ever confess you have any advantage over me and whilst I hold my Sword you shall find me a subject fitter to create your fear than your pity Thereupon he renew'd the Fight with much more strength than I thought he had left him yet for a while I onely defended my self but when I perceiv'd his blows were so brisk that my charity might prove my ruine and that he had so much vigor as I might kill him without a stain I cry'd out to him Since my civility cannot make you acknowledge what your justice should your death shall Finishing these words I made him soon feel the punishment of a fault which might have had a milder reparation if the continuance of his insolency had not render'd him unworthy of it But to conclude this Tragedy as soon as he fell he told me Whosoever thou art I forgive thee that death which by my being worsted is rather my joy than my trouble and though I scorn to beg my Life were it in thy power to save which I thank the gods it is not yet I do not to conjure thee to assure that Beauty which to have fought against does more afflict me than to be reduc'd to what I am that 't was her Eyes which inspir'd thy Arm and weighed down mine and that had not shame been more prevalent with me than truth I had been her Champion and not her Adversary Conjure her to pardon a crime which I expiate with my blood and which my hand should have punisht for her if thine had not He would have continu'd his recantation by which I perceiv'd I had not onely kill'd an Enemy but a Rival had he not found that his Tongue began to faulter which made him though with much difficulty turn himself towards the place where Parthenissa was and not having the strength to speak to her he lift up his hands to implore that pardon his hasty summons hinder'd him to express As soon as Ambixules was dead all his Pages came and presented me those Pictures which had been the rewards of their Princes former Combats and desir'd me that they might have his body to carry into Arabia which I yielded unto and then taking all the consequents of my Victory I went with them to Parthenissa's Scaffold where I found her by an excess of goodness weeping the death of her Enemy which made me envy what I had deplor'd and forc'd me to think my success a misfortune since it created the fair Parthenissa's tears who judging of my disorder by my silence wip'd them away and thereby gave me the confidence to present her with all those fair Captives and to tell her That the Originals of them could no more complain against their Servants unhappy defence since thereby they had the honor to be hers which was a felicity greater than any could have attended their success I then acquainted her with Ambixules last injunction which I said was a proof that not onely he but his reason was vanquisht and that if he had earlier confest a truth which he could not but be convinc'd of I would rather have elected to have employ'd my Sword against my self than him so great and just was the respect I paid all Adorers under which Title I implor'd a pardon for having brought that to a dispute which needed none and that her justice would acknowledge what that of the gods had by the event of our Combat To which Parthenissa reply'd I am convinc't of nothing by your Victory but of your Civility and Courage the last of which you are certainly very confident of when you durst undertake to employ it in so unjust a quarrel neither can I doubt by electing me for the subject of your difference you had an intention to manifest that your Sword needed no other assistance but what it receiv'd from your Arm and the concealing your self after a performance which the severest modesty might glory in confirms me that you injure your Courage to avoid doing the like unto your Judgment and find more shame in owning the object your Quarrel than satisfaction in the effect it has produc'd Ah! Madam I reply'd do not impute the concealing my self to any thing but the respect I pay you which is so great and just that I had rather decline what you are pleas'd to say I may glory in than hazard your anger by disclosing who I am the apprehension of the latter being far more prevalent with me than any advantage I can derive from the former But after some discourses of this quality observing that not onely all the Court but Arsaces himself was coming towards Parthenissa's Scaffold I thought it high time to retire and therefore made haste to tell her that I was resolv'd to a concealment of my name till by a succession of services I induced her to pardon the score upon which they were perform'd A little Blush which this declaration caused gave me a belief that she understood my meaning and the apprehension I had for her reply as well as being environ'd by the crowd made me take my leave but on an instant I found a certain coldness like the hand of Death seize on me and suddenly after I fell pale and speechless at Parthenissa's Feet This unexpected accident had a very powerfull influence on her whilst she knew me not but after she had discover'd who I was by some peoples pulling off my Helmet to give me a little air she abandon'd herself so much to excess of grief that many attributed the effects of her good nature to a more obliging cause and doubtless had I seen how happy I was in my misfortune I had blest those wounds which were the causes of it In brief as soon as those which stood by knew me they cry'd out Artabanes is dead which repeated noise coming at last to Moneses and Lyndadory's hearing they ran transported with admiration and grief to the place where I lay and where they found Parthenissa with one hand stopping a spring of blood which issued fâ—om a large wound Ambixules had given me with the other endeavouring to wipe away two springs of tears which ran from her fair Eyes That charity gave them as high a subject of acknowledgment as the occasion of it did of grief But at last a Litter being brought and my blood stancht I was carried to Moneses's Palace accompanied by the tears of those whose Acclamations I so lately had Arsaces did me the honor to walk a foot by my Litter and to see the first dressing of my wounds where he receiv'd an assurance from the Chirurgions that I had none which were dangerous that loss of blood was the greatest harm I had sustained and that rest was one of the best remedies they could prescribe Wherefore my Chamber was immediately emptied of all but my faithful Symander But this deep silence was so far from producing the effect which those that enjoyn'd it expected that it did a contrary one for then all my thoughts began to
Daughter to any Neighbour Prince the doing the like is an action so common that it seldom produces an effect which is extraordinary but the bestowing of Statira upon Callimachus will not appear more rare to the World than 't will prove advantageous to him for what returns may not be expected when the largest cause of gratitude is placed upon a person the most replenish'd with it and to whom the gods have given so much vertue and courage that thereby his power of being thankful will equal his will As for Statira I strangely mistake if she will not prefer him who deserves a Crown before him that only wears one and when I shall acquaint her with your passion for her and my friendship for you possibly if the one does not move the other may and the just ascendent she hath over Mithridates may prevail with him to free her from Ascanius and your repeated services may in time force him to believe no Reward under her deserves that Name so that when it comes in competition whether he must do nothing or so much he will rather elect This than that Ah Sir I reply'd Do not I beseech you so much as mention acquainting the fair Statira with my flame I am scarce able to undergo my own knowledg of it and therefore shall never be able to support hers your pardoning my Crime is so much above my desert and your offering to attempt to reward it is so much above my hope that I cannot be that greateful person you were pleased to speak me if I did not hinder your undertaking a design which must lose you your Father and your Sister and that too upon my account No generous Prince let not my passion make any other unhappy nor give me so low an opinion of my offence as to find by such an experiment as great a misery as it self can befall me by it My afflictions will either be supportable and then they will not need your care or unsupportable and then my death will render me uncapable of it Do not I beg you believe I do this out of a modesty which none could want that had so many pregnant causes to raise it but out of conviction that I am tied in duty when she knows I have done her the highest injury out of my power to do her also the highest Right is in my power to present her to dare to have said I love her is That and to dare to kill my self afterwards is this so that if you would not have me punish my self now I have accused my self let that be a secret to you which shall be one besides to all the World Many such implorings continued Callimachus I was forced to make and many such reasons to present to his consideration before I could extort that promise from him which I had so passionately desired which soon after I had obtained a Gentleman came to tell us the Cyprian King was entred the Palace and was gone to wait upon the Queen and the Princesses and not long after Mithridates accompanied with Ascanius came to visit Atafernes Gods What agitations was I exercised under when I not only saw my Rival come into the Chamber but found him a person of an admirable good Meen and of a fashion not inferiour I must acknowledg I was so mean as then to hope I might discover in his Discourse what might have secur'd those fears his outside had raised in me but it was but just I should be defeated of so low and unworthy a hope and so I was for I found in what he spoke to the Prince he was as much beholding to Nature and Education for the gifts of his mind as he had been to either for those of his Body After his civilities were performed to Ataphernes the King told him This room Sir contains a person worthy your knowledg and by whose courage and success you have enjoy'd so peaceable an entry here The merits of Callimachus said Ascanius are so well known to me though his person be not that though the motives be very high which make me desire his friendship yet they cannot exceed the passion I have to acquire or merit it After these words he saluted me with so much obligingness and with so good grace that in spight of all the causes I had to abhor him I could not abstain from giving him a Reply that relish'd of that civility which had acted over my resentments such a Conquest After many discourses of an usual quality Mithridates took a Rise to inform him by retail of all those transactions which had hapned so recently within and near Nicomedia and did it with such elogies in my favour that Ascanius cryed out Happy Callimachus that not only perform'd the highest things but acted them for and before the persons most worthy of them would to the gods I had by all my blood purchas'd that glory which has cost you but a part of yours Mithridates who found by this ardent ejaculation that the subject of his discourse had rather rais'd Ascanius envy than satisfaction by degrees disintangled himself out of what he had so far engaged in and then conducted him to his apartment where all things relish'd of the highest Luxury Asia was never guilty of or the profusest Actor of it ever practis'd He was not long gone when the Queen then recovered of her indisposition with the two Princesses came to visit Atafernes who earnestly enquiring how he made his first addresses received an assurance from both those which were least concerned in it that never man had in such an occasion acquitted himself with so much gallantry His humility to Statira was at once full of deep respect and of Majesty as if thereby he would shew to be a King and her Slave were not inconsistent but rather that this Title did help to heighten that his looks had in them at once so much passion mingled with reverence that either seem'd to be as uncapable of addition as change and his discourse and entertianment had peculiar charms so that in effect there were hardly any of the senses which found not in him sufficient to captivate them These and many other expressions as wounding to me fell from Monyma and Roxana which the obliging Atafernes easily guest and therefore made the more haste to put a period to them which when he had done the Queen leaving her two Companions with their Brother came to me and observing they were probably engaged in a discourse with him which might not suddenly interrupt hers with me she began it in these words If at your return with so much glory I did not come to congratulate it with you I may truly say you are the cause thereof for when I saw the bloody rate of your purchase a sudden horrour so invaded me that till now I could not free my self from so many of its effects as to be able to visit you and to let you know why I did not so sooner Madam I reply'd
hinder'd their assaulting so valiant an Enemy who by this time had so over-haras'd himself that Perolla who had more inclination to preserve than destroy so admirable a valour took occasion by hearing a division of Horse came trampling up the Street to offer him Quarter for he thought his Enemy was too gallant to resign his liberty to a single Sword having still his own in his hand to dispute it neither was he deceived in his conjecture for the other was so far from listening to a surrender or being terrified at that Troop which was coming towards him that he replyed Whosoever thou art that to give me a good opinion of thy civility assurest me thou hast an ill one of my courage know that I shall be more pleased to receive death than safety from my Enemies and have more cause to be joyed than troubled at this assistance which is near thee for I would not have Maharbal curst with so low a Fate as to fall by one Enemy which the arrival of so many will I hope prevent Oh gods said Perolla extreamly surpriz'd are you then the generous Maharbal I am what I told thee he reply'd but lest my being so ill-accompanied might induce thee to suspect the contrary or that by naming my self thou shouldst think I intend my preservation I will by a generous death hinder thee from justly assuming that thought but whilst those I elect for my Executioners are coming let me know I be seech thee who thou art that giv'st me so advantagious a Title Alas Sir said my generous friend my Name is much fitter to be conceal'd than known it may wound you more than my Sword has done and perhaps I shall be less injurious in declining than obeying your Commands but yet that you may learn 't was my ignorance made my offence and that I persevere not willingly in the former to continue the latter know I am called Perolla that same Perolla whom you so generously reveng'd on the false Oristes who would lose his life for you as he ows it to you and who now thinks your preserving him a misfortune since thereby he has lift up his prophane Arm against his generous Deliverer but that you may see I am unfortunate and not ungrateful Here Sir said Perolla presenting him his Sword this cannot make reparation for what it has acted but by becoming the Sword of Justice and by spilling some criminal Bloud for having shed so much innocent Mabarbal was as surpriz'd at this Gallantry as at the knowledge of him that performed it and being a Prince as great in Virtue as in Title and as loath to be vanquish'd in civility as fight having passionately embrac'd Perolla and as absolutely declin'd his Present told him If I had been kill'd as well as I am conquer'd by your Sword and that you had known who 't was you destroyed your injustice yet had been as great as your courage For my attempting to surprize a place for Hannibal where your Izadora is deserves that Fate But if you will credit to profession which my actions seem to contradict I do protest before those gods which punish perjury that when I could not obtain Hannibals permission to decline this attempt I put my self at the head of our first Troops that if we had been victorious I might have conveyed your Mistriss from his passion or revenge for both now seem so equally powerful that 't is difficult to know which of them is the most But it seems the gods would have Izadora derive her safety only from him from whom she does her felicity and I attest those Powers that I am more pleased with our defeat than I could have been at our victory and if I resent any trouble at it it is to be found in a posture wherein I must be wholly bound to your goodness not to be concluded your Enemy as much as I am your Prisoner which is a Fate I willingly embrace for I count it as little a dishonour to be vanquisht by Perolla as 't is a great one to be so by any other I should be Perolla hastily replyed because those Horse were so neer as much an Enemy to my contentment in believing you were so to me as to Virtue did I accept of my Protector for my Prisoner No generous Maharbal I assure you you are free and if you will be pleased to take off the Carthaginian and put on Roman Colours till I have disposed of this Troop you shall find I will turn my promises into action and that where I have any power it shall be still employed to evidence a gratitude which cannot be greater than what creates it The Salapians were by this so near that Maharbal wanted time to answer this civility and had scarce pulled off his own Scarfe and taken his friends before they were come up Perolla immediately commanded them to follow him out of the Brutian Gate to discover whether any of the Enemy were yet about the Walls which they were no sooner out of than he desired Maharbal in civilities proportionate to the favour to make use of that occasion to return to the Carthaginian Army Maharbal embrac'd the opportunity and him that gave it him to whom he said I am sorry generous Perolla that I must receive an obligation from you which I must not publish but be sure though I am silent I am not ungrateful and that I shall remember what I dare not speak of nor hope to requite That said Perolla which is the subject of your sorrow is of my contentment since it lets you see I ambition no other glory in serving you than that of doing so 'T was in as many expressions of this quality as the time would permit that Maharbal and Perolla took leave of one another the first immediately overtook the Carthaginian Army which he discovered by the help of the day that then began to dawn and the last seemed to have received satisfaction in what he never doubted returned into Salapia by the contrary Port to that through which he went out of it and then not staying to dress so much as some slight hurts he received in the Combat and from Maharbal he came to visit Blacius where having given him an exact account of all things but his own gallantry against his Enemies and to his friend he desired to receive his Commands if he had any to impose on him for he was determined immediately to return to the Roman Camp lest a longer stay might raise in him a suspition that he came for some other intent than the honor of his service This fresh evincement of affection wrought so powerfully on a heart which was already ballancing that it intirely dissipated that aversion which till then my Father had contracted for him and to publish a change which he thought too just to be conceal'd he told Perolla You have made your Virtue too well known to let your professions need a demonstration to prove their truth No generous Perolla
create your felicity by the ruine of his own He does not therefore come to conjure you not to give that blessing to the greatness of Pacorus's Title which you a thousand times have promis'd to the greatness of his Passion for he alwayes esteem'd it so unjust you should bestow the divine Altezeera on one who is almost as much her Subject by the advantage of her birth as by that of her beauty that he would have kill'd himself that he would have dy'd to prevent in her so criminal a mercy and if he hath liv'd in a contrary flattering hope 't was only because he esteem'd no sin so great as to disobey her Whil'st I was speaking a thousand things of this quality which too I utter'd in the pressingst Accents that ever the highest grief and flame was capable of Altezeera was so surpriz'd and astonish'd that had her affection remain'd as fix'd as her body then did I had been exempted from transcendent torments by resembling felicites nor did she awhile after I had ended speaking give me any Answer which might have resolv'd my doubts whether her silence proceeded from a cruel or obliging cuase for all she said when she broke hers was only Oh gods Is this Artavasdes that I see Yes Madam I reply'd 't is that Artavasdes who has given the divine Altezeera so absolutely his life that he durst not without her permission put a period to it though what she has of late acted has made him languish in such torments that the best way of making them cease next to that of the blessing of her esteem is to make them cease next to that of the blessing of her esteem is to make them cease by the blessing of death 'T is therefore Madam I present you this Poniard that if you will not be just to your vows and promises yet at least that you will be charitable to him to whom they were made and if I implore any thing before I die 't is only that I may do it with the consolation of receiving my ease from her from whom I have my sufferings and that she will declare I dy'd as innocent as unfortunate This fair Princess if your justice does now deny me your pity cannot long for my languishings will evince death is the lesser ill Neither Madam do I implore it on any score but yours for my sufferings proportionating my loss will make such deep impressions in you that your joyes in your intended Nuptials will receive a resembling disturbance at least if you have not as absolutely banish'd Compassion from your heart as Love thereupon kissing the hilts of the Poniard I offer'd that part of it to her and presenting her my breast I implor'd her to make what had been the Scene of her highest Empire now that of a proportionate pity But alas she declin'd making use of that Weapon to wound me with a more curel one I mean her words which accompany'd with an inflam'd look told me Traytor Artanasdes though thy Crimes merit I should become thy Executioner as well as thy Judge yet I decline being the former to make them appear the greater and if as thou say'st thou dost esteem no sin higher than to disobey me I command thee evince the truth of that profession by never coming again into my sight Then rising up hastily she went out of the Chamber by the same door she came into it and though her remove was very sudden and that my amazement was as great yet I cry'd out Stay Altezeera though Altvasdes know himself innocent yet because you do not think him so behold how he will punish not his guilt but his misfortune Then running to that Poniard she had flung away I took it up and in the horror and despair of my condition I had sheath'd it in my heart if Evaxes who listen'd at a back-door had not hasâ—ily come in and snatching it out of my hand prevented it Though it be a transcendent wrong when one is in proportion at misery to take away the cure of it yet my rage not having so absolutely blinded me but that knowing what was in its own nature an offence was intended for a charity I only told Evaxes having first furiously look'd on him 't is in vain Evaxes 't is in vain you think to keep mefrom death by having only took from me one means of acting it when the wayes which lead unto the Grave cannot be more than the causes which invite me to it Then turning from him and observing Altezeera was gone I ran precipitately after her but alas she had lock'd the door upon me and thereby I found she had not only excluded me from the hopes of possessing her but from those of clearing an imaginary guilt to which she implicitely ascrib'd that fatal deprivation In the rage of so strange an usage I was a thousand times about to have forc'd it open had not Evaxes hinder'd me by representing that if Altezeera had not apprehended my vindication she would neither have then deny'd listning to it nor debar'd me the means of discovering how passionate I was to evince it That since her Actions so evidently demonstrated that Truth I ought to impute her objecting Crimes to my charge but as a cloud for her own and consider that to be her inconstancy which she disguis'd under the name of her resentments That since she was of so volatile a disposition 't was better I had made that discovery in the condition I was yet in than in that which Pacorus was so near embracing since I might consider that as my felicity which he could not learn but as his torment That it was still an Argument she loved me when she declin'd imposing those miseries on me my desires ambition'd to confer them on another whose subsequent troubles I should pleasingly disclose those I had so happily avoided These reasons would have appear'd so to any but me and would too so to me had I but listen'd to them which then I did not for all the while he was speaking I was so too sometimes resolving to go and punish Artabazus for having been so far from hindring his Sisters inconstancy that he sollicited and provoked it but then the reflection on the greatness of the Sin hinder'd me from acting it especially too when that reflection was fortify'd by that on his quality which made it a greater injustice not to act for the safety of his Subjects in general than to do it for any one of them in particular so that I had no just cause to be offended with him for having of two evils elected the least My fury not finding a fit object in him I began to contemplate Pacorus as one who was not only the cause of Altezeera's inconstancy but the continuer of it and whose destruction would both revenge me on him and her But then the reflection on the occasion of his Sin appear'd a sufficient Apology for it and knowing how impossible 't was to see and
Pacorus's preservation with earnestness but my success would have been proportionate to my desire besides should she never know I was consenting to his death 't were enough perpetually to banish me from her that I did Ventidius was about to answer me when Septimus and a great many Officers came into my Tent to visit me and to give him an advice of such importance as necessitated him awhile to leave me alone which I no sooner was than I began to dispute with my self on my admirable and strange fate and to elect some course upon so emergent an occasion at length the gods made me pitch upon one which at Ventidius's return I resolv'd to communicate to him in the expectance whereof I sent for one of my Physitians and Chirurgions who waited on Pacorus to learn how he did they told me that as yet he had not recover'd his senses perfectly nor spoke but they durst undertake his cure if I were concern'd in it Yes I reply'd I am so infinitely and enjoyn you as you value me to have a care of him and that you will not only keep from his knowledge that 't was I which he fought against but my being in the Roman Army both which you may imagine are of no small importance to me since I commend them to you asmuch as his cure or my own This they not only promis'd but undertook to perform which they might the more easily because he was only waited on by my Servants An hour after Ventidius return'd to my Tent where he told me the occasion which drew him from it was an Advertisement brought him that Labienus who was left for dead amongst many thousands that were so was by the care of one of his servants the foregoing night brought to a Countrey-house not far off where beyond all expectation they found him give some symptomes of Life which the diligent Servant to improve went to a Village not far off to fetch a Chirurgion to send advice to the Parthian Army of this rare accident and to let them know how dangerous a place their General was in that they might suddainly remove him from it one of my Spies by good fortune was then in this Village and so industriously play'd his part that he got perfect information of this Truth which then he came to discover to me and which occasion'd me to send a party of Horse to seize upon Labienus and bring him hither they are just now return'd but without him for an hour before 2000 Parthian Horse had carry'd him away in a Litter Ventidius having made me this little Relation began afresh to assault me about Pacorus but when he found my resolution if not my reason was unconquerable he told me since I was so absolutely fix'd upon my prejudice he would afford me his assistance in it were it only to convince me he would not deny it me in anything and that what he had mention'd concerning his own danger was purely to invite me upon his score to yield to what was to prevent mine since I declin'd it upon my own that therefore he was determin'd to send an express to Rome to let the Senate know his victory and the taking of Pacorus whose liberty he would represent as his own opinion would sooner settle the Eastern World than his death since his being of a generous disposition an obligation that was so would invite him to be a friend to Rome which would be a more virtuous Conquest over the Parthians than they had over Crassus whereas his death by rendring the Parthians desperate will render the War so too which otherwise might be concluded without hazard and with glory I will continu'd Ventidius so fill my Letters not only to the Triumvirate and Senate with inducements to Mercy but also all those I shall send to my particular Friends that I hope they will produce what you desire at least if they do not I will be advertiz'd of it by a Post who shall arrive before my Express that if Pacorus's death be commanded before I receive that order I will by letting him escape render it impossible to be executed this course said Ventidius I elect because perhaps I may have no cause to break my instructions and if I have the doing it may prove a greater obligation to Artavasdes besides Pacorus's wounds cannot possibly be cur'd before an Express do goe and return from Rome neither will it be amiss we learn what countenance Altezeera put upon the news of his death or imprisonment This generous assurance made me embrace the maker of it and then I told him since his departure I had given strict Order Pacorus should be kept in a perfect ignorance either of my having been his Enemy or of my being in the Roman Army which I had done in expectation that some advantagious expedient might be found out for me if he gave the Parthian his liberty who I intended to visit in excellent disguise thorough which if Pacorus did not discover me I might be satisfy'd Altezeera could not and having made him know 't was from me he deriv'd his liberty and life I would return into Parthia with him where I made no doubt to learn the cause of my disgrace But said Ventidius suppose Pacorus should know you and yet not seem to do it till he came where he has a power to ruine you and what good too can it do you to learn the cause of your disgrace when it lies not in the Princesses power to redress it If Pacorus discovers me said I which I will almost render an impossibility I cannot yet suspect but what I do for him will confine him from doing any thing against me and to learn the cause of my disgrace will at least silence the torment of my suspension and restore me to Altezeera's good opinion which by her marriage is the highest felicity I can now aspire unto besides who knows what accidents may happen which being upon the place may improve and I must tell you I begin to flatter my self with a belief that the gods are weary of persecuting me since by this new accident they give me some signes of it I will continu'd Artavasdes pass over the particulars of our discourses to tell you the results which were That Ventidius yielded up his Reasons to my desires and assur'd me if he had no answer from Rome by the time Pacorus was able to make use of his liberty he should notwithstanding be restored to it Ventidius immediately after withdrew himself to make his dispatch to the Senate and to let Udozia know of that success which he deplor'd since thereby I was disabl'd from giving her an account of it Whilst we were in expectation of Pacorus's and my recovery the Roman Army Camp'd upon the same place in which it had been so victorious for I could not perswade Ventidius to prosecute his Victory by any hazard of my Life which he thought would run no small one by my removing with the Army or
