have done me being nothing but death could make me cease from affecting her yet seeing she could not be mine I would never desire any thing of her contrary to vertue and her honour and seeing that she restrained me for fear I should injure the life of Palemon I promised her that I would not effect any thing against him not for to gaine my liberty but to rid her of her fear and to shew her how obedient I would be to every thing that she desired and that for my liberty I wholly remitted it to her self being but requisit that she who commanded my soule should have the disposall also of my body and further that she needed not to doubt but that I would effect any thing that she could desire of me but that I would not do it to gaine my liberty but only for the affection that I bore her Agauve shewed her self extreamly joyfull that I had so freely promised her however she made me sware to do that which she would desire of me I would first have known what it had been but that she mightily desired the contrary so that at last I consented to take a blind oath imagining that the worst thing she could have commanded would have been to have banisht me from her and that I would not have done any thing against her husband but the proposull of this ambitious woman was quite another thing and which both amazed me and troubled me that I had swore to do it The King Palemon had had by his other Queen two children a Boy and a Girle the young Prince in whom all the people of the nation had treasured their hopes was at that time but two years old named Palemedon the young princesse Panthea the chiefest starre of beauty in our Horrizon was little more than a year old the Queen her mother dying bringing her forth into the world the King marrying Agauve as you have heard presently after the death of his other Queen whose birth beauty and virtue were unmatchable had by her the Prince Dardanus one truly noble and valiant as most of the world can witnesse Argelois here interrupting Euripedes I cannot be silent said he at the mentioning of the worthy Prince Dardanus and refrain from giving him those collaudations which are deserv'd by his merits having so highly experienced his generosity and do still bear the tokens of his favour none less ignore the valour of that Prince than my self which should I go about to declare would prove too large an interruption you 'l pardon this in that I give you to understand that I am well acquainted with him in whom the very quintessence of affability dwells and that I have heard him express great trouble for the loss of the little Palemedon whom you mention not considering his own interests and that he gain'd a Crown by his death but I perceiv'd both he and all the Court ignor'd by whom that child was taken away which it may be seeing you know so much of those affairs you may declare Argelois stoping sometime and seeing Euripedes did not proceed judging aright of the cause Let not this knowledge of me said he that I am conversant with Dardanus be any obstacle to your relation for if you dare to credit me I will engage my life that no danger shall accrew to you thereby Euripedes thankt him in very affable words and telling him that he would not doubt neither of his secresie nor generosity he proceeded in his relation thus Ambition the ground of all evil being seated in the breast of Agauve soone found the young Palemedon an obstacle to her desires and never beheld him but with an eye of envy Her evil Daemon suggesting her to most pernicious designes she thought of nothing more than betraying this young princely child into the arms of death that by his falâ— she might raise her son Dardanus to the Crown of Pontus This was the cause of her visite and this was the condition she would release me upon and to which she had made me most rashly swear that I should either effect or see effected the death of Palemedon She urg'd many arguments and reasons for the performance she confest the desire she had to have Dardanus raign she urg'd that thus I might revenge my self on the King â—gain my liberty perform my oath and shew her the greatness of my love that I would perpetrate a thing so contrary to my nature for her sake After I had heard her discover her self I was very much amazed at the temerity of my oath and sought by all perswasions to cause her to forego so mischievous a design But she still persisting in it with such fascinating adulation such carriage and flagitation still pressing me with the considerations of my love and oath that at last oh hainous to think it she made me yield to see it perpetrated although I would not do it my self I hope now your self will excuse me for my aversion to a passion that made me so enormiously consent to so wicked an act I must impose my whole fault on my passion for it was that which overcame me through her fascinating words and not my consideration of revenge or liberty I told you before that I knew by experience that Love hath been able to extingush the coles of vertue and enkindle those of vice Judge you therefore whether I speak without just cause against that which made me act against all Justice After I had a longe time sought to stop the stream of this exorbitant motion with the dam of perswasions and that I saw it still bore down with the impetuousness of her will not able longer to contradict her I was carried down with its rapidity in the slender boat of my affection where consenting to what she required I steer'd into a harbour of misery For being set at liberty on these sad terms I endured the continual wrack and torment of my conscience and I never thought of my perpetration without horror but having sworn to effect it and being still bound by the chains of my passion I enforc'd my self to resolutions of perpetration But in the mean time this cruel Agauve searing lest pity and vertue miâ—ht overcome me had gain'd three of her own Countrey men to assist me with a charge not to be perswaded by me if I endeavoured to hinder the execution of the infant after we should have it in our power promising them very considerable rewards for their assasin knowing that was most avidously desired by those fordid spirits Being conjoyned with these by the order of Agauve we remained some time secretly in Tomus awaiting an opportunity for our design which was propitiously offered us presently after The night before we seized on that young Prince being extreamly troubled in my thoughts at what I was about to perpetrate I felt a continual torment till sleep had freed me from those cogitations But being in the kingdome of the image of death me thought I met a
or Love proceeding from similitude of qualities or manners or of morall love generall or particular to men or naturall to children or parents all whose causes are indifferent and besides that passion on which I insist and which cannot be without diversity of sex as the other may But the cause of this as generally the chiefe cause of all love is an attractive power which causeth an expansion or emotion of the soule and spirits to an object which she thinks convenient for her and which must be a conception of need or want of the object Now privation it selfe is evill and love being privation and want of an object is therefore evill for the effect of it beeing desire seeks the possession of that object and so makes the love circular to attract that to the soule which she seemes to want Now if we then wanted nothing we should not desire any thing which shewes we are not compleat in our selves and desire being the exhibition of want and the effect of love shews that the foundation it self is evill for that it is grounded on want Then besides if you look upon the outward cause of attraction whether it be beauty or any other exterior quality of the object beloved and the possession of it desired which is alwayes suffulted with hope the very causes themselves being vanity or not worthy objects for the soules egression to or opperation upon that desire and that love cannot be good the causes themselves being not absolutely good but vain and transitory But this by the way the chief thing I proposed was to insist on the effects of this passion which plainly exhibit the evils of it and out of which as from the fountains head all other evill passions have sprung This also we may consider in relation to the body and to the soule First consider this in relation to the body and that must be relatively and as it is joyned with other passions whose motions cause the diversity of motions in the body Through this the body which is as it were the case of the soul is imbued through the conjunction of the soule with the body with pain with languishing with restlesseness and all the senss feel the effects of this passion upon the soul by exposing the body to danger by wounds by torments and oft times by death all which happen through the exuscitation of other passions Now the soule suffers innumerable evills for first all passions as griefe hatred envie wrath malice revenge disdain and divers other particular passions which spring from this love all which falling upon the body agitate it to diversity of motions and without rest causes the soule to a continuall solicitous care of obtaining the object of its desires which if once hope faile then dispair the foretunner of mischiefe carries the soule into wonderful precipitancies and if in its best estate that hope continues it is never without fear jealousie and a soâ—icitrous care of conserving the object of its love so that the soul is under a continuall agitation by those paâ—sions that necessarily accompany love and so cannot enjoy the rest it ought to have But now to leave this kind of Philosphicall discourse let us speake of it morally and let us consider the evill effects it hath produced in the world and then we will define it thus Love is a most fatall plague a most venemous poyson a most ardent and foolish desire and the source and fountaine of all evill Men when once they are entred into this passion quite lose their former natures for this passion contaminates their reaâ—on tyranizeth over their wills makes them subject to the egregious fancies of the object they seek to acquire it deprives them of Jugdment â—â—ills them with all manner of passions which caries them into aâ—l mannâ—â— of preciptation their minds are continually tost to and fro on the wheel of love being stimulated with that Oestrum they are jacted câ—â—â—â—ted agitated versated by this passion and fill'd with exanimation distinction direption and accompanyed with cares feares jealousies false and faint comforts disquiets languishings longings rage and what not that is evill and all but for the acquiring of a little vain pleasure which vanisheth assoon as 't is caught And besides all these folly lust sinne doings turbulent motions and precipitancies wait on lovers And if we should go about to summe up the bad consequences and effects of this passion with the evils it hath caused we should find them innumerable for what disturbances what commotions what hurly burlies what distractions what battalls what slaughtars hath it caused and what rapes what sinnes what polutions what sueds and what murthers hath it committed was it not the cause of the distruction of ancient Troy was it not the cause of the banishing Kings out of Rome Was it not the cause of the abolishing the Decemveri hath it not been the cause of many murders was it not the cause of the wicked and inhumane slaughter of Absyrtus the brother of Medea was it not the losse of Megara when Nisus lost his fatal hair by his daughter Scylla Alas it would be endlesse to recount these things so well known and generall hated and yet this dispicable unprofitable and dangerous passion cannot be shunned but embraced by those who acknowledge the evills of it but yet wilfully maintaine its interests They cannot take example by others nor shun the precipicies they see others fall into before their eyes but that they also must rush into them Neither can I see any good at all that this passion doth produce but on the contrary those that are free from it enjoy all the quiets felicity ease pleasures and freedome which the other are incapable of and which is most miserable of all of free men and unconstrained they become slaves subjects and bound to obey the motions of their owne passion and will of an inconsiderate mistris who it may be is as dispicable in the unblinded eye of another as she is lovely in his Nor let it serve any to excuse it by saying they are forced and cannot decusse it for it is impossible for all men to mastre this passion if they resolve to set their wills to doe it but so long as they account it good and best for them they are not able to overcome it because they doe not seek it truly but cherish and obey every motion that cometh from it But if they were once convinced of the evill of this passion and were resolved to forsake it I make no question of the possibility of their effecting it There may be divers wayes proposed for the decussion or prevention of this evill the chief of which as I suppose is a constant imployment of the mind either in study or armes whereby it may have no time to fall into that which as they say is accquired by a supine and idle life fit to entertaine such a guest and justly sent as a plague from the Gods to such a soule Other
wayes may be taken as they lye convenient to the person but chiefly the diverting of the mind from thoughts which feed the fancie and inflame the soul and a seperation from the object with an intention of the mind on some other thing is the way to acquire a freedome from that slavery I have given you freely my oppinion of this passion I have so well experienced though indeed I enveigh not against it for the detrement I have receiv'd by it but for that it seems to me evill in it selfe and worthy of greater condemnation I know generous Argelios that your generosity will pardon this freedome of speech against that in which you are so interested Argelios seeing he had concluded return'd him an answer thus I will not spake for this passion because I am immerged in it thereby to justifie my self or oppose your gravity but because I think it justifiable therefore I will give you my poor conceptions of it There is scarcely any thing here on the earth that is so pure but that in it there may be found a commixion of drosse nothing so good but in 't there is retained some bad and nothing so convenient but it may have its discommodities We must not be therefore all spiders to extract the poyson and leave the virtue by that means we shall make every thing odious and abhorrible But we must as well denote the good as the evill the benefit as the discomodity of this passion and then you will see the ballance prepond on my side The last night I gave you some touches as I was able on the enormities of this passion which was the only thing that was evill in it But that I may answer so mething to what you have spoken against it since you are pleased to let my weakness exhibit it self I will briefly touch upon what you have said in order and as far as my memory will accommodate me shew that you have only considered the evils and exhorbitancies of this passion against which all those wise men you mention of all ages have declamed but the good it hath and is able to effect you have omitted it is against the irregularities that they have declared and not against the passion it selfe which is neither good nor evill of it selfe yet if it be as you say it effects all evills generally and is therefore to be condemned But I will shew that it is as capable of effecting good as evill and if I grant that evill is most comit monly effected by yet that is the fault of men not of the thing But to answer what you have said I will presuppose that your goodnesse will not be offended at what I shall deliver and that you will think it if I erre to be the weaknesse of my judgement and not the desire of my will and since truth is to be found out by opposition and discussion I hope it will be no peccation to oppose my conceptions to yours First I must deny what you say that this passion is evill of it selfe which is the chiefe and main point For if we conclude so then we must grant that all the passions of the soul are evill of themselves for they were all implanted in man at the same time and they are simply of one nature though different in effect which thing cannot be consentanious with the purity and justice of the Gods who created every thing good for what is evill we acquire it of our selves or have it infused by evill genij so that passions naturally are not evill but are made so by the use or rather the abuse of them Now if you grant as you cannot deny that the Gods created man good and pure what you have said to prove the evilenesse of this passion is to no effect For though this passion be conjoyned with desire which I grant is a token of need or want yet that want is not evill of it selfe for the Gods so created man and made him not alone and of himselfe able to subsist but indigent of some things For if man wanted nothing he were God for not to want is to be a creator therefore that privation you speake of is not evill for to desire which you call the badge of the wanâ— is as natural as to eat and drink and if to want be evill then man is wholly evil for he is made up of indigencies and desires In the next place you say that the objects of our love and desire are not absolutely good so that the causes or foundations being evil or rotten the effects or building cannot be good or found I say as all outward objects or any thing besides the Love and beutitude of the Gods themselves are not absolutely good so are they not absolutely evill but relie on our use or abuse of them For beauty is not evill of it selfe nor any outward accomplishment neither is it evill for us to desire it but the excesse or exorbitancy of desire may make it evill for if we do desire that which we cannot have without detriment to another or wrong to our selves or too much exceed in our desires then it is evill But when we bound them regularly they are not evill but may be used but further desire of it selfe is good for the only scope of it tends to the seeking of good as aversion the eschewing of evill but now if our desires are illuded by our judgements or are guided by our sense and not truly placed by our understandings and will then they are exorbitant and become evill and we oftentimes desire evills not as evils but being illuded in our judgements as good for so they are represented to our understandings and embraced by the will But now to the effects both upon body and soule I believe that I may parallel as much good that they receive by this passion to your evill For as Love and hatred are the Springs from whence all passions slow and receive a mixture of so these evils which you recount stow not soly from them but also those passions or emotions of the soule which we call good such then is joy estimation generosity humility magnanimity hope courage boldnesse pity compassion good-will gratitude lightheartednesse and the like all which serve as much to the comfort of soule and body and those you mention to the discomfort But now to follow you into your morality where you consider the evill effects proceeding from the exorbitancy so I will only ballance and exhibit the good that follows the regularity And first I will give it a contrary definition thus regular Love is a plant sprung from the Gods which sharpens virtue quickens fortitude produceth boldnesse makes smooth the rough makes accute the understanding and opens a passage for all virtues Love in its regularity causes men indeed to forsake their former rough hewen natures and to become humane it is as pollishment to or as a foil to set off the luster of stones to such it makes them
