they imagined Tarquin would not have them to tell it but they spoke in ambiguous terms enough to make it known Mean while this cruel Murtherer stood by still and he had so much dissembling inhumanity as to feel the Pulse of this deplorable Princess that he might guess how long she had to live So as this languishing person did in a manner pull back her Arm and being out of all patience turned towards Tarquin with a languor able to inspire compassion into cruelty it self I ask you pardon Sir said she unto him and blusht for being so long a dying but it is not my fault said she and turned another way for I took all the poison that was given me and never looked for any remedy yet these words were not heard by any but Tarquin and that Lady who knew all the secrets of this deplorable Ladies heart But she was so full of sorrow as she could not speak and Tarquin who was as bold as wicked beginning to speak he said she began to swound and that she would never recover out of it And indeed losing her speech a little after she fell into a Trance which lasted four or five hours But as soon as Tarquin saw her swounded and thinking she would never speak again he sent to acquaint the King and Queen who coming in all hast were extreamly grieved to find the Princess in that condition yet they never thought her to be poisoned nor of any thing else but remedies but all in vain for she died some two hours after the Sun was up Afterwards the unjust Tarquin bethought himself how to render her all imaginable honours after death But whilst this inhumane Butcher was sacrificing this fair Princess unto his Love and Ambition the cruel Tullia was offering the same sad sacrifice that he was and as soon as the Prince of Ameriola was returned home and according to his custom went into a Bath he began to find himself ill for Tarquin had made up his Dose of such a Composition as when Tullia had put it into the Bath the very vapour of it did stifle him and took away the use of his reason as soon as he was in The two Servants who waited upon him being privy unto Tullia's Conspiracy they had Antidotes to keep this vapour from hurting them and Tullia had cunningly sent away all others that were not of the confederacy But after this poison had wrought its effect and the Prince in that condition the cruel Tullia her self took him out of the Bathe and put him into Bed causing those who were of this horrid plot to say that he desired to sleep and had forbidden any to enter into the Chamber She her self seeing he did not die so soon as she desired she would not go to Bed that night and going often into the Chamber of this unhappy Prince her impatience was such as she caused him to be strangled with two Handkerchiefs tyed together to the end there might be no signs of a violent death and that it might seem he was choked with a Fluxion of Humours However it was this Prince died the same night with the Princess whom he loved which made so great a noise in Rome rhat nothing else was talked of Yet Tarquin and Tullia were so terrible unto all the World that People durst only whisper what they thought concerning the sudden death of these two both at one time though none called the cause of their death by the name of any disease These most cruel and inhumane Barbarians did well enough forsee that causing them to die so both at one time people would think as they did but they foresaw more danger to themselves in causing them to die at several times for if the Princess had survived the Prince of Ameriola she would have told the King her Father what she knew concerning his death And Tulliia would not poison her Husband until she was sure that Tarquin would poyson his Wife lest after he was rid of him who might dispute with him about the Crown he should not go on in his business Tarquin for his part would not poison his Wife had he not been sure of his Brothers death for he was sure that if his Brother survived the Princess he would revenge her death so as seeing much less danger in the mutterings of the people they resolved to commit these two horrid Crimes both at once with as much boldness as cruelty And as Tarquin did render all imaginable honours unto the Princess as soon as she was dead so did Tullia unto the Prince of Ameriola as soon as he was expired This cruel person had the impudence to go and comfort Tarquin after the death of his Wife And Tarquin also sent this Complement unto her that he was more sorry for the Prince of Ameriola's death as he was her Husband than as his Brother All this while the wise and prudent Servius Tullus was strangely amazed for though at the first he did not suspect that the Princess his Daughter was poisoned yet he was of another mind after the Prince of Ameriola's death and knew that Tarquin and Tullia were they who sent them into another World which grieved this good King to the very heart These two virtuous Persons who were dead were extremely dear unto him and their deaths struck deep into his sorrowful Soul Tarquin and Tullia after this horrid Crime were a horror unto him but they were a terrour also and he feared the same treatment to himself which he saw used unto others Yet this Consideration had not kept him from publishing his resentment had not a reason of honour restrained him For said he unto one whom he trusted with all the secrets of his heart why should I stain my own glory by accusing my own Daughter for poysoning her Husband and her Sister Why should I accuse my Son in Law for murthering his Wife and his Brother When I have accused these two persons can I prove their Crime or am I assured that I can punish them for it is likely that Tarquin and Tullia would never have attempted a thing of this nature unless they were sure of some great party in the Senate Besides I know no further than by conjectures and say I had a certain knowledge it is hard for a Father to punish his own Children unless they be obliged unto it for conspiring against the Senate for in that case the general interest ought to be preferred before the particular and ones Country before Nature But this is only to be revenged for the death of a Daughter and a Son in Law Rome hath no interest in the business or if it have it is in a different manner For I conceive it is a shame unto all Romans to have a King that shall convict his Son in Law for poisoning his Wife and that shall convict his own daughter for poysoning her Husband I conceive it better to dissemble it and look upon Tarquin and Tullia as innocent This
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
grew so cunning as I knew all secrets without ever being told them for I concluded this as a necessary consequence that when any woman seems to love such a one whom it is impossible she should ever love either in justice or for any profitable interest this seeming Love serves her only as an umbrage under which she may see one whom she really loves though she do not shew it Appearances are so deceitful replyed Clelia as it is often very unjust to make conclusions by circumstances so doubtful For who that sees the apparent stupidity of illustrious Brutus would think him a man of the highest soul and that he should be Romes deliverer It is most certain said Herminius that it is very dangerous to judge of things by conjectures be they never so seeming As for example said he and whispered with Amilcar who would ever imagine that Brutus who is all glory and who has done the highest action that ever was should not esteem himself very happy and yet I am perswaded he is more miserable than ever he was After this two Ladies came unto Clelia's house and Valeria going away Herminius went also within a quarter of an hour after and went unto Brutus whom he found alone and as melancholy as he thought to find him But though Herminius knew Brutus had good cause for his sadness yet he resolved to divert him from it as much as he could and to oppose the love of his Country against the effects of that love which still he retained to the unfortunate Lucretia For Sir said he unto him your sorrows are no other than such as a thousand Lovers have as well as you but then Sir you have such a consolation as no other Lover ever had besides your self since never another Lover found the liberty of his Country by the death of his Mistress Oh Herminius cryed he That which you propound as a consolation makes me infinitely more sad For is it not the height of cruelty that the same which hath saved Rome and which I have so much wished should make me eternally miserable Yes yes Herminius added he should I live a thousand ages I should take delight in nothing but Revenge and should daily renew my grief for the death of incomparable Lucretia But Sir answered Herminius you know that revenge is counted the highest of all delights and therefore having carved out your revenge upon Tarquin in the most noble way that ever was you have great reason and just cause to comfort your self Revenge is sweet I confess replyed Brutus but it gives me no calm delight nor ever will Common injuries indeed which may be repayed by revenge may find a satisfaction and quietness of mind to the wronged party But alas mine is none of those for all my revenge can never restore me Lucretia I have driven Tarquin out of Rome I forced proud Tullia to fly away Infamous Sextus dares not shew his head the virtue of his Brothers cannot secure him from the fury of the people All Romans do enjoy their liberty and reverence me as receiving it from my hand but for all that Lucretia is dead and I am more grieved at her being in her Tomb than I am joyed at the Tyrants being out of his Throne And as an addition to my misery Collatine shares in the soveraign Authority with me yes my dear Herminius he is so insupportable to me that without extream violence upon my self I cannot endure him for first he is of Tarquines name which is a horror to me He was my Rival he married Lucretia his shallow merits made her miserable he and his indiscretion was the cause of that horrid accident which happened and consequently the cause of her death I hate him because he does not lament her death enough for the Consulship which the silly people has conferred upon him has almost made him forget the loss of that rare woman You are so ingenious to torment your self replyed Herminius that the more one strives to comfort you the more one afflicts you and therefore 't is better never to talk of your grief but of your revenge No no replyed Brutus all 's in vain for where so ere I am what so ere I say or do I have still Lucretia in my mind and to my great torment do always see her striking a Poniard into her breast and look upon me as if she bad me revenge her death No Herminius her Ghost never leaves me nor never will and therefore never fear renewing my griefs since I my self renew it every minute she is infinitely dear and precious unto me and I were a most persidious villain if I could be any wayes comforted After this Herminius to turn the discourse handsomely began to speak of Aronces and his misfortunes and the advantage which Tarquin might have by keeping that Prince in his custody For said he he will thereby oblige Porsenna to arm in his behalf Common policy also invites that King to assist Tarquin and when that league is made honour will not suffer Aronces to be against his Father so as if that happen as most probably it will I shall look upon him as one of the most miserable Princes upon earth For he will be constrained to fight for his Rivals in fighting for Tarquin and Sextus He will be forced to take the unjust side he will strike at his dearest friends and which is hardest of all against the Father of his Mistress 'T is true replyed Brutus but this will be his consolation that he will be against Horatius and the Prince of Numidia However it be said Herminius that grert Prince will be exposed to abundance of misery and therefore for the interest of Rome for the interest of Clelia for the interest of Aronces for the revenge of Lucretia it is good to hinder Porsenna from arming on Tarquins side since there is none but he whom we need to fear Indeed said Brutus all the neighbouring Estates have not power enough to protect him nor is it so easie a matter to perswade little Republicks to assist a King tumbled down from his Throne as it is to inspire that design into a great and Potent King who by the consequence of the thing has indirectly interest in the re-establishment of Tarquin Not that he can ever have any Right to Protect a Tyrant but you know Policy does change the names of things according to the several interests of those that act in them so it may be that Tarquin who is disclaimed at Rome as a Tyrant will be looked upon at Clusium as a legitimate and unfortunate King driven out of his Kingdom by his Rebellious subjects So as to prevent that I conceive it expedient to negotiate with Porsenna but the difficulty will be to know how Sir replyed Herminius I conceive it good to consult with the Prince Artemidorus and Zenocrates about it you know that the Princess of the Leontines is sister unto the first of them that she is with the
those two persons who of all the world were the dearest to me I must needs lose my glory and be unjust ungrateful and unnatural For when I reflect on the Prince of Pometia and imagine him dead I hate him that kill'd him be he what he will But when I also consider Brutus and imagine I see him dead after he had acquired so much Fame the object of my hatred is changed and I abhor him by whose means he lost his life So that hating sometimes the one sometimes the other and yet having a passionate affection for both I suffer an affliction that cannot be parallell'd In the mean time I condemn my own tears and at the same instant that I think it just to weep away my life an imagination comes into me that I ought not to bestow my tears on either For if I bewail Brutus I bewail him that kill'd the person I had the greatest affection for and who had no less for me and if I bestow my tears on that unfortunate Lover I do it on him that hath deprived me of the most illustrious Brother that ever Sister had and for whom I had the tenderest friendship that nature and virtue can raise in the heart of a person that can love well What shall I then do wretch that I am whom shall I blame whom shall I bemoan and on whether of the two shall I bestow most tears You may in my opinion saies Valeria bewail them both innocently for they had an esteem and respect for one the other and fortune having disposed them in the head of two contrary Armies Honor obliged them to fight as if they had not So that you must not look on them as the occasions of one anothers death there is a great difference between Battels and single Combats a man is not at his choice whom to kill and therefore the only person to be hated is Sextus as being the cause of the War and so you are allowed to bemoan your illustrious Brother and Lover Ah! my dear Valeria reply'd she sighing 't were in vain to forbid me for I find that if death do not suddenly close these eyes they will be eternally open to tears No question Valeria but I shall ever bewail both my illustrious Brother and my illustrious Lover and that I shall ever feel the saddest sentiments that can proceed from an affectionate friendship and a passionate love when one hath lost in so fatal a manner the objects of both and cannot accordingly ever after hope for so much as one moment of pleasure or one minute of rest Nay added this afflicted Beauty had I lost them by some other way as that if Sparius had kill'd the unfortunate Prince