though he perswaded me by many motives to defer it till the morning yet my impatience was more prevalent with him than his reasons were with me As soon as he had brought Lindadory to me and that she was set on the Bed-side I took her by the hand and having prest it between mine I look'd upon her stedfastly and with a deep sigh askt her Do you love me sister Is the poor Artabanes's life of any concernment to you to which she answer'd If I thought Brother you askt this question as doubting it my trouble would be as great as my affection Dear sister I reply'd this proceeds not from my doubt but to hear my joy repeated for the state I am now in is so sad that I am forc'd to summon all my felicities to keep me from despair the cause of it is that I am in Love and the object of mine is Parthenissa who to see and not to have a Passion for were as high a miracle as is her Beauty and though she prove cruel yet her hatred could not be a torment greater than my folly should I for that decline adoring her Thus you see clearly your Artabanes's condition and now do not so much wrong it as to think I make it worse than it is for if I could it would not be so great a torment I will not so much abuse your patience said Artabanes to Callimachus as to relate every particular circumstance of this Story it shall suffice I tell you Lindadory who lov'd me perfectly and knew my disposition so did not oppose that which was my desire especially being grounded as she confest on so much reason and justice and therefore we then resolv'd that she should be my Agent and Confident and that the next day she should visit Parthenissa as sometimes she us'd to do and carry a Letter to her which I then writ but with much difficulty both in respect of the pain my wounds gave me and procuring Lindadorys and Simanders permission who were apprehensive that sitting up though in my bed would prove prejudicial to me but having vow'd to them not to do it would prove much more so I had the liberty to write these words ARTABANES to the Princess PARTHENISSA IF by the loss of the greatest part of my Blood I have discover'd a Passion which offends the fair Parthenissa I am ready to shed the residue of it to appease her but before I obey a Sentence I cannot more apprehend than I will readily execute I must beg her to believe that the wounds I have received from her Beauty are far more dangerous than those I have received for it 'T is Madam at the last extremity that I make my pen assure you of a Truth which my fainting forc'd me to disclose and which I confess should rather be employ'd to implore your Pardon than repeat my Crime But I am necessitated to extremes and by so resolute a confession induce you to Pardon a Passion whose greatness you cannot doubt since I cannot conceal it or else condemn the Possessor of it if you chuse to put your Iustice in practice I am resolv'd to become its executioner by declining a recovery of these wounds Ambixules has given me that the World may believe I dyed for the Fair Parthenissa and not by her But if she elect to make use of her mercy she will preserve a flame which has no fault but the ambition of aspiring so high The success which my sister assured me of whether to create my belief or to acquaint me with hers made me after her departure take some rest though mine was often interrupted through different dreams but no sooner the day appear'd which I did so long for than I did as much so that it had been ended I could never imagine till then that impatience was so great a deluder for mine forc'd me to think it the longest day that ever I had seen though it were but the first of the spring but the occasion which made it seem so tedious was that at night Lindadory had promised to bring my definitive Sentence At last the so much desired hour arrived and immediately after my sister who was no soner come into my Chamber than I endeavoured to learn in her countenance her success But Sillaces who could not contribute to his health by seeing the condition of mine came then to give me a visit whose company before was ever as pleasing as at that instant it was the contrary Love having so much of meanness in it as to make us prefer our own interest before our friends But lest that impatience I was then in should yet seem to transport me I must tell you something of the generous Sillaces who has been so great an Actor in the ensuing Story He is Prince of Tabienv and of an Extraction as famous for Antiquity as Virtue If Fortune had been as prodigal to him as Nature he had long since been possessor of Lindadory and enjoyed a perfect happiness But his chiefest Riches consisting in that which the Old think to be onely the Ornament though it be in effect the Essential part of Men and my Father who esteemed a virtuous person without Riches fitter for his Acquaintance than Alliance deny'd Sillaces my Sister His Passion for Lindadory was till then unknown to me and that which gave me the first suspition of it was the alteration I perceiv'd in both their countenances that night when he so unhappily came in to disturb us I believe he easily found by our silence that his company was not so pleasing as it us'd to be which he since told me he attributed to some light I had discover'd of his Passion not that he fear'd he would oppose it but that I was offended to learn it of any but himself As soon as he had taken up this opinion he concluded himself fit company for nothing but his thoughts and therefore immediately withdrew to entertain them leaving me at liberty to do the same with Lindadory To whom I abruptly said with all the impatiencies of Love Fear and Hope Dear Sister What must your Artabanes expect Have you receiv'd any return which may build my hope on Justice If you have not I should be as cruel to my self as Parthenissa is to me if I endeavoured to preserve a life she is so intent to destroy But if you bring me comforts you will raise joy unto a height it never until now attain'd unto Brother she reply'd I find my waiting on Parthenissa that her reserv'dness is proportionate to all her other perfections and consequently the procuring so much as I have done assures me if all your Felicity consists in the obtaining her Favour you are not far from your desires This I speak to stay your longing for now I must tell you I never till your interest ingag'd me so narrowly obser'vd your Mistris but in this short while I have discover'd so many fresh Graces in her and those shine so clearly that not
so near losing my life it had almost cost her her own for she fell into divers fits of swounding and the last was of so long a duration that Symander who stood by imagin'd she had led me the way to death but when she was recover'd from her seeming one she begg'd me with a throng of sighs and tears not to cast my self away out of an imagination I was miserable when really I was otherwise which if I would give her a little time to evince I should be assur'd it from Parthenissa Ah! sister I reply'd if you could perform what you say my recovery would be as certain and speedy as my death will be without it Dear Brother said Lindadory give me but one days respite and if I do not satisfie my engagement inflict on me what punishment you please and I will willingly endure it All the penance I reply'd which I will impose on you if you prevail not is That you will give me leave to die for then you cannot more oppose my doing so then my condition will require it While we were in this discourse one of my sisters servants came and acquainted her that Parthenissa was come to give her a visit Lindadory turning towards me told me softly receive this as an earnest from the gods of their future blessing who have doubtless sent her hither purposely to contract the time of your suspension Immediately after she went to her Chamber where Parthenissa was who perceiving by my sisters eyes as well as countenance that some grief sat upon her heart she told her Madam the place from whence you now came and the effect of some great sorrow which is too visible in your face makes me apprehend something of danger in your brother Would it might please the gods reply'd Lindadory that you would as soon apply the remedy to my grief as you have found out the occasion of it which if you will be but resembling to your power you may perform as easily as desire for my brothers danger is the cause of that effect you seem somewhat concerned in for though those wounds Ambixules gave him are very dangerous yet those you have given him are much more so and creates his and my greatest apprehension Therefore Madam consider the ruinous estate he 's in without the felicity of your Favour and receive this as a certain truth that unless you assure him of it now it will be too late to do it hereafter Give I beseech you to my prayers and his condition what I am confident you would hereafter to his services if he could live to pay you them and then gratitude will act in him what hope would Lidadory's reason and the sad extremity I was in furnish'd her with so many arguments both to move Parthenissa's judgment and pity that at last with much difficulty she acknowledg'd never to have had a higher esteem for any than for me and her inclinations wereof such a quality that by my services and fidelity I might in time procure no unfruitful return of them This declaration was as pleasing to Lindadory as my recovery for indeed it was in effect the same thing she begg'd her therefore to give me a visit and assure me of what she had then said Parthenissa would have left that employment to Lindadory but she excus'd herself by alledging it would be too good news to be credited from any but herself adding further that she might perform a visit of that high concernment with so much secrecy that none could ever discover it there being a back-stairs which went out of her Chamber into mine where no company then was least it might interrupt my rest and I am the more pressing in it continu'd Lindadory not onely as it will be the efficient cause of his preservation but that seeing him in the forlorn condition he is in you may never hereafter quarrel with your modesty for condescending to that now which if any longer delay'd would prove ineffectual Then without so much as seeming to suspect a refusal she took her by the hand and having led her into my Chamber she opened the Courtain and told me Brother I here present you with the rarest Physitian in all Asia whose skill I believe your very sight will convince you of I could not fancy that this rare Physitian was Parthenissa and knowing all others disability in my sickness I did not so much as turn my eyes that way but being somewhat offended that she who knew so well the nature of my disease should be so mistaken in the means of my cure I reply'd Sister I perceive that Parthenissa has rejected your Prayers and that you have as a last Essay brought this Physitian to practice on me as on a lost Patient but 't is in vain I that feel the power of her Beauty will never so much wrong the effects of it as to believe any can cure my wounds but she that made them let me therefore desire you to implore this last favor from her that before I die she would look upon the miserable Artabanes and give me leave once again to see that Beauty the cruel but fair cause of my Martyrdome which I have so much reason to hate and yet have more not to do it that she may hear how zealous I 'll pray for the preservation of my murderer and that she may live in joyes as great as she has the power to confer on me These sad words had a powerfull influence on Lindadory who fancying it a sin to jest so cruelly begg'd me to turn about with such earnestness that at last I did but great gods How was I surpriz'd My amazment was such that joy had lik'd to have perform'd what grief but begun Lindadory's raillery and this surprize was of very much use to Parthenissa who was so confus'd when she consider'd the action she had undertaken that though the time of her silence was long yet as she told me often since she was as long before she was able to speak to me but perceiving I was at least in an equal perplexity that did somewhat assure her and then approaching to my Beds-side she told me I am come to know Artabanes whether the power you said I had over you was a Civility or a Truth but I too visibly perceive it is onely the first or else your recovery before now had assur'd me the contrary Ah! Madam said I reproach me not the crime you your self make me commit for 't was not your commands alone could make me live but something added to them which I thought fitter and easier for you to imagine than I to name but your not taking notice of it alass did to too much and being depriv'd of my hopes I resolv'd under an appearance of cruelty to be merciful unto my self and by yielding to one death to free my self from a thousand Neither Madam can I think you will be offended at that Election since by disobeying you once I render my self for ever
over his Men I called out to him T is I Tuminius that am come to take from thee Altezeera if thy valour fly as high as thy desires thou shouldst by killing the Ravisher of them manifest to that fair Princess thou hast a resolution able to overcome all obstacles that dare oppose it Tuminius who wanted not courage answer'd me If there needs but the killing of thee to assure her that Truth she shall not long doubt it and would to the gods I could as easily vanquish her disdain as all my other Enemies He had no sooner done speaking than he made himself a lane through the Throng and having separated my self from my companions commanded them to let us alone till Death or Victory decided the quarrel Tuminius having order'd his Men the like we began to fight but with so much earnestness as if the Conqueror had expected Altezeera for his reward I must confess I was so asham'd that one guilty Man in the presence of my Princess and for her safety too should dispute so long the Victory that I prest him so vigorously and so unfortunately for him that my Sword at last having found the defect of his Armour pierc'd him through and through at which thrust he fell and with that stream which issu'd from his wound he breath'd out his life All my friends made a great shout at my success and fell so briskly on Tuminius Soldiers that by their fury and by the loss of their Commander we had a Victory so cheap that it hardly deserved that name The Field being wholly ours I lighted off my Horse and with an infinite Humility went to Altezeera and told her Madam The gods of whom you are so perfect a Copy have sent me hither to serve you against your Enemies and have given you an entire Victory lest their Justice or Power by your loss or want of revenge might have been call'd in question I must confess said she the actions I have seen you do for my deliverance assure me 't is more than a humane Power which has effected it but the gods whose delight is to relieve the innocent made me not despair of their help though the means till your arrival was unseen But Sir shall I desire you to add two favours unto this I have already receiv'd that I may know to whom I owe the preservation of my life and perhaps my Honour and that if there be any hopes of rescuing my Brother you would imploy your Sword in so just a quarrel Madam I reply'd my Name has been so little beholding to my Actions that by them it is not considerable but for the King I have already had the happiness to serve him and if I be not mistaken that Troop which you see marching this way attends him by my Orders How said Altezeera does Artabazus as well as I owe his safety to your Sword sure then your Name cannot be so unconsiderable as you would make me believe it is or if it has been it is so no longer but I am consident you will not discover it to hinder us from being ungrateful which unavoidably we must be if once we learn to whom we are Indebted Madam I reply'd to take you out of that Error I will acquaint you who I am that you may know I have onely hazarded a Life in your service which I am resolv'd to spend in the same employment then pulling off my Helmet she no sooner saw my Face but she cry'd out 't is Artavasdes and there wanted nothing to make my Joy as perfect as my Safety but to owe the latter to his Gallantry Just as I was going to reply the King who had learn'd by some of my Troop who I was and by one of those who escaped Tuminius sword what I had done came running to me and having embraced me a thousand times told me I see Artavasdes that Virtue is born with us not infused into us by Education otherwise you could not be possessor of so great a quantity in so tender an age Sir said I your goodness being too great makes you place a resembling value upon my services and I should be guilty of an equal presumption if I did not attribute your expressions to any thing sooner than your Justice But Sir let not the joy of your safety hinder us from receiving the benefit of it nor me from bringing this Gentleman to kiss your hands who has washt away his criminal intentions by his gallant performance Thereupon I presented Evaxes to the King who acquainted him with all Celindus and Tygranes's designes and that we had taken Palisdes who being shew'd to the King discover'd as much guilt in his Face as he had in his Heart Artabazus commanded he should be safely kept and ratified all I had promis'd to Evaxes then learning that Celindus had yet three hundred Horse betwixt us and the Town we thought it not fit to lose any time and therefore having by Artabazus command and her permission taken the fair Altezeera behind me and order'd our Men we began to retire towards Artaxata when our Scouts came immediately and brought us word that Celindus with above 400 Horse for fear multiplies was marching directly towards us and was but six Furlongs off As soon as I heard it I turn'd about to the Princess and told her Madam I am in a greater conflict with my self than I can have with the Enemy whether I should commit you to the charge of some Gentleman swiftly Hors'd and endeavor to secure your Retreat or else by dying at your Feet take the opportunity to acquaint you with that which I shall not have the confidence to do whilst I am sure to out-live the discovery To which she answer'd I have so good an opinion of Artavasdes that I shall esteem my self as safe under his Sword as in Artaxata and I cannot conceive that his Heart is capable of any thing which his words dare not reveal Madam I reply'd I must confess I am guilty of a crime but the cause of it is so Glorious that if it were not committed against you I should not call any effect that proceeded from it by such a name But Madam the Enemy approaches and I must put you in some place of safety that I may by the hazarding of my life secure yours and would to the gods the loss of mine could give you as perfect a security as the ending of it in your service would give me a satisfaction The King by this time was come so near us that I could not receive any answer from my Princess and askt me what order I would settle for the receiving of so bold a Guest for he was determin'd to derive his preservation wholly from my Sword I answer'd so large a Favor with a resembling humility and having conjur'd Nearchus to have a care of the Princess I lighted from my Horse took down Altezeera and set her up behind him then kissing her hand I told her softly Madam
were so great that whereas in other affairs the ignorance of things hinders us from describing them here the knowledge of them produc'd the same effect In brief our Passions so increast that we thought all conversation but our own was as troublesome as that was pleasing and therefore studied how to be private without discovering that Flame which we at least as much endeavor'd to preserve so till a fit opportunity were offer'd to move Artabazus to unite our hearts by an Hymenaeal tye as firmly as they were already join'd by sympathy and inclination One morning whilst the Sun was yet but rising I waited upon my Princess into a Garden of Pleasure contiguous to the Palace and adorn'd with all that Nature and Art was capable of there the Company separating themselves to take that divertisement which was most agreeable to their fancies Altezeera and I by degres left those that waited on us and entring to an earnest discourse we engag'd our selves unawares into a little Wilderness in the center whereof was a spring whose water was receiv'd into a Cistern of Alabaster which was held by a statue of a Nymph cut in white Marble There we might perceive a Gentleman whose postures as well as actions exprest his troubles and though we could not discover his face yet we might his tears running down it into the Cistern and in such abundance as if the Fountain and his eies strove which should most load the fair Nymphs Arms. Such an unexpected accident had made us desire to learn the cause of it and fetching a small compass by the help of some Orange Trees we came so near that without being seen we might see him and hear him and as his mind was exceedingly agitated so we were not long in expectation till we heard him fetch a deep sigh and then casting up his eyes to Heaven cry'd out Miserable Amidor for 't was he indeed shall not the Divinity which dwells upon her face thy friendship nor his engagements suppress thy Passion Shall the highest Beauty make thee commit a resembling Crime O no rather than interrupt so pure a Love deprive thy self of Life and by a gloririous Death settle their quiet and confer on thy self thine own Then he paus'd awhile and suddenly striking his hand upon his breast he sigh'd and said O it cannot be her eyes inspire no Flames which reason can extinguish he knows their power is not to be resisted and being instructed with the cause if he be reasonable he cannot blame the effect and if he be not he is not worthy of thy friendship but alas thou talkest as if he were the onely obstacle when thy own defects will perhaps more fight against thee than thy fidelity unto thy friend or thy Mistresses to him Then weeping awhile he continu'd What shall the apprehension of ill make thee as miserable as the real ill Fie Amidor can a courage capable of loving her be capable of fear No 't is not in thy nature nor thy custom to apprehend but this timerousness is the effect of thy treachery to thy friend and since the gods so punish the thoughts of wickedness how much more will they the wickedness it self Cast away then so criminal a Passion or if that be impossible at least by concealing of it so torment thy self that if before or after thy death they discover it they may rather pity than condemn thee Having so said he borrow'd some of that water he had given the Nymph and having washt his eyes that they might not betray what he resolv'd to keep secret he went away but not in a greater trouble than he left Altezeera and I in for we found by his discourse that the object of his Love was to the object of his friends and that his friendship and affection were the causes of so noble and sad a conflict But we could not sufficiently admire his resolution which we esteem'd so generous that we assur'd our selves a reward equal to his virtue would crown it and being both much concern'd in him we determin'd by a curious inspection into all his actions to discover who they were that caus'd his disorder but if that course did not succeed then by acquainting him with what we knew engage him to tell us what we were ignorant of that we might employ our selves the better to serve him In this design we return'd to the Palace where we found that many of the Inhabitants of Artaxata had petition'd to Artabazus to commiserate their condition since by their wants they were reduc'd to such misery that if by some means a Peace were not concluded with Celindus or the Siege rais'd they must yield to him rather than to Famine The perusal of this Paper much perplext the King as well from the consideration of his Subjects wants as the knowledge of their impudence and the fear of their treachery but before he made them any return he consulted with those about him who were all except Crasolis of opinion that a mild answer should be given them and by kind usage and assurances of a speedy remedy to all their grievances endeavor to keep them within the limits of their duty But Crasolis whom we too apparently suspected was a friend to Celindus represented that under the formal humility of a Petition there might be treachery conceal'd that the not suppressing of such insolent demands in their very birth would authorize their growth that lenity insuch a case would appear fear and that would introduce a ruine That if on the other side a vigorous remedy were apply'd it would not onely extinguish the first sedition but deter the people from a second and therefore he was of opinion that some of the chiefest contrivers of the Petition should be instantly executed in the Court of the Palace Thus Crasolis would have rais'd the Kings Enemies within the Walls as well as without that Celindus might make use of the disorder yet he would have that pass for his courage and honesty which indeed was his treachery But the moderate advice took place and the people upon the Kings engagement of soon remedying their miseries return'd with blessings for him whose ruine was design'd by Crasolis in their petitioning The night which succeeded this day was not half spent when the advancing of Celindus's Army to Storm Artaxata the second time gave us a hot alarum but being advertis'd of his design he found us prepar'd to oppose it Perhaps he thought that darkness would be more favourable to his Arms than light that his Men not seeing the danger would go more resolutely on it or that the enterprize would be more formidable unto us when obscurity the ingenderer of confusion was join'd to the horror of an Assault But my dear Artabanes I will not so much trespass on your Civility as to particularize all the accidents which happen'd in that bloody Night it shall suffice to tell you that after the Town was won and lost three times we at last remained the
Loyalty without being forced unto it And least any disorder might happen in the Army by my absence I was going thither when alas I met my poor Brother mortally wounded carrying by to his Lodging so sad an object soon clouded all my joy and made me return with him to know what I might expect of his fate The ablest Chirurgeons being sent for searched his wounds and found they were incurable for their Art But the generous Amidor perceiving by their looks our fears seem'd to be as full of satisfaction as we were really the contrary and having conjur'd the Chirugeons to deal clearly with him whether there were any likelyhood of recovery he receiv'd from them a sad Negative Then turning towards Lindesia who abandon'd her self to an excessive Grief he begg'd her not to be more afflicted for his death than he was for to dye That it being a Tribute humane nature was to pay he was happy that it was in so good and glorious a Cause Then desiring all those that were in the room to leave it except Altezeera who was come to visit him and I he addrest himself to us with an accent capable to inspire pity into a fury and told us Since my own weakness as well as the Chirurgeons judgement assure me I must dye I have begg'd this opportunity to reveal a secret to you both which no torment should have made me disclose and which I am confident my Actions never did Know then to silence your sorrow that these mortal wounds are the effects of my desire and not my ill fortune for it was necessary for your quiet as well as mine that I should receive them since I could not resist the inevitable charms of Altezeera's Beauty start not Artavasdes for by that time I have finisht my discourse you shall have more cause to pity than condemn me the highest Powers shall bear me witness how much I did resist this criminal passion how it forc't not found an admittance and when 't was gotten in how I purchast its silence by my torments yet at last finding it would be conqueror I resolv'd to end my pain by death which I sought so many several ways that it must have been unjust had I not found it out You weep fair Princess is it for sorrow that by dying I shall be so soon freed from those sufferings my Crime deserves the compassionate Altezeera who all this while did melt away in Tears perceiving he was silent in expectation of her Answer told him alas Amidor what actions have I ever committed that you should judge me guilty of so high a cruelty 'T were more charitable as well as just to attribute these demonstrations of my grief unto my pity for your condition which so abundantly deserves it Why then Madam reply'd Amidor you can pity me after the knowledge of my fault Great gods to what misery do you reduce me thus to convert that which should be my greatest joy into my greatest torment and thereby render any satisfaction at my death as impossible as I do ill deserve it since not to receive her pardon makes my death as full of horrors as the cause of it is of Beauties and to obtain it makes my crime as great as the perfection against which I have committed it Ah Madam dry up those precious drops or else shed them to wash away my guilt for certainly they are powerful enough to perform whatsoever you employ them for And you my dear Brother addressing himself to me can you have so much goodness to forgive your Rival when 't was not in his power to avoid that fatal Name Look upon those bright Eyes which certainly will at the same time that they acquaint you with my fault acquaint you with the necessity of it and obtain your pardon for it You that know so well their influence must withal rather pity than condemn my submission to it But I find death seizing on me farewel happy Lovers may Joyes such as Raptures never reacht wait on your Flames may every thing contribute to make you as contented as I shall dye having obtained your forgiveness which I beg with Tears and if they find you inexorable I will with Bloud Alas Amidor I cry'd out would it were as absolutely in my Power to recover as 't is in my Will to forgive thee Ah said Amidor talk not of recovery I would rather be my own Executioner than by living interrupt so pure a Passion once again farewel my summons is so short I shall have onely time to beg you never to think upon Amidor cloath'd in his ambitious desires of possessing so Divine a Beauty nor with his unavoidable infidelity to his Friend and Brother But when you consider him let it be in his pennance for his crimes and let that voluntary death he has so resolutely expos'd himself unto obtain that mercy for him which he implores with his last breath and so indeed it was for having with one hand taken the Princesses and kist it and with the other embrac'd me his fair Soul fled away and left its noble dwelling in our Arms. Who can repeat the sad words so great a loss extorted from us which really we found of such a quality that we despair'd to find a cure even from time The King ' and all those that were not enemies to vertue did manifest a resembling sorrow for his Youth was as promising as it was unfortunate Here said Artabanes to Callimachus Artavasdes could not resfrain shedding some Tears and perceiving I took notice of it he begg'd my Pardon for so just an effeminacy and then hasten'd to a conclusion in these words Phanasder who did now without reserve embrace the Kings interest was so prevalent with the revolted Towns that Armauria Artemita and Tygranocerta it self came upon their knees and yielded up their Keys and Lives to the Kings Mercy and in a word all the upper Armenia from Niphates did the like But in the lower Armenia Zenaxtus a Brother of Celindus's kept entire the Provinces of Aerethica and Horzen and the Towns of Satala and Nicapolis who for all Artabazus threatenings and promises would not lay down Arms but was preparing a vast Army to revenge his Brothers death and to act his Brothers ambition which to effect he sent to Arsaces to invade the higher Armenia and assur'd him of a considerable Party appearing for him as soon as he should pass the River Tygris and offer'd him all the Upper Armenia for his share so that he might have the Lower for his own which nevertheless he would do homage for You know my dear friend that this overture was so listened unto by your King that instantly he rais'd that great Army which defeated ours more by our valour than by those that follow'd you Artabazus had some intelligence of Arsaces intentions and to prevent them thought fit to raise an Army and carry the War into your Countrey to keep his own quiet at least the Upper part of Armenia