never well enjoyed my liberty but of late more furious have been the assaults the more they were despised by that cruel one the cause of my misery The Object of this passion not to hide any thing from you is Subelta Lord of the Redones one as valiant as cruel We were acquainted sometime before this Tyrant took possession of my soul and by his jovial Court-ship was I brought first to a likeing and afterwards to a violent love which forced me to express some small signes thereof yet never transgressing the Lawes of modesty He cruel wretch soon perceived it and as soon slighted my innocent affections oftentimes despising that company which before he had so much sought He had no other reason for this but his own opinion which was he accounted it an extream folly for any to yield to so sottish a passion as Love openly despising and speaking scoffingly of that Deity In this budding of my Love hapned that which might have deracinated it had it not been too deeply grounded for my father being oppressed by Caelius a Roman Captain I was given to him to be sent to Rome as a hostage for my fathers obedience I must confess I parted not from my father with so much regret as from Subâ—lâ—a and the thoughts for him made my journey unpleasant I was had to that stately City the Mistress of the Universe and by Augustus I was appointed to wait on Julia his daughter a place nothing dishonourable The statelyness of the place the pomp of the Court the daily converse with the great ones and the tender of services could not divert the passions I retained for Subelta I rendred my self acceptable to Julia and with my obedience gain'd her good liking But though I served her with all willing duty yet she observed a more than ordinary sadness still accompany me One day she said thinking it was because I was given in hostage and remained as a Captive that she had wondred at my sadness more than others for she thought I had been there long enough to forget my home and that there were many of my condition who counted their exchange the happiest thing that could betide them in coming to a place where they might learn that which naturally they had not leaving their Barbarism for Civility and but then living like humane Creatures but she said if that it grieved me to serve her she would release me or if it was because I remained in the condition of a slave she would get Caesar to free me bidding me to tell her truly the cause of my trouble and not to doubt of her assistance I seeing so great gentleness in the Princess thanking the gods for that occasion fell upon my knees and not without tears told her that it was not my captivity that caused my sadness nor in that I was her servant which I accounted the greatest bliss yet seeing she had charged me to let her know the cause of my trouble I told her the truth My words and my tears were so effectual that she told me although she greatly desired my company yet she would rather shew her affection in pleasuring me than in contenting her self I beseecht her not to oblige me with so many favours for if she did she would cause me endure a perpetual misery in parting from so benign a Princess Within a short time after she told me she had gaind Caesar's leave for my departure on condition my father would give him other hostages I made no question but to redeem me he would have given half his Signory I sent him word of Caesars will desiring him to festinate those who should supply my place He moved with a fatherly love used such speed that they arrived at Rome before I could expect them Leaving those my father sent as a despositum for my fathers faith in my place I with great celerity hastened from Rome once more visiting my native Countrey but my chiefest joy was that it harboured ungratefull Subelta Many of my friends visited me after my return and Subelta among the rest desiring to know the rarities of that stately place which I had deserted for his sake I quickly left others company to enjoy his and no joy or content was like to that when I thought I could pleasure him in my relations of the City the Court the polity of the Courtiers the behaviour of the Citizens the Royalty of Caesar and the magnitude and statelyness of the City Temples and Palaces spinning out my relations to lengthen the time that I might enjoy his presence But this content that I gave my self did but more ardently sufflate that spark which remained in my breast and inkindled a more violent flame which ever since hath consumed my heart That which tormented my soul was that I saw he remained in his former obdurateness and extreamly slighted me which so pinched my heart that it put me into a grievous sickness She to whom I had used to communicate my secrets was ignorant of this but perceiving something besides a natural sicknesse conjur'd me to let her know what I ailed Hoping the discovery might give some vent to my passions I related to her under the seal of silence the torments I endured She comforted me and to quiet me promised much But sickness encreasing I was forced to write to Subelia declaring with as much modesty as sincerity the great affliction I conceiv'd for those slightings he had made of my favours and the true and affectionate Love I bore him To this Letter which was conveyed to him by one I could trust with such a secret he would return no answer but a perverse obstinacy in his slights The relation of this had almost put a period to my life and happy had I been if it had been the last exigent thereof but the gods have prolong'd it for future shame and miseries I know not what Fate attends me but all that ever I could do could not overcome a passion so firmly fix'd in my mind nor all his slightings and contumelies lessen the immoderate affection I bore him so that the anxity of my mind and indisposition of my body bad so heightned my disease that every one looked for my death and it was much wished for by my self But see the justice of the gods who heard my prayers and avenged my trouble for whilst I thus languished that deity whom he had so scossingly derided struck him with a leaden Dart and made him dote on Artesa a great mans daughter of the Santones who as she was inferiour to me in birth so by others judgement in beauty Here he was repay'd in his own coyn and as he had dealt with me she prompted by divine vengeance handl'd him When I heard of this vicissitude of fortune my soul was mixt both with joy and grief I rejoyced that he might know what Love was and that he might be sensible of those torments he had caus'd me to endure but I was troubled that he suffered
try the hazard of a battel Floria hearing what passed though she had attenuated her passion for Subelta sent him a very kind Letter desiring him to desist and not to prosecute me so vigorously when I had sav'd his life Subelta sent her an answer by the same messenger which she shewed me wherein he told her that the joy he had conceiv'd at his thinking her dead was converted into sorrow at the knowledge of her being alive and that because she had mentioned she desired no longer to live he would become her executioner to rid himself of such a plague that because she had desired him to desist from injuring me he would double his fury to annoy me utterly to â—brute us both I was amazed said Bruadenor at the impudency of this man it suscitated an extraordinary passion of revenge in my breast hearing the vile speeches his Letter was farced with But I may bless that Letter seeing it was the cause that Floria withdrew her love from him for it excited a generous indignation in her gentle breast and at length caus'd her to see the unworthinesse of the object she had loved and to consider me in her thoughts Why have I loved Subelta sayes Floria with so much fervency seeing he despises me why have I loved him with so much verity seeing he despises me well I will disregard him and shake off that love which hath caus'd me so much torment seeing the gods have given me power to do it And let me adde said I and regard him who loves with so much passion The smile which she sweetly made shewed she was nothing displeased at my words which gave me great content and in my heart I pardoned Subelta all the injury I had conceiv'd against him seeing this opprobrity had been the cause of my felicity The time that I remained in the Castle with her I improved to my best advantage and before I returned to the camp she assured me she had no more thoughts for Subelta biding me to use my best endeavours to overcome my enemie and to free my self from trouble and if it lay in her power to pleasure me I should not fear her performance This transported me beyond my self and you may be sure I rendred her thousands of thanks for her benignitie and assurances of my Loyalty which induced her to tell me I held the place of Subelta and that my troubles ended she would accomplish my desires The vigor wherewith these speeches imbued my soul carried me with an ardent desire of fighting to the Camp where convocating my troops I animated them with my speeches begetting as great a desire of fighting in them as I retained in my self so that not staying for some auxiliaries we rashly encountred our enemies whose number far exceeded ours My example made many cowards valiant and animated those who had any spark of courage in their souls for Love imbuing me with a kinde of military Phrensie I so much passed my common vigor that I wondred at my own actions and stood amazed at my own force in every place where I went I laid rampiars of dead carcases about me I often called Subelta by name but could never find him for I believe he shun'd incountring me at that time Neverthelesse my valor could not gain the victory though it a long time hindred them from it for being overpowered we were carried down with the impetuosity of their armes and the magnanimity of my men chusing â—ather dying to light than to she dyin made it bloody on both sides but at last being reduced almost to nothinâ— and compassed in on every side we were fain through the utmost of our strength to force our way through the thickest of their Troops escaping through the favour of the approaching night I could impute the losse oâ— this victory to nothing but my own temerity in not staying for those approaching forces who ignorant of our encounter fell into their hands and were all dispersed Seeing my self brought to this calamitie despaire and shame had almost made me to destroy that life which the force of all my enemies could not take away Having lost the victory I could not have the confidence to invisage Floria which made me I would not put my self into the Castle but sent those few which remained to secure it from the attempts of Subelta knowing its strength to be such that if their provision lasted all the power of Subelta could never atchieve it I sent a Letter to my mother and to the chief of those who were in the Castle how they should hold it to the very uttermost against Subelta's force whilst I went to get aid for their releasment Subelta was forced to send for men his loss was so considerable in our last depraeliation before he could besiege the Castle so that they fortified it with men and pretty well stored it with provision before he came to besiege them In the mean time I sought the Romans to help me against my adversary who giving me good words filled me with vain hopes and made me spend my time when they intended nothing lesse One who was considerable amongst them taking pitie on me told me that it would be a folly to attend their succours for that they did not intend in verity to help me advising me if in any other place I thought I could have help I should not lose my time in seeking help of them Perceiving the integrity of the man I followed his councel and regretting their proceedings I left them being necessitated to take shiping and repair to Africa where I had an uncle who had great command under the Romans he with great speed manned four good ships both with Romans and Barbarians giving me the conduct I once more went to try the favour of fortune We were no sooner engaged in the Ocean but that impetuous storm which cast you on the Desolate Island sever'd us and as if Fortune had swore my overthrow with imminent danger hurried us along this vast sea What is become of the other ships I know not but the storme passed we endeavoured to proceed when meeting with the Pyrat I had the honour to free you and to engage you on my behalf Having heard this narration from the Gaul went on Euripedes I assured him my devoirs should be to do him service and to resettle him in his former state He seemed very joyful of my company and told me his hopes were increased since I had undertook to help him and that the gods had pre-ordain'd me to be the instrument of all his happiness Greatly contented with this Gauls company I passed my time upon the waters and our ship without any opposition glided over those deeps At last we passed by the mouth of the river Ligeris and put in upon the coasts of the Veneti whereof Bruadenor was Lord. Here we found the ships he had spoken of arrived two or three days before us and were in great perplexity for Bruadenor
himself without envy and thought of rival-ship to deport himself with great correspondency to all to have consideration in his atchievements and Reason accompanying all his actions But the seene being altered by Love his precipitating affection suscitates such passion that he is not able to consider things as they are nor see another view that object in which Love interests him without envy passion and trouble making him deport himself with great incongruity to others and to fling himself inconsiderately into dangerous precipies banishing Reason from all his actions In the one state he is a Prince in the other a slave in the one he rules his affections and masters his passions in the other his affections guides him and his passion subdues him being carried down the violent stream of his desires full of blindness I speak this went he on because I had before my lovefollies judged those whose Amours had carried them into the like extravagances and now I judge my self to be most egregiously foolish in many unadvised actions But this hap'ned which I am about to tell you which manifested my folly A little before night there came into the place where these shews were exhibited a Roman Captain who had caus'd Amenia's picture to be painted on his Buckler Assoon as I had cast my eye upon it I knew the portraiture by the resemblance it had to that which I had seen in Bruadenors Castle Love fill'd me with jealousies and jealousies with envy so that I found a great combustion within me at the sight of this simulacre I immediately took him for my Rival and that sâ—in'd up a desire of obtaining that sheld wherein I thought I might greatly content my self in having that precious object alwayes with me These cogitations suscitated a desire of gâ—tting but considered not the danger of atchieving But Love that animates the heart to any bold action made me resolve to attacque him and how dear so ever it cost me to obtain it Whilst I entertain'd many projects for the obtaining of my desire I perceiv'd him to leave the company and to ride away marking the way he rode I abruptly left Bruadenor and taking one of his Coursers followed him with speed Assoon as I had overtaken him I asked him whether that beauty was exposed to sale seeing he so openly exhibited it to vulgar eyes This Quirinan suddenly answered that the purchase was the last drop of blood that could be extracted from the desirer I replyed that so exquisite a beauty deserv'd no less however I told him if he would give it me as a gift I would gratifie him with all the power I was able if not I was resolved to expose my life for the obtaining of it and that I had purposely followed him for that end I am not reâ—lyed he unwilling to hazard my life in the defence of this effigies and shall more willingly sacrifice it than cede to your unjust pretensions Our swords were immediately unsheathed and our words were turned to blows his in the just defence of his own mine in the unjust prosecuting my desires I sought by offending illegally to take away his right he sought by defending legally to keep his own he shewed valour by defending I cowardize by attempting It shamed me to think that I who should following the precepts of vertue have spent the utmost of my vigor in maintaining Legality should following the dictates of vice spend the utmost of my strength in performing an illegal action This consideration somewhat rebated the edge of my fury with his exposing that effigies against the edge of my sword which like a Medusa's head stifned my arm so that I had not power to hurt my adversary for fear of impairing or hurting that Image such absurd ceremonies had that infatuating Love impos'd upon me as to observe so much reverence to a shadow to the imminent danger of my life We were but in the praeludium of our combate when there arrived a Gaul whole valor against the Romans was well known This Gaul had received some disgrace by me in the exercises that day which it seems had stir'd up a revenge and for that cause he had watcht my actions for an opportunity of effecting it He took notice of my departure and therefore followed me but finding me already engag'd he harbored not so much of the Coward as to help my adversary nor yet could his eager revenge be content another should punish me Coming near us he drew his sword and directing his speech to my adversary Remit this combate said he and be a Spectator a while and you shall see your enemy punisht without your pains for your pretensions nor desires can be so great as mine to fight this opposer Whatsoever your pretentions or desires are reply'd the Roman I think my self able to afflict a punishment on him as your self nor will I be so much a Coward to leave a combate begun and see another finish it if I have the fortune to slay him you may be satisfied if he kills me you may then encounter him The Gauls hatred to the Romans was the cause he was so extraordinary moved for very furiously both with words and blows he reply'd Seeing with a fair remittance you will not give me leave to fight another being both enemies a like to me I will attacque you both The thunder of his blows took away the sound of the rest of his words and engag'd us both to a discreet defence against so sudden an assault for sometimes he spent his vigor on the Roman and sometimes I sustained the fury of his strooks I unwilling to give over my first combatant sometimes gave him many reiterated strooks and sometimes to oppose the Gauls furie I was fain to deal my blows upon him The Roman sometimes opposed the Gaul and sometimes requited me with the like I gave In this confused strife each had two adversaries and peril attended our promiscuous encounter for the rules of art could not be displayed in that confusion We had all of us receiv'd some wounds and were very hot in receiving and giving of more when Bruadenor ariv'd with three or four Gentlemen with him who having missed me and by enquiry understood of my departure imagined some duel and being very carefull of my well-fare he came himself to seek me As he arrived I had dismounted the Roman and seizing on his buckler I rent it from his arm having the possession of it I affresh opposed the Gaul but Bruadenor's arrival put a period to our treble encounter The nights sable mantles beginning to display themselves caus'd us to retreat and leave my Contenders there having first understood of the Gaul wherein I had offended him I shew'd Bruadenor the cause and manner of our sight yet so that he understood not the great affection I bore to Amenia or of my folly in getting the shield My noble entertainer as soon as we were returned had regard to my wounds which were inconsiderable and
