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A43906 The history of Prince Erastus, son to the Emperour Dioclesian and these famous philosophers called the seven wife masters of Rome being a full account of all that was ever written of that antient, famous, pleasant, and excellent history / written originally in Italian, then translated into French, and now rendred English by F.K.; Seven sages of Rome. English. Kirkman, Francis, 1632-ca. 1680. 1674 (1674) Wing H2136; ESTC R20131 193,262 356

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Erastus was no sooner published in Rome but in a moment there was seen a very great alteration For instead of their preperations of joy for the entry of their young Prince every one now hang down their heads so that there was nothing but sadness and melancholly throught all Rome In the first place the poor Emperour cryed and sighed and with him all the Lords and Ladies at the misfortune of Prince Erastus In testimony whereof all persons as well men as women threw off their rich habits which they had put on to honor the entry of their Prince and instead of that every one put on mourning aparrell in the mean time the Officers of justice began to provide in execute the sentence of Erastus so that every where all went with crye● and ●eare to see this cruell spectacle But the seven Philosophers who were met together in counsell to advise about Erastus concluded that Euprosigorius should first begin and order the matter so with the Emperour that execution of the sentence should be stoped for that day and that one day after another every one should do the like so that each of them causing the execution to be delayed for one day the fatall dayes of Erastus would in that time be passed over and thereupon the good Philosopher disposed himself to go finde the Emperour CHAP. VIII Euprosigorus the Philosopher puts a stop to the execution of the sentence of Erastus for one day by the example of a Roman Gentleman who had killed his beloved Dog who had rescued his only Son from a Serpent that would have devoured him giving too much creditto the speeches of his wife who had told him that his son was dead THe Philosopher Euprosigorus being arived at the Pallace saw that the Emperour was walking alone in the hall no person darcing to speak one word to him yet nevertheless he entred with much freedom and great confidence But he was no sooner in the presence when many flocked together after him to know if he came upon the account of Erastus and what would be the issue of it before the Philosopher had the conveniency of making his reverence to the Emperour he looked on him with an angry and troubled countenance and with a high tone demanded of him from whence proceeded that rashness and presumption to dare to appeare before him and more especially at a time so improper and if that were the doctrine and instruction which he and his Companions had taught his Son to scorne to speak nor answer to his father and to solicite his Mother-in-Law to so dishonest an account Nay and to attempt to force her But continued he I promise you by the word of a Prince that I will provide so sharp and so examplary a Chastisement as well for you as for that Rascall my Son that shall leave a perpetual memory and shall serve as an example to posterity to cause them to take heed of Committing such felonies toward their Lords or Princes The Emperour having ended the good Philosopher with a cheerfull countenance and without the least appearance of trouble thus answered know Sir that it is very ill done of any person to Act any thing contrary to right justice and more especially for those who are in publique imployments and although your Majesty being endowed with great wisdom may think that you have not erred in your sentence against Prince Erastus yet nevertheless I can boldly say that it is impossible but there should be a fault in giving so sudden a sentence for every wise man ought dilligently and deliberately to weight the cause and to understand the fact very well before he proceeds to Judgment And those persons who are fit to be Judges ought principally to avoyd three things that is malice disdaine and anger as for the two first I shall say nothing at present being assured that neither malice nor disdain did not induce you to denounce this rash sentence but I may speak of anger for it was that which caused you to pronounce so severe a sentence and certainly the Poet said truly Anger by some termed Ire Springeth from the heart and fire Which if quenched not in Season By the water of sound reason Right nor wrong nor time nor place Can prevent its furious race All these disorders Sir have possession of your Spirit and have moved you to a certain impetious anger in this so important a cause and that meerly through the speech of a simple woman although your Majesty is not ignorant of the little reason which an angry woman is Mistress of who for the most part suffer themselves to be transported by their passion without inclining to any reason so that I am assured that no good can come of it and if you do not change your mind I doubt it will happen to you as it did to a Roman Gentleman who giving to much credit to his wives perswasions killed his only Dog which he had loved above all things of which action at last he too late very much repented What was this Gentleman said the Emperour and how was the matter I shall tell you Sir said the Philosopher provided that in the mean time your Majesty will be pleased to stay the execution of Prince E●astus so that having heard me if your mind shall alter as I hope it will and the sentence not being executed you may be at liberty to pronounce one more favourable otherwise my desires will be in vain Therefore Sir if you please to stay the execution untill I have finished my discourse and then you may do even what you please not only with Prince Erastus but also with me and my Companions To this the Emperour agre●d although he did certainly believe that nothing that he could ●ay should cause him to change his Opinion yet in regard he had oftentimes took grea● pleasure in his learned discourse he was content to hear him an● commanded the execution of his Son to be d●l●yed for the present The Philosopher therefore taking up the discourse thus began Some time since there lived a Gentleman in Rome having but one Son who bring desirous to have him well bred up as his only dear Child caused him to be nursed in the house and laid in his Chamber the some Gentleman had a Dog which he had a very great esteem for as well for his handsomeness as good properties and he took much pleasure in him as it was possible for any Gentleman to take in such a creature It happened that there was a Tournament or running at Tilt held in the publique Place in Rome to which the Gentleman amongst others of his quality resorted And no sooner was he gone but his wife also being as unadvised as many other woman had a mind to go see the pleasures of this Tournement and thereupon she went with all her Chamber-maids and damsells and to their great misfortune the Nurse went to the Top of the house from whence although she could not see
the Son of the King of Hungary fell sick and his destemper encreasing more and more upon him all the Physitians of that Kingdom gave him over for dead the King being troubled to lose his Son was advertised that if his Son might escape by Physick Hipocrates only could cure him for this skilful Physitian was renowned through all the World by means of his great knowledg and having conferred with the Queen about the matter who was also very sad for the sickness of the Prince her Son and very desirous of his recovery advised with all diligence to send Ambassadours to Hipocrates with great presents to ind●re him besides far greater promises which the said Ambassadours were charged to make him to come and cure the young Prince of Hungary who without his help would unavoidably perish The Ambassadors being come to Hipocrates and having declared their charge and delivered their presents which the K● g had sent which he kindly received he thus answered that he was as much troubled as the King their Master for the desire he had to do him humble service in regard that he could not go and therefore he entreated that his Majes y would excuse him by reason of his inability in respect of his great age he being now decriped and diseased in his body but however he would fully satisfie the desire of their Master by an only Nephew which he would send who being very ●k●l●ul being alwayes br●d up with him and pr●ctised under him in such manner that he knew him ●●ffi●i●nt for this cure and that there●ore that the K●●g should not diseste●m him for hi● youthfulness for he should find him very able in hi● u●d●●taking The Ambassador seeing Hipocrates not to be in a cond tion to travell and having a very good opinion of his Nephew took him w●th them and p● ceeded so on the r journey that they arived at the ●●●●rt where th●y were well received o● the King and Queen and that they might not loose time the K ●g cond●cted the Physition to his S●n But wh●n he had seen him and heard him spe●k knew by his ●● s g●ony and other signs that he was not the K●●g● S●n and therefore before he would do any th●ng in ●rder to the cure being desir● u● to be resolved of the doubt he had conceived he desired to speak with the Queen alone whereupon being privately with her in her Chamber he thus began Madam if you please to tell me the truth of what I shall ask you I will in short time restore your Son to his former h●alth otherwise I can give you no ass●rance of it The Que●n promised him with an Oath so desirous s●e was to see he● Son well not to conce●l any t●ing th●t he should d sire of her Then the Physitian said I d●sire only to know if the Father of the sick Child be here to this the Queen ●nswered do you think that any but the King is his Father to this the Physitian replyed since you are not pleased to tell me the tru●h I● will be gon and your Son will dye The Queen hearing this resolved so as she might save her Sons life to tell t●e Physiti●n that which she could not up●n any account l●t any Person in the world know and having taken on Oath of the Physitian to be secret in what she should tell h●m she blushing for shame thus began I would excuse my self but you are not ignorant of the sad condition that married Women are in who are Childless for in truth that is their only riches and content for the Husbands who can h●ve no Children of their Wives do hate them a● 〈◊〉 it were her fault and for this cause the poor Women are disdained slighted and ill used and their Husbands seek out other Women that they may have a Bastard to succeed them after their death This being my case having lived long with the King without any Child and being therefore accounted barren and slighted by every one I purposed to know whether the defect was in me or my Husband whereupon I having ●e●n the Miller come into the Cou●t to bring in C●rn to the Granery and believing that to be a good oppertunity to execute my design because the King was gone a hunting and all my Women dispersed some in one place and some in an other I caussed him to enter into my Cabinet pretending to speak with him alone where he had to do with me and that several times after so that I perceived my self to be with Child and that I might the better wier the matter I caused the King to lye frequently with me so that at the time o● my Child-birth it was supposed to be the Kings Child and so it is still and after this I was better resp●cted of the King and honoured by all wherefore I pray you to save him which I got by such art to my great peril The Physitian smileing to himself answered Madam take no further care I will restore your Son safe and sound and thereupon after many remedies which he gave to the sick person causing him to be nourished with gross meats according to his natural constitution he became well The Physitian then seeing his Patient in good case and out of danger and that it was time to return he took leave of the King and Queen who presented him with Gold and Silver and gave him good and honourable Company to attend him to his Uncle to whom he rel●ted every part●cular that had hapned by which relation Hipocrates knew the great profit which his Nephew had made in so little time for which cause instead of takeing pleasure in regard he had so taught him he conceived a mortal hatred against him and doubting that the skil of his Nephew would deminish his renown in regard he was to succeed him and to possess a great many books which Hipocrates had composed according to the great experience of his time which would encrease the fame of his Nephew and diminish his own if his receits should come into his possession he therefore purposed privately to kill him and thereupon having caused him to come into his garden where he had all sorts of herbs he demanded if he knew their several vertues to which his Nephew answered yes he desired him to pluck up one of them which he named and as the young man stooped to the ground not doubting any thing the envious old man struck him between the head and shoulders with a hatchet which he had hidden under his gown and slew him at the first blow and to conceale his cruelty he buried him in the same place where he had killed him It hapned as God is just and leaves nothing unpunished that soon after Hipocrates fell sick of the bloody flux so violent that no medicine could stop it But Hipocrates to make tryal of his skil caused a great Vessel to be filled with water whereinto he having cast a certain powder he drew out several
