in this manner very unquietly sometimes he was agitated with anger and hatred not knowing whom he hated or on whom he desired to be revenged sometimes he did a little blame Philoxypes for not having at the very first acquainted him with his passion sometime he betook himself to Aretaphiles beauty but at last he blamed himself Then suddainly considering the pittifull condition into which Phyloxypes was brought and what an unhappy life he led his heart was so touched with compassion as he did almost love his pretended Rival better then his Mistress He then called to minde how that all the favours he had received from her had been husbanded and obtained by Phyloxipes his means He past the next morning in like perplexitie and strange irresolutions at last having dined somewhat early he went well accompanied to lie that night at Claria not affording me any opportunitie to give any notice thereof to Philoxypes for he into whose custodie I was given thinking it had been for some business of another nature treated me as a prisoner of the State and would not give me the least libertie The king commanded me to follow him so as I came with him to Claria he not having spoken one word all the way long but musing still on his adventure But when we were come thither Phyloxipes's people told the King that their Master was not at home and that according to his custom he was walked out all alone The King informed himself carefully of one of his servants who had a long time waited on him whether he knew not the cause of his Masters melancholly this servant who loved his Master dearly that he might make use of the honour the King did him in speaking to him said Sir I know not what my master ayles but this I know that if your Majestie out of your goodness finde not some means to cure him of the Melancholly which possesseth him he will certainly not live long For he eats little hardly sleeps at all does nothing but sigh cannot endure that one should speak to him about busines wanders whole daies in the fields and I once heard him cry out when he little thought I did so Good gods what would the King say if he saw how great my sadness is and how hardly would he guess at the cause of my death In fine Sir said this man with tears almost in his eyes I know not what to say but I am very certain your Majesty will lose the faithfullest of all your servants if you lose the Prince my Master Whilest this man spake thus I was strangely in pain for I saw all that he said tended to confirm the King in his Opinion I was much the better for beckning unto him he never looked on me so intent was he to what he said The King on his part sighed and having left the other well Leontidas you will not have it that Philoxypes is in Love nor that it is Aretaphile whom he loves Sir said I I confess I am stil of that belief and I would your Majesty could resolve to be so too O Unfortunate Philoxypes cried the King not answering me how sad is this distemper and how unfortunat am I my self that I cannot absolutely cure thee of the Malladie that possesseth thee I would then have gone to finde out Phyloxypes that I might acquaint him with the Kings sense before he saw him but the King would not suffer me but making the way be shewn unto him which Philoxypes most usually went we went directly towards the head of Claria Philoxypes was this mean while gone to Cleanthes his house where the face of affairs was a little altered for Policrita-knowing that her condition was not what she believed it to be Philoxypes his desert had made a further advancement in her heart then formerly neither could she so well hide her affection but that Cleanthes and Megisto were much to their grief aware thereof Yet was Philopyxes ne're a whit the more happie for Policrite having tane a Fancie to make tryal of his affection by an appearing indifferency did very carefully conceal from him the affection shee had for him And in truth that very day that the King came to Claria where we mist of Phyloxypes she had caused as much trouble in him as admiration For being gone to her and having found her at the root of a a tree where shee was designing out a corner of the countrey which pleased her he began to entertain her with his passion and to tell her how it grew still more violent upon him Sir said she if I may be permitted to do so I should tell you That if you desire to win my good esteem you should do better to tell me that your passion grows every day more moderate for to tell you the truth I do somewhat apprehend these extravagant passions which I have heard spoken of and which they say does disorder reason makes men lose the respect they ow to virtue though it inhabite in a Cottage and which occasion a hundred strange things the very hearing whereof causeth horror Therefore Sir if you would oblige me you will satisfie your self with telling me you have affection enough for me to wish if it were possible that Fortune had been more propitious to me that I had been born of a higher condition then I am or at least this not being so I might rest content with my own condition without envying others To love you with indifferencie said Philoxypes who acquainted me afterwards with this their conversation your beautie should be indifferent your virtue and discretion should be so also in fine that inexpressable Charm which I finde in every of your words looks and actions ought not to inchant me as it doth But divine Policrite apprehend nothing from the violence of my passion for the stronger it is the fuller of respect shall I be and the more obedient to your will Sir said She if what you say be true speak no more thereof I beseech you for not comprehending that I may lawfully give you any part of my affection mee thinks I ought intreat you to entertain me no longer with yours But Divine Policrita said he for whom do you reserve that Glorious affection which you cruelly affirm I shall never enjoy At these words she blusht and modestly bowing down her eyes I reserve it said she for our woods fields rocks and fountains whereof Sir said shee smilingly I think you will not be jealous I shall not be jealous of them said hee but I shall envy them and I shall not easily endure that you should love things to my prejudice which cannot love you again But cruel maid will you say nothing to me of more obliging and forgoing the Court as J do for love of you and renouncing what ever is in the world except it be Policrite is it possible you should not deal with me a little less severely J do not desire you to love me say onely that you are
