Placidus is curious to know the original of his companions misfortune in being assaulted by three men in such a place To whom Viteli answered thus My dearest Placidus I determine to disclose this secret to no man living yet considering you to be my greatest friend upon earth who in my cause exposed your Noble Person to danger and neglecting all the important affairs which induced you to see Bononia has continued my companion in affliction tho' a Stranger I say upon these and many other weighty considerations which my shallow brain cannot comprehend nor my stammering tongue express I will with the greatest candour and ingenuity imaginable discover this matter to you I was born at Rome the Queen and Mistress of the World where when I was very young my Honourable Parents gave up the Ghost After that I had sucked in the first and common principles of Learning my good Friends and Relations sent me to the famous University of Bononia where I made no despicable proficiency in Philosophy and all the Languages professed there which are the Spanish German French Hebrew and Greek All which could not satiate my thirsting desires after Knowledge until the study of Physick became my work and business But a Lady of singular Endowments and Quality being pleased to honour me with the strongest Testimonies of sincere affection diverted my thoughts from prosecuting the most pleasant of all Studies How secret soever this matter was kept the Ladies Brother understood it which prompted him with two other Conspirators to lie in wait for my Life and undoubtedly had become a prey to their Fury if by the Divine Providence one of the three had not signified to me the method of this most horrid Plot. Then I determined to travel through Spain and other Countries but being driven from Genoa by a most violent Tempest I was enslaved to the Turks who first brought me to Argiers and then to Constantinople where I was sold very often under the notion of a Slave At length I am presented to one of Mahomet's Physitians who finding me pretty expert in the principles of Medicine was pleased to encourage me with his Fellowship and Instruction to my great advantage I must confess in some respects whose gentleness was such that he would not thwart my inclinations of returning to Italy but rather encouraged me by the Gift of 2000 Guinies After a tedious and dangerous Voyage I came to Venice where being unknown the People looked upon many of my Operations and Experiments as Miracles rather than the product of natural Knowledge for which cause the Magistrates encouraged me with promises of a very considerable Salary But all this could not induce me to stay seeing my thoughts and desires were much cencerned with returning to Bononia where I had enjoyed so many pleasant daies I could not imagin that it was possible for any in that place to know me after the absence of six compleat years which time also might quench the ardour of Camilla's passion Ah! her name cannot be concealed nor my love towards her supprest Upon those considerations I came to Bononia where I was entertained with great Courtesie by all persons of knowledge to whom I discovered my various misfortunes and difficulties by which means the noise of my being in Town came to the hearing of Camilla who incontinently saluted me by a most pathetical Letter as you may easily imagin Thus our love was renewed and so much the more because she came the ensuing day disguised to my Chamber where we entertained a most comfortable Dialogue founded on the solid hopes of obtaining our longed for desires I seemed to decline and reject the profession of Medicine in the University of Bononia meerly that Camilla's Brother and his Associates might not in the least suspect me whom they hated with an inveterate hatred which time nor dignity could not eradicate Nevertheless by debating I obtained the honour of that place Then Engines of Cruelty are set a work to dispatch me some way or another and I must confess the Rogues had accomplished their corrupt design if by the Divine Providence your seasonable Charity and Magnanimity had not rescued my Life from their malice In Testimony therefore of my gratitude I protest to remain your most faithful friend and Servant while I breath declaring to that end a willingness of accompanying you to Spain or any where else Placidus was very much taken with the grateful acknowledgments and protestations of lasting kindness so pitifully expressed by Viteli Yet being unwilling to divulge or disclose the hidden sorrow which burdened his spirit he answered the other in a most courtly and complementing strain Sir you may confidently assure your self of my unalterable good-will where-ever you be or however stated The pregnant Viteli by a groan attending those words perceived Placidus to be a little discomposed wherefore he resolved to know the cause of so great grief at a more seasonable occasion In the meanwhile they entred into a strict League of Amity having all things common in which real kindness consists if we hear the Philosopher A few daies after they come to Genoa where as all along their Perigrination their thoughts were alleviated by giving an impartial and free account to one another of their diverse misfortunes and so much the more in regard that Viteli by his superlative knowledge and jocose brisk disposition was a Physitian no less capable to remove the sorrows of the mind than the Distempes of the body Yet Placidus in some measure continues dumpish and pensive so that Viteli intended to expiscate and extort from him the original and cause of so lasting a Grief and did carry all things on in order to his conclusion so wittily that Placidus is allured to discover the perplexity of his mind after this manner Your probity and gentleness extracteth from me a secret which I never purposed to disclose After which he makes mention of Fadrique's compact with him while both of them had a longing desire to enjoy the vertuous and beautiful Agnes who by the instigation and perswasion of her covetous Mother rejected him embracing Fadirque In a word he did not omit the least Punctilio which could satisfie the curiosity of Viteli who replying answered thus My dear Placidus Be of good chear for there is no Malady so great which admits not of a Remedy applied with so much the better success that the Patient can discover his Distemper distinctly as you have done and therefore I constantly promise being taught by experience what such a case meaneth to remove your trouble and grief by an experiment at first it s probable strange in your eyes though after mature deliberation most obvious All I crave is that you condescend yet once more to walk with me in the Streets of Sevil. Having thus Embarqued at Genoa they arrived at Barcelona from whence they sailed by Tarragona Valentia Alicant Cartagena and the borders of Granada until they came to Malaga and at length to
