whose inclinations presently shewed themselves impeteous turbulent and tending to confusion and disorder was for that cause named Ceraune from the Greek Word which as you know signifies to thunder and the youngest was named Philadelphe which in the same language signifies loving his Brother for the reasons that you will see afterwards When these two Princes were of age to come from under the hands of their Governors the King their Father did me the honour to send and fetch me as far as from Lampsaque and signify to me that he would commit their education and instruction to my care and tuition and to that effect desired I would dwell near him I was not deceived in my conceptions nor in the thoughts I had immediately of the young Prince Philadelphe never was there a Nature more pleasantly fair nor more happy than that of this young Prince For besides his beautiful countenance his Body singularly well shaped as you will observe he had variety of all great and commendable inclinations He took delight in exercises of War and Feats of Arms very much devoted to Literature even to take delight therein as young as he was he soon addressed himself to take a pleasure in Libraries he was Good Liberal Generous Gallant but that which was predominant over his Spirits was an admirable tenderness towards his Brother As for him he was of a Nature directly contrary its true he was not ill made nor shaped in point of his Personage but he loved neither the exercises of the Body nor yet those of the Mind All his diversion was in being found in the company of young debauched Persons who applauded him He was not able to suffer himself to be conversant with Persons that were Ingenious and had good Parts and more particularly of Women-kind because he was then obliged to refrain himself by the different Port towards that Sex and above all he was monstruously jealous of his Brother That which fomented it the more was that all the honourable and ingenious Persons made all their Courtships and Addresses to Philadelphe unless it were five or six debauched Ones and no Person could comport or bear with Ceraune I did what in me was possible to reform and correct the Nature of this unhappy One The King forgot nothing that depended of him and that which he took to task above all was to unite the Hearts of these two Brothers as very well knowing that so good and fair an Union is the strength force and support of a Family Royal. But Destiny had otherwise appointed and the fairest proof there is in the World demonstrateth that there is no resisting of its Decrees that is that all the remedies that we can thereto apply will prove unprofitable and so were they If we had any thing grievous Philadelphe had yet more he would frequently complain to me as of an Evil whereof he could never be consolated I should take up whole dayes to recite you the Cares and the Complaisances with which he endeavoured to gain the good Will and Favour of Ceraune and even to what point his tenderness and friendship would extend it self towards him I call to mind that amongst others that one Night Philadelphe returning from the City somewhat late was attacqued and even wounded by a certain Company of young Ones whose Counseller his Brother had been Some of them having been taken avowed that the jealous Prince had ingaged them to that Assassination and the King was so incensed that he not only resolved to have the Assassines severely punished but he even caused Ceraune to be put in Prison with great menacing Threats against him Philadelphe having known it immediately rose from his Bed wounded as he was and went to find the King his Father and cast himself upon his Knees protesting to him that he would not depart till he had obtain'd the Liberty and Favour of his Brother and after he had gain'd that he besought the same for the Assassines because he knew the friendship that Ceraune had for them But that which is strange is that he caused to be concealed from Ceraune his so generous Actions for he had such a furious bent of Envy that he would not only be jealous of these marks of Credit which his Brother had upon the Spirit of the King but also of his Vertue and Generosity The Gods are my Evidences I do not here aggravate the faults of the Dead to give all the Honour and Glory to the Living for as dead as he is I yet love his Memory as that of the Son of a great Prince my Benefactor and I do not declare you this but with Grief and for as much as it is the Original and Foundation of this History Philadelphe not being able to extinguish the furious Jealousy of his elder Brother went to find the King and besought him to banish himself for some time from his Brother hoping that by little and little he would be appeased and his Fury mitigated when he should see him no more And for as much as there was then no War in Egypt where he could be serviceable he demanded leave of him to go into Sicily where Agatocle King of that Island who had espoused a Sister of Berenice was in Arms against Denocrate The King gave him permission and furnish't him with a Ship the Prince there Imbarked and Stilpon my Son had the Honour to accompany him in quality of his Esquire But alas the danger wherein this Prince cast himself was worse by far than that which he thought to avoid The first day of the Imbarkation was happy enough but the following night there arose so furious a Tempest that after the Ship had bin tost and batter'd two days and nights she was at length Wrackt and Stranded against Rocks in the Ionian Sea Of all those that were in the Ship there was not one that could escape but only the Prince and my Son who having clasped in their Arms the Masts of the Ship were cast fairly on the Land It seemed to them that they had soon only changed the kinds of Death for that certain place whereon they were cast was a Desart where nothing presented them but the sight of Rocks In fine after the Prince had unprofitably spent a part of the day endeavouring yet to save some of his People he was constrained to retire and seek where to go himself and towards the Evening himself and my Son met a Path a little trodden all along which they marched a long time mounting still between frightful Precipices After they had walked about a Furlong they found themselves almost at the point of the highest Rock that was upon that Coast where they met an Adventure or Accident sufficiently surprizing Towards the Top or Knap of the Mount there is a hollow place Natural or by a kind of a Miracle there is met a Source or Spring of Water so abundant that scarcely such an one can be seen in the freshest Valleys and this Water
us cast me again into the Gulph and obliged me to come to refresh our selves in your Road. Whilst they repaired our Vessel which sprang a Leak by means of our Furious Fight and the late Tempest I would come to set foot on shore and walked without dreaming of the advice that had been given me by one of our Prisoners whom the Prince of Crete had yet left there amongst others to seek me out there in case that the advice of my Imbarkment was not true I went accompanied only with two of my men through this Wood where you met me when I was attacked by eight Souldiers who immediately fell upon me I put my Sword in hand which I still have carryed since the day of our Naval Combat and seconded by the two men that accompanied me I so well defended my self that we put our Assassines to Flight and six others out of a Condition to attack me But this could not be without feeing before my Face to dye my two Seconds nor without falling my self into a condition where you have so Generously Succoured me So Telamon if Cyprus hath some interest in my conservation I can safely say that it ought to look upon you your Brother and your Self as hath its two Titulary Originals and I protest unto you also that if I have ever there any power the names of Telamon and Tarsis shall be there also known as those of Aristogiton and Harmodisis are both in Athens In the mean while as it 's apparent these People who attacked me were not alone and that I am from elsewhere in the Government of Alcime an ally of mine Enemy you see how it imports me not to be known here but you judg also well Telamon that I ought to sleep there whilst that the Death of the Prince of Crete will apparently prove true and made great changes in Cyprus and in the States of the King his Father Which is the cause wherefore I will send with the first opportunity some of my People to Cyprus there to confirm the Truth of his Death and to dispose the People there to receive me I will even depart with the soonest to be there ready to profit by this occasion And there to second by my Presence and by my Courage that which shall be found of good disposition in their minds But as there is not a moment of time to be lost here that my Ship where I make account to Imbark cannot be repaid but in some days and that in the mean time it is of importance that those whom I send to prepare their minds should depart before me I have for that end present need of another Ship I had since yesterday sent to Gonnes to contract for a Ship in that Port but I have understood that since Alcime is returned there is prohibition made to let none depart without his express order signed with his hand and that there is a thousand difficulties to obtain Pass-Ports at least to be known Now you see the interest that I have ought not to be made known to a man in Alliance and Confederacy with my Enemy So I have need of your Credit and Generosity Telamon to indeavour to obtain one with the soonest and that is the request that I will make you Whilst he thus spake Telamon on one side admired the Courage wherewith this young Prince framed his designs for the Conquest of a Kingdom in a condition wherein he had not only the strength to rise from his bed and on the other he had not the Ability of Apprehension that the agitation wherewith he had spoken might enkindle some Feaver within his Body which naturally appeared to be in a temper all of fire He therefore besought him not to give himself any further trouble in any thing that he had commanded him and promised him that he would go there the same hour to give order Immediatly he took leave of him but at the instant he thought to go out Amalecinte recalled him and said unto him Generous Telamon the care of my affairs hath made me forget a thing which possibly may regard yours and which have made me call to mind the name of that Shepherdess of whom you have lately told me that her loss hath reduced Tarsis into that condition you have related me It 's from the first day that I imbarked here as I would have demanded of my Boat-man why he had so much desired to recoil in parting until he had even constrained him thereunto by force he told me for a reason that he expected a Shepherdess whom he named as seemed to me Zelie as you have done the Mistress of your Brother he added that he should by the same occasion conduct her I know not where and that it was to do service to a Shepherd named Alpide who I should also have come with her Ah my Lord cryed he Immediatly I mean Telamon it is the same Shepherdess whom we seek and thereupon as he saw that the Prince could not instruct him further he retired to make some reflection on this last news which more occupied his mind than all the rest In sum that which his Brother had related him the day following of the loss of Zelie of that Mariner whom he had taken in the night for Alpide and the Great Assiduity that the same Alpide had signified to her after that Tarsis had no more seen her had already given them much cause to suspect him however he could not make any certain Judgment thereupon because that Alpide had not disappeared with Zelie but otherwise was her Cousen German and moreover for that he was more concerned pressed for her more than any other and did much regret this Shepherdess But after he had learnt that from the Prince of Cyprus there was no place left for him to doubt but that Alpide was the Author or at least an Accomplice in this misfortune as so many others have followed It was almost night when Telamon went out from Amalecinte that Shepherd not being there gon but very late after dinner by the counsel of the Chirurgeon to leave always so much time with the Prince as to repose himself before engaging him in a discourse which he well Judged would be of some time In going out from thence he deliberated whether he should direct this piece of news to Tarsis He was presently tempted thereunto because he thought that it would still be some Joy to that unfortunate Lover to know at least a way by which he might be assured to be able to learn what should become of Zelie But he immediatly also well Judged afterwards that in thinking to regive him thence some hope he should not fail to renew his Inquietudes and to cause in him strange Alarms that it would be to hold him all the night in impatience which would be a means to hinder his rest and might possibly cause some seaver to seize upon him by so great a Commotion or Violent Inclination of the
