of youth I beseech you Madam answered I when I was recovered from the astonishment into which her first words had cast me let us examine the matter and you will see There 's no great necessity of that interrupted she and I conceive it ought to be sufficient to you that I understand it exactly enough already You know it exactly cryed I No no Madam 't is impossible you have without question bin ill informed since you know not that Scipio has rather oblig'd then offended you You deceive your self Laelius replied she for though Scipio should have believed he acted for my advantage in this affair I conceive I were not concern'd to thank him for doing so since it does not belong to Scipio to make or break a marriage of Aemilia nor to examine whether the Matches propounded to her be advantage or not But as to satisfying you how I have bin informed I desire to be excused to morrow you shall see whether I deport my self with as much discretion and moderation as is requisite in a person of my age and sex Besides to tell you some of my sentiments I take no pleasure in speaking of a thing which I shall endeavour to forget as well for that I still acknowledge my self obliged to Scipio in the person of Aemilia as well for that I am still sensible of much esteem and kindnesse towards him But Laelius added she as she was going from me content your self with what I have said and be pleased to require no more from me Leaving me these words I was constrained to go away from her house which I did so surprised and sad with what I heard that Scipio who expected me with an extream impatience cryed assoon as he saw me Ah! Laelius your aspect speaks some great unhappiness but in the name of the Gods added he declare the matter without concealment to the end I may appease Aemilia's mind if she be incensed against me for any cause I am ignorant of or that I may dye if that adorable person forbid me evermore to seek her Aemilia is not at all incensed against you answered I but I know not whether it would not be better she were so and I had not that to tell you which I am going to relate Speak it out then Laelius interrupted he speak it confidently and since the adorable Aemilia is not incensed against me you shall see I will suffer with sufficient moderation whatever you have to tell me I wish it prove so answered I but I have not much hopes of it For to tell you the matter really as it is that having a true knowledge of the mischief you may seek the necessary remedy I have onely to recount to you the discourse I lately had with the Mother of the Illustrious Aemilia And accordingly after this I recounted to Scipio in full I had heard from Claudia whereupon this passionate lover suddenly interrupting me Ah! Laelius cryed he sorrowfully Varro is then agreed with Claudia you had indeed reason to say that it were better Aemilia were incensed against me provided Claudia were not in the manner she is For my innocence would have soon appeased that fair person whereas the too great severity of Claudia would listen to what you had to say in my justification Oh Gods who could have believed the best intentions should have been followed with the worst success Alas continued he with the same air who could have believed that Scipio wholly possess'd with zeal and respect should come to see himself the most unhappy person in the world because he had the best intentions and that a violent and unjust man should come to the point of seeing his crimes Crown'd and receiving a recompence for them so glorious that the most ambitious of men would not dare to claim after the most important services and heroical actions But on what do I amuse my self continued he after a reflexion of some moments upon what he had said I content my self with making complaints whilst perhaps Varro is within a small step of being happy O Gods this thought pierces my soul this thought kills me How let us rather go turn that fate upon my rival and afterwards do things worthy of Scipio of my love and of Aemilia He was going forth at these words but it being already very late I retained him and so well represented to him that his case was not yet arrived to that extremity which requires the last remedies that I forc'd him to await till we had understood the matter more perfectly I will expect then since you will have it so answered he roughly Yes cruel friend I will expect but know at least that what you cause me to do is something more insupportable then the extreamest misery Yes Laelius continued he the incertainty and suspence in which you detain me has something more cruel in it then absolute despair for if you would leave me to act like a man that hopes for nothing I should keep no measure I should observe no punctilio's of seemliness I should destroy my unworthy rival and abandoning my self afterwards to my destiny either soon enjoy Aemilia or soon have recourse to death I beseech you Scipio said I to him suffer not your self to be transported in this manner consider whether you have reason to say what you do and to take up such violent resolutions I am not in a condition answered he to examine all these matters I onely consider that I adore Aemilia that I lose that divine person and that by the most horrid injustice that can be imagined But you know not replyed I whether Aemilia be lost to you you cannot so much as know who could have discovered your designs and who has committed the injustice that troubles you and occasions your complaints Ah! Laelius answered he the matter is not to be doubted of none but Varro and Minutius could have known my design 't is beyond question they believ'd that to oppose their detestable resolution I would imploy the assistance of my friends and not to seek further it appears they are sufficiently gracious with Claudia to have told her part of it so that Laelius my mis-fortune will have it so that Claudia is become incensed against me for going about to oppose a marriage which assuredly she approves since she so ill interprets the attempt to break it And without intimating to her in what manner the marriage was intended to be effected 't is certain she has onely bin informed of as much as was necessary to incense her against a person that would oppose it But I shall soon make her understand by what fraud she is induced to commit an extream injustice in absolutely ruining a person who never had other designs then such as the greatest severity would account virtuous and gratifying one who contrived a horrid insolence against her house Yes Laelius I will open Claudia's eyes and afterwards let Varro see that though I make not use of wiles yet I know
strokes sufficiently spoke you the famous Hannibal and if your arms and habâ—liments caused you to be taken for a Carthaginian yet I might have better known by your actions that you were the illustrious Prince of Carthage But my Lord added he to take away a part of the regret which you may possibly have for drawing your sword against me and to testifie to you that I was not altogether unworthy to be treated favourably I will declaâ—â— to you that I am King of a Realm sufficiently large and as soon as I shall have taken a little repose I shall let you see by the story of my life that the quality of King possibly is not the thing which will most affect you Upon this Declaration Hannibal redoubled his civilities and craved pardon of the stranger for that he had not treated him as he should have done had he understood his true condition My Lord continued the Prince of Carthage your self only ought to have regreat for measuring the sword against a man that appear'd no more then a simple Carthaginian and if Fortune hath given me some advantage she hath only plaid a new prank of her old game and by a Caprichio ordinary with her inclined to be your enemy because she delights to overturn the powerfull and to favour me beleeving she should raise a man whom she took for an ordinary Native of Carthage Your Victories replyed the stranger have no dependance on her and your valour does alwaies so assuredly produce its effects that it is easie to judge it holds nothing from the Empire of that inconstant Goddess These two Princes continued on their conversation in very obliging terms and ended not till they arrived at the Carthaginian Camp There Hannibal took all possible care for the King whom he had wounded he lodg'd him in one of his own Tents and caused him to be presently dress'd by his best Chirurgions by whom he was informed to his great joy of the curableness of the Kings wounds insomuch that he would go in person to give him assurance of the contentment he received thereby Being there he heard a noise in his Tent which obliged him to turn his eye about to discover the cause whereupon he saw Adherbal entring who was a Carthaginian of quality and in no mean esteem with him The Prince had not time to demand the cause which had so much moved him for Adherbal immediatly as he entred testified his surprise and joy and following the force of his impetuous humour My Lord cryed he To horse Laelius is ours with a thousand Talents Hannibal could not contain from smiling at this strange introduction and by and by looking seriously upon Adherbal Recollect your self said the Prince and speak more clearly if you would be understood Although Adherbal was in favour enough with his Prince yet he was sensible he had committed a miscarriage in not delivering himself but by a transport and after having made a low reverence as to crave pardon for his fault he offered a more particular discovery Hannibal commanded him to speak aloud not seeing any person in his Tent whom he might suspect Whereupon Adherbal presented a Numidian who came from the parts of Vermina to advertise that Laelius was to passe within a hundred furlongs of Capsa with onely four thousand men that with those few Forces he convey'd a magnificent Present worth above two thousand Talents which the Republick of Rome sent to Masinissa and that this Numidian very well knew where there was a convenient place to surprise the passage of the Romans Hereupon the Carthaginian Prince discoursed with the Numidian and having received his advice caused his Attendant Aspar to be called and whispering something in his ear he commanded him to go forth and use extreme diligence This order being given he turned himself towards this illustrious stranger and protested that he could not resolve to leave him were it not convenient to permit him to his quiet and necessary for himself from time to time to take care for the affairs of his charge After this complement he went forth of his Tent and betook himself to choose out the best Horse which Bomilcar had brought to whom he gave the command of them and of severall other Troops he added to form a body being not willing to go himself in this expedition either by reason of his hurt or out of some other consideration The Prince having given such orders as were necessary retired to his Tent by the counsell of the Chirurgions to take his rest He passed the Evening and almost the whole night with devising means to see his Princesse so that he could not sleep till about the break of day and waked not till very late Which he no sooner did but he remembred the promise of the wounded â—ing and deeming that he might take this occasion to learn his name and adventures he sent to know in what condition he was The messenger which went to that purpose returned presently with News that the King had passed the night with very great unquietnesse that he had not fallen asleep but two or three hours since and that the Chirurgions thought it not fit he should be visited so soon This answer obliged the Carthaginian Prince to entertain himself a part of the day with Maharbal and some eminent Officers who were present at his rising and as he was telling them of the news he had received of Antiochus King of Syria he saw Bomilcar enter accompanied by Adherbal and the Numidian Courtier Hannibal perceived a deep sadnesse in the countenance of Bomilcar and being desirous to know the occasion What said he obligingly can Bomilcar be sad when he comes from fighting I come not from fighting My Lord answered Bomilcar Laelius is retired to a fortress which the Romans have possessed for about a moneth and being not in a condition to go force it I am returned but less troubled for his retreat then at the news which the Courtier of Vermina hath given me But My Lord added Bomilcar I most humbly beseech you to dispense with me for relating it to you this day and to permit me to acquaint you as late as I can with a misfortune whose greatness surpasses your power to redresse it These last words of Bomilcar amused Hannibal extremely and as the Prince deliberated what resolution he should take whether to be better informed or to expect yet some time there came one to tell him that the King requested him to take the pains to come to his Tent. Hannibal was glad of this means to break off his irresolution and although he had inward sentiments of sorrow yet he promised himself a kinde of consolation from this visit beleeving that the conversation of a sick person would be melancholick and sutable to the humour that had seised him The wounded King was aware of the alteration of Hannibal and interesting himself in that which afflicted this great man he demanded of him with much civility the
taken arms to satisfie your passion rather then to advantage the concernments of Carthage After this discourse the tvvo Princes rejoyned themselves to Maharbal Hanno and the other Officers which were with them there was an observable of no little rarity that all this great company kept silence a considerable time together Hannibal had a discontentment upon him whose nature he did not understand he ransackt his whole soul over to find its cause but was as far to seek as before for believing himself to be yet free from love he could not conceive that jealousie should beget these disquiets of mind Attanes resented a kind of repentance which how piquant and disquiet soever it was it argued a great distraction and I conceive that in his inquietude he accused himself of having spoken too much before the fierce and puissant Prince and perhaps also he blamed himselfe afterwards that he had not spake enough nor answered to the last words of my Master Maharbal Hanno and the rest dared not to begin the conversation either out of respect or for that they took that time to ruminate upon the cause of that which they observed upon the countenances of Hannibal and Attanes But My Lords all this company kept silence as I told you and when they began to break it the conversation was so irregular that I should be as troubled to describe it to you as themselves were to make it It is true that it lasted no long time for the King of the Turdetanes not being able to support the presence of the fierce Hannibal after that which had passed between them separated himself from them and left the room after he had performed the same civilities he was used to do although with an air that seemed extreamly forced My Master whose humour is haughty constrain'd himselfe very little and returned the King of the Turdetanes onely the civilities which he could not avoid making him and whereunto seemliness obliged him After which he came up again to Maharbal and Hanno but feeling the impatience of being alone so much increase he gaue so visible tokens of it insomuch that Maharbal and Hanno making a low reverence went forth and by their example obliged all the other officers to do the same My Master being alone walked in his Chamber with large steps without well considering what he did and cast about in his mind a thousand different thoughts But at length all those Cogitations gave place to those which he had conceived against the King of the Turdetanes How Attanes said he to himself dost thou pretend to the heart of Thomira How dost thou pretend to the possession of the fairest person that ever was Ha Attanes do not flatter thy self herein thou shalt never obtain the Princess Thomirr of Hannibal but if you be obstinate in this pretension continued he following the violence of his humour that Hannibal even that Hannibal of whom thou pretendest to obtain her shall carry fire and sword into thy States and tear out that heart which dare insolently to offer it selfe to the fair Princess of Castulon Thus continuing several turns about the Chamber he caused me to be called and doing me the honour to communicate his thoughts to me he would needs know those which I had upon this occurrence My Lord answered I you bring me into a strange perplexity but since it is your pleasure to have me speak I shall do it sincerely I do not see continued I that you have cause to be so highly troubled as you are for since the Princess Thomira is of very great merit you ought to be glad in seeing her your Queen and since the King of the Turdetanes who hath serv'd you loves passionately the Princess of Castulon you ought to be ravish'd with joy to reward the services of Attanes by granting him the fair Thomira How Aspar replyed my Master roughly would you have me so weak as to abandon the Princess of Castulon Alas have I not rendred her unhappy enough without delivering her into the hands of a man against whom she hath a manifest aversion which hath been justly augmented by the new causes he hath given her at the siege of Saguntum No no Aspar I will never do it I have other means to acquit my selfe towards Attanes without giving him that precious recompence and I conceive Thomira deserves to raign over other people then the Turdetanes Peradventure you reserve the fair Thomira for a greater Prince said I to him smilingly with a liberty which was oftentimes permitted me and perhaps you have not conconceiv'd aversion against the King of the Turdieanes but by reason you have conceived some other matter towards the Princess of Castulon I think thou art become a fool Aspar answered my Master being much provoked with my discourse but notwithstanding enforcing himselfe to smile soon after for suspecting me capable of such dulness but to oblige me more you ought to have told me in express terms That I am enamoured on Thomira It is true added he more seriously then he would that I have very different sentiments for this Princess from those that I have for Attanes But that some other matter which you mean without doubt maliciously is no other then a compassion which is really very tender and an esteem which I am obliged to have for a Princess whom I believe the fairest person in the World It is free for you My Lord replyed I with a little merriment to give things what names you please Yet I have sometimes heard that such kind of sentiments ought to be termed love Notwithstanding I shall call them as you please and choose rather not to well express their nature then to give them a name which might seem to please But My Lord continued I more seriously if I suspect you capable of a passion which you call weakness I charge you at least with a weakness which a thousand illustrious examples have authorised as noble and if you believe you are incapable of it it is for that in truth you understand better the conduct of an Army then the first approaches of Love which never enters into our breasts but under the appearance of some other passion and never dares own its true name till it ha's rendred it self absolute Master of the soul To give you therefore the pleasure of believing that it is become Master of mine replyed my Master with a half smile I will go visit the Princess Thomira and moreover I will not do it till you have first sent to know if it may be without inseasonableness and inconvenience I soon did what my Master appointed me and understood that the Saguntine Ladies who were with the Princess had answered that the visite would be not onely not incommodious but of great advantage to Thomira Hannibal had no sooner received this favourable answer but he hasted to the Chamber of the Princess where as the Saguntine Ladies who were her attendants came forward to receive him there appeared