the Rampire I had the honour to be the nearest to him in this action where he did so many noble exploits that Fortune must have been as unjust as they say she is unconstant had she refus'd him this Victory No sooner had our Army perceiv'd how easy a passage my Prince had made than above 6000 of them enter'd by that way and without shedding any more Bloud rendred themselves absolute Masters of the City but whilst Spartacus was taking order to preserve the Salapians as much as in such an occasion was possible and that he had dispers'd many of his Officers and I with them to do the like as I was going through one of the fairest streets I saw a great confluence of Soldiers about a House whose Structure sufficently spoke the magnificence of the owner and being come thither I inquir'd what was the cause of it one of the Officers soon inform'd me that a company of young Gentlemen onely considerable for their resolutions had made so generous a defence and so slighted all Quarter that they were necessitated to make use of numbers to suppress them and that now at last they had kill'd all the Defendants but one who having gain'd a narrow Stair-case was yet making of it good with so much courage that he deplor'd the destroying as much as the effects of it and that he understood this generous man's name was Perolla You may easily imagine the hearing of that name gave me an unexpressible desire to save the Master of it and having conjur'd the Officer to run and acquaint Spartacus with it I thrust my self into the croud and by many actions which shew'd my concernment and haste commanded them in Spartacus's name to forbear any further attempt against so generous an Enemy This Order found a ready obedience as well out of the knowledge they had of the affection my dear Master honor'd me with as out of a desire to preserve Perolla who they now fought against rather to shew that an Army might kill him than out of any design they had to doe so At last by the help of our Officers I came to the place where the gallant Perolla stood who appear'd to me to be less weary with conquering than our Soldiers were with assaulting him and spight of that Bloud which endeavour'd to disfigure his Face I perceiv'd a Countenance so Spiritual and so Lovely together that I knew not which most to admire but my wonder was quickly rais'd to a higher pitch by the sight of a Lady who possest the several Beauties of shape stature complexion and features in so inaccessional a degree that an affection for her could not so properly be called Passion as Reason The contemplation of so many perfections had almost made me forget the design I was come for which fault I soon repair'd by addressing my self to the generous Perolla and telling him The great Spartacus Sir who cherishes Virtue whereever it is plac'd has sent me hither to preserve so great a possessor of it as you are for he believes your Gallantry is a stronger obligation on him to serve you than your imploying of it against him is to make him your Enemy Since reply'd Perolla that is your Generals Principle the fair Izadora here is a worthy object to employ that generosity on which I believe you cannot doubt when I assure you that her exterior parts are as far short of the Beauties of her Mind as the Passion I pay her is unworthy the Object for her sake I can beg though not for my own and will acknowledge you civility as great as your courages if you will promise me she shall receive an usage as proportionate to her merit as you can possibly pay her this engagement will be more obliging farr than my own safety and make that death which my sad fate now renders necessary as full of happiness as such a deprivation is capable of As I was about to answer him I was hindered by a great noise which turning about to discover the cause of I perceiv'd it was my Prince who with incredible haste was breaking through the Croud and came time enough to see the perfect Izadora fling her self at her Lovers feet and tell him Alas Perolla can you talk of happiness in death and yet think of leaving me behind you did you ever find any felicity in separation that you beg it even of your very Enemies or have you so low an opinion of my passion as to think I can survive you Ah Madam said Perolla interrupting and putting himself in her posture if you will lessen my trouble give me rather marks of your disdain than of your love since the vastness of that score now creates my sufferings which are so great they cannot be increast but by new additions of your favour Judge then if it be not time to dye when my highest blessing that of your Affection proves my torment Then reply'd Izadora my condition will as much require death as yours for 't is as impossible for me not to augment your sufferings whilst I live as 't is to survive you which since my sorrow will not permit let my Love anticipate the effects of it this will be more proportionate to my vows and cut off the tortures of a lingring life so Death the enemy to other passions may prove the friend of ours and conferr that union on us in the other life which our Fates and cruel Parents have deny'd us in this Izadora said Perolla flatter not my hopes with an union in the other World the gods which held me unworthy of you here will have much more cause to continue that belief when instead of your mortality they shall cloath you with the reward of Virtue alas then you will be fitter for their adoration than mine Can there be she reply'd a felicity in the other World for Izadora if she be divided from Perolla do not by such suggestions fright me into a hatred of Elizium which if what you say be true will lose its quality and fancy not the gods unjust onely to make us miserable no Perolla we have walkt too exactly in the paths of Virtue to fear Death and as an argument of this truth that minute which separates your Soul from the fair Mansion it now inhabits shall give mine freedom for to dye is a Blessing or a Curse if the first I will not be deny'd it too if the latter I hope 't will hinder your despair when you know I will involve my self in it This noble dispute had continu'd longer had I not told Perolla that Spartacus was come who indeed was so ravished with the Virtue of these Lovers that his admiration made many who knew him not suspect that his suspense proceeded from his being as absolutely vanquisht by the Eies of one of his Enemies as his Sword had been victorious over all the rest But Parthâ—nissa was too deeply fixt to be defac'd and her Beauty had got so absoluâ—e an Empire over
Artabanes Heart that since her inconstancy could not destroy it nothing else could have that power But the Lookers on who took his Affection to Vertue to be a Passion of another quality were not long in that error for Izadora who perceiv'd Perolla's great Heart could not make any desires to my Prince esteem'd it an action fitter for her Sex to undertake and addressing her self to him put him out of those raptures their gallantry onely had created by saying Generous Spartacus did not that Title assure me you will receive a greater contentment in giving Perolla his Life than he can resent by receiving it and that I furnish you with an occasion to oblige your self more than him I should now have been silent and joyfully participate in his Fate rather than be indebted for his preservation to a less noble Enemy but your Gallantry is such that the cause of his being conquer'd takes away all resentment from the Effect Izadora had continu'd speaking but that her gallant Lover interrupted her crying out Oh Madam Can you think Perolla will live after he has been so unworthy and miserable as to obtain your safety by his Prayers whilst he had a Sword to purchase it add not so much to my misfortunes as to make your Affection the cause of all those Torments I must hereafter suffer should I now live no Izadora my death shall shew that nothing but the desire of your safety could have induc'd me so long to survive my Honor. Finishing those words he had flung himself upon the point of his Sword had not my Prince guessing at what he meant ran to him and though it were time enough to hinder his fatal determination yet it could not prevent a slight wound which manifested his sad intention Izadora on the other side thinking Perolla had been his own Executioner resolv'd to bear him company and with a courage which disdain'd exclaiming against Fate drew out a Ponyard which she had conceal'd for some such desperate exigency and cry'd out this stroke Perolla shall prove more kind than you and give us that union you would so cruelly deprive me of then lifting that fatal weapon she had doubtless perform'd what she spoke but that by thrusting away her Hand I made that wound light upon her Arm which she intended for her Heart but having mist her aim she was going to double her stroke had not I forced the Ponyard from her Whilst I was thus imploy'd Spartacus obtain'd an easy conquest over Perolla who no sooner heard his fair Mistress cruel determination than the bare sound of her death banish'd all thoughts of his own and having perceiv'd the service I had render'd him he flung himself at her feet and told her I will live Madam since this wretched life is so dear unto you and on that score I shall cherish it as much as I should detest it upon any other Judge Izadora then how precious your life is to me since to continue it I can be content to live in infamy Live generous Perolla said my Prince and since the belief of your being vanquisht is the cause of your despair banish that groundless doubt for you are so far from that condition that you are the Conqueror your Vertue has made you invincible nor was it fit the fair Izadora should derive her safety from a less noble cause I renounce all right to her preservation and the wonders which your Sword has hitherto acted shall be increast by this addition of remaining victorious in a Triumphant Army Ah Sir reply'd Perolla whilst you endeavour to make me a Conqueror you are doubly so your civility acts now what your courage did before both which are so unresistable that when I consider who you are I shall excuse my self in my misfortune and since you attribute miracles to my Sword I will make it perform one which is to yield it self up Perolla had satisfy'd this ceremony had not Spartacus so absolutely declin'd it that all those which were present easily perceiv'd his denial proceeded as much from his justice as his civility Whilst these two great Persons were by a thousand embraces confirming that friendship which they vow'd to each other Perolla unfortunately espy'd some Bloud runing out of the fair Izadora's Arm alas how fatal was that object like to prove his passion made him act many extravagancies which nothing but Love could render legitimate but when he remember'd the cause of her wound how soon was that new created harmony dissolv'd and having again found that all his attempts against his life were fruitless he prostrated himself at his fair Mistresses feet and told her Must I then Madam must I theâ—theâ—see that precious Bloud shed for my sake and at the same time be render'd uncapable of emptying all my veins to bear it company and expiate my crime must you spill your Bloud to preserve my life whilst I make use onely of Prayers to preserve yours Ah Izadora be merciful and permit me by one stroke to end the miseries which these thoughts will still create Alas said Izadora has your rage so much blinded your Judgement as to think that what is the cause of this slight hurt if continu'd will prove its reparation rise rise Perolla and believe me if these few drops have either manifested my Passion or sav'd your Life they are too gloriously spilt to be deplor'd and if they create any resentments in you they should be of a contrary nature to those which now appear I must confess continued Simander that my memory does not contain all the particular passages of so rare an entertainment and therefore I will not so much wrong such virtuous persons as to cloath their conceptions and expressions in any other language than their own I will therefore in expectation of your pardon for so high an omission continue my discourse by acquainting you that after a friendship was contracted which was as perfect as the friends themselves were that Perolla's despair was absolutely conquer'd and that his and his Izadora's wounds were drest my Prince invited them to his Quarters out of that Massacre and deluge of Bloud which his new friend had made and though his many wounds render'd the least motion both dangerous and painful yet he thought the greatest torments would be in his separation from the fair Izadora and therefore having made his pain appear the less to make his happiness really the greater he assur'd my Prince that without any inconveniency he would wait upon her and him to those Lodgings he had assign'd her whither as they were going they might perceive some barbarous Soldiers driving before them two Gentlemen whose Age and Countenance merited a different usage though their past actions did not and I dare avow though their sufferings were great and that the manner in which they were inflicted was as sensible as the pain yet they did bear them with much joy for each of them by the knowledge of his own usage guessing at that of
and tone so compassionate and ravishing that no heart which had not been harder than cruelty it self could have resisted them But alas they were so far from producing any good effects that Blacius with a look that had all things of horrid in it told her are you then so desirous to displease me that to effect it you will become a friend to your Fathers enemy that you may become an enemy to him will you ruine my happiness to create Perolla's and will you shew me the way to be reveng'd on his cruel Family and then hinder me from acting it must that which deprives me of my revenge deprive me of my Daughter too must the cause why I do not punish my Enemy be as great a misfortune to me as that is which he avoids and to increase my trouble must your affection and duty to me which were my highest felicity be the occasion of my proportionate misery Ah Izadora he continu'd for I will no longer call you Daughter will you then bestow your self upon this Perolla when even now he declar'd that to be deny'd you was just do you love injustice so well that in one action you will be unjust to Blacius and to his Enemies and will you make such haste to pay a debt that is not due by declining one that is Go barbarous Maid unworthy of my Care as well as Bloud I will inflict on thee no greater punishment than the granting thy desires for when thy reason or his embraces has banisht or quencht thy impious flame thou wilt know and deplore thy sin in preferring a Lover before a Father Go then but for ever and mayst thou never know what happiness is but avoid it Finishing these words he went out of the Chamber and left us in a perplexity as great as his disorders But before I could speak to the fair cause of them he return'd again and thus continu'd his discourse to his excellent Daughter No no I have thought better on 't for to cross a desire though it be an ill one is a revenge and 't is upon that score you shall never see Perolla more for whom if you continue your passion you shall find from my justice in separating you as severe an affliction as I can resent from your want of Duty by your union Do not think to divest me from this determination for all your Tears and Prayers will be as fruitless for your Lover as mine to you were against him Then addressing himself to me he said And thou cruel stranger which by saving my life hast made it my torment and for my unfortunate care in bringing thee here to heal thy wounds hast created as much misery in my Family as there had been joy in thine had thy Father murthered me remember as soon as my Chirurgeons tell thee thou art fit to travel that thou quit my House for if thou stayest a minute longer by that quiet thou hast rob'd me of I 'll sacrifice thy life unto my just resentments Then thrusting the fair Izadora out before him he went away in a rage almost equal to mine at that inhumane action I will not tell you said Perolla to Spartacus all those expressions my grief and anger extorted from me whose greatness you may in some sort guess when I assure you I was so blinded with rage that I made many criminal designs against his Life which was so much an Enemy to mine and had not my weakness hindred me I had perhaps attempted that which if performed had made me worthy of all those miseries his hate has inflicted on me But after this first heat was qualified the consideration that he was Izadora's Father banisht those criminal resolutions and struck me with so deep a grief that my repentance had like to have proved his revenge But to be brief Strato for so was my Servant called that follow'd me into Salapia never left inquiring after me till by his diligence he had gotten some suspitions that 't was I which had saved Blacius and was carried by him into his House therefore to satisfy himself by a considerable Present he obtained leave from one of my Chirurgeons to attend him as his servant where when my wounds were next drest he discovered what he sought and himself to me I was not a little over-joyed by the finding out so faithful a Servant and having acquainted him with those several accidents which had be fallen me since our â—eparation I enjoyned him to try if he could possibly learn some way how I might see Izadora or convey a Letter to her but though his industry left nothing unessay'd yet it proved absolutely fruitless for Blacius had so faithful and strict a Watch about her that 't was impossible to corrupt or deceive them But to increase the misery I then groaned under Strato one day told me Pacuvius had discovered where my retreat was and how I endangered my own Life to preserve his Enemies with which he was so inraged that he commanded him to tell me as I had divested my self of all duty to him so he had done the like of all affection to me and that if I had any reliques of respect for him I should shew it by never coming into his sight again he further told me that Pacuvius had once determined to acquaint Hannibal how Blacius concealed his Enemy but that the fear of my ruine which would be involved in Blacius's had restrained him You may well believe that this was no small accession to my trouble and truly I think had not I so great a support as my belief of Izadora's affection and constancy I had sunk under the weight of my misfortunes At last through the great care Blacius Servants had of me whether it proceeded from his generosity to hasten the regaining of that health I had lost from him or from his revenge to banish me the sooner from being near Izadora in spight of the indisposition of my mind that fatal day came wherein the Chyrurgeons told me I might undertake a journey without any pain or danger O how I curst their skill that separated me from my desires and how much more I had valued their Ignorance than their Art Before I went away I sent Strato to Blacius to know if he would permit me to wait on him and make him those retributions which his care for my recovery merited but he sent me word my abesence more than my presence would better discharge any debt I pretended to owe him and that I could not more oblige him than by a sudden departure from that House which I had flung into so many disorders I obeyed this cruel Message and that night for I durst not stir by day lest I might have been discovered I quitted Blacius's House neither did I visit Pacuvius who I was willing should see I would disobey him in nothing since I did it not in an injunction so opposite to my duty and inclination I had not retired an hour in a friends House
when I called Strato to me and told him I was resolv'd before I left Salapia to see the fair Izadora which I fancied could not be very difficult since she lay for the coolness of the Lodging it being then Summer in a lower Chamber next the Garden Strato who consider'd my safety above my satisfaction earnestly though vainly disswaded me from it therefore we went silently to the Garden door which answered on a by-lane then having pickt the lock I got in and was conducted by Strato to that window where he assur'd me Izadora lay I commanded him then to return and give me warning if he should discover any thing worthy my knowledge he was no sooner gone but I walkt softly to the place he directed me to lest some company might have been with her but as the gods would have it she was all alone having retired her self into her Closet which was joyning to her Chamber there looking in I discovered her by the light of a small Taper sitting on a Chair leaning her Cheek upon one hand and wiping her Tears off with the other I was amazed to â—ind her in such a posture but suddenly my wonder was turned into joy at least as much as I was capable of when she was so drown'd in sorrow finding by her discourse that I was the object of hers Alas she said accompanying her words with a heavy sigh perhaps at this instant that I onely but deplore Perolla's absence I may have cause to lament his death through Blacius's cruelty by acting himself his revenge or by giving Haâ—nibal the means to do it Wretched Izadora must the not knowing whether thou art miserable make thy misery and must thy doubts of being unfortunate render thee really so No no I fear they are not only bare suspitions make me thus unhappy but that my eyes weep by Prophecy what they must shortly by Evidence I must confess said Perolla though it were a crime thus to intrench upon her retirement yet I found in that fin a more obliging joy than I could in the reward of Virtue and doubtless I had longer continued my transgression had I not thought it a greater to leave her in a sadness I could so soon remove Therefore making a little noise I told her Madam if your apprehensions for Perolla be the blest and sad cause of your Tears you may now silence them since he is in a condition of apprehending nothing but your disdain Never to my remembrance did I see so strange a surprize as those words were to that excellent Beauty to whom they were spoken who though she a long time nicely consider'd me yet could she not fancy I was Perolla for her Father to destroy that friendship she honour'd me with had given her so much cause to despair for my life that her sense could not convince her belief I was living but at length her disorder was so far supprest tht coming to the window she askt me softly whether I was really what I pretended to be and if I were what made me so evidently endanger my life and consequently hers Madam I reply'd I am the happy Perolla that which I have heard since I came to this place makes me assume that Title and I am come to know how you will dispose of a life which you are pleas'd to be so much concern'd in You live then gallant Perolla she said and Blacius after all his threatenings has preserv'd your life No Madam I answer'd 't is not Blacius but Izadora which has done it that glorious confession she made him in my favour was the essential cause of it all that Blacius did was that he kill'd me not but 't was his unequal'd Daughter give me my life by giving me that which makes me value it and I should be more unworthy the gift had the apprehension of any danger hindered me from acknowledging at her feet that as I hold it by her so I Will only preserve and employ it for her If said Izadora you had given me so large an Empire over you before this visit I should have enjoyn'd you to trust my justice in believing your goodness rather than thus hazard your safety for the expressing of it Madam I reply'd I should more endanger it by going away without assuring you of this duty than I do in the paying of it for that might have ruin'd me in your good opinion which I more fear than all that my Enemies can act against me You are she answer'd so deeply fix'd in my esteem that hardly any action of yours much less one which hinder'd you from danger can prejudice you in it But fair Izadora I reply'd may not your Fathers hatred my unfortunate extraction and my own unworthiness raise your justice to the suppression of your present mercy and the ruine of my Felicity Ah Perolla she answer'd with a little blush can you then suspect my constancy Silence I beseech you all such doubts for you need not fear I will commit a fault in the which I shall find my punishment neither can you believe I will prefer any other before you without doing as great a wrong to my judgement as my happiness but she continued may not I Perolla suspect that Blacius's cruelty may induce you to withdraw your Passion from his Daughter and that your revenge may be more predominant than your affection Madam I reply'd I attest the gods if my words have given you the least doubt that I fear'd you would prove inconstant they did not express my meaning for if I have any suspition 't is not of your Virtue but of my Felicity and if I were jealous of your change I am not so rude or partial to my self as to call that your inconstancy which would be but your justice but if I had had any suspitions of that nature what you have been pleas'd to say would make me rather cherish than condem them since they are the cause of my receiving assurances of an affection as far transcending my hope as my desert As to those doubts you mention'd of your Fathers hatred raising any resentments in me I attest the self-same powers I even now invok'd that as long as I am blest with your esteem I can be capable neither of misfortune nor change and though I have lost Pacuvius and Blacius yet when I consider what I have thereby obtain'd I shall never repent the purchase We had certainly past the night away in so pleasing a conversation had not Izadora's Woman interrupted it by knocking at the Closet-door and telling her That Blacius at his coming home for he was then abroad would doubtless visit her and if he found her up at so unseasonable an hour it might raise suspitions which would hardly be supprest This fatal summons I receiv'd with extream reluctancy but Izadora who knew the truth of it and who apprehended my discovery told me 't was time to retire and having made me a thousand protestations of her constancy she strictly forbad
