passionate he is very apt both to be sensible of and to excite great passions for he knows all the violence delicacy and Mystery of Loves better than Vulgar Lovers But to pass from agreeable to Heroical Qualities he is Honorable sincere generous and as good a friend as is possible to be and whoso has oblig'd him to promise his friendship may be assur'd he will never fail in it Moreover his heart is fill'd with the most true and solid glory in the World So that in occasions where it is to be obtain'd or that which he has already gotten is to be upheld this man whom I have represented to you so gentle so facile and so complacent is the most fierce and resolute in the World As for his courage he has as much as any man so that this being joyn'd to his wit and other accomplishments makes it apparent that there is no imployment how great soever of which he is not capable and worthy and he gives cause to believe that if there be any man in the world who would not alter his deportment towards his Friends in an extraordinary advancement of fortune it is certainly himself His conversation is not only agreeable but charming for he enters into the sentiments of those to whom he speaks without any affectation and conforms thereto with address by which means he insensibly insinuates into the hearts of people and such a person as sometimes believ'd he was only an acquaintance has sound soon after that he had a great interest in his affection He is courteous even in the least concernments and his gentleness pity and gratitude extend even to the smallest Animals For he loves to observe their natures goodness and agreeableness and industry he admires that rational instinct which guides them so accurately he is delighted with their kindness he has compassion of those that are miserable because whatever suffers excites his pity He is alike fit for the conversation of Ladies and men and he writes so admirably well and in so elegant and gallant a strain and so much becoming a man of Quality that his Letters cause such as see them to wish they could write the like In fine his merit is so great that the charming Clarista niece of the admirable Amalthea whose name you cannot but know minding to use railery with him and to disparage his conversation could only reproach him that he sometimes lov'd to recount things past rather than to speak of things present Thus I have given you such an account as I could of this illustrious Friend of Amalthea whom I could have lov'd if he had lov'd me However having affairs in Sicily and a brother who after several adventures is come to live at Praeneste I took a journey to see him and I am resoly'd to demand Whether I shall never be lov'd but by people whom I cannot love Aretaphile spoke this so gracefully that if at the same moment one had not call'd her to go know what she desir'd to understand Amilcar could scarce have contain'd from speaking some kind of blandishments to her though he had resolv'd to love Plotina eternally But Aretaphile left him and went to inquire her Destiny of him who perform'd the Ceremony and expounded the Lots who said to her Thank the Gods Daughter for if you were lov'd by one whom you could love you would be the most miserable person in the World because you would always love more than you would be lov'd again Therefore prepare your self to love nothing but liberty if you desire to be happy Anacreon was call'd next and askt Fortune whether he should live always in joy The Soothsayer having consider'd the several Tablets answer'd him And accordingly the event verifi'd the prediction of the Lots for Anacreon dy'd afterward at a Feast where he was choak'd by the grain of a Grape After Anacreon Scaurus was caus'd to enter with his Machine who with an air serious and mocking together askt if there were any means for him to become such a person as his Picture and to resemble his Picture once again Being the Priests were oblig'd to answer to all Questions the Lots were drawn and the old Soothsayer interpreting them answer'd him in these terms You know not what you ask when you desire to become again what you have been Which if you were you would be young and handsome you would dance well you would be an excellent Painter you would be active and agreeable but withal you would be nothing but a Gallant wanton who had only made Sonnets upon Iris or Clymene and your Reputation would be circumscrib'd in the number of your Friends But by the change hapned in your person your mind being excited to make amends for the loss of your beauty is become such as you now enjoy and has now so exalted you above the common sort of men that you are the Phoenix of your Species Your Works please the whole World by their ingenious mirth and elegancy Desire therefore only to be such as you are and be contented that the Gods in giving you Lyriana have given you a thousand times more than they have taken from you even though you had been more amiable than Paris After this Scaurus retir'd saying the Lots of Praeneste taught him nothing and he knew before all that they told him Then the fair Lyriana was call'd who would propound no Question though her name was written For having well consider'd said she to the Priest If it be decreed for me to be happy I shall be so infallibly and if any infelicity is to befall me I will not know it before it happen What you say is so well reason'd answer'd the sage Soothsayer that I doubt not but you will always be as happy as you deserve to be Next came Amilcar's turn who demanded whether he should dye in Africk or in Italy and the Soothsayer answer'd him In Italy Whereupon he was very joyful imagining that the voyage which he design'd to make into Africk would not be long After this Acrisius askt whether he should ever possess Plotina and the Soothsayer having consider'd the Tablets told him Such as speak too much never perswade Then Damon the constant Pythagorean propos'd two questions One whether his Mistress would always slight him and the other what he should become first of all when he dy'd But after the Child had drawn the Tablets the Soothsayer expounded them in this sort Your Mistress will always do you justice you shall dye but once and you shall be as all other men are when they depart this life for the Disciples of Pythagoras have no particular priviledge Damon seem'd so offended with this answer that he said aloud as he went forth of the Temple Amilcar had brib'd the Soothsayer and the Lots of Praeneste were nothing but a cheat Amilcar laugh'd at his choler and made pleasant railery upon the discontent which Damon resented for that it was told him he should dye but once Yet he went
the life of a child that he looked upon as the child of a Prince whom he esteemed his enemy this Lady likewise who was her only consolation told her that after Mezentius had reduc'd things to the estate where they were he would not be capable to be mollified by the consideration of a child which was but in conception and who had nothing but tears to bow his obdurateness when he should come into the world so that they thought it was expedient to conceal that indisposition which produced their fear but the thing at first appeared so difficult to them that their consolation ended in tears But after a little mature deliberation they believed that if they could gain his wife who commanded the Castle it would not be impossible to conceal so great a secret for as she was the only person which had the liberty to see this young Queen except two slaves which served her they should fear nothing if they could procure her to be of their intelligence so that all the care Galerita used was to entirely to acquire that Lady who was called Flavia and who is sister to Nicius here present but to speak truly it was not difficult for the Princess to oblige her to serve her and to be faithful to her for she being naturally tender and compassionate had a particular inclination to love Galerita who knew so admirably how to acquire their spirits of those from whom she would obtain any thing that it had been very difficult for Flavia to resist her intreaties who much deplored the misery of so fair and vertuous a Queen but Galerita deferred the discovery of it as long as she could possible to see if the Prince of Perusia could desist from his injustice but hearing by some of her Guards that he always appeared more inveterate against Porsenna and that he used all the means possible to usurp his estate and that when Clusium was submitted he would assuredly put to death this Prince she determin'd to confide on Flavia to whom she learnt her present Estate and the fear Mezentius should know it but she told it her with such melting language and tender considerations to procure her fidelity to assist her in saving the life of of an innocent Babe which did not yet enjoy the light that this vertuous woman which had no obdurate heart mingled her tears with Galeritas and would not promise her without evaporating many sighs the accomplishment of all her desires so that the true cause of her indisposition might be conceal'd But without troubling my self to recite impertinent particularities I shall tell you in few words that Galerita having feign'd to be seiz'd with a greater malady than really she was to obtain that her Guards should come no more into her Chamber and Flavia who was very much belov'd by her Husband being wholly gain'd by her and they having gain'd the Physician which should see Galerita the design was in the end conducted with so much precaution judgment and sense that the true cause of Galeritas indisposition was not in the least suspected and she had the advantage to salute the times with a Successor to Porsenna it being not then known and the generous Flavia acted her part so handsomly that the Son of the Queen of Clusium came into the world without being publickly known and was taken out of her Chamber without being discovered for having foreseen what she would act she had so order'd it that the Queen of Clusium having seen from her Chamber a little child she had which was very fair and that one of her slaves held in his arms desired to see it so that insensibly she had used the Guards of this Princess to enter daily and go out with that person which carried Flavias young Son into Galeritas Chamber and which carried it sometimes divested and sometimes wrapt up in sumptuous swath bands as if it were asleep in her arms to the end to use this artifice when it should be necessary and as Flavia was his wife who commanded the Castle none which depended on her were suspected by Galeritas Guards so that when this Queen was in estate to have need of the address of Flavia she caus'd her which had accustom'd to bring the Son of this Lady to the Chamber of the Princess to come thither with the same swadling clouts wherewith she used to envelope it when she carried it asleep thither having taken a great bundle of flowers in going through a Garden which she carried as if it had been really the child she used to carry in her arms so that being entred in this manner into Galeritas Chamber with Flavia who followed her and having stayed there till the Queen had given Porsenna a Son she departed afterwards from thence with the child of this Queen whose face was covered lest the fallacy should be discern'd and this young Prince was carried to the Apartment of Flavia from whence she caus'd it to depart the same night to commit it to the care of Martia her Sister in Law to whom without any fear she confided this secret because she had always had so great a dependance on the service of the precedent Princess of Perusia that there was nothing to be fear'd but as of necessity that this child stould be carried in a Bark to the other side of the Lake to transport it to the house of Martia which was ten miles from thence There was a few days after some noise dispers'd of that which Galerita fear'd should be known and it so suddenly receiv'd an augmentation that Bianor hearing of it made it known to Mezentius and this Prince caus'd to be arrested the Physician which had assisted the Queen of Clusium and by most cruel threatnings he obliged him to confess the truth but hardly did he know it but fury wholly possessing him he commanded an exact search should be made for Galeritas Child he caused Flavia and her husband to be arrested and chang'd all the Guards of the Queen his daughter and so rigorously treated this Princess that she now fear'd Mezentius would kill her Son if he came into his hands 't is true she long time fear'd this mishap would arrive for knowing the humour of Mezentius and having understood from Flavia that some noise was dispers'd of the birth of this young Prince she oblig'd ber to command Nicius and Martia on her part to seek speedily a pretext to perform a voyage to carry this young child from the estate of a Prince whose violence and injustice she equally fear'd she gave Flavia precious stones of a very considerable value to give to Martia that she might make use of as occasion served during the exile of her Son and Flavia having instructed Nicius and Martia of Galeritas intentions return'd not to the Isle where she was kept till she had seen Nicius and Martia depart to seek an Asylum for Porsennas successor at first they had a design to put themselves under the protection
peril he hath carefully educated me and I owe to him all my virtue and I should be without doubt the basest of all men if I should voluntarily do any thing which might displease him but though I am assured he will take it ill that one unknown dares lift his eyes towards his admirable daughter I cannot hinder my self from doing it and I feel I can never desert her love seeing my self likewise destin'd to live without hope I must prepare my self for imaginable torments and I know nothing more cruel then to have power to love without having Ingratitude You have a soul so great and an heart so well made replied I that Clelius cannot doubt but your birth is illustrious and if it was so replied he I should not be in hopes to possess Clelia though she affected me for since Clelius refused her to Maharball who is of an high birth rich in possessions and who hath the chiefest authority in one of the first Cities in the world he would refuse an unhappy man that he alwaies lookt upon as an ungrateful and who it may be would be lookt upon by Clelia as a man who thinks to enrich himself by marrying her and not to render himself happy by the only possession of her person likewise my dear Celeres my hopes are destitute of all releif for if Clelius remains in his wonted opinion he will never give his daughter but to a Roman and if he changes it he will give her apparantly to Maharball but to tell you truth I do not much fear it and I have likewise cause to complain that I am not a Roman and if perhaps I should be of a birth proportionable to my thoughts Clelius would refuse me Clelia as he hath refused her to my Rivall but alas I am far from that Estate since I know my extraction and the according to all appearances I shall never know it nevertheles I love Clelia I love her without hope and I love with a resolution not to tell her of it and not to murmure if she is angry to be beloved of me in case she denyes my passion judge then my dear freind if I have no cause of melancholy For my self replyed I am perswaded that too great prudence is often needless in Love without considering those things you have done I would act divers wayes for I would strive against my passion as much as I could and if I could not vanquish it I would seek to perswade my self by all that which might flatter it and I would forget nothing of all that which might agreeably deceive me For the first replyed Aronces I am resolved to do it though I am perswaded I shall do it unprofitably but in fine I owe that to the generosity of Clelius and it behoves me if he hath something one day to reproach me of that I have at least nothing to reproach my self but for the last I shall never be in a capacity to follow your counsel for fear from seeking agreeably to deceive my self I seek in despight to render my self most unhappy in effect there are many instances which makes me believe that Clelius shall never know my birth more than I and there are others where I believe that I and he shall learn that I am Son of some Enemy to Rome or some friend to Tarquin I strangely deplore the misfortunes which happens to my friends replied I to him but I can never take pity of those they make themselves therefore you may not expect any compassion from me when you weave the web of your own miseries after that as 't was late we lay together but I should falsifie the truth if I say we slept for Aronces did not sleep at all and he waked me divers times to speak to me of his passion but in fine Madam as he hath a marvellous generosity he effectually fancied with himself to oppose his Love with all the power he could possible and he forgot nothing to do it for he went as little as he could to the places where Clelia was he sought Clelius in particular without seeking his admirable daughter and he so strongly attach'd himself to the Prince of Carthage and Amilcar that there was no person but believed he had more Ambition than Love Horatius though he was both his Friend and his Rival perceived not his Love for Clelia the Prince of Numidia likewise suspected it not and Clelia did not imagine it and because she would avoid to give any occasion to the Prince of Numidia to mention his Love she had given such a general order not to leave her alone that if Aronces had been bold enough to declare his affection to her he would not have found an opportunity to have done it so that as nothing more augments a breeding Love than the difficulty to tell it Horatius on this side soon became as amorous as Aronces but as he naturally loved to conceal all things he declared nothing of his passion either to Aronces or to me these two friends were likewise Rivals without having cause to complain of one another they being both ignorant of their Loves for the Prince of Numidia as he looked upon Aronces as if he had been Clelius his brother he gave to him many testimonies of friendship without discovering his passion to him to the end that being his friend he might favour him when occasion should present For Maharbal the less correspondency he found in Clelias heart the more his passion augmented and the more reasons Clelius obliged him to prove that he â—ught not to think of marrying his daughter at Carthage since he had an intention to go speedily to Rome the more obstinate he was to compass his design so that Clelius and Sulpitia were extremely afflicted to see themselves in the power of an amorous person to whom they would refuse all that which might give any satisfaction to his Love On the other side though Sulpitia testified to have much friendship for Horatius because Clelius would have it so 't was true that in the bottom of her heart she had a secret disposition not to render Justice to his merit because he was son to a person of whom Clelius had been very amorous and whom he thought heretofore to have married so that Sulpitia yet retaining some resentments of jealousie which perswaded her that her Husband did not love Horatius but because he had yet some agreeable remembrance of the love he had for his Mother had without doubt less disposition to love him than Clelius and she loved more tenderly Aronces than Horatius for Clelia she esteemed them both but as she was equitable she saw that if there was any equality between these two men as reflecting on the qualities essentially necessary for virtuous persons there was not so much for the agreement of the humour as that of their person being certain that Aronces as much excells his Rivall as his Rivall exceeds all others so Clelia leand
Clelia likewise and all those who saw him in Clelias house infinitely esteemed him In the mean time this admirable virgin lived in such a manner that she had no lover but he was obliged to conceal himself under the name of a friend and to call his love friendship for otherwise they had been banished from her house and Aronces and Horatius inrolled themselves under that title if it was not in certain inevitable occasions where this last strangely importuned Clelia by his continual complaints for my self which was amorous of Fenice I was likewise Clelia's friend and I remember one day among the rest that Aronces Herminius Horatius Fenice and I were with Clelia where there was many other persons in conference with Sulpicia for you must know this day was one of the most agreeable in the world seeing the manner to which tended our discourse in effect as Herminius was a gallant of Friendship and commonly entertained Clelia with some expressions reflecting on tenderness Aronces told him he could not chuse a person which knew the nature of true tenderness better than Clelia adding that if he could so far prevail with Clelia as to define it he should be the happiest friend in the world her definition of it much exceeding all others If it is true replyed she that I can so perfectly decipher it it is because my heart dictates it to me and it is not therefore difficult to tell the Notions of it but from thence I must not draw this conclusion added this fair person that all those I entitle my friends are my tender friends for I have them in several degrees In Effect I have half friends if I may so speak that I call by another name agreeable acquaintance and I have some which have made a farther progress and which I number in the Catalogue of new friends I have others which I simply call my friends and I have some that I call my customary friends I have others which I name solid friends and others which I name particular friends but for those I beautifie with the title of tender friends they are but few in number and they are before so firmly seated in my heart that they can hardly make any farther progress and I so distinguish all sorts of friendship that I do not confound them By your favour amiable Clelia cryed Herminius tell me where I am I conjure you You are yet in new friendship replyed she smiling and it will be long before you go farther at least replyed he smiling as well as she I should not be very sorry to know how I might go from New amity to Tender I am of opinion replied Aronces that few men have ever seen a description of that Country it is a voyage many men would undertake replied Herminius and who may deserve to have the way by which they may be conducted to that amiable place and if the fair Clelia would do me the favour to teach me it she would bind me in an indissoluble obligation to her May be you imagine replied Clelia that there is but a short walk between new amity and Tender t is therefore before I engage you there I will promise you to give you the Map of that Country that Aronces believeth hath none I pray you Madam said Aronces then to her if there is one that gives it me as well as Herminius Horatius and I entreated the same favour Fenice likewise pressed her to give her the Map of that Country which no person had yet described we then imagined Clelia would have wrote some agreeable Letter which would lay open her thoughts but when we pressed her she told us she had promised it to Herminius and that she would send it him the next day and as we knew Clelia writ very gallantly we had much impatience to see the Letter we presupposed she would write to Herminius and Herminius himself expected it with such an ardent desire that he writ a Note next morning to Clelia to summon her of her word and as it was very short I believe it contained nigh these words Herminius to the fair Clelia AS I cannot go from new amity to tender if you do not perform your word I demand the Map you promised me but demanding it of you I engage my self to depart as soon as I have received it to take a voyage I imagine so agreeable and that I prefer you before the sight of all the earth though I should be to receive a Tribute from all Nations in the world When Clelia read this note I have since known she had forgot the promise she made to Herminius and that having hearkned to all those entreaties we made her but as a thing which then brought us some delight she had thought we would not remember it the next day so that at first the Note of Herminius surprised her but as at this time a pleasing fancy entertained her thoughts she imagined it would be delightful to others and without any further consultation she took the Tablets and wrote that she had agreeably designed and she so speedily executed it that in half an hour she had compleatly begun and finished her designment after which having wrote a Note she sent it to Herminius with whom Aronces and I then were but we were astonished when that Herminius after he had seen that Clelia had sent to him shewed us a Map effectually designed with her hand which taught us how we might go from new amity to Tender and which so resembled a true Map that there was Seas Rivers Mountains a Lake Cities and Villages and for to make you see it more clearly behold a Copy of that ingenious Map that I carefully kept from that time At these words Celeres gave a Map which follows in the next page to the Princess of the Leontines who was agreeably surprised at it But to the end she might know better all the devices of it he explicated to her Clelia's intention which she had done to Herminius in the Note which accompanied that Map so that after the Princess of the Leontines had it in her hands Celeres thus resumed his discourse You doubtless Madam very well remember that Herminius prayed Clelia to instruct him how he might go from new amity to Tender so that he must first begin by the first City which is scituated at the bottom of the Map to go to the others for to the end Madam you may be fully acquainted with Clelia's design you see she hath imagined tenderness may proceed from three different causes either from a great Esteem Recognizance or Inclination which hath obliged her to establish these three Cities of Tender upon three Rivers which derive their names from them and to make three different ways to go thither so as we say Cumes on the Ionian and Cumes on the Tyrrhene Sea she makes us say Tender on Inclination Tender on Esteem and Tender on Recognizance In the mean time as she hath presupposed that that
and obligations of that high nature as can never be sufficiently acknowledged you have saved my life twice you have made me victorious over my enemies and have thereby preserved my State For all these I have not done any thing for you but now you shall receive a recompence so great as all Italy shall talk of it Sir answered Aronces in a surprise I have a Soul so little interested as that it values not the greatest gifts which fortune can give I set a far greater value upon some demonstrations of your esteem then I should upon all your treasures should you bestow them upon me Your expressions replied Mezentius doe speak you so worthy of what Ssxtilia and my self intend for you as it were unjust any longer to detain you from the sight of it After this Mezentius called for the Captain of his Guard and whispering with him he went out and presently returning again he brought Galerita into the Closet where they were Galerita was no sooner there but casting her eye upon Aronces she changed colour for he had such a resemblance of the King her Husband as he was the last time she saw him as that she thought it was Porsenna whom she saw Yet this pleasing errour lasted not long nor hindred her from saluting the Prince her Father with as much reverence as if he had not been the cause of all her misfortunes But as for Sextilia the salutes between them were very hollow and cold As for Aronces as great as his wonder was at the expressions of Mezentius yet he was most sensibly joyed to see the Queen his Mother for he knew by the bahaviour of the Captain that brought her in that it was she and he knew it better by the mark which she had upon her Cheek resembling that upon his hand So as looking as earnestly upon her as she upon him one would have thought they had known one another though it may in a manner be said that they never saw each other At last Mezentius began to speak and looking upon Aronces here generous defender of my life said he unto him here is the recompence which I have designed for you in testimony of my gratitude for all the services you have done me This Princess whom you see here is my Daughter she shall possess my estate and you shall possess it with her as long as the gods shall let you live you have assured me that your Birth is very Noble your actions confirm me in the belief of it I do owe you my life and estate and I do give you no more then you have given me in giving you my Estate and my Daughter And all upon no other condition but a promise to protect Sextilia when I am dead For Porsenna hath consented unto a Divorce from Marriage and there is nothing which can hinder yours now with Galerita This discourse of Mezentius did so timely surprise the Queen of Clusium and Aronces that it was a long time before they could recover themselves out of their wonder Aronces was so affrighted to hear they should motion him to marry his Mother that he could not well tell whether what he heard was real or a Dream And Galerita did so wonder that Porsenna should consent unto a Divorce that she knew not what to think So as not being able to indure long in such a cruel incertainty How Sir said she unto Mezentius before Aronces could answer Doth Porsenna give his consent that I shall be no longer his Wife Oh good Sir if it be so let me hear it from his own mouth but if it should be so Sir never expect I will ever consent unto a second Marriage I have a Son in some part of the World who must one day be your Successor and who perhaps will by his obedience repair the infidelity of his Father if it be so that he is culpable For my particular Sir said Aronces then unto Mezentius I have such prevalent and powerful reasons not to accept of this honour which you are pleased to do me as when you shall know them you will say that you desire impossibilities I perceive very well Aronces said Mezentius unto him that it is only out of respect and generosity you speak as you do and that because Porsenna is yet living therefore you will not marry Galerita But to remove that obstacle know that Porsenna hath already either consented unto my desires or else he is dead Oh Sir replied Aronces what do I hear are you not afraid lest the Son of this unfortunate King should come and revenge the cruelties used upon his Father Let him come answered he in a rage let him come if he have a mind to be a sharer in the punishments and die by the same hand that his Father did unless he have obeyed my last orders Oh Sir replied Aronces then I should too long conceal the truth from you if I did not tell you that the King of Clusium is the most innocent and the most generous Prince in the World And to manifest it unto you know that I have the honour to be his Son That when I saw him by orders from you I discovered unto him who I was and he did more commend me for saving your life then he should if I had saved his Send back Sir send and recall your Orders unless you will be branded with the Title of unjust Mezentius and Sextilia hearing Aronces speak so were strangely surprised Galerita was astonished and so glad both as that she was not able to testifie her wonder and satisfaction Yet her heart told her that Aronces spoke truth and both Mezentius and Sextilia sought the same For the resemblance betwixt Aronces and Porsenna and the boldness of his language did convince all doubts of it Also it chanced that as he spoke with much action he shewed the hand which had the mark so resemblant unto that of Galerita's Cheek so as it was apparent Aronces told the truth However this acquaintance in lieu of producing a favourable effect it did the more incense Mezentius who not knowing what to do nor whether the Orders to put Porsenna to death in case he refused the Divorce were already executed he vented the most sharp and bitter expressions in the World against Galerita and against Aronces for all his tenderness over that Prince Again what satisfaction soever Galerita had in the finding of her Son yet she durst not shew any signs of joy until she were a little better assured and until she knew in what condition Porsenna was Mean while there being some of Aronces's particular friends in the Chamber of Mezentius they heard how that Prince spoke in choler and he who kept the door who was also obliged unto Aronces hearing the menaces and sharp language of Mezentius went and acquainted the friends of Aronces with it who went in all hast to impart it unto those who were at the house of the Princess of the Leontines all who began to stir
unto your fortune since you cannot make Fortune submit unto your mind and I would have you if I could speak it without a blush be as miserable as I shall be that you should marry Tullia with as much aversion as I shall Tarquin and yet live as well with my Sister as I am resolved to live with the Prince your Brother But I would have you to believe withal that if I could banish you from me I should do it this very hour and believe also that this day is the first and last that ever you should tell me of your love I should take it as a singular favour if you would change your passion into amity and friendship and to love me only as a Sister Oh! Madam replied he it is impossible I should ever love you any otherwise than as a Mistress and you have brought me into the most pitiful condition in the world For I must love you without the least spark of hope I must hate my brother as a Rival and I must hate the Princess your Sister as a perfidious woman all whose inclinations are opposite unto mine Take heed Madam and fear lest my virtue should forsake me I should fear it in any other but you replied the Princess but judging of you by my self I fear no violence nor injustice to proceed from you for I know very well if I can speak it for shame that I can never love Tarquin and that I can never hate you but I know withal that I shall never do any thing but what I ought After this the Prince Ameriola talked unto this virtuous Princess of many things in a language full of passionate expressions unto which she answered with as much tenderness and virtue So as finding new causes of admiration at each others great and noble thoughts they still continued loving one another very tenderly But for all that their virtues were still much stronger than their Loves and say what this Prince could he could not obtain any thing further from this Princess And truly though she made him absolutely desperate yet was he not transported so far as to attempt any violent resolution But whilst these two were talking thus the Ambitious Tarquin and the no less Ambitious Tullia were discoursing after another manner For they were no sooner at liberty to talk but Tarquin who knew that Tullia had intention to disswade him for her Sister he spoke the first and began to complain of what he himself did Well Madam said he to her what do you think of capricious fortune who disposeth of us in such a cruel manner and will have me for your interest deprive my self of a thing which is infinitely dear unto me Yet resolve upon it I must and yet there is no remedy against this misfortune Did I speak unto one whose heart were inferiour unto yours I should not speak thus but knowing the Grandure of your Soul I dare tell you how I am perswaded that all the Kings favours will follow him who shall marry the Princess and that the King hath as great an aversion to you as he hath affection to her So as if I should let my Brother marry her and I marry you then we must both of us prepare our selves to be their Slaves Therefore Generous Tullia I must marry the Princess purposely to keep you from being her Vassal And you must resolve to marry my Brother for he being naturally of a sweet and compliant temper you may mould him unto my interests which shall be always yours for my marriage shall not keep me from loving you as much as ever I did and as between a Wife and a Mistress the Mistress is always most dear so it shall be you who shall be really the Queen if I be King Tullia hearing Tarquin say so she did not answer as her virtuous Sister would if it had been her case but on the contrary perceiving she had yet some share in Tarquins affection she used all possible expressions to flatter up both his Love and his Ambition But seeing it would be more advantageous for him to marry her Sister than to marry her she went not about to alter his mind So as this most abominable woman seeing she could not be his Wife and foreseeing that perhaps she should have all the authority she rested her self contented with the hopes of being his Mistress though he married her Sister and she married his Brother Thus out of a resentment both of Love and Ambition together with their want of virtue these two resolved not to marry and yet not to break off After which they went and joyned with the Princess and the Prince of Ameriola whose thoughts were quite opposite since all that virtue could inspire were theirs In the mean time since Servius Tullus required that these two Marriages should be solemnized out of hand they were married within fifteen days after this conference and done with all possible magnificence Royal but with such sensible grief to the Princess and the Prince of Ameriola as I have heard say that the day before the marriage they thought they should have died with sorrow and that they did bid each other adien in the saddest manner imaginable But afterwards their virtue being stronger they recovered themselves and set the best face they could upon the matter and behaved themselves with so much Wisdom that few did perceive their despairs As for Tullia her mind was full of tumultuous turbulence but upon her consideration of things she imagined that perhaps she should be able to induce Servius Tullus to do as much for her as for her Sister And at worst if she could not reign in the person of her Husband yet she should in the person of her Lover As for Tarquin though he loved Tullia yet he was glad his Brother had married her because he was sure of her heart still and because he looked upon his marriage with the Princess as many steps nearer the Throne Thus this great solemnity was passed over with thoughts very different amongst these four persons Mean time though Tarquin loved Tullia in his heart and Tullia him again yet did they secretly prejudice one another in things wherein there was any interest of Ambition For if the Prince of Ameriola could be King Tullia had rather been his Wife than Tarquins because his mildness made hope to have all the Rule and Authority Tarquin on the other side who knew the humour of Tullia was not sorry that he could be King without her assistance yet they dissembled their thoughts since their marriage kept a great league of correspondency As for the Princess and the Prince of Ameriola it was not so with them for though this vertuous Lover asked nothing but the friendship of the person he loved and though she would not grant him any more yet as far as civility would give her leave she shunned all occasions of speaking wIth him in private On the other side the King who equally feared both
Wife he was desirous to know the very bottom of their correspondency And to that end though he was never jealous yet he employed all his diligence to discover it and he carried the business so well that the Slave who carried their Letters was absolutely his So causing a Seal like unto theirs secretly to be made for their Seals were both alike he met with a Letter of Tarquin's unto Tullia and the Answer of Tullia unto Tarquin But these two Letters being the most horrid Letters of Love that ever were writ and also being made publick there was not a Man in Rome who was a hater of Tarquin which knew not of them And I knew them better then any others and more hated the injustice of them than any whosoever But before I acquaint you with the Contents of them you must know that the Prince of Ameriola was so surprised as now thinking it not fit to disguise any longer but that it was absolute requisite the Princess should know the state of things he resolved to go and acquaint her And having taken Copies of these two Letters he went unto the Princess though he did not use to visit her in private because she had forbid him and he went in such a happy hour that he found her alone Also he had the advantage not to fear his being interrupted either by Tarquin or Tullia for the one was gone out to Hunt and the other kept her Chamber being a little sick So as finding the Princess alone according to his wish he was very glad of it though he had none but sad stories to tell her But as for her though she still loved him very tenderly yet was she troubled at the sight of him So as this Prince perceiving it I see Madam said he unto her this my visit doth more displease than oblige you But Madam I beseech you do not condemn me before you hear me and the cause of my coming For truly I have so accustomed my self to obey all your commands and to deprive my self of the happiness in seeing you that those respects I have ever paid unto you doth merit a grant of that audience which now I desire Since the Princess knew the great virtue of the Prince and since she found something in his looks which told her that he had some matter of importance to impart she granted his desire so as bidding him sit down by her she began to lend an Ear unto what he would say It grieves me to the Soul Madam said he unto her that what I have now to tell you is of the most dismal consequence imaginable but it doth so much concern you to know it as I am fully resolved not to conceal it that the discovery makes me ashamed But before I explain this sad Enigma unto you I beseech you give me leave to conjure you into a belief that I aim at no other advantage in all I shall tell you but in preserving the life of the most fair and virtuous Person in the World in preserving yours Alas Generous Prince said she unto him and sighed I know not whether that be any great service or no But however I am much obliged unto you and therefore I beseech you impart what you have to say I will not tell you Madam replied he that if Tarquin were not my Brother nor your husband that you should have heard of his Death before you knew his Crime for I hope you are better acquainted with that heart wherein you have long reigned then to believe it capable of so much baseness as to let Crimes of that Nature go unrevenged an hour But Madam to hold you no longer in suspence I beseech you read this Letter from Tullia to Tarquin and also this Letter from Tarquin to Tullia You may perceive Madam that these two Letters were preceded by many others which perhaps treated concerning your Life and mine After this the Prince of Ameriola giving the Copies of the two Letters unto the Princess she took them and opening that of Tullia's first she read these words Tullia unto the most Generous and most Ambitious Prince upon Earth SIR I Have told you a hundred times that if you will Reign in my heart you must make me Reign in Rome For as you would have me sacrifice all things unto your love so you must sacrifice all unto my Ambition Not but that I know this Passion is as much in your Heart as in mine and that you love me more as I am Ambitious than as I am Fair But yet methinks you are a little too slow in your Business Make hast therefore and presently fix upon the day destined for our Liberty And believe it that it cannot be sooner than I desire and that I have not a greater desire to see you Master of Rome than to see my self absolute Mistress of your Heart Be quick therefore and sacrifice those two victims which must render both Love and Fortune equally propitious and be assured that for my part I shall not fail in any thing which I have promised Whilst this Letter was reading the Princess changed colour above twenty times and after she had attentively read it over again she shut it up and restored it back unto the Prince of Ameriola who told all at night unto him who told it unto me Then lifting up her Eyes and taking the other Letter Oh! ye just Gods said she is it possible that my Sister should be so abominably wicked Afterwards opening Tarquin's Answer she found thus Tarquin unto the Fair Tullia YES my dearest and most Ambitious Tullia I shall e're long do all things requisite to make you Reign in Rome that I may Reign in your Heart And before the next Ides be over we shall be free and in a condition to subject all others Mean time appoint you the day which you have designed for the sacrificing of those two Victims which will secure our rest for all things are ready for it Adieu be still your self I conjure you that is incapable of any weakness of any scruple and of any repentance Well Madam said the Prince of Ameriola unto the Princess after she had done reading the Letters what do you think upon these two Letters and what is to be done for the avoiding of those misfortunes which threaten us for you may plainly see that you and I are the two Victims that must be offered and who must set Tarquin and Tullia at liberty They cannot mean the King and the Queen since if they were dead they cannot be in their places nor yet free therefore I must conclude they mean both you and me Since Tarquin is your Husband and Tullia your Sister I will not make my self a judge of their crime though Tullia be the most persidious Wife in the World and though Tarquin be the most wicked and ungrateful Brother upon Earth Speak therefore Madam I conjure you and consider that it concerns your Life as for my own interest I do not