the Guards that would have seized me I had a Sword by my side and I would not that it should be said that I would be the first that should at the first time unprofitably wear one I therefore took it in hand at Rovers as if I held my self capable to resist so many Men and having testified that I would not permit my self to be taken alive I wounded the first Souldiers which were hardy enough to approach me afterwards seeing my self ready to be taken I cast my self through a Window into the Sea wholly resolved there to perish rather then to be retaken and to fall into the hands of our Enemy But all my precaution proved of no utility some of the Guards had then seized my Governor and others of the Captain of the Ship I well divined that we had bin betray'd I knew immediately afterwards that the King having had notice of my issuing forth by the perfidy of a Domestick of my Mothers had sent these Guards to take me and ordered the hanging of the Captain of the Ship and my Governor by the Yards arm As for me they brought me to the Pallace Royal where I only expected Death for the means farther to disguise my Sex which I had betray'd my self by my Attire and my Courage in this imagination I supposed all lost for the King when I was before him coming to reproach my disguise I who believed he would have spoken of him whom they had made to pass for a Maiden I was ready to avow all and notwithstanding admire the effect of the prevention it appeared he would have spoken of the habit that I had taken to save my self and that as this Domestick had discover'd my departure knew nothing of the rest of our Secret the King believed that they had not counterfeited me in a Boy otherwise than to favour my flight after a multitude of Menaces he in conclusion caused me to be vested in my first Attire That being done he sent us my Mother and my self into Prison where we were straitly shut up and I can say it treated as Captives even to the hardest durance But the Prince of Crete having attained the Age of twenty two years and my self coming out of my sixteenth year the King his father believed deeming it high time to celebrate our Marriage he came to see the Queen my Mother even in the very Prison to discourse her I leave you to judge with what countenance she could hear this terrible Propositâ—on and what she could think in an occasion so strange where she saw her self constrain'd to marry a Boy instead of a Girl I saw constrain'd for in the state wherein we were the King's Will was it not as to us absolute necessity and was there any other remedy then exposing my self to death to discover that which I was She therefore dissembled her grief and feigning an apparent joy she only demanded time to sound me Never was the like surprize as that of mine when she brought me this piece of news I avow that I remain'd a little confused For what resolution to take in so fatal a Conjuncture To accept the Marriage that seemed not impossible to refuse also a Marriage so apparently advantageous for me and which seem'd the only means to recover our Liberty and Dignity altogether that could not be as I have said without giving the King cause of great suspicion In all cases it was to irritate him by this rejection it would be the prolonging of our Imprisonment and by consequence plunge us in another inevitable Peril to discover my self by time and by age We could not therefore do any other than condole my Mother and my self wholly ignorant by whom to determin In the interim the King pressed for her Answer and he pressed her with so much the more instancy because those of Chypre were already revolted the second time against him and he saw no other than this only way to reduce them After we had procrastinated the Affair a whole Month by continual fits and turns and always under different pretexts after I had essay'd a thousand times new means to avoid my self in conclusion there fell into my thoughts a Project which I discovered to the Queen very near these terms Madam said I we afflict our selves through an occasion which should rather reâ—oyce us and that the Gods had sent us without doubt to revenge the death of my Father and Brothers Our Tyrant will give me his Son for to espouse which is to say unless he will deliver me another himfelf into â—ands let us use our advantagae since he thereunto doth force us I accept of this fatal bridal since he constrains me but since he deprives me of the means further to dissemble that which I am let him know it in the dispence of his own proper bloud I will furnish my self with a Sword or a Dagger and hide it under the bolster of my Bed It 's with that within which I will receive his Son into my Arms and 't is so that I will revenge my Father my Brothers my Sisters and our selves Hah my Son interrupted she all in tears I will never permit that you cast your self in so unavoidable a danger that could not be that which would revenge me no otherwise then to loose you since 't is only to preserve you that I am reserved to so many evils To make short to you I perswaded the Queen because she saw no other means nor day for our deliverance She rendred the King an answer conformable to his desire who set us at apparent Liberty however still in effect held us in a strait captivity by the Guards that he set over us under pretence of doing us honor and that which is yet more marvellous the Prince of Crete gave me a visit even as to his Mistriss I must avow to you although I was well prepared for that sight she put me in much perplexity of mind the habit of a Maiden began to rack me after I had known my Sex I thereupon found my actions all in compulsion and it seem'd to me that by their observations it would be impossible but that they should divine who I was but this was another torment when I saw my self reduced to personate not only a Maiden but as they say a Lover in sight of an amorous young Prince and to counterfeit friendship and obsequiousness for a man whose birth was abominable and hateful unto me however there was no means of avoiding it He saw me he courted me amorously and on my part I sported so well or rather so unfortunately my Lot that I appeared to this young Prince not only to be a Maiden but also for a fair one so that he became marvellously amorous of me So that not only the Father but also the Son pressed even without measure this loathsome and vexatious Marriage As for me I used all the delays possible for whatever resolution I had taken I had always some repugnancy to
had bin taken for Gods They fell before them in Troops upon their knees lifting them upon their Shouldiers and so pompously carried them to the publick Guild-Hall or town-house and through an extreme zeal which they suppos'd to be more fatal to the lives of these two illlustrious Brothers than the very hands of their Enemies they for some time minded not but utterly forgot the dressing and healing of their own Wounds by a kind of an indiscreet ardour they had to render them the Honor worthy their acknowledgments In an instant the face of the whole City was changed the joy and allacrity pierced the hearts and was visibly demonstrated in the Visage of the Citizens when it had for a long time bin banished and exiled there was then seen no more heaviness but in those of the Slaves and Kion This generous and faithful Lover could not survive his Mistriss and after he had executed his Commission it seemed he would go and render her an account of it neither reason nor prayers could act any thing towards the mitigation of his Dolour there remained nothing but Friendship and Amity could oppose the mournful effects of his Love His brother and himself would willingly have bin set in one Chamber so that Leonides seeing the resistance that Kion made to all remedies Brother said he I believe I have sufficiently testify'd to you that I fear'd not to dye with you but I must also let you know that I cannot yet live without you Wherefore if you have resolv'd to dye tell me frankly and freely that I may not give my self the trouble unprofitably to labor the conservation of a Life which to me is of no value without yours Upon these Words he commanded the Chyrurgeons to cease and discharged them from further attendance in expectation of his reply Kion tenderly and gingerly look't upon him and would have obliged him to let them persist indeavouring to perswade him that he had neither cause nor reasonable subject to hate his life but Leonides having protested to him that he would not permit any further care to be taken of himself then should be seen that his Brother should take care of his own Kion was in fine constrained to live only to preserve the Life of his dear Leonides It 's true their care and recovery was very tedious and leisurely because their Wounds were great and grievous and for a considerable time almost desperate so that it occasioned the world to believe that they were dead but you will soon see they were reserved for more strange Adventures After the example of Heraclea the major part of the Cities of Pont were also held by small Tyrants who from being simple and petty Governors under old Antigonus had erected themselves to be so many Soveraigns shaking off the yoke of Tyranny and declared for Liberty but in regard these petty Kings chased from usurped Thrones were in League together to re-enter there with Satyre brother of Clearque the Cities likewise united amongst themselves and having levyed Troops for their universal and common Defence they elected for their Chieftain one valiantly unknown named Ariamene upon whom they conferr'd all the Authority of their Arms under the Title of Defender of the Liberties of the People My Lord I will not tell you any thing of this Ariamene a whole volum would be necessary separately to recount to you the History of his high Feats For over and above that the Renown of them is manifestly famous throughout the earth you will without any doubt have known that he had defeated