love be hardlie dealt withal by for certainly there is never a Ladie in all my Court who would not glorie in having wonn his heart and moreover I have not observed that he hath applied himself to converse with any one in particular yet doubtleslie Philoxypes is in Love Sir said I be not so resolute in your assertion till you have stronger proofes thereof and till you may at least conjectture who it is he is in love withall The King began then to number over all the Ladies of the Court one by one found not any one of them that he was likelie to be in Love withall He then began to walk not saying one word soon after I saw some colour com in his face and presently me thought he was much disquieted Leontydas said he you know more then you will tell me Sir said I I have said nothing but truth unto your Majestie For in fine Phyloxypes his Ambition is satisfied he hath no enemies that I know of and if I be not deceived the fairest Ladies of the Court have no great power over him Ah! Leontydas said he you conceal the truth from me but I know it without your telling Yes Leontydas said he Philoxypes doth Love and so love as doubtleslie he is much afflicted thereat and which he will withstand and overcome were not my thought true he would not make his passion so great a secret But good Gods said he how unfortunate am I and to what strange extremitie am I reduced for in fine Leontydas said he confess the truth Phyloxypes mauger himself is become my rival and his grief for it is the cause of his melanchollie Ah! Sir said I not having leasure to think of what I said I know not the cause of Philoxypes his melanchollie but I very well know he is not in Love with Princess Aretephile and that he too much respects your Majestie to suffer such a thought enter his brest Think well Leontydas said he on what you say you assure me you know not the cause of Phyloxypes his melanchollie and yet you know he is not my rivall once more Leontydas if you know the business let me know it or if you know it not confess my suspitions are well grounded and fear not for all this that I wish any harm to Phyloxypes on the contrarie I shal be beholden to him for it I was extreamly troubled to hear the King talk thus for without violating what we hold most sacred I could not reveal Philoxypes his secret which he had made me swear above a hundred times not to do To consent likewise that the King should suspect him to be his Rivall me thought it was a business of too great importance to leave him in that opinion but the more I perswaded him to the contrarie the more firmly did he believe it No said he I am cause of mine own misfortune and of Phylxoipes his misfortune too t is I who made him visit Aretephile more then any other t is mine own hand that hath enthrall'd him and t is I who am the cause of all his sufferings For said he I easilie comprehend he seeks out all this solitariness onely to rid him of this passion nay I have observed that of late he hath been troubled as oft as I have spoken to him to speak to Aretephile that he hath shun'd such Commissions as much as he could and I am too much perswaded that he hath argued the business stifly with himself and I am the onely cause of what he suffers Good gods said he how great is my misfortune there is not any one man in all my Kingdom whom I should not hate if he were my rival unless it be he and there is not any Ladie in the Court in whose Love he would not have been happie except Aretaphile But Sir said I again I protest unto you he is not in love with her and I protest to you replied he expressing an extream grief that Philoxypes is my Rival for were it not so he would not conceal his passion from me The respect he bears to you said I ought to hinder him from so doing if he were in Love No no replied he you shall no longer abuse me and I am equally perswaded of Philoxypes his love of his innocencie and of my misfortune For in fine that the man in the world that I love best should fall in Love with the oneliest Ladie that I can Love and that I should see my self cruelly necessitated either to forsake Aretaphile or to see Philoxypes die it is an unsufferable adventure Sir I beseech you said I expect till she hath once more seen Phyloxypes and have absolutelie commanded him to discover his heart unto her before you resolve on any thing and if you please I will bring him hither to morrow morning No no replied the King you shall not stir out of the Pallace this day nor shall you see Phyloxypes before me In effect this Prince gave one of his servants charge over me and commanded me to withdraw into a Chamber which was appointed for me in the Pallace 'T would be too difficult a thing to represent unto you my vexation and the Kings disquiet since to tell you true he had as much friendship for Philoxypes as Love for Aretaphile Who ever saw said he for he