not pretend unto any other glory then to sell their lives dear and to die with honour So as the admirable Clelia seeing these three Men who were so dear unto her in a condition to be assaulted by thirty and imagining them already dead she did an act which was worthy her great Soul for turning her Horse upon her left hand and lifting up her hood Oye Cowards said she unto them are ye not ashamed being thirty to fall upon three Men who have no other design but to set me at liberty this great and generous action did so surprize Horatius Aronces and the Commander of Tarquin's Men and wonder did so suspend their thoughts as they stopped and staid a while before they could tell what to do But at last Aronces putting on his Horse and followed by Herminius and Celeres he advanced towards Clelia in the presence of all his enemies telling them with a menacing action that they must kill him before they carried away the fair Person as a Captive Horatius then finding himself separated from his own Men and chance had mingled his with the Men of Tarquin he did not think himself in a capacity to fall upon Aronces and take Clelia from him for he conceived that Hellius who endeavoured to have her in the power of Tarquin would take her from him again and therefore he would have had Hellius begin the Combat apprehending that Hellius aimed at Herminius as well as him so as Hellius being moved at that great action of Clelia and the resoluteness of Aronces he began to speak and advancing in the head of his Men whosoever you are said he unto Aronces who thus resolutely hazards your Life upon the hazard of infallible ruine I promise to treat you well and this fair person also upon condition I may secure my self of an enemy unto Tarquin whom I see with you Herminius hearing Hellius say so began to speak before either Aronces or Clelia and looking sternly upon Hellius if thou desirest to carry my head unto the Tyrant thy Master and not take me Prisoner said he unto him I am contented it should be the ransome of that fair one But as for Aronces I advise thee to take heed what thou doest for didst thou know him thou wouldest fall down upon thy knees and ask him forgiveness Horatius hearing what Herminius said and fearing least he should make his Rival known he fell furiously upon Aronces who warding the blow without any leisure to return answer unto Hellius he returned another blow whose weight made Horatius to stagger But whilst these two furious Rivals were fighting Hellius gave command to make sure of Clelia and that she should be guarded with the rest of the Ladies which was an easie matter to do For Herminius and Celeres seeing some of Horatius his Men making towards Aronces they went to him with their Swords drawn so as Hellius then intending to compass about both Herminius and Horatius there began such a confused fight as none could know friend from foe for the Men of Horatius fought sometimes for Aronces and Herminius in fighting against Hellius Aronces Herminius and Celeres they fought also for Hellius in fighting against Horatius and Hellius he fought for Horatius in fighting against Aronces and the confusion was so much the greater because night came on and would not let them know one from another so as there was the most carrible disorder that is imaginable For the 〈◊〉 of those who fought were so different as it seemed they could not every one drive on their own in deed Aronces would if he could have delivered Clelia both out of the hands of Hellius and out of the hands of Horatius because it was more dangerous to be under the power of Tarquin if she were known then under the power of her Lover Moreover he had a mind to defend Herminius and kill Horatius As for Herminius his wish was that Clelia was in the hands of Aronces that the two Rivals were at Peace and were united to fight against one of the Ministers of unjust Tarquin's cruelties As for Horatius he wished himself dead he was so desperate to see he was like to lose his Mistress and not able to kill his Rival and also like to fall into the hands of Tarquin As for Hellius his aim was to take Herminius to take Horatius to secure Clelia and the rest of the Ladies and to know who Aronces was However night was the cause they could not do as they would Things being thus they all heard a great noise of horses coming as if from Ardes so as Hellius fearing to lose all in desiring to get all he commanded that all the Ladies should go into their Coaches and be driven towards Rome Aronces hearing this not being in a condition able to hinder it nor to discern his Rival he designed to dis-ingage himself and follow the Coaches and to go and make himself known unto Tarquin to protect Clelia rather then suffer her to be a Slave This design had many dangerous consequences in it but the time and place would not let him examine them so as being prompted to do only as his love invited him he dis-ingaged himself and so happily that Herminius and Celcres knowing his voice they joyned and made good their retreat fighting until they got into a little Wood which secured them They were not got a hundred paces within this Wood but the bridle of Aronces being broken he alighted to mend it During which Hellius understanding that those Troops which he thought did come from Ardes did belong unto Tarquin he went unto them but finding neither Horatius nor Aronces nor Herminius he was extremely sorry that he had lost so fine an opportunity and was forced to be contented with the taking of Clelia and those Ladies who came out of Ardes because they would not stay in a Town which in all probability would be taken Thus Hellius sent them to Rome supposing that Tarquin would not set out before the next day But in the mean time the Moon rising and beginning to shine Celeres could the better help Aronces to mend his Bridle yet it was not long before he could finish it for commonly in such things the most hast the worst speed but during that time Herminius asked Aronces what he intended to do and he answered that since Clelia was under Tarquin's power he could not chuse but go unto him and meet with Artimedorus Amilcar and Zenocrates to the end he might procure her liberty not telling who she was nor that he was the Son unto the King of Clusium unless the interest of Clelia did force him to it Not but that I consider said he it goes against the grain of my heart to go and serve a Prince who hates Herminius and who would have murthered the Father of Clelia but yet since that admirable person was under his power he was forced unto it You have good reason for it
which might give Tarquin some cause to think that Clelia was the daughter of Clelius but as good luck was the man had heretofore been servant to Amilcar who turning his eyes towards him he made such signs to hold his peace and in such a menacing manner as the poor fellow not knowing what to say or not to say he said just nothing Tarquin seeing him to be a stranger and ignorant in in what he desired to know he let him go amongst the rest of the prisoners at which Aronces was very glad but desiring to know a little more concerning the Prince of Numidia when Tarquin was gone to his quarters he went unto him who kept the prisoners to speak with this African who might satisfie his curiosity and he went with Amilcar who made the man to tell that the Prince of Numidia desiring to get into that party which was opposite unto that which Horace took he had a desire to know whether he was in Ardes as it was reported he was so as Aronces was likely to see his Rival arrive in the Camp of Tarquin and to arrive in such a manner as to be known who he was However he 〈◊〉 dissemble his resentments and for Clelia's sake comply with all the pleasures of the Prince Sextus because it was he above all the rest from whom he was to hope for Clelia's protection if Tarquin should hear by any ill fortune that she was Daughter unto Clelius for Sextus being not capable of that politique hatred which the King his father was it was to be hoped that Clelia being very fair and pleased him he would defend her in case Tarquin should offer either to hurt her or love her too much for Aronces saw she was in danger of these two extreams so as though he was very melancholy at the heart yet he was forced to seem merry in the face and though he was free from any licencious Debauchery yet he lived as if he were the greatest Libertine of all men upon earth And since Tarquins design was not to take Ardes by force but by hunger the time was likely to be long and Sextus brought into the Camp a way of life more voluptuous then in Rome for they did nothing but feast continually from Tent to Tent and from Quarter to Quarter However there was a necessity of complying with his humour though against the hair of ones own and sometimes is is wisdom not to seem wise Thus Aronces being both amorous and prudent did comply with the times and was at all these tumultuous feasts of which Sextus was the Ring-leader also he treated this Martial and merry crew in his own Tent and treated them in a manner so magnificent as did amaze the Romans and in such a neat fashion as made all the Grecians admire Artimedorus Amilcar and also Zenocrates did treat them in their turns as men that knew how to goe through any thing they undertook But Sextus mixing matters of love in all things the discourse in all these feasts was commonly either upon Beauty or the humours of women either in commending or blaming of them So as all this merry company was at Supper one night with the Prince Sextus he began to chide Collatine because his wife could never be seen though she had the reputation of the fairest woman in all Rome For inded said he unto Aronces Artimedorus Amilcar Zenocrates and Celeres though Collatine be Nephew unto the King my father and by consequence Lucrecia of quality to be known by all in Rome yet she is known by none but her Reputation which seems to be upheld by Enchantment for since she will not see the Queen because she was once ill treated by her she will not be seen in any place where her beauty may be judged of if she do pass through the streets unto the Temple her Head is always pulled down and she never frequents any other place If she do walk it is in places so solitary as none ever use to come at them and the truth is Lucrecia is never seen but by five or six people whom none ever sees And yet for all this she hath the reputation of being the fairest Woman that ever was seen in Rome But to tell you truly I do not believe it added he and laughed for if she were so fair as reported I am confident she would shew her beauty mauger all the Roman austerity in spite of all the vigilancy of Parents mauger Collatine himself and all his jealousie for I must certainly conclude that if she be fair he must needs be jealous since none ever sees his Wife Oh Sir said Collatine you are extreamly unjust in accusing me of any jealousie and I were the most unreasonable Man living were I jealous of Lucrecia I must tell you replied Amilcar that a beauty solitary and a solitude voluntary is one of the rarest things in the World and therefore though you be not jealous yet the Prince Sextus is very excusable in suspecting you to be so For my part said the Prince of Pometia I know Lucrecia a little better than you do and I am sure that the cause of her retiredness proceeds not from any jealousie in Collatine but only from her own modesty and from a fancy she hath that there ought to be a great difference between a fair Mistress and a fair Wife For my particular said Sextus I am not of her fancy for I think it fit a Wife should be the Mistress of her Husband and that a Mistress never ought to be the Wife of her Lover The truth is said Artimedorus a Wife ought not to give over her gallantry towards her Husband as soon as she is married and a Mistress should be so familiar with her Lover as to become his Wife by her little care she takes to please him And yet it often happens so replied Aronces I would have a Lady rule her Lover said Amilcar for if the Husband do cease loving as soon as she is married I would have the Wife cease being his Mistress and I would not have any such difference made betwixt Gallantry and Love as usually is I do confess it said the Prince Titus for I cannot endure that Men when they see any Ladies should say I could like such a Lady for my Mistress but not for my Wife and on the contrary I could affect such a one for my Wife but would not chuse her for my Mistress for I conceive what becomes a Wife becomes a Mistress and what becomes a Mistress renders her to be a charming Wife and I would have my Wife as charming as my Mistress and I would not have my Mistress more Cocket then I would have my Wife Then you would have her as austere as the Sibyls replied Sextus and that she be as solitary salvage imperious critical censuring others thinking ill upon the least conjectures and melancholy that she deprive her self of all pleasures to have this onely that she hath the
as you have â— should not quarrel that there is a free toleration or Conversation in Rome since Tarquin's government and Tanaquil's death But to be plain with you â— think it a very extravagant thing to have a house open to all manner of persons and to entertain a sort of trifling Amorists to tell trivial stories unhandsomely and to no purpose and in what countrey soever I had been born I should never had loved company without choice Nor are there many true Romans that do so and those who are any thing careful to preserve the customes of their countrey comply with the times with a certain moderation which makes a distinction between their Houses and an Exchange so far as to banish solitude In few words there is here a noble personage who is called Publius Valerius who hath a daughter of excellent endowments To all persons of Honour his house is open and he freely suffers his friends to see both his wife and daughter Valeria At these words Herminius who was talking with Aronces and who confusedly heard the name of Vuleria made a stop and harkned to what was said of her which made Racilia who knew that Lady had a great interest in the heart of Herminius smile a little however going to continue her story Amilcar staying her Ah Madam said he to her I beseech you tell me whether this Valeria be of my acquaintance or not or am I the most abused man in the world if I have not once seen her with the Queen She goes not often thither replied Hermilia but certainly it must be the same that I mean replied Amilcar for being extreamly taken with her I asked whether she came not often to Tullia and I was told very seldome But to be further assured whether it be the same I can onely tell you that she whom I saw with the Queen and whom I was infinitely taken with is a Lady of a mean stature and hath not such great staring eyes as are sometimes the emblems of a natural stupidity but such as being neither great nor little cast a ray full of mildness passion and spirit which pleases and charmes and which at once argues ingenuity vertue goodness and love Moreover she hath a sweet sprightly and a serious look which is infinitely pleasing Her mouth is narrow her lips carnationed something a pale complexion her hair ashie coloured and the air of her countenance so free and so noble that a man cannot but come near her as soon as he sees her And to be short I prevailed so much that I stood two hours near this inchanting Beauty Could you as exactly describe her mind as you have her person replied Herminius you would make an excellent piece of it I am of your mind sayes Hermilia smiling that indeed Amilcar had admirably drawn Valeria but he shall give me leave to tell him that for her mind it is you onely are concerned to commend it though it deserve the commendation of all the world I confess sayes Amilcar not giving Herminius leisure to answer that I had not time to discover the whole mind of Valeria but if I have not known it I have guessed at it and I am confident she hath at once a great noble lofty pleasing and modest mind and to advance a little higher in my discovery I also affirm she hath a heart full of passion and tenderness and that if she be not in love she is fit to be and that most passionately Ah Amilcar cryed out Herminius smiling you know more of her than I for I can tell you no news of Valeria's heart Without being curious to dive too deep into your secrets replied Racilia I must needs agree in the same vote with Amilcar for I believe Valeria fuel for the greatest affection However I have not a whit the less esteem of her continued she because I am satisfied she will never be guilty of an irregular affection and whereas she is guilty of tenderness she is so much the more worthy praise since it is not to be doubted that she ever loved what was not worthy to be loved and constantly endeavours that her esteem and her friendship may be the reward of Vertue Herminius hearkned to this discourse of Racilia with an extraordinary content and it was easily perceivable that if he durst he would have said much more of her than she insomuch as Aronces observing it whispered to him as much as signified that he was convinced that Valeria governed his heart But perceiving as he spoke to him that he was unwilling to make a publick profession of it he diverted the discourse and thought to make an end of it where it began pleasantly concluding that though the Roman Severity were guilty of no other inconveniences but depriving us of the acquaintance and conversation of Valeria it ought to be condemned But I assure you replied Amilcar it is guilty of many more for to speak truly there are two things which are in a manner equal in the hearts of all people in what place soever they are born the desire of Liberty and a certain natural inclination to Love and I am confident there is not a woman in Rome but could love some one or other if she would be guilty by her inclination and would be glad to be at liberty In the mean time according to that manner of life which they are forced into they are reduced to an impossibility both of being loved or loving innocently and locked up as Captives Whence it will happen that those whom nature hath endued with a passionate inclination and a violent desire of liberty will hate their Fathers Mothers the custome of their Countrey and their own Vertue which forbids them a thousand and a thousand indifferent things So to come nearer what I aim at walking conversation noble entertainments whereas they are in themselves harmless pleasures which bring no dishonour to those who make use of them are transformed to crimes to almost all the women of Rome through the impatient desire they have to them and the continual quarrelling they have with those who forbid them the use thereof For in fine it is not so far from hence to Capua but they can hear that such a severity is not exercised there as here It is true said Aronces that to speak rationally the vertue of women is checked very much by an excessive restraint and a denial of those pleasures which bring with them nothing of scandal Ha generous Aronces cryed out Racilia that which to you seems so harmless is not of so little consequence as you conceive As I have lived a many years and have been banished Rome long enough to know how they live in other places so I can assure you that those things whereof you make so slight account are those which cause the greatest disorders that happen among women I am so well opinioned of my own sex that if my judgement be taken there is no woman can at first sight
humor she fell really sick by which means it was more easie for her to conceal from Collatine the small satisfaction she found in being married to him She would needs remove from Rome purposely to avoid all meeting with Brutus She began to commend the air of Cellatia as being better for her health in so much that she was conveyed thither sick as she was By this means was she in a condition to be more solitary never hardly to see Brutus and to see her Husband less often who being obliged to shew himself at Court would be forced to leave her many times In the mean time Valeria could not come to sight of her for Lucrecia writ a Letter to entreat her not to attempt it for some reasons which she should one day acquaint her with So that Brutus not knowing what to do was afflicted beyond all expression Yet were there some intervals wherein he found some slender comfort to understand that Lucrecia was sick and melancholy but there were also others wherein he gave so much way to his despair that he had not the command of his own thoughts and there was no consideration of violence which his mind reflected not on But the great vertue which garded his soul successefully opposed all those irregular apprehensions which his love and his despair suggested yet could it not overcome the extream desire he had to see Lucrecia though she had forbidden it him in the last Letter she had written to him Directing therefore all the efforts of his mind to find out some way to satisfie himself he cunningly informed himself by the means of Valeria who might more easily come to know it than he that Lucrecia who began to recover though against her will her former health spent the afternoons for the most part when her Husband was absent all alone in a Garden adjoyning to Collatine's house and that sometimes she staid there till she went to bed when it was fair weather and the Moon shined Brutus being thus particularly informed what Lucrecia did acquainted not Valeria with his intention lest she might oppose it but when he was fully satisfied of all he desired to know he trusted himself to a faithful Slave who had lived with him ever since his being at Metapont Pretending to go into the Countrey he went by night to Collatia and took up his lodging disguised at a man's house whom his Slave was acquainted with for having been there divers times he knew the walls of Collatine's Garden were but low so built purposely for the prospect of the first story of the house which is built on one side of the garden which not being absolutely level hath in one part divers hedge-rows and little arbors that the unevenness might the less appear Having thus laid his design he came as I have already told you to Collatia at a time when he knew Collatine was not there and that his Sister was at Rome with her Mother who was yet alive But to do his business the more easily he had brought with him one of those Ladders which fasten on a wall as soon as they touch it and had so well provided for all things that might contribute to his entrance into the garden where they said Luerecia came every day especially in the evenings that he doubted not a successeful issue of his enterprize For he knew that the walls of Collatine's Garden were in a lone street through which none passed after it was once night It is true he had some reason to fear any one came along with Lucrecia but he had been so perswaded that she was alwayes alone that considering the desire he had to see her this difficulty signified nothing with him He had also this advantage that he feared not to be seen from the house though it were built towards the garden because that uneven corner which I mentioned was taken up by two or three large Arbours But in fine not to trouble you with so many inconsiderable circumstances which you may easily suppose you are to know that Brutus not debating his resolution any longer undertook by this course to see Lucreeia besides that having the reputation of stupidity and being withal of some kin to Collatiné though he were found in the garden it would have passed for a little extravagance of a man whom many believe to be quite out of his wits by which means Lucrecia should fear neither the jealousie of her Husband nor censure of the world Brutus therefore came thither one evening attended only by his slave whom he appointed to wait him on the out-side of the garden-wall and he was so fortunate that as soon as he was gotten down into the garden and hid himself in one of the little Arbours he by the light of the moon sees Lucrecia beginning her walk having forbidden her women to follow her and left them sitting in a little Lodge at the Garden-door 'T is true he was somewhat troubled to see that in a quarter of an hours time she came not to that side where he was nor could he go where she was without being seen by those women who sate in the Lodge But at last Lucrecia in her solitary humour seeking obscurity quitted the plain part of the garden and passing along a thick hedge row came to that arbour where Brutus was who fearing that if he were perceived before she were come quite to the place she might call her women hid himself to give her way to come in She was no sooner in but sitting down she fetched a deep sigh and that with such an accent of anguish that Brutus was extremely moved at it and transported with love without any further hesitation Ah I beseech you Madam said he casting himself on his knees before her tell me whether the unfortunate Brutus be any thing concerned in the sigh he hath now heard and if he be permit him to return you sigh for sigh till he expire at your feet and assure you dying that there never was any servant more amorous nor more faithful than he whom you have with so much cruelty forsaken Lucrecia was so surprised to hear Brutus speak and to see him in the posture he was in that she was not able to express her astonishment by any crying out on the contrary she was seized by a most piercing grief and continued a while unable to speak Yet thrusting him from her with her left hand she made a sign to him with her right that he should be gone and that he was to blame for what he had done No no Madam said Brutus to her you need not thrust me away since I am come for no other end than to know from your own mouth the cause of my misfortune And I beseech you said Lucrecia to him going to rise have you as great a care of my reputation as I have had of your life and expose me not to a suspition of having spoken to a man at such a time and place as this
estate where he was he would not passe to Rhegium he having no acquaintance there after some consultation with himself he had a design to go to Heraelea from whence he hop'd easily to have notice what transactions passed at Leontine he thought 't would be advantagious for him to take this resolution because there was war now between the Prince of Agrigentine and the Prince of Heraclea for the limits of those two petty estates For as you know Sicily is divided into so many different Dominions that 't is impossible they should alwaies be at peace and as the Leontine was enemy to the Agrigentine Prince Artemidorus believed if he should bear arms against him the Prince his brother after he was inform'd of it would perhaps repent of the injury he had done him against the iuterest of his love 't is not but Artemidorus as he is just did not know that the Prince his brother was injust in hating the Agrigentine Prince who was a man of extraordinary merit desiring therefore to go to the War he had rather take the part of the Heraclean Prince then anothers enemy to his brother after he had spent one moneth at Messina he departed from thence with a design to list himself in the Heraclean Troops but going thither he met some avant coureurs of the Agrigentine Army as he would not have been taken he did what he could to escape them and he having met eight or ten Cavaliers which were returning to the Heraclean Camp he animated them to their defence and they so couragiously defended themselves that there was scarce ever seen a Combate so terrible and of such a long continuance between such an unequal number the Agrigentines being four times as many as the Heracleans for Artemidorus he acted such prodigious things remaining alone in fighting Posture that they which environ'd him resov'd to save his life though he refused to render himself on any conditions at last overpower'e by number he was forced to receive his life after his Sword was broken There was amongst these Agrigentines a man of quality called Terillus who judg'd this action too bold and advent'rous to be perform'd by a simple Cavalier such as his habit represented him and he saw somthing in his ayr so great and noble that he believed he ought not to treat him as a common prisoner he caus'd him to be attended with much circumspection and after he had sent back part of his men to the Camp he went himself to present his prisoner to the Prince who was gone for two or three days to the City of Agrigentine Artemidorus was doubtless much afflicted to be a Princes prisoner who was at so much enmity with his Brother that 't was almost impossible they should come to any reconciliation for he believ'd if he knew his quality he would thereby much advantage himself and the Prince of the Leontines when he was advertised of it would perhaps be transported with anger against Clidimira because he would look upon her as the immediate cause of this inauspicious accident he therefore hoped he should not be known there being no great commerce between Leontine and Agrigentine and having heard he was at a Castle he had built on the further side of the City he thought he should not be expos'd to the view of many persons that he should suffer but the disquietude of Imprisonment and that in some general exchange of Prisoners he should recover his liberty and to flatter himself with some consolation he likewise imagined that the Wars between those two petty States would soon be put to a period and that there was nothing more requisite for him then with constancy to support his Imprisonment Being settled in this resolution he patiently submitted to their conduct But Madam before I declare to you in what manner Artemidorus was presented to the Agrigentine Prince and how he was treated 't is necessary for me to give you a brief character of the Prince to whom he was presented and of the Princess his Daughter and another person of the same Sex who hath much part in this History to the end that in the continuation of my recital you may have a more perspicuous understanding of what I intend to relate for for my part I love to have an accurate description of those of whose adventures I receive a narration Therefore I must tell you that the Prince of Agrigentine is a man in all things illustrious His house to which the principality appertaines is not only most Noble and of great Antiquity but more eminent by the opposition it made against the Tyranny of the cruel Phalaris who rewarded the Inventers of any new punishment and whose injustice is at this time in so much horror amongst the Agrigentines that I dare not pronounce his name but with detestation for to entertain their hatred against him and render his name odious to posterity they one day in a year publikely shew with Imprecations a brazen Bull made by one call'd Perillus to the end those whom the Tyrant would put to death should be therein enclos'd and a fire being made round about it the voices they pronounc'd resembling bellowings would the less attenerate the peoples hearts you may conceive his Tyrannie by this Invention which was made to please him but he found one act of Justice in his life for he put him to death in this brazen Bull who was the Inventor of it though he was accustomed to recompense those who invented such things But if he was just to Perillus the gods were just to him since after innumerable cruelties he expired like Perillus in this brazen Bull and the hatred which the Agrigentines had conceiv'd against him was so great that because his Guards were habited in blew which he employed to exercise those cruelties they forbade their dependants from wearing this amiable colour and 't is but about a year since that the Princess of Agrigentine at the earnest request of one of her friends whom she passionately loved hath again introduc'd it But to resume the thred of my discourse the Prince I have mention'd being of an ancient Race and enemy to this cruel Tyrant he is in much veneration at Agrigentine and if he should be recommendable but by his own vertue he would be very much respected by his Subjects for besides as he nigh governeth the City as if it were a Republique he hath spirit learning capacity and experience He is an excellent soldier and a great Captain he keeps his Troops in exact Discipline he knows the art to make himself fear'd and lov'd by his Souldiers in particular and his Subjects in general he hath qualities befitting a man of his Birth he is courteous civil and obliging principally to the Ladies he understands and speaks with facility many languages he favours learning he is magnificent and liberal and hath an heart sensible of glory he takes all innocent pleasures he retains a certain gallant ayr demonstrating to those which
ones misfortune to love a less generous person he must renounce her love and favours to preserve his liberty to reason on all that she commands him it is a thing so opposite to the Laws of this Passion that 't is only fit to destroy the Empire of Love all those Titles of Prisoner Captive and Slave which are given to a Lover are infallible marks he is obliged to obey and he must relinquish the Empire of this God which makes so many happy and unhappy if he will not obey without reason and knowledge but when I conclude he must always obey his Mistress I infer he must submit to none but those who have generous hearts But Sir replied Terillus whose spirit was inraged if a man is obliged to obey without any consideration what then belongs to reciprocal Love Do you think it should be just that a woman should refuse inconsiderable favours saying her virtue restrains her and that a man may not say to a woman that he is retained by love from obeying her For if you desire a Lady to give you an assignation she says by doing it she should hazard her reputation if you entreat her to write to you she will answer you that though it may be innocent it is so dangerous to accustom her self thereto that she cannot resolve to do it and these things she refuses by a resentment of glory are not things criminal yet you will have a Lover refuse nothing and that in a word there should be no reciprocal Love I pray replied Philonice to please Berelisa do not you imagine that if it should be true that a woman might love as she should be beloved she was obliged to the same things for there are reciprocal affections whose testimonies ought to be different 'T is true said the Prince of Agrigentine for Kings ought to love their Subjects and Subjects their Kings yet their obligations are different for the one hath power to command the other ought to obey Fathers and Children ought likewise to have a mutual affection and so there should be between Masters and Slaves though their Duties have no resemblance likewise though the heart of a Mistress as well as a Lovers ought to be tipp'd with a tender beam of affection yet the testimonies have some disagreement a lover was never heard to say to his Mistress I command you to obey me yet no person is ignorant but in a Ladies mouth a command is more obliging than a request and between entreating ordaining and commanding custom hath yet certain distinctions which makes a lover whose heart is framed in the delicate mould of love rather to desire his Mistress to ordain than entreat any thing of him and to conceive a greater pleasure would accrue to him by the word command than request therefore I conclude that a lover must obey or relinquish his love for as soon as he commits any disobedience he flies his love and hath no more right to pretend to any affection and if the fair Berelisa can acquire this valiant Prisoner to inrol himself under my Standard I shall esteem it a greater felicity I confess replied she I should not be displeased at it and were I advantaged with a larger proportion of Beauty or graced with more charms fit to conquer hearts I would not despair of my intended surprizal for all my intelligent faculties seem to court my heart to affect him You sometimes so harshly censure those you know said Terillus to her that this your new kind of injustice doth not surprise me Those you say I know are it may be such strangers to themselves replied Berelisa to him her accent expressing her anger that they have no great reason to accuse me of injustice After these words the Prince of Agrigentine changed the Discourse speaking to all the Ladies which were to accompany the Princess the subsequent day to the Chace and when night began to vail the skie with its sable mantle the Prince and Philonice with all the other Ladies return'd to the Palace situate in the middle of the City Terillus followed the Prince of Agrigentine and Berelisa remained at her Father's house who was named Afranor and who being of the most conspicuous quality next the Prince had the sole power committed to him when the Prince engaged in any warlike action In the mean time the Chace next day was performed with all imaginable magnificence the day was ushered in by a fair morning not one cloud wrinkling the brow of heaven and the company wholly fashioned to delight Philonice who could guide with much dexterity the reins of her horse and who was drest after the most gallant exquisite mode had this day all the pleasantness of her humour and Berelisa alone had such disposition to melancholy that she could not surmount it Philonice had therefore for her a thousand obliging cares for though she did not passionately love blue which she had caused to be used at Agrigentine on purpose to please Berelisa she was at this time clothed in that amiable colour she had sent to her a kind of Coif with plumes to shade her from the scorching heat of Phoebus and in fine she forgot nothing which she thought might oblige her to banish this severe melancholy Nevertheless Berelisa could not conceal her distemper 'T is true that as she did not affect Terillus and that he did this day importune her she conceived him to be the sole cause of her anxiety and when Philonice having separated her from the company demanded her the reason of it she answered her it was the great concourse of people But said Berelisa to her who would you banish I would assuredly banish Terillus replied she and if I might effect my desires added she smiling I think I should send him to the place of that valiant Prisoner to whom I would willingly resign his for at least if he did not delight he would not importune me Seriously said Philonice to her shadowing her cheeks with a modest smile I believe the valour of that Unknown Person sways your inclination 'T is true I have a good opinion of him replied Berelisa but above all that which engages me to desire to serve him is a resentment of amity for as you know I have a Brother very dear to me who hath already compleated a year in peregrination and who it may be is exposed to such adventures I fancy that there is a certain equity which obligeth the gods to render us all the good we desire and I am resolved to desire all I may for this Unknown in hope that the gods will cause the like to be retaliated to my Brother in what place soever he resides for as you know Telesis is as well my Friend as Brother and I am both his Sister and Confident and conceiving my self more obliged to love him because he treats me as a Friend then because he is my Brother my thoughts continually reflect on him and 't is assuredly the precedent motive which
change of thoughts without any strange cause is the greatest sign of imbecillity and desining of judgment and that in the end the infidelity in love from whence soever it proceedeth is the basest and criminallest thing in the World all other duties of life approach not the ingagement of this because one is born subject to all the others and this is by a voluntary subjection one makes it a law to himself which ought to be as much more inviolable as one imposes it and one cannot infringe it without condemning himself without destroying his own pleasures without blemishing his Honour without trampling Justice and Virtue under his feet All that which you say is admirably well said replied the Prince of Messina but above all if in despight one hath of it one feels one loves no more what shall one do then I will as I have already told you that one loves by generosity when one cannot love more by inclination and I will if one can no more love that one constrains himself therefore to act as if one loves not yet since that it is in this occasion only that it permits to deceive innocently and that it is even good to do it at least I know well that if one act otherwise one must resolve to be hated and despised of all persons which have Virtue and Reason for I confess to you that I know not how one hath boldness to shew himself in the World after a perfidiousness of this nature nevertheless there is found women which shew themselves replied I. And there is likewise sound men added Philonice which leaves not to love them Ah for these men there said then Berelisa it is assuredly they should not be too delicate in love nor in generosity for for my part if I was a man it would be impossible for me to love a person which should act any infidelity But yet said the Prince of Messina without knowing the Interest she had in this Question which excuse you more sooner whether a man who should love a woman which should have made an infidelity to another or of a Lover a Lady should have betrayed and which would renew affection with her In my opinion replied Berelisa blushing I cannot ballance these two things for he which should have suffered infidelity would be more condemnable than another that at least might flatter himself with the opinion to have more merit than he which should have been abandoned Nevertheless added she to make Artemidorus speak I should be glad but for this Article one demands that he seemeth of it to all men in the company You are so equitable in all things said then Artemidorus who had not yet spoken that your thoughts should be those of all honest persons and for my part I declare I approve all that you have said and even all that which you think For my part replied I I am not so complaisant for I find both have an equal wrong And I added the Prince of Messina I think that a Lover who hath conquered the heart of a woman ought if he can reconquer it when he hath lost it for what knows he but he will find it better But it may be he may find it worse said Berelisa Though it should be so replied Philonice I find Berelisa hath very well made the distinction between Inconstancy and Infidelity I confess to you Madam replied she I have not said the third part of what I think for better to understand it one must after to have separated the inconstant from the faithful one must I say divide the unfaithful between them and the inconstant there are unfaithful persons by weakness by interest by capriciousness and by impiety and there is likewise inconstant persons of temperament of occasion of vanity of little judgement of debility of wantonness and of idleness If you will examine these divers things said I to her 't would require doubtless much time As one accuses to be a demy-inconstant replied Philonice I see well you fear that one puts you not in the rank of those of which Berelisa would speak but since you take no interest to infidelity and that you have never loved long enough to be unfaithful I would willingly demand of you which of the two a woman should love best in the necessity to suffer infidelity Ah Madam interrupted Berelisa always thinking on Artemidorus I put no comparison between these two things for a man which leaves one woman to love another or a woman which breaks with a lover for a new ingagement commits a more outragious action than if a lover diminishes by little and little For my part replied Lysicoris I am not of your opinion and I know nothing more cruel or more ouragious than when without any strange cause one sees the fire extinct for in this estate one knows not what to do to retain such a lover I have had a friend to whom this adventure was hapned who told me the fantastical things in the World to exaggerate to me her grief for said she one day to me I am the same I was when he of whom I complain was deeply in love with me my mirrour and my eyes speak the same and all those who approach me confirm me by their flatteries I am not deceived I am likewise pleasant and as faithful as ever I have no less spirit and he is not the same he was yet added she if any amiable Person hath deprived me of him I should have the consolation to hate her I should find a hundred inventions to displease her I should even think her adulation had attracted him that novelty had charmed him and in continuance of time he would repent himself of his infidelity and return to me but ye think being as it is one would say he hath forgotten to love and that he remembers not to have loved I know not likewise what to do neither to remit love in his heart nor to hate him though I know there 's nothing more outragious than to cease to love in this manner because it must of necessity be supposed I have no puissant charms since I cannot keep an heart I had conquered that no person deprives me of it After this pursued Lysicoris I have nothing more to tell you to assert my opinion since the complaints of my friends I have reported sum up all my reasons If you have no better replied Berelisa it will be easie to vanquish you since 't is certain there 's no comparison to make between these two sorts of Infidelities one cannot imagine but he ceases to love without making any new love doth it not but because a certain scrupulous sagacity perswades him this passion is a weakness or that being of those men who can stay long in any place he is troubled at his own conquest so that to reason well one may say that a Lover of this nature renders himself worthy of the despisal of her whom he abandons without one may positively say that
are satisfied she loves you and I doubt not but that if there should happen any difference between us you would renew your affection to her In the mean time this consideration is no small torment to me and if you desire I should not die of grief you must promise me in case absence should consume the affection you bear me or that some other unhappy accident divorce me from your heart or that my death make an eternal separation between us that you will never love Clidimira for I perceive that when you shall be returned to Leontum there may happen such a turn of Fortune as may bring her thither also But can I give you a greater assurance of my affection answered Artemidorus than by promising to love you eternally and to love none but you You may my Lord replied this powerful Beauty for amidst those fantastick apprehensions I am now engaged with I should be more satisfied to hear you once say that you will never love Clidimira then that you should swear you will ever love Berelisa But when I protest that I shall love you as long as I live replied he does it not signifie as much as if I said I shall never love her No my Lord it does not replied she and if you were sufficiently read in love you would not think this distinction so extravagant nor would make so much difficulty to humour my affection Hereupon Artemidorus was obliged to promise her all she desired and moreover assured her that as soon as he could he would return to Agrigentum that it should be only for her sake that he did return and that if Afranor would but give his consent he would marry her He had once intended to have proposed it to Afranor before his departure but in regard it would have proved very unseasonable Berelisa would not permit him She also made him promise he would not write to Clidimira though she should write to him to be short she made all the proviso's which the nicest jealousie could suggest against this dangerous Rival This posture were Affairs in when Artemidorus left Agrigentum He loved Berelisa and she him He had renounced all love to Clidimira yet she still loved him and though he could not guess what might be his fortune he immediately went to Syracuse whither I accompanied him He was no sooner gone from Agrigentum but Clidimira did two things one was she entred into Combination with one of the friends of Terillus purposely to oblige him to use all means to ingage the rest to oppose the return of Artemidorus the other was that she got leave to return to Leontum where she hath managed her affairs with so much policy that at the present she is so powerful in that Court that Artemidorus cannot hope ever to come into his Country but through her means On the other side Berelisa left no stone unmoved to hasten his return to Agrigentum but those with whom Clidimira held correspondence opposed it so stifly that the Prince of Agrigentum thought himself obliged out of considerations of his own interest not to send for him But there fell out another accident in the Court of Syracuse which obliged Artemidorus and me to leave it There hapned also other alterations at Leontine which forced thence a Princess who is at the present at Clusium and we were by divers motives induced to come into Italy with Amilcar with whom we took shipping together in Sicily after we had entred into a solemn friendship But I forget to tell you that since Clidimiras coming to Leontum and that she hath gained great reputation there Artemidorus is much more unfortunate than ever he was for being still passionately devoted to Berelisa and standing upon a punctilio of fidelity he was so far from intreating his former Mistress to continue her favours and good offices that he vouchsafes not to answer the obliging Letters which she writes to him On the other side he understands that the Prince of Ericium is fallen deeply in love with Berelisa and that he is joyned with the Friends of Terillus to hinder his return to Agrigentum and that he might be absolutely unhappy he durst not have any correspondence with the Princess his Sister lest he might offend the Prince his Brother But when all is done the afflictions of Artemidorus proceeding from no other cause than the excessive affection towards him of two of the greatest Beauties in the World I cannot retract what I said in the beginning of this relation but on the contrary maintain that this Prince is too blame for taking so much trouble upon him since what occasions his trouble might felicifie any two the greatest persons in the World For my part said Amilcar perceiving Zenocrates had ended his relation I think you are in the right and that it is properly of such things that it may be said a man cannot have too much I assure you replied Hermilia I am not of your mind for I believe a vertuous man thinks it a great affliction to be loved by one woman of merit and quality having bestowed his affections on another For what concerns me said Valeria I think a woman who is so unhappy as to love and not be loved again deserves more pity than a vertuous man who is loved and yet cannot himself love However it be said Brutus I think Artemidorus condition very sad for he hath loved a faithless woman whom it is unlikely he will ever hate since she hath such an infinite affection for him he now loves a person whom he cannot come near he hath a powerful Rival and this Rival is absent his love is an obstacle to his Ambition he can neither be among his friends nor yet among his enemies and he knows he were happy if he were not where he is All which certainly is the greatest punishment that absence and love put together can inflict on him It is but too certain says Herminius and I am of opinion that a Lover who is loved when he is forced to be at a distance from the person he loves and is subject to a fear of losing her is in a far greater torment than a Lover who simply fears that he may not be loved I do believe indeed it is the greater torment said Zenocrates but yet there is a great pleasure in the very thought of being loved and it is as great an affliction to be assured that one is not I agree with you replied Herminius and yet the fear of losing a good which one is possessed of and the impossibility of enjoying signifie haply something as hard to be indured as the bare distrust of not being able to attain that good which one desires But it is certainly too late to begin the disposition of a thing of this nature especially in the Chamber of one that is sick and that a fair one too For fairness replied Hermilia I must decline it and for sickness it is not so great as that such pleasant company