Satyre and his Comrades in five different Battels that in the latter and that he himself with his own proper hands had slain three of these petty Tyrants and in sum had acquired so considerable a Reputation of Valor Liberality and Justice among the People of Pont and Cappadocia that after having fought during the term of four years for their sole Liberty they had voluntarily renounced him to submit it to Ariamene and that they had crowned him their King after they had had him four years for their Captain But let 's return to the History of our two brave Brothers The People of Heraclea being united and in league with other Cities of Pont levyed Troops which they sent to joyn with those of Ariamene and for a badge of Cognisance towards Kion and Leonides they remitted them to their sole Conduct These valiant Brothers so acquitted themselves of this trust and charge that it exceeded the possibility of all Expectations they declared to me that the grand Ariamene had divers times confess 't himself that he ow'd a considerable part of his Victories to their Valor Satyre and his Allies having bin defeated the two first Battels craved assistance of the King of Thrace and ingaged him in their Succour through hopes that they would even make him King of Asia This was my Lord at the self same time when the King your Father did me the honor to send me his Ambassador in Ordinary to Lysimachus and I learnt by the way that the King of Thrace had already pass'd into Asia with an Army composed of threescore thousand Men against the valiant Ariamene I was then obliged to find him in Asia and I arrived at his Camp only three days before this great Battel which was the commencement of his Losses the Success whereof I writ the King your Father It 's certain that when I arrived among the Thracians the Reputation of Ariamene how considerable soever it was did in no wise obliterate that of Kion and Leonides They were not only signalized by a hundred valorous Actions their amity and friendship did no less contribute to render them Illustrious They made it shine and glitter even against Envy and Emulation by a thousand remarkable passages nay in their Habiliaments and Array In effect they were seen always attyred after the same Mode and Method and armed in such sort as was sufficiently significant Their Heads were covered with Caskets or Helmets adorn'd with the figure of two Men aiding each other to sustain and uphold one heart in the midst whereof were plumes of Feathers of the colour of fire sorting or issuing it in guise of Flames to express the ardour of their friendly Amity This Motto was engraven under their Hearts One alone animates both For on the Scymeter were seen the trunk of a Man with two heads compassed and bound with a Crown of Laurel with these Words on the bust Amity makes but one On their Bucklers was depainted each of them peeping into a Looking-Glass which instead of his Visage represented to him that of his Friend Although these Portraits were small yet that did not leave them otherwise then to be marvelously resembling each other and the famous Protogene their friend had there so counterfeited the natural that having even demonstrated their Amity upon their Faces he seemed to have found the secret to paint their hearts That was the Body of the Devise or Embleme
content of my self Madam reply'd I if I had any thing to reproach you withal it would only be the injurious suspicion you have of me and if I were capable of accusing you of ingratitude it could be no other but because that while I have all the esteem imaginable for your vertue you suspect me guilty of the greatest treachery in the Word It seemeth to me therefore Madam that a Man who comes to you only as a supplicant hath but very little of the countenance of a Man who thinketh to insult on you and he who would not but ask pardon is very far from thinking to reproach you See you Eleandre reply'd she I flatter not my self I know you have cause to complain of me and if you do it not it 's through dissimulation or generosity But before you condemn me you must put your self in my place and that you see what an honest Wife could do for the Murtherer of her Husband It is not but that I perswade my self but that your intention was altogether generous but Eleandre they cannot but very little consider the intention when the effects are so dismally deplorable and a Woman who seeing her husband to be slain is capable to reason or question the intention of him who did it hath reason to desire to find Justice and Consolation in his death I know Madam answered I that you have done all that a vertuous Woman ought to do and when I made my defence before the Judges you did not see me complain of you and all the care that I ow'd for my Life was not capable to infuse into me one single thought unworthy of your vertue But contrarily I have commended it in secret even then when it fought against me I have admired a Woman that would so revenge a dead Husband his Sword in his hand against her Excellently Eleandre interrupted she me at that Passage reflect not on the memory of my Husband If I have hated my Life because that hath served as a pretext for his death I would also hate my little vertue if it would serve as an occasion to do injury to that of his Le ts blame le ts blame rather together my debility and ill conduct to have exposed him to so great and many Extremities and thereby punish me for my Faults if you find me not yet sufficiently punished Ah! Madam cry'd I altogether transported with admiration and Love Oh the means of finding to repeat in one vertue so perfect But through your favor Madam what can I do to repare or make a compensation for my offence for in sum I protest to the Gods that if my death could render you that which it hath deprived you of I would surrender my Life with joy and that I even now give you with pleasure if it can render you satisfaction and that it might serve to make pardon my Crime You know well answerd me Eriogene that you are not Criminal since the Judges have absolved you But I dissemble you not Eleandre how innocent soever you are you are alwayes guilty as to me since 't is you who hath slain my Husband 'T is not that hereafter I desire your death I had not demanded it but by reason I believed it due to that of his and since they have determin'd the contrary I am not yet so unjust that I would make him a criminal Sacrifice yea I will even tell you much more I am very well pleas'd that you were not guilty against the Law and that it was not possible for me my self to have an acknowledgment for you that would have supplyed my default and defended you against my duty But if I cease to wish your death I do not therefoâ—e detest my Misfortune nor yet complain of my unhappiness and I do not dissemble to you Eleandre in what manner soever you could receive it how you are him whereof she hath served her self to be made the instrument of my disgrace I cannot refrain to extend my hatred even as far as you nor can I hinder my self to look on you with this kind of horror that we naturally conceive and sometimes in despight of us for all things that have bin contributary how ever innocently in causing us some great evil and have once wounded our Imagination Yea I suffer and more than I can tell you in your view in the self same hour when I speak unto you she re-opens the Wounds all bloudy and seems to fight me afresh my Husband in my very heart his Image whom I there preserve is the outraged by the presence of his Enemy and since you seek my consolation as you have said I conjure you Eleandre to bear my debility and weakness and to leave weeping in peace an unfortunate one in solitude and spare me the displeasure of seeing you here any longer time And as well it seemeth me on the other side that this same sight accuseth me with ingratitude without any intermission towards you that she reproaches me with the same sentiments that I declare to you and that my ill Destiny having put me under a necessity to be guilty towards my Husband or towards you you render me altogether Criminal both to the one and the other Towards my Husband in making me permit his Murderer in my house towards you in treating you as I do Behold Eleandre behold I avow it to you remember well an Action to which I owe the conservation of my Life but if these offers and civilities that you do me be frankly put out from a heart truâ—y generous and sincere as I believe you will not only pardon my displeasure but you will also capacitate me to know even some good liking and consent of an ingenuous declaration which signifies well enough that which I conceive that it is not powred out through a difficiency of a grateful acknowledgment to you but only from the duty of a Woman and the affection which she beareth to her Husband Whilest she spake these Words the tears trickled down her Eyes in so great an abundance that I was sensibly toucht with a real pain I could have resolved to have retired immediately and I answeâ—ed her O Erigone that you were not more pleasant when you prosecuted my death than in this day leaving me with life under these cruel conditions you impose on me What Madam I shall live without daring to see you with your hatred and as the object of your horror What grace or favour do you to a Man whom you acknowledg innocent and how would you punish me then if I were truly guilty Eleandre reply'd she wiping her Eyes with her handkerchief I have told you all that I can say hereon and as congruity and good manners permits me not to chase you out otherwise from out of my house and as my dolour also cannot admit of a longer time of my conversation with you pardon me if I quit you that you may have liberty to retire your self At the same time she
fortified with strength sufficient to travel on the Road I and still feigning some pretext under which to dispence my departure I would not slip that opportunity without declaring more clearly and manifestly the passionate I had for her Love and now behold the manner how One day as Olonie was imploy'd in giving some necessary Orders I found my self all alone with Erigone walking upon a plat-form or great hillock where hence one might behold the fairest sight and prospect in the World and whence one might view all the beauty of the House Erigone understanding that I praised them after at a very high rate and above all that I could not cease to hold my peace with respect to the excellency of the fruit that we had there eaten and less yet of the good reception from our Hostess in common Indeed reply'd she to me smiling you have a very great deal of confidence to cause your self to fly here and come to help us to eat our fruits and a flight which hath led you to such a pleasant place amongst such good Company and who hath made you such good chear it 's to me extremely suspicious I conceal not from you reply'd I but that I have cause to complain if I have bin worse treated here then I expected for I believed my self abandoned for my furniture and array and I see well that 't will cost me my Heart and my Liberty She feign'd to believe that this sweetness and pleasance was for Olonie It 's to therefore reply'd she if you believe them be lost I would counsel you to take your flight for I would find that you should pay your shot very dear and that your Hostess would have worse treated you than she would have done thieves But Madam shall I reassume then what they have already lost to what purpose then would serve the flight unless it be yet in