had little Beauty That hee had made him see so cleer into the Purity Innocency and Sincerity of that Affection that in stead of blaming him for having abased his Spirit to a Subject so inferiour to his Birth and Condition hee esteemed him the more judging how faithfull would hee bee to his King who had so religiously preserved his Faith to so mean a Creature That for these considerations imposing Silence to his Father and Mother and rejecting the Pretensions of the three Rivalls his Will and Pleasure was by vertue of his full and absolute Power and of his Royall Authority that that Marriage should bee celebrated by the Arch-bishop who had disannull'd the former and that immediately in the presence of all that Company the Rustick Almeria having been brought secretly into the Palace for that purpose by his Command These last words pronounced with a serious and Majestick accent stopt the mouth not without an extream impatience of the irritated Mieslas who intended to do no less then kill Almeria with his own hands or make her bee poysoned within few dayes after her Marriage What discourses in the Thoughts what Thoughts ran through the Minds of the three Rivalls what pain had they to hold their peaces in so fair and so pressing an occasion to speak One onely thing gave them the respit that Heart-breaking Grief denied them which was that this ceremony was onely to contract Iphigenes to Almeria the Marriage beeing remitted to a more pompous solemnity insomuch that they promised themselves during that intervall to use new indeavours to breake that alliance and procure the accomplishment of their own pretensions For if betwixt the Mouth and the Glass arrive diverse accidents severall means might bee found in that interim to divert that blow which was so fatall to their Hopes Besides not daring to oppose the King's Will in his own presence every one remained in silence when the King turning himself towards the Arch-bishop asked him if he was not ready to recive the Promises of the future Marriage of the Palatine of Plocens with the Shepherdess Almeria Whereunto the Prelate made answer that he saw nothing to hinder him from obeying so Just a Command in regard Kings may dispossess their Subject's Parents of the Power which they have in such cases over their Children and dispence these of the Obedience which they owe to them the Regall Authority as a grand Sphear imbracing the Paternall under it For Kings are above the Lawes and Favorites sometimes above the Kings This Conceit made the King laugh Then the betrothed Pair beeing demanded the Commission of bringing them in was given to Boleslaüs who beeing the maine Engine in this stratagem whilest the King was making his Speech had made Virgenia retire herself into a Gallery neer the Closet whilest hee drest Liante in a Woman's Habit plain and modest but decent and honourable enough then having ordered his Hair and rendred his Complexion more tawny by the application of some of that liquour mentioned in our Rurall recreations no body could discerne him to bee other in that equipage than the same Almeria whom Pisides Argal and Pomeran had seen in the inchanted Forrest of Plocens The houre was purposely appointed in the Evening and the King's chamber disposed in such sort that all the light that appeared was directly in the Eyes of the Assembly those that were to be contracted remaining on the darker side When they saw Iphigenes come in imbellished with all the advantages of rich Ornaments leading the comely Almeria by the hand the difference of their Complexions made every one compare them in his imagination to a black Pigeon paired with a white What other thoughts passed through the severall fancies of the Spectatours your Conceptions must supply the defect of my Expressions The Queen and the Infanta Florimunda cherished an Opinion that hee had purposely made choyce of that Creature to cover his imperfection having to that end implored the assistance and goodness of His Majesty The three Rivalls who knew themselves Greater and more Beautifull many degrees believed that their Splendor would easily dissipate the Clowdiness of that obscure and homely Mistris Mieslas was inraged that hee durst not speak Aretuza was ready to die with apprehension seeing the moment approach that would discover her deceipt Onely the Arch-bishop saw cleer through all these shades the rest ravished with astonishment held all their Thoughts suspended and their Eyes fixed sometimes upon the incomparable Beauties of Iphigenes sometimes contemplating the Countenance of Almeria in whose Gesture and Grace they could read nothing of Rustick Beeing placed at the best advantage for their Design Iphigenes having premeditated his Speech said That preferring his Faith above all the Honours and Wealth in the World hee was come thither under His Majestie 's Favour to testifie in the Face of the whole Court that which hee had given to the vertuous Almeria in the obscurity of the Plocensian woods and shew her as shee had been his onely consolation during his disgrace that hee would make her partaker of the Favours wherewith His Majesty was pleased to honour him That hee was not ignorant of the severall censures the World would make upon his Choyce saying that for a Man whom Fortune by the Favour of a great Monarch had raised to such eminent Dignities hee was unworthy of that happiness suffering his thoughts to crawle after a subject so disproportionable to his quality But hee was able to justifie his action by examples as well sacred as profane of the greatest Kings and Princes of the Earth who had not disdained to make slaves their Wives hee was not however so much invited by their imitation as his own inclination Affection proceeding from Election not those other considerations which Humane Prudence dictate's to those who prefer its Maximes above their own contentment That the Repose of the Minde wherein consisted the greatest felicity on Earth was not an Effect of the multitude of Riches or Honours since to the contrary they begat Inquietudes and Trouble but of the satisfaction which every one draw's from himself by setting limits to his Desires and Fortunes That the King his Master had already made him too great since hee was elevated by his Favour to Dignities beyond the aym of his most aspiring wishes That beeing supported by so high a protection hee might have pretended to a more advantageous Party but seeing himself raised to an eminent Condition which permitted him not to content himself with an ordinary Match Hee had made choyce of a Wife whose quality was extraordinary mean according to the Judgement of Men but whose Vertues and rare Perfections had won his Heart and rendered him entirely her's That in time hee would make appear that Almeria's extraction was not inferiour to Modestina's to whom hee did no injury since the Justice and Judgement of the Church had declared their Marriage void That hee had divers other Reasons to oppose against the Pretensions
worth they cleare discern By teaching Virtues they can Virtues learn Shew young and old the Male the Female state Their Wills their Actions how to regulate Here Wisdome Valour Chastity discreet Comportment true Civilities strong sweet Rules for each Fortune in varieties Of Friends and Foes Noble Fidelities Their parts with such perswasive Graces act That they best Eyes and Hearts of France attract These Hee whose Love is my lov'd Ornament With equall Grace to England doth present That so in English minds his gen'rous Skill Those Virtues and their Habits might instill Though Hee to us this glorious Theater Of Pleasure and of Profit but transfer His Work with so Victorious Art is wrought The Dignity thereof exceeds thy Thought Yet Muse although I grant you are too weak Of all with a due Elogy to speak You with assurance of applause may say WRIGHT writes best English as best French BELLAY John Chapperline To his Friend the STATIONER on the publishing the Famous Romance CALLED THE INNOCENT IMPOSTOR T Will be expected now that I should raise Some Monument unto the Author's prayse The Work 's or the Translatour's else I feare The Reader'll wonder what I do make here T is grown Apocryphall And by the Wits Quite voted down Who hold it not be fits A true-borne Fancy to be Smithfield-wise Put off with Toll and Vouchers This defyes Such Crutches for 't is of so cleare a Nature T will passe without the Chaplins Imprimatur Or our Certificates Besides I carry Such a dislike to all things Customary I 'le cheate all Expectation and will be Thankfull to them but chiefly unto Thee In these Selfe-ended times we only do Or thank