an untruth and for that of which he was guilty he might justly expect to ●ail and be vanquished this they both beleived would happen and therefore consulted what to do and thus it was that they wanted the presence of their dear friend Entichus This consideration brought it into the minde of the Princess how that they should accomplish their business and therefore she having thus advised her Lover to take his opportunity very suddenly to speak with the Emperor and tell him that he had received Letters from the King his Father that he must needs go home suddainly because he was sick and therefore to desire his leave to dpart and to give longer time for the Combat which having obtained to go then immediately to King Entichus and desire his advice and assistance Prince Arthur followed the directions of the Princess in all these particulars and obtaining leave of the Emperor he travelled so long that he arrived at the Court of King Entichus and there privately be acquainted him with his affairs and the occasion of his journey King Entichus was very glad to see him and desirous to all things to advise and assist him but knew not how there is no way but this replyed Arthur that you return in my behalf and not being known to be other than my self on my befalf to perform the Battel and return King Entichus approved of what his friend Arthur had propounded but they were very much straitned for time in regard it was but eight dayes time to the day prefixed for the combate and if it were delayed for one day he could not possibly arrive there time enough and he had invited all his Nobility on the next day to come to his Wedd●ng This was such an ob●tacle as could not be removed or remedyed and put them to their wits ends but King Entichus being resolved to give an absolute proof of his friendship and hazard Kingdome Wife and Life and all rather than his friends should suffer in their honor he therefore thus contrived the business that Prince Arthur in all things resembling King Entichus should stay there and as if it were he be married to his Queen and hold all the solemnity of the Nuptials only when he was in bed with her to forbear proceeding with her and that he would immediately return to the Emperors Court and undertake the Combate and if he obtained the Victory suddainly return and so might he do so too to his best beloved this being concluded upon they seperated accordingly This was the sad condition of the poor unfortunate Entichus but on the other side Prince Arthur was as highly advanced for his father the King of England dying he became King and the Emperour of Germany dying and he marrying with the Princess Angelica he was crowned Emp. King Entichus understanding the fortune of his friend to be thus prosperous was joyful and resolved to go to him for releif in time of adversity and therefore putting on Hermits apparrel he travelled to the E. court where when he was arrived and would have entred he was turned out by the courtiers who could not indure the sight of so deform'd a monster wherefore he spak with one of the Emperor servants desiring him for the love of God to do a message for him The servant being a sober person bid him speak on on and say what he would have I desire said the Leaper that you go to the Emperour and tell him that here is a Leaper that desires for the love of God and King Entichus his sake that he may be admited to eat in some place this day in the Emperours presence The Servant told the Leaper that certainly his request would be refused but however he would perform his desire and thereupon went and told the Emperour who hearing the name of his dear friend King Entichus was so charmed therewith that he presently consented to the Leapers request commanding that he should eat in the Hall at a Table by himself and be respected as a person of honour Dinner time being come and the Emperour and his Courtiers being sat at Table the Leaper was also placed and served and when he had eaten he desired one of the Servitors to go to the Emperour and desire him for King Entichus his sake to send him his best Bowl ful of Wine This is an unreasonable request said the Servitor for my Lord the Emperour will never drink in it again if you should once touch it but however he went and delivered his Message to the Emperour who wondred at the request but performed what was desired and the Leaper receiving the Bowl drank off the Wine and taking the Ring which formerly the Emperour had given him put it into the Bowl and desir'd the Servitor to carry it to the Emperor who seeing the Ring and knowing it was amazed believing he should hear something of his dear friend Entichus wherefore he commanded that the Leaper should be look'd after conducted to his private Chamber that he might speak with him this his commands was obey'd and he arising from Dinner went to the Leaper and being alone with him he asked how he came by that ring very honestly replyed the Leaper I had it of the right owner who said the Emperor King Entichus no said the Leaper of Arthur Prince of England that cannot be replyed the Emperor for I am that Arthur and I gave it to none but my dear friend King Entichus that is confessed said the Leaper and since you still call Entichus your dear friend know that I am that unfortunate King Oh what impossibilities do you tell me said the Emperor nothing but what is too true replyed the King with tears in his eyes which by this time flowed too from the Emperors eyes down his cheeks in great abundance but his greif and passion having had this vent for a time he then ran to the Leap●rous King and kissed and embraced him crying out on my dear friend how is this great mi●f●rtune befallen you you replyed the King are the occasion of it though I must confess you to be innocent how said the Emperor could I your friend be the cause of this misfortune and yet be innocent it is most certain replyed the King for your friendship to me in lyi●g with my wife and being innocent in not knowing her she supposeing you to be me hath so enrag●d her that she revenged her●elf on me by poyson which hath wrought this dismal effect upon me so that your innocence occasioned my ruine and thereupon the King related the whole manner how it had befallen him and how he was turned out of his Kingdome Oh me unfortunate said the Emperor that I should occasion so much evil that my dear friend who hath so often hazarded his life for me should be thus evilly recompenced through my occasion I cannot said the King complain of you but of fortune to whom we must all submit well said the Emperor since you are still Master
mind told her that she must give no credit to Dreams being things without substance that vanish away whereupon she put on a mercy countenance and entertained the Emperour as she was wont until it was bed time which occasioned more pain to this poor Princess the Emperour for his part went to sleep but the Empress could not close her eyes for thinking of her affection to Erastus being of opinion that her affairs having had so prosperous a beginning she should lose noe time or occasion to bring it to that end so much desired by her and ruminating all the night on what means she should use to perfect her desires sometimes she doubted that the Slave was insufficient for an enterprise of so high a consequence otherwise she could not find any way possible to speak with Erastus because he was at Rome and alwayes accompanied with grave Phylosophers whose doctrine she very well knew was contrary to her appetite In conclusion she resolved to speak to him by Letters and Presents and so soon as the day began to appear that night in the opinion of the Empress being longer than usual she arose and being retired alone into her Cabinet she writ this Letter which followeth THE Empress Aphrodicia to her Friend Erastas health I doubt not but these presents will astonish you that I without respecting your grandeur have bin so bold to write to you without considering that I present to your fair eyes a thing so ill dictated as these presents and to cause your mouth so accustomed to all good learning to read this Letter destitute of all eloquence however I have not forborn putting Pen to paper being assured that your sublime spirit will measure my writeing according to the affection from whence it proceedeth and that you will have a greater esteem for it than if all the Oratory had been employed to assist me with Eloquence upon this occasion for according to the Poet Love hides many faults and to tell you truly how it is this God hath so fettered me that to obey him I have been forced thus to write to you praying you to receive and entertain it with a pleasant countenance believing that it is not simply paper but my self who with all my affection am transformed into it and I wish I were personally present with you assuring my self th●t I should enjoy the fruit of my desires which I hope are long by word of mouth to discover to you for it is impossible that your knowing spirit should not be acquainted with the secrets of my heart which is more yours then my own for you are Lord of it so as you will please to love that which with all her heart loves you However if your temper corresponds to your name for Erastus signifies amiable I hold my self assured that my recommendation shall be received which nevertheless I present to you with all possible affection and because I wondred at your absence at my Wedding with the Emperour I therefore pray you to take occasion to come and see me that you may let the World know that you are not dissatisfied with my alliance in doing whereof which I entreat of you you shall hear openly by word of mouth the rest of my secret which only tends to your profit honour and greatness In the mean time to testify the perfect love which I bear to you I send to you the most pretious things which I have being certain jewels which you shall find to be singular not only for their beauty and richness but also in regard they are peices of antiquity which my late Father gave particularly to me being the preciest things he was Master of and therefore I send them to you as better deserving to enjoy things so rare desiring you to accept of them with my heart And as you have the report to surpass i● every thing all other men that you not only permi● your self to be overcome by the force of a simple woman but let her know that your love is more ardent then hers if it were possible I wish you good health This Letter being written and sealed the Empress wrapped it up in fine cloath of Gold with many Jewels Pearls Diamonds Safers and many other pretious stones of inestimable value and enclosed all in a Cabinet of fine G●ld which she delivered to her faithful slave charging him to carry it to Erastus advising him to find him alone and accompany the present with speeches proper to the intent of his message and the slave might perform this voyage with the more bravery she presented him with a horse and a good some of money The Slave thus dispatched in short time arrived at the Pallace where Prince Erastus studyed where by good Fortune he found him alone in his studdy and as to the