some hurt or other I went to Lilibilis where I received precomiums befitting his accomplishments not my merits But when I understood the content Amenia had taken in the sight of these small performances ordain'd purposely for her sake I sought to continue them and therefore begg'd Lilibilis to authorize those sports a day or two more with his presence I found him not difficult in granting a thing he desir'd which made him give notice of their continuance The next day the place being fill'd as the day before I entred the lists armed with a flame coloured armour the lower part seem'd like glowing coales whose flames compass'd my whole body and many rich stones artificially placed seem'd the sparks which proceed from the fire my Cask was covered with a plume of feathers arising like smoke out of those flames and falling in curles very near the colour of smoke made the flames seem more to the life At a distance they thought a flame of fire had entred the place but managing my courser to the upper end of the lists I did obesance to Lilibilis and the Ladies placing my self ready to receive those who would oppose me I had ordered this single running with spears that those whose actions were worthy that glory might the better be denoted by Amenia and all the rest of the spectators There was some distance of time after I was entred the lists before any presented themselves which I employed in the intuition of Amenia who seem'd like fair Cinthiaâ— amongst the lesser lights I left no part of those exhibited perfections free from a contemplation which would have lasted much longer had not the trumpets given notice of one who entering the lists awaited my coming At the second encounter I laid a foundation to my glory by his fall I will pass over the particular actions of that day as not much to the purpose and only tell you the gods graciously favouring me with the helping vigor infused into my soul by the beauty and sight of Amenia so far enabled me that I erected a trophie of glory to my self by the fall of all those who encountred me that day The next day was to be imployed in the same exercises which gave a great content to the spectators and raised my glory with thousands of applauses but I must truly tell you I affected none but those of Amenia which were as many and as great as could be expected from one of her quality and great modesty But Clotuthe gave me such encomiums doing me so great favours that I blushed and partly repented that I had done any thing whereby they might have any cause to attribute that to me which I knew my merits did not deserve Clotuthe studied occasions to hold me in discourse gave me a very pleasing mine put forth many ambiguous and quaint expressions passed many amiable looks upon me and sought all occasions of doing me any pleasure more than ever I perceiv'd her to do before but my opinion of her great virtue made me passe favourable interpretations on all her actions and thought those unusuall favours proceeded from the content she received in the sports exhibited by my meanes That night as I understood afterwards from Amenia her self when that every one was retired to their rest Aâ—enia whose fire augmented by my performances was now come to so great height that she thought she should have been consumed with its ardour and setching a sigh said within her self ' Ah Euripedes what need so many testimonies of thy valor be exhibited unless thy design be to captivate all those render them thy slaves that shall behold thy actions thy features and virtues are sufficient you need not have demonstrated your valor to have compleated your conquest ' Euripedes looking upon Argelois I would willingly said he with a different tone omit these or any other passages where speaking of my self I might seem vain-glorious by the relation could I perswade my self that I might be faithful in the progression or you pleas'd with the omission And truly it is so much against my humour that I find more aversness in the recounting any such passage than I should by permitting it to remain in silence Besides I fear Lonoxia would accuse me of infidelitie being well acquainted with my relation if I should omit any thing and make me a transgressor of my promise if I faile of an intire relation at least of what I can remember and if any other besides my self could give you the narration of my life I should have remitted it to them being a thing contrary to all that have any thing of pudor or virtue in them to relate any action or performance of glory or magnanimitie of themselves and very difficult to perform it without a seeming elation in the eyes of others I beseech you replyed Argelois omit not any thing for these considerations your modesty too much hides those actions which conduce to your glory which is much eclipsed by your own relation but I pray you to proceed and be not interrupted any more with these thoughts for I take extream delight in hearing the passages of your Amoretta's and were it not for the trouble I put you to in the relation I should not care how long you entertain'd me with this discourse I account it no trouble answer'd Euripedes but I finde a great content in that I think you take any pleasure in the recital of my fortunes I am more prolix in the relation of these first Amoretta's in that they were my more fortunate adventures and in which I found great delight than I intend to be in those which were the cause of my miseries but to leave this digression I will proceed with what brevity I may not doing injury to my story Those words which had not passage through her lips were accompanied with many suspirations which made Melanthe one that attended her and whom Amenia lov'd extreamly who lay in a pallet in the chamber think that she had not been well and therefore rising out of her bed took a taper which burn'd upon a side Table and approached her bed side Her sudden coming surpris'd her in her tears and suscitated through a feminine pudor a blush which adorned those cheeks on which those little â—ivolets had found a passage from the clear fountains of her eyes And being unwilling to be taken notice of though it were by her that she trusted with all her secrets in an action that she judg'd criminal she hid her face with the corner of the sheet and gave Melanthe leave to think it might be to avoid the annoyance of the light of the Taper But Melanthe being sensible of that grief which she saw appear through her mistresses eyes and heard by those ardent suspirations which in abundance proceeded from a most inward trouble she fell upon her knees by her bed side and began with the most mollifying and attracting expressions to draw from her the cause of her dolor She seeing
her still answer her but with silence and a few sobs which were not recalm'd since their first suscitation ' Madam went she on your silence to my implorations makes me think that I am criminal and seems to accuse me to have committed some unknown offence which may have suscitated these tears and been the cause of this pregravation Madam if it be so if I have offended though I am not conscious to the least known or wilful offence let me but know wherein and you shall see me exact a most just and vigorous punishment from my self for the least offence that may have any wayes disturbed your repose if you will not let me know wherein I have offended I will punish my self at all adventures in that I am not able to see these tears and think my self the cause without a resentment that punisheth my soul with unutterable afflictions Whilst she stopt to wipe away some tears from her eyes which her Ladys had begot Amenia discovering her face ' Melanthe said she thou hast no wayes offended me nor art thou guilty of these tears unless it be in telling me thou wilt inflict a punishment upon thy self not considering that in so doing thou wouldst afflict me speak no more of thy offeding those tears proceed from a farre different cause Madam replyed Melanthe truly afflicted for her Mistris if I have not offended as I ought to believe since you have spoken it why seem you to accuse me of infidelity in making me so great a stranger to your thoughts since you have formerly honour'd me by communicating them to me this argues that my disloyalty hath caused you to lessen your affections and withdraw those favours you have honour'd me with in denying me the knowledge of an affliction either out of a thought of distrust or that you now begin to hide your self from me I prosess Madam I desire not to know the least of your minde out of any curiosity but out of a desire I have and that I think my self capable to serve you which when I shall cease to be I shall not desire to be acquainted with them But let not any thought of my infidelity withhold you from making me the depositary of your secrets for if all the oaths and vowes that may be made can oblige you to believe me you shall have them if you say you dare trust me why do you withhold this from me if you dare not why do you suffer me so near you no no banish this wretch from your presence since you dare not trust her and take one whose fidelity may oblige you to do them that honour since mine cannot and though the gods destiny that I shall not live in your service they shall know they gave me not life without courage to sacrifice it to you which shall expiate those crimes which deterr'd me the happiness of being your confident Amenia conjur'd by this manifest testimony of her affection and by those tears which she shed in abundance but especially by that love which she alwayes bore her could not refraine laying aside the punctillioes of a Mistris and clasping her armes about her neck ' No no Melanthe said she it is not any distrust of thy fidelity nor the lessening that affection which I ever have born thee and shall still continue that makes me thus unwilling to discover my self to thee it is pudicity that ought to accompany such as I am and these tears are to delave a crime I can neither own nor clear my self of and a passion which I am not able to decusse nor would willingly entertain After a little respite thou shalt see went she on what confifidence I repose in thy fideliiy and how intirely I love thee in laying open my weakness my frailty and my infirmities to thee and confess that which pudicity makes me so lougth to own I put more than my life into thy hands I commit to thee my honour and my reputation and tell thee that which I cannot think on without the imputation of a crime Set away that candle Melanthe that will discover those blushes which will be essential to my discourse Melanthe obeying her I cannot continued she finde words apt to tell thee my egritude and thou canst not think with what reluctancy I am forced to acknowledge that which I cannot disown Thou hast been acquainted with all the actions of my life thou hast known how far both the Romans and Iberians have sought to intrude upon my liberty and thou hast known with what constancy I have kept it when others have yielded to those disquisitors But that which with so much care I have hitherto preserv'd is now insensibly lost and yielded to this stranger without seeking which I have obstinately deny'd all sutors Dost not thou wonder Melanthe to hear me confesse this and canst thou blame me for being so loth to utter it I have supprest it long enough but through its depression it hath rais'd its flames I have found the disturbance of my former repose ever since the first sight of this stranger but I thought my former constancy might have been able to extinguish them It is not the loss of a repose dearer to me than my life that can give me so much cause of trouble as the crime I commit in loving one who it may be hath not the least inclination for me O foolish O simple and weak Amenia hast thou confest thy self in love couldst not thou have dyed with a resentment so powerful and have manifested by thy wonted constancy that thou hadst been able to have conquer'd all things and made that tyrant god to have confest he had kill'd thee but not conquer'd thee but that thou must with the follies of thy tongue confesse those of thy heart O thief to rob me of a liberty so dear and precious to me O tyrant to torment me worser than with the pangs of death in making me confesse I love and with a passion uncurable but by death What sayest thou Melanthe I have told thee my disease knowst thou any cure for the Idalian fire dost not thou reprehend me dost not thou blame me for entertaining that which was impossible for me to resist But yet Melanthe preserve thy thoughts pure for my sake think not but that a thousand deaths shall give a period to this wretched life before the least action whereby any may gather a suspicion shall be exhibited nay or the least thought within my self which shall not be competable with my honour nevertheless I cannot but I must still say I preserve pure inclinations to Euripedes and shall sooner die than entertaine the thoughts of another The Love I beare thee hath exacted this confession from me in which I neither distrust thy fidelity nor thy help ' Madam answered Melanthe I confesse for these two or three dayes I have read a more than ordinary sadness in your looks but those characters were so vail'd that the most diligent Physiognomist could never
see the cause But since you have been pleas'd to take off that vail and to let me know the cause give me leave to tell you that I see no reason why you should afflict your self And I wonder that you account to Love a crime since it is enforced upon the will with so much rigor and violence we do not use to impute the crime to them who are forced against their wills to the commitment nor count them noxious that are forced contrary to their own spirits to commit an errour it is the consent of the will that makes us culpable which cannot be laid to your charge seeing there is so absolute a forcement and without the least indulgencie on your part your repugnancy shewing how unwilling you were to lose your liberty It is not in this as in other things where the will is able to make its choice for we are able and have so much power left us that rather than lose our honour with a generous resolution to sacrifice our Lives but in this we are so suddenly surprized that even the will is forced to that which you call a crime and then to offer a Life is not a choice but an expiation but of what of that which even the gods themselves had forc'd us to which would be blasphemy to say their actions are worthy of expiation and therefore you need not imagin that a crime nor think your self guilty when you are clear You see with what confidence aâ—l the world entertains this Deity few or none escaping the touches of his flame being once arrived at the age of puberty though some have it more violently injected than others There seems mighty difference in the actions of love in some he seems to be the causer of vice in others the causer of vertue which hath made some account him as they have seen his effects whether good or bad which difference is not to be imputed to the nature of Love which is constant pure and unchangable of it self but to the different dispositions of those people that possesse him and cleaving to the habit of their mind is regulated according to their dispositions and though in effect it keep its Soveraignty over the Will in that it cannot chuse but Love yet it leaves it free to act and gain the object that it Loves according to its own disposition or inclination and this is it that makes so many different faces in Love as there are different humours in men And this is manifest in that we see some to gain what they desire through the passion of Love become most mercilesse Tyrants seeking all the wayes of vice painting their way with blood using all wayes their evil hearts may suggest and yet in appearance caus'd by the passion of Love Others by the same passion seek to attain their wish'd desires by the rules of Vertue submission duty and obedience all things contrary to the former which makes Love either a virtue or a vice according to the actions and several dispositions of men or women therefore to Love is no crime but the impudicity of our actions that makes us criminal But Madam as the basenesse of our actions who are troubled with this passion be a disgrace to Love in the eyes of those who are not able to judge right of him so the goodnesse of their actions that are virtuously possest with the same passion redound to his Complement and without doubt having suffered by the impudicit action of others and knowing the severity of your humour he hath call'd you from all the world to restore him the good opinion he once had in the eyes of the world and lost by the folly of others Therefore Madam fea rt not that this deity will do any injury to so considerable a servant but expect him to infuse the like virtue and the like passion into the object of yours if he hath not already effected it and for the rest wherein my duty and fidelity is expected you need not doubt having vow'd my life to your service but that I will employ it to the utmost of my abilities In this manner Melanthe sought to ease the disquiets of Amenia who returned her an answer to what she had said and being somewhat setled reposing much in the abilities of Melanthe she made her to return to her bed and gave her self to a repose that might fit her for the intuition of the next dayes sports Had I had but that happinesse to have known with what affection Amenia beheld me I should not have felt those torments which I did endure that night and many others for her sake having past it over with Loves usual disquiets and very little sleep I arm'd my self with those flames which represented those within my breast and in the same manner at the hour appointed I entered the lists as I had done the day before I shall be brief and pass this over only I may tell you and I think without vanity that I dâ—d more that day than I had done both the dayes before to the admiration of all the Spectators not being moved out of my Saddle at the decursion of all those who that day I made to kiss the earth The better part of the day being spent and the long intermission since any had appeared to oppose me made us think the sports had been ended and we were about to break them up when there entered at the other end of the lists a Cavalier of a good port having his sword ready drawn armed with fair green armes and over them a strong paludament his caske was plumated with green and white intermixed he attracted all the eyes of the beholders upon him but his motion was so furious that it gave them hardly leasure to behold him His furious pace soon brought him up to me and being come near with a voyce that shew'd anger had prepossess'd him he said Proud man is this the way to raise your glory having ambitioned a happinesse thou art not worthy of by the breaking of a few reeds which is rather a sport for boys than an exercise for men if thou hast not lost all that courage which fame hath told us you shew'd against the Romanes let us see it in defending thy self against me who am thy mortal foe with as much animosity as thou hast shewn pusillanimity in maintaining these juvenile sports I am come purposely to deprive thee of a Life before these Spectators which cannot be in safety so long as I live and to let thee see on what weak foundations thy aspiring hopes are built He spake these words so loud that they were easile heard by Lilibilis Amenia and those that accompanied them Lilibilis thought he knew that voyce but the unexpected evenement and his bold carriage took off his imaginations from calling to his remembrance who it might be and only took care to prevent a combate he saw so much desir'd on both sides For whilst he uttered his audacious speech I