Alas Alcon all is lost for me But if Edescon and Thomira added he following the impetuousness of his temper are Enemies to Hannibal then let Hannibal side with them and become an Enemy to himself Yes Alcon I will be so and when I shall have destroyed the King of the Turdetanes and established Edescon and Thomira in Saguntum I shall cause the infortunate Hannibal to dye at the feet of the adorable Princess of Castulon My Lord answered Alcon you shall permit me if you please to say that I conceive your complaint not extremely well grounded Without doubt Edescon knows nothing of the Prince of Carthage's pretensions to his alliance and he would never have written this Letter which afflicts you unless some body had deguised the affair to provoke him But my Lord continued he let not this discourse incense you against the King of the Turdetanes if you regard his crime consider I beseech you that he is amorous and leave me the care to bring him to set Edescon at liberty and so afterwards dispose that Prince to render you happy How greatly should I be obliged to you replyed my Master if you would do all that you say having so great cause to apprehend lest the effect answer not your promises when I see you promise too much I believe notwithstanding my Lord replyed the Senatour that I am easily able to bring to pass all that I promise for in short my Lord do you believe that Attanes to retain Edescon will draw upon himself an Army of a hundred thousand men with the great Hannibal in the head of it and although that should not be is he in a condition to be able to keep that Prince So that is it possible for him to stick at the giving of that which he may soon be forced to surrender and can he imagine himself capable to withstand you For Edescon pursued he I shall have less difficulty to win upon his minde and that Prince I am assured will be so ravished with the proposal which I shall make to him in your behalf that he will easily forget all his losses which to speak truth are gloriously repaired in such an illustrious Alliance My Master heard these words with an extreme satisfaction and the passion which possessed him giving ordinarily more hope then fear and above all to persons of a high spirit he felt all his pensiveness and apprehension dissipated in a moment And embracing the Saguntine Senator I shall owe all to you Alcon said he to him and you may assuredly expect my acknowledgements Go Alcon continued he and that this day I beseech you that you leave me no longer in an impatience which is insupportable unto me In the mean time to follow and authorize your counsel I will put my self at the head of a part of my Army and go by open force to obtain that of Attanes which perhaps he would refuse you if you have nothing but reasons to urge him with My Lord answered Alcon I shall depart seeing it is your pleasure Do so immediately replied Hannibal and to secure against any notice to be given to the King of the Turdetanes prejudicial to us our design must not be communicated to any person And for my self added he I shall discover it to none whatsoever saving to the Prince of Celtiberia to whom I have very great obligations After these words my Master expressed some impatience and Alcon knowing that this Prince willed nothing but with earnestness and passion left him and went to provide conveniences for his journey Hannibal repaired to Lucius and communicated this Design to him and the generous Celtiberian having long since protested that he would follow him he was at length constrained to suffer this obliging Prince to engage himself to joyn with him aftter the return of the Courrier which he had dispatched to the Queen his Mother At his departure from Lucius my Master was minded to visit the Princess but he durst not do it and therefore resolved to attend till the Prince Edescon should present him So that without longer delay at Castulon we mounted horse and Alcon did not separate from us till he had cause the Prince Hannibal to promise to do no act of hostility before he knew his negotiations was unprofitable The Saguntine Senator had not sooner put himselfe upon his way but Hannibal accompanied with Hanno Magar and three or four Officers took theirs toward the Villages which are upon the banks of Batis between Castulon and Hispalis where were quartered a considerable number of Souldiers My Master soon summoned them and gave such orders as he thought necessary for the management of his design He attended news from Alcon in these parts about six dayes and on the sixt day a paquet was brought him when he was upon the point of going to bed It is easie to judge that the Prince instantly read what Alcon had written to him and that it was not without an extream joy that he understood this Senator had acted with success He also learnt that the hatred which Regulus had against the Carthaginians had not been a less obstruction to Alcon then the love which Attanes had for Thomira had perplexed him but that at length Alcon had accomplish'd the thing having been powerfully seconded by the Turdetanes whom the onely name of Hannibal had iâ—mediately caused to murmur both against Regulus and Attanes himself so that my Master was assured that Edescon was upon the point of coming to Castulon that he was very glad to have understood aright the things from Alcons mouth which had been misrepresented to him and towards the end of the Letter Hannibal was intreated to expect more particular news within four dayes Alcon came himselfe to deliver them precisely at the time he was to send them being accompanied with a person of a most high and majestick aspect whom we soon knew to be the Prince of the Saguntines My Master ran to receive Edescon which he did with so much respect and difference that I should have difficultly believ'd what I saw had I not presently recollected that Edescon was Father of the princess Thomira But my Lords said Aspar to the Princes who listned to him you may please to permit me to pass over in silence the particularities of this enterview and onely to tell you that these two Princes made a thousand respectful protestations to one another and after that a thousand excuses for all they had done against one another before their mutual knowledge and in a word Edescon rendred Hannibal that which he thought belonged to a Prince which reigned over all Africa and part of Europe and who was yet more considerable for his illustrious qualities then for the extent of his Dominion Nevertheless all that Edescon rendered did not equal that which he received of Hannibal for the respects which my Master had for the Prince of the Saguntines were not inferior to the passion he had for the Princess of Castulon by which
they have designed For we have seen since I brought the War into Africa to draw Hannibal thither and by that means to deprive him of all occasions of seeing the divine person which I adore it is come to pass by a strange adventure that Aemilia is come into Africa and Hannibal is arrived there also soon after as well it seems to behold that adorable person as to defend Carthage And what can you say to this Laelius What have you to say to the request made to me by Aemilia not to see her which was the cause as you know that I waited for her upon the way to the end she might think it was chance that gave me the happiness of seeing her Alas My Lord replyed Laelius I beseech you consider the matter well and you will perceive that the request of Aemilia is perfectly obliging and even advantageous unto you For since that fair person hath much inclination for you and gives you no cause to fear your Rivals can make any benefit by your absence it must be believed she made the request which afflicts you onely because she believed that being at present you cannot see one another but unfortunate you would live in less inquietude by being remote asunder And to testifie to you added he that this judicious person acts with great circumspection I need onely tell you that amongst all the Romanes of quality who offered themselves to guard her she made choice of Cato and Regulus who as you know have less inclination to become her Lovers then all the rest she might have chosen For you are not ignorant that Cato as young as he is makes profession of a wisdom which holds something of insensibility and that Regulus bears so violent a hatred in his heart against the Carthaginians that I am unapt to believe a contrary passion can easily find room in it Thus you see My Lord you are not so unhappy as you believe your self in the passion which you have for the admirable Aemilia since that fair person acts both prudently and to your advantage And if you are not unhappy in the passion which you have for Aemilia are not you happy in that which you have for glory For without going about to give you my applauses and exciting you to interrupt me immedately Is it not true that you have not seen in History any man that has done what you have already and if you come to vanquish Hannibal in one decessive battlel will not yours outshine the glory of all those that have preceded you Alas Laelius answered Scipio I have yet done nothing that intitles me to a great name but for what you say of Hannibal added he fiercely I will either overcome him or I will not be in a condition after the battel of hearing that he has overcome me All the beginnings replyed Laelius are favourable to you for we see the Carthaginians are not confirmed by the powerful alliances which they have made nor even by the arrival of the great Captain who has overcome us so often in Italy when you were not our General And therefore they are instant as you know about that brave deputation they prepare in order to treat a Peace with you or at least a truce which may dispose matters to some accommodement For in truth added he smiling they will have no more to do with you who are alwayes so obstinate to carry the advantage and they are certainly in greater fear when 't is told them Scipio is coming to see them then our women sometimes had when it was told them Hannibal was at the Gates Besides this continued he seriously you have gallant Forces well disciplin'd You have several Romanes under you who deserve to be Generals where-ever you are not and you have this advantage to be as much in quiet at Capsa as to what concerns the Army as if you were in the middle of your own Camp You have also left your Lieutenants Aemilius Marcellus and Flaminius to command there whose prudence and courage is beyond all exception who are all good Souldiers and great Captains each of which bears revenge in his heart for the death of an illustrious Father As for what regards the Auxiliary forces if Hannibal has for his Allies Antiochus King of Syria Philip King of Macedonia and Prusias King of Bithynia you have Ptolomy King of Aegypt Attalus King of Asia and our brave and dear Masanissa whom I cannot believe to have committed the crime report accused him of Ah! Laelius interrupt Scipio I have seen Masanissa with Hannibal With Hannibal cryed Laelius and you seen him there Yes replyed Scipio and thereupon he related to him part of what had befallen him upon the way to Capsa But though he recounted the adventure with very much reservation yet Laelius discern'd cause enough to admire the heroical comportment of his illustrious friend when he considered with what generosity he had fought for Hannibal and with what generosity he afterwards undertook the combate against him But having expressed some Tokens of Admiration for these two actions of Scipio hee told him he could give some light to the adventure of Masanissa The King of the Massessilians and my self proceeded he were at the head of four thousand men which you had given me to lead to Tacapa that they might re-enforce the Garrison of a place whither Hannibal perhaps might come in a few dayes When we were not farre from Tacapa Masanissa who had alwaies a strong passion for Sophonisba and was alwayes telling me of the charms of that fair Queen desired to go to a little Temple of the Sun which is not much distant from Leptis that he might there learn something by the answer of the god which might give him some light in reference to what he either desired or feared But for that he carried with him onely four or five Cavaliers 't is likely the Scouts of Hannibal's Army might have set upon him and taken him prisoner And therefore you ought not to wonder added he that Hannibal and Masanissa were seen together Since in all probability the Carthaginian craft may have treated the King of the Massessilians obligingly to draw him to his party or perhaps Hannibal Masanissa being both generous generosity may have induced them to act in the same manner as if they were really friends But however it be I believe Masanissa will never withdraw himselfe from the interests of Rome so that we have nothing to consider of but how to draw him out of the hands of our Enemies either by ransome or exchange that we may afterwards know the circumstances of Sophonisba's death of which I cannot believe him culpable Now you see added he what resolution you are to take in relation to the King of the Massessilians but for what concerns the interest of your passion the Princess of Hippo and my self will be no unactive instruments As for your Army I conceive you must expect to make a new resolution till
Their repast was compleatly magnificent and after a short conversation Aemilia was accompanied to her Chamber and Nadalia to hers by Palmira into which the Princess entered and caused Laelius to enter too Who knowing the intentions of these two fait persons and Aemilia's pleasure that Nadalia should hear the particularities of her life seated himself down by them And though this famous Roman was term'd among others by the names of the wise and knowing yet he understood so well how to accommode his knovvledg and vvisdom that he did not appear less gallant and debonair among the Ladies then he vvas othervvhere a Warrier politick and virtuous He began his relation in these vvords addressing it to Palmira onely as Nadalia had entreated him to do The History of SCIPIO and AEMILIA EXpect not Madam to hear in the beginning of my Discourse that kind of Proem which they generally use vvho are to recount a History They are vvont to promise great matters to gain the attention of those that hear them they pick out high words to shew their excellent wit and never fail to excuse themselves that their eloquence is short of the subject they are to treat of For my part Madam I account it not material for me to make use of these Artifices for besides that I believe that the names of Scipio and Aemilia promise at first all that can be imagin'd great I conceive it would be needless for me to take pains to win the attention of a Princess who without doubt would not have commanded me to speak if she intended not to listen to what I have to say As for high language Madam I presume you will readily dispense with me for besides that it shews some violence and enforcement in him that uses it yet it too much takes up the hearers who oftentimes heedlesly let important matters pass by and even some which being necessary to the body of the History it is impossible afterwards to dis-intricate adventures But Madam I shall yet less serve my self of the excuses which I now condemn'd for to tell you things as I apprehend them if I were eloquent I should be so far from being sorry that my eloquence were short of the subject that I speak of that I would repress it in case it offer'd to lift up it self and keep it under as I may so speak to the end there might be nothing in my discourse that might divert part of an attention which I would have wholly bestow'd on the things I should speak and not on the words I made use of to express them For what can be heard more satisfactory to the mind and capable to fill it with excellent Idea's then the relation I am going to make whether you consider that greatness of birth in the persons I am to speak of or admire the rare qualities of their bodies and minds or be affected with the sentiments of an heroick soul or lastly desire to hear surprising events related which seem destinated onely to cause revolutions in the lives of extraordinary persons But Madam lest you should apprehend me guilty of the fault I decry it behoves me to enter upon the matter and to let you know that Scipio is of the Illustrious race of the Cornelii which has always bin so fruitful in great men that 't is not without cause the sir-name of Scipio has bin given them which signifies in our language a Prop or stay since assuredly the Cornelii hath ever supported our Republick and defended it couragiously against all the enemies that have attaqued it Nevertheless I may say since all the world believes and publishes it that the Illustrious Scipio has yet a higher descent and is Son of the great Gods For you have heard I imagine that Iupiter was seen under the form of a great Dragon in the Chamber of the Mother of this Illustrious Roman as 't is reported he was sometimes seen in that of Olympias the mother of Alexander And that which may in some measure perswade us that Scipio is the son of Iupiter or at least as worthy to be so as the famous King of Macedonia is that Scipio is extreamly pious endued with all virtues and blemished with no defect that being not born upon the Throne he is risen by his virtue to the supream authority which he possesses that he has already done things in Europe and Africa which will astonish posterity and that if he happens to defeat Hannibal in a decisive battel he will have done more then ever Alexander did There is yet a difference between these two great men which is that the King of Macedonia would peremptorily have had the whole world treated him as the Son of Iupiter and on the contrary the whole world would have treated Scipio in that manner if himself had not opposed it It is true this famous Roman has taken no extream care to root this belief absolutely out of the minds of people but it has only bin out of respect to the glory of Rome for he believ'd the Souldiers would fight with a higher confidence if they conceiv'd they fought under a Son of Iupiter and would take themselves to be invincible when they beheld a Demy-God in the head of them But Madam intending only to speak of Scipio as of a great man and the Son of Publius Scipio who lost his life gloriously in Spain at the winning of a great field I shall omit to tell you of the prodigies that were seen at Rome on the day of his birth which caused us to presage good fortune to our Common-wealth and of those that were also observ'd at Carthage which had a contrary effect For 't is reported that the day on which Scipio was born according to the supputation that has bin made of it the Tongue of Land on which Carthage is built was perceiv'd to tremble and that Eagles were seen entring into the houses of the Suffetii who as you know have the same authority in Carthage that the Consuls have in Rome But for that all these Prodigies which are nothing but extraordinary signs of things not common would not much divert you I shall prefer to tell you things more essential to Scipio and which will certainly be more agreeable and pleasing to you After having spoken of the house of the Cornelii it may seem convenient before further proceeding in my relation to say something of that of the Aemilii being as well to recount to you the life of the Illustrious Aemilia as that of the Grand Scipio The first therefore that bore the name of Aemilius was according to an opinion sufficiently authentick a Son of the famous Pythagoras named Marcus to whom the name of Aemilius was given by reason of his eloquence This Marcus after the death of his Illustrious Father who as all the world knows came out of Greece into Italy went to inhabitate at Rome where he establisht the Aemilis But Madam there is yet something more of Grandeur in the