or praise those wee 're beholding to So call our Justice Charity and say We do bestow when we do only pay For though the worke be rare yet should it be Still in its Dress what had it been to me And though Translated by this worthy Pen If not exposed to the view of men I had ne're seen 't perhaps But since all three Have Clubb'd in this Production I must be Gratefull to all and to give all your right Must Prayse and Love and thank Bellay Dod Wright ALEX. BROME Vpon BELLEY'S IPHIGENES better'd into English by the Ingenious Pen of His Dear Brother Major WRIGHT I Need not injure Truth to Blazon thee Wer 't in my pow'r with Wit 's false Heraldrie For but to give thee all thy due would swell Too high and turne the Reader Infidell I 'le onely tell him hee 'll finde nothing here But what is Manly Modest Rich and Cleare No Dropsi'd-Monster-words all sweet and cleane As the smooth Cheeke of bashfull Iphigene Who as thy Pen has made her woo'd and wooe Might passe for Venus and Adonis too Thy melting Language big with nought but sense Delight and Wonder equally dispense Thy words fall from Thee like an April Shower Whose every fruitfull drop awakes a Flower Serpent and Dove first gently greet and kisse Then lend each other their best qualities Contract a conjugall alliance whence Springs thy Impostor's cunning Innocence Such rooted sweetnes growes in every part As if wise Nature taught thee all thy Art But why all this to thee may Criticks say Since what begin's the Page confesse Belley T is true wee owe the ground to him to thee Are Debtours for the rich Imbroiderie And t is but just the World should constru't so Rare Titian here copy'd from Angelo Ro. Loveday To my Learned and Judicious Friend Major WRIGHT Upon this Select Piece Intituled NATURE'S PARADOX Or The INNOCENT IMPOSTER DEar Friend I prize Thee high but now I 'le swear Th' art Metamorphoz'd to an Usurer A Paradox indeed I meane of Tongues Where Art 's the Scribe the Creditors Our Lungs Yet such a one that though the Increment Amount at least to Three times Eight per Cent. Maugre the Act which limits it to Six Wee 'l Plead no Forfeit nor Re-pay with Tricks The Reason's this Thy Treasure 's Beaten Gold Nor Wash'd nor Clipt but truly weight and told Th' Inscription Signall Learning Judgement Wit Not simply GOD WITH US but GOD WITH It Wherein there 's no IMPOSTURE no Offence But what concludes in Soveraigne INNOCENCE Nor do'st thou Covet or Extort at all Wee gaine by th' Use as well as Principall Why then an Usurer Because indeed Like unto Him Th' art alwayes Pleading Need A Need of Languages and yet I 'm sure Th' hast Conquered more than the Grand Signiour The Gulph of Venice Bounds that Monarch's Hand Thou gett'st where e're Thou go'st by Sea or Land The Spanish French Polonian and Dutch Italian Irish Welch and Hungry-Scotch Crow'd all within Thee many more beside I doubt ev'n Babell save the Bricks and Pride Learn but the Language of the Starres and then Th' ast both the Languages of Gods and Men. G. WHARTON NATURE'S PARADOX OR THE INNOCENT IMPOSTOR The First Booke ARGUMENT The manner of Government in the Kingdome of Polonia The Death of Rosuald Palatine of Podolia and his Wife Liante and Modestina their Children made Wards to Mieslas who succeeded Rosuald in the Palatinate Aretuza Wife to Mieslas Her Policie to deceive his Crueltie The Birth and manner of Education of Iphigenes His Marriage to Modestina Iphigenes endeavours to contract an Alliance betwixt his Sister Clemencia and Liante Iphigenes is made to understand his own condition by his Mother and Governour Boleslaus His love turn'd from Modestina to Liante His sorrow for having indeared Liante so much to Clemencia His departure from Podolia to the Court. THe Inhabitants of the Kingdome of Polonia do commonly give their Monark the style of the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS Not that they are so prophane as by too execrable a Blasphemie to ravish that eminent quality from him that beareth it ingraven on the blade of his Almighty Justice who disposeth at his will of the Souls of Princes and who is terrible above all the Kings of the Earth But by reason of the form of Government in that Country which is ballanced with somuch Aristocraticall temperature that it seemes their King is Sovereign only by the benefit of Inventarie as it is tearmed For whereas other Kings are extreamly absolute and have an uncontrouleable Power over the bodies lives and estates of their Subjects disposing of them at their wills and pleasure which is but according to the institution of Royalty determined by Gods own Sacred Mouth and couched in express tearms in the holy Scripture It is nothing so amongst the Sarmatians so were the People of Polonia called where the Sea of Monarchie hath its bounds and what storm soever rises in their King's heart what impetuous Surges or motions of Passion soever agitate his breast hee cannot in any proceedings exceed those limits that are prescribed to his Authority by the Power of his States The opinion of that antient Emperor who said That properly to be a Sovereign was to do whatsoever hee lifted is of no
esteem or value with that Nation Neither is less exploded there this saying of an imprudent Empress That nothing was unlawfull for Kings to act if it but pleased their humor For in that Kingdome whatsoever concerns the Power Family and Function of the Monark it is all so regulated that Hee cannot deviate or out-strip his bounds in the I east without drawing upon himself suddain Rebellions and most formidable Combinations The reason thereof proceeds from this respect that among those People who are as free as fierce and no less generous then haughty the Kings are Elective Succession having no interest in that Crown unless a Son by his vertuous deportments and valorous Actions render himself worthie with the approbation of the Orders to ascend into the Throne of his Progenitors From this libertie which the Polonians have of electing their Monark ariseth this Restriction of the Royall Authoritie within such confined tearms and limitations that it is no more possible than lawfull to exceed them without altering the Harmony of that Direction which hath there been establish'd beyond the reach of humane Memory and exciting in the State Revolutions or rather Convulrions of most dangerous consequence It is to be observed that the Ecclesiasticks and the Nobility only have votes at these Elections the third Order which is the Common People is excluded and must receive for their King him that is lawfully chosen according to the form and custome of the Country by the other two Orders Who after the Election though they leave to the King the honour and prebeminence in all things rendring him the homage and reverence that 's due to a Sovereign and all those whom the hand of Providence hath raised that high Dignity reserve to themselves however the power of governing and administring Justice by which Kings reign and by which they maintein the Regencie of their Kings and Lawes As for the Ecclesiasticall State That hath its Policie apart which particularly regardeth Spirituall Affairs and the Conduct or Cure of Souls And the Secular which concerneth Politicall matters as the exercise of Justice aswell Civill as Criminall and the administration of Government and Military functions is chiefly in the hands of certain great Officers named Castellains Palatines who are little Sovereign Lords or Petty Kings every one in his own Territorie For instance The Castellains are those who have Lands Citties Burroughs Villages and Seignories under their subjection as for matters concerning Justice and their Authority is so great that their Jurisdiction is without Appeal Moreover in case of troubles they have power to levie Forces impose Taxes raise Monie to pay and beare the charges of their Miltitia and do other Actions in this nature which in other Monarchies are reserved only to the Sovereigntie The Palatines are like Governours of Provinces but they are so absolute in their Governments that they command the Castellaines and the People at their pleasure exact Tributes press Souldiers appoint quarters give Commissions in a word they are like petrie Kings in their Palatinates such suddain and exact obedience is rendred them so Supream and uncontroulable is their Power Insomuch that the King to return to the Proverb before mentioned commanding as King over the Palatines and Castellains is in this consideration called KING OF KINGS that is of the Palatines who are in effect petty Kings and LORD OF LORES that is of the Castellains who are like little Princes The