of Pometia and Tarquin the unfortunate Brutus it were some kind of comfort to me to have a horrid aversion for those that had taken away their lives For hatred is a passion that employs and diminishes grief People send up their imprecations against those that are the cause of it they endeavour to ruine them and rejoyce at their death when it happens But all this is forbidden me and grief and joy cannot be innocently together in my heart I can neither love nor hate without a secret remorse which puts me into a confusion and without feeling my self seiz'd by a certain fury whereof I dare not search into the bottom of my soul for the cause for fear I should find it to be a criminal one In fine nature friendship love and virtue furnish me with so many several thoughts that I think it will cost me the loss of my reason While Hermilia strugled with sentiments so sad so passionate and so disordered it was resolv'd in the Senate that Valerius should be received in triumph as well to do his valour a justice as to make the victory of the Roman Army the more remarkable that the partisans of Tarquin might not weaken the relation of it by those false reports which they scatter'd among the people Lucretius and Valerius as the most considerable of the Senate omitted nothing that might contribute to the honor of Valerius living or Brutus dead The Consul acquainted with the resolution of the Senate discamp'd and caus'd his Army to march back into Rome in the same order that it had left it The Lictors with the Ax and Fasces went before him which was the first time they did it for that honor was proper only to the first Consul Valerius march'd in the midst of his Forces a triumphal Chariot before him whereon was the body of Brutus covered with black Tapistry purfled with Gold And to do him the greater honor the Body was set upon the richest spoils of the enemy for there were seen Ensigns starting out on both sides sumptuous Arms in divers places and magnificent Bucklers all about Several prisoners chain'd follow'd the Chariot of the illustrious deceas'd it being Valerius's design to express thereby that he only deserved the honor of the triumph But it being requisite to infuse courage into the people Valerius had not any thing of mourning either in his Arms or his Equipage On the other side all the people of Rome went as far as they could to meet Valerius and the high way as he past along was all bordered with Tables well furnish'd whence the people took divers things to present to the Soldiers as they passed by who yet made no stay to receive them The way was strew'd with flowers and the Senate in Body met Valerius without the City Gates All the streets were hung with rich Tapistry and all the Ladies at the windows to see the solemnity pass by But after all notwithstanding those great demonstrations of Victory the sight of the Chariot wherein the body of the illustrious Brutus was caused more tears of grief than of joy to be shed In the mean time Valerius according to the pious custom of the Romans went to the Temple to offer to the gods the spoils of the enemy as it were to acknowledge victory came from them Which done having caused the body of Brutus to be placed under a mourning Canopy in the midst of the spacious place that was before Jupiter's Temple and put on a black Robe such as were then worn in publick Mournings he went up into the place appointed for those who had some Order to communicate to the people and by that means as 't is thought at least proved the first institutor at Rome of that laudable custom of making Elogies on illustrious men deceased a thing in use long before among the Grecians Valerius therefore being compassed by the Senate all the persons of quality in Rome and an innumerable multitude of people who by an awful silence seemed to expect what he would say to them began to speak in these terms BRUTUS's Funeral Oration IT were injustice in me generous Romans to enjoy the honor of the victory without acquainting you that it is to this illustrious deceased Person that you owe it and putting
must also shew thee him in company dost not thou see eight Men and a Woman they are the nine Lyrick Poets who shall be put together in resemblance of the nine Muses The first without comparison shall be Pindar of whom I shall tell thee afterwards and thou mayst see the rest about her who are Simonides Stesichorus Ibycus Alcman Bachylides Anacreon Alcaeus and Sappho who shall likewise be call'd the tenth Muse as I told thee before But to speak at present only of Pindar when he shall be in the cradle the Bees shall make Honey upon his mouth Dost thou not see that he is separated from the rest that environ him and that he has none near him but a fair Virgin with a Crown upon her head 't is Corinna who shall have the glory of surpassing him five times publickly and gain the prize for making better Verses than he Nevertheless he shall be a Poet of the first Order in the judgement of the greatest Poets that shall follow him He shall be so sublime that it shall be hard to follow him his style shall be lofty pure and chaste and truly worthy to entertain Kings and Princes He shall love chiefly to sing the praises of those who shall have been Victors in the Olympick Games However as I mention'd before Corinna shall overcome him five times Some shall say the reason shall be for that being very handsome her Verses shall thereby seem so much the more amiable others that making use of the Aeolian Dialect and Pindar of the Dorick which shall not be so elegant this shall give her the advantage But to discover a truth to thee which shall never be known to any other he shall be amorous of her and therefore take pleasure to suffer himself to be overcome by her Not but that this Woman must be so admirable for her Verses that the Tanagrians shall erect a Statue to her she shall also give profitable councel to Pindar for as he shall one day be boasting of himself in her presence she shall pleasantly mock him and tell him that he knows not how to make any thing since he knows not how to feign maintaining peremptorily that fiction is necessary to handsom Poetry Pindar afterwards endeavouring to improve this admonition shall offer her a work wholly fill'd with fictions connected together but this fair Virgin deriding him again ingeniously and beholding him with a mocking smile shall tell him they ought to be interspers'd with judgement and not cast in by handfuls as he has done And accordingly Pindar shall so well profit by her Counsel that he shall become the wonder of his own age and of those which shall come after him The most famous Conqueror of the World shall esteem him so highly that having taken Thebes he shall cause the house to be shewn him where Pindar dwelt to secure it from being pillag'd and shall preserve the goods of another Pindar only in respect to his name He shall also be happy in dying for after having requested of the gods that which is sweetest in life he shall have the advantage to dye without pain sleeping upon the knees of a person whom he shall love at the publick Shews After which a Statue shall be erected to him But in the next place dost thou see a goodly person well made and of a comely stature who has a Crown of Flowers upon his head and a very rich cup in his hand who is near a Table well furnish'd and encompass'd with people that are dancing 't is the famous Anacreon the great protector of Joy and Feasts Oh I beseech you interrupted Anacreon let me see whether you have not craftily adjoyn'd me to so many Poets that have appear'd to me as well as to Hesiode since you began to read Sincerely answer'd Amilcar I have made no alteration in translating this place and I engage to let you see all I am going to read in the Greek Original Let Amilcar read on said Plotina for perhaps we shall hear what you would be unwilling to tell us Indeed added Valeria I have understood by Berelisa and Clidamira that you will not relate any thing concerning your Loves 'T is true answer'd Anacreon That I do not affect to tell my amorous adventures and therefore I am loth to let Amilcar read this place for I should not care to have Calliope discover to you all my secrets Fear nothing reply'd Amilcar a Muse never speaks indiscreetly and the Translator is intelligent enough Proceed then said Anacreon And accordingly Amilcar began to read again in this manner at the place where he had left off But in the next place dost thou see a goodly person well made and of a comely stature who has a crown of Flowers upon his head and a very rich cup in his hand who is near a Table well furnish'd and encompass'd with people that are dancing 't is the famous Anacreon the protector of Joy and Feasts He shall have a jovial wit gallant delicate and natural his Odes shall last as long as the Empire of Letters shall endure he shall invent a sort of Verses that shall bear his name he shall make Elegies he shall sing the Loves of Circe and Penelope Lovers of Vlysses but this Work shall perish and he shall at length be one of the most famous Poets of all Greece he shall love after all the ways wherewith 't is possible to Love his principal Mistress shall be named Hold I beseech you interrupted Anacreon again and do not name her I must of necessity name her answer'd Amilcar for Plotina makes me a sign to continue my reading which he did accordingly thus His principle Mistress shall be named Euripile posterity nevertheless shall believe that he lov'd two other persons more ardently He shall be very well belov'd by the Prince of Samos called Polycrates who shall one day give him two talents but Anacreon shall restore them back two days after and tell him to refuse him without incivility that he was two nights without sleep for thinking how he should employ them and that he will not be rewarded with a thing that affords nothing but anxious and inquiet cares In his first youth returning from a great Feast he shall meet a Nurse holding a Child in her arms whom he shall justle so rudely that the provoked Woman shall pray the gods that one day he may as much honor her Son whom he then despis'd and accordingly that child shall one day excite love in Anacreon He shall invent a kind of Lyre with one and twenty strings and he shall dye by an unexpected and inconsiderable accident in the midst of a Feast at the age of fourscore and five years and shall enjoy after his death an immortal glory Whatever the accident be interrupted Anacreon that shall occasion my death in that age I think I have no great cause to be troubled at it but whatever Calliope has spoken of it I conceive I shall not do very
Clelius of the subject of his quarrel with Aronces because he had heretofore promised him never to tell him he loved Clelia but he imagined a part of the truth and was strongly perswaded in the opinion that Aronces and Horatius were amorous of his Daughter but the better to know it he return'd to his house and taking Clelia aside without telling Sulpicia of it because he noted she did not love Horatius I never believed said he to her to affright her that you had been capable to breed a quarrel between my two Friends and I should never have thought the Daughter of a Roman so little esteemed glory as you do By your favour Father said she to him tell me what baseness I have committed and what quarrel I have caused You are the cause replied he that Horatius and Aronces have fought and that one of them it may be is in danger of death What replied hastily Clelia who would not retain this first motion have Aronces and Horatius fought and is one of their lives in danger Yes Daughter said he to her and you are doubtless the cause of this disaster Clelia would then have demanded of her Father which of the two were hurt but seeing her Father much disturb'd and that he attentively lookt upon her she durst not ask that question but Clelius knew that she interested her self in the conversation of one of those two enemies for a crimson tincture shadowed her cheeks which sufficiently confirmed him that she was not altogether insensible either for Aronces or Horatius In the mean time as he did not certainly know for which of them two she had a tender heart because he had not named him which was hurt he resolved subtilly to discover it and concealing the truth he told her that it was Aronces which was wounded and that she had merited blame for what she had done Clelia hearing Clelius his words was so much afflicted that 't was easie for her Father to know that she had rather it had been Horatius but though she said nothing whereon he might ground this conjectural opinion her eyes betrayed the secret of her heart and though she had power enough to hinder her from weeping Clelius saw that it was only her prudence retained her tears so that seeking no further confirmation 't is sufficient Clelia said he to her I know all the secret of your heart and you will be glad when you know 't is Horatius which is hurt and not Aronces for I am very certain you prefer Aronces before Horatius and that you affect rather an unknown person then a Roman yet I know not whether you suffer them both though you love one better then the other Ah Clelia cry'd he to her Maids of your quality do not thus live at Rome but to the end you may elevate your heart and to add more confusion to your weakness remember that your blood is of the most illustrious in the World that the Nobility of your Race is ancienter then Rome and if the famous City of Alba yet subsisted that Crown should be your Hereditary right But without seeking these marks of greatness from the Tombs of those Kings from whom I am descended and in the ruines of a State of which I might have been the Master to the end to scrue up your thoughts to a sublimer pitch of greatness it suffices you are my Daughter to find very strange that you should be capable of that weakness I reproach you I know Sir replied she that I ought to take all things at your hands therefore have I suffered you to accuse me without cause but after all as I am obliged to justifie my self permit me to tell you that I am not culpable What replied Clelius do you say that Aronces and Horatius are not amorous of you and do you think to perswade me that you do not love Aronces better then Horatius I do not positively know replied Clelia if those you say are effectually amorous of me but if 't were so I should not be culpable since I never had any design to countenance their affections and for the difference you say I put between Aronces and Horatius I am not in that very criminal for in fine I saw Aronces as soon as I injoyed the light you have commanded me from my infancy to love him as a Brother and to give him that Title you have always loved him with a Paternal affection I have seen him esteemed by all those who knew him before I knew Horatius 't is not therefore strange that I have more disposition to have friendship for him then the other though I have lived with an equal civility towards both of them If you have always lived so replied Clelius wherefore should they quarrel wherefore should they sight wherefore should Horatius be hurt and wherefore should he say to Aronces in my presence that he was more unhappy then he I know not replied she the cause of their quarrel but I very well know I contributed nothing to it that I have no subject to complain of Aronces and that if I had not feared your displeasure I should have long since acquainted you that I had reason to accuse Horatius because he persisted to give me marks of his pretended passion though I had forbid it him if you had defended it as severely to Aronces as Horatius replied Clelius things would have never come to these terms and if you had not made a secret of that Gallantry order should have been taken to prevent these things In the mean time I have to tell you that though Aronces hath merit I forbid you to look on him but as one ungrateful that hath forgot all that he owes me and I command you to dispose your self to live better with Horatius if he escapes for to tell you clearly my intentions if he doth not esteem you unworthy of him after that which hath happened he is the only Man in the World that I can consent you espouse He is an accomplished Man a Roman and Son to a Friend I very much loved and in fine he is Tarquin's Enemy which is the greatest inducement for me to desire his Alliance for Aronces I know he is endowed with transcendent qualities but since he is both unknown and ungrateful I will not only forbid him to look upon you but command you never to speak to him till you are Horatius his Wife After these words Clelius lest Clelia grief seizing all the faculties of her Soul after he departed from her Chamber he went to find Sulpicia to whom he made strange reproaches accusing her not to have taken sufficient care in the tuition of her Daughter since she suffered her to put some distinction between Aronces and Horatius for after all said he to her if she must put any between them it must be for the disadvantage of Aronces and not Horatius Sulpicia hearkned to her Husband's words with an extreme despight because they confirmed her in the