discourse upon what had been spoken in the Company for our houses adjoyning we were seldom asunder but at night nay sometimes it hapned that I staid at Caesonias or she at our house Being therefore at liberty as to company we took a Walk into Ersilias Garden but reflecting on whatever had been said I represented to Caesonia that she had said one thing which Persander and Turnus might severally apply to themselves for their stories were known to all the world I had no sooner said it but she blushed as having no thought of them when she spoke as she did and fearing they might imagine it directed to them she was much troubled in her mind I should be extreamly afflicted said she to me that two persons of their Quality should suspect me of any design to engage them to love me Since they are the only two of all the City replied I laughing that are not fallen into your chains what great crime were it if you should spread your chains for them How great a crime it were I know not replied she but it would certainly argue a great weakness and much indiscretion but that which gives me some ease added she is that Turnus is so well known for his Inconstancy and Persander for his obstinate fidelity that I shall not be easily suspected of having any intention to alter their resolutions But that also which is equally true is that they are the two men of all the City whom I most esteem and for whom certainly I should have the greatest inclination and consequently added I they are the two persons of all the City who were the most likely to make you happy if so be you resolve to marry any one According to the humour I now am in said she I should not be satisfied to have only an inclination for him I would take to be my Husband for I conceive my felicity consists rather in the resentments which others have for me then in what I have for them and if I had met with any one among those who have endeavoured to gain me that could have put me into a strong perswasion that he had a great and violent affection for me I should without doubt have looked on him so as from him to have derived my happiness for certainly there is a greater pleasure in being loved then in loving Ah Caesonia cryed I you are extreamly mistaken if you believe what you say since 't is only the Love which is in one's own heart that can make one happy and that to speak sincerely there is no pleasure in being loved but by that which one loves Every one hath his particular humour replied Caesonia and that is none of mine for if I had two Lovers of equal merit and my inclination led me to favour him whom I thought the less amorous I should prefer before him the other whom I conceived to have greater affection for me though I loved him the less Ah Caesonia replied I how great a fault would you do in so doing Ah Plotina replyed she how dangerous a one should I be guilty of did I make any other choice for all considered it is not true that the end of loving is to be loved again and that it is the greatest torment to love beyond what one is beloved I agree with you replied I that it is insufferable to be sensible of having more love then one causes yet I hold there can be no sensible pleasure in loving any further then it relates to that which one loves and that all the devoirs all the services all the addresses of a person whom one loves not give no great satisfaction in comparison of those are rendred by one for whom we have a certain respect But Plotina answered Caesonia you consider not what you say when you speak thus for it is so natural to love to the end one should be loved again and to imagine a certain pleasure therein that to speak generally of it one desires to be loved as well by those whom one loves as those whom one loves not There is also a certain satisfaction in receiving acknowledgements of esteem from those we are not in a manner acquainted with and the reason is that as often as one receives such expression of affection one seems to take it as a certain argument of his own merit besides that if there be any charms in love I think they consist in an absolute Empire over the heart of a vertuous man I can also very easily imagine that it is as it were a degree of felicity for a woman to see a person of a great reason and understanding renounce part of his Reason to serve her that he raises to himself an hundred sensible pleasures from her most inconsiderable favours that he betrays a thousand obliging weaknesses which he himself is not sensible of that his colour changes when he sees her that many times he knows not what he says even when it is his design to speak the best he can that he sees her in all places that he seeks none but her that he resigns himself absolutely to her will and altogether renounces his own But on the contrary when one loves insteed of commanding he obeys and must expect all the inconveniences of love and never be acquainted with the enjoyments of it Ah Caesonia replied I I could not have imagined a serious person could possibly have said what you have And I should never have thought replied she that a person of a free and gallant humour could have held what you hold which certainly should rather be the Tenet of Melancholy and Distraction But said I to her what do you think on when you imagine it is a greater pleasure to be loved then to love Do you think I cannot name you a hundred several men whom you should esteem strangely troublesom if they were but once encouraged to follow you every where and to pretend an infinite love to you But when I say so replied she I do not mean that I would be loved of those people of no worth who are not to be admitted in the quality of lovers nor yet of friends and all that I say amounts to no more then this that a woman who hath a great esteem for a vertuous man by whom she is faithfully and ardently loved shall be more happy then if she her self had a strong love for another vertuous man who were less amorous then the former And I hold on the contrary replied I that there is no enjoyment in being loved but in as much as it proceeds from those we love that all those weaknesses which you say it would be pleasant to observe in a person of a great mind would not seem such to you if you were not capable of having the like and to apprehend aright what Love is there is no question but the most inconsiderable services rendered by a person whom we love far exceed the greatest we receive from another for whom we have
not that sympathy And in a word Caesonia said I to her laughing the case is not the same with love as at a Ball where many times those who dance not have a greater pleasure then those who do for certainly whoever would find a great satisfaction in being loved must himself love and that to the greatest extent of passion and for my part I am so far from imagining any pleasure in marrying an amorous Husband if I loved not him that I think it no small torment by reason of the continual reservedness wherein I should conceive my self obliged to live If therefore you will take my advice make choice of him whom you your self shall best love and not him who hath no more to say for himself then that he hath a greater love for you I should willingly grant added I it were a great unhappiness and a great madness to love and not be loved again but as long as I live I shall persist in this opinion that there can be no true delight in being loved if one also loves not and certainly the heart must be extreamly prepossessed for to raise this one pleasure above all others and imagine it such as whereby all sorts of afflictions were alleviated and might effectually put us into a condition of indifference for all things else But is it not also certain repli'd she that as soon as one is strongly possessed with love there inevitably follows a number of cares and disturbances There do so repli'd I but I believe withall there are thousands of pleasures which cannot be consequent to any thing but by the residence of that passion in the Soul For when all is done all those things which we say are very pleasing when one loves are not so considerable in themselves as to make a superstructure of Felicity were it not that the heart is prepossessed So that to be absolutely happy we must if I may presume to say it enter with sincere intentions into this correspondence and consonancy of affections we must retain in our selves so much love as we cause in others and expect to find our particular satisfaction in our own tendernese rather then in that of another For were it not so one might take an equal pleasure in being loved by a hundred several people at a time whereas I am confident that a woman who hath three or four Lovers will find no true pleasure but with him whom she particularly loves I do not tell you repli'd Caesonia that those whose hearts are designed to love find no satisfaction in loving but that which I maintain is that one who would marry should find her self in a more firm posture of happiness by marrying a man who extreamly loves her then if she married one whom she her self were infinitely in love with But repli'd I you mind not what you say for it frequently happens that these amorous Husbands grow soon cold in their affection so that if you are satisfied in being loved though you loved not your self it must needs follow that as that love evaporates and consumes your pleasure also determines On the contrary if you love him whom you have married he is always the same pleasant object he was to you even though he should give you some slight cause of discontent Not to flatter you therefore any longer I think there never was any woman Cockneys excepted besides your self who thought there was any great pleasure in being loved without loving her self Be it as it will be said she since I press you not to change your opinion neither shall I change mine for your sake but it may come to pass that while I shall be content to be lov'd though I love not you shall love and not be lov'd again For that matter replied I I fear not what may happen to me for one never loves but what seems worthy to be loved and I should not look upon the most vertuous man in the world as such as should oblige me to love him if he did not first love me These were at that time the apprehensions of Caesonia but not to spend time in the relation of many little accidents consequent thereunto I shall onely tell you that from that day Persander and Turnus took some by occasions to see and know more of Caesonia and became more studious Disciples of our Cabal which certainly was the most ingenious and most gallant of any in the City and if I may presume to affirm it that which had the greatest reputation of Vertue 'T is true it stood not with our constitutions to admit indifferently all sorts of people and that we stood much upon the choice of our friends of either sex when we were commonly called abroad The fair Solitaries Our solitude indeed hath nothing that might affright for we admitted the visits of all vertuous persons without any regard had to the rest Not that we would be charged with any incivility but it happened either by artifice or good fortune that we were not pleasing to those whom we liked not So that some stood in fear of us others not knowing what to say to us and some for the most part not apprehending what are said to them we lived without any disturbance for to tell you truly we minded not much what they thought of our Consistory and when we were informed of what foolish things they said of The fair Solitaries we only made sport of it and then took occasion thence to think our selves happy in that we were dissociated from such people But for Persander and Turnus we gladly entertained them when they pressed the favour of seeing us more particularly then ordinary for they were both persons of so much worth that to do them respect was to receive it However it was not their design at first to profess any love to Caesonia but certain it is that Persander being still slighted by the person whom he lov'd took this occasion to divert and imploy his thoughts so to indeavor his recovery Nor indeed did he dissemble it saying when we sometimes asked him whence it came he so much honoured us with his company that his business was to find out some pleasant friend that should make him forget a too cruel Mistress As for Turnus since he pursued only what most pleased him and that Caesonia wanted not any thing he could have wished he easily dis-engaged himself from those three Beauties whereof there was not any whose heart he might not have gained if he could have serv'd but her alone with perseverance It hapned also that Persander's Mistress went into the Country and that a new difference fell out betwixt them at parting for she put such a fantastick trick upon him that he was extreamly troubled at it It came to pass afterwards that he saw divers of her Letters which were such as seemed not fit to be written by the Mistress of Persander for he himself writes admirable well he also came to the sight of several Letters of Caesonias
nothing but trifles having not the least relation to truth I shall not trouble my self to give him any return But supposing they said not any thing that were real replied I why make you such ado to satisfie their curiosity And if what they say have some ground tell them sincerely though by way of jest what they may think of their several fortunes In troth Plotina said she to me you give me very pleasant advice Truly replied I you have my very thoughts for Persander and Turnus are as yet Friends but if they are Rivals I wish it may be without quarrel and that you impose on them as an expression of their love to you to live always in Friendship If they were my Lovers replyed she I should be glad they were such without hating one another but since they are not and that I should be sorry they should I have nothing to say to them For your being sorry said I I cannot so easily believe it For in fine continued I jestingly this adventure hath in it something so particular that you would be much troubled to repent your having been the occasion of it Besides that having so much generosity as you have you should be glad to have put so great an obligation on two the most eminent persons in the world for all that can be objected to Persander is that he loves a woman that deserves not his love and all that Turnus can be charged with is the inconstancy of his Love For this good Office Turnus and Persander gave me many thanks and began again to press Caesonia to resolve them but she would not So that the discourse was concluded in such a manner as satisfied Caesonia and me that there was something of truth in what we suspected and withal convinced Turnus and Persander thar they had both followed the advice they had given one another However they went away together but burthened with thoughts and melancholy as being each of them troubled in their minds that he had a Rival instead of a Friend But at last Persander as being the more discreet desirous to sift the resentments of his Friend Tell me truly said he to him are you not at this present more taken with Caesonia than with all the world besides and if it were possible you could reform your inconstancy you would do it only for her sake Before I tell you my thoughts replied Turnus do you acknowledge that you are this day more pleased with Caesonia than ever you were with your former Mistress and that if you could prove inconstant you would do it only for the love of Caesonia For inconstancy replied Persander I cannot be reproached with it though I forsook the person you mean and should in consequence love Caesonia since it is granted there is no obligation to love where one is not loved And whereas you are pleased to tell me that I am more taken with this excellent person than my former Mistress I am to tell you that how far soever you may have thought me prepossessed I have always known that the one had imperfections the other none But that which hath caused this change in my resolutions is that the person in whom I then had only a glimpse of certain imperfections and in whom I imagined there were some excellent good qualities seems now to me some other creature for I find not any thing in her I am pleased with her Company is troublesome all that I saw in her formerly is vanished and I am so much ashamed nay indeed so much amazed that I have thought her so excellent and loved her so much that my thoughts of it far exceed my expressions Ah Persander cryed out Turnus you are in love with Caesonia And you replied the other who thought it your felicity to divide your self among all the Beauties never think your self well now but when neer Caesonia I acknowledge it replied Turnus for whereever I am I ever wish my self with her and there is certainly something of enchantment whereby I am so carried away that her House is in my way in what quarter soever of Ardea my business lies It seems then replied Persander smiling if we are not yet Rivals we soon shall be I am of your mind replied Turnus and I am troubled at it beyond expression For certainly added he I must needs be very unhappy that the most perseverant of all men hath resolved to cease to be such purposely to become my Rival It is rather I who have cause to complain replied Persander in that the most inconstant Lover in the World will needs be other than he was merely to cross my designs Ah! Persander replied Turnus I am the more unhappy of the two for certainly Caesonia had a greater inclination for you than for me I know not on what you ground that conjecture replied Persander but it should rather be inferr'd that a man who could not gain the love of the least amiable person in the World should not be over confident of gaining that of the most accomplished and therefore his Rivalship is not to be looked on as very formidable But Turnus if I am slighted as inconsiderable you are on the contrary much to be feared for can a man possibly have a more dangerous Rival than one who though guilty of no love or at best but little could yet in a manner command all the greatest beauties of Ardea Howere that may be replied Turnus I am confident Caesonia hath naturally a stronger inclination and a greater esteem for you than me I know you are a greater Gallant more vigilant and more ingenious than I am and consequently have reason to fear you may be more fortunate than I. Since you are infinitely more amiable than I can ever possibly be replied Persander and that I have a very great opinion of Caesonia's judgment I am easily perswaded not to expect any love to your prejudice But to do something more than ordinary in the World added he let us endeavour from this day forward so to manage our Love that it destroy not our Friendship for as yet there is not ought done wherewith we may reproach one the other You advised me to love Caesonia and I gave you the same advice so that we cannot be charged with any defect of Friendship in the original of our Love And therefore since I might be thought unreasonable to press you to quit your pretensions for my sake it were also unjust in you to oblige me to stifle my Passion for yours Not but that if I thought I could do it I would both out of considerations of Friendship and Reason though you pressed me not to it but since it is impossible and that I cannot conceive you can be so suddenly weary of a thing you are so much taken with we must regulate those apprehensions we have one of another while we love the accomplished Caesonia To observe the Rules of Generosity replied Turnus we must promise not to attempt any thing
Collatia where they were no sooner arrived but they met Valerius who having had notice that he was suspected was going to a certain friends house so that Lucretia having desired her Father and Husband to bring some of their friends with them they staid him for though Valerius was not ingaged in the concernments of Tarquin yet was he no enemy either to Lucretius or Collatine Taking him therefore along with them they passed by the house where Aronces Herminius Artemidorus and Celeres were But Brutus did not so much as look that way and for Lucretius and Collatine they almost forgot they were sent to Collatia from Tarquin so much were there minds taken up with the message they had received Having therefore alighted they were going into the house and were hardly gotten to the stone walk which you come into when you have passed through the Court but they spie Lucretia who was on the other side in an Entry at the bottom of the Stairs but they perceived her to be ruffled pale and melancholy and they saw in her looks grief indignation and disorder 'T is true she blushed extremely when intending to lift up her eyes and to speak she met those of Brutus That sight put her into such disturbance that she step'd back turned her head aside and was not able to bring forth that she was about to say But at length having lifted up her eyes to Heaven she turned her self towards her Father and her Husband who seeing in what trouble his Wife was was very earnest with her to know the cause Ah Collatine said she to him lifting up her eyes a second time to Heaven as it were to beg its protection if the misfortune which hath happened to me could be expressed it were not so great as it is but all that modesty permits me to tell you is that the infamous Sextus came into my Chamber that he is both the most criminal and the most insolent of men and I am the most unfortunate person of my Sex though the most innocent This known continued she with tears in her eyes ask me no more but be so generous as to promise I shall be revenged that you will exterminate even the whole Family of the Tarquins that you will die rather than suffer them to live and in a word that none hereafter may know the violence I have received but shall withal know the revenge that followed it As she delivered these words Lucretia certainly not out of any design met again the looks of Brutus 't is true she presently turned aside but not till he could have received certain motions which seemed to demand his particular revenge on Prince Sextus Whereupon her Husband coming near her began to chear up and promised to revenge her while a faithful woman-slave that belonged to this afflicted Beauty gave Lucretius a short account of Sextus's Crime and this terrible accident which all the World hath been acquainted with upon which Lucretius as well as Collatine and Valerius promised Lucretia to revenge her For Brutus he promised no otherwise than by his looks and certain threatning gestures which he could not abstain from for though he was desirous to speak yet could he not possibly do it on this first apprehension such a storm had grief rage indignation love and jealousie raised in him But these four Illustrious Romans having promised Lucretia to revenge her Valerius who loved her extremely for her virtue besides the relation of an ancient friend of his illustrious daughters desired her not to afflict her self so much and that she should live for the pleasure sake of seeing her self revenged No no Valerius replied this generous person it shall never be said that Lucretia hath taught the Romans by her Example that a Woman can out-live her Reputation With these words the vertuous Lucretia appearing more fair and resolute than before drew a Ponyard which she had hid about her and lifting up her hand and arm and looking up towards Heaven as it were to offer her self a sacrifice to those Gods whom she invoked she thrust it into her breast and fell down with her bosom all bloody at the feet of the unfortunate Brutus who had the fatal advantage to have the last of her looks and to hear the last of her sighs For while Lucretia Collatine and Valerius were making horrid out-cries to express their astonishment and their sorrow this unhappy Lover cast himself on the ground snatches the Ponyard out of Lucretias breast and seeing her resigning up her last breath in a manner as if she yet knew him and begging his revenge his mind was seised by a certain heroick fury which when he saw that this admirable Woman was dead raised him up with the Ponyard all bloody in his hand and enabled him to speak with such Eloquence as the Gods seemed to have inspired into him Insomuch that all those who in an instant were come from all parts of the Town to see so sad a spectacle were strangely surprised to hear Brutus who still held up the bloody Ponyard For he spoke the noblest things in the World to ingage Lucretia Collatine Valerius and all that heard him to revenge the injury done to Lucretia and expel out of Rome the Family of the Tarquins So that prevailing with all those who heard him both by reason of the admiration they had of him and by the sight of so fair and so sad an object as also those great things he said unto them he derived the fury of his own spirit into those who heard him This done he delivered the Ponyard into the hands of Collatine and thence into those of Lucretius and Valerius and afterwards into those of all that were present and made them all swear by the chast blood of Lucrecia to revenge her death to follow and be guided by him Whereupon not to spend time in fruitless tears he sent for Aronces Herminius Artemidorus Zenocrates and Celeres and having given them the same Oath with the same Ceremony he commanded Lucretia's Chariot to be made ready and assisted by Aronces his dear friend Herminius and divers others he puts into it the fair Corps of that vertuous person laid on rich Cushions and causing the Chariot to be covered with a Mourning Cloth he himself gets on Horse-back commands all the people to follow him and riding up and down the City of Collatia with this Ponyard in his hand he presently took his way towards Rome But he was followed thither by all the the people of Collatia that were able to follow him for as the vertue of Lucretia while she lived raised her into the adoration of all so being dead did it ingage them to revenge her death and for more security Valerius set Guards at the Gates of Collatia to hinder any thing to be carried to Tarquin Brutus therefore comes to the Gates of Rome with a considerable number of armed people about him every one having what he could get before any notice
of his coming was brought For his part he rid behind the Chariot of Lucretia so that having that sad object still in his sight and the Ponyard wherewith Lucretia had killed her self in his hand he thought what cannot well be imagined and what it was impossible he could have expressed himself love grief jealousie and rage had put his reason into so much disorder He hath indeed since said to express the greatness of his disturbance that in this emergency he minded not the Liberty of Rome but in order to revenge the death of the innocent Lucretia and made use of the Interest of his Country which was so dear to him only to satisfie his Passion Nor did he then think of revenging the death of his Father and Brother and so much was his mind taken up with this sad accident that Lucretia was the only cause of this great and dangerous attempt Nor was this design so inconsiderate as it seemed to be For brutus Aronces Valerius Herminius Zenocrates Artemidorus and Celeres knew that there was in Rome so great an inclination to a Revolt and were so well informed of the great number of those who were secret Enemies to Tarquin that they entertained some hopes the people might be drawn into an insurrection Aronces hoping the deliverance of Rome might procure Clelias liberty was as zealous to break its chains as if he had been a Roman and was as earnest in the revenge of Lucretia as if he had been her Brother Herminius for his part had been always so exasperated against the violences of Tarquin was so sensible of this adventure of his friend and so moved at the affliction of Brutus that he was as forward to revenge Lucretia as if Valeria had received the same injury For Artemidorus Zenocrates and Celeres they being all vertuous and gallant souls were easily drawn in to ingage in this noble attempt and for Valerius it was so long since he wished the destruction of Tarquin and the Liberty of Rome that he was easily concerned in the revenge of Lucretia But that which was most strange was that Lucretius and Collatine who were sent from the Camp to exercise the Orders of the Tyrant at Collatia and who had permitted Brutus to follow them without saying any thing to him acknowledged him for their Leader and came along with those whom had not this sad accident happened they should have secured and conducted into the Prisons of Tarquin such a change of resolutions did this strange adventure work in them and so much respect had the great worth of Brutus discovering it self so unexpectedly inspired into them On the other side Aronces Herminius and his friends who had quitted Rome disguised were now resolved to appear there openly 'T is true they were attended by a strange multitude of people from Collatia who by reason of their discontents were fit instruments to raise a Commotion in Rome Besides Aronces Herminius and Valerius having conferred together had thought fit their friends had notice to be ready for their force could not march very fast by reason of the Chariot which carried the Corps of Lucretia They therefore sent Celeres before who receiving instructions from these three excellent persons made haste to give Amilcar notice to get together all their friends in the most spacious place of Rome and that they should come thither armed He was also to advertise the Salii and the Vestals with whom they held intelligence that there might be nothing wanting which might contribute to the enterprise Lucretius for his part being then Governour of Rome sent Orders to those who were under him to be ready for some expedition bidding him whom he sent not to mention what had happened to Lucretia To be short the Chariot that brought the Corps of that admirable person came to Rome before any thing was suspected Being come to the Gates Brutus who doubted not but the sight of so sad a spectacle would move to pity and exasperate the hearts of the people and consequently ingage them to a rising went himself and took off the great mourning Cloath that covered that excellent body but as he drew it off he turned his head aside to hide his trouble from Collatine Whereupon the Chariot entred uncovered into the City followed by Brutus who held the bloody Ponyard in his hand and by the Father and Husband of Lucretia with their eyes full of tears and by the multitude of the people that came from Collatia bewailing the death of Lucretia Curiosity and amazement soon seised the minds of all those who were spectators of so strange a spectacle and the same beauty of Lucretia which made her subject to receive the violence contributed also to her revenge For being but newly dead she appeared so admirably handsome that the people of Rome who had heard so much of her Beauty and hardly ever seen her by reason of the solitary life she led was extremely moved at the sight of so many Charms hut seeing her dead was desirous to know the cause of her death and the rather from that multitude of people who followed the Chariot and wept as they went This obliged almost all those who saw Lucretia's body to follow it and so augmented the number of those that accompanied it insomuch that he who conducted the Chariot being hindred by the crowd of people was forced to go more softly Brutus thought fit the people had time to come together to soften and be moved of it self before the design absolutely broke forth and that it were not amiss to expect till they were come to that place where they were to find their friends met together He therefore said not a word and riding close to Lucretia's Chariot he only shewed the people by some gesture of his hand and eyes that object But being come to that spacious place which is between the Capitol and the Palatine Hill where they were resolved to rest Brutus caused the Chariot to be staid before the Gate of the Temple of Jupiter Stator which Romulus had built in accomplishment of a vâ—w which he had made in the time of the war with the Sabins This done Brutus alighted and got up on a place two steps high whence as being at that time Tribune of the Celeres he had the priviledge to speak in publick on divers occasions At first sight in regard he was accustomed to make known the Orders of Tarquin with much simplicity to those that were under his charge there was no body troubled himself much to hearken to what he said all thronging to get near Lucretias Chariot and to understand the circumstances of her death But Amilcar coming in followed by a great number of Valerius Herminius and Collatine's friends and those who had before heard Brutus speak at Collatia making it their business to impose silence on the rest of the multitude at length the illustrious and too too unfortunate Lover with a fierceness in his countenance that challenged respect lifted up
and temperament and all his life after affected a certain austere vertue wherein there seemed to be something of roughness nay sometimes something of cruelty to those who were not informed of the secret of his heart and could not guess at the true cause of his melancholy and that insatiable Ambition which though Rome were delivered he had to root out the race of the Tarquins Yet had he withal an admirable command of himself in this great occurrence wherein it concerned him to confirm his Victory by his Presence For when he had disposed his Troops about the Gates of Rome he made his entrance which was with extraordinary acclamations and without any further delay having returned the Gods thanks in Janus's Temple which he caused to be shut the more to assure the people he called a Council of all the persons of Quality in Hostilius's Court as being the most convenient place of any for great Assembly They were no sooner got together but the people by an unanimous consent having no lawful King conferred all Authority on Brutus with this Title of Consul only for one year Which done this new Consul ordained the Senate to consist of three hundred which he chose with so little contestation that all the Citizens were satisfied But while Brutus Collatine Valerius Lucretius Herminius and Mutius were busied about the regulation of their City so to perpetuate the liberty they had acquired Aronces the unfortunate Aronces met with a contrary destiny For having parted from Brutus and been informed which way Tullia took when she left the house where she had taken up the two Chariots he followed it till he came to a place where he understood that the multitude of people that followed Tullia was divided In this place was he at a great loss not knowing what resolution to take He imagined indeed that his business being only to find out Clelia it was more likely she was rather in that party where there were Chariots than where there were only Horses and he was not much mistaken for he conceived that Tullia seeing her self far enough from Rome had sent the Princes her Sons to the Camp and kept on her way And indeed it happened so that this cruel Princess seeing her self in that extremity would not take Clelia with her to the Camp but thought better to carry her to Tarquinia But she being in one Chariot and having disposed the Captives into another he who had the conduct of the latter being faithful to Tarquin whose misfortune he had not yet understood and making it his business to deliver Clelia out of the power of that cruel Princess carried his business so handsomely that he caused him who conducted the Chariot of the Captives to go somewhat slowly so to be at a distance from that of Tullia who having her mind persecuted with the memory of her Crimes and the representation of the miseries would fall upon her thought not on Clelia as not suspecting any could be guilty of so great a presumption as to offer to take her away from her She thought indeed at first to have taken her into her own Chariot but the very sight of her being troublesome to her she disposed her into the other which going more slowly staid somewhat behind This man therefore in order to his secret design having caused the Axle-tree of the Chariot of the Captives to be broken when it was taken up at the house by which Tullia had passed told him who conducted it that he must overtake Tullia and therefore must put on a little faster But he had scarce gone a hundred paces ere the Axle-tree flew asunder so that there was no going any further Upon this accident he said they must needs leave the Chariot there and that every one of his Companions should take one of the Captives behind him So that these unfortunate Beauties not knowing what to do and seeing that it was to no purpose to make any resistance submitted thinking they were all to follow Tullia He who was the Author of the design took Clelia into his charge one of his Companions took Plotina behind him another Casonia another Danae and so some or other the rest of the Captives Now while these Captives were together they had resolved to endeavour each to perswade him who carried her to bring them to Rome or Ardea and the more to engage them to promise great rewards Accordingly Clelia was no sooner on horseback but she began to intreat him who carried her to do an act of vertue and carry her to Rome promising him extraordinary rewards if he did it She prevailed so far that the fellow who as I told you had his secret design in it seemed to condescend and making a little halt he took the first way he came to on the right hand But Clelia not desirous to be alone with him intreated him to perswade his Companions who had the charge of her friends to follow them or at least that Plotina might accompany them He answered that if the business were communicated to so many she would be discovered but at length calling to him who carried Plotina pretending he had broken something about his Bridle he made him stay a little behind the rest So that turning out of the way and taking advantage of a little hill they put on a good pace But coming to a certain passage which Plotina knew as being of the Country she perceived the fellow instead of carrying them to Rome drove towards Ardea So that acquainting Clelia with it that afflicted Beauty told him that he was out of his way and that his design was to ruine them By no means replied he for I deliver you out of the hands of a Princess who hates you to put you into the power of a Prince who loves you At these words was Clelia extremely disquieted for she chose much rather to be exposed to the cruelty of Tullia than the passion of Tarquin And not knowing that that Prince was gone from before Ardea and that he had neither Kingdom nor Army Clelia was in an incredible disturbance Insomuch that without any further deliberation she casts her self of the horse the fellow not being able to hinder her and calls Plotina to her assistance who could not do as much as being held fast by him who carried her Not that Clelia had any hopes to save her self but hoped only by making a little stay there that the Gods whom she invoked would send her some relief In the mean time Tullia having observed that the Chariot of the Captives followed not caused her own to be staid to know whence the disorder happen'd But at last understanding that it was broke she commanded 〈◊〉 to be brought into hers not out of any motive of goodness but out of a consideration of the most cruel jealousie in the World So that some that were about her putting themselves in order to satisfie her they called him who was charged with the conduct of that Beauty
engaged had been forced to fight themselves Tarquin who had soon perceived them having ordered thirty of his men to engage them out of a fear of being surprised by some fresh supplies and accordingly they had been either taken Prisoners or cut to pieces Besides that Tarquin having been informed by those who had been taken that Horatius was not far from him with two hundred Horse and easily inferring that if he joyned with Aronces he were utterly lost since that valiant Prince found him so much work with so small a handful of men he commanded his people to make one final attempt to overcome him for till then in regard he was Son to a King who was his Ally from whom he expected Protection he had given Order that he should not be killed But considering the importunity of his present condition he was obliged not to debate the business any longer So that Aronces was in an extreme danger for he had about an hundred Horse left and had almost four hundred to deal with Besides all this the Prince of Pometia and Prince Titus had joyned their Father and being obliged to fight for their Father how wicked soever he might be they engaged Aronces with an incredible Courage though they had an infinite esteem for him 'T is true the Valour this Prince expressed that day was so prodigious that there never was seen any thing like it for he was several times surrounded by his enemies yet could they neither take him Prisoner nor hurt him He killed in a manner at Tarquin's Elbow that valiant Hellius with whom he had some time fought near Ardea and if Tarquin had not used a subtle shift he might have been overcome by him so signal was his Valour and so worthily was it seconded by that of Artemidorus Amilcar Zenocrates and Celeres To this may be added that the Romans whom he had with him were in so much fear of falling into the power of Tarquin that they behaved themselves so much the more gallantly But at last Tarquin having caused some of his people to make out-cries as if Rome were returned to its Duty to him and that his Army had changed their resolutions those who were with Aronces taking Alarm at this false report though he did all that lay in his power to hinder them from believing it ran away so that he was left alone with his four Friends amidst so great a number of Enemies yet would he not yield till that there was no other remedy after he had received a wound in his right Arm but at last he was forced to submit to the multitude by which he was surrounded and become the Prisoner of a King who had lost both his Kingdom and his Army But that this adventure might prove yet more insupportable to him it hapned that Tarquin whom it concerned to treat him had indeed an extraordinary care of him out of some considerations of Policy only though he hated him most horridly both as a Lover of Clelia and that he found him in Arms against him so that after he had put a Guard upon him and those Friends of his who met with the same Fortune except Amilcar who made a shift to escape after he had been taken it hapned that Tarquin causing Aronces to be dressed at the first House he met in his way one of Horatius's men who had been taken by some of Tarquin's standing near him when he was dressed knew him and made acquaintance with him Aronces who could not want a curiosity for such a Rival asked him by what adventure he came thither and where his Master was To which this man being of the humour of those who when they relate things love to circumstantiate answered That Horatius recovering at length of his wounds found himself in a condition to cast himself into Rome then told him how he had found Clelia highly expressing the satisfaction that Beauty had in meeting him so seasonably assuring him that he was to carry her to Rome and that they would be there very suddenly The first apprehensions of Aronces were extremely confused and entangled for after a long fear that Clelia might perish through the cruelty of the implacable Tullia he arrived to a slender comfort when he understood that she was not in her power He was not also dissatisfied that she went to Rome as also that she was quite out of the reach of Tarquin's violence and Sextus's but when after all he considered that she was fallen into the hands of a Rival a person of so great worth as Horatius one who had such an advantage over him as to render him so considerable a service and withal saw himself wounded and Prisoner to a Prince who he knew loved Clelia and who would not fail to return him to the King his Father and to engage him into his Interests he thought himself the most unfortunate man in the world for he fore-saw what in reason should be the consequence of so cross an accident Accordingly when he was on Horse-back and forced to follow a Prince whom Fortune had forsaken and who went for refuge to Ceres intending to send thence to Treat with Porsennas he entertained himself after the saddest manner that could be For when he called to mind with what eagerness he wished Romes Liberty and Tarquin's Ruine and considered that the Misfortune of that Prince was the only cause that he was his Prisoner he acknowledged in himself that men were guilty of great rashness when they presumed to desire any thing precisely of the Gods since that many times what they desire proves more prejudicial to them than what they fear So that not daring in a manner to wish any thing for fear of making any wishes against himself he was extremely afflicted especially when he considered that Clelia was in a place where he had two very considerable Rivals that himself in all likehood should be turned over a Prisoner to the King his Father and saw not any thing from whence he might derive the least comfort but the hopes he had in the Friendships of the Illustrious Brutus and the generous Herminius The End of the Second Part of CLELIA CLELIA AN EXCELLENT NEW ROMANCE DEDICATED TO MADEMOISELLE de LONGUEVILLE The THIRD PART Written in French by the Exquisite Pen of Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostredame de la Gard. LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman and Thomas Cockerel 1678. TO THE ACCOMPLISHD LADY THE LADY Constance Enyon MADAM THE Opinion I have of your Goodness must needs be very great when I think the presumption I am guilty of in this address so innocent and justifiable that I do not much doubt your pardon It is certainly no small one in me to make use of your name to do that which of all things I take the greatest pride and pleasure in that is confidence to let the World know I cannot receive a favour with half as much freedom and satisfactino as I can acknowledge it To those I