himself told it afterwards an adventure like to mine I have a Rival whom I must love in despight of me and who gives me more occasion to love him for the affection he bears to my Mistress then for all the service he ever did me and then for all the good Offices he hath done me to her it being certain that I need onely look upon him to see what he suffers in my consideration and that I need onely consider what life he leads to see how much I am beholden to him I observe in his eies a melancholly which makes me apprehend his death and I seein all his actions visible signs of his love to Aretaphile and of his respect to me What shall I do said he shall I seem not to know this passion and let Philoxypes die But t is no longer time to conceal what I think since Leontidas knows it Leontidas who is so much his confident and shares so deeply in his friendship shall I also tel Philoxypes that I know his love and not complain of him and if I should complain how weak a succor would this be I should peradventure hasten his hour of death by making him dispair But shall I quit Aretaphile and let my friendship exceed my Love Philoxypes his passion is unjust but passions are not voluntarie and he hath done what ever he could or ought to have done since not being able to keep from loving he hath yet kept from making his love known and hath rather chosen to hazard his life by his respectfull silence then to preserve it by making his passion known which he knows will displease me The King past the night
more of incommodity then content I shall not alter my minde replyed Philoxypes for what you say but must once more affirm that doubtlesly the Gods have in a moment inspired you with what others have much adoe to learn in their whole lives For that you should be the fairest maid in all the world and fairer in a Cottage then Queens are in their Palaces though this be very much yet is it not impossible but that living amongst Woods and Rocks you should behave your self and speak as you doe 't is this fair Philocrita that I cannot comprehend nor can I imagin that you were born here amongst these savage Rocks 'T is true Sir said she I am not of this Island by birth but was so young when I parted from Creta as I hardly remember any thing thereof T is true the conversation which I have here cannot have given me the accent of the Countrey for I speak with none but those of this family who are no more of Cyprus then I. What Policrite said Philoxypes do you spend your whole time without speaking and yet speak as you do Once more this Cottage is unworthy of you and some means must be found out to draw you hence I am so well contented here Sir said she as I should thereby receive an injury and I imagine you have no such design therefore I conjure you to leave me in that solitariness that you found me for neither will I say much more unto you not being able to speak any thing of mine own experience Philoxypes who observed that this yong maid was indeed troubled to see him tarry so long with her though it were in no dis-obliging manner was loth to anger her so as with much violence used upon himself after having saluted her with such reverence as if she had been upon a Throne he offered to be gone But Sir said she with much candour you know my name is Policrite and I cannot tell my Father what his name is that hath done him the honour to enquire after him You may tell him replyed this Prince transported with love my name is Philoxypes Alas Sir answered Philocrita I beg your pardon if I have not used you with such respect as I ought Is not then said he my name unknown unto you No Sir said she and I have heard my Father though he knows you not himself say such things of you by the report of others as I am sure will make him rejoyce exceedingly when he shall know that you will do him the favour to command him any service Philoxypes inchanted to hear Policrite speak in such sort said unto her a thousand passionate and obliging things if she would have understood them to which she still replyed with such readiness and modesty as he still became in love with her more and more He then took his leave of her and departed from this Cottage with an unconceivable sorrow being come to the same place where he first saw her he stayed and beholding on the one side his goodly and magnificent Palace of Claria and on the other side this little Countrey Cottage Ah Philoxypes cryed he who would believe that in the condition thy soul is in thou canst prefer this unlucky Cottage before that stately Palace and that thy heart so insensible of love and so ambitious of true glory can abase it self before Policrite's feet But then said he again is it possible that Philoxypes should love any thing which is not the handsomest thing in the world And if it bee so Policrite ought to be the object of his desires and love I say Policrite in whose looks is no art whose words are sincere all whose thoughts are innocent who knows not what a sin is whose heart is not prepossest with any passion who as yet loves nothing but the Woods Fields Flowers and Fountains who is hardly conscious of her own beauty and whose inclinations are doubtlesly all vertuous But when all is done said he after a little pause love is a weakness from whence I have till now defended my self onely because I did verily believe that it was handsome not to be capable thereof but to love a personage of so unequal birth is a folly which I ought by all means to withstand For in fine with what face shall I dare to appear at Court How fair soever Policrite bee I dare not shew the irons shee makes me wear they must either be broken by force or so cunningly conceald as no man may ever discern them With this resolution