any pain and that torment should touch the thing I Lov'd for Love is of that nature that it cannot consent to see the object beloved to endure any affliction though it suffers by it the greatest despight Had my love abated or had hatred possest its place then had I gone to have effected some precipitation against him and with vigor to avenge his injuries But I still persisted in my passion for him though he persisted in his hatred to me but my sickness brought be at last to the very point of death which exigent something diminished those flames for Subelta and by the paine and torment I felt from the outward indisposition of my body I thought them quite exstinguished so that helping to overcome my self I banisht him from my thoughts and sought to obliterate him within my breast and at last I found a great relaxation of my pain for the cause being taken away the effects soon ceased Recovering by little and little to the great joy of my father and friends and no less to my self in that I had shaken off so powerful an enemy to my repose I began to receive my former strength and to go abroad I had no sooner recovered that vigor which formerly accompanied me but I began to feel a little glowing and reviving of that fire I thought had been extinguished which now I saw was but raked under the ashes and at the least mention of his name it was ready to catch hold on something that would have annoyed my rest When I perceived the floods of sorrow had not quencht nor my continual torment extinguisht that spark which lay raked up in the ashes of silence and now began to be afflated by a new breath from Love renuing my complaints I gave my self up a sacrifice for his Altar and in a short time that flagrant spark enkindled by desire possest every corner of my heart with its ascending flames and this relapse came with a more violent motion than the first assault before with a tormented patience I sunk under the burthen and with a contiual grief almost dispossest my self of life but now agitated by a more violentick humour I sought furibundously more assured precipitations For as the relapse is alwayes more dangerous than the first falling into the disease so was this second passion more likely to overwhelm me Seeing therefore an assured torment and a continual pain without the fruition of that which I was never like to enjoy I contracted a resolution with my self correspond to so violent a passion as well to free my self from misery as to let Subelta see how farre the force of Love had carried me This determination passed not the portals of my lips but with a new resolution I desired to act this Tragedy in Subelta's presence being thus hurried along with these violent motions I studied nothing but how to effect my purposed precipitation Hiding from my faithful servant the chief of my purpose with many words I told her the desire I had to see Subelta whereby I might give great ease to my perturbed breast by pouring out those complaints against him which I had prepared for the like occasion telling her that I perswaded my self that words being uttered from a passion so resenting were more powerful than dead letters the effects would answer my hopes but if it wrought not on Subelta yet it would be a great relaxation to my mind in that I had vented that which so much troubled my repose hoping if that took no effect I might have power seeing the impossibility and his ingratitude to overcome my self and to cede to the will of the gods With other words powerful enough to gain her to that which she hoped might conduce to my quiet I charm'd her to my motion and answered her to the objections she made concerning the difficulty and my honour I had contrived before how to effect my design and to escape with a good colour to save my reputation I told her how I would desire my father for my healths sake to convey me to a place where I was brought up in my youth and had took great delight in hoping that the change of the aire might be a means to recover my health and how that by the way I would find means to get from those who should accompany me and that at my return I would contrive a story of my rape without mistrust These things I told her and what Love had infused into me or rather the great desire I had to perpetrate that action I intended so that seeing my resolutions were not to be beaten off she condescended to auxiliate me in my enterprize not piercing to the bottom of my design It now remained that my feigned desires were known to my father which were as soon granted as heard by him little imagining my intentions At last I was sent to this place well accoutred with a special guard to secure my person from any rape which were frequently committed by the Roman souldiers dispersed through the Countrey I knew it would be impossible to escape from the Castle whither I was going to go to Subelta therefore as I had before concluded in our journey passing through a very thick wood we made an halâ— and letting my Troop pass gently on commanded none to stay with me but my confident by which means we had a fine opportunity to escape which without their suspition we effected directing our course a cross the wood with such a speed as my desire could wish entring the most intricate places of the Wood which being spacious hid us from our searchers and the obscurity of the night approaching gave us more confidence in our clandestine slight Having almost wearied our horses and our selves not used to such hard service we resolved to repose in some convenient place in the Wood imagining our selves far enough from our Indagators and espying a large Cave we resolved to lodge there But Fortune who pursu'd me faster then those who I know condol'd my loss and as a quick-sented blood-hound catcht us when we least suspected for not considering the dangerous Animals which those spacious Woods harbour'd we cast our selves into the very lodging of a furious Lion My maid was no sooner alighted then assaulted by the King of beasts whose great strength so soon tare her weak corps that she had no time to consider by what enemie she died This miserable spectacle fill'd me with a grief unexpressable which took away the sense of my own danger and as if I had been able to have reveng'd the death of that miserable creature upon that Robust animal I drew out a dagger which I had hid in my sleeve to have effected a more bloody perpetration against my self and with that small vigor I possest flung it against the shaggy beast which being well cuspidated to facilitate my own ruine made a small entrance into his side which so enraged this furious creature that leaving the miserable carcase he
never well enjoyed my liberty but of late more furious have been the assaults the more they were despised by that cruel one the cause of my misery The Object of this passion not to hide any thing from you is Subelta Lord of the Redones one as valiant as cruel We were acquainted sometime before this Tyrant took possession of my soul and by his jovial Court-ship was I brought first to a likeing and afterwards to a violent love which forced me to express some small signes thereof yet never transgressing the Lawes of modesty He cruel wretch soon perceived it and as soon slighted my innocent affections oftentimes despising that company which before he had so much sought He had no other reason for this but his own opinion which was he accounted it an extream folly for any to yield to so sottish a passion as Love openly despising and speaking scoffingly of that Deity In this budding of my Love hapned that which might have deracinated it had it not been too deeply grounded for my father being oppressed by Caelius a Roman Captain I was given to him to be sent to Rome as a hostage for my fathers obedience I must confess I parted not from my father with so much regret as from Subâ—lâ—a and the thoughts for him made my journey unpleasant I was had to that stately City the Mistress of the Universe and by Augustus I was appointed to wait on Julia his daughter a place nothing dishonourable The statelyness of the place the pomp of the Court the daily converse with the great ones and the tender of services could not divert the passions I retained for Subelta I rendred my self acceptable to Julia and with my obedience gain'd her good liking But though I served her with all willing duty yet she observed a more than ordinary sadness still accompany me One day she said thinking it was because I was given in hostage and remained as a Captive that she had wondred at my sadness more than others for she thought I had been there long enough to forget my home and that there were many of my condition who counted their exchange the happiest thing that could betide them in coming to a place where they might learn that which naturally they had not leaving their Barbarism for Civility and but then living like humane Creatures but she said if that it grieved me to serve her she would release me or if it was because I remained in the condition of a slave she would get Caesar to free me bidding me to tell her truly the cause of my trouble and not to doubt of her assistance I seeing so great gentleness in the Princess thanking the gods for that occasion fell upon my knees and not without tears told her that it was not my captivity that caused my sadness nor in that I was her servant which I accounted the greatest bliss yet seeing she had charged me to let her know the cause of my trouble I told her the truth My words and my tears were so effectual that she told me although she greatly desired my company yet she would rather shew her affection in pleasuring me than in contenting her self I beseecht her not to oblige me with so many favours for if she did she would cause me endure a perpetual misery in parting from so benign a Princess Within a short time after she told me she had gaind Caesar's leave for my departure on condition my father would give him other hostages I made no question