watch about the Gate till they should return home to the end he might come presently and give him notice of it told him that he did not see them enter into the house but beheld Minutius come forth from thence towards night We mus'd a long time concerning this adventure but all we could imagine thereupon serv'd onely to perplex Scipio who came at length to believe that Varro had devis'd some means to win the mind of Claudia and that Minutius perhaps went thither to treat of an affair on which this passionate Lover could not think without being enrag'd Yet he did not cease his former course of sending slaves from time to time towards Lucius's Palace but he onely learnt that at several times many came forth to look them in the faces and observe them But Scipio made no great reflexion upon this last circumstance both because he believ'd it was the custom to take notice of such persons who in the night time pass and repass several times before the same house but when he considered that Lucius's Porter had assuredly spoken by Claudia's order and that in all appearance it was onely for Varro's interest he resented a greater passion then I am able to give a name to much less to describe He passed the night without sleeping and the languishment which had seiz'd on him sometime before through excess of love being now accompanied with so deep a discontent and so many inquietudes caus'd him the next morning to seem as if he had bin a long time sick Assoon as he thought it fit time to see the Ladies he resolved to go to Claudia's house which I absolutely oppos'd and represented to him so undeniably that he was too passionate to be able to make this visit without giving evident suspitions of the violence of his passion that at length he suffered himself to be perswaded and permitted me to go alone and visit that admirable Lady which he adored I found at Claudia's house five or six fair persons whom I have not hitherto mentioned to you Madam because I conceived it not necessary in the relation I am making to inform you of all the fair Ladies in Rome Fabius Cato Regulus and Marcellus were there also whose presence with the rest made this day extreamly agreeable Aemilia appeared to me even more charming although amidst the sweetnesse wherewith she was accustomed to receive all the world that came to her I observed methought a little melancholly which from time to time she could not well dissemble I had an extraordinary desire to go fit near this adorable person but I staid a good time to do it with convenience which I could not do till a happy change fell out for my intention For three or four Ladies of great qualitie and something advanced in years entered into Claudia's Chamber who led them apart to her own Couch and so left us to make a conversation which was afterwards something more gallant and divertising I did not omit then to take my opportunity to speak to Aemilia assoon as I could without being over-heard by any person wherefore turning my self towards her Well Madam said I to her since Scipio and I were yesterday unhappy may we know to day to cause of our unhappiness In truth Laelius answered she you would be a very strange person if you should require me to answer your question Yet 't is requisite you do it replyed I for I am not in the humour added I smiling to believe it lawful for you to do us mischief without being at least obliged to inform us why you do it You are so little prudent to day Laelius replyed she agreeably that I know not very well whether or no I ought to discourse with you It s very easie for you to be so Madam answered I who know not what an unhappiness it is to seek every where for the Illustrious Aemilia without being able to find her You have reason replyed she smiling to bemoan your self if that be the unhappiness you mean for I look upon it as very great and insupportable Ah! Madam interrupted I speak seriously I beseech you and be pleased to tell me whether Scipio and Laelius were concerned in the order that was yesterday given to your Porter to say you were gone abroad To speak to you after the manner you desire answered she seriously I believe Claudia commanded the Porter that he should give the same answer indifferently to all that came to see her Your Porter then is not very punctually replied I for I know all the world was not so unhappy as we were Minutius answered she whom without question you intimate was here before that order was given and this did not hinder its being afterwards given to all the world 'T is not Laelius added she blushing but that I have understood Claudia has some great cause to complain of your friend How Madam interrupted I can Claudia believe she has cause of complaint against Scipio surely Madam proceeded I you can no sooner have told me upon what she grounds her complaint but I shall let you see she can have no just foundation for it 'T is something which I cannot tell you answered she for Claudia has not informed me of it and to testifie to you that I know nothing of it you see I admit a conversation with you who perhaps would not pass for very innocent if I knew your friends crime 'T is true replied I I am criminal if he be culpable But it is more true that I am perfectly innocent As I had spoke these words Aemilia was drawn aside to answer to something that was proposed to her after which we engaged our selves in a promiscuous conversation In the mean time I was desirous to stay till all the company was gone to justifie Scipio with Claudia but it was so late before they all retired that I had not much time to speak with Claudia though I had too much to hear a thing that seemed to me terribly surprising For Madam you must know Claudia after some other discourse told me with an air extreamly severe that she wondered a person for whom Lucius and her self had an infinite esteem and kindness one of so noble and glorious accomplishment could be capable of contriving a design very strange and unjust For in brief Laelius proceeded she I understand Scipio has too much interess'd himself in our domestick affairs I am told he has engaged some of his friends to make great preparations aiming at the interruption of a marriage of Aemilia but I conceived he would have done better not to have medled with any of these matters Believe me Laelius Reason is not alwaies the Mistress of persons of your and your friends age and perhaps added she shaking her head a little you have given us in a testimony that however discreet and virtuous you are esteem'd you are yet short of that perfect wisdom which is elevated above all passions and have not absolutely renounc'd all temerities
something of a glittering brightness Upon which turning his eye toward the way which crossed his he beheld a Cavalier followed by four others and advancing toward the place where the wayes crossed the first of these unknown persons did by a nobler aire evidence himself the Master of the rest rather then by the disparity of his Arms which although of silver enriched with scales of burnish'd gold and beset with many jewels did less draw the eyes of Hannibal by these ornaments then by the fierceness of his countenance and the gracefulness of his port The Carthaginian Prince would have passed on after he had a little considered this stranger but he was surprised when he saw himself accosted and heard these words I know by your Armes said the stranger that you are a Carthaginian therefore inform me if it be true that Hannibal is encamped within a few furlongs of Leptis The Carthaginian Prince who was accoutred with a very plain suit of Arms the better to pass unknown in his short journey ought not reasonably to have been surprised with this discourse of the stranger but he was so notwithstanding in a great measure and as he had not quitted the heart of Hannibal by laying aside his arms and harness he could not suffer these words which he esteemed not civill and fiercely answered thereunto If you are of the friends of that Prince and would serve him I will soon accord your demands in giving you the news of him I will not receive them on those terms replyed the stranger and I am Shew then interrupted the impatient Carthaginian if your valour be sufficient to merit this advantage and know that a Prince that hath such friends as my self would perhaps take little care to gain persons of your account He said no more but drawing his sword assailed the stranger who had soon drawn his and being not able to prevent him contented himself to receive him with a very gallant and heroick firmness The other four Cavaliers knowing the generosity of their Master were constrained to be spectators of the combat and obliged Aspar to be so by their example These two valiant warriours dealt great blows to one another which they warded with their shields for a long time with much dexterity till at length the stranger was wounded in the right arm and having drawn bloud from Hannibal by a hurt he gave him in the left he received at the same time a stroke that proved the weakness of his curasse Whereupon the stranger who was one of the bravest persons in the world and had never been treated in this manner in his combats perceiving his flux of bloud changed all his fiercenesse into fury and flew upon his enemy with so impetuous a Violence that the great Hannibal stood in need of his whole force and skill But at length this haughty Prince being incensed to finde a resistance he used not to meet with in his encounters discharged from that arm so dreadfull to many Nations such a heavy blow upon the head of the stranger that it made him reel and would without doubt have born him from his horse had not two of his Cavaliers speeded to his succour while the other two run to revenge him Of which the first that lifted up his sword to strike the Prince Hannibal soon received his death as a punishment of his temerity in presuming to attaque this great man and the other whom Aspar engaged would have perhaps followed the fate of his companion by a lesse honourable hand had he not suddenly cryed out for sparing his life to go and provide with his companions for the preservation of that of his Master The Prince Hannibal caused Aspar to retire and went himself to see in what condition his enemy was and to offer the strangers all manner of assistance He found that they had taken off his Helmet and perceived an aspect composed of fierce and comely with severall marks of greatness The stranger was not in so bad estate as was supposed and seeing his Enemy approach he endeavoured to re-enforce himself to go against him but was restrained by his attendants and arrested himself when he understood the intention of the generous Hannibal He was surprised with the good meene of this Prince when he saw him lift up the Visour of his Casque and remarked in his Visage so noble and great an air that he was as much astonished therewith as he had been ill-treated by his valour Valiant Sir said the unknown person I wonder not that you are friend to Hannibal since there is so much resemblance between you in the most heroick of all qualities but I beleeve that Prince loves little of the world if he love not such persons as you and I think if he had more friends of the like valour he might promise himself success in Africa more advantagious then those his arms have had in Italy Hannibal is not so happy in friends as you imagine him answered the Prince of Carthage since you have refused to be of their number but however if you please to go to his Camp you shall there receive such treatment as shall restrain you from hating a man who perhaps never offended you Hate said the stranger I honour his person and admire his high reputation too much to be guilty of such sentiments but I told you before I could not serve him because I was engaged on the contrary side Neverthelesse upon your word I will go to the Camp of Hannibal provided you promise me I shall leave it at my pleasure and that neither the knowledge of my condition nor that of my engagement for the Romans shall be any cause to retain me in the Carthaginian Army when it shall be fit for me to go serve against it Hannibal accorded the stranger his desires and having seen him mounted on his horse with one of his Attendants behinde him to hold him up they took the way to the Camp together These great Persons had an extreme desire to know one the other and view'd each other many times to learn that which they durst not enquire of but after they had marched some time without any speech at all the stranger at length ended the silence to render thanks to his Conquerour and to desire the knowledge of his Name who had so generously obliged him Scarce had he began to speak when he spyed a Body of Horse making toward them with a large trot which he perceived were Carthaginians Wherefore to prevent being known by any of this Troop he pul'd down the visour of his helmet but he no sooner understood that these Carthaginians came to attend their Prince as his guard and that the person with whom he had encountred was the great Hannibal but he approached with a very submiss action and told him obligingly that his ignorance had made him guilty of a great mistake and my Lord said he you could not have made your self known in a more heroick manner your great
him to the Army as into an Illustrious Academy where he might learn and practise the exercises which should be appointed him Occasion was not slow to present it selfe for the young Prince had scarce compleated his ninth year when news was brought to Carthage that in Spain the Victones were revolted and that not content to refuse the payment of the ordinary Tribute they had slain those that were to exact it and us'd all the Carthaginians in the same sort who had put themselves into a posture to maintain them The Prince Amilcar determined to go and â—ame these Rebels and when all things were in readiness for this expedition he would not set forth from Carthage till he had first rendred the Gods propitious Wherefore he repaired to the Temple to Sacrifice and as he prayed to the Gods to protect the interests of a just Dominion and to give Carthage good success in the War which he undertook At this word of War the little Hannibal who had followed his Father interrupted him and by a young transport which made him loose all considerations How to the War said he with eagerness I will go to it Amilcar notwithstanding his attention at his prayers was touched with this distraction which appeared to him as charming as it was extraordinary and thereupon calling to minde the apparition of Queen Dido with what she had foretold of Hannibal and thinking on the loss of a part of Sicily and the usuâ—pation of Sardinia by the Romanes he conceived that it would give a strong impression of hatred to his Son towards a people with whom he had in appearance made a Peace which he had very great cause to break Whereupon he took the hand of the little Hannibal and causing him to lay it upon the Altar as all the world hath known since Hannibal said he to him will you swear before the Immortal Gods to be an Enemy to the Romans who have taken Scicily and Sardinia from us I will do it answered Hannibal with a countenance beyond one of his age and I swear by the great Gods cryed he turning his face towards the Altar that I will be an enemy to the Romanes to my last breath Amilcar after this Oath and some prayers which he made besides went forth of the Temple and retired to his Palace He was ravished with having seen in his Hannibal so fair tokens of future greatness and to injoy the pleasure yet more wherewith he could not be satisfied he caused him to be brought to him to consider him attentively But he was strangely surprised when he saw that sadness had chased from the visage of Hannibal that young fierceness which was wont to animate him and observed a melancholly in it of which he could not have been capable of in the tenderness of his years Amilcar caressed the little Prince and demanded the cause of his discontent to which he urged him so pressingly that the generous youth answered him Ah My Lord I am an enemy to the Romans and do not yet make War upon them Amilcar was transported with joy at these words he kiss'd his dear Hannibal a thousand times and told him to comfort him that he was not yet in a condition to make War that neither his Oath nor his Honour did oblige him to an impossibility and that he must expect strength from time to execute his generous designs But My Lord answered Hannibal why do you delay to do it I wait replyed the Prince Amilcar seriously till the troubles of Spain be composed After which I intend to go into Italy and I promise you to carry you thither Soon after the Prince Amilcar performed what he had promised to the little Prince he lead him into Spain with him to render him known and dear to all the Troops which he commanded and although the little Hannibal was yet uncapable to serve in Armies and that some friends represented to his Father that that was not a fitting place to breed and frame the manners of a young Prince nevertheless Amilcar liked better that Hannibal should acquire an aire and deportment too free and fierce in an Army then to be accomplisht in the delicate politeness of Carthage Beside this consideration which Amilcar had to render him wholly a Warrior because he knew him compleatly generous the tenderness of paternal love was so prevalent in this regard that would not permit Amilcar to be separated from his dear Child for whom he had an affection as extraordinary as his hopes I will not trouble you My Lords with relating the imbarkement of the Prince Amilcar or his voyage seeing he arrived at Spain without any remarkable adventure Nor will I detain you with the conversations he took delight to make with Hannibal the agreeable answers made therein by this little Prince having so great matters to rehearse that to avoid being extreamly prolix I am constrained to pass over the pleasant in silence You shall onely know continued Aspar that the Prince Amilcar defeated the Rebell Victones and reduced them under the Carthaginians obedience and likewise that he governed the affairs of Spain in sufficient peace during some years It was about this time that I was given to the Prince Hannibal and at the same that with all the Carthaginians I admired the brave qualities of my Master The aspect of this Prince began to seem very high his eyes were filled with a fire that may be truly termed Martial his stature was comely his genius solid although very active but it may be justly said that all these qualities gave place to the greatness of his courage of which he gave so glorious proofs and his valour although in the blossome was so much admired that Amilcar did not consider him but with greater transports of joy then I am able to express For the Vectones having not continued in their duty but for want of power to quit it with strength enough had alwaies in their hearts the seeds of Rebellion and as people which are tainted with this kind of malady are like ordinary sick persons who seek rest by tossing up and down so the Vectones stirr'd again without considering that they did in effect lose that quiet by their revolts which they imagined they should obtain Advertisement was given Amilcar that within three or four principal Cities they had began to proclaim Liberty and being this word is apt to touch the hearts of people and that example is very powerful in this sort of conjunctures eighteen or twenty of the best Cities of Spain did the same thing so that in a short while after Amilcar saw an Army of forty thousand men upon him Wherefore the Prince took the Campagne with all the forces he could assemble intending not to give the enemies time to understand their own and increase them but resolved forthwith to present them battel It was in this occasion where Hannibal signaliz'd himself by a hundred gallant actions which he performed at the Head of the Volunteirs