to evidence that truth by an undeniable experiment that the respect he paid the happy Perolla as being the object of my love was greate than his aversion to him for being the obstructer of his and since he thought no evincement of the reality of those professions could be both so great and pleasing as the ruining of his own felicity for the establishing of mine he was determined to settle it at that rate that his former threatenings were but as a last Essay and that having found our flames were too Divine to admit of extinction he was inviolably fixt to admire what he could not destroy and to obtain a pardon for those persecutions his passion and not he had raised us he would immediately restore Perolla to his liberty and employ all his authority with Blacius to unite what was a sin any longer to divide At these generous words I cast my self at the Carthaginians feet and by too many expressions for a repetition acquainted him with my joy and acknowledgements Immediately after he went to Perolla where in civilities of a resembling quality he implor'd his forgiveness and begg'd him always when he consider'd his persecutions that he would too consider the occasion of them that so the reflection on the cause might apologize for the effect he besought him further to remember the obligation was greater to lay down a passion for Izadora than the injury was to have assumed one since having seen her not to be his Rival could not prove a greater miracle than having been it ever to decline that name After some other expressions and embraces Hannibal assured Perolla that as an argument of his conversion and that he had silenc'd if not suppress'd his passion from that instant he restored him to so perfect a liberty that he might either return to Rome or continue in Salapia My generous friend with an equal proportion of wonder and joy received these transcendent civilities from the Carthaginian and having made him some retributions proportionate to their cause he was invited by him to his own House where by fresh accessions of the like quality he induc'd all the Salapians not only to wonder at but believe the change But continu'd Izadora least your astonishment should prove as great at the hearing as ours at the performance of these mutations I must acquaint you that Hannibal was seemingly gallant but to become the more securely the contrary and though he were a Prince who in affairs of craft and ingenuity had hardly any equal yea his Genius had a greater propensity to those stratagems which were for the winning of a Battel or a Kingdom than a Mistriss This Truth I believe you will not question by the sequel of this discourse which I must continue by informing you that the same night after his fatal declaration which he made me concerning Perolla he sent for Oristes and having lockt themselves up in his Closet he informed him particularly of what had past betwixt us and conjured him to find out an expedient for his relief which if any longer delay'd would immediately prove his destruction To this his wicked Counsellor reply'd We have already Sir by our attempts on Perolla observed that his constancy finds in them rather arguments of Triumph than Suppression we must therefore now assault Izadora's for it imports not whether you reach your desires by Perolla's declining her or by Izadora's deserting him and I am confident had not your resentments forc'd you to threaten your Rivals life I had found out a way which would have made it his torment and whose success could not have fail'd without the gods declaring themselves as much enemies to your Love as they have been friends to your Glory 'T was he continu'd that I would have had you in your next visit to Izadora in case you found your threatenings had not produced the effects you desired not only alter your words but your looks and by a countenance altogether penitent acquaint her that you are resolv'd to give her a testimony of your Passion by suppressing the effects of it that since the only way to manifest how much you valu'd her contentment is to deprive your self of your own you are come to divest your self of it by renouncing your hopes and resigning them to Perolla who you must acknowledge is more worthy of the Felicity by her esteeming him so that since you could not conquer her you have vanquish'd your self and that imitation in of her you valu'd him above your self 'T is said Oristes with such professions as these I would infuse in her a firm belief that you would attempt against your own rather than Perolla's life and the better to disguise the fallacy I am absolutely of opinion that not only your words but your actions speak your change I mean by giving him his liberty and inviting him to continue near his Mistriss for I can assure you Blacius is so vigilant of his Daughter that your Rival can derive no advantage by his freedom and so detests any alliance with Pacuvius's Bloud that he had rather marry Izadora to her grave than to Perolla whose Father I would have you send on some employment of so long a continuance that in his absence we may act our intention having then by such pregnant testimonies of your conversion rais'd a belief in your Mistriss that you have no designs for her but to see her married to Perolla which I would always press to Blacius and as his aversions for it increas'd so should your sollicitations I would then one night privately seize upon Perolla and by bribing two or three Physitians amongst which Blacius's should be one who is my intimate acquaintance and whose aversion to all Pacuvius's Family and affection to Gold will induce him to say any thing we shall put in his mouth make them give out that he dy'd of an Apoplexy or some such suddain disease and then celebrate his Funeral with such mourning and pomp that the World may believe the reality of your Friendship is as great as that of his Death This being artificially perform'd you must a while mingle your Tears with Izadora's as for your common loss and so steal into her affections by sympathizing in her friendship and her grief For I cannot fancy but if your Rival were remov'd all obstructins were so too and the object of her flame being dead she will since 't is without injuring her Virtue or Felicity bestow her self upon a Conqueror whose Fame only is able to dissolve the most frozen Breast As for Perolla if this succeed you may either send him to another World in earnest or after you are marry'd the more sensibly to revenge his having been so dangerous a Rival both in Love and Glory permit him to continue in this but the first is the more secure for his Presence may receive those Fires which nothing extinguish'd but her belief that his Life was so and thus whil'st you possess Izadora he may her Affection That
Hannibal intended to enter at and though by his authority he might have hinder'd the Soldiers march yet he bore so great a respect to Blacius that he declin'd it and rather elected to hazard the ruine of Salapia by not stopping them than prevent it by intrenching on the seeming right my Father had who he was inform'd was at his own house where he lighted and coming in found him with some of his intimate friends and his unfortunate Daughter discoursing what might be the subject of Marcellus design But O gods what was my astonishment at the sight of Perolla truly it was so transcending that I observ'd neither Blacius's nor his but the latter being a little supprest he addrest himself to my Father acquainted him with the fatal news the cause of his coming and then presented him his Commission which whilst Blacius was viewing Perolla and I were doing the like to each other for we durst not express our thoughts but by our Eyes yet that silent language was as significant and legible as Perolla's Commission which Blacius had no sooner read than he whose it was told him Sir the Consul shall bear me witness that I declin'd this Authority when 't was offer'd me and all Salapia shall do the like now I have receiv'd it and if I expect to derive any advantage from it 't is only to shew you that I esteem it a greater justice to obey than command you thereupon without staying for Blacius's answer in all our sights he tore his Commission in pieces I cannot tell you how great an influence this generosity had on all of us But my Father who a good while ballanc'd betwixt his natural aversion and present cause for suppressing it told Perolla your generosity is not only greater than I could expect but than I could desire from an Enemy and you had more obliged me in using your Authority than in thus declining it but though you esteem it just that I should command in my own Government yet since the Consul does not I am rather inclined to conform my self to his opinion than yours Alas Sir Perolla reply'd must I be still so miserable as to bear a Name which I have no title to and which I detest and will you attribute that to your place which I pay to you No no Sir all the World shall be Salapia to me and the Senate cannot give you so absolute a power over me as my inclination does You are more civil to me said Blacius than the Consul is and I think 't is my Fate to be obliged where I desire it not and to be injured where I expect the contrary but since you are resolved not to Command in Chief I will imitate your example let us therefore divide our selves and the Garrison and each of us take his half of Salapia to defend I had rather Perolla reply'd be near your Person that you might see with how little fear to preserve your life I will expose mine own which I take the gods to witness is not dearer to me upon any score than out of a belief that it may be serviceable to you To convince you said Blacius that the tearing of your Commission has not taken away its power you shall as an effect of it chuse where and how you will fight but if my honor were not now engaged to defend this place the Romans should know that the same instant in which they thought me unfit to command Salapia that I esteemed my self so to live in it If the Romans answered Perolla are so unjust to themselves and you as to think you unworthy to govern what you so generously have conquered I shall think them so of my service and will embrace your interest with so just a passion that if the Senate send any to usurp upon your Valour 's Conquest I will oppose every Roman as if he were an Hannibal and either preserve you in your Command or not live to see you out of it Come said Blacius without seeming to hear this last civility let us go and make Hannibal know that at Salapia he shall have as little progress in glory as in love Blacius had no sooner said these words than he went away and Perolla who durst not but accompany him was necessitated to signify his discontent for not daring to speak to me by a deep sigh which was the language too I exprest mine in but as soon as my Father was informed that all the Garrison was without the Samnite Gate and that though Perolla had met them yet he had so dangerously declined making use of his authority he turned about to a familiar friend of his and told him softly I fear Pacuvius Son will force me to be an enemy to Virtue if I prove any longer so to him I need not tell you all the preparatives that were made to receive Hannibal who about an hour before day came to the Brutian Gate which was Blacius and Perolla's Post where the Forlorn-Hope of his Army consisting of six hundred Runnagate Romans the better to disguise the business were admitted in t the Gate and some three hundred Carthaginian Horse after them who were all no sooner enter'd than the Percullis was let down and my Father with Perolla breaking out of those Houses and Courts they had lodg'd themselves in gave the Enemy so brisk and unexpected a charge that above half of them were cut in pieces before the residue could put themselves in a posture to dispute their own lives or revenge their companions deaths I will not amuse my self to tell you the particulars of this action 't is sufficient you know that Crastinus who commanded the revolted Romans knew his crime was uncapable of mercy and therefore resolved to render his death famous enough to excuse the faults of his life This made him conjure his Companions so generously to dispute the business as to make the Salapians never mention their defeat but in as many Tears as if they themselves had dy'd what they were born This Traitor acted without his Companions what he desired of them by killing with his own hand five of the most considerable Salapians and then by assaulting Blacius where Fortune seconding Crastinus despair he had certainly ended my Fathers life had not Perolla preserved it by putting a period to that Traitors but yet Blacius received so deep a wound that fainting he was carried by Perolla and his other friends unto his own house where lest he might think the generous Perolla would take any advantage of visiting me by his weakness he immediately withdrew himâ—elf to the Brutian Gate and there found the Combat renewed by a Carthaginian Commander who performed exploits as far above belief as description This Enemy Perolla had the honour singly to fight with for most of the Garrison were searching those houses where any of Hannibals Soldiers had taken Sanctuary and others took upon them the same employment that it might be thought the following execution and not their fear
much willingness as justice and beg you to believe that whilst my life is dear unto you it shall be so to me and that I will never undertake to dispose of it as long as it bears the glorious Title of yours I know continu'd Izadora that had not Perolla's nature been of an admirable temper my Fathers former proceedings might have rais'd some jealousies in him that what he would have had taken for an effect of his Gratitude was one of his Malice and that turning him over to Pacuvius's consent here mov'd his hopes to as great a distance as ever and did it too to make Perolla contract a higher hatred for his Father by declining what his very Enemy seem'd to confer upon him but his generosity was so perfect that he has often protested those imaginations were as little on his Heart as his Tongue To hasten to a conclusion that morning after I had inform'd Perolla of all things which had arriv'd me since our separation and of those barbarous threatenings Hannibal made against my Honor which inflam'd him with an unextinguishable revenge he left me and having again kist my Fathers hands he return'd to the Roman Camp in expectation to obtain from the Consul a Pardon for Pacuvius revolt and an Order to enjoy his Estate in Salapia and Capua which might give his generous Son a safe opportunity to implore his consent For he being then at Tarentum a Garrison of the Enemies he durst not trust himself to Hannibal's and his Fathers resentments but at his coming to Crispinus he found him on the point of yielding up the Ghost which he did some few hours after having first writ to the Senate an ample and just Letter in his praise which did no little contribute to the immediate chusing of Clodius Nero Consul who had married Pacuvius's Sister the other Consul was Marcus Livius whom the People had formerly banisht and whose Service they now implor'd a Fate common to ungrateful States and Princes who not learning Gratitude rom Virtue must be taught it from Necessity The first thing which Nero perform'd was an unfortunate justice to Porolla's Gallantry which has been the source of our second Miseries for he so truly and so highly extoll'd the whole series of his Nephews actions and particularly that last of preserving Salapia which came to his knowledge by Fame and not by the Actor that he procur'd a congratulatory Letter to him from the Senate which was a favour he declin'd for Blacius though his wounds spake his fidelity and courage which he would not permit his words to do lest the world might believe he esteem'd his Eloquence greater than his performances This action of the Consuls whether it proceeded from his embracing the interest of his Family above that of the State or the design he had thereby to break that new contracted Friendship betwixt Perolla and Blacius or his ignorance of the latters generosity in that action I cannot certainly determine but this alas I too well know that my Father receiv'd such deep impressions of his slighting which his own friends perswaded him was an effect of Perolla's being more ambitious of Glory than of his Daughter and which Pacuvius's on the other side fomented and concurr'd in to break an union which their hereditary malice made them detest that Blacius who was not so perfectly recovered of his aversion for Perolla as to be uncapable of a relapse immediately tore from his Heart a Friendship which began but to take root for his spirit was too high to preserve a good opinion for one which both his Friends and his Enemies acknowledg'd was greedier of a little Fame than of Justice his esteem or alliance O gods said Izadora raising her voice could you find out nothing but Perolla's virtue to be the cause of Perolla's destruction a misery so much the greater by how much since that provok'd you it was impossible for him ever to do othewise But Sir she continu'd addressing still her discourse to Spartacus Pardon I beseech you a digression which the sense of our succeeding misfortunes extorted from me which began by Blacius commanding me to banish from my Heart a Flame that was not to be extinguisht but with my life That cruel Injunction had like to have effected both but I preserv'd the latter because it was inseparable from the former and though I represented Perolla's innocency as clear as it was yet Blacius passion had so clouded his judgement that like a false Optick it represented all objects to be of the same colour of the Glass which was lookt through and indeed I deriv'd nothing from my attempts but the raising of his hatred for me instead of suppressing his for Perolla whose trouble I judg'd by my own and therefore was almost as much perplext to let him know my Fathers change as I was at it at length I determin'd by my silence to preserve him as long as might be from the knowledge of his misfortunes in expectation that some favourable accident might intervene which would restore Blacius to his justice and so Perolla might avoid knowing he had been unfortunate till he were so no longer but alas out of an apprehension of creating his trouble I continued it for by not letting him know my Fathers suspitions I denied him the means of suppressing them and Blacius not ascribing his silence to his ignorance of his displeasure but to a contrary cause so confirmed himself in his jealousies that the aversion they produced has been ever since unremoveable But in this proceeding I could not be more faulty to Perolla than I was obliging to Rome which by his continuing ignorant of what was past received a benefit from his Valor that perhaps it had fail'd of had I acquainted him with his misfortunes for I believe they would have necessitated him to have made use of all that courage to struggle with him which ignoring he employed against Hannibal for 't was he that under Nero drave him from the Salentines and Apulians into the Country of the Brutians 't was he which was the chief Actor in those famous exploits at Grumentum and Venusia and 't was he that rendred it impossible for Hannibal to march any further than Canusium to join with his Brother Asdrubal who having left the Government of Spain to his Brother Mago and Asdrubal the son of Gesco had already crost the Perenean Mountains all Gaul and the Alpes and had with a powerful recruit of Lygurians laid siege to Placentia The Consuls on this intelligence drew lots who should oppose this Torrent and it fell to Livius who with near 50000 Horse and Foot went to meet so redoubted an Enemy Asdrubal informed of it raises his siege to shorten the Consuls march who having thereby relieved his Friends was very wary how he dealt with his Enemies and though he left Rome to take possession of his Command he told the great Fabius who advised him to protract the War that he was resolved to fight
by little and little to dispell and they were no sooner absolutely vanish'd than Blacius first went to Perolla and Pacuvius afterwards to Izadora and in more Tears than Words acknowledg'd their repentance and conversion and when their several passions permitted them to speak they joyfully commanded them to consider their sentence but as a tribute to the Law of Nature and War and that they should in the joys of their union extinguish all the sorrow their Deaths could inspire which they protested was not so great a trouble to them as that they had so long and cruelly hinder'd it I am I confess continu'd Symander unable to tell you Spartacus's raptures at this change he first ran to the Fathers embracing them pardon'd them and gave them as many thanks for their conversion as if he had been to enjoy the effect of it then he went to our generous Lovers told them that his private Commands to Euriles were much different from his publique ones that he seem'd to be cruel but to make their Fathers just that he was glad an attempt against his life had setled the Felicity of theirs which he would have gladly bought by the attempts having been turn'd into an execution I should lose my self did I acquaint you with Perolla's and Izadora's extasies with Pacuvius and Blacius's embracings their beging mutual Pardons for a hate which then was converted into as great a friendship and with all their gratitudes to Spartacus To finish their Adventures 't is sufficient I tell you all things changed their Faces and those passions of Hatred Fear and Revenge resign'd their places unto Love Friendship and Kindness and as soon as those wounds Perolla had receiv'd from the Sword permitted him to heal those he had receiv'd from Love he was put in possession of his Izadora which was a felicity so far above needing a foyl to set it off that his past troubles and crosses were not consider'd but forgot And lest you should think I have the two Salapians or Spartacus I will tell you that the former had abundant cause given them of satisfaction and the latters Adventures I will now resume where I broke them off PARTHENISSA THE SECOND PART BOOK II. AFter my Prince had seen the Solemnities perform'd of so perfect an Union wherein he omitted nothing which might testify his satisfaction at it That the Salapians might for ever remember and be sharers in the joy Spartacus assembl'd the chiefest of them together and in terms as obliging as the action it self inform'd them That least they might alledge Perolla's Courage drew them into their misfortunes he protested the just esteem he had of it and of his virtue made him restore them to their former freedom That for his sake and the fair Izadora's he would immediately withdraw his Army from their City which should never approach it again but for their preservation for which he would at any time relinquish his own designs and repeat as great dangers to defend as he had done to take it This generous declaration as they all profest afforded them a satisfaction far transcending the grief they resented for that loss which gave my dear Master the power of thus obliging them and to publish their gratitude as well as contentment they deputed immediately from the body of the People certain select Citizens to the generous Lovers where after an Oration too tedious to be remembr'd they concluded that since their own sufferings had been the cause of their Felicity they were so far from deploring them that they would willingly undergo greater if they might produce a resembling effect These Ceremonies were no sooner finisht than Spartacus went to take his leave of Perolla and Izadora the last of which in both their Names conjur'd him to acquaint them who he was for they could not fancy so sublime a virtue had a disproportionable extraction Alas Madam said my Prince extreamly surpriz'd what is it that you ask of me then after some deep sighs which the reflection on his miseries forc'd from him he continu'd I take the gods for witnesses fair Izadora did not an inviolable Vow tye me to a concealment of myself I would have satisfy'd your curiosity as soon as I had known it but all that I dare inform you of is That I had my birth in Asâ—a that I am born a Prince of the greatest bloud of the World that an infelicity in Love has not made me abandon my Countrey onely but my hopes and forces me to languish in as high torments as you are now in joyes These sad words and the remembrance of the cause which produc'd them struck Spartacus with so black a melancholly that it prov'd contagious and communicated it self to the fair Izadora and her generous servant who judging what those misfortunes must be which could have so powerful an ascendent over so admirable a courage and judgment immediately converted those Prayers which they had used for the learning of his Adventures for his Pardon in having desir'd a knowledge of them After that Perolla in civility and sympathy had awhile continu'd in silence he at last interrupted it by saying to Spartacus Generous Prince for I should have given your Virtue that Title had I yet been ignorant of your Birth since you are resolv'd that we shall only know you by the felicities you have plac'd us in permit me to offer you that life you have preserv'd and made me relish perhaps it may serve you and help to build for you what you have perfected in me I know the fair Izadora will dispense with my absence when she considers the cause of it and will be as much satisfi'd with my Gratitude as with my Company This I implore continued Perolla as the only means to let you know my resentments whose greatness you cannot suspect since I beg even to forsake Izadora to acquaint you with them This offer said Spartacus embracing Perolla is far more obliging than if it were acted for I know no way which could render me more unworthy of it than the accepting it Neither could I embrace so generous a motion without being as much an enemy to my own happiness as to yours for the only consolation in my misfortunes is that they have put a period to yours and by your abandoning the excellent Izadora that also would be revisht from me I should never finish my relation did I acquaint you with all those noble tears and expressions which were shed and spoken at my Princes departure but in a word to describe the strange operation it had not only Pacuvius and Blacius but all the Salapians were unconsolable and so justly admir'd his Virtues that they almost accounted it a misfortune to return to their former liberty since the being deprived of his company was the rate of that purchase At last all the divisions and Squadrons of my Princes Army marched out of the City rather like Friends than Conquerors and received at the Gates so liberal a Largess that
that it lay not in the power of any thing but a Miracle to recover him at this fatal declaration the King fetching a deep sigh fell speechless on the ground and Surena perceiving so high demonstrations of his favour made such excellent and passionate retributions for them and so admirably exclaim'd against Fate not for ending his life but for not permitting him to end it in so generous a Princes service that all which heard him found his impiety rather a justice than a crime Arsaces being by many remedies recovered from his fainting was before he had the strength to speak carried out of his Favourites Chamber who no sooner perceiv'd it empty of all but his Domesticks sent one of them for the Princess Zephalinda who being come was conjur'd by him to obtain from Parthenissa for him the honor of a visit to whom he protested he had some secrets of Importance to communicate which should he dye before they were reveal'd would leave too great a horror on his Conscience The fair Zephalinda immediately obey'd his injunction and came to wait on Paâ—thenissa when she and I were admiring at the occasion of your silence The sadness which so visibly appear'd in Zephalinda's Face was at first attributed by us both entirely to that unimitable Friendship that generous Princess paid you but we soon found that Nature had a large share in it When she had inform'd Parthenissa with the occasion of her visit your fair Mistriss was extreamly starl'd at it whether it proceeded from a Prophecy of what she afterwards learn'd out of sympathy with Zephalinda or from that sad banishment which would inevitably follow by your Rivals Death but to contract your suspension I will not inform you of all those pressing motives his generous Sister us'd to obtain her desires since 't is enough you know they were successful But Parthenissa was no sooner retir'd into her Chamber to make her self ready for the intended visit than one of her Servants came to inform me that a countrey-man which had sought me at my own house and mist of me there being acquainted where I was was come to speak with me having a Packet which he said was of some consequence zephalinda though she knew 't was you which had reduced her Brother to that extremity never lessen'd her friendship but was so generous as to profess she was confident 't was â—urena not you that was the cause of her misfortune and was so earnest with me to satisfy her opinion which was that those letters were from you that to obey her I was uncivil and left her alone to go and receive them The superscription I scarcely lookt upon when I knew it to be your hand and transported with joy I ran up to Zephalinda and with her into Parthenissa's Chamber where I assur'd them that not only I should now know your condition but the cause of your Duel but alas assoon as I open'd my Pacquet I found a Letter for the King and another for Zephalinda but none for her which did most desire and most merit one I confess my disorder at it was not far short of hers but she attributing your silence to any subject rather than the true one and believing my Letter might discover the cause conjur'd me to peruse it But oh gods what astonishment was mine when I found what it contain'd it made me a long time continue silent and trembling and Zephalinda had no sooner ended hers but it ingender'd the same effect Parthenissa who could not fancy since you were living as appear'd by your Letters what strange accident could produce such an operation broke her own silence to learn the occasion of ours Alas Madam I reply'd you will be more happy in theignorance than the knowledge of it If said she I knew not Artabanes to be living your words would make me suspect he were dead No no Madam Zephalinda answer'd the certainty he is alive is not greater than having committed his Crime he is unworthy to continue so Is it possible said Parthenissa that he can commit a crime which may render him worthy of death in your judgement Yes Madam she reply'd and when you have read this Letter presenting him to Parthenissa I believe you will be of my judgement whilst he was the destroyer of Surena I excus'd the action upon the belief I had that he was invited to it by justice but now I have discover'd he can suspect your Constancy and convert a passion of Love unjustly into one of hatred he shall find I can from his Friend become his Judge and when his actions are ill not fear to term them so Whilst Zephalinda was thus speaking the unfortunate Parâ—henissa read her Letter and no sooner found what was in it than fetching a languishing sigh from the botton of her heart she only said alas Artaâ—â—nes how ill do you reward the purest Flame and then fell down at our Feet without giving any signs of Life Zephalinda who thought the sight of her Letter would have rather inspir'd her with resentment than grief a thousand times condemn'd her own rashness and by an abundant weeping discover'd her repentance for it but at last what with her help and mine we brought Parthenissa to her self again but indeed she employ'd that life we restor'd her to to torment her self so excessively that we found our charity was a disobligation Yes Artabanes had you but seen how she deplor'd your inconstancy and how transeendent her passion was even when she thought you unworthy of it I am confident the knowldege how yor were lov'd would have sufficiently punish'd your belief that you were not Surena in the mean while finding his forces very much diminish'd and apprehending he should not have life enough left to disclose that which would make his death a less misfortune sent a servant of his to know the cause of Zephalinda's stay who finding Parthenissa so well recover'd as not to need her help went to give her brother an account of her employment but he hardly was inform'd of what had happen'd when he conjur'd his Sister with fresh impatiencies to beg Parthenissa to afford him the blessing of seeing her before he dy'd for he had something to reveal which might set a period to her grief and which he protested was of so high a concernment that she should never repent the visit With this message Zephalinda return'd and though Parthenissa was in extream disorder yet we both so effectually employ'd our Prayers that we obtain'd what they desir'd and were no sooner come into Surena's Chamber than he begg'd all but your fair Mistriss to go out of it which being perform'd he told her Madam I know the incivility of putting you to this trouble and of leaving you alone in this room is so great that nothing but my weakness could render it excusable I know too that as some expressions of my joy for this transcendent Honor I should cast my self at your Feet but Madam what is my