you have nothing to do but to prepare your self to rejoyce for my death for in the thoughts in which you are it will without doubt cause you joy but because I may at least have the comfort to die justified accuse me exactly of my supposed crime tell me when Fenice was loved by me when we were familiar together and if I destroy not all these impostures esteem me as the basest of all Men take from me wholly all hopes that is to say take away my life speak then Divine Clelia continued he but speak without turning away your fair eyes that they may see in mine all the innocence of my heart and the fervour of my Love Clelia hearing Aronces speak in this manner began to doubt of what had been told her concerning him so that looking upon him with a more gracious eye then before by your favour Aronces said she to him justifie not your self for I had rather be in wrath then in sorrow wherefore because 't is upon necessity that I must lose you leave me in the belief that 't is I which have lost you No no Madam replied he I will not indure this injustice and I must be absolutely justified As Aronces ended these words and that he was in hope to appease Clelia Fenice followed by two of her Friends came down stairs at the foot of which we were insomuch that Aronces who did not think that she had been there and who knew that Clelia had newly accused him to have born her some affection was so surprised by the sight of her that it was not in his power to conceal those marks which demonstrated the agitation of his spirit Nevertheless as he intended to clear Clelia of her doubt he saluted Fenice with more reservedness then ordinarily insomuch that this person not knowing what was the reason of the diminution of his wonted civility and calling to mind the cold entertainment that Clelia gave her the last time she saw her she could not hinder her self from making some reproaches for it Ah Aronces said she to him 't is too much to be at odds both with you and Clelia 't is not added Fenice but that her beauty deserves your regards but she ought not to be possessor of all your civilities Aronces and Clelia were so surprised by what Fenice had said and she passed by so suddenly that they had not the leisure to answer her yet they both began to give her a reply but as I have said already Fenice gave them not the leisure to end it nay they were not able to say any thing to each other and I could not go after Fenice who had not seen me because Sulpicia ended her discourse which she had with that Lady which had stayed her by this means Aronces thinking to clear himself found himself in a new labyrinth for the alteration of his countenance and what Fenice had told him renewed the suspicions in Clelia's heart insomuch that although he spake to her as he went up the stairs she gave him no Answer and she hath even acknowledged that she hardly understood him you may then judge Madam that when they were in this mourning Chamber it was not easie for him to entertain her and when Sulpicia departed Clelia carried her self so dexterously that she engaged me whether I would or not to lead her it is true that Aronces was not prejudiced by it for he found in Sulpicia whom he accompanied so much kindness that it did in some measure comfort him yet she nevertheless told him but very displeasing things for she confirmed him in the belief which he had that Clelius was very angry with him and that he would not be easily reconciled it is true that she testified to him a great deal of sorrow for it which did infinitely oblige him But as she went about to joyn Clelia's thoughts with hers and to make him know that she also was very sorry for it Ah Madam said he to her the equity of Clelia is far inferiour to yours and I am far from having any subject by which I might equalize her goodness with yours Certainly you take the modesty of my Daughter replied Sulpicia as a Token of indifferency but I assure you she gives your virtue its deserved praise and that if my perswasions could be ever able to cause an alteration in Clelius his thoughts you should see what testimonies she would give of the esteem she hath of you Aronces durst not tell her what Clelia had told him for fear of angring that fair person to whom I spoke but as soon as I desired to know of her for what reason she would put Aronces to despair by treating him so cruelly Aronces replied she it may be is not so innocent as you think him to be and you may chance to be a better Friend then you think for in speaking to his advantage Clelia told me that in such obscure terms that as I knew not that she thought Aronces loved Fenice I was far from understanding what she meant and I likewise answered so ambiguously and our conversation was so mysterious that we parted without understanding one another so that when Aronces and I were alone together we knew not what to imagine for he was so astonisht that Clelia should accuse him of loving Fenice and I was so affrighted at it when he told it me that I knew not what to think of it and the grief which Aronces had for it was so great that it could not be exceeded for my part I knew well after that which he had told me that it may be I was a better Friend then I thought for believing that Aronces was amourous of Fenice whom I loved she was perswaded that I did more then I ought in speaking in his behalf In the mean time we in vain searcht from whence should proceed Clelia's jealousie the cause of which was very far off for you must remember that when I told you that when Horatius endeavoured the first time to know whether Aronces was in love with Clelia or no he found him with a Letter in his hand which Fenice had wrote me of which Horatius knew not the writing Now Madam it happened that during the time that he had kept his Chamber for the hurt which he had received Stenius fortunately shewed him a Song which was written by Fenice which he saw sometimes so that Horatius remembring it to be the same hand as that which he had seen in his Rivals hands he began to imagine that Aronces loved in two places and that I was his Confident only but by Fenice so that relating this whole Adventure to Stenius he began to exaggerate the unjustice of Clelia to prefer a Man to him which only gave her a divided heart So that Stenius effectively believing that Aronces had some intelligence with Fenice and thinking to tender Horatius a good office he went without informing him of it to Clelia's house and he so contrived his discourse that he
unknown to him and he saw also that he had no occasion to complain of his Rival and it is that which hath made him the more miserable But that which was to him most insupportable was Clelia's anger for he feared that the hatred which he thought Clelia bore him should induce her to love Horatius which above all things in the world he feared and indeed he could not in the condition he was then in harbour sweeter thoughts in his fortune than to think that Clelia should hate his Rival in marrying of him In the mean while Clelius according to what he had said to Aronces made Clelia write a Note in which were only these words IF within three days Aronces leaves Capua and that without seeing Horatius I shall pity his misfortune and if he obeys not the Command which I make him to depart none ever hated so much as I shall hate him You may easily think Madam in what a despair Aronces was then after he had read these cruel words it was so great that I thought his anguish would have deprived him of his life But in fine forcing himself with an extreme violence he answered Clelia in this manner Aronces to Clelia I Will Madam depart within three days if my grief will spin my life so long as to obey you but I will not go but for to dye of love and despair and I assure you that the end of my life shall antidate your Nuptials and I shall never have the grief to hear that my Rival hath possessed you but you shall it may be soon know the death of the most faithful of Lovers This was Madam the answer of Aronces to Clelia who saw it not so soon for as it had been her Father which was the cause of her writing he hindred Aronces Letter from being delivered unto her for fear it should mollifie her heart for although Clelia was angry with him Clelius nevertheless perceived that she hated him not and that she had not any affection for Horatius Things being in this manner I saw Aronces an hundred times almost resolved either to kill Horatius or to dye himself and if I had not in part retained his violences I know not what he would have done there happened a thing which did much embroyl these two Rivals for as Aronces was going pensively along through a street which is near Horatius Lodging this Lover was going forth as being the first time and expresly to see Clelius to whom he was going to make his first visit for to thank him for the good will he bore him though he had not yet promised him any thing so that these two Rivals encountring they approached together with different thoughts for Horatius who thought he should be soon happy had less anger in his spirit and he still acknowledged his Liberator in the person of his Rival for Aronces as he was miserable although he was generous he only saw his Rival in the person of his friend they both nevertheless saluted each other for I had forgot to tell you that their friends during the time that Horatius kept his Chamber had made a kind of agreement between them without disclosing of their quarrel But in fine to begin where I left off they saluted one another and Aronces speaking to his Rival the first For ought that I can see said he to his Rival by I know not what Sentiment which he could not retain It is sufficient to be born a Roman to become happy and the greatness of my passion availeth me nothing you should have done better to have said your merit replyed Horatius thereby to exaggerate your misery for as I think my self to be as amorous as you it is not in that that we differ nevertheless I can assure you that my reason is not at present troubled with fear that I shall be perfectly happy since I cannot be without rendring you altogether miserable Ah Horatius replyed Aronces it is not of these things you must speak to comfort a generous Rival on the contrary you remember we made a bargain one day that we would not hate one another till Clelia to the prejudice of one of us had made her choice therefore as you are going to be he I think I am fully dispensed of all the friendship I had promised you and I am verily perswaded that I may without breaking the laws of generosity hate you Hate me then unjust friend replyed Horatius for as it is not easie to love who hates us think it not strange if I have no affection for him that loves me not far from taking it ill replyed Aronces you cannot do any thing which may seem to me more just then to hate me for I declare unto you that if the respect which I bear unto Clelius did not retain me Clelia should never be yours as long as my heart should beat within me and I know not added he if Cielius should be sufficient if Clelia did not meddle in it Although you have vanquished me replyed Horatius fiercely if things were in that condition I should know how to defend Clelia with the same valour that one of my Predecessors defended Rome That Horatius of whom you speak answered roughly Aronces overcame three men it is true but it was more by policy than valour and though you shall have his valour I should not be the sooner overcome As they were in these terms and Horatius who prepared himself to give him a sharp answer Herminius and two more came to them who knowing what passed between them and seeing some alteration in their eyes did not leave them till they were parted in the mean while as this intervene was known by Clelius he sent again to Aronces to tell him he would have him be gone so that in effect he was fain to resolve himself to depart at least he did as one who intends to depart for his followers were ordered to have all things in readiness there were for all that moments in which he thought more in killing of Horatius than in departing but when he considered that the death of his Rival would not procure him his Mistress he a little refrained his violence which he knew was not grounded on a lawful soundation for Horatius had been in love with Clelia before him Clelius intended her for him and would not have Aronces have any thoughts that way and in fine Horatius was not very Criminal towards Aronces In the mean while Clelia on her part was not without grief for she doubtless had an inclination in her heart powerful enough to cause in her a great difficulty to overcome it principally since she knew that Aronces prepared himself to be gone and to obey her for she then knew well that if he had loved Fenice he would not have left Capua so that her jealousie suddenly ending her affection for Aronces gathered new strength and her aversion for Horatius encreased so much that she knew not how to obey Clelius and