History which I am about to relate obligeth me to represent this form of Government as being the Basis and principall foundation thereof by reason of the Power almost Tyrannicall of one of these Palatines who shall appear upon this Scene we are now opening and who would seeme strange nay altogether extraordinary to the Reader that should fancy to himself a Country ordered according to the Rule and Policie of FRANCE or SPAIN where the Monark being more absolute the Authority of Governours is much lesse not unlike to that of the meaner Lights of th' Heaven which have no light or luster before the Sun of Sovereigntie whereas on the contrary in Polonia the Palatines do execute their Charges and exercise their Jurisdiction in the presence of their King as if their Authority depended rather on Monarchie then on the Monark nothing being able to make them be deposed or dispossessed of their Commands but State Crimes which make them lose their Dignities with their Lives Under the Reign of him that preceded MONSIEVR of France then Brother to CHARLES the IX and Duke of Anjou and who was afterwards HENRY the III. of France having forsaken the Crown of Polonia A certain Lord Castellain by name Rosuald who though not descended of very antient Nobility nor much in favour with Fortune for matter of estate was elevated for his valour to the Palatinate of Podolia Governments and great Offices are like Vessells full of liquor whereinto if you cast a spunge though ne're so dry and hard it will presently be filled and pierced through Rosuald was so able and understanding a Man that without oppressing much his Subjects or exacting any thing in his Province that might render him any way odious or blameable by subtile and probably lawfull means he became so rich that Peace by vertue of his mediation and good conduct reigning among all the families where hee introduced Concord Abundance entred within his Territories insomuch that it might be said of him That Glorie and Riches were in his House That his Garners sunk under the burthen of Corn his Cellers were overflowed with Wine That out of the very stones burst Rivulets of Oile That his Coffers were not capacious enough to contein his Treasures In sum That hee was one of the most opulent Palatines in Polonia But the inexorable Parca that pardons no body and who being blinde cut 's the thred of life when she pleases without distinction of Age Condition or Sex stopped the course of this Noble-man's dayes in the full Current of his Prosperitie at such years as but just passing out of Virility hee saluted only the first and freshest time of Old-Age by an unexpected accident which made him bring Death with him home from Hunting His Lady who was then big with Child though otherwise verie chast and vertuous yet a woman that is to say as litle capable of constancie as a Reed of steadiness suffering her self to be transported by the excess of an inconsolable sorrow precipitated her deliverie in the seaventh Month and after a Son which she had brought forth into the World but one yeare before She was made a Mother at this second and last labour of a Daughter which had life but by her death For whether her grief and conceding anguish hastned the birth of the Child or whether because her Body was no less cruelly afflicted with the Pangs of her Travell then her mind for the loss of her Husband the Daughter remaining with the living layed her Mother among the Dead leaving these
dispositions and divers recommendable parts came to do them the same affront as the Sun doth every morning to the meaner lights of Heaven and ravished from them the hearts of all the Ladies from whom they could no more receive any countenance but slights And jealousie being a fire which hapning to kindle in an human soul hindreth it by reason of the vapors which it excites from seeing the Sun of reason they conspired all together against Iphigenes and plotted how to ingage him in severall quarrells Already divers wicked Designs were layd to intrap his innocence but the Preserver of the vertuous still delivered him for the Courtiers more changeable than the Sea or the Moon accommodating themselves to the humour of the Times more than the Fish called the Polypus doth to the colour of the Rocks where it fastens have no other rule for their Hatred or their Love than their interest and the measure of this Interest is the Humour of their Prince Although those who are most in the King's favour are commonly the object of the People's hatred yet the dissembling complacency of the Court obligeth those who follow its wind and tyde to applaud those whom the Sovereign affects notwithstanding they hate them in their hearts or at least do not esteem them Beauty accompanied with a comely carriage is a Letter of admission which openeth the Cabinet and Heart of Kings for they are but Men as well as others and the more subject to passions because elevated to an higher degree of Eminence by the same reason that the tallest Cedars suffer most by the wind 's impetuousity and the loftiest Towers feel oftnest the effects of Thunder and Lightning And as the Elephants may be most easily wounded in the flank which is the tenderest part in their unweildy bodies as severall examples witness so great Persons are no where so weak nor so easily to be surprised by any thing as by passinate affections this being their generall defect And indeed it were a difficult matter for those who are beloved I should rather say served adored and admired of so many deserving persons as are still about them not to be sweetly enforced to render themselves to the particular affection of some one whence it follows that Favour is the inseparable shadow of Royalty For if the Sun that lamp of the Universe which from his Heavenly Chariot sees all things upon Earth looks with another eye amongst the flowers of a Garden-plot upon the Marigold and all other yellow flowers which seem to be decked with the Gold of is splendent Rayes and by that yellow livery do testifie the love they bear that glorious Luminary So Kings who are the light of the World and the Suns of the Earth since 't is from them that the most noble persons of a State do borrow their lustre although they do extend their paternall care to all their subjects as fathers of their People yet in this generall solicitude they apply their Eyes and Ears to some particular servants who by that means get ground in the territory of their hearts and do rule the spirits of their Kings by the sweetness of friendship as the Kings by the force of authority do reign over the Provinces under their subjection And above all Beauty hath the property to establish her Empire with such polite and quaint indeerments that whereas all other subjection is irksom here Liberty is odious and Chains amiable every one contributing to bring himself into this traldom And how vain-glorious soever it be it cannot exact from the humility and submission of its adorers such homages as those that are rendered to it by voluntary Sacrifices thousands fall at its right hand ten thousands at its left all at its feet as being the most visible Ray of the Divinity upon Earth It was this Beauty seated in Iphigenes countenance as on a Throne of Ivory that framed his way by the eyes into the King's affection And if the Iron though heavy and insensible and a Straw that is light and without reason do by a naturall inclination turn and make towards the Load-stone and Amber if the Load-stone that hath touched Iron doth communicate unto it that secret property of standing alwayes towards the Antartick Pole if the Vines love the shadow of Olive Trees and the other Fishes delight to follow the Dolphin without any other knowledge than the force of instinct Who can deny that Man whose senses are inclined to evill from the beginning may be carried away by Concupiscence being allured and sometimes drawn and ravished by the objects That monstrous vice the abortive of Nature and Hell which diffames the Orientall and the Southern parts is hardly known in the Occidentall and Septentrionall Regions at least if it be frequent there it is very rare here if there it be a vulgar and popular Malady here it seem's to infect none but great persons I am not the only Man that esteems Courts to be the receptacles of Iniquity the Theaters of Licenciousness as well as of Vanity the Schools of Dissolution and Riot for since Piety is excluded thence according to the saying of an Antient Writer if the shades of Impiety reign there in the place of that Light what can one imagine to be practised there but the deeds of Darkness Therefore I shall not stick to