gratitude gave them an opinion that it was not unlikely the same usage might produce the same resentments but whatsoever was the cause Gallippus took up my Body carried it into his Cabbin and there so prest the Chirurgeons to shew their Art that as proof of it by powerful Cordials they brought me to my self again and having found my faintness proceeded rather from the loss of Bloud than any mortal wound they then gave Gallippus an assurance of recovering me and afterwards perform'd it I cannot but tell you that had not higher reflections than any which related to my self silenc'd my despair I had made my own Sword testify that I preferr'd Death before Slavery but the consideration of my engagements to your fair Sister Parthenissa and Zephalinda and the eternal torment the not knowing your error would be to you made me look as a providence upon my double Captivity and as it were my double Refurrection besides I could not fancy the gods who are the relievers of Innoency did so miraculously preserve me but to render me at last their instrument in it and since the Sea was the place where I lost any further intelligence of you the being with Pirats who examine all Ships they see gave me no small hopes that those accidents which in appearance were misfortunes might prove the best way of putting a period to yours and mine to conclude the gods made not my conjectures false for 't is by my Captivity that they have brought my troubles to an end but before I have done so to my discourse I must let you know that in some sights I did Gallippus such memorable services for 't was with him I always went that he endeavour'd to obtain my freedom from Menas which the barbarous Pirat always declin'd but the valiant Gallippus to make my hopes ease my sufferings protested that the next service I render'd him which might make his Admiral not justly to condemn his setting me free he would rather hazard to lose the expectation of his future preserment than not do it 't was a long while before I could on so favourable an opportunity which at last was given me this day in your sight but my being a Slave having been the means of inceasing your Glory I shall no more deplore it than I do my other miseries since they are so fortunately finish'd and since by them I have given some proofs of a friendship whose greatness cannot be resembling to any thing so aptly as to his perfections to whom it is paid 'T was thus the generous Sillaces ended his relation and 't was in passionate embracings and not in words that Spartacus was eloquent in his gratitude but his friends perceiving that his silence exprest his impatience for Parthenissa's Letter immediately by unsowing a little Ribbon which in all his misfortunes he had artificiallay preserv'd presented my dear Master with those fair Characters which having kist a thousand times he found that they contain'd these words PARTHENISSA to the Prince ARTABANES IF I consulted with Iustice and not with Friendship this which is to recall you from your banishment should be a confirmation of it and perhaps your crime if my affection were not your advocate might deserve that punishment for in esteeming me inconstant you have as much wrong'd my judgement as my Virtue but since your fault affords you an evincement that my affection by my yet continuing it is uncapable of alteration I pardon an error which on that score I can hardly condemn and all the reparation I desire is that you will never think me so near being guilty as to have been thought so by you that you will make a grief cease which nothing but your presence has the power to do and that you will be confident 't is as impossible for me to alter my Passion as to improve my first election by a second choice O gods Spartacus cry'd out when he had ended reading why did you give me the courage to love Parthenissa the happiness to obtain hers and not virtue enough to know she was uncapable of vice Then abstaining a while from words he made those sighs which interrupted them perform their Office but having at length allay'd that storm he thus continu'd Great gods what crime have I committed that you make a declaration of Parthenissa's Passion for me my punishment and yet you are therein but just for since the suspecting of it was my sin it is fit it should be too my torment My Relation would be endless did I tell you all those rational extravagancies he utter'd I will therefore pass them over with all those Menaces he made against Surena's Life and only inform you that never any man's condemnation brought him a more real grief than did Artabanes pardon to him and that his despair for having injur'd the perfect'st excellency flung him into a violent Feaver which was not only like to have cost him his life but was really the cause of those disasters which afterwards did happen For Canitius who my Prince had honour'd with the office of his Lieutenant-General at the taking of Salapia saw the fair Izadora and had for her so violent a Passion that it gave him the impudence to beg her of my generous Master as a reward of his Services but Spartacus not only refus'd it but gave his so just a reprehension for it that instead of producing repentance it inspir'd him with revenge to effect which as we afterwards learnt he held a private correspondency with Gellius and Lentulus at that famous Battel in which they were defeated and 't was by his Treachery and the quitting of his Post that all those valiant Germans were then cut off and for which he attributing of it to their rashness and my Prince not to his infidelity he had his pardon which generosity was so far from producing his conversion that it gave him encouragement to abuse a Virtue which if he had had any himself he should rather have admir'd This Traytor therefore taking the advantage of his Generals sickness which gave him an unrestrained liberty to accomplish his infidelity began by his Agents to let the Army know that Spartacus who built his Glory upon their Bloud car'd not how profuse he was of so precious a treasure whilst that by it he could purchase his desires that they had no reason any longer to follow a Captain who declin'd so much as acquainting them with his Name and Countrey that to the best of his observation they must not expect a period of their troubles but by a period of their lives for having led them cross all Italy with an engagement of disbanding them when they had reach'd the Alps yet when all their dangers were past but that of not observing his promise upon the bare noise of Crassus Army he leads them from their security to make them undertake a hazardous War that when by the only blessing of the gods by the defeat of Mummius they had created such fears
remainder of my Prince's Army I assur'd him those in the Camp were in a readiness for some exploit that 't was not impossible but they would make a desperate Sally to fell their Lives handsomely and that I told him this the more freely because I was resolv'd to abandon his enemies for ever being assur'd of my Life and Liberty by the prisoner I had brought off Crassus for this Intelligence and at Artavasdes's request who accompany'd me to him confirm'd what the prisoner promis'd and immediately put all his Camp in Arms in apprehension of a Sally which abundantly contributed to my poor companion 's escape For all the Romans being only intent on the east side of our Camp which was the only place for an attempt permitted those on the West which was the way that lead to the River to make a more facile flight 'T was in this sort continu'd Symander that all things happen'd in that famous Battel of the Trenches I know some Romans gave out that Spartacus was cut in pieces others and more truly affirm'd that after the Battel his Body was never found and some too knowing none could contradict them for there was no Quarter given and to receive a reward cut off a Head which they said was my Prince's carried it to Rome and fix'd it on the Gate of the Capitol To conclude this part of my Story I will not tell you all those desires Artabanes had to return to those Men which escap'd unto the Brutain Mountains whose courage and fidelity he admir'd and with whom he was confident to repair the misfortune of Canitius and Castus's Treacheries 'T is enough you learn That had not his wounds hinder'd him a while and their defeat afterwards he would never have return'd to Parthia without having redeem'd that loss which was his misfortune not his fault The next morning as Crassus was preparing to repeat his Assault news was brought him that his Enemies had abandon'd the Camp at which his discontent was greater in appearance than in effect for we had not so ill defended our selves the precedent day as to make any thing which avoided a second storm appear a misfortune Three days Crassus spent to repair the disorders of his Army and to bury the dead leâ—t if left without Sepulture the numbers being great they might infect the Air in which time my Prince acquainted the generous Artavasdes with his Fortunes who admir'd asmuch to find Artabanes the famous Spartacus as he was joy'd to have been the instrument of saving him When Crassus had ended his charitable and necessary Office he return'd to Rome by easy marches which gave Sillaces and my Prince the means of accompanying Artavasdes thither and where they had enter'd in Triumph if their Success had proportion'd their Virtue When Symander was in this part of his Relation one of the Priests of Venus came in great haste to advertise him and Callimachus that Artabanes was return'd and had brought with him a stranger that yielded nothing to him in the blessings of Nature that they were both much wounded but yet they seem'd in the joy of having found out each other to have forgotten the danger they were in Callimachus therefore perceiving Symander's impatiency to satisfy it and his own immediately went to learn the cause of this fresh accident and provide necessaries for persons which rendr'd his Charity as much a Duty as 't was a Virtue The end of the Second Part of Parthenissa PARTHENISSA A ROMANCE THE THIRD PART To my Lady SUNDERLAND MADAM THe first time Parthenissa saw the Light 't was to enjoy a higher contentment than of entertaining you with her Adventures In which Madam she told me you receivâ—d some such seeming or real satisfaction that to continue the latter or to be reveng'd on you for the former she has perswaded me to present you with a Part of them This Madam had not given me the presumption of obeying her had not Altezeera also joyn'd her Prayers to Parthenissa's and both assur'd me it would not be amiss that you should see the Beauty of one of your Sex has acted more than one of mine could fancy the first of which you might as perfectly know in your self as the last in this Book That to write of you is worse than to write to you this being but an injury to your Person that to your Memory Though indeed the former has nothing of misfortune but that 't is not as durable as the latter which yet we cannot reproach you with it being our infelicity as much if not more than yours That I had injur'd Altezeera as much in her Actings as in their Relations and having done so much against her I could only but this way do something in proportion for her they further added if my Writings needed no Protection they were fittest for your sight and if they needed any you were ablest to give it And though to all this I represented That if their ambition of being known Madam unto you had not entirely silenc'd their Iustice they could not have believ'd a Crime against you could have prov'd an obligation to them and that in my thus obeying them I should necessitate many to conclude I had an endless quarrel to those which were the most perfect of your Sex by injuring such of them as are dead in my Book as such of them as are alive in the Dedications of it Against this they enjoyn'd me to remember the example of that excellent Genius who presented you his Oblations under the fair Name of Sacharissa who was guilty of both those crimes writing of you and to you only to please himself of which they sollicited me to be guilty but only of one and that also the least to please and repair them and yet was not only pardon'd but admitted the high Honor of your Conversation But Madam though I were concern'd to say little against my obedience to them the more to invite you to pardon it as being an offence of Ignorance rather than Knowledge yet I could not but let them know I consider'd that usage Madam of yours was only more and more to convince him of the greatness of his Crime and of the greatness of that Mercy which had pardon'd it That Cloud of Sacharissa which some ascribe to his modesty I do to his Iudgement for thereby he was believ'd a perfect describer of Fancy whereas otherwise he would have been known a defective describer of Truth Yet I must say the greatest fault he committed in attempting your Character was his attempting it for in the necessity of his crime he had this satisfaction That whoever had assum'd his Design must have commited his Offence and come as short of him as almost he has of you For Madam you are above being describ'd which condition though it be the most unhappy as to us yet is the Noblest as to you and consequently we cannot deplore an Ignorance which is occasion'd by a Perfection that even in degrees
than reasons having perfectly receiv'd his instructions to follow them I writ this former Letter to the forsaken and this latter to the ador'd Mistriss The First Letter was IF you saw the cause of my change you would excuse the effects and acknowledge that constancy to you after having seen her is too great a weakness to be esteem'd a Virtue Those Vows therefore I have made you I do not only recall but give you leave to do the like with yours and though you should lose as much by the bargain as I do gain yet you cannot more deplore that loss than I should the loss of that time I should spend in your service after having seen my new Conqueror The Second Letter was SInce you desire another argument of my Passion besides the having seen the Beauty that inspir'd it I have to obey your Commands sent her that first made me a Lover a Declaration that I am no longer hers But do not believe I can be unconstant to you because I have been so to her since your Beauty the cause of my First change renders me uncapable of a Second and that which made me act one fault will be my security of the acting another ARtabazus was so flattering as to commend these Letters and having passionately enjoyn'd my silence especially to Altezeera whose scrupulous Virtue as he said might think that a crime which was but a diversion he desir'd me immediately to retire that he might transcribe and send them and commanded me two hours after to come and receive my final dispatch for Rome which by then should be finish'd The short time which I found was left me I dedicated to the fair Altezeera who I found had more constancy to discourse of my departure than to see it I will not particularize all was said when I took my leave which I did with so deep a melancholly that I have often since consider'd it a Prophecy and not a Weakness my Princess too perceiving its greatness participated of it and practic'd a weakness her self which she had condemn'd in me and it may be suspecting my fears had as great a share in it as my separation she told me Artavasdes I have hitherto determin'd to give you no pretence to Altezeera but what you had by your services and her inclination but to fortify your Title which I find your absence and sorrow will need I here protest by all things I hold in highest Veneration as long as you honor me with your affection I will pay you mine I am now ty'd to you by Religion as well as gratitude which are Bonds I cannot cancel without rendring my self as unfit for all other Men as unworthy of Artavasdes And I I reply'd casting my self at her Feet do protest by Altezeera who not to adore is a higher sin than to do it that not only I will have a passion for her whilst she blesses me with a reciprocal one but continue mine though she should prove so unmercifully just as to recall hers The fair Altezeera then permitting me to kiss her hand hastily retir'd into her Cabinet lest I might have perceiv'd those Tears which at once would have given the wound and the cure From my Princesses Apartment I went to Lyndesia's who perhaps with more sorrow but less demonstration of it saw my departure and because she had then receiv'd the Picture of Udosia my only Sister which I was much taken with who had her education in a Principality that belong'd to Annexander and who then began to disclose a Beauty which I should without flattery have thought unparallel'd had I not seen Altezeera's and the fair Parthenissa's she gave it me as well to satisfy my request as to convince the Romans that in one of those Nations which their Pride call'd barbarous there was a Beauty to punish it At last by my Kings consent having left the generous Phanasder who then declar'd himself a Votary to Love my Lieutenant in Armenia with a small Equipage I left Thospia and having past through Cilicia and Pamphilia I arriv'd at Lydia where lighting upon a good Ship I crost the â—Egaean Sea and landing at Athens which I then found as famous for her Ruines as she had been for her Learning there I left one of my Domestick Servants who I much trusted by reason of a great indisposition he was visited with From Athens by Land we travell'd to Corinth which stands upon that little Isthmos that separates Morea from Achaia From Corinth we went to Seutica from thence in a Roman Gally crossing the Gulph of Tyrrhene and the Ionian Sea I came to Terentum but with much hazard for your Army at length to Rome where I found the virtuous Annexander had concluded the Treaty but still continuing under such a languishing that my Grief for it could not transcend the Physitians wonder at it There I told him with repetitions all that had happen'd in Armenia how my joyes attended but my return and his recovery to be consummated I shew'd him too the young Udozia's Picture which he consider'd with the admiration it merited and lifting up his hands only implor'd the gods to protract his life till he saw the fair Altezeera in my possession and the original of that Copy Whilst I recided in that great City the Fame of the generous Artabanes so fill'd it though under a name which had not Fortune lov'd Rome more than Virtue he had impos'd on all the Italians that after the defeat of Gellius and Lentulus not only that Army which was by Annexander's Treaty to invade Parthia under Marcus Crassus was stopt but Pompey who then was as far on his return as Dyrrachium was by divers expresses commanded to transport his Forces into Italy where if he preserv'd the Roman Empire he would win more glory than he had done by so much inlarging it But when by your Valour and Conduct the two Intelligences came out of Mummius and Crassus's defeat the Senate immediately were assembl'd and though they shew'd a magnanimity as great as their danger yet I easily perceiv'd it proceeded more from their dissembling than their nature The result of that meeting was to fortify Crassus's broken Troops with all those which could be immediately drawn out of Garrisons or leavied and to command him to put the fate of Rome to Battel that if the gods had destin'd her subversion she might fall like her self The fame and necessity of this decision drew under Crassus's Ensignes all the gallantry of Italy and because we were to be companions of fortune in another War I resolv'd to be his in this which by Annexander's permission I was The Roman General at my arrival in his Camp offer'd me such Commands that I esteem'd not to have declin'd them an injustice as great as his civility but though I refus'd participating in his Commission yet I could not in his Councils and Intelligences where I learn'd how Artabanes's Virtue which could not have been Conquer'd was sold
not love Altezeera in the very necessity of his fault besides by services and engagements she could not be more mine than upon both those scores she was Pacorus's and yet I had been so unjust as to sollicit her for Artavasdes and therefore 't were to be more so to punish that in another which I practic'd in my felf that she was only mine by the first grant and his by the last which in all concessions of Love is the bindingst Title and lastly that I ow'd a life unto him which till I had repaid I was his Debtor and therefore should not be his Murtherer Whil'st my Reason and my Passion were thus making War against each other Evaxes who still apprehended the last of them would fling me into some strange Crime and that my continuance where I was might into a proportionate danger all the Guards in the Castle being Parthians he conjur'd me so passionately to retire to an Apartment he had provided for me and there establilsh my resolutions when my resentments were so qualifi'd as not to silence the dictates of my reason that at last by following rather than by promise I obey'd him who led me by a stolen passage to my Chamber not meeting any one by the way which though we had I am confident I had not been discover'd if at least I had been as unknowable to all as I was to myâ—â—lf There I told Falintus and Philanax what had happen'd and there 't was that Evaxes repeating those reasons my rage hinder'd me from hearing which too were strengthen'd by many others as powerful from Falintus I determin'd the next morning as an evincement of their operation to retire into some solitude and there spend as much time as the banishing Altezeera from my heart would take up whose influence there was not already a little eclips'd since I could form a resolution of extinguishing it This Declaration prov'd as pleasing to them as that which created it was the contrary to me but they having retir'd themselves I past the night in such confused thoughts that it had been difficult to have collected any thing from them but that they were the productions of an exorbitant diâ—â—emper The day no sooner appear'd than telling Falintus and Evaxes whither I intended to go the next night and having commanded Philanax to follow me as soon as he had learnt from them whether my being in Armenia and my last Action were discover'd how they were both relish'd and whether I might safely demand justice of Artabazus for Anexander's Murther that in the certainty of being deny'd it I might thereby act it myself immediately before the Court was up I took Horse and was accompany'd out of the Castle by Evaxes who for a long while made no scruples to trust me alone being so newly recover'd from a despair whose effects were yet somewhat visible in my face but having secur'd his jealousies by many vows and by the improbability of my so much contributing to my Enemies triumphs I finally took leave of him and had not Travel'd above an hundred Furlongs when coming into a Wood at the extremity of a great Plain I was stop'd by a violent Cry behind me which turning about to learn the cause of I saw the man that utter'd it come running towards me as fast as his Horse could carry him as soon as he came near me he drew his Sword and bade me defend my self if my Crimes had not divested me of the Courage to justifie them This Declaration though it much surpriz'd me yet I did not near so much as the knowledge that 't was Phanasder which made it but being confident he mistook me I prepar'd my self for nothing but to embrace him and offer him my Sword and Life to join in his revenge but perceiving he esteem'd himself discharg'd of all other Ceremonies by having denounc'd the Combat I cry'd out to him hold Phanasder 't is Artavasdes speaks to you 'T is he Phanasder briskly reply'd that I seek and who to his other Triumphs must add that of my Life or in the loss of his I must repair my wrongs Oh gods I answer'd if my Death could be but as great a satisfaction to Phanasder as to me he would oblige us both in acting it but since such a satisfaction cannot be perfected without as great a Crime let me understand first wherein you esteem me guilty for if I do not so entirely vindicate Artavasdes that you must acknowledge Phanasder criminal for having thought him so I will employ my Sword not to resist but execute your Revenge If thy Crimes said Phanasder were not too-too-much apparent I should not have sought this opportunity which since they are I will not spend it to shew thee thy sins but to punish them Then having again bid me defend my self or my submission should not be my Sanctuary he charg'd me with such fury that I found by experiment the high character I alwayes had of his Courage was but too dangerous a truth But his rude Reply to an offer he could not have declin'd without seeking to be my Enemy and the certainty I found that I must derive my safety not from my innocence but resistance though they made me finally draw my Sword yet I made but use of it to keep him from acting a sin I know he would in a right understanding as much deplore as now he was sollicitous to perform and indeed he prest me so incessantly and vigorously that had not an unexpected Accident ended the Combat my death or his must have done it for making a furious blow at my head and I defending it with my Sword his flew out of his hand in two pieces At this Phanasder was not more astonish'd than I was satisfi'd which I exprest by telling him Phanasder Let that Life I give you convince you that I am still your Friend No no Artavasdes he hastily reply'd it convinces me thou art the contrary for if thou were not having loaden me with such sorrows thou wouldst not deny me their cure being it is in thy power therefore I declare if thou canst be yet concern'd in having me esteem thee my Friend nothing can be more contributory to it than to make use of thy Victory which the more to induce thee to I protest by all those wrongs thou hast done me I will leave no place unsearch'd nor no means unattempted for my revenge If said I my giving you your life after your first declaration has not convinc'd you that I am your Friend I hope the doing it after this latter will sufficiently effect it for were I concern'd in your death I have not only the power but the provocation to act it But Phanasder I had rather expose my life to your fury than secure it by the destruction of what I prefer a thousand times before it which not only my friendship for you but even your hatred to me makes me profess and which I still implore to learn the subject of that if
if there were any Justice in my shedding some Tears for her loss it should proceed from a contrary cause than to that you ascribe them to I have Pharasmanes my heart too much contracted to tell you now what it is that does it but if to morrow you will visit me you shall know what I believe will invite you to excuse my not being able to acquaint you with it now Altezeera had no sooner ended those words than in fresh weepings she did retire hastily into her Cabinet and it being somewhat late I did to my Chamber where I past the Night in a thousand several conjectures what this strange accident might be but it so perfectly merited that Name that I was so far from imagining it as I could hardly believe it when Altezeera told it me At length as soon as the impatiented hour came I went to the Princesses Appartment I found her on her Bed all alone and in passions of Grief which transcended those I had left her in which thereby I concluded had a high cause when a proportionate Judgment and Fortitude made time bring an accession to them The Chamber though it were day had nothing of Light in it but what it receiv'd from a few silver Lamps and the Princess who as soon as she saw me and that none else was in the Room which she had expresly given charge of she told me Come Pharasmanes and see the miserablest Creature living one which so justly possesses that Name that though the gods granted me my wishes they could not yet divest me of it Would to the gods Madam I reply'd struck to the heart with those sad words that my Death could restore you your quiet you should soon and experimentally know there is nothing so dear unto me No Pharasmanes she said 't is my Death not yours must restore my quiet if any thing has that power nor would I be long from receiving that remedy did I not apprehend it would prove none to me I must Pharasmanes I must languish in Torments for they are as fit for my Crime as my Justification but that you may know my despair is just I must communicate a secret to you though I apprehend your knowledg of it will infect you with so transcendent a sorrow that it may even bring an accession to mine Regeliza the Princess continu'd finding her self past hopes of recovery importun'd me by so many several Messages to come and visit her that at last I did it though I fancy'd all the effect it would produce would only be an aggravation of my Grief and no diminution of hers which alas though in a different way prov'd too sad a Truth I was no sooner come into her Chamber than she desir'd all the rest to leave it and then with some deep sighs she thus told me I should Madam despair of the gods pardon in the other World did I leave this without obtaining yours and though what I have committed be of a quality which was authoriz'd by duty and extenuated by the event yet I cannot but call it a Crime and nothing shall make me term it otherwise but your esteeming it none which if you do I shall leave the World with as little regret as if you do the contrary I shall with horror Know Madam That not long after Artavasdes went to Rome Artabazus sent for me privately into his Closset where after all those flatteries which he thought most effective he told me Regeliza My satisfaction and that of Armenia now entirely is in your hands both of them consist in the breaking that Passion which is between my Sister and Artavasdes Whilst I consider'd Tygranes as my Successor I was as much concern'd in the consummating of that Marriage as now I am in the interruption Whilst Altezeera was like to be a subject I esteem'd none that was so more worthy of her than him she had elected but since Tygranes Crimes both against me and the Romans has render'd him as unworthy my care as their Mercy I consider Altezeera now as what she shall be and in that quality I cannot without horror contemplate her placing her self in a lower degree by her election than the Gods and Nature have destin'd her unto nor in one performance so much injure my Sister as to deprive her of her best Subject to make her self one This continu'd Artabazâ—s I would have told Artavasdes before his departure had I not apprehended his despair would have involv'd Armenia in new Wars and that Altezeera was too far ingag'd in her Passion and Vows to let any political consideration absolve them I therefore elected to effect that by Art which I concluded was any other way unfeizable and therefore before Artavasdes departure pretending a flame for a new Mistris and that she would not be convinc't of it but by a slighting Letter to my former and an assurance of my Passion to her self under my hand one day in Artavasdes sight I so well counterfeited an indisposition to Write and so extol'd his Stile above my own that having acquainted him with what I have you at length I procur'd two Letters from him to those effects I desir'd and mention'd which I said I would copy but which indeed I have reserv'd for another use for by their help and yours I make no question but to raise such a Fraction between the Lovers as nothing but a miracle shall discover it or unite them This said Artabazus I have done by the advice of Crassolis who is confident and so am I if you will place Artavasdes Cypher on one of the Letters and contribute to the delivery of it by a Servant of his whom we have suborn'd for that effect and who will leave him in his Journey to Rome it may shake her constancy which soon after we my ruine if the other Letter which addresses it self to his new Mistris be presented to Altezeera by you as miraculously found in Theoxcena's Closet who we have thought the fittest person to give Altezeera a jealousie not only for her perfections but that Artavasdes before his leaving Armenia so assidiously visited her though we know 't was on Phanasders score This will doubtless produce the effects we mention and when it has I will engage the Prince Pharnâ—ces the great Mithridates Son to make his addresses to her which in the rage of her Lovers inconstancy will certainly prove successful and when once she is Married I will not much apprehend the disclosure of the Fallacy If continu'd Artabazus you esteem of my Friendship you will not deny me this proof of yours and if you value Altezeera's advantage you will grant it me upon that score neither can your refusal prevent it for if you should reject this Design you will but constrain me to act it a more offensive and perhaps bloodier way for I am determin'd at whatsoever rate to perform my intentions This was the effect Madam continu'd Regeliza of what Artabazus spake to me though he gave