to desire but what I have For Emilius is handsom he has high bloud he has courage and wit and a violent passion to me He prefers me before the richest match in Rome he is of a sweet disposition and I know not what I can wish more in him to make my self happy After this falling into talk of Herminius Valeria with Tears in her eyes took a little Cabiner where she kept all his letters and offered to tear in pieces all the Letters of her former Lover But Flavia was so earnest with her that at last she consented that she should have them upon condition never to shew them unto her So as Flavia taking the Cabinet and all in it she carried it unto the Chamber which was allotted her After which these two Ladies went to walk by the side of a Rivulet which was very pleasant and from whence one might see all the way from Rome thither And Emilius was to come that way As for Valerius and Domitia they thought upon nothing but taking all necessary orders for the next day For though the company was not to be great yet would they have all things in handsom order and decency at this private Feast Emilius for his part his heart was so full of joy that all the care he took was to go be times unto the place where he was to be made happy So as referring unto his servants the care of all things necessary for the marriage day he departed with only one servant to go unto his dear Valeria In his going thither he entertained himself with every thing that might flatter his passion and his spirit thinking upon nothing but delights he fancied the satisfaction Herminius would have to see him so happy if he were alive and also the pleasure he himself should have in seeing his friend When this thought came upon him he was not above two hundred paces from the house of Valerius So as Valeria and Flavia who were walking by the River side might easily see him entertaining himself in this manner at a place where two ways crossed he heard the noise of a horse on his right hand which made him look that way But as soon as ever he had turned his head he espied Herminius yet he never thought him whom he saw to be his friend For his imagination being prepossessed with an opinion of his death and being also at a good distance he thought him only some man that resembled him But Herminius who had nothing in his mind which made him not credit his eyes no sooner espied Emilius but he went immediately unto him Oh my dear Emilius said he unto him how happy am I to meet with you Emilius was much surprised at these words for believing two of his senses he began to think that Herminius was risen from the dead since both his eyes and his ears told him so they meet therefore each other and lighting from their horses which they left with their men they embraced each other with abundance of joy and tenderness for they loved one another most dearly Is it possible said Emilius unto his friend I should have the happiness to embrace you after all hopes of you were lost and at the very same instant when I was thinking of you and desiring your company you should come to partake of my joys For truly my dear Herminius if you still retain the same thoughts of your friend doubtless you will be very glad to see me happy Never doubt on 't replied Herminius And to defer the pleasure of it no longer from me pray tell me what happiness it is You shall know it replied Emilius when you have told me by what miracle you are raised from the dead Herminius who knew not that all Rome thought him dead did think Emilius meant the length of his exile so as making no great matter of what he said he only told him that the relation of his fortune would be too long for that place and that all he would tell him was that being come to the Court of Italy with an African called Amilcar and two of his friends the one called Artemidorus and the other Zenocrates he left them upon a promise to meet again at the house of Valerius where he was to go to hear how squares went at Rome and where he had much other business of great importance But after this added he pray tell me whither are you going at present and of what nature is the happiness which you are to enjoy and in which I must share with you The place whither I go answered Emilius is the very same to which you go and not to conceal my good fortune any longer from you know my dear Herminius that to morrow I am to marry the fair Valeria with whom I fell desperately in love as soon as I came to Rome after I left you at Capua How Emilius replied Herminius very sternly are you to marry Valeria to morrow Valeria the daughter of Valerius whom Spurius once loved and afterwards Mutius when I went from Rome The very same replied Emilius much surprised to see the astonishment and sorrow of his friend But what 's the reason this news in lieu of rejoycing does trouble you Oh Emilius said Herminius and recoyled apace what News have you told me I have told you the truth replied he and a truth which I thought would have been joy unto you and yet I am so unhappy as to see it trouble you but cannot imagine the cause For I am sure you loved Clelia when we were at Capua and I never saw any appearance of your loving Valeria or of her loving you What then is the cause of this great alteration I find in your face and this trouble which I see in your heart For if my good fortune does any ways afflict you I do declare unto you that I cannot be happy Ah Emilius said Herminius Is it possible you should never hear in Rome that I loved Valeria and that you cannot love her unless you become my Rival my enemy and unless you betray that Amity which you promised I knew not that you loved Valeria replied Emilius And though I had known it yet believing you to be dead as all the rest of your friends did nay Sivelia her self I think I did you no wrong in loving her whom you loved I never knew of your love to Valeria for since I had no thoughts of it at Capua I could not have at Rome so as finding in this sweet and fair Lady all the sweetness and complaisance that vertue would permit her to shew I had no reason to think she intended the happiness of any more than my self Oh Emilius replied Herminius and sighed Valeria is a perfidious woman and may withdraw her affection from you as well as from me But since it is thus added he and that I am so unfortunate as to find a happy Rival in the person of a friend whom honour will not permit me to use as
events without ever considering whether the things be just or not And yet it must needs be granted that there is a Reason above ours which guides us with discretion though we apprehend it not and which by unknown ways makes the same causes produce effects of a different nature 'T is true indeed replied Herminius that all that hath happened to you is altogether extraordinary But when all is done since it contributes to the glory of the Gods and the instruction of men that there should be great examples of virtue there must also be misfortunes and unfortunate persons I grant it replied Brutus but to speak freely it is a sad thing for a man to be the model of constancy and not to live but only to suffer For in a word my dear Herminius would you but take the pains to reflect on what ever hath happened to me you will find nothing but a long series of misfortunes The first of all was to be born in the time and under the government of the lewdest Tyrant in the World and withall to be of his blood The consequence of this you know was that I was brought up in exile that Tarquin's cruelty robb'd me of a Father and a Brother that I was forc'd to conceal my reason to secure my life and to wait the opportunity to deliver Rome How have I been in love yet durst not discover it that afterwards I was not beloved again but that I might be the more miserable How have I been forced by a strange unhappiness to see Lucretia in the embraces of my Rival and what is yet more terrible how have I seen her in those of Death This once endured I thought there was not any thing afterwards to be feared and that to lessen my affliction it might haply be the pleasure of the Gods that her death and my love should prove serviceable to the Liberty of my Countrey And yet it happens that the same passion that makes me undertake any thing for Rome makes my children undertake all things against both Rome and me So that by a sentiment which I cannot but discover I excuse them while I accuse them and I am very much more sensible of their unhappiness than I should have been had they been guided by any other motive Not but that it grieves me to the heart to think that I have had Children that should endeavor to put Rome into her chains again but when I reflect on their being in Love I pity and bemoan them Lucretia appears to me with all her inviting attractions to plead for them and I suffer at this instant all that a paternal indulgence all that the tender resentments of Love can make me endure and all that Nature and Reason when they are contrary one to another can make a man feel that is most harsh and insupportable You are so ingenious and your complaints so just replyed Herminius that a man cannot well find what to say to you But all considered if you are the most unfortunate you are withall the most illustrious of that Praedicament for your misfortunes contribute to your glory and are beneficial to your Countrey Lucretia's death caused Tarquin's removal and that of your Sons will stifle all conspiracies and settle Rome's liberty It is my wish it may be so replyed Brutus but to be free with you I am at a loss what to think of it for who could ever imagine that Brutus's Son should conspire against Rome and against him and yet you have seen it and consequently there is not any thing which we may not nothing which we ought not to be distrustful of even to our virtue nothing that can for any long time secure any mans happiness Nay I am so far unhappy that I am not happy in my friends Aronces is where he would not be Clelia is among the Rivals of that only person whom she loves nor are you yet in such a safe posture as to fear nothing But when all is done the Liberty of my Countrey engages me to live and struggle with calamities and the revenge due to Lucretia's death calls upon me to destroy those whom yet I have only driven hence But that you may live replyed Herminius you must make a truce with your grief on the contrary replyed this afflicted yet illustrious person I must give it way till I have made it habitual and for a man to suffer long he must suffer without any intermission Whilst these two friends exchanged these sad discourses the general talk of all was about what had happened Some discoursed of the Conspiracy others of the death of the Conspirators and all of the constancy and great virtue of Brutus The Prince of Numidia sick and weak as he was would needs have the story of this unhappy adventure exactly told him over and over by Amilcar who came to visit him and who to lessen the grief he might take at it gave him a short account of the History of Brutus So that this generous Numidian haveing heard Amilcar's relation was for a while silent then breaking forth on a sudden Ah Amilcar how far am I short of the virtue of your illustrious friend how weak am I or how much in Love for he hath met with thousands of misfortunes and he bears them and I groan under no other than that of not being loved and it is insupportable to me I am indeed ashamed to be so little master of my self and were it only that I might in some sort deserve Brutus's friendship I will do what lies in my power to overcome the passion now predominant in my Soul Till now was I never guilty of so much as any design to oppose it so that it speaks not a little courage that I am resolved to do what I can to conquer it I have indeed sometimes said that I would do it but must acknowledge I never have and even in the very instant that I say I will do it I am not very certain whether I shall continue in the same sentiments wherein I think my self to be Amilcar who thought it no hard matter to cure him of such a disease assured him of his recovery when he pleased himself and so having comforted him as he was wont he went to Racilia's where were the more virtuous persons of Rome met to do their civilities to Hermilia upon the accident that had happened to her Brothers Sons For though she was very young yet were Tiâ—eriâ—s and Titus her Nephews Clelia Plotina Cesonia Flavia Salonina Valeria and Collatina as also Mutius Horatius Artemidorus Zenocrates and Herminius were in Hermilia's Chamber when Amilcar came thither But of all these Hermilia and Collatina were the most troubled at that unhappy accident for among the Conspirators that had suffered death there were two of near kin to Collatina What made them yet more sad was that the interest of the two Princes by whom they were courted had engaged more into the Conspiracy than any other motive and consequently
and dangerous visits how pleasant soever they may seem to those who have not their spirits ballanced as hers and she professeth such a purity of virtue and a generosity so Heroick that she makes it her greatest pleasure to find out occasions to relieve the unfortunate I know a Gentlewoman at Syracuse who was no sooner known to this admirable woman but she did her extraordinary favors without any other reason than that of her unhappiness and that she had haply goodness enough to deserve a better fortune Amalthaea's greatest pleasures consist in the regulation of her passions in giving good example to those that see her in doing all the good she can in living with Anaxander as the chastest wife in the World can do with a Husband whose quality is that of the greatest one that carries about him a thousand excellent endowments and among the rest generosity goodness magnificence integrity and an infinite affection for her But to conclude the pleasures of Amalthaea she orders her House with abundance of discretion she looks her self to the education of her Children and serves the Gods with admirable exactness In a word I do not think that the first Vestals that were established at Rome were more careful to preserve the sacred fire than Amalthaea is to observe whatever Religion requires of her Would you go from her business to her recreations she is much given to reading she is excellent good at all manner of Works she designs she paints Dishes to adorn her Closet she makes mixtures of flowers in order to Perfumes nay she diverts her self in putting innocent tricks upon her friends but it is to surprise them into delight and to oblige them And though she is a greater lover of solitude than of company yet is she not guilty of the least harshness towards those of her Sex that are her friends Her company is infinitely pleasant and the great liberality she exercises on so many unfortunate people hinders not but that she lives to the height of her condition so to comply with custom Hence is it that her house affords whatever magnificence guided by virtue can pretend to that is most stately and the Palace of Anaxander which lies upon the Port of Syracuse is one of the most sumptuous things in the World The apartment thereof which Amalthaea hath for her lodgings is so pleasant that nothing can be more for besides many rare things that are level with the ground there are artificial Rocks and Grots represented as also magnificent Cabinets and a Belcony whence may be seen the Port the Ships that ride in it and the greatest part of the City and yet Anaxander and Amalthaea have a house about twenty miles from Syracuse which blasts as I may so say the beauty of that and is the most delightful and most incomparable thing in the world For to speak rationally a man cannot well say whether this House be in a valley upon a plain or upon a hill for it hath about it Rivers large and magnificent Moats full of running water Currents Meadows Wood and a vast extent of ground On the one side it seems to be in a plain on the other it seems to be on a hill and yet it may most truely be said to be almost in the midst of a pleasant valley drenched by a great and a small River whereof the sight is very admirable I shall not give you any large description of this house for I should never have done should I speak of the outer parts of this inchanted Palace that is should I represent to you the spacious walks leading to the great River should I give you an exact account of the length and breadth of the Avenues the largeness and beauty of the Orchards the coolness and umbrage of the Wood which lies within the compass of its walls the magnificence of that first Court which is octangular and hath two stately Gates and the beauty of three sumptuous sides of the building which are seen as you come into the Court Nor shall I trouble you with a description of the Entry nor the Stair-case nor particularise the great number of noble and large Apartments that a man sees there and which are so neatly disposed and contrived that they are as remarkable for their convenience as their beauty Nor shall I say ought of the largeness of the Halls in particular of the magnificence of the Gallery the handsomness of the Belconies and a thousand other things worthy to be taken notice of and which very much discover the neatness the magnificence and the conduct of those that are Masters thereof But I shall only tell you that this House which as I said is in a Valley is nevertheless upon a little ascent in regard of the prospect that lies on the Garden side where there is a bridge to pass over the large and magnificent Moats I told you of So that when a man stands in the Belcony that is in the middle of this proud building he sees beneath him those large Moats full of excellent water beyond which lies a pleasant green bank out of which he comes into a spacious place of a vast extent enclosed by two great Currents the one born up by Arch-work the other running on the flat beyond which as well as beyond the spacious place passes a small River which having played the serpent among the Meadows fringed with Willow seems to make another channel passing before the Garden and those other Currents for in that place it is as strait as an Arrow And what 's most remarkable is that assoon as it is passed that place it becomes a River again if I may so express it that is uneven in its course till it disembogues it self into the great River which passes on the left hand and makes a kind of an Island of the Valley so that there being no Wall to the Garden on that side as being enclosed only by the River a man may with the same sight see the Moats the Banks the Currents the falls of waters beyond the Garden falling into green Meadows and beyond all this the little Rivers Meadows Hills Cottages Country-houses Villages and Mountains which insensibly rising above one another seemed to reach up to Heaven such a confusedness doth distance cause in objects But as the piety of Amalthaea and her illustrious husband shines in all they do so was it the founder of a Temple in their house which is the noblest and most admirable part thereof 'T is indeed a Master-piece of Architecture the charge was certainly great but the Workmanship is so miracalous that a man cannot say it hath been excessive 'T is true that a punctilio of honor added much to the perfection of this Temple for the excellent Architect that did it took his model from that of Ephesus out of an expectation to be employed to re-build that magnificent Temple of Venus that is at Ericium But the late Prince of that place having preferred another
treat you otherwise than I do but since that cannot be and that I have a certain esteem and friendship for you and cannot ruine you without doing my self some prejudice I give your Reason time to bring you to your wits again I would not therefore you should ever presume to acquaint me with any thing of your indiscretion I would have you very carefully avoid being alone with me nay I would have you see me as seldom as you can possibly till such time as you shall be in a condition to ask me pardon for your extravagance and come and declare that you love me not otherwise than you ought to love me For if you do not what I tell you though I abhor nothing so much as noise and disturbance I shall acquaint the Prince my Brother with your presumption and shall infallibly ruine you Your commands Madam replied he are certainly very hard to be observed and yet I shall obey you in all unless it be Madam that I shall never tell you that I have ceased to love you Lindamira coming hereupon to certain Green seats sate down and obliged the Ladies that came along with her to do the like But being extreamly troubled at the adventure that had hapned to her she staid not long in the Garden nay ordered things so that Themistus led her not and so she returned home very sad and melancholly She was no sooner in her chamber but calling my Sister to her into the Closet she acquainted her with what had happened to her expressing a great indignation at Themistus's boldness and withal abundance of affliction that they could not have so much of his company as formerly For in fine said she to Mericia I looked on Themistus as a person I should have made the chiefest of my friends because he not only wanted not any thing that might recommend him as to his person but was also very serviceable to me in my affairs 'T is certain he hath a great influence over the Prince my Brother he is an understanding man discreet respectful divertive and methought there was no danger to enter into a friendship with him In the mean time he is fallen into an impertinent madness that ruines all my designs and puts me into no small distraction For I will not give him any occasion to conceive the least hope nor on the contrary give any other cause to suspect any thing of his temerity You have so much prudence replied Mericia that you will do what you have a mind to do but certainly 't is great pity that Themistus's fortune does not justifie the passion he hath for you for that allowed he is worthy your love I grant it replied Lyndamira and that is it that torments me for not being able to admit him as a Lover I should have been very glad to have had him while I lived for my Friend While this entertainment passed between Lindamira and my Sister Themistus not able to becalm the several sentiments wherewith his heart was tossed desired He and I might have some discourse I at first saw him so sad that I thought some secret discontent had happened between him and the Prince Insomuch as perceiving after he had seemed willing to speak with me that he said nothing to me I asked him what it was that troubled him I should not indeed added I much wonder to see you disturbed for I think it impossible that ever ambition should be without disquiet Ah! dear Meleaganes cries He were I only ambitious I were the happiest man in the world But alas I struggle both with Love and Ambition at the same time and not being well able to distinguish whether my Love proceeds from Ambition or my Ambition from my Love all I know is that my heart is rack'd with all the disturbances that are the attendants of these two passions I would fain be at this very instant that I speak both near the Prince and near the Princess Lindamira How said I are you in love with the Princess of Himera I am replied he and what is most deplorable I love her without hope And yet I am resolved to act as if I did hope and to see whether that Proverb which saies that Fortune favours the Confident be true or no. Upon that he gave me an account of the discourse he had had with Lindamira But when I would have told him that I thought his condition not so sad in that she had not treated him worse he told me that I was mistaken and that he had been less miserable if she had expressed a greater violence towards him But to be short added he since as an ambitions man I cannot love more nobly and that as a Lover I must be withal ambitious I resign my self equally to these two violent passions and am absolutely resolved that they shall either mutually assist one the other or combine to ruine me Tell me therefore my dear Meleagenes whether what I intend to do be rational for my thoughts are in such a tempest that I dare not trust my own reason in this accident But said I what can you do to satisfie your ambition more than you do The Prince affects you you follow him every where you participate of all his pleasures and he cannot live without you Ah? Meleagenes repled he a peaceful Favourite goes on but slowly and great fortunes are never found but in great affairs When I have followed the Prince a hunting or to Demarata's to Lindamira's to the Revels to the Walks I shall never be the more powerful and so the ease of the Grandees will at last give them an opportunity to ruine me Besides that doing no more about the Prince than what a many others could do as well as I it will be easie for my aemulators to undermine me feeling therefore within me something that aims at greater matters I would stirr up some War that might contribute as well to my Ambition as my Love This is my only way to arrive at great employments wherein I am sure to meet with either glory or death By this means shall I come to a nearer distance from Lindamira and more approach the rank and quality of my Ancestors Tell me then that I am in the right way my dear Meleagenes if you would advise me as I would be advised On the other side trouble not your self for the War I intend to raise for the Prince may justly declare one against the Prince of Messena and were he not taken up with the love of Demarata he had haply been already in Arms. If it be so said I to him I think it the best course you can take provided you be in some sort confident of the happy success of this design for it is a most deplorable thing to be the occasion of a War that is not crowned with victory Victory replies Themistus is commonly the reward of those that assault rather than of those that are assaulted because the former voluntarily seek it the
and goodness together with a hope that affection may change its nature replyed Melisera I very well conceive that lover may entertain joy but I presuppose he hath not that hope and that he never can have it Ah! Madam cryes out Meriander you presuppose a thing absolutely impossible For though a Lover should affect a person that had an extream aversion for him and had haply a reason to abhor him upon some interest of family he must hope whether he would or no because hope increases with love and dies not but with it For my part replyes coldly Themistus I believe it possible to love without hope of ever being favored I grant it added Meriander but not without a hope of being loved Nay I am perswaded that hope hides it self from him that hath it and that there are certain lovers that hope though they think not so much For when all 's done it is impossible to love without desires and without hope So that as probability in love is not inconsistent with impossibility how would you have a poor Lover who discovers in the eyes of his Mistress a certain kindness and â—nderness for him not hope that that affection may change its nature nay sometimes imagine that though his Mistress know it not she hath something beyond friendship for him For it is so natural to love when it is great to flatter and deceive those that have it that I think it impossible a lover should receive expressions of friendship without pleasure For my part says Melisera I thought fear as great an argument of love as hope It is so replyes Themistus but their objects are different for hope is sometime the issue of an excess of love amidst the greatest occasions of despair and fear on the contrary through the same excess of love seises a Lovers heart notwithstanding all the assurances a Mistriss can give him So that to return to the present business it is easie to comprehend that a Lover cannot give a greater demonstration of his love then when notwithstanding the affliction it is to him that he cannot be loved as he would he must needs express his resentment of the kindnesses of his Mistress Not but that those kindnesses are insupportable to him when she is once out of his sight but I think it so far impossible when one loves passionately to see a Mistress without pleasure especially when she is kind that I could desie all the lovers in the world to maintain they have no pleasure when they receive an expression of friendship But to make it yet more clear that a Lover who is capable of that joy which the fair Melisera attributes to the indifference of his affection loves more eagerly than another that were insensible of the expressions of friendship he should receive We are to consider love in its own nature and grant that the most perfect love is that which is most passionate and most permanent and that the Lover who desiring much is yet capable of loving eternally though he obtains in a manner nothing of what he desires is much more accomplished than he that through the impatience of his constitution rather than any excess of passion says alwayes he will either have all or none and who is over ready to break his chains if he be not over burthened with favors that scorns those trivial things which ballance the great afflictions of those who know how to love and enable them to prosecute their loves without being happy I could never have believed says the Prince of Messena that an insensible man could have discoursed of love so well There is certainly abundance of wit in what he says replyes Melisera but it is easily perceived that he does not speak out of any experience since he is perswaded that a man may be guilty of a great deal of love and be satisfied with a simple expression of friendship I beseech you Madam replyes Themistus with a little precipitation alter not the sense of my words for I do not say that a Lover is satisfied when he receives only expressions of friendship but only that he cannot forbear be he never so unhappy feeling a certain ease nay a joy at the instant that he receives that demonstration of friendship and I hold that a man must be insensible if he can receive any kindness from his Mistriss without pleasure And I hold on the contrary replyes Melisera that a very lukewarm lover that entertains a kindness of that nature without affliction since that in my opinion there is not any thing one should be more troubled at when you receive that you desire not and are ever denyed that which you do It is very evident Madam replyes Themistus that you care for no more than only to raise love without receiving any nay that you have not permitted any one of your Lovers to entertain you with the sentiments you have put into their hearts for if any had had that priviledge you would have found as I have already told you that Love is sometimes content with so little that it may be said he is content with any thing 'T is out of all question added Meriander that a Lover desires the fruition of his Mistriss and yet it is an inexpressible joy to him if he can get but her picture even though it were taken by stealth Will any one say that this joy is an argument of the indifferency of his affection Why therefore will you not allow an unfortunate lover to look on the friendship his Mistriss hath for him as an imperfect draught of the love he desires from her To be short add but one degree of heat to tender friendship and you will raise it up to a love so that I hold the picture of a person that one loves when it is not bestowed by her ought not to cause so much joy as the friendship of a person that one adores for you may have that Picture without any part of her heart whom it represents but for friendship a lover looks on it as a greater favor than it is if he be deeply in love He is at least confident that he is esteemed and that he is loved which hath ever something of satisfaction in it Not but I acknowledge that the greatest friendship in the world cannot afford a pleasure and satisfaction equal to that which proceeds from the most inconsiderable expression of love that can be imagined But after all whoever loves well cannot but be infinitely sensible of whatever comes from the person be adores and which seems not to be the effects of hatred and aversion Nor indeed does the greatness of love ever discover it self better than when a man hath some happy intervals in the midst of his torments and other unhappy ones even at that time when he lies in the fairest way to happiness For it is the property of love so to order things that lovers should never be without pleasure nor ever without affliction Of a person that is
Madam replyed he you charge me with too much rigor for if I were unfaithful you would not charge me with infidelity What you say is so obscure answered she that it is apparent you are guilty and that you have no good plea to make for your self But to begin with your indiscretion is it not true that you have told the Prince my Brother what you never ought to have told any one which if you might have done Perianthus should have been the last of all the World to hear it Themistus was much surprised to see his Master had not kept his word with him but at length recovering himself a little Alass Madam said he to her had you been in my place you had said what I have for I was in such an unfortunate posture of affairs that I must have lost you for ever nay exposed my self to the reputation of an unfaithful person in your judgment had you known the cause of my banishment While you only tell me things I understand not replyed she roundly I shall not be friends with you but in few words added she not giveing him the leisure to speak the truth of the business is this that you made it no great difficulty to expose me so to conceal your true passion and made it your only means to keep the Prince my Brother from discovering your love to Demarata You had said more truly Madam had you said believing instead of discovering for it is true I would not have the Prince to think me an unworthy and ungrateful person But I protest to you Madam that when I confessed to him the affection I had for you so to hinder him from conceiving I loved Demarata I did it principally out of a consideration of providing that you should not one day suspect me to have been unfaithful for if the Prince had believed it he would have told you as much and you would haply have thought I had been really such Besides that the Prince having said he would pardon me all things conditionally I were not in love with Demarata I must confess I thought it concerned me very much he should know I had taken the boldness to direct my affections to you But Madam I have not told him I had the happiness of any favor from you You have done better than you imagine replyed she for I do not think at the present ever to do you any But Madam what have I done that I should be so lost to your affection replyes Themistus am I unworthy of it because I am unfortunate and unjustly persecuted You deserve all the aversion and all the revenge I can have for you replyed she for pretending to love me when you loved Demarata Do I love Demarata replyed he hastily from whom have you it from Demarata her self answers Lindamira who hates you as much as I would hate you Ah Madam replyed he Demarata is unworthy the discretion I have had for her and since she is bent every way to ruine me I must at lest endeavor the preservation of your affection which is the only happiness I look after and without which I could not live But Madam you must hear me without prejudice nay you must hear me with a certain goodness for I have concealed one thing from you which I shall now have much ado to acquaint you withall though my justification depends on it and that I am only to impeach a person that endeavors my ruine But all considered Madam I think I have not offended much against the love I have for you in not telling you that I had taken notice that Demarata had some inclinations towards me nor do I think I offend much against honour by acknowledging it now since she hath endeavoured to destroy me in your thoughts But Themistus replied she could Demarata have loved you if you had not loved her Alas Madam can you put that question to me when you know that I have loved you a long time without being loved You who cannot be ignorant that you are the absolute Mistress of my heart you who know well enough that I am neither base nor perfidious and who should methinks be satisfied that I look not upon any thing on earth but your self But why have you not told me before what you do now replies Lindamira Out of a conceit Madam replied he that a person of honour should never speak any thing against a woman by whom he is loved even though he had the greatest a version that could be for her So that to forbear doing what might prejudice Demarata and withal cause you to esteem me the less I have concealed the weakness of that Princess from you which I might rationally think she had overcome Lindamira somewhat appeased at this was desirous to know all that had passed between Demarata and Themistus so that he gave her an account of the conversation he had heretofore had with that Princess when it was her design to engage him to tell her that he was in love with her and thence fell upon a hundred little passages he had observed at several times to the conference he had had with the Prince the day he had met with him a hunting Themistus discovered such a sincerity through all this relation and entertained Lindamira with so many passionate things that she concluded him to be innocent But they at the same time perceived they were both equally unfortunate in that they were exposed to the fury of a jealous and exasperated Woman of whom Perianthus was still very fond However this reconciliation was not concluded without much kindness yet with this resolution that they would see one another privately as seldom as might be the less to incense the jealous Demarata whose sufferings were greater than can well be imagined Things standing thus news came that the Prince of Messena had gained a battel which cost Themistus the displeasure of being forced publickly to rejoyce at the glory of his Rival But for Demarata she was extreamly satisfied at it not out of any reflection on the advantage of the State thereby but a conceit that after that service done it was impossible Perianthus should deny the Princess of Himera to the Prince of Messena and indeed the end of the Campagne approaching he returns to Syracuse where he was no sooner arrived but Demarata furthering his interests and giving him advice he demanded Lindamira of the Prince of Syracuse He satisfied him that the Prince his Father would consent thereto and pressed the business so much that Perianthus was sufficiently troubled with him However he told the Prince of Messena that Lindamira was at liberty to dispose of her self and that for his consent he might assure himself of it provided he gained hers Themistus durst not all this while discover his resentments out of the respects he had for his master but withal resolved if he perceived Lindamira at a loss as to what she should do to perish himself or dispatch his Rival out of
by reason of its advantageous situation In fine said these Mutineers what serves it to commend Brutus and yet imitate Tarquin to speak of Liberty and yet aspire to Tyranny So that within four or five days a great part of the people began to believe that Valerius aspir'd to make himself King At first all his friends did what they could to undeceive them but the more they spoke the less they were believed and came themselves to be suspected of intending to be subservient to his ambition out of hopes to be rewarded for it Thus was the most virtuous of men suspected of intentions to betray his Countrey and not to have expelled a Tyrant but only to be Tyrant himself This troublesome rumour afflicted Valerius very sensibly when Herminius gave him notice of it for he was not of those people who content themselves with being virtuous without care to appear so Besides should there have happened a sedition in Rome at that time the safety of the Common-wealth had been greatly endangered Part of his friends were of advice that he should severely punish some of those that had the boldness to suspect him so unjustly to the end others might be restrained by that example The gods defend answered Valerius to them that gave him this counsel that to secure my self from the suspition of attempting to be a Tyrant I should commit an action that approaches near to Tyranny for should I do it the people would be incens'd I should accuse instead of justifying my self and I should expose Rome to return to her late servitude Wherefore I resolve upon another proceeding which perhaps will succeed better And accordingly Valerius without imparting his design to any but Herminius who commended him highly for taking up so generous a resolution caused the people to be assembled the day following in the spacious Court where he was wont to speak in publick when some important affair was in hand to which the suffrages of the people were necessary As their minds now were ill pre-disposed part of the multitude believ'd that Valerius caused the people to be assembled only to make some unjust proposal to them But when the place was full all the Mutineers were astonished when they observ'd the Consul at his approach to the Tribunal where he was to speak commanded the Axes and the Fasces of Rods which were the marks of Sovereign power to be held downwards intimating by this submissive action that he acknowledged the power of the people to be above his own a proceeding so remote from Tyranny pleasingly astonished this multitude who could not contain themselves from testifying their approbation of the fact with shouts and acclamations of joy But at last silence being commanded Valerius beholding so favourable a beginning lift up his eyes towards Heaven and entring upon his Oration with all the boldness that innocence inspires them with who are accus'd unjustly I wish said he O Romans it had been the pleasure of the gods that I had undergone the destiny of Brutus in the last Battel and obtain'd the same glory with him of dying in defence of my Countreys Liberty that so I might have escap'd the misfortune of being unjustly suspected of the most horrible of all crimes and that by them for whose sakes I would have sacrificed my dearest bloud Is it possible O Romans that no virtue can be pure enough to restrain you from suspecting it Is it possible I say that I who have ever been a declared enemy of the Tyrant and Tyranny should be accus'd of aspiring to the Soveraign Power How No no I could never have imagin'd it but should have believ'd on the contrary that though I had been possest of the Capitol it could never have been fear'd I pretended to the Royalty But as I perceive all my fore-past management and all my services have not been able to hinder you from blotting and traducing my reputation For it seems upon the lightest pretext in the world you accuse me with unparall'eld injustice of the greatest of all crimes Is it just O ye inconsiderate Romans continued he that ye should judge rather of me by the place where I dwell than by what I am my self But since the matter is so I declare to you unjust Romans that the house of Valerius shall never more cause umbrage to the City of Rome and as it is easier to pull down than to build up you shall soon see the ruines of my house to justifie my innocence The Mount Velia shall be free for those that please to dwell there and to testifie yet more submission I shall begin to rebuild at the foot of that Mountain if you please to assigne me a place to the end those suspitious Citizens who accuse me so lightly may dwell in a higher seat than my self for I consent that they in whom more confidence is put than in Valerius for the liberty of his Countrey may build their houses in the same place where he newly demolish'd his And accordingly while Valerius was speaking this the great number of workmen which he had emploied some daies before to build that magnificent structure by the order of Valerius pull'd it down with so speedy diligence that it was absolutely raz'd before the day was done And the first Consul who had contributed so much to the liberty of Rome saw himself constrained to go and lodge with one of his friends Which great and unparallel'd deed having fully justifi'd Valerius the same people that before murmur'd so much against him conspir'd all with one voice to stile him Publicola denoting by this name they gave him his yielding and submissiveness to the people Whence after this famous day this Consul was no longer called Valerius but the appellation of Publicola remain'd upon him for ever Himself was also glad that it continued to him in regard the people could never name him without remembring the cause for which they term'd him so whereby he gain'd a greater stock of credit for the good of the Common-wealth Four or five days after to confirm the good opinion given of him it was proceeded to election of a new Consul and Spurius Lucretius Father of the admirable and unfortunate Lucretia was chosen in the place of Brutus for being much elder than Valerius whom I shall hereafter call Publicola this virtuous Consul was willing Lucretius should have the precedence and all the honours of the Consulship But being desirous to gain the people more powerfully during those four or five days that he was alone he made several Constitutions which were very favourable and advantageous to them He plac'd several virtuous persons in the Senate in the room of those that were slain in the last battel He caus'd a publick Oath to be renewed making it Treason in any that should dare to propose the changing of the Government He decreed that Criminals condemned might appeal to the people He discharged the poor from contributing to the expence of the War He enacted None