but to redeem me he would have given half his Signory I sent him word of Caesars will desiring him to festinate those who should supply my place He moved with a fatherly love used such speed that they arrived at Rome before I could expect them Leaving those my father sent as a despositum for my fathers faith in my place I with great celerity hastened from Rome once more visiting my native Countrey but my chiefest joy was that it harboured ungratefull Subelta Many of my friends visited me after my return and Subelta among the rest desiring to know the rarities of that stately place which I had deserted for his sake I quickly left others company to enjoy his and no joy or content was like to that when I thought I could pleasure him in my relations of the City the Court the polity of the Courtiers the behaviour of the Citizens the Royalty of Caesar and the magnitude and statelyness of the City Temples and Palaces spinning out my relations to lengthen the time that I might enjoy his presence But this content that I gave my self did but more ardently sufflate that spark which remained in my breast and inkindled a more violent flame which ever since hath consumed my heart That which tormented my soul was that I saw he remained in his former obdurateness and extreamly slighted me which so pinched my heart that it put me into a grievous sickness She to whom I had used to communicate my secrets was ignorant of this but perceiving something besides a natural sicknesse conjur'd me to let her know what I ailed Hoping the discovery might give some vent to my passions I related to her under the seal of silence the torments I endured She comforted me and to quiet me promised much But sickness encreasing I was forced to write to Subelia declaring with as much modesty as sincerity the great affliction I conceiv'd for those slightings he had made of my favours and the true and affectionate Love I bore him To this Letter which was conveyed to him by one I could trust with such a secret he would return no answer but a perverse obstinacy in his slights The relation of this had almost put a period to my life and happy had I been if it had been the last exigent thereof but the gods have prolong'd it for future shame and miseries I know not what Fate attends me but all that ever I could do could not overcome a passion so firmly fix'd in my mind nor all his slightings and contumelies lessen the immoderate affection I bore him so that the anxity of my mind and indisposition of my body bad so heightned my disease that every one looked for my death and it was much wished for by my self But see the justice of the gods who heard my prayers and avenged my trouble for whilst I thus languished that deity whom he had so scossingly derided struck him with a leaden Dart and made him dote on Artesa a great mans daughter of the Santones who as she was inferiour to me in birth so by others judgement in beauty Here he was repay'd in his own coyn and as he had dealt with me she prompted by divine vengeance handl'd him When I heard of this vicissitude of fortune my soul was mixt both with joy and grief I rejoyced that he might know what Love was and that he might be sensible of those torments he had caus'd me to endure but I was troubled that he suffered
her still answer her but with silence and a few sobs which were not recalm'd since their first suscitation ' Madam went she on your silence to my implorations makes me think that I am criminal and seems to accuse me to have committed some unknown offence which may have suscitated these tears and been the cause of this pregravation Madam if it be so if I have offended though I am not conscious to the least known or wilful offence let me but know wherein and you shall see me exact a most just and vigorous punishment from my self for the least offence that may have any wayes disturbed your repose if you will not let me know wherein I have offended I will punish my self at all adventures in that I am not able to see these tears and think my self the cause without a resentment that punisheth my soul with unutterable afflictions Whilst she stopt to wipe away some tears from her eyes which her Ladys had begot Amenia discovering her face ' Melanthe said she thou hast no wayes offended me nor art thou guilty of these tears unless it be in telling me thou wilt inflict a punishment upon thy self not considering that in so doing thou wouldst afflict me speak no more of thy offeding those tears proceed from a farre different cause Madam replyed Melanthe truly afflicted for her Mistris if I have not offended as I ought to believe since you have spoken it why seem you to accuse me of infidelity in making me so great a stranger to your thoughts since you have formerly honour'd me by communicating them to me this argues that my disloyalty hath caused you to lessen your affections and withdraw those favours you have honour'd me with in denying me the knowledge of an affliction either out of a thought of distrust or that you now begin to hide your self from me I prosess Madam I desire not to know the least of your minde out of any curiosity but out of a desire I have and that I think my self capable to serve you which when I shall cease to be I shall not desire to be acquainted with them But let not any thought of my infidelity withhold you from making me the depositary of your secrets for if all the oaths and vowes that may be made can oblige you to believe me you shall have them if you say you dare trust me why do you withhold this from me if you dare not why do you suffer me so near you no no banish this wretch from your presence since you dare not trust her and take one whose fidelity may oblige you to do them that honour since mine cannot and though the gods destiny that I shall not live in your service they shall know they gave me not life without courage to sacrifice it to you which shall expiate those crimes which deterr'd me the happiness of being your confident Amenia conjur'd by this manifest testimony of her affection and by those tears which she shed in abundance but especially by that love which she alwayes bore her could not refraine laying aside the punctillioes of a Mistris and clasping her armes about her neck ' No no Melanthe said she it is not any distrust of thy fidelity nor the lessening that affection which I ever have born thee and shall still continue that makes me thus unwilling to discover my self to thee it is pudicity that ought to accompany such as I am and these tears are to delave a crime I can neither own nor clear my self of and a passion which I am not able to decusse nor would willingly entertain After a little respite thou shalt see went she on what confifidence I repose in thy fideliiy and how intirely I love thee in laying open my weakness my frailty and my infirmities to thee and confess that which pudicity makes me so lougth to own I put more than my life into thy hands I commit to thee my honour and my reputation and tell thee that which I cannot think on without the imputation of a crime Set away that candle Melanthe that will discover those blushes which will be essential to my discourse Melanthe obeying her I cannot continued she finde words apt to tell thee my egritude and thou canst not think with what reluctancy I am forced to acknowledge that which I cannot disown Thou hast been acquainted with all the actions of my life thou hast known how far both the Romans and Iberians have sought to intrude upon my liberty and thou hast known with what constancy I have kept it when others have yielded to those disquisitors But that which with so much care I have hitherto preserv'd is now insensibly lost and yielded to this stranger without seeking which I have obstinately deny'd all sutors Dost not thou wonder Melanthe to hear me confesse this and canst thou blame me for being so loth to utter it I have supprest it long enough but through its depression it hath rais'd its flames I have found the disturbance of my former repose ever since the first sight of this stranger but I thought my former constancy might have been able to extinguish them It is not the loss of a repose dearer to me than my life that can give me so much cause of trouble as the crime I commit in loving one who it may be hath not the least inclination for me O foolish O simple and weak Amenia hast thou confest thy self in love couldst not thou have dyed with a resentment so powerful and have manifested by thy wonted constancy that thou hadst been able to have conquer'd all things and made that tyrant god to have confest he had kill'd thee but not conquer'd thee but that thou must with the follies of thy tongue confesse those of thy heart O thief to rob me of a liberty so dear and precious to me O tyrant to torment me worser than with the pangs of death in making me confesse I love and with a passion uncurable but by death What sayest thou Melanthe I have told thee my disease knowst thou any cure for the Idalian fire dost not thou reprehend me dost not thou blame me for entertaining that which was impossible for me to resist But yet Melanthe preserve thy thoughts pure for my sake think not but that a thousand deaths shall give a period to this wretched life before the least action whereby any may gather a suspicion shall be exhibited nay or the least thought within my self which shall not be competable with my honour nevertheless I cannot but I must still say I preserve pure inclinations to Euripedes and shall sooner die than entertaine the thoughts of another The Love I beare thee hath exacted this confession from me in which I neither distrust thy fidelity nor thy help ' Madam answered Melanthe I confesse for these two or three dayes I have read a more than ordinary sadness in your looks but those characters were so vail'd that the most diligent Physiognomist could never
