little that Warlike dame to whose cheekes shame and anger had given a collour which encreas'd her beauty flew at him more fiercely then before and thrusting her sword at his very eyes with a threatning cry Fly not said she neither be ashamed to have usd thy armes against a Woman who hath often died the feilds in the bloud of such as thou art I am not so weake that thou should'st need to despise me and there is more honour to be wonne with me then thou thinkest for Shee accompanied these words with a storme of blowes and enraged by the contempt she thought Lysimachus showed of her ran upon him with so much fury and so little caution that he was often affraid shee would give herselfe a death with those armes which he no more would turne against her he retired still warding her blowes which the wound in her arm allready made but faint ones and when he saw he was out of their reach and that the faire Amazone was forced to give him some respite to the end shee might take breath Madam said he I will rather turn the point of my sword against my own heart then make use of it against you I know too well what is due to your sexe and to your beauty and I should be glad if I could with a good part of my own bloud repaire the losse of that which my sacrilegious hands have drawn from your fair body if this satisfaction content you not pierce this brest which J offer to you I will take off my cuirasse that you may the more easily doe it and in the sad estate of my fortune which makes me wish for death I cannot hope for a more glorious one then that I shall receive from so faire a hand How excessive soever the anger of this valiant Lady was she could not but abate part of it at so great reparations and so profound submissions and beholding Lysimachus with eyes wherein even through the rage that enflamed them one might observe some gentlenesse I cannot said shee ghesse at the cause why thou slightest me thus thou hast not yet had so much advantage over me as to find reason to contemn me I will never pretend to any greater replied Lysimachus then the occasions of serving you and you are armed so many several wayes to conquer men that the victory will always be yours infallibly I desire none answered the Amazone but what I can winne with the point of my sword and though I be a woman my profession is to fight with men nor have I gained so little reputation in that excercise that you should need to be ashamed of our Combat it shall end here since you will have it so and that it would be ignoble in me to persist in it but I could wish also you would quit the interests of a traytour who never deserved the affection of so vertuous a person as your selfe These words were enough to have renewed the quarrell if a man had spoken them but Lysimachus who had not been able to endure them from one of another sexe and who would have taken up the defence of his friend against the most valiant living thought fit to combat the resentments of a woman with mildnesse and was content with answering thus as he put up his sword I know not what injury you can have receiv'd from him who is really the most generous and the most respective to Ladies of all the men in the world I have ever seen him most averse from such crimes as those you taxe him with and in the recitall which has been made me of his life I did not heare that ever he had any businesse with you but if he be so unfortunate as to have offended you I will engage my selfe that he shall give you all the satisfaction you can desire of him For that I passe my word to you and in the mean time Madam be pleased to accept the offer I make you of a place hard by where your wounds may be dressed I have servants there who are skillfull in that art you may be there more privately and also more conveniently then at Babylon and in that place it is you shall receive all manner of duty and submission from Orontes At these words the Ladies countenance was dyed with a colour which Lysimachus knew not vvhether he should attribute to joy or anger And after having wavered a long time in the consideration of what answer she should return I believe Orontes so far from hence said she and so different from what you report of him that I know not what satisfaction you can make him give me but yet your offers are so civil that I cannot refuse them and since you desire to have it so I will go along with you to get remedy for the wound I have received from you Saying thus she put forth her hand to him and calling her Squires she leaned upon the arm of Hyppolita the person with whom she had talked and who also was a woman and went with Lysimachus too toward the hous it was so near that they got not on Horseback and Lysimachus sending his servant who had been spectator of the Combat before to prepare a Chamber led her thither softly by the Garden Gate They found Polemon there who was come out to meet them and to use the civilities he was obliged to in his house his wife caried the fair Amazone to her Chamber and offered her all the service she could expect from those of her own sex While the women undress'd her to put her to bed Lysimachus withdrawing out of respect went into Oroondates his Chamber That was the first day he had left his bed since his wound and Lysimachus giving him an exact accompt of all that had hapned surprised him with a marvellous astonishment After having lent him a very quiet attention I finde said he two things in this adventure very remarkable Lysimachus his friendship and this womans hatred I believe I have deserved neither of them and as I never obliged Lysimachus so much as to afford me a bare good will so likewise I doe not think that ever I by any of my actions gave this woman cause to hate me these are the effects of chance which blindly sends us both good and evil fortune but since after having so generously defended my quarrel you have also engaged your self for me I will free you from that obligation and if this fair Lady be capable of receiving a reparation for those wrongs she pretends J have done her I will give it her so fully that you shall have nothing more to desire for the dis-engaging of your word I will go into her Chamber with you assoon as she is in a condition to receive our visit and I will submit my self to suffer whatsoever her resentment shall enjoyn me While they discoursed on this manner Lysimachus his Chirurgian waited upon the Amazone Lady and having search'd her wound he found there was
use of his power with Theander that hee had perswaded him to bee reconciled to Astiages and though that disloial man lodged still with his unckle yet came hee often to visite his brother but hee never spoke word of Bagistanes and carried himself toward mee with a very great coldness hee still avoided meeting with Cleonimus and Cleonimus shunn'd him and Bagistanes so carefully that hee never met either of them at our hous These two wicked wretches united together labored jointly to destroy mee and when they thought they had recovered all the credit they were wont to have with my husband they forgot nothing that could ruine us and strove to make Theander observ our familiarities with such an industrie as might without much difficultie have perplext any other husband but his friendship to Cleominus and his goodness to mee were so great that for a long time hee either laught at what they said or els received it as from suspected persons These traitors seeing themselvs deceived in their expectation resolved to prosecute their crime yet further to leav nothing unattempted to take revenge of a man that hindred their designs though with the loss of my honor and that of our hous For this purpose having well contrived their treacherie and given instructions to the person they were to imploy and whom they had bribed a long time before they made use of the plot I now will tell you to deceiv Theander As hee came back one night from the Palace where hee had spent part of the day and from whence hee returned not till after the King was in bed hee had an encounter hard by our door which hath since cost mee so many tears and which without doubt will make mee pour them forth all the rest of my miserable life When hee was close by his own hous hee by the light of a torch which one of his servants carried before him saw one of my maids com out who was the very same my enemies by their presents had corrupted The wench came forth without a light and seemed to go in great deal of fear when the footman holding his to her face help'd his master to discover her Theander wondring to see a maid com out of his hous at midnight and without a candle called her by her name but shee beeing thus known first by crying out made shew to bee much surprised and then having made as if shee would have run away O Gods said shee I am undon and at the same time shee tore a paper which shee had in her hand and thrust the pieces of it hastily into her mouth This action which was but too heedfully observed by the abused Theander caused a chilness to run through all his bodie and gave him apprehensions which hee had never felt before Hee came close to the wench in an extreme trouble and stopping her by the arm whither goest thou said hee and whither wert thou carrying that paper which I saw thee tear just now The maid faining a deadly fear sunk down at his feet and embracing his knees Ah! Sir said shee I beseech you pardon mee and repeating those words twice or thrice shee appeared to bee strucken with so great an astonishment that Theander's was redoubled by it Speak said hee and if thou wilt have mee pardon thee confess thy fault to mee presently That subtil wench wiping her eies and seeming to tremble Ah! Sir replied shee my obedience is very guiltie but yet both my Ladie and I are more innocent in effect then in appearance and if I tore this letter it was my fear that made mee imprudently commit that fault But from whom and to whom wert thou carrying it demanded Theander hastily My Ladie answered shee sent it to Cleonimus Theander quite confounded or rather quite besides himself eying the wench from head to foot Did Alcione said hee send thee to Cleonimus at this time of the night and in the dark as I meet thee Ah! Sir replied that wicked wench I wish to the gods that I were dead since my imprudence is so hurtful to my Mistress and perchance cause's suspicions in you against her which you ought not to conceiv Theander who began alreadie to swallow the poison that was prepared for him would not talk longer with her in the street but commanded her to bee gon to her chamber and to bee silent as shee loved her life Hee neither threatned her nor asked her any thing more fearing to make his servants acquainted with the caus of his trouble and to learn news himself which his growing jealousie made him alreadie to apprehend and coming up into my chamber where I was alreadie in bed hee bad mee good night but 't was in a way very different from his ordinarie manner and with a countenance so changed that presently I believ'd hee was not well Having ask'd him hastily how he did hee told mee hee found himself a little indisposed and beeing undressed hee came to bed in so deep a sadness that if the caus of it had been known it would have moved pitie even in those that had been most insensible the disquiet I was in for fear of his health having kept mee awake a good part of the night made mee know likewise how hee rested and made mee hear the sighs hee drew from the bottom of his heart in so great abundance that I believed his bodie had less part in that indisposition then his minde I asked him often how hee did but hee hardly answered mee letting mee know I should oblige him if I left him at quiet As soon as it was day hee arose and going out of my chamber hee came not home again till evening I found him as sad as the night before and pressing him to tell mee the caus Madam said hee I pray you pardon my ill humor it will pass over if it pleas the gods I my self am ignorant of the caus in the mean time I need onely a little rest and I beseech you to grant it mee Having said so hee expressed a desire to lie in his own Chamber for som few nights and when I had given order to have it made readie hee bade mee good night and left mee in a greater confusion then I am able to represent Hee was so little accustomed to speak to mee in a style like that of his last words and to conceal the caus of his afflictions from mee that by this unexpected change I was like to have guessed part of my misfortunes True it is that I had ever seen him so far from the thoughts that then tormented him that I had much ado to suspect him of them and I knew my self so innocent that I did not believ hee in my most faultie actions could finde any reasonable pretence for his ill humor In this confusion of thoughts I passed the night and as soon as I was up I went into his chamber where I found him walking with his arms across upon his breast and
of the Combat and detesting such excessive odds cryed out Thy incivility shall not make me fail to doe what becomes me and since thou hast more valour then courtesie I for thee will hazard that life which thou wouldst have taken from me And at these words falling in with a marvellous readinesse among those that were newly come he laid two of them at his feet with the two first blowes he made and gave him that was dismounted leisure to leap upon one of their Horses and to come up to him which he did with a wonderful dexterity This Cavalier seeing himself relieved with so much generosity by a man whom he had used so ill at first admired his vertue but he became an Idolater of it when he saw him lay two more of his Enemies dead upon the ground and charge the rest with so marvellous a courage that he seemed not to have any need of his help to defeat them all but in conclusion having vigorously seconded him and he that accompanyed the Stranger being joyned to his Master they fought all three with so great valour and so good fortune that in a short time they forced those who could escape to seek their safety in the speed of their Horses They staid upon the place without pursuing them and the Stranger feeling his Horse fail by reason of some wound he had received forsook his back and leapt lightly to the ground which he whom he had relieved perceiving he alighted also from his and putting up the Beaver of his Helmet went to salute him with a civility very different from his first reception The Stranger was much taken with his graceful fashion and when he saw his face at a nearer distance observ'd something in it that was not utterly unknown to him so forgetting all manner of enmity he embraced him with a very great affection Generous Stranger said the other or rather the most vertuous of men if my life were dear to me I should be obliged to him that had preserved it but how great occasion soever I have to hate it and what designe soever I had to lose it I will forget both to satisfie my engagment and will no more dispose of a thing which you have so gloriously acquired and which I ought to employ onely for your service My love to your vertue ties me much more strongly then the obligation I have to you and the knowledge you have given me of it makes me hope for pardon of an incivility to which my just anger and despair transported me You will without doubt excuse it when you shall hear the cause and will judge you have not more obliged me by mine own safety then you have injur'd me in that of the Traitor Perdiccas The Stanger by this Discourse and by the name of Perdiccas judging of that persons quality repaid his civilities with interest and striving to recall the old Idea's which time had almost blotted out of his remembrance he shewed so much the desire he had to know him that the other marking his impatience I should be ingrateful said he If I should hide his name whose heart shall never be hidden from you I am the unfortunate Lysimachus and now more unfortunate then ever since I am constrained to prolong my miserable life to acquit my self of what I owe to you This name of Lysimachus did absolutely open the Strangers eyes and looking intentively upon him he no longer doubted but that he was the same whom he had seen appear with so much splendor in the Court of Alexander the Great he prais'd the Gods in his heart for the opportunity they had given him to serve so vertuous a person but not being willing to discover himself yet unto him he only replyed The name of Lysimachus is so famous as that of Alexander the Great is hardly more and one must never have heard speak of his life to be ignoranâ of the wonders of yours I did not expect unto my self so glorious an event of this encounter and the satisfaction I receive thereby makes me forget the rest of my misfortunes Lysimachus answered so obliging words with all the kindness that can be used in a most perfect friendship whereof having made reciprocal promises and confirming their promises with an infinite number of protestations Lysimachus considered that Stranger with the same admiration he had done during the fight and truly his astonishment was not without a very just cause since the Gods had endowed him with all the most excellent parts that can render a person accomplished his face was marvellously handsome and through a beauty which had nothing of effeminate one might observe something so Martial so sparkling and so Majestick as might in all hearts make an impression of Love Fear and Respect at once his stature exceeded that of the tallest men but the proportion of it was wonderfully exact and all the motions of his body had a grace and liberty that was nothing common his age seemed to be then about six or seven and twenty the Sun-burn and toil of a long Journey had a little taken off the lustre of his former beauty and the length and negligence of his hair sufficiently testified the little care he had to preserve himself But this forgetfulnesse of a thing which the importance of his affairs and the accidents of his life had constrained him to despise hindred not Lysimachus from observing so fair remainders of beauty that he considered him as an extraordinary person and the union of so many excellent parts added to the obligation he had to him imprinted so true an affection in his heart as neither length of years nor the accidents which after happen'd to them were ever able to diminish All things contributed unto it they were alike in age the graceful behaviour of Lysimachus yeilded little to that of the Stranger and if an exceeding deep sadness had not something impaired it there would have been but little difference The Stranger who by common fame and by what he had seen of it himself was already well acquainted with his vertue discovering with more heedfulnesse as with more interest then before so many rare qualities in him conceived a very high esteem of his person and made no resistance against the powerful inclination which he felt take birth in him toward a man so considerable After their astonishment was past over and that they were come to themselves out of the extasie in which the merits of each other had mutually held them the Stranger beginning to speak If I feared not said he to Lysimachus that my curiosity might displease you I would ask the cause of that hatred which you shew you bear against Perdiccas since knowing the reputation of you both I never heard but that you lived in the Court of Alexander the Great with very good correspondence and I but now saw you so furiously exasperated against him that the knowledge I have of your moderation makes me judge so great an
they were astonished at themselves for having been so long before they knew him 'T is he cri'd Sysigambis 't is he Yes Madam reply'd the Prince I am he who having committed against you an irreverence unworthy of forgiveness come now to present my self at your feet rather to expect punishments then receive recompences from you They were ready to have answered him if the King and his son already instructed in the cause of their admiration and transported more then can be imagined had not interrupted them to do him honours which it is impossible for me to relate Oxyartes Artabasus Nazeus and all those that were neer Darius saluted him with great expressions of friendship and respect Even Memnon himself Hydaspes and the rest of those he had dismounted passed many Complements with him and shewed much joy to have yeilded only to that hand which in one night had preserv'd Darius his whole family The King openly call'd him the Angel Guardian of his House and I remember that at that time he brake forth into these Prophetick words to those that were about him It cannot possibly be said he but that so great and unexpected a happiness must needs threaten me some very strange misfortune He stuck but a while upon this thought and getting up into his Chariot again made Oroondates accompany him to his Pallace where he caus'd Lodgings to be appointed him though he used great endeavours to avoid that honour when they were come thither the King entred into his Closset whither calling only Artaxerxes and my Master he made the dore be shut and seeing himself alone with them It is impossible said he to my Prince that being a Vassal and Kinsman to the King of Scythia you should have left his Court to retire to that of his mortall and irreconcileable Enemy without very strong and pressing considerations I beseech you hide them not from me and believe that what cause soever can have brought you hither you in my Court shall have both all manner of power and a most assured retreat The Prince of Scythia after having with all humility given the King thanks for his most obliging offers made him this answer which he had contrived beforehand The Gods are my witnesses that in the two small services I had the honour to do your Majesties Family I had no other aim but that of my duty and the respect I thought my self obliged to bear to persons of so high a quality and that I never proposed unto my self the glorious recompence I receive for them without having merited the least part of it Yet those whom I had most frequented and who had least cause to suspect me made not the same judgement of them for assoon as I was return'd unto the King I was slandered for those two actions by those very men that had accompanied me in them whether it were that their brutishness disapproved things so contrary to their nature or that they envied me the favours the Gods had granted me or as it is most probable that they conceived this spleen against me for having hindred them of the spoyle they pretended to in prizes of such inestimable value whatsoever it were they accused me of treason and of holding intelligence with your Majesty and by their practises so stirred up the King against me that he resolv'd to put me to death I received divers advertisements of it from many of my friends but I despised them all trusting to mine own innocence till walking one day with the Prince of Scythia that young Prince who ever loved me and with whom I was brought up having led me aside to a by-place where his action could not be observ'd by any body wrote upon the ground with the point of a Javeline he had in his hand these few words which I read as fast as he wrote them Flye Orontes or thou art but dead but flye to day if thou wilt not die to morrow and having put out the writing with his foot assoon as he saw that I had read it he left me quite confounded and went back to the rest of the Company This advertisement had more power with me then all the rest and made me believe that that young Prince being bound by Oath not to tell his Fathers secrets had made use of that device to save me without exasperating the Gods against himself I then saw plainly it was a truth and considering the danger that threatened me I departed that very night with as small a retinue as possibly I could without having any other designe then that of flying from the Kings anger The next day being already got a great way from our Camp I remembred the Prince of Persia's goodness and the promise he had made me after the slight service I had done him I also call'd to minde the good fortune I had had in the Encounter of the Queens and perswaded my self that being in disgrace only for thâse two occasions I should not at all do unhandsomly in making your Majesty my Sanctuary and that you would be so gracious as to protect an innocent Prince banished from his Countrey by the calumny of his Enemies He added many other words to this discourse at the end of which the King said to him If we did not receive a great advantage by your Disgrace we should condole it with you but how great soever our Obligations to you are wee cannot utterly lay aside the affection we bear our self though the King of Scythia were not mine Enemy I am bound by so many considerations to protect you that I will hazard my Empires and my life it self for your defence and because it were not just you should be uuhappie only for having obliged us with so much generositie believe that you shall finde as advantageous conditions here as among the Scythians and that for the Province of the Massagetes which you lose I will give you choice of the best of mine without pretending to engage you either to reveal the secrets of your Prince or to bear arms against him Oroondates casting himself at the Kings feet kiss'd his hand in a thankfull acknowledgement of his favours and retiring to his quarter found order was already given to settle him a houshould Presently they provided him an Equipage worthy of his true quality and so great Pensions were allowed to entertain him that he could not have been better fitted with all things in the Court of the King his Father See in what manner my Prince was received and staid by Darius with so much satisfaction for his happy beginnings that he lost the remembrance of all the dangers to which he exposed himself and of all the difficulties he had yet to overcome I had forgot to tell you that the name of Orontes Prince of the Massagetes was not an imaginary one the Massagetes had really had a Prince of that name of Oroondates age and bred up with him but they had lost him at the first passage of the Araxis
of the day in these first passions without taking any thing and without heark'ning to any thing if I open'd my mouth he rebuked me as well as the rest and I should have despair'd at last of doing any good if I had not bethought my self to bury the remembrances of his friendship in the considerations of his love and to make use of Statira's power to preserve her him who lived only for her when he had tormented himself a great while on this manner his weakness made him give some respit to those furious fits and seeing him with his eyes lift up to heaven sigh and sob every moment without speaking a word Sir said I I will not perswade you to receive this affliction with an unmoved countenance but like a man that is a little master of his passions I cannot condemn such lawfull tears but neither can I approve your dispair your weeping shewes that you are a man and that as such you resent the crosses wherewith it pleases heaven to afflict you but your wilfulness to destroy your self would prove you to be none since you have so little reason at this time when it is most necessary for you now since all these considerations can do nothing with you and that one must no longer strive to comfort you either by reasoning or by the fear of the Gods which you have forgotten suffer me I beseech you Sir to represent unto your eyes that Princess to whom you had dedicated the remainder of a life which you will now make away without her consent Consider I pray you whether you can justly do it and whether this obstinacie to dispose of your self without her leave must not needs mortally offend her remember your self of the vows you made her of an absolute resignation and do not overwhelm her with so many losses since that she hath already is enough to send her to her grave unless she preserve her self for your sake yes Sir it is for you that she will certainly preserve her self but she ha's need of your assistance and you ought not to abandon her in an affliction in which the consolation of a person so dear to her as your self will be so necessary Think upon it Sir I beseech you and believe that if this consideration ha's no power with you she will have just cause to think you never loved her To these words I added divers others with all possible earnestness which wrought a very great effect in the mind of my despairing Master he answered nothing for the present but musing deeply upon them gave me liberty to urge many others of the same nature and though the Physitians gave me order to hold my peace for my own health'sake yet would I never give over till I saw he was a little setled At last he began to complain with less violence and suffered his wounds to be open'd and dressed and took something that was given him but still with so many sighs and groans that I was not without some fear his sorrow alone would be enough to kill him Seeing him in a way to permit the endeavours that were used for his recovery I began to think of mine own and to obey the Physitians who injoyn'd me silence My Master also in the end disposed himself to follow their directions and to prolong his life to see Statira again that he might begge leave of her to lose it The third day after the battell we heard by the Governor that the Scythians seeing themselves too weak to stay longer in Persia were drawing off their broken Forces and that part of them had already passed the Araxis but that before their departure to the end they might not leave the dead bodies of their Countreymen to the mercy of wilde beasts they had made a huge fire in the Camp and burn'd all that great number of Carcasses both friends and enemies which was a new surcharge of affliction to us losing by that means all hope of paying the last offices to the Corps of Artaxerxes Within two days after we learn'd that Artabasus having in the battell lost his son Hydaspes and his brother Tiribasus had encamp'd with the remainder of the Army between Brisa and Selena but that seeing the Scythians dislodge and having receiv'd Letters from Darius which call'd him back to serve against Alexander who was already come into his Territories he began to march away toward Persepolis when he had left such Orders as were necessary upon the Frontier I will not tell you Darius his grief nor that of the Queens and Princesses for the death of a son and of a brother to whom it was so due we were too far off to be witnesses of it but we have known since that the King bore that loss with less patience then that of his Dominions and that the Princesses by whom he was so ardently beloved being weary of their lives when he was gon were like to have followed him to his grave and one may truely say that never Prince was so generally bewailed in Asia though it were already much burthened with your Forces and that the consideration of mens privat losses might have taken away their sence of those of the Royal Family For us I may tell you that being in a place where we were attended with much care and looked to by men that were skilfull enough in their art we were within a short time out of danger but our wounds especially my Masters were so great and many that we were forced to stay above six months for the cure of them Do but guess at my Princes impatiency who having given himself over to grief had deferr'd his designe of dying only to see Statira and by those troublesome wounds saw himself retarded from that sight in a season when both his honor and his love call'd him away to her He had her name eternally in his mouth and a thousand times a day kiss'd the bracelet of her hair which she had given him at his departure Assoon as he saw some probability of my being cured he resolv'd to send me to the Court that he might hear from her and let her know what was become of him but scarce had he begun to give me my instructions when I was taken with a cruel relâps and brought to such extreamity that I was fain to keep my bed longer then he this accident was like to have kill'd him with grief and not daring to trust a Message of that consequence to any of his other servants he resolv'd to take patience and wait till we were both recovered which he did though with such disquiets as you are not able to imagine We were visited every day by the Governor of the Town a good old man whose conversation was very pleasing and who made us partakers of all the news he heard One day we saw him com into the chamber extraordinarily sad and my Master having ask'd the cause Ah! Sir said he now it is that the Gods indeed forsake us
me fickle enough to yeild to any of those considerations you esteem me but little and by consequence cannot love me much if it be true that perfect love is grounded upon the esteem of the person beloved I love you Oroondates both because you deserve it very well and because I believe you love me and my affection cannot cease so long as those two causes continue and though they should both fail I know not whether I should have reason enough left to wean my self from it Fear not Alexander therefore any longer since neither that fortune nor that merit which you alledg no nor the power he hath over me will ever be able to shake the resolution I have taken and the promise I make to be never but yours unlesse you change your humour first and unlesse you repent your having lov'd a Captive the Daughter of a Prince dispossessed of his Estates and one who hath nothing of her former quality left except her courage My Prince ravish'd with the beginning and deeply touch'd with the end of her discourse Ah! Madam said he do not accuse me of a baseness which I never can be guilty of he that feared not the difficulties that opposed his first designe of serving you will never consider the changes of fortune and if for mine own Interest I might have been permitted to make prayers that were prejudicial to you I should always have wish'd that the Gods had made you be born without that greatness which I would have rais'd you to that I might not have obliged you to abase your self to me nor to believe that the height of your quality gave the least increase to a passion which I conceiv'd for your person alone but since that notwithstanding you are all divine you yet vouchsafe to stoop so low as to me and that this great disproportion hinders you not from giving me such lofty hopes the Gods are my witnesses that I envy not their condition and that I would not change my fortune with Alexander no nor with the Gods themselves Besides these discourses they had many others whose length keeps me from repeating them and when they were fully satisfied by the mutual assurances they gave of an eternal affection they thought it time to returne unto the Queens So they went out of the Arbour where they were and having call'd us joyn'd company with them again in one of the Alleys and continued with them till they departed After that day they pass'd many others in the same tranquility and my Master for that time was so satisfied with the condition of his love that it almost made him forget that of Darius his affairs and of his Princesses Captivity but within a very little after that calm of Fortune was something troubled and it was by the arrivall of the Ladies that had been taken at Damascus who being brought to Sidon were put among the rest My Prince was glad indeed at the coming of Barsina and in shew for that of Roxana and that Princess to whom then both the true affection and true quality of Oroondates were no longer unknown for some days forbore her importunities but she fell into them again a while after in such a manner that she made him lose much of the good will and esteem he had for her yet did he conceal her love with so much care as well to follow the incitements of his own vertue which obliged him to hide the faults of a person who committed them only for his sake as because he knew her wit was able to cross him in his affection and percance utterly to ruin it if he should absolutely have offended her In the mean time Alexander fell in love with Barsina and as you know that new passion made him see the Ladies often whom before he visited not at all through an affected continence which many times had made him say that the Persian Ladies troubled the eyesight One day when they were in our Garden and my Prince with them in his ordinary entertainment the desire of seeing Barsina brought him thither your self was with him and Hephestion Perdiccas Leonatus and divers others Assoon as ever my Prince saw him come in he slunk away from the Ladies and retired into a corner of the Garden where he feign'd to busie himself in a Trade wherein he was not very skilfull not giving over that imployment of all the time the King continued in the Garden and every time he took the like walks he hid himself so carefully that he suspected not any body could observe him In all other occasions we kept our selves exactly upon our guards but within a few days after we had a terrible fright whereof you know the cause well enough though I believe not the effect it wrought in us We were with Abdolominus in his house two or three days after the King had been there when we saw a great number of his Guards come in and a man at the head of them who seem'd their Captain I began presently to tremble but my fear was infinitly increased when Abdolominus advancing toward them and asking them the cause that brought them thither he that was the chief of them made answer we come to seek for a Prince that lies hid here disguised in a habit nothing suitable to his quality he must come before Alexander to whom he is not unknown and receive from so just a King the recompence that is due to him Judge Sir of my Masters astonishment then it was that he thought himself absolutely lost and no longer doubting but that some of Alexanders attendants had discovered him in the Garden his minde was pestered with severall thoughts suitable to the condition in which he was but he was quickly eased of his apprehension by the same man who had already spoken and who addressing himself still to Abdolominus Prince Abdolominus said he be not struck with wonder but come and receive from Alexander the Crown of your Countrey your vertue cannot continue longer hid and great Hephestion to whom the King ha's left the desposing of it chuses you among all the Sydonians to command a people that gives an universal testimony of your wisdom and integrity Leave off therefore these clothes unworthy of your present condition and putting on those that are appointed for you come and give thanks to Alexander and Hephestion for the present which they make you and for the esteem they have of your merit Our astonishment was dissipated by these words but that of Abdolominus was such as you may imagin he could not believe of a long time but that they mocked him and when he saw them persevere he received that change of his condition as a misfortune sent him from heaven and behaved himself before them and before Alexander as you know and as all Asia to whom this Story is so well know ha's highly published Lysimachus interrupting Araxes at these words I was with Alexander said he when he was brought before him
addressing my self to Sysigambis Madam said I pardon I beseech you a rashnesse full of irreverence in a man who saw himself wounded in the most sensible part of his soul and believe that if this rude fellows fault had been of another nature we would not have ended the quarrel in your presence Those good Queens and those fair Princesses were so troubled at this accident that they had much adoe to settle themselves and after a good while Sysigambis answered me thus Sir your generosity is great but our injury was not consider able enough to require such violent remedies and the offence we receiv'd was too light to be repaired with the blood and perhaps with the life of such a person Though she said thus to me and that their goodness made them sorry for Cleanders mischance whom all believ'd to be most dangerously wounded yet did I nevertheless perceive by their faces they were not displeased with that action and I found cause to hope that proof I had given them of my respect and of the part I took in their interest would not be unprofitable to me In the mean time Cleander was caried away and the noise of this accident being come to the Kings ear and to all my friends Ptolomeus Craterus Philotas Antigonus Seleucus Meleager Polypercon and all those who had shewed any affection to me came and offered me all the assistances I could expect from their friendship Some of them thought it best for me to absent my self and avoid the Kings anger for a time while they laboured to make my peace and that we saw what would become of Cleanders wound But the rest whose opinion I resolv'd upon believ'd it better for me not to stir from the Camp and that my action not being ill I ought not to fear any thing from so just and generous a Prince as Alexander It hapned according to their hopes and the King being informed of the truth though Cleanders friends endeavoured to disguise it instead of blaming what I had done condemned Cleander in such a way as might have made his friends afraid for him if he had not been punished enough for his fault already The King excused it to the Queens himself and satisfied them absolutely by words which shewed how much he disapproved that action In the mean time we arrived at Sidon and notwithstanding my slight wound for which I never kept my Chamber I had the happiness to see the Princesses every day When they saw me alone and that they knew Cleanders recovery was not despaired of the remembrance of what I had done for their sakes coming into their minde made them full of acknowledgement and moved them to return me such civil obliging thanks that thereby I knew well ingratitude findes no place in souls that are truly noble But this acknowledgement was general amongst them and Parisatis whom I was desirous to oblige to a particular good will and to whom I every day gave particular marks of my affection caried her self to me as the Princesse her sister and not taking notice with how great diligence I tyed my self to her service kept her self still within the limits of civility and esteem I cannot better represent unto you the condition I was in then by the description Araxes made to me of yours when you were in the same tearms I became sad and melancholy like you I avoided companyâ and the society of my friends like you and like you I lost a good part of my health and better looks I came to my Princesse an hundred times with a firm resolution to discover my self and to dye by her command and for the punishment of my temerity rather then perish languishing or in the violence of a torment which without being known would infallibly bring me to my grave But as often as I purposed that design so often my respect made it vanish and the presence of Parisatis dissipating all the courage I had left settled me again in my intention to die in silence rather then offend her by a presumptuous declaration On this manner I pass'd all the time we were at Sidon and all that we staid at the siege of Tyre Judge of my sufferance by the length of my silence and of the greatnesse of my respect by the violence I used upon my self during a whole year The King and all my friends wondred at the alteration of my humor and countenance they often ask'd me the reason of it and I laid it upon some bodily indisposition without discovering the true cause Ptolomeus the dearest of all my friends us'd his utmost endeavors to finde it out but though my most secret thoughts had never been conceal'd from him I then disguis'd the truth to him as well as to others and of a long time he could not draw a true confession from my mouth After the siege of Tyre the Ladies as you know were caried to the siege of Gaza there it was that my wounds grew worse by the continual presence of Parisatis and my despair alone made me resolve to bear the worst events J could apprehend from declaring my self It was not without great contestations and great difficulties J obtain'd that effect from my courage but considering the miserable condition of my life J determin'd to hazard the remainder of it to establish a better or lose that which J only lingred out in pains and torments that were insupportable With this design coming one day into her Chamber and finding her alone employed in the reading of Homers Iliads which she understood as well as her own language the fear of disturbing her made me retire a little but she perceiv'd me and laying down her Book upon the Table call'd me back and at the same time wiped her eyes by reason of some tears which ran down along her cheeks my apprehension of any thing that concern'd her moved me to ask the cause of her trouble but she instantly composed her countenance and making a pleasing smile succeed her tears I cannot conceal my weaknesse from you said she but must confesse I was not able to read Andromache's lamentations for the loss of her dear husband without being touch'd with compassion nor without accompanying with mïne those tears which probably she shed upon that occasion This discourse drawing a sigh from the bottom of my heart obliged me after a great conflict in my self to speak to her on this manner J cannot think Madam of the different causes different effects of pity without reflecting upon my own misfortunes which ought to draw from me for mine own interests a greater abundance of tears then you have bestowed upon those of the sad Andromache nor without blaming the injustice of Nature which gives you a sense of compassion for persons you never knew and yet would without doubt refuse it you for those that are most affectionate to your service you bewail the losse of Hector who died in the quarrel of his own Country and not of yours who
expressions of kindeness and I confess moreover though your Majestie may blame mee for it that I could not forbear to repay her a part of them nor to use her as that Orithia who had been so dear to you and to whom you had so great obligations I was at last something ashamed at my easiness and withdrawing my self from her embraces Ah! Orithia cryed I is it your self yes answered Orontes 't is I my self and I know you to bee too dear unto my Princess to believ that you are now ignorant who I am 'T is true Orontes said I I know you the Queen hath concealed nothing from mee and I am indeed the onely bodie that can boast of that advantage The Gods bee praised added Orontes 't is with that belief I have sought you out and that I have addressed my self to you before I shewed my self to your companions and 't is upon the confidence I have in your goodness that I cast my self now into your arms that I may finde som opportunitie by your means of doing my Princess service or of dying for her as I have alwaies liv'd for her the Gods have preserv'd my life for that purpose and have not suffred mee to lose it knowing it might yet bee useful to her to whom I have given it entirely But O dear Hippolita what may I hope for from you will you consider mee as an enemie after the deceit I have used and after the owning of a sex against which you have so great an aversion or will you still preserv som remainder of that goodness to mee whereof I have received so many testimonies I was much troubled what answer I should make both by reason I was ashamed to bee so easily reconciled to a man and to promiss him my assistance after the marks you had shown him of your anger and by reason of my uncertaintie whether you would approve of what I did but when I remembred your last thoughts of him your sorrow for his loss and the affection you really bore him and when to that remembrance I added the consideration of those services wee might receiv from him in the design of procuring your liberty at a time when that valour hee had so often tried to your advantage was so necessarie for us I believed I should not disserv you in keeping him amongst us by the hope of those good offices I might do him This thought was the caus that after I had been long silent I at last replied I will never bee against you Orontes and though my knowledg of your sex might excuse mee if I should not do what you may desire from mee yet that of your virtue which make's you dear to the whole world and that of your ardent affection to the Queen whereof you ought to give her proofs in a season when shee hath so much need of them oblige mee particularly to serv you I would it pleased the Gods wee were in such a condition that I might do it but I hope wee shall quickly bee so by your assistance and my hopes are strongly raised by your return You may continue amongst us with the same assurance as you did before your departure you are known to no creature here but mee and if you show your self to my companions you will certainly bee received by them as Orithia whose memory is very dear to them and at whose loss they were so sensibly afflicted Orontes having return'd mee such thanks as hee thought due to the offers I made him was willing to follow my counsel and after many other discourses the length whereof hinder's mee from repeating them wee went together into the Camp As soon as hee appeared there the first that knew his face cried out that Orithia was com again and that report flying from one to another was in a little time spread through the whole army Wee went to Menalippa's tent and shee receiv'd her with demonstrations of friendship and respect which had never been rendred to any but to her and instantly after all the principal women of the army running by troops to see her received her as a Goddess sent from heaven for our assistance and for the safetie of our Queen there was hardly one but would needs kiss her hand and all cried out that their Queen was now as good as at liberty since the Gods had restored Orithia to them shee spent al that day in receiving welcoms and civilities and after Clytemnestra's arrival with her supplies Menalippa would have put the command of the armie into her hands but Orithia refused it very modestly and beeing urged to it by the general entreaties shee was contented to share it with her Presently they fell to consider what should bee attempted for your deliverance Menâlippa Clytemnestra and my self with all the rest were of opinion to besiege this Town having already sufficient forces to undertake it and knowing that the supplies Neobarzanes expected were not yet arrived wee believ'd this Town being ill fortified and ill provided might bee taken by force before their coming which according to the distance of places could not bee very sudden But when Orithia had hearkenâd to our propositions I do not doubt said shee my valiant Companions but that you will successfully perform what you shall undertake and I believ this Citie may bee as soon taken as view'd by persons of so great courage but friends you do not remember that the Queen is in our enemies hands and that when hee see 's himself brought to extremity hee will expose her first to the fury of your arrows either to save himself and stop the cours of your arms by that consideration or to revenge his losses upon a person whom wee so dearly value I beseech you let us think upon her conservation and since wee have taken up arms for her alone let us save her from a destruction which the rage of that cruel man would make inevitable Wee may more easily carry the Town by a surprise in the night then by a formed siege and wee may march in the dark so secretly and so warily that wee may bee upon the walls before the enemies so much as suspect it It is hard for them to have any spies amongst us they have no women adventrous enough to take that employment and 't will bee very difficult for men to conceal themselvs amongst our forces if all the Officers take care to look exactly amongst those under their command by that order wee shall bee secure I pray you let it bee observed and let the care of this enterprise bee left to mee who with the assistance of the Gods and of your valour promise you an infallible success in it All wee that were of the Counsel approved Orithia's design and admired her prudence wee instantly resolv'd to follow it and the Officers having received such Orders carefully overlooked all the women they commanded whose faces were never so little unknown to them After this precaution among fifteen or sixteen
example keep their friends about them The report of your virtue ha's gain'd you a great many here who will bee as much concerned in your interests as in their own and particularly Ptolomeus who hath praied mee to beg him apart in that friendship which you have don mee the honor to promise mee I beseech you stay for news of us in the place where you are without any other disquiet then what you receive by our losses and moderate your grief that you may recover your strength the gods promise us as great a satisfaction as wee can in reason desire and I promise my self the continuance of that goodness you have shewed unto your faithful Lysimachus After that Oroöndates had read this letter in the presence of Thalestris hee asked Cleantes more particular news of his Master and Cleantes when hee had civilly presented his Masters humblest service to the Queen as hee had been expresly commanded answered that hee had left him with Ptolomeus from whom hee had received a welcom suitable to their ancient friendship hee said moreover that Ptolomeus his armie was out above three or four hours riding from them and that it consisted of ten thousand foot and four thousand hors that Eumenes was marching toward Cappadocia with ten thousand men but that they had sent to call him back as likewise Antigonus and Polyperon and many others who were beginning to take their way toward their several Provinces hee told him also that Lysimachus conjured him for many reasons not to stir from Polemon's hous since it was however necessarie the armie should draw that way and that hee would wait upon him there before hee had gotten up his strength again Though Oroöndates was exceeding sorrie for Lysimachus his delay hee was comforted by the hope of his revenge which hee alreadie saw in a very good forwardness hee asked Cleantes many questions to which hee answered very pertinently and the fair Amazon beeing alreadie well instructed in their affairs was desirous to interess her self in them as in her own and protested to Oroöndates that shee would run his fortune and that shee would second him to the death in so lawful an intention Oroöndates who could not slight her assistance after the knowledg hee had of her valor returned her thanks with great civilitie and extolled her generositie in terms that satisfiëd her very much The next day hee sent back Cleantes to his Master with this letter Oroöndates to Prince Lysimachus MY trouble for your absence is moderated by the caus that retard's you it is too just a one to bee complained of and your intentions too generous to bee disapproved if your goodness hath gained mee considerable friends it will likewise keep mee in their good opinion by the same waies and will procure mee a place in the esteem of great Ptolomeus the advantage whereof will bee totally mine Besides those Gallant warriers you have armed to maintain our quarrel wee have here Bellona who engage's her self in our misfortunes and whose assistance will bee both glorious and beneficial to us shorten our discontents the most you possibly can and bee pleased to undertake nothing without giving a share in your glorie to him that bear 's a part in your miserie Cleantes beeing gon Oroöndates continued with the Queen intending to stay in that hous there to expect news from Lysimachus as also the recoverie of his health and the pleasure of the gods who had confined him to the banks of Euphrates The servants Lysimachus had left were so careful of him that within a few daies his wound was quite closed up and within a few more perfectly hardned his strength began to com to him again and though hee recovered not that fleshiness and that lively color hee formerly had hee got up a good part of his wonted vigor and within a short time found himself in a condition to bear arms again and to execute whatsoëver his resentment could require from him Thalestris whose wound had been much lighter was cured as soon as hee and shee might have hoped to bee suddenly strong enough to begin the search of her faithless Orontes again if the design of assisting Oroöndates and those of his partie had not tied her to their interests with so much affection that shee seemed to have forgotten her own The Prince of Scythia acknowledging himself infinitely obliged unto her goodness repaied her all manner of civilities and took as much care to divert her as the extremitie of his sadness would permit him Hee walked often with her by the river side and in the wood where his encounter of the names of Cassandra and Euridice whose misfortunes and whose characters were so like to those of his Princess moved him again to a curiositie of learning news of those strangers and remembring that Araxes had seen Polemon discoursing in his garden with unknown Cassandra hee believed hee might from him receiv the information hee desired to that end having sent for him hee praied him courteously to tell him what hee knew concerning them Polemon without staying for a second entreatie Sir said hee both the qualitie and the adventures of those fair strangers are unknown to mee I can only tell you that perchance the earth never bore more fair nor more lovely persons they were in this hous for som few daies but now they are gon away and as I was ignorant from what part of the earth they came hither so am I likewise to what place they are retired this is all I am able âo let you know and I most humbly beseech you Sir not to desire any more of mee Oroöndates judging by this answer that either Polemon knew no more then hee had told him or that hee had som reason to conceal it was not willing to press him any further Polemon's servants went every day to Babylon to fetch provisions and Oroöndates would needs send Araxes with them privately to inform himself concerning Barsina and many other persons who formerly had born him friendship but above all hee gave him order to enquire after Toxaris and Loncates of whom hee had heard nothing and whose loss hee bewailed as that of two most faithful servants Araxes acquitted himself very discreetly of those commissions hee had received from his Master and aâ his return told him that Barsina was not at Babylon no more was Apamia nor Arsinoe who were gon from thence with their husbands that King Occhus his daughters and all those persons that had any affinitie to the Bloud Roial of Persia had forsaken the Town to avoid the crueltie of Roxana Pendiccas and Cassander who menaced them with a general ruine that Perdiccas made the forces of his Allies to advance on all âides to defend him against those that were discontented by whom hee was alreadie threatned that there was not so much as any mention of Arideus and that hee had preserved nothing at all of that shadow of Roialtie which had been given him that a most exact