But I should never come to an end if I should reckon up all the places where he fought Therefore to be brief I must assure you that he fought every where where his presence was necessary and that wheresoever he fought he animated his party both by his voice and by his example and beat down all his enemies that made head against him At length the Prince Hannibal put the Rebels to slight after he had slain fifteen thousand of them I say the Prince Hannibal My Lords since it is certain that he carried this Victory by his conduct and by his great courage The Rebels rallied again and fought several times after but the advantage continued alwaies intire with us During this war it may be said that my Master began to discover those fair accomplishments and habitudes which now fill the mouthes of the whole world He never thought upon himselfe till he had put every thing else in order he neither eat nor slept but when time and the exigence of affairs permitted him he oftentimes lay in the Corps du Guard but that which hath been observed for the most generous and singular in this Prince is that in this War and in all others as without doubt you all know My Lords he hath been alwaies the first to charge and the last to make the retreat But My Lords I come at length to give you an account of that bloody battel of Castel-alto where the Vectones were absolutely defeated but alas where we finish'd the Victory with the loss of the great Amilcar This Prince not being able to suffer that Hannibal should be exposed to so great dangers rush'd forward to partake with him who was figting on all sides and after he had performed all that a valiant man and of an age less declining could have done he was dispatch'd with three or four wounds which he received at the same instant and could utter onely these words Ah Hannibal I leave thee in danger My Master who had never cast eye upon his enemies but to beat them knowing the sound of this voice turned his head and seeing the great Amilâ—ar fall under the Horses feet whom he loved and honoured infinitely he cast himselfe upon the ground to embrace him and perceiving that he was dead he uttered all the resenting words that tenderness could inspire a Son with and afterwards betook himselfe to do all that rage could enforce to when in its greatest extent For having caused the body of Amilcar to be carried to the Camp and being become more terrible and cover'd all over with blood he remounted his Horse and soon carried terror and death to every place where he discharged his dreadful blowes It is impossible My Lords to represent unto you all that he did in this fury it is enough to let you know that never any enraged Lion in our Africa did so much as our provoked Prince did in this occasion At length our enemies were cut in pieces and the Prince Hannibal who had committed nothing that a man resolved to perish could attempt found himselfe but lightly wounded in three places of his body After this general defeat of the Vectones which cost us so dear my Master caused the body of Amilcar to be interred with all the military pomp that could be imagined But the tears of the Carthaginians were more glorious to the deceased Prince then any ceremony whatsoever and 't is credible this death did so sensible touch our Souldiers that it might have been conceived by our Army that the loss of Carthage was involv'd in that of Amilcar if that Prince had not repaired it in leaving us the great Hannibal For all the Commanders and Souldiers remarked in my Master all the accomplishments of Amilcar and had then saluted him General if at Carthage it had not been deemed convenient to make a kind of inter-raign by putting the soveraign authority into the hands of the Prince Asdrubal who was Brother-in-law to Hannibal by marrying the Princess Magarisbe for my Master was look't upon as too young to manage the affairs of our Empire You know without doubt My Lords that Asdrubal was slain three years after his advancement and that the Prince Hannibal was declared Prince of the Republick of Carthage and Generallissimo of all its Armies notwithstanding the canvasings of Hanno who was head of a contrary party My Master was no sooner raised to this great dignity but he framed a design not less noble and eminent then the condition he was in for not contenting himself to go into Sicily or Sardinia to recover them he deâ—â—rmined to carry the War into Italy gain a conquest worthy of his courage in marching against the proud Rome But being of a deep entendment he would not enterprise this War but upon reasonable grounds because his late Brother-in-law Asdrubal had also made an alliance with the Romanes of which the principal Article was that the River Iberus should part both the Empires and that the Saguntines should be Neuters Hannibal to the end he might be better served by his Souldiers and not incur the hatred of the people made it evident that he had cause to complain of the Saguntines who had joyned themselves to the interests of Rome contrary to what had been agreed and drew forth his Army to march against the Sagâ—ntines declaring it his purpose rather to revenge the outrage then to possess himselfe of the Territories of another he saw notwithstanding that Rome would declare her selfe for a people that had declared for her and that so the Romanes appearing invaders of the Carthaginians he might represent them odious to the Nations which should be infested with this War and might fight his Enemies with the aid and assistance of several people who would look upon him as a Pâ—ince injustly attaqued But in the first place before he set upon the Saguntines he marched against the Olcades who are scituated on this side the River Iberus I shall not recite you the particular adventures of this War but onely tell you that Hannibal in four moneths conquered this Province and took the rich City Carteia which was the Metropolis of it From Carteia he went to take up his winter quarters at New Carthage where he caressed all the Commanders and Souldiers of his Army commending the vivacity and greatness of their courage and thereupon making a division to them of all the spoiles he yet more satisfied them then by all his Elogiums As soon as the Sun by his approaches began to chase away the cold which is wont to incommodate Armies Hannibal took the field and caused his to march against the Vacceans This Prince was too valiant to meet with any great resistance so that he overcame the Vacceans be sieged and took the great Cities of Hermandica and Arbacala and after so good success attaqued also the Carpen aines But it was not without pains that my Master aâ—chiev'd this last enterprise for their Army which consisted of a hundred
to a Prince who hath attaqued mine since I adore a Princess which hath wounded me much more dangerously and gained a victory over me which never any person did before nor shall any other hereafter The Princess was infinitely perplexed with this discourse she could not resolve to mistreat a Prince to whom she had so many and late obligations nor could she resolve to return a favourable answer to the author of all her losses So that having continued silent some moments My Lord answered she you onely heard that which obliges me to render you thanks and interrupted me when I was come to tell you the cause I had to complain of you For my Lord if you are the Prince that hath treated me very generously you are also the same Prince that caused many thousand men to Perish you are the same Prince that brought me into a condition of lamenting a hundred times a day when I think upon the Prince my Father without knowing precisely where he is I sometimes imagine him in a fire where he is devoured by the flames and if I can believe that he hath escaped that fate then presently I conceive that the prison or grief are ready to do that which the flames have not So that you may please to judge my Lord of the commiserable estate wherein I am since if on the one side I owe you all on the other I am obliged to consider you as my enemy And I would the Gods had pleased continued she lifting up her fair eyes towards Heaven from which some tears slipt that the loss of my life could establish the repose of yours you should find I will soon give it with contentment and that at least I know to do that out of gratitude which you have done out of pure generosity There is no need of that Madam replyed the passionate Prince being sensibly toucht with the tears of his Princess and it suffices me to hear some favourable words from your mouth to He could not proceed further by reason of the coming of Lucius Maharbal and Adherbal to do reverence to the Princess and to him having entered without desiring permission because the Terrase was a place where people walked ordinarily and there was a considerable multitude there at that time Whereupon the Princess was very glad and to the end Hannibal might no more have occasion to be alone with her she made semblance that she had walked enough and having called Nadalia and the other Ladies all the company entered into a large and magnificent Pavilion at the end of the Terrase which was provided with rich cushions and furniture within a few daies before Thomira and Hannibal were too sufficiently taken up with their own thoughts to be able to begin the conversation immediately so that the Prince of Celtiberia breaking the silence which had an aspect of too much sadness Madam said he to the princess I perceive well that you have been touched with the view of so lamentable an object but the soul of the Princess Thomira is so firm that I believe she can with no great pain compose and calm this kind of affliction In sincerity Lucius answered Thomira I would not upon any terms have such a soul as you speak of and I had rather be guilty of weakness then own such a strength as renders a heart insensible The Prince of Celtiberia would not have you insensible said Maharbal but he would neither have you permit your selfe to be so sensibly affected with the sight of some ruines which in truth ought to be no cause of admiration after you have seen the things which caused them and for my selfe Madam added he in favour of the Prince of Carthage I could wish to see you above all passions except ambition which seems onely worthy to raign in your soul It hath at least appeared the strongest heretofore answered the Princess but a Victory of the prince Hannibal added she sighing hath caused me to change those thoughts and resent a passion which I find more violent It is easie to judge said the prince of the Carthaginians that there was a time when Ambition was not onely the strongest but even the onely passion which raigned in the breast of Hannibal But Madam added he with a lower voice and beholding his princess a victory of the princess Thomira hath made me quite discharge such thoughts and resent a passion which I find more violent It is easie to understand Madam said Nadalia interrupting my Master in favour of the princess and yet making a handsome semblance not to take notice of his speaking low it is easie to understand said she that grief is the violent passion which you have resented but I beseech you Madam chase it from your breast for in truth pursued she with an air expressing her contentment to divert the Princess I look upon grief as a thing so deformed and frightful and your soul seems to me so fair and noble that I cannot longer approve their being together or that a passion which makes so many miserable should have so excellent a habitation besides without vanity added she smiling I cannot believe but at least I am somewhat more amiable then sadness and upon that reason cannot endure that that possess the place a little part whereof would render me the most happy person in the world You have no need then to doubt your felicity my dear Nadalia answered the Princess and it would be injustice to refuse you a heart you have so good a title to and which cannot be given you but with an extream satisfaction You do me too much honour replyed Nadalia I render you a thousand thanks and protest to you that if I have demanded so valuable an advantage in an extraordinary manner it is because I believed that had I demanded it seriously I might have been judged too ambitious besides that to speak the truth I have resolved to turn all things to this air the better to divert you and I beg the permission of the Prince Hannibal to use this liberty Ah amiable Nadalia answered Hannibal can you be guilty of such injustice and do you not know that the Princess alone hath authority to permit forbid command Well beautiful Nadalia said Anno who had not spoken till then and had no attention or regard but for this lovely Saguntine Well said he in favour of the Prince Hannibal or rather in his own to cause Nadalia to speak can you give an account what passion it is which hath rendered it selfe more powerful then ambition in the soul of the Prince of Carthage In verity Anno answered Nadalia with her wonted pleasantness you are a very knowing person that conceive it possible for me to know the secret of another Declare your selfe added she subtilly if you would have me know yours Ah fair Nadalia cryed he without well regarding in what presence he was how happy should I be if you knew it I know not said Hannibal to Anno whether Nadalia
ignorant of the cause After these words the Prince perceiving himself not master enough of his passion went forth of Thomira's Chamber and retired to his own where he was during some time agitated with many contrary inquietudes And well Thomira said he at last as if the Princess had been in the Chamber where he walked well cruel Thomira unjust Thomira do you not consider who I am have you forgot what I have done for you and without respect to the Empire I have over divers Nations or to the adoration I bear you having been ready to dye for you you push me upon the precipice and to enhance your cruelty yet more you adde all inhumane circumstances to my inhappiness yes Thomira you are cruel since you promise not but to refuâ—e afterwards since you seem not to to raise me to felicity but to precipitate me in effect into the greatest of all miseries and imploy this terrible afterclap as a new kind of punishmâ—â—t to torment me more sensibly Are you not injust O Thomira that would have me perish withoâ—t knowing for why and are you not injust to keep me ignorant of the cause of my unhappiness to the end I may have no power to address it The grief of Hannibal spent it self in this complaint so that the Prince came to himselfe after a few moments and demanded pardon of the princess and uttered with a calmer tone a hundred things contrary to the former Fair Thomira said he adoreable Thomira I am culpable and the reproaches alone which I have raged against render me worthy of a thousand deaths I have dared to say that you ought to have regard who I am and did not consider that I am a monster come from Africa to Spain to the calamity of the fairest Princess of the world and though I had done all things for you had I done more then I ought and should you have been obliged to me since all I could have done would have but served to appease the sorrow I have caused you It is true Thomira that you have promised me all and afterwards denyed me all but divine Princess when you promised me all you did me an act of Grace and I have therefore no reason to complain when you grant me nothing since you are not obliged to give me the Treasure which I have demanded and whereof I acknowledge my self unworthy This is not all my crime fair Thomira I have carried it further and murmured at my condemnation when you would not declare the reasons for which I was condemned Ought not I to consider O Thomira that you always act with justice and that being the Soveraign of my life you are not obliged to render me account of what you do especially when you dispose of nothing but what is your own Wherefore Thomira I shall expiate my crime in your presence and wash it out it with my blood if you refuse me the pardon which I shall sue for at your feet He was going forth after these words but it was told him that Alcon attended to see him to communicate to him an affair of great importance Let him enter answered Hannibal which he had scarcely done but the Prince demanded of him if Thomira were inflexible My Lord answered the Saguntine I am come to tell you things that will surprize you which I had from the relation of Nadalia while you were with the Princess You know continued he that Attanes passionately loves the Princess of Castulon but you have not yet understood that that King caused Edescon to be carried away from Saguntum that he retains him at present and pretends to give him protection against you But my Lord you ought not to be astonished if Attanes told you he had a means 〈…〉 the heart of Thomira seeing he believed he had the disposal or that of Edescon Let us go then interrupted Hannibal impatiently let us go draw the Father of my Princess out of the hands of Attanes But Alcon added he addressing to the Saguntine Senator may I believe what you relate There is nothing more certain answered Alcon and I have engaged Attanes to confess it to me And if I have conferred with him concerning his departure from Saguntum it was to no other purpose then to perswade him to remit the Prince Edescon into liberty But this amorous King could not be brought to resolve it and required time to deliberate upon a precise answer If to that which I tell you I may adde my conjecture I shall dare to assure you my Lord that it must needs be that the King of the Turdetanes hath some covert Agent about Thomira who informs him of all that concerns the Princess For within the time that I undertook we should not onely have the consentment of Edescon but that we should have that Prince himself at Castulon within twenty fifteen days Within that time I say the Princess received this Letter which in all likelihood Attanes hath caused to be written and which I took from the hand of Nadalia to shew you Ending these words he presented a Letter to the Prince Hannibal which ran in these expressions EDESCON to THOMIRA AFter the loss of Saguntum there was nothing left me to lose but my onely Daughter to be totally overwhelmed with misfortunes and you would have me lose her ingrateful Thomira unnatural Thomira since you are determined to bestow your self on my Enemies I could never have believed that a Princess bred with so much care ought to yield her self to the first that sought her when the remoteness of her Parents permitted her to act according to her own inclination But why should you have any regard to seemliness if you violate all the Laws that subject you to Edescon and which absolutely prohibite you to engage without his consent Possibly you believe it to no purpose to desire a consent which you think I ought not to give Ah Thomira if you are yet capable of this thought consider the justice of your proceeding and whatever happens augment not your crime by shortly informing me of a thing done and of such a thing as you never ought to have done but by my order But I would to the Gods O Thomira that this Letter might affect you and divert you from being drawn to so strange a resolution But I fear this wish is improfitable after what you have already done Have you not given the Government of Castulon to a man that served Carthage against your Father What remains more to be done for the Carthaginians Alas I see it is consequent for the crowning of your crime to give them Thomira also and that you effect my death with sorrow EDESCON The Prince of Carthage was as it were Thunder-struck at the reading of this Letter Ah cruel Destiny unmerciful Fates cryed he must it be that I ardently desire to see Edescon and that at the same time I know it possible to see him I must also know that he is an Enemy to Hannibal