the loss of the hope of their recovery in withdrawing at a greater distance from her who hath taken them from us In this case reply'd she I have nothing to say to you you know in what plight your Affairs stand and it concerns you to consult your self It 's very much rather to you Madam reply'd I it 's much rather to you fâ—om whom I ought to demand counsel since that upon you alone depends the state of this poor heart and this poor liberty that I have lost Erigone appear'd astonish't turning her Eyes towards me and recoyling one or two Faces What Eleandre saith she Is it to me that you direct these words and remember you well who I am I remember it so well Madam reply'd I that I have your Image before my Eyes without intermission so that it 's engraven in my heart and tells me every hour and in every place that you are the fairest the most spiritual the most wise in a word the most accomplisht Persâ—n throughout the World You believe it not without doubt Eleandre reply'd she coldly and faintingly in betaking her self to walk for if you believed me wise you would not thus discourse me Madam reply'd I to her the love I have for you is so respective and pure that it cannot wound the vertue of the most scrupulous nor yet the most austere Wisdom of the World She paused yet a little at these Words and spake What you continue Eleandre I should fear lest some one should hear you for they would never imagine that you should have the boldness to treat of Love to the Widow of a Man whom you have slain at least that she would not have any conference with you Ah Madam reply'd I this presumption also costs me very dear for in fine I must not flatter you it There is six Months that I have lov'd you there is six Months that I seek occasion to declare it you there is six Months that I languish between hope and fear and 't is not but at the last extremity and upon the point of loss of life that I hazard my self to declare it you Yea Madam I lov'd you almost from the moment that I had seen you I had not sooner made that innocent which renders me so guilty in respect of essay towards you but that I was punisht by the same Eyes which were the Evidences of my Crime in causing me to be arrested detain'd and made Prisoner you bound me in other bonds much more strong and ponderous than those of the Justice and when you demanded my Sentence of Death from the Judges you your self prepared me one whence they were in no capacity to deliver me Eleandre reply'd me Erigone I conceive that you have without doubt lost your Wits There is no doubt thereof Madam reply'd I doubt not thereof I have too strong a passion for you to be able to preserve me my Senses and I pride my self that I have lost them since it depaints and marks out the violence of my Love Well said Eleandre reply'd she it 's convenient to pity you and the sole pity that I can altogether consent to discharge my obligation to you and to that of my Husband I will have you reassume your Wits and thereby let you see by good reason how rediculous and extravigant your Enterprize is and hath bin and accordingly to capacitate your self in making reflections in order to your cure Madam interrupted I foreseeing where at she drove I have considered of all that you would have told me and possibly something more but of all that which is represented me I can find nothing that can hinder me from loving you because nothing can render you otherwise than infinitely amiable to me I very well know that I love a Person who hates me who regards me as her most mortal Enemy and that I am an object of her Aversion and Horror and who possibly would be glad to see my death which she hath already wished and prosecuted I know well that besides her aversion she will oppose me with a thousand reasons and those very pertinent and becoming In a word I very well know that I swim against a strong Torrent of Difficulties and Obstacles and that I cannot almost expect any reasonable hopes but I have very fairly had represented me all these things I love and it concerns you may Madam to tell me a stronger reason which excuse me from having bin able to tast any It 's not that I imagine that I act with reason I cannot then hope to convince you For give me leave Madam to tell you this wherefore this hatred and this capital Aversion against a Man who never had other than a tender respect for you If you have lost your Husband was not he even himself the primarily original Cause What is there that I have contributed but an innocent Will and what but a design to save you It was a furious Malady that possest him to precipitate himself in despight of me upon his own ruin If you hate all that was any way contributary towards his death hate him
that he had need of their aid in an important occasion and that it was neither becoming them nor would it suit with their generosity to refuse him they were then a little straitned However Tarsis spake to him thus freely Straton if you absolutely have need of two Brothers neither the one nor the other will hesitate nor deliberate in following you But if one alone can suffise you in the service you desire of them I pray permit that they may be separated for some time and that while my Brother goes with you I go to a place where most important Affairs do require us both Straton understanding that they had Affairs made an excuse for his own part and would not only have declined even the acceptance of their offer nor yet permit them neither the one nor the other to withdraw from their Affair if it were his own sole and proper interest and concern that he went upon there but as he acted on the behalf of a Person of high Quality to whom he would give place and for whom he had the highest esteem of any Person throughout the World he did what he might possible be able to do to ingage Telamon not to refuse him Telamon had would not have done it though his life had bin at Stake to have gone there If there had bin no other than his own interest that had called him else where But as he acted in the service of his dear Tarsis and above all that in the condition wherein he saw him he feared the consequence of his displeasure he could not well resolve to abandon him Tarsis did sufficiently remark and observe him and doubting the subject and cause of his apprehension My Brother said he let it not be said that we have refused Straton the Philosopher the only service that he ever required and that in our own Countrey It 's with grief that I see my self deprived by the disgrace you know from that satisfaction that I would have had in rendring it him my self Supply therefore for me my dear Brother besides you know I have not at present need of you and I protest unto you my dear Telamon added he very softly imbracing him that I will have a care of you for Tarsis as long as you will have a care for him to succour our common friend Telamon could not then dispence with the leaving him Tarsis took leave of Straton only as for some certain hours and continued his way towards Callioure whilest the two others took that of Hippique Telamon would have obliged Straton to mount on horse back and told him for that end that it was very far from the place where they then were to the house of Alcidias but Straton would by no means do it but led his horse by the bridle and walked side by side with Telamon and so entertain'd discourse on the subject of his Journey I would not so liberally use your generosity O Kion said he unto him for he yet knew no otherwise if I were not assured that you will have the same joy to be able to contribute to the service of a great Prince that Fortune hath in some sort committed to your care and if I could not declare that you are there in some respect obliged by an esteem so great and so perfect that he hath of you and of your Brother that the memory of Hermodius and of Aristogiton is not more venerable to the Athenians than is yours to the Prince whereof I speak For in fine I know not whether you have understood that he was yesterday carried unknown very much wounded to the house of Alcidias your Father but however it be you shall know that this unknown is the great Ptolomée Philadelphe King of Egypt Telamon was not a little surprized with this news and although he was ignorant by what odd humorous events Fortune had taken pleasure to sport it self in the Destiny of the greatest of Men how is it that it can be any wise imagined by what accidents possible could the King of Egypt come to Tempé and that he should be there in an Equipage so different from what was convenient for the most puissant Monarch of the World But as he had learnt for what reason he had bin carried to the house of Alcidias since it was he himself that conducted him there he signified to Straton that although in part by what mournful accident this great Prince had bin wounded he could not refrain from returning thanks to the Gods for the occasion which procured his Father the honour to have received under his roof so illustrious a Guest and made him hope to have the honour of seeing a Prince of whom he had heard such magnificent things and moreover that he should be able to do him some service This occasion is yet more mournful than you conceive reply'd Straton and if the Ages to come will have difficulty to believe this rare example that your Family gives all the World of a perfect amity and friendship between two Brothers they will perhaps have more to conceive the tragick effects of a fraternal difference that all the Land of Egypt weep for a long season in the Royal Family Telamon had sufficiently understood what had bin spoken of Ptolomée Philadelphe that he was one of the greatest Princes of the World as well by his vertue as by the Potency of his State but that which he knew of his life was not capable but to augment in him a curiosity to learn that whereof he was ignorant It 's therefore the cause why he made no difficulty to explicate himself to Straton and this Philosopher who had no greater satisfaction than in publishing the glory of his Master and principally before Persons so capable of being just Imitators was well pleased to satisfy Telamon's desires and he did it in such a sort till continuing and passing on their way But it was not however but still after Telamon had satisfyed by a few Words the curiosity of Straton in understanding how his Brother and he were yet living afterwards the Philosopher contented also that of the Shepherd The History of Ptolomée Philadelphe PTolomée surnamed Lagus King of Egypt doubtless the greatest and the most illustrious Successor of Alexander the Great espoused two Wives the first was Apamée Daughter of the old Artabase whose eldest even Alexander himself had married and the second was Berenice who was then Widdow of Aridée brother of Alexander the great Apamée bare to King Ptolomée three Children She had first a Daughter who was married to Lysimachus King of Thrace and afterwards she lay down with two male Children successively The love of the Egyptians for this good Prince occasioned him to call his two Children by the same even his own name in conformity to a publick Decree so that all his Successors called themselves Ptolomées in memory of that illustrious Founder or at least the Restorer of the Kingdom But to distinguish them the elder