say that Asmodeus that unclean spirit which suggests to animall Creatures the brutall desires of the flesh whom the Pagans and Poëts made a Deity under the name of the Goddess of Cypru's Son cast like another Sinon into Troy such Grecian fires into the sulphurous hearts of the Courtiers that divers of them beholding with too much attention the perfections of Iphigenes and thinking him of a Sex conformable to his habit entertained such base desires as ought not to enter into any thought much less bee repeated Thereupon som of them to accomplish their execrable pretentions used means to seduce the young Gentleman to the licentious frequentation of loose Women thereby one vice calling on another to draw him into more enormous abominations Here I might raise the trophy of our young Gallant 's chastity with lines that would deserve to be exempted from Oblivion But because the multitude of weak spirits as well as that of the ill-advised exceeds the number of the strong and prudent not to offend the infirmity of those wee will wean the ability of these For as the light of the Sun is injurious to certain Eyes So the truth is not always well received by all discreet hearers But to believe that such horrible Imaginations could harbour in the Kings Brest I should hold it a blasphemy to think it yet they are Mortalls environed with frailties and subject to failings And who knows if any secret Malignity made the King conjecture that under Iphigenes clothes was something more than Man however his affection never went beyond the limits reserved to Moesty But who can hinder Detraction which carries the venim of Asps
upon the lips from spreading its poyson upon the purest innocence Persons which are seated in the highest place upon the World's Theater are commonly the subjects of obloquies as the Butts and Blanks of Calumnie The King besides the merits of Mieslas and the remembrance of his former services saw joyned with a ravishing presence such remarkable vertues and perfections in his Son that as a just prudent and liberall Prince hee could do no less than shew the esteem hee made of so many rare qualities which rendred him the spectacle and marvell of his Court. And as this life is a perpetuall Game full of contrarieties and vicissitudes the disgrace and falling of one being the advantage and raising of another as in Heaven when some Stars rise upon the Horizon others at the same time set when some are seen others are hid it being impossible that all should appear to us at once So at the Court severall Favorites are incompatible they strive to thrust each other out of their Prince's affection This drew much envy and many quarrells upon the brave Iphigenes but in all these contestations Hee came off with such good success and signs of courage that as the files do polish and smooth the Iron by biting it and the waters of the Deluge did raise the Ark by falling upon it so these malicious oppositions did increase the value and reputation of Iphigenes Insomuch that the King whose solid Judgment was able perfectly to distinguish the Precious from the Vile and knew what extreme difference there was betwixt the Merit of that vertuous Gentleman and the Demerits of so many others of his age who lost themselves in gameing and deboistness did an act worthy of so great a Prince to seat his favour in so good a place withdrawing it from those who had not purchased his countenance by Desert but Art imitating those Women that paint who make borrowed and supposed Beauties be beloved in them rather than Naturall This transported with a desperate fury a yong Noble-man named Augustus Son to the Palatine of Vilne in Lithuania Hee having been bred Page to the King had found the means so to insinuate himself into His Majestie 's favour that hee had obteined a great Estate of his gift and a considerable charge in the Court whereby hee was become so haughty and insolent that his humor was insupportable Seeing then that Iphigenes entring into Grace was likely to cause his Ruine and that the King turning his Eyes from him and fixing them on this new Object hee should bee supplanted there was no sort of Bravado's and Treacheries that hee left unattempted to provoke the patience of our innocent Cavalier But his Discretion augmenting the Arrogance of the Lithuanian whose abuses drew one day some language from Iphigenes mouth which gave him to understand that hee feared his Biting no more than his Barking His frowns and threats lightning which presaged a tempest neer at hand were cause that the King interposing his Authority cut off this Contestation in the root by commanding Augustus to contein himself within the bounds of his devoir or quit the Court. This put him into an excessive rage judging by this Soverign Oracle which way the King's Heart inclin'd Envy which murthereth low spirits cruelly gnawed this Lithuanian's but because this vice is so ridiculous that it dares not shew it self hee bit his bridle in silence feeling his heart pierced with a thousand pricks to see that his Competitor high in the King's favour acquired every day new honours and that as when a pretious balsome is spilt the good odour of his reputation dilated it self into all parts Iphigenes was never mentioned but with tearms of high commendation as not seen without astonishment If his Face was the glory and delight of those Eyes that beheld him his Actions full of vertue and winning gracefulness purhcased him the quality so rare in this age not only of Irreprehensible but of the most accomplisht of Gentlemen Hereupon Envy who is sick at other men's well being made Augustus feel such torment in his mind as none of all those invented by the barbarous Tyrants mentioned in Histories could parallel A just Vice in the unjust hatred it bears to Vertue since it serves to torture him that gives it admittance into his soul But the mischief is that as the winds inclosed a long time within the bowells of the Earth at length burst out with horrible Eart quakes that dis-joyn the frame of nature So the furies of Envy suppress'd a good while with silence most commonly disclose themselves all at once by most tragicall successes In all honorable Exercises wherein yong Gentlemen use to shew their activity and skill Iphigenes always had the better There were no Rings but for his Courses so exactly could hee command his Horse and Lance At the tiltings his gracefull garb ravished all the spectators At dancings there were no Eyes but for him And as the King's bountry to him was very great his Expences Sumptuousness Liberality and Magnificence increased proportionably No body was so handsomly dressed so richly attired so well attended so well mounted so well accompanied as hee and all this with so much judgement that it rendred his pomp doubly admirable Hee was no Gamester at all neither was hee guilty of running into any unnecessary Excesses by which means hee was the abler to appear with the Nobler train Mieslas ravisht with the Vertues and prudent Conduct of his Son became more reserved and moderate in his expences imitating him as much as might be possible and although his credit was great with the King it was nothing in comparison of his Son 's For without entring into the quality of importunate being very circumspect in managing his Master's favour Hee alwayes received of the King more than hee demanded conteining himself within the compass of what hee might or ought to do if hee had been a greedy seeker of his own advantage But as the Shadow follows those that fly it so doth Prosperity those that look not after it In less than one year's time the King gave him a whole County with some Offices of Castellains and destined him also for a Palatinate assoon as Age had furnished him with Experience and Authority requisite If Fathers were susceptible of Jealousie against their Children Mieslas had reason enough to conceive some against his Son seeing the rarity of his beauty and discretion had thrust into his Hands in an instant a Fortune which his long services could not attain but it is not with her as with a Goale where those that run fastest come the soonest at it Hee was very glad to be surmounted in that by Iphignes after the custom of most Parents who desre nothing more than to see their Children higher and more advanced in the World than themselves The Queen a vertuous and wise Princess and who saw but with the King her Husband's Eyes could not but esteem him whom shee saw His Majesty so highly