no less favourable than Authority or experience For what is Youth but an equality or proportion of natural heat and radical moisture Yea according to Galen and all other learned Physitians the difference of the Ages is deduced from the different operations of the natural heat And Aristotle affirms that the nature of Old Age consists in Frigidity and Siccity from whose Explication Lib. de Long. brev vitae we learn that such men wax old soonest whose Life has been attended with greatest labours and cares which cause a dispendium of the natural heat Therefore if this be true it seems that Humid Medicaments with hot Potions and Applications may restore decaying Age by reducing the radical moisture and natural heat to such a proportion as they enjoy in Youth And it is observed that the Divine Providence has furnished divers Stones Herbs and Waters with qualities which if known would silence all cavillings in this matter It is reported by Cardanus Langius and Petrus Chieza that in Bonica and Lucaya Wells are extant whose Waters are more delicious than the choicest Wines having in them vertue to renew a mans Age this is testified by Aris lib 3. Hist Animal Cap. 12. and other Authors of good note Homer also mentioneth the like of Herbs And methinks although the Simples requisite for producing such strange effects be not commonly known yet it 's a male Sequitur to infer therefore no man knows them Yea no man in sober reason can deny that Spirits are contained in Herbs Waters and Stones which being once granted it necessarily follows that these when well extracted and applied may serve to carry on such a rare work as I now mention and am about to demonstrate Further it 's observable that I have been travelling many years by which I had occasion to discourse with Mahomet's Physitians as also with Arabians Persians and Phenicians upon which consideration it may be suspected that I know things not discovered as yet in this place Wherefore I shall with God's Grace restore Fadrique to strength and health seeing I perfectly understand his malady and Complexion But you may ask if in such a case he may be called young I answer not at all but that he is in a better disposition for life according to his nature Now if this Theory suffice not to stop the Mouths of Wranglers the matter shall be put beyond all doubt by practice Thus ended Viteli his pertinent Discourse Who after the dying Old Man had been committed to him made a paction that none should disturb him by coming into the room where he was to tarry with the sick Person except such as he called and that Apothecaries should grant him what Simples he pleased to ask all persons consented to those demands but none more cordially and chearfully than Agnes who was privy to Viteli's design The next day was appointed for the work Viteli having repaired to his Lodging discovered to Placidus how much he was applauded by the Physitians and also that Agnes was exceeding glad the young men Charles and Bernard being much dejected and he persisted in the former confidence that all things would succeed aright and be brought to an happy issue He strictly charged Placidus to eschew all Society considering that the Non-observance of that Rule had a necessary tendency to marr the curious contrivance Then he returned to the Patient to whom he gave a portion which being mingled with a little Poyson set the Old Man's Tongue at work giving vigour and Agility to his body in a short time to the admiration of all Beholders After which Viteli spake privately to Agnes saying Madam Fadrique will not in all probability live nine daies therefore it 's convenient to call Placidus seeing the Old Man in his last Will has made you his heir appointing a thousand pounds for each of his Nephews to either of which if you be married the Possessions set apart for you are lost But if you choose Placidus for your Husband he must in all reason receive the half of his Fathers substance Now you see how nearly you are concerned to hearken to my Propositions seeing matters shall be so dextrously carried on that all persons will conclude Fadrique yet alive This I hope will prove acceptable and comfortable to you and Placidus whom I ought to serve according to my capacity while I live The Old Man will go down to the Grave with Joy by this course which will create affliction to his insolent Nephews Not long after Fadrique dyeth and is buried after a most clandestine manner in whose place they substitute Placidus whom all persons affirmed to have been Fadrique restored to Health and Vigour Which business being fully concluded to the satisfaction of the Parties mostly concerned Viteli prosecuted his design of Travelling This Relation discovers much of the Worlds Deceitfulness which is frequently defended by great Authorities improved with disingenuity Sir I shall add no more concerning the Solemnity at Madrid and the History of Placidus wishing that your pleasure in reading may correspond to the desire I entertained to satisfie your curiosity in writing the same Farewel FINIS