did Philoxypes return home and from thence to Paphos but he was so possest with melancholy as hee was forced to fain himself sick The King who saw him that very night both with himself and with the Princess Aretephile perceived his perplexity and pressed him to know the cause But Philoxypes answered him as he had done the rest The Court was very great that day and all that was gallant was there which occasioned Philoxypes in his ravings to inquire of himself an hundred and an hundred times why since he was to love it was not some of those illustrious personages Yet though he would use violence upon himself and endevor to love by reason he could never cōpass it And Policrite's image was so deeply imprinted in his heart as nothing could eface it He passed over 3 days thus with very much disquiet and on the 4th maugre himself he returned to Claria and from thence to Cleanthes whom at his first approach he found leaning upon that little Pallisado of Lawrels which incompassed his Court. As soon as this wise Old man saw him he stept unto him and received him with such Civility as had nothing of Rustick in it Sir said he I thought my Daughter had been deceived when she told me your Name which kept me from coming to Claria to receive your Commands to boot that 't is hard to imagine that a Man of my Fortune and Age may be any wayes serviceable to such a Prince as you Vertue and worth said Philoxypes makes friends unto it self of all Ages and of all Conditions But Cleanthes the only thing I desire to know of you is whether it be out of necessity or out of choice that you inhabit this little House for if it be the former you shall not tarry long here and if the latter I will come and live with you sometimes at which Cleanthes smiled and said Poor Cottages Sir are no proper abodes for great Princes 'T is very true said Philoxypes neither ought great Worth to be confin'd to little Cottages but doth much better become great Palaces I therefore proffer you my House Claria where you and your Family may live more commodiously then here Sir replyed Cleanthes 't is handsome for a personage of your condition and worth to be willing to relieve the distrested but it were not just to abuse that Goodness which may be better employ'd on some better occasion For in fine Sir I suffer no want
in this Cottage my minde being no greater then it I here live in quiet and finding in this little corner of the earth sufficient to keep me from being troublesome to any body I live here much more happily then those who live in Palaces and whose desires are not therein bounded But wise Cleanthes said Philoxypes will you not tell me what Fortune 't is that hath brought you hither and acquaint me precisely with your condition Sir said the good Old man I am descended of honest Parents of an indifferent Fortune for mine you see it is mean enough and I assure you my worth is not extraordinary I was forc't to foregoe my Country for many reasons too long now to tell and to seek out a place of Retirement in this Island where I have lived a good while but said Philoxypes are you not affraid lest Policrite who may justly be termed a Treasure may not be safe in such a place as this if I should grant answered Cleanthes that Policrite should be what you say since this Treasure is only known by Prince Philoxypes I should think it safe enough you have reason Father said he for what you say for I engage my self to protect you against what or whosoever shall go about to injure you After this Cleanthes led him into his House where he found Megisto Cleanthes wife who received him so Civily as he easily discern'd that there was nothing of Rustick nor savage in this family Shee had by her young Policrite and another Maid handsome enough whom Policrite called Sister and whose name is Dorida But good Gods how fair did Policrite appear to Philoxypes that day Her Hair which hung carelesly over her Neck and which were the one half covered by a thin Tiffany were ty'd back behinde her head with a Garland of Orange and Pomegranate flowers over which hung a thin Veile with which shee covered her Face when she went in the Sun and which very well became her Dressing The rest of her Apparel was white of a handsome shape her Sleeves which were very large were trust back with Ribbonds of severall colours and rhough there was nothing of stately in this habit and that instead of Pearles and Diamonds shee was only deck'd with flowrs yet was there somwhat of so handsom and so comely in her Dressing as she never appear'd so fair to Philoxypes the more he saw her the more he was in love with her and were it that he entertained Cleanthes that he spoke to Megisto that he addrest himself to Policrite or that he said somewhat of civility to Dorida he was still more and more taken What did he not doe to make them tell him somewhat more then Cleanthes had told him and to perswade them that he might fit them with a better Lodging He offer'd Cleanthes Jewels to dispose of at his pleasure but let him doe what he could he could learn nothing nor obtain nothing save only leav to come and visit them sometimes which they granted him meerly because they knew not how to deny it him I will not stay to tell you how frequently Philoxypes returned thither during twelve Dayes space which he staid at Claria without returning to Paphos but I will tell you that Cleanthes who had understanding enough and Megisto who wanted not any easily perceived that it was Policrite's beauty which occasioned this Prince his so frequent Visits he read her a long Lesson and wisht her to have a care of her self and that she should consider that Philoxypes his affection could not but redound to her prejudice and that