in the desire I have by declaring my trade to finde excuse for many faults which perhaps would not bee pardonable in a Doctor nor in a man of another profession THE THIRD PART OF CASSANDRA The first Book THe Princess Berenice and the fair Queen of the Amazones having given a part of the night to the relation of the sorrowful Alcione passed the last hours thereof and the first of the day following in a reasonable quiet sleep Berenice whose thoughts though more tender and whole cares though less violent then those of Thalestris had yet a fresher caus awaken'd first and opening the curtain of her bed shee saw Alcione in the chamber who with Hippolita waited till the Princesses were awake that shee might give them the good morrow The countenance and humor of that woman having begot a great deal of good will in her moved her also to som desire of interessing her in her fortune and of putting her into the place of those persons whom shee had lost and to whom alone shee had formerly trusted her most secret and most important thoughts As soon as shee saw her shee called her to her bedside and began to testifie her affection to her by words full of sweetness and by kindnesses which carried a charm along with them against which it was impossible for even the most savage hearts to defend themselvs Thalestris waken'd while they were talking and Berenice finding shee could bee content to sleep a little longer would not disturb her but getting her self readie by the help of Alcione and Hippolita shee went out of the chamber with them Her first care was to call for Araxes to enquire after the health of the Prince her Brother and having heard by him that hee had passed the night indifferent well and that hee was not yet awake shee would not interrupt his rest but going down the stairs with those two women shee let them lead her into the wood and from thence to the river side to take her morning walk There shee ask'd Hippolita divers questions concerning her Mistresses adventures and learn'd whatsoëver the Queen had forgotten in her relation There likewise shee confirm'd the first assurances of her friendship to Alcione and gain'd her absolutely both by the advantage of her offers and by the inevitable allurements which were naturally in the least of her actions They were in this entertainment when they saw a litter com out of the wood conveied by certain men on hors-back which keeping the great high-way toward the Citie were of necessitie to pass close by them Berenice's present condition making her apprehend all manner of encounters shee was alreadie turning her back when the other two who had more curiositie reassured her and alledging that those persons went in an equipage which shewed no evil intention they perswaded her to stay till they were gon by having onely put down avail which without hindring her from the sight of any object serv'd to deâend her face a little from the eies of those passengers shee nevertheless retired under certain trees fifteen or twentie paces from the road but by reason the litter went very softly and that it was open on their side that distance hindred her not from observing the person that was in it 'T was a man of so good presence that the like was hardly to bee found and though his sickness or his wounds had diminished part of his fresher looks and caused som alteration in his face Berenice had the image of it too present in her memorie to bee mistaken Shee was so extremely surprised at that sight that her color going and coming twice or thrice in a moment shee sunk down upon Alcione and remained almost without knowledg in her arms Shee and Hippolita seeing her faint turned up the vail which covered her face and there reading the marks of a powerful change they asked her the caus of it Berenice was so troubled that shee was som time in recovering her self and when shee was a little settled before shee answered them shee cast her eie upon the way the litter had taken and seeing it was not yet far off and that it went slowly enough to give her hopes of overtaking it shee turned toward them I must said shee I must necessarily see the man again who is in yonder litter if you pleas to com along with mee Alcione you Hippolita may return unto your Mistress I pray you tell the Prince my brother that this encounter draw's mee from him for a few moments and that I desire him not to bee troubled at my departure for I will quickly return to him with so good news as shall make him excuse it With these words shee walked after the horses leaning upon Alcione who esteemed her self most happie to serv and accompanie her Hippolita would have gon with them but Berenice refused it in such manner that shee believing her self suspected to her in that design pressed it no further but to obey her returned unto ãâã hous Oroöndates and Thalestris were awake when shee came in but shee went to wait upon her Mistress before shee perform'd her commission to the Prince The Queen was in a great wonder at the recital of Berenice's departure who beeing alreadie very dear to her shee was exceedingly concerned in what might befall her by that encounter Shee was no sooner readie but shee carried the news of it her self to Prince Oroöndates and making Hippolita tell the particulars of that adventure again in his presence put him into a strange astonishment and into as strange a perplexitie This precipitate departure of a sister whom hee loved most tenderly at a time when hee was unable to follow her and to give her any assistance afflicted him very sensibly but hee drew som consolation from her words to Hippolita and hoped for somthing at her return which might make him bear her absence the more patiently when hee had mused a while upon the noveltie of that encounter and having vainly studied to finde out the truth of it hee by the alterations of his countenance and by a silence full of confusion had expressed the diversitie of his thoughts at last by lifting up his eies toward the Queen I give over the care said hee to the immortal gods of whatsoëver from henceforth shall concern mee and in the condition to which my own affairs are reduced I should bee too blame if I remitted the conduct of Berenice's to any other providence but theirs They wrought a miracle in her favor when they sent mee to rescue her and neither their power nor their goodness I trust will bee shortned to her I 'le go hasten after her replied the Amazone Queen and will never give over that pursuit till I have used my endevors to give her that assistance which your present estate forbid's her to hope for from you At these words shee called for two horses and arms and though Oroöndates out of civilitie would have spared her the trouble it was
who might have been in the Court of Persia if the rumour of my death had not facilitated my disguise and crossed the opinion of those who else might have believed they had seen me there I underwent this change of my fortune patiently enough and onely begg'd of the Gods that my Princess might not be entangled in my ruin the Kings severity giving me some cause of fear for her by the example I had before my eyes of his usage of the Prince his Son scarce had I had the leasure to consider what resolution I should take when I saw him come into my Chamber attended by those in whom he had greatest confidence and to whom he declared his most important secrets having left his guards at the door that they might not be witnesses of the discourse he desired to have with me I found not that cheerfulness in his face which he was wont to have when he saw me and instead of that kind reception I usually had from him there was nothing in his eyes and countenance but marks of his anger and new animosity I went to meet him at his coming in with an action but very little troubled and with my ordinary respect and having given him a salute not much different from what he was wont to receive of me he looking upon me with a fiery eye and with a face kindled by a passion which he was not well able to master I come to visite you said he Sir Artaxerxes and this respect is a beginning of what is due to the knowledge of your quality The ignorance of it has made me faulty toward you but when I shall once have it confirm'd by your own mouth I will repair the errours I have committed by usage more suitable to what I owe to the Prince of Persia After these words I no longer had any reason to doubt the cause of my imprisonment and though in them I observed an extraordinary sharpness I was not terrified enough to disown the bloud of Darius I judged that such a baseness would render me unworthy of the honour I had to be descended from him and that all the dangers I could apprehend after that discovery ought not to be sufficient to make me stoop to so shamefull a dissimulation In this belief looking upon the King with confidence enough They that endeavour to ruin me in your Majesties thoughts said I have but small knowledge of your generosity and of the little love I bear to life but if it were a thousand times more dear to me than it is and that I manifestly saw the loss of it in this confession there is no fear so powerfull as to make me disavow the honour I have to be of the race of Darius His misfortunes which ought to serve all Kings for an example have not taken any thing from him of his dignity nor from his of the glory to be born of the first Monarch of all the earth If I did not declare it sooner 't was because I waited till fortune should present me with occasions to do you services that might be considerable enough to blot that hatred out of your mind which you have born my family and to make me discover that more handsomely which I now onely confirm to your Majesty after the knowledge you have of it already Yes Sir I am Darius his Son Fortune brought me into your territories after she had made me to be taken from among the dead bodies at the battel of Selena Your vertue your favourable usage and the remembrance of what I ow'd to the friendship of Oroondates staid me here and the hope I had in your generosity and in the support of my dear Brother brought me back again after the loss of my nearest friends and of my dominions I believed that by my services I might merite from you a part of that affection Oroondates had received from Darius and that against our general Enemy I could not hope for a more fitting sanctuary than in the Court of my friends Father and of a King who had honoured me himself with his affection Nor did I onely hope that King and that friend would afford me a secure retreat but also their assistance to raise my self to the throne again to revenge the death and captivity of my Father Mother and Sisters and to recover my reputation If this confidence in your generosity be my crime I cannot deny Sir but I am truely criminal and if this knowledge has made me lose my liberty and caused the change I observe in your Majesty I will not disavow it nor hide him from your indignation who hath voluntarily exposed himself to it I uttered these words with an assuredness which as I believe hindred the King from interrupting me before I had ended them but when I had done speaking he turned his flaming eyes upon those that were with him and then setting them upon my face with a furious action Is it true than said he that you are Darius his Son and that you are bold enough to make a confession in my presence which cannot but be fatal to you amongst the Scythians Is it true that you are the Son of my mortal and irreconcileable Enemy of him who hath often dyed our Fields red with the bloud of our subjects and with mine own and who many times brought fire sword and desolation into my Kingdom and instead of considering that the Gods have delivered you into my hands to give me some satisfaction for the injuries I have receiv'd from you and yours do you pretend to be protected and assisted by me I was mov'd with this cruel discourse but I yet considered the Father of Berenice and Oroondates and struggling against my resentments to keep my self within the respect I ow'd him It is true Sir reply'd I I am the Son of him who was heretofore your Enemy but that which I have done for you and yours the marks whereof are still fresh in the heart of your Kingdom and in the limites of your territories and which I also bear in many parts of my body may sufficiently tell you that you have few friends have done you services like those you have received from the Son of your Enemy No Sir I do not believe you can yet hold him for your Enemy who abandoned his own interests for yours and who to the prejudice of his Dominions to the prejudice of his bloud nay and even to the prejudice of his honour fought for you and yours while his Countrey was on fire and while his nearest friends became a prey to the fury of his Enemies I know not whither the Kings anger was then risen of it self to the height or that these words accompanied with some reproaches drew him to extremity of rage but howsoever it were he then went beyond the bounds of that moderation which was befitting a person of his quality and breaking forth with a violence which put a fear into all those that attended him Ah! imposter cried
tormented himself about me went to seek help either for my recovery or buriall When he had gon a little way he by good chance met a company of horsemen who were riding towards Babilon and having told them my misfortune in a few words found some among them so generous as to be sensible of it and to offer him their assistance They were the brave Seleucus and certain horsemen that attended him who no sooner were come to the place where I lay where I had died the earth about me red with my bloud but they were touch'd with compassion and making me be taken up in some of their cloaks they caus'd me to be carri'd to a poor mans house aboutâ ten or twelve furlongs from the place where we had fought Seleucus was so carefull as to have my clothes pull'd off and to see my wounds himself but he thought them so great that he conceiv'd very little hope of my recovery yet would he not leave me knowing by many signs that I was still alive and therefore sent away a man instantly to the City to fetch Chirurgions with all possible speed Before they came having found something in my face that made him desirous to know who I was he enquir'd oâ Criton who thinking he should thereby oblige him to succour me with the more affection contented himself with concealing that I was Artaxerxes the son of Darius and told him I was that Arsaces who had conquer'd Armibas and gain'd some victories in Scythia Seleucus had heard of Arsaces and of the first things I had done in the King of Scythia's service wherefore being indeed virtuous himself he was perswaded by some report of virtue that had run to my advantage and no sooner knew that I was Arsaces but instead of the compassion which had mov'd him to lend me that first assistance he thought himself oblig'd by all manner of considerations to neglect nothing for my safety and expressing a very great trouble for the estate he saw me in he at the Chirurgions coming promised them excessive recompences if they could contribute any thing toward my cure When they had search'd my wounds they saw small hope of life though according to what they said my loss of bloud was cause of their greatest apprehensions Yet did they do their office very carefully and implor'd all their skill in dressing my hurts and in fetching me to my sences Part of the night was pas'd when I came to my self again but with very little memory and very little understanding and the day appear'd before I was able to discern any object or recaâl to mind any thing that had pass'd As soon as I began to haue a little knowledge I turn'd my eyes on every side and seeing Criton by me I ask'd him where I was he told me the truth in a few words and presently after Seleucus coming to me Courage said he valliant Arsaces you have persons about you who are very affectionate to your virtue and who labour for your health as passionately as for their own He said no more nor staid any longer with me for fear of obliging me to answer him and Criton having only told me that it was Seleucus and entreated me not to speak went also out of the chamber with him who was recall'd to Babilon by very pressing occasions and who neverthelesse would not go away till he saw me in that degree of amendment When they had left me alone I was more accompanyed then I had been before You easily guesse that the remembrance of my last encounter came not into my mind without driving me into an extreamity of grief and that I could not call to memory the condition I had found Berenice in without falling into another a thousand times worse then that out of which the Chirurgions endeavour'd to recover me by their assistance O Gods how shall I be able to expresse my violent thoughts or rather how will you supply the defect of my discourse by fancying part of them in your imagination I cannot represent them better to you brother then by your own but yet my sorrow wanted one consolation which you receiv'd in yours for you could not believe Statira to be inconstant without having your affliction counterbalanc'd by a joy at the assurance that Statira was a live Yes I remembred that I had found Berenice but I had found her so unworthy and so shamefully chang'd that I had seen her give my rivall favours the smallest part whereof had never been graunted unto me I remembred likewise that I had fallen under the forces of my rivall and that remembrance made me doubt whither it was Arsacomes He wore his armes he was with Berenice whom Arsacomes had carried away and with whom Criton had seen her a few dayes before but I had found the valour of that enemy so different from that of Arsacomes that I had much a doe to perswade my self it could be hee unlesse the Gods to compleat their anger against me had so augmented his strength to hinder the Satisfaction my revenge might have given me I remain'd uncertain what to believe but whither it were Arsacomes or some new servant I found so great cause of grief and of despaire in that abominable change that all I have told you hitherto of my former afflictions had touch'd me but lightly in comparison of this last I could not fancy Berenice in the posture I had seen her holding a man in her armes and kissing him with that mouth which had been so niggardly to me even then when her fathers consent might have authorised the permission of such favours without loosing that little reason I had recovered and then yeilding to the rage that transported me Ah! light inconstant woman cry'd I by what horrid change hast thou lost the remembrance of what thou wert heretofore and the remnants of that vertue which made thee leave a lover to put thy self into the hands of thine enemies Ah! if thou wert to give thy self to Arsacomes thou should'st have done it when thou might'st with lesse unworthynesse and when thy infidelity might have been justified by thy fathers command Thy crime had been lesse shamefull by that pretence and by the reproach of thy inconstancy thou might'st have avoyded that of thy disobedience After these words follow'd whole troups of cruell thoughts and my jealousy giving such shaps to all things as were most suitable to it put conceits into my head which I should never have fall'n into if I had been in my right mind Ah! without doubt said I againe thy infidelity is not so new a thing as I believed that action of thine before Issedon was an effect of thy change and not of thy vertue nor would'st thou ever have forsaken me to cast thy self into the armes of that rivall from whence I had pull'd thee with the perill of my life if the lover to whom thou ran'st had not been dearer to thee then he whom thou forsookest Thou hast dissembled since by
of the King his Brother In briefe he was fain to explain himselfe openly to make me comprehend the truth and a declaration from his own mouth was necessary to give me an opinion which I was very far from having at that time I was one Evening on the Queens side with the Princesses and a good number of the Court Ladies when the Prince seeing me at a Window a good distance from the rest and with something of sadnesse in my countenance came thither to me and Asparia and Rhaesaces with whom I was talking having left him their place out of respect when he saw he was neither over-heard nor observed by any body Cousin sayd he may I ask you if it be Memnon's absence that makes you so sad and so solitary Sir answered I I know not what sadnesse you can have observ'd in my face but how ever it be perhaps I should not be condemn'd by you though Memnon's absence should have been able to give me some discontent In the tearms I then stood with Memnon by my Fathers expresse command I well might take the liberty to speak on that maner without fearing that my freedome would be blamed by Oxyatres neither had it been so if he had not taken an interest in it He looked upon me with an eye in which I perceived something extraordinary and pressing one of my hands which he held between his Memnon sayd he is worthy of a very good fortune but that you have now rais'd him to is above all he could lawfully hope for I should account my selfe most happy answered I with my former innocence if I could contribute to the fortune of a man whom the King whom your selfe and whom the whole Court judges worthy of affection and esteem If you could contribute to it replyed the Prince Ah! Cousin never doubt but that you may make the whole Fortune not only of Memnon but of all persons that see you I say of all and if I should except any it must be none but those that are either blind or insensible I thought this discourse very strange from the mouth of a Prince who had been wont to entertain me in other tearms and when I was going to testifie my astonishment I see well pursued he that my last words have surprised you I spoke them rather before I was aware then with a set intention and I should have continued to conceale that of my reall thoughts which you wonder at if I could have kept power enough over my selfe to do it you would not understand the language whereby by my eyes have long expressed themselves and you have at last reduc'd me to the necessity of declaring to you with my mouth that Memnon indeed is the most happy and the most favour'd but not the most zealous and the most passionate of Barsina's servants I confesse to you Madam that in all my life I had never heard words that were more unwelcome to me then these and that they put me into a confusion which my silence and my blushing made manifest to Prince Oxyatres my being out of countenance made him partly so too and for all his confidence he cast down his eyes by my example and dispos'd himselfe to hear what I was going to reply That was it that caus'd my greatest trouble and though perchance I should not have stood considering whether I should follow what my resentment wou'd have inspired against another I could not judge suddainly enough which way I should proceed with the Brother of my King and with a Prince to whom our whole Family bore very particular respects I was in the disquiets which this irresolution gave me when I was eased or to say better relieved by Prince Artaxerxes and the yong Princesse Parisatis who coming near us with a chearful action broke off our conversation for that time When I was retired into my Chamber and that I was at liberty to reflect upon that Adventure I found in it great causes of affliction and that which would have made some others glad of this new Conquest was that which moved me to detest it If Oxyatres had been lesse great and lâsse potent in the Court the Authority of Memnon and of my Friends might have maintained us against the power of a Rivall and our Fortune seemed then to be crossed by the sole person that could possibly crosse it The best consolation I found in this displeasure was in the beliefe I had that peradventure the Prince had only had a minde to divert himselfe or that if he had felt some moments of affection to me 't was nothing but a passing affection and a complacency which I should hear no more of I remained some few dayes in this opinion but within a while after I was constrained to lose it and Prince Oxyatres having conquered the first difficulties was easily carryed on to continue what he had begun He came to visit me one day in my Chamber where he found me taken up in the reading of a Letter I had newly received from Memnon his comeing in was so suddain that I had not time to put it up and when I would have done it he would not suffer me but laying his hand upon it prayd me to give him leave to see it in such tearms that I could not civilly refuse a thing of so small importance especially being that I was not unwilling he should be confirmed in the opinion he had that I loved Memnon and that I believed that confirmation would serve to disswade him from the design I apprehended he took the Letter then out of my hand and casting his eyes upon it found these Words MEMNON to the Princesse BARSINA THE marks of your remembrance my fair Princess make my absence too glorious to have any cause to complain of it and all the pains it makes me suffer are too fully recompenced by that goodness which lets fortunate Memnon know you have not forgotten him But yet these happinesses though they might satisfie a reasonable ambition cannot oppose the desire I have to see you again and this impatience would perhaps bee prejudiciall to the service of the King my Master if it were not fatall to his enemies and if it did not make me hasten their defeat therby to hasten my return I will see you again my adored Princess with the hope you give mee that my absence shall not have changed my fortune and that after the combats I have sought far from you I shall have nothing to combat with when I am neer you I knew that Oxyatres read these words with discontent and when hee had ended them he could not so well contain himself but that lifting up his eyes to Heaven hee cryed out O Memnon Must I in your good fortune find the ruine of Oxyatres These words troubled me very sensibly but I was so a great deal more when turning toward me after he had given me my Letter Cousin sayd he Memnon has reason to be satisfied and I know no
most unhappy and the least known hath very considerable advantages above the other who was most favoured by the destinies who by the help of fortune hath in his glory eclipsed the fame of all that followed him as well as of all that went before him You being generous as you are have taken the part of the more unfortunate and if I dare reproach you with it after your own confession of it to me you have been even in love with him blush not Calista he was a Prince worthy of you and without doubt the fates should either have reserv'd him till your Age or made you to be born in his But the Gods took care that his reputation should come unspotted to our times and that his life should be preserv'd from a blemish which you would infallibly have cast upon it his Princess deserv'd his affection wholly and only you were capable to withdraw him from that fidelity which renders him so dear to you and so recommendable to all the world Hitherto J have spoken to you as to Calista that is to say as to the Soveraign Mistress of my life and of all my thoughts now I speak to you as to her that is to read this unworthy Piece again and to whom J consecrate it with my whole heart and all my affections Besides the consideration of my love J find in you all that can be desired in persons to whom works of this nature are dedicated Your quality is most eminent too eminent for my hopes it hath hitherto made a part of my misfortunes it is that which hath made me pass many years in your service without anie other advantage then that of being yours of being sufferd by you An interessed lover or rather a captive who is your idolater might seem suspected in praising the beauties both of your mind and bodie but the eies and hearts of all France take my part and bear witness generallie that you are the most accomplished of all creatures 'T is therefore under your protection that Cassandra coms to put her self she boasts of having som resemblance of you and 't is with you alone she seeks for sanctuarie in the various changes of her fortune you wil not know her a great while though she keep you verie constant companie and will wonder to see her give the name to adventures in which she seems to have no part at all but you shall see her come out of the dark when you hope least for it and will know her again by lineaments that are not common You in her face may find a part of that which shines most visiblie in yours and in her carriage you shall neither see anie thing that can injure you nor anie thing you can disavow If this First Part divert you the designe I have to mind nothing but you alone as the mark of all my thoughts will oblige me to give you quicklie the continuation of her Storie and though I be neither Doctor nor a passablie Learned man I am certain you will never inspire me with mean low fancies since you have inspired into me the resolution of living and dying Your c. CASSANDRA The First Part. BOOK I. UPON the Bank of the River Euphrates not many Furlongs from Babylon two Strangers alighted from their Horses under certain Trees whose thick Leavinesse cast a very pleasing shade He of the two who by the richness of his arms and the respect the other bore him appeared to be the Master unbuckled his Head-piece and lying down upon the Grass buried all the disquiets that troubled him in a profound sleep But scarce had he tasted the first sweetness of it when by the other that accompanyed him and by a sudden noise interrupted in his repose presently starting up he took his Horse and Cask again and advanced upon the side of the great High-way whence he was newly come to know the cause of it He soon perceived it by the first object that presented it self which was a Combat of two Cavaliers in whom he instantly observed all the marks of an unusual valour and great animosity their Javelins shivered in an hundred pieces under their Horses feet had given place unto their swords which they made use of with so much rage and so little caution that he quickly judged the designe of assaulting each other had in those two Warriours quite extinguished the care of defending themselves and that to each the losse of his Enemies life was much more dear or much more important then the conservation of his own Till then the fight had balanced in the uncertainty of any advantage on either side when one of them whose black arms and plume of the same colour witnessed the grief that was in his heart rushed upon his Enemy with such fury that by giving him two or three great wounds he made him doubt of his safety and pressing him the more eagerly as hee found him grow weaker had then without question finished a Combat which seemed too tedious to his revenge if he who was the Spectatour of it had not cast himself between to part them praying them to hold their hands with the most civil intreaties he thought he could use in that encounter But he in the black arms whom powerful reasons made to desire the destruction of his Enemy and whom the hope of Victory had already made confident cryed out with a terrible voice Whosoever thou art unlesse thou be a Protector of crimes and an Enemy to vertue and unlesse thou wilt draw upon thy self the hatred both of the Gods and Men oppose not the destruction of the most cruel and disloyal man that ever was And seeing him persist in the designe of parting them he charged him with so much readiness and force that the Stranger finding by those first stroaks the valour of that new Enemy lost the care of anothers safety to think of his own preservation True it is that the shame of offending a man who had already an Enemy to fight with made him for some time stand upon the defensive but seeing himself pressed with so much vehemence by one whom he had not injured and seeing the danger into which he did precipitate himself by sparing an adversary against whom he stood in need of all his force he had almost forgotten all considerations when he saw ten or twelve Horse men who coming up to them full speed and having known the Combatants took the part of him that was wounded whom his weaknesse had already made but a looker on and two of the Company having drawn him aside to carry him off to Babylon all the rest fell furiously upon him in the black arms killing his Horse with seven or eight wounds which made him fall upon the place Yet was he not so surprised but that he dis-engaged himself from his Stirrups and having an invincible courage he set himself in a readinesse to dispute his life generously against them When the Stranger seeing the inequality
animosity is caused by greater reasons Here it was that Lysimachus constancy vanished and his tears over-flowed with so much violence that it was a long time before he could answer him and assoon as he was able to speak again lifting his eyes up mournfully to Heaven Great Gods cryed he since you have permitted me to survive the greatest perfection you ever sent into this world If you destine me not to revenge those illustrious persons add not one minute to this life which I do but languish in with horrour and which I can draw out no longer without shame You oblige me continued he with an infinite number of sighs by believing I have so much moderation as not to precipitate my self with so blinde a rage into a Combat the cause whereof were slight or common but I have so weighty an one that it is impossible for me to expresse the least part of it and it shall satisfie me to tell you I prosecute that infamous Perdiccas as the murtherer or rather the butcherer of the fair Queen Statyra Widow to Alexander the Great and of the Divine Parisatis her sister Widow to her dear Hephestion He accompanyed these few words with so many tears and doleful lamentations that any other heart except that Strangers would thereby have been touched with compassion but his being too sensible for it self to take heed to the actions of Lysimachus he only changed colour twice or thrice and looking upon him with a wandring eye Lysimachus said he I conjure you by all the Gods tell me true is Queen Statira dead It is but too true she is replyed Lysimachus and if you will hear her end in a few words know That as soon as Alexander the Great was dead pittylesse Roxana who during the life of that great Prince had been racked with an horrible jealousie of her giving Order that that poor Princesse who was at that time retired with her sister to the Castle of Calcis should not be advertised of his death wrote Letters in the name of the deceased King earnestly perswading her to come with speed to Babylon and to give a better foundation to that treachery she and Perdiccas sealed them with the Ring which that great Prince as he lay dying had put into the hands of that disloyal man and which he should have made use of to another purpose then the destruction of that which was dearest to him Thus were these innocent Ladies drawn into the snare which had been set for them and that very day this cruel Woman and that horrible Murtherer causing them to be killed in their presence cast their fair bodies into two Wells and covered them with a great number of stones The Stranger staid not for the end of this Relation but lifting up his eyes to Heaven Great Gods said he with a tone quite different from his ordinary voice to day it is that I receive the effects of your promises and that after a ten years persecution you grant me the Repose you have made me hope for in these Countries And at these words after having looked upon Lysimachus with an affrighted countenance in which death was already naturally painted he drew his Sword and setting the point of it where the defect of his arms gave way threw himself so suddenly upon it that neither Lysimachus nor his Squire had means to hinder him and fell at their feet weltring in a River of his own blood At the noise he made in his fall and at the cry of his Squire Lysimachus start out of the deep study in which the renewing of his griefs had buried him and helping the Squire who in dispair of that accident dis-armed his poor Master with crys of a man besides himself mingled his tears with his with so great testimony of grief as made him judge that his friendship was already exceeding strong even in its very birth When he was unarmed they found he breathed still and observing his wound as heedfully as the trouble they were in could permit they saw that the Sword not having seconded his designe had slipt along his Cuirasse and had onely passed slanting between his Ribs this making them conceive some hope of him caused them to apply all their cares to stanch his blood the losse whereof had already so weakned him that he had almost no longer strength to move while they were busied about this necssary office the Gods sent them two good honest Country men who seeing them in that condition and touched with compassion at so sad an object charitably offered them their assistance Lysimachus praised the Heavens for that happy chance and having learnt from them that their House was in a Wood not above two or three hundred paces distant from thence he resolved to have him carried thither not thinking in that change of affairs that there was much safety for either of them in Babylon the Squire moreover having told him there were powerful considerations which should hinder his Master from retiring thither This Resolution being taken they put him upon the Squires Horse he getting behind to keep him up and holding an Handkerchief upon his wound they began to follow the two Country men But before they arrived at their House Lysimachus speaking to the elder Friend said he it is for thy good fortune if thou knowest how to make use of it that the Gods have sent theâ this encounter and if thou keepest that fidelity to us which we hope for from thee thou hast found an opportunity to enrich thy self The Country man having made protestations to him in very handsome Language Lysimachus saw he was an understanding man and having also drawn Oaths from him that he would not betray them he commanded him to go to Babylon and having furnished him with all the directions and instructions that were necessary he gave him also two Rings bidding him keep one of them for himself and give the other as a token to his Physitian Amintas and some others of his servants which he thought he should need in that retirement with Order to come presently along with him and bring all things that were needful for them as well to cure the Stranger as to defray their expences Then having above all things enjoyn'd him secrecy he sent him away and being guided by the other who was his son came at last to the House where presently they were well received by Women they found there who being informed by the young man concerning the liberality and quality of their guests offered themselves to serve them with all manner of diligence after which they laid the poor wounded Stranger in bed losse of blood having already deprived him of all strength and knowledge Though Lysimachus misfortunes gave him matter of despair and that being not to be comforted himself he was little capable of comforting or helping another yet his obligation to that Stranger and the interest he believed he had in a mischief which he had occasioned by his Discourse added
to the inclinations he had already towards him and to the incitements of his own vertue made him resolve not to forsake him but to suspend the remembrance of his own unhappinesse that he might give him assistance to the uttermost Afterwards coming to make reflexion upon the cause of that accident and how powerfully the Stranger was concerned in the death of the Princesses of Persia he could not divine the cause of it and expecting till he could learn it either from himself or from his Squire he confirmed himself in the friendship he had vowed to him guessing by the proofs he had that they were companions in fortune and that the despair of both proceeded from the same cause He was taken off from these thoughts by the return of old Polemon and his Physitian Amintas accompanyed with some Chirurgians and other servants he âhad sent for Lysimachus praised their diligence and having recommended the Strangers health to his Physitian would needs see his wound searched assoon as Amintas had proab'd it he judged it not dangerous and assuring his Master of his recovery filled him with as much joy as hee was capable to receive The faithfull Squire was quite transported at it and waited upon those that endeavoured his Masters cure with such a zeal as did visibly demonstrate his affection towards him The Chirurgians having applyed the first remedies to his wound poured a certain cordial into his mouth which within a while after made him recover his spirits sight and knowledge When he was come out of his swoun he fixed his eyes upon the first objects that presented themselvs unto him and seeing himself encompassed by Lysimachus his Squire and those that had dressed him hee for some time considered both the place where hee was and the persons that were present and doubting of the truth of the businesse he turned his eyes slowly upon those that were nearest him and having lookt upon them awhile without speaking Cruel Enemies said he with a weak voice what I have done to you that you should persecute me with so much inhumanity Then feeling the paine of his wound he laid his hands upon it and would have torn off the Swathes if Lysimachus knowing his design had not seized upon them easily holding him by reason of his weaknesse The Stranger seeing himself hindred from his Resolution lookt first upon him with a threatning eye and then finding himself too weak to execute what he had in his minde he strove to move him by some tears which ran down his cheeks and might have obtained any thing else of him except what they demanded Lysimachus nearly touched with compassion alledged all the Reasons that might disswade him from his despair and seeing hee vouchsafed not to hear them and that in the end it would be impossible to force him to live he resolved to try if point of Honour could work him to his own preservation Sir said he with a more resolute voice then before till now I believed you vertuous but at last you force me to tell you you injurâ the proofs you have given of it by a manifest unworthinesse and I conjure you by all the Gods continued he and by the memory of the Princesses of Persia if it bee true that you did love them to assist me in the revenge I must take of their deaths desiring you to live but so long as to tear away the lives of their Murtherers for whom I finde my self too weak without your help both they and I doe beg it of you and if you be as much concerned in their losse as you would have it believed know that you cannot die but ignominiously if you do not at least endeavour it as well for your own honour as their satisfaction I have as much cause to die as you can have and since in this extremity it is no longer time to conceal it know that I would not have out-lived the Princesse Parisatis if I had not believed my self obliged to satisfie her Ghost by the blood of those that ravished her from me This Discourse had so much power over the mind of this desperate Stranger that having maturely weighed it he was ashamed of the desire hee had before to die without revenge and witnessed his repentance to LYSIMACHVS by these words You have overcome LYSIMACHVS but remember the time you have demanded and never desire me to lengthen it In the interim Araxes shall tell you the cause of my despair and neither conceal from you the name nor life of the miserable companion of your misfortunes After these words he no longer opposed the will of the Chirurgions and being forbidden to speak for som few days LYSIMACHVS resolved to spend that time in learning the whole History of a Life which he judged to be full of very remarkable accidents But because the night was already a good way advanced after having taken a light supper and recommended the hurt Stranger to those that had the care of him he went to bed and till it was day rested as much as his griefs would suffer him The next morning assoon as he was up he enquired after the health of the wounded Stranger and being told he was asleep he led his Squire into a Garden which the Master of the House kept trimm'd with very great care the beauty whereof was extraordinary for one of his condition being fitted with all things that could make a place delightful When they were come into it they walk'd a while in the shade of a pleasant Alley and after they had taken a few turns LYSIMACHVS through a Hedge which parted two Walks heard the voice of two persons discoursing together and having lent an ear with some attention he discern'd that of old Polemon their Landlord who spoke on this manner I am not able to clear your doubts CASSANDRA but time and the abode you will make in this place may easily resolve them for my part I will labour in it all that I can possibly and protest to you by all the Gods I will spare neither my endeavours no nor my life it self for your contentment In the mean time strive to settle your minde both from your frights and your afflictions and believe that CASSANDRA'S vertue is too considerable to the Gods to let it lie any longer under those misfortunes that persecute it Polemon making a stop at these words the other with whom hee talked after two or three sighs which were over-heard by LYSIMACHVS was in probability ready to make answer when both being come to the ends of their several Allies met at the entry into another which went crosse them This encounter made Lysimachus see that it was a Woman of very fair stature cloathed almost in a meer Country habit who was discoursing with Polemon This was all he could discern and she who desired no witnesses of her conversation seeing her self surprised by that Company turned her back to him as suddenly as well she could and walking hastily away went
he ha's promis'd me repli'd the Princess and in his disobedience foresee the utter ruine of his happiness if so be he ground it upon Statira's friendship But alas continued she weeping and raising her voice a little I know not what it is that my sadness presages and though I strive to put it off because I see you participate in it yet can I not overcome my self so far as to forbear it At these words Artaxerxes being come in again and seeing her all in tears Sister said he you should be ashamed to show so little courage to them whom your grief touches infinitely what could you doe more if you saw one of us carried in a Coffin to receive the last duties of affection from you Ah! cruel Brother cryed Statira with what do you threaten me and with what unfortunate presages doe you redouble my sorrows will you not pardon these small testimonies of them to the friendship I bear you and to that you have given birth to I am very much obliged to you for both replyed the Prince but I should be glad to see you bear this parting with more moderation so excessive a sadnesse besides that it encreases ours may make it be believ'd that in this separation you lament more then a Brother not but that the proofs of affection you give my Oroondates are as pleasing to me as to himself but dear sister these tears were more excusable if you were depriv'd of all hope to see him again and if they were not prejudicial to what we have hitherto so carefully concealed Well then answered she I will endeavor to bear what it is impossible for me to shun but however Oroondates I recommend Artaxerxes to you and you brother have a care of Oroondates since you have commanded me to love him After this Discourse and many others seeing the day draw near they took their last leave of her when she had given my Master a bracelet of her hair which she tied about his arm and which he wore there a long time after notwithstanding all the accidents that happen'd to him At break of day they went to receive the Kings commands who embraced them a thousand times and could not let them depart without much trouble then getting on horseback wee marched after the track of the Army which wee overtook within three days During the whole Voiage they were inseparable yet Prince Artaxerxes who undertook it against his will was commonly so sad that hee had but very little of his good humour left and Oroondates considering to what extremities his passion had carried him and against what enemies he had taken arms was sometimes little lesse then desperate but the remembrance of Statira coming again into his mind blotted out all these considerations and overwhelm'd all his griefs in those which her absence caused in him The Reasons I have already alledged will hinder me from entertaining you with the particulars of this Expedition and from drawing out a War in length which was quickly brought to a conclusion I will content my self with telling you that the Inhabitants of Selena being advertised of our coming to relieve them armed themselves with a valiant resolution and defended themselves so stoutly that they gave us as much time as was necessary for us to come up to their Relief and it was very lucky that that Siege amused so potent an Army which without that obstacle would doubtlesly have much indamaged Persia In the mean time we advanced with great diligence and being within a days march of Selena a Councel of War was call'd and there was a long debate what resolution should be taken but in the end the general opinion was that they should attempt to raise the Siege though with the hazard of a Battel which they thought they might the better venture since the courage of their Soldiers was not yet abated but that with loud cryes they still call'd to be led on straight unto the Enemy Artabasus encouraged by their eagernesse and perswaded by the advice of all the Commanders prepared his Forces for that bloody day and dividing the Army into three Bodies hee gave the Van to his Brother Tiribasus a very valiant man and one who by the long exercise of arms was grown to great experience He left the Rere-guard to Narbazanes and kept the Battel for himself having besides these three given his son Hydaspes the command of five hundred Chariots of War arm'd with sharp Sithes and fill'd with Median Archers who that day did much mischief to the Enemy and to Prince Artaxerxes four thousand horse which being loose from the rest of the Army were to succour those that should have most need of it this was all the imployment he would take though Artabasus with much submission offered to resign what he thought due to his birth and courage Oroondates who desired to bee free from care and to be as little faulty as was possible for him refused all command and placed himself with the Prince that he might fight near his person This order having been taken in our Camp we advanced into a great Plain some thirty or forty Furlongs from Selena free from all kind of Trees and very proper for a place of Battel The Enemy advertised of our coming was already incamped and expected us in very good order for this praise must be given to King Matheus that there are few Princes in the world but must yeild to him in experience and conduct Night being near when we came thither Artabasus gave it wholly to the Army to take their rest and to prepare for the day that was to follow and in the mean time we incamped within sight of the Scythians whose fires we discovered in great abundance but not being ignorant of their custome we set forth strong out-guards that wee might not bee surprised and pass'd almost the whole night in arms Assoon as day appear'd and that the two Armies faced one another they cast forth terrible shouts which witnessing their marvellous desire to fight joyed the Commanders with the hope of Victory yet Artabasus having adored the Sun and causing sacrifices to be made through the whole Camp himself viewed most part of the beasts that were offered whose intrails were all found defective either in the liver or the heart and the fire they were burnt with look'd all blewish accompanied with a black thick smoak and which instead of rising up straight to heaven spread it self in great Clouds through the whole Army Some Victims having received the stroak escaped out of the Priests hands and ran through the Camp with horrible roarings which was the cause of a very great disorder Besides these unlucky Omens which Artabasus and the other Commanders understood very well and which not to strike a terrour into the Soldier they yet feigned not to take any notice of the day was so extraordinarily dark that we had much adoe to see one another and seemed all ready to have put on mourning for
Miletopolis and the other Towns which had shamefully deserted their Kings party to receive the yoke of the Macedonians Miletopolis was the first he laid siege to and that City which had not had the courage to oppose their Enemies with honour and justice had yet the stubbornness to stand out against their lawful Prince and to refuse him entrance whether it were because they were dis-affected to their King or that the knowledge of their fault putting them out of hope of pardon made them resolve to expect relief from Alexander or bury themselves in their own ruines The place was very strong and kept us a moneth without the walls but in the end after the losse of some of our men our Prince having storm'd it vigorously on all sides carried it by assault and his mercy was so great that assoon as he saw himself Master of it he stopt the execution and being satisfied with the death of those that were slain upon the breach he generously pardon'd all the rest though they had not so much as a hope of it and placing a reasonable Garrison in the Town suffered the Inhabitants to enjoy all their former Immunities and Priviledges This Act of Clemency was blamed by many of his party who could not approve his so great gentleness to a place so obstinately rebellious and who maintain'd that to terrifie such as were guilty of the same crime and were yet to be subdued he should have utterly destroyed it But my Prince smiled at their Maxims and following the inclinations of his own generous nature attain'd by that moderation to the end which they would have had him tend to by contrary mean for within a few days after the report of his mildneâs being spread through that revolted Province all the Countrey submitted it self voluntarily unto him and within lesse then three months fourteen Towns that had declared for Alexander return'd again to their obedience and put themselves into his hands Tagus Caliorbia and Orchilachia seated upon the Frontiers of Tauââa Cherchonesus stood out the destiny of Miletopolis and having resisted to the last extreamity were taken by force like it and received almost the like favourable usage I passe lightly over these things to shorten the Relation of matters not much important that I may come to the conclusion of my Princes loves I will tell you therefore that while we lay before Orchilachia my Prince saw two or three of his Guard come into his Tent who presented a man unto him Oroondates having asked them why they brought him before him Sir answered they he is newly come out of the Town and being fallen into the hands of our men he prayed them to bring him unto you to whom he would tell something of great consequence we neglected not to do so and though he speaks the Scythian Tongue so ill that we had much adoe to understand him and made us easily see that he is not of this Country we believ'd yet that your knowledge in Forain Languages would assist you to draw that benefit which you may hope for from his Intelligence Oroondates who while they were saying thus had considered the Stranger observed features in his face that were not unknown to him and having call'd me to require help from my memory the man after he had saluted him upon his knee said to him in the Persian Tongue I see you have forgot me Sir but if you please to call to minde those persons I have serv'd you will remember that I have had the honour to do you some service also These words and the tone of his voice put us out of doubt and made us know him presently to be the Eunuch Tyreus that faithful servant to the Princesses of Persia who had been taken with them by Alexander and had never left them but to carry the news to Darius of the death of the Queen his wife and who had led us himself to Sysigambis his Tents where he had continued after my Masters fatal adventure This knowledge of him infinitely surprised my Prince who rising up from his Chair embraced the Eunuch with great kindness and with tears which he could not refrain at the remembrance which his sight awakened in him O Tyreus said he is it possible that I see you and that you have been able to forsake the Ladies you serv'd to come into Scythia Sir replyed the Eunuch if my being in this Countrey has surprised you the caus of it will surprise you a great deal more I 'le tell it you when you please to give me the liberty and will give you a faithful account of the charge that has been trusted to me The Prince startled at this Discourse and was assaulted with so many several inward motions that the changes of his countenance witnessed the disturbance of his minde his mouth was open twice or thrice to speak But in the end he came to himself and considered that without question the Eunuch had things to tell him which required not so many witnesses That was it that made him resolve to stay some few howres that he might discourse with him and hear what he had to say at better liberty with this thought Well Tyreus said he we will talk together anon at night with more leisure and conveniency in the mean time I will assure you that what businesse soever brings you hither you are very welcome into a place where I have some power and where I will endeavour to requite part of the courtesies I receiv'd from you in your Country After these words he afforded me the liberty to embrace him and to renew the acquaintance which we had made together in Persia I took care to give him accommodation to rest himself to welcome him with all the good intertainment I could give him and to divert him the remainder of the day while my Master thought of the affairs belonging to the Siege as much as his new impatience would permit him When it was night and that my Prince after supper had gotten free from the Commanders and other Officers that had business with him he retired into his Chamber and assoon as he was in bed he sent me to call in Tyreus and causing stools to be set by his bedside he commanded us to sit down and to make every body else go forth We were no sooner left alone but addressing himself to the Eunuch Tyreus said he now we are at liberty or rather I am now ready to receive by your Discourse most sensible renewings of my grief and perhaps some change in my present condition Speak without flattery I pray you to him who can neither have any addition to his sorrows nor hope for any kind of joy The Eunuch being sate down by his command and having bethought himself a little of what he had to say began his Relation on this manner The History of STATIRA THE Discourse I am to make unto you Sir will satisfie you and afflict you both together and I think that