obligingly in all my concernments but that which I am able to swear to you with sincerity is this If Hortensius be a Lover of mine you are a thousand times more oblig'd to him than if he were not since 't is the greatest truth in the world that he has omitted to do nothing that might induce me to receive your affection in the way you desire And therefore my Lord if Hortensius be amorous of me it concerns me to take it ill and not you Leave me then the care of punishing him for this crime and if you have no other to charge him with be cautious how you dismiss him of your friendship For my Lord I swear it to you once more There is nothing which Hortensius has not done to oblige me to treat you better and to speak with the greatest sincerity I can possible 't is neither to your affection nor to my prudence that you owe the small complacency I have shewn towards you but to the perswasions of Hortensius Ah Madam reply'd he roughly I will owe nothing to Hortensius That perhaps would be sufficiently difficult answer'd she for being what is pass'd cannot be alter'd you will always owe too many things to him I understand you well Madam said he to her you would intimate that I owe part of my victories to him but to let you see I am able to overcome without him if he die not of the wounds he has receiv'd I will return him into the same condition he was in when he came to my Court that is I will send him to wander again about the world without fortune and subsistence provided you persuade me effectually that you do not love him For if you treat me so added this violent Prince that I have cause to believe you do nothing shall be able to restrain me from putting him to death I have already told you answer'd Elismonda in great amazement that I know nothing of Hortensius's love and that he alone induc'd me to treat you more respectfully than I should have done if I had follow'd my true sentiments but that which I shall tell you at present is that had you put Hortensius to death I should never look upon you but with horror Ah! Cruel person that you are cry'd Melanthus what is this that you make me hear For if you have known the Love of Hortensius which I scarce doubt of I am the the most unfortunate of men and he the most criminal and if you knew it not before why does not the discovery I now make to you of it incense you against him Is it a usual thing added he for a great Princess to take it well to be lov'd by such a man as Hortensius who dares not return into his own Countrey because 't is fear'd lest he one day become the Tyrant of it If Hortensins be not amorous of me answer'd she I should be very unjust in taking away any friendship from him and if he be as you say I ought to redouble my esteem towards him since he does the most generous heroical and difficult act in the world which is to serve his Rival and to have so much respect as to be in love and not declare it But though it were true Madam reply'd Melanthus that Hortensius has conceal'd his passion from you is it not enough to make him Criminal against me that he is enamour'd on you Why did he not oppose that passion when it first sprung up in his heart and if he could not do that why did he not betake himself to some place where he might never see you during his life But my Lord answer'd Elismonda coldly if Love be voluntary Why do not you cease to love a person that cannot love you or if you be unable to do so Why do you not remove her far from your sight for ever Ah! Madam cry'd he you love Hortensius and you would not speak as you do if he were indifferent to you I have without doubt answer'd she all the esteem for him imaginable and the most tender friendship that any heart is capable of therefore my Lord preserve his life if you love me Elismonda spake this after so passionate a manner though she did not design to do so that Melanthus well perceiv'd she had at least a very strong inclination to love Hortensius and being infinitely ingenious drew a consequence that gave him very great torment For after having spoken of the Predictions which occasion'd Hortensius to be banish'd from his Countrey and Elismonda not requiring of him the clearing up of a thing so extraordinary she thence conjectur'd that she had understood it from Hortensius So that his jealousie redoubling he became strangely transported against that generous Veientine Nevertheless there were some moments in which he spoke to Elismonda with an extream tenderness I beseech you Madam said he to her excuse my transport it is so difficult to have very much love and very much moderation at the same time that if you would consider the fury that possesses me as an effect of the greatness of my affection you would not condemn me for it but pity me But alas it is easie for you to oblige me to pardon Hortensius Yes Madam added he I have so high an opinion of your virtue that if you render me happy I will not banish Hortensius I will even do what I am able to restore him to my friendship at least I will change nothing in his fortune nor attempt any thing upon his life The destiny of Hortensius therefore is in your hands and if he has not discover'd to you his love and you have none for him resolve Madam to end the War and my miseries We are soon at the end of the Truce consider therefore seriously upon what I propound to you Your quiet is concern'd Hortensius s life and all my felicity Do not incense a Prince who is not master of his resentment when he is affronted who requires nothing of you but what is advantageous to you and who notwithstanding your being a prisoner is more subject to your pleasure than any other Lover ever was If it were so answer'd she you would not act as you do But in brief my Lord added the Princess I have long since given you to understand that so long as I continue a prisoner I would never think of marrying that it 's requisite first to make a peace and after that I shall consider what resolution I ought to take Persist if you please in these terms and in the mean time forget not what I told you that if you should put Hortensius to death I should never see you but with horror I shall remember it Madam I shall remember it reply'd Melanthus as he was rising up and since all I have now said to you does not oblige you to change your sentiments we shall see whether Melanthus incens'd will be more pleasing than Melanthus submiss and respectful You love Hortensius said he to her but
look upon all those with contempt that are capable of them Prepare your self therefore courageously never to be lov'd by me if so be you are not contented with my esteem and friendship which are things I can dispense amongst all persons worthy of them Ah! Madam said he to her wherefore must you give me so great cause of admiration at the same time you wound me with so deep a sorrow but 't is in vain added he that you require me to promise you any thing since I am not Master of my own sentiments and I cannot perform to my self the promises that I make I change my resolution a hundred times in an hour I will love I will hate I will forget and after all these agitations I find that all I resent is nothing but love which disguises it self to aggravate my torment Let us therefore leave the care of the future to those that are Masters of it for your self know Madam what you have formerly wish'd and what you now desire but yet you cannot warrant what you may desire one day There somtimes happen Revolutions which in spight of our selves carry us whither we never thought of going and to speak according to universal experience we can never foresee any passion with certainty Hatred love jealousie anger and ambition arise in our breasts when they are not expected they always surprize all those of whom they become absolute Mistresses and 't is principally for this reason that it is a matter of so great difficulty to defend our selves from them Do not therefore so firmly assure your self Madam of your own sentiments and give me leave at least to believe that it is not absolutely impossible but that I may one day be happy for should I not believe so perhaps virtue would abandon me at the same time with hope Claelia was going to answer when a great noise was heard in the street that led towards the Sublician bridge which was within the prospect of Clelius's house Whereupon as in time of War every kind of noise excites curiosity the Ladies who were with Sulpicia desiring to see what the cause of it was interrupted Horatius and forc'd him to look out with the rest to discover the occasion of so great a stir among the people The windows were no sooner open but they beheld a magnificent Chariot upon the Sublician bridge in which was a man of a very graceful aspect richly cloath'd with a wreath of Myrtle upon his head which in spight of all the resistance of him that manag'd it came with such violence that it overthrew every thing that obstructed its passage For hurrying impetuosly before the Guards which stood at the end of the Bridge it pass'd rapidly till before the Gate of Clelius's house where it overturn'd but by good fortune he that was the Master of it receiv'd no hurt and got clear from the fall of the Chariot the Axel-tree of which broke in that place As soon as Horatius beheld him he knew him to be a Nephew of Mamilius at whose house he had been captive at Veii and who was an especial friend to Clelius So that not being able to divine what this adventure meant nor to behold the relation of a person by whom he had been favourably treated in that condition without offering to do him some good office he inform'd Sulpicia what he was and went to embrace him very obligingly for during the few days he had been at Veii he was very familiar with him When Horatius had made himself known to this young Veientine whose name was Telanus he led him to Sulpicia who receiv'd him very civilly Being a person of much gallantry he desir'd pardon of the Ladies for appearing before them with a Crown upon his head and to satisfie the curiosity of the company who requested it of him he told them that the people of Veii the better to testifie their averseness to deliver to the Romans that rare Figure which Tarquin had caus'd to be made with intention to place it upon the top of Jupiters Temple had propos'd it for the principal Prize at a magnificent race of Chariots which they appointed without their City The race being accordingly ended and he having gain'd the prize which was set up at the end of the Course to excite those that were to run as he was going to receive the guerdon of his Victory after he had been crown'd his Horses were terrifi'd in such sort without any apparent cause of that affrightment that they hurried him maugre all his reluctance to the place where his Chariot was overturn'd nor could he tell by what miracle it was not broken before he arriv'd at Rome But in conclusion added Telanus at the end of his relation I do no longer complain of my adventure since I am arriv'd in a place where I find so many fair persons with so great civility As he was speaking thus Clelius enter'd who understanding the person he beheld was Nephew to Mamilius receiv'd him with great expressions of civility He desir'd him that he would make his house his residence and gave order to his domesticks to take care of his Chariot In the mean time for that it was important the Consuls should be inform'd of what had happened Horatius took that charge upon him but the next morning there came a Herald in the name of the Veientines to offer the Romans to deliver the Figure demanded by them for their Augurs being consulted concerning all the accidents that befell them the adventure which was arriv'd to Telanus who could not enjoy the prize of his victory caus'd them to think that the gods would be provok'd against them if they did not deliver it But it being resolv'd Telanus should not be deliver'd till the Figure were brought to Rome he for some time encreas'd the noble company which was every day at the house of Valeria whither Horatius led him Being young and gallant the humour of Plotina pleas'd him infinitely from the first hour he saw her and as if there had been some project of Fate to bring it so to pass that this amiable Virgin should see all her Lovers together Persander who went to Ardea some daies before return'd back and brought two of his friends who were her passionate adorers There arriv'd also at Rome a man of Metapont named Damon who extreamly lov'd her and who was become amorous of her during a residence of six months he had made at Ardea But as for this last though he was a person of ingenuity probity and honour yet he was one of those well-meaning people whose conversation affords not much divertisement He was likewise one of those who in matters of Religion affect all novelties or extraordinary singularities who rather believe that which seems impossible than that which is profitable and are very zealous in defending what they do not understand only because they imagine they do For this man had so ardently embrac'd the opinion of Pythagoras that he accounted
is time to make thee change thy object Therefore lift up thine eyes and see proud Italy such as she shall be one day when she comes to be Mistress of the World in the same place where thou sawest all Greece But to arrest thy sight to one single object look upon that man with a severe countenance 't is Livius Andronicus who shall write Tragedies of which in time nothing shall be left but some fragments which shall give posterity to know that he had a kind of driness and rudeness in his Wit In the next place take notice of Ennius and thou wilt observe by his aspect that he will one day become a gallant man and a lover of joy He shall be a Native of Tarentum he shall imagine himself to have the soul of Homer he shall write the History of his own Countrey in Verse and making his own Epitaph himself he shall forbid all persons to lament him because he lives still and shall always live in the memory of men Nevertheless his Works shall perish and nothing be left of them but some fragments which shall evidence that he was nervous and of good invention Then fix thy sight ugon that man whose attire is plain and whom thou seest employ'd in turning about an Engine which serves to make Meal thou wouldst think he were able to make nothing worthy of immortality yet he that thou seest and who shall be called Plautus shall write Comedies which shall resist the depredation of time He shall he born in Umbria of low parentage at first he shall sell his Comedies afterwards he shall become a Merchant and undo himself and then poverty pressing him very heavily he shall serve in those matters thou seest him employ'd about But while he is at this Trade he shall compose some of his Works and it shall be said one day of him That if my companions and I were to speak Latine we should speak like Plautus though this Elogium be more sutable to Terence whom thou shalt see by and by whose style shall without doubt be more noble and more pure Plautus shall principally propose to his imitation Epicharmus and Aristophanes two Greek Poets whom I shew'd thee his Comedies shall be full of Wit and pleasant Conceits but not very modest Indeed he shall better represent slaves courtisans and those of the baser sort of people than honest persons like some Painters whose odd fancy is better at representing poor cripled and deformed soldiers than Princes and Heroes In process of time he shall seem something obscure because he shall love to take the liberty of making extraordinary words and employing those which are peculiar to the eloquence of the vulgar But however there shall be handsome strains in his Works and raillery shall be neatly couch'd in them Look next upon Statius Caecilius a Gaul he shall have the glory to be preferr'd by many above all other Authors of the Theater he shall be a great friend to Ennius and so highly respected by Terence that he shall compose nothing but what he first exposes to his censure Nevertheless time shall not respect his Works for there shall scarce any thing of time survive As for Accius Pacuvius whom thou seest there there are not things enough to tell thee of him to detain thy sight longer upon him But 't is not so with that African whom I shew thee for he merits to have all thy attention 't is that Terence I but now mention'd he shall be born at Carthage and bred up a slave at Rome by Terentius Lucanus a Senator who shall cause him to be educated with very much care and set him at liberty when he comes beyond the years of Childhood Terence shall take the famous Menander for his pattern as Plautus took Epicharmus and Aristophanes for his He shall have a particular amity with all persons of eminent quality in Rome especially with an illustrious man named Scipio and another called Laetius who shall also assist him to compose his handsome Comedies for they shall not be like those people of quality who conceive ignorance best becomes persons of condition and that it is either shameful or unprofitable to be learned There shall be nothing so pure noble and delicate as his Writings nothing that can better express the manners and genius of persons of all sorts His Comedies shall seem better at the hundredth time 's reading than at the first and they shall be the delight of all those that have an exquisite gust yet only six of them shall be transmitted to posterity which also shall be for the most part imitated from Menander who shall be his great Original nevertheless they shall not favour of the constraint or lowness of imitators but they shall be as so many Master-pieces He shall dye with sorrow as he returns from Greece to Rome for having lost by shipwrack an hundred and eight Comedies which he had made and some incomparable Satyrs He that thou seest next is Caius Lucilius who shall be a person of very great honesty and so it shall be out of a sentiment of Virtue that he will compose Satyrs There shall be something extreamly divertising in his Writings but much inequality shall always attend them 'T is true his defects shall not be long reproacht to him for his works shall perish as well as those of Turpilius and Africanus two Comick Poets whom thou mayst see standing on his right hand But the same fate shall not attend Lucretius Look upon him as a Poet of an admirable genius yet he shall have something of rudeness and impoliteness in several places but the fault of the age he shall live in and the quality of his argument shall be the cause of it In some excellent places and in his poetical digressions it shall be as much as the greatest Poet of the world shall be able to do to surpass him He shall die mad by occasion of being too much beloved for a Mistress whom he shall love thinking her self not sufficiently loved by him shall give him a water to drink which shall cause his death in stead of augmenting his love In the next place take notice of Lucius Pomponius who shall invent a new sort of Comedies called Atellanae see also near him a man that has a cheerful and sufficiently ridiculous countenance 't is Laberius the Author of the Mimicks that is of a kind of sportful Comedy set forth in gestures and postures See then a man of quality named Quintus Catulus he shall make two Epigrams which shall pass happily to the latter ages though all his other Verses perish and there shall be one of those Epigrams which shall one day give occasion to the composition of several little works which shall bear the title of The fair House-wife After him behold several mean Poets in a crowd and amongst the rest Publius Syrus a slave freed for his Wits sake who shall surpass all others in the Mimicks and Laberius himself that invented
miserable the little wealth I have is an ordinary effect of the blindness of Fortune which is not opprobrious to me but were I so poor-spirited as to pardon Lysicrates it might be reproacht to me eternally Clymene thus continuing firm in this resolution oblig'd her Aunt over whom she had a great influence to go the next morning into the Countrey For my part I went to Lysicrates in whom I found such a combat of contrary thoughts that I could not but commiserate him for he lov'd Clymene still but ambition was always most powerful in his heart and though he were still a Lover yet it was not with his first ardor and consequently Clymene could not be satisfy'd with it because all diminution of Love is a crime He made some difficulty to restore me her Letters but at length he deliver'd them and receiv'd his own Since that time the Prince has chang'd his sentiments and Lysicrates has continu'd ambitious and caus'd his Love to yield to another passion Nevertheless he offer'd two or three times to do something for the Fortune of Clymene but she generously refus'd him So she has spent a whole year in the Countrey busying her self sometimes in Reading sometimes in Painting and sometimes in Walking She loves Gardens and Flowers and and an universal sentiment of goodness causes her to divert her self with keeping Birds and divers rare and domestick Animals which afford amusement to her Melancholly Yet she is come at length to have only an indifference for Lysicrates so that she is as fair as ever and something more amiable for a little cast of melancholly makes her countenance charming and sweet that the sight of it cannot but ravish Your relation concerning Clymene answer'd Hesiode gives me extream contentment and I shall have cause of complaint against you unless you bring it some way to pass that I may see her Yet I am very sorry she hates ambition for I confess to you I am born naturally ambitious My reason tells me that ambition is the foundation of all great actions that without it there would be no Heroes and scarce any eminent virtues but however I absolutely contemn Lysicrates because I am not of opinion that Love and Ambition are two Passions incompatible I conceive a man's love may make him ambitious as in some cases he may become amorous through ambition Had Lysicrates been an ambitious person honourably and worthily he would have shared his fortune with the fair Clymene and not changed his sentiments by changing his life But in fine added he I am resolved to see her and though I should go to visit her alone I will go and do it before three days be expir'd Belintha making some difficulty to carry him to her he went alone to see the charming Clymene But it fell out by chance that Belintha was there the same day for it being a journey but of two hours she frequently made visits to her though she design'd no such matter in the morning And Hesiode also desirous to make a secret to her of his design to see Clymene till he should have executed it acquainted her not at all with it When he arriv'd at the place where Clymene was her Aunt was gone to make a visit to some of her neighbors and her self was seated amongst the Willows upon the bank of a River and was reading that Work of Hesiode where he makes a Nightingale speak to a Sparrow A Virgin that waited upon Clymene was at work in making a collar of several sorts of Ribbons wreathed together for a very handsome Dog which Clymene much affected and which then lay negligently upon the bottom of her Robe which by chance was stretcht upon the grass At Hesiods's approach Clymene's Dog rose up but instead of barking at the sight of him as a stranger the pretty creature by that instinct which makes brutes know those that love or hate them went to fawn upon him who answering his kindness the first thing Clymene beheld was Hesiode stroking her little Dog for though it was a very long time since she had seen him yet knowing that he was at Locri she soon was ascertain'd it was he wherefore rising up and advancing towards him very civilly I think said she to him smiling this Animal who is of a kind that was never accus'd of ingratitude would help me by his carresses to acknowledge the pleasure you have given me this day by the Verses you have made the reading of which has been so delightful to me that I was reading them the third time when you arrived I am extreamly proud answered Hesiode of being able to entertain you in your solitude and I draw no unhappy presage from seeing that an Animal you love has already begun to love me If Belintha were here replyed Clymene she would blame you for the complement you make me for she so much decryes my too great affection towards brutes that she would venture to maintain you have a blind complacence which would pervert me She had scarce spoke these words but Belintha came thither who having left her Chariot in the out-court went to the place where it was told her Clymene was You come very opportunely said this fair Virgin to her to hinder Hesiode from being perplexed but why did not you come to gether For my part answered Belintha I knew nothing of Hesiode's journey and he has made a secret of it to me After your having had the cruelty replyed Hesiode to refuse to bring me hither I did not think I ought to tell you my design for fear you should make use of the credit you have in this place to prevent my admission In truth said Belintha obliging them to walk you are to be blamed for coming to see Clymene for she is the most unjust person in the World in preferring her Desart before her friends And moreover added she smiling I am to advertize you that with all your merit you shall never be so much loved by Clymene as that Dog which you see Hesiode answered this fair Virgin smiling shall certainly not have so great a share in my caresses but he has sufficient in my esteem to be satisfied and I thank him for bringing in a Nightingale and a Sparrow speaking together in one of his Works for 't is assuredly a sign that he is not in the error wherein you are to the disadvantage of all Animals in the World to whom you are so much an enemy that you go about to take from them that little beam of light the gods have given them which guides them so exactly in things that are profitable or delightful to them and gives them this prerogative above men that there is never any ingratitude in their hearts Acknowledgment is found in those of Lyons and no question would be too in those of Tygers if they were gently us'd caresses and benefits are never lost amongst the most savage Animals but frequently amongst Men. Dissimulation and deceit are scarce ever found
too true and I too criminal to be excus'd But death added this despairing Lover shall without doubt punish me for my crimes for since I am the cause of that of the most excellent person that ever was I am unworthy to live And indeed to increase my despair continued he I will believe the unfortunate Clymene did not love Hesiod but only out of revenge and that it must be imputed to me whatsoever she has suffer'd by her affection to him But since it is not possible for us to live together yet at least we must reside in the same tomb and all I have acquir'd by my ambition shall be employ'd in that Structure Which fatal thought coming in an instant into Lysicrates's mind Belintha and Clemene's Aunt endeavour'd to divert him from it but in vain for having a Chariot in that Wood in which he had design'd to carry away Clymene to the Sea-side which is not far distant from it where a ship attended for him he caus'd the body of Clymene to be taken by his followers notwithstanding the tears and cries of these Ladies and himself helpt respectfully to lift it into his Chariot After which he caus'd it to be put into his ship and setting fail with all speed cross'd the Ionian Sea which is on the West side of Peloponnesus and landed not far from the place where the River which passes by the City of Elis discharges it self into the Sea and commanding Clymene's body to be carried into a Temple of Diana which was near the Bank of that River he perform'd to her all the honors of Sepulture which being done he gave himself wholly to bewail her death and caus'd a stately Tomb to be built for her in building of which he according to his promise bestow'd all the riches his ambition had gain'd him reserving only enough for his subsistence during that time and as soon as the Tomb was finisht the unhappy Lover shut himself up in it and dy'd for grief in having been the cause of so many fatal accidents though others have believ'd ambition had as great a share in his death as Love Thus Clymene was reveng'd after her death but she had not the sad happiness to be in the same Tomb with Hesiode who has had a glory transcending that of all others for the Orchomenians having consulted an Oracle which promis'd them much felicity if they could get the body of Hesiode into their power they of Locri to hinder them from it so carefully conceal'd the place of his Sepulture from strangers that there are few persons know it And moreover the Prince of Locri dying of Melancholly not long after the Locrians augmented the honors which they paid to Hesiode's memory whose very name intimates in his own language how purely he writ and whose glory is so celebrated throughout the whole World that it may be justly thought it will be so in all Ages Amilcar having done reading this History of Hesiode perceiv'd the minds of the Ladies were verymuch affected with it and that instead of delighting the company he had afflicted them In truth said Clelia the death of Clymene affects me very sensibly For my part said Valeria I have a greater commiseration of Hesiode than I am able to express I have the like for Lysicrates added Clydamira I am not of your opinion answered Berelisa for I never have any pitty for those that have once ceas'd to love though that Passion revive again in their hearts and I compassionate only Hesiode and Clymene My commiseration goes farther than yours said Salonina for I pity poor Troilus too But mine is yet greater than that you boast of answer'd Plotina smiling for I am almost dead for fear lest that poor Dog so faithful to his Master after having discover'd his Murderers be lost in the multitude of people or died of grief after having lost both his Master and his Mistriss All the company laught at the pity of Plotina and went forth to walk in several troops except Clelia Valerius Plotina Anacreon Herminius and Amilcar who began to assault Plotina with raillery for her pity to Hesiode's dog No no interrupted Anacreon do not set upon her with your jests for it perhaps her pity of that poor Dog has a more real foundation than ours for the death of Clymene for to speak sincerely though I am both a Greek and a Poet and am somewhere mention'd in the Prophecie of Apollo which you have read yet I cannot but believe but the History you have read is almost all of it invented Yet it is contriv'd ingeniously enough added he for methinks 't is not only handsomer than the truth but withal more probable History mentions nothing more of Hesiode than that he dwelt at the Town of Ascra in Boeotia near Helicon that the Muses inspir'd him and that an Oracle which spoke to him admonisht him to avoid the Temple of Nemaea which is in Peloponnesus that he travell'd into divers places that he obtain'd the Golden Tripod and that he got advantage over Homer in the judgement of Panis There are some also who affirm these two persons did not live at the same time however all that have written of Hesiode agree that he was at Locri and content themselves to say in three words that he lodg'd at the house of Antiphanes and Ganetor who had a Sister and suspecting him to be the confident of a Lover of hers killed him together with his slave that the body of the slave was found at a Cape or Promontory which was afterwards call'd by the name of Troilus in reference to him that the body of Hesiode was brought by Dolphins near a Temple of Neptune where a great sacrifice was solemnising that Hesiode's dog occasion'd the discovery of his murderers who were torn in pieces by the people and that for fear the Orchomenians should get away his body they conceal'd the place of his burial As for his Works he that invented this History has fictitiously ascrib'd to him only the Sonnet the four Verses which he relates Hesiode to have spoken and the Hymn which he makes him Author of for Neptune's Sacrifice Now it cannot but be acknowledged that fiction in this occasion has greater verisimilitude than truth it self When the purpose is to bring about extraordinary events it is no question handsomer to introduce lover in them than any other cause which has been practis'd by the inventor of this History for by seigning the love of the Prince of Locri Lysicrates Hesiode and Clymene he has made you know all these different persons and oblig'd you to love them which were to be the most unfortunate In the next place he has given probability to that which carry'd not much with it for there is far more likelyhood that two ambitious and wicked Brothers should be led to kill a man whom they look'd upon as an obstacle to their advancement by hindring their Sister from being favourable to a Prince from whom they expected the
thing I should willingly tell it I know not said Herminius whether it be the fault of my constitution or of this Doctrine but I remember nothing at all Whilst the Company was discoursing thus Amilcar appear'd pensive and musing and spoke not at all upon which Plotina not doubting but he was contriving some subtilty asked him whether he would not declare if he remember'd what he had been before his last coming into the World Amilcar then returning from his feigned musing answered ambiguously and forc'd Plotina to command him to speak what he really thought Sincerely said he to her you are a cruel person to constrain me to be of the same opinion with one of my Rivals How interrupted Plotina hastily making shew of being astonisht is it possible an African should be of the Sect of Pythagoras 'T is to no purpose to deny it answer'd he with a tone something serious I am not only charm'd with his Doctrine but convinc't of it too by my own experience and if I were at Metopontium or at Crotona I should speak more freely of these matters than at Rome where this opinion is not follow'd though it be not generally condemned At least I know the memory of Pythagoras is in veneration here and it is not unknown that he was the wisest Philosopher that ever more that name the most gentle and humane For to give the more weight to this discourse added he it is sufficiently apparent that he was truely perswaded of the transmigration of Souls out of some bodies into others since this no doubt was the cause of forbidding the use of any sort of living Creatures for food You have made a great secret of your opinion reply'd Plotina who understood he derided Damon but to punish you for your dissimulation tell us in brief whether you who have so handsome a wit so quick a fancy so faithful a memory and a constitution so perfect have yet any remembrance of what you were before you came to be Amilcar 'T is cortain said Damon then that truth constrains me to say I neven knew any man so fit as he to remember what he was before his last birth for he is of that happy temper wherein the Soul is so dis-intangled from the combersomeness of the Senses that she may seem to be able to unloosen her self from them and act without them whensoever she pleases I beseech you my dear Rival answer'd Amilcar with seeming anger let us not mock one another in so good Company by publishing things which they will not believe I engage my self to make you be believ'd by above half those that are present said Plotina pleasantly therefore tell us whether you remember you were any thing before you were the same Person which I see you In the name of the gods said Damon than speaking to Amilcar if it has pleas'd destiny to make your birth so happy as that you are one of the number of those who have the preheminence to know what they have formerly been speak it confidently in the averment of a truth of highest importance which perhaps you may convince some persons of who may afterwards propagate it to all the most illustrious in Rome Herminius observing Damon's zeal for Pythagoras's Doctrine made him liable to be abus'd for the divertisement of the Company entreated Amilcar to declare as the rest all that his memory inform'd him of Valeria did the like Berelisa Clidamira and Cesonia added their requests Acrisius importun'd him to it Acreon desir'd him to do it and Sicinius made a consenting sign to him to signifie that his desires were the same with those of all the Company after which Plotina commanding him to speak he did so in this manner I am going to obey you Madam said he to her but I beseech your favour not to reveal that which I shall tell you and withal oblige those who are present to keep fidelity to me for 't is no great pleasure to be shewn in the Streets for a man to whom extraordinary things has happened Amilcar seem'd so serious in these worde that Plotina was almost ready to believe that he spoke in earnest But at length all the Company hiving promis'd not to promulgate what he should tell them he studi'd for some time and seeming wholly recollected in him self spoke in these words addressing his words to Plotina When you shall have heard what I have to tell you said he you will less wonder at the boldness I have in loving you for I have not alwaies been a Wit 'T is true my Soul has experimented a great varietie of different Fortunes and this very Spirit which animates me has pass'd through several bodies of no mutual resemblance Moreover added he with a grave and imperious aspect it must not be imagin'd that I speak without knowing what induces me to it for tho I may seem a person fitter to compose a jovial Sonnet than to understand the whole doctrine of Pythagoras to the bottome yet if I embrac'd it I would clearly give you to understand the most obscure matters and so unfold to you the necessity that there be eternally a prefixt number of Souls in the whole Universe animating all the Bodies in it that afterwards there would be no place left to doubt of all the doctrine of Pythagoras For it being constantly true continu'd he after having made all the appearances of one that has a good opinion of that which he speaks and who nevertheless studies a little what he desires to express that the principles of things consist in numbers that proportion and Symetry are found every where and that the harmony which results from this exactness is that which maintains the World it is easie to understand that the number of Souls is not unequal The order of the Universe is alwaies equal there is neither more nor less master in one age than in another a Tree puts forth leaves in the Spring those leaves fals at Autum and the Tree renders back to the Earth all it received from it and if it be burnt the ashes return to the same place with the leaves People delight to make Water-courses to divide Rivers and cause Fountains to spurt forth yet there is not one drop of water less in all the Universe in which is made a continual transmutation of all bodies Since therefore matter is alwaies equal why should any imagine Souls not to be so too The Stars are alwaies in the same number as Damon hath well observ'd we see but one Moon and one Sun and were it not incongruous to make shew of learning before Ladies I should swear to you by the number of Four which is the greatest oath of Pythagoras's Disciples you would soon believe all that I do For my part said Plotina I am already almost wholly dispos'd to believe you but being I alwaies love Examples more than Reasons and the principles of things and numbers are otherwise beyond my understanding I intreat you to imagine I believe
and sixty Springs seen all the birds of my lovely desart making love to one another I was infinitely discontented and therefore continu'd he if there be any in the company who to their unhappiness have made a resolution not to love any thing let them hasten to change it for there is nothing more tormenting at the hour of death than the affliction of having not been able to love or be belov'd I assure you said Valeria I believe it is very troublesome too to call to mind an unsuccessful or impertinent love However it be said Damon who was unwilling Amilcar should be interrupted suffer the relation to be finisht which has been so delightfully begun for though Amilcar alwaies mingles some raillery in what he speaks yet credit ought to be given to his words since all the company knowes 't is his custome never to speak altogether seriously of the most serious things You have reason answer'd Plotina therefore I desire Amilcar to continue his relation After I had ceas'd being a Phoenix said Amilcar I chang'd my fortune and shape very much for I became one of the most ugly men in the World but in requiral one of the most valiant for I lov'd nothing so much as war which I follow'd continually not but that my heart was in some sort sensible of love though it was a kind of souldier-like Love which does not cause much sighing but has something of freedome and jollity in it but seldome any great matter of courtship and therefore I took more pleasure in relating a handsome field wherein I had fought a siege I had been present at or a particular combate of my own than in entertaining my self with the favours of my mistress But perhaps interrupted Plotina smiling it was because you had not any great matter to say upon that subject at least I know if any lov'd me after the military manner you have represented to me it should be easie to reckon the favours I would do him All women answer'd Herminius are not of your humor for some fancy those resolute gallants with fierce countenances who speak with boldness and have kill'd men more than polite and civiler persons who comport themselves with respect and tenderness No doubt Herminius has reason replyed Amilcar for I was not very ill treated and my stoutness caus'd me to obtain as many favours as my wit and courtship 'T is true I did not care over much for them and I remember one thing which makes good what I say One day I lost a picture which I had of my mistress as I was fighting with a man who had set upon me at an advantage and I was much more joyful for having taken his sword from him than troubled for having lost the picture Indeed when a fancy takes a man to pass for one of greater courage than others I assure you he is sufficiently employ'd for he is possess'd with envy jealousie and ambition all at a time danger is sought with eagerness though to speak sincerely 't is never delightful he alwayes desires to go beyond the rest and is altogether uncapable of quiet Then 't is sufficiently troublesome to be sometimes wounded and sometimes a prisoner for the Kings and Princes for whose service you hazard or lose your lives take little care of you However since 't is the mode it ought to be follow'd and I follow'd it so well that I was but twenty nine years old when I was slain 'T is true I had serv'd in fourteen companies with sufficient honour to be content with life were it not that it is alwaies sufficiently difficult to resolve to die But afterwards added he not giving leisure to any to interrupt him my adventure was strange enough for after having shewn much bravery the gods to punish me for being guilty of too much vanity in that respect were pleas'd the same soul which in another body had been so stout and hardy should animate that of one of the most pusillanimous men in the world At first I was not very sorry for it for I confess to you I was a little weary with the tumultuous life which I had led and those former impressions not being yet wholly blotted out I imagined that choosing a kind of calm life I might spend my daies with sufficient sweetness But alas I was deceiv'd for as soon as it was perceiv'd I was one of no courage I was expos'd to a hundred thousand troublesome occasions and I assure you the people of the world who suffer most are they who have the unhappiness to be cowards For I dare maintain it is a thousand times more pain to be void of valour than to be too couragious for a man who is valiant resolves upon death without fear at the beginning of the fight whereas a poor wretch who is not fears it in places where it is not to be met with For my part whilst I was a coward I fear'd both my friends and my enemies when I was forced to go to the war and shame engaged me to be present in any encounter the torment I suffer'd was above imagination Example did not animate me the noise of arrowes elashing together made my heart quake I was alwaies prepar'd for a retreat and alwaies observ'd to be last at the battle and the for most in the flight I went whither I was unwilling to go I did not go where I desir'd to be I was possess'd with fear and shame and amidst all this with a sottish pride which caused me to do things of which I repented a moment after But that which afflicted me most was that though at my return from the war I spoke as if I had been couragious yet I knew it was understood well enough that I was not Therefore I say once again there is nothing more painful than to want courage and a brave person that ingages in a hundred thousand dangers suffers much less than a man who continually fear things which are not to be fear'd Now therefore said Damon can what Amilcar saies be doubted of for could he invent an adventure of this nature were it not truth that forces him to speak Damon pronounc'd these words after a manner which surpriz'd all the company indeed he was a person not absolutely without wit but when a man is once capable to give himself up to believe a difficult extroardinary thing he maintains it more obstinately than if it were easie to be believ'd and is so prepossess'd with it that he is easily perswaded of any thing that may serve to authorize it Thus the poor Damon not perceiving that his Rival made sport with him conjur'd him that he would proceed Cesonia and Valeria did the same Anacreon Herminius Acrisius and Sicinius press'd him to it so that resuming his discourse I assure you said he that Life which they say is a thing very precious is notwithstanding more painful then 't is thought to be For tho I remember every thing that I have been