matter of the present delivered his mesage as the Empress had commanded him without proceeding further but only to bar● r●commendations from his Mistress forbearing to deliver the rest of the message until he should understand how the Prince would accept of the p●e●ent being of the opinion that it would be imp●ss●ble for a Prince of his age to sl ght such pretious Jewels as he had brought but Erastus having considered the richness of the present began to consider what might be the cause of the great liberallity of the Empress in regard that all women are naturally covetous But having found the Letter and read the contents of it he presently had some suspition although he could not absolutely believe love to be the cause but however in great anger he tore the Letter into prices and sound●y rat●ed the slave forbidding h●m upon his life never to come into his presence and that he should carry back the Jewels to his Mistress and use his endeavour to diswade her from her disordinate humours The slave being much troubled returned back to Rome and in his way thither he considered that if he should acquaint his Mistress of the truth of this affair his profit would be at an end and therefore being come into the presence of the Empress he spake thus Madam I do assure you that I have full and according to your intention executed the charge which you were pleased to give me and that the Prince Erastus is wholly at your dispose True it is that not thinking himself worthy of the great present which you sent him told me that your love was sufficient without depriving you of so great rarieties therefore he hath returned them only keeping the Letter which he read over and kissed more than a thousand times in my presence and he would willingly have returned an answer but that he doubted his Masters would return presently and surpr●ze him wherefore he in short told m● that he would suddenly come to Rome where by word of mouth he would give you full satisf●ction beseeching you in the mean time to continue your good opinion of him The Empress was highly contented with the slaves discourse however she
the whole Nobility for they had all great fancy to hear him speak expecting what he should say would be so much to the purpose that every word would be a sentence the Emperour then being moved with anger and incredible sorrow with a troubled and angry countetenance demanded of the seven wise Philosophers if this was the wisdom and great perfection which they had caused him to believe his Son was endowed with saying that he was compleat in all things and what doctrine they had taught him not to answer his Father being an Emperour what Philosophy is this quoth the good Emperour in what Aristotle or Plato have you found the doctrine for instead of being wise and well instructed as you informed me every one sees that he is ignorant a Sot and without understanding but I assure you by the words of a Prince that ye shall be punished according to your deserts The Philosophers seeming to be as much surpriz'd as the rest to see Erastus thus mute said to the Emperour know Sir that we have not informed you Majesty any thing touching your Son that is not true so that here is not any Philosopher modern nor antient to whom he may not be compared Being as well or better taught than any man whatsoever of this age to tell you wherefore he is at this present mute we know not but we can well assure your Majestie that it is not done without great cause which nevertheless is unknown to us for being Master of so much knowledge he well enough knows when he ought to speake and wh●n ●o h●ld his peace But let the Philosophers s●y w●●●●h●y would the Emperour could not be appe●s●● but being transp●r●ed with anger h● rep●●●● 〈◊〉 Erastus c●uld have no reason to be 〈◊〉 in his p●ete●ce And thus being both angry 〈…〉 S●n in this condition he left him 〈…〉 ●ed wi●h the Nobility that accompanied 〈◊〉 Th● E●●● ss hearing the noise of horses went 〈◊〉 meet the Emperour being attended by all her ●●●ye●●nd the Roman Princesses and having under●o●●● from him the small satisfaction he had took in seeing his Son and she beholding Prince Erastus To whom she was e●slaved without having seen him considering with her eyes that his beauty was beyond compare greater ●hen report had given of him she became wholy en●moured of him therefore with a merry cheerfull countenance she went to him and having very amorously embraced him she began to reason with him of many matters but the young Prince made her no answer whereupon the Empress was astonished yet however the fire that consumed her did not at all diminish but on the the contrary encreased in such manner that not being able to resist the violence of love which co●strained her she tooke occasion upon the Princis silence to encrease the flame of her disord●nate appetite and thereupon went towards the Emperour to whom she declared that every one very well knew that the silence of his Son was not because he was naturally mute as might app●are by what the Gentleman related who came fr●m Eras●us ●u● the day before who affirmed that he had heard him dispute so ingeniously with his Masters t●at he rather judged him to be Master than the Scholler and therefore they might conclude that this silence was caused by some accident which she would undertake to discover and remedy having the young Erastus in her power in a place where they might be alone The Emperour believing what the Empress said was out of a good will to his Son not in the least suspecting her loyalty and being very desirous to discover the cause of his Sons silence and to give a remedy thereto He presently c●ma●ded that Prince Erastus should be led to the Chamber of the Empress and that they should be left alone the Empress seeing all th●ngs to fall out according to her expectations was very joyfull And promised the Emperour that she would use such meanes that his Son should speake ●n the other side the young Prince foreseeing the great attempts that should be made upon him was fearfull left he should be enforced to breake his resolution Nevertheless being resolved to vanquish the malignity of the stars by a strong and firm constancy he went cheerfully to the Empresses Chamber where in short time we may see by experience that hatred prevails more than love in the hearts of Ladyes CHAP. VII The Empress Aphrodicia being shut up alone with Prince Erastus endeavoured all she could to induce him to her appetite but seeing her self refused and disdained she made an outcry that he would h●ve fo●ced her by which meanes the Prince was m●de Prisoner and condemned to Death THis cruell Tygress seeing her prey taken in the toyl●● 〈◊〉 thou●● losi●g one moment of time 〈◊〉 to her Chamber where being come she look●d her self 〈◊〉 and having taken the young Prince by the hand she caused him to sit down by her and c●lli●g her arme about his neck she embraced and k●ss●d him in a different fashion then what a mother u●es to her Son in fine after many kisses and embraces she asked the cause of his silence which held the Emperour and all the Roman people in so great trouble who in honour of him had caused his entry to be so magnificent She told him that every body had cause to thinke it strange that having lived a long time without seeing the Countrey his Father nor friends being came thither he did so apparently sl●gh● them being a thing unhandsome in any person of understanding and much more in him who had bin accounted so discreet In this time the young Prince fixed his eyes on the ground without one word of answer knowing that to be his critical minute of holding his peace Whereupon the Empress being astonished she agen threw her self about his neck giving him an infin te of kisses but the more amorously she behaved her self the less regard he took of her The Empress seeing this spake to him in these terms What disdain is this or what other accident can have happened to you to cause you to be mute why do you not speak to me what do you fear remove all fear and tell me the cause of this silence and let me alone for I will carry it so both to the Emperour and all the world that every one shall be satisfied without imputing anything to you and if you have resolved to be silent to all others wherefore do you deny to speak to me to me who am so ravished with your love that I can enjoy no rest but when I think on you and now I see you and have meanes to speak to you I should be to happy if this unlucky silence did not at this time hinder me If you are beautyfull be not therefore cruell and if you are wise as report g●ves out of you wherefore do you grieve your father all the world if you have any discretion know who loves you if you are young I for
up and destroyed What Pine was this said the Emperour and what happned about it to which the Empress answered A while agoe there was a Gentleman of Italy who had a very fair Garden wherein he took so much pleasure that he therein planted all sorts of Herbs and Trees and among others he had a very fair Pine so fair and so strait as any could be in the World so that this Gentle-man esteemed this Pine more than all the Trees in the Garden and thereupon he there made an arbour taking great pleasure to remain ●nder the shaddow of it for the most part of the day whether he had a mind to read or otherwise to pass the time It hapned as one often sees among other Trees that from the root of this Pine sprung a sucker which the Gentle-man seeing being very much pleased at it he commanded his Gardner to look carefully after it hoping by this means to get an other Pine as fair as the former and this young sucker finding the fresh Earth that was put about it grew very well at the beginning but being grown up so high that the branches of the first Pine kept the Sun from it it did not grow so well as at the first but became bent and crooked The Gentle-man being troubled at it asked the Gardner the cause who answered that the bowes of the great one gave so great a shaddow that the young one not having the Sun and air to make it grow strait up according to its Nature it therefore was crooked and did not thrive whereupon the Gentle-man commanded to lop the old one and take away the branches which hindered the Sun from the young one so the old one was lop'd all away on one side It hapned that this Gentle-man had a voyage to make for some moneths but before he went he recommended his young Pine to the Gardner above all things in this the Gardner did not fail so that the Sun coming to the young one it grew again as it had formerly done but however it still continued crooked on the contrary the great one began to wither on the side it had been lopped The Gentleman at his return seeing the great Pine half dead and knowing that these two Pines hindred one another and that there was little hopes of the great Pine in regard it was so decayed caused it to be cut up and thus was this Tree that had formerly been so well beloved destroyed for the young Pines sake which although it grew to be a great one yet it still kept it● ill and crooked shape which it had from the beginning and thus will it happen to you for having placed your Son if he may be called yours which I cannot believe to the government of these seven Philosophers you see in what case he is they have already lopt you on one side by the shame which they have caused you and which is worst being resolved to maintain and justifie it you will in short time see a rebellion in Rome and if you should pardon him for this out-rage in hope● of his amendment assure your self that ere long he will a ●empt against your life as he hath already done against your honour to arrive to the Governm●nt so soon as he can and be assured that these Philosophers will put their helpin● hand to it in hopes that they shall have the management of the affair● of the Empire and so for want of forecast you will see your self ruined by your young sucker I shall prevent it replyed the Emperour for I promise you that justice shall take place and at once to revenge your honour and my own and thereupon he commanded that without delay the sent●nce of Erastus should be executed on his Person CHAP. X. The Philos●pher Dimurgus caused execution to be stayed for an another day by a discourse which he made to the Emperour of the great Hipocrates who out of anger did stay without cause a Nephew of his that was an execellent Physitian