freed my self from his embraces I drew my Sword out of his body and with a back stroke strook him so forcible on his crest that I tumbled him at my feet I was about to pull off his Cask and to make him beg his life or give him his death when I felt so many forcible blowes upon me that they set me upon my knees at last mauger all opposition I recovered my feet and turning about saw at least ten or a dozen Horsmen who sought with all violence to deprive me of my life This sudden surcharge put me into an astonishment ' Is this the way then thou intendest I should die cried I out very furiously and casting my self among them I deprived the first I struck at of his life I soon found they had not that valour nor courage as he whom I first fought with they knew what they did must be with expedition which made them seek all manner of wayes to slay me running upon me with their Horses but being carried with a desperate fury I slew four of them before I fell and I think wounded them all just as I fell Lilibilis came with his Guard who had made all the hast they could from the place where they were not expecting such a treacherie those that assailed me fled at their approach but Lilibilis thinking me dead ran in among them unarmed as he was and slew two of them with his own hands the other were taken by the Guard and destined to exquisite torments Lilibilis approached me and finding me yet alive exhibited the joy he had through his eyes he caus'd me immediately to be carried into his Pallace and gave his Chirurgians as great a charge of me as if they had been to preserve himself As they were carrying me into the Pallace we went by the Scaffold where Amenia and Clotuthe were at our approach we heard a grievous cry among those that were there I would not be carried any further before I understood the cause when it was told me Armenia was through the fright that she had conceiv'd in that hurliburlie cast into a sworn and Clotuthe drown'd in teares for my losse and the treachery that was acted ' I bid them that brought me this newes to present my humble duty to them both and tell them that by the assistance of the gods and the industry of the Surgions I might yet Live to do them further service My thoughts began presently to work upon that which I heard and induced a good presage to my future fortunes I began to please my self by thinking Amenia might have some particular inclination to me in that my death so nearly touch'd her I began to collect her paleness when my foes insolency exhibited it self by his speeches for my own advantage and to strengthen my self with many such pleasing thoughts In the mean time Lilibilis thinking my adversary had been dead because he lay without motion pulled off his cask to know who it was assoon as they had discovered his face Lilibilis stood in as great amazemenr as one deprived of his senses he could hardly believe his own eyes when he saw it was Mandone the Prince of the Cantabrians and him to whom he had promised Amenia and so accounted him as his son in Law ' What 's this I see cryed Lilibilis steping backward what my son could he be guilty of so great a treachery against him who hath preserv'd my life and Signiory and hazarded his life so often for my sake against our mortal foe Whilst Lilibilis said this the fresh air had brought Mandone to himself and opening his eyes beholding Lilibilis and all the rest standing round about him amazed he sought to arise but he was so enfeebled through the loss of his blood that he fell again to the earth and fainting away he was not able to bring out those words he was about to utter It was then very different motions strove in Lilibilis breast compassion and a just resentment contended for the mastry when he look'd upon him as my foe as my murtherer and the avowed enemy of my rest he was about to finish that life he saw so debilitated with his own hands but on the contrary when he look'd upon him as his son to whom he promised Amenia and to whom he was indebted for many former kindnesses and him whose valour was the chief obstacle that the Romans had no better success against them where he fought he thought it not fit to slay one so considerable his youth pleaded for his temerity his quality and place wherein he held him pleaded for his safety and his wounds and pitifull condition suscitated a compassion that at last stifled his anger and overcame all other resentments He caus'd him therefore to be had to his Pallace and gave order for the cure of his wounds He could not understand by his servants what was the cause he sought my life but only that Mandone had given them a charge to be in a readiness and when they saw him slain not else to stir not to let me escape alive for hearing reports of my valour he doubted his strength yet he charged his men not to fall upon me till they were sure he was slain Being they were Mandone's servants and had done nothing but by his command they let them have the liberty to attend their Master after their wounds were dressed Lilibilis immediately came to visit me but was not permitted by the Surgions to speak to me they assured him my wounds were not mortal though they were very many they told him it would very much retard the cure to have me often visited which made him contented only to look on me once a day without many words for a week it contibuted to his joy when in so short a space I shew'd such effectual signs of my amendment so that he was permitted to acquaint me with the designs of my adversary Having first expressed abundance of sorrow for the accident that had happened to me he told me who my adversary was and the considerations that made him spare him ' Nevertheless said he if Euripedes cannot overcome his just resentments and pardon that life which was at his mercy neither the consideration that he is in the place of a Son nor the fear of his fathers wrath shall with-hold me from rendring him a punishment according to the vileness of his fact in seeking the life of him to whom I owe all my safety the love I bore him shall not overcome the love I owe to Euripedes nor the Justice wherewith I should punish such insolencies shall be diverted by any considerations for I am resolv'd he shall not hold his life but of Euripedes When I heard who it was you may consider my interests desir'd his expiration and I was angry with my self that I had not finisht that life which now I could not take away without a great blot and infamy to my honour I considered likewise the affection Lilibilis bore me
service when you were tri'd Woman said I with an angry tone tell me not of doing her service in so unlawful an action I know it would be the greatest disservice I could do her to blemish her honour eternallie by illicit actions the very thoughts thereof are to me more cruel than death would there were but any occasion offer'd to do her service wherein her nor my honour might be contaminated you should see how willinglie I would embrace a death in the performance I honour Clotuthe and I honour her so much that I will first lose my own life before I will defile hers or I will banish my self this place seeing I have made others criminal After these words I walked a turn or two in a very confused posture and then stopping suddenlie with an action not to be expressed I cannot believe said I looking again on the letter that Clotuthe can be guiltie of this letter the virtuous Clotuthe could never do it this is some plot of my enemies to beguile innocent Euripedes but O my enemies you shall never intrap him in such illicit actions The woman seeing me so transported had not the confidence to interrupt me but hearing me go on in this she at last fell into a thousand protestations adding innumerable oaths calling all the gods to witnesse that it was no design of my enemies and that it was onely Clotuthe who waited but her return to receive her death therefore she desired me to take pity on her and remember how careful she had been of me and that I should not cause the death of the fair and amiable Clotuthe by standing upon a foolish point of honour I was so moved that I heard not many other words that she said Ah would the gods at last cry'd I out had verified my hopes and have given me no cause to complain against Clotuthe by letting it have been a plot of my enemies with how much less trouble could I have bore it and with what shame should I have confounded my enemies Think not by your perswasions said I turning to the woman nor by your implorations to gain me to that which must be a spot of infamy to us both eternallie Have I received so much kindness so much honour so much love from Lilibilis and shall I abuse it with so great deceit so much vileness and so great an abuse as to defile his bed the gods certainly would dart thunders upon my head and the great God of Hospitalitie would Eternally plague me should I be guiltie of such a thought O Clotuth would instead of preserving it you had abandon'd this life to ruin then had I never been guilty of hearing this proposal nor it may be you altogether so criminous O Lilibilis how well indeed should I requite your favours by doing you the greatest of injuries To defile Clotuthe and dishonour my self for ever No no cease to urge me to so great a crime That impudent woman replied thus Sir I did not think you would have been lesse generous in this action for Clotuthe than you have been in all things else if you consider her love and life they will bear down those weak reasons you alledge For what dishonour or infamie can it be to love her whose love is so unparallelable and when none in the world else can discover it and when you receive an affection that any in the world besides your self would account a happinesse to be envied of the Gods themselves That reason of Honour is nothing it being but an outside and can receive no distain but in the eyes of others which cannot be procured by this being unknown Besides in my mind that is the greatest honour whereby we receive proofs of it from others to the advantage of our selves which you do in this the other being but imaginarie this real though secret But if she is willing to forgoe that point for you why should you be so scrupulous as not to do so much for her seeing she lives not but by being yours why then should you refuse to be hers Nevertheless if her love cannot move you let the consideration of her death cause you to pity her if I grant you that it is a crime which can hardly be thought so seeing the Gods themselves have authoriz'd it by their own actions think whether it be not a greater crime to cause her death by so much rigor than to preserve her life with so much ease and pleasure to your self Fear not that the Gods will punish that which themselves are examples of no they are too just to do so and as for Lilibilis it would be far greater indignitie to destroy Clotuthe for all his favours than to save her life with no wrong to him especially being unknown Consider I beseech you her death is inevitable and if you refuse her her shame will not let her live Oh be not so hard-hearted if you cannot do it with complacencie force your self to save a life which else will be lai'd to your charge I admire how I heard her so long but she had proceeded farther if I had not put an end to her speeches my choler being rais'd to the height Woman said I my face shewing my resentment wert thou not of that sex which would be a dishonour to me to hurt I would cruelly chastise thee for these speeches I know Clotuthe never gave you so large a Commission to treat as you do her Letter though it be criminal is not so inverecund I believe she her self would punish thee if she knew it and be ashamed of what thou hast spoken in her behalf being thou belongest to her whom I truly honour I force my self to forget what you have said that you may not appear before me as a Monster Tell Clotuthe that it is impossible for me to be ingratefull but I cannot satisfie her no other wayes than by laying my life at her feet if she looks for other satisfaction I have none however I will be so carefull of her Reputation that even my self will forget that ever I received such a Letter from her that she may not appear criminal in my thoughts Tell her I would come to visit her but that I doubt my Companie would be but a disturbance and suscitate those motions which I desire my absence may banish and make her incur danger of discovering to others what her prudence hitherto hath hid and which rather than it should be known my life should expire at her feet With these words I left the Woman and entring a Closet in the Chamber I gave her leave to depart There I call'd to my remembrance Clotuthe's former kindnesses her speeches and past actions and with what fervency and care she performed many things for me I could then perceive there was a passion in all she did and her ambiguous speeches were now manifested and in fine I wondred that I could not perceive it all that while being openly enough exhibited but I was so far from thinking
could it ease you and you should soon see it pour'd out at your feet did I think it would be pleasing to you but I will ah I will leave this place this place so affected by me since I am the cause of your disrepose and it may be my absence may give you that again which my presence hath rob'd you of Madam with this resolution I leave you seeing I can no otherwise ease you I will not be guilty of the expiration of that life which with my own I should account a happiness to preserve With this making a low obeisance I was about to depart when Clotuthe looking upon me with an aire full of affliction ' O Euripedes said she slay me not immediately nor be the cause of a sudden and unavoidable precipitation you say you will obey me in all things wherein virtue gives you leave let me then demand intreat and implore your stay depart not for if you do that moment shall be the last of my life The fault of Clotuthe is alreadie enough to her husband without aggravating it by the banishment of him on whom Lilibilis puts all his considence for the keeping of our liberties and our lives I had but time to tell her that since she commanded my stay I would obey her and that I would sacrifice my life for their general good since she would not receive it as an oblation to satisfie her for the crime I had made her precipitate her self into by my presence when Amenia came to me and to my joy hindred all other communication I was not sorry she had commanded me to stay for I could not have departed without leaving my life behind me and thereby she would have taken a more cruel revenge than if with her own hand she had given me my death We had but little more discourse before we departed leaving her to her afflictions Amenia had sent to Lilibilis to let him understand of the sickness of Clotuthe he bore her a real affection and that was the cause he came before he was lookt for I was extream joycus for his return as well for the love I bore him as that I hoped his presence would deter Clotuthe in the pursuit of her illicit Love Lilibilis expressed a hearty sorrow for her egritude and embracing her with a tender affection expressed his trouble by melting words the exhibiting of so ardent an affection made me in my thoughts extreamly vituperate Clotuthe for the wrong she had done him Lilibilis made me acquainted that the result of their meeting was to oppose the Romans as they had done the last Summer and to assist one another as opportunity should serve Antistius was drawing his forces together and as we heard by our spies that he intended to march against us with all the speed he could This made Lilibilis to take the field that he might not be prevented by his enemie and gave order to his chief Captains to appear at the Rendezvouze with that celerity as their case required I was then strong enough to bear arms found my self as well able as ever to do Lilibilis service and I long'd to be in the field that I might be free from the supplications of Clotuthe's woman who still persecuted me though I am perswaded it was unknown to Clotuthe and that it was either hope of reward or compassion on her who continued in her sickness that made her seek to effect her desires but she still found me inexorable as also that I might render more proofs of my affection to Amenia from whose presence and sweet conversation I received comfortable to make me bear that silence impos'd upon me with much patience especially when I consider'd it was Amenia's command and that it was a character of my affection and would be look'd upon so by her But when I thought of departing it was with a most sensible affliction and insupportable had it not been for the service of Lilibilis and for particular interests in serving Amenia She assured me afterwards that she entertain'd the thought of my separation as the cruelest displeasure that could have happned and had no lesse grief for it than my self Her goodness was pleas'd to â—â—nde something pleasing in my conversation and her love had tyed her to me inseparably and now she saw me ready to be ravisht from her and it may be never like to return but receive a death in her service she could not but almost evaporate her soul through the sighs and tears that she shed What said she shall Euripedes lose a life a life so dear to me since I love him since I have prov'd his and that with the hardest proofs why should I not confess it to him it may be it will make him more careful of it when he knows he cannot lose it without endangering mine it may be it will so animate him that it may be some conducement to make him returne conqueror over out insulting foe deter it no longer scrupulous Amenia let him know thou acceptest of his affection These motions on my behalf were oppos'd by those of her severity they represented her more criminous by that action than by loving me and that she could not do it without offending against her severity and her duty knowing her father had destin'd her for another Theâ—e conflicts wholly agitated her minde she resolving upon neither when the last day was come wherein Lilibilis intended to take his leave A little before this last dayes approach I exhibited the afflictions of my heart by that trouble which appear'd in my face and by it Amenia read the greatnesse of my affection and of my sorrow She saw my life was ready to leave me at this separation and yet I endur'd her imposition with a patience not to be equal'd but by my affection and that I had resolv'd to die rather than to break it this consideration wrought a compassion joyn'd with her love that made her resolve to give me leave to take my leave of her in private but she was not resolv'd to make known any affection to me Melanthe let me know the favour Amenia intended to do me and truly in spight of all my trouble this favour gave me a real consolation Lilibilis intending to depart very early the next morning considering the illnesse of Clotuthe be would not disturbe her repose so early therefore he took his leave of her that night I was resolv'd not to take my leave of her alone least it should have engag'd her into a discourse which I was not willing to hear After Lilibilis had taken his leave of her with words and actions full of affection and not without many teares I â—pproached her bed which she still kept and with my ordinary Civilities took my leave Lilibilis his presence lockt up her mouth but her eyes shewed she resented that action and that she saw I purposely made use of that time to avoid her reproaches Go Euripides said she at last triumph over those enemies