upon the beautifull Podolian shee fancied that beeing watched now no more by that Dragon shee should have better opportunity to disclose her intentions and conduct them to the desired end The same Death raised Iphigenes to the degree of Palatine which is the highest step of honour amongst the Grandees of Polonia for the King requited his innocence with the inheritance of his unjust Adversaire's Authority Thus the Weights which seem to depresse the Palms do make them grow up higher Thus the Knife that cut 's the Vines maketh them flourish and is cause of their producing new Leaves whose Bredth and Beauty do efface the luster of the antient stock As great Tempests are preceded by little Winds which curl the smooth-faced Waters and make the Tree's Leaves tremble As many little stones do tumble from an House-top before the whole building falls And as extreme Sicknesses are fore-run bymany slight indispositions So in great Prince's Favorites the declining of their Fortune hath it's presages and although oftentimes they feel the Thunder-bolt before they see the Lightning yet to those that have but indifferent judgements it is easie to prejudicate that some sinister accident doth threaten them When Pamphlets Songs Advertisements Satyres Poems and Diffamatory Libells are dispersed abroad it is as when those white Birds are seen flying upon the Sea coast which are infalilible fore-runners of foulweather The beautifull Face of Iphigenes which betrayed and almost accused his Heart was the Rock whereon equally those that loved and those that hated him were Shipwrackt It 's strange that Hatred and Love should deduce their Origine from the same Principle That which ravished his Lovers made the Jealous burst with Spight and when some praised exceedingly those perfections which charmed so many Eyes the Envious would take occasion thence to blame him as being Effeminate But as Iniquity commonly stop 's its own Mouth and give 's it self the Lye the two incounters of Augustus and Stanislas shewed evidently enough the nullity os that reproach and compelled those that called Iphigenes a cowardly Paris to acknowledge that Hee was rather to be honoured as a brave Hippolytus who could joyn Valor with Beauty Some others who knew that hee had been Married very yong and that hee had not proceeded to Consummation and besides although the Ladies generally were inamored of him seeing that hee repayed their flames with such indifferency accused him of Impotency For Courtiers have that base quality not onely to make little esteem of Continency themselves but blame it in others Besides Envy is a False Glass which changeth the Face of Objects which makes the handsomest things seem ugly and chargeth Vertue with the same defects that render Vices blameable It is true Iphigenes the better to conceal what really hee was would sometimes play the Courtier amongst the Ladies taking pleasure to foster in their Brests a Disease whereunto hee was incapable of applying a remedy and perceiving that divers amongst them layed Snares to intrap his Liberty hee delighted in cutting them out Work and paying them in the same Coyn. What Jealousies Quips and petty Quarrels did hee raise amongst that Sex who are naturally inclined to Self-conceit and Envy Their hearts were all as Brimstone to the fire of his Eyes all as Heliotropes or Turn-sols to the Luster of his Presence For besides the advantage of being the King's Favorite which is the North-Star of those whose hearts are touched with the Loadstone of the Court hee was possessor of so many amiable qualities that as soon as hee fixed his Eyes upon any Lady shee presently imagined shee had caught him when hee had taken her and this Opinion raising her Fancy to the skies shee thought to triumph over all her Competitors and be Queen of the Bean although shee had no part of the Cake For Iphigenes changed his discourse so often and knew how to amuse them all with such dexterity that although hee loved none hee seemed to consume at every fire hee approached This gave Occasion to some malicious Spirits Jealous of his Glory to blast with their Satyricall invectives the blossome of his Reputation Whilest these snarling Curs who cannot bite Iphigenes do bark after him casting stones at him without discovering their Arms and making Libells flie about which the Authors durst not own but to their surest friends Others more dangerous like to the worm that eat 's into the Root of the green Ivie did set their wedges to the Root of his Fortune to make the Tree fall down and sturck their Pick axes into the Foundation to undermine the Edifice Hee that hath been an Homicide from the beginning hath in all times been busie in forging Calumnies and indeavoured to establish Lyes in the place of Truth Hee hath alwaies sowed Darnell amongst the good grain and mingled in the pure Gold of the most generous Actions the Rust and Skum of false Reports and Detraction The wheel of Fortune like the Potter's is in perpetuall Motion alwaies framing new Vessells sometimes of Ignominy sometimes of Honour and seem's to raise those on whom Shee confer's Dignities meerly to dash them in pieces by their fall as Eagles deal with Tortoises This fickle Step-dame constant in nothing but Inconstancy and who hath nothing certain but her Incertainty favoring the designs of the malicious Enemies of the innocent Iphigenes whom shee had till then been elevating to the highest point of her Circle suggested to their Envie the Invention if not to work his utter Ruine at least to make him bee discarded from the Court and so by a Disgrace to precipitate him down the hill of his declining Greatness Thus was their Plot which they so cunningly contrived that those who were surprised in the same snare never did perceive it Some Divellish Spirits by means of certain Women good workers of such wicked Stratagems buzzed into the Queen's ears Imaginations that ought not to enter into the thoughts of so discreet and so vertuous a Princess perswading her that the King in his friendship to Iphigenes by an Orientall Licentiousness did passe the terms of Honour and his Devoir This was to touch the Queen on the Apple of the Eye and wound her in the most sensible place about her Insomuch that as those Meats which most delight our appetites in health are the most loathsome to us being Sick so the very name of Iphigenes on whom shee looked so favorably beofre this false report hereupon became odious unto her and his presence insupportable The matchless Civilitie Modestie and chast Demeanure which formerly shee had with leisure remarked in this beautifull Youth vanished all in one moment out of her Mind and the place of Truth was presently usurped by false Reports and vain surmises How easie it is in a Woman's heart to supplant the Innocent They had a fairer game to play with the King For the familiarity and free access which Iphigenes had to the Queen and the other Ladies more than ever was permitted
Harmonious in his Ears thus replyed You may see Brother how far doth transport mee not the Love of an Image as you imagine but the power of my Friendship to you I say to you to your Person to Liante as Liante not as the Portraicture of Modestina Indeed I love her as my duty obligeth mee but do not you know that nothing is so ill performed out of that Respect as Loving since that Passion beeing the Daughter of our Will retaineth something of the Mother's Disposition whose Element or rather Substance is Freedome But besides the constreint of a Matrimonall Bond which how golden soever it be is alwayes a Bond in my mind that Sex in regard of it's frailty is so little capable to sustein that streight and durable Knot of a true Friendship that the greatest inclination a Man can have for Women is nothing in comparison to that pure and cordiall Affection which hee bear 's to a Friend who is his second self For it is betwixt two equall Hearts that is formed that reciprocall correspondence wherein consisteth the Essence of Friendship In that you apprehend to wish your self of another Sex to attract from mee a more ardent Affection you have reason considering that were to wish a mighty inconvenience for a mean advantage For perchance if you were as your Sister is my Affection would bee much less fervent to you for then I should look upon you with more Compassion than Passion as a brittle Vessell more worthy of Pitty than Envy Yet if your Heart invite's you to desire a condition so miserable as that of Women whom God and Nature have Created to bee subject unto Men to augment in mee an Affection which is already infinite Give mee leave to answer your wish who without Dissimulation or Consultation would to the greatest contentment of my Soul relinquish not onely the favour of the Court the dignity of my Palatinate