DAY brake was hardly come when those to whom the execution of Prince Erastus was committed d●d provide for all things necessary thereunto without loss of further time according to the precise command of the Emperour in the mean time the Philosopher Dimurgus who had undertook to defend the Prince for the second day lest he should be surprized had bethought himself of all that he had to say to the Emperour and so being ready in the morning he came to the Chamber where by Fortune he found him coming out sooner than ordinary by reason of the great trouble he was in both in body and mind for the causes aforescited and although the Emperour appeared to be angry yet he being satisfied in the innocence of Prince Erastus after he had made his usual reverence he took the boldness to say Sir having rece●ved this favour of your Majesty to be long since admitted into the service of your house I ever knew you both of a rare spirit and very well advised whereby you have alwayes prudently governed the affairs of your Empire so that I have alwayes admired the great vertues which did respectively shine in you and a particular zeal which you alwayes had to do justice so that I never knew you guilty of one unjust action But considering you by I know not what extraordinary disaster to be about to exceed the bounds of reason and to be diverted from your good and antient custom I therefore made bold not out of hopes of reward or praise to come before you not to counsel you but to advertise your Majesty of a certain error into which as a man and not as so great an Emperour as you have alwayes been are now fallen you know Sir what you have purposed to do with my Lord the Prince your Son by reason of a wicked perswatition which has been imprinted in your mind But I humbly pray you and that for the reputation of your honour to suspend a while this your purpose and to take my counsel which being good as in truth you will know it you will prefer it before all that hath been said to the contrary and be not angry Sir at my advice for as the Proverb sayes and you very well know it He does deserve to be ruined that will not take advice The Emperour having heard this preamble and considered of what had been spoken by the Philosopher was contented to stay the execution of his Son however intimateing to him that if by good reason he did not make appear that he was in an error and that his defence of the Prince Erastus was just that both the Advocate and Criminal should be hang'd one after another to which the Philosopher consenting he began to say Hipocrates the Prince of Physitians had a Nephew with whom he took so great pains to instruct him in the Art of Physick that in fine this Nephew was in his Skil Experience and Practice equal to his Uncle it hapned that
Children he was ●●ll ●●r ken in years before he thought of marriage I● so ●●ll out one day that having good merry Company in his house after the table was uncovered from one discourse to another as it is usual for Gentlemen to talk after dinner they happened to fall upon this proposition of the natural affection that men have to have Children wher●by man ●enew● his blood and in a manner lives after his dea●h in his po●terity upon this discourse some of this Gentlemans friends p●rswaded him to marry wh●r●by he might have Children to inherit so many fair Ca●●le● and other riches which he was possessed of This Gentleman did not much regard it but seeing himself importuned sometimes by one and then again by others after he had sustained many assaults of his friends he in conclusion resolved to please them as he had always done His friends knowing his mind took much pains to find him out a wife fit for his quality and by whom he might have Children and they used such dilligence that in short time they betroathed him to a very fair young Damsell who was daughter to one of the greatest Lords of all Tuskany The wedding was solemnized as you may suppose suitable to the quality of their estates and al hough there was great difference in the ages of this Knight and his young Bride yet however he was so Gallant that his gallantry was enough to content a Damsell better than one that was younger so that for a while he and his wife lived very contentedly But after some time this Damsell having understood from other good wives how their husbands treated them in the night she began to wish for a young husband without regarding the gallantry of her own rather wishing for a good strong back than a gallant●y accompanied with a feeble breath and seeing that she could not have her desires and that notwithstanding all her endeavours her husband as he grew more in ●e●rs so he was less able to please her After she had fasted one year and knew that there was nothing in the house to satisfie her appetite she resolved to purchase her victuals in an other place but understanding that she was to make use of a third hand and that in an affair of so great importance there might be danger to discover it to a third person she propsed to make use of her own mother whom she thought had most reason to love her best therfore she went to her where being arrived after many other discourses she fell to the matter in hand that which most a●gred her letting her know as well as she could the necessity wherein she was and the purpose she had taken to provide otherwise for her self that she might not dye in that necessity praying and conjuring her for the natural love which she had always born to her that having pitty and compassion on her she would make provision against that evil which would be her death if she had no remedy and also to her honour governing her self after such manner in this aff●ir that she might find her self re-restored and so as no person should know any thing The Poor mother thinking of what her daughter had said to her for a long time was amazed not bring able to beli●ve her own ears much less to believe what she had heard but in conclusion seeing by her daughters obstinacy how the matter was and that what she had said was true she first of all tried to direct her from her wicked purpose shewing her what offence she would commit puting her honor before her eyes alledging to her many other examples to this purpose but all was to no purpose for as to the offence the young woman answered that the Law could not give her a greater punishment then death and that continuing in the condition she was then in she knew her death was sudden As for the shame and infamy of the world said she I come to take your advice in that particular that my honour being saved you may provide me with what you know may be necessary upon this account and for examples she had enough that served for her purpose so that all that her mother cou●● say to change her mind from this wicked purpose was but to beat the aire whereupon the mother was so troubled that she thought she should be distracted The young woman seeing this began to colt's and flatter her saying Dear Mother have compassion of my youth You have been young and therefore know well enough what are the desires of the flesh which as I have always heard say and now I know by experience are greater and more vehement in women than in men and although the fire is not so great in men as in women yet however as often as they have a mind and they know where they give themselves the satisfaction they desire But if we miserable women are sruprized but once besides the shame we indure they make no matter of killing us So that for this cause we other women ought to put the change upon them to revenge our selves of the shame that men upon this account do to us To this the Mother made several replyes but all was in vain for so much the more that the Mother endeavoured to turn her from her purpose so much the more ardent and passionate she appeared to be Let what would happen to extingu●sh the fire which consumed her she did cleerly con●●s● that it would be more for her honour to contain than to abandon her self but she could not imagin how she could live long so and that therefore the fault should not be imputed to her but ●o nature who did so constrain her further entreating her Mother to consider of some way to give her content and to save her honour protesting unto her that if she did refuse to assist her she would hazard her life and honour praying her once for all to put all other oppinions out of 〈◊〉 mind The poor Mother seeing her daughters obstinacy knew not what to say further seeing on the one side her daughter blinded with love and so resolved in her purpose that it was not p●ssible to alter her mind and on the other side she well knew the great wrong she should doe to her honour in satisfying the appetite of her daughter And although she well knew ●hat she lost time however she thus made further trial of her daughter saying Ah! how stronge a thing is it that I see you purpose to violate the bounds of marriage and count so great ill to your husband who as you know loves you as well or better then any man can love a woman and therefore I would not have you give such way to your appetite which I confess is great but not so but that you may overcome it if you will I have been young and as fair as you and have experienced love affairs and his fires but however I have resisted all with a constancy and firm
all dispatches and affairs to these seven Sages who acted all things as they were minded and gave the King what account they best thought for their purpose but above all thing they took care not to displease him so that in time they were in such high esteem and they were taken rather to be Lords of all England then Counsellours true it is that in the beginning they took so good order in the execution of justice that all things were done in good order but afterwards when they had tasted of the great gifts and presents that was usually made them they then were so desirous to heap up riches that they minded nothing else without respecting their honour or the zeal they should have to justice and among other inventions to raise mony they found out one than would raise them a world of riches at that time it was a custome in England for the Natives to give such credit to dreames that the believed the greatest part of their affairs and chiefly those of importance were divinely revealed to them in visions and dreams which they little or much understood according to to the goodness and sanctity of the persons who thus should dream so that when any one had dreamed of any thing that she could not understand they had recourse to the Sages whereof in England there was great plenty and for their advise carried great presents as if Gold and Silver would cause the true interpretation of dreams these seven Deputies or Governours of the Kingdome understanding of this that they might shew themselves the more knowing and more excellent in all things than any body else and more particularly in the interpretations of dre●ms under pre●ence of takei●g away the abuse which was done upon that account and that the people might not be dec●ived in the interpretation of dre●ms t●ey published an E●ict by which it was prohibited all persons to go to any to have interpretation of dreams but to them ●lves In persuance of which E●●ct a world of people came to them every d●y with great presents so that in short time these Lords were ●iche● in mony then the King himself who minding nothing but to take his pleasure fell into a v●●y strange accident for having hi● N●ts to be pi●ched in a very pleasant Forrest to please the ●●dies with a co●●● at hunting he was no sooner gone out of the ga●es of London to g● to this hunting but that his eye-sight was so troubl●d that he could not see wherefore taking adv●ce of his Physicians who looking on the K●●gs eyes found they were fair and without blemish and understanding that he had no pain in his head that he was not wounded that might occasion this blindness they knew not what to think of it but only advised the King to return to his Pallace and go rest himself and that in the mean time they would consult among themselves of this accident to remedy it as well as possibly they could according to this advise the King turned his bridle to return back but he was no sooner entered the City-gate but he recovered his sign without using any remedy whereupon being not only joyful but wondring with a merry heart he turned his bridle to go follow the