me more large and pregnant Arguments for my Obedience than my memory or weakness will permit me to repeat but though I had the fortitude to resist his presents and flatteries yet I had not to oppose that which he alledg'd was for your Advantage there Madam he assaulted me where I was least able and least willing to resist neither could he have made me an Enemy to your desires but by convincing me that therein I was a Friend to your power and honour I had this consolation that nothing could make me prejudice you but for your advantage nor does a Physician merit his Patients resentments for depriving him a while of health to restore him thereby to a more perfect one But Madam I will not so much as think there are any arguments for my Justification lest you should believe there are none for my Pardon for I would not have so sensible an addition to the Misery of being deny'd it as to know 't was done so against reason To be brief Madam for I find my Death hastens to serve you as I thought to obey my King and to preserve Artavasdes whose Death was obliquely threaten'd by him and who I thought you would be less displeas'd to see live in your hatred then dye in the honor of your esteem and love I finally condescended to act what I could not hinder but yet in expectation that time might produce some as strange Revolutions in Artavasdes favour as it has done to his prejudice and that Artabazus might be converted I perswaded him and Crassolis who was all this while present that 't were best only at first to give you the Letter which was to acquaint you with Artavasdes change and then a good interval between to present you the other which was to acquaint you who had occasion'd it for if they were deliver'd both at once it might relish of design and besides the latter coming when the first had shaken your Constancy it might find the less difficulty to suppress it I believ'd Madam the first of these would not thrust you to what they both might and that if you were not anothers there was still left you at any time in shewing you Artavasdes Innocence the Power to reward it 'T was thus Madam that the constant Artavasdes was betray'd whose false Servant Allaner presented you with that false Letter which had so strange an influence on you and which I abundantly contributed unto till I saw how much it hazarded your Life by that dangerous sickness it cast you into a little before Pacorus's besieging Tygranocerta You know Madam that during your indisposition I took Artavasdes part to make it cease and you confest 't was I which restor'd you to health by restoring you to hopes that the cruel Letter had something of mysterious in it which I undertook to discover and which I had done but that your and the general danger with Pacorus's transcendent Gallantry and Services made me esteem that generous Prince had a better Title to you in every respect than Artavasdes had and that to disclose we betray'd him had been to betray you who I resolv'd the gods favour'd in no small degree since by so strange a way they lead you to so noble an end and converted even the very treachery of your Friends into your Advantage 'T was therefore Madam that feigning once an indisposition at Theoxcena's I continu'd all night there and made you believe at my return that I had found that Letter there which I had brought thither and which I then presented you with a superscription Cypher to it of my own Invention But alas I soon repented it when it cast you into that violent fever and I was a thousand times upon the point of disclosing all unto you But then the certain ruine of Armenia and the as certain of the generous Pacorus with your miraculous recovery which you told me proceeded from your having as absolutely banisht Artavasdes from your heart as he had you from his and your esteeming your self oblig'd if not out of Love yet out of Gratitude to give your self unto Pacorus silenc'd that resolve by which you have enjoy'd a felicity that I hope will be no small inducement to procure a pardon for so successful a crime and event and without which I shall leave the World in Torments which perhaps will inspire you with as great a repentance for having impos'd them on me as me for having merited them Neither Madam is it one of the meanest services my Insidelity has done you to preserve Artavasdes Life who without what I did had tasted of that fatal Cup which has sent his Father into another World Regeliza had no sooner ended speaking than she did her Life though she seem'd to have something more of high concernment to inform me of but she had that consolation to do it doubtful of those Resentments which had she liv'd she would but too visibly have observ'd This Pharasmanes is the cause of those Tears you have already seen and which can never cease till their source be exhausted if I resent any advantage by Regeliza's Death 't is that it affords me a cloud for my sorrow and makes the World believe she is the object of my weepings when alas she is the cause You see by this I am convinc't of your Friends Innocence and I hope you are so of mine I am miserable Pharasmanes more than faulty but perhaps I shall not appear so to Artavasdes who may think my believing him capable of change as great a crime as I find it a punishment Alas Pharasmanes I am in fears as great as my griefs Not to let him know I have discover'd he is Innocent may continue him in troubles as high as mine when I thought he was not and to let him continue his belief of me is to invalidate this miraculous discovery and render his hate almost as great a Justice in him as misery to me Great gods she continu'd why did you not make me believe Artavasdes innocent when I had the power to reward his being so and why did you make me know he is so when I am divested of that Power But doubtless it will be a less affliction to the generous Artavasdes to be satisfi'd I want not the will but the ability to recompence his virtue than if I wanted both 'T is therefore Pharasmanes I have desir'd this visit from you that you will by an express acquaint your Friend with my unfortunate Story I dare not do it in apprehension my Letter might miscarry besides I am too full of grief to describe it and perhaps of seeming guilty to be credited Tell him Pharasmanes Oh tell him all that the highest sorrow ever dictated and tell him all that is short of Altezeera's the greatness of whose Torment if he suspects because it has not yet destroy'd her tell him That that it self is a transcendent argument of its being so and that I would curse its lingring did I not cherish all
it there would be two inducements to it but since that which should revenge it would not only make it publick but indelible and that the highest good in such an ill was not to know it since there was no possibility of proving a Woman Chast he esteem'd it handsomer and better to tell Altezeera of her Faults that she might banish both me and them or by her doing neither render the disclosure of her offence so necessary that the necessity of it might render it a proportionate Justice But Labienus durst not use too many reasons to prove Silence was good lest that might have prov'd one to Phraates not to keep it Whilst they two were disputing of our Sin I came to my self again and discover'd that which gave a rise to one of them to call it and to the other to believe it one but the restauration to Life had been much worse than Death where at least my griefs had ceas'd as well as my hopes which had been an advantagious bargain had not immediately my Princess too recover'd for Nature finding none come to her assistance went to her own Oh gods How was I surpriz'd to find my self in a posture of Felicity and not in a rellish of it and how confounded was I as well as Altezeera to find how much more obliging the effects of my misfortune had been than those of my Constancy and Innocence but alas I had much more cause to be so when not only the Princesses Women came running in to her assistance but when they also found her in a high Fever that threaten'd to cast her into an eternal Death as soon as she was restor'd from a temporary one So many witnesses hinder'd her from speaking to me and they beginning to undress her hinder'd me from continuing longer in the Chamber which I left without receiving any other fruit of my being Innocent than the knowledg that it had been more for my quiet I had never been so Ah when I was retir'd to my appartment what did I not say against the cruel Destinies which had form'd mine so perversly that transcendent punishments attended as well my real Fidelity as my seeming want of it The next Morning I knew by the publick voice of the Court for I durst neither satisfie my apprehensions or duty by a personal Visit or by employing any of my Domesticks to do it that the Princess was in a Fever which by giving so little hopes in the beginning made the Physicians with tears apprehend the conclusion but it was too violent to continue long our suspensions and I was satisfied of her recovery before any symptoms of it by knowing the gods would not give me so certain a cure of my Misery as the Death of my Princess and consequently mine At last her Fever left her when the Physicians had done so and the generous Pacorus who had ty'd his Fate to Altezeera's began to cherish his own Life when he was assur'd of hers but till then he contributed all he could to accompany her and the more certainly to effect it he had seiz'd on a Poniard which he lay'd by him in expectation of the fatal News 'T was in this I disclos'd and perhaps Altezeera too the disproportion of our Passions for I needed but the bare knowledg of her Death to act my own whereas Pacorus to reach his must have been necessitated to make use of his Resolution as well as Love It may be this knowledg invited Phraates a while to a silence which his Virtue would not have kept Pacorus and I who were most concern'd in Altezeera's Health as if it had been by a sympathetical operation recover'd our own proportionately as she did hers This was the cause that the first day I went into the Palace-Garden upon which my Appartment answer'd Altezeera went thither also 't was the first time I had seen her since her sickness or recovery I will omit my confusions and my disorders whilst I congratulated the latter which as soon as I had as if it had been without design by degrees she separated her self from the Company and after having received some fresh convincements that I was Artavasdes she acknowledg'd no small joy that I was restored from a Sickness which she justly consider'd as a tribute to hers but being determin'd not to lose so happy an opportunity to learn my Fate which the Authors of it too presented me I told her If I consider Madam my recovery with any Joy 't is only because you seem to do so and out of a hope that that Life which has by twice preserving Pacorus's twice establish'd the felicity of yours is still continu'd by the gods for the same end though by the same way Yes Madam I am ready not only to employ my Life but to lay it down in so glorious an occasion though it were as full of Felicities as in those happy days wherein my Princess was as much mine by Promise as she is now my Rivals by possession But Madam Did I not conclude the gods restor'd my Health upon this or some resembling-score I should esteem it as transcendent a Misery as I shall a Blessing if they have done it for that end Neither need I for the only cure of my Miseries be oblig'd to my Resolution but Reason which convinces me 't were a less Misfortune to have Artavasdes in the Arms of Death than to have him see the fair Altezeera in Pacorus's The gods shall be my Witnesses she reply'd pulling down her Vail to cover her blushes that if I yielded not to my last Sickness 't was more upon Artavasdes's account than my own who had I known him still to be what he is neither the safety or satisfaction of Pacorus Artabazus or Armenia should have made me hazard his or recede in the least degree from those professions which his Person and Services but much more my inclinations induc'd me to make him but alas the gods contributed to my delusion You cannot doubt Artavasdes but 't was one and not a Design for 't is not rational that I should willingly act what turn'd most to my own Torment Yes Artavasdes I say my own Torment Judg then what that grief must be which makes my being the Wife of so generous a Prince as Pacorus be esteem'd one by me I have liv'd purposely to tell you this for perhaps you may resent some satisfaction by knowing she that has divested you of all your felicity has in that very performance done the like to her own These words and some Tears which accompanied them were so sensible to me that I could not abstain from saying in a higher tone than before Great gods Have not you already render'd Artavasdeâ— sufficiently miserable by the loss of his Princess's affection but you must make him more so by the restoration of it And are you so inveterately bent to continue me so that rather than not act it you will make contraries produce the same effect 'T is now
for your desires we must Artavasdes we must part I judg what a conflict you have in your self at this declaration by what I had when I resolv'd to make it and though in my sufferings I read yours yet in my Conquest I do the like if my Sex could overcome this difficulty yours will much more for besides the weakness of it I lose more by your Obedience than you can by acting it Alas Madam I answer'd all this proves your Resolution greater than mine but my incapability but one way to obey you proves my love is perfecter yes Madam I say I have but one way to obey you that is by Death my Obedience as well as Condition invites me to it I shall satisfie you as well as Artavasdes in it and shall demonstrate I merited not the Command of going from you by so well obeying it Is Artavasdes then she reply'd so much an Enemy to me as he will elect no way to save my honour but by losing that is almost as dear to me Oh gods she continued why do you reduce me to commit a Crime to hinder him from acting another Perhaps Artavasdes your Death cannot be more an offence to the gods than what I have now told you 't is an acknowledgment that considering my Condition is a sin which to have thought nothing can transcend but to publish but I hope this assurance will preserve a life which mine is ty'd unto which I enjoyn you to keep and which if you do deprive your self of I will not live to lament Oh gods I cry'd out I esteem'd you hitherto the greatest cruelty but now alas I find Altezeera is those that gave me the necessity of Death are less Tyrannical than she that after hinders it for they but impose on me a torment yet allow me the cure but she inflicts on me the former and refuses me too the latter you cannot Madam I continu'd condemn this Acclamation for you are not reduced to the necessity of Banishing me but reduce your self to it Alas 't is not much Artavasdes implores 't is but your permission to languish away in your sight an unfortunate life and a life which you have render'd so my sufferings will evince your Innocence and Pacorus can no more doubt I injure him than I desire to do it or you to permit it will you then my Princess having divested your self of all power to create my felicity preserve enough to make me miserable so miserable too that 't is as impossible for the gods to make any so much as to make me more Shall the unknown Pharasmanes have enjoy'd a blessing which is deny'd the innocent Artavasdes and the discovery of his being so must that invite you to punish what you should reward The gods forbid These words deliver'd with a Tone and Action not ill-suted to them had too violent an influence on her to whom they were addrest that for a good while she continued in silence and I flatter'd my self with a hope that it was a consent to my Petition But alas it proceeded from her not being capable of granting it and I kept that hope no longer than she did her silence Since she reply'd that I have divested my self of all Power to make you happy whether it were my fault or my misfortune I am resolved to punish it and it may be your Banishment is as much upon that Account as on that of my Honour If you have not hitherto judg'd of my Resentment by my loss you cannot now but do it by my Penance and you cannot doubt I acknowledg my self culpable when I voluntarily submit to such a punishment should you kill your self you rob me of the noblest part of my penance and would render the continuation of it as impossible as just If what I have told you formerly does not convince you how precious I esteem your Life this that I have now will certainly effect it for I plead for yours though in doing so I plead against my own Neither Artavasdes can you justly appropriate to your self what you now did of misery 't is I only that can for who makes Friend miserable is more so You for your Banishment have the consolation that 't is to preserve what you love worthy of that Honour and though I receive a resembling one yet 't is you confer the Obligation whilst I do but receive it Believe me Artavasdes my sufferings do at least equal yours but when I consider for whom I indure them it gives me the Ability to do it I cannot expect less from than I do for you I have too a firm belief that if the gods have render'd me uncapable to reward your Virtue it proceeds only from its being of too transcendent a quality for me to do it and therefore they reserve it for themselves since nothing but what is infinite can satisfie what is so and if all recompences fail they will gratifie your Desires by an extinction of them and perhaps 't is more fit for their pureness to have them supprest by Reason than Fruition Ah Madam said I interrupting her this is rather an Argument to fortifie than suppress my desire of dying 't is that only since yoâ— are deny'd me can end my desires which though they were infinite as that goodness which esteems them so yet in the possession of my Princess they would find a plenary felicity for that which creates is still more great than what it does create and consequently you are more than my desires when the exquisite variety of my miseries make me so religious as to think the gods all-powerful their having but one way to make me blessed confounds that belief and at least renders it Reason if it be impiety no Madam since you assure me 't is upon my score you suffer and that you know 't is upon yours that I do which is also accessionally encreas'd by that assurance permit me to put a period to both our miseries by putting one to that wretched life which is the cause of them Since she reply'd you tell me The gods can only by Altezeera make you happy why will you seek a Death which makes her miserable But I see Artavasdes you will find Reasons to oppose mine and I hope you will find none to oppose my Commands which positively injoyn you to live which to invite you to the more certainly I protest I shall judg of your Friendship by your Obedience Madam I answer'd there is a vast disproportion between being happy and being no longer miserable The first is deny'd me by your Condition the last by your Commands which yet I will obey having given you irrevocably up the absolute dispose of my life this is a Truth you cannot question since after your determining of it I have as little the Will as the Power to recal my grant But Madam if by this cruel sentence my Obedience cannot prove capable of any long duration be yet so just as to ascribe it to my want of
was no small satisfaction to Artabbanes whom he had learnt from Moneses had ever been a faithful servant to all his Family I must acknowledg my satisfaction at it was not inferiour to his for my Father and Zenophon were Cousin-Germanes and yet had been more united by Friendship than by Blood which obligation never ended but with my Father's life But before my Prince would permit his wounds to be drest he waited on Parthenissa to her Chamber 'T was there by a world of reiterated and passionate expressions that he acknowledged his Crime and the Mercy that had produced it which latter gave him a less ill opinion of the former by finding experimentally there could be something that transcended it which till so obliging an evincement had never entered into his Faith Artabbanes and Sillaces were no sooner retir'd than they went to the woman of the House who they found had been bless'd with an education different to her present quality and of no common Beauty they were not a little pleas'd with both as knowing they rendered her the fitter for a Service which she joyfully went to pay the fair Parthenissa 'T was after this that the two Friends made use of the Chyrurgeon who found how great an Enemy their civilities had prov'd to their healths and that the paying of their's unseasonably two hours would render them uncapable for many to do the like Artabbanes was much more troubled at this assurance than at the danger which caus'd it The Chyrurgeon being retir'd I told the two generous Friends who lay both in one Chamber that perhaps it were not amiss if the next morning I went to Zenophon and acquainted him with their being in his Government which obligation of Trust would not only in some good degree recompence his past fidelity but invite his future and thereby procure a powerful Assistant in case Surena's being alive should thrust him into desires of revenge and of recovery of Parthenissa or if dead should infuse resembling ones into his Friends and Partizans Artabbanes though he knew exactly the merit of Zenophon's fidelity yet he consented as much to what I motion'd upon the score that his Princess would be thereby removed to a place and Attendance less unfit for her as upon any other This resolve being assum'd they endeavoured to take their rest which the joy of Artabbanes and the sympathy Sillaces had in it as much hindered as the pain and inconvenience of their wounds The day at length appeared and I had no sooner informed my generous Master that the Princess was awake than he sent me to the woman of the House to enquire of her Health who returned me word from Parthenissa that he might know hers by his own Artabbanes found a misfortune in so much kindness by finding himself in a feaver This made me hasten to Zenophon whose power and care I fear'd my Prince's sickness would need as soon as I came to his Palace I desired one of his Domesticks to bring me where he was who being my Guide I pass'd unexamined through his Guards and came into a large Hall where I found him invironed by a throng of his Officers and though with Moneses I had left Media in a very green Age yet I had still some impressions of Zenophon which the seeing him revived 't was with some difficulty I got near-enough to be observed by him which when I perceived I was I looked on him so fixtly that perhaps it made him the more hastily dismiss the greater part of his Officers who were no sooner gone than presenting my self to him I desired to know if he were at leisure to hear a Stranger who had some things of moment to inform him of and which it was not improbable but he might be satisfied with I know not whether he read something in my Face which made him guess or suspect who I was or whether the Times which then began to be strangely confused made him believe I came to give him some important advice but whatever was the Cause without any ballancing he commanded me to follow him into a Cabbinet which was contiguous to the Hall we then were in whither being come and the Dore lock'd I ask'd him if he had never seen any thing that resembled me After having considered me narrowly he replyed he had but that he could not suddenly recollect where it had been I thereupon told him my name which he had scarcely heard but I found my self in his Arms as a reward of that discovery and though by many testimonies of joy he acquainted me with his yet they were infinitely short of those demonstrations of that Passion with which he celebrated the news I told him of my Prince's being so near him and in a place under his Power after I had convinced his belief of that Truth by many protestations he necessitated me to make him of it lifting up his eyes and his hands to Heaven he cryed out Great Gods you could not create my acknowledgments in a way I should more willingly pay them than by granting me the happiness of serving any of Monese's blood and if to this blessing you will add that of permitting me to see his Son seated in the Throne of Media I shall esteem my self abundantly satisfied for your having deny'd me one 'T was by many resembling expressious that the generous Zenophon evinc'd to me his fidelity to Artabbane's Family was not at all impaired neither did his desire to the gods in my Prince's favour relish any thing of an ill subject since Tygranes the then King of Media either by Nature or choice was so averse to the fair Sex that Artabbane's Passion for one of them could hardly transcend his aversion for all Zenophon having put a period to the evincements of his joy and gratitude conjur'd me pressingly to conduct him to him which had raised them This I obeyed having first desired him it might be with privacy for that my Prince's condition if it did not already need circumspection yet it might it was therefore by water that we went to his Lodging which as the Governour 's Palace stood upon the River Corindas 'T is as impossible as needless to repeat all that past between them of civility it is sufficient you know Artabbanes received him with all the demonstrations of satisfaction and respect a person so replenish'd with virtue and fidelity could either desire or hope and Zenophon's joy at the reception was nothing inferiour to the greatness of what created it My Prince afterwards informed him of the quality of Sillaces whom he saluted and complemented with much humility Those ceremonies finish'd Artabbanes who could not but admire at any man's possessing so high a Government as that of Arsacia who was so declared a Partizan of his Father's as Zenophon informed him of it To which Zenophon replyed Though you are Sir ignorant of this present Government yet you are not that the past was so unequal and Tyrannical that your generous Father quitted
be removed by Boat to Zenophon's she condescended to accompany them thither where they arrived undiscovered which my Prince was much intent upon lest his accidental coming into Media might by the conjuncture of Affairs relish more of Design than Chance and consequently prejudice Zenophon who by the Laws of Hospitality and Gratitude he was confined to oblige As soon as the Princess was retired to her Appartment Zenophon presented her with the fair Emilia his Daughter and only Child who he begged her to accept till she could recover one that was more capable to serve her or if she esteemed none could be so then he conjured her to accept of her for ever Parthenissa was exceedingly satisfied with so obliging a Present and though Emilia at first sight absolutely gave her self up to the Princess yet she could not more do so to Parthenissa than I did the like to her I cannot Sir continued Symander but acknowledg a Truth which if you saw the cause of you would perhaps upon her account excuse this digression whose Character I would give you did I not know that in such attempts either the Lover thinks he speaks too little or is thought to speak too much There is no doubt had not Artavasdes been too deeply concerned in the hearing of his Friends Loves and in the infelicities of his own to act any thing of mirth or suspension he had at Symander's cost given himself no small divertisement for that faithful servant had been so little one to Love and so contemned the two Princes assurances that it was a Fate as certain as Death that now this acknowledgment had furnished his generous Hearer with an ample Theam for Raillery had not those former considerations silenced all thoughts of that quality Symander in expectation of this little war had continued a while silent but at length perceiving and troubled at the cause that he mist it thus prosecuted his Narration Zenophon leaving Parthenissa in her Appartment went to see the two Princes's in theirs who though his Palace was capacious enough to afford them distinct ones had determined their Lodgings as their Friendships should admit of no division The residue of that day and the night was dedicated to Rest but Artabbanes took so little that the next morning his Princess being informed of it came to visit him and perceiving by his indisposition and the loss of so much blood that he was very pale she became so too and what misfortune had created in Artabbanes Sympathy did in his Mistriss who by the eloquence of her words as well as looks acquainted him with her sufferings which she said recived no small accession that his proceeded from the service he had done her If Madam said my Prince my present condition ought to produce any operations in you they should be of a contrary quality to those you ascribe them to for my Crime upon its own score abundantly merited a higher punishment than these unconsiderable wounds I have therefore much more cause to rejoyce than repine that what I should have suffered as an expiatory Penance for my Sin I do for the duty of serving you your goodness having rendered my punishment needless 't was just my services should impose on me what your Mercy declined the doing and that a part of that blood should be shed for your safety which was all preserved by your forgiveness but Madam continued Artabbanes may I not again stand in need of it when I have taken the confidence humbly to beg the knowledg of your Adventures till my wound permit me to acquaint you with mine This entertainment will be the best Charm against their Pain for whil'st I can hear and see the fair Parthenissa my other Senses will resign their functions to those If she replyed the relation of my Story can produce so ambition'd an effect I shall find in it an ample recompence for all my sufferings which the sooner to receive I will obey you The Sequel of Parthenissa's History After said Parthenissa that the generous Sillaces by an attempt to silence our fears for you had raised them for himself by ingaging in so dangerous and unpromising a journey wherein he evinced the vastness of his Friendship for there is hardly any of so perfect a quality as to undertake that upon certainties which his did but in hopes I continued for a while free from all troubles but those which both your absences created and those I sympathized in of your excellent Sisters and the fair Zephalinda's for Surena nor Arsaces on his score did not renew their persecution I admired at it as much as I was satisfied with it for though Surena's words assured me not of his Passion yet his languishings did and in all his visits he so pressingly implored my pardon that I found he was but too much concerned in the obtaining it which having granted to his condition and not to him that being altered I had also altered my concession this I did as a necessary justice though he gave it a contrary Name For those prayers which by that proceeding he employed for obtaining of my Pardon he would otherwise as I apprehended have imployed for obtaining my affection and the obstacle of his Crime being removed it would have left Arsaces none whereby he might have continued his solicitations for his Favourite It was above six Moons that I remained in this condition which though but too full of infelicity by your absences and Surena's presence yet it seems the Gods thought it not full enough for by the folly of his Passion he was finally reduced to as dangerous a condition as your Sword had done 'T was then that Orodes passing over all considerations but those of his Favourite came to visit me and not only implored my Pardon but my Love for him I represented to him that one which could stand in need of the former could hardly merit the latter that he was a Person whose Treachery rendered him as unfit for his Friendship as Mine and that his actions rather called upon his Justice than Protection Madam said Orodes that infidelity you reproach him with is that which you should esteem him for the least production of a common Passion is to endeavour the having it rewarded by sufferings and by submissions but one that could not but prove extraordinary by the Beauties being so that inspir'd it you cannot admire at an effect resembling its cause and that your perfections are not common is not a greater Truth than that a Crime in Surena is the like Your Artabbanes himself I believe durst not have done so much he loves his Reputation more than Parthenissa and who dares do most for her merits most from her I know Sir I reply'd that the generous Artabbanes is more a friend to Virtue than to Love and I am confident he knows I am so too 't is therefore only on that account I believe he durst not have done what Surena did neither is it any glory that he transcends