the state of my present condition may permit me I confesse I have great obligations to you and by their greatnesse I strive as much as I can possible to counterballance the evils you have done us but Sir what particular marks soever you give me of your affection which way would you have me to receive the proofs and expressions of your love while you persecute my Father with so much cruelty and that not being satisfied with the usurpation of his dominions you aim so eagerly at his life and refuse him the retreat of a little corner which is all he hath left of so many Countreys he formerly possessed Which way would you have me receive the offers you make me of your liberty so long as I am deprived of mine own and how will you have me believe my self your Queen and your Mistresse so long as I know I am really your prisoner and your Captive Alexander was ashamed at this discourse and with his hand hiding the blush which came into his face Your reproaches Madam said he have much reason hitherto but the cause of them shall quickly cease with the War which if I have made against Darius it has been for Empire and for glory and if I be firm in the prosecution of my Victory it is lesse to have the honour of Conquering him then to have the means of using him generously it is that I may my self restore that to him which I have gloriously taken from him and to make you Mistresse of Asia by the gift you shall receive of it from me rather then by succession When we shall see these effects reply'd the Princesse of your goodnesse and of the affection you professe to me neither Darius will be so ungratefull as not to acknowledge that obligation as he ought nor I so disobedient as not to submit unto the command he shall lay upon me to honour you and to esteem your person both according to the greatnesse of your actions and to the favours you shall do us Though Alexander was not satisfied with this answer he feigned neverthelesse to be so and from that time forward he laboured to win her love by all the actions which he thought might be pleasing to her After we had staid a month at Babylon wee were to remove from thence to Susa Abulites the Governor of that Town did as Mazeus had done and coming to meet Alexander upon the bank of the River Hydaspes delivered it up into his hands with infinite store of spoyle and fifty thousand talents That Town put an end to the Princesses voyages and Alexander finding by Statira's countenance and discourse how much she was troubled to run after all his expeditions and to endure the incommodities of his Army gave them leave to recide in that City from whence they have never stirr'd since that time having left the charge of them to Archelaus Xenophilus and Callicrates with three thousand selected Macedonians for their Guard and for the Garrison of the Town Before his departure he went to take his leave of them and talking with Statira while Hephestion who was in love with Parisatis and favoured by the King in his affection was entertaining her Madam said he I am forced to leave you but though I go from hence my thoughts shall not be separated from you perhaps I shall come back one day to lay all my Victories at your feet and I pray the Gods to grant that I may be able to conquer your minde as they make me able to conquer Kingdoms and that I may find you as much soften'd at my return as I leave you obdurate at my departure The Princesse reply'd You shall always finde me most ready to acknowledge both your worth and the favours you do me and I will never rule my actions otherwise then by the will of my Parents and the usage they shall receive from you If the Princesse had followed her own inclinations she would have repulsed him with lesse obliging terms but being extreamly discreet she would not exasperate a young Victorious Prince by her disdains nor give him occasion by her deportment to cast off that respect which he had ever shewed her He departed on this manner from Susa and left them by his absence in a very great tranquility it lasted for some time without interruption but within a while after the Queen was earnestly sollicited by Madates her Nephew and Governor of the Province of the Vxians who having incensed Alexander by his resistance and not being able to obtain pardon implored her credit with him from a Town where he was besieged and reduced to extremity Sysigambis suffered her self to be urged a great while before she could finde in her heart to make any request to Alexander but in the end being forced to it by the importunities of Madates who had stirr'd up that displeasure only by his fidelity she wrote to him in his favour and besought him to grant her only the life of her Nephew I was dispatch'd to the King with her Letter and I obtain'd not only Madates his safety but also his re-establishment in all his Commands and the conservation of the Priviledges of his people with the same immunities and advantages they enjoyed under Darius He sent back some of his servants with me who brought a Letter to the Queen and another to the Princesse that to the Queen contained only Civilities and the other to the Princesse was as near as I can remember in these words ALEXANDER to the Princesse STATIRA I Give Madates his life to the Queen who ask'd it of me and I give the whole Province to my Princesse who ask'd me nothing I would it pleas'd the Gods that she were as easie to be entreated and that she would lose all her rigor to me as quickly as the remembrance of her hath dissipated all my anger against those that have relation to her It is only of you fair Statira that I implore the same mercy which these vanquish'd people have obtained since it is for you alone that I suffer much sharper pains then those which they apprehended use me but as I use them and do not dishonour your Conquest by shewing cruelty in his destruction who hath rendred himself without any resistance I hope for this effect from your generosity and only from your goodnesse for the safety of ALEXANDER The Princesse Parisatis received one also from Hephestion but I having no interest in it never desired to learn what it was The Princesse Statira by the Queens advice answered Alexander to this purpose The Princess STATIRA to King ALEXANDER BOth in the safety of Madates and in all your actions we receive proofs of your vertue I shall always have a most justly deserved value of it and for the favour our friends have received from you desires full of acknowledgement and esteem this is all that a Captive can do for her Lord and all that Great Alexander can expect from the unfortunate STATIRA She received
to judge by her silence of the confusion of her soul These two Princesses astonished at that reception drew near unto her bed and Cleone causing all the rest that were in the Chamber to go out gave them liberty to ask her the cause of her affliction in a time when she seemed to have buried all the remainders of her discontent and the Queen opportunity to discover the ground of her sorrow to them and so she did but with so many sighs and tears that those two Ladies who were well acquainted with all the particulars of her life and who had ever been much concern'd in all the accidents of it by that she came to the end of her relation appeared in a condition little different from hers and accompanied her with a deluge of tears which her present grief and the remembrance of your misfortune made to gush abundantly out of their fair eyes Well now pursued the poor Queen when she had told them the treachery of Roxana to what doe you condemn this credulous or rather this faithless this ungrateful Woman and by what expiation do you believe she may repair a fault of the nature of hers Who can restore her that dear Oroondates which she has lost by her inconstancy Or rather though she should recover him who can give her the power to love him without a crime whom she hated without a cause and who had lov'd her without any reservation Poor Prince how well thy fidelity has been requited And what an happy conclusion of so brave a passion as thine was this last usage of this unthankful woman which made thee fly from her and from a life that was much less dear to thee then she How fortunatly hast thou imployed those years which thou hast spent in serving and loving her more then thy self And how justly the losse of thy youth of thy Estates of thy Kindred of thy repose of thy blood and peradventure of thy life hath been recompensed She made many such like complaints nor could the consolation of those dear friends diminish any thing of her affliction and indeed they appeared so deeply touch'd with it themselvs that they were but little able to comfort her by their Discours After she had a long time accused her self of her fault she gave way to another thought and justifying her self to you as if you had been there But dear Oroondates continued she if at least my present condition may permit me without offence to speak to you still by that name how guilty soever I am yet am I not without some excuse and as you were most sharply stung by your knowledge of my change so was it very hard for me to be insensible of so many appearances of yours and though I lov'd you I was a vveak simple vvoman and too innocent to dive into a treachery so maliciously contrived and so cunningly managed I have lost you but believe rather that I have lost my self and if I have caus'd some discontent to you I have made my self a hell of torments for the remainder of my miserable life I have given my self unto another thinking that you no longer desired to have me but though the present I have made to him of an unhappy creature give him the entire possession both of my body and of my minde he shall not enjoy them long and my duty which will not suffer me to give Oroondates that which ought only to belong to Alexander permits me to give that unto my grave which it forbids me to take from Alexander and which my inclination forbids me to refuse Oroondates After these she spoke many other such like words and would not have put an end to her lamentations if the King advertised of her being ill had not entred into her Chamber He came close to her bedside and expressing his affliction by the disquietness into which that sudden alteration of her health had put him he made her presently repent all the kind motions she had had to you and fortified her strongly in the resolution she had taken to keep her affections entire for so worthy a husband of whom she was so perfectly beloved She concealed the cause of her indisposition from him as vvell as possibly she could and the King having kiss'd her very ardently Madam said he if I could deserv to have my life and my health dear to you I would conjure you to preserve both of them in your own since it is impossible you should feel any sicknesse but that I shall be at least as sensible of it as your self The honor you do me Sir replyed the Queen in cherishing my life shall make me endeavor to preserve it for you and your consideration shall always make it dearer to me then mine own The King answered her with those kindnesses that were permitted him but they were such as had little conformity with the humor in which the Princess vvas at that time and he vvould perchance have staid a great vvhile vvith her if her sister Parisatis vvho easily judg'd in vvhat a constraint she vvas in the presence of a great many vvho had accompanied him had not desired her husband Hephestion to get him away That Favorit whose power vvith the King is absolute put him in mind how incommodious so long a visit might be unto the Queen which consideration instantly moved him to retire Assoon as ever he vvas gone Poor Oroondates cryed the Queen I now am able to do nothing for thee content thy self vvith the tears I give thee and contest no longer for my heart against the lawful possessor of it the Gods vvho vvill not suffer me to doe any thing but vveep for thee have given me intirely to him and if thou hast lov'd me perfectly thou oughtest never to wish that I for thy sake should abate any of that vertue that obliged thee to love me She held her peace because Sysigambis came in to vvhom out of respect she said nothing at that time of vvhat had happen'd to her and having pass'd the rest of the day in the company of those dear friends she spent the night in disquiets and conflicts which it is impossible for me to represent Love and duty fought a long time in her breast but in the end duty got the mastery and made her resolve rather to suffer death then any blemish in so pure and so unspotted a life Nevertheless she thought she vvas obliged to justifie her self some vvay to you and since your innocence vvas known to her she purposed likewise to give you assurance of hers and to take away that impression you might have of an infidelity vvhich vvere not pardonable after so great obligations as hers to you Within a vvhile after the news came to Susa of Zopirio's defeat and it vvas assured at Court that the Prince of Scythia had kill'd him vvith his own hand and that he in person commanded the Army of the King his Father Alexander vvas troubled for the loss of Zopirio
not very hot had half benummed us and our Cloaths yet full of it were extraordinary heavy True it is that they disburthen'd themselves of a good part of it by the way and we marked our track sufficiently to discover whither we were gone if any body had had a minde to follow us but they vvere all so concern'd in the Kings condition that I believe their care of him took them up wholly for the present we struck out of the way and rode crosse the Fields and within an howre discovering certain Cottages far from the great Rode my Prince thought good wee should go thither to dry our selves and passe the rest of the day When we had alighted the Master of the house at my intreaty made us a great fire and fitting a couple of such beds as his poverty allowed him we went into them leaving the care of our horses and of drying our cloaths unto Toxaris While wee staid there I could not retain my thoughts nor forbear extolling my Princes generosity to his face expressing how much I had been troubled to see him oppose that happinesse himself which the Gods had visibly sent him But his modesty first cut off the course of those praises I was running on withall and then the greatnesse of his courage quite stopt my mouth Araxes said he to me let us not pretend by base ways to that which is not due to such as are capable of base inclinations if the Gods will not by other means restore what they have taken from me let us resolve rather to bear the losse then recover it with so much shame and meanness of spirit Alexander has no fortune but what he has very well deserv'd and if the Gods who have destined to him the Empire of the whole Earth have not exempted from it what I pretended to let us not oppose their wils or at least let us oppose them with more glory and by the same ways which gain'd him that we would dispute for But Sir replyed I though you should not have observ'd in what manner Heaven laboured so visibly to your advantage what shame had you received by suffering what Meleager Perdiccas and divers others suffered without casting themselves into the danger whereinto you precipitated your self and what caus would Alexander have had to complain if his mortal enemy had not given him that succour which he found not among his chiefest friends I should have been extreamly ashamed answered Orâondates if by my fault I had let perish the greatest of all men living by whom I am injured only through my own misfortune and by whom I have been obliged only through his generosity besides one could not without infamy have avoided the danger there was in helping him nor without inhumanity could I have refused my Princesses tears the safety of a husband whom she loves and whom she ought to love Though Alexander had had no cause to complain of me I should have had a great deal to complain of my self and being my own satisfaction is dearer to me then his the reproach I might have us'â unto my self for having fail'd to doe a noble action either through fear of danger or consideration of interest would have been much more sensible to me then that I could have receiv'd from him of whom I neither pretend to thanks nor recompences With this and other such Discourse we spent the time till our Cloaths were dry and when the night was near we got our selves ready and taking horse again not long after Sun-set we made our Host bring us into the great High-way and as it grew late rode straight to Susa where we arriv'd within little more then an howre The Gates of the Town did not use to be shut and in spite of the darkness we found our lodging where we alighted Assoon as my Prince was in his Chamber the impatience of seeing his Princess set him upon the rack more then ever and being resolv'd to execute what he had forethought he call'd Tyreus to make use of him in that occasion His so long abode with Darius had gotten him a great number of friends who at that time held the same place near Alexander which they had enjoyed during the life of the deceased King He was most assured of Prince Oxiartes his friendship that of Artabasus was not unknown to him neither did he doubt of Mazeus Oxidates Bagoas and many others to whom he believ'd he might with safety commit his person and the secrecy of his affairs Among the Ladies also hee knew divers to whom he would have made no difficulty to trust himself the Princess Parisatis and even Queen Sysigambis had expressed too much affection to leave him any suspition of their good wils Apamia and Arsinoe then wives to Ptolomeus and Eumenes the daughters of King Occhus and the daughters of Mentor had appeared too affectionate to his interests to make him fear any alteration in them But amongst all these he thought the fair and vertuous Barsina was she in whom hee might have the greatest confidence and from whom he might hope for the best assistance and when he call'd to minde the modest friendship whereof she had given him so many proofs and the report Tyreus had made him of her perseverance in taking his part in the deepest of his disgrace he judg'd he ought not to discover himself to any other and that he ought to give over the care of the remainder of his life to her alone Having taken this resolution he would not defer the executing of it and for that purpose going out of our lodging accompanied only by Tyreus and my self he went unto Barsina's being guided by Tyreus who knew the streets and turnings of Susa very perfectly and who had been often sent by the Queen his Mistress unto her house Tyreus having made himself known to the Porter brought us in and by the help of the Candles that were upon the stairs conducted us into a privat Hall Barsina having supp'd was retired into her Chamber where by good fortune she was at that time without other company save one of her waiting women Tyreus who knew the house and was known by every body in it went up to her without difficulty but no sooner did Barsina see him when surprised at his arrival she ran to him to enquire after the success of his Voiage After she had welcomed him and received him very civilly O Tyreus said she speaking reasonable softly what news doe you bring us None bad Madam answered he but I have left two men below in the Hall who will tell you more certainly what I bring you if please to admit them to speak to you in privat Barsina without informing her self any farther either of their names or condition entred into her Closet and once again bidding Tyreus welcome she prayed him to fetch those persons from vvhom she expected very pleasing news Tyreus came back to us and telling my Prince how Barsina had receiv'd him led us
able now to do nothing for you what do you require of me you know my want of power my reputation I am sure is dear to you and that vertue which made you yesterday run into the jawes of death to rescue him from thence who has sent you thither puts me in safety from all those thoughts that might offend it By what means then can I preserve unto my Lord that which can be no bodies but his and satisfie part of those deep ingagements you have laid upon me O Gods continued she lifting up her hands and eyes to heaven Gods who have powred down all your cruelties upon the Royal house of Persia why did you not bury me in the ruins of it and why aim'd you not all those darts of vengeance at me alone which were the distruction of poor Darius and which rob'd us of our dear Artaxerxes Her tears which overflowed most violently would not suffer her to go on and I must confess to you Sir that Barsina Cleone Tyreus and I kept her such faithfull company in that imployment that we were incapable of giving her any consolation My poor Prince who had not stirr'd off from his knees and who still embraced hers with raptures of affection which cannot be expressed nor scarce imagined received some comfort indeed by finding that her love was not extinguished but he was so sensible of the grief in which he saw her overwhelmed that his own thereby was unspeakably redoubled He nevertheless drew some relief from his great courage and using infinite violence upon himself to settle his passion so far that he might be able to speak Cease Madam said he to give me a double death my grief is strong enough alone to send me to my grave without the help of yours nor ought you to be longer in pain which way to satisfie me since the tears you shed for this miserable man have but too fully requited all he ever did for you weep no longer for a misfortune in which your charity only makes you be concern'd I alone ought to bewail it since it belongs to me alone the Gods could not more equally match the most perfect of all women then with the greatest of all men and you ought not to murmur for what they have done against me since for you they have done all that in reason you could wish Possesse without disquiet and without sadness the Empire they have restored you enjoy the tranquility wherein they have re-established you and never disturb it with the remembrance of this unhappy wretch whom you have justly abandoned and who will quickly abandon himself to the last and most assured of all remedies These words were so sharp unto the Queen that it was impossible for her to suffer them longer without interruption Cruel Oroondates said she looking sidewise upon him you should rather keep your self to the justice of your cause then make your self faulty by reproaching me with so much inhumanity reproach me with your services if you will reproach me with the falsenesse of my oaths and the violation of my faith which I had given you and I will confesse all without reply for though I be innocent in my intention I am too guilty in the effects ever to pretend to justifie my self but reproach me no more with a basenesse which I never was capable of I have shun'd Empire too much ever to give occasion to have it believ'd that I found any sweetnesse in it and the repugnance I have shewed against that I now enjoy has given cause enough to have it thought I established not my happinesse in that I am indeed more happie then I ought to have hoped in the possession and in the love of a Prince worthy of a better fortune but I never found any felicity in that wherein you establish it for me and 't is only the consideration of my duty that has made me taste any sweetnesse where my inclination made me to feel a bitternesse you are not therefore unfortunate alone neither shall you run to death alone if all such as are so must run thither I do not love that Empire and that tranquility you reproach me with so well but that I 'll keep you faithfull company and if it be thereby that you desire proofs of my affection that without doubt will be more easie to me and more lawfully permitted then the least of those I now could give you Those you have received too day though weak and fruitlesse are yet truly to be blamed and I can no longer without fault dispence with my self to take those liberties which are now forbidden me but I have given them for this once to the memory of what you have heretofore done for me to the reparation of a crime which I cannot better repair to the pains you have taken in coming to me again after the losse of your hopes to the safety of a husband whom you so generously restored me and in short to the remainder of a passion which I was not Mistresse of All these considerations render my first slips excusable and you from henceforth will have so much regard of me as not to desire to make her more criminal whom you have lov'd so perfectly Oroondates knowing the aim of her discourse suffered her not to continue it and after he was risen up crossing his arms upon his brest and retiring a step or two Yes Madam said he you have done too much for me and you have reason to repent the testimonies I have received to day of your friendship I have merited them so little that you ought to blush for having granted them and this miserable man who is of so small value and has done you such poor services could not justly hope for such favours from the greatest Queen in the world The Queen drawing a sigh from the bottom of her heart reply'd You are too blame Oroondatrs to put me yet again in minde of the merit of your person and services you know that I am ignorant of neither and I have already confessed to you that the gift of my heart of my life and of my very soul could not acquit me of any part of what I owe you and shall owe you to my grave how much soever I strive to satisfie you No Oroondates I am not ignorant of it nor do I disavow it the Gods also are my witnesses that if I were at my own disposing I would give my self entirely to you and that if they had left me a thousand lives I would willingly lose them all to requite part of my obligations but what can I do more to escape ingratitude and what can you pretend to or what can you hope for from me beyond that confession and that desire Do you not know the strict rules of my dutie and do you not know that I am still the same Statira in whom you heretofore have lov'd some little vertue My Prince who hearken'd to her attentively and who while she spoke seem'd
to that purpose But at the first overtures she made to him concerning it he fell into such a passion and washed her feet with so many tears that she left all hope of making him resolve easily upon it but not the designe of resolving her self upon what she believ'd she ought to do I think indeed it was not without strange conflicts of minde that this remembrance of her dutie carried it from her affection and we found by the changes of her countenance and by the sadnesse which for many days preceded her declaration that she brought not her self to it without exceeding violence About that time she received Letters from the King who having destroyed the Cosseans was gone toward Babylon and entreated her to come thither to him assoon as she could possibly This desire of his which she received as a most absolute command perplexed her minde with different thoughts and gave my Prince matter of contriving new expedients to continue the life he led Barsina who meant to accompanie the Queen whethersoever she went offered him the same assistance at Babylon he received from her at Susa but my Master knowing how great an inconvenience it was to her would not abuse her goodness toward him he nevertheless was resolved to make the same voyage and to seek out some other inventions to continue his life which thenceforth seem'd only to subsist by the sight of his Princesse and by those remainders of affection which she yet testified unto him But in the interim this vertuous Queen was a little more reserv'd then ordinary in her carriage to him and no longer afforded him her sight and conversation without marks of a very deep sadness and actions which visibly expressed with how great constraint she contributed what she believ'd she ought not to his repose My Prince could not perceive it without such grief as cannot be represented and drawing an evil omen from her silence which of late time was grown usual to him he ask'd her the cause of that alteration but he ask'd it with so much fear and so little assurance as made her sufficiently know that he was more afraid then desirous to learn it The Queen suffered her self to be urged for some days but when that of her departure toward Babylon was come after she had arm'd her self with a strong resolution she went unto Barsina's my Prince who expected her there with impatience having receiv'd her with his ordinary joy threw himself down before her and endeavoured by all the words his passion could suggest to drive away that melancholy humour in which of late she had seem'd buried after she had been long pressed to it the Queen lifting up her eys which were fixed upon the ground and casting them upon my Masters strove all she could to retain her tears and having studdied a while for tearms to express her self she spoke to him on this manner I take the Gods to witness Prince Oroondates that I have lov'd you hitherto with the most pure and perfect affection a soul is able to conceive that I do still love you more then my self and that I will love you all my life as the services you have done us the affection you have testified to me and my own inclination oblige me If I speak not truth ô Oroondates I wish the Sun whom we worship may never shine upon me more and that great Orosmades may bury me in destruction with those of my Family that are gon before me After this protestation which I conjure you to believe I will also protest to you with the same truth that it is not without extream violences and grief of heart which I am not able to expresse that I declare my intentions to you and that I most earnestly beseech you by all the love which yet you bear me not to impute to inconstancy of minde or want of affection what I do that I may not be the most lost of all women living and the most unworthy of your good opinion and of that greatnesse to which the Gods have raised me With this caution I will declare unto you that if the heavens had made me to be born for you my desires were most readily disposed to it I would have despised the hope of all the Empires of the world and all the felicities which the most happie creatures yet ever knew to have that of being yours but since my cruel destiny hath opposed it and that contrary to all appearance and to my first intentions it hath given me to another you ought not to think it strange if I withdraw that from you which you can no longer lawfully keep and which I can no longer afford you without the loss of my reputation the loss of a quiet conscience and the loss of my self I confess I owe you much but I have not now the ability to pay you and be your reproaches whatever they can it is fit I should represent unto you that the husband whom the Gods have given me is not so little considerable but that he deserves all my affections what rights soever your past services and my inclinations have given you over my life you have now no longer any to dispute them with him nor I still to grant you what can be no bodies but his Give me leave therefore Sir to conjure you with these tears which it is impossible for me longer to refrain to forbear the courses which we cannot continue any more without our ruine and not to think any more of this unhappie woman who is no longer worth your cares nor in a condition to requite them or if you wil yet preserve any remembrance of her that you would carry it far from hence and no longer waken by your presence those flames which dutie ought already to have extinguished and which death shall extinguish for it if it cannot draw that power from your absence besides the consideration of what I ought to do the estate you are in the pains you take and the hazards to which you expose your self for some shadow of favour so light and empty that it merits not the least of your endeavours do really strike me with compassion of you you are destin'd to beter imployments and worthy of a better fortune and the Gods would punish it upon me if I should longer retain in so pittiful a condition the most accomplish'd person they ever created Go then Sir carrie to some other place those admirable qualities which had gained you this unfortunate Princesse and which yet will gain you one more lovely and more happie and leave her to the conduct of her wretched destinie who can no longer pretend lawfully to you and from whom you can no longer pretend any thing I make you this request by all that you acknowledge to be most sacred and conjure you by all the friendship you heretofore have promised me and by all the Empire you have given me over your will to leave this miserable creature for ever or at
with whom the Oracle had been confusedly pronounced to him This Stranger who had dearly preserv'd the Idea of Lysimachus knew him also as easily and having accosted him very civilly they embraced each other with much affection and shewed as much joy for that unexpected meeting as the remembrance of their misfortunes would suffer them They renewed their kindnesses many times with as great demonstrations of friendship as if theirs had been established many years so strong are the charms of vertue to make it self be loved and so easily do those persons that bear its marks discern one another and separate themselves from the common by that powerful character it hath imprinted on them Lysimachus after some words of civility spoke thus unto the Stranger I know not Sir what fortune detains you still in these parts which I thought you had forsaken but whatsoever it be 't is a great advantage to me since I thereby reap a happinesse which I hoped not for and which I receive as a most especial favour from the Heavens The Stranger obliged by these civilities replyed If at our first encounter the company of a man whose misfortunes have made him of a very unpleasing humour had been to be endured I would not have left you and whatsoever necessity of affairs had called me other where I would have deferred the execution of them rather then have parted from so vertuous person This good opinion you expresse answered Lysimachus is so glorious to me that if you have it really I esteem my self exceeding happy and exceeding well recompenced for the strong passion I have to honour you both through my knowledge of your worth and through a most powerful inclination After these passages and many others of like nature the Stranger willing to give Lysimachus an account of his abode in that Countrey The cause said hee of my stay upon the banks of this River is without doubt the same that retains you also and the command we received together from the Gods to wait their pleasure upon the banks of Euphrates keeps me still here in some hope that their goodnesse to me is not absolutely extinguished May the same Gods replyed Lysimachus whom you serve so religiously and whose part you took so zealously at our last meeting make your fortune equall to your vertue and I protest to you by those Powers themselves my heart will then be as truly touch'd with a passion whereof I no longer thought it capable as it could be by the recovery of those happinesses I have lost The Stranger highly obliged by the freedome of this Discourse casting his arm about Lysimachus his neck made answer You know mee so little that I cannot but blame your goodnesse which makes you so easily grant your friendship to one that has not deserved it and who could not justly hope for it but by the knowledge which you cannot yet have of that which he really bears to you 'T is true said Lysimachus I am yet ignorant of your name and birth but your vertue discovers it self by such visible marks and the Gods have accompanied it with so many graces of nature that I cannot be accused of lightnesse for having given my self entirely to you without requiring a more particular knowledge of what you are not but that the interest I now take in you makes me long infinitly to learn a name which must needs be very famous but I will always regulate my desires according to the will of those that are so considerable to me as your self and I will never exact proofs of friendship from my friends which may either be troublesome or prejudicial to them The Stranger coming out of a little Study in which this Discourse had buried him lifted up his head and looking upon Lysimachus Your satisfaction said he shall ever be so dear to me that I can receive no trouble by being made acquainted with your desires and though indeed since I came into this Countrey I never discovered my self to any body I shall make no difficulty for your sake to break a resolution I had taken only for such as are lesse considerable to me then your self I was born in one of the Provinces which heretofore were subject to Darius of parents very noble but very unfortunate force and invasion having made them lose the Crowns their Ancestors had worn my name hath gone so little out of those Countries where I have pass'd my days that I believe it hath not yet reach'd your ears and I know I shall learn you nothing of my life when I shall tell you I am call'd Arsaces The Stranger would have gone on when Lysimachus interrupting him at the name of Arsaces What said he stepping back a little and looking intentively upon him Are you that valiant Arsaces whose name resounded so loudly through all Europe who defeated Arimbas with his Forces and restored peace to Scythia by so many signal victories The Stranger shewing some astonishment at this discourse answered Lysimachus very modestly I did not believe that actions of so small moment as mine are had cross'd the Countries which separate us from those where they were done but since notwithstanding the sleightnesse of them they have come unto your hearing I will confesse to you I am that same Arsaces who had the honour to command the King of Scythia's Army when Arimbas entred upon his Territories and when the justice of his cause gave us the victory over him Lysimachus at this Discourse embracing him with great affection I easily guessed said he that some illustrious person was hid under so handsome an outside and what we have heard of your marvellous actions has such conformity with those marks of greatnesse which shine visibly in you that the sight of you strongly perswades me to believe all that hath been told me concerning them Arsaces was going to reply to these words with a like civility when he was hindred by a noise which made them turn their heads and casting their eyes ãâã that side where they had heard it they saw a Cavalier of a more then ãâ¦ã ârmed at all points who came riding toward them full speed How ãâ¦ã hast seemed to be by the diligence he used and by the swiftnesse of his horse he made a stop when he came near them and addressing himself to Arsaces his Squire asked him the way to Babylon and the Squire having shewed it him he spurr'd on at the same rate as before and was a great way from them in a moment The Beaver of his Helmet was up and Lysimachus having had time to observe his face saw that he was a man of very good presence But Arsaces had scarce cast his eye upon him when knowing him by the strong Idea which was ingraven in his heart he changed colour twice or thrice in an instant and by a general trembling shewed the greatness of his astonishment and surprise but getting suddenly out of it by reason of the necessity that forced him to shake
wit and gracefulnesse he yeilded to none among all the Macedonians he had a great dexterity in managing the Kings will and used his fortune with him so well that it was never shaken His stature being taller and his garb more Majestick then Alexanders Sysigambis at first took him to be the King and casting her self at his feet paid him what she believ'd was due from a Captive to her Conqueror and her Master but Hephestion stepping back vvith a great deal of modesty shewed her the King and by his action made her perceive her mistake Sysigambis thought she had committed a very great error and to obtain the Kings pardon for it kneeled down again vvith her daughters beseeching him to excuse the ignorance of a vvoman vvho had never had the happinesse to see him Alexander raising her up vvith much respect you were not at all deceived Madam said he for hee indeed is my second self After that he comforted her vvith the kindest vvords civility and generosity could furnish him withal and by assurances of the same usage she could receive from Darius Their grief vvas something abated by that hope and the King vvho vvould not make his first visit too long confirm'd his promises again and vvent out of their Tent leaving them as well satisfied as they could be in their misfortune He kept his word exactly vvhich he had given them and from that very day gave order to settle their houshold again according to the greatnesse of their quality to furnish them with those Officers they vvanted and vvith guards for their persons restoring them all that splendor which their Captivity seem'd to have taken away In this interim my condition vvas very much changed and that second sight of Parisatis had so vveakned my heart that it vvas no longer able to defend it self nor to avoid those mortal vvounds vvhich it hath so dearly conserved and vvhereof it neither can nor vvill be cured but by the end of my life alone Sorrow appeared so charming in the countenance of that fair prostrate Lady and her eyes though full of vvater threw such fiery piercing darts at me that being quite surcharged vvith love and compassion I vvent forth vvith the King in such a perplexity that I had much adoe to know vvhere I vvas When I vvas gotten into my Tent her Idea came yet more strongly into my remembrance and notwithstanding all the attempts I made to blot it out my passion being vvhetted by that difficulty assaulted me vvith greater violence and seem'd to inflame it self vvith anger at the resistance I made against an affection that vvas so glorious to me Doest thou defend thy self so obstinately said Love against the beauty of Parisatis and must the most accomplished of all creatures have so much adoe to introduce her self into thy heart Doest thou think thou canst owe thy liberty for which thou strugglest so undecently to a more fair or more illustrious person Or doest thou believe thou shouldst doe a mean action unworthy of thy courage if thou shouldst deliver up thy arms to the greatest and most perfect Princesse in the world Thus Love argued to compleat his Victory but Reason replied thus in my defence That which thou alledgest O Love vvere powerful enough to procure thy entrance into a soul less capable of thy impressions but those same advantages which make Parisatis worthy to be adored do likewise settle a despair in us vvhich is the cause vvhy vve oppose thy birth Fortune has not enriched me vvith Crowns which he ought necessarily to wear who shall dare to declare his affections to the daughter of the greatest King upon Earth neither has nature endowed me vvith qualities to vvin the love of the most accomplished of all creatures True it is continued I taking part vvith my Reason that it vvould be a strange presumption to raise my thoughts to her who justly might disdain even Alexander himself as victorious as he is and who with truth believes she may boast to have no equal in the world unlesse her sister may dispute that advantage with her but though the Gods had raised me to as high a pitch of greatnesse as that of Darius it is not probable his daughters should be reserv'd for his most mortall enemyes By these considerations I strove to hinder Love from entring but my arguments were too weake and notwithstanding all my endeavours to keep it out either by the remembrance of Parisatis's birth or by the thought of that hatred which it was likely the house of Darius bore to all Alexanders party I did but vainly oppose its forces and the power of my destiny In short I began to love but to love with so much violence that no affection settled with length of time did ever torment a soul with more vehemence then mine expressed even in its very birth Alas when these first thoughts return into my mind and that I reflect upon the beginnings of my Love I finde how much reason I had indeed to resist it and how great an obligation I had to my good Genius which to withdraw me from that passion so fatal to my repose did charitably represent unto me all those evils which I since have felt In the mean time I lov'd as I have already told you but I loved with so much silence and discretion and with such power over my tongue and actions that it was hard for the most interessed persons to finde any other alteration in me then that of my countenance And truly my affection settled it self with so much respect that for a long time I considered Parisatis as a Divinity to whom I ought to pay my vows no otherwise then as adorations and sacrifices having form'd so high an Idea unto my self that I believ'd the whole Earth was infinitly below her I had the happiness to see her oftentimes with the Queens and the Princesse her sister and the acquaintance I had made with them the day they were taken added to many petty services which in their misfortune I did them with much diligence and affection gave me a freer accesse to them then all the other Princes of Alexanders Court. It is true that my quality afforded me some advantage above many of them and though my youth exempted me from many Offices which their age was more capable of then mine yet was I considered in the Court as one of the nearest to the Crown and among those Illustrious Princesses as he who of all the Princes was most submissive to them and who most ardently sought the occasions to lessen their misfortune by all manner of service and good offices the condition they were in presented opportunities every day either in their own persons or some belonging to them and I laid hoid of them with so much joy that in the end I obliged them all to some particular good will toward me I think Hephestions love took birth assoon as mine but though the Kings favour gave him great advantages he abused
which never forsook me I was no longer capable of that resolution Truly the condition I was in was the most lamentable one that ever vvas and had it not been for some glimpse of hope which my Princesses care made me to conceive my grief alone would vvithout doubt have executed vvhat my hands durst not undertake for fear of disobeying her I was waited on vvell enough but with an eternalsilence and what news soever I enquired of my Keepers concerning Parisatis Statira Hephestion and Alexander I could never hear any thing at all This persisting to conceal from me what passed at Court made me suspect the truth of my misfortunes and I believed it was not without an express order they so obstinatly refused what I so earnestly demanded J wondred why the King delayed my death so long and sometimes J said unto my Keepers What hinders the King from throwing the last darts of his cruelty at me and vvhy does he not free himself from fear by freeing Hephestion from his enemy Jf the life of that Favourite be dear to him vvhy does he not provide for his safety and why does he not dispatch that man out of the world who will never suffer him to continue in it if he be once at liberty Js it not pursued J because he destines mee to deaths far more sensible then that J have escaped and that he will not have me die till J have felt my utmost miseries and with mine own eyes beheld happy Hephestion in the arms of Parisatis This thought transported me so exceedingly that J was sometimes whole howres besides my self nor could I fix my minde upon lesse fatal remembrances O Parisatis cryed I then what favour doe you believe you do me in labouring for my safety and for my liberty I have lost one of them for you and will not have the other without you Demand rather my death of the King or rather demand it of your self who are the onely Mistress of it intercede for me to that cruel Parisatis who has forbidden me to die and give not my rival the price of a safety which I abhor without you and which I cannot receive if I lose you In such like Discourses and in such like thoughts I pass'd full twenty days without hearing any news of Parisatis Ptolomeus or any of my friends But I detain you too long upon a tedious subject I must shorten the recital of it since these particulars are not important I wondred at the length of my imprisonment or rather at that of my life and I could not devise what J ought to expect from that mystery when one day being in my ordinary entertainment J saw my Chamber door open I vouchsafed not to lift up my head to see who came in when an extraordinary lustre striking my eyes made me look up to consider the persons that came to visit me I am not able to tell you my astonishment when J knew them to be the Princess Statira the Princess Parisatis her sister Apamia Arsinoe Cleone and Ptolomeus and Eumenes with them and many other Ladies that attended them This object interrupted my melancholy thoughts and made me start up from my seat to meet and receive them according to the greatness of their quality and of the honour they did me I cast my self instantly at their feet but those great Princesses intreated me to rise and after they were sate down by the care Ptolomeus took to pay those civilities J was obliged to in my Chamber the Princess Parisatis when shee had bethought her self a while what she had to say spoke to me in these tearms If this visit have surprised you Lysimachus the words J have to say will surprise you more so that were J not assured by too many trials that Lysimachus hath perfectly lov'd me and were not my conscience clear from all the reproaches he can use I should never have ventured to make a necessary Declaration and to ask him much greater and much more difficult proofs of his friendship then all those he has already showed me In short Lysimachus I come to give you the last marks of my affection and to receive the last testimonies of yours But before J declare what J have done for you and what I desire of you be pleas'd that by the remainder of that Empire you have given me over you J require some assurance and engage you to grant what J hope for from you of what nature soever it be The beginning of this Discours caused a strange perplexity in my mind and made me guesse part of my misfortunes But while I waited trembling for the continuation of it I saw the Princess had made stop to hearken to my answer I cast my self at her feet a second time and lifting up my hands and eyes J protest to you Madam said J by the respect we owe to the Divinities that hear us and by that J owe unto your self which is much more considerable to me that there is but one onely thing wherein J can disobey you and that if you forbid me not to love you I will execute all your Commands as religiously as you can desire The Princess seem'd satisfied with this Discourse and having commanded me to use she continued hers on this manner After this assurance Lysimachus I will make no more difficulty to open my heart to you to let you know what it would be hard for you to be longer ignorant of and to make those requests to you which I disposed my self to with a great deal of fear and distrust of my forces Know then that the cause which brings us hither is no other then to bring you from hence and with your liberty to restore you the Kings favour and much greater advantages near his person then those you have lost The Queen my Mother hath been carefully industrious in the businesse the Queen my sister refused the King her Husband the consent he desired of her till sheâ had got a certain grant of your safety neither did J yeild that which was required of me till the Kings word had freed me from those fears J was in for you but only Hephestion could obtain what all of us had begg'd in vain and in short 't is to that enemy you are indebted for your life and liberty he imployed his power in it handsomly and with success and touch'd my heart more by the generosity of that action then by the memory of all his services But withal Lysimachus 't is for the price of your safety that Alexander has obtain'd Statira for his wife and that Hephestion has married Parisatis Bee not astonished I beseech you said she seeing me grow pale and almost like to faint in Ptolomeus his arms but call up your great courage in a misfortune for which you were already prepared or at least ought to have been so by the reasons J have often alledged to you True it is Hephestion is my Husband the Gods the Queens command my duty and
to that house of his where J had been dress'd and had lien concealed for some time after my combat with Hephestion the situation of it was very pleasing and suitable to my solitary thinking humour it stood in an exceeding high Wood near the River Hydaspes and was beautified with Fountains Grots Allies Arbours and all manner of such like ornaments I spent some time there in an entertainment conformable to my present condition sometimes I sought out the gloomiest shades in all the wood and lying down at the foot of some Oak J recall'd into my memory the past accidents of my life and making a mixtture of sad and delightful thoughts I was so ingenious in tormenting my self that I drown'd all the pleasures and contentments I had felt in the remembrance of my last misfortunes Other while sitting by the River side and fixing my eyes upon the waters which rolled impetuously away I compared the lasting of the delights I had enjoyed unto the swiftness of their stream and Parisatis's coldness to the coldness of that element That Princess had at least this cause to praise the fidelity of my love that in all my deepest melancholy I never accused her in the smallest thought nor spent one moment in the desire of shaking off the yoak she had imposed upon me for the remainder of my days I never complained of her J never made any wishes against the pleasures she enjoyed with Hephestion nor did I ever repine at the years I had spent in her service with so little fruit I kept my self always without wavering in my first inclinations and never repented that I had given my life to her who had given her self to another The place of my retreat was known to very few and not being willing to be troubled in my solitude by the visits of my friends I hardly discovered it so much as to Ptolomeus Yet could I not hinder many others from learning where I was nor my self from being often visited by those that were most affectionate to mee They attempted in vain to bring me back to Court and instead of working that desire in me by their discourse they made me think of seeking a farther retreat that might be unknown to all men living I was not only visited by my friends but in my solitariness I received also a Letter from Parisatis which she wrote to me as I have learned since by Hephestions consent Although I seem'd unsensible of any happiness yet was I sufficiently touch'd with one of that nature and the inward motions wherwith I read her Letter were very far from that indifferency I showed to all things else The words of it I think were these or to this purpose PARISATIS to LYSIMACHUS THough I have not at all contributed to Lysimachus his exile the whole Court asks me what is become of him and they accuse none but me for his voluntary banishment I envy not the delights you taste in your solitarinesse but I pity your friends whom this retirement hath deprived of your company and particularly Parisatis to whom it shall ever be very dear If this Letter had commanded me expresly to return to Court there is no question but how great an aversion soever I had to it the perfect obedience wherewith I had resign'd my self wholly to the will of Parisatis would have made me forsake my desart but seeing it left me still the liberty of that abode I stirr'd not from thence but spent some moneths in my melancholy thoughts and in reading the works of good Callisthenes which he had bequeathed to me alone as to the dearest of all his scholars and he who had the most perfectly honoured him during his life In that Philosophy J sought for some consolation in my misfortunes and doubtlesse J found a great deale more in it then in the conversation of my freinds the solidity of his reasonings affording me wherewithall to âull my afflictions asleep for some few moments In the mean time this languishing decayed me insensibly and had wonderfully altered me when my fortune receiv'd a strange revolution I heard by Ptolomeus that Hephestion was sicke and that Parisatis tended him in his sicknesse with a care that visibly testified her affection to him I desired Ptolomeus to visite her from me and assure her that if his sicknesse lasted or grew more dangerous I would forsake my retirement to wait upon him and repay part of his civilities J beleiv'd nevertheless he would not be much pleas'd to see one that had so great interest in his death and so great cause to desire it according to all the appearances in the world This consideration together with my hatred of the Court hindred me from leaving my solitude But within a few dayes after Ptolomeus came to me again and assoon as ever he saw me Cheare up Lysimachus said he take courage and change your manner of life in changing your condition Hephestion is dead and has left Parisatis for Lysimachus I am not able to tell you the astonishment these words caused in me nor to expresse the motions that agitated my soul J was struck mute and unmoveable and Ptolomeus had talked to me a good while before I thought of welcoming or answering him When J was come a little to my self Oh Ptolomeus cried J what doe you tell me is Hephestion dead He is replied Ptolomeus and that above two howers before I came from Susa At this confirmation I remained more surprised then before and in the greatest confusion of thoughts my mind was ever intangled in I protest truly to you J was sorry for Hephestion as well by reason of the fresh obligations J had to him as of the esteem which the merit of his person had wrought in me as well as others and because J knew Parisatis would be most sensibly afflicted Yet will J not dissemble to you that in this encounter J could not forget my interests and that J had not generosity enough to make my sorrow for his loss drown the hopes it revived in me J lov'd my selfe so wel as to âind comfort for his death in the advantages it brought me and J was modest enough to dissemble the satisfaction which in probability it was like to give me But not being able to conceale any thing from Ptolomeus J could not long disguise my thoughts to him nor the divers alterations that news produced in me His thoughts were conformable to mine but being really my freind and tying himselfe inseparably to my fortune the remembrance of my interests was stronger then the griefe J might else have had for so great a Man and made him passe over a death which alone seem'd to establish his freinds life When we had discoursed long upon that accident and that he had told me the particulars of his death which were no other then what are ordinary in naturall sicknesse he perswaded me to returne to Susa as well to pay my respects to that Jllustrious widdow as to wait upon the King