therfore she should live with him as with one whom she should never look upon but meerly with respect not suffering him to engage her in any particular affection This mean while Philoxypes who perceived he should never have the Freedome to speak to Policrite in particular unlesse it were by chance came so often thither as he met her once unaccompanied by any save the young Dorida This being too fair an occasion to let slip he drew near unto her and expressing much Love in his looks Think not Policrite said he that I have any thing of mis-becoming to say unto you though I have diligently watched to entertain you alone 'T is only that not knowing how you will receive my affection I was not desirous to have any witnesses of my misfortune or happiness Sir said she with a Maidenly-blush before you speak consider I beseech you where you are mark well the Cottage wherein I live and see what Cloaths I wear No Policrite reply'd he I see nothing but your Eyes and had you a Crown of Diamonds on your head I should no more minde it then what you speak of so firmly are my lookes fixt upon your Beauty Permit me then Sir said the discreet and fair Maid to teach you another thing which it may be you are ignorant of and which ought to keep you from saying any thing of unfitting to me 'T is Sir that this very Policrite whom you see in this Country Cottage who is thus simply attir'd who is only known to these Woods and Rocks hath notwithstanding her meannesse and simplicity so tender a sense of Honour that should you offend her never so little therein she were able to dye for sorrow and dislike Be carefull then Sir to say nothing which may make Policrite beleev that you know her not for in fine she hath such a passion for Vertue as she should have much adoe not to hate those who should say any thing unto her in opposition thereunto Fear not said he fairest Policrite that I shall say any thing to you which shall offend you at least which should offend you for I protest unto you in the presence of the gods who hear me that the passion which you have for flowers fountains and for these inameld fields is not more pure nor more innocent then that which I have for Philocrita and if there be any difference between them 't is that the affection which I bear to her is so violent and strong as there is nothing which I shall not willingly undertake to witness it unto her You cannot better do it Sir said she then in doing me the favour to say no more such things unto me which will onely serve to trouble the quiet of my life since if I should not believe you I should certainly be somewhat troubled to think you would laugh at my simplicity and if I should believe you I should almost dispair for being the cause why a great Prince should contract a passion so unworthy of him and from whence he can never reap any advantage For in fine Policrite knowing her self and knowing you also would not her self commit a fault nor yet cause you commit one for love of her do not therefore ingage your self Sir in so angersom an adventure Let me alone said shee looking upon him with an eie which did rather detain him then drive him away though it were done
Philoxypes his secret from the King As oft as the King came into his chamber and saw him in that pitifull condition he resolved to think no longer on Aretaphile but as soon as he came from him or that Philoxypes grew any thing better this resolution slackned a little Nor was he yet resolved what to do but the feavor having at last left Philoxypes and the Physitians continuing still to affirm that he would infallibly die if the cause of his Melancholy whence his malady proceeded were not taken away the King seemed to have put on a very strong resolution to pluck from out his soul the passion which possest him He then resolved to visite Aretaphile no more who not knowing what to think of this change in the King thought it might be he was offended that shee had not all this while been to see Philoxypes whom he so dearly loved especially since almost all the Ladies of the Court had been to visit him For during his sickness the Princess of Salamis and Princess Agarista had never left him so as the Ladies might with decency enough go thither Yet so it happened that the day that Aretaphile came thither Philoxypes being much better then he was they were gone forth so as Aretaphile going accompanied with four or five of her women found him all alone T is true shee was not there long without company for the King came thither presently after Philoxypes blusht when he saw him come in and seemed so amazed at this encounter as if he had been really in love with Aretaphile the King who observed this his change of countenance being much concernd to see that he should be the cause of Philoxypes danger after a great strife within himself drew near to Princess Aretaphile who out of her respect would have given him her place which he would not accept of and after having looked upon her a while without speaking he sigh 't and said Madam will you not cure Philoxypes Sir said she if his health depend on me your Majesty should soon be eased of the grief his sickness causeth in you Philoxypes who found a great alteration in the Kings countenance was afeard least he might say somewhat which might have made Aretaphile know his opinion of him wherefore not affording the King leasure to reply Sir said he though I believe Princess Aretaphile be able to do great things and to charm great pains yet I think I may say without offending her that those evills which I lie under depend not on hers wil that none but the Gods them selve can withdraw me from the grave Philoxypes pronounced these words in so sad a manner as endeavouring to