Rivals celebrated their victory and deliverance by many embraces which were given with so good grace that it created a general quarrel to Fortune for having so long defer'd it and which in the future was to break it again One would have guest by my Prince's retributions that his Life had been precious to him but those that knew Parthenissa was in Surena's hands knew withal that it was to his Gallantry not his own safety that he paid them I amuse not my self to particularize those signal expressions those two generous Enemies made one another before their separation which was perform'd by eithers contracting too good an opinion of his Rival for their unfortunate condition But Surena's was at least silenc'd if not supprest by his return that day to Parthenissa to whom my Prince by a private Messenger gave so ample and handsome an account of that days proceeding that his reception relish'd more of having assum'd Artabbanes's felicity than of having been his Protector and his ignorance from whence so obliging an usage was deriv'd inspir'd him with hopes which could not have a more flattering than false foundation My Prince in the mean time with a Guard Surena had fore'd him to take for his Defence continu'd his journey by a hasty Travel towards Chrisapolis where he heard Zenophon was levying Forces to relieve his King and to bring the Fate of Media to a more equal dispute than Tygranes's precipitation had already allow'd it Artabbanes was no sooner arriv'd at Chrisapolis than he discharg'd Surena's Convoy with rewards more proportionate to the Giver than Receivers He made his entry into the City by night only waited upon by me and having taken up a retir'd lodging enquir'd of the Master of it the News that was then stirring who told him That Zenophon but six days before had receiv'd an express from Tygranes which told him their chiefest Magazine of Victuals in Ecbatan had been destroy'd by a Traytor that had the Care of it which had reduc'd him to such extremity that if not immediately relieved his hopes were not to live but die a King that he despair'd not but by a small accessional relief to revenge his former disgrace in the same place in which it had befallen him and that therefore Zenophon with whatever Force he could make on the place should advance by incessant Marches towards Ecbatan This was so true and pressing an Intelligence that Zenophon having formerly appointed a general Rendezvous too late for this necessity took of his Army about Eight thousand Horse and Foot which were the nearest and readiest Forces and with those two days since advanced to the relief of his King having left order that the residue should follow with an expedition which might evidence the cause from whence it proceeded My Prince was very pensive at this information and much more sorry the destiny of Media should be decided without him he being in it Whilst he was engag'd in such thoughts mine were employ'd how to remove their cause and at last resolving that in so emergent a necessity he ought publickly to avow himself to see what influence Moneses's blood had over the Medians and to have Arms in his hands to oppose Merinzor should the gods make him the Instrument of punishing Tygranes's Ingratitude to my Prince's Father as also to dispute Parthenissa with Surena with more equal Arms than those by which he had lost her I concluded too that Zenophon would not intrust so considerable a concern as Chrisapolis into any hands but those whose inclinations he was as confident of as of his own and therefore Artabbanes ought not to apprehend the disclosing himself to the Governour of it and to head those Forces which were embodying as Seconds to Zenophons's flying Army These reasons were so pregnant to me that I acquainted my generous Master with them to whom they appear'd the same and who therefore immediately commanded me to invite the Governour to give him a visit which he would have then paid him had he not esteem'd it fitter to receive his advice in private than go and perhaps render himself uncapable of observing it by desiring it first in publick I went with joy to obey these orders and being without much difficulty admitted into the Governours Chamber I drew him aside and told him the cause of my doing so He receiv'd the Intelligence with great astonishment but I soon found his was deriv'd from an obliging not a dangerous Cause for 't was in eloquent and passionate returns that he thankt the gods for sending and me for bringing him such News he went therefore follow'd by all the Gentlemen and Officers then about him to my Prince's Lodging but by the way the Flame being diffus'd over the City there was hardly any in it but those that waited on the Governour or that went upon the same employment I purposely omit the exceeding deep submissions and the proportionate acclamations this throng of Friends made my Prince and utter'd for his return The Governour an old and unalterable friend to Moneses and his family told him The gods Sir have doubtless reduced this Kingdom to so low an ebb to evidence your restauration was of more concernment than the quiet of it since they have depriv'd it of the last to act the first and it is more than probable that they will acquaint us 't was your absence involv'd us in Wars by making your return give a period to them We are therefore come Sir to offer you our Swords and Lives which we doubt not under such a General will vanquish greater obstacles than your courage will now encounter which has already acted too many things to leave us the least pretence of doubt it is uncapable of performing any Artabbanes in words and actions altogether sensible and obliging made them find their affection and civilities were not unfruitfully placed and to let them know he ambition'd nothing more than to engage his Life in that Country in which he found so many willing to adventure theirs with him as also to give Merinzor's first infusions the lye in a way which also should punish it he conjur'd them that the next Morning all such Forces of Horse as they thought fit to honour him with and as could be rendezvouz'd by then might be so with which he despair'd not to overtake Zenophon and to share in his Countrys Fate The Governour immediately commanded all the Officers to see those Orders obey'd and in the future to receive theirs from Artabbanes who that night he permitted not to continue in those Lodgings but brought him to the Castle where his reception spoke the heart with which it was made The Sun the next morning was not risen when all the streets of Chrisapolis eccho'd with the noise of Trumpets and Clarions and not above an hour after a great Plain on the North side of the City was covered with Three thousand Horse whereof a third part were Voluntiers which the only Name of Artabbanes drew under
cannot generous Hearers continued Symander acquaint you with what grief I entertain'd this vow of my Kings I knew his resolution too well and the power he thus had to act it not to tremble when he pronounced it and if at first I had any consolation it proceeded from an unremoved resolve of sharing in his despair if at last I could not silence it but this being a thing which related to my self only was soon expelled by a throng of cares which my duty to Artabbanes introduced who continued so cruelly true to his vow that for four and twenty hours after he had made it not all my Prayers and Tears could invite him to take any refreshment by food or sleep by which he was so extreamly weakened that he had not life enough so long again to repeat his abstinence which when I told him in sighs and weepings he answered me only in smiles and by them seemed to tell me that though his way of dying were not so expeditious as that I had denyed him yet it was as certain In this unequall'd misery when both my reason and my hope had resign'd themselves unto despair the gods inspired me with an invention which till now I never did discover and which but to you I would not Symander having nicely looked whether any were in the Chamber and whether his Prince were within hearing in the Gallery and being satisfied negatively of both thus resum'd his discourse I knew too well my King's despair was so great that no remedy which was not so could suppress it and that his vows were not to be cancel'd but by those to whom they were address'd 't was therefore that calling to me a Youth which belonged to the house in which we lay and who during Artabbanes's indisposition had shewed so much concern in it and care for him that I concluded him sit for any employment conducible to his recovery I enjoyned him in the blackest hour of Night to conceal himself behind the hangings which was next my Prince's bed and by unripping a part of it to convey a hollow Cane as near Artabbanes's Ear as he could without putting it within the reach of his hands and then in a counterfeit hollow voyce to speak thrice and with some good interval these ensuing words Artabbanes go to Hierapolis there consult and obey the Oracle The time to execute this being come which was three hours after it was design'd and indeed my Prince's condition could not well admit of a much longer delay the faithful Youth had so well fitted all things and so excellently disguised his voice that I almost began to believe the gods who knew nothing but themselves had the power to suspend that despair they had involved him in had undertook that Justice As soon as Artabbanes heard the voyce he called me and told me Symander does my Fancy conspire with thee and with Fortune or do I really hear a voyce which commands me an obedience more cruel than thy late usage I was about to reply when the second time the first words were repeated and they were no sooner ended than I cryed out as surprized At length Sir at length you see my endeavour to hinder your despair was not my Sin for if it had been one the gods would not have imitated me nor can you any longer doubt their care when to evince it they make use even of a Miracle He was about to have reply'd when the voyce the third time enjoyn'd what it had twice before after which Artabbanes cry'd No Symander I never doubted of their care nor of their making use of Miracles to shew it but then that care and those Miracles were only to torment me Ah gods how can you having done so little for me expect so much from me and why do you enjoyn me life when you have not only taken from me all the Felicities but also left me all the Torments of it Ah Sir I reply'd the reason of Man is too short and dull to reach and pierce the Ways and Providence of the gods which commonly delight to contradict and cross what we do seem most confident of partly by shewing us the uncertainty of humane things to wean us from them partly to have us center wholly in their power which such a dealing is no ill way unto Thus have the greatest Miseries been as often cur'd as the greatest Joys have been extinguished Whilst Parthenissa was alive said Artabbanes that is whilst there was a possibility I might be happy I did undergo all my afflictions with a silence great as themselves and with a resignation which shew'd I knew the ambition of my Flame deserved those sufferings which I alone ascribed to that cause But now the cruel gods have made my miseries past their power to cure With what justice can they hope to retain so much Empire over me as to expect I should act a performance they themselves cannot reward and how can the destroying of so unfortunate a Life be esteemed a crime for where an obedience is above recompence the disobedience cannot merit punishment No Symander I rather believe they command me to continue in this Life that I may not see my loss in the next for what Surena and Arsaces have been to me in this world the gods are in the other If they are Sir I reply'd then Parthenissa governs them and consequently she would not permit them to command you a fruitless Misery Alas said Artabbanes dost thou not know that though my earthly Rivals did adore her yet they did persecute me why may not I expect from Heaven the like effects from the like Cause No Sir I answered for whilst the fair Parthenissa's Soul was inviron'd with an earthly dwelling she could not see so cleae as now she is all Spirit so that now you need not doubt her knowledg to foresee your ills nor her power to prevent them and therefore you have nothing to do in this command but to obey it I am confident Sir this miraculous injunction proceeds entirely from your Princess's care your now Rivals if you made your own execution the way to her might deny you the end you thereby expect and that too without making any new Laws but by their observing those to which all Mortals are confin'd perhaps she has represented so truly your Miseries that she has procured a command to the Oracle of Hierapolis to ordain you by death to put a period to them that thereby the guilt of the performance may be taken away and consequently the punishment which doubtless she apprehends as much upon her own score as yours If that were so said my King why did not the same voyce which enjoyned me to seek my Death for that only can be my cure at Hierapolis command or at least permit me to act it here The cause Sir I reply'd is evident every common Lover in the first dictates which his Mistriss's death inspires him with would fly unto that cure you now are so intent
Mithridates youth made his Court the most delicious place not only of Asia but of the whole world My Father too being in an age very susceptible of all the charms of such a place it was not strange he had so high an opinion of it since all sort of gallantries shined there in their greatest lusture The next night after Nicomedes came to Pergamus then the residence of Mithridates he was informed that the ensuing one the King presented Fontamyris with a magniâ—ick Ball the great discourse of such a meeting and the greater of that beauty who was the cause of it gave my Father the curiosity to be a looker on but he no sooner saw the fair Fontamyris than he became one indeed and what his curiosity had extended over the whole Assembly a more pressing cause confined to one of it And though Nicomedes the more unobâ—ervedly to gaze on his new Conqueror had retired himself into the throng yet his good Meen and the advantage of his stature was such that amongst many who considered him upon those scores as well as for his being a stranger the fair Fontamyris did it so intently that not only Nicomedes observed and was concern'd in it but Mithridates did the like too and they had both much more cause for both when the fair Fontamyris by the rules of the Ball was to elect one to dance with she chose my Father out of the throng who as much confounded as joyful at it having with a deep humility acknowledged the honour she did him in the Pontick tongue also which he spake as naturally as his own he afterwards acquitted himself with so much grace and unconstrainedness in the Dance and observed the Cadence with so much justness and regularity that the Courtiers who found how much his having done so disgusted Mithridates could not find in their envy and malice the least rise to manifest either for the more curiously and nicely they examined what he had performed the more cause they found to esteem and admire it And that Fontamyris might have as much occasion to be satiâ—fied with his civility as he had to be with hers whilst he was leading her to her place he again made her so many handsom retributions for the honour she had done him that if she had reason to be pleased with what he did in the Dance she had at least as much to be so with what he had done after it Nicomedes being obliged by the Rules of the Ball to take out another Lady he took one who â—ate next to Fontamyris with whom he Danc'd and then having saluted Mithridates and all the company with much humility but Fontamyris with much more he retired into the throng where he continued as long as the Ball and in distempers which till then he had never been acquainted with But said Callimmachus not having undertaken Nicomede's story but mine I will be as brief in his as I can with obedience to what you have commanded me concerning mine own and therefore I shall in short acquaint you that my Father was so far engag'd in his passion to Fontamyris and so successfully made his Court that at length it was not only her opinion but confession that the difference between the Kingdoms of Mithridates and Nicomedes was not near so great as that between their persons for my Father had informed Fontamyris and Cephines of his real quality though he and they had conceal'd it from the Pontick King who never knew thereof till Nicomedes had secretly carried away the Princess into Bithynia which he did both by hers and her Father's consent who yet durst not publickly own it lest Mithridates resentments might have vented themselves against him who only was in his power Soon after in Nicomedia the Nuptials were re-solemnized openly and with all the magnificence a young King and a successful Lover could invent But alas those joys were but of short duration and like glorious mornings which are the soonest over-cast and turned to tears for the lightning of this Nuptial-Torch was the flame which set all Asia on fire was the original of that fatal war which afterwards the world too well knew by the name of Mithridatick and was the occasion or pretence of drawing the Roman Eagles out of Europe into the East where they have since extended their wings into the Euphrates over which 't is believed they had long since flown had not the Domestick differences of her proud Citizens done more for Asia than the blood and swords of all her Inhabitants This great people jealous of their glory or thirsting after a pretence to encrease it and their Empire so highly resented Mithridates not assisting Mannius Aquilius and Lucius Cassius in the recovery of Bithynia and Cappadocia that they commanded those two Generals to invade Pontus and to make the loss of that great Kingdom the Penance of the King's disobedience But knowing the Roman Army was too small for so great a design by a solemn Embassy they invited Nicomedes to joyn his Arms to theirs and to suppress the Enemy both to his Family and Person Nicomedes who owed his Crown to the Romans who knew Mithridates Resentment would proportion his Loss That if he omitted this opportunity of depressing him he would probably never meet with such another and perhaps in a heat of youth ambitious to mingle Laurels with his Myrtles invited by Gratitude Policy and Glory added a Bithynian Army to the Roman over both which the Senate made him General which they the more confidently did because his Education was Roman and this Action made them believe his Inclination was the like Nicomedes Mannius and Cassius found Eupater on the Frontiers of Pontus with a vast Army which he had raised to invade his Rivals Kingdom but now to his grief and wonder he found must be employed to defend his own The Retail of this War would be endless I shall therefore omit all the battels sieges and encounters of it to tell you the event of that signal day on the success of which both parties had set up their Reâ—ts The Consequence being great the Forces which composed both Armies were the like under Mithridates Ensigns there were Two hundred thousand foot and One hundred thousand Horse rais'd in Pontus Lidia the two Scâ—thia's Mesopotamia Armenia the less and even the Bactrians and the farther Eastern people came to his help against the Romans their common Enemy to all which Craterus a great Captain had brought him One hundred and thirty Chariots armed and fortified with sharp Sithes an invention which till then the Romans and Bâ—thinians had never been acquainted with and which did more against Nicomedes Army than all Mithridates's besides These great Forces were led by Commanders whose Gallantry rendered them as formidable as their Numbers besides Craterus there was Dorilaus who led a Phalange of Foot so considerable both for the number and order that the Romans both feared and admired it Neoptolemus led Thirty thousand Horse and
my Army to shog still toward the right hand so that by the time we came to mingle we outwinged their Left Flank as much as their Right Wing outwinged our Left and thereby in a great measure shared the inconveniences with them which by their numbers they might have entirely cast upon us if they had taken the advantage of the place in keeping the stream on their left Flank I shall not trouble you in giving a minutes description of this days action 't is enough you know though the Mithridatians did behave themselves like men of Honour yet the Romans led by Nicomedes for Murena had been dangerously wounded and was carried off in the beginning of the Fight and all Nicomedes's Forces had been broken and dispers'd so signally manifested their Courages and kept their Discipline that I was twice reduced to our general Reserve and to a Body of Foot which had been kept entire only by the help and countenance of some Horse which had been their Reserve That which had reduced us to this extremity was not only the fall of Megabizes who though he lost his Life yet he got a Reputation which was much more worth but also the dangerous wounds which Lingarus received who thereby was carried out of the Field sensless and speechless yet accompanied with so many elogies that none which was a friend to Honour would have declin'd the bloody rate at which he had purchas'd his Great gods what did I not think and what did I not say when I saw my self reduced to so sad an extremity to be worsted in Statira's quarrel nay even in her sight and thereby expose her to lose her own Liberty whose Beauties were capable to deprive all men of theirs To presume to lift up my eyes to such a person and be defeated at the head of such an Army To have had success enough to give me such exalted hopes and then from the height of them to precipitate me were considerations too too sufficient to make me cast my self into the arms of death to put a period unto them I may truly say generous Princes that this despair made me act strange things even worthy the fair Mithridatia's sight and perhaps her commendation which yet I even blusht at to find that any motive could inspire my Arm more than the Noblest Passion for the Noblest Object I kill'd in this fury Neoptolemâ—◠〈◊〉 the head of his Forces and took Ariobarzanes in the Center of his and by the help of Lingarus's Son who had rallied a body of the young Bosphorian Nobility I stop'd the current of Nicomedes's success and thereby gave my own Forces time and opportunity to Rally which they did and with which we soon made our Friends see we were Conquerors and our Enemies feel it Never was there in such a number so horrid an Execution scarcely Nicomedes and Murena loaden with wounds could recover a little Boat which with much hazard carried them to Archilaus's Fleet where he himself soon after did arrive cursing Fortune which had given them such hopes only to make their loss the more unsupportable But amidst the blood and confusion of our Victory I caus'd the Name of Atafernes to be ecchoed in all places and by all Persons under my Command promising high Rewards to any which could bring me News of him but finding those ways unsuccessful I sent several parties of Horse towards the Sea presupposing when the Enemy had seen the probability of their Defeat they might have sent him towards their Fleet as the only place to secure so considerable a Prisoner in And that nothing might be left unessay'd and something acted according to my own mind galloped I my self away at the head of some Horse to seek that generous Prince for whose Freedom I had higher desires than for Victory I was already come within sight of the Sea without discovering what I sought and was even turning back when I perceived coming out of a small Wood a body of Horse who bended their course towards a Galley which rode near the Shore but yet they marched so leisurely that I concluded in so general a Flight they carryed off some considerable Person whose then condition would not admit of a speedier motion I therefore resolved to attempt them and having sent some Horse to engage them and to retard their March I came up at last with those I had with me and after some Resistance broke and defeated the Enemy But O gods what was my joy when I found in a Litter the Prince Atafernes alive but so weak and changed with his wounds that 't was some time before I knew him and 't was with much difficulty that he embraced me This addition to the winning of the Battel made me need but one desire more With Atafernes I joyfully took up our way to the Camp whither as we were going he so signally owned the services I pay'd him and his Family and in such pressing words assur'd me they had nothing in their power above my Merit that thereby he flatter'd a Despair which his fair Sister could only suppress He told me too that he owed his life to me before I had this last time redeem'd it for Murena enraged at his wounds and thinking the day would be lost since those necessitated him to retire had commanded his Soldiers to whom I was a Prisoner and who then guarded me that if they could not recover the Fleet before they were overtook they should put him to Death which being once pursued they were about to perform when by accident Nicomedes in his flight passing by not only hindred but discharged those Romans of Murena placed a Troop of Bithynians and Cappadocians about me with order if they were overtook or worsted they should leave me untouch'd and having acquainted me therewith he added 'T was for Callimachus's sake who had desired his care of me This generosity I was inform'd of with much satisfaction and with no less trouble to find my Fate had destin'd me to be an Enemy to a Prince who by many confinements merited my Service We were no sooner arrived at the Camp than the shouts of Victory were drown'd in those Atafernes's life and Liberty occasioned in the Soldiers whose joys yet had not a higher production than a cause 'T was then I waited upon Ariobarzanes where having pay'd him all the civilities due to his Title and given him all those consolations due to his condition I sent him to Mithridates accompanied with the chief Officers of the Army But to let you see the instability of the most promising earthly condition as I was inviron'd with some thousands of Conquerors and in the embraces of a generous Prince there came a young man of an excellent Meen and in a Garb which shewed him to be of some quality who desired to speak with me promising a piece of intelligence worthy my knowledg I must confess I trembled at it fearing it might be some discovery where Nicomedes was concealed and