whom she was very dear as she ought to be in consideration of her good qualities and of the services she had done her was extreamly concerned in her trouble and every day offer'd her what soever she was able to contribute to her contentment The chiefe of our Ladies whose hearts she had wonderfully gaind strove in emulation of each other to chear her up but all their cares were to no purpose and all of them having in vain attempted it at last the fatall hower came wherein I was to be undeceived Neer to the gardens of our Palace there is an exceeding high wood one of the fairest in all Capadocia which seprading it selfe to the very banke of the river Iris is one of the most pleasant places to walk in that Asia affords there are a great number of faire spacious alleys and in litle by-turnings where one may insensibly loose ones selfe are private arbours with seats of green turfe and little bankes of the same where one may lie down shelterd from the heat of the sunn and not be interrupted in their retired thoughts I was one day in this wood with my maids and having walked a while upon the banke of the river I went aside with Hippolita the dearest of them all and the very same you see now here with me I entred by chance into one of those pathes that led to the secret arbour and having followed it a while when I was neer one of them I heard a voice interrupted with sighes and sobs and drawing a little nearer I discern'd it to be Orithia's who thinking her self not overheard by any body in such a private place complained in a very pittyfull manner I was glad of that encounter and beleeving I should thereby learne the true cause of her affliction I forbad Hippolita to come any further not being willing shee should hear the secrets of that dear freind though I had never concealed my own from her When I was alone I went forward gently and without making any noise till I came close to the arbour and peeping through the boughs that grew about it I saw my dear Orithia laid a long upon one of those green bankes holding a hankerchief to her eyes wherewith she wiped away the teares that fell in great abundance This object touched me deeply with compassion but much more when after having continued a wile silent she began to speake again in these termes Why doest thou deferre any longer miserable wretch and what doest thou hope for yet from heaven but that death for which thy mind ought already to be prepared lose that life really which thou yet hast only lost in the opinion of the world and be no longer obstinate to strive against thy destiny thou mayest yet die with the freindship of her thou lovest and if thou defer thy death till after the knowledge of thy deceits thou wil't certainely die with her anger and her hatred and insted of the teares which she now would give unto thy grave thou wilt carry nothing with thee thither but her imprecations While Orithia spoke these words her back was toward the entrance of the arbour and not being able to marke her actions well enough in the place where I was I stole insensibly to the dore where in the posture she then lay she could not discover me There I observ'd her more heedfully and after many sighes I heard her go on thus Was it necessary O Gods was it necessary you should raise so many impossiblities against my happynesse and that you should oppose the Lawes and powers of a whole Monarchy against the preservation of my life for in short what can I expect what vain hope soever I flatter my felfe withall that which I love is too pure and too perfect to make use to my advantage of the immodest customes of her country and besides I love her too well to seek my fortune by those wayes and she I love loves her self too well to overturn for my sake the constitutions of a Monarchy which has subsisted so many years and to forsake a scepter for an unknown and a deciptfull Orithia Die then miserable wretch die and make Thalestris see that thou embracest death rather then the occasions of offending her any more thy bloud shall wash away part of the crimes thou hast committed against her and she without doubt will pardon them when she remembers thou dyedst to give her reparation I understood almost nothing by these words though they put me into strange suspicions and yet I was so troubled at them that contrary to my resolution I could not forbeare making a little noise I know not whither it were that which with drew Orithia from that dialogue with her thoughts but she turn'd about and casting her eyes toward the doore discovered me I am not able to represent her confusion to you being got up she began to look upon me and observing in my countenance as much amazement as appear'd in hers she beleev'd I had heard all that she had said before I came and that she had infallibly discovered herselfe This beleef made her grow pale and tremble from head to foot which actions of a person quite beside her selfe she neither durst look me in the face nor stir from the place where she stood and keeping her eyes fast upon the ground remain'd a long time in a posture that testified her surprise and her irresolution At last she broak her silence and unmoveablenesse and casting her selfe of a sudden at my feet redoubled my astonishment by that action I was already set down upon one of the seates and beholding her in that condition I had neither strength to raise her up nor courage to aske the cause of what I saw but she drew me out of that perplexity when without lifting up her eyes to me Madam said she it has pleas'd the Gods that my deceipt should be at last discovered and my happynesse though but an imperfect one has in the end begot an envy in them This miserable man whom they saved from the waters was to perish by a more noble destiny and that death was too common for a person whom they reserved to such extraordinary fortunes I am an Impostor I am a Deceiver I have abused your goodnesse with an impudence that deserves no mercy and I submit my self to the rigour of those Laws which your sex hath established against ours you may take revenge upon the brother for the sisters Treacheries and punish the true Orontes for the crimes of the false Orithia I am that Prince equally happy and unfortunate saved from shipwrack to end his life more gloriously at your feet and too proud of his fate since hee revived from an ordinary death only that âe may die for love and that of the fairest and most lovely Princesse in the world I implore not your goodnesse here to obtain a pardon which I have not deserved the Gods are my witnesses that I no longer love a life which
so neither was I touched with that alteration and I resolv'd for the worst events a Captive could expect except the losse of my honour for the defence whereof I determined to suffer death if any body should go about to assault it The fair Queen was in this part of her Story when she was interrupted by Amintas who came to see her wound Thalestris put forth her arm and after he had dressed it and assured her of a speedy cure she set her self in her former posture and went on thus with her Discourse The end of the Third Book The Continuation of the second Part of CASSANDRA The fourth Book THe usage I had received from Neobarzanes at the beginning of my captivitie began quickly to alter for the better and the women that were appointed to wait upon mee began to serv mee with verie great diligence and respect Neobarzanes sent often to see how I did and when my wounds permitted mee to leav my bed hee came himself into my Chamber I was surprised at that unexspected visite and if I would have followed my first motions I had given him a reception which without question would have kept him from coming any more but considering the power hee had over mee and how much his former behaviour might bee excused by the death of his Brother and the loss of his Armie I believ'd it fit for mee to receiv him as a man that repented his having used mee ill though his pretences for it were specious enough and as a man whom I ought not to exasperate if I had desired to secure what it was in his power to take from mee by violence These Reasons obliged mee to use him reasonable civilly which without doubt confirm'd his evil intentions and that passion which had mollified him and which brought him then into my Chamber When hee had enquired after my health and was set down by mee Madam said hee I doubt not but you are much offended with mee for my first usage of you and that you still keep some resentment of your ill welcom and of the threats which my grief made mee utter against so fair a Queen and one worthie of a better fortune and of a better reception but your goodness will pardon those transports in a person who by your hands hath lost a Brother who was extremely dear to him and whom his virtue made verie considerable to the whole world and by the hands of your Souldiers an Armie of fourtie thousand men the Relicks whereof can hardly bee perceived within this Citie you will without question have som regard to so lawful an anger and will judg of the caus that suppresse's it by my forgetting so great and so late offences 'T is true the bloud of my Brother and of all my Souldiers demand's som satisfaction from mee but a force more powerful then nature or reason of State forbid's mee to give them any to your disadvantage and disarm's my rage after having disarm'd my heart of all that could defend it against you I think this knowledg is sufficient to make you understand my inclinations and I cannot declare them better then by representing to you that they devest mee of those of nature and of my most tender affections nor can I more truly testifie that I love you then in loosing for your sake the remembrance of what I lov'd most dearly Think not this Declaration strange I know it is a Discours to which you have not been accustomed but wee daily see greater changes and if you had suffer'd the access of men you would doubtless have engaged them in that passion which hath made mee absolutely yours you hate them only becaus you know them not and 't was an irregular caprichio of your Predecessors that deprive's you of the societie the gods have established and by which and for which the world subsist's You may if you pleas make som reflection upon what I have said and if among men whom you have alwaies shunn'd you can finde any one worthie of your affections bee pleas'd to cast your eies upon mee who have given you mine first with an exceeding great respect and a most absolute Empire I am not able Sir to express how much I was incensed at this Discours and how much I resented that Captivitie which constrain'd mee to suffer it if I had been at libertie I would have punished that insolent fellow with mine own hands and would have made him feel that force to the purpose of which hee had twice had experience to his shame but I had too many reasons to moderate my furie so that I suffer'd it not to rise to that extremitie and I at that time had prudence enough to dissemble part of it but not power enough over my face to keep it from beeing inflamed with a color like fire nor over my tongue to hinder it from replying sharply Remember Neobarzanes that I am a Queen though I bee your Prisoner and that if the chance of war hath given you som power over my bodie my minde is still in its former libertie and doe's no way partake in the changes of my fortune This first knowledg you give mee of men confirm's mee in my intention of hating them if you persevere in yours and this freedom you take to a Queen whom her disaster hath brought into your hands is a strong obstacle against that esteem of them you desire to work in mee therefore give over an unprofitable care and a more unprofitable affection and believ I shall value you as much if you use your fortune generously as I shall dispise you if it encourage you to unjust liberties and such as you cannot give your self without unworthiness Though Neobarzanes was stung with this answer yet did hee not show himself much moved at it and after having continued a while silent hee onely replyed I doubted you would not receiv this first overture of my love without som displeasure but I also hoped that time might sweeten the sharpness of your first motions and make you finde that I may without offending you or abusing the power I have over you make you an offer of my affections Time said I shall never make mee loos my first resolutions nor can it do any thing to your advantage but by such usage as is due to Prisoners of war of my qualitie If you are my Prisoner of war answered Neobarzanes I am your prisoner of love and if you use mee with any favor I shall no longer consider you as a Captive but as the sovereign Mrs of my heart Use mee replied I tartly as Thalestris who within these few daies hath conquered you in two set battels and who by the defeating of your Forces hath shewed her self capable of another entertainment then that of your loves Neobarzanes was touch'd with these words and answered mee with a smile mingled with som sharpness You are capable both of war and of love and will make both if you follow the cours of your
along with him they all turn'd their points upon mee and made mee see they meant to revenge the death of their Prince by mine the two first that advanced I quickly laid at the feet of their Companions and made them judg that though I was but a woman and in my smock they should not effect their purpose without difficultie I retired to the wall that I might not bee assaulted behinde and those cowardly villains making a half circle about mee began to press mee so furiously that I utterly despaired of safetie I defended my self nevertheless like a wilde bore against so many hounds and somtimes rushing forward at those that were most eager upon mee I made them flie back to the other side of the Chamber and gave them both terror and death it self in the middest of thirtie swords that environed mee but in the end my resistance would have been unprofitable and feeling my self wounded in diveâs places I also found my strength began to fail mee and that I prolong'd my destinie but in vain when wee heard a great nois upon the stairs and saw a great many com in arm'd who charging those base fellows that were about mee presently gave som of them what they deserved the Leader of them did the greatest execution and striking no blows that were not mortal quickly cover'd the floor with bloud and with dead bodies When they had made themselvs a passage to com to mee Courage cried one of my Defenders Courage Madam you are delivered and your enemies are destroied beeing very well acquainted with that voice I presently knew to bee my faithful Hippolita's and I soon observ'd they were my Amazones from whom I received that assistance When I saw my self so well succoured I felt my forces redouble and desiring to have a share in my revenge I joyned my self to my valiant deliverers and with them finished what they had so courageously begun all our Enemies lost their lives and our Amazones among whom I had alreadie discover'd Menalippa and many others were so exasperated against them that they gave no quarter My Chamber was then a spectacle full of horror and the bloud which flowed on all sides in which one might see a great number of bodies swim which had newly expired or were yet expiring was able to strike fear and terror into the most resolved mindes After this execution my gallant rescuers took off all their mask's and embraced my knees one after another with words and actions which visibly express'd the ardent affection they had ever born mee but I was so weakned by the loss of bloud which ran down still from my wounds and by the weariness of so long and so unequal a fight that I had hardly strength to embrace them or sens to know them yet did I hear Menalippa among the rest who speaking for them all said Madam you are free and as much Mistress in this Citie as in Themiscira 't is in your own power by the assistance of the gods and the valor of your Amazones who have taken it and all your Enemies are either dead or dying I judg'd by this Discours that the Town had been taken by surprise and that that was the caus of the nois wee had heard in the streets and of Neobarzanes his rage not doubting but that my women would revenge my injuries with a great deal of bloud and that they would extirpate a people innocent of the wrongs I had received I desired to stop those proceedings and getting a little loos from their embrace My dear friends said I I hold my life from the god's and from you let us not stir them up against us after the mercie wee have receiv'd and let us not dishonor our victorie by an excess of crueltie there is bloud enough shed alreadie if any of our enemies bee yet alive let them have quarter given them and let those bee spared who ceas to make resistance Clytemnestra went presently away to execute that Order and my faithful Hippolita upon whom I lean'd feeling mee readie to sink in her arms took mee up with som other of her companions to carrie mee to bed There was no likelihood of putting mee again into my own nor of staying in a Chamber full of bloud and dead bodies but another was found by the assistance of the women that serv'd mee who at the beginning of our fight had hid themselvs in a Closet whence they were fetch'd out in a terrible fear but I reassumed them and promised them all manner of good usage they brought mee into the best Chamber there was where beeing got to bed my wounds search'd were not found dangerous and my Chyrurgians who had don their part in my deliverance having applied their first remedies to them left mee to my rest while Menalippa by my command went to quiet the disorders in the Town and to do what was requisite in such encounters I rested that small remainder of the night and the day following without beeing interrupted no bodie coming into my Chamber but only Hippolita and som women who were necessarie to wait upon mee and with whom I had no discours by reason of the charge my Chyrurgians had given mee to the contrarie but night beeing com I call'd Hippolita to my bed-side and having embraced her manie times with expressions of my former kindness I asked her divers questions and desired her to relate the taking of the Town but shee would not obey mee praying mee to take my rest you are not yet well enough Madam said shee to hold discours have patience but to night and to morrow I will give you an exact account of all you can demand I was willing to bee advised by her and making my curtains bee drawn I spent the night as I had don the day but with great show of amendment and more quietness of minde then I had felt of many months The next morning Hippolita came to my bed-side and having bidden mee good morrow I commanded her to tell mee what shee had deferr'd the day before I am readily disposed to satisfie you Madam said shee and if what I have to say could have been heard by you without alteration I would not have delai'd to give you contentment but I beseech you bee pleas'd to let mee send these maids out of the Chamber that I may entertain you with the more liberty I gave her leav to do as shee desired and Hippolita bidding them withdraw remained alone with mee and beeing by my command set down close by my bed shee spake to mee on this manner When your Majestie engaged your self in the pursuit of Neobarzanes I was not one of the last that follow'd you and I should certainly have had the same fate with my companions if the gods who reserved mee to serv you more profitably then I could have don in that encounter had not suffer'd my hors to fall dead between my legs of certain wounds hee had received in the fight by this accident I
kindness Berenice interrupting Alcione in this part of her storie you have spoken twice said shee of one Astiages that name is but too well known to mee and but that hee whol mean is the wickedest of all men living I should ask if hee were not your Brother-in-law Ah! Madam answered Alcione you give the best character of him that I can receiv to know him by hee was the most pervers and the falsest man that ever lived and you will see by the continuation of my discours that I ow the greatest part of my miserie 's to his wickedness but to give you other marks of him I will tell you that hee was reasonable tall of Stature that his hair was somthing reddish and if hee bee yet alive his age may bee about two or three and thirtie Ah! Dear Alcione said Berenice 't is the very same and that perfidious man ha's but too great a share in my adventures as you may learn in time but if I bee not deceived you and I are both revenged I will tell you news of him when you have ended your Relation and you shall hear that hee hath carried his crimes a great way further then Babylon I ever believed replied Alcione that wicked fellow was incorrigible but I did not think fortune haâ made use of him to persecute so illustrious and so accomplished a person I will tell you then that this fals man and his Unkle as perfidious as himself when I was first married and after when Theander was newly gon gave mee all the testimonies of friendship I could desire from those that were so near allied to mee I ascribed their good usages onely to lawful causes and received them with an innocence which without doubt fortified their detestable intentions Bagistanes made show of so great an affection to his nephew that I should never have suspected him of falshood and Astiages disguised his ill nature so cunningly to mee that I could not attribute the services hee did mee to any thing but the friendship hee bore his brother I continued in this error as long as they continued to have any sens of honor and I left it when they left the terms of decencie and the considerations of alliance and of their reputation why should I detain you longer in the most tedious part of my recital since I have things of more importance to relate in short when I least expected it Bagistanes declared to mee his pernicious design and violating all manner of rights in the person of his nearest kindred hee spoke to mee of love in terms which I will not repeat becaus I am not able to do it without blushing or rather without dying for grief at the remembrance of his impudence I will therefore pass over what hee said as well out of that consideration as to avoid prolixitie in my narration and will content my self with telling you that after I had expressed my astonishment by a long silence I broak forth against him in such manner that his surprise was little different from mine I laid before his eies by a vehement or rather by a fierie discours both the injurie hee did unto his nephew and the shame hee would bring upon himself and having put him into a great confusion I left him and retired into my Closet so troubled that I hardly knew where I was There I reflected upon all the actions of that faithless kinsman and recalling them to minde to examine them a little more strictly then I had don before I found so many signs of his wicked intentions that I wondred a thousand times at my innocence which had forced him to declare that to mee by word of mouth which by a thousand proofs I ought to have discovered There it was that I vented my anger and deplored my misfortune by my tears there I called upon absent Theander to assist mee against the persecutions of his disloyal Unkle and there briefly I took a firm resolution to die rather then give ear to that perfidious man or to endure so much as the sight of him It was nevertheless very difficult for mee to keep it in private and my fear of discovering my misfortune and of divulging the shame of our hous to the whole world was the caus I would not escape him in general meetings but when hee sought opportunities of entertaining mee in particular I shunn'd them so warily that as cunning as hee had been in the whole cours of his life and especially in such like matters I put his craft to a stand so that hee could never overcom my circumspection nor the care I took to avoid his subtilties when hee met mee in company hee would often offer mee his hand to draw mee aside as hee had don formerly but I still found pretenses to avoid him and got free without making them that were present acquainted with my misfortune hee often wrote to mee and caused his letters to bee delivered by such as were ignorant of our ill correspondence and if least I should give them knowledg of it I was forced to receiv som of them 't was onely to ââar them in pieces without reading them and to cast those guiltie lines into the fire which with their autor were worthie of a greater punishment I supported this persecution with sufficient strength of minde expecting Theander's return which I daily begged of the god 's with most fervent praiers but my constancie was like to have forsaken mee by a bloudie surcharge I received in my affliction Astiages beeing one day in my chamber and seeing himself alone with mee took mee by the hand and holding it between his when hee had looked upon mee awhile without speaking sister said hee will you not confess one thing to mee which I desire to know of you And after I had assured him I would conceal nothing from him You are a dissembler replied hee and how great a freedom soëver you fain toward mee you never told mee that Bagistanes courts you and that hee hath long persecuted you with his love Blush not continued hee seeing my color rise nor go not about to disguise that from mee which I have learn'd from his own mouth Though the confusion I was in had till then kept mee silent I could hold no longer at that discours and looking upon him with a spiteful eie How said I Astiages have you heard it from Bagistanes his mouth and are Theander's Brother Astiages without beeing moved at that demand fall not into passion Sister replied hee but bee pleased that as your nearest kinsman I give you my advice in this encounter I am Theander's Brother and beeing so I shall onely seek his advantage and your own You know how much Bagistanes is able to do for him or rather you know how little hee is able to do without Bagistanes all his support all his supplies and all his pretensions are in him and 't is onely by the credit of our Unkle that our hous can maintain it self in
by what hee did in their favor hee manifestly hazarded his fortune and his life The Queen was so cast down that shee answered nothing to his discours nor so much as hearkned to it but the Princess her sister and I in whom despair was less active then in her endeavored to supply that defect and to receiv Perdiccas his advice for the preservation of our lives Wee were very respectfully received by Polemon and his wife into the quarter prepared for us and those good people studied to serv their Princesses with great zeal and affection As soon as they were going to bed Perdiccas bad them good night and retired to the Town to take order for those important affairs that lay upon him having told them hee would com again the next day so secretly that his visits should never bee known to any bodie and that by all manner of services hee would strive to merit pardon for the fear hee had put them in The Queen passed the rest of that night in continual sighs and Parisatis and I not beeing able to hinder the cours of them and scarce could shee by her weariness with extream tormenting her self get a little sleep or rather a little slumber toward the next morning shee kept her bed that day and all her imploiment was to deplore her loss by most doleful words and by a sea of tears whose flowing it was impossible for us to stop hardly for a moment Alexander's name was perpetually in her mouth and his Idea alwais present to her remembrance shee by the greatness of her virtue had so clean wiped out all the causes shee had formerly had to hate him to imprint in the place of them all that hee had don in her favor and all that was great and lovely in him that shee had nothing remaining of him but a most dear memorie full of love and veneration I should not have don of a long time if I would repeat all the complaints shee made for the greatness of her loss and I believ your jealousie would make that discours unpleasing to you since you are alreadie sufficiently disposed to bee ill satisfied with her I will pass them over therefore and content my self with telling you that when by the height of her courage which had alreadie resisted so many losses without beeing dejected and by the perswasions of the Princess her sister shee was becom capable of little reason wee began to make som propositions to her touching her safetie and the establishment of her affairs Amongst Alexander's Successors there was a good number in whom shee had found much affection to her service and from whom shee might have hoped for great assistance of them Prince Lysimachus who for his qualitie for his virtue and for his credit held one of the first places was not onely at the devotion of the Princess Parisatis but by a thousand actions which had resounded loudly at the Court had given sufficient testimonie that hee desired no more advantageous fortune then the occasions of sacrifizing himself for her Prince Oxiartes and old Artabasus had yet som autoritie among the Persians and I counsell'd the Queen to imploie them all and make use of them in the necessitie of her affairs to maintain her self against the power of her enemies but after wee had reason'd a good while wee considered that wee should finde few Princes among Alexander's Successors that would dare to take up arms against Roxana knowing shee was with childe of him who was to command them one day and by that reason so absolute among the Macedonians that they no longer followed any bodies will but hers As for Lysimachus the Princess Parisatis who till then had defended her self against his love with an admirable virtue would not imploie him whether it were that shee was of too high a spirit to give matter of obligation to a man that was so much in love with her and who according to the common report had obliged her to bee somthing sensible of it or whether it were that with likelihood shee feared to loos him in hazarding him alone against so many other Princes For Oxiartes and Artabazus there was no doubt of their good wills but they were alone and retired into the Provinces which the late King had assigned them These considerations made them resolv to wait the pleasure of the gods without stirring any thing in a condition wherein they were so little able and to make use yet of Perdiccas who alone knew where they were and who could hurt them more then all the rest With this design wee put off a habit which might bee hurtful to the intention wee had taken to lie concealed and having received other cloaths from Polemon's wife and daughter wee had a minde also to accustom them to call the Princesses by other names then their own which all the world knew belong'd particularly to the roial hous of Persia Sure you have heard that the deceased King Darius came not to the Crown by Succession and that though hee was Son to Arsanes the chief among the Persians the Kingdom had not appertained to him but that the roial line was quite extinct in the person of King Occhus His first name was Codoman and hee was so called when by a single combat which hee fought at the head of two Armies hee decided the fortune of two Empires and added Armenia to that of the Persians who had trusted their fortune to his valor alone The remembrance of this action and of many others hee had don in their favour obliged them with a common consent to choos him for their Soveraign especially considering his birth was indeed the highest of all the Kingdom and that hee was an allie and a near kinsman of the deceased King Occhus and of his Predecessors Codoman having thus attained the Empire thought fit according to the example of former Kings to take one of those names which used to bee peculiar to the roial family as Cyrus Artaxerxes and Darius so retaining the last for himself hee gave that of Artaxerxes to his Son and those of Statira and Parisatis to the Queen his wife and the two Princesses his daughters These names also are held in such reverence among the Persians that they have never given them but to their Queens and to their Princesses who hardly ever bore any others The former names of the Queen and of the Princess her sister who were born awhile before their Father came unto the Empire were Cassandra and Euridice 't was under those they past the first years of their age and seeing themselvs reduced to the necessitie of forsaking those for som time which the change of their qualitie had made them take they believed that in that second revolution they could not do better then to return to those they had born during their former fortune when they were in so tender an infancie that few were likely to have preserved the memorie of it they having also lost the hope of
the whole world should perish with her then that I should becom subject to those sensible afflictions I know by the report of Arbates who is returned out of Scythia whither I had sent him that Oroöndates is still alive and hee hath quitted his own Countrie to return again into ours hee sees her perchance everie day that victorious enemie of Roxana's and contrives with her the last effects of that ingratitude which hee alwaies was guiltie of to mee Here it is O Hesione that I confess my weakness and that I am constrained to avow that neither time resentment nor dutie have been able to prevail against my former passion and that notwithstanding I am Alexander's widow notwithstanding that Oroöndates is ingrateful I love him still more then my self and that sleeping or waking that insensible man too lovely and too much beloved come's incessantly before mee and that inveterate passion hath taken too deep a root in my soul to bee ever pull'd up but by the end of my life After this confession Hesione dost thou think I will suffer my everlasting rival to enjoy a happiness which shee cannot build but upon the ruins of my repose and that I will permit that insolent woman who during the life of my husband deprived mee with tyrannie of the better part of his affections should make her self sport with my miserable destinie Ah! no Hesione hope not for such mean spirited effects of my patience and believ that to free my self of that bitter enemie of my life I will trample underfoot all the considerations of bloud of dutie and even of the fear wee have of the gods After her destruction let the ingrateful man persevere in his hard-heartedness toward mee and let him bee unsensible both of the proofs of my love and of the advantages I can offer him in the condition of my fortune I shall however have this satisfaction that if I can not make his disdains to ceas I shall at least have taken away the caus of them and that Statira shall not brag shee triumphed over Roxana unpunished Roxana brought forth these words with a vehemence which sufficiently showed the violence of that passion that animated her and Hesione who had given ear to her without interruption said thus at the end of her discours But Madam what is your last intention and if you will permit my zeal to beg of you the continuation of that trust wherewith your Majestie hath ever honored mee what do you pretend to by the death of those Princesses I thought replied Roxana that I had explained my self enough and that I had left thee no occasion to bee ignorant of my intentions but since thou demandest a more ample declaration know that I will first dispatch that rival out of the world which hath gotten those advantages over mee both in the heart of Oroöndates and in that of Alexander whereby I have been dishonored and when Oroöndates with her hath lost his utmost hopes I do not think hee will bee so blind as not to know his fortune nor so disdainful as to contemn those greatnesses to which I can rais him In the condition I now am I am not so ill savored but that with a good part of the world whereof I can offer him the disposing I may pretend to som part in his affection and perhaps there is not a Prince in all world that would not buy his condition even with the hazzard of his life to this consideration I by the by joyn those of the state and in contenting my passion I secure my own autoritie and that of the son which may bee born of mee that reason was not strong enough alone to perswade mee to an action against which conscientious people would have som repugnance but if I bee so unfortunate as to see my self deceived in my first hopes and to strive in vain to change Oroöndates his inclinations I shall at least have this pleasure to have wreaked my hatred and satisfied my jealousie in destroying her who hath destroied my repose and in depriving that ingrateful man of the object of his hopes and of the occasion of his scorn and since there is a necessitie of shedding bloud to secure the Throne to my son and to my self I shall have this consolation to have sacrificed no bodie to those maximes but those persons whom by more powerfull reasons I was compelled to hate I believ Roxana would have said more and I had continued to hearken to her with the same attention if I had not been unfortunately surprised in that imploiment I had thrust my head almost quite among the boughes which grew along the side of the Allie and was so attentive to her discours though there was great occasion to fear and to mistrust in an enemies place as that where I then was that som of Roxana's maides were com into the same Allie and were gotten close to mee before I perceived them As soon as I turned my head I saw my self encompassed with them and the more fearful of them crying out of a sudden the Guard that were in the Garden and who by Roxana's express command stood but at a little distance from her came running presently and entring at both ends of the walk deprived mee of all possibilitie of escaping I would have attempted it which made mee the more suspected and the more guiltie but I was instantly laid hold on searched and examined they found no other arms about mee but my sword and to their examination I answered that I was a voluntier in Perdiccas his Troops that I came into the Garden with him and that having wandred through curiositie into that Allie I had not seen when hee went away They to whom I gave this account not beeing satisfied with my answers and suspecting mee of som wicked design began to threaten mee with death if I told not the truth and presenting the points of their javelinâs at mee they indeed struck mee with som apprehension I was in fear of my safetie among those men to whom I was unknown and who with probabilitie might accuse mee of som evil intention and 't was easily to bee observed in my face and in my words when Roxana who had heard the nois and who began to learn the caus of it commanded mee to bee brought before her They quickly fetched in a great many Torches out of the next Court and they that held them putting them near unto my face gave the Queen and those that were with her means to consider mee intentively Shee ask'd mee the same questions and I answered in the same manner as I had done the rest but the estate of her affairs and that of her conscience making her fear all things shee sent to Perdiccas to see if hee would own mee and seeing mee faulter in my answeres shee began to have a verie ill opinion of mee and was readie to give som fatal order against mee when one of those who stood near her having known mee
the Euphrates on that side toward the River it was sheltred with a high Wood which reached from the Garden walls almost to the Bank of it on that toward the hill there were many Vine-yards and on the other two an open plain of a vast and spacious breadth on the side towards Babylon it spread it self to the verie Gates and on the other as far as the Temple of Apollo It was in that the Princes caused their Armie to encamp covering themselvs on the side toward their Enemies with the Wood and with the Hill By break of day all their Tents were set up and part of the field was possest with Souldiers who made an end of hutting themselvs reasonable commodiously yet were they shut up within certain limits and the greatest part of it was reserved for the forces that were still to com up whose number also was like to bee much greater then that which was alreadie quartered Oroöndates having rested verie well all night at his wakening found himself visibly amended and as a prodigie admired the wonderful effect of Ptolomeu's his herb the Princes no sooner heard it but they went into his Chamber to congratulate the beginning of his recovery After som discourses they had upon that subject they fell to deliberate of their affairs and causing those to withdraw who were not of the Council Ptolomeus asked the Prince of Scythia's advice touching the beginning of that War Oroöndates received that respect verie civilly and for a long time desired to bee excused if hee told not his opinion before so manie experienced Commanders but beeing willing to gain time for his cure and to retard the progress of those things which might bee don without him when hee was forced by the entreatie of the rest to speak his minde hee declared that hee thought it not fit to make any attempt before their Allies were com up thinking them yet too weak to undertake any thing against so many Princes as were of their enemies partie but to this proposition Ptolomeus answered that it was true they were weak but they were sure their Enemies were not stronger in the field then they and that the supplies they expected could not arrive before theirs Oroöndates seeing himself stopp'd by that replie However said hee you ought to make known the reasons you have to begin this war against men who heretofore were your friends as well to keep the reputation you have gotten as to interess all the world in the justice of your quarrel it I bee not mistaken 't is the ordinarie cours and manie persons who would cast themselvs into your enemies partie if you made an unjust war will without doubt embrace yours when they shall know the equitie of your caus Since it is onely for the libertie of the Princesses you take up arms you should first send to demand them of your enemies and if they refuse to deliver them you may then denounce war against them thus you will shun the reproach they might cast upon you of having surprised them under the shadow of your ancient friendship and by this declaration you shall make they can learn nothing of your designs which is not known to them alreadie and for which they are not alreadie prepared After this caution which free 's us from blame both before the gods and men wee shall march to the battel with more confidence and more approbation and if the gods bless our enterprise with a happie success Lysimachus and I by your assistance shall recover our Princesses and so many gallant men who so charitably engage themselvs in our fortune shall by their Armies enlarge their Dominions and obtain the Territories of those wee conquer The gods know with how much trouble I shall remain almost useless amongst you beeing unable to augment your numbers with more then a single man who perhaps will bee one of the most inconsiderable of your partie but you will bee pleased to pardon my want of power in regard of the diââance of my Countrie and of my inabilitie to do any thing there by reason of the severe humor of the King my Father Lysimachus interrupted the Prince at these words Wee hope for more advantage said hee from your single person then from a potent Armie nor shall wee ever doubt of the victorie so long as wee shall fight near you These words were accompanied with manie others which the Princes uttred in prais of Oroöndates and they presently approved the counsel hee had given of sending to demand the Princesses To that end having thought upon it awhile they made choice of Cleantes and Lycastes the Squiers of Lysimachus and Ptolomeus whom they judged proper for that Commission as beeing known for two men of courage wisdom and conduct they were instantly called and when they were fully instructed what they should do they took hors together and went to Babylon Within a little after Apamia Arsionoe Cleone and the other Ladies came into the Chamber and finding Oroöndates so well that hee might endure companie without inconveniencie they sate down by his bed and began a pleasing conversation Thalestris who knew that Cappadocia whereof her Kingdom made a part was now the lot of Eumenes and who had need of his support and friendship for the conservation of her Estate laid hold of that opportunitie to make her self sure of both and sitting down by him after that by a look full of sweetness shee had prepared him for the alliance shee desired with him Sir said shee wee have hitherto preserved our little Dominion either by arms or gentler means and all those that have been Masters of Cappadocia have by one of those waies suffered us to live within our limits I know that the Province where my Predecessors and I have raigned make 's a part of what is now at your disposing but Darius and Alexander who had the same right have let us enjoy them peaceably although our forces were too weak to defend them against such potent Monarchs and you are worthily their Successor not to have the same civilitie towards women who will esteem you as they ought to do and whose neighbour-hood shall never give you any just caus of complaint against them Eumenes who was exceeding generous and civil received the Queens discours very respectfully and answered her with that grace which accompanied all his words and actions I would it pleased the gods Madam that I could as easily imitate Alexander the Great in the rest of his actions as while I live I will surpass him in the consideration hee had of you the honor of your neighbor-hood make's mee prefer my part before any of all the rest of Alexander's Successors and if I could merit that of your alliance I would imploy the credit of this companie to help mee to obtain it The Queen replied to this complement with a great deal of submission and having treated an alliance with him upon the sudden shee offered to encreas the Armie of the Princes
newly made an end of writing their Letters and had given them to Araxes with most pressing recommendations when the Chamber was filled with Princes that came to visit Oroöndates and while they were drawing near unto his bed Araxes who had no further orders to receiv went out of the room and so directly about the executing of his Commission After that the Princes had paid their civivilities to Oroöndates and enquired concerning his health they entred into Counsel about their affairs and Antigonus having demanded audience to propose som thing of moment spake to them on this manner Besides the knowledg of your valor that of the justice of our quarrel gave mee verie good hopes of the issue of our enterprise and I believed that in prosecuting our enemies before as those that had murthered and now as those who unjustly detain the widow of our deceased King and their own lawful Queen wee had a pretext reasonable enough to arm all our forces against them but yet as if the gods had judged that caus too light to devide so manie Princes who heretofore were friends and make them turn those arms against one another which they have made use of for the conquest of the whole earth they have been pleased to bring to light the crimes of our enemies and compleat our taking arms against them by reasons able to arm all virtuous persons with us Amongst the fals murtherers of Statira and Parisatis wee assault the true murtherers of Alexander our suspicions are now but too much confirmed and I cannot aver that Perdiccas and Roxana have medled in this parricide yet are they criminal enough to bee detested both of the gods and men since they uphold the perfidious Cassander who ha's taken away the life not only of his King but of the greatest of all Kings Do not believ it is upon light conjectures that I discover this fact to you 't is not upon the jealousie wee had of it nor upon the knowledg many of us have had of his love unto Roxana and his aversion to Alexander from the time hee took him by the hair and beat his head against the walls in our presence no wee have a certain assurance of it and I can produce two men who very innocently served as instruments in this horrid treason they are two Macedonians who were bred up with Antipater and who by Cassanders command brought unto the Court that poison which put an end to the gallantest life that ever was 't was of the water of Nonacris a fountain in Macedonia which is of such an excessive coldness that it extinguishes all natural heat and cannot bee contained in any thing but a horses hoof These two Macedonians having brought it to Cassander hee found means to procure them places about the Kings cup-bord and within awhile after discovering himself to them as to two old servants of his hous hee by hope of extraordinarie recompences would have perswaded them to pour this water into the Kings drink 's but they affrighted at that horrible design refused to obey him and strove to divert him from that cruel resolution Cassander having vainly sollicited them again made use of his brother Iölas whom for that design hee got to bee made chief Cupbearer and for fear those two men should declare his wickedness hee caused them to bee taken by others of his dependents who under som pretence carried them out of the Town with a command to kill them The villaines followed the order they had received from their Master and having brought these miserable wretches into a by place they stabb'd them in many parts of their bodies but it so pleased the gods that they had not time to make an end of them and that seeing certain persons coming toward the place where they were they fled away leaving these poor men half dead they were taken from thence by Countrie people who carrying them to their houses caused them to bee dressed so carefully that they at last recovered and but yesterday beeing able to walk abroad they came to mee desiring I would protect them against Cassander making mee the relation more at large of what I have told you in a few words Antigonus had no sooner ended his discours but hee sent for the two Macedonians and in the mean time all the Princes began with imprecations to detest Cassanders wickedness and by so powerful a motive were more strongly animated in the hatred they bore his partie they had suspected Iölas before upon many conjectures but having noble and generous souls themselves they could hardly imagine that others were capable of a crime of that nature In the interim the two men came and having made a deposition every way conformable to what Antigonus had said and answered many questions which were asked them about that matter they left the whole companie âully confirmed in the belief of that Parricide All those great Princes whose hearts did most sacredly reverence the memorie of Alexander trembled at this confirmation and sent forth threat's against those monsters full of a true zeal and lawful anger Even Oroöndates himself who honored the remembrance of that mightie King as of a miraculous person was highly concerned in their resentment and with them swore to revenge the death of that illustrious rivall The Princes not beeing contented that the justice of their caus should serv for their own private satisfaction were desirous to manifest it to the whole world and to make all men know it was not for light occasions that they had taken arms against their Companions and ancient Allies With that intent after they had agreed upon it among themselvs they set forth a Declaration which Artabasus and Eumenes drew up in these words The Princes joined in League for the revenge of Alexander and for the libertie of the Queen his wife and of the Princess his Sister AS wee have ever believed that without very powerful reasons men could not with honor unloos themselves from the bonds of friendship and violate their ancient alliances so have wee also desired that all those to whom our actions shall bee known might bee made acquainted with our intentions and might have no occasion to expound them according to the sens our Enemies would give them Wee protest therefore both before the gods and before men that it is not any discontent about our shares in the lately divided Empire nor any design to make our selvs greater that hath put arms into our hands against those who heretofore were our friends and companions but much juster causes and such as ought to make all the generous persons upon earth to rise up with us It is for Alexander that wee have taken arms and wee have at last discovered that that demi-god who found none but adorers through the whole world hath found monsters amongst his own subjects who by an execrable parricide have deprived mankinde of the greatest Personage that ever lived Cassander whose name ought to bee abhorred by all
the Princes upon earth and of whom no bodie ought henceforth to speak without detestation the base poisoner of his Master and of his King doe's not onely finde safetie amongst those who were nearest to him and amongst those who hold all their honor and all their fortune from him but also a support against those that were his faithful servants and a protection that would bee refused him even among the greatest Enemies of his memorie Roxana whom hee honored with his bed and with the participation of his Crowns whom from the daughter of Cohortanus hee raised to bee the wife of Alexander and whom from Captivitie hee exalted to the highest degree of honor that ever woman attained Perdiccas whom hee favored during his life and whom hee honored at his death with the chiefest marks of his affection and esteem and a great many others who are little less indebted then they to the ashes of their Master arm themselvs in the defence of his poisoners of his parricides But was there any less to bee expected from those who by actions of the same nature have sufficiently testified that they were of the same inclinations and that they would yet prosecute Alexander in the person of them that were as dear to him as his life Did not Perdiccas and the rest of Roxana's accomplices by a violence without example force the great Queen Statira and the Princess her Sister out of the hands of their attendants to murther them before the eies of that pitiless woman Did they not even bring the knife unto their throats And if Perdiccas out of consideration of his own interest spared their lives hath hee not changed the pain of their death into that of a cruel and unworthie Captivitie Those great Princesses who were so dear and considerable to our mightie King now languish in slaverie to his subjects who impose shameful Laws upon them and who from the bloud of Darius and from the alliance of Alexander would make them stop to that of the meanest of his Followers These are the onely considerations that make us take up arms with a firm protestation before all the world and at the foot of our Altars that wee will never lay them down till Alexander bee revenged and the Princesses freed and satisfied And if our Enemies would perswade indifferent persons that wee make use of these pretences to cover our ambition or other less lawful causes of division let them do justice themselvs upon the murtherers of Alexander and restore the Princesses to their libertie and to their former autoritie and they shall finde us most readie to withdraw our forces from these Countries and leav them in a perfect tranquilitie The Princes having caused a great many copies to bee taken of this Declaration and made them bee spread abroad through the Army and were careful to send them to all places where they desired the justice of their quarrel should bee known The next day they proceeded to the election of a general and to make choice of a Prince among them that should give orders and command the rest with an absolute power but in this enterprise there was no small difficultie and their contestations were very different from those which are usual in the like occasions all of them equally avoided that advantage and that glory which elswhere is wont to bee so much envied found nothing but aversion and disdain among those generous souls All with a joint consent yielded that honor to Prince Oroöndates and protested to him with great submissions that they would not march with him unless they might obey him Ptolomeus Lysimachus Oxyartes Eumenes and many others pressed him to it with most ardent entreaties but hee resisted them with so much modestie and constancie that 't was impossible for them to move him It is enough said hee that you do mee the honor to suffer mee amongst you and I receiv that favor with great acknowledgment I who am useless among you and who am here utterly destitute of forces in the midst of so many Princes the weakest of whom have brought whole Armies Although I had with mee all the strength of Scythia I should still make it my glory to obey men so worthy to command mee and I should bee as firm as I now am in refusing an honor which you cannot offer mee without making mee remember my want of abilitie By such like reasons Oroöndates rejected the command but not one of the Princes could bee perswaded to take it from him and Ptolomeus Lysimachus and the rest were no less obstinate then hee in denying to accept of that autoritie At last by voices of all the Officers the supreme power was put into the hands of six among them who should command by turns every one his day These were Prince Oröondates Prince Oxiartes Ptolomeus Lysimachus Craterus and Antigonus Eumenes Polyperchon Queen Thalestris Old Artabasus and Laomedon who might with justice have pretended to the same dignitie refused it so absolutely that 't was impossible to make them com into the number Artabasus excused himself by his age Thalestris by her sex Eumenes by his humor which was an Enemie to command and by the union between him and Ptolemeus to whom hee remitted the whole care Polypercon and Laomedon by other considerations The six Princes seeing themselvs constrained to submit to that election condescended to it at last protesting to their companions that they accepted nothing of that charge but the care and trouble and that for the honor of it they would alwaies yield it totally to them That day beeing spent in this election all retired to their Tents and the next morning certain Scouts that had been sent abroad brought word to Craterus to whom by reason of his experience of his credit with the Souldierie which hee still preserved since Alexander's time and of Oroöndates his indisposition all his companions had given the first day that they had seen a bodie of seven or eight hundred hors com out of the Citie who made as if they would draw near unto their Camp byasing toward the side of the hill The young Demetrius thrust forward by a generous boiling heat asked leav of Craterus to go with alike number of men to drive the Enemies back into the Town or draw them to a fight and having with som difficultie obtained it from his Father Antigonus who loved him with an extraordinarie tenderness and who could not without great repugnance see him go into danger hee took hors with eight hundred of his men proved to have the honor of striking the first blow in that war hee would not take a greater number with him for fear the inequality of the partie should make the Enemies retire without fighting and rob him of the glorie hee sought besides that the place was proper for his intention and that in an open Campagn hee could not fear any ambushes which in another place the Enemie might have had a design to draw him into The beautiful