suffered by Epamondas through attestation of my friends they did me right and setled me in my estate with the death of Epamondas who opposed them to the Joy of all my friends my estate being much augmented through the accretion of what belonged to Epamondas which was justly mine being he had no heir After I had caus'd a solemn interment of Melanthe who dyed about that time and had made a monument for her and Lascaris close to Amenia's taking also two young youths that they left to waite upon me who are yet with me in this grot and who have done me as faithfull service as their father I betook my selfe to my habitation liveing many yeares full of Content and happynesse which allwayes accrew'd to me so long as I was free from the snares of Love I remained in this condition full of quiet without any occurrents worth the rehersall till the last year oâ— the reign of Augustus when being in the court of King â—arâ—â—â—demus of â—â—licia the extraordinary beauty and pregnant witâ— of Agavvâ— neer to the King drew me once more into the inextricable troubles of Love after so many yeares repose and when I thought my self incapeable oâ— those fires having finished twelve whole lustres of my age Surely the essence of my soul was compos'd of Love for I beleeve none was so amorous as my self nor none so much crost in their Loves or else all the amatorious stars assembling at my birth pour'd down their influences on my soul as so many Amotoriums My soul of the nature of tow being exposed against the adusting beams of the sun of beauty immediatly carched fire and contrary to my expectations haveing thought the winter of age had frozen up all my veneral desirs I found the calid beams of Agavv's countinance to resolve all my icie humours and with a repullulation of desires caused a new Spring of affection Being after much resort to that fire throughly scorched and charm'd by the Philtre of her caring courtious behaviour and my limbs made sprightfull with new ardences I sought by all meanes I could to make my self gracious in her sight being at that time highly favoured by Tarcondemus and of much esteeme in his court I pursued this sute almost three years till I had gain'd Tarcondemus to promise her to me and Agavve seeming to be â—â—led by the King consented but unwilling fortune once more befooleing me frustrated all my hopes most enviously At that time the King of Pontus who had newly buried his wife haveing heard of the beauty of Agavve sent to desire her in mariage of Tarcondemus he desiring nothing more than such an alliance was very well affected with it forgetting his promise as all other princes do when it may redound to their profit to me he sought to effect that Agavve being one of the ambitousest persons in the world affected extremely to be made a queen and therefore consented very willingly to their proposalls Assoon as I understood how unlikely I was to have Agavve and how the King of Pontus had ruined all my hopes I was so enraged that nothing but death fire sword and revenge was in my mouth and thoughts The subtle Agavve fearing that my desperate minde might effect Something that might deter her of that which she aspired to seem'd more kind than ordinary to me saining that she affected not to be Queen of Pontus rather than to have been my wife if her uncle had so disposed of her entreating me not to be discontented at her fortune but if I lov'd her that I would advance her happinesse by bearing her company into that country She found me extreme avers to all her entreaties at first but she being of an extraordinary winning cariage used so much blandiloqâ—ie that I was faine to yeild my self overcome by her perswasions I lov'd her so much that although I could not have the full fruition of her I thought it a happynesse to enjoy her sight All my â—nger was now bent against the King of Pontus and I resolved to accompany Agavve theither only to revenâ—e my self on that King This match being suddenly performed I accompanied her with abundance of Lords and Gentlemen of Cilicia with great pomp and state being received there with the like sumptuousnesse We were no soner received into the Court before I could resolve of effecting any thing against the King but I was clapt uâ— into a strong tower being the receptacle of Trators and condemned persons this was done by order from Agavve fearing my resolutions would have spoyl'd her pretensions ambition if I had reveng'd my self on King Palemon You may imagine how hainovsly I took this imprisonment and how enraged I was at this action but that could not liberate me from my inclosure I received the next day two or three lynes from Agavve wherein she signified to me that she was forced to deal so rigourously with me to deliver her self from the fear my resolutions had put her in and to deliver him whom the Gods had ordeined for her husband from those machinations I had laid for his life Thus was I deluded by Agauve and punisht by my owne folly I continued in this condition the terme of a whole year in which time Agauve had been delivered of the noble Prince Dardanus in all that time I wanted nothing but my liberty being otherwise well attended and provided for It was not long after the birth of Dardanus that the Queen came to visit me and though I had received this injury from her yet had I not the power to give her a supercilious look or not to exhibit the joy I had conceiv'd at her visite I wondered what might be the cause of her coming to me and because I could not conceive any thing hope and joy presently were sluttering at the windowes of my soule After I had made my complaints against her for her deceit in causing my imprizonment she excused her self with wondrous blandiloquie and singuler Rhetorick She told me that she could not be conscious to the death of him whom the Gods had assigned for her Lord without committing a most heineous sinne knowing my resolutions and intentions were to deprive him of his life and that therefore she had secur'd me not for any other cause but for the preservation of the life of her husband and that now seeing she had been so long the wife of Palemon she hoped I would be ruled by reason and not to seek for her affection any longer nor go about to revenge my selfe of him that had done me no injury and that since the hope of obtaining her being past she hoped that my affection was also vanished and that she came a purpose to give me my liberty but that it must be conditionally to performe one thing which she would desire of me To this discourse I replyed how that my affection had not been so lightly grounded as to be beat off by all the injuries she could have inventented to
with her attendâ—â—ts to come forth thereat who it may be were excited thither by my vociferation Marcipsius fearing his wickednesse should be discovered drew his sword and presâ—nting it to my breast swore if I departed not immediately he would transpierce my heart I was nothing solicitous of my life being enraged at his wickednesse so that I stopt not for his threats but continued calling him traitor stuprator and what ever rage first exhibited He made a thrust or two at me although he knew I had no weapon nor was of a sex to contend with him but I shifted well enough and to plague him the more I ran towards the Lady crying beware of this villaine this facinorous Marcipsius that trator that violator of faith and honesty that corruptor and vitiator of virgins The wicked Marcipsius cried out to them have a care of that mad man and running with his sword drawne made as if he had defended them till they were got within the posterne when he following them left me still craving the Gods to punish him for his Scelerity After I had wearied my self with exclaiming I return'd into the city and embarquing for Spain I at last after some retardation by the winds got safe to this place where I gave my fair mistresse this sad relation which was the cause of that heavy dolor you found her in when your sympathizing tears mixt with hers Wonder no more at her excesse of Laments since you know what cause she hath to complaine Atalanta's confident thus ended her discourse and casting her eye upon me to expect those words which I ought to have express'd against so egregious a perfidy she saw that I sat like an image wherein neither life nor soul had any residence She spake to me she toucht me she pull'd me but I neither hear'd nor felt for indeed grief so much augementd by the knowledg that I must loose the sovereign of my soul caus'd through my brothers wickednesse had taken away the use of all my senses and left me altogether impassible If before I could have lov'd her after her pollution I could not think now of enjoyning her after I knew it was my own brothers defilement Grief and amazedness held me a long time in this benummedness which the maid seing fearing some sudden sicknesse screem'd out being affrighted at my palenesse Atalanta came thither before I had recovered my selfe from that kind of Syncopy But in coming to my self ah cur'st traitor sigh'd I out ah inevitable ruin of my Life Atalanta wonder'd at the extraordinary passion and interest I shew'd at the knowledg of her misfortunes which did endear me the more unto her But seing me in that condition they would have conveigh'd me to bed till I at last perfectly recovering my self diverted their intentions and asham'd at the trouble I had put them to I excus'd it as well as I could Dear Sabane said Atalanta you are too much mov'd at the misfortunes of another I cannot but wonder that your magnanimous soul bearing your own so well should be so much troubled at the audition of mine The most saxean hearts madam replyed I cannot but commiserate your condition nor none that shall hear your misfortunes but will curse that perfidious Marcipsius But that which so much amazed me was that that wicked vitiator should be so blinded as not to see his own happynesse but should forsake a beauty to which the Gods themselves might have lay'd a clame as being too good for the best of men These words imbued the native