but that must be contaminated they will sooner aim at that then your life there is no way left to save it but by avoiding that by a sudden flight which their fury will make them perpetrate Think not answered Amenia but that nature hath given us that liberty of dying when we please and she hath not been so nigardly of giving us meanes to effect it as to use other instruments but our own You need not fear that the Romans shall contaminate my honour my death shall prevent them Besides I cannot perswade my self but that it is more dishonour to flye my Country then to die for and with my Country It is impossible for me to survive all these disasters it is better then for me to die quietly than with a languishing life to be daily dying in misery Mandone seeing his perswasions in vain and being a very passionate man and foreangred by the relation of Clotuthe concerning your Letter he could no longer hold from exhibiting it What is your chiefest disasters said he anger sparkling through his eyes is it in out-living Euripedes I doubt not but you would change your Resolutions if he were the supplicant no you shall not die for Euripedes but live for Mandone What will you force me then cryed out Amenia seeing he led her by the arm forcably towards the door It is not force Madam said he when it is for your own safety but if it be and that I am irreverent I hope you will not blame me for it one day when that you have more reason then now you have the other of his men did the like by me When Amenia seeing they would have her away by force had recourse to her teares and desired Mandone to give her so much time as to take her chiefest Jewels with her and to give her some small liberty in her Closet He could not deny her this having made her swear that she would not do her self any hurt they gave me liberty likewise to accompany her when I had also sworn not to let her do any injurie to her self She craved this liberty only to write you that Letter you last receiv'd and in that perturbation she gave you the greatest proofs of her affection you could have required When she had wrote it and seal'd I gained so much liberty as to pack up the chiefest Jewels that she had which were exceeding rich and after that I got from them as they were leading Amenia out of the Pallace at a Postern and in descending the Pallace staires I happily met Lascaris I had no sooner given him that Letter but those who belonged to Mandone came to seek me for Amenia would not enter the Charriot without me this made them use those words to me which Lascaris did not understand After I was come to Amenia we entred into the Charriot in great haste for that we heard the Romans were so near that we doubted our escape we could not imagine the reason why Clotuthe would not leave Asturica but now we no longer doubt it since by the relation of Lascaris we understand it was but to make a prey of you to her self Maâ—done with those men that accompanied him conveighed us very safe to Juliobriga but in all that Journey Amenia was so full of sorrow and perturbation of mind that he had hardly the confidence to speak to her But when we came hither we were lodged in the Pallace that belonged to his father and then he began to sollicite the consummation of that happinesse he had so lâ—ng expected Amenia at first answered him as if she had lost no part of her authoritie and denied him the taking of those Liberties he profered to take with as much courage as if she were still in her pristine power in Asturica But this proud Prince being not able to bear it began with more impituositie to assail her and was about to prepare for a constrained marriage had not her teares which had more influence upon him then that manner of carriage given him a Remora He was content at last to grant her that ensuing Winter to consummate her lacrymations for her father for she continually urg'd that she could not marry so soon after the death of Lilibilis and so great losses she had sustain'd in her Country till time had partly wore away those sorrowes and had made her more capable for the pleasures of marriage but Mandone had made her promise then not to withstand his desires which she did out of hope that before this time we should have heard of you Mandone after this gave Amenia all the libertie she could desire and us'd her with abundance of respect seeking all manner of divertisements to make her leave that sorrow which eclipsed the gracious beames of her countenance But I am not able to expresse the least part of the dolor she endured when all her hopes were abolished by your absence she saw the winter quite pass away and you not come to give her the libertie she expected she knew not who to vituperate nor who to blame for your absence sometime she chid Lascaris for his negligence sometimes she thought him slain or that he could not find you Sometimes she reproached you for your delay and with wofull complaints would incuse your affection and with dolor enough she thought you had forgot her But most of her teares laments and reflections were for your death and that she condol'd with so much affliction that it would have pittied the most obdurate The time was now at last come that she was by her promise to render her self into the armes of Mandone she was resolved to do it but at that instant also to have rendred her self breathlesse and in performing her promise performed also what she thought was due to the finishing of her Tragedie but the Gods at last when all her hopes and expectations were at an end hath doubled her Joy by your arrival and by knowing the cause of your so long stay which hath given her sufficient proofs of your affection This Discourse compleated my joy for by the constancie of Amenia I judg'd of the puritie of her affection and I was quite obeaecated if I did not see mine was accepted It yet remained to make me perpetually happie by her presence and that I might arrive at the summit of my felicitie by gaining her out of the power of Mandone which was to be expedited with a festinated diligence for all cunctation was now dangerous By the advice therefore of Melanthe I went that night to see Amenia and by the help of a funal Ladder got over into a Garden adjacent to the Pallace and into the which Amenia's Chamber-door opened Necessity and Love were both my friends and they both pleaded for that reception so contrarie to her humour she could not abstain from shedding some teares at my first invisagement nor I at the sight of hers our tongues were obserated for a time whilst our eies exhibited in moist
the tapstry where I might hear and see what was spoke or done in theroome But not to be tedious in recounting that which is odious I there beheld with an imparallel'd agony the confirmation of my Jealouâ—ie there I saw her whom I had so long and so ardently lov'd embraceing another without blushes in her armes I should have manifested my indignation at that time had I not sworne to the maide not to discover my selfe for fear of detecting her which oath I kept with great difficulty With the helpe of my concealeresseâ— I departed but with how much griefe I cannot represent I confesse I was all most distracted through the continuall torment that it gave me The next day I departed for Cilicia with an intention never to returne more But being there and finding lesse likelyhood of possessing my estate then before Epamondas having through his power ruin'd the cheifest and ablest of my friends and also being throughly agitated by Love and danger I returned back to Thessalonica that I might in venting the one quench the other for notwithstanding this the fire of anger had mixt but contiguously with the flames of Love In that short time that I had been absent from her the exceeding grief and anguish of my soule had debillitated and dejected my body so much that she could hardly credit her eyes when she saw me returne in that condition When she knew the bad successe of my Jorney and in what condition my affairs stood she attributed my sadnesse and dejection to those evenements which she sought to drive away by unwonted expressions expressions of Love and kindneâ—â—â— which being but coldly received by me made her wonder at my cariage The more Love she expressed to me the more aversion I had to her and the more she sought to please me with adulation the more was my spirit excited against her dissimulation I had been there but a little time when I perceived that enemy of my repose to frequent the house of Cynthia as formerly which fight so stimulated my indignation that I was not able to smother it any longer and my anger then overcame my Love which till then it had struggled with He entred one day into the house when I was with Cynthia in her chamber who at that time full of blandiloquie sought to know the cause of my discontent and expressed very much affection and Love to me I was about to answer her when I saw this gentleman through the glasse window to come a long the Court which sight so excited my passion that poynting towards him I told Cynthia that he was the cause of all my trouble at which words I observed a very strange alteration in her countenance but she desireing to know in what he had offended me I told her that their too much familiarity had exsuscitated a Jealousie that could never be cured She seem'd with a world of Indignation to detest it and denying it with great passion and anger she would have left me useing many bitter words against me but taking her by the arme my eyes sparkling with indignation Ah false and perfidious woman said I canst thou with such impudence deny that which the Gods and thy own conscience do testifie to against thee For what reason did you deter that which I was about to prepetrate against my self had your mind desired my death why did you not effect it by persevering in your former rigor or in any other way besides defaming and defileing your self if you did never love me as I am sure you did not or if you did not count me worthy of it why did you use so much dissimulation and so much hypocrisie as to make me beleeve it but if you say you have Lov'd me and did intend to have effected the mariage according to your promise why have you so meretriciously been defil'd by another Ah cruel woman ah base and trecherous woman thou art not worthy of those servants that would sacrifize their lives at thy feete I confesse I have lov'd thee and that to the undoing of my self but the gods inflict upon me all the plagues that lye in their power to impose upon men if I thinke any more of Loving thee but of detesting thee as a monster and unworthy the name of a princesse After a little pause perceiving her in some astonishment I do not this proceeded I out of conjecture or stimulated only by Jealousie no my eares have been wittnesses of your amorous night discourses and my own eyes witnesses of your unchaste embraces I then discovered to her where I stood and when it was that I discovered their base doings When she saw that to her shame she was detected and that she could not denie a thing so palpable and so punctually prov'd against her enraged through shame she ran out of the roome leaveing me amidst the pangs of grief and returning within a short time with her fornicatour stood by to animate him that he might tragedize me but being too weake for that enterprize with three wounds I lay'd him at my feete and had slaine him had not Cynthia to save him cast her selfe upon him between my weapon and him offering her breasts to be pierced for his safety imploreing me with aboundance of tears not to spare her if I intended to take away her lovers life The sight of that white skinn and those teares so affected me that I could hardly utter these few words for the overflowing of my teares Ah Cynthia said I how much cause have I to detest you and how little do either of you deserve at my hands your lives are now in my power and I should not do any injustnesse if I sacrifized them to my just resentments But you shall live I will not murther that which once I adored when I thought vertue had been link'd with your beauty you shall Live that you may feele the heavy punishments of your Conscience which will plague you for your misdeeds and it may be cause remorse for what you have done against me for your sake I spare him who hath not to much power so wrong me by his strength as he hath by his effeminate beauty Live then to your owne shame Cynthia and let the Godesses of punishments inflict castigations equall to your deserts whilst I seek to deracinate thy memory out of my minde With these words I left Cynthia and immediatly after Thâ—ssalonica and returned to some friends in Cilicea where within a month after I heard that Cynthia had maried this gentleman which though I had resolved to forget her gave me so much grief and trouble that it put me into a violent feaver so hard it is for a deep rooted Love and settled affection to be decussed But time and patience which effects all things put a period to my sicknesse and restored me to my former health I then consulting with my friends and by their advice gained the help of the Romans who knowing of the great wrong I had
suffered by Epamondas through attestation of my friends they did me right and setled me in my estate with the death of Epamondas who opposed them to the Joy of all my friends my estate being much augmented through the accretion of what belonged to Epamondas which was justly mine being he had no heir After I had caus'd a solemn interment of Melanthe who dyed about that time and had made a monument for her and Lascaris close to Amenia's taking also two young youths that they left to waite upon me who are yet with me in this grot and who have done me as faithfull service as their father I betook my selfe to my habitation liveing many yeares full of Content and happynesse which allwayes accrew'd to me so long as I was free from the snares of Love I remained in this condition full of quiet without any occurrents worth the rehersall till the last year oâ— the reign of Augustus when being in the court of King â—arâ—â—â—demus of â—â—licia the extraordinary beauty and pregnant witâ— of Agavvâ— neer to the King drew me once more into the inextricable troubles of Love after so many yeares repose and when I thought my self incapeable oâ— those fires having finished twelve whole lustres of my age Surely the essence of my soul was compos'd of Love for I beleeve none was so amorous as my self nor none so much crost in their Loves or else all the amatorious stars assembling at my birth pour'd down their influences on my soul as so many Amotoriums My soul of the nature of tow being exposed against the adusting beams of the sun of beauty immediatly carched fire and contrary to my expectations haveing thought the winter of age had frozen up all my veneral desirs I found the calid beams of Agavv's countinance to resolve all my icie humours and with a repullulation of desires caused a new Spring of affection Being after much resort to that fire throughly scorched and charm'd by the Philtre of her caring courtious behaviour and my limbs made sprightfull with new ardences I sought by all meanes I could to make my self gracious in her sight being at that time highly favoured by Tarcondemus and of much esteeme in his court I pursued this sute almost three years till I had gain'd Tarcondemus to promise her to me and Agavve seeming to be â—â—led by the King consented but unwilling fortune once more befooleing me frustrated all my hopes most enviously At that time the King of Pontus who had newly buried his wife haveing heard of the beauty of Agavve sent to desire her in mariage of Tarcondemus he desiring nothing more than such an alliance was very well affected with it forgetting his promise as all other princes do when it may redound to their profit to me he sought to effect that Agavve being one of the ambitousest persons in the world affected extremely to be made a queen and therefore consented very willingly to their proposalls Assoon as I understood how unlikely I was to have Agavve and how the King of Pontus had ruined all my hopes I was so enraged that nothing but death fire sword and revenge was in my mouth and thoughts The subtle Agavve fearing that my desperate minde might effect Something that might deter her of that which she aspired to seem'd more kind than ordinary to me saining that she affected not to be Queen of Pontus rather than to have been my wife if her uncle had so disposed of her entreating me not to be discontented at her fortune but if I lov'd her that I would advance her happinesse by bearing her company into that country She found me extreme avers to all her entreaties at first but she being of an extraordinary winning cariage used so much blandiloqâ—ie that I was faine to yeild my self overcome by her perswasions I lov'd her so much that although I could not have the full fruition of her I thought it a happynesse to enjoy her sight All my â—nger was now bent against the King of Pontus and I resolved to accompany Agavve theither only to revenâ—e my self on that King This match being suddenly performed I accompanied her with abundance of Lords and Gentlemen of Cilicia with great pomp and state being received there with the like sumptuousnesse We were no soner received into the Court before I could resolve of effecting any thing against the King but I was clapt uâ— into a strong tower being the receptacle of Trators and condemned persons this was done by order from Agavve fearing my resolutions would have spoyl'd her pretensions ambition if I had reveng'd my self on King Palemon You may imagine how hainovsly I took this imprisonment and how enraged I was at this action but that could not liberate me from my inclosure I received the next day two or three lynes from Agavve wherein she signified to me that she was forced to deal so rigourously with me to deliver her self from the fear my resolutions had put her in and to deliver him whom the Gods had ordeined for her husband from those machinations I had laid for his life Thus was I deluded by Agauve and punisht by my owne folly I continued in this condition the terme of a whole year in which time Agauve had been delivered of the noble Prince Dardanus in all that time I wanted nothing but my liberty being otherwise well attended and provided for It was not long after the birth of Dardanus that the Queen came to visit me and though I had received this injury from her yet had I not the power to give her a supercilious look or not to exhibit the joy I had conceiv'd at her visite I wondered what might be the cause of her coming to me and because I could not conceive any thing hope and joy presently were sluttering at the windowes of my soule After I had made my complaints against her for her deceit in causing my imprizonment she excused her self with wondrous blandiloquie and singuler Rhetorick She told me that she could not be conscious to the death of him whom the Gods had assigned for her Lord without committing a most heineous sinne knowing my resolutions and intentions were to deprive him of his life and that therefore she had secur'd me not for any other cause but for the preservation of the life of her husband and that now seeing she had been so long the wife of Palemon she hoped I would be ruled by reason and not to seek for her affection any longer nor go about to revenge my selfe of him that had done me no injury and that since the hope of obtaining her being past she hoped that my affection was also vanished and that she came a purpose to give me my liberty but that it must be conditionally to performe one thing which she would desire of me To this discourse I replyed how that my affection had not been so lightly grounded as to be beat off by all the injuries she could have inventented to