deceiving her friend she disguis'd her sentiments and took the contrary side with intention to anticipate all that she desir'd to say For my part said she smiling I see no ground there is to doubt for 't is better no question to be Wife of an unconstant Husband provided he carry his business discreetly than to be a Wife to a constant Lover who perplexes his Wife with continual capricious For inconstant Lovers are almost generally of a good humour whereas on the contrary Lovers scrupulously faithful are for the most part fullen natur'd Terentia observing Aurelisa's subtlety could not restrain her self from contradicting her tho in reality she contradicted her self There is some wit in what you say said Terentia but yet it is certain that it were incomparably better to be the Wife of a man who has a great passion than of one of those that are inconstant to a thousand Loves of whom every day a hundred stories are told which divert the whole Court and perplex his Wife in all companies since she can scarce go into any place without finding some Mistress of her Husband 's with whom she is at a loss how to comport her self but it is not so with a Husband that has but one Love for provided you keep but some measure of civility to his Mistress if he be ingenuous he will thank you for it and if he does not love you yet at least he will esteem you While these two Virgins maintain'd the side they undertook which is sufficient weakness because it did not agree with their real sentiments Theanor and Aemilius to whom this conversation was unpleasing by reason of their being concern'd in it believ'd that these two fair persons thought what they spoke and thereupon Theanor was incens'd against Aurelisa and Aemilius against Terentia And either of them desiring to make good their side produc'd all the reasons for it they couldinvent For my part said Aemilius I see not how the thing can be doubted for I conceive nothing is more troublesome to a Wife than one of those Husbands with a great passion nothing more convenient than one that is a Gallant For he is scarce ever at home some Feast alwaies takes him up and as he is unwilling to be constrain'd so he gives the same liberty which he desires to take On the contrary a Husband of the other sort is insupportable for out of cross intention that he may have something to blame in the deportment of his Wife to the end that may excuse his own he has continually his Spies to observe her But however interrupted Theanor the Husband you represent so loves some person and so his Wife has some ground to hope if he can cease to love his Mistress her self may at length get into his affection But what can be hop'd from an inconstant person who is never capable of loving any thing If he do not love his Mistresses said Aemilius why should his Wife take it ill But if the Husband who has a constant Love answer'd Theanor does not cease to use his Wife civilly what reason has she to complain since you do not believe it necessary to her happiness that she be lov'd For my part said Aurelisa contrary to her own sentiments again because she had begun so I am against Theanor And I added Terentia against Aemilius In my apprehension said I then you are not against any body for to speak sincerely you do not well know what you would do if both of you had Husbands which did not love you It is not material for what reason you are not lov'd since in what manner soever the matter is it is alwaies troublesome However whether you be lov'd or hated you ought for Virtue 's and your own sake to be as faithful to a Husband that does not love you as to one that does for it is not fitting ever to revenge your selves to his prejudice nor to offend by example No doubt Terentia and Aurelisa thought the same thing that I spoke for they are both very discreet but they were in a manner not to agree to it to the end they might have occasion to contest Nevertheless seemliliness restrain'd them and so the conversation ended after which Theanor went away with a secret indignation against Aurelisa and Aemilius against Terentia tho in truth Aemilius was oblig'd to love Terentia and Theanor Aurelisa When they were return'd home for they lodg'd together they fell to speak concerning these two Ladies and resolved between themselves that if their Uncle should oblige them to marry them Theanor should marry Terentia and Aemilius Aurelisa In the mean time these two fair Virgins being retir'd Terentia ask'd Aurelisa why she would not speak her mind really 'T was to hinder you from speaking yours answer'd she smiling for I conceiv'd you would not be of my opinion But by obliging me not to speak what I thought reply'd Terentia you did not speak your own thoughts 'T is true said she but do not you know that sometimes the mischief you do others compensates us for part of that we do ourselves You may judge Madam by what I say in what condition things then stood But how weak soever this beginning of aversion was which Aemilius had against Terentia and Theanor against Aurelisa and how slight soever an inclination Terentia had for Aemilius and Aurelisa for Theanor these first impressions were the true cause of all that have befallen them since For Theanor after having had so long and constant affection in his Soul was insensibly cur'd of that Love by another and had a great dearness for Terentia alwaies remembring the sentiments he had observ'd in her mind at the time of that contest at which I was present About the same time too Aemilius being weary of the turmoil occasion'd by the necessity of entertaining several gallantries together accustom'd himself to take more pleasure than usually in the company of Aurelisa and thus these two friends by degrees became very amorous of the two fair Virgins But by a strange crossness of Fate the first inclination of these two persons continuing and being not alwaies able to restrain themselves from bearing envy one towards another Terentia could not endure Theanor and wisht so ardently Aemilius would love her in stead of him that she seem'd to love him already Aurelisa on the other side accounting Aemilius insupportable desir'd Theanor would please himself less with the company of Terentia and more with hers Not but that these four persons were every day together but it is often seen that tho persons be in the same place their hearts are far distant from those in whose presence they are However they all conceal'd their sentiments and not knowing preciseely in what manner he on whom they depended would dispose of them they expected till he declar'd his mind every one of them desiring in their hearts his pleasure might not check their respective inclinations But it was in a short time perceiv'd
is done for a fair person before a man discovers himself to be a Lover is lookt upon but as testimonies of esteem and friendship at most and till after such declarations she does not look upon the services render'd to her as testimonies of love What you say is no doubt very well spoken said I to him but it must be added that when people are forbidden to speak 't is taken for no great offence if they break that prohibition in case they be esteem'd and they knew how to do it handsomely But Amiclea answer'd Terentia I think you have lost your reason in accusing women of such a defect as this For I conceive a deserving person can never be more oblig'd than when she sees her displeasure is dreaded and that she is fear'd and respected 'T is true repli'd I but if a Lover do not profess himself to be such how will he ever be lov'd I know not whether he will be lov'd or no answer'd Terentia but I know well that a Lover who should tell me rudely that he lov'd me should be hated When Amiclea repli'd Aemilius maintains it fit for a lover to declare his passion she does not mean he should do it after an unhandsome manner As I was going to answer the Lady which Theanor had lov'd so long arriv'd with two others her name was Menesile and it is not to be doubted but she is a very confident person and passionate This visit very much surpriz'd the company for she did not use to visit Elynissa But jealousie exciting a desire in her to see what pass'd in this cabal she caus'd her self to be introduc'd by one of Tolumnius's friends Nevertheless Theanor the better to make known his love to Terentia continu'd with her tho he did not speak to her apart for should he have desir'd it she would not have given him occasion When Aurelisa beheld this Lady enter she well understood that a sentiment of jealousie induc'd her to make this visit so that perceiving she still lov'd Theanor this redoubled the inclination she had for him as well as the envy she bore to Terentia for she was extremely sorry that she was not the person to whom he prov'd unfaithful A quarter of an hour after three of Aemilius's ancient Mistresses arriv'd but he saluted them so coldly and lookt upon them so little that it could scarce be thought he had ever seen them before Whereupon Terentia observing that this unfaithful person was become constant was extreamly perplexed it was not for her sake that he despis'd all his former Mistresses And so she became as melancholick as Aurelisa However civility obliging them to entertain those that came to visit them they fell to discourse of several things after which the conversation being chang'd on a sudden they inveighed very much against men in general It was affirm'd that they were very frequently unjust vindicative inconstant insensible and given to detraction Theanor and Aemilius then maintain'd the cause of their own sex defended themselves the best they could But at length I know not how it came to pass but one of the new-come Ladies who did not love Menesile askt me if I believ'd that a woman whom a man ceas'd to love ought to be more offended than another who could not gain the affection of a man she lov'd This proposition made Menesile Terentia and Aurelisa blush which nevertheless was observ'd only by my self Menesile recollecting her self in a moment had confidence enough to make good her own cause 'T is so easie to answer to what you demand said she that tho many persons be present here who have more wit than my self I think I shall have enough to convince you that 't is greater shame not to be able to makes one's self be lov'd than to be abandon'd For the shame reflects upon the desertor and not on her that is forsaken I know not whose the shame is repli'd I but I believe the anger is on her side that is relinquisht if she persists to love I believe said Menesile the cause of the anger is for having been deceiv'd but however a person that cannot make her self be lov'd is not only angry but ashamed of her own weakness and whereas a woman that has been lov'd and is so no longer is possessed onely with despight hatred and contempt of her Renegade she that loves without being lov'd comes at length when she has any heart to hate and despise her self which no doubt is the cruellest thing in the world While Menesile was speaking thus Terentia Aurelisa and Theanor were extremely perplext being inforc'd to hear an unpleasing discourse without answering to it I observing their trouble answer'd Menesile and desiring to make a third party In truth said I to her whether a woman loves without being lov'd or whether her Lover forsakes her she is worthy of pity if she be vertuous for as for such as are not they ought never to be pitied But I would know further said she who made this proposition who suffers most of the two She that loves most answer'd Terentia That is likely repli'd a Lady of the company to be the forsaken Lady for I cannot understand that he that is not lov'd can love very ardently For my part said another I do not conceive a woman can love if her affection be not answer'd when she gives some Testimony of it but I do not believe it impossible but a vertuous person may have a secret and hidden inclination which may lead her to love rather one man than another tho without testifying any thing of it If it be so answer'd Menesile I believe really she that is forsaken suffers more than she that is not lov'd but if she believes that her eyes have betray'd the secret of her heart and that he that she loves understands her affection without answering to it I conceive she undergoes the torment of a shame of greater pain to her than the blackest infidelity can cause For in this case the remedy is at hand by scorning him from whom the injury is receiv'd Whil'st Menesile was speaking thus Aemilius talk't low to Aurelisa who at that instant lik't rather to hear him than to be oblig'd to answer Menesile You are very melancholick to day Madam said he to her altho I do not complain of your silence for it being a kind of consent I presume you agree that Amilcar had reason to say There is greater love in not being able to contain from discovering that passion than in being silent out of respect and therefore to avoid giving you leisure to change your sentiments it is best for me to tell you in the most respectful manner possible that of the most inconstant of all men you will make the most faithful Lover in the World provided you will please to fasten the Knots which tye me to your service I beseech you Aemilius answer'd Aurelisa much astonish'd do not force me to speak more rudely to you than I would
unhappy of all men by wholly depriving me of hope and possibility of ever to become happy For what ground is there to retain the least hope after that which is arriv'd Clelia hath seen my Rival with her own eyes doing the greatest action that ever was and perhaps too she believes I was among those he fought with at the end of the Bridge and puts me in the number of those that could not overcome him But alas tho this should not be so yet Clelius will make use of Horatius's valour against me for what can be refus'd to him that has preserv'd Rome Therefore I must resolve to see Clelia unfaithful or Clelia persecuted and consequently I must prepare my self to be alwayes miserable The End of the Fourth Part of CLELIA THE Fifth and Last VOLUME OF CLELIA THAT EXCELLENT New Romance Being the CONCLUSION of the Whole WORK VVritten in FRENCH By the Exquisite Pen of Mounsieur de SCUDERY Governour of Nostredame de la Garde Render'd into English by G. H. LONDON Printed for Henry Herringman at the Anchor in the lower VValk of the New Exchange 1677. THE Fifth and Last VOLUME OF CLELIA THAT EXCELLENT New Romance Being the CONCLUSION of the Whole WORK VVritten in FRENCH By the Exquisite Pen of Mounsieur de SCUDERY Governour of Nostredame de la Garde Render'd into English by G. H. LONDON Printed for Henry Herringman at the Anchor in the lower Walk of the New Exchange 1677. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ELIZABETH Countess of RIVERS MADAM The unfortunate CLELIA having since ber arrival in this Nation sought a patronage from many noble hands doth at length address her self to yours As if those various adventures which travers'd her illustrious life could not terminate in a compleat happiness before she were acknowledging to you for it and that her vertue had not been sufficiently try'd to merit that felicity which was preparing for her before it had receiv'd a testimony from you who are the perfect Patern of it That she is worthy your protection I cannot doubt at least if those excellent beauties of hers which are almost matchless in the original come not sullied from my unskilful hands And since it is reported it was not the illustrious Scudery but that celebrated Vertuosa his Sister who finish'd the Romance after his decease I could not make a more apt Dedication than the work of a Lady to the most Noble and accomplish'd Person of her own Sex That which may cause you to make some difficulty in the reception of CLELIA is the person of him that shall assume the boldness to present her to you Yet it cannot seem strange an unknown person should thus presume since an heroick vertue such as yours commands the addresses and devoyrs of all that honour it the sence of which I cannot better manifest in my self than by my humble desires to be admitted together with CLELIA in the quality of MADAM Your Honours most obedient and devoted Servant G. HAVERS CLELIA A New Romance The Fifth and Last PART The First BOOK WHilst Aronces was possest with an opinion that his present condition rendred him the most unhappy Man in the World Horatius sometimes enjoy'd all the delectation that glory together with hope is capable to excite in a heart truely amorous He tasted the joy of being satisfi'd with himself which is the highest pleasure possible for a rational person to resent He had perform'd a piece of singular service to his Country and altho Aronces had disarm'd him yet his last action afforded him satisfaction for that misfortune Besides Clelius being so favourable to him he had reason to conceive that the end of the War would prove the beginning of his felicity And indeed he perceiv'd so unanimous a Resolution in the Roman Citizens to defend themselves to the utmost that he would not so much as entertain in his thoughts a possibility for Porsenna to become Master of Rome What place soever he went into afforded him new cause of contentment saving when he repair'd to Clelia whom he alwaies found affected with the same aversion towards him When he pass'd along the streets the people attested his glory with a thousand acclamations when he went to the Temple he beheld Sacrifices offer'd there in thankfulness to the gods for the great action which he had perform'd when he went to the Senate he understood they had ordain'd a Statue to be erected to him as an eternal Monument of his valour to conclude only the fair eyes of Clelia depriv'd him of the hope which fortune every where else suggested to him And truly this was oftentimes sufficient to disturb all the pleasure that hope could give him The next morning after that great exploit which had rendr'd him so eminent in Rome Clelius bringing him to his house and presenting him to his Daughter he found cause to believe that what he had done had no influence to change the heart of that fair Lady At first Clelius having beheld her with a sufficiently cold air was immediately out of an excessive affection for his Country transported against her How said he to her with a low but angry Tone dare you appear sad when I bring the Deliverer of Rome to you and have you the boldness to discover in your eyes the tokens of that obstinate and unjust passion which you harbour in your mind Clelia hearing her Father speak in this manner blusht and cast down her eyes so that Horatius not doubting but that which Clelius spoke low to her displeas'd her was almost sorry for it tho he apprehended the discourse could not but be in his favour Wherefore advancing towards her he interrupting the private communication Permit me to ask you Madam said he perceiving Clelius retire whether the general fright yesterday did not reach you too and whether you had the resolution to behold from your windows that multitude of enemies which would have surpriz'd the City had not the bridge been broken down at which they endeavour'd to enter You speak very modestly of one of the fairest actions of the world answer'd she but to shew you that I am never unjust added this prudent Lady know that tho you seem'd appointed by Destiny for the cause of the greatest infelicities of my life nevertheless I did not cease to make vows in your behalf when I saw you alone in the middle of the Bridge sustaining the whole power of the Enemies For indeed I saw all that pass'd in that great occasion and I likewise beheld Aronces forbid his men to shoot at you when you were in the River Tyber I should my self have inform'd you Madam repli'd Horatius of that generosity of my Rival tho you had not seen it for I have heretofore often told you that I yield to his merit and his vertue 't is only in point of Love that I contend with him for superiority And to testifie to you at least Madam that I do all that I can know I did not
interrupt Clelius but only because I apprehended he spoke sharply to you in my favour I acknowledge it answer'd Clelia and I shall also acknowledge that you deserve my esteem and my friendship Nevertheless observing hope this day become more prevalent in your heart I shall tell you once more generous Horatius that it will be best for you not to flatter your self into an errour by it since the more Aronces becomes unhappy the more shall I be oblig'd to be faithful to him and the more my Father persecutes me the more resolvedness shall I have to withstand him For in brief he has once given me to Aronces and I have joyn'd in the gift so that 't is in the power of death alone to hinder me from being his Moreover were he no longer mine I have told you an hundred times I should never be yours nor any others Content your self with being belov'd by the whole People of Rome enjoy quietly the glory you have acquir'd and do not render your self miserable for a person that can never make you happy Other visitants hereupon arriving Horatius was constrain'd to withdraw his heart being so full that he could not but manifest part of his grief And therefore he made a low reverence without being able to speak any thing to Clelia saving by some glances not less sad than amorous As he came from thence he found Aemilius who being unhappy as well as he seem'd a fit person to be the confident of his sorrow Walking along together and Aemilius observing him very sad What 's the cause said he to him that you seem so melancholy in a day wherein you ought to know no other passion but joy Alas Aemilius cry'd Horatius 't is in vain that I have repell'd the enemies since Aronces is not so absolutely Master of the Janiculum which he hath seiz'd as he is alwayes of the heart of Clelia and should Fortune cause me to perform miracles for the safety of Rome I should not thereby be less unhappy In which regard I can assure you Aronces is not at present so miserable as I undoubtedly no unhappiness being so unsupportable as that whereby we find that what ought to produce our felicity causes our misfortune However reply'd Aemilius your misery is not so extraordinary as mine Clelia lov'd Aronces before she knew you she has lov'd him ever since and you have not been able to win her affection But as for me unfortunate as I am I have seen the cruel Valeria not to hate me during the time she believ'd Herminius was unfaithful and dead but since she understood his being alive and innocent she has ceas'd to love me and depriv'd me of all hope for ever Ah! Aemilius answer'd Horatius that which you say causes your regret is the very thing that ought to afford you consolation For according to the transports of Love in which I am at present I think if Clelia had lov'd me but only one day in all my life the remembrance alone of so great a pleasure would suffice to keep me from being miserable the remainder of my days But when I consider that my Rival is belov'd that according to all probabilities he will be ever so that I have never been so for so much as one moment and that perhaps I never shall be during my life patience forsakes me despair seizes me and I wish for death every instant Had I the same sentiments as heretofore continu'd Horatius when I carry'd away Clelia I could easily induce Clelius to constrain her to marry me After what I have perform'd the people would approve the violence and the Senate in the present posture of affairs would not offer to oppose my happiness but Aemilius I know to my misery that unless Clelia bestow her self I cannot wish to possess her since 't is the heart of that cruel person which can cause my felicity But alas that to my misfortune is in the power of a Rival whom I admire in spight of my self for whom I bear as much esteem as hatred to whom I am so highly oblig'd that I cannot injure him without ingratitude and who sets me such great examples of generosity that it 's necessary to be a Heroe to surpass him Cease therefore to bemoan your self or at the best think me the greatest object of commiseration Yet on the other side generous Horatius reply'd Aemilius did you know what it is to have been lov'd and to be so no longer you would change the thoughts for no favourable glance has been formerly obtain'd but then causes a thousand regrets not an advantageous word heard but occasions a thousand torments and the opposition of misery to happiness produces such a strange hurly-burly in an amorous breast that the insensibility of a Mistress is an affliction not comparable to what I speak of Did I love a person insensible in reference to all love answer'd Horatius you would have reason but I love a person that has a soft heart that is able to love both with order and constancy and consequently to resist whatever opposes the affection she has in her soul When I spoke of an insensible Person reply'd Aemilius I meant in respect to you alone for as I said before 't is a more exquisite misery to be belov'd no more than to have never been lov'd at all I conceive indeed said Horatius it would be a greater affliction to fall into poverty after having been rich than to have been alwaies poor but 't is not so in love for in my apprehension the thought of never having been lov'd not being so at present and despairing ever to be so is the most cruel and in supportable of all those that can be inspir'd by an infortunate passion Aemilius answer'd Horatius again and Horatius yielded not to Aemilius so that they parted without having convinc'd one another But while these two Lovers bemoaned themselves together there were others also who did the like All Plotina's Lovers looking upon Amilcar as he that of all the rest injur'd them most scarce hated one another at all but hated him excessively tho they dar'd not to express it Themistus being always absent and alwayes discontented lamented himself amongst his Friends Artemidorus being alwayes lov'd by two very aimable persons had not a little to do Spurius was displeas'd with himself that he had not been able to out-do Herminius who signaliz'd himself most next Horatius And Mutius being as ambitious as amorous was desperately afflicted for that he had not been able to defend the Janiculum and had been wounded for altho the wound he receiv'd was not dangerous yet it confin'd him to his Chamber where abandoning himself to regret he revolv'd in his thoughts what ever most difficult attempts a great Spirit incensed both against Love and Fortune could devise to overcome his misfortune But having a Soul too noble to seek ways that were not honourable he fanci'd nothing but what was grand and heroical Herminius is belov'd said he within
himself and deserv'es to be so Aemilius is an amiable Person and was not hated whilst Valeria believ'd Herminius had betray'd her and was dead and Spurius is subtle daring dextrous and amorous What then shall I do continu'd he to overcome such formidable Rivals I must do some action transcending that of Horatius added this afflicted Lover and signalize my self so remarkably that my Rivals may not afterwards dare to stand in competition with me for Valeria I must save Rome with one stroke if it be possible and indeed it is too shameful to see it Captive when it boasts to be free and to see it more miserable when it has no Tyrants than when it was under the Tyranny of the Tarquins After which Mutius having thought upon what he would undertake took no care to be cur'd speedily to the end he might execute the great design he had determin'd of in his mind In the mean time Aronces maintaining his Conquest and taking care to cause the Janiculum to be more fortifi'd on the side towards Rome suffer'd more misery than can be imagin'd for he well perceiv'd that since this famous City could not be surpris'd at first it would be very difficult to become Master of it by force unless it were in a time so long that Horatius would perhaps have leisure to work some change on the sentiments of Clelia not that he could believe her capable of infidelity but tho he could not believe it yet he could fear it and the glory of Horatius the authority of Clelius the people's affection towards his Rival the little probability there was that Porsenna would consent to his marriage all these circumstances consider'd together with his own absence added weight to his fear and diminish'd his hope Nevertheless he trusted to the fidelity of his Illustrious Friends at Rome and sometimes imagin'd secret consolations to himself which enabled him to support all his misfortunes Moreover a sentiment of glory adding it self to that of love the care of the Siege almost wholly imploy'd his mind But that which rendered him more unhappy was that he was constrain'd to see Tarquin and Sextus He knew that the first always lov'd Clelia and looking upon Sextus as one that had lov'd her that might still love her and that had caus'd the death of Lucretia he hated and disdain'd him tho he was not ignorant that as voluptuous and unjust a Prince as he was he had some qualities in him not unpleasing to such as did not know him Aronces likewise understood by a spy that the Senate in testimony of greater acknowledgement to Horatius had bestow'd on him as great a compass of Lands as two Oxen could in one day enclose with a furrow that all the Inhabitants of Rome had particularly made him a present of something or other to the end he might not suffer any inconvenience during the Siege and that Horatius making a generous use of the same had not only given to the poor all that they had offer'd to him but moreover all that he had received from the rich By which means the good fortune and the virtue of Horatius being alike terrible to him this Prince was extremely miserable and found no comfort saving when he was free to go and entertain the Princess of the Leontines a few moments with discourse of his infelicities Which notwithstanding he could not do often at the beginning of the Siege by reason his presence was necessary in so many places that he had scarce time to go see the Queen of Clusin In the mean time it being resolv'd at a Council of War not to make more attempts to take Rome by force order was taken to famish it To which purpose Porsenna caus'd little Forts to be rais'd at equal distances about the City and the Tyber to be secur'd both above and below Rome with Boats fastned together with chains all these Boats being defended by Towers which were rais'd to that end on each side of the River besides that there were also guards of Souldiers placed in several stations which were reliev'd from time to time These Boats serving at that time for a Bridge to Porsenna's Army the Tarquinians pass'd over from the other side of Tyber and extended their Camp into the Plain after having pitcht upon a very advantageous place where they might easily hinder any thing from being carried into Rome on that side and from whence they sent parties out to waste to make spoil in all the adjacent parts about that City Rome was by this means begirt on all sides but the more it was straightned the Romans became the more couragious Herminius being desirous to signalize himself and accounting it a disparagement to be coop'd up undertook to fetch provision into the City Not that he believ'd that what he could procure brought in would be capable to make it subsist any long time but being a person of great prudence he understood it was requisite to amuse the people And he had occasion to take this course with them for as soon as all the avenues and passages of Rome were secur'd by the Enemy the common sort began to have an extreme dread of Famine But altho this fear seem'd but to encrease their hatred against Tarquin yet there was cause to suspect it might at length administer occasion to a sedition it being natural enough to the poor to murmur against the rich and likewise sufficiently ordinary for the rich to have no great pity of the poor Herminius therefore minding to prevent so great a mischief told Valerius it was requisite to send to the neighbouring people to the end to obtain of them such things as they had most need of and that for his part he would engage to secure the entrance of Convoys into Rome Whereupon some persons were sent out by night to go to the people of Latium and to oblige them to succour the City and others also to Cumae of Campania and to Pometia but the Latins refus'd to take any side between Rome and the Tarquinians and they of Cumae answered ambiguously only the people of Pometia promis'd provisions conditionally they might be oblig'd to nothing more than to furnish the Waggons which were to carry them Wherefore Herminius to acquit himself of his word one night when the Moon did not shine issu'd forth of the City with some Troops and taking a by-way which the Besiegers had not took care to secure happily executed his design and brought a competent supply of mouth-munition into Rome The Enemies indeed being aware of it there was a very sharp conflict between them and the Troops that guarded the Convoy but the valour of Herminius held them off till all the Waggons were enter'd into the City without so much as the miscarriage of one and this Illustrious Roman having born the stroke of the Enemies as long time as was requisite for the executing of his purpose re-entred into Rome about the break of day in the sight of all
after he came out of the Senate delivered Aronce's Letters to Clelia and the rest he writ to he intended also to carry the old man who accompanied him to Plotina but he requested him to leave him at Clelius's house However Telanus desir'd at least to signifie to that fair Virgin of whom he was still amorous that Aronces had kept his word which he had pass'd and to that purpose he went to wait upon her where he found good company for Valeria Berelisa Anacreon Amilcar Herminius Acrisius and Spurius were with her as also Octavius and Horatius The action of Mutius and the Peace being two matters new and important they were talked of alone in all companies every one magnifying or diminishing the merit of Mutius's act according to their own judgements or inclinations For that Telanus was esteemed by all the World he was received with joy he was askt tidings concerning Aronces he was thanked for the peace as if he had made it and a thousand caresses were made to him For my part said Plotina pleasantly I believe Berelisa Clidamira and my self see Telanus again with more joy than Valeria for being they are not of Rome and I think my self no Roman tho I know not precisely what I am we are not in the same fear that she is of going as Hostage to Porsenna's Camp That which you do not fear answered Telanus is that which discontents me for I should be sufficiently joyful that you were in a place where I could render you any service 'T is true said Valeria with a melancholy aspect my joy for the peace is not absolutely pure and fear lest the Lot fall upon me sufficiently disturbs me Confess the truth said Berelisa to her with a low voice 't is not that alone that causes the sadness in your eies but your fear left Mutius's action which produces peace to Rome cause Publicola to change his mind and be prejudicial to Herminius occasions your discontent 'T is true reply'd Valeria blushing my Father is so accustomed to Sacrifice all things to the Publick-good that I cannot but fear becoming one of the Victims of the Peace Whilst Berelisa and Valeria were speaking low Plotina not being able to contain from turning the most serious matters to raillery for my part said she I confess I have at present the greatest ardency in the world to know who were the three hundred men which 't is said Mutius affirmed had conspir'd to kill Porsenna I know at least I am none of them answer'd Herminius I should be very sorry to be suspected for one added Horatius I am of your mind pursu'd Octavius Anacreon and I said Amilcar being not born at Rome we have no concernment in it since Mutius said they were three hundred young Romans who had conspir'd against Porsenna's life As for me said Spurius whereas Mutius and I have not the same intimacy as heretofore it cannot be believ'd that he communicated his design to me And for my part added Acrisius I have several reasons for which I cannot be accused for one as first I was not born in Rome Secondly Oh! I beseech you interrupted Plotina laughing and knowing how much Acrisius affected to speak stop there for I hate nothing more than those people who in a great company where every one has right to say something begin to speak with First and to proceed to Secondly and Thirdly and I am ready to dye with fear left they should go on till they come to Fiftiethly All the company laughing at the manner in which Plotina interrupted Acrisius he was a little abashed but yet he was constrained to bear the railery whether he would or no for fear of offending Plotina of whom he was highly enamoured However this fair Virgin that she might not give him leisure to be angry chang'd the discourse and beholding all those that had spoken But according as you all speak said she it might seem an injury to you to accuse you of being any of those three hundred Conspirators To save you the trouble of searching for so great a number of them said Telanus then I shall assure you I believe Mutius was the sole person and made use of that untruth to induce Porsenna to what he desir'd for by the way as he came hither he spoke certain things which suffer me not to doubt of it at all If it be so said Plotina I think this unhappy adventure ought to reconcile Herminius to lying 'T is so far from it answer'd he that I shall hate it the more for tho I am zealous for my Country yet I confess I should not like to deliver it either by a Lye or an Assassination and if I were to chuse either Horatius's action or that of Mutius I should not deliberate a moment notwithstanding the success of the last is far more considerable than of the former But that it may not be thought I speak as a Rival or as an envious person I shall commend Mutius for the constancy wherewith he endur'd the torment of the flames that burnt his hand and for his courage in attempting a thing in which it is probable he would perish but as for the Lye and Assassination I confess to you I cannot find any thing in them that does not clash with my inclination For according to my judgement to do an action perfectly Heroical not onely the motive to it ought to be just but likewise the means noble and innocent Indeed added Valeria suppose an indifferent cause in the action of Mutius he will be the greatest Criminal of all mankind and the most inconsiderate and he can not be commended saving for a happy rashness Should you speak this at present in the Court of the Capitol answer'd Plotina the people would look upon you as an Enemy of Rome Nevertheless Valeria has reason reply'd Octavius But however said Amilcar 't is good there be Heroes of all sorts that is such as are scrupulous scarce of any thing rash and Lyers for in brief without Mutius you had had no peace wherefore I conclude that the Lye he made use of be put in the rank of those innocent Lies of which we spoke so much here one day It will be enough answer'd Herminius to put it in the rank of happy Lies In truth said Plotina then I perceive there are scarce any pleasures how great soever but are mix'd with some sorrow Peace which is so great a good perhaps will shortly cause several displeasures to me for I apprehend Berelisa Clidamira and Anacreon will speedily go from us and besides I am in great fear lest the Lot which is to appoint those twenty Virgins of Quality that are to be given in Hostage should cruelly deprive me of all those I love best As Plotina had done speaking Clelia enter'd who came to seek Valeria there A little while after Cesonia brought Clelius into Plotina's chamber with the same old man whom she had seen once before and who was to inform her of
Mutius his mind was so incensed with the last conversation he had with Valeria that he would not go thither and he was observ'd to avoid almost all the world and to be discontented and pensive tho the glory he had acquir'd ought to have afforded him very great satisfaction About this time the Prince of Messene found himself reduc'd to extremity but at his death he caus'd Themistus to be advertis'd that he might go and receive the recompence of his fidelity and that some daies before he had stopt a man that had order to deliver a Letter to him from the Prince of Syracusa and another from the Princess Lindamira which inform'd him that he might return And accordingly Themistus understanding this agreeable news and seeing the War ended â—itted himself to depart assoon as the wound in his arm should be cured The Prince of Messene's death and the happiness of his Rival serving then for discourse to all the world it hapned that Clelia and Plotina observing Zenocrates very melancholy the latter askt him if he had any particular interest in that adventure Alass Madam answer'd he sighing I am concern'd onely with my own miseries of which both the felicity and misfortunes of others do alike reduce the remembrance in my mind Yet some troublesome thing must needs have befallen you within this little while said Clelia for the bare remembrance of remote unhappinesses does not produce the melancholy which I perceive in your eies 'T is easie to appear sad reply'd Zenocrates when greater are apprehended to come But Valeria interrupting this discourse by speaking something apart to Clelia Plotina continu'd and so urg'd Zenocrates to tell her the cause of his discontent that he confest to her he was extremely jealous but would not discover to her who was the person he lov'd After which Plotina told Clelia what Zenocrates had confest to her An hour after the Princess of the Leontines being arriv'd Clelia heard Amiclea say to Zenocrates as she pass'd by him You are to blame and more than you can imagine She also observ'd that the Princess of the Leontines blusht as she lookt upon Zenocrates and that Zenocrates's dejectedness increas'd by beholding the Princess So that comparing all these circumstances she conjectur'd that Zenocrates lov'd the Princess and that Aronces was the cause of his jealousie Which thought so augmented her own that she was forc'd to pretend her self a little indispos'd for fear lest the alteration of her humour should be taken notice of Nevertheless she had so great curiosity to know perfectly the Adventures of the Princess of the Leontines that she requested Plotina and Valeria to ingage her to relate them and these two fair Ladies acted with such address after Zenocrates was gone that they prevail'd with her to grant that which Clelia desir'd That which you request of me said this charming Princess to them is harder to grant you than you imagine but I cannot refuse a thing that is possible to three such amiable persons as you moreover to speak freely I foresee that within a few daies that will be known which I have hitherto so carefully conceal'd However added she Amiclea must relate to you what you desire to know for I confess to you that I should not be able to tell you divers things the bare remembrance of which makes me blush tho they be not criminal Clelia Valeria and Plotina having consented to what she desir'd she went away and left Amiclea with these three fair Virgins who being alone in their Tent beseech'd her to give them a full Relation of all that concern'd the Princess of the Leontines And thereupon according to the order she had receiv'd from her she began to speak in this manner The HISTORY of the Princess LYSIMENA IF you did not know the Princess of the Leontines I should begin her History with her Elogium thereby to interess you in her misfortunes but since you are not ignorant that she is very beautiful and very amiable that she is a person of extroardinary wit and merit and that nevertheless her vertue surpasses all her charms I it remains only that I acquaint you with her infelicities to the end to excite your compassion to her and to relate her Adventures to you thereby to encrease your admiration of her I will not take much pains to describe to you how the Court of Leontium stood when we were there I shall onely tell you by the way that there was none more delightful in all Sicily tho as you know there be a great number there and it be at this day one of the places most fam'd for splendor and politeness in the world The Country being very handsome and fertile the air agreeable and liberty sufficient it is undoubtedly extreme pleasant living there But it must be confess'd that during the first years of the Princess Lysimena's life the Court of Leontium was more delightful than it can be at this day For when the principal Persons of a Court have well-temper'd minds their example renders all their inferiors more civilis'd and vertuous The late Prince of Leontium was certainly a very accomplisht Prince and the Princess of Leontium his wife was indu'd with all the Qualities that can cause a Person of Honour to be admir'd Moreover it may be assur'd that the Princess Lysimena resembles her as much as Artemidorus does the late Prince his Father He that reigns at this day has unquestionably some Qualities that ought to be commended for he is indu'd with wit and courage but he is naturally distrustful excessively jealous of his Authority when he need not and besides has some inclinations to cruelty But to return to the Princess Lysimena you shall know that she from her infancy was very amiable that at twelve years old she was the greatest ornament of the Court It was believ'd at that time that she had but one Brother for you must know Artemidorus at the age of ten years was taken by Pyrates as the Prince of the Leontium sent him to Greece under the conduct of a wife Governor called Cleanthus to be brought up there till he should come to the age of eighteen years after which no tidings had been heard of him So that when the Prince his Father dy'd Lysimena remain'd under the Authority of the Prince of Leontium her Brother who Reigns at this day Whilst ' the Princess her mother was alive she was not without some consolation besides being then but sixteen years old grief more easily wore out of her mind and she became capable of all the joy that can be found in a splendid Court by a Person that holds the chief rank there in all things and sees her self as much superior to all about her both in beauty wit and Quality The Princess Lysimena has always had the advantage to be free from one of those defects which are sufficiently common in those of her rank for she had never any of that intolerable pride through
be desir'd more Her slaves serve her with order decency and respect and she understands the art of giving in the most gallant manner in the World She has a Friend to whom one day she made a Present very ingeniously for having taken notice of a very handsome Picture-case which she wore hanging by a plain string and this Friend coming to visit her she took it from her with more dexterity than a Lacedemonian could have done so that this Lady believing it lost regretted the loss of it four days together But at length Melisanta sent her the Case which she griev'd for causing her to be told that it was recovered out of the hands of thieves and whereas they had put a chain to it she conceiv'd she might keep it without scruple because it was not known to whom to restore it and no person came to demand it But indeed this chain which was of handsome workmanship and had a very neat clasp belonging to it was put to the Picture-case by Melisanta who by this ingenious liberality would make a Present under the colour of a theft It is for you to judge by this of Melisanta's mind who besides all I have told you has yet another admirable quality for she has a very excellent and charming voice She sings as well as 't is possible to sing and there 's no person that hears her but would think she has a very passionate soul Yet she is sometimes accus'd of not being sensible enough to friendship and indeed I think it may be confidently said without doing her injustice that hers is usually more generous than tender though I think it not impossible for her to love with great dearness However her manner of loving is very commodious to her Friends and glorious to her self for she is very careful of persons whom she loves she is officious gentle and agreeable and she has no friend but ows her a thousand civilities and pleasures in brief it may be thought that were Melisanta as loving as she is lovely the friendship born towards her would be so excessive that it would torment as much as if it were love Ha! Amilcar said Plotina I am extremely taken with Melisanta and should like better to be with her at Mount Euphrates than in the Camp of Porsenna However as I am sincere I confess you are as great a Painter of Landskips as Pourtraitures but before I commend so much as I desire Merigenes must tell me whether Telastus Melisanta and Mount Euphrates are such as you represent them They are so like answered Merigenes that there is nothing more exact All that Amilcar has spoken has much diverted me said Valeria but I should not counsel another to make so long a narration unless he could perform it as well That which I admire said Amiclea is that Amilcar has so accurately retain'd all the particularities of so excellent a place As for that answer'd he wonder not for you must know that all handsome Objects make so strong an impression in my mind that they never are extinguisht But I declare to you freely that in an ordinary conversation I should not have made my relation so long for it is not fit to impose silence to a whole Company only to shew that one knows how to speak After this Amiclea withdrawing the rest of the company departed so that Clelia Plotina and Valeria being left alone the two latter perceived that Clelia's melancholy was still more augmented What 's the matter my dear Sister said Plotina to her What new cause produces this sadness Clelia blusht at this speech and would have pass'd it without answering but Valeria pressing her thereto Is it possible said she to them that you have not apprehended by the end of Amiclea's relation that Zenocrates is jealous of Aronces and Lysimena and that you know not that this being join'd to all the other conjectures I have of my unhappiness I have ground to believe that Aronces is unfaithful and that whilst I obstinately reject Horatius's affection he is unconstant to mine To shew you reply'd Plotina that I am sincere though I am Sister to Horatius and think he is worthy of your love yet I do not stick to assure you that Aronces is innocent and that your jealousie is as ill grounded as that of Zenocrates But who knows said Clelia whether Aronces does not consent to the order which he has receiv'd not to see me for by this means we shall be sent back to Rome without his seeing me and when I shall be return'd thither perhaps he will write to me that he could not disobey the King his Father and so without being expos'd to my reproaches he will forget all his Oaths and perhaps love me no more But if this misfortune should happen added she blushing with I find I should hate Aronces as much as I have lov'd him and this bare suspicion I have of him causes such a confus'd trouble in my heart that I cannot distinguish what sentiments I have in my Soul As Clelia was speaking in this manner Lucilius enter'd and seem'd to them very sad So that Plotina being solicitous concerning the cause of his sadness askt him hastily what the matter was Alas Madam said he sighing I am unwilling to tell you Clelia and Valeria blusht and looking upon Lucilius Is it said Valeria because the peace is disturb'd by the artifices of Tarquin Or is it added Clelia because Porsenna instead of keeping us for Hostages determines to treat us like Prisoners No Madam answered he but 't is because he has caus'd the Prince to be arrested without any known cause and seems extremely incensed against him How said Clelia in a great surprize is Aronces arrested by Porsenna's Order Yes Madam answered he and the Camp is so mov'd all the World is so astonish'd and the Queen and the Princess of the Leontines so afflicted at it that it is impossible to express to you the universal consternation occasion'd thereby Clelia sigh'd at these words which at the same time redoubled both her discontents and her suspicions But is it not imagin'd said she for what reason he is arrested Not at all answered Lucilius all that is known is that ever since the cruel Tullia had so private a conference with Porsenna he has been sufficiently pensive and sad that yesterday there came several men from that Princess with whom Porsenna conferr'd in private and that soon after he caus'd the Prince to be arrested and absolutely commanded he should not be suffer'd to speak to any person So that Madam I do not see how he can so much as give any intelligence of himself to those he loves most Porsenna has also appointed that you be guarded with more care than ordinary though he has commanded too that you be always served with respect The Queen and the princess of the Leontines being desirous to speak concerning the Prince to Porsenna he told them with sufficient roughness that when they knew his