virmilion of her cheeks with a deeper crimson in graine See see continued I poynting to the wall which at that time by reason of a damp stood full of moyst drops on his hard side the very stones send forth their sudor and seem to generate teares out of their rocky substance that they might make you see by their weeping they have some kinde of feeling of your misfortunes can you then wonder how I should be so much mov'd when inanimates else would convince me of obduratenesse I see replyed she a little smiling that there is no contending with one that out of all objects will raise some evincing argument I that before was a comforter lack'd now to be comforted I that allwayes coveted the company of Atalanta now oftentimes shun'd it that I might secreetly vent my complaints and feed my sadnesse with solitary soliloquies all things were quite altered and I could not but be amaz'd as griev'd at the versutous power of that mutable Goddess They all saw my change but they could not well divine what might be the reason of 't I was now wholly eaten up with sadnesse and consum'd my time in trouble in teares and complaints against heaven earth Marcipsius and my self In the very extreemity of my trouble I should oft cry out ah I am constrain'd I am constrained to leave thee Atalanta began to repay those comfortable speeches I was us'd to solace her with and to become my physitian as I had been hers which indeed insted of comforting me encreast my dolor when I thought on my loss for by how much the more she was good to me and by how much the more the goodnesse of her nature was exhibited by so much the more I bewail'd my losse and considered the greatnesse of my misfortune This grief and trouble continuing it at last induc'd me to a sicknesse which perplexed every one of that small family by reason of the Love they bore me but Atalanta principally seem'd to forget her own trouble to engage her self into mine and sought the acquireing of my health almost with the losse of her own In this sicknesse I found some relaxation of my grief and by degrees began to overcome it and to be contented with my fortune Not that I lost any part or jot of the love I bore Atalanta but framing my selfe seeing I could no longer love her as a mistres to love her as a sister and to keep my love entire without desire of any other possession then I enjoyed To comfort and please my self with this kind of Platonick love to love only for virtues sake to have a passion with out carnal defires I sought many arguments to maintaine it to my self that it was the best love and seem'd most Caelestiall I would thus sometimes say to my self What is a little moment of pleasure that I should endure thus much pain for it For what is all this grief but because I cannot enjoy Atalanta It is not because she loves me not or because she despises me but because I have lost that carnall pleasure which I had hop'd to enjoy Surely that Love cannot be good which so poorly covets for its own ends I love her why because I might enjoy her Shall I not love her â—ow I am sure I shall not enjoy her or shall I pine my self to death for that which often times quenches the flames of love No doubt but Marcipsius lov'd her before he enjoy'd
proving too weak to strive with the violence of that impetuous storm they committed it to the mercy of the winds and water and prepared themselves to receive an inevitable death Morning appearing but the storme not ceasing we still rode upon the dangerous waves till at last our barque shattered with the continuall batteries both of Boreas and Neptune gave entrance to that aquatick enemy into its very bowells and running a leak presantly was fill'd with water Every one sought to save himself but there was no meanes to escape perishing some cut the tackle others the masts others cast themselves before hand into the sea at last the ship sanke at which so horrible and lamentable a cry proceeded from those deplorable wretches that I thought it would have relented the Gods of their Cruelty to have sav'd them miraculously The child being laid in the chest which admitted no water was tossed upon the waves and caried out of my sight in a moment The desire I had to see Atalanta made me endeavour to save my life which I cid by gaining the mast of the Ship on which I sat and beheld the rest perish in the sea without being able to afford them help I was driven for Some howers by the waves which many times had allmost made me forgo my hold with their violences and playing with my looser garment had put me to much trouble to keep steady on that dancing pole when at last by the favour of the Gods I was espied by a vessel which yet tryumph'd o're the storme which at that time slackning its violence gave them the liberty of saving me The vessell was bound for Spain so that they were easily induc'd to land me at Olisippo for the rewards I profer'd them all the jewells and things of worth that were about me I bestow'd on them The pilot being very skillfull in his art set me ashore in the Haven of Olissippo in spite of the raging waters I presently repaired to Atalanta's Ile and being admitted I was made acquainted that she had not many minutes to live The greif that then afflicted me its impossible to relate I ran to her bed side and like one distacted ask'd her many foolish and impertinent questions as why she for sake us and why she should not endure any companies in this world and why she would not overcome her grief and sorrow The old lady with her chiefest maids weeping by her made a very sad and dolefull spectacle but she glad that she was departing from this world wherein she had received so much sorrow and greif lay smiling at the frowns of death and embrac'd him with a chearfull countenance Assoon as she saw me she invited me with her dying eyes to draw near in the mean time those that stood by her bed side seeing she desired privacy withdrew a little She first ask'd me concerning the child whose misfortunes I hid from her lest the knowledg of that might have shortned those few moments she had to live I told her that it was safly provided for and that she should not fear but that I would imploy the remainder of my dayes in fullfilling her desire This is all then said she besides what allready I have told you that you let Marcipsius know he was the cause of my death and if he publisheth my dishonour I hope though he be your brother that you will desend me One thing yet grievs me and that is that I must part with Sabane her teares and weaknesse stopp'd her here and I with the excesse of passion could not answer her one word but kneeling down I gave her an assurance by my eyes that I would effect what ever she commanded my teares shew'd her with what resentment I beheld her dyeing and the greatnesse of my grief clearly deprived me of my senses At that time arrived Atalanta's father whom they had sent for and coming where his daughter lay he shewed his love was excessive for beholding her ready to expire he fell by her side and had almost deceived all their hopes of ever fetching him again but at last coming to himself he embraced the dying Atalanta who had the content to expire in his armes When they saw she was dead then began a heavy ejulation all seeking to express their passion by their several gestures and actions The old man toâ—e his hair and beard and calling aloud on his daughter seemed as if he would have made his voice pierce to the centre of the earth and revoked the absent spirit of his daughter every one was copartner with him in his grief so that 't was difficult to know who were most interested in her death A heart of slint must have melted at those lamentâ—ble mournings and bewaisings and it was not a few houres that gave them respite in their passion I had got on the further side of her bed and placeing my self hard by her dead caâ—casse I fell on her pillow with the extremity of my passion and there lay so senslesse that it was hard to judge who was deadest But after a long time my senses returning to exercise their functions I cast my eyes obscured with teares on that face which triumphing over death carried yet weapons enough to have captivated the stoutest hearts The conquering lillies began now to overcome the roses in her cheeks and they as it were yeilding to the hand of fate sunke their blushing heads under the snow of her cheeks which gave a kind of a dying tincture to the white There was nothing to be seen of death but want of heat and motion and had you but seen her you would have said that it was the fairest of the graces that in the kingdome of Morpheus was taking her sweeter repose My griefe permitted me not to read to my self lectures of mortality but by stimulating considerations put me into motions of sury Oh! how often I secretly curst that cruell brother how often I vowed her revenge and how often resolved I to sarcrifice the Life of Marcipsius on the altar of vengance 't was these resolutions that kept me from following that faire one to the Elisian shades and ty'd me to endure those sorrows by living which I was necessitated to undergo since she was dead But the old Lady having fâ—r different considerations fearing as 't was suppos'd the indignation of the Prince since she was the seeming cause that his daughter was remov'd thither where she dyed retiring into a closset pierc'd her ancient breast with a ponyard and so emitted her soule to follow Atalanta's Atalanta's maide with some others whose others whose love to her had transported them had effected the same emission of life had they not bâ—en hindred by others so that the opinion of the Indians seem'd to possesse them that souls want the service of others in the other world and that they out of a sence of love and duty would follow Atalanta to the Elisium When that they had tyred but not satisfied themselves with weeping