not throughly experrected but their silence giving me leave to proceed Chast Goddesse continued I make knowne your pleasure to the distressed and assure me that my eyes are felicitated with a true intuition May your Divinity use that excesse of mercy knowing that for feare of pollution I am driven to this exigent and that I have conserv'd incontaminated that badge of your society as to enrowle me amongst the number of your Nymphs since there is no happinesse like to that of becoming one of the meanest servants of Diana Atalanta finding my mistake reacht forth her hand to lift me up which whilst she spake I carried with excesse of ravishment to my mouth Sister said she I am not that Queen of Chastity and Goodesse of us virgins as you suppose but am indued with the same mortality as your selfe I could have wish't I had not been the object of your mistake since I am thereby become the dissipator of your hopes Would at least I had but power to give you some allevament by all the meanes my weaknesse can contribute My mistake Madam returned I is pardonable since that beauty caries with it some species of divinity apt to conduct a more setled soul than mine to so glorious an error and I cannot account my hopes but very little undervalued since your benignity hath resented my misery I am so little able replyed that courteous one to performe the desires of my will that I am almost ashamed to invite you to my habitation but the necessity you are in will excuse my trouble if that I entreate you to command what I have to your service The small accommodation I am able to afford you is neere at hand where if you will be pleased not to disdaine the utmost of my abilities we will all seek to give your distresses some levation and it may be take the boldnesse to enquire by what Tyranny you have been driven to this misery Ah Madam replyed I use not this excesse of bounty to one who will account it the highest and extreamest part of happinesse if I may so far ingratiate my selfe into your favour as to obtaine to be regester'd amongst the meanest of your servants which will cause me to blesse that Tyranny which through the mercy of the Gods drove me to finde such felicity I most willingly lay hold on the least part of your liberality and take the boldnesse through your favourable exhibition to tell you that it will be impossible for me without sinking under the hand of fate to lose your presence by a returning And indeed if you will admit of this intrusion I will consecrate all the strength of my body to your service My estate will not aspire to a higher condition neither will I wroung your bounty to accept of any other place since that will felicitate me beyond all my deserts We wont force your will replyed Atalanta smileing we see the Nobility of it by this exhibition you must not thinke to obscure your selfe when you have already betrayed your selfe to our judgements then taking me by the hand come proceeded she think not but I shall be as unwilling to consent to your returne as you to yeild to the Tyranny you have fled from And since you have devoted your selfe to my commands the first is that you use what I possesse with the like freedome as if it were your owne I will obey you in all things Madam except you command me not to love you said I omitting with it so deep a sigh that it might have betrayed me to any suspicious soules but the distresse I exhibited my selfe in caus'd all my sad deportments and my sighs to be attributed as due to my fortune Led along by that hand whose gentle heat penetrated to the ardour of my heart first taken from the flames of her eyes and agumented its slagrancies on the one side and on the other by the nurce of Atalanta who saluteing me with great gravity shewed me as much kindnesse all being pleased with my deportmenr and pittying my misfortunes I went ravisht almost besides my selfe with so great courtesie of Atalanta and the propitiousnesse of my designes till we came to the boat fastned to the banke side into which we entred being row'd by those females that attended her Tagus which before seem'd envious to my desires by denying an accesse to that glorious object of my wishes now gave me cause to blesse its waves for this happy transportation for the acquirement of all its golden sands would not have given me the hundreth part of that contentment I then receiv'd Had you seen the tranquillity of its motion and the smoothnesse of its superficies you would have said that it had been senâ—ible of its portage and that it gloried in nothing more than that submissiveness to her who so much resembled the sâ—oth inâ—endred Goddess And you could not but have said when at another time you might see its waves seem to threaten the skies with his forky flashes that his disturbance proceeded from the long absence of his imperiall dame than in whose pertage he seem'd to have no greater Glory Or else the Tagaeâ—n God in Love with Atalanta tranquillated his streams for the exhibition of his duty and by his stillnesse sought to retard her boat thereby to retain his own happinesse Whilst the duty of the streams exhibited it self in its tranquillity and that we were passing over to that little I le which had often been a prospect for my eyes and a receptacle for my heart Atalanta in these words told how she found me Sabane said she for so had I nominated my self certainly there is something more than the caprichiousnesse of fortune in this encounter and it was something more than common curiosity that call'd me to your helpe I have often to divert my self transpast this river when that darkenesse obumbrates me from the eyes of men and delighted my self in that subdiale walke where till now nothing was obvious to my â—ight but those inanimates which continue there This night leaving our attendants as we use to do to awaite our returning my mother and I occupying our selves in ordinary discourses we measured the earth with our paces till we were come upon you and then I suddenly espying you not discerning your sex or consulting with my Judgment affrighted as I was I â—an back screeching But meeting with my maides all runing to lend me their feeble aides I remembred I had left my mother to that danger I fled from to repair which shame I returned with as much speed being incouraged with the Company of my maides but I met her returning who not so timerous as my self had approacht you and perceiving by your habit that you were of our own sex she was returning to tell me that as she believ'd you were dead Having gathered strength by decussing my fear I greatly pityed your case by reason of Sympathizing with our genus It may be mother said I that she may yet
her presence the very comfort of my life I returned to finde her and after I had searcht all the walks groves and topiares about the house I found her in a virect which was enclosed with ramiculous trees very low at the further end of that I let close by the river side The maide I met at the entring into the place returning towards the house her eyes exhibited by their rednesse that they had been paying tribute to grief in moist teares But passing on without exchanging any words I saw Atalanta but so changed that I was amazed and admiration stopping the motion of my body I stood as if I had beheld the head of Medusa She was laid upon the gramineous earth her head leaning against a low cypres tree her armes in a carelesse manner cast abroad her eyes with a kind of â—emisse intentivesse were cast up towards heaven the bottoms big with limpid teares which were but newly stopt through the extremity of her grief her cheeks bearing the dry markes of those silver currents and her strophium rorated with their moistures the stilness obscurity of the place agreeing to make every thing doleful it seemed to me a kind of horror to dwell there After some time I approached her endeavoured with all the words I was able to exprom out of a heart truly sensible of her grief to give her some consolation But all that I could do or say gained nothing from her but abundance of teares and sighs that I was very troublesome to her griefe having a kinde of pleasure in it and thinks it selfe wrong'd by the interruptions of any When I saw I could give her no allevament by my words I sat me down opposite to her and looking upon her with eyes springing forth tears I accompanied her in her lacrymations When she lookt upon me and saw the torrents than ran over the swellings of my cheeks and trickled to the ground like another Alpheus running after his Arethusa shaking her head she wept the more and her teares still exhausting mine we made a torrent betwixt us of our mingled waters tears still begetting tears and the sadnesse of the one still continuing the sadnesse of the other that we sate like two Niobes drowning our cheeks with continuall tears In this posture we were found by her governesse who together with her maid came to endeavour to draw her out of her great sorrow and by her grave counsel to absterge her tears what with the power she had over her and with the sound speeches she used she something mitigated the efluence of those argenteous currents and at last caused her to leave that place when we werein her chamber perceiving that she desired privacie I left her with little lesse mestitude than her self finding my self interrested in her grief and troubled for being ignorant of the cause The next day I visited her and I found that grief had not altogether so powerful an opperation upon her but that she had power now to ask pardon for the trouble she had put me to the day before and for the little regard she had of my consolations I proceeded to comfort her all I might and though I knew not the occasion of her plangor yet speaking generally of grief I told her that teares were but a vanity and tormenting our selves for things irrecoverable past and done was but a weaknesse and that it was a passion whose excursions ought to be stopped and moderated and that it might be effected by a resignation of our wiâ—ls to the superior powers to be content with whatsomever accidents they shall be pleased to send and that we should not immoderately desire any thing by whose loss we might run into despair Such other counsell I administred which my self was not able to follow but she answered me not but with abundance of suspirations thereby testifying that her griefe proceeded from more than common causes and that there was something extraordinary in it The space of a whole week she continued in this manner though not with that excesse as at first yet growing more upon her and takeing at last root it became the more dangerous When I saw that I expected in vain when she would tell me the cause of her trouble and that with all the art I could use I gave her very little comfort I was so troubled that my looks exhibited how grear a share I bore in her sorrow One day Atalanta having given me the slip to feast her Melancholy thoughts with funebrous meditations I at last found her in a solitary place amongst the taxeous shades compassed about with those sepulchrall trees mingled with the fruitlesse Cipresse She had newly began to bedew the fair roses of her cheeks with the most pertious liquor of her eyes and those pearl-bearing rivulets springing from the marvellously limpid fonticules ebbed flow'd according to the variable tyde of sorrowful thoughts My presence gave some check to their outflowing and made her wipe away those moist characters of her grief with her ricula but their impressions on my heart could not so soon be absterged I ran to her with my wonted confidence and flinging my self on the grass by her I took her fair hands and giving them many suaviations and bedewing I at last broke forth my resentments thus Ah sister Atalanta my teares accommpanying my words have you not so much confidence in my fidelity to entrust me with the cause of this dolor how can I live and behold you in continuall mourning and give no comfort and how can I administer consolation correspondent to your griefe and be ignorant of the cause of it either let me dye or else not live so great a stranger to your thoughts If there be any thing that may be acquired for your allevament though with never so great danger make use of my Service and you shall see my affection so strengthen me that I shall be able to overcome all oppugnances and what you it may be may think impossibilities â—ive me not cause to thinke I inherit not the place of a sister when I am an alien to your thoughts But consider not I beseech you this audaâ—ity as an effect of my curiosity but of my affection for did I not think my self capable of serving you I should be content to ignore it for ever yet seeing you have interessed my affection far beyond my deserts let me conjure you by that Love you bear me and in the name of a sister which your goodnesse hath imposed upon me to let me know the cause of this trouble which you so carefully hide from me Atalanta joyning her face and tears to mine stopt the rest of my words When she had cleared the passage for her words with a thousand heart-labouring sighs her teares also suffering a new reflux she said Dear Sabane It is not thy fidelity that I mistrust nor any other consideration but shame hath hindered me from imparting the knowledge of it to thee and fear
father her love making her forget the thoughts of her honour believing his passion and crediting his vows being as it were confident he would never forsake her yielded a complacency to his passion and lost her virginian gem between the arms of that Stuprator Madam my Lady strictly charg'd me not to extenuate her crime but to exhibit to you the utmost of her weakness but I hope you will consider that the great love she bore to that detestable one confiding in his oaths and vowes with the irresistible allurements and incitments he prosecuted her with were strong inducements to the subversion of her feminine resistance I hope your commiseration will rimate some idoneous causation for her frailty and saply my weakness in that particular Nevertheless if your rigorous vertue retard the exsuscitation of your pity to help it consider with how many tears with how much dolor with how much grief and with how much pain she hath endeavoured not to expiate but to bewail her folly and to have depriv'd the earth of that happiness of bearing one so amiable and you 'l confess that her miserie hath satisfied for her fault and that vertue when she did it was not lost but hid But now I 'le tell you this wicked Marcipsius's perfidy When he had sufficiently abused my dear Mistriss and that he had satiated himself and gain'd the end of his long suite on a sudden he pretended letters from his father and that there was a necessity of his returning if ever he hop'd to attain the Crown he ambitioned I imagin the consternation this put Atalanta into were all the Muses conjoyn'd to represent the passion she was in and the grief she exhibited they could not be able to express the third part of it It is as much as I can say that she was seiz'd with a general stupor and astonishment insomuch that I fear'd I should never bring her to her self again That scelerous wretch standing by impassible I thought she would have died in my arms had he not ingeminated his vows for his sudden return at which time he would obtain her fathers leave for her marriage But her grief was so violent that these promises could hardly give any relaxation to it a sad Omen and sure presage of his perfidiousness and her miseries Cruel heart not to be mollified with those tears able to have penetrated the lapidian rocks No he with his specious pretences and fair promises did as it were force himself from between her arms so that at last he left her but in a condition far more likely to crave a passage of the Sâ—ygean Ferryman then to live till he returned He took his leave also of Atalanta's father with the same specious pretences and promises of returning the last words that I spake to him were to be mindfull of that condition wherein he left Atalanta and that he should not discover her dishonour by his long moration in Affrica He was very profuse of his oaths and made no conscience to delude both gods and men by an emitting thousands that he never had intention to perform This to be detested Marcipsius being gone all that I was able to say or do to Atalanta was too little to give her one minutes rest for Althea opening her love-blinded eyes gave her a clear view of Marcipsius's deception Her vertuous soul returning as it weâ—e out of an inchantment began to detest its own act and vertue and honour appearing with their refulgent beams gave her light to see her own contamination Fear and horror like two â—uries seizing upon her presently fell to racking her soul and with remorse gave her Tityan torments so that had I not watch'd her narrowly she had perpetrated a Lucretian Tragedy I was fain to fling by my respect and offer violence to those fair hands in wresting from them a sharp pointed bodkin wherewith she violented her breast she had undoubtedly slain her self had not my force prov'd stronger than my oratory What said she to me whilst I strove to hinder her design against her self will you disoblige me now in this last exigent have I entrusted your fidelity hitherto and will you not prove obedient and faithfull to the end Ah! let me not out-live my crime Seest thou not that I am exposed to the shame and ignominy of the world Let me die ah let me die Think not that thou canst restrain me long neither think that thou dost me any savour for thou dost but detain me in torment and misery Ah tell my father my crime when I have expired and beg ah beg in my name his pardon for contaminating his blood but let him see that I have spirit enough to revenge it on my degenerating carcase and that I abhor my self for it Ah Madam wept I forth you shall never have cause to complain of my infidelity but I cannot obey these too too rigorous commands I will make satisfaction hereafter for my disobedience by my own punishment Pardon me pardon me Madam cryed I out when I endeavoured to force the weapon from her hand seeing my words not prevalent enough if my audacity exhibit it self in the room of my woonted respect But she darting an angry look upon me quailed my boldness yet seeing she persisted I rent open my bosome and presented her my naked breast with a voice more vehement than ordinary Ah cruel one cry'd I out if you are resolved to die at least grant me the favour of not seeing it here here peirce this breast the only obstacle to your design for think not that I will permit you to offer violence to your self whilst I live send me first out of the world and then follow if you are so resolved No replyed she feebly I 'le spare thee and lifting up her head at that instant she sought to have plung'd the bodkin into her breast but her safety making me nimble and despising all danger I clapt my arm upon her breast and received the stroke which ran a good depth therein I took the blow very patiently for smiling a little Ah! I have prevented that fatal stroke strike as many more such as you please Whilst I spake the blood circulated my arm and running down on the flore began to make Meandres under our feet Dear Atalanta beholding what she had done had not power to pull the bodkin out of my arm which I held extended and lookt upon it as the best act it had ever done glorying in that badge which it had acquired though unwittingly on her part from the hands of my dear Lady See now the great strength of us females she that even had now so much heart as to have violented her self to death lost all her strength at the sight of my blood and at the reflexion of what she had done her face presently growing pale and her eyâ— stiffe she sunk down on the floor and I had much adoe to regain her senses by flinging cold refrigerous water in her face Ah said she