as Fame speaks him since it appears that he bears some reverence unto the Gods for he sent two of his Sons unto Delphos with offerings and I have heard say that he hath built a stately Temple in Rome which he did dedicate unto Jupiter Did you know Tarquin replied Herminius you would not wonder he should make a shew of some reverence to the Gods for then you would plainly see that all the Religion he hath is to serve his policy Not but that there are some men who say that he is not very well resolved in his own thoughts and that be does not well know whether he should or he should not believe there are are any Gods And for my part I can never believe that a prince whose ambition hurries him to violate all manner of rights and to commit all sorts of crimes so long time together can believe there are any Gods Men questionless may sometimes out of weakness fail said Zenocrates then but when they do obstinately continue in a long course of wickedness I think it may well be concluded that those who live so do not believe there is any thing above their heads which they ought to fear Truth is said Herminius did Artemidorus know what the actions of Tarquin are what are his Laws and by what ways he came to the Throne how he hath maintained it and what are his maxims he will with me believe that he never thinks of any Gods Since happily I may have some negotiations with that Prince said Amilcar I should be very glad to know all his life For my particular said Artemidorus I am extremely full of curiosity to know it And for my part added Zenocrates I shall be glad also to hear it though I know very much of him already As for me said Aronces though I have heard him discoursed of a thousand times unto Clelius yet I must confess I do not know the whole Series of his History and Herminius would much oblige me in telling of it for since I know not yet whether I shall be on his side or no I shall be very glad to know him a little better than I do especially since we have now leisure enough to hear his History For my particular said Artemidorus I would if I durst desire a little more for I must confess that I do as much desire to hear the History of Rome as the History of Tarquin The Story of that Prince is so mixed with that of Rome replied Herminius as one cannot tell the one but he must also tell all that relates unto the other Since so said Aronces I beseech you satisfie the curiosity of Artemidorus and addtess your speech unto him since he hath the least knowledge in the things which you are to tell Zenocrates approving of what Aronces said and Herminius consenting unto what these three illustrious persons desired he recollected into his memory all that was requisite for their better understanding the life of a Prince whose name made such a noise through all Italy And after he had shut the Chamber door to the end none should interrupt him he began in these terms but he spoke in his own language which Artemidorus did understand though he spoke it not The History of Tarquin the Proud I Am to relate such great such excellent and such terrible things unto you as I cannot tell whether I am able to order my method so as shall make my Relation pleasing for I know not very well how I can in few words contain the History of a great City which hath been governed by six Kings which seemed to have shared among themselves all the virtues and after them I know not how I should speak of a Prince who is branded with all manner of Vices and Crimes I know not I say how I should in a short time acquaint you with the most dismal effects that ever Love and Ambition caused these many ages and yet I am resolved to touch upon all that is necessary to make the injustice of Tarquin to appear or at the least to pass so slightly over the Reigns of those Kings who did precede him that I may have time enough to aggravate all the Crimes of a Prince who can never be enough hated I will not therefore insist upon a previous discourse of Romes Original for is there any men at Africa that knows not the prodigious adventures of the famous Remus and Romulus who are said to be sons of Mars by a Vestal Who knows not I say unto what they were exposed by the Commandment of the King their Uncle called Amulius who had usurped that Kingdom which belonged unto their Mother who knows not also that the Cradle wherein they were and which was left in the midst of a Desart was found out by a She Wolf which the cries of these two Infants invited thither who knows not how it is said the Wolf did let them suck her under a Fig-tree which at this day is called the Romulian Fig-tree and that others say a Shepheard finding them did carry them home to his Wife who nourished them However it be they lived and came to be great and brave men Remus was taken prisoner and delivered by his Brother after which they both of them joyned in the killing of him who had usurped the Kingdom which belonged unto them After this they made a peace with Numitor Brother unto him whom they had killed and leaving him quiet in his own Dominions a desire took them to build the famous City of Rome which Tarquin at this day would destroy and they built it in the same place where they were left in the Desart and where they were found These two Brothers began to build it the One and Twentieth day of April in the eighteenth year of their age Indeed generous Artemidorus since I suppose you know how that the desires of Reigning did divide them and that the death of the one did establish the Throne of the other I shall not trouble you with any more But let me tell you that in a very short time this new City unto which Romulus gave his own name was as potent as any of the most ancient about it The cause of its being so soon populated was because Romulus established an inviolable Sanctuary between two little Groves which were held for sacred and whither whosoever retired was in safety So as by this means he drew subjects unto himself from all the Neighbour Towns where any men were who feared punishment for any crime Moreover it is well known that he did worship all those Gods which those of Altes adored and that he would have Hercules reverenced as he is in Greece Afterwards that famous plundering of the Sabines made him talked of through all Italy He established excellent orders in the Town he did wonders in feats of War he defied all his enemies he killed the King Tatius with his own hand he Triumphed in Rome The Wars with the Cernebans the Crustivanians
and pleasant and whose obscure life it so strange that nothing can be more But I beseech you sayes Aronces disguise him not any further to me and so starting out of bed while Herminius went to fetch in his two illustrious friends he was at the Chamber door ready to receive them Brutus who was at his own house in that it was his Aunts made Valerius and Herminius go in before him but as it was not fitting such an interview should have any witnesses Aronces bid the Slave who attended him though he nothing doubted of his fidelity to depart the room Which done looking on Brutus with admiration he seem'd not to him the same man he had been for though he was not very handsome yet now he seem'd indifferently well-favoured His Physiognomy was sprightly and giving his mind liberty without affecting that simplicity whereby he used to conceal it Aronces presently knew that he whom he saw was the same whom he had heard speak But he was further confirmed by what this illustrious Roman said to him for after that Herminius had by a pertinent complement opened the interview that Valerius had complemented in particular and that Aronces had spoken to all three according to his excellent wit and pleasing way which is ordinary with him it coming to Brutus's turn you see illustrious Prince said he how far the Tyranny of the wicked Tarquin extends since that to preserve my Life I was forced to lose my Reason or at least to conceal it so as he might have no knowledge of it But I beseech you continued he conceive not that my only design in it was by such a humerous carriage to avoid death for if my feigned stupidity proceeded not from a nobler cause I should not think my self worthy your notice In the mean time as I cannot now particularise my Fortune to you be pleased to give me leave to conjure you not to judge of me before you understand me perfectly either from my self or Herminius who knows the mysterie of my life and whose apprehensions I acknowledge as my own What I have heard from you not a quarter of an hour since replyed Aronces what I received from Herminius just now and what you tell me your self give me so much caution to interpret all things to your advantage that without knowing any thing of your adventures I yet believe that your feigned extravagance is an effect of a great wisdome and a great generosity You are in the right my Lord sayes Valerius in what you say for I can assure you that since there have been any generous men there have not been any that could ever arrive to such a constancy or to say better obstinacy of generosity as that of the illustrious Brutus Upon this Herminius who had not brought them together to commend one another changed the discourse and as it is certain that in great men there is a certain secret Sympathy which unites their hearts sooner than those of others so in one half hour these conceived themselves of a long and standing acquaintance and the sprightly Herminius knew so well how to humour his friends that he was in a manner the cement of their Society By no other assurance than that of his honesty which was equally known to all he raised such a confidence between them that upon his single word they mutually trusted to one another that which was of greatest importance in their fortunes But when they had so discovered themselves one to another they found that their interests though different required the same remedies For Brutus and Valerius wishing onely Rome delivered from the Tyranny of Tarquin looked no further than how to take away from him the power he had usurped Herminius was ingaged in the same interest and in divers others and Aronces desirous to deliver Clelia and to avoid falling into the hands of Tarquin could no other way accomplish his design better than by destroying him who kept his Mistress Captive Upon which Herminius telling him that if he hoped to bring about so great an interprise he must by the means of the friends he had in his Fathers Court hinder him to supply Tarquin and oblige the King of Ceres to relieve Ardea or at least to make a deversion Aronces having considered of it told Herminius that he must oblige Zenocrates to go to Ciusium for that he was well known and much esteemed by the Princess of the Leontines a Woman of great authority and much subtilty that he must take with him a Letter to her and another to Queen Galerita his Mother and that Celeres should be sent to the King of Ceres with whom he had been long enough when he was young to expect credit when he spoke on the behalf of Aronces For though his Court had sometime been a Sanctuary to Porsennas yet as he was nothing interessed in the siege of Ardea so was it not impossible to perswade him that it concerned him that Rome became not so powerful as to be able to oppress all its neighbours To make this more feasible Herminius engaged himself that those of Ardea should also send to that King For though their City was besieged yet was it not so narrowly but that some every day came in and went out of it But Aronces not knowing how to acquaint Zenocrates nor Celeres but by the means of Amilcar he desired permission of Brutus and Valerius to communicate their designs to him promising he would be answerable for his fidelity you may also ingage him to contribute his subtilty to the business replied Herminius It is not necessary replyed Brutus for I know by experience that one African is more subtil than all the Romans I have been also told that he hath suspected that I had more understanding then my words betrayed and if I had not been very cautious indeed to avoid his survaying I am confident he had pryed into my heart If he had replyed Aronces you would have fared never the worse for it for Amilcar loves not to hurt those who hurt not him While Brutus and Aronces were in this discourse Herminius was fallen into so deep a musing that Valerius who awoke him out of it asked him the reason thereof He at first seemed a little suspitious to tell him but Valerius having aloud expressed his curiosity to know it Aronces and Brutus joyned with him to press him to declare what he thought At last resolving to comply with their desires Conceive not said he to them that the denial I made you proceeds from any humour I have my thoughts should be a secret to you but I wish you had given me leave to decide within my self whether a certain scruple of Vertue be well or ill grounded But since in the mean time you will know it it is sitter you should be Judges of my thoughts than that I should judge of them without you Know then that I was considering with my self whether it were not to be feared that the different
Artemidorus Zenocrates and Celeres lodged where taking their Horses they mounted Aronces on Amilcar's which done Brutus having found them a guide directed them to a House which Valerius had near Collatia there to lie concealed till such time as they had more leisure to consider what they had to do For his part he would not depart telling them that his apparent stupidity would excuse him in this adventure and bidding them not trouble themselves about him There being no other course to take they went where Brutus directed them and were there gladly received for Valerius who had left Rome at the break of day to go thither was there two hours before But as they went what did not the unfortunate Aronces think on If he had followed his own inclination he could not have been prevailed with to quit Rome but as it had been madness not to have done it considering what was past so was it his concernment to leave it which yet he could not without so much regret and reluctancy that never was there any Lover so miserable Ah! said he to himself How unfortunate art thou Canst thou express no valour but what must be prejudicial to Clelia Is it possible thou shouldst destroy him who was to deliver her Is it possible after such a cruel and monstrous disaster hath hapned to thee thou canst doubt thy own destruction or conceive the least hope No no it were more rational to despair and that thou shouldst by an inconsiderate death put a period to so unhappy a life While Aronces entertained himself in this sad manner Herminius who was extremely troubled at the accident came up to him and demanded his pardon as if he had been guilty of his death Alass dearest Herminius said he to him what do you mean It is I should rather demand your pardon as the cause of your misfortunes for I am perswaded that my single unhappiness causes that of all my friends and that Fortune who is resolved to make me the most miserable of all thinking it not sufficient I should be such through my own misfortunes is pleased I should have no friends but what are unhappy It is indeed easie to discover that my unhappiness is particular to me and waits on me every where for it happens as it were by appointment since when it so much concerns Clelia that I should remain undiscovered at Rome the particular house wherein I lay concealed must needs take fire which must force me out of it in the sight of two thousand persons and the malice and inconstancy of my Destiny must needs have it so that of the infinite number of people who made it their business either to kill or take us I who would have been content to die a thousand and a thousands times for Clelias Liberty must precisely kill that man who should have delivered her It is certain my Lord replied Herminius this unhappy accident hath in it something more insupportable than were the loss of a Battel or something else of that nature but all considered I find in my self a certain confidence that something will happen which we expect not for in fine there hath not been in Rome since Tarquin's assuming the power so general an inclination to some great turn of affairs as I have observed within these few days Ah Herminius replied Aronces was there any thing more certain in appearance than Clelias Liberty and yet by a strange shifting of Fortune I must needs kill him who was to deliver her If you then take my advice let us not hope any thing added he but let us rather prepare our selves either to endure all misfortunes imaginable or by death to accord them Whilst Aronces and Herminius was