publick Place where all the Souldiers were in Arms and all the People attentive and in expectation of what would follow such great preparatives he there made a long Oration upon the affections which he had alwayes had for his People and the cares he had taken to educate and bring up his Children in an inclination and disposition of Peace necessary for the better Government of his Subjects from thence he fell to discourse of the different Manners and Qualifications of his two Sons and putting again into the Mind and Memory of the Egyptians of the magnificent and famous Feates and honourable Actions of Philadelphe wherewith all his Subjects were very exceedingly satisfyed and well pleased he there afterwards those of miscontent and displeasure which he and they had received from Ceraune After he had aggravated the three fratercides wherewith this cruel Prince would have caused his Brother to perish and to be destroyed the violent ravishment and carrying away the two Princesses his Confederacy and Treaty even with the known Enemies of the State for they knew he made one with Lysimachus to assure himself a retreat into his Kingdom after he had amplified and laid open at large all the circumstances of his Crimes he at last publickly declared his Dissheirison and thereby declared his Son Philadelphe his sole and only Successor And that there might be no shadow nor ground nor cause of contest against his Title I say to impede or hinder what possibly might be questioned after his death and to take and deprive Ceraune from all means of imbarking the People in Civil-War and intestine jars and commotions he added that it was his Will and Declaration his Resolution of putting Philadelphe in present possession of the Crown and that he appointed and published him King of Egypt resigning into his hands all his Power Privileges and Prerogatives Royal reserving only unto himself the Degree of his Prime and Principal Subject and Captain of his Guards At the same Even the self same moment having caused Philadelphe to approach who had not followed him there but against his Will because he dreamt of nothing else but his departure in quest of Arsinoe and was importunate against all things that might delay or any wise frustrate his design the King repeated to him the precedent declaration and having constrained and obliged him to sit down upon a Royal Throne which he had purposely and expresly commanded to be prepared he with his own hands placed the Crown Royal upon his head the Scepter in his hand and then and there swore himself his faithful Subject and declared and owned him to be his Master his Leige Lord and Soveraign King If this Oration and memorable Action which immediately followed it caused an astonishment amongst the Egyptians it gave them ground cause and subject of much more incomparable joy and admiration for as much hatred and aversion as they had and conceived against Ceraune even so much love and respect had they for Philadelphe But Philadelphe for his own self in particular was so surprized and so confused in receiving such marks and signs of deference and submission from a Father for whom he had such obsequious and venerable respect that he could not possibly resolve to accept these rare and illustrious Testimonies of a Love so Royal and Paternal What wonderful Miracle was that not that the Land of Egypt beheld not on that day Certainly future Ages will scarcely have faith to believe it It saw a great King which was the delight of his People and the terror of his Enemies voluntarily descend from the Throne and there to cause his Son to ascend it and I there saw the Son refusing to mount into the Throne and use all his utmost indeavours there to retain and hold his Father In sum so it must be that Philadelphe yielded and gave place unto the absolute Will of Ptolomée but it was not by a deference and it may be said that he consented not to be King but to give a pregnant demonstration of obedience both as a Son and as a Subject In the interim do not in any wise believe that this great change and transmutation of the condition and state of my Prince made any kind of alteration in his love nor yet grief and dolour believe not that he judged the gift of a Kingdom was capable to consolate him to ballance the loss of Arsinoe Ambition had not power to suspend remove or discharge him one moment from the thoughts nor perplexing inquietudes of his Love and all that which Prince Philadelphe had resolved for the recovery of this Princess Philadelphe the King would also execute He had already sent to all Parts and Coasts to learn news of the two Princesses but that was a thing that appeared to him but little worthy of his Love to seek after them by the means of others only his passion defyed him the cares and diligence of all others He would therein imploy himself and in that very resolution and design he would depart the following Night without speaking any thing to Ptolomée knowing he would have opposed it Only he resolved to leave a Letter with some of his People to give unto the King after his departure and began one in these terms Philadelphe to King Ptolomée Health SIR I a thousand times beg pardon of your Majesty if I dare without his leave depart from being near her and if it appears that I acted the part of an ill Son it will soon make an Apology for me to so good a Father But Sir one so good as your Majesty is merits him the conservation of all his Children so that if I remove one from him for some few dayes I protest to your Majesty it 's not but to essay to return them to you very suddainly altogether I entred into his Chamber when he was there with his Letter and although he presently resolved not to discover his design unless it were to those that to him were necessary so it came to pass that my presence and the kindness he had for me tempted or prompted him to make me a participant I was not surprized with that resolution for I know the fervour and greatness of his Love But as it seemed to me on this occasion to be altogether blind I took the liberty to tell him my Sentiments I then represented to him that Philadelphe King of Egypt ought not hence forward to imagine himself yet to be Prince Philadelphe that in receiving the Crown he had well changed conditions and obligations Think you my Lord said I that you are now to your self as you then were to dispose of according to your passions and willing inclinations and to run about the World as a single and simple Adventurer and to expose your self to all the fantastical conceits humors and capricio's of Fortune Know my Lord that you now at present are united by very streight tyes and strong ligaments and by indispensable obligations to your Estate that
for him and commanded him to go to Athens to solicite a litigious process and great suit of law and we came Philiste and my self upon the point of coming to establish our Affairs and settle them at Cenome and to abandon the House of Leucippe where we had still lodged ever since we were Married Although the distance was not great from the place whence we intended to remove as you see yet it was a double affliction to Tarsis whose love considered the smallest things as very important first because it seemed to him that there was no cause of fear whilest we were present and saw all that past at the house of Leucippe and Melicerte in the second place because we should always serve him for a pretext to be almost always at Calioure But that which disquieted him the most was the long Voyage wherein he saw himself obliged to go to Athens The consolation wherewith he prepared himself was that he should not depart at least until he had clearly and manifestly demonstrated to Zelie the assurance and reality of his Love nor without sounding her heart to know if she would correspond with his desires and hopes For although the services he had done her were considerable enough to give him large hopes however his affection and his modesty caused him to make very light of these things that he trembled almost all times when he dreamed of declaring himself That which rendred also the execution of the design difficult was that he seldom or almost never saw Zelie but in the presence of her Mother before whom he durst not presume to discover it and when he found her alone and thought to speak to her of his love she had always some means or found out some way to defeat his design her vertue not permitting her to receive this declaration out of the presence of her Mother In fine he hazarded himself one day when Leucippe was gone into the fields and it casually hapned to be the same that two Shepherds came to visit Melicerte to propose unto her another marriage for Zelie For whilest they spake very softly our Lovers ignorant of their subject Tarsis who believed Melicerte very attentive to what they said finished some Airs which he sang before with Zelie and said unto her with a very low and soft voice My fair Scholar tell us also we pray you our secrets in particular since that others conceal theirs from us for to tell theirs also I know one that I am very impatient to let you learn Zelie mistrusted in some sort that which it was and as she would not enter into this discourse with him Tarsis answered she very loudly as I my self imagine that it was some good news since you apply your self to declare it to me I pray you attend a little that my Mother may have a share thereof Tarsis was angry in that he having spoken to her in secret she had answered him so loudly but that it was impossible they should not be understood What reply'd he softlier than before it seems you conceive not that behold other Persons besides Melicerte will be able also to hear you Pardon me answered Zelie yet aloud but it 's no secret nor have I any that I will conceal from any one Tarsis well believed that what she did was to no other end than to scoff or dally but as he would not remain there You will make these Shepherds believe answered he still very softly that I mistrust them In speaking softly reply'd she in the same tone she had began you would make them yet more believe it your self They may continued he still softly impute it to my discretion and of the fear I should have to interrupt them You had that fear so soon said Zelie laughing when we sang louder than I speak He was sometime without answering her and in a sweat afterwards he reply'd thus still continuing to speak softly as he began and had done It is not a piece of news that I would have you learn but it is for counsel that I demand of you Ah Tarsis interrupted she what I have need of for my self I ask it of Melicerte But added he answer you me that I may be able to discover it to Melicerte with security As I know not your affair continued Zelie I cannot answer you to any thing but if there were no security in telling it to Melicerte there would have bin no more in telling it to my self You see well Agamèe continued Telamon that it is not through aversion that she keeps her self so at a distance but altogether on the contrary she seemeth by all this discourse to incourage him to discover himself to Melicerte and in effect it was her design for as she knew the esteem that this Shepherdess had for him she doubted not but that he should be favourably received but her scrupulous vertue hindred her to declare it to him more openly If Tarsis had therefore thereunto taken good heed he had seen that she had given him the best counsel that she could possibly in making a pretence of refusing him but he who took and apprehended it quite otherwise he had an extream despight to see and find that she would not only not understand him and more than that when he discours'd to her so softly the more she affected to answer him very loudly He accused her in his heart for some kind of ingratitude believing that she ill corresponded with his love but he had yet more displeasure then when these two Strangers were both gone forth Melicerte had made known unto him all she had understood for she hath the Ear marvellous subtle and a Spirit and Wit so quick and lively that she can when she lifteth be attentive to three or four things all at one time What controversy had then Tarsis therefore so soon with Zelie said she unto him laughing indeed it is an ungrateful Schollar thus to refuse the counsel of her Master Tarsis blusht at this discourse and found himself so surprized that in lieu and stead of being prevailed upon the fair occasion he had to discover himself he estranged himself by some defeat which I know not was what in his imagination which suggested or prompted him to in this ill time Melicerte who had he Wit too penetrating not to be already mistrustful and diffident of the truth would not dig deep nor dive into its profundity and though she was better intentionally to him than he durst to hope however as she took notice how he blushed she made a scruple to press him But she designedly administred him another occasion yet more favourable than the former for altering her discourse all at once Know you well Tarsis said she that we are going to marry your Schollar and that these Shepherds come to speak to Leucippe but not having him they have addressed themselves to me You may judg continued she laughing if I went to iâ—gage the Schollar without demanding advice of her Master Admire