company but he was no sooner out of the City but he was agen taken with his former blindness so that he was forced to turn back towards the Court and yet so soon as he was entred within the City-gates he recovered his former sight yet in regard the time was somewhat spent he put off the hunting untill a● other time The next day going to pass away some time at a garden that was without the City he was no sooner passed London Gates but he became blind as he had done the day before and no sooner was he returned in the City but he saw as cleerly as he had formerly done upon this account the Physitians were amazed they had many consultations but without any effect for in general it was thus the Kings sight was good so long as he was within the Cit● but so soon as he was out of it he became blind and al●hough he went out at several Gates and had tryed them all yet he still continued blind so long as he was out of the City and when he returned he could see well enough In this condition this poor Prince remained for sometime and c●●●d not finde any remed● which was a great ●ffliction to him to see himself confin'd to the City of London whereupon one day he called the seven Counsellors to whom he had committed the Government of the Kingdome remembring that they had given out that they could give a reason for all things and therefore he expresly enjoyned them that they should make known to him the cause of his blindness that he might finde a remedy without being thus confined within the walls of the City of London but these great Sages who knew as little of the causes as the King were so amazed that they could not speak answer a word to purpose yet however dissembling their ignorance they told the King that the case required to take some time of advice to consult well on the matter and to studdy on it that they might give him such an answer as might be to his content to this the King replyed I give you all this day to advise upon it and charge you that tomorrow morning you give me an answer but the Sages finding this time to be too precise and too short told him that the case was of th●t importance that it required a moneth of delay how a moneth said the King is this the great readiness which you boast to have by your ●kil presently to resolve all doubts and question●●g● and consult together and in fif●een dayes resolve me of what I desire and finde a remedy or I promise you I will make an example of you to all such as for the future shall he so bold as to abuse their Princes These poor unadvised Sages hearing this were much troubled yet since they had a terme of fifteen dayes they pluckt up their spirits hoping in that time to supply their ignorance by the knowledg of some other so that they assured the King that within the time prefixed they would give him the satisfaction he desired and having took leave of the King they each of them sever●ly sent away messengers in Post to all parts to finde out some knowing person to whom they might apply themselves in this affair and their Messengers had good success they hea●d of the vertue and miraculous spirit of the child Merlin and of the sayings he used which surpassed all humain understanding This child was but young and was born miraculously so that it was believed that his Mother had conceived being a Virgin being with child by a Spirit or a Magician who it was reported had given her a great belly without touching her by means of a familiar Spirit but let it be so
unjustices in the world thinking of nothing but how to Tyranize ●v r the poor people and heap to themselves great treasure by the destruction of your Subj cts wh●se complaint and cry having reached up unto heaven God by his just Ju●gment hath sent you this blindness which you have when you are out of the City of London that as you have voluntarily deprived your self of the eyes of your understanding so that you will not see nor take notice of any thing but your particular pleasure instead of having your eyes employed for the good and quiet of your people you should be also deprived of your Corporal sight so that you may not see any thing out of your City of London Thus have I told you the Cause of your evil so that now without saying any more it is easie for you to remedy it but that you may be without any excuse I will prescribe to you the course you are to take know then that God would have you Chastise your self for your fore-passed negligence and by the same meanes that those who have exercised so much Tyrany over your people be punished for their crimes are beyond all comparison greater then yours True it is that you have very much failed but it was through Ignorance having put into the hands of others the adminstration and charge which God had comitted to your self indeed you might think them to be wise men and fit for such a government but they have maliciously ●ff●nded for they very well knew that their actions wherein they Tyraniz●d over this Kingdom were contrary to God and nevertheless their insatiablness and avarice have continued therefore you ought to amend your self and that they suffer death and I assure you if you act this justice upon them your evil will leave you and if you will not I advertise you that the Judgments of God will increase upon you so as to darken your heart and I ●ell you there is no w●y to extinguish these seven fire balls but by the heads of these seven and that you may ha●● a proof of what I say make a tryal of the greatest for a● you have seen the more you endeavour to extinguish it with water or other liquor so much the more violently 〈◊〉 burneth as you have already made tryal ca●se the head of the principal that is the oldest and most inveterate of these S●g●s to be cut off and you will presently see that this great fire ball will be extinguished The King having very attentivly heard the discourse of Merlin some times blushed and then agen became pale and ●e found himself touched to the life and yet however acknowledged his fault for having continued so long without taking care of the affair● of his Kingdom he began to sigh and groan entreating the good Merlin that he would pray to God for him that his Majesty would forgive him his faults you need not doubt of that answered Merlin for in performing what I have told you your offences shall be pardoned without the intercession of any and on the contr●ry if you do not perform it a greater vengeance of God is prepared for you since now you c●nnot pretend the cause of Ignorance The King did think it very strange to put those to death whom he had raised to such greatness and of whom he had severall times had experience on many occasions to be very wise but considering and viewing with his eyes the matter of the Cauldron and having a remorse of conscience for the great fault which he had commited which put him in fear of a more sharp v●ngance according to the threatenings of Merlin he therefore resolved to make a trial of the principall of the seven Philosophers and thereupon causing him to be called pretending to conferr with him about what Merlin had told him he ordered his head to be presently and privatly cut off which being done the great fire ball in the middle that did cast out more fire than the rest was of it self extinguished This being seen by the King without any more delay he did the same by the rest causing them to come one by one and as one head was cut ●ff so one fire ball went out so that the last was no sooner beheaded but all the fire was extinguished there was no appearance neither of balls nor Cauldron which was not mater●call as Merlin said but it was of fire although it seemed to be of mettle as other Cauldrons are and the earth where it had been before was as cool and fresh as in other places This being done Merlin ordered the Kings Chamber to be put to rights and caused the bed to be placed where it had formerly been and because it was then late he told the King that he should rest contented and take his ease for that night and that the next day they would go out of the City of London where he should perceive his deliverance and healing which should be then seen and known of all the world The next morning the King arose early as joyfull as might be and sent to all the Pr●nces and Barrons and Gentlemen of his Court that they should be ready to accompany him for he would that morning go pass the time out of the City of London Every one mer●a●led at ●he news because the K●ng had so long continued without going out of ●he City for the trouble to find himself blind being out of the City for the matter of the Ca●ldron was not yet divulged or known and although it had been it would have been acco●nted as a fable and especially by tho●e who believe no more than what they see The King then being mo need on the fairest horse ●n hi● stable did set r●wards having Merlin by his side wh● was in homely hab●● for notwithstanding all his knowledge he would have no other Clothes but went in poor ●ayment according to the Condition of his birth not regarding Clothes nor riches The King did all the way discourse with Merlin which his Princes wondered at to see him thus taken up with a poor lad without speaking one word to all the Nobility that foll●wed him and being come to the City Gate M●rlin going before said to the King Sir as I have served you as a Phisitian so I will shew you che way to rejoyce and the great occasion you have for it in having rec●vered your sight to the great content of your people And yet if you will speak the truth although you had some hopes of your cure yet you were not so certain as now at this time you make experience of it And going forwards out of the G●te he tu●ned about to the King who was also issued 〈◊〉 and looked about towards all parts believing himself entred into a new life to see himself restored to that which he had so long lost witho●t knowing how and which he had so often endeavoured to rec●ver but in vain Whereupon Merlin said to him Sir do you
the perswasions of a woman contrary to the directions of him and the other Phisitians he took his knife in one hand and the peice of the Onion in the other saying with sighs and tears Ah poor and unfortunate Father you now see the great evil which you have caused this day it is just twelve moneths that by my own fault I lost my only Son and that I might know my misfortune the Heavens have this day made me see it who will not blame my sottishness knowing that I have caused the death of my only Son by following the directions of a foolish and distracted woman Now I know it but too late that Nature shewed her self as bountiful in preserving my Son as she was liberal in bestowing him upon me behold the sign behold the Christal dissolved by vertue of the white Onion which my poor Child so often desired to have but in vain whereat Nature being angry hath made me understand and know to take such vengeance of me as I deserve and to serve for a perpetual example to all men not to give credit to this sotteri●s malignities of their wives my Son being dead who otherwise by the course of Nature might have lived long shall I live I who have caused his death It shall not be so I cannot endure my self such a mischief shall not go unpunished and on a sud●in when he had spoken thus he thrust the kni●e which he held into his wives b●ea● a●d ●hen did as much to himself and that with such quickness that those who were present and who melted in tears thus to hear the poor Father complain did not mind him and much less had the means to hinder what he did This was the end of poor Polectetus who to his great prejud●ce found the danger of being governed by the counsel of a woman for if the counsel of a woman be bad when sh● thinks to do well as it was with the poor Flaminia what is it then when she is moved with rage and fury The means which the Empress uses up●n this account I sh●ll let pass because Sir your Maj●sty is best acquainted therewith but I dare say and affirm that if you suffer your self to be over ruled by her and cause your Son to dye without well considering of the matter I doubt nor but it will happen to you as it did to Polictetus and it may be worse and yet I do not conclude that Prince Erastus ought not to suffer death if what he is accused of be found to be true and that the Philosophers escape death who instead of instructing him in vertuous courses and good learning have rendred him so unnatural and given