overcome whatsoever opposed his design of saving Phyloxypes drawing yet a little nearer to the Princess Aretaphile for fear least they that were in the chamber might over hear him Madam said he making a sign to Phyloxypes that he would not be interrupted I shall tell you a thing which will much surprise you I conjure you notwithstanding to give it a favourable interpretation and to oblige me so far as to believe that upon better tearms then the saving of Philoxypes life I would not tell it you no not though mine own life were concerned therein Oh! Sir cried out this sick Prince if your Majesty end what you have begun to say you will hasten my death instead of retarding it Princess Aretaphile amazed to hear what she heard and not able to guess what the matter should be looked sometimes upon the King sometimes upon Philoxypes but at last the king compleating his determination t is you Madam said he to the Princess Aretaphile who send Philoxypes to his grave your charms have been more powerfull then his reason though his nobleness hath been yet greater then his love He loves you divine Aretaphile not daring to tell you so Hee will not so much as acknowledg it yet I know for certain that unless you take compassion on him he will infallibly die I therefore speak no more to you in my own behalf said he in a strange Melancholy manner but deal less rigorously with him then you have done with me since he deserves it better and if your Ambition be not to be satisfied without a Sovereign power I promise you divine Princess that if I cannot place Philoxypes upon the Throne he shall alwaies be so near it as his place shall hardly be discernable from mine In fine said he if Philoxypes die I shall die and so I shall for ever lose you but if you save Philoxypes I may at least hope to languish on a while and to share part of your esteem not being able to pretend any longer to any part of your affection Nor think not said he That this which I do is any mark of weakness in my affection since on the contrary it denotes the violence thereof For in fine if I could resolve to abandon you and to follow Philoxypes to the grave I would not yeild up to him the part I pretend to have in your affection though he be more worthy thereof then I but not being able to see him die for my sake without expiring with grief I must live that he may live and consequently must endeavour for a while to prolong the satisfaction I take in seeing you Aretaphile was so astonisht to hear the King speak after this manner and Philoxypes so afflicted as astonishment and sorrow producing the same effect in these two personages they staid a good while without speaking Aretaphile had opinion good enough of her beauty to suffer her selfe easily to be perswaded that Philoxypes was in love with her and she had likewise opinion good enough of his Generositie to believ he durst not discover his passion But as nothing that was not King could touch her heart she was strangely perplext to hear what she heard and sometimes she thought t' was peradventure but a pretext sought by the King to break with her Philoxipes on his side thinking that at the last he must be fain to tell the King the truth that he might disabuse him was so strangely confused as he could not open his mouth so as the King seeing them both so surprized and finding that peradventure his love might quickly make him unsay all that his friendship had made him affirm rose up and without expecting what Aretaphile would answer Madam said he the pittifull condition which you see Philoxypes is in perswades you better then I can do and he doubtlesly will pardon me if I speak not so long to you for him as I have formerly done to you for my self which said he went his way though Philoxypes desired him to tarry assuring him that he would wholly disabuse him This mean while though Aretaphile had a great minde to be gone too yet being imbitterd in minde and desirous to know a little more precisely what the business of this so strange adventure would prove shee staid a little after the King and looking upon
he had said all this by his directions which he had caused to be given him when he rose from me to speak in the ear with one of his servants At my return to Athens I found my son alive indeed but I found the whole Town in confusion by reason of some disorder that had happened between those that were descended from Megacles and those that were come of them that had been of the Citonien conspiracie The Megarians surprised the port of Nisa and re took the Isle of Salamina w … had caused me so much trouble And to add to the misfortune all the people were seised on with a superstitious snare vvhich perswaded them that spirits returned that fantosmes and apparitions appeared and this imagination prevailed so much with most of them as there was an universal humiliation Those who had the charge of the sacred things said that they found infallible signes by the Victims that the town needed purification and that the gods were incensed by reason of some secret offence committed To this effect by the advice of the wisest sort they sent an Expresse to Creta to Epimenides the Phaestien who was and doubtleslie is still an incomparable man a man whose life is altogether pure innocent and holy who eats no more then what is sufficient to maintain life and whose soul leans as little to the senses as in this life it can who is very learned in the knowledge of heavenly things and who passes in his Countrey not onely for one who hath sometimes Divine Revelations but is by the people of Crete believed to be the sonne of a Nymph called Balta However it be sir he is a man of extraordinary knowledge and virtue Epimenides not refusing