov'd in Larissa he judged that he was to proceed in the designe with a great prudence and deliberation He sent for all the Captaines of whom againe he tooke the oath of fidelity and advertis'd them that Alcydamas was that Melintus enemy of Nero and the people of Rome that if they let him escape their owne death would be inevitable After having thus perswaded them and they had promised to preferre the fidelity they ought to Nero to the conservation of Melintus hee sent troops that very morning to seize upon his lodging one of the Captaines entred in with his souldiers and finding him in bed commanded him from Arimin to dresse himselfe and follow him That command surpriz'd him not knowing what change had hapned since the day before and having put on his clothes without any amazement he demanded whither he was to goe This Captaine executed the command much against his will for the esteeme hee had of his great courage and was asham'd thus to surprise without Armes him that in the warres would not alone have fear'd the encounter of a thousand enemies so as by the way as he led him to the place appointed for his prison hee told him that one Pisistratus was come to declare to Arimin that his name was Melintus and that he was the Emperour's enemy and condemn'd to dye that he had withall threatned him to give Nero advice of his disobedience if hee let him escape Melintus advertis'd from whence his misery came upon him was resolv'd for death seeing it was now unavoydable and he was carefully shut up for feare some violence might be offered on their part that were affectionate to him In the meane time was a guard also set to keepe within their house Palamede Amyntas Lepantus and all those that were able to make any attempt for his deliverance who knew not how this great alteration should come to passe and there was nothing but astonishment and crying in that house The faire Ariana Euphrosyne Cyllenia and Epicharis mingled their teares together and the lesse they knew whence their griefe proceeded the more did they resent it The Gentlemen of Thessaly that loved Melintus dearely were not wanting to him in this occasion but deputed some to goe and obtaine his safety of Arimin Those of Larissa too finding themselves redeuable to him for all they had in the world went and threw them downe upon their knees before the Governour to demand his grace for him but nothing was capable to make him relent so fearefull was he of Nero and that if he pardoned they would never pardon him The people desir'd but to resist this injustice yet they were retain'd by the souldiers they saw in Armes on all sides and at last the life of Melintus was brought to that passe that there was no deliberation now but what kinde of punishment he should suffer Arimin to make it appeare he was no violater of oaths would needs have that law of the Scythians executed which he had sworne to observe if any offence were committed against the prohibition made concerning fighting although it seem'd very inhumane to him that a living mans heart should be torne out of his bowels to have his head cut off afterwards Neverthelesse he would at once both satisfie his owne oath and Nero's desire knowing how great a pleasure he should doe him to bring him newes that his enemy had beene punished after so strange a manner for the love he had to new inventions of cruelty He sent in all haste for the Priest of Larissa who serv'd at the goddesse Thetis Temple telling him how by oath he was engaged to see executed a law of the Scythians that ordained for the punishment of every man that fought against order given to the contrary although he had return'd with victory that the criminall having beene carried in triumph through the City should be brought upon a scaffold where the Priest was to open his stomacke and take out the heart to be burnt with honour but his head was to be cut off by the hangman The Priest asked him what reason there was for that barbarous law he answered him that the Scythians conceiv'd how the heart that was the seat of courage ought to be honoured and the head that had fail'd in government and obedience to be punished This Priest of Thetis refus'd the execution and said he should thinke himselfe polluted by shedding of humane bloud and incapable of ever sacrificing to the gods againe who loved not the murder of men but were content with the ordinary sacrifices of beasts especially that effusion of humane bloud was forbidden them by a particular Oracle of Thetis which he could by no meanes disobey Arimin when he could not dispose him to serve that execution sent him away and call'd for the old sacrificer of the Scythians who had taught the Law when he was brought before him hee commanded him to performe the service since he better knew in what fashion it was to be observed This good man would have excus'd himselfe and said he knew not the law but by recite had never seene it practised and should thinke himselfe very unfortunate to lend his hands to so cruell a punishment but Arimin threatned him with death if he contradicted him any longer So this old man was constrain'd to put on his habits of high Priest and prepare himselfe for that miserable ceremony He taught with much regret what was to be done and presently they sent to gather together all the arrowes they could get of the Scythians last defeat then they ordain'd they should be distributed to all the Thessalians that had assisted Melintus every