to sensuallity Yet however I once again urge that in this point you do not depend upon the sole words of a woman nor to those who on this occasion are transported with passion as you your self are for the wrong you think you have received which if it should be true there should be no torment nor pain how great soever which should not be thought li●●l● in comparison to such an excess But all those who know and are acquainted with the vertues and gre●t continence of young Prince Erastus are of another mind And therefore not only to content your mind as belongs to so great a Prince as you are I pray Exhort and Counsel you to leave this affair to the Senate And in case Prince Erastus be found guilty of the fact that he dye miserably by the hand of justice and with him the seven Philosophers who have instructed him so wickedly and on the contrary if he be found Innocent that his Innocence he not oppressed And do not think Sir that I say this to prolong this cause and by this means escape death for I onely desire three days time for the Philosophers in which time if they do not cleerly make appear the Innocence of your Son and if he himself do not Justifie himself wi hin that time that he be put to death and with him the seven Philosophers beginning with me Lencus who have writ this present Letter not having at the beginning put the name of him who sent it lest considering the great hatred you bear to us you should refuse to read it seeing it directed by one of us therefore wonder not Sir at what I send you word that your son shall Justifie himself for the cause of his not speaking hitherto comes not by any natural default which he hath neither is it occasion'd by the accident for wch we are deteyned but it is caused by a certain great Mistery secret which you shall understand from him within two days if you have the patience to let him live so long Praying the Gods that your life be long and happy This is the Story or example which Lencus the Philosopher did write and send in a Letter to the Emperour and as I find it in the Originals Italian and French but others say it was an other Story which I thus relate to you A woman having buried her husband is resolved to dye in his Vault and will therefore stay with his body A Soldier who is appointed to Watch a Rogues body that was hanged on a Gibbet comes to the Vault to the woman perswades her to drink and eat and enjoyes her in the mean time the Rogues body is stolen from the Gibbet The Souldier is distracted being to dye for his neglect he therefore attempts to kill himself but the woman hinders him helps to hang her husbands body where the Rogues was A Gentleman of Rome who was blessed with a large estate had for his sole heir or Daughter of an incomparable beauty and Ingenious Soul and having been carefull to give her vertuous education she by that Addition had so honourable a fame that all the young men of quality in those parts became her Suitors but it being impossible for her to be the lawful prize for them all she at length was so importunatly courted by one that she was espoused to him He who was thus happy in her love enjoment was a Gentleman in whom nothing was wanting that could be req●ired to make him accomplisht and amiable especially in her eye who loved him with equal ardours and thought of no felicity but in his mutual affections and Society so that all men his envous Rivals only excepted expected from so fare an Union would proceed all mortal happiness in perfection But observe the unconstancy of humane felicity these two Lovers had not long enjoyed each other when fate seldome long favourable to Lovers steps in and divides them by the Eternal divorce of death translating the husband into an other life and leaving the Widdow almost liveless for so had her grief made her and nothing kept her from using violence on her self that she might enjoy him in the Elizium shader but the desire of seeing him laid into his Tomb with such Funerall Pomp and solemne obsequies as were
to our selves without doing any good or availing any thing to the benefit of the dead as to recalling them to life agen and hazarding and endangering our own contrary to the laws of Nature whereby every one is obleidged to endeavour their preservation as much as in them lyes and if she had designed any thing against her own life as he doubted she had she ought instantly to retract it for as murder was the greatest crime humain nature could be guilty of so much the more criminal were they that should be murderers of themselves and that it was so detestable a crime that it was dangerous to presume that heaven would be so merciful as to satisfie it and that it was most certain the Ghost of her Husband could receive no satisfaction thereby but be rather displeased since if he loved her when living he could not allow of any violence she should offer to her self but rather ab●or the society of so great a Criminal The woman hearing that her visitant had done replyed that indeed his discourses Were true but she had such a subject of sorrow as was not 〈◊〉 be parralled her loss had been so great th●●●lthough her grief were so too yet she rather deserv●d pitty and excuse than to be reprehended or condemned and this short speech was accompanyed n●t only with a deludge of tears but another fit of fainting the man of War and Phisick for at this time he had acted the the Phisitian seeing his Patient so far fr●m being cured that he feared a relapse had immediate recourse to his only Medicine the Antidote of the bottle and holding up her head with one h●nd with th● other he drencheth her with a conside● a ●e dose o● the remaining licquor which was ●o sooner in her stomach but she finding the warmth and vigour of it was at it were reannimated the fountains of her tears stopped her forehead smoothed and her face reduc●d to her Native sweetness and this last draught did not only effect thus strangely on her body but her minde also seemed to be perfectly restored to its antient mildness and tranquillity for as if a new soul had been infused into her she became the most affable complaisant and cheerful Creature in the world and indeed there was not only a change of humor but also a perfect metamorphosis of her Person that she seems not to be the same woman for instead of a sorrowful widdow which she lately was she now appears to be a most pleased and contented Bride Her forehead seems to be smoothed d lated to a graceful largeness and spread with a sanguine dye Her eyes though little more than half open yet sparkling with lustre and their amiable whites turned upward and yet by stealth casting glances on her Visitant such as dying persons and lovers in the extasie of delight are observed to us● Her lips w●re swelled with a delicious vermillion ●●ncture her cheeks overflowed with pleasing blushes her head a little d●clining as when modesty and desi●e have a secret confl●ct and she is wholly poss●ssed with an impatient though gentle dispute and her spirits being highly agitated within so there was an effusion of them upon the outward parts a temperate and balmy sweat extilling from the Pores of her snow white skin so that there was rea●on to suspect that this Matron although still in the Cha●nel house and sitting upon the coffin of her dearest all whom she so lately lamented with so much violenc● she I say we may suspect to be in Love and that she now burns as extreamly in the flames of amorous desires of the Sold●er as she was lately frozen in the Ice of sorrow for her husband her looks and gestures betray her and all the ayres of high content and pleasure appear in her face and that she may taste of those joyes ●he so much desires she throws her self into the Soldiers arms she emb●ac●th him she k sses him wi●h that violence as if she were unsati●fied with th● bare touches of his lip● a●d l nged to leave the impression of hers upon them when she had feasted her lips with touching 〈◊〉 feasted her eyes with beholding their bel●ved obj●ct in a word there is nothing of liberty dalliance caresses indearments which this sportful woman d●th not use to make herself grateful and charming to her new Gallant and to kindle fresh desires in him so that we may conclude one of the Daughters of the beautiful Venus is now sporting with one of her beloved Mars's his Sones and that in the height of Solace neither was the Soldier wanting for being sensible of the Magick of her wanton enticements he is soon armed for an encounter which being to be done in the dark let us seasonably avert our eyes and leave these Votaries quietly to finish their Cytherian Rites they are going about especially since their Zeale is so Fervent as not to scruple the Nicietie of making the dead H●sbands Coffin the Altar whereon to kindle and exhale the Incense they have brought Thus you see here was a great and suddain change in our Matron who is no longer Mourner or Widdow I shall not trouble you with a large discourse of what should be the cause of this suddain and prodigious Metamorphosis some attribute it to the Mutability and Levity of womens nature in general considering the softness and tenderness of their constitution is such as renders them like wax capable of any impressions but we have daily examples of the constancy in affection of some women who will loose their lives in defense of their honor so that I will not attribute this Mutability and Levity of women to be general to all women nor that this was the only cause of our Matrons Metamorphosis for some impute it to the force of the wine the Soldier gave her but I suppose this can at the most be reckoned to be but an Accessary and not the principal Agent for the quantity she drank though it was sufficient to renew her spirits cherish her vitals warmeth and quicken the motion of her blood yet was it too little to intoxicate her brain and enflame her to the heighth of desires so inconsistent and contrary to the fridgid temper and low condition it found her in and as to the quallity though good wine be the milk of Venus yet doth it s●ld me work effect●ally that way but where it meets with boyes pr●disposed to admit and concurre with its sprightly and heightning influence wherefore it cannot consist with reason to aggravate the facility of this woman and transferre it wholly upon the innocent means of her refreshment and recovery so that the Mutability and Levity of women in general and the eff●cts of wine not being the cause I know not what else to attribute it unto or charge it upon a● Love in general which we know is the Author of many wonderful Advetnures and is a kinde of Magick against which Nature hath given us no power of