passionate glances which make things understood in a moment and yet they have in some occasions so jolly a smile that 't is apparent the heart of Lucilius may as well be capable of a sensible joy as of a violent grief His Complexion is good for a man and he has a little natural mark under his left Eye which would well sure with a Beauty and is graceful to his countenance Lucilius is neat he attires himself like a man of Quality and so as agrees well with his person and if so worthy a person as he may be commended for small accomplishments I say there are many fair Ladies who would wish they had hands as white as his But indeed I have too much to tell you of his Wit his Courage and his Virtue to detain you longer with the description of his person Know then that Nature has been liberal to Lucilius in giving him an extraordinary Wit a Fancie of unmeasurable extent and a judgment which so well governs both that he never speaks any thing in conversation of which he needs to repent But indeed his Wit is one of those which might well dispense with learning any thing because considering things in themselves their own reflections instruct them better than they can be by all the Books in the world For which cause Lucilius has spent no great number of years in study but Travel War the Court and his own Reason have been his Masters Nevertheless he has read very much and there are few excellent pieces of knowledge which he does not understand but he has read out of inclination and not out of obedience as ordinarily all young persons do that are design'd to be well educated However the Court War Travel and his own Reason have so well instructed him that 't is believ'd he owes all his accomplishments to learning so well he understands all things and speaks so rationally of every thing that can be offer'd to discourse Lucilius's particular virtue is an incomparable fortitude free from all the defects which are incident to the Valiant for he is a stranger to vanity He is gentle civil and moderate nor did ever any other hate false glory and love true so much as he Moreover Lucilius is of an admirable equal temper for his Friends always find him the same and though he appears serious and his constitution inclines a little to melancholy yet he loves all allowable pleasures The jollity and mirth of his Friends please and divert him to which he himself also contributes as much as they desire and is never refractory towards them Lucilius has a sense of honour and generosity and he is constant in Love and Friendship He has a firm Soul in adversity and whereas his Fortune has not been always happy but he has met with several difficult encounters been wounded and taken Prisoner in War travel'd both by Sea and Land his virtue has been seen to the proof and 't is known that he hath come off with honour in all occasions to which Fortune led him In brief Lucilius is valiant amongst the valiant learned amongst the learned gallant amongst the Gallants and equally prudent towards all His Natural inclination has always carried him to Poetry and Love and these two sentiments are so much the more ingrafted in his heart for that they subsist there one by another for if Love has caus'd him to make Verses in the beginning of his life I account it not impossible but that in case he lives to that age in which love is no longer in season his inclination towards Verses may also induce him to write of Love because Poetry and Love have such a sympathy that they can seldom be divided one from the other But I beseech you do not imagine that Lucilius makes such Verses as favour a little of the condition of the Authors which may perhaps be call'd Gentile Verses because for the most part persons of that Quality are not skill'd enough in such things to make them well More intelligent persons therein than my self profess that Lucilius composes Verses which might deserve Homer or Hesiod for their Author For there is a good Fancie Wit Strength and so charming a Harmony in them that all the world is ravish'd with them His descriptions are so handsome so Poetical and so Natural that you would think you verily beheld all that he represent If he paints the shadow of a Forest he deludes the imagination if he represents the Sea in a Tempest the Rocks and a Shipwrack the hearts of the Readers tremble at what he describes If he builds a stately Temple you would think Apollo himself had been the Architect of it and if he represents an unfortunate Lover his unhappinesses excite pity and sighs from his relation and because Sadness and Love together have a wonderful operation in Verse he very rarely separates them not but that when he is minded his Muse is agreeably debonair One of the most curious Wits of his age having made a very ingenious and gallant Dialogue after the example of Anacreon who made one between a Dove and a Passenger wherein he introduces a little Bird which returns every year in the Garden of one of his She-Friends this work afterward occasion'd Lucilius and Theomenes to compose the most delightful Verses in the world whose natural pleasant and sprightly Stile argues that nothing is impossible to them As for Love Lucilius understands all the exquisiteness of it and never was a Lover seen whose sentiments have been more tender than his He can love constantly even without being lov'd absence rather augments than diminishes Love in his Soul and 't is not easie for infidelity itself to extinguish a passion in his breast He loves with ardour and respect he makes himself pleasures and torments which other Lovers would not think of and he has sentiments so full of Love that no other ever had the like I have heard him say that one day being at Sea a terrible Tempest arose which almost sunk the Ship he was in in view of a Castle which stands upon a Rock at the foot of which there was great likelihood it would be wrack'd for the wind violently drive it on that side and the Rudder was broken In this condition knowing that his Mistress was in that Castle instead of abandoning his mind to fear like the rest or so much as minding what course the Marriners took to preserve themselves from perishing he lean'd against the foot of the Mast and took pleasure in thinking that if he were Shipwrackt in that place the waves might carry his body to the foot of the Rock where his Mistress going oftentimes to walk might see it and bedew it with her tears and this thought so wholly possest him that he observ'd nothing at all that was done to resist the tempest But through excess of love he slighted the danger and death it self But in fine 't is enough to tell you that Lucilius can be as
are many times the causes of great disquiet That 's certain answer'd Berelisa but withal they cause a thousand pleasures Believe me said Clidamira neither all the ambitious nor all the prejudic'd are known but sometimes we see people that make shew of not being so who affect to despise ambition to satisfie that which they have in their hearts However it be said Amilcar I think men are not frequently deceiv'd who believe themselves always liable to error and the surest way is to judge affirmatively of nothing upon apparences But to return again to Telantus he is complacent and civil he loves company and particularly that of Ladies and I can assure you that if he pleases he will write you pleasant Letters as much Priest as he is for I conceive this faculty is never lost after 't is once gotten I have further to tell you that Telantus believes as well as I that 't is no easie matter to find a great contentment without the assistance of Fortune Thus fair Berelisa you see what a person the illustrious Telantus is it remains for you to tell me whether you would have me write to him You will do me a very great pleasure in so doing answer'd she For my part said Clidamira I shall be glad to see him but according to the character you give of him I think I shall not speak to him about my dreams After this Artemidorus went away but though Berelisa knew he would give Clidamira no new opportunity to speak to him yet she was not fully satisfi'd with him because she was solicitous to have him give her an account of what Clidamira said when she spoke to him apart So that she look'd a little coldly upon him as he went out which though his heart reproacht him with nothing gave him some discontent and therefore he writ to her the next morning But he that carri'd the Letter being stopt by the way Berelisa was gone her journey towards Praeneste with Clidamira and Anacreon Artemidorus not being yet in a condition to travel Nevertheless to repair the fault of him that he sent he caus'd a slave of notable wit to depart immediately to Praeneste and carry Berelisa her first Letter accompany'd with another In the mean time Amilcar continu'd to seek out ways to serve Aronces and so did Herminius and all the virtuous gallants of Rome excepting Horatius who how generous soever could not be sorry for the unhappiness of his Rival As for Zenocrates his secret jealousie caus'd him to avoid speaking of Aronces as much as he could for fear it should be observ'd that he was less his friend than formerly But though Amilcar would not altogether renounce his jollity yet there were some hours wherein he was pensive at least if not sad For besides the imprisonment of Aronces and the trouble in which Plotina was his mind was extremely perplex'd by an order brought him by an African lately arriv'd to return to Carthage He lov'd Plotina as much as it is possible to love he had Friends at Rome very dear to him and he had an especial Friend in his own Country who at that time had great need of him Thus duty towards his Master affection to his Friend the interest of Aronces and the love he had for Plotina sufficiently divided his heart to cause those that knew him well to observe some little alteration in his humour Plotina soon perceiv'd it and at first thought his resentment of Aronces's danger was the only cause of his discontent and loving Clelia very well he was sensibly concern'd in her sorrow as indeed Amilcar was extremely affected with the unhappinesses of Aronces and Clelia But as love makes an exact discovery of the sentiments of the person lov'd Plotina at length knew Amilcar's disturbance proceeded from some cause of his own At which being troubled Whence comes it Amilcar said she to him that I see something in your countenance which seems to tell me you are sad Alas amiable Plotina answer'd he I see I can hide nothing from you for I intended to dissemble the discontent which I have in my breast But since you have discover'd it I must let you know that love does not torment me only in Italy it persecutes me also in Africa in the person of an illustrious Friend who is become unhappy by it I knew all the beginning of his love and was something concern'd in it but since I departed out of Africa some things have befallen him which excite me to pity him and afflict me so much the more for that I believe my presence is absolutely necessary to redress the fortune of my Friend Nevertheless the affection I have for you is so strong that I know not whether the command of a Master and the misfortunes of a Friend will be sufficient to oblige me to make a voyage into Africa I say a Voyage Madam added he because at this present I account Rome my Country for a Lover has no other but that of his Mistress That which you say is very obliging reply'd Plotina but being I am equitable and generous I will not cause you to be deficient either to your Prince or to your Friend All that I desire of you is that you will not depart till we be return'd to Rome and Aronces be acquitted We hope this will shortly be effected for the Queen of Hetruria the Princess of the Leontines the generous Melintha and the amiable Hersilia have signifi'd to my sister and me this morning that they were going this day to make their utmost instance with Porsenna I promise you more than you desire Madam said he to her for I engage not to depart at all unless you command me As he was speaking thus Valeria enter'd and told them Lucilius had sent word that all the Friends of Aronces were gone to intercede so urgently with Porsenna in his behalf that a happy success was to be expected thereby Which news something satisfying the minds of these two amiable Virgins Plotina told Valeria what Amilcar had said to her and then intreated him to declare what unhappiness it was that had befallen his friend he spoke of Since the misfortunes of others sometimes a little solace our own said he I will content your curiosity and no doubt you will agree that my Friend is to be pity'd that love is the same in all places and that there is no infelicity so great but that another may be found like it After this Valeria and Plotina knowing that Clelia was with Hermilia gave order that none should interrupt them and then Amilcar began to speak in these terms The History of Cloranisbes and Lysonice YOu have heard me speak so much of Carthage and you are so well inform'd of all that relates to my Country of which the persons are whom I am to speak of that I shall in a manner wholly forbear to speak any thing of the Original of Utica its manners magnificence customs or gallantry being the same with those
endeavour to discover the truth if he does not his disobedience will argue his guilt The Prince judging this advice of the Princess reasonable sent an express order to Cloranisbes to come forthwith to him and to resign the command of the Forces to another whom the Prince nam'd to him But at the same time that this order was dispatcht away this subtle Princess oblig'd those false Friends of Cloranisbes whom she had suborn'd and treacherous Domesticks to write to him to beware of coming So that when Cloranisbes receiv'd the Prince's order he received four tickets which extremely perplex'd him for in the first he found only these words Very bad offices have been done you here have a care and distrust all things In another The Prince is much incensed against you the Princess excuses you as much as she is able but cannot appease him take care of your affairs and your safety There was also a third in which Cloranisbes found these words Your destruction is design'd Cloranisbes therefore do not trust to your innocence for they which have power to ruine the innocent make them criminal when they please But that which astonisht Cloranisbes most was the fourth which spoke thus If you obey the Princes Order you cannot escape imprisonment or death this is all that can be told you by a Friend who hazards his own fortune to save you You may judge Madam in what a perplexity Cloranisbes was for he did not mistrust those who gave him this advice But that which wholly perswaded him to think himself lost was that the Princess of Carthage having cunningly caus'd a rumor to be spread in Utica that if Cloranisbes came he should be arrested he receiv'd also twenty other adviso's and particularly one from so faithful a Friend that he could not doubt of it Yet his own inclination led him to trust to his innocence and to go to the Prince But having consulted two very prudent friends whom he had in the Army they disswaded him from it But if I do not obey said Cloranisbes I render my self suspected and become culpable Believe me answer'd one of those that counsel'd him 't is better for a man to render himself suspected than miserable but to take a middle course in this extremity and to testifie that you design not to render your self Master of the Forces leave the Army and go towards Utica and whereas you have a house upon the frontier feign your self sick write to the Prince that assoon as you recover you will go to him and in the mean time your friends will do their utmost to discover what you are accus'd of and justifie you to the Prince This counsel seeming very prudent to Cloranisbes he oppos'd his own inclination and follow'd the advice of his friends So he left the Army made shew of intending to go Utica feign'd himself sick when he was at his house upon the frontier and writ to the Prince after the manner that he was counsell'd But at the same time he answer'd all those that had given him intelligence and conjur'd them to send him what they could learn Wherefore they that betray'd him shewing his Letters to the Princess who endeavour'd to destroy him she made use of them to perswade the Prince that he was not really sick and to inform him what a curiosity he had to know all that was spoken of him at Utica For though he spoke in his Letters as being innocent yet they contributed something to make him seem culpable because they imply'd that he was not very sick that he was desirous of intelligence and durst not trust himself But to make the matter worse this subtle Princess pretending to be his Friend sent one of her own Physicians to him to the end that if he were in health as she believ'd he might inform the Prince of it and that if he were sick she might make him report that he was not Now for that a Feaver is not to be had at pleasure Cloranisbes took his bed indeed and carried himself like a sick man but the Physician found that he was in health and reported so to the Prince who no longer doubting but that Cloranisbes was guilty was so exasperated against him that all the intercessions of his true friends could not hinder the Prince from sending to forbid him coming near to Utica for the house where Cloranisbes stay'd was upon the frontier So that Cloranisbes was banisht without knowing the cause of this severity against him At first he was extremely afflicted but having a great and firm Soul he took a resolution on a sudden and writ to his Friends to desire them not to trouble themselves further about making his peace assuring them that he found his heart strong enough to be able to live in solitude and enjoy himself without being concern'd with the rest of the world 'T is true there was a wise old man who contributed much to cause him to take this resolution for going to see one of his friends a days journey from his own house he lost his way and went cross the corner of a Forest And finding a mountainous and barren Countrey beyond he perceiv'd some miserable Shepherds tilling a little corner of ground between the Rocks and observ'd a venerable old man who liv'd in a Cave not far off and who with a countenance both melancholy and serene said to them as he beheld them Alas poor people beware of rendring your fields fruitful leave your land uncultivated if you love quiet for if your Countrey become good you will soon have War Cloranisbes who stopt to ask the way having heard what this venerable old man said seem'd surpris'd at it and turning towards him Tell me I pray said he for what reason you would make a desart of the Countrey you dwell in Because answer'd he solitude is always inseparable from desarts barrenness upholds solitude vertue and peace are in solitude preserv'd and felicity found if it be possible for men to be capable of it This old man who was a Greek though he spoke the African tongue and whose name was Andronodorus spoke this with so grave an air that Cloranisbes believ'd that perhaps the Gods had caus'd him to meet with him for his comfort Wherefore lighting from his horse and giving him to the slave which follow'd him he drew Andronodorus apart and askt him who he was where he liv'd what had caus'd the aversion which he had against the World My Lord said he to him I was born at Samos and I was banisht by Polycrates when he usurp'd the Soveraign Power because he knew well I could not submit So I departed from my Countrey with all that I could carry in a Ship intending to see if it were possible for the monsters of Africa to be more inhumane than the men of my Countrey For in truth my Lord I acknowledge to the shame of mankind I never found any thing but weakness folly injustice and wickedness in all places where
not to be wonder'd at being more truly amorous than yours Be it how it will said the Prince I love Lysonice and if she be willing to love me and Cloranisbes to resign her to me I will marry her with joy and I declare to you there is nothing which I will not attempt to cause my design to succeed Anherbal spoke many things further to avert the Prince from this resolution but they were to no effect But that he might have more frequent occasion of seeing Lysonice he recall'd the Princess of Carthage to Court who was ravish'd to observe the Prince's passion because she hop'd to make use of it to be reveng'd on Cloranisbes whom she did not affect To which purpose she made a thousand caresses to Lysonice and sent to invite her to her continually Cloranisbes soon perceiv'd the passion of the prince and the design of the princess so that he was extremely afflicted at it and could not keep himself from appearing sad what resolution soever he had to dissemble his discontent Whereupon Lysonice believing he was jealous was much offended in her mind at it because she could not endure to be suspected In the mean time the prince's passion augmenting every day he resolv'd to discover it to Lysonice and so afterwards to speak to Cloranisbes of it in case he found any favourable disposition in the mind of this fair person Being it is always easie for a Soveraign to find occasion of speaking in private he soon had one to open his passion to Lysonice though indeed it fell out naturally enough after a conversation which I am going to relate to you The prince found Lysonice at the lodgings of the princess of Carthage where there were also Pasilia Delisia and divers other Ladies Anherbal was there too and several men of quality Cloranisbes who attended on the prince seeing Lysonice arrive would have gone away that he might not see such things in the eyes of his Master as would extremely displease him though he was not jealous But the Princess of Carthage maliciously detain'd him upon a pretext of having something to speak with him about for she liv'd very civilly with him though she hated him At first the discourse was about an insurrection which was at that time at Carthage but insensibly passing from policy to Love it came to be question'd Who is the most unhappy a Lover that receives a thousand favours from his Mistress and is jealous of her or one that obtains none other and has no jealousie at all For my part said the prince I put no comparison between these for I account it the greatest of all unhappinesses not to be lov'd at all and to obtain no favour from the person who is lov'd Though I am not jealous answer'd Cloranisbes nevertheless my Lord I am of an opinion contrary to yours and strongly perswaded that a jealous Lover will be a thousand times more miserable though he obtain a thousand favours than he who obtains nothing if he be free from jealousie What reply'd the prince do you conceive a greater infelicity in love than not to be lov'd at all and to desire a thousand things which you dare not hope Ha! my Lord answer'd Cloranisbes there is nothing so bold as hope and nothing so impossible which a man who loves ardently cannot hope So that in his greatest torments he makes a comfort to himself which does not forsake him the future seems more agreeable to him than the present and hope never abandoning him he is never altogether miserable But on the contrary a favour'd Lover who is jealous has nothing but fear for an inseparable companion Every thing causes him to fear every thing disquiets and afflicts him and the very favours which he receives becoming suspected to him he imagines then when he is favour'd he is deluded and that he is not treated well but only to be betray'd All which you say is very cruel reply'd the Prince but do you count it nothing to be continually in fear of being never favour'd at all 'T is a very severe sentiment answer'd Cloranisbes but nothing near that which causes a perpetual fear of losing that which we enjoy and think we have purchas'd with a thousand services and can never lose without injustice Inasmuch as the fancy always magnifies all sorts of pleasures reply'd the Prince I conceive that a man not hoping to obtain the sweetnesses which he imagines infinite is more miserable than he who fears to lose a good which he knows what it is Ha! my Lord cry'd Cloranisbes assoon as the advantageous pre-conceiv'd opinion ceases in love love it self ceases and jealousie would cease also if it could But whereas on the contrary that prepossession of the imagination increases at the same measure that jealousie does a man by continuing jealous comes at length not only to believe that the good which he enjoys is the greatest of all goods but withal to perswade himself that all the people in the world believe it such desire it seek after it and are ready to ravish it from him Judge therefore my Lord if there be any comparison between an unhappy Lover free from jealousie and a favour'd Lover who is jealous No answer'd the Prince there is none for an unhappy Lover without jealousie is so much the more jealous in that he can never cause his unhappiness to cease because it does not depend on himself Whereas a jealous Lover and who is jealous without cause needs only to make a great resolution and to make use of his reason to cure his evil Ha! my Lord cry'd Cloranisbes again you ill understand jealousie if you believe a jealous man able to cure himself of the evil which persecutes him On the contrary he increases it every instant by false conjectures ill deduc'd consequences a thousand groundless suspicions continual fears causless reflexions and imaginations void of all probability A jealous man accounts nothing impossible he believes he sees what he does not see he believes he hears what he does not hear there is not one of his senses but is liable to betray him and his very reason being perverted by his fancy and no longer understanding the art to distinguish truth from falshood serves further to delude him and render him more miserable You speak so well of jealousie said the Princess of Carthage maliciously that certainly you must needs have been very jealous I say have been added she for the vertue of Lysonice is too great to permit you to be so still and she is too fair to suspect you of having any other affection Lysonice blusht at this discourse and to hide her colour turn'd away her head and fell to speak to Anherbal As for Cloranisbes he said gallantly enough that the question was not about a jealous Husband but a jealous Lover and that in what manner soever the case were considered he was wholly unconcern'd in the contestation After this there came some Ladies who caus'd the conversation
esteem'd Know then Madam said Theomenes Hersilia is of a very comely and agreeable stature Her hair is the fairest brown in the World her visage oval her eyes large and handsome and of something a darkish blew which renders them more sparkling and agreeable She has a handsome mouth pure teeth and the air and cast of a sprightly person of a person of condition and of a person of the Court Her Physiognomy is noble there is lustre and delicateness in her beauty she has no affectedness neither in her looks nor words nor actions and though she has sometimes I know not what little discontented and fierce air yet it serves rather to render her amiable than diminish her Charms Her gracefulness is enforc'd she dresses her self very exquisitely and especially her head to the best advantage without shewing too much or too little art therein One thing is very peculiar to Hersilia namely that without appearing morose never any other Beauty was so averse from all thoughts of Gallantry In effect all the Court renders homage to her vertue and has an extraordinary esteem for her Hersilia's heart is naturally very noble and her mind of good temper she sees things as they are and acts always as she ought She is naturally magnificent too and generous she is faithful secret and discreet and though she is not the freest person in the world of her caresses nevertheless she is always very civil She loves few people ardently although otherwise she is a very generous Friend She is much affected with merit and carefully seeks all opportunities to serve such as are deserving She understands handsome composures exactly and without making ostentation of her wit they that write Verses well cannot judge of them better than she She is skill'd in divers Foreign Languages she speaks very agreeably and there is something I know not what so charming both in her person and in her mind that she cannot be too much extoll'd Having a considerable charge under the Queen she has many times occasion to give proofs of her conduct address and judgment but whatever occasion she meets with she always comes off with glory and it may be said in brief that Hersilia is a Lady infinitely amiable When she does not esteem any one she is sufficiently put to 't to conceal it and she is more absolutely Mistress of her inclination than of her aversion Her piety is solid and not like theirs who affect a certain outside austerity which scarce ever reaches to the heart and it may be said without untruth Hersilia is so accomplisht that no greater perfections can be desir'd in any person Moreover she is highly respected by the generous Artander her husband who has an eminent Office and a very considerable Government under the King and who no doubt deserves to have such a vertuous wife as Hersilia For he is of an illustrious family has an heroick mind great judgment and capacity to manage the most difficult affairs He is honorable just and valiant as any mortal can be he has done several great and glorious actions in the Wars which have acquir'd him a fair renown But his valour produces neither vanity nor pride nor insolence in him and no man can be found that exceeds him in modesty and prudence He has some backwardness in his first addresses but being very civil too his serious humor does not disoblige any and in fine it may be concluded that if Hersilia is worthy of Artander Artander is worthy of Hersilia All which Theomenes has spoken is so true said Telanus that if he be deficient in any thing 't is in not speaking enough of those two excellent persons I acknowledge it answer'd Theomenes but the cause of it is because I am so accustom'd to the modest humor of Hersilia who will never have any to commend her that I dare not so much as praise her in her absence so great a fear I have of stirring up that amiable little frowardness which she is sometimes in railery reproacht with and withal which so well becomes her But I would know said Amilcar whether the fair Hermilia who saw her and did not see her the day the Queen of Hetruria came hither has not heard that which Theomenes has spoken and not attended to him No answer'd this fair Virgin and I know now so well what a person Hersilia is that if I still took any care for the World I would with all my heart resemble her You have no doubt wherewith to comfort your self without resembling her said Plotina but 't is true if you ought to cease being such as you are you would have reason to desire to be such as she is since she is certainly a very love ◠and excellent person It needs be no wonder 〈…〉 the generous Melintha loves her so much Yet their humors are not alike said Amilcar but having both of them very prudent wits they never clash even in such things wherein they do not agree The truth is said Telanus Melintha is much taken with the delights of solitude which Hersilia does not care for but this diversity of sentiments produces only an innocent contest which occasions them to speak very agreeable things When Hersilia added Theomenes is for some days at a little place of retirement which my Sister much affects she reproaches her pleasantly for taking more pleasure in seeing from her Windows great Boats loaden with several Countrey-commodities pass by than in seeing some stately Horse-race For my part said Plotina I should side with Hersilia in this contest against Melintha And I should help Melintha said Valeria to defend her self against Hersilia For I think nothing more delightful than to see Boats afar off going to and fro upon a great River to behold the Flocks dispers'd in the Meadows the Shepherds playing upon some rustick Instrument and the Shepherdesses dancing at the corner of a Wood. Then you would like Melintha's little house well said Telanus for all things there are solitary Country-like and agreeable In what place is this lovely solitude demanded Valeria It is near Clusium answer'd Theomenes but I undertake not to describe it to you Telanus must do that if you desire to know what manner of place it is I willingly consent thereto reply'd Telanus for I confess to you I am extremely pleas'd with it Tell us then precisely how it is said Plotina but have a care what you speak for I advertise you Amilcar who hears you knows how to make the description of a handsome place admirably I am so accustom'd answer'd Telanus to yield to Amilcar that I shall not be surpris'd if I be inferiour to him in the art of making descriptions For my part said Amilcar I confess to you I shall be much troubled if you surpass me Happen what will said Telanus after he had been desir'd to represent the house of Melintha I shall tell you the solitude I am to describe has something so pleasing in it that all
For the last conversation Mutius had with Valeria made a deep impression upon him so that being desirous to try whether whilst she was at the Camp he could more easily bring Publicola to be favorable to him he went to him and spoke to him with an air so little submissive that it was apparent he behav'd himself like the deliverer of Rome At which Publicola being displeas'd answer'd him with a generous sincerity which cast him into despair for he so clearly intimated to him that he should not take his daughter from Herminius that he became desperate leaving Publicola in a great fury and soon after departed from Rome Whereby it was easie to judge that Love was a greater cause of his absence than any other consideration It was therefore resolv'd that Themistus and Artemidorus should go to Porsenna the next day and tell what they had understood from Publicola to the end Mutius's departure might no longer pass for an evidence against Aronces Not that what they had to say was a convincing truth but it was at least a favourable presumption and being they could do no better they did as people use to do in great misfortunes namely rather to do a hundred things unprofitably than fail of doing one thing which may be beneficial But whilst all in Rome or the two Camps were devising to destroy or save Aronces this unfortunate Prince indur'd the greatest torments an amorous heart which loves honour is capable of He saw himself accus'd of a horrid crime by a father whom he had deliver'd from a long imprisonment and whose life he had sav'd and by a father whom he respected still notwithstanding the injustice he did him But that which afflicted him most was that the letter he receiv'd from Clelia perswaded him either that she believ'd the accusation charg'd upon him or else accus'd him her self of something and to augment his grief he saw he had lost the Letter which might be of some ill consequence to him if it were in the hands of Porsenna so that his affliction was more than can be imagin'd But he did not suffer alone for Clelia's mind was more disquieted than ever any persons in the World She lov'd Aronces more than her self but she could not but believe or at least fear that he was unfaithful to her She wisht nothing with more ardor than to hear Porsenna was appeas'd and nevertheless she could not hear without indignation that Lysimena acted with that generous confidence which led her to speak to Porsenna whatever she believ'd might advantage Aronces without considering that this augmented Zenocrates's jealousie for being she knew her self innocent she conceiv'd it would be easie for her to justifie her self at any time and therefore she continued to act the same generosity in so important an occasion Which so disgusted Clelia that she almost wisht the prayers Lysimena made to Porsenna would take no effect that so Aronces might not owe his life and liberty to her Plotina and Valeria being the confidents of all her sorrows she spoke of nothing else to them when they were alone especially at nights for these three fair persons lay in the same place not but that it might be said that these twenty fair Romans were in one and the same Tent because they had communication one with another but nevertheless they had in a manner every one their own Clelia Valeria and Plotina being one evening together lamenting their misfortunes Clelia told her Friends she had still more cause to fear some greater than they knew of For I beheld said she to them or thought I beheld the virtuous Lucretia last night and I imagin'd too I heard her voice Being unhappy people said Valeria seldome have pleasing Dreams 't is not to be wonder'd if that dismal Idea came into your fancie 'T is true added she considering what befel her illustrious Lover these kind of advertisements seem not altogether to be rejected for if you remember Lucretia appear'd to him Tell us therefore in what manner you thought you beheld that fair but unfortunate Lady My discontents as you may imagine answer'd Clelia strangely possess my mind so that I never sleep but out of weariness Hereby it hapned that it was almost break of day before I shut mine eyes In this condition I know not whether my heaviness forc'd me to sleep or whether I was really awake but me thought I beheld a good great light which nevertheless was somewhat dusky too a moment after Lucretia appear'd to me fairer than ever I saw her her hair was dishevell'd she was cover'd with a large white Robe and held a bloody Ponyard in her hand In this posture methought I heard her voice which was something terrifying Flee Clelia flee said she to me but flee speedily for I advertise you that the Tyrant who caus'd me to have recourse to this Ponyard has a design against your honour as he had against mine Have recourse therefore to flight and bring not your self into the necessity of being oblig'd to have recourse to death After this the light disappear'd Lucretia vanish'd but the sound of her voice has made such an impression upon my mind that all this day I have done nothing else but think upon what I imagin'd I saw and heard and had not so much power as to tell it you besides having not seen you alone I was unwilling to speak of a thing which seems only fit to make me suspected of having a mind something weak Clelia had scarce done speaking this to her Friends when one of their Guards enter'd into their Tent with a certain hasty air which signifi'd he had some important matter to tell I beseech you Madam said he to Clelia pardon me the liberty I take of entring into your Tent if Lucilius or Telanus had been come back from the King I would have addressed my self to them but being they are not here and I cannot tell that which I have to say to him that commands us in their absence I address to you to advertise you that Sextus will carry you away by violence if you do not take care to prevent it I have not been able to learn whether he intends it this night or the next but I know infallibly he hath laid all his contrivances for that purpose several of my Companions are to be assistant to him he that commands us is his Creature he has Boats in readiness and is himself to serve in this violence Wherefore Madam conceiving I could never serve the Prince better than by serving you I come to give you this intelligence The business is urgent added he and I understand the design as fully as possibly one can But by what means came you to know it said Clelia much affrighted One of my companions Madam answer'd he who would have engag'd me in this criminal design told me of it and I made shew of consenting to it to the end I might give you notice of it Valeria Plotina and Clelia
me too as well as the rest Thereupon I laught heartily at the choler I had put Plotina into unawares for indeed she never lov'd that kind of commendation which regarded only the time to come You may judge by what I tell you that Plotina had a forward wit and was already very agreeable But in a little time she made it appear sufficiently and most of those that had made such advantageous predictions were in a condition to speak to her only of the present time and of the torments her beauty caus'd them to suffer This passage said Amilcar interrupting her puts me into the greatest fear in the world for I am ready to dye out of conceit that you are going to tell me Plotina has been lov'd by many more deserving persons than my self and I am afraid too you will inform me she has lov'd some one of my Rivals more than she loves me Do not fear so much as you pretend answer'd Cesonia lest I tell you Plotina has had more worthy Lovers than your self and for the rest you may judge what you ought to believe of it when I come to the end of my relation I shall therefore proceed to tell you added she that the merit of Plotina soon made a great report and she saw all those makers of predictions speak to her only of the time present Yet it must be said to the honour of Plotina that she did not suffer her self to be dazled with the applause of the World but with very great modesty receiv'd the first praises that were given her And indeed she was very debonair without folly pleasant without extravagance young without imprudence witty without pride and handsome without affectation Then it was that I began to converse with her as with a true Friend I first intrusted little trifling secrets to her and perceiving she us'd them discreetly I imparted to her the greatest secrets I had in my heart Whereby our friendship became so great and intimate that in speaking of us people were many times pleas'd to mention us by the name of the two Friends At that time there were very many worthy persons at Ardea for besides Turnus Periander and divers others there were three of undoubted merit The first was named Martius the second Lycastes and the third Clorantus This last has a noble but very sweet and civil aspect though sometimes his air seem a little cold and careless He has brown hair a very handsome head somewhat a long visage a pale complexion black and small eyes but nevertheless his looks are very ingenious and even his silence speaks him such for in discourse he hears like one who admirably well understands that which is spoken to him and who could speak more than he does All his deportments are such as become a man of his quality and his mind is perfectly fram'd for converse with the world he loves ingenious composures and their Authors he has a melancholy aspect and nevertheless loves all pleasures His Soul is naturally passionate and though the outside of his person and his mind speak him one of those faithful Lovers which the world so rarely affords yet he is always a serious wanton or if you will a tolerable inconstant for no doubt some are not such However he maintains confidently that he is faithful because he says he never deserted any woman who gave him not cause of complaint He is one of those who account it no infidelity to make little affections occasionally by the by which arise in their heart during their greater passions But this is constantly true where he loves he loves ardently he minds nothing but his passion he is very inclinable to jealousie he resents the least unpleasing things with a strange vehemence and in fine is acquainted with the greatest delights and the extremest rigours of love As for Martius he was a man who lov'd very passionately was incapable of relinquishing one Mistress to love another but whose affections could only abate by time He was very handsome infinitely ingenious and endu'd with a pleasing kind of wit And then for Lycastes he was a very agreeable person but he was naturally so inconstant that it was reckon'd amongst the wonders of Love if any one could engage him to love constantly once in his life Being we were known to all the virtuoso's of Ardea and there were few in the City more consider'd than Plotina and I we were present at all the Gallant Feasts which were made One was made at that time in honour of Circe who is termed Goodess in Homer in which were represented divers of those prodigious transformations which are attributed to her and in which Plotina appear'd so charming that her beauty and debonarity made the discourse of all persons That day she made two remarkable conquests which caus'd her to be call'd for some time after the new Circe For she who sometimes wrought such extraordinary changes by the vertue of simples whose proprieties she so admirably understood never did any more deserving wonder But to manifest this you must know that till that time Lycastes had made publick profession of being inconstant and that Martius had formerly been very amorous of a very fair Lady by whom he was also lov'd yet afterwards according to the general course of the world it was believ'd this passion was grown so temperate that it could be call'd love no longer without doing him a favour So that when she was dead he appear'd very much afflicted first but suffer'd himself to be comforted by time and his Friends and indeed it was thought he lamented her rather like a Friend than a Lover 'T is true after her death he had not appear'd amorous yea he seem'd very indifferent but at length on the day of this famous Feast of Circe Lycastes and Martius ceas'd to be what they had been before that is the first learnt to love constantly and the other ceas'd to be insensible and began to love again But such beginnings of love being usually not so discernible as to be known the first moment they attacque the heart Lycastes and Martius did not believe they could be very amorous of Plotina and their Friends perceiv'd it before themselves Now Plotina being of a free and merry humor these two Lovers were sufficiently at a loss for an occasion to give her seriously to understand they lov'd her when they perceiv'd it for she so handsomly put off all that they said to her that it might seem their love was nothing but a piece of Gallantry in which their hearts were unconcern'd But at length they found that they lov'd ardently For their passion began to manifest it self by jealousie they could no longer endure one another but with trouble they minded nothing but Plotina and how to please her They frequented none but her abandon'd all their acquaintances and in brief had nothing but their passions in their heads On the otherside Plotina having always been averse to Marriage and now