therefore I would have put him off but he so pressingly importun'd my attention that in the end I gave it him but instead of what he promised he plung'd a Dagger into my breast up to the Handle and would have doubled his stroke but that I had strength enough left to force it out of his hand and return his bloody present at which he fell and had only Life enough left to say That he was Neoptolemus's Son and that since I had destroy'd his Father and Family having no other way to act his Revenge he had chosen that which he hoped his high wrongs and necessitated condition would apologize for His immediate Death saved him from those torments the rage and grief of the Soldiers had design'd him but such abundance of blood gushed out of my wound that I soon after fell and 't was with much Art and pain that my wound was bound up The generous Atafernes took me into his Littor and the Palace in Nicomedia being the nearest place we could retire unto we advanced thither Never was there Triumph so sad as this and never was there Laurel and Cypress so exactly mingled the whole Army march'd by the Littor carrying the Trophies of their success and washing them with their tears so that when the King the Queen and the Princesses came to meet us at the Court-gate to honour and share in the joy of our success they found so many evincements of grief in all the Armies looks that they knew not what to fear and yet did fear every thing the sadded Soldiers which marched in the first Ranks gave so imperfect an account of what they were demanded as did also all those which followed that their eyes were their first and truest Intelligencers and though at the same time they saw Atafernes alive and free yet seeing me with so little life by him and all disfigured with blood it seem'd to chase away all their causes of satisfaction and I found by as sad as high a proof that my life was not inconsiderable to so many eminent Persons and above all to that fair Princess to whose Service I had devoted it The shrieks she made when she saw me in so dangerous a case drew me from that Dyingslumber I had been in and as soon as my eyes were open they met with hers which suddenly after wept such a deluge of tears that had I not ascribed them all to her Noble Brother's condition I had neither deplor'd my own nor her grief I would have forc'd my self to rise but I found I could not which she perceiving forbad me any more attempts of that nature by which I had scarce strength enough humbly to acknowledg her care This made them the more hasten up to the Prince's Chamber where he would have me lye causing another Bed to be set up We were no sooner in a condition to receive a visit than the two Princesses and the King gave us one a sudden indisposition of the Queen 's then confining her from stirring out who after he had spent some time with me in evincements of his satisfaction for what I had done and sorrow for what I was reduced to and in kindnesses to his Son he went immediately after to the Queen's apartment out of which he seldome did use to stir when any distemper tyed her unto it The two Princesses stayed with Atafernes who perhaps to oblige me for I believe he then suspected my Passion desired his Favourite-Sister to entertain me whilest he did the Princess Roxana That admirable person did me therefore the honour to come near my Bed and told me I see Callimachus how deceitful and uncertain all humane things are for had I know that this day you should have brought us home Victory and Atafernes I could not have believed there had been unhappiness enough left to have clouded our satisfaction but your wounds and danger make it impossible at once to express gratitude and joy Madam I replyed there can hardly be a higher evincement how unestimable most Worldly things deserve to be than to see that so inconsiderable a persons condition should cloud and disturb yours but Madam how sad soever it appears I have yet sufficient cause to bless the gods which have given me life enough to deliver you from your Enemies your Brother from his imprisonment and to see you once more to give you such an account of the honour of your Commands And possibly now there would remain no addition to these happinesses but that I left the World lest the future actions of my life might be inferiour to these and consequently more unfit for you to receive or me to pay The Actions you have perform'd the Princess replyed in a few days are so signal and eminent that upon the glory of that stock you may spend a longer life than your condition or courage will I fear lend you and though in the future you should never more oblige us what you have done already has left such deep impressions in me that I must lose my memory to lose the sense I have of them your favours being of the like quality with Life which needs not still be renewed it 's first principle being so powerful that it still carries it self on in the strength and vigour thereof Madam I answered by so telling me of what I have done you tell me what I should have done had my power of serving you proportioned my desire of it and though you could flatter me into a belief that you are so good as to credit what you say yet that Rule I have set up to my self in serving you does so far transcend all you have spoke that whilest I do any thing short of what may be done and whilst I ever intermit acting at that Rate I am such a reproach unto my self that my dissatisfâ—ction surpasses whatever you can imagine of it At the end of these words Mithridates came hastily into the Chamber with what did more wound me than the young Neoptolemus Sword 't was with News that the King of Cyprus with a vast Fleet appeared before the Harbour and had sent some of his Nobility to advertise him thereof and to beg his permission to land that he might offer his Forces to him and his service to the Princess Statira Oh Gods continued Callimachus how great a torment this was you only know and I only did feel 't was such that before I could be master over my own motions I sighed so loud that the Princess not only took notice of it but had the goodness to enquire what had caus'd it I was a thousand times going to tell her the truth and then in a Sea of blood to have expiated the confidence of that discovery as well as to have avoided that indignation it could not but have raised in her but then the Majesty which shined in her eyes which could not inspire me with higher admiration than it did with reverenc and respect stifled those thoughts even in
Statira's Eyes and cast her into a Melancholy greater than she had discover'd for her own Captivity We had not now ten Furlongs to the Fleet when I began to open my Eyes again and to recover so much Memory as to call to mind how I was brought to that sad Condition and that the danger Mithridatia had been in was the cause of it But not knowing any thing more and the incertainty which that I knew left me in forced me to fetch a deep Groan and to say Oh gods What is become of the Princess She her self being near enough to hear this Question had the goodness to answer it by saying I am here Callimachus and have not any greater trouble than what your danger gives me Ah! Madam I reply'd turning my faint Sight towards that place from whence her Voice came Mine is not worthy your thoughts much less your trouble but for the sake of the gods tell me where you are and what condition you are in The Princess justly believing the truth thereof would but heighten my danger told me As to my condition I have acquainted you with it already and as to the place we are on the Water and in that Barge where the gods have so signally favour'd your safety that I cannot think they will soon permit the loss of a Life which by a Miracle they even now have saved Alas Madam I reply'd I find you are not pleas'd to return direct answers to my humble desires and therefore by your so telling me you are not a Prisoner you do but too much acquaint me you are one Oh gods I continued What has the unhappy Callimachus done that you have thought fit to call him out for the Princess's deliverance and then deny'd him the Honour of it and yet permitted him to out-live it Ah! Take again the Life you have lent me it can now only serve to torment me No Honours nor Glories to come can ballance this Infamy to live to see the fair Statira a Captive and made such by my unhappy defence of her is a Load too great for Life to support The deep Wounds these considerations gave me not long after made me relapse into a more dangerous Swoonding than any I had before and though Statira in Expressions far above me and Condescensions far below her endeavour'd whilst I was capable to hear and observe them to remove the cause of my despair yet I thought it built upon too much Reason to permit it to be Vanquish'd nay that admirable goodness which she shewed me was so far from acting her desires that it made me but the more resolutely approve of mine own which was to Die My condition having left me nothing more Elegible since if I recover'd 't would be but to see that fair Princess in the Bonds of Imprisonment whilst she continued with Nicomedes and in those of Marriage as soon as she was freed from the others either of which was a misery that render'd Death a less than to behold one of them Whilst I yet lay in a seeming Death we were come so near the victorious Fleet that one of the Barges which had conducted us advanced faster than the rest to acquaint the King how they had fail'd of their first design and what good marks they brought him that they had attempted it This was the cause that by that time we were come to the side of the Admiral 's Galley Nicomedes was ready to descend into our Barge which he did and with many Civilities and Respects strove to render Statira's loss of Liberty as little uneasie as he could After she had convinced him she was not unsensible of what he said and did She told him There is Sir in this Barge a Gentlemen who though he has been your Enemy yet I will believe you will not deny him your care Madam said Nicomedes I have already been told that Callimachus is here and dangerously Wounded and though he has been my Enemy in so high a degree that by his Sword I have been kept out of my Kingdom and this Day out of the chiefest City of it yet your Commands and the Duty I owe to Gallantry though in an Enemy shall make my care of him be as great as if his Wounds had been received for and not against me Statira as Tomsones afterwards assur'd me gave Nicomedes more Acknowledgments for what he had promis'd her for me than for what he had paid her for her self which had made the Bithynian King tell her I cannot Madam blame Callimachus for tying himself so absolutely to your Service since by the Honour of your Concernments for him he has that Duty so advantageously rewarded and possibly his present condition is not so much to be lamented upon any account as that by it he is render'd uncapable to know these fresh Obligations you lay upon him and to pay you his Acknowledgments for them Callimachus reply'd the fair Statira blushing has too much hazarded himself for me not to make my care of him a Debt due unto him and since he has been Prodigal in obliging I ought to be just in paying But I believe were he to speak only the truth he would esteem his now Condition more deplorable by its rendring him uncapable to resent your generosity to him and to pay you his retributions for it than on any other score and since by favouring me he is reduced to that misfortune be pleas'd to accept of my Acknowledgments for him till the gods render him able to present you with his own for himself Nicomedes who found by that little disorder Statira had been in that what he had intended only in a Gallantry was otherwise received took a particular care no more to err on that side But having in Magnificent terms applauded the justness and greatness of the Princess's care of me he presented her his Hand to lead her up into his Galley and then told her I know not Madam if you have any other Commands to Honour me with for any else in this Barge but if you have I beg to receive them ere we go out of it Sir reply'd Statira Here are some Gentlemen who had not now been Prisoners or Wounded if their civility to me had not involved them in that misfortune But I know they are in the power of a Prince that renders any Intercession of mine for their good usage a needless thing Nicomedes by bowing himself acknowledged that advantageous opinion the Princess had contracted for him who to evince it was a true one commanded some of his Officers to take as much care of Rebadates and those others that were hurt as they would of their best Friends and to give all the rest any freedom they desired but that of returning to Nicomedia and because he had understood Tomsones had dress'd me was very happy and skilful in curing of Wounds he appointed him to be still near me and to lye in a Pallet in the next Cabbin to me These Orders being
King the Duty I owed his Title Wherefore I went forthwith Aboard him where I was entertained with all imaginable Civility and Honour and with no small expressions of his Trouble that the Cilician and Phoenician Helps were not yet Arrived which he said He esteemed advisable to stay some Days for that they might lose no accessional Force in so Ambition'd a Victory I assur'd him that it was more desirable with the Force we had to proceed in so Glorious a quarrel than to permit the Imprisonment of the Princess so long time as must be spent in the expectancy of their Arrival that the Justice of the Quarrel and the Person for whom 't was undertaken were assurances of Success in the Result of it and if we thought a good Cause was favour'd by the gods we could not but believe thereby we were supplied with more Strength than even the desired Addition could produce And therefore I offer'd with the Naval-Force I had to compose the lest Wing that to stay for those Fleets we expected would convince the Enemy and our own Soldiers that we thought we needed them and if they can not as 't was as probable they would not come at all as that they should not come by the Day prefixed by Mithridates and promised by themselves we must then either wholly decline the Action or attempt it with the evidences of our own doubt of Success nay possibly by a continuance where we were invite Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes to seek us out when also by our continuance where we were we acknowledged we apprehended their Encounter These Reasons and that Offer of mine made the Cyprian King cast off all Thoughts of delaying the Battel or at least of presenting the Enemy with it Possibly their own Weight possibly that none might appear more forward than himself in that Action in which he was to receive the greatest and highest Rewards made him resolve and declare That the next morning he would set Sail for the Island of Scyros and there find the end of his Hopes or of his Life And to evidence his Apprehensions sprung from his fears that my Wing needed assistance not his he offer'd me some eighteen Galleys to Fortifie it But having paid him my Acknowledgments for that offer I declined it thereby to convince him his Fleet and mine that I thought I needed no such Accession After we had resolved on all things for the Decision of the Battel in which he chose the right Wing and assigned me the left He shew'd me several rare Inventions of his own Subjects and of the Egyptians both which had then the opinion of the best and most experienced Sea-men in the whole World as well for Navigation as Fight One of which I cannot omit particularizing which was that the Egyptians in most of their Galleys had divers great Earthen Pots full of small holes in which Pots they had inclosed great Serpents which by the Holes received Air and Sustenance enough to preserve them These were to be flung into such Galleys as they grappled with The fall of the Earthen pots on the Decks of the Enemies Vessels would infallibly break them And then the hungry Serpents being at liberty would wind themselves about the Limbs of the next they could seize on and thereby not only hinder them from Fighting but in a short while put an end to their Lives This admirable and cruel Invention I commended only because 't was to be employed against the Detainers of my Princess though in it self I did not like it esteeming it a Salvage cruelty to employ venomous Beasts to destroy the Lives of Valiant Men. Soon after I had seen some other like Inventions I retired to my own Fleet and according to the resolution taken Aboard Ascanius made all things ready to weigh Anchor with the Morning's light which accordingly we did I having first left Orders for the Cilician and Phoenician Fleets to follow me And with Oars and Sails we steer'd our course to the Island of Scyros where to my unspeakable Joy the Day following by that time the Sun was two hours high we discover'd the two King's Fleets embattelling within the easie prospect of the Castle and as ready to accept of the Fight as we were to present it them I soon perceived the Bithynian Flags composed the right Wing which I was to Fight against and the Cappadocian the left Wing which Ascanius was to oppose Elevated with the Glory of what I sought for and before whom I fought and troubled at nothing more than at the glorious Flag which the King of Cyprus carried I began the Battel which I might truly say was replenished with more various accidents than ever any which was fought before And though the Princess had the trouble to see her Deliverance was a long time in the Balance yet at last she had the satisfaction to see the Pontick and Bithynian Admiral engaged singly and though Nicomedes did all that became a King and a General yet being himself sunk under the weight of his personal Wounds I entred his Galley and took him my Prisoner though when I did it he was by the loss of Blood uncapable to see my Success or deplore the want of his own As soon as ever that Admiral Galley was conquer'd all the rest of his Fleet confusedly fled to the Shore in which Chase we sunk many and took more and prosecuted our Victory as far as the Water would give us leave But the Success could not be more glorious on our left Wing than it was deplorable in the right for on my Return to see whether our Friends needed our assistance I found the Cyprian and Egyytian Fleets as totally vanquisht as the Mithridiatick had the Bithynian nay I saw a Cappadocian Galley carrying That glorious Flag at her Stern which a little before had adorned the main-Top of the Cyprian Admiral The fury I was in at that sight carried my Galley with Wings to so desired a recompence and revenge and the Enemy as proud of their prize as I was inraged to see it theirs disputed their Purchase with at least as much resolution as that with which they had acquired it The Fight was such that even the winning of this Galley cost me not less blood and time than Nicomedes's But at length she yielded and presented me with an Effigies than which nothing to me could be more acceptable unless the glorious Original To recover that noble Trophy was an Honour which needed not to set it off the Foyl of my Rivals having lost it In brief that large Scene in which the Battel had been fought was clear'd of all our Enemies but five Galleys for Ariobarzanes satisfied with his having done that to our right Wing which I had done to his and having been disorder'd in that Success too much to attempt the changing of mine or else apprehending a Forest of Vessels which then began to appear and which afterwards I found were my Phoenician and Cilician Fleets
engaged to perform their Contract and to serve the Pontick King in his first Naval Ingagement But then by solemn Oath they tyed themselves the next day to return whatever their Success was and to obey whatever their Superiours should enjoyn who they hoped by this short Peace would assume thoughts of a perpetual one and by their Absence might be invited to extinguish that Flame which their Presence did but kindle and animate That therefore they were come not only to implore my pardon for their having been absent but to beg my permission to return that they might therein satisfie their Oaths to their gods and their Duties to their Chiefs After I had acquainted them with my trouble for their absence and for the cause of it I began to endeavour to make them sensible that even by their Vows they were confined to see one Engagement more for this that was past they had rather heard of than seen That our Fleets which had engaged were so shatter'd that without their help we could not continue the Siege of the Island till it was reduced which to effect we were to employ half of our number to transport at once the Prince Atafernes's Army since to Land it in parts were to expose it to the Army there who by that worst proceeding might soon repair on the Land what they had lost on the Sea I did not omit to add to these Motives all those others which I thought might engage them But pleading their Oaths to the gods and their Superiours as soon as the first Engagement was over and binding themselves to me by the most Sacred Vows they could make as soon as their domestick differences were ended by the Sword or by Agreement they would immediately return to Mithridates's Service if called and face the Island for five days before they returned which was a competent time to transport the Prince's Army into it Not being able to prevail for more I accepted so much and forthwith sent an Express to the King to acquaint him with our Success and at what at Rate we had bought it I likewise employed another Express to the generous Atafernes with an account of all things and how that in two days I intended to bring into the Bay of Nicomedia so many of his Father's Fleet as would transport into the Island Forces enough to Conquer it and that I would leave the residue of the Fleet with the Cilician and Phoenician Navies to block it up in the mean time that none in it might get out of it and no new Supplies might be received into it By that time I had informed these Resolutions and dispatched these Expresses the Barge I had sent with the Trumpet returned and he brought me this Letter Ariobarzanes King of Cappadocia to Callimachus Admiral of the Pontick Fleet. I Had now returned you the dead Body of the King of Cyprus if two Noblemen his Subjects and my Prisoners had not begg'd it of me that they might perform the Cyprian Funeral-solemnities due unto his Quality and after that carry it to receive the like Obsequies in his own Countrey for which end I have given them their own Liberty and their own Galley with my Pass to return to Cyprus as soon as these intended Ceremonies are finished here and that his Corps is Embalmed I acknowledg your great Civility in sending me news of Nicomedes being alive which yet does therefore hinder me from being able to dispose of so considerable a Prisoner as the Prince Pharnaces is But for the Princess Statira as it was always against my will she was detained Women being neither the Cause nor the continuance of our War so I shall willingly exchange her and all the Prisoners with her for Nicomedes Who I am confident in your judgment and in her Fathers also will be a sufficient Ransom for the King of Bithynia if he does not recover of his Wounds And if he do you may with reason expect from his justice without a bargain what ever he esteems this Exchange will fall short of the value of his Liberty The gods continued Callimachus only knew my transports at the reading of this Letter For had the King of Cappadocia demanded for the Princess not only Nicomedes but also Callimachus and the whole Fleet he commanded he had in raptures of Joy delivered them up to Ariobarzanes and esteemed that Purchase too low a Price for the honour of her Redemption I therefore immediately accepted of his offer on the Conditions he proposed and having received his assurance of delivering the Princess on his receiving Nicomedes I forthwith sent that generous King to the Island in his own Galley lest his removal might have been at once painful and dangerous to him and as some small Evidence how disadvantageous an Agreement I thought my Enemies had made for themselves I cast their Admiral-Galley into the bargain And I did with all my Fleets accompany the King of Bithynia towards his Port. And having attended him as far as with safety I might and paid him all the Sea-honours I was capable of which yet-his Condition made him ignorant he had received I then cast Anchor and in impatiencies above description waited for the arrival of the Princess to whom I had order'd the Fleets to pay Submissions and Honours which they never had before presented to any Admiral Whilst this ambition'd happiness was expected in Raptures due unto it or rather short of it I perused a Letter brought me by my Trumpeter from those two Cyprian Noblemen to whom Ariobarzanes had given their King's Body who therein did acquaint me That the necessary Honours due by their Laws to their King 's Embalming would consume at least thirty days by which time they desired if any occassions called me elsewhere I would appoint all the remainder of the Cyprian Fleet to be where now they Anchor'd to receive their King's Body and to attend it into Cyprus to the Tomb of his Predecessors My Trumpeter also told me That he learned Ariobarzanes having as totally defeated our right Wing as I had his left had determined by a new Combat to have forced from me my Success or increased it but that the then appearing of the Fleets of the Cilicians and Phoenicians which they knew was not for their assistance they having then all the help they could expect But chiefly the Cappadocian King 's Wounds which he dissembled till their effects then reveal'd them and a large Leak his Admiral-Galley had received made him retire with the glory of that Victory he had obtained over the Cyprians That he had seen the Body of Ascanius wept over by all his Subjects which were Prisoners who in the greatest of their Griefs had evidenced the greatness of their Loves Whilst my Trumpeter was entertaining me with these Relations I perceived a Magnificent Barge appear from the Shore I concluded the Princess Statira was in it and having drawn up my Fleet in a Cressent to receive her leaving them in that
that Gallant Nobility and Youth which was in it to Arm themselves and follow me This was immediately performed and our Boats had no sooner set some fifty of us on Shore but we were too well guided by the Shreeks of some Women to the Center of the Wood where we found all the King's Guards kill'd or routed and by one that was flying away we learned that about three Hundred select Men had lain in Ambush in the Wilderness And when the King with the Prince Atafernes the Queen the Princess Nisa and the Princess Cleopatra were diverting themselves in that pleasant Place they were forthwith assaulted by unknown Men And the Guards running to their Rescue not being able to make use of their Horses by reason of the thickness of the Wood were after a brisk Fight killed and dispersed only the King and Prince with some of their Attendants getting into a Summer-House where the Queen and Princess were defended the door of it in hope of Relief but he had even then seen it forced and many of the Enemy enter it This Relation he told us whilst we were running to their Rescue and lest our endeavours might be fruitless I sent forthwith Orders to my Galley which was advanced a League before all the rest of the Fleet to make all possible diligence to the Western part of the North-west Promontory to hinder any Vessels from escaping that way for the place in which this Attempt was made easily perswaded me to believe it was from the Sea that these Enemies were come These Orders given we continued our March with such speed that we discovered our Enemies whom immediately we assaulted and who received us with that Resolution which became Men that attempted their Design The Fight was bloody and my small Troop being heightened by the glory of so Noble an occasion to evidence their Courages did it in so unresistable a degree that the resolutest of our Adversaries began to lose their Ground as well as their Number though still fighting and retreating towards the Sea-side I easily judged thereby that their intentions was to recover their Vessel and therefore by a resolute Charge we so discomposed them that they turned their backs and made precipitately to their Boats into two whereof some of them got and immediately Launced out towards a Galley which then we discover'd riding in a Creek in the Promontory The trouble we received by their then Escape was raised to a height above my description when by one of our Prisoners we learned that in the largest of those Boats they sent away the King and Prince much wounded and all the Princesses Prisoners 'T was time to act and therefore though we had cause yet we had not leisure to grieve we seized upon one Boat that remained and pursued after them as well as four Oars could carry us which were all we could find But alas we soon found how fruitlesly we labour'd for before we could get half way to their Galley we saw them enter into it with their Noble Prize and cutting their Cables with as much hast as Oars and Sails could lend them bent their course for Greece Whilst we were in the trouble of this Prospect I was revived by the fight of my own Galley doubling the Point Her Celerity in the obedience of my Orders was unspeakably welcome I hastily got on Board told the fair Statira what we had done and what we had failed of and promising all the Slaves their Liberty if they overtook the flying Galley they so powerfully plied their Oars that we immediately found we gained visibly of them The rest of my Fleet which were above twenty Furlongs behind seeing me alter my course and not knowing the cause of it for though I saw the Galley I pursued and my Fleet saw mine yet by the interposition of the Head-Land they saw not what I chased And having positive Order to sail directly into the Bay of Nicomedia and none to the contrary continued their Course thither so that by the time I was gotten within half a League of the Enemy they could discover no Veslel was within two Leagues of me and therefore scorning to flye from a single Galley saved me the labour of following them and turning about their Prow came as fast towards me as a little before she had fled from me Over-joyed with this unlooked for Gallantry I went into the Princesses Cabbin and told her I hope now Madam telling her what the Enemy had done to do you that Service on the Sea that I failed of paying you on the Shore and I am come now only to beg you to permit the lights of your Cabbin to be stopt up lest any Darts or Javelins of the Enemy might fly into them You see Callimachus she replied how the sins of our Family afford you too often occasions to oblige it and you may perceive how fallacious even the best judgments are in Humane things when you could yesterday believe I was in a Condition above your Services and this Day all the Royal House of Pontus depend upon your Sword The gods I reply'd who have destined it to so high a Glory will I question not give it a proportionate Success And having only permitted the Royal House of Pontus to receive some of their frowns that it may be the more sensible of their smiles they had rais'd it so high that it being uncapable of accessions they have subjected it to Changes and then to Restaurations that in those vicissitudes the impossibilities of additions might be repaired Your Virtues Madam are a security to your whole Family and since I now fight to restore them and to preserve you to doubt Success were to intitle me to a denial of it The Princess at the end of what I had spoke perceiving some blood trickle down from a Wound I had received in my left Arm had the mercy to lament it and the condescension to take off a Ribband of her own and to bind it up which unvaluable Civility was no sooner conferred than Demetrius came to the Cabbin-Door to tell me the Enemy was at hand I therefore hastily took my leave and was scarce got at the head of my Men when our Galleys shook one another with their Brazen Prows and then as if it had been by mutual consent grappled so strongly that nothing but Victory was able to unloose them never possibly in so little Room was performed so great things our Numbers seemed equal and our Resolutions the same which were to Conquer or to Die Twice they got into my Galley and once oftner I got into theirs which in the End proved fatal to them for perceiving with how much difficulty we had purchas'd that advantage we as resolutely kept it and so many of mine got in after me that the Commander of our Enemies called Enastes who was a Lord of Pontus who was in highest esteem with Nicomedes and his Vice-Admiral perceiving since they could not keep us out it would be