begun at their first coming forth of the Camp The King of the Massessilians employed his thoughts of nothing but on the Queen of Numidia in which he had notwithstanding some contenting moments when he considered that the report of fame publishing Masanissa for the poysoner of Sophanisba and that without any likelihood of truth there might be no more reality in that of the fair Queens death But his affliction soon chased away these thoughts as to beguiling and becoming ingenious to torment himselfe with more violence he represented to his fancy Sophonisba in all her beauties gallantry and goodness toward Masanissa and then that same Sophonisba dead and that by violence and cruelty These last reflections were so importune to this illustrious Unfortunate that his dispair was increased by them and if he had so much restraint as not to evidence it before Hannibal he may be thought to be so much the more miserable since by including so painful a passion in his heart the anguish became more bitter and insupportable But if dead Sophonisba possess'd the imagination of he poor King of the Massessilians Thomira insensible did not less â—ill that of the passionate Prince of Carthage who after a few instants that were not altogether unpleasing he was taken up with long musings which inquieted him extraordinarily They at length arived before they were aware at one of those publick houses which are by custome appointed for the reception of strangers upon the great way distant a few furlongs from Capsa there Hannibal lighted with purpose to cause Masanissa to take a little rest and to use the interim for the dispatch he had resolved upon in ordeâ— whereunto choosing a commodious Chamber for the King himself reâ—â—â— into another to write a Letter which he sent away immediately to Zama the Master of the Hostelrie who was unfurnish'd of provisions in a house too much exposed to the passage of men of Arms sent to Capsa to purvey for such as he deemed convenient for the entertainment of his guests whom he judged to be of great quality after which he came to do reverence to the great Hannibal and told him that the Princesses were not to pass by till within two dayes Hannibal did not apprehend what this man meant but the name of Princess exciting his curiosity he demanded what Princesses they were which were to pass by within two dayes I know not their names answered the Host but I have heard at Capsa that there are two of them the fairest persons of the world and it may be added the most happy too notwithstanding I am told they seemed sufficiently melancholly For my Lord continued he consider I beseech you their good fortune they are magnificently received in all Towns through which they pass all Princes and the most powerful Kings indeavour to gain their favour and I believe if they were so minded we should soon have a general peace for to declare the outside of the business I have been assured that our Prince Hannibal is amorous of one of these Princesses and the other is the Mistress of Soipio If so you may please to judge whether they deserve not to be honoured universall and that it may not be concluded with verity that the end of this War will establish one of these Ladies the surpreme Princess of the World But I demand your pardon my Lord if I have told you things which in likelihood you know better then I have recounted them being probable that such persons as you are not ignorant of newes of this Nature It is true added he you were pleased to command me to relate them unto you and that injunction ha's drawn me into the same fault I was guilty of yesterday before a young stranger who caused me to tell him the same matters which notwithstanding himselfe knew better then I as farre a I conjecture Hannibal answered that he knew nothing of this news and that he was glad to learn it upon which to get a further account he inquired concerning this young stranger and demanded of Host if he knew who he was I know him not answered he but this I can affirm that a man of more comely aspect was never seen and that it was the late sight of his gallant person that hinders me from being absolutely surprised with yours Notwithstanding I am much astonished at the unusual coming of two persons at the same time to my house whose goodly presences sufficiently speak them to be very considerable At the same time interrupted the Prince Hannibal is that stranger here at the present then He is not here at this instant replyed the hoste but he is not farre distant and I believe he is gone to repose himselfe under the Trees which are about two hundred paces from the high-way and that he will continue there all the day to avoid being known by returning to the house which is open to all the world at least this is my conjecture being he hath also caused his Horses to be led thither I shall not molest him then answered Hannibal and if his goodly aspect gave me desires to know him the design he hath not to be seen hath destroyed them and I will not retain a curiosity which might displease a man whom you have described so advantageously to me Scarce had Hannibal ended these words when Aspar entered his Chamber with a hastiness more then ordinarily and told him that he had seen five and twenty or thirty Cavaliers appear whom he judged to be either Romanes or of those sort of roving Souldiers who in times of War without being friends to either party are alwaies enemies to such as are not in a capacity to resist them For riding about all the Avenues to discover if any party passed that way towards the War he perceived this Troop which according to all appearances were no Carthaginians It will be no bad counsell then answered Hannibal to put our selves in a posture not to be surprised Go therefore Aspar added the Prince and give order for all to be in a readiness and tell them that I am going to Horse This order was as soon executed as given and the Prince Hannibal perceiving that Aspar had reason to give him this intelligence and that these Cavaliers were coming directtly towards him having learnt by him whom the hoste had sent to Capsa that there were people of quality at his Masters house he went forth to them vvith nine others casting from his countenance a kind of noble fierceness which never abandoned this great man in contingencies of this nature Let us on my friends said this illustrious Carthaginian to the Cavaliers which followed him and let us shew that Hannibal is neither to be kill'd nor taken with ease The wife of the hoste who ran in a fright to the Gate of her House to get into it hearing these vvords and not finding the passage free at first fled towards a shade of Trees which was not farre distant from thence where
Warriers but assoon as they turned their eyes from Massanissa they beheld each other so fiercely and their gestures seemed so â—aughty and scornful that they were yet more eagerly animated So that they setled themselves in their Saddles and lift up their Swords to begin the fight upon which Masanissa observing their intent that he might yet break off the combate cast himselâ—e between these two Illustrious Gallants and told them all which might calm and moderate their ardour Fight then cryed he at length and have the inhumanity to pass through the breast of Masanissa before you meet Yes continued he you must trample a King under the feet of your horses if you resolve to fight and moreover a King indisposed and a suppliant and one that intreates you nothing but to preserve each other If these words were powerful the air of Masanissa was not less affecting so that the two Warriers were perswaded and beheld one another with lesse animosity after which casting their eyes upon Masanissa they seemed to express by their silence that the King of the Massessilians was an obstacle whom they would not violate At length the Prince of Carthage broke off the silence and speaking to his generous enemy Valiant Sir said he to him I am sorry this opportunity must pass without fighing but we shall have some more favourable within a few dayes if you will make your self known You shall know me sufficiently answered the fâ—erce Unknown and perhaps it shall be at the head of your Army that I will attaque you and make my self known after these words this Illustrious stranger took the way of Capsa and left the Prince of Carthage and the King of the Massessilians in admiration of what he had done It is true the fierce Hannibal had as much regret in his mind as he had esteem for his generous Enemy the fierce Hannibal I say who had never been deâ—ied without fighting upon it and overcoming insomuch that he had great vexation for the constraint which hindred him from fighting in the re-encounter and he would without doubt have passed over all considerations whatever to go after this valiant Stranger to overtake and fight him if Masanissa had not powerfully opposed him therein and the fierce Carthaginan had not also comforted himself with the hopes that this generous person would really acquit his promise to make himselfe known Not that the haughty humour of Hannibal was very capable to afford him satisfaction out of a naked hope but for that the Prince perceived he could not otherwise be satisfied because Masanissa opposed his purpose more peremptorâ—ly then before having known the stranger by the tone of his voice and more by reflecting upon his heroical proceeding By which this King no longer doubted but that this magnanimous stranger was the Illustrious Scipio For it is the action of an Illustrious person to expose his own life for the preservation of that of a brave enemy but 't is the action of Scipio alone to attaque the famous Hannibal in the manner vvhich he did So that I may say Scipio comported himself like Scipio and that there is no place to mistake this gallant Hero I must therefore abandon all to follow him The End of the First Part. The Grand SCIPIO PART II. BOOK I. THe Illustrious Scipio whom we must no longer term by the name of Stranger after his lately atchiev'd heroick actions continued his way towards Capsa though with resolution not to enter into that City notwithstanding it had declared it self neuter a little while before and also contributed towards the support of the Roman Army For being desirous not to be known he would not put himself into a City where such a world of eyes would have been upon him judging it impossible to escape meeting with some there that had seen him before or heard of him enough by fame to know him Wherefore he determin'd to go and spend the night in a house not far from Capsa and as he was yet in the grand Road before he came to turn off into a less which led to that House he began to reflect upon the late adventure which seem'd so surprising to him that he could not but testifie as much to his Attendant Ah! Flavius said he to him is it possible that my eyes have not deluded me but really seen Masanissa with the most inveterate of my enemies that Masanissa whom I have loved with so great ardor and given a place to in my friendship little different from that which Lâ—lius possesses But 't is undoubtedly true I have seen heard him speak and if I have not seen that Masanissa whose soul own'd none but generous sentiments I have seen that Masanissa whom men report to have poyson'd Sophonisba and who after the commission of a crime of that nature may make no scruple of abandoning his best friends 'T is true Flavius I feel some kind of reluctant thoughts in my breast in favour of the King of the Massessilians and though all the world publishes already that he sent poyson to the Queen of Numidia and my self have seen him with my enemies yet there are a kind of contrary motions in my mind which check the passions the former inducements might raise in me Yes Flavius I feel some Favourable inclinations which will not permit me to condemn Masanissa without being better informed and without unriddling those things which perhaps will serve to satisfie me that this King is rather unfortunate then criminal For in truth hitherto I have found no cause to repent me of having plac'd my friendship upon any I have given it to but contrarily I have had the happiness to see the Elections I have made of what nature soever generally approved Scipio stopt suddenly after these words and changed colour when he considered what he had last said and then soon after turning towards Flavius But alas said he to him if I have had this happiness I have withall had the happiness of seeing the election which is most glorious unto me become that which renders me the most miserable of men Yes Flavius continued he the passion I have in my soul for the adorable Aemilia causes me to suffer that which certainly never any other did and since the obstacles which are met with in the course of a passion like to mine if yet 't is possible to finde any like it since I say these obstacles first were capable to make men unfortunate they never made any so deeply miserable as they have me The amorous Scipio proceeded no further but bestowing his silence in musing found a sort of great satisfaction in repassing over in mind all the sweetnesses he had tasted in the conversation of the Illustrious Aemilia and afterward in surveying all the invincible obstacles which had hindered him from being compleatly happy But while these thoughts possessed his mind he beheld a slave coming towards him whom he presently knew to belong to Laelius Scipio did not omit instantly
though I were not so I should notwithstanding be as sensible of it as a true friend ought to be of what concerns another so fair and generous You must know then replyed she that Laelius made a discourse to me wherein he us'd all the reasons he could invent to perswade me to act in your favour with the illustrious Aemila but he did it with so much ardour that I was in truth wholly incensed with it for I account to intreat me with urgency to act for you is in a manner to take pains to make me to act reasonably Be pleased therefore to judge My Lord if there be not something offensive in the discourse of Laelius I find something so much obliging in yours interrupted Scipio that I am rather inclin'd to render you thanks then to be in choler against Lelius besides that what is in your opinion an offence being an offence of a true friend Alas My Lord cryed she do not deceive your self but believe the offences of a true friend ought to be more highly resented But Madam answered Laelius pleasingly do you deceive your self as little in this matter and believe I have done that which I ought to do For according to your own censure I have onely failed in that I intreated you urgently for such a person as Scipio and so it seems I did injury to his merit and your generosity However proceeded he smiling I must advertise you Madam who are yet but a new friend that a zealous and active friendship sometimes makes us do things which seem unprofitable for fear lest coming frequently to act with too great circumspection we let slip some important occasion of doing a service to a friend or else lest our friendship by becoming too nice do not also become lukewarm and languishing So that Madam added he agreeably if you have the happiness of not being more offended in what you have further to say you will not cause me very many enemies Scarce had Laelius ended these words but the Prince of Capsa came to wait upon and conduct Scipio to his Chamber Scipio refused his ceremony as much as he could but Magasba believing he did it out of complement persisted so inflexibly in his resolution that Scipio was at length enforced to suffer himselfe to be conducted what repugnance soever he had to leave the amiable Princess of Hippo 'T is true this illustrious Roman had the satisfaction of hoping he might discourse with Laelius in his Chamber concerning the divine Aemilia but he was much perplext when being come thither Magasba desired also to conduct Laelius to another which was prepared for him Scipio and Laelius both deprecated his civility and believed he would not be so obstinate to separate them But it fell out otherwise for this Prince whose ceremonies were unalterable bent to perplex them would needs have Laelius leave Scipio's Chamber alledging it was unfit two persons of such high condition should be lodged incommodiously The two illustrious friends answer'd that their friendship and their affairs would not permit them to be separated But Magasba replyed smiling and shaking his head a little that it was hard to deceive a man of his age that he perceived well what they pretended was but a fictious civility and that they desired to be together only that they might take up less lodging in a house wherein a great number of other guests were expected But they needed not trouble themselves in that respect His Palace was larger and more commodious then it seemed to be and in a word if there were a necessity for any to be badly lodged it ought not to be either Scipio or Laelius These illustrious Romans endeavoured further to oppose the will of Magasba they pressed him with reasons and importuned him with intreaties but all their instances were unprofitable and Magasba retain'd so obstinately whatsoever he set upon that Scipio and Laelius after a silent beholding of one another as to testifie how disgustful ceremonies are at length were separated and Laelius suffered himself to be conducted Indeed afterwards Magasba was pleased to let them breathe and come together for after having made a great complement also to Laelius he left him and gave him liberty to go to the Chamber of his illustrious Friend though not without a fear continually of meeting or being followed by Magasba so true it is that persons of this humour are troublesome even in places where they are not Laelius was no sooner in Scipio's Chamber but they began to speak of the persecution of Magasba though without much insisting on it having many more pleasing and important matters to discourse of For Laelius to moderate the grief of his illustrious friend told him all he conceived pertinent to appease his discontents and indeavoured to perswade him he was not so unhappy as he believed himselfe to be For are not you assured after all said he to him that Aemilia loves no person to your prejudice and when you were upon the point of marrying that adorable Lady did you not observe as many tokens of joy in her fair eyes as you could wish and did not you behold in those very eyes as many tokens of discontent as you did before of joy when a surprising and dreadful obstacle interven'd to oppose your happiness And therefore I conceive you have no cause to afflict your selfe as you do For if the gods seem to intend that Hannibal should marry Aemilia Ah! Laelius interrupted Scipio rather say the gods intend it absolutely and that they have made it sufficiently evident This evidence which frightens you answered Laelius confirms me besides that we see no appearance that Hannibal who is ardently amorous of Thomira should marry Aemilia whom he never saw Alas Laelius replyed Scipio you argue ill in the matter since you know not that the Gods when they intend to make themselves remarked for the agents are wont to make things come to pass contrary to all appearance to amaze humane wisdome and to make it appear 't is a supernaturall conduct which acts and makes use of means which are remote from and very often contrary to their end But Laelius added he should what you say be true and should there needed onely commodious disposition of affairs yet do wee not already perceive an accomplishment to my unhappiness For in bâ—ief if I have transferr'd the War into Africa it has been rather for reason of love as I may so say then for reason of state And indeed Fabius who thought meet I should fight Hannibal in Italy had not fewer reasons to make good his opinion then I had to maintain mine which was that it was best to carry the Warr into the Country of the Enemy But the Interest of my love being concerned in the business I spoke above my ordinary force and at length carried it from Fabius in that famous contest But observe Laelius how the Gods delude our conduct and how they punish us when we in any manner oppose what