exquiset harmony and order so may the actions of this providence which are not contingent to it self because it knoweth and foreseeth what will come to passe and all things come to passe that he foresees though no necessity be impos'd on contingent things seem to be confused and without order but there is nothing effected without Harmony and Concinnity and that happens which he judgeth best and most convenient for his creatures though their irregular thoughts may Judg other ways and exclame against a power through a false notion that doth nothing but what is good For though some being ignorant of the incomprehensible wisdom wonder at the contrarity of things which bring about like effects and variety of things which bring ofttimes contrary effects according to the innate disposition or order of things or men as we may see that riches may make this man vicious poverty may do the like by another Prosperity and Fortune may make some careless of a good name and conscience Prosperity and Fortune may make others desire to keep and exhibit the greater virtue So that that incomprehensible Gubernator that seems so instable to us is most stable in respect of himself And who seems blind unto us sees perspicually and orders all things according to the good of his Creatures as best knowing what is best for them and best agreeing to their constitutions for were there no adversity we could have no sence of pleasure in prosperity Therefore raile no more against Fortune in adversity for in so doing you speak against a providence that knows what best befits you and is most convenient for you but learn to be content with whatsomever state or condition shall betide you and think that to be most convenient for you These were the words of my good Tutor and the scholar of Cratippus who lov'd me and enrich'd me with the fruits of his labours At this instant Euripedes entred the room and so diverted Lonoxia's reply The time is insensibly elapsed said he since you first entred into discourse I am come to do the same office for you Lonoxia as you did for me yesterday in the grove I could not satisfy the naturall appitite of the body in turning over my books neither do I beleive your discourses to be more efficacious I have been hearing reply'd Lonoxia the opinion of an Athenian philosopher concerning our religion which if true makes the better part and the most knowing of the world fools and Idolaters Argelois is as much against fortune as you against Love both blind deities and incompetable but let 's not innovate any thing here for they are both banish'd our Cell But let us go take some refection if you please for I doubt I have done Argelois great injury in detaining him so long and you as great in robbing you of his company Both returning his complement in very handsome termes they followed a servant that came to give them notice that dinner attended them After they had taken that repast wherein temperance shew'd something of state Argelois of a sudden as 't were coming out of a dream and rising up from the place where he sat Your company Friends said he is made up of charmes and I professe it hath wrought that mirracle that could not have been effected by all the world besids you have made me insensible of the trouble I have put my frinds in to find me I know my absence will be insupportable to some and their care I know hath put them to much trouble But alas this is not all you have detain'd me from beholding those eyes that have enkindled so many flames in my heart and made me forget that I live not but by their gracious aspect Give me leave generous fathers to pay what I owe to my friends and my self I promise you to visit you oft and some other time to satisfy you in what you may desire to know of me and shall account my self happy if I may have an occasion to employ my life in your service Euripides smiling at his passion well wee 'l detain you no longer said he I see you are not able to take warning by others harms your passion is too strong to be converted but I am so zelous that I must needs represent to you the evills of this passion and give you some arguments for my aversion but it shall be in the grove where you may have the libery to leave me when you please Well wee 'le hear what you have to say reply'd Argelois and I make no question but Love will inspire his champion with words to defend him Argelois taking his leave of Lonoxia with abundance of obligatory speeches followed Euripedes out of the grote and walking to the place where he first encountered Euripedes they sat down on a pleasant banke under the covert of the thickest trees come adversarie said Argelios smiling let 's hear what you have to say against love Euripedes after a very little pause began thus I might well declame against Love if it were for no other thing but for the evills I have acquired by it so that I know it not altogether by oppinion but experience tells me it is evill and all the effects of it evill And on my side are those whom we terme Philosophers and searchers out of wisdome who knowing both the causes and the effects have found this passion vitious and full of absurdities and have given it most worthily the name of detestable and insipient and those enviegled with it fools and Mad-men I know this is too corrosive in the presence of so strong a lover but I know your generous soule will give me leave without adulation to speak my minde freely and take it as the effect of my love and affection that I desire the same good to you as to my selfe and that I cannot see another occupy that which is become odious to my self And though I know that it is almost impossible by naturall reason and the exhibition of never so perspicuous truths to perswade any from his passion especially when it hath fixed its roots in the breast and spread it selfe in the branches of desires yet I will exhibit to you the reasons I have to hate this passion beeing an evill and therefore worthy to be hated But before I shew the evil of 't I must confesse that love placed in some generous soules who can command this passion not to be evill but then as I think I told you yesterday that it is not a passion but some extention of the soul which it can continue or withdraw at pleasure But this that I speak of is evill of it selfe though it may be more or lesse perspicuable according to the generosity and basenesse the purity or impurity of such souls that it is placed in to shew this to you according to the weaknesse of my capacity I will begin first with the cause of this passion I omit to speake of Love in generall whether of naturall and simpathizeing Love
or Love proceeding from similitude of qualities or manners or of morall love generall or particular to men or naturall to children or parents all whose causes are indifferent and besides that passion on which I insist and which cannot be without diversity of sex as the other may But the cause of this as generally the chiefe cause of all love is an attractive power which causeth an expansion or emotion of the soule and spirits to an object which she thinks convenient for her and which must be a conception of need or want of the object Now privation it selfe is evill and love being privation and want of an object is therefore evill for the effect of it beeing desire seeks the possession of that object and so makes the love circular to attract that to the soule which she seemes to want Now if we then wanted nothing we should not desire any thing which shewes we are not compleat in our selves and desire being the exhibition of want and the effect of love shews that the foundation it self is evill for that it is grounded on want Then besides if you look upon the outward cause of attraction whether it be beauty or any other exterior quality of the object beloved and the possession of it desired which is alwayes suffulted with hope the very causes themselves being vanity or not worthy objects for the soules egression to or opperation upon that desire and that love cannot be good the causes themselves being not absolutely good but vain and transitory But this by the way the chief thing I proposed was to insist on the effects of this passion which plainly exhibit the evils of it and out of which as from the fountains head all other evill passions have sprung This also we may consider in relation to the body and to the soule First consider this in relation to the body and that must be relatively and as it is joyned with other passions whose motions cause the diversity of motions in the body Through this the body which is as it were the case of the soul is imbued through the conjunction of the soule with the body with pain with languishing with restlesseness and all the senss feel the effects of this passion upon the soul by exposing the body to danger by wounds by torments and oft times by death all which happen through the exuscitation of other passions Now the soule suffers innumerable evills for first all passions as griefe hatred envie wrath malice revenge disdain and divers other particular passions which spring from this love all which falling upon the body agitate it to diversity of motions and without rest causes the soule to a continuall solicitous care of obtaining the object of its desires which if once hope faile then dispair the foretunner of mischiefe carries the soule into wonderful precipitancies and if in its best estate that hope continues it is never without fear jealousie and a soâ—icitrous care of conserving the object of its love so that the soul is under a continuall agitation by those paâ—sions that necessarily accompany love and so cannot enjoy the rest it ought to have But now to leave this kind of Philosphicall discourse let us speake of it morally and let us consider the evill effects it hath produced in the world and then we will define it thus Love is a most fatall plague a most venemous poyson a most ardent and foolish desire and the source and fountaine of all evill Men when once they are entred into this passion quite lose their former natures for this passion contaminates their