Pisistratus all armed on horsebacke and sent another horse to Melintus The Priest and Ariana ascended the scaffold and sate them downe upon two seats that were on each side of the Altar and Melintus after he had promised Ariana to returne presently to her took his leave of her and when he had put on his head-peece mounted on horsebacke Arimin caus'd the souldiers that were at the ports and in the streets to come thither and re-inforce the guards of the place for feare of an insurrection seeing the wills of the people hotly inclin'd towards Melintus who was placed at one of the ends of the Camp and Pisistratus at the other having each of them but one great Javelin in their hand and their swords by their side Ariana unseene had seized one of the knives that were upon the Altar for to kill her selfe with it if Melintus dyed in the combat and full of feare and horror regarded what the issue would be The trumpets sounded and instantly Melintus and Pisistratus rode one against the other as they approached they darted their javelins that of Pisistratus lightly strucke against Melintus Armes but Melintus his parting from a more dextrous and puissant arme pierced thorow his Armour and fastened it selfe very deep into his left shoulder Presently they tooke their swords in hand Pisistratus enflam'd with fury against Melintus and with despight that he spared him not and Melintus mov'd with his owne great courage and a desire to punish the villany of Pisistratus Melintus in a moment showr'd his blowes as thicke as haile upon the Armes of Pisistratus without scarcely giving him leisure to lift an arme up and after hee had made flye about the place the peeces of his armour and casque in the end opened his stomacke with a large wound then seeing he was going to fall he cut off his head at one blow and so punished him with the same death he had prepar'd for him This combat ended the people began to clap their hands and cry out Save the brave Melintus but he never staying for these acclamations and hoping for no grace return'd of himselfe towards the scaffold whereupon he mounted and bade they should disarme him to finish what was ordain'd for him only he intreated that he might not be bound In the meane time he comforted Ariana and prayed her not to envy him by her teares so glorious a death that nothing but her griefe lessened the contentment he went to dye in after having sav'd her out of the hands of the Barbarians after having acquir'd so many victories and punished his principall enemy Well Ariana said he what could we more have desired of the gods but to let us enjoy our affection with repose If they refuse me an idle life and ordaine mee to dye now there remaines no more honour for me to acquire ought I to complaine of them for retiring me in the most illustrious period of my life No Ariana I well see you doe not complaine for me contrarily you envy my death but yet peradventure you mourne for this to be abandon'd by me Ah! my deare Ariana comfort your selfe and live without that feare I wil be the happy Genius that shall assist you incessantly untill the gods have dispos'd of you I will remove all misfortunes from you I will conduct your wayes and your actions that you may incounter nothing but happinesse and you ought to be assur'd to have me alwayes at your side by day I will invisibly assist you and by night communicate with you in pleasing dreams Prevent not my deare Ariana the Destinies that are ordain'd you you are to shew as much constancy for life as I ought to have for death Adieu my deare Ariana be comforted and live for my sake as from my heart I am going to dye for yours Then he came nearer her to give his last kisse but she not able to endure that cruell farewell in the middest of her sighings at last let escape these words O gods O heaven ah Melintus I dye and fell downe thus in a swoone upon the scaffold Neverthelesse they brought her againe with water they threw upon her face and opening her eyes she knew what fault she made to let Melintus dye on that fashion without assisting him then taking courage she look'd whether she had still the knife about her which she had hidden and when shee found it she made a shew of resolution At that time Melintus being undrest to the girdle and seeing the honorable pile they had prepared of the enemies arrowes for to burne his heart in he turned him towards Ariana and said to her Deare Ariana I demand yet one grace of you after my death 't is that this heart which hath lov'd you so well when it shall be taken out of my brest may be receiv'd into your faire hands and carried by you to be burned upon this pile Permit not faire Ariana that this heart that feeles it selfe so noble for loving you be touched by other hands than yours and see that having never burnt but for you it be not also burnt but by you What joy think you will it receive when after having adored you so much without knowing you but by desire it shall feele it selfe carried by these hands so faire and so belov'd Ariana promise me this favour have no horror to touch a thing that hath ador'd you and despise not after my death this part of my selfe which in its little space contain'd so much love and affection to you I give it you to be sacrific'd by you to your selfe and be assur'd there never was an offering purer or presented with more ardour Ariana having other resolutions in her minde promis'd the constant Melintus that she would obey all his desires and after they had a long time embraced one another to give their last adieu the old Priest with teares in his eyes bade Melintus overthrow himselfe upon the Altar that hee might open his brest And then this brave and generous courage quitting at last his deare Ariana though never letting goe her hand laid himselfe downe backwards upon the Altar having his stomack all naked and bade the Priest dispatch When Ariana saw he had taken the sacred knife and bent himselfe downe upon Melintus she could not support the cruelty of that sight but turning her head tooke out the knife she had hid then she stretch'd out her hand as farre as she was able to strike it with more force into her bosome But the cry which at that time the Priest gave troubled her and made her turne her head to see what had befallen him The good old man that very unwillingly lent his hand to so cruell an office comming nearer with his eyes to Melintus brest and seeing the marke of the heart which he had from his birth fell a crying out Ah my sonne ah Melintus the true bloud of Pyrrhus and Achilles never will I be your executioner Then having let fall the knife he fell