Valiant man whom he commanded upon pain of death to watch by me all night with a hundred of his Souldiers Untill this part of my life I had never showed too much apprehension of death but I must confess my weakness nor do I think it shamefull in a woman I was then extreamly affrighted at it and formed so cruel an Idea of it in my imagination that I was not free from some of those thoughts which are usual in persons that are much in love with life As soon as Spitamenes was gone out Strato brought me to my Chamber where presently all objects appeared fatal to me by Spitamenes his command all my women left me and scarcely were they that had been dearest to me permitted to take their leaves of me they by a weeping farewell made my griefs more sensible and my terrours greater the face of all things became dismall and my lodging look'd no longer as other than as the prison of a criminal condemned to suffer Onely Theano continued with me because she was destined to the same punishment and that she was to loose a life with me the better part whereof she had already bequeathed to my service one of my most sensible griefs was that I should die without seing Alexander and without letting him know at my death that I suffered it onely for his sake At least said I if he had but any knowledge of the cause of my death and if he might but one day learn with what constancy and firmness I die his I should not be utterly unhappy he would certainly shed a great deal of bloud for my revenge and perchance some tears out of compassion O! Alexander how glorious would my destiny be if I could make thee shed but one and if thou didst but say at the relation of this news I lament the fortune of this poor woman but alas how different are our thoughts thou without doubt involvest Spitamenes his whole family in his perfidiousness and will 't equally bear the ruine of those that have betray'd thee and destruction of those that have loved thee I was buried in these thoughts and preparing my self with all the constancie I had left for that death which I believed inevitable when Strato whose guards were at my Chamber dore came toward me and seing he could not be over-heard by any body but Theano who was not suspected Madam said he you may save your selves but you must have courage to undertake a daring enterprise I had ever observ'd some good will in that man toward me and I then called to mind that he had received some Obligations from Cradates whereof he still had preserved the rememberance This freed me of any suspicion I might have had that he talk'd so to sound me and therefore I replied Oh! Strato there is nothing I would not do to hinder Spitamenes from having the satisfaction to destroy Cradates his whole family you must then kill Spitamenes said Strato I see no other way open to your safety and by that you may both save your life and take the revenge you have so much desired I was surprised at that proposition and though according to my opinion I ought to have received it with joy I was strucken when I heard speak of taking away my Husbands life how great hatred soever I bore him I did not naturally love bloud and though I wished his death I found not my self bold enough to give it him Theano seing me in this confusion was troubled at it and coming towards me with something a furious action What Madam said she do you consult still upon this proposition and when as to so many reasons of revenge you may join that of your own safety do you forget your gallant resolutions Ah! Theano replied I I am no less an Enemy to Spitamenes than I have ever been and I could wish he were out of the world so I had not the guilt of killing him he is the Murderer of my Father and of my Brothers but yet he is my Husband aâd I cannot resolve to imbrue my hands in his bloud without an exceeding great violence upon my self Ah! Madam answered Theano drive away these Chimera's from your minde and fear no remorse for a couragious and a virtuous Action you ow this Revenge to your Father and to your Brothers nay and you ow it even to me also who have sacrificed my onely son unto your interests and who yet bear in my heart every drop of that bloud which he shed for you and moreover remember that if you do it not you must die to morrow and die as an infamous Woman and as an Adulteress at the head of two Armies Theano besides these used so many other Arguments to me and did so aggravate the Causes I had to free my self of that barbarous man that in the end I consented to all she desired and asking Strato what order we should take in the business he instructed us in the manner you shall hear by the continuation of this Discourse As soon as Spitamenes was retired to take that rest in his bed which he was capable of in that condition of his affairs Strato who commanded all his Guards went to those that were wont to watch about his Person and having an absolute credit and authority with them he told them that Spitamenes had commanded him to send them to another part of the Town about a business which he invented and giving them charge to go thither presently and to expect his Orders there he feigned that in their stead he would put some of those souldiers which had me in their custody they obeyed him without Reply and left Spitamenes his Quarter destitute of any body that could defend him within a while after he returned to them that guarded me and reserving to himself onely four or five of whom he was assured and to whom he had in part communicated his Design he sent the rest to some other place by the same deceit so having freed himself of all those that might hurt us he came into my Chamber to me accompanied with them that were to assist us in that Design I trembled from head to foot when I saw him enter felt so great a repugnance against that Enterprise that but for the instigations of the revengeful Theano I should never have resolved upon it Madam said he now it is that your courage is needful that you must diligently lay hold of an occasion which can never be recovered if you let it escape Ah! Strato cried I my courage fails me in this Execution pray let us seek some other way to get out of Spitamenes his hands If you had longer time replied Strato perhaps something might be thought on but you have onely the remainder of this night all the Gates are guarded the Walls so thick set with Souldiers that we have no passage open When Spitamenes is killed his Death concealed provided I be at the head of my Guards I le
indearments with much affection Orontes receiv'd them with an humble respect and when he was got loose from his imbraces and that he was preparing to express the joy he felt for having met him Oroondates drew back and put on a more serious countenance Cousin said he let us defer this conversation which is not seasonable in the condition I found you in and in the presence of this Queen with whom you have matters of greater importance I have given these first testimonies of my friendship to your merit to our near affinity and to the breeding we had together but now I must speak to you as I am oblig'd by my duty by my promise and by the care I have of your repose and of your honour it self This fair Queen at my most humble request will moderate for a while those just resentments she has against you and I will protest to her yet once again in your presence that if in your infidelity you have not been betray'd your self I cannot choose but be your Enemy In short Orontes your perfidiousness ought to arm all the best friends and all the nearest kindred you have in the world against you and unless I will declare my self for your crime I can no longer keep within the terms of our ancient friendship If I lose your friendship reply'd Orontes briskly the loss will be more sensible to me than all those I have sustain'd since that of this ingratefull womans affection but though with it I should also lose my life which she prosecutes with so much hatred I cannot repent my having abandon'd her when she abandon'd her self so lightly as she did and I rather think it strange that you should disapprove my indignation since loving virtue as you do it is impossible you should approve the cause of it and that you should preserve so much as an esteem of her whose defence you undertake against him that has the honor to be nearly ally'd to you I lov'd her but too faithfully and too religiously and would it had pleased the Gods that the first moment of my love had been the last moment of my life I for her had lost the rememberance of all that I had formerly lov'd and even of my very self she was endebted to me for her liberty her life her honour and I should no way injure modesty if I should say I had deserved her affection nay she had given it me in appearance and when with some kind of justice I hoped for the utmost proofs of it this ungratefull woman to the prejudice of my services betrayes herself unworthily to betray me and precipitates herself into dishonour that she might precipitate me into dispair what would she therefore have of me now and what is the cause of that hatred which nothing but my death can satisfie did I ever trouble her in her new affections did I oppose the contentment she received thereby and have I so mortally offended her by seeking that repose in banishment which she had robb'd me of for ever she requires my bloud Ah! I would it pleased the gods continued he turning toward the Queen I would it pleased the gods O inhumane Thalestris that thou hadst shed it to the very last drop and that that were the most sensible injury I have received from thee after my former losses that is but little to be considered and thou mayest now give thy self a liberty O barbarous woman to exercise thy utmost cruelties for they will all be gentle in comparison of those thou hast used against me already Orontes had not constancie enough to utter these last words without letting fall a showr of tears nor had the Queen patience enough to hear them without interrupting him Come tell us Traitour cried she tell us what is that cruelty and that infidelity I have showed thee let these Princes know who hear us and whom the gods have sent as judges of our differences by which of my actions have I been able to deserve this usage thou offerest to a Queen who had committed no other fault but that she had given thee her heart too easily Discover here before the face of heaven those shames and those infamies wherewith thou hast reproached me both in thy letter and in thy discourse and no longer spare this woman who by the loss of her honour has made herself unworthy of thy affections and who will live no longer after the knowledge of thy calumnies If thy despair replied Orontes proceed from the death of Alexander I protest to thee by all the gods that I contributed nothing towards it and that if thou hadst lyen whole ages in his Arms I would never have come to pull thee thence That gallant voyage thou tookest to him to renew that ignominious custom thou oughtest to have abolished in favour of me and to begg an inheritrix for thy Crown before he had any affection to thee that voyage I say which was the Tomb of thy reputation was made too publickly to escape the knowledge of such an interessed Lover as Orontes and how brave a man soever that Alexander was to whom thou madest that glorious present and that shamefull request the greatness of his fortune ought not to have raised him in thy heart above Orontes if he had served thee if he had lov'd thee nay if he had but so much as known thee thy lightness would have been more excuseable if he had come to seek thee in thine own Countrey if he had woed thee if he had made suit for that he had of thee thy crime would have been less horrible but when he never so much as thought of thee to cross through spacious Provinces to go to him to become a Petitioner and to embrace his knees to proffer him that which with justice thou mightest have refused him though he had spent his whole life in thy service doest thou believe Thalestris that these are light causes of affliction and inconsiderable injuries to Orontes He would without doubt have enlarged himself upon this invective if from the beginning Thalestris had not grown pale and if within a while after she had not fallen in a swown into Lysimachus his arms These words of Orontes were so cruel to her that she was not able to hear them without fainting and the Princes were so sensibly troubled at it that they could not but behold Orontes with an accusing eye While Hyppolita took off her Arms they ran to the fountain to give her help and Orontes who as jealous and as angry as he was was yet tainted with a wound whereof he had no hope he should be ever cured was so strucken at that accident that he had neither confidence nor strength to go nearer to her but turning his looks another way he leaned his head against a tree the bark whereof he washed with his tears unto the very foot At last the Queen came to herself again and being a little recovered by Hyppolita's care of her she sought Orontes
never can be any bodies but yours I am most worthy both of that banishment you ordain me and of that scorn you threaten me withall and I would resolve to suffer both rather than ever trouble your repose but because my past afflictions have weakened my courage you will give me leave by one and the same way to free my self from those that are like to come upon me and to satisfie you for the crimes I have committed I may much more handsomely begg your pardon by dying than by expressing my grief barely in words and since it is impossible for me to recover in your esteem that innocence I have lost perchance my bloud may obtain that of you which can be due to no other effect of my repentance Receive this satisfaction then and cease to hate me I were unjust if I should ask more and I now neither pretend to tears of love no nor to tears of meer compassion Neither do you receive any new thing of me in this life I give you for in the loss of it I onely find this difference that what in former times I should have done out of excess of love I do now for the reparation of my crimes As he ended these words he drew his sword and was going to run upon the point of it if Oroondates who stood close by him had not embraced him so strongly that 't was impossible for him to execute his design Orontes struggled to get out of hands and Thalestris who began to be touched with these marks of his repentance was willing to draw him out of his despair but yet without engaging her self to pardon him If I had desired your death said she I would not have given over my purpose of killing you that punishment is too short for the expiation of your offences live therefore and instruct your self better touching my life than you have done hitherto but absent your self from this ignominious Thalestris who has made her self unworthy of you by her light and infamous actions She had no sooner spoke these words but she got hastily on hors-back and without giving ear to the entreaties of Oroondates and Lysimachus gallopt full speed toward the Camp and was got out of their sight in a moment The sorrowfull Orontes looked after her as long as he could possibly see her and when he could no longer do so he turned towards Oroondates to bid him farewell Oroondates who loved him dearly and who had not seen him of many years would not have let him go and promised to make his peace if he would but come along with him to the Camp But Orontes incredulous of his promises and a religious observer of the Queens commands would not suffer himself to be perswaded and persisted so obstinately in his design that Oroondates not being able to withhold him was constrained to let him take his liberty after having made him give his word and Oath that he would not attempt any thing against his life and then Orontes without staying a minute longer or suffering the least conversation took his leave with a face in which his despair was naturally represented and catching his horse that fed at liberty after he had tyed and mended the reins of his bridle as wel as he could he got up and departing with a mervellous suddenness vanish'd from the Princes like a flash of lightning Oroondates seeing that end of this Adventure whereof he had hoped for a more happy success was exceedingly troubled at it He often was upon the point of running after Orontes but the remembrance of his own misfortunes suspended the motions of his charity and the violence of his passions joyn'd to the urgent necessity of his affairs would not suffer him to abandon the interests of his love of his honour and of his revenge all that he could do in favour of his kinsman was to resolve to labour for his reestablishment with Thalestris and to go away instantly with an intent to solicit her with all earnestness for his pardon Lysimachus and Ptolomeus approv'd his resolution and determin'd to second him in it with their utmost power being all three gotten on horse-back they took the way that lead back unto the Camp and not having far thither they arrived there within a little while and went to alight at Oroondates his Tent. The fair Princess Berenice followed by a great troop of Ladies was come thither already and Thalestris who had heard of her being return'd was run thither with such a joy as seem'd to have banish'd part of her afflictions out of her remembrance These two great Ladies when the Princes came in to them were imploy'd in mutual endearments and in giving each other proofs of a most ardent friendship Oroondates was not a little surprised at the encounter of his sister and his love broke forth into all the expressions she could desire of it he held her a long time in his arms and all the most sweet and tender marks of an affection of that nature appear'd in them both even to excess Dearest sister said he imbracing her and bedewing her face with tears of joy which he mingled with those she shed have we recover'd you then Yes I see the Gods are as exact in performing their promises as you were cruel in leaving me when I was in such a condition as would not suffer me to follow you Sir replied the Princess when I went away from you I meant to have stay'd but a very little while and if I had not lost my liberty you had seen me again within an hour after my departure yet the cause thereof was so just that you will easily pardon me when I have told it you I complain'd of it for no other reason said the Prince but for the fear and trouble I suffer'd by your absence This fair Queen pursued he shewing her Thalestris bore a great share with me in my sorrow for your loss and ran after you with a great deal of affection to lend you that assistance which you could not hope for from your brother These words made the two Princesses begin their kindness afresh but they were interrupted by Lysimachus and Ptolomeus who after they had a while admired the excellent beauty of Berenice made their addresses to her and saluted her with much respect Oroondates having made these two Princes known unto his sister she repay'd their civilities with a grace that had nothing common and presently after they retired to their Tents to leave her the liberty of discoursing with her brother in particular the Ladies that had accompanied her return'd with the same intent to Polemon's house and onely Thalestris and Hippolita stay'd with her in Oroondates his Tent. The Prince having caused himself to be disarm'd receiv'd new imbraces from his sister and inquiring what had befallen her since her departure It is not fit said she you should know my last adventures before you have learn'd my first especially seeing they have some dependence on them
not hope for pardon from me Upon this belief reply'd Cyllenia smiling as before I will take the boldness to tell you that if Arsaces be in love I believe it is onely with the Princess Berenice With me fool said I putting her back with my hand Yes added Cyllenia even with your self and if you have taken the pains to observe his discourse and his actions your thoughts will be but little different from mine In what place soever you are his Eyes are continually upon you he comes not near you without sighing trembling and changing colour and he speaks of the person he loves with such a submission and such a respect as can be due to no body but the Princess Berenice This discourse of Cyllenia's made me reflect upon Arsaces his Actions in which truly I found something that agreed with her opinion and I have not told you that I had formerly had some such fancy which I had banish'd as an effect of my vanity but then examining many words he had spoken and particularly those in the presence of Theomiris I began to give some credit to Cyllenia's suspicion yet did I make a difficulty of confessing it to her and after I had continued a good while without Reply I do not believe said I that Arsaces ever had a thought of me and indeed it would trouble me very much if I should be oblig'd to banish a man for ever from my sight whom his virtue makes me infinitly to esteem I saw by Cyllenia's action that she was vext she had said so much and looking upon me with a face less confident than before What Madam said she if Arsaces were guilty of no other crime but of having adored you without letting you know it would you banish him for ever Would I banish him reply'd I why do you doubt of it Cyllenia I was of opinion that thoughts had been free answered Cyllenia and that all the offence had been onely in declaring them but since they are criminal though conceal'd I le alter my conceit of poor Arsaces and believe he never mingled any thing of love with the design he has to honour you I will believe so with you added I very seriously and I had a great deal rather be of that opinion than suffer another which would make me force the inclination I have to wish him very well and instead of that begin to hate him We were in this part of our discourse when being come to the end of an Alley just as we were going into another we saw that Arsaces whom we were talking of close by us lay'd along upon the grass I was wonderously surprised at that Encounter and fear'd he might have over-heard something of what we had said concerning him but I was quickly delivered out of that apprehension and Cyllenia being gone a little nearer him saw that his Eyes were shut and by many tokens knew him to be asleep I would have passed by without awaking him but Cyllenia had a curiosity which opposed that intention and seeing that on the ground near Arsaces his mouth there lay a little picture case upon which it seem'd that he was fallen asleep she went softly toward him without letting me know her intent and taking up the Case she brought it to me without looking in it Madam said she as she came up to me here 's something without doubt that will be able to satisfie your curiosity and I hope we here shall see the face of her Arsaces loves with so much respect The discourse we had newly had upon that subject made me condemn that curiosity and fearing to meet with some confirmation of Cyllenia's suspicions I was going to command her to lay the Box again in the place from whence she had taken it when she open'd it and made me cast my Eyes upon it Why should I hold you longer in suspence in short my adventure was such as I apprehended and in that Box I saw the very face which my Glass represented to me every day I should not be able to tell you whither my grief my astonishment or my anger was greatest and though the last be little predominate in my nature I confess that in this Encounter I was seized with them all three 'T is certain that I had a very particular esteem of Arsaces and that I found no other defect in him save that of his quality that could discourage him from raising his thoughts to the greatest and most accomplish'd Princess upon earth but that obscurity of his birth made me receive those testimonies of his affection as mortal injuries and look upon his presumption as a blemish able to destroy all that was good and considerable in him the favourable opinion I had of him made me really sorry for his fault and as I had plainly confessed to Cyllenia 't was not without trouble that I saw my self constrain'd to punish it Cyllenia seeing me so much moved would have opened her mouth to speak to me but I clapp'd my hand upon it and preventing what she was about to say Hold thy peace said I Cyllenia and since thou hast contributed so much to this unlucky discovery which we now have made labour also for my satisfaction and take you care of warning this presumptuous man that he never present himself before me I know not whither I spake these words with too loud a voice and whither it was that that waken'd Arsaces but he presently rose up and seeing himself surprised in a posture which he thought not decent before me he seemed to be quite out of countenance and had not the confidence to come toward us without putting his hand to his face to hide his blushing at last he would have made his address to us but as he was coming toward me with a very low obeysance and was going to say something to me I turned on the other side without regarding him and having made sign to Cyllenia to stay and perform the charge I had given her I went hastily away and returned straight to my lodging Arsaces as I have learned since was so stricken with this action that in Cyllenias eye he seemed little different from a Marble statue and not remembring he had ever seen me do the like he believed the cause was extraordinary and presently guessed at something of the truth but he continued not much longer in doubt when he saw his picture-case in Cyllenias hand he had stood unmoveable from the time I went away his hands crossed upon his breast and his Eyes fix'd upon me till I was out of sight but as soon as he had turn'd them upon Cyllenia and that he saw the Picture which had betray'd him he was fully perswaded of the truth of that adventure and fell into a confusion which it would be extreamly difficult to represent he stood a long time without speech or motion his very look touching Cyllenia with compassion in the end he recover'd a little courage and going nearer to her who was
desire in him both to know that stranger and to offer her his assistance in the miseries she complained of With this intent lending an ear to their discourse more carefully than before he heard that the old man after having kept silence a good while made this reply It is no longer time Madam to renew your griefs by these tragical remembrances which afflict you and to seek out new matter of sorrow in a wound which time your reason and your resignation to the will of the Gods ought to have perfectly cured You have spent time enough in mournfull imployments and you have showed both sence enough of your losses and contempt enough of your life to fear no reproaches of ingratitude or of meanness of Spirit Think now of giving some rest unto your mind and begin to hope for an end of part of your miseries The Gods do expresly command it you and they have discovered their intentions clearly enough to leave your disobedience no excuse and to free you from all new cause of apprehension What would you have me hope O Theogenes said the fair afflicted Lady with a sigh shall I hope for the recovery of those persons I have lost and will those Gods whose pleasure ought to be a sacred Law to us restore me the King my Father of whose death these eyes were sad spectatours will they regain me that dear Prince whom my ingratitude sent unto his grave Ah! Theogenes you know that that 's the true cause of all my tears and if you will have me hope for the end of my wandrings and for that refuge which we seek against our persecuters how little able is that hope to comfort me and besides how little certainty is there in it That great man at whose feet we went to seek both refuge and revenge is now no longer in this world and his Valiant successours are imbroyl'd in quarrels themselves which will leave them but little sence of ours The Lady without question would have said more if Demetrius by chance had not showed himself a little and by that sight interrupted their conversation When he saw he was discovered he resolved to make his adresses to that stranger and assure her that amongst Alexanders successours she should still find that generosity which made him protect the miserable and the oppressed At his coming toward them the fair stranger raised up her head and observing something that was great and noble in Demetrius his face she believed him to be a man of quality and thought herself obliged to rise to repay part of his salutation Demetrius had no sooner cast his eyes upon her but he was in a manner blinded with the lustre of that mervelous beauty and calling to mind the remembrance of the most accomplished ones he knew he was of opinion that he had seen nothing in the faces of the Princess Berenice or of Queen Statira which might not be equall'd in that of this young stranger The whitest and smoothest things in the whole world came nothing near the delicacy of her skin all the lineaments of her face were form'd as it were in emulation with the most exact proportion nature could possibly bestow and her eyes had something in them that was extreamly moving but moving with so much sweetness and Majesty together that 't was impossible to bear the glances of them without being dazeled They enclin'd toward black and her hair was of the same colour her neck her hand her stature left nothing to be desired for their perfection and the amazed Demetrius found so many causes of admiration in that lovely object that he lost part of his confidence and could not approach so divine a person without extraordinary fear and respect Yet did he draw near her with a very low obeisance and when she had returned what the greatest strangers thought due to his gracefull fashion Madam said he the liberty I take would not be pardonable if the cause of it were not very lawfull nor had I interrupted your conversation but to put you out of the doubts you have of Alexanders successours My nearest and best friends hold some rank amongst them and I shall not be disavow'd by the better part when I protest to you that they will receive the occasions of doing you service as the most glorious fortunes that can befall them Demetrius spake these words with such a grace that the fair stranger found little less reason of astonishment in him than he had met in her and knowing both by his words and by many marks of greatness which shone forth visibly in him that he was no common person she received his discourse and answered him with much civility Whosoever you are said she that with such goodness offer your assistance to afflicted persons your countenance gives much credit to your words and I shall never doubt but that such a man as you are must needs be one and one of the most worthy successours of Alexander I am one of the least considerable amongst them replied Demetrius but I have confidence enough in their friendship and in their vertue to offer you all the succour you can desire of them and to interess them in your quarrel with a zeal which will make them forget their own to serve you Their affairs answered the stranger are so great and so important that the interests of a miserable woman ought not to withdraw them from him neither is it my intention to make them any uncivil request but onely to demand a retreat against my cruel Enemies who having destroyed an illustrious family allied many wayes to that of Alexander the Great do prosecute the wretched Relicks of it with an unparalelled inhumanity You may obtain all that you can desire of them without demanding it said Demetrius and they that could refuse any thing to the very look of a person like your self would be unworthy of the memory of Alexander The alliance of your family to that great King will be very considerable among them who acknowledge all their glorie and all their fortune from him but your beauty will perswade them more powerfully than any other argument whatsoever The fair stranger extreamly satisfied with this first encounter which by Demetrius his civility made her judge favourably of that of his companions was already passionately desirous to know him and her desire which she durst not express was beginning to appear in her face when some Officers of the Army passing by and seeing Demetrius came towards him with much respect whereby she learned the greatness of his quality but not being fully satisfied with that she made sign to the old man who accompanied her to inform himself more particularly Theogenes had no sooner heard from one of those men and the fair stranger from Theogenes that it was Demetrius the Son of Antigonus whose name was known through all Europe and Asia but coming to him Sir said she I by so many marks of greatness as appear in you might certainly
dying for you there was too much glory in my destiny to forbear to publish it 't was that that made me hasten a Declaration which perhaps you have not forgiven me and though I am not able to repent it I accounted my temerity so worthy to be condemned that I shall think what sentence for ever you pronouce against it to be both just and mercifull As he made an end of these words he fix'd his Eyes on mine with such a passionate action that his silence expressed his thoughts more eloquently than they had done and knowing that I should neither displease Aeacidas nor injure the modesty of my sex by giving him civil proofs of my affection I made no difficulty of taking a little liberty in favour of him and of following the command of my friends the wishes of the whole Court and the incitements of mine own inclination Sir said I after I had staid a while without reply your services are most important and your offences very light and that Declaration whereof you accuse your self as of a crime was made with too much respect and freedom to leave me any matter of complaint against you I think it a most judicious course for persons of your quality and mine and my Fathers approbation gives me the liberty to consider your good will upon which I should not have been able to have cast my Eyes without the knowledge of his I will confess to you moreover since this confession is due to the merit of your person and to that of the great obligations you have laid upon us that in the order he gave me in favour of you I found no repugnance in my self to obey him nor while I live will I ever have any to acknowledge your affection Agis was quite transported with joy at this Reply and lifting up his hands and Eyes to Heaven O fortune cried he thou dost but play with my destiny and these favours are too great to be of any long continuance thou in the beginning of my services hast given me a prize which could not be due to the most obsequious indeavours of my whole life and without doubt thou wilt forsake me when I have merited part of it by my fidelity He spake these prophetick words and many others with such raptures of joy as visibly expressed the greatness of his passion and afterwards made me a thousand protestations of an inviolable constancy with such sweet and moving language that there are but few hearts in which they would not have left a deep impression He continued frequently to make me the like visits but being desirous to stay in our Court without being burthensom to the people of Epirus he sent back his Forces into Greece under the conduct of one of his Commanders and kept onely with him his menial servants He protested publickly that he would not abuse Aeacidas his goodness and that he pretended not to his Alliance but when he should have merited it from me and that I should know him so well as he might hope for that through my inclination which I as yet paid him out of obedience This manner of proceeding was extremely civil and obliging to me but it was very imprudent for him and gave him cause enough to repent it afterward In the mean time he serv'd with so great assiduity and with marks of so true and so respectfull a passion that all that the most ardent and most skilfull Lovers ever practised to make themselves be lov'd must yield to the proofs I receiv'd of his affection he comply'd so perfectly with my desires and resign'd himself so absolutely to my inclinations that he seem'd to be inspir'd onely by my thoughts or rather to be enliven'd onely by my soul and indeed he made as fair a progress in his purpose as he could have wish'd and I am oblig'd to confess to you that never man succeeded better than he in the design of making himself belov'd by a person of my humour and condition It is true that I lov'd him but with so strong and so real an affection that it hardly was inferiour to his All the world approv'd it and all those that knew of it thought it so well grounded that it never was condemn'd but by Neoptolemus alone That Prince indeed inrag'd that Agis was preferr'd before him murmur'd publickly at it and left nothing unattempted to cross our affairs he made use of a thousand inventions to set dissention between us and so exasperated Agis that if had not expresly forbidden him he would without doubt have punish'd him for the plots he contriv'd against him What Sir said he one day to my Father do you imagine that the Alliance of the King of Sparta can be advantageous to you of a King of one City and of a City whose Sovereigns are slaves Are you blinded with a little valour and a little handsomness in his person And will your Condition be ere the better for having a handsom Son-in-Law in Greece if he have done any service to this State does it belong to you to recompence him and is there not a King of Epirus who is wholly oblig'd to him for it If the King your brother to whom I have the honour to be nearly ally'd were here do you think he would prefer this petty Prince of Greece before a Prince of the Bloud of Achilles as he himself is before a Prince whose birth whose person and whose fidelity are known to him He used many discourses of this nature which my Father pardon'd in regard of his passion and of his birth but which wrought no effect at all upon him One day he was in my Chamber where he had talk'd a great while to me upon that subject whereby he got but little satisfaction when Agis came in but Neoptolemus who could not indure his presence went out without giving him any salute and before he departed casting a furious look at me I leave the place to the more fortunate said he aloud rather to the more worthy answered Agis briskly Neoptolemus stung with that Reply was going to return words which would have incensed them more if I had not prevented it by expresly injoyning them silence and that very day my Father having been advertised of it pressed them with so earnest intreaties to pass their words to him that neither of them could refuse to promise he would be quiet In short Agis had obtain'd what he demanded and having won my heart according to his desire expected nothing for the consummation of his love but the return of a man whom Aeacidas oblig'd to that respect by all manner of reason had sent to the King his brother to demand his permission for our Marriage but while they were in this expectation and that I liv'd with my dear Agis as a person who was upon the point of giving her self wholly to him his fortune suffer'd a very strange revolution News came and but too true for our repose that King Alexander my uncle after
to save our selves Aeacidas grew pale at this intelligence and not being able to forsake me nor to fly himself with greater speed he was extream desirous to save little Pyrrhus whom he believed to be the principal aim of his Enemies pursuit and therefore having taken him in his arms and kissed him a great many times bathing his face in tears he put him into the hands of Androclion Hyppias and Meander who were mounted upon fleet horses commanding them to carry him to Glaucus King of the Illyrians his ancient friend and to whom he would entrust that which was most precious to him in all the World These three faithfull servants took charge of my little brother and promised the King that to their latest breath they would with fidelity acquit themselves of the commission he gave them When we had seen them depart we prosecuted our journey but left the high-wayes and under the conduct of trusty guides travelled through the most unknown places toward Byzantium where the King determin'd to passe over into Asia and go to Alexander I will not entertain you Sir with the frivolous particulars of our voyage it pleased the Gods we were not overtaken by our Enemies and that after a tedious wandring we in the end arrived at Byzantium There we remained unknown the King resolving to stay for Meander who by the order he had received was to bring him an account thither of the child that had been trusted to him Meander came and eased the King of part of his discontents by giving a relation of the success of his voyage He told him King Glaucus had taken the child into his protection how he had given charge he should be bred up with as much care and as much affection as his own how he had publickly sworn he would assist him with all his forces toward the recovery of his kingdom and how he complained that the king himself had taken sanctuary any where else but with him Aeacidas was joy'd at this recital but he was come to the conclusion of his miseries and as the Gods would have it to orewhelme the unfortunate Deidamia he fell ill the next day after and felt himself so weaken'd with his griefes that he had not strength enough to resist his sickness upon the sixth day he dyed and I remained in the most sad and lamentable condition that ever Princess was reduc'd to I make you judge of it my Lord without going about to make a description of it and you may easily imagine in what perplexities a maide might be who after having lost what was dearest to her in all the world saw herself deprived of her parents dispoyled of all she had without refuge and without support under the conduct of a few helpless men Certainly 't is very hard to fancy a more miserable estate than mine and all the tears in the world were not sufficient to deplore a part of my disasters I will not tell you what torrents I powred forth but content my self with letting you know that after the king my fathers obsequies when once the condition we were in would suffer us we consulted the Oracle of Mars who by the mouth of his Priest gave us order to proceed according to our former resolution and promised me that upon the banks of Euphrates I should find repose and an end of my misfortunes I received little consolation by that promise the Gods had given me knowing I could not hope for the performance of it any other way than by the end of my life yet was I determined to obey their commands and by the advice of Theogenes to whose conduct I had resign'd my self we continued on our journey toward Alexander who was then at Susa believing that the Queens would afford me a safe retreat and an honourable sanctuary The Gods can tell 't was not any desire to save my life nor to return to the quality whence I was fall'n that made me undertake so painfull a voyage but onely the fear of falling into Neoptolemus his hands and my willingness to comply with the desires of those faithfull persons who had abandoned all they had to serve me and who express'd so great an affection to the miserable Relicks of our Family 't is under their protection that I have travelled through so many Countreys but a long and dangerous sickness I had at Susa whence the King was gone e're we arrived hindred the effecting of our resolutions and before I was able to leave my bed we heard the fatal news of the much lamented death of the greatest man that ever came into the World By this last misfortune I was perswaded that the Gods aim'd absolutely at my destruction since they overwhelm'd me daily with new afflictions and stopp'd up all the passages to that safety and that repose I wish'd for whereupon I would have given my self over to despair if Theogenes and his faithfull companions had not kept me from it and being desirous in the extreamity to which I was reduced to have me try all manner of wayes they were of opinion I might obtain the same relief and the same protection from Alexanders successours and from his Family which I before had hoped for from himself This was the reason Sir that brought us to this place where the ill chance of this war you are all ingaged in began to make me loose the hopes which your goodness has reviv'd and which I now will cherish since I have had the happiness in my first encounter to light upon so generous a man as Prince Demetrius Thus did the fair Princess Deidamia finish her Narration wherein Demetrius was so concern'd that his tears for a great while kept company with those she shed at the end of her discourse but when her silence invited him to speak looking upon her with eyes which testified a sensibility in him that went something beyond compassion Madam said he the causes of your affliction are so great that they cannot justly be disapprov'd but in the loss you have sustain'd by the death of that Valiant King of the Lacedemonians the destiny of this unfortunate man that speaks to you has no small conformity with yours I weep as you do for a person who is no longer in the world and though my passion were neither so long settled nor upon so reasonable grounds as yours it has fortified it self by circumstances which have some thing in them more strange and more unusual-Ile weep with you whensoever you please to let me bear you company in that sad imployment and in this Encounter of our Fates perhaps we may finde some consolation In the mean time give me leave to wait upon you to the Retreat you have demanded and bring you to a great many Princesses who know how to pay what 's due unto your Birth and Person You shall not fail of the protection you hoped to receive from Alexander no nor of Revenge for the wrongs that have been done you for here are many
Arsaces modestly and 't is with much injustice they would rob Theodates of part of that glory which was totally due to him We have heard moreover continued Oroondates how you were presented to the King by Theodates the Reception you had from him the beginnings of your favour and of the Reputation you acquir'd among the Scythians the progress of your credit with the King your generous and affable carriage which gain'd you the hearts of all the Court the first discourses you had with Berenice and Stratonices Marriage to the King and in short the adventure which made my Sister discover your passion for her She was relating these passages to me when you came into our Camp and we were interrupted just as she began to tell the conversation you had with her in an Arbour of the Garden where by Cyllenia's mediation you obtain'd the audience you had demanded These Princes that hear you learn'd them not from Berenice but I made them the Recital yesterday and they know enough of all to ease you of a trouble which in your present condition would be no small one Since you are so well instructed in these particulars pursued Arsaces I will not repeat what you have heard already from my Princess but before I come to the place where her Narration was interrupted I le tell you some things in a few words which at that time were not come unto her knowledge She might be able to tell you the discourses I had with her but she could not represent to you what I felt inwardly for her and though in that I am more knowing than any other body even I my self shall finde the expressing of it to be a very difficult matter After the time that I had the honour to have access to her and that together with her outward beauties I was permitted to contemplate part of those which adorn'd her minde when her transcendent virtue her charming conversation and her excellent goodness were as well known to me as her face of a passionate man that I was before I became an idolater and grew quite transported having scarce power enough left me over my self to keep that violent passion from breaking forth which had made it self mistris of my soul with a most absolute Empire That perfect knowledge I had of her admirable qualities check'd my aspiring hopes and I could not consider Berenice in that sublime degree of perfection to which the Gods had raised her without remembring my self to be but a man and therefore utterly unworthy to serve her This reflexion caused disquiets in me which often were observed in my face and though I was loaden with honours and favour'd by the King beyond my desert that inward discontent made me but little sensible of any outward happiness and hindred me from tasting those Advantages which the most eminent persons in all Scythia could not look upon without Envy Theodates his friendship toward me was so augmented after those light services I had done him that he seem'd to live onely for my sake and he took so great an interest in those favours I receiv'd from the King that my fortune seem'd really to be his own and to say the truth I made use of it as much as possibly I could to his Advantage and imploy'd a great part of the confidence the King had in me to recommend the person of Theodates to him but these marks of my affection seem'd light to me in respect of what I ow'd to his and I believ'd that after the proofs he had given me of it I not onely might tell him who I was but that I could not without ingratitude conceal my self from him any longer Besides in the condition I then was I stood in need of a person to whom I might communicate my thoughts and amongst all those that were most discreet and most affectionate to me I could not have chosen one more worthy than he of so important a trust Theodates loves me too well said I and Theodates is too generous to betray me and besides the shame his treachery would be to him he could reap no manner of advantage by my destruction I ended these words with repentance for having distrusted Theodates his virtue and following the resolution I had taken one day when I had shut my self with him into a Closset I discover'd my true quality to him and the true cause of my abode in Scythia I made him acquainted with my love as well as with my birth and shew'd him how by that Declaration I put that life into his hands over which he had a great deal of power before I should have much ado to represent the greatness of Theodates his astonishment after this discovery he had so good an opinion of me as not to doubt the truth of my words and both my face and actions as he said to flatter me perswaded him sufficiently that my birth was higher than ordinary but he thought this Adventure so little common that upon the report of another body he could hardly have given credit to it Though he appear'd amaz'd he appear'd not chang'd and he believ'd that by that testimony of my friendship he was deeply oblig'd to persevere in his I opposed those submissions which that knowledge of my quality would have oblig'd him to render me and after I had most expresly intreated him to live in the same freedom with me as he was wont he made such protestations to me and promised me his assistance in my Design with so great affection that I did not think I had any reason to repent me of the confidence I had in him From that time forward he comforted me in my discontents as much as possibly he could sought means to let me see my Princess often and procured me that little Picture which gave her the knowledge of my love While I liv'd at Issedon in a very languishing manner and that I could not obtain permission of my respect to declare my passion the Truce was proposed and concluded between the King of Scythia and the King my father but the cause of it was sad to poor Darius and 't was about that time we heard that the Lieutenants were defeated at the passage of the Granicus that part of his Dominions had follow'd the fortune of conquering Alexander and that afterward Darius himself had lost the Battel of Issus and with it a great many of his Provinces and all his Family who were taken Prisoners You may easily judge that for all I was so prepossessed with a passion which made me insensible of all things else I could not receive this news without a most deep discontent and a great deal of shame It wrought a strange alteration in my hopes nor had love so totally seiz'd upon my heart but that it had left some place in it for the considerations of honour What said I shall I languish then at the feet of a person to whom my sufferings are not so much as known and shall
we left the Front and the left Flank open to the Enemies approach Scarce had we rested there two days which were spent in necessary preparations when our Scouts brought us intelligence that Amasis was coming to quarter that night within a hundred furlongs of us and that the next day he would offer us Battel This news wrought nothing in the courage of our Troops but a generous impatience and an ardent desire to have a bout with those daring Rebells They shew'd a thousand signs of it and in the interim I was carefull to forget nothing that belong'd to my charge and spent the whole time I had remaining to put all things in the order we could desire Cleorestes took off much of that trouble from me and with him Lectaris Mazentes Amisoras and many others in whom for their experience and valour I had a great deal of confidence The Report our Scouts had brought in prov'd very true for the Enemies Army incamp'd so near us that day that in the night time our foremost Troops heard their shouts and discover'd some of their fires As soon as day began to appear the Scythians made all the Plain to eccho with the sound of their instruments and the Officers busying themselves diligently about the Orders I had given them drew up their Squadrons according to the Scythian discipline Their form was exceeding terrible and of all the Souldiers I ever saw never did I meet with any that prepar'd themselves to fight with a confidence like theirs I wore a Suit of Arms that day which the King had given me at my departure the work of them was excellent and the matter very rich but Berenices Scarf was my most pompous Ornament Having learn'd in part what order our Enemies kept with their Troops I drew mine into three Bodies whereof I took the first my self and gave the two others to Cleorestes and Mazentes and when they were all in a readiness I rode bare-headed along the Front of every Division and imploy'd all the eloquence the Gods had given me to represent all the Reasons that might animate them to the Battell My Speech was not without effect for by good fortune I had so gain'd the hearts of both Officers and Souldiers that they cried out aloud I should lead them to the Enemy and that they fear'd not to be overcome while they fought under Arsaces Seeing them so gallantly resolv'd I would not retain them longer but covering my head with a Cask oreshadowed with white Plumes and with a Horse-tail which fell upon my shoulders I arm'd my left hand with a weighty shield and my right with a couple of Javelins and putting my self at the head of my Battalion march'd toward the Enemies when they were already beginning to advance The interview of the two Armies caused a dreadfull noise of voices and instrumennts but when after we had incourag'd them for the last time we gave them the liberty to charge they closed with an impetuousness which admits of no comparison The Enemy had but little Infantry as well as we and so the fight was equal between the Armies for though that of the Enemies was stronger than ours in number of men ours was justified by the goodness of its cause and by the valour of many gallant Officers I had with me The Body I commanded did so well as it presently broke through that which was before us and having routed all the Squadrons of it we after a great deal of Execution got as far as their Baggage The Scythians would have fallen to plunder but I forbad them till after the clear issue of the Battel and it was very happy I did so for scarce had we obtain'd that advantage when we heard that Mayentes his Battalion had given back before that which Amasis commanded in person and that our Enemies General had gain'd an Advantage little different from ours This news made us face about towards them that stood in need of our assistance and leaving those we had defeated at liberty either to fly or rally we went to fly upon conquering Amasis with a fury which he could not easily withstand If I did not fear to offend modesty I should say that the powerfull interest which guided me in that Combat made me do things that are not ordinary and that peradventure I contributed something toward the winning of that Battel Mazentes who was not utterly defeated recover'd courage at our Arrivall and while Cleorestes with his body made good our Advantage against him that was to oppose him we gave Amasis so smart and so fortunate a charge that we quickly raised our party again All the Forces drew insensibly to that place and 't was with a great deal of bloud and with the death of many thousand men that the Victory was there disputed I animated our valiant Warriers the most that possibly I could and after having told them what they ow'd to their honour to the service of their King and to their own safety which by reason of the River that was at their back they could not hope for otherwise than by Victory I indeavour'd to incite them to it by my Example and not sparing to hazard my life in their presence I by the confidence I shew'd oblig'd them to second me generously I did not strive to meet with Amasis for remembring that two of the three Brothers had been slain by my hand already I sought not an occasion to shed the remainder of the bloud of that House Why should I hold you longer After we had fought long and vigorously the Victory declared it self for our party and Amasis knowing that fortune was contrary to him fac'd about with some of his men and by flight sought either for his own safety or for the means of fighting another time In that last Rout the slaughter was very great and the Scythians who naturally love bloud and who seldom spare their Enemies committed cruelties which in many places it was impossible for me to hinder Yet did I do all I could and where I chanc'd to come it was not without success Our Victory was so absolute that of fifty thousand men whereof the Enemies Army was composed there were thirty thousand slain upon the place and we lost not above two thousand of ours After the Event of this Battel a little Town which was not many furlongs from us open'd its Gates without resistance and there we refresh'd our selves for a few days dressed our wounded men and put our Forces again in order to prosecute the Victory I had receiv'd some hurts but such light ones that I kept not my bed above four or five days Our Army was incamp'd near the Walls and all the principal Officers with the wounded Souldiers were lodg'd within the Town where care was taken for Victual and for necessary subsistance I then had reason enough to be satisfied with my fortune and that happy beginning of my Arms advanc'd my Designs and raised my hopes enough to smother part