deeply sighing is this the gurdion then that I must give thee for thy fidelity her eyes shedding the fairest of pearls see see continued she to cure that which my unfortunate hand hath acted let not this reproach me of my cruelty No Madam reanswered I I will neither seek to cure it or wag from this place unless you promise me to leave off such unlawfull and bloody designes against your self I promise it said she I will endure that impatible shame rather then injure thee seeing thou wilt interesse thy self in my miseries rejoycing at these words I soon bound up the wound and playing the part of the Chirurgion my self lest I should discover the cause of it with balâ—oms I at last effected the cure of it In the mean time my Lady though â—he had promised me not to do any violence to her self yet her grief and torment was so excessive that in few dayes it cast her into a violent feavour which brought her even to the portalls of deaths sable City Her father almost dead with the griefe his daughters sicknesse procured him sought for the skilfullest in Chiron's art to give her ease and then he sent for this ancient Lady who brought her up from the cradle who had been absent almost a year with some of her neeces in the further part of Spain she always loved Atalanta as her own daughter and my Lady loved her reciprocally which made her very comfortable to her neverthelesse she would not consent that I should tell her the true cause of her sicknesse At last through the favour of the Gods in blessing the Aesculapian means she recovered though some months were first past over in all which time we heard nothing from that sinfull perjuror and causer of our miseries The thought of which often afflicted poor Atalanta in so much that I feared a relapse Her governesse that good old gentle-woman wondring that her eyes were oftentimes swoln with griefe and her face looking pale and wann would often object to her that griefe was the greatest promoter of her distempers but she could not wrest the truth from her till at last accedentally it was thus discovered Atalanta emitting a flood of teares was entred into most sad complaints of the injury of Marcipsius and blaming me for the retardation of her death I feared her violences would have led her into new extravagancies I had cast my selfe upon my knees to give her all the consolation I could and with my teares and prayers sought to allay her distempers Her nurse suddenly surprizing us in this posture and hearing some words that I speak to comfort her would be no longer denyed the knowledge of that which she was too certaine afflicted Atalanta For what reason said she doe you thus exclude me the knowledge of your grief why must I be ignorant of the cause of it have you not confidence enough in me to entrust me with your secrets am I not in the place of a mother yea and my affections supply the place of maternall interest as well as my outward appearance The love I beare you is able to overshadow all faults and to administer helpe to your distresses by the experience of my longaevity Atalanta could now no longer hide it from her nor could she know how to declare it her teares supplying the place of Speech At last terging the fluid pearls that slid from those two Magaritiferous founts she gave me a permission to let her governesse know the sad cause of her dolor When I had performed my relation she well saw that Atalanta's condition would not admit of any chideing but that comforts and relaxations were more convenient for her she wisely made use of her best oratory to comfort her and omitted her severity which would have augmented her dolor and made her have sunke under the burden of it And truly I am verily perswaded but for the continuall perswasions and comforts of that wise Lady she had not grac't this place with her presence at this time but would have been resident in the Elysian fields To satisfie our selves conerning Marcipsius we sent one into Affrick to know what was become of him The messenger return'd with certaine intelligence that he was not returned thither and that his father had not heard of him since his departure from Affrica This was a renewing to Atalanta's sorrows so perspicuably to behold his deception and falsities The fourth month was now come since the departure of unworthy Marcipsius and the growing pledge of his perfideousnesse receiving Life from the influence of genial starrs gave notise by its lively moving to Atalanta that she was likely to become the mother of some fair infant The old lady carefull of her honour and to prevent the ignominy that might accrew by the appearing tumour of her belly obtain'd permission of her father to change the aire for her healths sake He would have accompanied her but the lady with many reasons perswaded him to the Contrary promising in little time to bring her from her melancholy and to restore her to her perfect health He knowing the wisdome and discretion of her Governesse and hopeing to see the clouded browes of Atalanta reclear'd and to possesse their former lustre gave way to this separation and assigneing this place which the Romans had left him with many others for our retirement we passed hither with these few servants avoyding all publike invisagements awaiting the time when she shall disburden that which she termes her shame We had been but few weeks in this place so commodious for our sequestration and so delectable for the tyred senses of Atalanta but that her grief rather encreasing than diminishing made us allmost dispair of her recovery Neverthelesse she was so much taken with the place that she resolved never to leave it finding so much convenience for her melancholy There was nothing that wit could produce or the power of Love imagine that we did not make tryall of for her diversion For my part when I heard her exclame against her self and with most bitter remonstrances endeavour to make her self odible I on the contrary and more justlie spit out the anger I had conceiv'd against that wretch in dire execrations for his perfidie who was the cause of all her misery O strange power of Love O wronged innocency do you think she could hear the least reproach utter'd against him no alas she had not lov'd him so poorly as to hate him for his basenesse She would not permit me to speake against him but even sought with many excuses to justify his breach of promise Blame him not would she say let all reproaches be lay'd upon me and it might in justice be so account me as the loosest wretch that lives as the most dispicable thing that breaths as the insulsest animall voy'd of reason wit or Judgment so to part with my honour so to obscure my virtue But blame not I say Marcipsius it may be he is not living how know we
with her attendâ—â—ts to come forth thereat who it may be were excited thither by my vociferation Marcipsius fearing his wickednesse should be discovered drew his sword and presâ—nting it to my breast swore if I departed not immediately he would transpierce my heart I was nothing solicitous of my life being enraged at his wickednesse so that I stopt not for his threats but continued calling him traitor stuprator and what ever rage first exhibited He made a thrust or two at me although he knew I had no weapon nor was of a sex to contend with him but I shifted well enough and to plague him the more I ran towards the Lady crying beware of this villaine this facinorous Marcipsius that trator that violator of faith and honesty that corruptor and vitiator of virgins The wicked Marcipsius cried out to them have a care of that mad man and running with his sword drawne made as if he had defended them till they were got within the posterne when he following them left me still craving the Gods to punish him for his Scelerity After I had wearied my self with exclaiming I return'd into the city and embarquing for Spain I at last after some retardation by the winds got safe to this place where I gave my fair mistresse this sad relation which was the cause of that heavy dolor you found her in when your sympathizing tears mixt with hers Wonder no more at her excesse of Laments since you know what cause she hath to complaine Atalanta's confident thus ended her discourse and casting her eye upon me to expect those words which I ought to have express'd against so egregious a perfidy she saw that I sat like an image wherein neither life nor soul had any residence She spake to me she toucht me she pull'd me but I neither hear'd nor felt for indeed grief so much augementd by the knowledg that I must loose the sovereign of my soul caus'd through my brothers wickednesse had taken away the use of all my senses and left me altogether impassible If before I could have lov'd her after her pollution I could not think now of enjoyning her after I knew it was my own brothers defilement Grief and amazedness held me a long time in this benummedness which the maid seing fearing some sudden sicknesse screem'd out being affrighted at my palenesse Atalanta came thither before I had recovered my selfe from that kind of Syncopy But in coming to my self ah cur'st traitor sigh'd I out ah inevitable ruin of my Life Atalanta wonder'd at the extraordinary passion and interest I shew'd at the knowledg of her misfortunes which did endear me the more unto her But seing me in that condition they would have conveigh'd me to bed till I at last perfectly recovering my self diverted their intentions and asham'd at the trouble I had put them to I excus'd it as well as I could Dear Sabane said Atalanta you are too much mov'd at the misfortunes of another I cannot but wonder that your magnanimous soul bearing your own so well should be so much troubled at the audition of mine The most saxean hearts madam replyed I cannot but commiserate your condition nor none that shall hear your misfortunes but will curse that perfidious Marcipsius But that which so much amazed me was that that wicked vitiator should be so blinded as not to see his own happynesse but should forsake a beauty to which the Gods themselves might have lay'd a clame as being too good for the best of men These words imbued the native virmilion of her cheeks with a deeper crimson in graine See see continued I poynting to the wall which at that time by reason of a damp stood full of moyst drops on his hard side the very stones send forth their sudor and seem to generate teares out of their rocky substance that they might make you see by their weeping they have some kinde of feeling of your misfortunes can you then wonder how I should be so much mov'd when inanimates else would convince me of obduratenesse I see replyed she a little smiling that there is no contending with one that out of all objects will raise some evincing argument I that before was a comforter lack'd now to be comforted I that allwayes coveted the company of Atalanta now oftentimes shun'd it that I might secreetly vent my complaints and feed my sadnesse with solitary soliloquies all things were quite altered and I could not but be amaz'd as griev'd at the versutous power of that mutable Goddess They all saw my change but they could not well divine what might be the reason of 't I was now wholly eaten up with sadnesse and consum'd my time in trouble in teares and complaints against heaven earth Marcipsius and my self In the very extreemity of my trouble I should oft cry out ah I am constrain'd I am constrained to leave thee Atalanta began to repay those comfortable speeches I was us'd to solace her with and to become my physitian as I had been hers which indeed insted of comforting me encreast my dolor when I thought on my loss for by how much the more she was good to me and by how much the more the goodnesse of her nature was exhibited by so much the more I bewail'd my losse and considered the greatnesse of my misfortune This grief and trouble continuing it at last induc'd me to a sicknesse which perplexed every one of that small family by reason of the Love they bore me but Atalanta principally seem'd to forget her own trouble to engage her self into mine and sought the acquireing of my health almost with the losse of her own In this sicknesse I found some relaxation of my grief and by degrees began to overcome it and to be contented with my fortune Not that I lost any part or jot of the love I bore Atalanta but framing my selfe seeing I could no longer love her as a mistres to love her as a sister and to keep my love entire without desire of any other possession then I enjoyed To comfort and please my self with this kind of Platonick love to love only for virtues sake to have a passion with out carnal defires I sought many arguments to maintaine it to my self that it was the best love and seem'd most Caelestiall I would thus sometimes say to my self What is a little moment of pleasure that I should endure thus much pain for it For what is all this grief but because I cannot enjoy Atalanta It is not because she loves me not or because she despises me but because I have lost that carnall pleasure which I had hop'd to enjoy Surely that Love cannot be good which so poorly covets for its own ends I love her why because I might enjoy her Shall I not love her â—ow I am sure I shall not enjoy her or shall I pine my self to death for that which often times quenches the flames of love No doubt but Marcipsius lov'd her before he enjoy'd
exquiset harmony and order so may the actions of this providence which are not contingent to it self because it knoweth and foreseeth what will come to passe and all things come to passe that he foresees though no necessity be impos'd on contingent things seem to be confused and without order but there is nothing effected without Harmony and Concinnity and that happens which he judgeth best and most convenient for his creatures though their irregular thoughts may Judg other ways and exclame against a power through a false notion that doth nothing but what is good For though some being ignorant of the incomprehensible wisdom wonder at the contrarity of things which bring about like effects and variety of things which bring ofttimes contrary effects according to the innate disposition or order of things or men as we may see that riches may make this man vicious poverty may do the like by another Prosperity and Fortune may make some careless of a good name and conscience Prosperity and Fortune may make others desire to keep and exhibit the greater virtue So that that incomprehensible Gubernator that seems so instable to us is most stable in respect of himself And who seems blind unto us sees perspicually and orders all things according to the good of his Creatures as best knowing what is best for them and best agreeing to their constitutions for were there no adversity we could have no sence of pleasure in prosperity Therefore raile no more against Fortune in adversity for in so doing you speak against a providence that knows what best befits you and is most convenient for you but learn to be content with whatsomever state or condition shall betide you and think that to be most convenient for you These were the words of my good Tutor and the scholar of Cratippus who lov'd me and enrich'd me with the fruits of his labours At this instant Euripedes entred the room and so diverted Lonoxia's reply The time is insensibly elapsed said he since you first entred into discourse I am come to do the same office for you Lonoxia as you did for me yesterday in the grove I could not satisfy the naturall appitite of the body in turning over my books neither do I beleive your discourses to be more efficacious I have been hearing reply'd Lonoxia the opinion of an Athenian philosopher concerning our religion which if true makes the better part and the most knowing of the world fools and Idolaters Argelois is as much against fortune as you against Love both blind deities and incompetable but let 's not innovate any thing here for they are both banish'd our Cell But let us go take some refection if you please for I doubt I have done Argelois great injury in detaining him so long and you as great in robbing you of his company Both returning his complement in very handsome termes they followed a servant that came to give them notice that dinner attended them After they had taken that repast wherein temperance shew'd something of state Argelois of a sudden as 't were coming out of a dream and rising up from the place where he sat Your company Friends said he is made up of charmes and I professe it hath wrought that mirracle that could not have been effected by all the world besids you have made me insensible of the trouble I have put my frinds in to find me I know my absence will be insupportable to some and their care I know hath put them to much trouble But alas this is not all you have detain'd me from beholding those eyes that have enkindled so many flames in my heart and made me forget that I live not but by their gracious aspect Give me leave generous fathers to pay what I owe to my friends and my self I promise you to visit you oft and some other time to satisfy you in what you may desire to know of me and shall account my self happy if I may have an occasion to employ my life in your service Euripides smiling at his passion well wee 'l detain you no longer said he I see you are not able to take warning by others harms your passion is too strong to be converted but I am so zelous that I must needs represent to you the evills of this passion and give you some arguments for my aversion but it shall be in the grove where you may have the libery to leave me when you please Well wee 'le hear what you have to say reply'd Argelois and I make no question but Love will inspire his champion with words to defend him Argelois taking his leave of Lonoxia with abundance of obligatory speeches followed Euripedes out of the grote and walking to the place where he first encountered Euripedes they sat down on a pleasant banke under the covert of the thickest trees come adversarie said Argelios smiling let 's hear what you have to say against love Euripedes after a very little pause began thus I might well declame against Love if it were for no other thing but for the evills I have acquired by it so that I know it not altogether by oppinion but experience tells me it is evill and all the effects of it evill And on my side are those whom we terme Philosophers and searchers out of wisdome who knowing both the causes and the effects have found this passion vitious and full of absurdities and have given it most worthily the name of detestable and insipient and those enviegled with it fools and Mad-men I know this is too corrosive in the presence of so strong a lover but I know your generous soule will give me leave without adulation to speak my minde freely and take it as the effect of my love and affection that I desire the same good to you as to my selfe and that I cannot see another occupy that which is become odious to my self And though I know that it is almost impossible by naturall reason and the exhibition of never so perspicuous truths to perswade any from his passion especially when it hath fixed its roots in the breast and spread it selfe in the branches of desires yet I will exhibit to you the reasons I have to hate this passion beeing an evill and therefore worthy to be hated But before I shew the evil of 't I must confesse that love placed in some generous soules who can command this passion not to be evill but then as I think I told you yesterday that it is not a passion but some extention of the soul which it can continue or withdraw at pleasure But this that I speak of is evill of it selfe though it may be more or lesse perspicuable according to the generosity and basenesse the purity or impurity of such souls that it is placed in to shew this to you according to the weaknesse of my capacity I will begin first with the cause of this passion I omit to speake of Love in generall whether of naturall and simpathizeing Love