and the benefits I receive by the bounty of the best and most liberall Prince in the World the King my Master but all that I am to purchase mee the power of beeing your Wife It is I who am really jealous of Clemencia and who would gladly have but so much priviledge of your thoughts as my Sister whose inconstant Soul was so shaken with the wind of my Father's fury that shee would have been perswaded to marry Cassin had not the disdain of seeing his Mother desirous of my Bed made him retire out of Podolia sooner than Mieslas expected Oh fickle Girle said I when I saw her so poor-spirited in an incounter where shee needed but to have spoken boldy and carved out a Negative Oh wavering Girle said I and unworthy of so perfect a Lover as Liante had the Heavens put mee in thy place I would surely have shewed more Fidelity and Resolution But what can bee expected from that Sex but infirmities since it is the pure substance of Debility and therefore alwayes shivering and moving like a Leaf Yet what defects soever I do condemn in that Sex I would not greatly care if I my self were of it if I thought thereby to be more your's or that you would love mee as well as my Sister Here Almeria taking the word out of Iphigenes mouth said Believe mee Brother That if you love me as much or more than my Sister whereunto I can hardly be perswaded knowing the little reason you have it is the like with mee and as if our Stars had Embraced at our Births to Express my Resentments naturally and nakedly to you I never had by many degrees so much inclination for Clemencia as for you and thereby I find that Friendship hath a more powerfull ascendent over my Heart than Love which to say the Truth is a Passion too Effeminate to have any regency in a Masculine spirit And to give you assurance that the Resentments are reall which make mee declare my self in these Tearms Hold for most certain that Clemencia shall never be any thing more to mee than what you please and if you conceive that it may be for her advantage to Marry the Prince Cassin and mine to have another Wife I will most freelie renounce all those Pretentions which your Perswasions induced me to have for her my desire subscribing willingly to your command Iphigenes seeing Almeria arrived at that Point whereunto hee most passionately desired to reduce her Resolution was strongly tempted to disclose the secret of his Birth But not having the conveniency to consult his two Oracles his Mother and his Governour hee conteined himself but with such pain as may better bee imagined than discribed So contenting himself to have absolutely withdrawn Almeria's thoughts from Clemencia which was the clog that most oppressed his Mind and to have obtained her consent to his Sister's alliance with Cassin promising to finde another Match that should raise her Fortunes infinitely beyond what shee could have hoped by Clemencia It is requisite said hee to conceal your self from those whom my Father hath incharged to apprehend and carry you to him Alive or Dead that you continue this Life untill wee can finde the means to convey you into the Citty or untill my Relegation beeing repealed I may send for you to the Court where by the King's Authority I doubt not but to secure you from the Tyranny of Mieslas and shall take order for the advancement of your Fortune Mean time for our Recreations let us persist in dazling the Eyes of those that are about us as well your Rusticks as my Attendants Therefore the more ardour I shall express to you the more disdainfully do you treat mee the better to wipe out of their thoughts the sinister Opinion which they have conceived that you are a Maid of an unchast Life And to the end our Conversation may bee more frequent I have an intention to put my self likewise as a Servant to Celian whom I presume wee shall draw to any thing by the powder of Injection wherewith wee will fill both his Hands and his Eyes making him believe that to avoid the rigour of our Parents who would not consent to the terminating of our Legitimate Affections by the sacred tie of Matrimony wee have been constreined to leave our Native Citty and make use of this stratagem to meet and enjoy more freely each other's company but with all the Civilitie that can be expected from persons which make profession of Chastity Almeria who was in the Hand of Iphigenes as clay in the Potter's condescended to whatsoever hee propounded And in effect a Purse full of Chekeens or Crowns of Gold had no sooner made the Preface of Iphigenes Speech to Celian but hee believed the rest as an Oracle and with both hands pressed it to a conclusion And taking this occasion as an occurrence of Treasure hee prayed Iphigenes to dispose of all that was within his small power as his own and under the notion of Servant to command as Master This did not displease the old Man's Daughters
many sally-ports as there are W. hee would have said Women but not to discover himself too much hee said Windowes This made Liante believe see how one absurdity drawe's on another that Iphigenes made use of some Magicall charms to purchase himself the King's favour rise to such high Dignities acquire Honour in the War gain the Affections not onely of Ladies but of all the World and make his escape out of Prison either by flying like Dedalus or transforming himself into a Bird. In this Opinion he said That cannot be done without sorcery I will use no other Charms than those which Nature hath placed in my Face replyed Iphigenes nor any other Armes than those of my Tongue Then answered Liante in a fury complaine not against Mee if you get not out of Prison And do what you can I defie all your inchantments White or Black Naturall or Diabolicall for hindering Mee from marrying my Mistris since I have her Father's word on which depend's her Will by the Law of Filiall Obedienoe and Paternall Authority With that hee flung away as full of Anger as hee left Iphigenes opprest with Sadness The Twelveth Book ARGUMENT Iphigenes to content Liante seem's to sollicite Amiclea in his behalf His Speeches to Her Liante standing behinde the Hangings in the same Chamber Her sharp Replies Liante's fury at Her slights Iphigenes and Amiclea's indeavours to appease his Rage Liante transported with Love contracts with Her Parents to marry Amiclea contrary to Her Will or Knowledge Her Sister Oloria informs Her and Shee acquaints Iphigenes with these Proceedings Iphigenes falls desperatly Sick with Griefe for Liante's unkindness to Him and his obstinate Research of Amiclea The Politick Boleslaus under pretence of beeing an Apothecary conveye's himself into the Castle with the King's Physicians that came to attend the Prisoner Iphigenes after a passionate Declaration of his Distemper swounds in Boleslaus Arms. His perplexity and Invention to asswage the Palatine's sorrow To disabuse Liante and withdraw his affection from Amiclea Hee discovers the whole Mystery of Iphigenes Birth Education and Passion for Him Liante's astonishment at this Relation with his Speeches to Boleslaus The Amazement and Joy of Iphigenes upon Boleslaus assurance of Liante's mutuall flames Boleslaus brings Liante to Iphigenes Chamber Their Passionate Deportments at this interview Their perfect Reconciliation Their Plot to cheat the Eyes as well of Amiclea and Oloria as the rest Olavius in hope to match his Daughter to Iphigenes disposes the Lithuaninans to an accommodation Iphigenes receives a Commission from the King to treat with them Mieslas during the Treaty indeavours to intercept Liante at his return into the City The Policy and Resolution of Iphigenes to defend Him Next day Hee is stayed and accused of Treason by his inraged Father Mieslas to break off the Treaty and intrap L'ante if hee sallied gave out that Hee would execute Iphigenes with his own hand as a Traytor Liante with a strong Party of Lithuanians rescues the supposed Iphigenes takes Mieslas Prisoner Amiclea to release or revenge her beloved Iphigenes in a suit of Polemander's Armour sallies among the rest is taken by the Royalists and given by the Generall to Iphigenes Hee returns with his Shee-Champion to Minsce Excuses her disguisement to Olavius and her Mother Receives a Plenipotentiary power from the King to agree with the Lithuanians The Pastimes during the Treaty Liante's Grace and re-establishment is included in the Articles The Peace concluded Iphigenes is sent for to the Court Is magnificently received by the King He obtains Liante's pardon and re-instates him in the King's favour The King offers his Sister Florimunda in Marriage to Iphigenes in satisfaction of his acceptable services His modest