the intreaties that were made unto him came to Athens and of so many famous men as were in that noted Citie did me the favour to chuse me for his most intimate friend having through his wisdome and through the peoples belief in him dissipated all their false imaginations and that by prayers Sacrifices and Ceremonies he had rid them of all their fears he would yet stay a while at Athens for my sake where certainly he told Prodigious predictions to a hundred severall people As we were speaking one day of humane weaknesses and how little a man ought to rely upon his own strength nor yet upon Philosophie I acquainted him with what had befallen me with Thales the Milesian and how much ashamed I was not to be master of my first opinions Solon said he to me is easie to be overcome on that side and as oft as fortune will make use of the affections of nature against him she will certainly overcome him For he hath a soul as tender upon such eneounters as strong against ambition But Solon said he you are to be bewailed if you do not resolve to believe me and believe that what you underwent whilest you were with your friend Thales is little in comparison of what you shall one day suffer in the person of a Daughter of whom your wife is at this present with Child I have said he observed your birth and your life and I finde that this childe which will be soon born will be a prodigie for beauty and virtue and will also be one of the happiest women in the world if you will believe my councel but also if you will not believe and follow it shee will be most unfortunate In fine saidhe If you do not what I shal say unto you you shall have the discontent to see that your Daughters beauty will make your Countrie desolate and that after having refused the sovereign power as you will one day refuse it she will make one of your Citizens fall in Love with her who will become the Tyrant of the Common wealth which will make her resolve to die rather then to marry him I confese I was much troubled to hear Epimenides speak after this manner for I had heard him foretel divers things which I had seen punctually fall out according to his predictions I then desired him to tell me what he would have me do to preserve a man who did sacrifice his whole life to the glory of Athens from having a daughter who should cause love in him that would be the Tyrant thereof He told me then That since it was not yet known in Athens that my wife was with Childe I should conceal her great belly send her into the countrey when shee should be brought to bed that I should cause this daughter to be secretly brought up not suffering her to know whose childe shee was nor yet any other body whosoever except those who were to have the care of her education that if it should so fall out as I should be forced to forsake my Countrey I must during my exile leave her in some Island upon the Egean Sea and that things being thus carried she should be infallibly happie and I should not need to fear that shee should be beloved by the Tyrant of Athens In fine Sir to shorten my discourse I obeyed Epimenides his his advise I sent my wife into the Countrey where when her time was come shee was brought to bed of a Daughter wondering at the accomplishment of the beginning of this prediction I continued to follow Epeminedes his directions who at his departure after having refused all the presents that were made him and taking for his reward onely a branch of the Sacred Olive told me that my daughter would one day cause as much joy in me by her virtue and good fortune as shee would cause sorrow in me by reason of her loss These obscure words continued fix'd in my memory so as I put my daughter into the hands of a Sister of mine whom I loved very well who was married in Corinth and was come to see me trusting onely her and her husband with the secret which Epeminedes had acquainted me withall I will not stay to tell you that soon after I lost my wife for which I was very much grieved neither will I entertain you with the disorders of Athens which are too well known to all men nor yet with the relation how I was solicited to accept of the sovereign power being put in mind that there had been Kings of my Race and that one that was descended from the illustrious Chodrus need make no scruple to accept the Scepter nor vvith vvhat stedfastness I rejected those vvho made so unjust a proposition to me follovving Epeminedes his predictions Neither vvill I tell you vvhat Lavvs I there established you knovv them and knovv hovv they vvere observed nor yet the resolution vvhich I took to quit my Countrey for the space of ten years to the end that I might make no further alterations and leave the people leasure to accustom themselves to their new Lawes But I will tell you that being readie to take my voluntarie banishment from Greece and not forgetting what Epeminedes had told me I came to