Theomiris and Cyllenia I went to her Chamber as soon as I came out of the Kings where I had met the Queen and by that Encounter had sav'd a visit which in ceremony was to have been paid before that to my Princess Though she was to be seen but by very few it was not thought strange that after so long an absence and in the condition I then stood in the Kings favour I should obtain that priviledge When I came in to her Theodates had led Theomiris into the Closet and seeing my Princess come alone with Cyllenia to meet me I cast my self at her feet and while I imbrac'd her knees she threw her arms about my neck and used all the modest kindnesses to me I could desire from her The Gods have brought you home according to my desires said she nor could they recompence the sorrow your absence hath caused in me but by the joy of your Return I have wish'd for you a thousand times both for your own interests and for mine and if your presence would have been pleasing to me your assistance would not have been less necessary in the persecutions I have indured You have defended your self too well against them answered I being ravish'd with those obliging words to have stood in any need of my assistance and you have been a better Champion for Arsaces than Arsaces could in reason desire All my bloud fair Berenice is of too mean a value to purchase the smaller part of these obligations and though to requite them I should lay down a thousand lives if the Gods had given me so many I should still remain a Debter to my Princess In what I do for you added Berenice I follow my own inclinations and my gratitude which equally oblige me to love you nor did I labour less for Berenice than for Arsaces when I resisted the Kings unjust commands O Gods cried I with a transported action could I lawfully hope you would recompence my losses with such extraordinary blessings and did you reserve me for this glorious fortune when you took away all that you had given me I spake many other words to this purpose and my Princess having taken a fear and commanded me to sit down by her after she had ask'd me divers questions concerning my Voyage told me all that I had heard from Theodates and told it me with an action which secured me from all my fears and made me considently to banish all my apprehensions O Gods how sweet were her promises to me and with what incredible Raptures did I hear her express the aversion she had to Arsacomes Fear nothing my dear Arsaces said she and if you will not offend me suspect me not of the least inconstancy I know well enough to what virtue and obedience oblige me to have hitherto preserv'd that power over my self which I with reason may keep The King may well constrain me to receive Arsacomes his visits but he cannot constrain me to love him and if he should be so weak as to desire I should marry him I shall have Resolution enough to prefer Death before that unworthy Match The way to hinder it lies open to us said I and whensoever you are too much importun'd by Arsacomes I wear a Sword that will be able to deliver you from his importunities I will not suffer that unequal Competitor to have too just an advantage over me and all the Authority he hath in Scythia shall not defend him from the hands of a Rival not altogether so unworthy as he is of the glory to serve you I brought forth these words with a tone that made my Princess fear some effect of my jealous Resentment but she was desirous to prevent it and hindring me from saying more You are too prudent replied she not to foresee the Ruine of your Design in such an Enterprise nor can you come to any violence against Arsacomes without discovering to the King and to the whole Court what by so many Reasons we are oblig'd to conceal Do but depend upon the Assurances I give you and never let us try the most dangerous courses till the extremity You may dissemble as you have done hitherto and husband the Kings affections so well as to draw your advantage from thence when once the time is seasonable for you to declare your self In the interim wee 'l use our utmost indeavours for my Brothers liberty and if we can obtain it as he in meeting you and in the knowledge of your being alive will finde causes of an inconceivable joy so you in that ardent affection which he justly bears you will finde all the assistance and all the furtherance of your intentions you can hope for O Gods cried I at this remembrance my dear Brother must your virtue which is adored in all other places be so ill understood in your own Countrey and can those admirable qualities which gain you slaves and idolaters over all the world leave you Enemies in Scythia if Darius the Enemy of your Family could not know you without honouring and loving you as his own son is it possible you should be used as an Enemy by him that was the authour of your birth Then my affection made me utter a great many resenting words against the Kings cruelty and after having consulted a long time what we should do or undertake for you and having vainly contriv'd expedients to see you it grew night which made me take my leave of my Princess and retire to my Lodging with Theodates We spent the best part of the night in consulting of means to let you hear from us but the notice my Princess had given me that all your Guards were at the disposing of Stratonice and Arsacomes and that therefore there was no trust in them to be hoped for put all my designs out of frame and was the cause we durst not think of hazarding a Letter through their hands indeed the Princess at her second visit might perchance have watch'd an opportunity to deliver you one her self without being observ'd if she had thought on it before hand to have writ but then her hope of procuring a greater freedom to see you and talk with you in private was the cause of that neglect which she was not a little sorry for afterward and which she intended to have repair'd if she could have obtain'd leave to visit you once again but finding no possibility of that I resolv'd in the end to speak to the King concerning you to imploy all the credit I had with him to get the liberty to see you and for that purpose I went to wait upon him the next morning as soon as he was up he neglected all the company that was in the Room to favour me with exceeding kinde Reception which gave me a greater confidence than I had before and made me the bolder to attempt something for the service of my dear Brother We continued a while in a general conversation but when the King was
hop'd for from my meanest servant As soon as he was come close under the window putting my head out as I had done before Most obliging Prince said I and the most generous friend of all those that ever bore that name your goodness puts me into a confusion which I am not able to express 'T is enough interrupted Theodates reserve these complements for others and think now of sending the Princess an Answer Since you will have it so replied I I le drive my incivility to the utmost and I know you will be so good as to pardon it in consideration of my misfortunes With these words I went from the window leaving my good friend to walk alone in the Garden The same servants that had accompanied him and that had brought the Ladder wherewith he had gotten over the Wall staid for him in the next street and kept watch to hinder him from being surprised Criton had found means from the beginning of my imprisonment to procure Ink and Paper from my Guards and having given it me I writ to my Princess in these terms Arsaces to the Princess Berenice NO my dear Princess I shall never be unfortunate so long as you remember me and all that I shall suffer for you instead of afflicting me shall be accounted a most glorious recompence It was not in the Kings power to deprive me of my liberty I lost it when I saw you first and by making me cease to see you he can neither take it away nor restore it Yet has he used all the cruelty he could against me and not being able to rob me of my Princesses affection he has robbed me of her sight since that was a thing within the limit of his authority It is onely in the want of it that my imprisonment consists and being forbidden to see you I should be as much a Prisoner in the open Field as in the closest Dungeon Fear nothing therefore for me dear Princess since except those that depend on you this is the greatest unhappiness I can receive and being secured by your promise of whatsoever I could apprehend all that our Enemies can do is not terrible enough to strike fear into the courage of Arsaces When I had folded up this Letter I tied it to the string and going to the window again I let it down into Theodates his hand with words full of affection and acknowledgement for the good offices he did me We had some other discourse touching what the Kings intentions might be against me whereof Theodates told me he was as ignorant as I yet could he not believe that the King would come to extremities against me after the services I had done to his Kingdom and to his person and we both believ'd he would spin out my imprisonment in length to determine of it according to the Event of his Affairs We had many things to say to one another but I fear'd least Theodates should be surprised in so long a visit and so I forc'd him to go away though he desir'd to have discoursed with me longer After that night I saw him many others by the same means but never without bringing me marks of my Princesses remembrance 't was by them I lessen'd the wearisomness of my imprisonment which after the losses I had undergone would not have been supportable but for those sweet consolations I learn'd by him how Arsacomes continued his persecutions and though I found a Remedy against that mischief in the knowledge of the little fruit they reap'd I saw great cause of fear when I heard they were approved by the King and that that insolent man imployed his Authority to acquire what he could not obtain by the merit of his person My Princess did me the honour to write me divers Letters upon that subject and receiv'd a great many of mine about it you will dispence with me if I repeat them not for if I should tie my self punctually to a particular Recital my Narration would be of an extraordinary length I had already been many moneths in Prison the true cause of it being known but to very few who being bound by Oath never declared that secret to any body during which I at several times heard news from Theodates which produced different effects in me The first was that of Zopirio's entring into Scythia whose first progress Theodates told me and with it the fright of all the Scythians upon the Report of Alexanders coming I continued many days without learning what General would be sent against those dreadfull Enemies though Theodates brought me word that all the Scythians petitioned the King for their Princes liberty and cried aloud that no other body could be set to oppose that Conquerour of all the Earth The King by the counsel of interessed persons did long forbear to satisfie their desires but in the end he found so much justice in them or rather so little security to himself and his in the Election of another Commander he himself being already grown infirm with years and very unfit to undertake such an Enterprise that he promised them what they had so earnestly long'd for and resolv'd to put an end to that tedious and unjust Captivity for which all Scythia had much lamented I was extremely over-jo'd when I heard this pââasing news by Theodates and though my friendship to my dear Brother was sufficient alone to make me so yet I confess it was increased by some little mixture of interest I doubted not but I should still finde the same affection from him he had formerly shew'd me and was confident that in the Authority he was going to recover I might hope for all the support and all the assistance I could desire Yet did I not think it fit he should so soon learn the truth of my affairs for fear least being but upon the point of getting again into his fathers good opinion the indeavours he should use in favour of me might cast him into his displeasure more deeply than before and destroy a fortune that was yet but weakly settled To prevent this danger I made Theodates swear he would do a thing I should desire him and after I had strongly ingag'd him that there was no longer any cause to doubt his promise I intreated him Brother that he would not make you acquainted with what he knew concerning me till the end of the War to which you were going because I was affraid that news would be enough to make you quit the imployent that was given you which would certainly incense the King against you more than ever and so utterly ruine you Theodates made great difficulty of granting me this Request but he was so fast tied by his Oaths whereof the Scythians have a particular veneration that after he had resisted a good while he was fain in the end to confirm the promise he had made me This was the cause dear Brother that hindered him from telling you my Adventures during that Voyage in which he
you in and of the successe of his own journey wherein he had no considerable encounter When we had thus instructed one another we fell to think whether we should retire and what order we should take to get my wounds drest they began to trouble me and though they were but slight ones the violent exercise I had used my losse of bloud and the vapours of the night made them a great deal worse then else they would have been Criton was no lesse hurt then I but his affection was so strong that he forgot his own danger to take care for mine After we had consulted a while Theodates would need have us go for the remainder of that night and the day following to the house of one of those men who then was with him which was not above an hundred furlongs from the place where we were I suffred my self to be guided by his will and as we rode along Theodates calling all his company to him drew a new promise from them of their fidelity and tyed them by all manner of entreaties to be as secret as we could desire They were all very affectionate to their Master and some of them were so well inclined toward me that they were both forward in promising and exact in performing what we demanded The house we went to was farre from any great road upon the edge of a huge forrest and in such a place as was very unlikely to be suspected for our retreat When we were come thither the Master of the House and some women we found there took the best order they could to receive us and by good fortune Theodates having brought his Physitian and his Chirurgion from the army with him furnished with such things as were necessary for any wound we had the means to have ou'rs dressed as commodiously as if we had been at Issedon I had but three and those were found to be such light ones that it was not probable they should keep me long in bed They appli'd what they thought most convenient to them and likewise to Critons who had four or five greater then mine but not at all more dangerous The Physitian enjoyn'd me to give the remainder of that night to rest contrary to the intension I had to spend it in discoursing with Theodates but the next day I had leisure enough and ask'd him a thousand questions concerning my dear Oroondates By what he had done in my behalf he was become as criminall as I and his accesse to Court was as difficult and as unsafe as mine His affection to me was sufficient to make him undergoe it with patience but I was afflicted at it for him and his love to Theomiris being known to me I doubted not but he had a restless longing to see her again We fell to deliberate what we should do with our selves and were along time before we could resolve I was too firmly fixt in Scythia to suffer so much as a thought of going out of it and would rather have exposed my self to a thousand evident deaths then have perswaded my self to leave Berenice but if I had been so minded it would have been exceeding difficult to do it and we doubted not but that the King had sent to stop all the Ports and to lay all the other passages by which we could get out of his territories We beleiv'd also that how secret soever our present retreat was it could not serve us many dayes and that those persons the King imploy'd in search of us might at last discover where we were After we had long consulted we beleev'd the surest way we could take would be to returne to Issedon where when the first troubles were once past over we might have free entrance by night and where by reason of the greatnesse of the City and the multitude of new affairs that sprung up daily in the Court and in that throng of people we might easily lie conceal'd in houses that were at Theodates his disposing especially being the King would never suspect we were return'd thither and that we had taken sanctuary so near him against his anger This advice seem'd the most reasonable and was most conformable to my humour and to the desire I had not to go farre from Berenice in the mean time we sent two witty understanding fellows back to the Town to fetch us such things as we wanted and to enquire after what concern'd us They perform'd their commission very cunningly and in the evening brought us the same news we had imagined They told us that the King had appear'd more sensible of this last discontent then of any other he had ever felt before and that for all the remainder of that day those that were most in his favour hardly had the boldnesse to come near him that he had left no body at home that was able to ride on horsback but had sent them all in pursuit of us and that as we had foreseen he had given order to stop all the ports and passages of his Kingdome that neverthelesse they said in Town that none but those that were interessed obey'd his orders without trouble and that the better part of Scythians amongst whom the name of Arsaces was still in high esteem rejoy'd at his escape and favoured him with their wishes as much as they could possibly In this news I found some consolation but when I ask'd them concerning Berenice they could tell me nothing but that the rumour was how since this accident the King had commanded she should be surely guarded and that very few persons were allow'd to see her This report made me guesse at part of the truth and I beleev'd that the Kings late resolution against me had proceeded only from the knowledge he had gotten of my passion Ah! how many torments did that beleif cause in me and how many sighs did it cost me when I thought what that fair Princesse was like to suffer by my occasion O King of Scythia cri'd I revenge thy self upon Arsaces but do not punish Berenice and though that be the most sensible part wherein thou canst wound thine enemy remember that Berenice is above thy laws and above the Empire of mankind The second day being passed Theodates was of opinion we might be much more secure in Issedon as we had already thought then in that house and for that purpose having sent to make ready a lodging where he was confident we might safely trust our selves we took our way thither the night following Our wounds would not suffer us to ride without inconveniency but I had so great an inclination to be nere Berenice again that I was scarcely sensible of mine and having rid it in little more then two hours we entred after midnight into the Town the gates whereof were not wont to be shutt Those that accompanied us parted severall wayes some of them retiring to other places and for fear our number should at last make us be discover'd we kept none with
us but those that were necessary They did our businesses and fetch'd us in provisions by night and during the day time the doors of our house were alwayes shutt it stood in the most unfrequented quarter of all the Town and we were so carefull to make no noise that their could hardly be any ground for suspicion Yet were we in a great deal of danger but by the order the King had taken we should have been so likewise in any other place and the consideration of perill was not able to drive me from Berenice Theodates and I were not without a good number of Friends at Court to whom we should have made no difficulty to trust our selves if it had been necessary Prince Carthasis though the Kings Brother would have received us with a great deal of affection and his friendship to us as also his aversion to Arsacomes and his discontent at the greatnesse of his fortune were sufficient to have made him exspose himself to any hazzard for our consideration Many others of the chief of Scythia had still preserv'd the remembrance of the good offices I had done them or which I had endeavoured to do them during the time I was in favour and I doubted not but that they would have ventured very farr to have obliged me but I was loath to endanger them without necessity beleeving that whosoever should be known to be my friend would be the first suspected and that by how much the more secret our abode was so much the safer also would it be We passed many dayes on this manner which being separated from my Princesse I should have thought unsupportable if since the time of my imprisonment I had not been inur'd to suffer Yet was I mervellously impatient to see her and assoon as my wounds permitted me to stirr out of bed I resolv'd to hazzard that visit in spite of Theodates his oppositions What said I shall I be free in Issedon and not see Berenice Ah! Theodates my life is not so dear to me as that I would secure it at that rate nor can I preserve it without Berenice since it is for her alone that I preserve it Theodates complyed with my design when he saw he could not divert it and that consent was not without some mixture of his own interest The Princesse Theomiris was still with Berenice and for all her fathers rigorous usage of her at the request of Prince Carthasis she was allow'd the company of that Princesse whom she made her bedfellow and to whom she had intrusted her most secret thoughts Theodates had not seen her since his departure but now he hoped we might share that visit together After we had long contriv'd the least difficult expedients we at last made choise of this We remembred that the Princesses ante-chamber had an iron grated window not very high which stood towards a little narrow street that was almost uninhabited by reason it was so exceeding dirty that hardly any body could passe that way it was not nere the Palace gate nor any of those places wher there us'd to be guards and I thought when all the world was asleep we by that window might get to speak with Cyllenia and by her means enjoy the happinesse of entertaining our Princesses After we had thus laid our design we got on horsback and took two trusty men along with us whom we set as sentinells at each end of that street to come and give us notice in case they should see any body that could discover our conversation In the mean time there had happen'd things to my Princesse which the course of my story hindred me from telling you and which I will not recount before I passe further in my narration It would be fitter interrupted Oroondates that my sister should tell us them her self That little breathing time will not be needless in so long a discourse as this of yours and it were good you rested your self a little that you may be able to prosecute the remainder of it without inconveniency Arsaces made no answer leaving the Princesse to satisfie her Brothers motion and Berenice knowing his desire Since you will have it so Brother said she and that your friendship to Arsaces and your knowledge of his virtue makes you pardon my faults and my disobedience I 'le spare him the trouble of a few moments but I have so little to say that so short an intermission will not be much considerable I will not stand to repeat again after the relation you have heard already from the Prince what my thoughts were after the cruell accident of the surprisall of my letters and after the knowledge I had both of my being made a prisoner and of the danger that threatned Prince Artaxerxes It suffices me that you already know I lov'd him as much as I believed I ought and is he could desire to make you judge that my apprehensions for him were my most cruell disquiets All my comfort was in the Princesse Theomiris and in Cyllenia whose company the King afforded me notwithstanding all his severitie Theomiris had obtain'd it of the King by her fathers mediation and my enemies thought it was not necessary to take Cyllenia from me who in their opinion was not able to doe me any service that could be prejudiciall to them It is true also that I received those pettie satisfactions by the Queens means who with a cunning dissimulation feign'd to be sorry for the misfortune which she her self had brought upon me and by courtesies of small importance endeavoured to take off part of that resentment she believ'd I had against her How ever it were Theomiris and Cyllenia continued with me and thought at that time I could not guesse by whom I had been so unworthily betrayed I never had so much as a thought to suspect Cyllenia I therefore trusted these two dear persons with all my discontents and with all my fears and they help'd what they could to stop that current of tears which both those occasions drew from my eyes in great abundance Ah! Cousen said I Ah! Cyllenia I am undone and poore Artaxerxes will undoubtedly be ruined and ruined meerly by my imprudence That Prince who after the losse of his Empire and after the losse of all his friends ha's escaped such numberless dangers under the weight of which any other body would certainly have sunke he who amidst his most bitter enemies ha's subsisted with such dexterity and who by so many marvellous actions had so well gain'd their affections falls now by my fault alone and she to whom all Scythia owes that repose it hold's from him owes the life of its King and owes such important services sacrifices him now her self to his inhumanitie and to his ingratitude Ah? Berenice continued I Berenice the sole cause of that great Prince's misfortunes doe not out-live his afflictions and if thou canst not hinder the death of poore Artaxerxes at least forerun it with thine own I accompanied these
words with such a flood of teares and expressed my sorrow by such moving actions that not onely Theomiris Cyllenia but even people of the harshest natures would have been touch'd with compassion I spent the remainder of that day in this imployment and would needs have my Cousen lie with me to help to passe away the cruellest night I had ever known in all my life She alledg'd all the arguments she could think of to cure me of my fears and often perswaded me it was not likely the King wonld fly to extremities against a Prince of Artaxexerxes his quality and against a Prince to whom besides that of his life he had other such important obligations that the whole Kingdome so powerfully indebted to his valour would oppose the Kings rigorous intentions and that he was too prudent and too politick to suffer himself to be transported by his passion to such a violence as was without example I found so much reason in this discourse of Theomiris that if my affection had been more moderate I should without question have drawn some comfort from it but it was by her inspirations and by those of Cyllenia that I tooke a little courage and resolv'd to suffer the Kings presence and to receive his words with more spirit then I had done before Having spent the night on this manner and likewise part of the day following I saw the King when I least expected him come all alone into my chamber I rose up and went to meet him trembling but he disdaind my reception and sitting down upon a chair from whence he darted nothing but furious looks at me I come not to visite thee said he ungratefull and disloyall girle I owe not so much civility to the daughter in Law of Darius and from hence forward I cannot desire thy sight otherwise then as that of my most mortall enemy I come onely to reproach thee with thy ingratitude and infidelitie or to examine thee as a criminall convicted of treason against her King Speak wicked creature continued he seeing me daunted and strucken half dead with these cruell words open thy mouth to excuse thy self and justifie thy infidelities if it be possible Didst thou then think the sonne of my implacable enemy more lovely then a Prince whom I had chosen for thee and whose affections I had expresly commanded thee to receive and if thou hadst eyes to judge of the difference there was between Arsacomes and thee hadst thou none to consider that without betraying thy father and shamefully betraying thy self thou couldst not match thy self to the enemy of thy House and to him who had basely abandoned his father and his Countrey to their new enemies to compasse his treacherous practices against their old ones and to seeke that revenge by his secret conspiracies which neither he nor his could ever find in open war While the King brought forth these words with many others of the same kind I summond all my courage to answer him as he commanded me and though I had mâch adoe to recollect my self at last my affection my sence of the ill usage I receiv'd and the resolution I had taken gave me a boldnesse that was not naturall to me and when the King had made an end of speaking charging me expresly to reply Sir said I I would not open my mouth for my justification if your Majestie had not absolutely commanded me but in my prefârring Arâaces before Arsacomes I can find no cause at all to repent my self Arsacomes is born my Fathers subject Arsacomes never did me nor mine any considerable service nor have I ever seen any thing either in the actions or person of Arsacomes which ought not to have oblig'd me to hate him Arsaces is born the greatest Prince in the world and born Prince of a thousand subjects more considerable then Arsacomes I owe to Arsaces the life of the King my Father and my own the Queen and Arsacomes himself are indebted to him for theirs and all Scythia for the better part of its tranquilitie and in the actions and person of Arsaces I never saw any thing that ought not to oblige me to love him If he be the sonne of your enemy Sir the services he ha's done you makes you sufficiently to know how farre he is from any of those thoughts you suspect him of if he had desired the ruine of your Kingdome he would not have labour'd with the losse of his bloud for its conservation and if your Maâesties life had been odious to him he would not so visibly have hazarded his own fââ its defence I alledge not to your Majestie the ingagements we had to him in the person of the Prince my brother the good offices he did to him passe not in your opinion for obligations and though I were indebted to him for none but those which are common to me and to your self for the losse of his dominions which he perchance might have avoided if your service had not taken him up and for the particular proofes of affection he ha's shown me I thinke that those he ha's receiv'd from mine will not passe for shamefull crimes and that I have confin'd them within such limits that the want of your allowance is all the fault can be objected against me I have lov'd him enough to preferre him before a subject before whom he would have been most worthy to be preferr'd though their qualities and obligations had been equall I have lov'd him enough to approve of his services waiting till such time as those he dayly rendred you should dissipate the hatred you bore his family by the example of the King his father in whom lesse important services in spite of your inveterate enmities begot such tender affections to the Prince my Brother and in short I have lov'd him enough to hope with contentment that after that reconciliation you would make choice of him rather then of Arsacomes and rather then of any other body that should have an ambition like that of his but I have not lov'd him enough to grant him any favours that can make me blush nor to give him either promises or hopes to the prejudice of what I owe unto your Majestie Though Arsaces and I were both at liberty I should be so much Mistresse of my affection to him as to die rather then marry him or goe along with him without your consent but if your will would agree with my inclination I confesse Sir that as much forsaken by Fortune and as much dispossessed of his dominions as he is I would preferre him before all the Princes upon the face of the earth At these last words the King was so enflamed with anger that it was easie to observe it in his face and stamping with his foot as he rose up from his chair with a furious action And I swear by all the Gods said he that I will quickly deprive thee of the libertie of preferring him before any body and thy indiscreet and
principall City and with his sword hewn out the way unto his safety through the midst of their stoutest troups This news having suddenly reviv'd me I appear'd very different from what I was a few minutes before and though I was little inform'd of the truth of the business I found my self well enough recover'd to inquire it of the Prince and to hear the relation of it very patiently He told me what had pass'd in Arsaces his escape as it was reported by those of his guard which had seen the beginning and by those that had seen the end of that action he made me often grow pale and trembling during this discourse but when at last I heard that after having done things above the power of man he had been succoured by Theodates whom the Gods had miraculously sent him and that with him he was gotten out of the Town with little probability that he could be overtaken by those that were sent in pursuit of him my greatest fears began to vanish and I remain'd as quiet and as well contented as I could hope to be in that adventure Modesty forbad me to express my satisfaction to the full before my Uncle but he saw it plainly enough in my face and might easily have perceiv'd in his daughters if he had observ'd it that she was not insensible at the news of Theodates his arrivall and of the share he had in the destiny of Arsaces Though I conceal'd part of my thoughts from my Uncle I made him acquainted with the rest not being willing to give him cause by my distrust to repent the affection he shew'd me in a season when it might be prejuditiall to him When I had testified my acknowledgement of that favour as much as possibly I could I entreated him to be gon for fear a long visit at that time might be hurtfull to him and gain him the Kings jealousie and hatred After his departure Theomiris and I discoursed of that last accident and when I had compared the danger Arsaces had escap'd with those he might yet fall into and the rigour of his imprisonment with that of his absence I thought my condition a great deal better then it was before and beleev'd I ought to be much better pleas'd with my fortune then I had been at any time since my restraint I pass'd that night in lesse violent disquiets and though I found cause enough of affliction in being separated from Arsaces I found matter of comfort in his liberty and chose much rather to have him absent then a prisoner to the King my father Arsaces said I will not forsake me I am too certain that he loves me to fear he will go away from me for ever he by being out of the way for the present will avoid the evident danger that threatens him and without doubt will return to me assoon as he can be able to make use of my Brothers assistance Oroondates ha's lov'd him too perfectly ever to abandon his interests and perhaps my fathers cruell humour may one day be appeas'd by the consideration of his whole Family Thus did I flatter my self in my discontents while the King was transported with excess of rage not being able to bear the affront he had receiv'd without such an impatiency as nothing can represent He banish'd those guards for ever that had escap'd Arsaces his valour and look'd upon the rest with such a fury as put them all into a mortall terrour What said he ha's a single man in the heart of my Dominions in the chief of all my Cities near my own person and in the mid'st of all my Subjects made his escape from my just indignation and are the Scythians so cowardly as to quit the passage to one man alone or so faithless as to open it of their own accord to their Kings chief enemy He spoak these words with many furious actions and grew so terrible to those that were most familiar with him that the Queen her self durst hardly venture to come nere him His belief that I would be glad of the discontent he had receiv'd by Arsaces his deliverance redoubled the aversion he had receiv'd against me and he was ready to have discharged part of that wrath upon me which before was kindled against him He neither saw me nor would suffer me to be seen but by very few yet about three dayes after this accident I was visited by the Queen from whom I neither had expected nor desir'd that honour I was I was not so good a dissembler as to make my face shew a different welcome from what my heart afforded her but though I could not doubt that her malice alone had brought me into that condition I then was in I strove all I could to pay her in my own chamber some part of what was due to my fathers wife After the first discourses of a very forc'd civility Madame said she by rendring you this visit which I ow you I shall without question move the King to some displeasure against me but I was willing to hazard that to assure you that I am very sensible of what you suffer and very ready to labour for your redress as much as possibly I can I am much oblig'd to your goodness answer'd I but my fear of the Kings being displeased with you for it could have made me wish you had not honour'd me with this visit Stratonice who ha's a great deal of wit took my words in the same sence they were intended and showing by a smile that she very well understood my meaning I do not doubt repli'd she but that you are angry with me and that you suspect I have done what I could to maintaine Arsacomes his interests against Arsaces In this I am very sorry I have been constrain'd to thwart your inclinations but 't is a proceeding that is both very naturall and very ordinary and you are too full of reason to believe that I ought to hold the Son of Darius and my own Brother in equall consideration I should not have fall'n upon this discourse if the Queen had not begun it But when I saw she entred so farre into it her self I thought I might very well reply It was not just said I Madame that you should favour Arsaces with your assistance to the prejudice of Arsacomes neither did he demand it of you but by the service you had receiv'd from him he had reason to believe you would not endeavour his destruction nor had I ever offended you so much as to imagin you ought to seek for mine I have done nothing added the Queen that should make you think I had an intention to hurt you nor did I perchance seek your disadvantage when I labour'd to make you preferre Prince Arsacomes before a Prince whose birth and merit indeed were considerable but he was an enemy to the King your Father an enemy to this State and one to whom the Gods have left nothing of which his Ancestours possess'd If
considerations but 't was with so much discretion and reservedness that the âeverest persons could not have found any thing to condemn in her affection The window at which we talk'd was so low that the two Princes being on horsback could easily reach it with their hand and though it were grated the barrs stood so farr without that we could hear one another though we spoak but softly and also see one another as well as the light of the starrs would suffer us After I had âestifi'd to Arsaces how sensible I had been of the dangers he had run and with what joy I had receiv'd the news of his escape I told him all that had happen'd to me since the time I had not been able to write to him and recounted all that you have heard as well about the taking of my letters as the Kings cruell threats the Queens visits and all that I had suffer'd for his sake He was so passionate at that discourse that he had hardly patience to let me finish it and in the answers I had made to the King and Queen to his advantage as likewise in the constancy I had shown to favour him he found so much reason to be satisfi'd with me and with his fortune that he knew not how to express the least part of his acknowledgements Is it possible said he that what I hear should be a truth and that Arsaces should be so happy as to attain this high degree of felicity Ah! losse of my Dominions Ah! dangers that I have run Ah! pains that I have suffer'd how gloriously are you all rewarded aâd how unable is the King of Scythia to shake so firm a fortune as mine is Since my Princesse judges me worthy of her affection and that in spite of such cruell rigours and persecutions she perseveres to keep it for me I henceforth apprehend nothing from the power of men and my happiness is above the reach of all they can attempt against me From this he fell into such tender and such affectionate expressions of thanks that it was hard to hear them and to repent whan one had done for him and I redoubled his contentment by all the confirmations he could desire of my friendship We then began all together to consult what was best to bee done and when we had severally deliver'd our opinions My design added he if it be permitted for a person that is subject and dependent to have a design is for some dayes to enjoy the happiness which now is granted me if I can do it without troubling and disquieting my Princess and when I shall have obtain'd leave of my Love to be able to part from her for some time and that by the settling of the Kings anger I may think my passage will be a little freer I 'le go away to the Prince my Brother to show him the face of him he hath so dearly lov'd and to take sanctuary with him against the indignation of his Father I hope for all things from his friendship and he commands an Army which after him would be at my devotion against the rest of all mankind I shall have no other enemy there but Arsacomes and if the consideration of Oroondates make me deferr the effect of my resentments against him I am most certain I shall be preferr'd before him in Oroondates his friendship but if without âffending my dear Brother I may be sufferr'd to let them loose I shall find wayes enough to free my self of a rivall who hath made and who perhaps would yet make the greatest part of all my miseries neither ought he to hope that he can enjoy his life with his ambition of serving Berenice and though I fear not he should be able to shake the constancy of my Princess I ought however to punish him for the pains and persecutions he hath made her suffer This was Arsaces his intention part whereof I approv'd and labouring to divert the violence of the rest I would needs moderate his spleen against Arsacomes by the promise I made him that all his indeavours should never serve for any thing but to make him the more odious to me I will not trouble you Brother with all the particulars of our conversation that discourse would be too long since it was not much shorter then the night In brief judging that the day began to draw near I dismiss'd Arsaces after having confirm'd him by all manner of protestations in the hope he had of my constancy and after having given him leave to take the same opportunities for a like entertainment while he could stay at Issedon with any safety This design was put in execution and I saw him many times in the same manner without either being surpris'd or troubled by any encounter and Arsaces at my urgent entreaties was so carefull to keep himself conceal'd that his being in Issedon was never so much as suspected In the interim the King was so extremely vext at the shame he thought he had receiv'd that his discontent mode rated or rather stifled all the joy he ought to have receiv'd for the happy proceedings of my Brothers Army He had heard of his victory over Zopirio and afterwards of the taking of many Towns which either by force or gentlenesse he had brought under his obedience but he hardly appear'd any way sensible of those successes which in another season would have found him very ready to bear a part in the publick joy But he receiv'd no small surcharge to his affliction when by an expresse that came from Arsacomes he heard how Prince Oroondates had lest the Army the cause of his departure being unknown to every body as likewise the place whether he was gon He deliver'd him a letter which my Brother had written to Arsacomes whereby he resign'd the army into his command and gave up into his hand the charge the King had impos'd upon him This news cast the King into furious redoublings of his anger but it was raised to the extremity when that Messenger deliver'd him a Cabinet which my Brother had forgotten in which amongst many other papers there had been found the information Theodates gave him of the life fortune and imprisonment of Artaxerxes The reading of that letter produced many severall effects in him for if it made him judge that Oroondates had till then been innocent of the treacherous designs whereof he accus'd Artaxerxes it made him also beleive that it was that advertisement that made him leave his army to go to that dear friend and to joyn with him against his fathers service Neither was he without some suspicion that Oroondates had cunningly left that letter to make it be beleiv'd that the designs and person of Arsaces had been unknown to him and to gain the more facility by that device to effect the plotts they had continu'd together But howsoever it were the King could not fix upon any of these opinions without finding cause to redouble his wrath and hatred against
Kings messenger had made very great hast and had been arriv'd there many dayes and Arsacomes who with such lofty hopes had receiv'd so pleasing an order had rais'd his camp from the banks of Boristhenes and was returning straight to Issedon with as long marches as he could He by order from the King had left five or six thousand men upon the frontier which he had put in garrison in some of those Towns that had been recover'd and the rest of the army was about eighteen or twenty thousand It was along the bank of the river Hypanis that we saw the first battalions march and riding with our beavers down we passed without doubt among the first that saw us for horsmen of their army we wore nothing upon our Arms that could discover our quality they were very good but not enriched with any ornament that could make them be taken notice of and we had made choice of such that we might have the liberty of passing every where with lesse danger of being known I had taken no particular order about my design but had only resolv'd to lay hold of the first occasion Fortune should offer me to fight with Arsacomes or kill him if I could do it upon even terms and without any basenesse but see how she behav'd her self in that adventure and admire her capriciousnesse in one of the strangest events you ever heard One part of the army was already pass'd when I saw Arsacomes appear at the head of a good number of Commanders among which I knew the good old Cleorestes Leotaris and some other of those friends I had greatest confidence in He was compleatly arm'd as you know it is the custome among the Scythians never to go without there arms upon a march or in passing upon any duty of their Command but his beaver was up and he was easie to be known by many other marks Assoon as ever I saw 't was he my resentments awaken'd in such manner that I no longer was master of them and though in appearance I could not take a more unseasonable time for my satisfaction I was not capable of all necessary considerations and moreover I beleiv'd that in the extreamity I was reduc'd to and in the nature of the cause that mov'd me I could not stand considering nor seek wayes to facilitate my enterprise and be cautious of my safety without cowardise In this conceit turning toward Theodates Dear Theodates said I I can no longer deferr the execution of my design stir not till you see I have need of your assistance and then do what you shall think convenient I harken'd not to what Theodates alledg'd to disswade me from my rash intent but advancing toward Arsacomes I drew near him without any difficulty I saluted him bowing to my saddle bow and speaking to him without putting up my beaver Sir said I may I have a word or two with you in private to inform you of a thing of great importance for the Kings service Arsacomes acâus'd me of unmannerliness or folly for having spoken to him without discov'ring my face and looking upon me with an arrogant fashion he ask'd me who I was You shall know Sir answer'd I and with my name shall also learn the business I have to impart to you if you please to withdraw about an hundred paces from this company that is about you With these words I tur'nd my horse and rode toward the place whither I desir'd to draw him and though they that were present would have perswaded him not to follow me and told him that by so doing he should injure his dignity yet being as indeed he was valiant and desirous of glory he beleiv'd that distrust would show a want of spirit In that opinion he commanded them to march on and forbidding them to follow him he came galloping after me and passing by the place where I had stopt went five or six hundred paces from his men I overtook him in an instant and he turning toward me assoon as I drew near Speak now said he at liberty and since no body overhears thee tell me who thou art and what thou hast to communicate to me for the Kings service I thought I might satisfie part of his demand by letting him see my face and for that purpose thrusting up my bever of my cask I am Arsaces answer'd I and and that name alone thou may'st learn all I have to say to thee Arsacomes was so surpris'd at these words and at the unexpected sight of my face that for all he had a great deal of courage he chang'd colour and appear'd as unmoveable as a statue I would not take advantage of his amazement but to give him leasure to recouer it Come to thy self again Arsacomes said I and know him whom neither the King of Scythia's ingratitude nor thine hath been able to ruine I live still in spite of his orders and in spite of thine I live to dispute Berenice with thee endeavour to defend thy pretensions with thy life make thy selfe worthy by that action of what neither thy birth nor thy services have been able to merit Thou canst never hope to possess her quietly while Arsaces is alive and though oughtest to dispatch him out of the world if thou wilt free thy self of a more fortunate rivall and of an irreconcileable enemy My birth is now well enough known to thee to believe thou shalt not wrong thy dignity by this combat nor is there so little honour to be gotten with Arsaces but that thou may'st reckon this encounter as one of the most glorious of thy whole life By these words I strove to draw him to a greater distance from his troups yet he would go but very little further and having settled himself while I was speaking after he had look'd upon me with a more resolute countenance then before Yes said he I am ready to dispute Berenice with thee and since thou hast escap'd the justice of the King her father I shall be glad to revenge his quarrell and make my sword the instrument of that death which thou oughtest to have suffer'd for the defence of thy countrey This cruell reproach to which I saw my self unhappily exspos'd rais'd my anger to the highest pitch and seeing that Arsacomes put his hand to the hilt of his sword without moving any further I drew mine with all the hast I could and making it glitter in his eyes quickly show'd him that to give me my death was not so easy a matter as he imagin'd I beleiv'd I had not much time to satisfie my revenge and that I should soon have part of the army upon me wherefore desiring to shorten that combat with an extraordinary hast I flew at Arsacomes with more fury then judgment and with two fortunate blows gave him two wounds one in the body the other in the right arme which disabled him to fight and put him in such disorder that rushing fiercely against him at the same
heaven and stopping at those words he fix'd his eyes upon the ground and kept silence yet for some few moments At last he rose up from the chaire where he sat and looking upon me with a countenance absolutely mollified or rather full of confusion Arsaces said he Generous Arsaces you are my Conquerour but O Gods how ought I to hope you will use your victory I was so surprised at this strange alteration that I was not able to reply and within a little after coming toward me with open armes Might I hope continued he that after such high provocations and such crimes as deserve no pardon Arsaces can have the goodnesse to forget them and that by the same Generosity which ha's overcome me he for the sake of Berenice and for the sake of Oroondates would restore me that friendship which once I priz'd at so high a rate and which my cruelty ha's forfeited These words giving me a full assurance of his change did also disperse all the resentments I had against him and not knowing in that sudden revolution how to find termes capable to expresse my thoughts I contented my self with declaring them by my actions and to let the King see by casting my self at his feet that I should ever receive the return of his friendship as an invaluable favour Ah! pursued he seing me in that posture and judging by my action that I was readyly disposed to all he desir'd if it be true that Arsaces pardons me the indignities I have offred him I shall esteem that effect of his generosity above all the rest wherewith he hath oblig'd me No said he taking me in his arms and embracing me with a very passionate gesture Arsaces could not be conquer'd but by himself and in this victory which he winnes over his just resentments he appeares more great and more glorious then in all those others he hath obtain'd to our advantage In fine Most great and most generous of all Princes you tryumph over us all manner of wayes but though you have reap'd small fruit by all your former victories the prize of this last shall be a firmer affection then that I lov'd you with before a purpose to share my Dominions with you or else to loose them for the recovery of yours and finally Berenice the cause of our greatest contestations I will joyfully accept him for my sonne who was the sonne of Darius and if the father were yet alive I would demand that alliance of him with an inviolable peace as the most happy fortune that could befall me The King had not the leisure to prosecute his discourse for the noise which Stratonice Arsacomes and those of their party made at a declaration that was so cruell to them would not suffer him to continue it The Queen with a transported action stepping forward toward the King and forgetting her modesty at so sensible a blow What Sir said she will you take away Berenice from Arsacomes to give her to the sonne of Darius The King to hinder her from saving more replyed Madame it is not without trouble that I am constrain'd to displease you I want not recompences for Arsacomes but I cannot without being the basest and most contemptible of all men living dispose of Berenice to any body but Artaxerxes Artaxerxes cannot have her added Arsacomes so long as I am alive and I know too well what Kings owe unto their promise to feare that that which your Majesty ha's given me should be violated in favour of him That which I promised you replyed the King as an honour that was above you is not capable to engage me and having no right to pretend to it neither have you any to demand the accomplishment of it How great interest soever I had in this discourse I kept silence out of modesty seing that the King defended my party very well but Arsacomes whose grief transported him lost part of his respect and without considering that which he ow'd to the presence of his King I shall know how to maintaine my just pretensions said he both against Arsaces and against all men living Berenice is mine by a promise that cannot be revoked nor shall she be taken from me without effusion of bloud All this while I had continued silent but then I thought I both might and ought to reply Neither thou nor I said I are worthy of Berenice but if either of us may preten'd to her Artaxerxes both by birth and Services ha's more right then Arsacomes Yet will not I abuse the Kings favour as thou hast done but though it declare on my behalf I am ready still to dispute Berenice against thee with my sword Hitherto thou hast very ill defended her and hast not been able to defend so much as thine own life against me single at the head of thy army but if that tryall thou hast had of my forces makes thee believe they are too hard for thine put on thine armes and here I offer to maintaine my rights against thee with my sword alone Arsacomes was going to reply if the King had not prevented him I will be Master said he in my own Kingdome and in my owne house since Arsaces who was so by the right of warre is content to leave me my authority You are my subject Arsacomes and I have power to do otherwise with you then with the sonne of Darius I command you therefore to obey me without murmuring and I entreat Prince Artaxerxes to leave me the disposing of my daughter without offring to dispute her against you since he alone is able to crosse the power I have over the Scythians I shall know well enough how to maintaine the promise I make him against all others While the King was speaking on this manner all the people in whose memory the affection of Arsaces was not yet extinguished who in this reconciliation saw an end of the warre and of those miseries they had fear'd and who in my last actions had found how I had spared them after a clapping of hands which made the Temple ring cryed out a loud that is was to Arsaces their deliverer and their protector that their Princesse ought to be given and this action added to the Kings words stirr'd up so great a rage and so much confusion in Stratonice and Arsacomes that after a threatning murmurre they went out of the Temple in a very different manner from their coming in I will not tell you since that recital would bee too long with what expressions the King confirm'd the hope which he had given me what thanks I return'd him nor what were the words and actions of Berenice all these things passed in transports of joy but in the height of all the Kings endearements I cast my self once more at his feet and after he had done his endeavour to raise me up againe I protested to him that I never would cease to embrace his knees till he had graunted me his pardon for Theodates and for all