as if their absence had been for years and not dayes and were along time e're they could expresse their joy by word I may safe say that they were the mirroâ— of friendship and that they were another Pylades and Oristes or as fast friends as Thâ—seus and Pirithous After their embraces had given way for speech and that Darâ—anus bad express'd his civilities to Eliana Argelois excused his absence and crav'd pardon for the trouble he had put the prince to in very handsome termes but Dardanus forbidding those termes of subjection and humility which Argelois allways accosted him with desired him to tell him how he had hid himself being so near the castle since he had search'd all the woods about and places capable for obscuration Yesterday said Argelois stealing from you in the morning to give way to my musings I went some few surlonâ—s from the castle and entring that grove which adjoins to the spacious wood towards the west being taken with that place which before I had not minded I met with a place which all the word could not have found out He then relateing to them his adventure gave them the knowledg of his stay but lest he should prejudice Euripides he would not discover who or what they were After the knowledg of this and other ordinary discourses they returned all together to the Castle The next day Eliana and Dardanus expressing their desire to see that grot which Argelois had discovered he led them to the place where they had a very good reception by those two generous old men Dardanus desiering to know their fortunes expressed as much severall times but Euripedes knowing that it was Dardanus and believing that Argelois would not discover him he put it off by telling him that they were men of another country and of a mean quality only wearied in the warrs and troubles of the world having a parity of fortunes and of years they at last after much travell found that place of solitude which they had made fit for their habitation and in which they resolved to spend the rest of their dayes Euripedes noteing the extraordinary beauty of Eliana taking Argelois aside told him thar he could not now blame him seeing that the object of his passion was so glorious and that as great a Stâ—ic as he was he could not behold her without admiration Argelois smiling a little at his approbation would have figh'd out a few words but that Eliana drawing near to the place with Dardanus broke of his determination and made him turn about to receive them Your Grot is so pleasing said Eliana that were I in a condition I should prefer it before the stateliest pallace of either Europe or Asia It was never happy till now Madam reply'd the venerable Euripides and I doubt not but it shall receive that luster from the graces that attend you that it shall for ever afteâ— bear the virtue of this visit Other speeches past between them wherein Euripedes acquitted himself so well that they had a good opinion of his virtue and importun'd him to have gon and visited their castle but they could not draw him beyond the limmits of his grove though he partly ingaig'd himself some other time to see them Dardanus at his parting would needs force Euripedes and Lonoxia to accept of two large diamonds from his hands though they often denied them and told him their solitude was incomperable with riches and that since they had left the world they had disavov'd those things But he not being to be denied they receiv'd them telling him they would preserve them as monuments of his bounty After they had left these two generous fathers Dardanus Argelois and Tribulus entering into discourse walked a little before Eliana who with her maides purposely lingred behind till they came near to the side of the great wood which was within sight of the castle where seeing a very pleasant place she sat down with her maids to rest her self Dardanus looking back and seeing the princesse out of sight would have returned but meeting one of her maids that desired them to sâ—ay a little in that place for her telling them that she desired to repâ—se her 〈◊〉 a little in that pleasant place and that in the mean time they should â—â—nd one of their attendance for her palsray for that she had a desire to visite all those pleasant places about the castle which yet she had not seen They observing her commands dispatch'd one presently to the Castle and sate down themselves not far from the place where the princesse was Dardanus and Tribulus being entr'd into a discourse Argelois leaning his head on his hand was also entred into the deep consideration of his fortunes when on a sudden they heard a great screach among the maids of Eliana which made them leave the place like lightning especially Argelois whom passion made swifter than the wind They had no need to enquire the cause of that affâ—ightment for they saw it was two Beares who smelling them in the wood had broke in amongst them One of them following the seeble steps of Eliana had caught hold on her garment just as Argelois came his soule suffered wonderfull torments through the fear that surpriz'd him to see in what danger she was and his face growing extreamly pale would have shew'd his interest if it had been a time wherein any could have noted it Yet in his heart he was glad that fortune had made use of that occasion wherein he might engage his life for her safe-guard The danger she was in was so emminent that he had no time to draw his sword but not regarding his life with his open armes he slung himselfe between the open mouth of the Bear and Eliana who at the same instant fell being out of breath and affrighted The bear being very strong and masse took hold on Argelois where he had like to have suffered much having no weapon to anoy him but wrestling with that rabid creature he overthrew him to the earth though the Bear all lacerated his shoulder yet he kept him down with matchlesse strength till Dardanus came who seeing the danger of his friend soon piere'd the beast in many places with his sword and free'd his Argelois out of those Philosous embraces Dardanus turning about saw the other Beare had almost seized on Celia which made him hast to her succour who with the help of her father Tribulus who came to help his daughter at last they jugulated In the mean time Argelois getting up turned about to Eliana who through the fear she had taken lay all that time in a sown approaching her he kneeled down by her and vewing her face he beheld nothing but the matchlesse lillies displaying themselves there not loosing so fair an opportunity he ravished some kisses from her hand which transported him beyond the measure of conceit At last the naturall roses of her cheeks returning by degrees imbu'd that whitnesse which tryumph'd with
detract from its lustre and through which it will not shine with a splendency able to overcome it 'T was not cloathes that made her but she that made her cloaths beautifull And as the richest ornaments cannot contribute beauty to a face in which there is none so the meanest cannot detract from a beauty of it selfe naturally sweet though I confesse ornaments are not without their peculiar graces and settings ost to meaner beauties but Eliana's was so transcendent that as the meanest dresse could not detract from her beauty so the richest could adde nothing to it Argelois being diverted by Panthea from beholding that faire skin which carried albitude extraordinary and a heate through the gentle live of her bed which concorded with that of his heart he walked some turnes with those fair Princesses's and telling them the reason of his stay the last night made them acquainted with his engagement that day to visit Euripedes Panthea unwilling to be deprived of his company so long desired to accompany him and proposing it to Eliana she consenting they told him their intentions I had thought Madam said he to Eliana that you durst not have adventured into those woods again considering the danger you were in the last time you see there You see therefore said she I fear nothing under your protection Panthea interposing told them they ought not to let Euripedes expect Argelois whilst they spent the time in those discourses and give him cause to thinke he was capable of breaking this word Eliana following her councill they left him joyful that he should enjoy their company and went to put on those robes sutable to their qualities and estate They spent little time in dressing them having but very little humour to that court vanity and yet their ornaments wee so rich that they seemd to vie with their beauties Eliana had drest her self like one of the Nimphs or the goddesse Flora and as if she meant to sute with the time of the year she had put on a gown of a verdant hew branched with leavs and flowers so artificially that they made raire knots and poses which served for compartments to her gown Panthea's was a bright azure in which shone so many bright stones that it represented the firmament in its greatest lustre of starrs and by the which she would have intimated the constancy and charity of her affection Having sent for Argelois they entred a clariot and putting off their traine took none with them but Tribulus and their two confidents with the squires of Dardanus and Argelois Beeing arrived at the grove they sent back their Chariote and entring Euripedes groate received all the welcomes of that generous old man You will not increpat me for my stay said Argelois seeing I have brought such company that may excuse it 'T is enough said Euripedes and this company is so glorious that could my wishes be effected I should break that law which I have impos'd upon thy thoughts since I have turn'd Philosopher wish now to be great and potent only that I might give an entertainment some wayes corresponding to their virtue and greatnesse But were I a Prince it were impossible for me to recompence the decima of this favour in illuminating this darke grote with the incomparable lustre of their beauties Eliana and Panthea reanswering him vicissively made him at last leave these termes of perfection Meador who by the virtue of those oyntments which his carefull master had applyed found so much ease that he would not put this Princesse to the trouble of coming into his chamber but being helped on with his cloaths he was led into the chamber where Argelois and the two Princesses with the rest of the company stayed to hear him acquite himself of a relation which he knew they expected at his hands Euripedes had entertained them before with those civilityes that were to be expected at his hands therefore there being nothing now to be done but to audite his relation they caused him to sit down who obeyed and after he had taken some pleasure in beholding the beauty of his auditors directing his speech to Euripedes he began THE HISTORIE of ARATERUS VIrtue what ever the vicious thinke although she be often banded against by that power to which we attribute the name of inconstant and mutable at length overcomes her triumphs over her and wears the crowns of her victories with an immutable fortune But yet should she not receive this reward whilst the soule remaines in the domicill of flesh I am confident the Justice of the Gods would return it a hundred sold after she is departed to the Elysiume some indeed they reward here yet not denying those hereafter and pay their perseverance with rewards corresponding to their deserts Amongst the rest Araterus has tasted of their bounty which is in consideration of his virtue and though what we are able to do in consideration of those deities is nothing and not worthy the least rewards yet they are just and repay our wills and devoyres with happinesses transcending our merits and actions Had you seen the perills and dangers we past and the continuall prosecution of our ill fortune with the marchlesse patience of Aratearus you would have thought there had been no other powers than those which continually seek the destruction of mankind especially the virtuous but as he endured all mischances without murmuring so at last the Gods have repayed him I think without example I know by your own relation that the elapsion of so many years hath not made you forget the place and manner of our losse and I believe that your kinsman had the sight of those implorations of yours to the Gods which may be were the cause of his preservation After we had got those small preservations of life which grew on the verging branches of the green trees we returned to that place where we left you but finding neither you nor the child which fortune had cast on that place I know not whether we were more amazed or grieved At last griefe bursting forth into words and teares Araterus wept forth such complaints that testified how ardently he affected you but amazednesse sometimes stopping his speeches gave him time to consider which way you could be gone indeed sometimes he accused you for leaving him sometimes he inveighed against heaven and then against himself that he dared to speak against either But at last turning all against fortune he made her the sole cause of this accident For my part seeing you gone and believing that 't was impossible for us to escape death by famin in that plâ—ce I would have anticipated it by a voluntary precipitation into the sea which like a mad man I had effected had not Araterus by force more then entreaties deterred me After we had somwhat mitigated our grief by the effusion of our tears and emission of our complaints that we might not be guilty of our own deaths Araterus having changed my
had against him either in assaulting him in an hostile way although her Armies were ready and sufficient enough to endamage him or to use that violence to him in the person of his Son which might satisfie to all the world That as the gods and the justness of her cause had rendred her victorious so her generosity and innate goodness had rendred her mercifull that thereby he might see she had no other ends then to conserve her kingdome in peace and prosperity though as he now knew she was able to defend her self from his and others Tyranny And lastly That she had sent him his son and had given him his liberty without ransome or intreary notwithstanding the wrongs he had done her and the ruin he had endeavoured for a requital of all her savours she had shewed him whilst he remained in her Court This letter so full of generosity and obligements wrought much on the King of Sinana who was raising an Army twice so big as the former to repair his losses and made him presently desist and receive those the Queen had sent with his son with caresses and acknowledgements The evil nature of that Prince was nothing moved with the Queens generosity and seeing himself out of her power he would have instigated his father against her and have perswaded him to go on with his levies but notwithstanding his insinuations the King sent an Embassador to the Queen with so many rich presents that it sufficiently ransomed the Prince and discharged the charges of the war giving him in charge also to conclude a peace more strict than before between them This was effected and they returned from the Queen very well satisfied with her generosity and liberality with presents worthy of her quality to the King their Master which as we heard he received with wonderfull acknowledgement and address Peace being thus concluded and every thing setled with prudence and care the Queen began to give ease to her thoughts and entertain those pleasing Idea's which in the midst of all her troubles often interrupted her The first thing she did was in rewarding those who had done valiantly and served her faithfully Araterus you may be sure tasted of her liberality she made him Birebasse or Governour of a province making him by her savours and his places the second in the Kingdome next to Peomontile There was none but said he deserved it and that the favours of the Queen could not be better bestowed the mouth of envy it self being stopt by his vertues by the port that he had carried amongst the people Indeed all spoke for him and desir'd to render him caresses acknowledgements his valour and vertue still lived in their memories and his continual Courtesie made it spring there eternally Truly his mediocrity was admirable for if in all his formet misfortunes I had noted a constancy hardly parallelable and that without dejection I could not observe in all his height of glory the least exultancy or pride but what he received was with a spirit full of tranquillity and he would never have received such high favours and honours but that he thought it would render him more considerable for his aspiring Love Indeed that still conserv'd its flames and all those heats that had agitated him in the wars proceeded from that he makeing me his confident often told me of its ardencies and how unsupportable they began to grow notwithstanding the hopes the prophesie and inclinations of the Queen inspired him with Those indeed maintained him in a tranquillity not usual with Lovers and conserved him from their disquiets a long time He found the favours of the Queen so obliging and her caresses and endearments so favourable that he began to hope he should arrive at the summe of â—his happiness The Queen being of an imperious humour had grievous contests with her love so that her soul was agitated continually with contrary and opposing thoughts And as she related her self to Araterus afterward they were such as these She considered the inequality between Araterus and her self that he was nothing but by her creation that her self was one of the potentest Queens of the East that she had out of an imperious humour refused the greatest Princes in the world that such a match would be a blur to her honour a grief to her Subjects and make her a scorn to her neighbours and to those Princes whom she had despised That to think to enjoy him any other way her vertue did prohibit and she believed that her kingdome could not tempt his Therefore she believed her love was to be despised rejected and strove against seeing it led her to such prejudice and inconveniencies This made her resolve often to chastise her self to hate her self and to account her self worthy of ignominy and scorn sometimes she would banish him or confine him to his Province or prohibit him the Court and by banishing him out of her memory repress those flames his presence fomented But this his innocency and what he had done for her opposed but chiefely love it self could not yield to his separation that exsuscitated for its defence such thoughts as these That although she were a Queen and enjoyed all the riches pomp and pleasure imaginable yet that Love was a content that far furpassed them all and so that if she should enjoy the greatest Prince on the earth it could not render her so happy as the enjoyment of one she loved should though ne're so mean That Araterus considering the disparity would without doubt want the imperious humours of Princes and make it the whole scope of his actions to serve her faithfully and love her continually That the gods never make any distinction of persons by their greatness but by their goodness not by their Nobility but by their vertue and that the meanest on earth if they follow the Precepts of vertue are capable of an Apotheosis and deification That seeing the gods respected not the Nobility of persons so much as their vertue they should endeavour to imitate them for the nearer they appproached to the gods in their actions the nearer they should be to them when extinct That her greatness and regality depended on the mutual wheele of fortune as if she should be cast from her Throne there would be but little signe of her highness greatness and regality That the Original of Soveranity was only usurpation got by the sword and fortune that in right the most vertuous should be the most noble That she was able to make Araterus equal with the greatest Princes in the East that what he had done for her had merited it that his valor and vertue deserved it that his person both for behaviour and make was not to be equalled that there was nothing to be objected to him but that he was no Prince which her love was to dispense with Between such diversity of thoughts she was continually cruciated and made her undergo a torment that could not be eased by