I conjure you since I have onely adored Solons virtue and worth in Policrite's person for t is her virtuous minde which I am more enamor'd of then of her personal beauty yet do I deserve to be punish'd for doubtlesly my frequent visits have caused Cleanthes to change his abode Hee knew not Philoxypes and Imagined he might have abused him in Policrite But to prove said he that I lived respectfully with her and that I never received a favourable word from her see said he Sir shewing him the letter which hee had received the innocent and cruell sign of acknowledgement that this Divine Personage hath given me since that at the same time when shee saies she will remember me shee saies also she shall never see me more yet Sir said he if my passion do displease you you shall see how ready I will be to die as soon as you shall have given me the least occasion so to do since that is the only way whereby I can pluck her from out my heart but on the contrary if you do truly love me you will rather bewail me then accuse me you will promise me not to oppose me if the Gods restore Policrite to you and you will suffer her to be Mistress of that stately town which was built by your directions I wish Sir I were able to offer her sundry Scepters but I think not that he who refuseth them will stick much to bestow his daughter on a Prince who thinks himself happie in being but near a Throne and to assist his King to sustain the weight of his Scepter When Philoxypes had made an end of speaking and Solon had read Policrite's letter my Daughter said he is yet wiser then I thought her to have been and since she hath been able to resist the charms of Philoxype's greatness and worth J finde Epimenides had reason to speak of her as of a miracle Be you then assured said he Sir That if the Gods restore my Daughter to me I shall bring no other obstacle to your designes then my humble desire that you will seriously consider whether shee be worthy or no of the honour you would do her for if you continue in your resolution and that I shall know that shee doth indeed deserve a part of the favours which you vouchsafe her I shall be ready to command her to look on you as on him whom the gods have chosen to make her happy and glorious I do not tell you Philoxypes that the famous Excestides my Father who left me poor onely out of his own Magnificencie was descended from the illustrious bloud of King Chodrus for these are not things which I think men ought much to boast of But I will assure you that all those of my House since they have left the Crown have been as good Citizens as their Forefathers were good Kings and that for my particular I had alwaies rather oppose my self to Tyrannie then be a Tyrant In fine said he as it is not to your greatness that I give Policrite I pretend also that Policrite's virtue shall supplie the place of a Crown But alas said Philoxypes how will you give me this Divine Policrite if we know not where shee is She must be begg'd of the Gods replied Solon since t is from them alone that we are to expect all the good that can befall us In fine sir Philoxypes conceived an unexpressable joy to finde Solon so favourably disposed towards him But also his grief was no less extream to think that Solons good intentions would prove of no use if Policrite were not found Yet was he somewhat comforted with the sight of so famous a man and the conversation of one so perfectly wise made his sorrow appear at least more moderate though really it was alwaies very great Nay I remember he told me that notwithstanding all his sadness he forgot not you sir but entertained Solon with the discourse of you as of a very extraordinarie Personage This mean while the King having heard of Solons arrivall and how that Policrite was his daughter was exceeding glad and would have him and Philoxypes to come to Court so as this Prince his love was no longer so great a secret Imagining that Cleanthes was not gone out of the Island command was sent again to all the Towns and Vilages to give an account of what strangers lived in them but do what they could they could learn no acceptable news This mean while the Court grew very melancholy for Princess Aretaphile not able to put on a resolution of pardoning the King the King by an odd phansie of Love resolved also to winne this Princess her heart before he would assure her to make her his Queen Philoxypes on his part was mad to think he could not finde out Policrite and that he had been the cause why Solon had lost her and Solon was also very sad that hee could hear no newes of his daughter especially at a time when he vvas of necessitie to return to Athens where he had learned that there was great disorders and that all things tended towards Sedition He knevv that there vvere three severall Factions there that one Licurgus vvas chief of those that inhabited the plains that Megacles sonne to Alcmeon commanded over those of the sea coast and that Pisistrates whom certainly you knew when you went to Athens was chief of the mountaineers So as though all that numerous people had punctually observed his Laws since his departure yet the face of affairs was likely soon to alter Solon being then necessitated to be gone within a few daies told Philoxypes That the interest of a mans country was to be preferd before all things else and that he who chose rather to conceal his daughter then to expose her to the love of a Tyrant would not abandon his Countrey to expect in vain to hear of one whom certainly the Gods would preserve if she were worthy of their care so as he had no more to do then give him full leave to marry her if he should finde her Philoxypes being at that same time both much afflicted and much joyed thankt Solon for the honour he did him but the winde not serving for his departure and his ship not being ready he must have patience for a while During this interval of time Solon understood that there was a famous Temple about some forty miles from Paphos dedicated as were almost all the rest in the Island to Venus Urania where 't was said this Goddess delighted more to be honour'd then in any other Temple because the custom there was that all the Ceremonies were performed by maids of good discent who dedicated themselves to the service of that Goddess and who were to serve her three years in her Temple before they were to marry Solon who believed he could not imploy the time better which much against his will he was to stay in Cyprus then in praying to the Gods moved Philoxypes to go thither who