did I moderate my rage by a reflection I made upon this encounter for I believed with likelyhood that I had cause to hope in the promise of the Gods and that Berenice was not far from those parts since I had found Arsacomes there This belief comforted me very much and a while after I was confirm'd in it by Criton who came up to me at last his horse not having been so swift as mine and his impatience not so violent He was very much troubled to heare the accident that had befallen me and having alighted to give me his horse I would have gotten upon him to pursue my enemy againe but I found him so spent that I lost all hope of overtaking Arsacomes and was constrain'd to think upon some new resolution I remembred that Arsacomes had ask'd the way to Babylon and I was of opinion I might light upon him in that Citty but Criton whose prudence I had observ'd in all his actions thought it not safe for me to go thither at that time considering the exact guard that was kept at the gates where passengers were search'd and examined whence they came and what was their businesse and where they did many things that would put me in very great hazard of being known He represented to me that it would be much more easy for him to inform himself in Babylon concerning what I desir'd then for me who for feare of being discover'd would be faine to keep still within dores Therefore by his advice in which I found a great deale of reason I with his horse took my way back to the house of our retreat and he went on a foot to the Town which was but a little way of from whence he was to come home to me the next day with all the news he could learne and with another horse which I gave him charge to buy Thus did I return to the place where I made my abode and where I pass'd the rest of that day in discontents mingled with some glimpse of hope but before it was night Criton came back with a brave horse he had bought and asking him the cause why he return'd sooner then I expected Sir answer'd he before I came to the gates of Babylon I met Arsacomes and which is more Sir I met him with the Princesse Berenice Ah! cry'd I what doest thou tell me hast thou found Berenice Yes Sir replyed he I found her in the armes of Arsacomes who in spite of her resistance and in spite of all her cryes carry'd her away before him galloping back the same way we saw him go O Gods added I quite transported what a happy progresse is this toward the accomplishment of your promises If I had had a horse said Criton I should certainly have follow'd them though I had been sure to loose my life but being a foot as I was I could not possibly execute my desires for having presently lost sight of them though I ran as fast as I could after I had complained of my ill fortune I thought the best service I could do you would be to go on to the Town and buy a horse for you as you had commanded me This discourse touch'd me as you may imagine but it was with joy which encouraged me to believe I ought to hope for all things from the promise of the Gods I hardly would allow the night leasure to passe away and assoon as ever it was break of day mounting the horse which Criton had brought me and which I found to be a very good one I began a fresh to seek after my Princesse Yet would I not stirre out of this Country for feare of disobeying the Gods whom I began to find exact in the hopes they had given me and when I had spent the dayes in my search I for the most part came back at night to my usuall retreat There is no Town here abouts which I have not visited no village nor house whose entrance was permitted me where I have not been to look for my Princesse but all my endeavours were unprofitable and after having vainly sought through all the Province I thought at last to return to that Temple where the Gods had promised me the return of my happynesse and where if I might be suffred I meant to reproach them for having deceiv'd me With this intention being departed from a village where I had lien I left Babylon upon the right hand and was hardly gotten twenty furlongs from it when I saw a chariot coming toward me which six horses drew at a very great rate The designe I had of seeking my Princesse every where made me go nere the side of it where I saw a woman in a mans armes who by her cryes and by all her actions show'd she was carried away by force My hopes were waken'd in me by that sight but assoon as I beheld her face againe and heard her voice I knew it was not my Princesse though me thought neither that face nor voice was unknown to me Yet was I resolv'd to succour her whosoever she was and to that end riding up to the Charioteer I commanded him to stand He made a difficulty to obey me but I brought the point of my javeline to his face and made him know there was no safety for him but in obedience In the meane time he that was in the Chariot having observ'd my action leapt nimbly out and calling a man that carri'd his caske gave him charge to hold that Lady if she should offer to get away and making him a light from a gallant horse he was upon he threw himself into the Saddle with a great deale of agility he was no sooner in his stirrups but coming toward me with a threatning action Whosoever thou art cry'd he though thou wert Lysimachus againe if thou opposest my intention thou shalt be sure to meet with death in thine I am not Lysimachus answer'd I but if thine intention be to carry away that Lady by force mine shall ever be to defend her against thy violence Thou must dye then replyed he and with those words flew upon me with a great deale of courage Being he indeed was valliant the combat lasted for some time without disaduantage to either but in the end I was more fortunate then he and after having warded many blows he made at me I gave him two or three wounds which made him fall from his horse unable to fight any longer Then I turn'd toward the Lady I had rescued and he that held her by his Masters command no sooner saw me coming but he let her go and fled toward Babilon The woman presently leaped out of the Chariot and the Charioteere lasshing on his horses toward the City got a great way from us in a little time Scarce had I alighted and set my eyes upon that Ladyes face but I observ'd all the lineaments of Queen Statira my sister You may well enough conceive how great my amazement was at so unexpected an
by my despaire I reflected as much as it would suffer me upon many things that confirmed me in the designe of serving the party contrary to that of my enemy and though I had very just causes of resentment against Roxana I smother'd part of those I had against Perdiccas and could not remember that his love had thrust him upon actions that were displeasing to the Queen my sister without remembring also âhat both she and Parisatis were indebted to him for their lives and that but for the assistance he had given them I should have been the onely person remaining of the bloud of Darius Moreover I believ'd that the love which he and his brother bore my sisters would engage them still in their defence and that if they were at that time in their hands they were safer there against Roxana's hatred then in any other retreat whatsoever I communicated none of these thoughts to Seleucus though his vertue might have given me a great deale of confidence in him not thinking it convenient for the little time I had resolv'd to ââve and in the condition I then was to make any further discovery of my self I said not a word to him of my combat against Perdiccas nor of with I knew of the Princesses being a live whom for all your declaration every body believ'd dead or at least faign'd to believe so Perdiccas had never see ne my face and though we have often met and talked together since he still continued ignorant that I had ever hâd any encounter with him Yet you easily imagine that so were Roxana and him and in the middest of so many men whom their interest was sure to make my enemies I could not be without a great deale of danger but you also know that as I car'd but little for my life I took but little care of its conservation Yet did I desire ayming at nothing lesse then my safety to avoy'd the sight of Roxana and of all others that could know me and Seleucus of whom I dayly requested that favour being willing to satisfie me ordered the matter so that I was visited by none but his particular friends The report neverthelesse of my lying wounded at Seleucus his house began to spread about the Town and that small reputation I had gaind was cause that many had a mind to see me Roxana her self who out of cunning flatters those with great civility whom she ha's a desire to engage in her party had often-times a thought to visite me but Seleucus at my earnest intreaty diswaded her from it saying I was not yet so well as to receive her visites without in conveniency In the mean time Brother your Medecine had wrought its usuall effect upon me and within ten or twelve dayes after the applying of that Herbe I was well enough to leave my bed Perdiccas who was cur'd almost about that time was the first that visited me and came into my chamber with Seleucus Alcetas Cassander and some other of the most considerable among them He entertain'd me with the civillest and most obliging discourses in the world and told me that my reputation had come to the ears of Alexander and had not onely gaind me the esteem of that Great King but of all vertuous persons whatsoever that he receiv'd the assistance I made him hope for as the chiefest step to victory that he would resigne me all the authority he held over those of his party and that there was none among them who would not voluntarily submit to me I answer'd that excesse of civility with all that I had left in the sorrowfull condition of my heart and assur'd him in a few words that I would serve him without any command and without other ambition then that of fighting by Seleucus his side After that visite I receiv'd many others from him but assoon as the forces were come up finding my self able to leave my chamber I pray'd Seleucus I might go out of the Town to encampe with them and to lye in his tent which with those of the other Princes were pitch'd along the bank of the Euphrates there I pass'd many tedious dayes or rather many weary some nights since my soule was nothing but in darkenesse or at the best enlightned only by some hope of revenge Criton who had already told me that my enemie was not Arsacomes confirm'd it to me after he had seen him againe with Clitophon when he carri'd him thanks for the favour he had done me and I was already perswaded of it by the tryall I had made of his forces and by the admirable generosity of that rivall who in all his actions me thought was very different from Arsacomes yet though I doubted not of what Criton said I knew not what to believe when the report came into our Campe that a Scythian Prince nam'd Arsacomes was with our enemies and very much consider'd amongst them This news which came to us many several wayes put me at first into great disquiets to learn the truth of it but in the end I banish'd them all sticking close to my former resolutions Let him be Arsacomes said I or let him be a stranger 't is still he that takes Berenice from me and he whom I ought to prosecute to death In the person of Arsacomes I shall kill my ancient enemy and in that of a stranger I shall punish the cruell man who unjustly robs me of what he ha's not purchased by his bloud and services as I have dore and who makes Berenice a thousand times more faulty by such a horrible lightnesse then if she had given her self to Arsacomes who ha's lov'd and serv'd her many years These were my thoughts till the time of my conference with Lysimachus the day before the battel Seleucus had told me the History of that Prince and besides the esteem which was caused in me by the recitall of his gallant actions the affection he had testified to my sister and to all our family made me value him exceedingly but when I found by his letter that it was he with whom I had contracted a friendship at the Temple of Apollo and afterward by the River-side I recieved the occasion of seing him withall the joy I could then be capable of You from him have heard what passed between us and how our conversation was interrupted and from me you shall heare that after we parted the remembrance of hâs words put me again into my former confusion and I could not call to mind what he had said of the long services my rivall had done my Princesse without believing it was Arsacomes The last actions said I to my self which I did in Scythia till which my passion was never openly declared were done too lately to be come to the knowledge of Lysimachus and Arsacomes his passion which ha's been discover'd these seaven or eight years can be unknowne to no body but those that know not him 't is Arsacomes without doubt Criton ha's forgotten his
Byzantium without any hindrance Eurimedon was Lieutenant there for Alexander under Prince Lysimachus who was Vice roy of Thrace but he being absent with the King Eurimedon was absolute in Thrace and in the Bosporus Assoon as he heard of Arsacomes his arrivall he received him in a very obliging manner and by word of mouth confirm'd whatsoever he had promised to his messenger I was ever well log'd and Eurimedon having taken care to furnish me with other women I was serv'd as well as I could have desired if it had not been by enemies Arsacomes dayly imploy'd all his eloquence and all his cunning to work upon me he be thought himself of all the submissions whereby an exasperated mind could be appeased and made no difficulty of suffering any thing except the proposition of my return and of my liberty The impudent Astiages Sollicited me every day to favour him and perswaded me that in the condition I then was nothing could be of greater advantage to me than to marry Arsacomes he told me it was not my best course to drive a Prince into dispair who had power to do what he pleased himself and that a lover reduc'd to the last extremities was capable of doing any thing but I repulsed that perfidious man with such words as if he had had any shame in him would have serv'd his turn for ever Eurimedon himself at first spake for Arsacomes with a great deal of earnestness and strove to win me to an opinion that I should not be unfortunate with a Prince that adored me and in whose favour he offred me his protection against all Enemies whatsoever and part of Alexanders Forces against Arsaces and against the King my father if he disapprov'd my change He indeavovr'd also to comfort me in my sorrow by all manner of civility but when he found me inflexible and not to be comforted he ceased to trouble me any more I for a while believ'd that the compassion he had of my misfortune or the respect he had of my person had made him cooler towards Arsacomes and with that conceit I indur'd his company more willingly than before but within a little after I perceiv'd that alteration proceeded from another cause and by his looks and by all his actions I found that his own interests had made him forget those of Arsacomes In brief by an effect of my destiny either good or bad Eurimedon fell in love with me and I saw my self exposed by my cruell fortune to suffer the affection of a man of meaner birth and of meaner quality than Arsacomes He for some days spoke nothing to me of his passion but in ambiguous terms yet within a while after the power he saw he had made him grow insolent and not onely took away all the respect he had born to my quality but also the consideration he had of Arsacomes and the promise he had given him The first time he explain'd himself to me was after a discourse we had of my misfortunes and having quietly hearken'd to the complaints I made Madam said he you are not so unfortunate as you believe and if you were but of an humour to discern those persons that have an ambition to serve you from those that have offended you your miseries would not be of any long continuance These words into the meaning whereof I did not dive at first gave me some glimpse of hope and being desirous to keep the good will of a man who had power to oblige me Do not doubt Eurimedon said I but that I am as sensible of courtesies as I can be of injuries nor but that I would fully acknowledge those I should receive from virtuous persons If it be so replied he Eurimedon will be the happiest man in the world and you shall not be the most unfortunate Princess I know what I ow to Arsacomes and to the laws of hospitality but I also know what I ow to Berenice and to my self and though I should commit a fault that passion wherewith Arsacomes covers his may more reasonably excuse those of Eurimedon These words wherein there no longer was any ambiguity caused a disdain in me which I cannot express and if Eurimedon look'd then upon my face I am confident he saw it overspread with a colour that was not ordinary Go Eurimedon said I go declare your passion to others than the daughter of the King of Scythia and redouble not by your insolence the afflictions of a Princess whom you ought not to behold but with respect Though Eurimedon was dash'd at this Reply yet would he have spoken again but I gave him not the leisure for going away without so much as casting an Eye toward him I shut my self up into my Closset Imagine the complaints I made after this last effect of my misfortune and spare me the pains of repeating them 't was not without a very sensible discontent that I consider'd that new Conquest nor was it without a great many tears that I look'd upon the misery of my condition which forc'd me to receive declarations of love from a man of Eurimedon's birth Ah! Artaxerxes said I what an unworthy Rival has my hard fate procur'd thee and how much thou wouldst be asham'd if thou knew'st my misery to have a petty Lieutenant of a Province thy Competitour in affection thou to whom a hundred Provinces and ten thousand Subjects more considerable than this Rival ought to yield obedience This remembrance made Eurimedon more odious to me than Arsacomes and though according to the Rules of Prudence I ought perchance to have dissembled with him to get by his means out of the power of Arsacomes my fear of falling into worse hands than his opposed that subtilty or rather I had not command enough over my self to make my Resentments give way to that consideration I therefore avoided all discourse with Eurimedon as carefully as with Arsacomes yet for all I shunn'd him I could not keep him off but growing more inflam'd by that resistance he omitted nothing that could advantage his Design and having found me one day alone at my Closset-window whither he came to me so suddenly that I had not time to get away Madam said he it is in your own power to be at liberty and Sovereign in Byzantium and if you did not disdain my services and my person I would quickly revenge and free you from the tyranny of Arsacomes Although I hated Arsacomes as you well may judge I confess I abhorr'd the falseness of Eurimedon who voluntarily offred to betray a man that had trusted him with his life and with that which was dearest to him This knowledge made me hate him and depise him the more but thinking I should be unwise to neglect the means of recovering my liberty If you will serve Berenice said I as virtue obliges you to do the Gods will recompence so good an Action and the King my Father will neither want power nor will to acknowledge it I desire nothing
love he ty'd himself up strictly in a very narrow constraint In these terms he stood when the whole Army was ready to try the success of a second day and Arsaces being then well enough cured to ride on hors-back and to fight approv'd of the resolution which he knew all his Companions had to send and present their Enemies Battel within three dayes They had intelligence by spies that were return'd out of their Camp that their Army was no less recruited than theirs and that from Media Lydia Pamphilia Caria and Parthia there was a re-inforcement of five and thirty or fourty thousand men come to them and not being willing to afford them time to make themselves stronger they with a general opinion determined to send them a chalenge and to agree with them both upon the day and Field for deciding of their quarrel Cleomenes and Aristides were chosen for that commission but before they went Arsaces taking them aside inform'd them of what he desired and gave them charge to demand an entervenience of Perdiccas and Seleucus the next day between the two Camps for him and one of his friends withall necessary securities The Deputies departed having received their instructions and the Princes remained with the Ladies who began already to tremble and grow pale at the approach of the Battel Berenice was like to die with fear for her dear Artaxerxes and for the Prince her Brother who she saw escaped out of so many dangers onely to precipitate themselves into a new one and to try the hazard of a day the events whereof were very doubtfull Apamia and Arsionoe grew wan for their dear and Noble husbands Deidamia for all she was exempt from loving any body that was alive was not without fear for her worthy friends and among all the Princes from whom she hoped for support she bestowed her particular wishes for young Demetrius Onely Thalestris appeared fearless among so many timorous Princesses and making some attempts to banish out of her mind the remembrance of Orontes which afflicted her she show'd her self at the head of her fair Amazons both fairer and cheerfuller than ordinary her satisfaction was caused by their arrival and she could not dissemble the contentment she receiv'd by being able to assist those Princes with her Forces whom till then she had onely served in her single person The two Camps being not far asunder Cleomenes and Aristides were not long ere they return'd whereupon the Souldiers ran thronging to the Tent of Antigonus who commanded that day and where the Princes were then assembled The answer they heard was such as they desired for Cleomenes told them that the Enemies had gladly received their proposition and that Perdiccas had promised to expect them the third day with a hundred thousand men in the next Field All the Company welcom'd this news with joyfull cries and the rumour of it going out of the Tent ran presently from one to another into all parts of the Camp Afterwards Cleomenes turning toward Arsaces to give him an account of his whole negotiation Sir said he I have followed your orders and having declared your intention to Seleucus he appear'd so astonish'd to hear you were in our party that of a great while he was not able to answer me In the end after he had made some complaints of your change he conferr'd with Perdiccas and they both together promised me that to morrow as soon as the Sun is risen they will be upon that little hill which you see on the right hand and which is just half way between their Army and ours Arsaces was very well pleased with this answer and hoping for a good success of that parley he imparted his thoughts to Prince Oroondates with whom he walked a while upon the bank of the River The rest of that day was spent in their ordinary imployments and the next morning as soon as day appear'd the Princes of Scythia and Persia called for their cloaths and Arms and no sooner had they got them on but they took horse and rode directly toward the place Cleomenes had told them of They arrived there first but presently after they saw them coming whom they expected and Arsaces no sooner knew Seleucus but he gallop'd up toward him and the same did Oroondates by his example When they were near they saluted one another in a fashion that had nothing of enmity in it though Oroondates were unknown to Perdiccas whose weakness had not suffered him to observe his face wheÌ he had been succourd by him his gracefull presence working the effect that was usual to it mov'd Perdiccas to nothing but respect After the first salutation Arsaces preventing Seleucus who open'd his mouth probably to use some reproaches against him You wonder brave Seleucus said he to see me in your Enemies party but when once you know me you will wonder more that ever you saw me in yours I know I am indebted to you for my life but you shall also know that I have fought for you against nature against justice against my nearest friends and even against my self and that perhaps few men in the World would have preferred the obligation I have to you before the interest which now has pull'd me from you yet as great as it is it is not able to make me forget a friend so worthy of esteem as is Seleucus and I was very desirous to see him to justifie my self in his opinion and to beg the continuation of a friendship which I no longer can hope for from those of his party I never thought reply'd Seleucus it could be out of inconstancy that Arsaces had forsaken us and I have found courage and gratitude enough in you for a service of small importance to believe they must needs be very weighty considerations that had made you to become our Enemy Yet could I not hear it without trouble nor if I may say so to you without resentment since by the promises of friendship you had made me I believed such a man as you are sufficiently engag'd Say added Perdiccas who had not spoken till than that no party can loose a man like Arsaces without being very much weakned that the great actions we have seen him do in favour of us will not suffer us to bear his loss without complaining of it and that in short if we may use such a reproach we had given him no cause by the usage he received from us to carry his assistance to our Enemies That I gave to you reply'd Arsaces as it is my greatest crime so would it also be my greatest remorse if it were not excused by what I ow'd to Seleucus and by the transports of a passion to which I had then given my self over In brief Perdiccas since you know what I have done for you learn what I ought to have done against you by learning that I am the Son of Darius Those Princesses whom you brought to the very brink of death and whom
his affection he could not call to minde that Statira was in his power without yeilding much unto his grief nor without fearing that his rival would revenge the shame of his defeat by those ways which lay open to him for that purpose Lysimachus his thoughts were like to his and those Princes passed the rest of that day in disquiets which opposed their victory The next morning Oroondates and the Prince of Persia believing their wounds too inconsiderable to make them keep their Beds called for their clothes and assoon as they were ready went together into Seleucus his Chamber having first sent to know whether their visit would not be a trouble to him Seleucus received the honor they did him with a great deal of civility and considering Arsaces then both by the greatness of his actions and by that of his high birth and looking upon Oroondates as he of all men living whose vertue had showed it self by the gallantest marks and as he whose forces he had made tryal of himself with very little success he forgot his wounds to render them what he believed their due They no sooner were set down by his Bed-side but Arsaces preventing the thanks he was going to return I could not have taken any rest said he if some slight wounds had been able to hinder me from coming my self to see how you do nor is my health dear enough to me to keep me longer from a Prince to whom I ow all maner of respect for his vertue and to whom I am particularly indebted for my life If I was so happy as to give you any assistance replied Seleucus I was too fully recompenced by the glory of having served you and you have since so generously requited it That the remembrance of that service which gave me the honor of your friendship ought to yeild to that of the Obligation I have to you We are all obliged to the Prince my Brother added the Prince of Scythia and if he had let the valiant Seleucus perish he had let us loose the better part of those advantages the gods have given us I deserved death answered Seleucus since I dared to meet it from your hand and if I had received it when I was so bold as to oppose your valor it would have been so glorious a one that I should have had no reason to lament my destiny You defend your life too well replied the Prince to let any single man have the glory to take it and I ow all the advantage I had over you to the help of my men and to the routing of yours Seleucus answered this modesty of Oroondates with a perfect submission and when from those first civilities they fell into another discourse Arsaces thrust on by Oroondates his Interests and by his love to the remainders of his blood after having embraced Seleucus to win a grant of what he desired Generous Seleucus said he if your friendship to Perdiccas can permit you will you not tell us the truth of the present condition of my Sisters and will you not freely tell us what estate they are in and what usage they receive After the confession Perdiccas himself hath made to you replied Seleucus I may give you that satisfaction without betraying him and withal may let you see by the little confidence he had in me the little share I have in your causes of complaint against him I know not whether Perdiccas thought I would disapprove his proceeding and that the knowledge thereof would hinder me from serving him or whether indeed he was ashamed to own it to me but however it were I may truly protest to you That before the day of our enterview he had not told me a syllable of it and that I was ignorant of the true destiny of Cassandra as well as all other men In effect I believed according to the rumor Roxana had spred abroad That Queen Statira and the Princess her Sister had been kill'd in the night upon their way to Babylon by some of Meleagers faction And though in all these passages I found causes of doubt enough for one that had been curious I ever was one of those that were least inquisitive and blindly tyed my self to serve Perdiccas as I thought my self obliged by a very near and a very ancient friendship But that day of our Parley after we parted very ill satisfied with one another the remembrance of your discourse with Perdiccas touching the liberty of the Princesses and of the confession he had made caused me after some complaint of the little confidence he had in me to ask him the truth of all and then after having often embraced me to drive away the resentment I might have of his distrust asked me pardon for having kept that hid from me which he believed he could not so soon reveal to any body in the world especially to me of whose vertue as he was pleased to say He stood more in aw then of any body else He told me at large all that had passed touching the Princess since the death of Alexander afterward he confessed to me That he had been in love with the Queen even in the Kings life time and that he had all that while concealed an affection which he was then no longer able to dissemble Oroondates having told Seleucus all they had heard by Cleone concerning the Queens adventures obliged him to let them know what they yet were ignorant of and to that intent he continued thus After that Perdiccas was faln upon the ground by the wounds he had received from Arsaces and that Arsaces had lost the Queen his Sister by the encounter of Alcetas who while Arsaces was fighting with his men caused her to be put by force into his Chariot Alcetas leaving his party for fear he should loose what he had in possession and should disappoint his Brothers intentions made the Charioter drive away very swiftly and keeping the way he had resolved to go came to a house hard by the Town where his Brother and he purposed to stay till night that they might enter into Babylon with less danger of having those persons known whom they brought along with them But Alcetas being come to that house found not Perdiccas there as he expected though by his meeting the Queen he was already faln into suspicions which he could not clear himself in by any discourse with her who avoided all maner of conversation with him and within a little after he saw one of his men come in who had been present at the combat and who brought him word in what condition he had left him Alcâtas was almost besides himself at the news but it will suffice me to tell you That not knowing how to leave the Princesses he sent some of his servants to the place where his Brother had fought either to succor him or to fetch him away and not long after he saw him brought in upon a Hand-barrow in a condition which made him
glad to have sent Letters by him to their Princesses but they easily judged that Perdiccas would not give him permission to see them and they intended not to ask him Cleonimus very well pleased that he had found an occasion to serve those gallant Princes to whom he had so much devoted himself after he had protested That he would faithfully perform the Commiâsion they had given him took his leave of them and getting on Horse-back advanced toward the Gates of his Native City which the remembrance of former times and of the deplorable death of his dear Theander would not suffer him to behold without tears In the interim the Princes were gone out of Seleucus his Tent and were thinking to go wait upon the Princess Berenice when they heard that she with Deidamia and Cleone was gone to visit Apamia and Arsinoe who were with Prince Artabasus their Father Although his Quarter was a good way off the Princes took that walk without unwillingness and Arsaces thought all ways ease that led him to his Princess They found very good company with that venerable old man but it was increased presently after by one of the most welcome additions it could have received Scarce had they begun to fall into discourse when there was seen coming toward the Tent a Chariot drawn by ten white Horses guarded by certain Horsemen and followed by a good number of servants The equipage shewing the quality of the person to whom it appertained caused those that were most curious and least employed as Oroondates Lysimachus and Ptolomeus to break off their Conversation and go toward the door of the Tent whither they were no sooner come but they saw the Chariot stop there full of Ladies and Prince Oroondates advancing first to help them to alight and offering his hand to her that appeared the chief knew her to be his good and generous friend the fair Princess Barsina But once in his whole life had that Prince been touched with a more pleasing surprise and hardly had he given greater testimonies of it when from the mouth of Perdiccas he had heard that his Princess was alive Of all the persons in the World onely Statira and Artaxerxes had any advantage over Barsina in his affection and the Princess Berenice did but hardly possess an equal place to that of hers in his friendship neither could he see her without an extraordinary tenderness nor without melting into tears which his Affection his Joy and very moving Remembrances drew from his eyes at that fortunate meeting Barsina to whom by a good will whereof the vertue of them both had made the strongest engagements that Prince was dearer then all the rest of mankinde seemed no less touched nor less transported then he at that encounter and when she saw her self in his Arms she made no difficulty to press him between hers and feared not to offend her modesty by giving him testimonies of an Affection not inferior to his Honored Barsina said the Prince my Protectress and my Tutelary deity Are you come to take away the remainder of my Afflictions by your presence and to bring me a Fortune again whereof your goodness hath ever made one of the cheifest parts Ah! without doubt continued he begining his endearments afresh which she could not oppose without doubt this felicity was to fore-run the last I now can hope for and the gods after having preserved my Princess and regiven me my dear Artaxerxes have thought it necessary to restore me Barsina also without whom I could not relish any perfect happiness He brought forth these words with interruption and Barsina after having a while given place to their impetuousness Sir said she at last The gods bring me to you again that I may share in those blessings they have restored you and in those felicities they are preparing for you They know that I am too much interessed in your Fortune to be separated from it and they should do me an injustice if in those good successes that wait for you and in those that have already befaln you they should not give me as great a part as I have had in your afflictions They had gone further into that discourse if the throng of those who at the name of Barsina were run out of the Tent had not taken them off and if as ardent as Oroondates was he had not been constrained to yeild her for a while to those other friends Her two dear Sisters Apamia and Arsinoe her two Illustrious Brothers-in-law Ptolomeus and Eumenes and even her Father himself whose affection had given him a nimbleness to go out to meet her demanded to possess her in their turns but all were fain to leave her to Prince Artaxerxes and Barsina no sooner saw him appear but geting loose from the Arms of all she ran to him with an action that made the company know what love and what veneration she bore to the remnants of the Blood of Darius O my Lord said she casting her self into his Arms which he stretched forth to her O my Lord Is it possible that Barsina should yet be so happy as to receive the favor of her revived Prince and of a Prince to whose death she had given so many tears Artaxerxes who dearly loved and particularly esteemed her appeared sensible of her Affection by all the signs he could express of his I was alive dear Cousin answered he while you believed that I was dead as peradventure I ought to have been but if my life have something of shameful in it after the death of my Friends behold my excuse Cousin and pardon my being alive by considering for whom I have lived He said these words shewing her the Princess Berenice whom Oroondates was bringing toward her and who being informed of the vertues of that Princess and of the good offices she had done her Brother ran to her with a spirit of acknowledgement and esteem Barsina who already had learned some part of the truth knew her by many marks but more then all the rest by that admirable beauty which the whole World could hardly parallel And advancing to her with an action full of astonishment and submiââon would have kissed her Hands with great respect but the Princess pulled them back to present her Mouth and to let her see That in the esteem and affection she already had conceived toward her she desired a greater equality in their salutations After a familiarity very different from that of a first enterview Barsina looking still upon Berenice with admiration O most worthy Sister said she of such a Brother as Oroondates and most worthy cause of the life and passions of Prince Artaxerxes How easie are you to be known among whatsoever of great and beautiful our eyes can see and how infinitely is Barsina satisfied that she now can pay her homage to the worthy Mistress and worthy Sister of the greatest Princes in the World The Princess out of countenance at so obliging a discourse replied with a
retreat which I offered him amongst my friends and which I could have procured him by Letters I would have given him but as I rejected his Counsels he rejected my offers and I could never win him to do what I desired If you ask me how you then stood in my thoughts I will tell you That you were as a Monster to which a tyrannical power kept me in slavery and as the thing which in all the World I endeavored most to hate nay which I did hate and yet for all my hatred could not hinder my self from loving it a thousand times more dearly then my self Hatred Grief Anger and Jealousie those imperious passions tore my heart like Promethean Vultures and that was it that then caused me to take that device of the heart torn by Vultures under which I found you and under which I lifted my sacrilegious arms against you I was come to Susa when I heard the news of Alexanders death and I had been gone from thence but a little while when I heard speak of contestations amongst his Successors and preparations that were making for a War My grief had not extinguished the inclinations I had ever had to Arms and being I sought for death I thought I could not meet with it more honorably then in the occasions Fortune offered me I therefore took my journey toward Babylon and arrived there as you may have heard the day your Army made its general muster but before I came within a days riding of this place I in a Town of your party learnt the names of those persons that were most interessed in this War I was told that Craterus Lysimachus Ptolomeus and Antigonus were of the one party and on the other Perdiccas Cassander Seleucus and many more that were named to me I then called to minde the friendship I had formerly had with Cassander and his Brother Iolas when I had served Antipater in the War against the valiant Agis King of the Lacedemonians it had not been so light but that the remembrance of it was still very dear to me and since I was necessarily obliged to take one party the justice of both being unknown to me I had reason to prefer that of my ancient Friends before the other of such as were meer strangers I was travelling toward Babylon with this design when I was stopt by some Horsmen of your Army and when upon the Bank of the Euphrates I ran some carriers with reasonable good success against a great many gallant men You know what the issue of them was and how by the frank civility of those worthy persons I was conducted to the Gates of the City and you shall learn that assoon as I had made my self known to Cassander and that I had told him how desirous I was to serve him he received me with acclamations of joy and transport and gave me the most affectionate welcome I could expect from my most passionate Friend He presented me to Roxana Perdiccas Seleucus and other the most considerable men of their party and at his recommendation I was received by them all with civilities which I had not merited Cassander made an absolute confidence with me and would needs have me share the command with him in all places that was a thing that rendred me most perfectly criminal by giving me occasion to draw my Sword against my Princess in the first encounter that passed You know that our combat after having been obstinately disputed was interrupted by Cassander who judging that against so terrible an Enemy I stood in need of his assistance came rushing upon you behinde with his Horse I have a great deal of cause said the Queen interrupting Orontes to remember that encounter since by an action full of generosity you testified the greatness of your courage in opposing the fury of Cassander who but for your hindrance would have made me end my life under his Horses feet I rendred you what was due unto your valor replied Orontes but by that action of Cassanders I lost part of the esteem and friendship I had born him It was much diminished a few days after by the accusation that was published against him of having poysoned his King whereof he did not clear himself so well but that I entred into great suspicions of it and if afterward I shared in command with him at the Battel it was rather by the engagement of my Honor then by that of the affection I still had left to him About that time I had a desire to see the great Arsaces and though he shewed himself to very few and that he avoided society out of a sad melancholy humor like that of mine he was pleased not to disdain my visit and when he had learned who I was he made extraordinary much of me and gave me marks of a particular affection yet could he not hear my name without testifying by some alteration that appeared in his face that he was concerned in it some way or other The cause was still unknown to me but by the kindnesses I received from that great man and by the inclination which his high vertue and the admirable qualities of his person bred in me I was so firmly tied to him that from thence forward it was his consideration more then that of Cassander that kept me in the party I had chosen I happened to be with him when a Trumpet came to speak with him from Lysimachus and then remembring that I had begun a combat against that Prince upon the Banks of Euphrates I was glad to take that occasion to see him again being he had a Companion with him and that I might thereupon take the pretence to wait upon Arsaces likewise He opposed not the intention I had to do so and it was in that enterview my fair Queen that I came to know you that you also knew me that I saw marks of your just displeasure and that you saw the effects of that ingratitude my error had caused O gods What were my thoughts when I had escaped your lawful indignation And in what maner did I receive that blow of Fortune which by so unlooked for an encounter made me finde that person whose very memory I had fled from to the utmost parts of all the World I fell into a confusion which all the words of the World are not able to express and I continued the rest of that day almost quite deprived of reason and understanding Assoon as I began to open my eyes upon that effect of my destiny I fell into discourses as strange as that adventure seemed to be After I had long complained of my ill fortune which yet presented me that cruel Enemy whose sight I thought I had escaped for all the remainder of my days I râflected upon the anger you had shewed which had made you attempt that against me which in probability I should have attempted against you if the respect of your Sex and the remnants of my passion had not opposed
it How is it possible said I that being so guilty she should make as if she were so much offended Can one single Letter for it is onely from that Letter her choler can proceed have kindled so excessive a fury in her who by so black an infidelity had given me so great cause to write it Could I take a more gentle revenge upon such a perfidiousness as hers And in banishing my self for ever from her sight did I not do a good office to a person who in her last affections had reserved nothing but Hatred or Indifferency for me By what actions then have I provoked her to these extreamities of rage against me Ah! without doubt said I again she would give me my death to dispatch out of the World this witness of her infidelity she will not suffer him to continue amongst men who before the eyes of all men can blast her with so many black reproaches and since the bloody injury she hath done him hath not been sufficient to drive him to his Grave she resolves to send him thither with her own hands Let us give her then this satisfaction and let us glut her with this blood whereof she appears to be so thirsty Let us offer to the point of her sharp Sword this mean-spirited heart which as unworthy as she is hath still preserved her Image Let us make her kill this Thalestris which we conserve there whether we will or no and let us by her own arms destroy this unworthy remembrance which so legitimate resentments have not been able to extinguish But why added I a little after why should I give such a contentment to my mortal Enemy By what right can I ow it either to her or to some new-come lover that hath taken up my place in her affection Ah! Let us be satisfied with having suffered without revenge the horrid usage we have received and if we cannot resolve to oppose our Arms against her violence let us dispose our self to flie from her afresh and to flie from her as far as there is day This was my resolution and I should instantly have put it in execution if I had not seen a Battel so near which I could not go away from without infamy I was at it therefore as you know I saw you there I fled before you and saved my life from your fury as I had done at the first encounter but this last confirmed me in the purpose of getting me gone fearing in the occasions in which I might happen to be every day against you not to die by your hand but perchance to wound you with mine without knowing you which would have been the utmost effect of my ill fortune With this intention I left the Camp of your Enemies not taking leave of any body and it was the day you found me by the side of that Fountain where I was faln asleep and where I staid for Lascaris whom I had left behinde to dispatch some little business that concerned our journey There it was Madam that your goodness and my crime were made manifest there it was that you spared me a life which I ought to have lost a thousand times there it was that I ceased to be innocent by coming to know that you were so and there it was in fine that my resentments vanished to give way to my repentance The testimony of that Prince whereby you were but too fully justified added to the means he gave me of clearing my doubts with your very Enemies that fainting wherewith you were seized out of an excess of grief for the bloody and injurious reproach I used against you and that coldness into which by a great tranquility of Conscience you pressed within a minute after opened my eyes sufficiently to make me know That I alone was criminal and that I was unworthy of this life which you had left me meerly out of contempt and I had taken it away with my own hands if by an oath inviolable among the Scythians Prince Oroondates had not engaged me to live Scarce was I gone from him Five or six hundred paces when I met Lascaris he found a disturbance in my face and being I loved him dearly I made him acquainted with the cause and gave him a true relation of all that adventure After he had considered that event in stead of being afflicted for my crimes he found matter of consolation for me in it and would needs perswade me That my fortune was a great deal better in my Princesses innocence then in mine own He argued That since nothing but the opinion I had had to your disadvantage had been the cause of all my miseries I by loosing that lost also all the occasion I had had to account my self miseraable and that if by an error grounded upon appearances that were great enough I had offended you I might hope for your pardon by the assistance Prince Oroondates had promised me and by the services I might render you I found some reason in his discourse and could not without a marvellous comfort imagine that my Queen was innocent of that infidelity whereof I had accused her But that satisfaction was quickly counter-balanced by my remorse and I was no more gently handled by it then I had been before by my Anger and my Jealousie My love being returned with all ââs powers represented my crime so horrible that I could not look upon my self but as a Monster unworthy of the light nor could I longer endure it but with grief and from that moment I began to flie it and to seek out darkness as more agreeable to the condition of my soul That Wood from whence you now have drawn me presenting it self unto my sight I turned my steps that way and seeking the most remote and gloomy parts of it I found that place so suitable to my humor that I spent the rest of the day there and the whole night Lascaris not being able to draw me out of it the next morning I accidentaly light upon that Cave where I since have made my abode and having with my Sword cut away some Branches that stopt the entrance of it I no sooner had set foot within it but I found it very proper for my habitation all things were conformable to the horror that settled it self in my soul and that place was so desart and so out of the way of humane society That I believed the gods had miraculously guided me thither yet was it not that reason alone that stayed me there for what commodiousness soever I found in that retreat I should without doubt have fled further from you if I had not been retained by another consideration I thought that in the occasions you hazarded your self in every day you might fall into danger of your life and I believed that being near you I might watch an opportunity to preserve it for an expiation of some part of my offences and that peradventure the gods would afford me means of
but she quickly setled it and breaking her silence with a most pleasing smile I shall never be angry sayd she to the Prince at any knowledge you shall have in my Affairs in which nothing but your goodnesse makes you take an interest and if I never entertain'd you with what passed between Prince Oxyatres and me before I had the honour to know you 't was because you never asked me of it and that the occasion never offred it selfe I know not continued she with the same action whether these miserable remnants of beauty have been able to rekindle an affection which I thought had been extiguished ten whole years but how ever it be I have no intention to make a secret of it to you nor to refuse the punishment you will in joyn me It is easie for you to guesse it sayd the Prince and you well may judge we desire nothing else of you now but the recitall of what we have been ignorant of and of both the old and new passions of Prince Oxyatres I will hearken to you with a more then ordinary attension and shall not be lesse touched with the discourse of your Adventures then with those of Statira and Oroondates You are going replyed Barsina to waken remembrances by your curiosity of which I am extreamly sensible but what can I refuse to two so dear and confiderable Persons Barsina made a stop at these words and fixing her eyes upon the Ground kept silence a while which she broke at last in these tearms The History of BARSINA I Will not entertain you with the first years of my life nor with the first testimonies I received of the love of my dear Memnon Prince Oroondates has learnt part of them formerly and the divertisement the Princesse his Sister would find in them could not equall the wearisomnesse she would receive by the length of my Narration I will content my selfe with telling you Madam that Memnon was considerable by the greatnesse of his Birth which made him hold one of the first Ranks in Persia by the lovely Qualities of his Person and by that high Reputation which in very early years he had acquired in Arms having made himselfe famous above the other Persians in a thousand glorious Encounters he also was raised to the highest Military Charges in an Age when others do but begin to make themselves be taken notice of and before he was three and twenty he had commanded the Kings Armies in Person This high Renown making all Asia set their eyes upon him and rendring him dear to Prince Artabasus my Father and to all those persons that had any power over me was the cause that he found great facilities in his design of serving me but if by Publick Vertues he had merited the generall esteem he in particular had Qualities that wrought a greater effect upon me then the glorious successe of his Armies or his high Reputation in War and to say the truth he never fought with so much dexterity against his Enemies as he shewed in making himselfe Master of my heart and all that the most expert and the most passionate persons ever used to make themselves be lov'd was put in practice so gracefully by that Prince that perhaps a more obdurate heart then mine would have been woon by his addresses I 'le make no difficulty to confesse that I yielded to them nor is this confession shamefull to me since that affection which a due acknowledgement made me give was authorized by the will of all my Friends and by that of the King himselfe who was pleased to interresse himselfe particularly in the Affairs of our House as being nearest to the Crown and that which then held the first Ranke in all Persia Memnon having gained the affâctions of the whole Court the King upheld him in it openly and Prince Oxyatres himselfe before he was blinded by this indifferent Beauty did him very good offices in the beginning he was one of the forwardest in recommending his person to me by the recitall of his gallant actions and in that design he had the favour of him found better successe then he would afterward have wished I know not why the Gods would have that Prince to cast his eyes upon me among so great a number of persons much more lovely but what ever it were he began to love me when I was no longer in a condition to requite his affection when by the will of my Friends and by mine own inclination Memnon was already Master of the place he assaulted had it not been for that preengagement Prince Oxyatres without doubt had qualities capable to make him be considered by the greatest Princesses of the Earth and besides the greatnesse of his Birth and the price of his Valour which had made it selfe known through all Asia there could no excellent parts be wished either for the minde or body wherewith he was not very abundantly stored I should say more if you had not a perfect knowledge of him this Prince when he began to love me or at least to let me see it was about five or six and twenty I was ten years yonger and came into the World the same year and almost the same day with Prince Artaxerxes Oxyatres continued some time without discovering his affection to me not being able to find a handsome way to destroy what he had built himselfe nor to fall off fairly from what he had done in the behalfe of Memnon Being he was vertuous he could not but consider the Vertue of his Rivall who at his Age had by force of Arms added Provinces to the Persian Empire and being he was prudent he fear'd to crosse the Kings intentions who had declared himselfe in his favour These considerations with-held him a few Months and would perchance have done so longer if Memnon's absence had not given him both opportunity and confidence to discover himselfe Memnon was sent about that time with a flying Camp into Susiana where certain Cities had bred some jealousies of a Revolt and I remained at Persepolis with a great deale of trouble for his departure Prince Oxyatres began then to make his thoughts appear to me by many of his actions if I had carefully observ'd them and reflecting upon them since I judg'd that if I had not been taken up with other Cards I might have guessed at part of his intentions without putting to the trouble of declaring them more plainly He rendred me all petty services with a great deale of watchfulnesse and took such cares in all things that concern'd me as nothing but love alone could be the cause of but I ascribed them to another motive and received them as proceeding from that civility he had ever used and from the good will which the nearnesse wherewith I had the honour to be allyed to him might breed in him toward me or even from the esteem he had of Memnon whom he loved and honoured in my person while he was fighting for the service