I the company is still good nevertheless I will do what ever you please and I will go added I smiling whither you will command me since the most lovely person of the world is no longer here I will not tell you a thing which all the world knows replyed he as we were going forth I shall then go learn said I smiling again which no person knows yet which is unquestionably that you love Aemilia more then all the persons that ever you have seen before Alas Laelius answered he I beseech you do not smile when you speak of such matters I shall do what you please replyed I provided you do not require me to sigh for I should be much troubled to obey you And is there any cause of sadness in what I have seen answered I taking my way towards the Tybor on whose banks we were going to walk and ought not I to be ravisht with joy that Scipio who without flattery is the goodliest person of all our Romans is become amorous of Aemilia who unquestionably transcends all the beauties of Rome What then do you find your self Scipio that can give you discontent Is there not an equality between you in point of greatness of birth and riches and if Aemilia has beauty wit and virtue does not all the world speak of your rare accomplishment and in fine is there any reasonable person in Rome that would not make vows to see Scipio and Aemilia conjoyn'd together and the powerful Houses of Cornelii and the Aemilii allied Alas Laelius answered he sighing you consider not what you say or else little understand the divine Aemilia How can you think Laelius continued he with the same air that a reasonable man ought to pretend to Emilia Alas Laelius all is below this divine person and you would certainly be of my opinion if you had well considered what she is if you had taken notice of her dazling beauty if you had observed her wit which is both gallant and modest and lastly if you had remark'd a certain charm in her above all I have mentioned which I observ'd my self but am unable to express Yes Laelius if you had admir'd all these things as I did you would acknowledg that Aemilia the adorable Aemilia ought to look upon the pretensions of the most worthy person in the world as an insufferable insolence You are transported too far said I to him for how Illustrious and fair soever Aemilia be she will one day render some man happy and you never yet saw any person so absutely elevated above all others but there has bin found a match for her in the world And you have also never seen inâ—errupted he passionately any person comparable to Aemilia so that you cannot here infer as they do ordinarily in the like cases where you are speaking of a divine person who is so farre above all that is handsome besides in the world Scipio pronounced these words inspired to him by his passion with such violence that I was strangely amazed his passion should be so strong in its beginning wherefore desiring to moderate his transports I indeavoured to give him hope conceiving no other passion so proper as that to calm the violence of love But as I was representing to him that I saw no reason he had to frame occasions of trouble and inquietude to himself and that I could not discern what obstacles could intervene to his happinesse and was by several arguments indeavouring to compose his mind in quiet we beheld some young persons of quality approching towards us which were Fabius Flaminius Marcellus and Regulus Being united the conversation amongst us was at first very agreeable but it was incomparably more a few moments after for having met Cato who was walking alone upon the banck of Tyber we employ'd our rallery against him upon a hundred occasions at once to puzzle him and he having a very stiffe and impetuous wit the conversation became exreamly divertising But for that our discourse at that time is of no necessity to the sequel of my story I conceive it not material to detain you with the several subjects of our conversation But to proceed I must tell you that all being parted at convenient time Scipio and I went to the Palace of Publius his Father where I was constrained to Sup. Which we had scarce done but a slave of Publius's came to whisper me in the ear desiring me to take the pains to descend down into the low Hall where Minutius attended to speak with me concerning an affair of importance Being I lived in an absolute liberty in Publius's house I descended forthwith without being obliged to any Ceremony and there I found Minutius who approaching towards me desired my pardon for his coming to incommodate me at such an hour But since 't is for a friend proceeded he that I am come to beseech a favour I conceive I may do it with the more confidence and especially from Laelius who so well understands all the dearness of friendship But not to lose time added he I must tell you in few words that Varro is infinitely amorous of Aemilia and that I newly received this Ticket from him which you may please to read At which words he presented me one in which I was much surpriz'd to read these words Varro to Minutius THis day at Servilius's house I discovered new charmes in Aemilia which have redoubled the violence of my passions yet Claudia with whom I was very instant would promise me nothing Judge therefore in what a condition I am but to contribute towards one more happy I beseech you strengthen our party on your side with as many friends as you can engage in it the end Lucius and Claudia may grant that to the mediations of a great part of Rome which they would certainly refuse to the requests of Varro and indeed which Varro himself can never obtain from the condescention of Aemilia If I was surpriz'd at the beginning of Minutius's discourse I was extreamly astonish'd when I had read this Ticket so that Minutius taking this time to tell me what he had designed to communicate to me he entreated me to embrace the party of Varro and to engage Scipio in it too For though I have not hitherto done Scipio or you any service continued he and there be no great intimacie between us yet I hope you will not refuse what I request of you since no exception can be taken against a Caball the design of which is onely to bring about a marriage I have so little inclination for all sorts of Cabals in general answered I that you may please to excuse me if I ingage not in yours besides that the end you design is so different from the means you would use to attain it that I think your project will be unsuccessful Moreover all that shall contribute towards bringing to pass this affair by the way you would take will not onely highly disoblige the whole family of the Aemilii
the reflexions upon the fore-past afternoon But our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of his young brother whom Publius had sent for from Greece so that we could not have time then to speak of Aemilia But Madam admire I beseech you the capriciousness of fortune The young Scipio seeming a lovely and sprightly youth I began to set upon him and told him the Ladies and the Carthaginians would have no great cause to be glad of his arrival For if I be not deceived continued I you have an aspect that promises you will be undoubtedly both in Love and and War As for War answered he I shall betake my self to that assoon as I can for I conceive at first there is no more required then to obey But for Love I shall defend my self from it a long time for besides that 't is a troublesome thing to be intangled in I think I am yet to seek how to manage it The matter is not so hard as you believe replyed I smiling for love has a Torch to give light to those that acknowledge his Empire That Torch answered he gives light to few persons for I have seen this day in the house of Papyrius by which I pass'd two friends of yours who have great endowments of wit and capacity and yet have need of the light you speak of they were Fabius and Cato of which the first is in love and the other is his Confident But it was reported Fabius was so wise a Lover that he never appeared passionate and yet he was charg'd this morning for having suffer'd the secret of his heart to be known at Papyrius's house without ever having given the least intimation of it to Aemilia who is the person he loves And as for Cato he was sufficiently play'd upon with rallery for being the confident of a passion which he condemns and intermedling in the carrying on of an affair of which he understands not the perplexities and the pleasure and that kind of address which is only learnt by experience And indeed he declar'd that he had no genius for things of this nature but he believ'd he might promote the success by mediating with Lucius to accord the marriage of Fabius and Aemilia For marriage added he being an affair and that very important I conceive I should have done no dis-service by intermedling in it Thus Laelius proceeded he you see in what manner this Torch gives light or rather how love oftner lends lovers his fillet to bind them then the light you speak of to direct them Whilst the young Scipio was speaking thus his Ilustrious Brother turn'd away his head that he might not discover the commotion of his countenance But at length desirous to understand the matter more fully How brother said he is Fabius amorous of Aemilia Yes brother answered he and if you have any interest in the case you may direct your course accordingly As Scipio was going to reply Publius enter'd the Chamber so that the discourse was wholly broken off Publius began to express himself in much tenderness to his young Son who did the same with testimony of respect and reverence to his father A little time after my father came to see the brother of my illustrious friend and taking me away home with him Scipio was depriv'd of the hope he had to tell me his sentiments upon what his brother had related of Fabius's love The next day indeed he came to me after dinner when the Ceremony of an Alliance made between our Republick and Pineas King of Illyria was to be seen in the Capitol that day yet we must omit that to go see Aemilia But going at night to Publius's house whither Scipio made me to accompany him we learnt but too many particularities for Publius told us with a satisfi'd and smiling countenance that Illyria was become tributary to Rome And I wish continued he you had seen the Ceremony of the Alliance we have made with Pineas It is to be wondered said I to him that a Prince of such accomplishments and courage should do what you have told us Lucius has so great a power over his mind answered he that he could have made him do other things then this How My Lord said Scipio has Pyneas made this Alliance so advantageous to Rome onely by the influence of Lucius There is nothing more certain answered he and I shall amaze you more when I have recounted you what passed in the Capitol not above an hour a go Know then continued he that after the ceremonies were ended Pyneas desired Lucius and me to stay till all the crowd was gone where being without Witnesses Pyneas walked some time with us without speaking and at length stopping to consider that admirable stature of Romulus which stands at the end of the great Hall of the Capitol he read the Inscription upon the Pedestal upon which he blushed and sigh'd and then beholding us with an air sufficiently sad My Lords said he to us do not believe I have done what you have seen out of weakness or timerousness 't is a more noble inducement that makes me to act so and have not made this transaction but onely because he stopt after these few words and then resuming his discourse Ah My Lords pursued he I know not well what I say but my hand more bold then my tongue shall better express to you the sentiments of Pyneas let you know for what reason he makes himself tributary to the Romans And you shall see with this illustrious witness proceeded he addressing to Lucius and pointing to me whether the manner in which I have acted be unworthy either of Lucius or Pyneas Ending these words he drew a Pastil out of his sleeve and returning again to the stature of Romulus writ something under that which he had read after which again addressing to Lucius Read My Lord said he to him read and you you will see that Pyneas is more capable of elevation then of lownesse After these words he intimated to us that he could no longer be there with us so that after he was gone forth we approacht the Statue and read with surpize what the King of Illyria had written You know there are under that admirable statue four Verses which several Nations judge too haughty yet their loftiness is in some measure pardonable being grounded upon certain predictions which have been made to the advantage of Rome But the better to make you comprehend how ingenious the manner was wherewith Pyneas express'd his sentiments in which are altogether remarkable the handsomness of his wit the greatness of his courage and the violence of his love I must put you in mind that the four Verses I speak of and which seem to be spoken by Romulus are conceiv'd in these termes My City shall rule over Land and Sea And fill all parts with awe And all the Cities of the world one day Shall hence receive their law The King of Illyria to shew
how to discover them when they are us'd against me and shall hinder the employers of them from using them with impunity I should never end Madam if I should go about to relate to you all the expressions of this Illustrious Lover I could not wholly gain his mind he was strangely inquieted and found no intervals of being so but when he judg'd it convenient time to go to Aemilia Let us go Laelius said he to me let us go justifie our selves and make it manifest that if our innocence be persecuted at least it deserves not to be unhappy But Scipio answered I observing his countenance extreamly alter'd I conceive you are not in a condition to go and reason with Claudia How Laelius interrupted he can you be so unjust as to hinder me from going to Claudia No no Laelius I must go for I conceive an accused person gives no great testimonies of his innocence when he avoids the presence of the person that accuses him But Scipio replyed I if you cannot contain your self from going to Claudia consider I beseech you that you ought not in the condition you are in to expose your self to the danger of being seen by Aemilia for the air of your countenance is apparently changed and the effects of love jealousie grief and choller are easily legible in it It matters not Laelius answered he I must see Aemilia and I conceive it not necessary to shew her a calm and serene mind provided I make her see an innocent heart But believe me Scipio replyed I methinks 't is a pleasure to appear before a fair person whom we love with a gallant and amiable air and I conceive it not very advantageous to shew her a countenance wherein appears nothing but inquietude and fierceness but the first wholly sullen and sad and the latter gloomie and clouded But Laelius answered he I am capable of all things when I am to see Aemilia I will inforce my self I will compose my aspect and if you discern inquietude and fierceness in it you shall at least perceive nothing of sadness and discontent At length Madam whatever I could urge more to this passionate lover he was resolved to go to Claudia's house and see the fair person he ador'd evidencing to me that no attraction is more powerful then that of a person whom we love But when we arrived there we found all we had unprofitable for instead of finding either Claudia or Aemilia it was told us they were gone into the Country in the morning but whether or when to return we could not be informed Scipio received this answer like a stroke of Thunder and beginning to think Aemilia was no longer in Rome that great City suddenly seem'd to him turn'd into a vast desart and he be came infinitely more perplext and afflicted then he had bin ever before He then was minded to go and walk upon the Rampants imagining as I apprehend there was some satisfaction in beholding the campagne and some pleasingness in breathing the air of the Country whilst Aemilia did so too But this contentment lasted but a little space for he no sooner considered that perhaps himself was the cause however innocent of Aemilia's departure but he became exteamly afflicted upon which addressing to me in relation to his thoughts Ah Laelius said he to me sighing this last unhappiness would have had something more insupportable in it then the other if I had contributed to it although I have done nothing but what I ought to do For let Scipio suffer the injustice which is done him let him sigh and be miserable this is capable of making me complain and even of making me lose part of my reason nevertheless my grief is in some manner comforted when I consider 't is for the adorable Aemilia I suffer these miseries But my torment is incomparably greater when I behold that divine person her self suffer when I see her enforc'd to leave this fairest City of the world to go into solitude and consider that perhaps Scipio is the cause of it Did Aemilia suffer what you mention as an unhappiness answered I you would have cause to afflict your self But perhaps you are injurious to your self and at the same time you sigh Aemilia is amongst divertisements enjoyes the delights of the Country breathes the air with sweetness hears the birds with pleasure admires the enamel of the Meadows and perhaps also pleases her self in observing the innocence and simplicity of the persons that make their usual abode there so that instead of lamenting her self she is perhaps ravisht with having left Rome for a time Ah! Laelius cryed he to what end do you tell me all these fancies How interrupted I can you blame me for telling you the person you love is not unhappy You ill construe my zeal you ought at least to consider that what I spoke was onely to satisfie since I represented to you that Emilia was already tasting the pleasure which she is not yet in a condition capable of what would you have me do Laelius said he sighing I am unjust in blaming you and desiring Aemilia were not perfectly happy at this hour but Laelius I am amorous and therefore you ought not to wonder at the extravangance of my sentiments but you may know that though I am not lov'd by Aemilia and dare not hope to be so yet 't is some pleasure to me to think she is afflicted by leaving a City in which I am and I should certainly resent great torment in imagining she were now injoying all the pleasures you have mentioned In sincerity Scipio answered I your sentiments are admirable well regulated since in the beginning of our discourse the affliction alone of Emilia caused yours and now you tell me you should not be satisfied if Emilia were not afflicted and that your self would be sensibly afflicted if she injoy'd contentments Have I not already told you Laelius replyed he that I am amorous Why therefore do you who are not require reasons where in the jugdement of men that are free there is nothing to be found but fancies Nevertheless added he you would easily see that I have reason to apprehend things so differently if you would consider the diversity of grounds I have to do so and you would also better perceive that you ought not to wonder if in the deplorable condition I am in I afflict my self with all things I had rather see answered I your mind a little more at quiet and that to intermit afflicting your self in thinking on Emilia you would pass the rest of the day with a fair person to whom I shall lead you Ah! Laelius replied he my afflictions too much preferable to the divertisement which you propose to me Consider I beseech you answered I that even for the interest of your love you ought to go to some meetings least your absence from thence during that of Aemilia give cause of suspition to conjecture the passion you are possessed with I should