thus engaged and that Artemidorus Zenocrates and Celeres bemoaned their friends and their own misfortunes and were upon their way altogether to Valerius's house divers things past at Rome For Brutus whose great heart admitted not the least fear went to Tullia to acquaint her with his ordinary simplicity that he was present when the Captain of Tarquin's guard was killed who he said came by his death among a great multitude of people by setting upon certain men who endeavoured to quench the fire at his Aunts house exaggerating according to his affected stupidity how much he was to blame for disturbing such as were burthened with her goods which they were carrying to the house of a certain friend of Racilias Tullia who had already understood the death of the Captain of the Guard and was extremely troubled at it took no heed to what was told her by a man whom she thought no great master of his senses On the contrary without any further discourse with him Did not your stupidity excuse you said she to him I should teach you how those are to be treated who presume to make use of their Swords against his Majesty's Officers But since your madness secures you get you gone out of my sight lest in the transportation I am now in I treat you for your stupidity as your Brother was for his too much prudence Brutus hearing Tullia threatning him so insolently with death had almost broke forth and at once discovered his reason his indignation hatred and his revenge But at length mastering his resentments he withdrew as if he had not heard what Tullia said and repaired to Racilia who was at her illustrious friends house In the mean time the fire being quenched the streets were clear of people and that which was most observable was that though abundance of people had been spectators of this accident yet could not Tullia have any punctual account of it For the Captain being dead without discovering any thing or so much as naming Herminius and his companions being also out of the way all that could be made of it was that they had been killed endeavouring to secure an enemy of Tarquins The people knew not Herminius from another man because he was disguised and for Sivilia the reputation of her virtue was so great that none durst inform against her nor tell Tullia that those armed people who had rescued the other two came out of her house As concerning Aronces there was mention made of him and indeed the business was handled in such a confusion that nothing could be made of it there being an hundred several relations of the same thing But while these things were in agitation Amilcar was gently entertaining Clelia and Plotina who were so transported with the hopes of Liberty that their conversation that morning was as free as if they had really been at Liberty For though Amilcar had received a Letter from Tarquin wherein he easily discovered what a Tyranny Love and Hatred exercised over him yet he shewed it not to Clelia but entertained her altother with discourse concerning Aronces telling her what satisfaction it would be to him to see her at liberty what it would be to her to receive new assurances of his affection and the joy that attends a
that my tenderness towards Emilius is not of that nature as it is unto you But Herminius I find my self at a strange Dilemma For if you have not been inconstant I confess you have right to demand restitution of my heart but I confess withal that if you look upon me as a weak person I ought not to restore it unto you since most certainly I never did any thing which can be a reproach unto me had I thought you dead and not thought you inconstant I had then been to blame if I had comforted my self and entertained the love of Emilius I confess also that if I had not thought you dead but only thought you unfaithful you might have reproached me for being too obedient unto my Father when he commanded me to entertain the love of Emilius for I do believe maugre all I have said that if one do love well they cannot chuse but wish and hope for the repentance of the person loved though he be culpable But Herminius Flavia knows that if I did suffer Emilius it was only because I endeavoured to drive you out of my heart yet since I am sincere I will confess unto you that I have such tenderness towards you as makes me think I ought to make you happy And all that I can do as I conceive is to protest unto you that I will never bestow my self upon Emilius nor any other By this means I shall not expose my self unto your reproaches I shall not give Emilius any cause to complain against me since I am none of yours and you have no reason to accuse me since I am none of his Herminius then broke out into a thousand moving expressions unto Valeria Flavia she joyn'd her reasons unto his and offered to make Emilius understand reason but say all they could Valeria would not then fix upon any other resolution For though she was fully convinc'd that Herminius had not been inconstant but that he loved her as well as e're be did yet she could not make her self absolutely believe it she could not bring her self to tell Emilius that her passion to Herminius made her take her heart out of his hands and she was ashamed that this second affection had partly cooled her tenderness to Herminius Yet being desirous to know by what adventure those Letters which Valeria and Flavia had written unto Mutius came into the hands of Herminius Flavia desired him to question his servant and to find out how his brother came unto them After which Flavia making Herminius to understand by signs that when he was gone she would speak for him for though Emilius was her Cousin yet she loved Herminius better he went away without making any alteration in the resolution of Valeria He was no sooner gone out of the Chamber but Emilius entred who in lieu of finding any hopes in the eyes of that fair one he saw in them nothing but sadness and confusion so as his fears seizing upon his spirits he approached unto her in a trembling manner I perceive Madam said he unto her that you are not very well disposed to give a favourable hearing unto my reasons though I cannot but think them worthy of it But to obtain a more plausible Audience I will confess that Herminius is more worthy than I am to be your lover and to enjoy your heart I do confess also that if he had not been inconstant he has good right unto your affection I confess further that being a man of honour as I know him to be I am perswaded though I am his Rival that since he now saith he is not in love with Clelia I believe he is not I say again that being so much a friend unto Herminius as I am I will consent he should marry you if ye be both consenting But Madam you know how the Tyrant hates him how the generous Sivelia to save his life confirm'd the false reports of his death He is then an exile from Rome for ever surely you will not abandon Valerius and Domitia to follow him And though you would yet Herminius if he love you will not desire you should follow his fortune This being so Madam why will you not permit me to be happy since my friend cannot We will both love him if you please and never fear I shall upbraid you with your affection to him I know his merit and your vertue and I will never desire you to banish him your heart but only since Herminius cannot be happy not to change your thoughts of me When he came I was in your good esteem you did obey the commands of Valerius without any repugnancy and though you never gave me any testimonies of love yet I was contented And however I never did any thing since the return of Herminius which could displease you I have not withdrawn my Amity from him nor ever will unless you put me out of all hopes which Madam if you do I dare not answer that my reason will be stronger than my resentments Consider I beseech you that the unfortunate Emilius would not court you but that Herminius cannot enjoy you in peace And therefore I beseech you be mine since fortune will not let you be his I do love you Madam better than he can and shall love you ten thousand times above my own life if you will but resolve to make me happy You speak so very well replied Valeria as I must needs commend you But for all that Emilius this which you ask is not just for you know that it was you who told me of the death and inconstancy of Herminius and indeed you have been the cause of that injustice which I have done him But Madam replied he I was the innocent cause of it I confess it answered she and I do pardon all the harm which unknowingly you did me And to testifie how much I esteem you I will ingenuously confess unto you that I can never make you happy I have as good an opinion of you as any reasonable person can have I know your vertue your love and your innocency I know also the amity you preserve for Herminius I exhort you to continue it And indeed I do confess that you do merit my affection But since Emilius this affection can never be given unto you therefore you ought not to ask it If I would bestow my affection upon any one I ought to prefer Herminius before any other But if my Father did give me the liberty to dispose of my self I will never dispose of my self unto any Oh Madam replied Emilius that is not reasonable And though you think to comfort me by telling me you will be my Rivals no more than mine yet I assure you I am not a jot the more happy You think to lessen my grief and will not in an instant throw me from the height of happiness to the depth of despair This is the reason why you tell me nor you can never be mine without telling me that you never
they might look on them as the innocent cause of that unfortunate adventure Besides they were then in so little hope ever to see the Prince of Pometia or Prince Titus that they were sometimes glad of any occasion to weep which they might discover so to mask the tears of love with those of friendship They were therefore extreamly sad that day and all that were present complying with their humor were no less For Clelia she had so much cause to be sad that she never appeared otherwise Horatius for his part finding her ever cold and indifferent towards him had no reason to be over joyful though things were in such a posture as that he might entertain some hope Artemidorus had his fancy ever full of Clidamira and Berelisa Zenocrates wanted not reflections though more favorable than those of the rest Herminius by reason of the greatness of his affection and the odd posture of his amorous fortune was also melancholly enough Mutius was troubled that his Rival was so happy as to be loved and the whole company excepting Plotina and Amilcar was not the least inclined to engage in any thing that were divertive though it consisted of the noblest Souls in the World And yet though their discourse were sad sutable to the subject of it Death yet Plotina and Amilcar brought it at last to something that were pleasant In the first place according to the custom upon such occasions they spoke of the just occasion of grief which she had whom they came to condole with that brought in some discourse upon the accident some were silent others whispered and all grew weary of it But falling insensibly into other discourse and speaking lowder they began to play upon Flavia for that the very thought of death disturbed her reason and troubled her almost as much as if she had been to dye a minute after her self For though Flavia were a person of excellent endowments yet had she that weakness of not commanding her own sentiments so that she was subject to thousands of causeless fears For my part says Plotina I have such an aversion for death that for fear it should come too soon I am resolved not to fear it at all for certainly there is nothing worse for ones health than to fear it too much Nay then says Herminius I am happier than you for I neither hates nor fear it But for my part says Plotina I hate it most abominably and I think I have reason to do so For it is a rash inconsiderate thing that ever comes before it is looked for ever comes unseasonably troubles all the enjoyments of life separates friends and lovers hath no respect of any thing destroys beauty laughs at youth and is inflexible All this is true replies Herminius but it hath withall this advantage that it makes all men equal cures all diseases puts a period to all misfortunes and puts those it hastens on into such a condition as not to suffer any thing afterward In a word it satisfies the ambitious determines love and hatred appeapeases all passions and this evil that is so great and terrible is the evil but of an instant and such as for its infallibility ought not to be called an evil On the contrary replied Flavia 't is for that reason that death is the more terrible to me for if it were uncertain hope might take away some part of the fear I am in of it But when I consider that one may dye every minute and that thousands of several ways I feel a certain cold at the heart and I am almost at a loss of all reason You are then very happy replyed Plotina Nay she is such beyond what you can imagine says Collatina for having a lively imagination she sees dangers where there were never any I am really of opinion answers Plotina that there is more prudence than is conceived in being a little dull of apprehension for when people search so much into the bottom of things they many times get more hurt than good But you are not certainly always in fear continued she speaking to Flavia for when one is well is neither on a River nor at Sea nor yet in a Chariot but in ones Chamber in good company and good health methinks there 's no such occasion of fear Ah! Plotina replyed Flavia you know not what the fear of dying means if you measure it only by the present dangers that wait on us I remember says Horatius that I saw Flavia much troubled at the death of a man that had lived almost an age For my part says Mutius I have known her lose her share of an excellent Collation because it thundred And to my knowledge says Salonina I have seen her one day refuse an excellent walk only because we were to cross the Tiber. For heavens sake replyed she very pleasantly take not so much pains to pump your memories for my fears for I know them better than you do and since you will needs have Clelia and all present that know me not to be acquainted with my weakness I will tell my self all that I fear I fear then all diseases in general great and small I fear Thunder I fear the Sea and all Rivers I fear fire and water heat and cold fair weather and foul and I am afraid the earth should take occasion to shake at Rome as it does in Sicily Besides to my own misfortune I know all that the Tuscans have said of presages and I know it contributes to my torment and to say all in few words I fear what ever may directly or indirectly cause death But cannot you imagine in your self replyed Amilcar that the fear of death causes deformity sickness and may occasion death it self that you may be rid of so many fears May it not come into your thoughts added Clelia that all these frights amount to nothing that if the earth must shake it will shake whether you will or no that if a Thunder-bolt must fall it will fall haply rather on that place where you take refuge than on that you quit and in a word can you not submit your self to the disposal of the Gods But can you not conceive your self replyed Flavia that if I could do otherwise I would do it Do you think me destitute of reason and that I do not many times perceive I am too blame And yet after all even at the same time that my reason condemns me my imagination commands my heart and makes it feel what she pleases What I think most to be admired says Herminius is that all people find out some handsome pretence for the fear they have of death for they confidently affirm that they are not subject to so much weakness as to fear the pain that is suffered in dying but they are afraid they have not lived well enough and what is remarkable is that without growing better so to take away the fear they say they are in their thoughts are wholly taken up in