reaâ—on tyranizeth over their wills makes them subject to the egregious fancies of the object they seek to acquire it deprives them of Jugdment â—â—ills them with all manner of passions which caries them into aâ—l mannâ—â— of preciptation their minds are continually tost to and fro on the wheel of love being stimulated with that Oestrum they are jacted câ—â—â—â—ted agitated versated by this passion and fill'd with exanimation distinction direption and accompanyed with cares feares jealousies false and faint comforts disquiets languishings longings rage and what not that is evill and all but for the acquiring of a little vain pleasure which vanisheth assoon as 't is caught And besides all these folly lust sinne doings turbulent motions and precipitancies wait on lovers And if we should go about to summe up the bad consequences and effects of this passion with the evils it hath caused we should find them innumerable for what disturbances what commotions what hurly burlies what distractions what battalls what slaughtars hath it caused and what rapes what sinnes what polutions what sueds and what murthers hath it committed was it not the cause of the distruction of ancient Troy was it not the cause of the banishing Kings out of Rome Was it not the cause of the abolishing the Decemveri hath it not been the cause of many murders was it not the cause of the wicked and inhumane slaughter of Absyrtus the brother of Medea was it not the losse of Megara when Nisus lost his fatal hair by his daughter Scylla Alas it would be endlesse to recount these things so well known and generall hated and yet this dispicable unprofitable and dangerous passion cannot be shunned but embraced by those who acknowledge the evills of it but yet wilfully maintaine its interests They cannot take example by others nor shun the precipicies they see others fall into before their eyes but that they also must rush into them Neither can I see any good at all that this passion doth produce but on the contrary those that are free from it enjoy all the quiets felicity ease pleasures and freedome which the other are incapable of and which is most miserable of all of free men and unconstrained they become slaves subjects and bound to obey the motions of their owne passion and will of an inconsiderate mistris who it may be is as dispicable in the unblinded eye of another as she is lovely in his Nor let it serve any to excuse it by saying they are forced and cannot decusse it for it is impossible for all men to mastre this passion if they resolve to set their wills to doe it but so long as they account it good and best for them they are not able to overcome it because they doe not seek it truly but cherish and obey every motion that cometh from it But if they were once convinced of the evill of this passion and were resolved to forsake it I make no question of the possibility of their effecting it There may be divers wayes proposed for the decussion or prevention of this evill the chief of which as I suppose is a constant imployment of the mind either in study or armes whereby it may have no time to fall into that which as they say is accquired by a supine and idle life fit to entertaine such a guest and justly sent as a plague from the Gods to such a soule Other
as if their absence had been for years and not dayes and were along time e're they could expresse their joy by word I may safe say that they were the mirroâ— of friendship and that they were another Pylades and Oristes or as fast friends as Thâ—seus and Pirithous After their embraces had given way for speech and that Darâ—anus bad express'd his civilities to Eliana Argelois excused his absence and crav'd pardon for the trouble he had put the prince to in very handsome termes but Dardanus forbidding those termes of subjection and humility which Argelois allways accosted him with desired him to tell him how he had hid himself being so near the castle since he had search'd all the woods about and places capable for obscuration Yesterday said Argelois stealing from you in the morning to give way to my musings I went some few surlonâ—s from the castle and entring that grove which adjoins to the spacious wood towards the west being taken with that place which before I had not minded I met with a place which all the word could not have found out He then relateing to them his adventure gave them the knowledg of his stay but lest he should prejudice Euripides he would not discover who or what they were After the knowledg of this and other ordinary discourses they returned all together to the Castle The next day Eliana and Dardanus expressing their desire to see that grot which Argelois had discovered he led them to the place where they had a very good reception by those two generous old men Dardanus desiering to know their fortunes expressed as much severall times but Euripedes knowing that it was Dardanus and believing that Argelois would not discover him he put it off by telling him that they were men of another country and of a mean quality only wearied in the warrs and troubles of the world having a parity of fortunes and of years they at last after much travell found that place of solitude which they had made fit for their habitation and in which they resolved to spend the rest of their dayes Euripedes noteing the extraordinary beauty of Eliana taking Argelois aside told him thar he could not now blame him seeing that the object of his passion was so glorious and that as great a Stâ—ic as he was he could not behold her without admiration Argelois smiling a little at his approbation would have figh'd out a few words but that Eliana drawing near to the place with Dardanus broke of his determination and made him turn about to receive them Your Grot is so pleasing said Eliana that were I in a condition I should prefer it before the stateliest pallace of either Europe or Asia It was never happy till now Madam reply'd the venerable Euripides and I doubt not but it shall receive that luster from the graces that attend you that it shall for ever afteâ— bear the virtue of this visit Other speeches past between them wherein Euripedes acquitted himself so well that they had a good opinion of his virtue and importun'd him to have gon and visited their castle but they could not draw him beyond the limmits of his grove though he partly ingaig'd himself some other time to see them Dardanus at his parting would needs force Euripedes and Lonoxia to accept of two large diamonds from his hands though they often denied them and told him their solitude was incomperable with riches and that since they had left the world they had disavov'd those things But he not being to be denied they receiv'd them telling him they would preserve them as monuments of his bounty After they had left these two generous fathers Dardanus Argelois and Tribulus entering into discourse walked a little before Eliana who with her maides purposely lingred behind till they came near to the side of the great wood which was within sight of the castle where seeing a very pleasant place she sat down with her maids to rest her self Dardanus looking back and seeing the princesse out of sight would have returned but meeting one of her maids that desired them to sâ—ay a little in that place for her telling them that she desired to repâ—se her 〈◊〉 a little in that pleasant place and that in the mean time they should â—â—nd one of their attendance for her palsray for that she had a desire to visite all those pleasant places about the castle which yet she had not seen They observing her commands dispatch'd one presently to the Castle and sate down themselves not far from the place where the princesse was Dardanus and Tribulus being entr'd into a discourse Argelois leaning his head on his hand was also entred into the deep consideration of his fortunes when on a sudden they heard a great screach among the maids of Eliana which made them leave the place like lightning especially Argelois whom passion made swifter than the wind They had no need to enquire the cause of that affâ—ightment for they saw it was two Beares who smelling them in the wood had broke in amongst them One of them following the seeble steps of Eliana had caught hold on her garment just as Argelois came his soule suffered wonderfull torments through the fear that surpriz'd him to see in what danger she was and his face growing extreamly pale would have shew'd his interest if it had been a time wherein any could have noted it Yet in his heart he was glad that fortune had made use of that occasion wherein he might engage his life for her safe-guard The danger she was in was so emminent that he had no time to draw his sword but not regarding his life with his open armes he slung himselfe between the open mouth of the Bear and Eliana who at the same instant fell being out of breath and affrighted The bear being very strong and masse took hold on Argelois where he had like to have suffered much having no weapon to anoy him but wrestling with that rabid creature he overthrew him to the earth though the Bear all lacerated his shoulder yet he kept him down with matchlesse strength till Dardanus came who seeing the danger of his friend soon piere'd the beast in many places with his sword and free'd his Argelois out of those Philosous embraces Dardanus turning about saw the other Beare had almost seized on Celia which made him hast to her succour who with the help of her father Tribulus who came to help his daughter at last they jugulated In the mean time Argelois getting up turned about to Eliana who through the fear she had taken lay all that time in a sown approaching her he kneeled down by her and vewing her face he beheld nothing but the matchlesse lillies displaying themselves there not loosing so fair an opportunity he ravished some kisses from her hand which transported him beyond the measure of conceit At last the naturall roses of her cheeks returning by degrees imbu'd that whitnesse which tryumph'd with