to maintain the honor of her house which she esteem'd above her li e she was constrain'd to acquaint her father and mother and other relations with the cause of her grief to the end that they on their parts might advise how to maintain their honor in revenging the wrong that had been done to her by the best means that they could advise since that the Emperor had given liberty of speaking to her prejudice and as for her part she had rather live as a private woman in honor than to be Empress of Rome to command all the world be tainted with disgrace as for the honor of an Empress she had it not only as being wife to the Emperor but being descended from the race of Emperors more mighty than the E. Dioclesian was that she nor none of her relations had procured the marriage between them but that he himself had endeavoured it and took all p●ssible pains to procure her to be his wife and therefore he ought better to esteem of her and if it were a trouble to him to put his Son to death and that he was desirous to have him live which would be great injustice he might pardon him out of his absolute power whereby it is Lawful for an Emperour to pardon the greatest Criminals without perswading and imprinting this opinion in his mind that the wicked and Traytorous Erastus was Innocent of a crime so enormous and manifest as that which he had committed and to give credit to the fantastical inventions of those Rascally Philosophers who defended him which means will serve for no other purpose bu● to open away for the Roman youths t● under●ake all sorts of wicked and infamou● actions in hopes to prove by the eloquence and well speaking of Orators and Advocates whereof Rome is well stored that white is black and that Vice is vertue and that instead of punishment and shame they des●rve praise and recomp●nce Of which matter she thought good to advertise him considering the b●d cou●sel which he followed which proceeded from those that g●ve it who did not acquaint him with the truth of m●tters as indeed they were whereas she on her part had never hidden the truth and had never endeavoured to hide it from him since she had lived with him And ●lthough his disdain of her or his passion which choaked his understanding had caused him to do those things which he ought not and to abhor and disdain th●se who advertised him of his honour and quiet yet however she would not be wanting to let him kn●w those things which should be for his Comodity although by experience she knew that he had not so much regard ●f her speeches as the importance of the cas● requi●ed nor the sincerity wherewith she proceeded in her advertisements because she knew not how to disguise things as those Traytorous Philosophers did who ordinarily hid the truth of things although she were now despised and disdained of t●e Emperour who at first had so great a respect for her and to conclude and put an end to her complaints she said thus Sir I much doubt that it will happen to you as it did to a French Gentleman whose Story was told me when I was young which is so proper to your purpose that if you do not provide while you have the power in your hands I fear and that to my great trouble that it will happen to you as it did to this Gentleman wherein I shall n●vertheless have a cleer conscience in regard I have not only advertised you whom it principally conc●r●● but also my Relations who are here present who also have great interest therein And although it may happen that there are s me h●re present who have heard this Story of the French Gentl●man yet however I shall relate it as being n●t improper to alledge known examples especially when they may serve to the matter whereof we treat In France there was some time since a Gentleman named Archelaus esteemed to be one of the richest and greatest Lords of all the C●●ntry he being Lord of much Lands and having in his power diverse fair and strong places and especially o●e which was so pleasantly Scituated and so strongly bu●l●●h●t he had the command of all the adj●yning Countrey This Gentleman took to wife a Damsel his neighbour whom he kept long without having any Children yet he lived with her in the greatest love and friendship that could be immagined to be between man and wife yet in the end seeing that his wife was barren and being out of hopes of having any Children he purposed to adopt some Child to bear his name and Armes and to succeed in those Lands and Lordships which he held since the bounty of heaven did not extend so far as to give him natural and Law●●l issue so that having conferred with his wife about this design who on her part was also very well contented he a dopted and took for his Son a young Child named Philemon who was one of his nearest relations whom h● ca●sed to be bred and instruct●d as belonged to the Son of a great Lord and as if he had been his own Child The child had so good natural parts that he learned all that was taught him so that his adopted F●ther was very well pleas●d and so was the Mother and all the family and in regard of the great hopes which all the Subj ct did c●nceave of the good breeding of the young Gentleman there was none of them which did not love him and who did not honour him being assured that for a long time there had not been any more wise and prudent than their young Lord was likely to be And his ad●pted Father seeing his good genius notwith●tanding his youth did not omit to acquaint him wi h his aff●irs and to entrust him with ●●me charge and mannagment wherein he acquitted himself with great d●xterity It happened that this Philemon being dilligent in all the affairs of his adopted F●●her his ad●pted Mother fell sick and in short time died wherefore Archelaus was extreamly sorry so that the better to pass away his melancholly and grief he retired to a Country house there to live solitary and pass away his time in reading and studdy in the mean time leaving the mannagement of all his great affairs to the young Philemon who also appeared to be much grieved for the death of his Adopted mother at the first appearance shewing that it was impossible for him to live in the absence of his adopt●d father and that whether-tsoever he went he would follow him to do him all service as in duty bound But this adopted father would not permit him C●mmandi●g him not to stir and that above all thing he should adimnister good justice to his Subj●ct This Philemon performed that he might not appear disob●diant ●o that his chief design was ●o govern well the Subj●cts of his Father Nay he demeaned himself so vertuo●sly in the
he arose and soon after him the Empress to whom a minute of an hour seemed to be a year so desirous she was to be satisfied in the death of the innocent Erastus and the seven Philosophers who took part with him to maintain the just quarrel of their Disciple and she was no sooner up but she sent in great haste for those who had Commission to execute the sentence of the Emperor against Erastus and the Philosophers CHAP. XXIII Prince Erastus declares in full Senate the necessity which had constrained him to be silent untill then and by an example of Hermogenes afterwards named Entichus whose Father had caused him to be cast into the Sea that he might not see him to be greater than himself Ye● however the same Entichus at length obtained the Crown of the Kingdom of Candia although he was but the Son of an ordinary Merchant according to the fatal destinies who had foretold that he should Arive at this dignity shewing that there is no prudence nor humane counsell that can hinder that which once hath been determined in Heaven and by the Caelestiall Influence And having declared the truth of the fact as it had passed between him and the Empress he and the Philosophers are acquitted and the Empress is cast into Prison The Jaylor having heard the Message of Prince Erastus went with all dilligence to the Emperours Lodgings yet he doubted that he should be derided for delivering a Message from one that was Damb but however he delivered what he had in charge to the Emperour who understanding this new Embassy remained very much perplexed and astonished by means of what had newly happened And although he believed that his Son had given that in charge to the Jaylor which he had delivered yet he thought it very strange that he now speaking he should all that time keep silent even in those great dangers wherein he had been and was still envolved So that he sometimes resolved not to make any reckoning of him considering the small esteem Erastus had for him not vouchsafeing to speak and justifie himself when he had been charged with so great a crime for which cause he believed he had just occasion to be angry with his Son who had so little respected him as not to pay him one civil salutation as in duty he was bound to and for that he had not answered one single question there having been so many propounded to him whe efore he had concluded that this his silence was sufficient proof of his guiltiness in so abominable a case as he had been charged withall And then again natural affection and instinct which induces Tygers to bear affection to their young ones although they disdaine hate all others induced and inclined the Emperour to give him audience And thereupon he gave command to the Jaylor that Erastus and the seven Philosophers should be brought bound before the Senate being however resolved that so soon as he had finished his discourse which in his opinion could be nothing but to aske mercy and pardon he should be publickly executed and with him the seven Philosophers according to the Sentence formerly given and the evening before confirmed the news was already spread throughout all Rome how that the Empress had the evening before obtained of the Emperour that without any process or delay the young Prince Erastus and his seven Masters should the next morning be publickly executed so that before day break the place of execution was full of Spectators to see the end and issue of this spectacle every one believing it impossible that so vertuous persons as the Philosophers should be miserably and publickly executed with the only Son and heir of a Roman Emperour and that their wisdome and vertue which was known to all could not save them not that none would engage in their rescue The people being thus gathered together some of them perceived the Jaylor when he went to the Emperour and therefore followed him being inquisitive after news but were hindred by the Guard from entring the Pallace only some Noble men and persons of quality were admitted and were present when the Emperour commanded the Jaylor to bring forth the Prince these relating this news abroad to others it was matter of novelty to all as being of so great importance that it could not be hid in obscurity so that at length it became so publick that not only all in the Pallace was acquainted therewith but also the whole City of Rome and principally the Senators who had upon this occasion been already sent for so that throughout the whole City there was a world of people of all sorts and qualities men and women great small who being every where met together made it their whole business all expecting the issue conclusion of the speech that Erastus would make before the Senate where every one strived to get a place that they might hear what would be said Only the Empress hearing of this news began to suspect her affair as well in respect of certain remorse of conscience which pressed her as for the novelty of the case so that being retired into her Chamber she ruminated in her thoughts the event of this discourse and she already repented of the rashness of her pursuit and then on a sudden she would take courage by a certain presumption that had possessed her and further enflamed her with malice and ang●● setting good spies upon the place to know when Erastus should be brought before the Emperour and to give her an account of all passages that should happen All the world being in this expectation the young Prince Erastus arived who went before his Masters all th●ir hands being fettered and as strictly guarded as if they had been going to execution as the Emperour had commanded which ●pectacle moved ●ll to compassion But on the contrary the young Prince marched with so much magnaminity and confide●ce that he appeared as if he had made a Triumphant entry rather then to go to execution And there did he see his Father sitting in the Senate purposing not to be overcome by fatherly love although his Son should beg pardon or favour but to leave him to the Justice of the Law Erastus being come to a convenient place with a voice high enough to be heard of all began as followeth I deny not my Lord and Father that the Creatures of this world every one in its kind do sometimes produce eff cts degenerating from their essence so that there is noth●ng here below that arives to an absolute perfection but when this mi●fort●n● happens to man to see wicked Children issue from good Parents who however have taken pains to have them well bred up and instructed such as these may be reckoned not to be men but brute Beasts And therefore so much the more should I confess my self to be such if I should commit or think of committing so great a crime as that wherewith I am charged and should