the other Not at all for whoever is Married to Placidus must necessarily be in a Slavish subjection to his Father his Brethren Sisters and Relations whereas the Wife of Fadrique will enjoy Immunity from such a bitter lot as being above and beyond the reach of all those Censurers Alas alas Woful experience the School-mistriss of Fools has furnished me with this Observation as witness those Gray-Hairs brought forth untimously by Excessive Grief and Sorrow Shall you deck your self with the Finest Needle-Work and most Gorgeous Raiment possible then Black-mouth'd Back-biters will readily misconstrue your Neatness If on the other hand such a decorum be neglected why say they she is not content with her Lot and Condition You cannot frequent Divine Worship without the Character of Levity or Hypocrisy nor forbear such a Religious Observance but immediatly occasion will be taken of branding you with the stigma of an Irreligious wretch In fine the Eyes of all Relations will be sixed upon you that you cannot promise your self Satisfaction and Tranquility in the most minute circumstance And it may be added further that such an uncharitable multitude may so influence your Husband with prejudice that in a very short time the greatest of all your Miseries shall arise from his Jealousy or unbeseeming carriage towards you If so be then that by being Espoused to Fadrique no such Inconveniencies can in reason be suspected what remains but that in obedience to those pressing Arguments of your Loving Mother and in relation to your own future Contentment you cheerfully assent to the Proposals of the Father without the least Reluctancy imaginable Those Pithy motives founded on Reason and Experience wrought a sensible and suddain change upon Agnes insomuch that in a thundring manner she decided the whole matter in Favours of Fadrique which conclusion produced no less Sorrow to Placidus than Contentment and Joy to Fadrique Whereupon dejected Placidus according to his Passion without any more delay forsook his Native Country having got from his Father about 1000 Guinies who left it to his choice to suspend his time in India Italy or the Low-Countries being to receive Money upon Bill according to the Custom and Necessity of Gentlemen while Abroad When he had come to Naples in Italy his Genius inclined him to play the Souldier as being an Imployment by which Honour and lasting Renown is most attainable After a few Months there he enjoyn'd his Trustee to certifie Fadrique and all Relations of Placidus Death that Entercourse of Letters might be stop'd which he judged the fittest course and method to free him from Pensive Melancholly but all this could not Eradicate a Passion so deeply rooted Fadrique by Successful Traffique attained quickly to vast Possessions which with a Virtuous Wife might be supposed a Pleasant Condition Yet notwithstanding all this the want of Children was matter of great Grief to him Wherefore that his Memory might not die with himself he resolves without delay to distribute his Riches among his Nephews Charles and Bernard who are brought to him for that purpose Their Uncle and his Lady Entertain the Boyes with all the Expressions of Joy and Kindness possible In a very short time their good Behaviour and Affability did procure unto them a great many Friends and Acquaintances in Sevil where they pass under the Notion of Fadriques Sons The Old mans love to his Nephews rose to so much the greater height that he perceived himself decaying more sensibly than could be expected by the course of Nature not being as yet 60 years whereas Agnes appeared more Brisk than ever Thus Charles and Bernard discerning that their Uncle had in a manner centered the Comfort and Tranquility of his Decript Old-Age on them waxed Insolent and Disrespectful towards Agnes whose Prudence taught her to obviat the very beginning of this evil by representing such Enormities to her Indulgent Husband The Old man complying with his Wife appointed a Lodging elsewhere for his Nephews with all things necessary and suitable to their Condition which course no ways abated the Insolence of the Young men but rather increased the same insomuch that they branded Agnes with Incontinency and many other Vitious qualities At this time Placidus having Travelled all Italy over came to Bononia where his Life was in Jeopardy For happening to be late out of his Lodging the second or third night after he came to Town he wandred in the Streets by reason of Darkness and his Unacquaintedness with the several Corners of the City at length espyed in a place some what remote a Glimmering Light whether when he had approached three Cut-throats are found Assaulting one Gentleman with all possible Fury The Compassionate Placidus thinking that a fit season for Charity and Fortitude became the Oppressed Gentlemans Assistant by which means two of the Rogues were Grievously Wounded the third being Smote with the Edge of the Sword. Having thus Rescued the Italian from Eminent Death not without some danger for he sustained the prejudice of 2 or 3 Wounds he calls his Servant to bring his Horse James Viteli in whose behalf he had Seasonably appeared Answered saying Sir Your Ineffable Kindness and Courage calls for my Attendance as a Servant who am ready and willing to wait upon all opportunities whereby I may express my Gratitude I know diligent search will be made for us by and by therefore seeing I take you to be a Stranger unacquainted with this City I intreat you may be pleased to accept of my Company and by the Grace of God we shall escape the Rage and Fury of our Adversaries and I promise to Dress and Cure your Wounds in a very short time Placidus concluded it highly Reasonable to lay hold on such a good motion Wherefore James Viteli conducted him from one Street to another until at last he came to an House where it 's probable he had been known upon which consideration he knocks hard at the door until such time as a comly Youth had given him access forthwith according to his duty and promise he dressed the wounds of Placidus which were not deep nor deadly enjoyning withal that the Student should go in all hast to such a Street by name and return with one exact account of all emergents whether when the young man had come he sees all things in a hurly-burly one man being dead on whom a great number of Citizens are gazing and orders given to apprehend such as could be suspected any way accessary to such an Assassination Where also he heard a certain person imprisoned confessing that he was the Servant of one Placidus a Spaniard who had killed the man. When the Youth returned he gave an impartial account of all occurrences observed by him The Gentlemen perceiving what might be the result of such a commotion slipt away quietly in regard that they concluded it most dangerous to stay so near the place of Justice where a strict search was to be made Having thus escaped hazard