the Kings Authority nor by that I may have my selfe in his Dominions but only by my services and by the proofs of my affection You have yet an absolute advantage over me and you see me undertake that with very little hope which you have justly and happily obtained The Victory is yours when I do but begin to fight and Barsina's heart which I assault with feeble forces is quite o'recome already by the merit and by the love of Memnon 't is in this poynt that my condition is as much to be implored as yours is glorious and that if you ought to look upon a Rivall who ever was your Friend 't is rather with compassion then with resentment Memnon was a little flattred with these words but they were not able to satisfie him and he was going to reply with a countenance discontented enough when the King who was gotten ready while they were talking broke off their conversation by coming into the Gallery with a great deale of company Memnon who was seized with an extraordinary sadnesse and who felt himselfe uncapable of any pleasing entertainment would not stay near the King in that humour but finding means to slip away in the crowd went out of the Palace and came into my Chamber just as I was dressed to make me acquainted with his trouble I presently saw it in his face and guested the cause when he declared it to me himselfe in such passionate tearms that he exceedingly redoubled my affliction by the knowledge of his he at first made some complaints for my having concealed a thing of such importance from him but I contented him by saying that my care of his quiet had obliged me to it and that since it was an unwelcome Newes I had desired he should hear it rather from the mouth of another then from mine He could not keep himselfe that day from going a little beyond the limits of that moderation which was very naturall to him and after having complained of his Fortune and of Prince Oxyatres who came to crosse him so unjustly Madam sayd he if Prince Oxyatres will contest with me only by his love and by his services ought I to fear he can deprive me by those wayes of what I hold from your goodnesse alone and ought I to fear that you will look upon the advantages he has over me to my destruction Ah! if this fear be lawfull as you desire the favour of the Gods give me some knowledge of it and suffer me not to conserve my life a minute after the losse of my hopes In another reason replyed I I would not easily have pardoned this discourse nor do I think that by any of my actions I have given you any just cause to suspect me of inconstancy I shall know how to render unto Prince Oxyatres what I ow to the Kings Brother without forgetting that I ow all to Memnon and though with his love and services he should also imploy his Authority and that of the King his Brother he should not be able to deprive you of what you have so lawfully acquired If it prove so sayd Memnon better satisfied then before as without doubt it will since my fair Princesse promises it me I will no more lament my destiny but shall account Prince Oxyatres his love rather an effect of Barsina's merit then of my ill fortune He was comforted on this maner by the promises I reitterated to prefer him while I liv'd before all the persons in the World He was many times upon the poynt to hasten our Marriage thereby to break Oxyatres his pretensions but then he beliv'd he could not do it handsomely after he himselfe had declared to the King that he would stay till the return of that Voyage for which all the Court was making preparations and he judged that by that precipitation contrary to his former design he should exasperate Prince Oxyatres whom he infinitely considered and incite him to go beyond the tearms he had proposed these Reasons retarded it and in the mean time he suffred the visits Prince Oxyatres made me by the assurances I gave him every day that he could not draw any lawfull cause of fear from them they often met in my company and I used Oxyatres still with great respect and Memnon as I had been wont to do before Oxyatres was concerned Oxyatres shewed very much discontent at it and expressed it in most passionate complaints when he was alone with me but his resentments never made him flie out against Memnon nor against me he kept still in the resolution he had taken to imploy nothing to his advantage but his love and his services In the Interim he carried not his passion so secretly but that it was quickly taken notice of by the whole Court and came also to the Kings Knowledge That great Prince who cherished Memnon both through a strong inclination and through a just acknowledgement of his services who had particularly favoured him in his design upon me and who had moreover engaged himself to support him in it to the uttermost heard this news with some displeasure and as soon as hee saw Prince Oxyatres testified to him by reasonable sharp words that he had disobliged him by by crossing the affections of a person that was so dear and so considerable to him as Memnon Prince Oxyatres who had prepared himself for that event hearkned to the Kings reproof without interruption and when he had done speaking Sir sayd he if my love to Barsina were an effect of my will I should be faulty in thwarting the intentions you have in favour of Memnon but since it is by constraint I yeeld you can only accuse Barsina's charâes for their violence upon me If I could cease to love her I would do so to please you but since that effect of the complacency I ow to your Majesties desires can never be in my power permit me Sir to suffer a pain for which I will use no remedy that Memnon himself can justly disapprove You will therby be better served then you were formerly Memnon to maintain himself in your affection and in your esteem to the prejudice of Oxyatres will second the first actions hee hath done for your service by others greater and of more importance and Prince Oxyatres whom the glory and fortune of Memnon have prickt with emulation will seek the occasions of making himself as considerable by his valour as hee is by the honour of being brother to Darius we shall strive who can be forwardest to fight for you in the war to which we are going to march and if Barsina can yet bee disputed against Memnon wee shall both of us endeavour to purchase her with our bloud and with that of your Majesties enemies You have no need of that motive replied the King to actions of valour which are ordinary to you and the Persians consider you no lesse for your vertues then for your birth but neither of them can dispense with mee for what
those considerations said Oxyatres interrupting him both by the equality I resolved to keep with you in the birth of my affection and by the declaration I make that 't was not with any design to oblige you or to serve you that I succoured you against the Scithians the King will not be displeased with you for this action when he shall know the truth of it you owe more to your honour and to the defence of your life then to your respect for him and 't is in short by no other way that can be repayd for the obligation you believe you have to me Then I will be eternally in your debt replyed Memnon and 't is by my own bloud I acquit my self and not by a bloud which is sacred to Memnon and a bloud for the conservation whereof I will shed mine own to the very last drop If neither the love of life added furious Oxyatres nor that of honour touches you any longer and if you fear not to die by my hands or to live with infamy among the Persians at least indeavour to defend Barsina whom I am resolved to take away from you or dispose your self to yeeld her to me if you dare not dispute her against me I yeeld you Barsina said Memnon in yeelding you my life but if my life be left me I 'le never leave my Love nor my pretensions to Barsina O Gods cried Prince Oxyatres quite transported with what an unworthy Rivall and with what an unworthy Enemy do you oppose me And dost thou not fear continued he turning toward Memnon dost thou not fear I should dishonour thee among the Persians whom thou hast abused with a false gloss of valour and that this cowardise should make thee lose that fame thou hast unjustly got and which thou holdest from fortune rather then thy courage I should fear it answered patient Memnon and I should beleeve I were guilty of cowardise if in the injuries you do me I did not find better then in all the combats I have fought for him an occasion to testifie my true respects unto my King and the true affection I bear him this is the highest proof of it he could ever desire and with what cowardise soever you would blemish me you know me well enough your self to think that the fear of a single man can ever make mee avoid the combat you often in as dangerous occasions have seen mee outbrave death without terrour and give my bloud liberally enough for you and yours 't was by that remembrance I had hoped for an usage from you very different from this you make me suffer and that I had expected any thing else from Prince Oxyatres rather then these cruell threatnings in a love whose beginnings he himself upheld rather then bloudy outrages against my reputation and rather then a cruell and violent design against a life which was never spared for the interests of his House While Memnon spake on this manner Oxyatres looked upon him intentively and in these last words found somthing that sofââed him and made him repent his design the more he reflected upon it the more he found it violent and in the end after having well examined it he absolutely condemned it I have done too much perhaps said he to Memnon but I have not been Master of my passions and for the time to come I will endevour to regulate them better if it be possible As hee brought forth these words he put up his sword and turning his back to Memnon went from him and âeturned to the Tents Memnon agitated with cruell disquiets retired to his not meaning to visit me in that condition lest I should take notice of his ill humour Yet had he so much discretion and so much respect to Prince Oxyatres that hee would not discover his proceeding to any body for fear the King should take it amisse and testifie some displeasure against him for it hee would not speak of it so much as to mee doubting I might find some matter of affliction in it and I never heard any thing of it till a long while after In the mean time Prince Oxyatres whether it were by the anger wherwith he had been transported to see a man preferd before him whose birth was inferiour to his and who surpassed him not in good parts or by the love which he blindly bore to me was no sooner at his Tent but he was seaz'd with a violent Feaver and it increased with so much vehemence that within three dayes the Physitians began to doubt of his recovery Being that Prince was infinitely esteemed by the whole Court his sickness caused a generall sorrow and the King to whom his vertue made him dearer then neerness of bloud fell into a sensible grief I was particularly afflicted at it and Memnon took it not ill that I expressed my trouble to him In the fits of his Feaver he sometimes fell into ravings and while reason was dispossessed of her government hee talked of nothing but Barsina and by all his actions made those that were about him judge that nothing but his love had caused his sickness This knowledge redoubled the Kings affliction and he gave him self over to his sorrow in an excessive manner when he beleeved he could not succour his Brother without destroying Memnon whom he loved very dearly and to whose services he beleeved himself as much indebted as to his own word whereby hee was engaged to him Yet was hee not so dear to him as to have that affection ruine that he bore his Brother and he could have desired if it had been possible that Memnon of his own good will should contribute to his cure but he would never speak to him of it and would rather have run to any other extreamity then that of imploying his authority to oblige him I was one of the first that visited him with my Mother but as soon as I came neer his bed hee was moved in such maner as confirmed all that were present in the beleef they had of the cause of his sickness Till then he had lived with me in a discretion that had hindred him from entertayning me in company with a passion which he knew I disapproved but seeing himselfe then in a condition that seemed to afford him a greater liberty he made no difficulty to take it and looking upon mee with languishing eyes Fair Barsina said he I die for you and by my death I abandon a happiness to Memnon which by the greatness of my love I peradventure had deserved as well as he Saying these words he turned away his eyes from my face and by his action touched mee so that I hardly was able to retain my tears Sir answered I you shall not die for Barsina and it had been better she had never come into the world then to cause so great a dammage to her Country My death is little considerable replied the Prince and I receive it willingly since it is favourable to you in delivering
you from my importunities I never received any from you sayd I which I would bee delivered of by the least of your discontents and if your life depended on my wishes I would make as many for your health as for mine own You have more goodness in appearance replied he then in effect and when you saw me in another condition you contributed nothing to hinder me from falling into this in which you see me for the love of you Yet 't is not continued he with a sigh to reproach you that I tell you this you are too just in all your actions to find any reason to condemn them and being I punish no body but my self of the faults I have committed I ought also to accuse no body but my self of the advantages you give my rivall He had said more without doubt if the Physitians had not entreated him to keep silence and if the Queen 's accompanied by the two Princesses and Prince Artaxerxes their Brother had not entred then into the Chamber and comming to his bed side had not broken off that conversation If I omitted not to visit him Memnon for all he was his rivall and for all he was so ill satisfied with him was not one of the last in offering to perform that duty but the Prince express'd a repugnance for his visits and when he was told that he meant to come and see him he made known that he should do him a pleasure to forbear It sufficeth that I am vanquished said he without shewing me the face of my Conquerour and if Memnon be generous he ought to content himself with his victory without insulting over me in my misfortune These words of the Princes which were told Memnon again hindred him from comming into the Chamber but not from going every day to the door to enquire how he did that very care displeased the jealous Prince and he said to those that brought him word of it tell Memnon that I have but a few dayes to live that he has but a while to exercise his patience and that he should not labour so much to learn the news of my death These words struck Memnon very deeply whose intent was far from Oxyatres suspitions and in the mean time his sickness grew so dangerous that the Physitians could no longer dissemble their appehensions Their did the Kings affection to him break forth into greater signs of sorrow then he yet had shewed and then did that good Prince abandon himself unto his grief with more excess then was expected from the greatness of his courage Memnon who saw him in that estate who as I have told you had the strongest love to him that ever subject bore his Prince and who besides took notice of the admirable goodness he had towards him in letting a Brother perish whom he lov'd more dearly then himself rather then seek his safety to his prejudice fell into a grief wherein he was like to have been overwhelmed and considering that he ought no longer to suffer those proofs of his Kings affection without shewing the utmost he could hope from his hee resolved rather to die then to abuse his goodness in an unhandsome manner and finding him one day deeply buried in his sadness Sir sayd hee to him if I can contribute to the life of Prince Oxyatres be not in fear of his recovery 'T is true I love Barsina but I love my King as I ought to do and to preserve him a Brother worthy of his affection I shall know how to overcome my passion and to yeeld that to Prince Oxyatres which perhaps I have too much disputed against him The King life up his head at these words and after having a while looked upon Memnon without speaking he cast his armes of a suddain about his neck and embracing him with an extraordinary tendernesse My dear Memnonhe sayd I should have let Oxyatres die and should have dyed my selfe before I would have asked you what you offer me with so much generosity but if really you can contribute to my Brothers safety without hazarding your own I shall be indebted to you for all my quiet and shall never find any recompence worthy of you Memnon o'recharg'd with griefe made no reply but only taking his leave of the King with a low obeysance went straight to Oxyatres Chamber and notwithstanding all that they who were at the doore could say to hinder him from seeing the Prince he entred into the Chamber and came to his bed-side Assoon as the Prince knew him he turned his head the other way and by some sighs which he could not retain made appear that he was touched with his sight and that he hardly could endure it but Memnon meant to put him out of that ill humour and drawing near to him with confidence Sir sayd he for the love of the Gods and for the love of Barsina receive me no longer as an Enemy I come not here to tryumph over you by the advantages Fortune has blindly given me but I come to deliver them up to you to abandon all my pretensions and in short to yield you Barsina of whom you are more worthy then I. Oxyatres his resentment against Memnon was not so great but that a good part of it was presently dissipated by these words and he scarce had heard them when turning towards him with more suddainesse then his weake estate could probably have suffred What cryed he Memnon is it to give me Barsina that you come to visit me Yes Sir replyed Memnon 't is Barsina I resigne to you and you may recover upon the assurance that she shall no more be disputed with you And what will Memnon do added the Prince if he lose Barsina He 'l dye answered Memnon and it is more just that he should dye then that the life of Prince Oxyatres should be longer in danger Ah! cryed the Prince if one must dye I know how to dye as well as you and my spirit will be no more daunted then yours with the Image of Death I fear it perchance as little as you can do and if you have no other remedy for my health I account that worse then the disease you would save me from If I had e're a gentler sayd Memnon I would make use of it to content you without amusing your selfe about considerations that are too triviall to oppose the safety of such a Prince as Oxyatres your death would draw the imprecations of all Persia upon me and Darius would have just occasion to detest the ingratitude of a man who by the losse of a thousand lives like his cannot repay the smallest part of what he owes him At these words without staying for a reply he went out of the roome in so strange a condition that he could hardly have been known by his most familiar Friends As he had done that action without making me acquainted and believed that I would find just cause of complaint against him for seeing him so lightly quit
into her chamber presently after and having heard her new causes of affliction she sought out all the words her affection could put into her mouth to give her consolation their last hope was in the assistance they expected from Prince Artaxerxes their Brother and their sorrow was a little moderated by the remembrance of that Great Princes being alive and by that of the succour they might probably look for from a man of that Reputation seconded by the Valiant Lysimacus and by their generous and invincible Companions But Roxana's mind was at no better quiet then those of the two Princesses and her love made her endure whatsoever was least supportable to them in their captivity and in the rest of their misfortunes she saw the most potent Party of the World armed at her Gates for her destruction and who by the first and most important successes ought in likelyhood to hope for the last advantages she saw Enemies within her walls not doubting but that Seleucus was sufficiently incensed to harbour thoughts of revenge against her she had heard of the defeat of her Allies in whose reliefe she had grounded part of her hopes she was persecuted by a bruitish man whom shee saw ready every moment to vent his fury in some bloudy attempt and by the testimony of her owne conscience she believed both Heaven and Earth to be her Enemies yet all this touched her not so deeply as Oroondates his scorne that cruell remembrance made her neglect all care of her affairs and hardly left her so much as a minutes rest When she returned out of the Garden where she had had that unpleasing discourse with Cassander shee went to the lodging of her Prisoner though she had incited him once that day already and as she passed by the Guard she had set upon him shee commanded their Captain to have an exact care of his person and to defend it to the last gasp against all those that should attempt to hurt him Shee used that caution for his safety by reason of Cassanders threats believing him capable to flie upon some violent design Oroondates who received her visits with a great deal of wearisomness had much adoe to settle his countenance to what civility seemd to require from him but Roxana was not repulsed thereby though it was a mortall grief to her to see those continuall marks of his aversion and drawing neer him with a dissembling look Well cruell Oroondates said she will you for ever be my enemy and will you not open your eyes at last to see the faults you commit both against your own happiness and against the gratitude you ow to my affection Do you not consider that I neglect all my interests to preserve you and that I put both my affairs and even my very life in a manifest danger to defend you from Enemies which your fortune hath stird up against you Had it not been for this protection wherwith I have powerfully sheltred you both they from whom you take the love of Statira and they from whom you take Roxana would ere now have powred upon you whatsoever their jealousie could suggest unto them will you be insensible of these last obligations as you have hitherto been of former ones and if you disdain the happiness and the glory which you might find in the acknowledgement I demand of you do you not think that even generosity it selfe obliges you to use some violence upon your inclinations in favour of a Queene who is as obstinate in loving you more then her selfe as you are in hating her for all her love But you your selfe Madam replied the Prince somewhat briskly doe not you believe your selfe obliged by that generosity you alleadge to leave him at least some liberty of mind from whom you have taken that of his body and if it be true that you bear me that good wil wherof I acknowledge my selfe most unworthy do you think to expresse it to me by effects so contrary to their cause Doe you believe a heart can be changed by persecutions and if mine were capable to be so do you judge it could be by the usage I receive from you While I was free I defended my selfe well enough from those Enemies against whom you have taken my protection and now I am their Prisoner or yours I had rather die by their hands then by the mischiefs which you make me suffer and which nevertheless you would have me receive as proofs of your affection Ah what do you suffer ingratefull man said the Queen what do you suffer that might not make all Prisoners of War to envy your condition I suffer answered Oroondates an imprisonment very different from that the Prisoners of your Party found with us I suffer for the captivity of my Princesse I judge of her torments by mine own since she is in the power of a man whose inclinations are suitable to yours I bear her absence a great deal more impatiently then when I was far from her nor can I from this affection to which you would have me think my self so indebted obtain the liberty to see her so much as for a moment No added Roxana you shall never obtain it and I would rather kill my Rivall with my own hands then consent unto that cruell enterview which you demand but to compleat the ruining of my hopes Nor shall you replied Oroondates ever obtain one word from me or one moment of compliance more Do kill her the Daughter of your King and by that action you will but finish what you had so generously begun your heart already is enough disposed unto that crime to be the actor of it without reluctancy and you must never hope that hee who could not love you in a more innocent estate can cast his eyes upon you when by your cruelty you shall have drawn upon your self the imprecations even of those that had no interest in it The Queen was stung so deeply with these words that her anger shewed it self in the rednes of her face and beholding Oroondates with an offended eye You are said she the most ungratefull man alive and the most unworthy of this affection which you have so insolently abused if I could obtain of my heart what my lawfull indignation has reason to demand you should never see me but as your most cruell and irreconcileable Enemy but such as I am fear to drive mee to extremity and by the remembrance of those cruelties wherwith you reproach me every moment judge what I may be capable of when I shall be prompted by despair I hold you capable of any thing replied the Prince except of making Oroondates love you and neither your threatnings nor your kindnesses shall ever work my minde to thoughts which are worthy only of Cassander Roxana heard not these last words distinctly for when Oroondates spoke them she was already gone out of his Chamber Hardly was she gotten to her own when Perdiccas came in they presently read their resentments in
as he had been at his former visit but hee had hardly set his foot within it when he saw Roxana and Perdiccas come in at other doors attended by so great a Guard as almost fild the Room Cassandra looked upon her enemies with very little disturbance and though thought of Roxana after what shee had attempted and executed against her was enough to have toucht her yet did she behold her accompanied as she was without any trouble that could be taken notice of but as soon as shee cast her eyes upon Oroondates and that she saw him bound and led as a sacrifice to the Altar shee could not obtain so much assistance from her constancy as shee would have desired in such an encounter and though they had resolved to use her that day as they meant to do him yet had they had so much consideration of her sex and of her quality that they had not bound her tender hands neither did they fear that opposition from them which they dreaded from Oroondates if his had been at liberty She went to meet him infinitely transported and not caring to constrain her self for enemies whom she neither valued nor feared enough to dissemble her inclinations in their presence Ah! my dear Prince cried she what barbarous hearts can have used you so unworthily and by what injustice can they bind those hands that were destined to bear a Scepter and those hands that with so much glory have done so many gallant actions Why do not these Tygres turn their rage against me alone since only I am cause of the greatest part of their discontents If Roxana loves you how can she consent to this inhumanity and if I be loved by Perdiccas why will hee afflict mee with this killing spectacle Neither Perdiccas nor Roxana answered the Prince can make my destiny more glorious then in making me to suffer these bonds for my love to you Those noble bonds wherwith you keep my heart fast tied for ever make me despise all theirs and if they could have broken them they would not have shewed this Empire over my body which neither force nor gentlenesse have been able to extend over my mind The Queen was going to reply when Roxana who in their first Discourse found new occasion to exasperate her anger broke off their conversation and looking upon Statira with a countenance which her passion had enflamed Madam said she I will make no excuses to you for what is past nor will I seek out reasons to justifie my present actions I 'le only tell you that for all the double interest I have in your death I have let you live to the prejudice of my repose both to satisfie Perdiccas and to follow the incitements of the compassion I have of you but now that Oroondates by his ingratitude ha's driven me to the last extremities and that by your obstinacy to keep him you your selfe have labourd for your own destruction I am forced to let you know that in the end you have arm'd all my resentments against you and that you have no other way of safety but to quit Oroondates to me and to oblige him by all the considerations he ought to have of your life to obtain it of mee by his repentance and by the affection I desire from him And I added Perdiccas addressing himselfe to Oroondates declare to you O Prince of Scithia that you cannot escape the fury of a Rivall whom his ill fortune hath cast into despair but in yeelding up the pretensions you have to Cassandra and in disposing her your self to requite my passion The gallant Queen and the courageous Prince of Scithia were equally touched with their Enemies words and if they feared their threats they both feared them for the person beloved and not for their own danger yet did there appear an equall scorn in both their faces and Oroondates his sex gave him no advantage then above that generous Princesse they both were opening their mouths to expresse their thoughts at the same time but the Prince who saw the Queen was about to speak kept silence out of respect and yeelded that liberty first to her I did not doubt said she to Roxana but that after having been stained with crimes wherwith you have dishonoured your sex and the rank you have held and after having joyned in a confederacy against the bloud of your Princes and against the true friends of the King your Husband with their murtherers and poysoners you would give your selfe over to the extreamest cruelties 't is a worthy end of your glorious beginnings and 't were not fit you should suffer her to continue longer in the world whom you could never look upon without shame nor without remorse but you have been much mistaken if you beleeved that by your menaces you could make me lose what I hold a thousand times more dear then all that you can take away from me your subtilties heertofore succeeded but too prosperously but your cruelties shall not now have the same effect and by your former actions you have made my life too little dear to me to think I can be terrified by your threatning to deprive mee of it The Prince of Scithia as soon as the Queen had ended these words took his time to speak and looking upon Perdiccas with disdain These waies said he wherby thou wouldst rob me of my Princesse are worthy of the greatnesse of thy courage and without doubt it had not been glorious for thee to dispute her against a Rivall by thy bloud and by thy services thou wilt now acquire her far more nobly and thou makest thy self worthy of her in setting forth thy valour against a Prisoner against a man alone and bound yet a man who twice already ha's made thee flie and to whom thou art twice indebted for thy life These words stung Perdiccas in such maner that he scarce had power to contain himselfe but the resolution he had taken to comply with Roxana yet a little longer made him delay the effects of his indignation They that know me answered he will never believe that I fled before a Barbarian and I disown those good Offices for which thou wouldst have me be indebted to thee but this is not a place to decide that question and thou hast now no time but to think of the proposition I have made thee If Statira love thy life she must now resolve upon it either by thy advice or of her own accord And if Oroondates love Statira's added Roxana he has but a few moments to determine about the losse or the preservation of it At these cruel words these illustrious and unfortunate Lovers saw themselves reduced to most miserable tearms and all the constancy wherewith they had fortified themselves was not able to defend them against too just a sorrow they both were absolutely resolved to die and the love of their own lives was not capable to touch them but neither could consent to the losse of what they loved
Gods forbid Monsters sayd she that I should give a Prince into your hands whose life is worth more then a thousand such as yours Saying thus she ran immediatly to Oroondates his Quarter which was yet made good by some of those she had set to guard him and calling for the Arms he had on when he was taken which then were in his ante-Chamber she took some of them her selfe and giving the rest to Hesione with a sword which she commanded from one of her Souldiers she went into her Prisoners Chamber He at that time had his hands at liberty for they were unbound as soon as he came back unto his Lodging but he was in great trouble at the noyse he heard and partly guessing the cause was like to die with griefe and anger to see himselfe in a condition that permitted him not to do any thing for the defence of his life While he was in the middest of these violent disquiets Roxana came into his Chamber Oroondates sayd she as ingratefull as thou art I have defended thee hitherto against thine Enemies with the perill of my life but since my defence is not able to secure thee go fight thy selfe for thine own safety see there thine Armour which I restore thee march on against these cruell men that would assassinate thee in my protection and remember that I have made the consideration of my interests stoope to the care I have of thy life This act of Roxana's gave Oroondates occasion to lose some part of his resentments against her nor would he have sayled to testifie as much to her by words if she her selfe would have given him leasure and if she had not let him know that all the time he had was necessary for the putting on of his Arms. He therefore contented himselfe with protesting as he received them from her hand that he would not be unthankfull for that obligation and putting his Cuirasse on his back with the help of Hesione and even of Roxana her selfe who needs would share in that imployment he was quickly in the same estate wherein not many dayes before he had struck so great a fear into his Enemies Then did he think himselfe invincible and going from Roxana with an action that caused a terrour even in her he ran followed by those of his Guard whither he was guided by the noyse of the fight After he had crossed the Gallery he found those on the top of the stairs who yet were making good that passage and who neverthelesse began to yield by little and little to the fury of their Enemies Before he could get to them he encouraged them with an exceeding fierce cry and at the same instant flying in amongst them like a whirle-wind he showed himselfe at the head of them in a posture which froze the stoutest of their Enemies hearts with feare Courage my Friends cryed he I 'le fight with you as you have fought for me and if I must die amongst you I 'le die like a man that will not give you cause to repent what you have done for his safety These words made him presently known to both Parties but his first Actions gave much better markes to assure them who it was and to strike the greater terrour in his Enemies he left the Beaver of his Cask halfe open that they might see his face Cassander had no sooner cast his eye upon it but a deadly shivering ran through all his Veins and Perdiccas himselfe though he was Valiant could not look upon him without growing pale but their fears were redoubled in them when at his two first blows they saw two men fall dead who tumbled down the stairs to their very feet and that at the same time the Prince knowing who they were threw himselfe upon them through the middest of all their men with a furry which nothing was able to oppose Behold Oroondates cryed he to them behold Oroondates whom you have such a minde to kill come on valiant men behold him now unbound coming himselfe to offer you this life you seek Cassander not daring to stay for him was gotten a good way into the throng amongst his Souldiers and Perdiccas who knew that as valiant as he was he could not escape him and that in a more open and lesse advantagious place he would not be able to defend himselfe long against the great number of his men thought best to imploy some of them to receive the first fury of his blows The Prince flying into the thickest of them like a man that contemned his life dispatched them with the greater facility because he fought upon the higher ground having the advantage of the place and he was so couragiously seconded by those that fell on with him and by those that had begun the fight that after having washed the stairs in a stream of bloud he by little and little made his Enemies quit them They fly the Cowards cryed he to those of his own Party they fly from a small handfull of men but their flight shall not serve their turn for if you follow me like valiant Souldiers they shall loâe their lives in this Palace of their Queen where they have slaughtred your Companions Saying these words he ran upon Antigenes the Chiefe Commander of the Argiraspides whom he observed among the eagerest of them and brought down his sword upon his head with such a mighty force that although the Cask could not be cleft by the edge it was beaten into his skull by the weight thereof Antigenes as strucken with a thunderbolt fell without sence or motion at the feet of his Companions where he lay bleeding at all the passages of his head his fall took away the courage of his men and the Prince followed them so close that after having made them forsake the last steps of the stairs he drove them on before him into the very Court His fury did precipitate him so that he rushed on thither like a Lyon but there it was Perdiccas desired to have him and having imprudently engaged himselfe in a place too spacious to keep his advantage in it the Enemies began to âay hold of theirs and at the same time Iolas and Tentamus appearing in the Court with the rest of the Argiraspides he with a small number of those that stuck to him was presently environed by that multitude Roxana who from the Gallery beheld that spectacle found new matter in the Princes admirable actions to redouble the love she already bore him but she could not see him in that extreamity of danger without giving her selfe over to her sorrow nor without repenting that she had so long deferred to give him the means to defend himselfe In the interim she by her cries declared the interest she had in his preservation and by her words encouraged those few that were left with him to persist in his defence to the last man expecting the arrivall of Neoptolemus and Andiagoras upon whom she had grounded her latest hopes and
encreasing my curiositie made mee obstinate in my first intention No no Arsacomes said I you shall not escape mee so easily I believ you have written nothing in my closet against the State nor against decencie and if my curiositie bee not prejudicial to you I entreat you to satisfie it Madam replied Arsacomes I have made so solemn a vow never to disobey you while I live that I know nothing that can remit mee from it and of what importance soëver my secret is it is impossible for mee to conceal it from you since you have expresly forbidden mee But Madam continued hee drawing forth the paper hee had put up before you cast your fair eies upon this writing I must tell you the subject of it and confess that I have set down in this paper the true declaration of my passion for a Princess whose divine qualities ought to place her above the ranck of mortals and my respect to whom hath hitherto kept my tongue tied up with an extreme tyrannie I have suffred for her without accusing her I have suffred in her presence without declaring my torments otherwise then by my looks and other mute expressions of my passion I have a thousand times called for help from my courage to unloos my tongue which in this onely adventure is deprived of his ordinarie function but that soveraign Mistress of my life hath as often imposed mee silence by that profound respect I bear her and hath reduced mee to the necessitie of tracing out those words with my hand which fear will not suffer my mouth to bring forth Shee shall read them her self that absolute Queen of all my thoughts and with those same eies which burn the whole earth as well as mee shee upon this paper shall see my real adorations of her I was surprised at this discours of Arsacomes and not having learned before that hee was in love I wondred to hear him speak with so much vehemence of a passion which was unknown to the whole world and beeing desirous to gain a fuller knowledg of it I replied to his last words Your discretion is not common Arsacomes in having so well concealed from all the world so violent a passion as you describe yours to bee but since you have confessed so much of it to mee give mee leav to ask more and tell mee for the interest I take in your satisfaction what assurance you have that shee from whom you have alwaies hid your thoughts will see them upon that paper shee will see them answered Arsacomes becaus shee ha's desired to see them and that in presenting them to her my self I shall onely obey the absolute command shee ha's imposed upon mee If it bee so added I innocently you are not ill in her favor and you ought to hope that shee will not disapprove your designs since shee make's use of the power shee hath over you to oblige you to declare them to her Alas replied Arsacomes with a sigh that is a thing to which I cannot lawfully rais my hopes and that which I love is so high that Arsacomes is unworthie to look upon it yet it is certain that I take not this libertie without an express order from my Princess but I am ignorant what the success will bee and I may learn it Madam from your self after you have read this paper your thoughts will bee the thoughts of this divine person and your fair mouth will without doubt pronounce the sentence I shall receiv from her If in the condition I now am one should hold such a discours to mee I am not so dull of capacitie as that I should need more ample expositions of it but at that time I was so young and to say the truth so simple and so innocent that I understood not Arsacomes his subtiltie and without sounding any deeper into his intentions or reasoning any longer with him I took the paper hee presented to mee and in it read these words YOu have desired O divine Princess to know my most secret thoughts accuse therefore onely your own commands of my temeritie and remember I obey you in declaring that I die for you That same respect which hath made mee dumb whole years together had yet concealed from your fair eies this presumptuous paper where you now read this criminal discoverie of my passion if your own mouth had not expresly forbidden mee Give mee leav therefore since you have so commanded mee to make confession of a fault whereof I neither can nor will repent my self It is true most divine Princess that Arsacomes adore's you and that to those many powerful reasons which tie him to your service hee hath added an inclination yet more powerful condemn it not as a crime since it is of the same nature with that wee have of the gods themselvs and that in considering you as the most lovely Princess in the world hee consider's you also as her whom of all the Princesses in the world hee is least worthie to serv Think if after the discours which had past before I could still doubt whether these words were addressed to mee and yet I was so simple or rather I found so little likelyhood of Arsacomes his presumption that I gave no way at all to that belief and with the same innocence I had shewed before I praied him if hee might to tell mee the name of that Princess for whom hee had a passion so full of respect I dare not said Arsacomes though my Princess hath alreadie commanded mee pronounce her name before you but since I cannot resist her will and that you have neither learned it by the reading of these words nor by our conversation you will bee pleased that my pen having alreadie don the office of my tongue prosecute its crime to the utmost and write it upon the letter which I will leav in your hands upon condition you will not read it till after I am gon from you I promised what hee desired and then taking the pen again hee put a superscription upon his letter and having given it mee with a low reverence went out of my chamber As soon as hee was gon I cast my eies upon it but O Gods how great was my astonishment when I read To the Princess Berenice I Am not able Brother to make you comprehend the trouble that seized mee at this encounter and the displeasure I received at Arsacomes his presumption I fell into a sudden and so violent anger that I had not words to express it and after having torn the letter all in pieces I sate down in a chair so strucken and confounded that I had hardly confidence to look upon my maids Cillenia whom I loved best of them all stept to mee and asking mee the caus of that sudden change Let mee alone Cillenia said I let mee pass over my ill humor and believ that if I thought thee an accomplice of Arsacomes his temeritie I would banish thee out of my sight for ever Cillenia
astonished at that threat made great protestations of her innocence and perswaded mee so far that I discovered my trouble to her but in such terms as made her judg that Arsacomes was extreamly in my ill opinion after I had said all against him that my resentment could suggest What continued I shall I then endure that a subject of my fathers should speak to mee of love and that hee should fool mee like an ordinarie simple girl and shall his presumption remain unpunished becaus the King love's him or rather becaus hee is Stratonice's brother Ah! no Berenice suffer not this injurie without resentment at least endeavor to take satisfaction and ask justice from the King thy father against the insolence of his subject I was even upon the point of going instantly to complain of him to the King but when I remembred the considerations hee had for him and the power Stratonice had over him I forbore that design judging I should not obtain all the reparation I might lawfully desire and I resolved without begging assistance to keep off that audacious man by all manner of scorn and ill usage Till then I had beheld him without aversion and had as others observed som good qualities in him but by this action hee changed the nature of all my thoughts and all that was most advantageous in him took then another form in my opinion his courage begun in it to pass for rashness his dexterous wit for cunning and treacherie his liberalitie for vanitie and ostentation and the confidence hee had in his conversation and in all his actions for an insupportable pride This sudden Metamorphosis made him instantly odious to mee and desiring to free my self of him for ever I commanded Cillenia to forbid him my chamber and to give him express order never to appear before mee Shee performed that charge the next day but I learned from her that Arsacomes seemed but little moved at that shew of my displeasure and having patiently hearkened to all shee said to him from mee Cillenia said hee the offence the Princess hath received from mee is not so great as shee hath fancied it and if shee will hate all those that love her shee must dispose her self to hate all the world If I never commit other crimes I shall never have any repentance and so long as shee ha's no other reason to accuse mee I shall not believ my self guiltie to her tell her therefore that if I had injured her in the smallest thought I would wash my fault off with my bloud but that in a condition full of innocence shee cannot without injustice inflict pains upon mee a thousand times sharper then death it self nor can Arsacomes hinder himself from loving her so long as the gods shall give him life and knowledg This was that hee said to Cillenia and shee having told it mee I found so much irreverence and want of respect in his words that the hatred I had alreadie conceived against him was thereby fully redoubled Hee received proofs of it at the first visit hee would have made mee and my maids having had such order from mee refused him entrance into my Chamber telling him I was not well hee was used on the same fashion as often as hee came and any other bodie would without doubt have been repulsed by so many marks of my disdain but though hee was so proud as to support them impatiently hee was likewise so vain as to hope hee should overcom mee at last and to bee whetted by the difficulties of a Conquest which by that resistance would yield him more glory and more satisfaction Seeing therefore that his admittance into my Chamber was forbidden whensever hee came alone hee disposed the King to visit mee often and coming with him forced mee to suffer his presence against my resolution but by that manner of proceeding wherein hee show'd so little obedience and so little compliance with my desires hee incensed my anger and my spite so violently that I was hardly able to dissemble it I often receiv'd such like importunities but I alwaies avoided him so warily that I never afforded him the means of entertaining mee in particular One day beeing com into my Chamber in his ordinarie companie hee drew near to a window where the King was talking to mee and within a while after the King stepping a little aside to speak to som of the Princes that were com with him left mee alone with Arsacomes whom hee commanded to make mee the relation of somthing that had pass'd at Court a few daies before I detested that spiteful occasion but seeing my self reduced to the necessitie of either hearing him or speaking to him I took that time to declare my resentments and as soon as ever hee open'd his mouth whether it were to obey the King or to give mee new causes of dipleasure Arsacomes said I consider who I am and remember who you are your self and since you have prefer'd my hatred before the esteem I had of you dispose your self to suffer it eternally and all the disdains that are due to a disobedience and to an insolence like yours As confident as Arsacomes was hee was so dash'd with these words that hee was not able to dissemble it hee changed color twice or thrice but when hee prepared to answer I left him and having found som pretext to join with the companie again I no more gave him the conveniencie to speak to mee After that day knowing how much his carriage had displeased mee hee behaved himself with more moderation and more fear of offending mee and seeing how carefully I kept him from all occasions of entertaining mee hee contented himself with showing mee his perseverance or rather his obstinacie by his looks and all his actions While hee stood upon these terms with mee the King was upon those with Stratonice which I have alreadie told you and that craftie ambitious woman having alreadie rais'd her hopes to the Crown had extinguish'd all those the King had conceiv'd by other waies Hee labored every day to overcom her yet shee yielded but very little and following her mothers counsels shee opened her way toward the Throne by her gentle cunning resistance The King having spent som time in this imployment turned his thoughts upon the war with Darius and having made great preparations and set that potent Armie on foot against which you fought in person upon the Frontiers of Persia hee caused it to march towards his enemies Countrie whose ruine hee aim'd at in that expedition I will not enlarge my self upon the order the King took for his departure upon the numbring of his Forces nor upon many other particularities which are not necessarie to my Relation and which are above my element and my knowledg I will onely tell you that the King took his leav of Stratonice with all manner of expressions of trouble and that before hee went away hee made protestations to her of an eternal affection Hee
accompanied you though as he has told me since it was not without great violence upon his inclinations The Prince of Scythia interrupting Arsaces here It is true said he Brother Theodates did religiously observe what he had promised you and still speaking to me of you as of Arsaces he contented himself with begetting a love in me toward you by the recital of your good qualities without ever making me suspect that you were Artaxerxes Alas I was far from imagining any such thing and neither time nor the continued course of my Adventures had been able to make me lose the remembrance of my dear Brothers death It was always present to my thoughts and now I call to minde that when it drew tears from my Eyes and made me fall into those lamentations which I owed unto so dear a memory Theodates would alleadge Examples to make me believe that by some strange effect of fortune you might still be alive and that there had been persons deceiv'd after as great probabilities as those which had perswaded us you were dead While the Prince was speaking thus Dinner was brought in and those illustrious persons made a pleasing Meal together during which their discourse was partly concerning the marvellous Events Arsaces had recounted and they had no sooner dined but that Prince disposed himself to go on with the remainder of his story the company who fear'd least speaking so long might be hurtfull to him in his present condition would have disswaded him from continuing his Narration but he told them he felt himself well enough to make an end of it without prejudice to his health and so having put them into their former silence he went on where he had left on this manner The end of the third Book The continuation of the fourth Part of CASSANDRA The fourth Book THe joy I had receiv'd dear Brother by the news which gave me hope of your liberty was moderated by that which Theodates brought me the day after when he told me the King had commanded him to accompany you in that voyage which Arsacomes who was also to go along with you This was a very sensible blow to me and when I saw my self reduc'd to lose the consolation of that dear friend I knew not which way I should be able to bear it Theodates seemed no less troubled at it then I was and would rather have drawn the Kings anger upon himself then have forsaken me in a season when he was so necessary to me but I was very unwilling my freindship should be prejudiciall to him therefore representing that I was not like to runne any hazard of my life during his absence and that the King seemed to be a little mollifiâed since my imprisonment I after a long contestation perswaded him to leave me for a time I will not entertain you with the discourse of our farewells the place would not suffer us to embrace one another but it hindred us not from saying all that so tender an affection as ours could make us utter at such a parting We took as good order in my affairs as the hastiness of your departure would permit but it was so sudden that the next day I was deprived of that dear friend who so generously assisted me to support the burthen of my misfortunes I heard in what manner the King had fetch'd you out of prison himself and how he had made you to take horse without giving you the liberty to come into the Town or so much as to see the Princesse your sister and I judg'd with some probability that knowing how earnestly you would interess your self on my behalf he had us'd that caution in your departure to keep you from all knowledge of me which I the rather believ'd because he appointed none of those to wait upon you in your voyage who had been present at our last conversation and for Arsacomes if he knew who I was as it was likely he did since it was by one of his creatures I thought my self to have been discovered he wanted not many reasons powerfull enough to oblige him to silence I was left in a very gloomy night though it were lightned with some small beam of hope in the expectation of your return and sweetned with some comfort by the going away of Arsacomes who by that means lost the opportunity of making any advantage of my imprisonmentâ for the furtherance of his pretensions to Berenice 't is true the Queen his sister supplyed his place well enough and tormented that poor Princess in such manner that she was often constrain'd to make complaints against her by whose ill usage she was driven beyond the limits of her usuall moderation I receiv'd no more of her letters after Theodates his departure but Criton saw Cillenia every day and learned news of her which he still brought me by word of mouth This was some case to my afflictions for being deprived of so dear a sight yet not so great an one but that they began to overwhelm me and to put me into such a condition as might haue mov'd pitty even in the King of Scythia himself I liv'd on this manner or rather suffred a continuall death when my miseries receiv'd a bloudy surcharge and that which I had ever apprehended Queen Stratonice finding with what repugnance the Princesse defended her self against her Brothers affection and imagining by the opinion she had of him that he was handsome enough to merit hers believ'd that so strong a resistance both against his persecutions and against the Rings command could not proceed from any thing else but an aversion caus'd by some other love Arsacomes had already told her his suspicions of me and had by that advertisement oblig'd her to observe my actions more needfully then before nor was she contented with that care but that she might be perfectly satisfied of the truth she by presents and promises had corrupted one of the Princesses maids who had formerly belonged to her and had so disposed her to a treacherous complyance with her intentions that that disloyall wench had no other thought but to play the spie upon her Mistresses actions and to seek occasions of betraying her as the means to make her self a fortune The Princesse trusted her not with the secret of her affection neither did she mistrust her but next to Cyllenia used her as favourably as any of the rest She observ'd the frequent discourses between Critton and Cyllenia during my imprisonment and by telling the Queen of them confirm'd her in her suspicions and drew more considerable gifts and promises that engag'd her further in her pernicious design which she found means to effect when she least expected it The Princess contrary to the request I had often made her kept all my letters and not thinking she had any body about her so false as to seek to betray her onely lock'd them up in a cabinet with those other things she valued most One day having shut her self up