Argelois said Dardanus since it is so contrary to you yet give me leave to admire the greatnesse of that soule that can deny a happinesse with so much generosity Such like discourses had these two perfect friends when occasion gave leave Panthea in the mean time suffered all those torments incedent to despareing lovers which were the more augmented by that engagement that lay upon her to hide her from the eyes of Eliana and by suppressing those ordinary allevaments of a love sick heart least her aboundance should discover her weaknesse All the comfort that she had was but to encrease her ardences with beholding that face which was the cause of her misseries which dayly grew pale under the smoak of its owne fires Love had made a kind of contrary mixture in these souls and bestowed shafts of a contrary opperation in their vulneration Panthea sought all occasions of acosting Argelois and he all means to avoid her speeches which he effected so cunningly that she could never have the liberty she desired The complaints she made to her brother were very bitter and deplorable but the love of friendship was too strong to be shaken by that of affection so that she gained little comfort from either which when she saw she was faine to continue the martyr of Love and silently endure those torments which had almost finished the life of that faire and lovely creature the lustre of whose beauty came little behinde that of the incomparable Eliana Argelois not only avoided with all dilligence the company of the princesse Panthea but even that of Dardanus began to be disgracefull to him which made him seek out new places of retirement in the woods where he often made deplorable speeches amongst the Driades and thought to quench the fire in his heart by the waters of his eyes some few weeks passed over in which time the excesse of torment he continually without any intermission endured had so dejected him that he was hardly to be known That fair face in which majesty and lovelinesse strove for Mastership was become wholy the seat of palenesse Those eyes who vivacitly enkindled ardors in the hearts of beholders seem'd to have left all their fires and were become dead and without motion He seemed to be but the shaddow of what he had been or as if sicknesse had enchained him to his bed many moneths There is nothing can alter the body like the extream passions of the soul and their is no passion so terrible as that of love and almost impossible it is not to discover it in the face for by how much the more secreetly it burnes by so much the more furiously it flames These fires had so long inusted the heart of this noble Heroe and so secreetly that now he began to sink under its power and to yield his life to dispair Panthea whose love interested her in his looks found there also augmentations of her troubles but all that palenesse could not hide from her eyes that lovelinesse which was wont to exhibit it self she at least fancied she saw it through the cloudes the eyes of love being more piercing than any others or else she fed her fires with those ashes that she saw strew'd on the face of Argelois She daily solicited her brother to his comfort who accused her for being the cause of his miseries 'T is nothing but because of your passion said Dardanus he is so sensible of your trouble but being too generous he thinks he cannot satisfie you without debaseing you below that quality which you were born to that he does pennance for the injury of his looks doe you leave to love him and he will leave these sadnesses Ah! cruell fair cry'd Panthea cannot you be only insensibly but envious too is your disdain so of great that you will force me not to love by such severe meanes Tell him ah tell him that he shall have the comfort to see me die to rid him of that trouble to which his disdain praecipitates him Let him no more trouble himself Panthea will tryumph over all her misfortunes and with a second thrill free that heart love hath allready peirced Dardanus much troubled at his sisters transport It is his pity said he that afflicts him his heart is not capeable of that evil you accuse him of Torment not your self except you desire to drive him to a further despaire Panthea at leasure thought on these words and when she was by her self can I beleive this said she ah false brother to inject it alas can Argelois be so pitifull and cruell in one instant Can contraries mix in one body Ah! how happy should I be if this were true if that insensible one should leave to be impassible and should alitle resent my miseries and pity my afflictions though he never intends to fullfill my desires Ah! strange generosity that can withhold one from enjoying a happinesse desired ah vaine thought foolish Panthea canst thou believe it no no 't is too fond and foolish a vanity to thinke it These thoughts agitated this faire soul some time and made her in a silent kind of stupor walke a great while about her chamber At last as it were awakeing out of a dreame wherein some strange thing had betided she stopt with a sudden scriech ah straing injection cry'd she out and then stop't Some moments after Ah! blinde eyes cry'd she ah foolish and insulse Panthea where hath been thy senses Where hath been thy witts how was it possible that thou couldst be so foolishly blind all this time do'st thou doubt it no no call to thy remembrance all his actions pass'd and you will see it as clear as the day Doubt no longer 't is Eliana that he sighs for 't is she that hath brought him to this passe Thy beauty is not so despicable but he would have accounted himself happy to enjoy what thou proferest without those vaine considerations were not his heart allready conjoyned to Eliana Ah! cruel Eliana to rob me of a heart that thou hast no passion for and which thou art not like to enjoy What say I alas can she behold that fair one that wonder of nature that mirror of men and not behold him with passion doubt it not though she hath that power to conceile it Well heaven hath so ordained it thou must dye and Eliana must enjoy that thou art not accounted worthy of These thoughts extremly added to her torments and cast her into utter despair for whilst she thought him free she had some hopes to have mollified his obdurate heart but these thoughts lost all her hopes She confirm'd her self in her opinion by denoteing the actions of Argelois Jelousy open'd her eyes and made her see what she had taken no notise of before she observ'd his looks his cariage and his speeches before Eliana she took notise of his sighes and by all gestures words and signes she gathered somthing to confirm her opinion and admir'd with her self that she
impossible to let you know the palpitations of his heart at that time but Madam said he trembling I know not what it is you call passion but I rather think 't is some growing disease not ordinarily known for if I dare say so I find in the midst of these sadnesses a strange kind of pleasure which yet is afflictive and yet desired So that I cherish my disease and wish for no remedy for what appears so grievous in the eyes of others 'T is very strange reply'd Eliana that you should Love that which is your torment 'T is the part of a resigned soul answered Argelois to be content with what the Gods shall send if their hand hath afflicted me with this strange sicknesse I ought to accept of it as their gift knowing it proceeds from the powerfull hand of an uncontrouling deity The Gods seeme unjust reply'd Eliana to punish so severely the virteous and to let the most vicious go untouched We are not said Argelois to prescribe a way to heaven or to tell him who they are that ought to be punished for we are not able to peirce into the sins of men which are perceivable only to the penetrating eyes of Heaven He that seems most holy in the eyes of men may be most vicious in those of Heaven You know not Madam what I have deserved Truly my aspiring mind in that it hath given me audaciry above those of my quallity to so glorious a converse with your self hath deserved these thunders of dejection Virtue cannot sore to high return'd Eliana and it is but a vanity that possesses rhe great ones of the world to consider great births more than virtue for true honour proceads from virtue and is regulated by it therefore the Gods cannot do so great injustice as to punish you for making others happy by your company I rather thinke it is the meannesse of our deserts that make the Gods to interrupt the felicities we received by your conversation Men cannot be more pitifull than the Gods and I pity your dejection with all my heart That is enough said Argelois to make me happy and to establish me in my pristine condition for your pity is restorative Dardanus coming to them put an end to their discourse but Argelois finding the virtue of her speeches to operat much upon his soul and to relax the continual agitations of his thoughts he often engaged into the like discourse but with a great diligence lest he might discover the cause of his sadnesse and Melancholy Whilst he enjoyed that happiness of conversing with Eliana her words still prov'd a Nepenthe to his soul and gave some relaxation to that sadness that peâ—petually afflicted him But it lasted so short a time that 't was scarce perceiveable and no sooner had he left that Sun but his heart was contracted by the cruel frost of dispair which ushered in those killing thoughts that were most commonly his Companions and which very often had like to have precipitated him to death Dardanus seeing he strove in vain to perswade him out of that mestitude or to gain the knowledge of it from him resolv'd to satisfie his desire being his intent was only for the good of his friend by a secret auscultation of his miseries He often perceiv'd that he stole out to secret places of the woods where he believ'd he play'd the usual part of afflicted people who not having to whom they may