give more cause replyed he if I resorted thither since I should begin to do it only after Aemilia's departure that is when I can no longer see that fair person at her own house But said I to him the City being extream great I would lead you into a quarter where it is not known that you have bin a constant frequenter of Aemilia Then 't is unprofitable for me to go thither to hide my passion answered he Wherefore Laelius you ought not to urge me upon the pretext you alledge but rather be so complacential to take the aire here with me a while and talk a moment longer concerning the adorable Aemilia Thus Madam I was constrain'd to walk still with Scipio and entertain my self with him about the charmes of Aemilia But at length it growing late and time for us to retire we beheld two very handsome Horses passing into the City at the Gate Capena which were lead by a servant Scipio had no sooner cast his eyes upon the first which was a dapple Gray and had a very rich and remarkable Saddle on his back but he knew to whom it belonged so that looking upon me and changing colour That 's Minutius's Horse said he himself cannot be far of surely he accompanied Aemilia and that which yet more troubles me is that Minutius would not ride in on horse-back which circumstance undoubtedly conceals some mistery As he was speaking these words we perceiv'd Minutius indeed who was with one of his relations named Metellus and was in truth very much troubled to meet us when he so little expected it Which Scipio observing you must acknowledge Minutius that you are much surpris'd in meeing us where in probability we were not to be look't for Yet I am not at all answered he affecting not to seem so and certainly I know few things that are able to surprise me I know some replyed Scipio that will not surprise you and particularly the departure of Aemilia for I conceive no man is surprised with a thing he is not ignorant of but on the contrary knows even to the least circumstances True answered Minutius very much more perplexed then before believing Scipio better informed then indeed he was Emilia's departure has not surpriz'd me because I knew of it and moreover accompanied that fair person You declare this last circumstance very ingenuously replied Scipio for one that intended to conceal it by entering a foot into the City and who having accompanied so fair a person ought rather to have entered as triumphant But after all Minutius added he you are too much Varro's friend to be Emilia's lover wherefore love that affects mysteries having no share in what we see you do you must needs be too something too much Varro's friend as I said and perhaps you come from doing things for him which you would not willingly give way to be inquir'd into You may inquire what you please answered Minutius roughly provided I serve my friend I shall little trouble my self with what you judge of it Perhaps Minutius replied Scipio it would be well for you I had not at all examined the matter for you would not then added he fiercely have bin brought to make the experiment that Scipio is as little capable of suffering as doing an injustice Your self shall experience answered Minutius that if I know how to render a service to my friends I better know how to maintain what I do for them Let us by that fâ—rthwith interrupted Scipio impatiently since I am with my friend and Metellus with you and there is yet day enough left to do it Scipio had no sooner spoke these few words but Minutius Metellus and my self seem'd ravisht with joy so that all four going some distance from the City and having found a place that was secret enough and very fit for our purpose we presently drew our swords and began to close I shall not particularlize this Combate but but I cannot omit to tell you that I never beheld any man more sprightly fierce and amiable then Scipio seem'd to me when he approach'd Minutius with his sword in his hand I could not observe what he did afterwards because Metellus and I were presently engag'd But some moments after having bin more fortunate then Metellus whom I wounded in two places and passing upon him seiz'd the gards of his Sword without receiving more then one slight hurt from him Scipio came up to us to separate us I lookt upon him to see in what condition he was and beholding the blood flow from his Arms You are wounded said I to him yes Laelius answered he with a cheerful yet something fierce aspect but withal losing time added he let us go succour Minutius who has bin more unfortunate then I. We immediately therefore went to Minutius whom we found lying on the ground and dangerously wounded by a thrust through the body and two others not so dangerous Metellut who well knew the valour of his kinsman was strangely surprised to see him wounded in this manner so that beholding him attentively he consider'd his overcome with admiration Thus this victory was not without glory to Scipio for Minutius is one of the most valiant men in the world and had he then had that prudence he afterwards learnt under the great Fabius after that occasion of his fighting Hannibal contrary to the advice of that Dictator he would have bin a very gallant man but he was then of an humour too violent and because he and Varro were by their intrigues and a certain fortunate fierceness rais'd to the most important charges they believ'd they should have the same success in all sorts oâ— enterpises Yet matters did not always fall out as they expected neither in their little affairs nor in their grand attempts as without question you have heard Madam for all the world knows Hannibal would have totally defeated Minutius's Army if the great Fabius had not come timely to his relief as likewise all posterity will reproach the memory of the rash Varro with the dreadful loss we sustain'd at Canna and the deplorable death of the Illustrious Paulus Aemilius But Madam not to leave Minutius without succour I must tell you that though we were all three wounded yet we rais'd him up and according to our best skill and conveniencies endeavour'd to stanch his blood Which when we had done and what for our selves we could in such occasions I went to call our slaves whom we had commanded to wait out of the field where we fought and causing Minutius and Scipio to be lead by them and Metellus and my self slowly following them we all four entered into a house near the Gate the Master of which we knew was a very honest person Immediately Chyrurgions were sent for all things that were necessary provided and our combate made known to our relations who came secretly to visit us and having reason'd about it counsell'd us absolutely to leave the City as soon as we could Wherefore about
she had really the power of life and death over my Illustrious friend You speak not seriously Laelius answered she blushing and I think you doubt not but your friend would soon be in perfect health if my cares could effect any thing for in your choosing me for your friend continued she you ought so to know I am any of sufficient goodness as to believe that these kind of reproaches cannot be cast upon me but with injustice What I have spoken Madam replied I was in the greatest seriousness possible and the accident you beheld here not long since leaves no room for the doubt of it But Madam proceeded I the sequel of it will be much more lamentable unless you give Scipio some testimonies of that goodnes you say you make profession of you wil see him die infallibly within a few dayes and you will also assuredly see grief will cause me to follow him So that Madam you must either prepare your self to behold that misery or admit the declaration of the most respectful passion that ever was resented Aemilia perceiving I spoke with an air that sufficiently intimated the correspondence of my words thoughts and remembring likewise the extream danger wherein she had seen Scipio appeared a little mollifi'd but she did not wholly yield and would not promise me to permit Scipio to speak of his passion to her For I wonder Laelius said she you should be so instant with me as you are since a friend is much more obliged to cure his friend of a weakness he observed in him then a Virgin is to hearken to things which seemliness forbids her to suffer Neither does seemliness prohibit you to suffer the passion of my friend answered I nor is that passion a weakness since you Madam are the person that have excited it and given it birth in a heart perfectly illustrious But Madam continued I not to lose time answer me but in the name of the Gods answer favourably Will you suffer Scipio to love you or will you suffer him to die Alas Laelius replied she why do you please your self in afflicting me and wherefore do you porpound things to me which I ought not to hear much less consider which to choose But Laelius continued she perceiving her answer deeply affected me to shew you that I am good I will my self go offer my friendship to Scipio I will withal desire his and intreat him to chase away all other sentiments that he pretends to have for me And accordingly after these words this fair person without expecting any answer went to Scipio and having a while beheld him with blushing and silence because she immediately observed a thousand tokens of his passion in his countenance I come said she to him to desire a favour of you Scipio but in the name of the Gods do not refuse it to me Ah! Madam answered the passionate Scipio why do you not forthwith command the person that of all the world owes you the most implicite and perfect obedience Nevertheless I will not tell you replied she what I desire to obtain of you unless you first promise to grant it These words gave Scipio some suspitions so that he mused upon them a little aâ—ter which suddenly resolving speak it Madam said she and if you command me not to cease loving you without doubt you shall be obeyed Well Scipio answered she if I desire you should love me would you do that which Ah! Madam interrupted he impatiently why do you make a question so cruel to me of such matters Command Madam command added he transported with his love and if the business be about serving you I will do things as infirm as I am that shall astonish all the earth I require none of those great things of you answered she I come onely to request you to act with moderation and to cause you to change the tumultuous sentiments you have for me into those of friendship In a word Scipio I come my self to desire your friendship and to offer you mine I will none of your friendship interrupted he roughly no Madam I will none of your friendship I had rather die the unhappiest of all men and die your lover then live with a general esteem then live with all the honour and glory that can be wished and live no more but your friend Yes Madam I shall love you during my life with the same ardency I do I should even increase the violence of my passion if it were possibly to be augmented and I consider all that love you not in the same measure as stupid people without pleasure without honour and without life Yes Madam added he again I esteem them such as I have said and if friendship could subsist between two rivalls I should have already wished a thousand and a thousand times that Laelius loved you as I do for me thinks he spends a languishing and shamefull life because he lives without love for you These passionate words extreamly confused the faire person that heard them as she told me afterwards for she considered that the Illustrious Lover who uttered them was the person of the world that best merited her esteem For besides youth goodliness of person greatness of courage charmes of wit and generosity of mind which she observed in Scipio she considered also that this Heroe had not been reduced to the extremity wherein she beheld him but only by having shewed her and that if he was upon the point to expire it was only through the violence of his love to her which he had not declared but in the most respectfull manner that can be imagined But this severe Lady retaining still some remainder of scruple in her heart which prohibited entry to a certain tenderness which she felt was seising on it she answered her Illustrious Lover that she could no longer suffer such discourse Alas Madam replied he sadly adde also that 't is their pleasure that I should not live In sincerity Scipio said she to him perceiving his griefe would make an end of that little strength was left him after the agitations I told you of you have no reason to afflict your selfe as you do and I conceive you would be injust if you would oblige me to suffer the passion you say you have after having taken the liberty to refuse a friendship I offered you my selfe which perhaps no other would have refused I do not pretend Madam answered he with a lower and weaker voice to oblige you to any thing whatsoever not so much as to have any regret for my death which you are about to be the cause of Yes Madam I betake my selfe to die since you will have it so and did I not fear to loose the respect I owe you by making you see fatall objects I would at this moment leave of what is applied to my wounds in order to preserving my life Scipio ened these last words with so familiar accent and in so languishing a manner that Aemylia perceived
when we were arriv'd at the gate of Lucius's Palace Publius eaâ—ily perceived it Upon which beholding him with an aire in which appeared a mixture of fear and contentment In the name of the Gods Scipio said he to him dispell those tokens of sadness that appear in you countenance and give not Lucius and Aemylia occasion to find fault with you for to tell you the business more clearly 't is in reference to that fair person if we come hither and to make an alliance which ought to fill us with joy I knew before my Lord answered Scipio sighing that your coming to Lucius's house was in order to the treating of that marriage But I beseech their pardon if I cannot find the satisfaction in it you would unquestionably have me resent How Scipio interrupted Publius are not you so highly satisfied with this marriage as I wish you were It cannot be you have not so soon altered the mind and I conceive you will find satisfaction wherein I do and where without doubt it ought to be found Ending these words he began to ascend partly for that he believed as he told us after Scipio would change his sentiment out of that intire submission which he bare towards his relations and partly that the presence of a faire person would soon dissipate the discontent he had perceived But his conjectures failed him for the perplexities of Scipio augmented proportionably as he ascended because he was going to see an adorable person whom he was in an apparent fear of loosing So that beholding me with eyes manifesting both his grief and his dispaire Assuredly Pyneas is arriv'd said he since the friends of Lucius assemble hither to his house But Laelius added he in a very violent manner neither Lucius nor Publius nor the whole world shall ever cause him to possess the adorable Aemylia Some moments after he had spoken these few words we entered into a Hall where Lucius was walking who no sooner beheld us but he came towards us and having saluted Publius according to the familiarity that was between them he imbraced Scipio with an extream tenderness After which he commanded Aemylia to be called but of a suddain taking notice of the deep sadness that appeared upon Scipio's countenance he was much surprised and troubled at it and believing it in probability an effect of his sickness he said to him with the same sweetness How Scipio will you give me more then one cause to complain of you and that after having put me in danger of loosing the alliance by concealing from me the sentiments you have for Aemylia I see you have endangered the loss of that little health that is left you by adventuring your self to travell before you were in a condition for it without hazard of your life Ah! my Lord answered Scipio fince you know the sentiments I have for the adorable daughter can you believe it possible for me to preserve my life while I loose the hope of obtaining the Illustrious alliance you speak of That hope of yours would have been lost replied Lucius if Pyneas had declared his mind but while I believe he expected to be at Rome to declare his pretensions more openly unto me it is happily arriv'd for our house that Claudia tells me since my return she conceived you had some affection for Aemylia which was confirmed to me by a Letter writ by you not long since which by chance fell into my hands Vpon which being extreamly joyfull I went to Publius's house and without sticking at the punctilio's which Parents of Virgin 's endeavour to observe I presently told him of the passion you had and then offered him Aemylia Publius really testified a joy as great as mine so that after some discourse concerning the happiness of allying our two houses together I returned home and commanded Aemylia to treat you as the person designed to be her husband that is as one whom she ought to love and honour and on whom she ought to depend Thus you see Scipio there wants nothing but your consent to the conclusion of a business which as I apprehend you ardently desire the accomplishment Whilest Lucius was speaking thus Scipio beheld him with an astonishment transcending my expression Then he lookt upon his father in the same manner after which his eyes seemed to ask me whether I beheld the same that he did in a word Maddam Scipio for some moments appeared like a man who thinks he sees what he passionately desires and nevertheless believes not that he sees it really But he was not long before he was convinced of the reality of his happiness For reflecting upon the manner of Lucius's speaking and perceiving also that Publius approved of it by his silence he moreover observed an aire of joy in my countenance that seemed to confirme the matter so that seeing himself on a suddain raised from extream unhappiness to supream felicity Is it possible my Lord said he to Lucius that your goodness advances me to the greatest glory that can be aspired unto Is it possible continued he casting himself at his feet that I am upon the point to marry the divine Aemylia and to possess the fairest and most adorable person that ever lived As he pronounced these words and some other abrupt expressions which his ravishment suggested to him and as Lucius was offering to lift him up the faire Aemylia entred into the Hall where we were and with her a glorious splendor and a thousand charmes and graces Yes Madam such was the entrance of that admirable person who no sooner saw the most amiable and illustrious of her Lovers at her fathers feet and moreover an amiable and illustrious Lover who she knew was upon the point of being happy but she presently blusht and made us judge that in such occasions a like effect of modesty is the most agreeable thing in the world But when she approached neer us by Lucius's command Scipio appeared so transported that we easily perceived the presence of this fair Virgin caused too excessive joy in him and that he received new wounds from the sight of so numerous charmes which by being pleasing did nevertheless not cease to be troublesome For there was so great a dilatation of his spirits that his heart being the most sick part about him becoming the weakest by that expansion this Illustrious Lover had almost fallen down at Aemylia's feet and indeed he began to tremble and an excess of joy appeared painted on his countenance and his eyes were halfe closed Which I observing and knowing what a suddain joy might effect presently stept to him and Lucius taking notice of it commanded Aemylia to retire upon which Madam Scipio being still capable to discern objects perceived the admirable person he loved was gone which instantly made him resent a kind of regret that serv'd to moderate his joy and contributed not a like to his speedy recovery from his fainting And when he came to be something composed he returned thanks