the preservation of their health and avoiding what ever may prejudice it Ah! Of that kind of people says Amilcar the world is full and you meet every where such as fear the punishments of the other life without any amendment and whose actions are contrary to their professions and easily discover that they simply fear death since they make provision only against that For my part says Flavia I am no very bad liver and trust much in the goodness of the Gods and therefore do not so much fear what shall happen to me after death as before for I fear pain very much besides the darkness of a Tomb startles me But when all is done says Clelia all your fears are fruitless you will dye as well as those that fear nothing and the surest way is to lead the most virtuous life that one can to expect death without wishing it or fearing it and to entertain it as a thing we have waited for all our life and which cannot be avoided For my part added Racilia I find it requires a greater constancy to support a long old age attended by those inconveniences which it commonly brings along with it than to receive death chearfully It is indeed says Plotina very pleasantly a very cruel thing to become old sick and deformed when one hath been accustomed to be young handsome and healthy and I know not whether I hate death so far as that I had not rather see it than my self in that condition But for what concerns me says Flavia though I were handsomer than Lucretia ever was should any one offer to raise me up again were I in her place so as that I must come into the world ugly old sick and troublesome I should take him at his word and I would rather live though abominably deformed than be dead You consider not what you say says Platina smiling and you fear death something less then you imagine for I thought you would not for any thing have been raised to life again for fear of dying once more and you affirm the contrary It is a thing so ordinary to abuse my weakness replved Flavia that I am never angry how satyrical soever people may be at it But the misery of it is replyed Herminius that you are not cured of it nor indeed curable for do what you can you will find that as a gallant man cannot prove cowardly and base so a fearful person can never become valiant Since fear does make some sleight the danger says Horatius I know not why reason may do as much Those who sleight danger out of an excess of fear whereby they become valiant replyed Herminius can never give a greater expression of their fearfulness than by doing a thing so much contrary to their disposition so that they may be said to be a sort of Hectors yet are still arrant cowards and have lost nothing of their natural inclination The case is otherwise with those who imploy their reason to force away fear from their hearts since it cannot do it but by working a change in the persons and making them act contrary to their inclinations Herminius is certainly very much in the right says Flavia but to comply a little with my imperfections I would all the Ladies now present were obliged to give precisely their thoughts of death For my part says Hermilia take me in the humor I am in I could without great intreaty wish it I go beyond you says Collatina and there are certain intervals wherein I should not be much troubled if I had never been Assure your self says Plotina I am not of your opinion for there are things pleasant enough in this place and I know no other remedy to cure the pensiveness of death than that of never thinking on it But when it hapens against my will that I hear of the death of any one I ever sist out some cause of that death such as cannot be appliable to my self For instance if it be of an aged person I simply say he hath been a long time in the World and secretly think my self as yet very far from that age If it were of a young body I say he or she was of a weak and sickly constitution sometimes that they took no care of themselves sometimes that they had done something that occasioned that misfortune and whatsoever I may say I still flatter my self with a hope of living as long as any one can live I have a Catalogue of all those who have lived an age and so discarding those pensive reflections assoon as possibly I can and I fix my imagination on whatever speaks any joy and so find my self incomparably better than Flavia who fixes hers on fear For my part says Clelia I am of another humor for I think on death when there is occasion but without any frightning for since I must infallibly see him one day methinks it is but fit he should not be absolutely a stranger to me No more for Heaven's sake says Flavia of this discourse concerning death unless you would have me dye besides the poor comfort you afford the afflicted when you entertain them with nothing but what is sad Those who speak of things that require much wit and mirth replyed Artemidorus are more importunate on the other side and yet this is ordinary in the World What you say is true answered Zenocrates and therefore am I an enemy to these mourning-visits for I cannot endure to be sad when I am not troubled and it is certainly a very unhandsome thing to go and laugh with those that weep There are so many things disorderly done in the Word replies Amilcar that we must accustom our selves to them and were there no other inconveniencies in humane life than what we suffer through the extravagancies of others we should not be much unfortunate for look on mens humors generally they rather make sport then are troubled at them While they were thus engaged was news brought that Tarquin understanding by the return of his Envoys that those who had declared for him were taken had sent word by a Herald who was at the City-gate that if they were put to death he declared open war against Rome So that they being alraedy dispatched the war was as good as declared To this news was added that Brutus and Valerius to shew how little they valued that bravado had answered they would accept the challenge and that on the morrow they would cause Janus's Temple to be opened which they had not shut since the departure of Tarquin but to recreate the people with such a representation of peace as they had not seen during the Tyrants reign For that Temple had not been shut since the time of Numa during which there were 43 years of peace This intelligence surprised not the enemy much only Clelia was troubled at it as imagining it must needs be hard if the War continuing the King of Clusium should not engage therein and that Aronces should not be
prove the means of his felicity but it no sooner came into his thoughts that you had destroyed his pleasures by eluding his hope but he abhors himself and by a violent motion to which true passion does not contribute any thing he would needs die not knowing precisely why he should live no longer Add to this that death is not a thing so terrible as it is imagined and it is evident from thousands of examples that Love is not the most ordinary cause thereof in the hearts of desperate persons There are some that rush upon it of themselves for fear of receiving if from the hands of their enemies others to avoid being well treated by them others to prevent the inconveniencies of old age others out of a fear of abating any thing of their enjoyments and others out of an irrational melancholly which makes them hate life But for Caliantes if we consider all he hath done for you since he fell in love with you we shall find that in being content to embrace poverty for your sake he hath done the greatest and most heroick action that ever Lover did For you know Madam that when he first directed his affections to you he was prodigiously rich and prodigiously liberal and yet rather than want your sight he suffers all to be taken from him he hath no further employment for a virtue wherin he placed his greatest satisfaction he puts himself into a condition of asking rather than giving and while he does this he declares to you that he will love you eternally even without any hope for you know that as soon as he fell into misfortune he plainly told you he would not be so irrational as to be guilty of a wish to see you engaged in his fortunes Accordingly hath he undergone his misfortune with no less constancy than love till such time as the gods having bestowed on him more than he had lâ—st have put him into a condition to discover his passion to you by re-admitting hope into his heart Judge then Madam what recompence that man deserves who hath voluntarily lost his fortune though he could not lose it without the loss of all the hopes of happiness who in his misfortune hath preserved his passion without any interest and who in his good fortune makes a new sacrifice of his heart to you You see Madam that Caliantes hath done something for you more noble than to kill himself For grief is a resentment much more tender than indignation You also perceive that the loss of reason is not so great an exprission of love as for a man to have employ'd his reason to do an action that speaks a great generosity and withal a great passion and for what concerns Melicrates the sacrifice he hath made of his reputation is not so considerable as what Caliantes hath done For Melicrates hath done nothing against any one when he was content to be suspected but Caliantes not only loses his fortune but disobeys a Father and consequently does an unjust thing which he never had done had he not loved you as much as it is possible to love any one So that Madam if you consider what went before and what followed Caliantes's action you will find that he hath expressed more love to you than all his Rivals and consequently deserves to be preferred before them Be not therefore dazled with actions seemingly glorious which truly considered argue less true love and less generosity than that of my friend and I beseech you bethink your self whether a magnificent and liberal person who became poor for your sake and being grown rich again would bestow all on you deserves not your heart before any other Caliantes 's Advocate had no sooner given over speaking but he that was to plead for Lisydas assum'd the discourse in this manner LISYDAS 's Plea I Know not Madam whether the friendship I have for Lisydas makes me partial but am perswaded that none of his Rivals have so much right to your affection as he For to speak rationally the heart of a fair Lady can never be more justly bestow'd than when it is bestow'd on the most unfortunate conditionally he be the most amorous and be otherwise a person that knows how to value her love for I must confess that love without desert gives not any man a lawful right to pretend to the possession of an excellent Ladies heart This granted Madam must it not be withal acknowledged that Lisydas deserves your affection much beyond any of his Rivals He hath loved you ever since you were a fit object of love that is ever since you were in the world Nay he hath had some ground to hope he should not be slighted he hath seen the new victories you have gain'd without quitting that hope and though you have not in a manner done any thing for him yet hath he serv'd you with extraordinary respect without any complaints or repining But when you took away the hope he was in you took away withal his reason and through an excess of love to which nothing can be compared we find that your power over him is equal to that of the gods who only can give and take away their reason from them In so much that to make it appear you were absolute Mistriss of his destiny You no sooner looked kindly on him but he recovered the use es his reason and men have seen again in Lisydas that great and divertive mind which hath got him the love and esteem of all that know him To sit down quietly with the loss of an estate there needs no more than generosity for a man to give himself a stab with a Poniard there needs only a minute of fury which he repents him of a quarter of an hour after for a man to expose his reputation he needs do no more than set himself above what the world can say of him but for a man to lose his reason upon the hearing of four scornful words argues him to be the most amorous of men and consequently the most worthy to be loved For all considered this strange accident could not possibly have happened to Lisydas any otherwise than through an excessive grief which could proceed from no other cause than the passion he hath for you Be pleas'd then Madam to make serious reflections on the power you have over him and thence I beseech you consider what affliction it must needs be to you if your cruelty should force him to a relapse into that misfortune out of which you have delivered him by a seeming kindness For Caliantes he was able to live without hope while he was poor Alcimedes being cured of his wound will not offer to kill himself a second time and to prevent it you need do no more than forbid him to do so But for Lisydas Madam he must infallibly lose either his reason or his life if you do him not justice Make choice then of the most unfortunate since he is the most amorous and is