is not much to be wonder'd at for you do not give your Mistresses leisure to love you Ha! As for you amiable Plotina cry'd he I promise to give you all the leisure you can desire for I perceive I shall love you as long as I live If it be so answer'd she smiling I shall not be much displeas'd because it will give me occasion to revenge all those that you have deserted and to manifest that there may be eternal rigour as well as eternal love Plotina spoke this with a certain deriding air which sensibly afflicted Lycastes so that he could speak to her no more all the rest of the day because she joyn'd and continued with the rest of the company After that time Martius and Lycastes neglected nothing which they thought fit to do to please Plotina yet they continu'd a civil respect one towards another because they knew she desir'd it and nevertheless us'd all artifices to their mutual disadvantage Lycastes knowing Lucia had several Letters of Martius to his first Mistress and from her to him importun'd her to shew them to Plotina as she had the Elegy before And accordingly Lucia going to visit her one afternoon and finding her alone acted so cunningly that she made her curious to see the Letters she pretended to have I will shew you them said Lucia to Plotina but if you profit no better by them than by the Elegy which you have seen already no doubt I shall repent of it For is there any thing more ignoble than after the death of a person infinitely amiable and infinitely vertuous to see the most secret testimonies of her affection become publick through his negligence who receiv'd them I confess said Plotina if people could always think of being liable to this danger they would never write any thing but what might be seen by all the World but the mischief at the time such obliging Letters are pen'd they have so good an opinion of them to whom they are written that they fear not the falling out of such a misadventure There are some women no doubt who write all that they think through the reason you mention answer'd Lucia but there are others who out of natural imprudence and the desire to have flattering and courting Letters write not to one alone but to many men and spend one half of their lives in writing Love-letters and the other in receiving those of their gallants There are some too that know how to disguise their hands several ways and others who never write in their own that so they may deny all when they please As for these women said Plotina I allow that their Letters be shewn to all the World for certainly they are not worthy to be discreetly dealt withal But as for a vertuous person in whose heart is nothing but an innocent affection 't is inhumanity to publish such things of theirs as may be ill interpreted Yet this comes to pass so frequently that I think to refrain from writing any thing too kind 't is best to forbear to love for prudence is not much listened to by such as love and distrust is so contrary to perfect love that scarce any thing which is not criminal can be refus'd to a person that is lov'd I believe also that the more an affection is innocent the more the Letters are obliging for they that rely on their own innocence write with more liberty therefore to avoid being expos'd to such a great unhappiness and to forbear writing it is requisite for me as I said before to keep my self from loving But that I may be confirm'd in this sentiment added she shew me in what manner Martius writ to Lysimira and how Lysimira writ to Martius I will Madam said Lucia and the better to manifest to you how deceitful or inconstant men are I will shew you Letters written at divers times from Martius to Lysimira See here then a Letter which Martius writ to Lysimira some time after she had permitted him to love her and he had requested some slight favour of her which she refus'd him at which he seem'd angry and left her rudely And so Lucia read to Plotina that which I am going to read to you for I kept copies of all Martius's Letters because they appear'd to me very amorous Martius to Lysimira I Do not defer Madam to acknowledge repent of and beseech your pardon for my fault till you reproach me for it I have offended I confess I am culpable I cannot plead any thing in excuse of my capricio but excess of love For who am I Madam that I should not be contented that the divine Lysimira knows I love her though she give me no testimony of an affection equal to my own Have I deserv'd the other kindnesses you have had for me would not a thousand persons of greater merit than I be satisfied with the condition you permit me to enjoy Alas I cannot deny it But I beseech you Madam be not offended with me and add not more rigorous and cruel punishments to those I cause to my self If ever person lov'd more tenderly more respectfully and more ardently than I I am willing that you refuse the pardon to me which I desire of you but since that cannot be grant it me Madam and believe I shall with eternal fidelity own the command you have laid upon me to be faithful Yet I cannot divine wherefore you recommended it more to me the other day than at any time before but can you divine that I am more so this day than ever I was in my life when you tell me your secret I will tell you mine But alas whe shall I have the joy to speak to you I know I shall this day have the honour to see you but in a place where I can do nothing less than entertain you with my love Pity me therefore Madam pity me and imagine how great a torment it would be to you if you were oblig'd to hide the most violent and innocent passion in the World I confess said Plotina Martius's Letter is very amorous and 't is hard to conceive how a man that writ in this manner could cease to love without cause See this other Letter answer'd Lucia for 't is something more passionate than the first and accordingly Plotina read this following Martius to Lysimira HOw I love you Madam what an amiable person you are and from how great pains has your Letter of this morning deliver'd me What can I do to repay you as much joy as it has given me Tell me Madam for if no more but dying for your service be requisite I will not refuse it Nothing can equal the delight of being lov'd by the most excellent person of the World and being I love you as I do I am sometimes extremely sorry you cannot receive a pleasure equal to mine But I beseech you Madam let this pleasure accompany me to the grave let Fortune never ravish it from me but make
appears so impossible that I have not the power to wish it and all that I can say is that this immortality is to be prefer'd to that of Writings You have reason reply'd a man who had the whole air of a profess'd Scholar of which the world is full therefore without wishing immortality which belongs to the Gods alone I should wish only to be very learned and to be able to understand all Nature For there would be great pleasure in a perfect knowledge of the Sun Moon and Stars in penetrating into the Centre of the Earth there to the production of gold in knowing the Qualities and Virtues of Minerals Plants Herbs and being skill'd even in the knowledge of the least Cockles in the Sea and the least Flies upon the Earth great trees shrubs monsters domestick Animals Seas Rivers Brooks and Fountains and to be ignorant of none of all Natures operations That which you say is admirable answer'd Amilcar but though this wish is one of the best that can be made yet it ought not to be abus'd For I once knew a man who understood as well as possible the situation and course of the Stars who admirably knew Simples who discours'd very well of the nature of Winds who had observ'd that the salt of Agrigentum contrary to the manner of all other salt of the world hardens in the Water and melts in the Sun that there are Pismires in certain Countries like Elephants who discours'd very well of the Rainbow who knew even the particularities of the love of Crocodiles and who for all this was a sottish man his mind was always in Heaven or the Abyss of the Earth or the bottom of the Sea to find out the secrets of Nature and never was where it ought to be He knew a hundred thousand things which were not necessary but knew not that his wife was a wanton and in fine he was ignorant in morality and the art of living decently in the world which is a thousand times more necessary to be known than the love of Crocodiles All the Company having laugh'd at what Amilcar said some time pass'd without any wishing but at length a very accomplisht man of Ceres said his wish was more reasonable than that of all the rest since he wisht nothing but to be lov'd by that which he lov'd This wish is very reasonable answer'd Amilcar but being you seem sufficiently worthy to be lov'd you might rather have made another wish and left it to your merit to cause you to obtain that which you desire As for me said a sprightly young person I would wish to be able to live without sleep for t is a great loss of time I confess it answer'd Amilcar but however though all the World sleeps every day yet they have time enough to be weary and therefore sleep if you will take my Counsel But that you may sleep with pleasure added he smiling and have delightful Dreams suffer an accomplisht man who does not displease you to say to you every day I love you and no doubt you will find no cause to complain of sleep more For my part said a man of good years I should greatly desire to be a wise Law-giver like Solon Lycurgus Zamolxis and divers others This wish is something commendable answer'd Amilcar but I confess if I were a great and illustrious Maker of Laws I should have great regret in foreseeing that infallibly they would be ill observ'd for there is such a great perversness amongst men that as soon as a Law is made all that ought to follow it seek only how to infringe it with impunity And besides to speak truth I account it more glorious to obey the Law than to have made it for it is much easier to command in such occasions than to obey and moreover 't is a general maxime that good actions are worth more than good words After this there remain'd only Amilcar and the old Tuscan Soothsayer who had wishes to make But this venerable old man would make no wish at all and said men were too blind to know what good was fit for them after which he continu'd to hear attentively what was said in the Company It was then requir'd of Amilcar to make his wish as others had done I will answer'd he but I must first see whether all the Company have wish'd and so he taking writing-Tables he set down on one side all the wishes of the Ladies and on the other all those of the men in this manner The Wishes of the Ladies To be the handsomest Person in the world To be extremely lov'd and not love at all or very little To be always with Persons one loves and to converse with no others To see what is in the hearts of all the World To be invisible To be an accomplisht man in stead of being an accomplisht woman To be immortal To be able to live without sleep The Wishes of the Men. To be a King To be as rich as one would To be always in health To be a subduer of Monsters like Hercules and a Deliverer of Kingdoms and ravish'd Ladies To be sensible of all pleasures without exception To desire nothing To be the best Wit in the World Not to be amorous To be always in love To be the most valiant man in the World To be the most eloquent To be the author of ingenious composures which may descend to posterity To have no Enviers To be very Learned To be lov'd by whom we love To be a wise Law-giver When Amilcar had writ down all these Wishes he first counted them and then the whole company and found there was none but himself to wish wherefore being much urg'd to speak he answer'd that it was not a thing to be done with precipitation for since said he the business is to make a Wish I will make one so great that imagination cannot go beyond it for to think to desire one thing which may suffice to render a man happy is a strange mistake Therefore to make a handsome Wish I will make a handsome story and tell you in particular how I would be if I were master of my Destiny and events Assuredly said Clidamira he is going to wish to be lov'd by an hundred thousand fair persons at once Pardon me Madam answer'd Amilcar I am not and I declare to you that I renounce my debonair humor for an hour only and am going to speak sincerely to you and in the greatest earnestness in the world Know then that for a more noble reason than that I mention'd at the beginning of this conversation though I could dispose my lot as I pleas'd I would not be born a King for I account it no great glory to do no more but succeed a father and I think it is something more sweet for a man to be the builder of his own grandeur and to owe nothing but to himself You would then be a conqueror reply'd Clidamira which many times signifies
an Usurper By no means said Amilcar and I have at present a greater fancy than that but I beseech you suffer me to speak my friend and then let the company judge of my Wish Know then I would be neither King nor conquering Usurper but as for birth I would be of a Royal race and that the changes which arrive successively in the world had my family and left me scarce any other advantage besides nobility of bloud I would be also descended of vertuous Parents and be indu'd with great vertue my self I confess too I would be a handsome personage have a noble air a happy physiognomy and a very high aspect As for Wit I would have an infinite portion but especially of that of the chief order capable of great things of governing Nations counselling Kings and knowing all the interests of Monarchies the means to manage great Wars and the art of grand Negotiations of penetrating into the secrets of all hearts and above all I would have the faculty of perswading which is almost the most necessary of all for one that is in the highest imployments I would also in the beginning of my life go to the War and give proofs of my courage and to raise my self a reputation on the sudden I would have Fortune by some extraordinary way cause me to be between two Armies ready to joyn Battel and that for the first essays of my address and eloquence I had the pleasure to cause these two enemy-Armies to lay down their Arms and the glory to establish peace between two great Princes In the next place I would wish there were a Kingdom which were the sanctuary of the Sciences and excellent Arts in which there were a great and excellent Minister who by a thousand glorious actions had merited the admiration of all the earth to the end that being lov'd and esteem'd by him I might of a sudden come to be consider'd in that great state Moreover I should take an extreme pleasure if the Gods pleas'd that he di'd before me that he left me to the King his Master as a faithful servant and capable of assisting him to support the burden of affairs and to complete my happiness I would that that King at his death left me the government of the young Prince which were to succeed him together with that of the whole State But to signalize my Government the more I would have a great War to manage and that shortly after the death of the King there were divers Cities taken and many Battels won Yet I would not have Fortune always favourable to me and have none but easie successes and without obstacles On the contrary I would see my Victories on a sudden interrupted by some great Insurrection of the people I would I say that the Commotion beginning in the heart of the State I saw almost the whole Kingdom risen against me and had a foreign and a civil War to manage at once But in making this Wish I would at the same time perfectly understand the art to yield sometimes to the Tempest thereby to save the Ship from perishing and be able to re-establish a general calm and cause the young Prince I serv'd to reign with glory without employing that bloudy policy which is always follow'd with terrour and dread But after I had calm'd this great storm within the State I would win a thousand new advantages over the foreign enemies take many important Cities and gain divers Battels and then to crown all these grand actions with the most heroick action that ever was I would after so many happy successes form the design of a Peace upon the field of Victory But the more agreeably to surprise all the earth I would make a great secret of this important negotiation which should pass only between my self and the Minister of the King against whom the War was and at length when the Nations durst scarce hope a Peace they should understand it was made But for the conclusion of this peace I would not be unwilling to be a while in some small Island conferring with the Minister of the enemies to the end I might in that place see Nations Princes and Kings await with ardency the resolutions which should be taken in that little corner of earth Moreover I would corroborate this Peace by a happy Marriage of the young King I serv'd and a fair Princess daughter of the enemy-King that so thenceforth I might see peace plenty and pleasures return together establish safety both on Land and Sea reconcile to the interests of the State some illustrious Heroe whom Fortune had separated from them and finally render the whole world happy And to accomplish my own felicity I would not marry at all but I would there were a State in the world where the Prince reign'd by the election of the greatest and the wisest and that I were advanc'd to that place to reign there all the rest of my life But I would also that that Soveraignty had some kind of authority over all others and that I had power then to continue peace amongst all the Kings of the world Thus not being born a King I should reign innocently and boast of having enjoy'd glory in all the different manners it can be possest Ah! Amilcar cry'd the old sage Soothsayer who had scarce spoken before it belongs to you only to wish I think you are inspir'd by heaven for having consulted the Lots to know what will be the destiny of Rome now Tarquin is expell'd thence I have found that it will one day be subject to a man of the same name with one of the first ancestors of Romulus to such a man as you desire to be who shall be descended from the ancient Kings of Sicily But this will not come to pass till a long time after Rome shall have been a triumphant Common-wealth and shall have been once again govern'd by Soveraigns amongst which many Heroes shall be counted This man spoke thus with such Majestie that himself seem'd really inspir'd and his discourse made such an impression upon the minds of all that heard him that they doubted not but what he said would one day be accomplish'd and all the company confess'd that it was not possible to wish any thing more great and glorious and that all their own wishes together deserv'd not to be compar'd to the destiny of that great man But whilst they were speaking thus the old Soothsayer sate down again in his place and return'd to his ordinary silence without concerning himself longer in what the company discours'd of which soon after broke up and retir'd The next morning Amilcar went to the Temple of Fortune of which he admir'd the beauty and magnificence In divers parts of this Temple this Goddess was seen represented in many various manners and all round about it were seen great Tables in which all the events she uses to cause were pourtray'd sometimes advancing the little and depressing the great In one
to do it for I conjure you to keep this inclosed Letter for the most admirable Clelia but that it may not be a breach of that fidelity which you owe unto my Rival I do not desire you to deliver it unto her until she hath made my Rival most happy This being all I ask of you I dare hope that you will not deny me this office since I do not desire it may be done me until fortune hath put me into a capacity of meriting the compassion of my Rival I hint not a syllable to you of him for what can that man say of him who hath found in the person of Aronces all that can possibly move the highest friendship and the highest hatred Adien Pity me since you may safely do it without offence note my Rival and your Friend and believe that you could never pity a person who doth more merit it than my self When Celeres had received and read this Letter he was much surprised and the more because that directed unto Clelia was sealed however since he was not desired to deliver it until Aronces was first happy he did not scruple at the doing of this Office for the Rival of his Friend But as he was ruminating upon this adventure Aronces comes suddenly into the Chamber and sees Adherbals Letter unto Clelia upon the Table this sight much amazing him he asked Celeres in all hast whether he knew where she was and how it came about that the Prince of Numidia directed this Letter unto him for he knâ—w his hand Celeres perceiving the agitation of his Spirits and Adherbal not having obliged him to conceal it from Aronces he shewed him the Letter of his unfortunate Lover and acquainted him with his departure for till then he knew not of it Aronces recollecting himself by degrees as he read this Letter Alas alas Celeres said he unto him after he had read it I am afraid that you must never deliver my Rivals Letter unto Clelia since you must not deliver it until she hath made me happy No sooner had he said so but a fresh gust of apprehension rowsing his thoughts he lamented the absence of Adherbal in a thought that perhaps he might come to find out Clelia Yet notwithstanding Celeres so convinced him that he was perswaded the absence of Adherbal would be advantageous unto him For truly Sir said he unto him amongst many other reasons there is not a more intollerable torment under the Sun than to have a Rival whom virtue compels one to love and whom love compels one to hate to be perpetually in ones eye 'T is right Celeres said he unto him but this is not the first time that such a passion as mine hath hurried a man into unreasonable thoughts Whilst this Prince was thus talking he held in his hand his Rivals Letter unto his Mistress and looked upon it as if his looks would have broke open the Seal after restoring it hastily unto Celeres take it Celeres said he and keep it lest a spark of jealousie should force me to open it And that my fidelity may be the more manifest I will be faithful unto an unfortunate Lover and Rival let my desire of seeing what he hath written unto Clelia be never so great So Celeres took the Letter and told his friend that had he offered to have opened it he would have given a stop to his curiosity After which Sicanus being come and telling them that the Princess of the Leontines prepared her self to go next morning unto Perusia and transact in the service of Aronces they went both together unto her Chamber where Celeres related all passages shewing them the Prince of Numidia's Letter and applauded the power which Aronces had over himself in not opening that Letter which his Rival writ unto Clelia though he had a most strong desire unto it Were it possible to esteem Aronces more than I do replied the Princess of the Leontines doubtless I should for I do think no quality under Heaven more laudable than fidelity is especially when it is preserved in such cases wherein it is easie to be otherwise or where good excuses may be had or examples to authorize infidelity How many men are there in the World who never use to make the least scruple of opening all the Letters which come unto their hands who invent devices how to open and then shut them again unperceivedly and who have such a general curiosity to be prying into all manner of Letters that no Seal escapes them As the Princess of the Leontines was saying so Aurelia entred and no sooner entred but Sicanus addressed himself unto the Princess of the Leontines Madam said he unto her if you desire to be informed further of their curiosity who love to be opening Letters I beseech you intreat Aurelia to tell you for she is acquainted with a fair Lady whom you Madam also know that put such tricks upon her and therefore since she is better able to inform you then I am I will leave it unto her to tell you all the passages of it So Sicanus having Letters to write unto Perusia he went out and left Aurelia to supply his place who did become it excellently well for she apprehending at first the business did smilingly ask the Princess of the Leontines whether it was concerning the opening of any Letters for if it be added she none in the World can give a better account of such a matter then my self unless I have forgotten though for my part I have renounced ever making use of any such ways as heretofore have brought upon me abundance of delight and as much sorrow The Question replied the Princess of the Leontines is not concerning the opening of any Letter but whether we ought absolutely to condemn or excuse such Men as are so inquisitive as to open them such as make a mock at those who are so scrupulously faithful as not to open the Letters of their very enemies although they were perswaded they contained some concernments of themselves Madam replied Aurelia I am able to give you all those fond and false reasons which are alledged by those who are inquisitive for a friend of mine hath instructed me in the Art Aurelia had no sooner said so but the Lady of whom she spoke entred for she living within three miles of the Thrasimenian Lake towards the Isle of Saules she used often to visit Aurelia also she had seen the Princess of the Leontines two or three times Yet this Princess never before knew of her humour in opening Letters because no occasion concerning it did present it self but as soon as she was entred Aurelia knowing her humour and also knowing that she affected raillery and that she did not think she did ill in opening all the Letters which came under her hands she told her that she came in a very good time to help her out in the maintenance of a good cause For truly said she unto her as I was
boasting of my skill in opening and shutting of Letters they would needs perswade me that I put my self unto a great deal of trouble which could hardly ever procure me any great delight and besides they would make me believe that such an act was neither just nor generous For matter of justice and generosity replied this Lady whose name was Statilia perhaps it will prove a little difficult to prove that it is but for matter of pleasure added she I will maintain that there is nothing fuller of delight then to make ones self Mistress of anothers secrets unperceivedly and never be beholding to them for it and I am perswaded that there is always some kind of pleasure in knowing that which others know not and which they do not know that others know it be the thing of what nature it will For my particular said the Princess of the Leontines I am not of your opinion for there are a thousand sorts of secrets which never move the least curiosity in me For my part added Aronces my mind is not at all inquisitive after such things as in which I have no interest and as I should not think well any should dive too far into my heart so I will never offer to dive into the hearts of others and I am so far from opening their Letters said he and smiled that I think if their hearts were in my hands I should not screw any thing out of them always excepting the heart of my Mistress and the hearts of my Rivals For my part replied Statilia I should not use the matter so and since it is more easie to open Letters then hearts and since sometimes opening the one the other is discovered I will never omit any opportunity of satisfying my curiosity but that I may never be taxed with any malicious curiosity I assure you that though I have opened almost all the Letters which ever came unto my hands yet I never raised any mischief between the parties or set them at variance But I beseech you tell me said then the Princess of the Leontines to what purpose is it that you are so desirous to open Letters since you make no use of the contents To do so once out of an humour of gallantry I confess some small delight may be taken in it but to make a matter of care and continual practice for nothing I must confess that I cannot understand it First this must be an infallible position that of a hundred Letters which you open there is not one wherein you have any concernment nor wherein you can take any pleasure in seeing for those who have a mind to speak of you will not trust the mention of you in their Letters such as hold any intrignes of gallantry will not commit them to such hands as come within your walk Domestick business never diverts general news can be no subject for your curiosity since that is known to you as well as them that write common complements cannot be any pleasure to you and for Letters of wit they will be shewed unto you without your opening them so as I must conclude that you commit a very unjust Act for a very poor pittance of pleasure And I am perswaded that nothing in the world ought to be more inviolable then the fidelity of Letters so as though I had in my hands a Letter which came from one of my professed enemies directed unto a person whom I neither loved nor he loved me yet I would let it pass without an opening Indeed the facility in committing this kind of crime is an argument to me that it ought never to be committed and that nothing ought to be more inviolable then Letters For my part said Statilia I may conceive it may be with this as with Theft in Sparta where they punish only those who steal ill-favouredly and are taken in the Act. So as I must conclude that when one hath the art of handsome opening them so as it shall never be perceived and that when one knows how to conceal the contents of the Letter opened it can be no great crime to open them This were reason enough to keep you from it replied Aronces that oftentimes you put your self to abundance of trouble about the opening of a Letter wherein you find nothing when as you might employ your time and pain much better If that consideration would have corrected her replied Aurelia she had been long since corrected For such an Adventure happened unto her one day which I shall relate unto you if she will give me leave I consent said Statilia provided you will give me leave to relate some Adventures which have passed and which have accustomed me to open Letters This condition is so just said Celeres as I believe Aurelia will not be against it I shall not be against any thing answered Aurelia which may excuse Statilia But since it is my turn to speak first pursued she and addressed her self to the Princess of the Leontines be pleased to know Madam that there was in Perusia some four or five years a Lady and a Widow whose beauty was in competition with Statilia's this is sufficient to make you think there was no great love between them I must tell you in general terms that both of them had beauty enough to divide between themselves all the hearts that were in a most gallant Court They were perpetually making usurpations upon one another and could never keep within the limits of their own Empires I beseech you said Statilia and interrupted her come to the business of Letters if you will have me let you go on with your story I shall come to it presently replied Aurelia and turned towards the Princess of the Leontines that Statilia passionately desiring to know the secret thoughts of her pretended Rivalless received a Letter which was not directed unto her but was amongst many others which were directed unto her As soon as she saw the Superscription she knew it to be the hand of that Lady whom she loved not and she saw written upon it the name of a Man who was deeply in love with Statilia and whose fidelity she suspected for of late he was less assiduous in his visits to her then ordinary but more unto the other Lady So that musing upon the matter and considering all circumstances she believed him to be in love with this Lady she concluded it upon a hundred consequences which she believed to be infallible as upon conjectures which she thought to be unquestionable I coming into the Chamber she acquainted me with the Adventure and with her resolution of opening the Letter but said she I must use all my art in the opening of it for I would by no means have the two interested persons to know that I have seen it but on the contrary it being delivered without any suspicion of me I may carry it so as she who did write it shall think her new Lover hath revealed all unto me and
time pressed him to speak sincerely but seeing Themistus would say no more and loath to prejudice his health by too much importunity he left him and went to the Princess Himera to see if she knew of any thing that had happened between Demarata and Themistus for having an extraordinary affection for those two persons he was extreamly troubled to see any thing of discord happened between them But Lindamira not knowing any thing and that the love of Demarata was the only secret Themistus had concealed from her she assured him that she knew nothing that had passed between them so that Perianthus returned to the Palace infinitely afflicted As he came along news was brought that the Prince of Messena was no sooner got to the Army but he understood that the enemies were overjoyed at the accident had happened to Themistus whose valour they stood in fear of and that not desirous to hear of peace out of the hope they were in to be more fortunate in the War than they had been they slighted the propositions thereof and broke the cessation assoon as ever it was expired That thereupon two parties meeting that of the enemy had been defeated so that Perianthus who could entertain nothing of joy which he did not communicate to Demarata went and acquainted her with what he had heard It seems then said she in a scoffing way to prosecute the secret design she had Victory is not the absolute slave of Themistus since she sometimes waits on the Prince of Messena This was so maliciously spoken that Perianthus was absolutely satisfied that she had entertained other thoughts of Themistus insomuch that this putting his thoughts into a strange disturbance he would needs guess at what it should be but the more he thought of it the farther he was from the truth Being therefore no longer able to brook this uncertainty the first time he was alone with Demarata he conjured her to promise to tell him sincerely one thing he should ask of her Provided it do not concern Themistus replied she I promise you the knowledge of any thing I know ask what you will Ah Madam said Perianthus that is it I desire 't is concerning Themistus that I would know something and therefore I beseech you Madam answer me not ambibiguously but tell me truly whence it comes that your thoughts are not the same they were towards him You have so great an affection for Themistus replyed the Princess and I owe you so much respect that to do rationally I ought to disobey you Perianthus's curiosity increasing at this he pressed her more than he had done and whatever the most violent and passionate Love can suggest or speak Perianthus made use of to obtain from her what he desired But the Princess seeing her self upon the point of executing the design of revenge she had carried on so craftily felt in her heart an extraordinary agitation Love that had seduced her Virtue did all that lay in its power to divert her from committing the crime and she seemed to Perianthus to be so much at a loss though she dissembled as much as she could her irresolution that his curiosity was much increased thereby So that urging her still more and more she found her self in a great disturbance and felt a certain horror to ruine the only man in the world that she could love The desire of revenge encouraged her and she was in so many minds that she knew not what to resolve on But at last imagining that as things then stood if she did not ruine Themistus he might ruine her ambition siding with indignation against that little remainder of affection that ballanced the business within her she absolutely determined and made it her main business to effect the unjust design which a violent passion had bred in her However if she would not presently yield to Perianthus the more to enflame the desire he had to be satisfied For heavens sake my Lord said she to him force me not to tell you what I know of Themistus you love him you think the State cannot be without him and it is my duty to have that consideration of you as not to acquaint you with any thing that may trouble you Be pleased then to give me leave to disobey you and ask me no more what Themistus hath done It shall suffice added she if when he is recovered you lay your commands on him never to see me but in your presence But I beseech you replied Perianthus very much surprised tell me what Themistus may have done that should oblige you to cease loving him Once more I beseech you my Lord said she ask me no more nor indeed are you at the present added the incensed Princess in the condition you should be in to think him guilty for you have so great a friendship for him that though you were told he would deprive you of the sovereign power you would not believe it I must needs confess said he that I should not lightly believe Themistus guilty of an unworthy action and would therefore intreat you to examine well whether those who accuse him are well informed Urge me then no more my Lord replied she and ask me no more what Themistus's crime may be since I am only she that of all your State can both accuse and convince him Perianthus was extreamly astonished at these words for from what she had said it might be inferred that Themistus had done Demarata some affront So that as jealousie soon takes root in the heart of an amorous man especially that of a Husband that is still in love so he reflected on that which Demarata would have had him insomuch that his colour changing and he looking earnestly upon her I beseech you Madam said he put me once out of pain and tell me clearly what you have but hinted at And the more to oblige you to do it added he I will tell you the present posture of my thoughts Know then that if Themistus hath laid any plot against the State I flud in my self Love enough to pardon it if he repent him of it but if he have wanted the respect he ought to have for you I will never see him again Prepare your self then replied the Princess never to see him while you live for assure your self that Themistus is the most presumptuous man in the world But my Lord added she you shall never know his crime more precisely if you promise me not to make that advantage thereof that I would have you I promise any thing replied he provided you tell me what I would know I shall do it my Lord answered she but you shall promise me before hand that you will not disclose what I shall tell you that you will not speak of it even to Themistus that to prevent that you will banish him without seeing him and without giving him any reason why in case you think I have cause never to desire his sight again and that if you have just
occasion to banish him Perianthus who had a curiosity as great as friendship love and jealousie could give him promised Demarata what she would have whereupon this subtle Princess assuming the discourse I know not my Lord said she to him whether you can remember that while I was yet a child a certain Aunt of Themistus's had the care of my education and if your memory fails you not Themistus as young as he was was at that time continually with me I remember it very well replies Perianthus but see not what this may add to his charge On the contrary replied this crafty Princess I tell you this to let you understand that I shall not make Themistus's crime worse than it is for to be free with you I believe that though I was then but ten years of age and he but seventeen he had at that time a violent inclination for me nay so great that he would make me apprehend as well as I could that the only reason of his departure was to avoid the increase thereof Howe'r it be you know my Lord in what a gallant manner he returned to Court For my part I little thought to make any provision against his madness I entertained him with abundance of kindess particularly because he was presented to me by your self Since that perceiving that you loved him I would not be disconformable to your sentiments and by way of excuse said that I had thousands of kindnesses for him which have haply encouraged him in his boldness and extravagance 'T is indeed very strange to think that an ambitious man who was infinitely obliged to you and was nothing without you should be at the same time ungrateful temerarious and indiscreet And yet I had so much goodness for him that I gave him advice how to preserve your friendship for perceiving your inclinations for him and withal that he was advantageous to you I thought I could not do any thing better than to fasten him as much as might be to you and I remember one day above all the rest I spent two hours to perswade him that it was not fit that a person who had a Master to humour should engage himself in love encouraging him as much as lay in my power not to suffer himself to be drawn into love for fear it might cause him to neglect your service but to my unhappiness and his own he made no great advantage of my advice Nay I remember he made me a very ambiguous answer which might very well give me occasion to suspect he was in love with me if my mind had not been bent upon something else But I would know saies Perianthus who heard this relation with a strange impatience at what time it was that Themistus had the impudence to give you any expressions of his affection I am haply in some fault my Lord replies Demarata with a faint mildness that I did not give you notice from the first minute that I discovered Themistus's extravagance but to deal truly with you 't is a thing cannot be easily express'd Besides that while Themistus spoke nothing of it and that I only guessed at his thoughts I was in hope he would o'rcome himself Nay I know not whether I thought my self somewhat obliged to him for the affliction I saw he suffered and have accordingly had some pitty for him But I am sure my thoughts all along were that I should cause a great deal of trouble if I discovered any thing and haply should not have been believed But at last desirous to reduce Themistus to himself and to prevent him from having the boldness to acquaint me with the sentiments I saw he had as having done a thousand things wherein I easily discovered them I prudently avoided without any bodies taking notice of it the opportunities of speaking with him alone Which he observing was sad and melancholly as you may well remember and at last fell sick whereat you were extreamly troubled You know my Lord added she that being very sick indeed you would needs have me to see him wherein I was content to obey you though with much ado and you are not ignorant how that he grew better that very day and sent me word that my visit had cured him and that he came afterwards to give me thanks as a person whose life I had saved I remember it very well saies Perianthus but if Themistus never mentioned his love to you I will banish him yet without hating him How my Lord replies the Princess do you think me one that should upon such groundless conjectures accuse a person so dear to you and so considerable to the State No no Demarata is more discreet and less revengeful than you imagine for were it no otherwise I should have prudently avoided the conversation of Themistus without ever troubling you with it while I lived but my Lord the case is much otherwise and I cannot doubt but he hath in his heart for me whatever the most violent passion that is can make that man think who knows no other reason or interest than that of his love and that thinks virtue and generosity too weak to resist it For my Lord as to his coming hither during the cessation he had certainly no other end in it than to continue the expressions of his extravagance towards me had I given him any occasion For you may very well judge there was no great necessity he should leave the Army and that a man ambitious as he is would not have come thence but that some secret reason obliged him thereto Perianthus hearing Demarata discourse in this manner under-went such a conflict of grief and indignation as he had not known before What added to his disturbance was that he could not doubt of the truth of what Demarata said she never had discovered the least ill-will towards Themistus he could not imagine she should have any affection for him he thought her a good and virtuous Woman all the things she said had certain appearances of truth it was not known that Themistus was in love with any Lady about the Court and Perianthus was still so much in love with Demarata that it was easie for me to imagine that another might be in love with her also Had Themistus been charged with any intelligence with the enemies of his State he would not have believed it but he could not doubt of what Demarata said as being one he could not think guilty of such a piece of sycophancy So that jealousie gaining ground in his heart and there meeting with indignation he gave over pressing Demarata to discover any more and so easily granted the request she had made that Themistus should be banished his Court and he did it the sooner for her saying that if he did not banish him she would leave it immediately She also intreated him not to tell why he removed him but my Lord added she that it may be done with more secresie a course must be taken that the audacious