Nature But Zelie I have suffered for you and I very well see that I shall suffer all the remainder of my Life in secret Pains and such as you know not which I can tell you and you effectually owe me some Acknowledgments which are well worthy of your pity and of your Tears I have very much Trouble and Pains to believe it replyed Zelie that I should be able to owe you something more important than the Life that I owe you But whatsoever it be you may believe that since I would not refuse you that which you wish that which you call light Obligations I shall never be ungrateful to those that are greater But reply'd he If you had had a design to acknowledge them you would have desired to have known them but in the Interim you never would permit me to let you know or learn them I do not call to mind reply'd Zelie the ingratitude wherewith you reproach me But I avow you continued she well mistrusting what he would speak of That I shall not be angry to know the Obligations that I shall have but when I shall be in a Capacity to acknowledge them Alas Zelie reply'd he you are now in an Estate to acknowledge them since I have told you that for all Acknowledgments I ask you but for a little Compassion and a few Tears You see me already so afflicted pursued Zelie that there would be inhumanity in desiring that I were more afflicted But added Tarsis raising his Voice a little and uttering a loâ—g Sigh I have no part nor portion in the Subject of that affliction and that which kills me that I carry a mortal regret in quitting or abandoning you and I see you not at all touched or concerned You are very cruel Tarsis reply'd she to take a time when you see me all in Tears to come and make me such reproaches You are much more cruel your self reply'd Tarsis to see me almost ready to dye with Grief and to refuse me one word of Consolation Alas demanded she him What would you have me say unto you I am so pressed with Grief that I am not capable to give any consolation even to my self I would have you tell me pursuant to his former discourse said he that I had some part or portion in the Cause and Ground of that Grief and that after having given you all the Testimonies that I have been able of the most sincere passion of the World you see me not to remove with the same eye which you would see the departing of an indifferent Person Tarsis reply'd she I could not have an indifference for a Brother of Telamon for whom Leucippe and Melicerte have so much esteem and to whom I my self have so many and great Obligations so that continued she it is not but to Telamon to Leucippe to Melicerte and to a small accident of Fortune to whom I owe this Favour and yet all this Favour goes not but to be indifferent with you But Tarsis said Zelie unto him do I not tell you what you demanded of me No Zelie answer'd he to cease to be indifferent unto you for the Reasons which you have told me is no other than a mark of the consideration that you have for your Relations and out of your generosity and I demanded for one that came from your inclination and a little of your good Will for me You are very difficult added Zelie but I tell you yet once for all that you shall never find me ungrateful when it shall depend but upon me alone to testifie you my Acknowledgments At these words he cast himself at her Feet and signified her his satisfaction and his Love by inexpressible Transportations In fine some certain hours after that was made that mournful separation He was above a year at Athens and there was more Consolation than he thought for he did that there which he could not do at Calioure that 's to say that he declared himself openly and manifestly to Melicerte with the most fortunate and happy success which he could have hoped and the Verses which were behold the occasion as you in proceeding will understand Remember you well Agamée of that great Eclipse which arrived two years since that they said were universal and which caused so great an astonishment and amazement throughout the World we we were gone at that time to spend some dayes at Hippique at my Fathers House two others of my Brothers and my self and Wife were there also with her Sister Melicerte having confided in her One day which was the Seventh or Eighth before the Eclipse I advised with my self to write a Letter in Verses to Tarsis I made him a partaker of our divertisements knowing well that that would consolate him at Athens where he languished very much by the perplexing process and litigious wrangling Suit of Alcidias and principally because I would tell him News of Zelie I made it in the name of the three Brothers and the two Sisters whom I obliged there to write some words each one a part and to sign with me There was none but Zelie alone whose scruples I did not overcome and who would not sign it so that one of my Brothers signed it for her But because his Sign Manual was ill counterfeited he pleasantly cast a little drop of Ink upon it so that all the Signature was almost all covered one might sufficiently see some letters of the name of Zelie but one could not discern whose hand it was As it was not advised of but to give Tarsis the joy that it was his Mistress which had signed he writ in the bottom Zelie hath blotted her Signature Behold the answer which he made us which were in Verses and I would have not told you that but to give you the signification and meaning Epistle Amiable Tripartite company of Shepherds Amiable couple of Shepherdesses Amiable Sisters amiable Brothers who are shadows of your crocks Live exempt from our Miseries pass away your hours Lightly and pleasantly under the shelter of all our dangers Live in the famous Golden-Age where Vices presume Not to appear or rather to say being to be born Innocence yet reigns Fair Troop is it possible therefore that in your champion Plainy and Fieldy leisures You interrupt the Pleasures which are relished and well tasted in a peaceable sojourning And dream you sometimes of me and for you is a Man perplexed with cares In a state of Tranquility and a quiet Hovil There they can think on him without fear Behold therefore continued Telamon where the beginning and commencement is where you see he addresses himself to all the Company in general and then afterwards answers every one in particular But that would be too long I will only read you what hath relation to Zelie I come to you young Shepherdess or rather a fair rising Star where other Beauties go obscuring themselves as the appearing and rising Sun defaceth and blotteth out all the Luminaries of Heaven
see and observe them And in the interim that which makes us afraid in the mifortunes of others is oftentimes that which causeth Consolation and it happens and occurs every day that we bemoan the unfortunate because there is something more Sweet Pleasant and more Supportable in their misfortune Not so Telamon The great and heavy Strokes of Despair do not consist in misfortune that which you take for the Evil is the Remedy O! that there are secret and private Regrets and Misfortunes in Comparison of whom the most savagely cruel death hath Sweetness Telamon would not contradict for as much as he knew that there is nothing that pains and stings an afflicted Person more than to oppose and combat his Grief with Obstinacy This wise and judicious Shepherd contented himself to tell him so from time to time uttering some words to make him capable of reflecting upon the reasons wherewith he might Consolate him And after he had yet made some certain Ones with his Company upon the sad Accidental Adventure whereof they altogether had bin effectual Witnesses he caused them to reassume and call to mind the curiosity or hearing an History that that Accident had interrupted whereof he was in expectation as we above have said whereby a little to give some Consolation to Tarsis on that which had bin promised by Agamée ever since the Shepherds had taken places round about him The Athenian spake unto them thus The History of Agamée I Have been perswaded more than any person of the World that it was possible to take such firm and assured Measures in the choice of a Mistress that one might find an absolute and compleat perfection conformable to his Humour and after the having met with it all manner of Felicity capable in this Life consisted in seeing themselves united together by Marriage I was even yet in the same Error Telamon when we left Thebes This thought was the Cause that I returned with precipitation enough to Athens because I had left there a young Beauty for whom I had so great a Love that no Man living can be capable of more she wanted not a correspendency for me and we were mutually ingaged in an extream affection and so much the more easily that we had almost bin brought up together At least we had lived these six or seven last Years in one and the same House because my Sister had espoused her Brother and taken him in Marriage and we both lived with them So that I believed I knew the bottom of her Heart and even the smallest of all her Faults For besides that she was exceedingly fair and beautiful she had an admirable infinite and excellently prompt and ready Wit and that which engaged me the more was I found in her so firm and solid a Wit for a Maiden so disingaged and unloosned from all kinds and sorts of preventions so elevated above all common and vulgar Opinions that she seemed to me to have nothing at all inherent in point of the debility of her Sex You may conceive how much my passion was augmented the more by the knowledge I had of her Amity and Friendship for nothing in the World doth inflame a young Man more than the thought that he hath to be beloved But there appeared to me a very great Transmutation and strange change of Fortune when I re-visited her and aâ—l that I formerly had of Joy and content was quite turned about and converted into Grief Dolour and Bitterness For when I thought to approach her with Testimonies and