in this manner with the less scruple was that he apprehended reasons of State might require Elismonda to marry Melanthus But though he acquitted himself with fidelity of whatsoever trust that Prince reposed in him in order to the success of his design yet he was glad to see that according to all appearances the Princess would never be brought to comply with his desires and he accounted himself happy in knowing she had both esteem and friendship for him and seeing himself equally endear'd to two Princesses so accomplish'd as Elismonda Andronice But when Eumenes after they were retir'd in private spoke to him of the adventure of the Picture he reprov'd him friendly And What intended you to your self said he to him seriously in exposing your self and me also to danger Had I believ'd I should have brought you into danger answer'd Hortensius I would never have committed this odd prank And since my dear Eumenes continued he you know the secret of my heart and have understood I lov'd Elismonda before my self having discover'd it before I knew I did so you may easily conjecture how unhappy I am who have taken so strange a course for my consolation But I beseech you do not suspect me of intending ever to betray my Master No Eumenes I will betray my own love for his interest and rather lose my life than commit an unworthiness If the War did not detain me here and I could with honor forsake my Prince so long as he has his sword in his hand I should undoubtedly do it rather than be engag'd in such a difficulty as doing service to a Rival with his Mistress But for that this cannot be I shall serve him faithfully in the pretensions he hath to Elismonda in spight of all the passion I have for her If this Princesses rigor towards Melanthus ceases I confess ingenuously I find not my soul firm enough to be a witness of his felicity but as soon as I should see him in a condition of being happy I should betake my self to wander about the world as the most unfortunate of men I should together forsake my Master and my Mistress and my Fortune and giving over all care of my Love go seek my death without discovering the cause of it to any other but your self But if Elismonda continue firm in her resolution of not marrying Melanthus I shall then endeavour to do the Princess service with him to the utmost of my power lest he changing his Love into hatred treat her rigorously and I shall adore her all my life in secret without knowing what course to take with my passion Thus my dear Eumenes continued he you see the naked sentiments of my Soul which I intreat you not to endeavour to alter for I well know your reason will not be able to do that to which my own has been ineffectual Whilst Hortensius was reasoning in this manner with Eumenes Elismonda being retir'd at night call'd Cleontine into her Closet and began to speak to her about the adventure of her Picture seeking to conjecture who might have had such boldness to detain it For my part said Cleontine to her I love not to seek that which I cannot find but I would only know Who you would be contented were the thief But Cleontine answer'd she smiling if I were to wish any thing I would wish this accident had never fallen out I have told you Madam already replyed Cleontine that I care not to have such an unprofitable curiosity and so you may judge I as little affect a wish or desire that serves to no purpose Therefore take matters in the state they are in and do me the favour to tell me whether you would have this prank committed by Melanthus or by the Prince of Cyparissa or by Hortensius or by some other I hate the first too much answer'd Elismonda and I have too great an aversion from the second to wish him guilty of this subtle deceit and perhaps I love the third too well to desire he were my Lover For indeed I would not that Hortensius were unhappy and he must assuredly be so in case he loves me If he could know what you say concerning him Madam reply'd Cleontine he were not much to be pittied I assure you said the Princess blushing that though I am not over well skill'd in love I believe that friendship is no great consolation to a Lover You speak so well what you are minded answer'd Cleontine smiling that I believe you understand more in Love than you imagine Alas Cleontine reply'd she smiling also who do you think should have taught me He that teaches Nightingals to sing so well in the Spring answer'd she may perhaps have taught you to speak after the manner you do However it be reply'd Elismonda I find it sufficient that I am Melanthus's prisoner without engaging my heart to be no longer free at all but I have a confidence 't is still my own and will be so for ever This Madam was the conversation of Elismonda and Cleontine But the next morning when the Prince of Messina and the Prince of Cyparissa were busied in the choice of Judges which were to preside at the Olympick Games Hortensius being desirous to gain a glory absolutely uninteressed would not concern himself in the affair And therefore he went to spend part of the afternoon with the Princess Elismonda who had then no other company but Cleontine the other Ladies being gone to the apartment of the Princess Andronice or that of the virtuous Elisante with intention to come back soon after to the Princess of Elis. Now the adventure of the preceding day being yet too fresh to be silenc'd Elismonda after the first civilities ask'd Hortensius Who he suspected to have taken away her picture and made those four Verses For in brief said she pleasantly retorting them upon the instant Knew I what Criminal hand it was Did this injurious part If he 'd restore my Picture back I 'd render him his heart Ah! Madam answer'd Hortensius did I know that unhappy person who loves you without daring to discover himself I think I should conceal him from you after what you have said for I look upon him as sufficiently punisht for the boldness he has to love you and to love you assuredly with very little hope without besides endangering him to be constrain'd to take back his heart and restore you your picture And moreover Madam continued he because there is no appearance this Lover can do any prejudice to the Prince whom I serve I conceive the compassion I have of him is not criminal I assure you answer'd she hastily Whoever that Unknown be he is more in favor with me than the Prince Melanthus can ever be in quality of a Lover But Madam said he would you be contented that Unknown knew what you say concerning him What I have said answer'd she being rather an effect of my hatred against Melanthus than kindness towards him I should
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
to Terentia who rejected him uncourteously to speak to Aemilius who was on her side tho his heart was Aurelisa's So that this unhappy Lover not being able to discourse with her he lov'd was oblig'd to speak to her that lov'd him For my part said Theanor all the joy I have in the Queen's being near the Camp is that if I die at the siege as I wish since I can never be happy Aurelisa will hear of my death one day sooner and have the contentment to see her self delivered from an ungrateful person However answer'd Aurelisa then I have cause to reproach you that 't is not my fault that you are not happy even at the loss of my own felicity As she ended these words the bridge broke Aurelisa fell on the side where Theanor was to whom she had spoken so obligingly and Terentia fell on the side of Aemilius I having since discours'd with those two Lovers am inform'd what they thought in that occasion in which their passions and their reasons had a contest of a moment's duration which caus'd them to act after a very different manner for Theanor finding himself on the side where Aurelisa was fallen into the water his first thought was to succour her for having his mind then fill'd with what she had spoken so obligingly to him the affection he had for her the thousand offices he had render'd her and the thousand rigours of Terentia which excited indignation in him gratitude carried him at that instant above his love Insomuch that out of generosity he leapt into the water and went to succour Aurelisa by whom he was lov'd and whom he did not love At the same time Aemilius tho he saw all imaginable dearness in Terentia's eies for him and had a thousand obligations to her no sooner beheld Aurelisa in the water than forgetting all he ow'd to Terentia and all the rigours of Aurelisa he did not deliberate between his gratitude and his love but cast himself into the water as well as Theanor to succour Aurelisa whilst the poor Terentia was ready to perish in the sight of one Lover whom she lov'd and another who lov'd her But to her good hap Cereontus who was alwaies believ'd incapable of love was found to have a conceal'd passion for that Lady which he discover'd very opportunely to save her life for as you know Madam if he had not leapt into the water to rescue her she had without question been drown'd Thus Madam you understand the adventure of Terentia and Aurelisa but that which is rare is that Terentia who found no lover to succour her has at present two who pretend notwithstanding to dispute her affection for Cereontus affirms Theanor has no longer any right to Terentia and Theanor maintains that the excessive gratitude he had for Aurelisa is a pure effect of the innocent love he has for Terentia But as for this fair Virgin I assure you she is to be pitied Who ever saw said she to me last night a misfortune equal to mine for is there any thing more cruel than to see one's self deserted in a great danger by a man that is lov'd more than all the rest of the world and withal by another that has sworn to me so long that he loves me a thousand times above all the rest of the earth As for Aurelisa she is much more happy than I they whom she hates and they that hate her save her life but as for those whom I love and those by whom I am lov'd they equally abandon me and for my last unhappiness the insensible Cereontus comes to rescue me from death to the end to make me better feel all the rigour of my misfortune and to prepare also a new persecution for me But Amiclea said she to me again I will equally hate both him that I lov'd and him that lov'd me and since ingratitude has not hindred Aurelisa from being succour'd by Aemilius I will be ingrateful to Cereontus too and instead of giving him thanks for having sav'd my life I will accuse him of part of the miseries which I suffer Yea I will hate him too continued she for my weakness is the true cause of my misfortune and according to my present sentiments I find nothing in the World but what is worthy to be hated and scorn'd On the other side he us'd such expressions that he could not but be piti'd Aurelisa too complain'd she was more oblig'd than the desir'd to be And Aemilius looks upon himself as more unhappy than before since the services he renders do not make him lov'd the more and Cereontus also is in a strange fear lest Terentia prove unjust towards him Wherefore Madam it lies in your prudence and that of the Prince to hinder such brave persons as these from quarrelling and to seek some remedy to the unhappinesses of two Virgins so amiable as Terentia and Aurelisa Amiclea having finisht her relation found it was not unprofitable for Aronces promis'd to take a particular care of those three Lovers and the Princess of the Leontines of the two amiable persons who caus'd the unhappiness of the rest by their own After which they went to the Chamber of the Queen of Hetruria and Amiclea return'd to that of the two afflicted Virgins with whom she found Theanor and Aemilius who after having deliberated a long time were at length enter'd into their Chamber tho Terentia was unwilling to see either of them Theanor was upon his knees before Terentia who lay upon her bed and Aemilius stood near Aurelisa who sate leaning upon a Table Whereupon Amiclea approaching to Aurelisa without Terentia's observing it Theanor was not at all interrupted You see Madam said he to her an unhappy person who confesses his Crime No no answer'd Terentia with a Tone sufficiently fierce do not go about to excuse your self you had reason to go and succour a person by whom you are lov'd and to abandon one that does not love you But as for Aemilius if you had reason he is a Criminal for he succour'd a person by whom he could never be lov'd and deserted one that would have given her own life to save his Aemilius hearing himself nam'd drew near to her and Aurelisa and Amiclea did the same upon which there began so pathetical a conversation between these four persons whose interests together were so hard to be disintangled that scarce ever was the like seen Theanor appear'd very much afflicted Aurelisa extreamly perplex'd Aemilius absolutely inrag'd to see himself no more lov'd than before his succouring Aurelisa and Terentia so incens'd both against Theanor and Aemilius that she could not endure the sight of them Go said she to them go unjust persons as you are and leave me at least the liberty to bemoan my self in quiet for my unhappiness in being lov'd by a man of such gratitude that rather than be ungrateful to another he suffer'd the person he lov'd to perish and for a second unhappiness in
insensibly into a walk at the end of which was a Pavilion that had a door opening into the fields The further end of the place was set about with seats in which to repose without the inconvenience of the Sun or being seen of any that walk in the Garden tho it be wholly open on the side towards the end of the Walk because there are great curtains before it which may be drawn at pleasure The Princess having unwillingly suffered her self to be conducted into this Cabinet beheld the Curtains half drawn and observ'd that the gate looking into the fields half shut but making no reflections upon these two circumstances which might proceed from several causes she enter'd into the Cabinet without minding that the Lady did not follow her into it but was gone back into the Walk She had scarce made three steps in it but she beheld Meleontus at her feet who holding her by the Robe notwithstanding her reluctancy forc'd her to hearken to him for she being still weak by her late sickness and astonishment redoubling her weakness she was constrain'd to sit down for fear of falling At which instant she was in a fear lest Meleontus intended to carry her away and therefore made a great shreek which nevertheless was not heard by any person because the company was all in another Walk where she that was Meleontus's Agent knew well her Friends would upon handsome pretences retain them Wherefore Meleontus not to lose an opportunity he could not easily recover being upon his knees before the Princess who was sat down began to speak to her with a strange commotion of heart I beseech you Madam said he to her extream submissively hear the unfortunate Meleontus this last time which certainly you ought to do Madam since he does not pretend to obtain the pardon which he desires of you with tears in his eyes The unfortunate Meleontus answer'd the Princess is so criminal that there are no misfortunes of which he is not worthy I acknowledge it Madam reply'd he hastily and I took the liberty of coming hither for no other end but to confess it How dare you Meleontus said the Princess come to present your self before me after you have believ'd me capable of a crime for in comparison of this I count it almost nothing that you wounded me neer to death But to speak truth I resent most of all that you went about to kill the Prince my Brother after the most unworthy manner in the World Ah! Madam answer'd Meleontus when I saw you so fair and so charming pass amongst the swords and the arrows with contempt of the danger to save the life of a man whom I believ'd my Rival and thought was lov'd by you I resented that which I am unable to express and in this case I must have been void of love if I could have preserv'd respect and generosity I confess therefore that I minded only to kill him whom I believ'd your Lover and if Zenocrates had been still amorous of you he would questionless have done the same that I did Be it how it will said she I am well enough pleas'd with Zenocrates but I am not so with you Alas Madam answered Meleontus How can you since I am not so my self but on the contrary am my own most mortal Enemy Yes Madam I hate my self more than you hate me and I have at this present such remorse for my violence and such respect for you that I dare not dye here before your eyes for fear the Prince who loves me should reproach you with my death Know therefore Madam that perceiving the division which I cause between the Prince of Leontium the Prince Artemidorus and your self I am resolv'd to put an end to that contest by my flight To which purpose I have suborn'd my Guards whilst the Prince is at hunting and by ways which I need not tell you am come into this Garden to assure you here that I will go seek death in some place so remote from Leontium that no tidings shall ever be heard of me I will also leave the name which I bear to the end it may be no more distasteful to you and retaining all the love I have for you I will live the most miserable of men whithersoever I go if at least I have strength enough to live any time longer only to adore you Meleontus spoke this so passionately that the Princess told me all her hatred and indignation could not hinder her from having a little commiseration of him Nevertheless she conceal'd it for fear he should alter his purpose and therefore speaking to him with a severe air After bad actions are committed said she to him 't is not enough to speak fine words a long repentance a long absence and a thousand services are requisite to the producing of a reasonable hope of being indur'd amongst persons of honour Howsoever since I am equitable I commend the design you take as that alone which is fitting for you Go therefore Meleontus go continu'd she rising up go ask pardon of the Gods for as for me I should delude you if I should tell you that I pardon you I have already told you answer'd the afflicted Meleontus that I did not hope to obtain the pardon which I desir'd but at least grant me the favour to believe that the excess of my love is the cause of all my Crimes and that if I had lov'd you less I had been always innocent 'T is the only and last favour I shall ever request of you not daring to desire so much as a little compassion when you shall imagine that I am dead in exile only for love of you As the Princess was going to speak something to him Meleontus saw all the Company appear afar off who notwithstanding all the contrivance of the Lady that return'd back to amuse them handsomely in the mean time were seeking for the Princess and could not longer want her presence So that Meleontus being constrain'd to go away rose up and the Princess suddenly leaving him without speaking he went forth at the door of the Pavilion which opened into the fields mounted upon a Horse held ready for him by a slave and lost himself in a wood not far distant Yet this could not be done but that Zenocrates knew Meleontus As for Artemidorus he observ'd nothing because he was speaking earnestly to Clidamira and there was none but Zenocrates and my self who saw Meleontus He no sooner perceiv'd him but he chang'd colour came to me and looking upon me with somewhat a disturb'd countenance What did I see Amiclea said he Did my eyes deceive me Is it possible Meleontus could be where I believ'd I saw him Has the Princess pardoned him What think you of that which I know you perceiv'd as well as my self In truth said I to him I know not what I ought to think of it but I know well the Princess can never be unjust and that her aspect tells me she