were gentile and honorable and Fortune was so favourable to him in this enterprise that in short time he saw his son very well instructed in Learning and Armes and in all other vertuous actions becoming a Gentle-man yet however seeing that he was morose and melancholly by reason he had no company in the house to converse with at home neither had he travelled abroad for there is no better way to know the World than to travel in it which gives a greater reputation to men and is more profitable than to live alwayes at home in their Nests wherefore that he might please him he resolved to travel into several places and having made provision of moneys necessary for such an undertaking and chosen out those that should accompany or attend him he provided and furnished a Ship wherein he and all his company embarqued and having taken order about his Domestick affairs with the first good wind they set sail and having sailed several dayes and meeting with a storm they made towards an Island where they landed in this Island he had a mind to remain some dayes as being a pleasant place well manured and the Inhabitants very civil and courteous but being desirous to pursue his Voyage he embarkqued when he and his son had no sooner left the shore but they saw two Birds as white as Swans who hovered about their Vessel and in the end perched on the Antient of the main M●st where they had not long rested but they descended as if they would have setled on the head of the young Hermogenes but soon returned from whence they came where they began to warble sing so sweetly harmoniously that one would have imagined them to have bin Musitian● that endeavoured to shew their utmost skill and cunning so that all the Ships company who were pleased with their harmony durst not stir for fear of disturbing them Europus who had formerly learned several words of the auguries of Birds and their significations bethought himself what this might mean being ignorant whither it foretold good or evil and seeing his son very pensive and yet nevertheless very pleasant in countenance he said to him is it possible that what I have formerly heard hath been true that there are brute Beasts who by extraordinary gestures will foretel things to come and that there are men so wise as to understand them there is nothing more certain replyed young Hermogenes for often times by these and such like means some men have fore-told several accidents to come a long time before they have hapned and that their hearts might be enlightned and be upon the greater certainty they offered sacrifices proper thereunto making use of many things that I shall not at present mention If this be true said the Father I would gladly know the meaning of the singing of these two Birds if you are very desirous said young Hermogenes for the Obligation which I have to obey you I will give you that satisfaction let what will befal me and therefore you are to take notice that all which you have seen and all the warbling of the Birds was made only in respect of me and of my future greatness for these Birds have signifyed no other thing but as they perched themselves so much higher than you are so much hereafter shall I surpass you in greatness in sign whereof they have begun to sing praises to me The Merchant Europus hearing this was surprized tither with Choller or Envy or rather with both together and in a great fury said I will take order that this angury shall not take effect and saying so he took his son by the shoulders and threw him over-board into the Sea saying to those in the Ship that although he desired his Sons advancement yet however he intended not to make him greater than himself and that he had rather choose to dye without an Heir than to give the least respect in the world to his Son and therefore he commanded instantly to hoyst up the sailes and steer their course for Alexandria certainly believing that his Son was devoured by the wave● but it hapned quite otherwise for he thinking to abase his Son and to hinder the greatness that was prepared for him he shortned his way thereunto young Hermogenes than endeavouring to gain the shore by swiming so well as he could a strong wind so assisted him that in less than an hour he found himself ashore on the same Island from whence they set out from whence his cruel father had cast him into the Sea being much weary spent yet the Islanders releived him so well having compassion for the cruelty that had been shewed to him that he in short time recovered and having continued two dayes in that Island he saw a very large Merchants Ship w●● endeavoured to take harbor there to refresh themselves and take in fresh water and considering with himself that to continue longer in that Island his condition would not be better he made his case known to the Master of the Ship who was a rich Merchant of Candy named Sterifo who having discoursed with young Hermogines and understanding from him particularly how every thing had hapned he asked him what course he intended to take to this the young man answered that he was content to what he sh●uld please to command him if he would be pleased to accept of his service whereupon Sterifo being very willing accepted of him and from that time Hermogenes disposed himself to serve him truly and faithfully which he performed so well that Sterifo being childless and being out of hopes of having any Children purposed to adopt the young Hermogenes ●eeing his good and honest carriage which was every way such as Sterifo desired in a Son if he had had any Being arrived at his house and having acquainted his wife with his design he found her very willing and free to it and f●on after they both declared him for their proper Child and because of the bounty of Fortune which had been manifested towards him they changed his Nam● and called him Entichus that is to say Bonadventure or good Adventure which being done you may understand that if at the beginning a young man so well bred had carried himself respectively towards Stirefo and his Wife when he was adopted he then made it his Study to do much better and with all fidelity diligence and readiness to apply himself to their service It was about this time that the King of Candy who was named Critorneus that is to say a Judge of Birds whether that were his proper name or only imposed on him by a certain accident was then in great trouble and not knowing which way or how to deliver himself out of it he counted himself to be unhappy and unfortunate and being ignorant of the cause of this trouble he Judged that some great misfortune would befall him and the Candiots his Subjects had a bad opinion of him supposing that this had
them and feared of his enemies Thus affairs growing every day better and better it happened that in the Citty of Alexandria which was his naturall Country the great warrs unfruitful seasons and other bad influences had caused such a Scarcity of Victuals that the g eate●t part of the inhabitants dyed with famine so that the inhabitants of Alexandria were necessitated to travel into several Countries to get Corn for the poor and therefore they made choice of the most expert and the most knowing men that they could find amongst them who willingly accepted of the Imployment because they were well provided with every thing that from other parts they might relieve their Citizens passing their time at the charge of others Among the rest they made Choice of Europus the naturall Father of Entichus and who had thrown him into the Sea who having taken Povt in the Isle of Candy where the Stars had so long before prepared a Crown for him he desired leave to buy up in that Island a great quantity of Corn King Entichus being acquainted herewith caused enquitey to be made who they were that were in the Ship and from whence they came and being informed of the truth and knowing the necessity of his Country and the name of the Commander and of the Ship he did suspect that it was his Father and therefore he purposed before he departed to make himself known to him and to put him in mind of the great fault which he had committed Whereupon having sent for him to come to his Pallace pretending to discourse with him about other affairs he caused him to stay and Dine with him which invitation he knowing not how to refuse accepeted of w●th such honour and reverence as hath been accustomed to be used by those who speak with Kings Princes and other great Lords Being at the Table after that the King had sufficiently informed himself of the estate of the City of Alexandria in generall he questioned with his Father of his particular affairs of his name and how many Children he had Whereupon the Merchant having told his name answered sighing that he had no Children and that he never had but one who perished in the Sea by a miserable misfortune It may be said the King your Son is not dead for there is one here present who hath escaped from such a like misfortune as you speak of and as he saith he is the Son of a Merchant of the City of Alexandria and therefor● advised him to look about him upon all the Company there present for it may happen that he may know his Son before his Son did know him The Merchant observing what the King had said began to take notice of all those that were in the Hall and on the other side every one looked upon him believing that they should understand somewhat that was as yet unknown and after he had well looked upon and taken notice of every one he said to the K ng that he could not find that his Son was there present whereupon the King said if you had well considered the Spectacle which you had of the two white Birds and the interpretation that was made to you you would of your self have known that which I shall now tell you for it was I my felf whose way to greatness you would hinder instead of advanceing it as you ought The good man hearing him speak of two white Birds suddenly changed his Collour being confounded within himself with shame But when he heard this spoken to his face and in the presence of so many great Lords the occasion that had moved him to such an excess he g●ew pale and red both at once and knowing no other way to make amends for his faults he arose from the Table and cast himself at his Sons feet asking him p●rdon But the King who was no less generous then great and puissant took hold of him and raised him praying him that forgetting what was passed he would make use of that power which God had given him and that he would rest contented that he had made him know by effects that it is impossible to interrupt or hinder that which the pleasure of God hath once ordained and so having sent by others a sufficient quantity of Corn for his Country he caused his Father to remain with him taking order to bring the rest of his family to Candy to participate of that good fortune which had befallen him contrary to all humane thoughts and which he had well and wisely persued By this Example said Erastus and many others as admirable as this which I could relate we may assuredly conclude that whatsoever hath been once ordained and established above doth usually come to pass so that nothing here below can obstruct or hinder it being assured of this I and my Masters did expose our selves to very great hazard and danger in our coming to Rome and the only remedy that we had was for me to be silent for the space of seven days in doing whereof the heavens promised me a good issue and deliverance provided that some would defend my cause for that Term the which my seven Masters like prudent and valliant Champions have done I therefore resolved to follow the right remedy which had been prescribed me for the conservation of my life and honour the which otherwise I should have dishonourably lost as the heavens had let me know soon after my arrivall at Rome the shame whereof would have been much more grievious to me than the death wherewith I was threatned Behold then what hath induced me and indeed enforced me to be Dumb these seven days which I suppose hath been as much to your astonishment as my trouble to see my self constrained by a fatall silence to confirme the opinion that every one might have that I would commit an action so wicked and wretched as that which hath been falsly charged on me by the Empress who being a woman and naturally enclined to be fickle and angry and having been lately in love with me it is no wonder if she hath converted that love which she first shewed me into a mortal hatred endeavouring to make me dye who am her Son in Law as it hath frequently befallen others who without any reason have prosecuted their Sons in law either through hatred or anger As for hatred we may finde examples enough in antient Histories as that which Jur conceived against Phrisso and Helle and of the Modern Histories there are enough and of hatred we may read how the cruel Phedra treated the innocent Hipolitus whose companion I had certainly bin both in cause and miserable death if the evident danger wherein I was had not been manifested to me by Heaven and the means to escape it the which I have hitherto done by the good assistance of my Masters here present to whom I am indebted not only for the good instructions I have received of them but also for my life as for the crime