Significations of ravishing Joy where I was to re-visit her she comported her self in such a frigid sence and cold kind of strain like unto him whom she would have had as a Person throughout the whole Universe most unknown And she afterwards took the self same care to indeavour to shun me that we both of us took formerly to be together for the entertainment of our reciprocal affection This kind of welcome so different from that which I expected gave me a displeasure the like whereof I never had felt in my life I spent all that night to make a reflexion upon the subject that I could have given her to treat me so and not finding any cause in the review of all my actions I soon imputed it to the little Stability and Constancy that is in a Maiden whom the absence of two years had undoubtedly soon frozen or cooled for a new Affection The Morrow I went to see my Friends and diligently and carefully enquired of them of the names of all those who since my departure had seen Telesile that was her name and in one Word of all the things for which Jealousie which began to torment me gave me that Curiosity But for as much as they knew nothing of our Love which we always concealed they assured me that Telesile had the Credit and Reputation of affecting none nor loving any Body that during my absence there presented variety of divers considerable pretenders of Affection to her but she had Will to listen to none nor would entertain any and that it was enough to be Evil thought by her only to make mention of any thought of approaching her by any kind of declaration of Passion That made me resolve to endeavour to be enlightned by her own self upon the Subject and Ground of her Frigidity and Chilness and as I was very well pleased that we were at Liberty and in a Place where we were not interrupted I prayed her to grant me an hours time to entertain and discourse her She answered me with a very indifferent air that she believed not I had any thing to declare to her that was of any Importance and that although there might be there was no Person there before whom I might not speak what I had to say I thus spake to her at the taking away of the Table my Brother in Law and Sister being there present before whom I would not discover my self because I had learnt that both the one and the other had thoughts to marry Telesile elsewhere and particularly my Brother in Law who had promised her to a Friend of his named Aristoxene So I reply'd to her with a still Voice as I had begun that the Persons for whom she testified so much Confidence and Trust were those whom I had most cause to mistrust Whatever I said or could say I could not obtain what I demanded of her and she continued even many dayes to shun all opportunities with all the Care that she could possibly take that I should not discourse her alone or particularly That which consolated me was that I could not see that she had any more Kindness nor sweet Complaisance for this Aristoxene for although my Brother-in-Law would have made him pass to be of the most ancient House and in Reputation to have very much in point of Wealth however the Spirit of Telesile was then so forcibly strong and so well tempered with Mettal so loosned from
all A little after he continued thus There was a Maiden of Quality at Corinthia named Licie and if I had not seen Belialte and Telesile I would have added that she had bin the fairest that ever I had seen She was observed by a young Corinthian of a comely and amiable Countenance and of a ready and prompt Wit if it had not bin spoiled by the furious and passionate Love he had for her I say furious because it cannot otherwise be expressed as you will judge by the Sequel and Consequence One day as he was by her in her Chamberand discoursing to her of his Love he besought her as they frequently and sufficiently do who are in that strong Passion to make tryal and proof of him I should ensnare you well enough and overtake entrap and find you Tardy Talbion said she unto him if I had taken you at your word Thereupon the young man who was named as above reassumed and protested to her that it would be the greatest joy in the World to him to dye for her if would so appoint it and then Licie were it only that she spake it to him to laugh and jest were it that she loved him not and design'd and would defeat him Well said she le ts see whether or no for love of me you will cast your self out of this Window She had no sooner uttered the words that although the Chamber was two Stories high he cast himself out at the Window without replying the least syllable This incredible Action which is also very true and therefore undeniable had not had such unfortunate success as it would doubtless have had if that Window had not jutted out over the Sea but he fell but into the Water and although it was in a place dangerous enough he was quitted for designing to drown himself Now continued Cotys behold and see if there were ever a greater Ingratitude as the making so ill an use of the obedience of a poor Lover Ay Cotys continued Belialte and you will avow that that which I am going to speak of is yet far greater For I knew afterwards that the self same person being gone to dwell at Argos and Talbyon having followed her there that poor Lover continuing to discourse her of his Passion and yet beseeching her to make further Tryals and of greater moments she took a little Pot wherein there was some Paint in which was some Poyson whereof his Sister served her self for you know that for her she had no occasion and shewing it him Talbion said he smiling on him are you not yet content with that perillous leap hold you have but to swallow down that for my Sake She had no need of speaking of it to him twice he immediately drank it off and was so violently poysoned that all the Remedies imaginable that were given and administred were impossible to save him Belialte having finished we lla consented that this piece of Ingratitude infinitely surpast the first not only because the effect had bin more dismal but for as much as Licie had not a greater excuse to have again exposed to so dangerous a Tryal the obedience of a Man whom she had already proved so blinded However I told them afterwards that the Ingratitude of Licie might yet be excusable in that she knew not there was any Poyson therein and that is not an Ingratitude because there might possibly have bin Ignorance But behold an example where Ingratitude triumpeth all alone behold a Crime which can have no kind of excuse nor Argument nor Pretence nor Colour A poor Lover the name of whom I forbear to tell you passionately loved a Young Lady 'T is true he had not signalized his Love by any great Services never having had an occasion but in that respect he was not to be but the more bewayled for he would have esteemed himself too happy to have bin able to have done it and being displeased that he was deprived of that Honour he had a continual Regret which augmented and increased insupportable Evils to those of Love He would have dyed a thousand times as Talbion to have given his Mistress some signal marks worthy her self and would have had no cause to make use of Poyson to dye if she had signified him a doubt his Grief and Dolour had bin sufficient But she had made him believe that she was content with all Testimonies he had produced in that she had bin taught it from his Mouth and by his eyes She was also willing to flatter him with some Hopes that she loved him that she might engage him more and more and oblige him intirely to abandon himself to that Passion leaving him neither Remedy Refuge◠Recovery or Succour in the displeasures and Regrets that she prepared him afterwards In fine after she had reduced him to a State where he could not live longer but for her and where she knew well that her change would cause him to dye in the Languishments more cruel than all kinds of Deaths This ungrateful One abandon'd him without any ground or cause without pretence without any new Lover and by a pure effect of Ingratitude and daily saw him pining away and dying without being sensibly toucht nor moved with pity and Compassion In finishing I turned towards Cotys without any kind of seeming or thinking of Telesile because I would not have my Actions bewray others that which I very well knew she would sufficiently understand by my Discourse In sum neither Cotys nor yet Belialte apprehended my Intention and I well observed that they looked one upon another smiling as scoffing me that I would have had them set a valuation upon an History which unto them appeared so rude vulgar and unpollisht But Telesile far better knew and penetrated the bottom of the Design I sufficiently observed a blushing which flushed in her Face however she immediately revived and as she had an extraordinary Wit and would not give others time to pierce or penetrate my Intentions she also began another historical Narration which she acquitted her self of the most gracefully becomingly and acceptably as could have bin imagined But I will not give you the trouble of hearing it's Repetition by reason it no way suits nor serves my Intention and I even fear I have already tired you Patience and displeased you by those already recited In the Interim I well saw that the Method I had used to Telesile had produced a good effect in her Spirits and that she was very well pleased to have bin so inlightned by my Sentiments for from the very self same evening she began to look upon me with a more gracious and favourable an Aspect than she had done since my return and after the Company were retired my Brother-in-Law having given his hand to my Sister to conduct her into the Chamber and having offered my Service to Telesile to lead her and follow them there Agamée said she unto me very softly as we were walking there you would have