to supper with Damon who invited him for he was so scrupulous an observer of all the Documents of Pythagoras that he would not go to bed with a sentiment of hatred in his heart towards his Rival at least he profess'd so Herminius Anacreon Theanor and Aemilius were present at this entertainment Amilcar was very jovial this evening yet now and then he seem'd a little pensive An hour after the repast he began to be indispos'd but in so violent a manner that he dy'd the next day but with admirable constancy sending commendations to all his Friends and particularly to Plotina He encharg'd Herminius with many generous expressions to all those he had lov'd and a thousand dear commendations unto his Mistress And thus dy'd the agreeable Amilcar regretted by all who had known him Herminius and a Lady that was his Friend and another Person of Quality undertook to gather together all the ingenious Composures which he had written and some time after he erected a monument for him whereon was engrav'd an Epitaph made upon this Illustrious Deceased by a Lady who was Friend to Amilcar and Herminius EPITAPH THis Tomb the fam'd Amilcar doth enshrine Who to a sprightly Genius Art did joyn Whose lofty Soul to ' unfathom'd heights could fly Yet fall as low as complacence can lie But what 's most strange he that rare talent got To please he pleas'd even those who lov'd him not All such as had only seen him at the Temple of Fortune regretted him with a sensible sorrow Anacreon lamented him though he did not think himself capable of grief and profess'd he never knew a more agreeable Wit in any place of the World Acrisius too as much his Rival as he was seem'd mov'd with his loss But as for Damom he was so unhappy as to be suspected of having caus'd him to be poyson'd But however Amilcar dy'd and confirm'd the credit of the Lots of Praeneste which told him he should not dye in Africk and which he constru'd to his own advantage Yet it was but a bare supicion for the Friends of Amilcar did not judge fit rashly to search into such a business as this which should it have been true would have nothing profited the illustrious Deceased But whilst things pass'd thus at Praeneste and Amilcar and Lucilius were expecting to see whether he that desir'd to consult his fortune in private were Mutius or no Aronces was very unhappy in his prison and in a desperate condition Sextus was much discontented for having fail'd of his design to carry Clelia away and studi'd only to find ways for a second attempt Tullia was contriving to destroy Aronces and Clelia Tarquin only to find means to recover his Throne Galerita and the Princess of the Leontines how to serve Aronces and Clelia Artemidorus thought only of his happiness and to protect Aronces Zenocrates of nothing but his jealousie Themistus of returning assoon as Aronces should be out of danger Publicola of assuring the Peace and Horatius of his love In the mean time the prudent Roman who went to conduct the twenty fair Roman Ladies to Porsenna being on the way to the Camp saw himself attaqu'd by Sextus who with a hundred Horse attempted a second time to carry away Clelia The convoy of these fair Virgins consisted of fifty men so that the number was very unequal Besides he who commanded them being an old man could not encourage his Party by his own example with the same ardour as Sextus did whose courage too was augmented by his love Yet this Prince was disguis'd For the enterprise was made with Tullia's consent who in giving satisfaction to Sextus intended to perswade Porsenna that the Friends of Aronces had convey'd away this fair Lady for fear she should bear witness against Aronces and consequently by this artifice to hasten the ruine of this great Prince And indeed Sextus had the success he desir'd at first for whilst those fifty Romans were fighting against his men he caus'd him to be slain who drove the Chariot in which Clelia Valeria Hermilia and Plotina were and then ordering a man design'd for that purpose to take his place he made the Chariot be driven into the way leading to Tarquinia himself with twenty others guarding it whilest the rest of his followers detain'd the Romans in fight to amuse them And this design succeeded accordingly for the Romans seeing the whole body of Chariots stopt did not miss that in which Clelia was Sextus now believing nothing could obstruct his happiness Clelia Valeria Plotina and Hermilia were forc'd to cry out but their cries were not heard But though Sextus was sufficiently disguis'd yet Clelia did not doubt but that it was he who carri'd her away Wherefore courageously resolving upon death she only devis'd how to effect it so to prevent all the unhappinesses which she had cause to fear On the other side the fight was sufficiently sharp in the place where the rest of the Roman Ladies were who were so terrifi'd that they did not perceive Clelia was carri'd away In the mean time the wise Roman who conducted the Hostages having sent to Rome to desire succour it hapned that he who was sent thither met Horatius standing at the Gate with Octavius Who being advertis'd of the business sent to give notice of it to the Consuls but themselves not waiting for the succour which they presum'd would be sent immediately took Horse and speeded to the place where the fight was But as they were going thither they beheld upon a little hill the Chariot in which Clelia was guarded by Sextus who was by this time a good distance off Wherefore imagining that this might be the Chariot that carried the Persons they lov'd they went first to the Chariots which were stopt where not finding what they sought they hastned to the place of the fight but in stead of staying there I beseech you said Horatius to four or five Romans who were nearest him come help us to deliver the Daughters of Clelius she of Publicola and the sister of Brutus out of the hands of their Ravishers At these words these Romans without delay follow'd Horatius and Octavius and left their Companions sufficiently employ'd in sustaining the charge of the Tarquinians But though Horatius Octavius with these five Romans rid with full speed they could not have overtaken Sextus if it had not by good hap fell out that in the haste this violent Prince made his Party to march they mistook one way for another So that being engag'd in a place where great Trees had been by chance beat down which obstructed the passage he was necessitated to return back again and come towards them who pursu'd him Nevertheless when he saw they were few in number he was not much dejected but leaving four of his men to guard the Chariot he came up to them which pursu'd him with a resolution which his confidence in the inequality of number made something Heroical Clelia and her
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
ill to take care always to keep my self from dying young As for me answer'd Plotina I am not dispos'd to contradict you for besides that in my judgement I apprehend you have reason I have also a great desire that Amilcar continue his reading both to let me know those who are to succeed and to resolve me whether Rome is not likely to have a Poet famous enough to deserve mentioning by Calliope After which Amilcar proceeded in this manner Seest thou that old man with the bald head in the middle of a field and above him a great Eagle holding a Tortoise in her beak 't is Aeschylus the Athenian he shall be the first that shall publish Tragedies he shall add very much to the ornaments of the Theater and first establish that maxime not to bloody the Scene He shall compose fourscore and ten Tragedies and shall overcome twenty eight times but being grown very old he shall be out-done by Sopholes in the spring of his youth which shall be so grievous to him that he shall forsake Greece and go into Sicily He shall be sublime grave magnificent in his expressions sometimes even to excess but often rude and impolish'd Wherefore the Athenians in following ages shall permit the Poets to correct the Tragedies of Aeschylus and afterward make them pass for new and obtain prizes with them Nevertheless that famous Lycurgus the Law-giver shall so highly esteem his Works and those of Sophocles that he shall cause them to be kept in the publick Archiv's and erect Statues of Brass to both of them Aeschylus shall be threatned to be killed with a blow on the head to avoid which unhappiness he shall very much affect to walk much in the plain field but the gods shall punish him for the boldness to go about to resist destiny for a great Eagle holding a Tortoise and taking the bald head of Aeschylus for a stone shall let the same fall upon him to break it and thus seeking to avoid death he shall find it after having had the grief to hear it reproach'd to him by the young Sophocles that when he did well he did not know for what reason he did so In the next place behold Sophocles the conqueror of Aeschylus and many others Dost thou not guess by his aspect that he shall be inclin'd to Love Theorida and Archippa shall be famous for having been his Mistresses He shall be the greatest of Tragick Poets his Works shall have an incomparable beauty and elegance all shall be exact in them polite and accomplisht they shall have both sweetness and loftiness Some shall go about to parallel him to Euripides of whom I am to speak next but the more sage opinions shall be for Sophocles Some shall surname him the Bee intimating that he shall take only the flower of things others the Syrene because he shall very much allure the minds of those that shall see his Works In his extream old age not thinking of ought but to acquire glory and neglecting his domestick affairs one of his children shall accuse him of dotage and go about to deprive him of the management of his estate but he shall shew the Judges a very handsome piece which he shall then be making upon which the accuser shall be more in danger to be declared a fool than the accused He shall make six and twenty Tragedies and shall overcome in twenty four but at last he shall dye of joy having first overcome once in his decrepit age and gotten the advantage to preserve all the excellency of his wit to the last For one telling him Thou art unhappy Sophocles in being no longer capable of Love he shall answer gallantly I esteem my self happy for being escaped from his Tyranny as from that of a furious and insolent Master But it is time to shew thee Euripides dost thou not see a man encompass'd with several Soldiers 't is he of whom I speak he hath as thou seest a firce melancholly and proud aspect yet his birth shall not be great and he shall be born in poverity but he shall have boldness and fierceness 'T is true his merit shall bear him out In his first youth he shall overcome several times in the places where there shall be prizes for the exercises of the body Afterwards he shall make a great number of Tragedies of which eight shall be Satyrical He shall overcome fifteen times without any sign of Joy discernable in his eyes Indeed Euripides shall scarce ever laugh and it shall not be known whether he loves or hates Women so uniform shall he appear in all his actions Yet Sophocles shall reproach him not to hate them but in the Theater The people shall one day pray him to change a Verse but he shall answer That he writ to teach the people and not to be taught by them He shall sometimes take pains with difficulty and a Poet shall reproach to him that he made but three Verses in three days I acknowledge it shall he answer and you have made a hundred but your hundred Verses shall not last three days and my three Verses shall last not only three hundred years but even to eternity In effect Euripides shall have so great a reputation that after the Athenians shall have been overcome under Nicias and Gilippus the Sicilians who shall be the Victors shall spare the lives of several prisoners only because they shall know of the Verses of Euripides wherewith they shall be so charm'd that they shall cause them to be continually recited to the end to learn them and give the like liberty to those from whom they shall have learnt them There shall be some also that shall stay in Sicily and enrich themselves by reciting those Verses which all the World shall admire But as for the others who shall return to Athens thou seest them at his feet to thank his as their Deliverer and leave him wholly surpris'd with this glorious adventure He shall have the honor to be a great friend to Socrates who shall for the time to come be the pattern to all the Sages and he shall also have the generosity to give him testimonies of his amity after his death But at length Euripides shall have the unhappiness to discover that his wife shall be unfaithful to him and love a Comedian upon which fearing the mockery of the Comick Poets he shall forsake his Countrey and go into Macedonia where he shall be in favour with the King Archelaus During his being there one of those Poets who never make Verses but to beg and of which kind there shall always be some in the Courts of Princes shall request something of considerable value of the King of Macedonia but this Prince being ingenious both to refuse and give shall command that to be given to Euripides which the other desired of him for shall he say to this importunate person you deserve to ask without receiving and Euripides deserves to receive without asking But at