commit their secrets blab them to the senseless trees or dumb animals whereby they find some ease but no remedy for their complaints Dardanus watch'd him one day and following him unseen to the wood crope near to the place where he lay amongst the thickest of the bows which intexed their leavy arms in one another and sheltred him from his sight sufficiently It was a long time before a world of ingeminated suspirations would give him leave to speak but at last casting his eyes up to heaven having laid himself upon an oblique bank he began to disburthen those oppressing thoughts by most pitifull complaints O Heaven said He with a pitifull tone will you force me to be my own executioner Will you not yet give leave to Atropos to conclude my destiny and free me from misery It is an act of your mercy to take away a life so unsupportable I beg not to be eas'd of my grief any other wayes than by death since it cannot be but by wronging the best of friends But what say I Do I ask for that death as will be so prejudicial to Dardanus since he loves me No let me live only for his sake O Gods ye are just and 't is sit that I endure these torments for the crimes I commit Ah! dear Dardanus Can you ah can you forgive me the crimes that I dayly commit against you in loving that beauty which is ordained by heaven for you and which is too divine for any other mortal than your self Yes Dardanus that shall be the last thing I will request when I leave this Love consumed carcase and I doubt not but thy goodness will forgive thy Argelois a crime which is forced upon him by the uncontrouling power of love who though he hath made me to love Eliana shall never cause me to injure thee by a thought of obtaining her were my birth answerable to her greatness No Dardanus dear Dardanus I hold that tye of friendship too dear to be broken for all the content of the whole world My life shall be sacrificed to maintain it and it shall be kept inviolable though for it I expire After some time of silence breaking forth with another tone Ah damnable thoughts cryed he what evil Daemon is this that gives these injections that tells me Love considers no friendship that for the consideration of Love we may lawfully break that tye That Rivals in love are unsupportable though friends or brothers That I ought to account him my enemy that is so to my desires and content That I ought to afflict my self when I may take the obstacle out of the way by a noble Combate which will be allowable in a rival O wicked cruel and deadly susurrations avoid all evil thoughts and know that 't is my self that is rival to my self It is Dardanus it is no other that is my rival were it any besides him he could not have lived so long to my torment though I had reaped nothing by his death Love must be satisfied and Rivals must share the prize by their deaths But 't is Dardanus to whom I ow more lives than one and 't is a great comfort to me ah my dear Dardanus that t is for thy sake I endure this torment Yea were it far greater which is impossible it should not be murmured at by Argelois but borne with patience as the most glorious tryall of my ftiendship After some little time of pausing and sighing Ah! more pleasing thoughts said he but yet unjust and unrighteous and that do not throughly consider
faintly cease to exclaime against one who can do nothing injustly and from whom I ought to receive far more torments without murmuting These words bringing the Prince Dardanus out of one astonishment into another made him no longer doubt of that Prince but that it must needs be Arizobanes Pity brought him presently from his amazednesse when he saw he had forsaken his pen with these words Lamedon speaking to his squire I can write no more my sight is gone but be thou my faithfull depository and deliver this poynting to what he had written into the hands of the fair Pan he sanke at these words The Prince Dardanus running to him caught him in his armes and by the words he spake and teares he shed exhibited his sad resentments of his death See here said Epidauro pulling forth the rine wrapt up what love dictated at that time it may be these sanguinious characters may speak more movingly by insusing some part of that spirit that wrote them than I have done Argelois took them of Epidauro and turning to Panthea asked her if she would be pleased to hear them That princesse who was all Goodnesse and pity when she saw her interest in Epedauro's discourse was immovable She could object nothing either against the nature person or behaviour of Arizobanes he had quailities winning enough and a Prince worthy of that title by this action you have heard you may judge of his courage and to what exigent Love had drove him 'T was nothing but the imperious Love she bore Argelois that made her disregard that Prince and drive him to that despair Remorse seized on her and she repented of her last action that drove him to that precipitancy Pity and compassion sometimes is the procurer of Love and ushers it under their disguize Panthea felt something more moving than ordinary and she had believed at other times that she could have heard of his death and have been impassible But now she found the contary and all the courage she had could not suppresse those sad thoughts that oppressed her She looked upon her self as the murtherer of that Prince and imagined that his wound spake very dolefully and upbraided her for her obduratenesse Whether love or Pity 't is hard to be decided or both caused her teares but unwilling to discover them to Epedauro she turned her head toward Argelois and gave way to those drops which could not but be expected from so tender and susceptable a soul At last fixing her eyes upon Argelois she seemed to accuse him and to make him the cause of the disaster She suppressed her resentments what she could but yet there secreetly escap'd some of those assured messengers of an afflicted soul After she had continued in a sad and silent posture for some time turning to Epedauro and is the prince dead then said she could he not be recovered yes maddam â— reply'd Epedauro if it may be any comfort to you the incomperable Chiron hath shew'd the wonder of his skill and hath made known that he hath done as great a cure as Esculapius when he recovered virbius But yet madam went he on although he hath as it were been new born into this world he hath not forgot his old love and though Chiron hath sanated his wound yet it was impossible fot him to cure that of Love it must be a fairer hand than his that must close up that It is the cheifest cause of the Prince Dardanus's stay to perswade the newly recovered Arizobanes from perpetrating the like For fearing least he should be compelled to break your severe command he is dayly ready to offer a second sacrifice of himself There is no consideration can work with him for he thinks it his duty to die since you have banished him your fight Panthea was very joyfull that he was recovered though she found a great abatement of that pity which but now stimulated her the consideration of Argelois being too powerfull for its continuance But said she to Epedauro to put him besides that discourse he was in how did you recover him and how got you this writing you have brought Madam went he on my Lord the Prince having for a long time deplored the case of Arizobanes at last asked Chiron whether it were impossible to recover him and whether he could not shew he deserved the name he bore by making known the utmost of his care and skill Chiron immediately searching the wound with a probe found it large but not very deep and that the intestines being intacted he said he could with facility enough heal up the wound had he but blood and life in his body Life had issued out with his blood for that having had so large a passage had scarce left one drop in his body Châ—ron dispair'd for ever reviving him and would not have done his devoyres had it not been for the Prince I cannot believe said he that the gods will be so unjust as to let so great a soul die so iâ—nâ—bly being forc'd to it by the most spurious of all the gods who shews his malice to all the other Olympick Numens in forcing the vertuous and the righteous into such Lethal precipitances Try Chiron you know not what vertue may accompany your endeavours it may be Vitunus may inspire life through your means and recover a soul that hath nothing in him to be condemned but that he beareth the insignia of so cruel a God Chiron more to please the Prince than of any hopes he had to recover him desired he might be carried to some place where he might dress him with convenience Having call'd rhe rest of the servants and being conducted by Arizobane's Squire we carried the Prince in our arms to a small cottage about three hundred paces from the wood in which was none but two decrepit people who seeing the Prince dead fill'd their little Domicil with ejaculations we laid him in a bed and obscuring the room leâ— no light come in but what we received by tapers The Prince Chiron and my self being lest alone with Arizobanes and his Squire Chiron nearly stitching up the wound applyed those things which he believed most conduâ—eâ—n to its cure Presently we poured down his throat essences and other things that the incomparable Chiron had prepared and with hot cloaths and frications the Prince himself contributing his charitable hand to those labors sought to give new fire to that inanimate body We had laboured so long and found so little sign of life that we believed we had attempted a vanity and were about to give over a work carried on by the extream desire of the Prince when Chiron assured us the operation of his essences had played the part of Prometheus and had injected fire from their hidden vertue Before it was night we could all discern that there was life and that it was not impossible for us to revive him The Prince would not leave him all night but indefagitably continuing his charities shewed