of the Sea sent us order to redouble our storm so to draw the principal forces of the enemies to those parts and consequently to weaken that by which he design'd to gain it Syllanus and I had no sooner obeyed him being seconded by Nasica and the young Scipio but our Heroe standing upon the Lake at the head of the troops which he had chosen My friends cryed he with a sprightly and fierce aspect I should be injurious to you if I should speak much words are needless to to men of courage therefore I shall onely tell you that you are going where your General shall be your company and the witness of your valour Let us on then my friends let us win Carthage and I promise you the taking of this City shall render us Masters of all Spain make Africa tremble and crown us with immortal glory He had no sooner spoke these few words but he seized upon a Ladder and then casting himself into the Lake incited by his example a thousand brave persons to do the same 'T is true he always preceded them and being arrived at the foot of the walls planted the first Ladder against them and then drawing his sword and covering himself with his shield he began to ascend with an aspect that no doubt encouraged the hearts of all those that followed him The walls were not so unguarded but that they were suddenly bordered with Souldiers at the first allarm that was given there so that our valiant General likewise redoubled his forces as the Carthaginians did their and alwayes supporting his shield with a strong arm continued to mount up with an heroical audacity notwithstanding a shower of arrows and stones falling upon him and though he beheld a hundred Ladders overturn'd on each side At length he got up and as a Souldier was stretching forth his arm to strike at him with his sword and hinder him from casting himself upon the walls the couragious Generall prevented him and by a great back blow strook off both arm and sword down into the Lake This remarkable blow so terrified those that beheld it that Scipio had time to leap upon the wall before they were well enough recover'd out of their amazement to hinder him and afterwards casting those down into the City that came to oppose his passage he soon saw himself backt by Trebellius Digitius and above twenty others whom his example had emboldned so that the fight becoming very disorderly upon the wall the Romans found fewer obstacles in ascending it after which the Illustrious Scipio did not delay to cast himself into the City designing to gain one of the Gates and open it to Syllanus Yet he found great resistance in the execution of his purpose for the Prince of Celtiberia ran thither being followed by a thousand selected Spaniards who signalizing themselves in this encounter sufficiently justifi'd the choice which the valiant Lucius had made of them But as lightning shafts all that seems to make a strong resistance our invincible Conqueror beat down all that opposed his passage he strikes thrusts kills wounds Lucius gains a Gate causes the Romanes to enter who suddenly setting up a great shout displayed our Eagles in the conquered City and made the air resound with the glorious name of Scipio The Governour of Carthage with whom I was engag'd for I had landed and was so fortunate as to get into the City after I had gain'd the Port went to relieve Lucius and repel our forces but after a very great resistance he was taken prisoner with the Prince of Celtiberia who caus'd us to admire his valour and would vvithout doubt have occasioned himself to be slain had not his svvord bin suddenly broken and he found himself inclos'd amidst a thousand Souldiers But I need not Madam particularize to you the actions of that memorable day since all the world has knovvn that the valour of Scipio equall'd the sublimest degree of that of the most recorded Heroes and that this famous Roman rais'd himself aftervvards an admiration for those virtues vvhich are esteemed much more then that prodigious valour For there is a passage I am going to tell you which more deserves our vvonder then what I have hitherto related and vve cannot but vvith astonishment consider a change in Scipio vvhich most certainly is more to be extolled then the noblest constancy For scarce vvas Carthage in the Roman povver and the brother of Aemylia at liberty but our Illustrious Roman appeared to be a Carthaginian this young Conqueror so fierce ardent and terrible becomes of a sudden so gentle so moderate and so full of svveetness that nothing is more certain then that the Spaniards and Africans began infinitely to love him assoon as they ceas'd to fear him But they shortly after accompanied their love with veneration greater then what uses to be entertained for men which was not without cause since our Heroe did things which men are not accustomed to do No doubt Madam you have heard that the Kings of Celtiberia and the Illergetes with the Queens their wives being followed by the most considerable of the Spaniards and five and twenty or thirty fair prisoners were presented to Scipio and received by him with a civility so great that they resented pleasure in the bitterness of their fortune and offered to their Conqueror that which certainly an Emperour of the Romans or the greatest conqueror in the world ought not to have hoped and in a word that which could not be rendred with justice to any other then our Grand Scipio who unquestionably shewed himself perfectly worthy of it since in the ardor of a most flourishing youth he placed himself above the reach of the most violent passions and whatever is most charming in them especially in an age where the intemperate heat of blood usually favours tumultuous passions 'T is unknown to none Madam that our generous Roman would not suffer himself to be proclaimed King of Spain and answered those that term'd him by that title He was a Roman Citizen and that he onely us'd his sword for glory and the advantage of his Country But if the moderation of a Conqueror was esteemed who out of a perfectly heroical generosity had refused a potent Kingdom the Ladies that were Prisoners much more admired his virtue when they found a Protector in a young Conqueror and were treated by him with an aspect that gave them assurance that the fairest among them were in absolute â—afety Moreover Liberty was immediately granted to them as also to all the Spaniards but it was after such a manner that without doubt gained their hearts and so sensibly obliged them that it may be said Scipio captiv'd all those which he declared to be free But scarce had the Queens rendered thanks to so generous a Victor but Mandonius and Iudibilis their husbands protested solemnly that they were not contented only to disengage themselves from the interest of the Carthaginians but that they gave themselves up
modest Aemylia often shewed a lovely mixture of Carnation in her countenance when it came into her mind that Laelius had newly related her History In the evening this Illustrious company went to walk in the Garden where Magasba gave the hand to Aemylia Scipio to Palmira Regulus to Nadalia and Laelius and Cato went together till insensibly Scipio Aemilia Magasba and Palmira were separated from the rest and entered into a pleasant Arbor of Jasmine Regulus and Nadalia rested themselves in a Banquetting-house and Laelius and Cato continued walking together in a fair and spacious walk that led to a gate of the Garden But as Laelius was at that time in expectation of news from the Camp and likewise from Carthage for Terence who was there was either to write to him or to come and find him at Capsa to speak in favour of the Delegates of his City to the end Scipio might receive them more graciously he was suddenly surpris'd when he beheld three strangers enter into the Garden whose faces were at first unknown to him But advancing towards them he soon perceived that two of them were young Romans of goodly personages Rutilius and Albinus whereof the first was Cousin to Aemilia and had not long before obtained the command of a Legion after which casting his eyes upon the third he was agreeably surpris'd when he saw it was the famous Terence whose wit was so celebrated in the world and whose Verses were of a strain so facil and agreeable that it was impossible not to be charmed by them As soon as Laelius had caressed the three strangers with affectionate civilities and sutable to their qualitie and merit he led them to the Arbour where Aemilia was who received them with an air extreamly obliging though expressing such tokens of affection to Rutilius as Albinus and Terence could not reasonably expect But when Scipio Aemilia Magasba Palmira Laelius Cato and the three strangers had passed all the Ceremonies usual in such occasions the conversation became perfectly handsome and that which rendered it more agreeable was a pleasant piece of Railery between Laelius and Nadalia For this lovely Virgin coming to rejoyn with the company Laelius advanced towards her and presenting Terence to her without naming him I do not content my self fair Nadalia said he to her to be your friend but I desire to make this stranger known to you who will soon be likewise that in quality You assure the matter very confidently answered she If persons of the same Country interrupted he have great inclinations to love and kindness when they meet at distance from it you ought not to wonder at what I say How interrupted she again is this stranger a Spaniard Yes Madam I am so answered Terence in the language of that Nation and if Laelius do not deceive himself my birth will be extreamly advantageous to me Ah Laelius cryed she immediately the accent of this stranger does little agree with your words Nevertheless answered Laelius smiling if he be not a Spaniard yet he is a rare wit and consequently better deserves in this latter quality the friendship of Nadalia Believe him not Madam answered Terence agreably he deceives you a second time but if my accent has already disabus'd you my words shall soon free you from the second error In speaking as you do replyed she you manifest that he does not delude me yet I will not pardon him the prank he has shewn me in representing you to me for a Spaniard unless he tells me who you are That you shall not know answered Laelius Upon which words Nadalia became so impatient that addressing to Aemilia and having observed in the countenances she beheld little readiness to satisfie her In the name of the Gods Madam said she to her make me know who this stranger is whose aspect is so sprightly and who speakes in so pleasant a manner I know not answered the discreet Aemilia whether you will not be as much surpris'd as I was when you are told 't is the famous Terence that you are discoursing with Verily Madam replyed Nadalia I am extreamly joyful to know so vvorthy a person and to see that he is not at all disordered the first time he enters into a great company where he is infinitely esteemed I see not that he has cause to be so answered Aemylia since he is so esteemed as you say But Madam replyed Nadalia be pleased to consider there is nothing more troublesome then to go into a great assembly to make good a great reputation for if such a person speaks subliâ—â—ly he distasts many of the company And if he speaks otherwise without doubt he does not maintain the esteem that was conceived of him And this is so true added she smiling that if I were fame I would not excessively commend persons of wit in the places where they are to go There is a greater unhappiness in that vvhich you say ansvvered Terence pleasantly which is that vvhen a man is once receiv'd for a vvit though he should aftervvards speak the handsomest things in the vvorld and had the art even to please generally yet he vvould not be esteemed the more because it vvould be alvvays believ'd that he speaks out of obligation and that it is much easier for him to acquit himself more agreeably then they vvho have not the same design That vvhich I apprehend inconvenient to the persons we speak of said the Princess of Hippo is that it seems they ought alvvays to have a peculiar language and 't is no longer free for them to imploy such terms as are ordinarily used And that which I find most unjust said Scipio at least in reference to their vvorks is that there are certain people vvho pretending to learning and vvit speak of a handsome Comedy or such like divertisement vvith a contemning judgement and look upon them as meer triflles vvithout considering that the most excellent morality and the subtilest policy may be learnt in them after a pleasing manner and far from the severity of Maxims As Scipio ended these vvords he observ'd a happy opportunity offered to speak to Aemilia upon vvhich he turned tovvards her to entertain her vvith that profound respect that never abandon'd him in the presence of the fair person For advantageously for him Magasba vvas discoursing for some time vvith Cato and so left him liberty to speak to the person he lov'd though rather out of difference then address Palmira Regulus Rutilius and Albinus entertained themselves very agreeably and the conversation of Nadalia Laelius and Terence vvas no question gallant and debonair But vvhen it grevv late the Illustrious company reunited their conversation about vvhich time Nadalia vvas desiring Terence to give her some Verses of his composing and asking for them vvith something a loud voice Cato vvho vvas not far distant over-heard her and ansvvering her vvith a cold and serious smile It is requisite then said he that you give him some other thing for in
cause of his sadnesse 'T is not My Lord continued he the retreat of Laelius I have been told which afflicts you if it were I should be perhaps against my self and partake in the ill success you have had although I am extremely concerned in that affair as you shall know more at large by and by No No My Lord answered Hannibal 't is not the retreat of Laelius that afflicts me and since you deal so generously and none else is privy to our discourse I shall not scruple to tell you that Laelius is not in security but by my means and to lay my thoughts open to you freely I beleeve it is never fit to seek to fight with advantage in a single combat also I conceive that slights and artifices cannot passe in such occasions but for props of weakness and that generosity ought to esteem them either as a pitifull sort of assistance or a means to steal a victory But I reason after another manner proceeded he when it is requisite to preserve my Troups in a day of battell and it suffices to tell you that I have in a manner caused the retirement of Laelius to shew you that I have employ'd the sole means that was left me to preserve the most effective Troops of my Army For in a word added he I should have infallibly lost those which I used in this service and lost them even in gaining this small Victory which in appearance I ought to have expected for my souldiers being become rich by the booty of this great prize would without doubt have deserted me and being almost all of this Countrey they are so well acquainted with the by-waies that it would have been impossible for me to have pursued after them and perhaps I should also have lost those I had sent to recover the others Neverthelesse I confesse I should have weakened the forces of the Romans but at the same time I averre that it was not expedient to hazard my Troops to attaque some of theirs which were divided and that it is better to preserve my strength intire to the end I may be able to fight the grand Army of the Romans and one single Victory render me Master of all the rest This is in few words the reason which induced me to act after a fashion not ordinary and which may make me passe either for a subtle Captain or a humorous contriver according to the diversity of judgements which may reason upon my conduct Your conduct My Lord answered the wounded Prince is not an ordinary conduct and all the world knows that your prudence hath caused you to be regarded in battels as the Father of your souldiers so effectual hath it been to their preservation In reality every one hath believed that your wit did not lesse triumph in Italy then your courage since it hath produced you many a Victory and sometimes furnished you with means wholly extraordinary to avoid dangers the eyes of all other mortals would have considered as inevitable But my Lord when you acted like the Generall of an Army it hath been in a gallant manner for that is truly to overcome like a man when prudence beareth a part in the victory as it is to overcome after the manner of brutes when force alone gives all the advantage This prudence notwithstanding hath acted less then your courage in particular engagements wherein you have alwaies behaved your self with an ardour so noble that the world hath oftentimes been induced to beleeve that you designed no other end of your pains but the conservation of others For in short to omit those actions whose glory dazles the sight of the beholders I will only mention your exploits of yesterday and shew you that the retreat of Laelius affords evidence that you know how to preserve an Army as the combat you had with a Cavalier who might have been seconded by four others shews that you go not with very great precaution at such time as only the safety of your own life is concerned and nevertheless the condition which I am in manifests that you know how to overcome in all fashions Ah! 't is too much My Lord interposed the Prince of Carthage how do you treat Hannibal Do you serve your self of some preoccupation of sadness appearing upon his countenance to continue a discourse which he ought not to permit and would you have him render himself unworthy of your obliging expressions if he should shew himself capable of hearing them If your actions had lesse splendor replyed the King you would have reason to interrupt my discourse and your modesty might with justice be offended But My Lord in the estate wherein you are continued he with an obliging smile you would have more difficulty to silence those tongues that are employed in your praises then you have had to perform those fair actions which make them speak The King proceeded no further because he saw Aspar was entred into the Tent and drawing towards his Master to speak to him This person judging that he ought to lose no time My Lord said he presently to the Prince Hannibal I shall not render you account of what I have done since the success hath manifested that I have fortunately discharged my commission which you gave me but it is fit that I present you with news that will afford you joy and tell you that our Re-publick hath made alliance with Syria Macedonia Bithynia that levies have been made for us in these three Kingdomes that King Antiochus the Great with the Prince Persius and the young Prince Nicomedas have dis-engaged themselves from their Troops to be rather with you and to lose no opportunity of fighting I have met Magar who came with all speed to give you this advertisement but being his horse began to be no longer able to serve him and mine was yet fresh he charged me to come with diligence to assure you that those Princes would be here within two or three hours and that their Troops which compose between sixty and eighty thousand men and are commanded by the Kings Philip and Prusia's will reach Carthage within five or six daies The Prince Hannibal was extremely satisfied with this News and having made his complement to the sick King took horse notwithstanding his wound and went to meet Antiochus Nicomedes and Perseus being accompanied by Maharbal Bomilcar and the most considerable Officers of his Army He met the Princes about seven or eight furlongs from his intrenchments and first embraced the King of Syria with great protestations and then also carried the Prince of Macedonia and the young Prince of Bithynia Maharbal and Bomilcar took their turn to make their complements and the Officers of each part saluted one another very civilly but with addresse out of the respect which they owed to the presence of so great Princes Hannibal the King of Syria Nicomedes Perseus Maharbal and Bomilcar remounted their horses and putting themselves at the head of above a thousand