refusall The Queen's importunity to effect that Alliance His seeming consent and resignation to their Majesties Commands Iphigenes discovers to the King in private the whole secret of his Birth Education and Affection to Liante Implores his assistance for the accomplishment of his desires Their Plot to stop the Rumour of his Marriage to Florimunda and suppress her Passion by reporting that He was impotent The Princess Respicia's distempers at this Newes and Her indeavours to make good Her Dispensation Modestina and Aretuza are sent for to the Court The fears of the later the Jealousie and passionate Expressions of the other against Respicia The Palatine of Minsce brings his two Daughters to Court challenging Iphigenes and Liante of their promise to marry them The King opposes his authority to their pretentions makes Mieslas condescend to give Liante one of his Daughters Hee produces a concealed one named Virgenia or Iphigenia The contestation of Modestina Respicia and Amiclea for Iphigenes The King appoints a day for hearing and undertakes to content them all by his Award His speech to the Queen and Assembly while Virgenia drest like a Bride is conveyed into a private Gallery and Liante reassumes the form of Almeria Boleslaus by the King's command brings forth Iphigenes sumptuously apparelled in Man's cloaths Leading Liante in a Woman's Their Deportments and Speeches to the Assembly The severall censures of the Spectatours The Archbishop declares Iphigenes Marriage to Modestina void Affiance's him to Almeria The destemper of Mieslas at this sight They retire and change Cloathes The King 's private Discourse with the three Pretendants in mean time Liante by the King's command re-enters the Stage in Man's apparrell with the reall Iphigenes attired like the supposed Iphigenia They are publickly contracted Mieslas is deceived in his own Daughter The Queen's and Infanta's discourse concerning the betrothed Couples His Majestie 's grave Speech to the Assembly unfoulding the secret of Iphigenes Birth The amazement of the Hearers Miesias fury against Liante is turn'd to Joy and Kindness The King appoints a day to celebrate their Marriage with magnificent solemnities Iphigenes more in favour than ever Marries and advances all his Friends and Attendants Liante's Dignities increase proportionably to the favour his Wife procured him Their life at the Court The Moscovians invade Polonia Mieslas by his Daughter's means is made Lieutenant Generall Ambition incites Liante to assist in that Expedition Love and Honour forbid Iphigenia's stay behinde him Their Gallantry in the Battle Mieslas is slaine The Generall dies That Charge is confer'd upon the two Favorites The Triumphs that were made them at their returne to Court Liante is re-instated in his Inheritance made Lord high Marshall of Polonia Cassin Pomeran and the rest are Honorably rewarded by His Majesty for their valorous deportments in his Service THis distance and discontentment having continued for some dayes the inamoured Prisoner desiring to leave nothing unattempted to Conquer Liante's Heart sent to beg a visit of him Courtesie so naturall to persons of Noble birth permitted him not to refuse so small a favour to so great a friend Besides the hope hee had that Iphigenes repenting himself for having thwarted his designe might happily assist him in the purchase of
Oyl go out So Fortunes that are too vast commonly come to nothing That queasy stomacks ought not to bee overcharg'd with Meat nor weak-braines with much Wine That the Fabrick ought to bee proportionable to the Foundation lest it should fall to the ground by it's own weight That this were to set a Statue of Gold and Silver upon a Pedestall of Clay and expose him to the fury of all the Grandee's jealousies in stead of sheltering him from their rages And for his last Reason hee reserved his Marriage with Modestina after which hee having concluded with the humblest supplications and the most indearing Conjurations hee could invent to turn away that tempest from him The King answered gravely in these words That all his Reasons were full of Humility Modesty Fidelity and Prudence but yet they ought to submit to his Command That such was his Will which hee could not resist without Crime That it was the Propriety of Kings and the greatest point of their resemblance to God to raise the poor out of the Mud and place them among the Princes and most considerable Persons of their Kingdoms Otherwise the Little ones would never become Great and the wheele of Fortune would remain without motion That Vertues were more desirable and estimable than Birth and since they made the first Nobility and that by them in the beginning of Monarchies were seated upon Thrones those that had most merit it was but reasonable to prefer them before Scepters and Diadems That his Sister's minde was but too well known to him who besides that shee was ready to submit in all things to his Will had a particular inclination to him which made her desire that Marriage That in stead of beeing abased shee would esteem her self exalted and in stead of losing her glory by that alliance shee would communicate her splendour to him That had it been in his Power to have given him a part of his Kingdome hee would have done it as a testimony of his affection and gratitude But having no Crown more illustrious than that of his Blood hee had determined to give him the Infanta Florimunda with means sufficient to maintain so honourable a Consanguinity That this Match in stead of exposing to would exempt him from the Malice of his Enviers by the same reason as the Stars are exempted from Eclipses by their elevation and distance from the Earth That during his Reign hee ought not to fear any retrogradation or Declining of Fortune in regard Hee was a Prince that did not take pleasure in destroying his own Creatures besides the assurance his opinion gave him that Iphigenes by the Prudence of his conduct would give his Sovereign no such occasion That Hee would so establish him that after his decease no power of Polonia should bee able to diminish his Grandeurs As for his Marriage with Modestina hee replied that it was declared void by a Breviat sent from Rome to the Arch bishop of Gnesna to be notified in publick which having been procured by the Princess Respicia should serve for the Infanta Florimunda The King ended his Speech with Such is our absolute WILL and PROPER MOTION which are tearms so sovereign and sacred that the Oath of the fabulous Deities by the River Styx was not more inviolable The Queen added hereunto her perswasions mingled with intreaties such certain testimonies of the Infanta's affection to Iphigenes that it plainly appeared to proceed as much from the Princesse's own solliciting as their Majesties deliberation Insomuch that the fair Palatine was inforced to yeild to so many sweetly imperious violences and receive with acknowledgements full of modest bashfulness what hee could not refuse without highly offending their Majesties and irritating the Infanta beyond hope of Pardon Neither had hee been so indiscreet if Nature had not opposed to that eminent Fortune the obstacles you already know Which hee was even ready to declare to the King and Queen But considering that shee how great soever in Dignity was yet of that Sex to which Prudence forbid's the revealing of any secret without deliberation hee forbore reserving that manifestation to the King only whose authority and advise hee intended to implore for the effecting of his intentions The Queen was no sooner gone forth but shee met the Infanta who was as impatient to know the result of their Mediation as the other was to tell her it whereof Florimunda conceived such joy as cannot bee comprehended but by a full-ripe Virgin who receive's an assurance of marrying him whom shee love's with passion After the Queen's departure lest the rumour of his marriage with the Infanta should bee noised about the Court Iphigenes judged it requisite to squeeze the Scorpion upon the wound and apply speedily the remedy to that growing mischief So having beseeched the King to give him a private Audience wherein hee promised to discover the most marvellous History hee ever yet had heard Hee related him that of his Birth Sex Education Elevation Progress Fortune and unparalel'd affection to Liante in summe hee concealed nothing from his Master of all the remarkable passages expressed in this Narration and at the close of his recitall casting himself at his feet imbracing and kissing them and washing them with his tears hee humbly besought His Majesty to look on him as his poor and unworthy Creature and dispose of his Fortune according to his good pleasure The King's astonishment at this strange Story can less bee described than a flash of Lightning or the Sun shine bee represented in painting His admiration was such that hee remained a long while without beeing able to speak but with his Eyes which were fixt with much amiableness upon Iphigenes This first assault wanted not much of converting his Amitre into Amorousness and making his Favorite become not his Master but his Mistris Yet His Majestic's old Age which invited him to Temperance his singular affection to the Queen who reigned over his Heart by her Vertues as much as hee ovâ—◠〈◊〉 Subjects by his authority the Fear hee had of resuscitating her Jealousie and making her believe as truths her former suspicions together with the long practise and deep rooting his Soul had taken in Piety and Moderation suppressed the impetuosity of his desires But nothing bridled him more powerfully than the extraordinary Modesty hee had alwayes observed in Iphigenes knowing that to bee a Rock against which all unjust pretentions would suffer Shipwrack Besides reading at that same instant in that lovely Face such chaste Characters and so severe a sweetness as stifled in their Birth all licentious imaginations In this occurrence it would bee an injustice to conceale the due praises of that Prince who made a Buckler of vertue against the weapons which Love hidden within Iphigenes Eyes treacherously darted against his Heart But to deny that the affection which rendered Iphigenes his Favorite was much increased by the discovery of his condition cannot bee without taking from so vertuous a
than for any inclination of her own that shee had entertained the thought of Marrying Iphigenes And that His Majesty like a kinde Brother beeing unwilling to press her to a thing which shee had given him to understand was as little agreeable as advantageous to her had desisted importuning or therein expecting some more eminent Alliance All this could not bee carried so secretly but that the Winde whispered it in the Ears of the Princess Respicia who upon intelligence of the King's Design of Marrying his Sister with Iphigenes besides the rumour of his impotency took the allarm so hot that her Minde tormented with severall resentments indured no less agitation than a Ship tossed in the contention betwixt the Winds and Tyde At length shee did like those that the Tempest drive's against the Rocks who save their Lives in seeing their Vessell split Shee fancied to herself that the Palatine beeing more jealous of maintaning the promise hee had made her than ambitious of the Honour that was proposed him by Marrying Florimunda had invented that Plot to dispense himself hand somely of that alliance which would have exposed him to the Envy of all the Grandees And as Desire is a grand Master of Perswasion shee easily believed what shee desired Reasons were not wanting to confirme this Belief For shee had never observed any thing in Iphigenes but what was Generous The proofs of his valour were not unknown to any but strangers All Polonia had seen him perform Exploits of Warr which Fame had not Tongues enough to celebrate If hee was so able for Mars could hee bee inept for Her whom Vulcan surprised with that God This is a Charity which his Enemies do him said Shee not without Sighes because hee hath the Face of an Angell they say hee is no Man and his Enviers call him Effeminate suppose hee bee so is he the less fir for Women That hee hath not accosted Modestina was because Mieslas alwayes hindered him It is upon the delicacy of his Complexion that they have built this Lye Thus did the abused Princess flatter herself in her own misfortune beeing resolved to see the effect of the Dispensation which shee had procured from Rome with so much trouble Having conjured Iphigenes herself and sollicited him by Mieslas to make good his word to her his answer still was that his first Marriage beeing declared void hee would marry her if shee were so contented Hereupon Shee importuned dayly the Archbishop to produce her Dispensation which was in his hands But nothing in this case could bee done in the absence of Modestina whom notwithstanding all the oppositions Mieslas could make the King incited thereto by Iphigenes commanded to be sent for to the Court. With her came Aretuza Mother to Iphigenes who though faithfully advertised of all these passages by Iphigenes and Boleslaüs was ready to die with Fear distrusting the success of that strange Discovery To repeat the reproaches Modestina made to her fair Husband the injurious tearms shee gave Respicia and the reolution shee took to oppose herself till Death against the dissolution of her Marriage I esteem needless Hee that can imagine the resentments of a Wife affronted in that manner may guess how far her Choller transported Her On the other side Olavius having intelligence of the Princess Respicia's pretensions of the arrivall of the Dispensation and of Modestina's and Aretuza's coming to Court conceived for the interest of his Daughter that hee was obliged to carry her thither So with his Wife Polemander his two Daughters Oloria and Amiclea hee took his way to Cracovia to see if hee could accomplish the two alliances which hee had projected with Liante and Iphigenes The Prince Cassin resolved to keep himself reserved in the research of Clemencia untill hee saw the success of his Mother's pretensions Simphorosa his Sister grew every day in Bigness and Beauty but shee was yet so tender that although shee was capable of breeding desires in others shee was not of entertaining any in herself And by reason of her youth and attractive sweetness she was called in the Court the Fair INNOCENT There was no body but the King Iphigenes Aretuza Liante and Boleslaüs that knew the Stratagem which was then to bee put in execution in the face of all the Court. Liante beeing importuned by Oloria gave her not much satisfaction but remitting himself to the King's will and deferring her untill hee were re-established in the Estate which the Palatine of Podolia detained from him hee amused her expectation The King to prepare all things for his design made Mieslas condescend to give Liante of all his Daughters except Clemencia her whom hee should fancy most promising to give her a portion himself and leave him the use of Liante's Estate during Life It was not hard to perswade the Sarmatian to imbrace this offer whereby besides the great advantages that accrued to him hee saw all sorts of Enmity Hatred and Contention cease As for those that were immur'd in the Cloister their Veils besides their naturall deformities were as a Buckler against all Worldly pretensions So that there was no remedy but to produce Virgenia who for her resemblance of Face and Fashion to Iphigenes was commonly called Iphigenia yet the World knew her not till then to bee Mieslas Daughter Against all the oppositions Oloria could make to hinder this alliance the King's authority served for a defence and excuse for Liante and although the Palatine of Minsce murmured against this proceeding hee was inforced to give over his suite the supreme Law beeing the Prince's Will That beeing thus determined the next question was to which of these three Graces Iphigenes should appertain to Modestina Respicia or Amiclea The beautifull Palatine who knew hee could bee injoyed by none of them gave himself to them all with so cheerfull and free a behaviour that each of them thinking shee had the preheminence in his affection raised the Trophy of her Hopes to the Glory of possessing him Each one presumed on her prerogatives and put her pretentions in the first place MODESTINA alleadged that in all Justice IPHIGENES belong'd to her For shee was married to him hee was her Husband RESPICIA founded her plea upon her high Birth and Riches AMICLEA drew her preheminence from her Beauty All three made their Buckler of the Word and Promise of the Palatine For hee had said to his dear Modestina whose disaster hee did really lament that hee would never leave her as long as shee would have him for her Husband Whereupon shee beeing resolved never to say otherwise held her victory infallible Respicia supported by the Paternall authority of Mieslas and the acknowledgement Iphigenes had made that hee never gave his consent to the Marriage of Modestina esteemed her Conquest no less certain And Amiclea recollecting in her Memory the many Caresses inamored expressions and severall demonstrations of affection wherewith Iphigenes had fed her Fancy in Minsce besides the immortall obligations