deceived us this Evening and you declared us a Fable or Fiction for a real History Fair Telesile reply'd I I would to the Gods that your cruelty were no other than a Legend or fable or that my Love were not as great and real a Truth But speak you sincerely Agamée replyed she me I could not but shut her Hand close instead or a present Answer because that my Brother having heard us speak turned himself to behold us and that being come presently into the Chamber I was constrained to take leave of Telesile But those few words which she spake unto me having made me suspect that there was some other or that there had bin some other cause of my disgrace than that which I had imagined I took all the care and used all the Art I could to be truly informed In fine she her self having given me opportunity of seeing her the succeeding day in her Chamber after many Plaints and great and tedious Interlocutions and Intercourses from one to another I knew that during my absence my Brother-in-Law and Sister who partly by family Interest and partly for the kindness they had for Aristoxene absolutely opposed our Marriage and would have espoused Telesile to my Rival and not content to have attempted by rigour and by the Authority they had over her for my Brother-in-Law was her Guardian and Tutor and held the place of a Father to divert the Affection she had for me and made her believe by address that I my self thought of another In effect they had expresly writ to me of this new Mistress and by a strange persidiousness when my Sister had received my Answer she read it aloud to my Brother-in-Law her Husband in the presence of Telesile as if it had bin with design and had read it in other Terms and in Terms and stile absolutely different to what I had answered changing all the Sence and Meaning of my Letter and having made me joyfully accept that which I had effectually refused And she had also used the same mode and method in divers other Letters that I had written making me still say those things of which I had never so much as thought or dreamed of and behold that which had irritated Telesile against me and of the falsness thereof I easily convinced her and that by clear demonstrations manifest and visible This being explained illustrated and cleared I received more honorable Tokens of her Affection than ever I had done But notwithstanding all that I was not a long time happy Cleonime which is the name of my Brother-in-Law willing by all means possible to obstruct our Marriage to conclude that of Aristoxene conceived there would be no means to dis-unite our Hearts as long as we dwelt together But because he could not put away his Sister from him being her Guardian and Tutor and because he could not in point of Honour chase me away he made a shew as if he had bin or was a little indisposed and ill and feigned and dissembled that his House was unhealthy and that his Physicians counselled him to a Change and in fine he went and lodged in another place wherein there was no more Room than just enough for the Lodging of him and his Family that is to say also for his Sister So that behold I was fairly reduced to seek a House for my self and separate from the Habitation of Telesile But that which accumulated and augmented my Misfortune was that the House where Cleonime went to lodge in appeartained to or was owned by Aristoxene who being yet a Batchellor had not a Train sufficient to occupy it entirely and contented himself with lodging in some of the fore-parts thereof So that behold I was not only deprived of the benefit of being near Telesile but my Rival possest my Place and I could not dispute more but only with that of the Heart You may very well think that they did not dwell there and that all this levelled and aimed further of Cleonime could not decently nor honourably shut the Doors of the House but contrarily he received me better than ever But every time I went there they ordered it so that I could not see Telesile Alwayes they engaged her upon some new pretext directly to go forth of the Chamber of my Sister and if I went to visit her there in her own they gave order to declare she was not there or that she was Sick or was so employed or taken up that she could not see any Body They treated me so for some days during which time they made her understand on the other Hand when she enquired for me that I had reassumed Thoughts of another Marriage and for that cause and to that effect I came often enough to see Cleonime and his Wife and that I did not so much as enquire nor ask for her She who in effect saw me every day by reason the Windows of her Chamber looked over the Court by which I passed and over which I walked and she having bin elsewhere naturally inclinable to Suspicions failed not to conceive something of them who did or would give her some Thoughts against my Fidelity I Writ her many Tickets but they were not given her Cleonime alwayes hindring any of my People that they could not speak with her and by this means causing my Letters to fall into the Hands of Persons who would alwayes carry them to himself That which gave more Weight to this Imposture and Deceit that was that all they would insinuate in the Mind of Telesile to my disadvantage was told her by a Servant Mayden of hers whom she had always before even till then seen to be for my interests But who had been gained absolutely by Aristoxene and Cleonime and 't was she that returned and diverted all my Tickets So that what assurance soever Telesile had of my Fidelity and Kindness Behold the Suspicion and Jealousie which re awoke in her Soul and I will not conceal from you that I was not exempt on my side One Morning not knowing more how to speak with her I resolved to wait and attend her upon the Way which leads to the Temple of Diana where she failed not to go once every eight days But behold a strange Perfidy Cleonime who was informed by one of my Servants who was also at his Devotion went also presently to the House of the Father of that Maiden whom they would have had me marry making Semblance that I would renew with him the Propositions which had bin made for me told him that as I would not desire to be seen at his House till all things were adjusted and determin'd that I would attend him at a certain Place that he designed which was the same where I expected Telesile and that he was come to him of set purpose to lead him there The good Man who by Misfortune had more good me Will for than I would have had him had presently bit as they say of the Fish-Hook
and they came and found me both the one and the other where I was at the time when Telesile passed by there On the other side the Wife of Cleonime ayding the Imposture was gone the same Morning to find Telesile in her Chamber and as a piece of News had said unto her that my Marriage was made with that Maiden of whom I have spoken unto you and that Cleonime was gon with her Father to find me to bring him and I face to face to confer together vocally in a certain Place which she seemed to be ignorant of My self indeed who in very deed was ignorant of all that was as you may very well believe much surprized when I saw Cleonime and this good Man accost and draw near unto me Cleonime advanced him first and before to give me to understand that that old Man had prayed that I should come yet again to reiterate the Proposal of our Marriage and even to manage a mutual Interview betwixt him and me You ought not to know it unwillingly or take it ill added â—he it is a Token of the esteem he hath for you who ingageth you to nothing and you ought favourably to receive it and that with marks and demonstrations of Acknowledgment Although I had no Ground nor Cause to confide in Cleonime yet I was so far incapacitated to divine the Treason he contrived and conspired and I was also so certain of the Affection which the good old Man had for me that I found something of appearance of that which he told me and that I would have believed to have made my self Brutal to go and break him in the Helmet however it had bin easie for me to have known the Artifice if Cleonime had left us to speak one to another at our approach for it is very difficult that two Persons who parley and confer of a Design contrary to that which hath bin given them to understand that they should not know the Circumvention Fallacy and Delusion But Cleonime who had his Wit very nimble so well knew our former Civilities for one and for another and so well to manage the Colligation and Connexion and the entrance of our Conversation that he made us insensibly to fall into the proposition of my Marriage without our apprehension or that we could perceive either of us that it came from either our own part or from our Motion or his own I regarded not nor did I heed this Imposture nor trick of Legerdemain for I found all the Sentiments of this pretended Father-in-Law conformable enough to what Cleonime had told me But I know not what he believed on his part then when he saw the coldness with which I spake unto him Whatever it were while we were thereupon Telesile came and past by and I would not that she should see me there with that good Man because they had formerly told her of something in Relation to me and his Daughter Behold the reason why I retired my self a little aside to finish our Conference speedily and afterwards to go to the Temple of Diana to confer and parley together But see a little the fantasticalness and conceited toy of my Destiny Telesile who had discerned me at a distance between him and Cleonime according to the advice that they had given her had no sooner observed that I had hid my self from her that she doubted no more but that I was there for the Subject they had told her of and behold the Jealousie and despight that immediately animated her against me after a very strange sort Aristoxene being informed of all this Mystery did not fail to come to the Temple with my Sister not only as at a favourable time to improve to himself by the indignation he would have against me but further to design the obstructing me and incapacitating me to make a clear Apology for my self with her which they well conceived I would not have omitted so that since I had defeated my self with the old Man whom Cleonime had pestered me withal as long as he could and that I thought to go to Telesile I saw her returning with my Sister led by Aristoxene who had offered her his hand at coming out of the Temple The Impression which she conceived upon this new Perfidy irritated her to such a degree that she told me afterwards that she could hardly resist a suddain Qualm of Heart which took her in the Temple and notwithstanding as she was very fierce she would not seem to be touched And never had she a Countenance more cheerful than that which she shewed then when I perceived her with Aristoxene That joy that she testified with my Rival in a time where the Affliction in which I was perswaded me that she had as much cause to be sad as my self also almost finished my assurance of her Unconstancy chiefly and principally then when I saw this great Alacrity and Gayetey which appeared before she had made semblance of seeing me to vanish all at once from the moment which I had joyned them and Telesile to receive me with the last coldness I could not dissemble my Grief and because the Company of Aristoxene and that of my Sister held me compell'd and constrain'd I said not a word almost all the Way But admire a little my Misfortune my Melancholly goes yet to perswade Telesile that it was an effect of the tye that I had at the thought of that Marriage which she believed I came from the treating of and not having bin able all the day to find a moment of Discourse alone we both of us retired much less satisfied the one with the other than ever That which aggravated and exasperated us the more was that Aristoxene and Cleonime had directed and appointed a bruit Noise or Report to be publisht and proclaimed throughout Athens that I had espoused that Maiden whereof I spake and that Telesile married her self to Aristoxene and they made us report this Noise to one and the other in all Parts However I had always in my Mind the Stratagem which they had another time already abused us withal and how jealous soever I was I yet conserved enough of Reason not to be willing to sparkle or glittler or make a fair Gloss until such time as I was more clearly enlightned To that effect I writ yet again to Telesile but a long Letter by which I challenged her amongst others That I could not believe that she had so soon forgot the Fidelity she had promised me while I still conserved for her so much respect and passion that there must undoubtedly be our Enemies which she knew had yet practised some Impostures and deceitful Tricks of Legerdemain to abuse both the one and the other of us and therefore I besought her that we might have an Interview and Parley to clarify the matter by a mutual Conference together That Letter was given into her own proper hand by reason I had ordered a Slave with whom I had given
the satisfaction of a curiosity which he deemed light and trivial and which he could not but yet impute to the Impatiency of a Lover he endeavour'd to dispence with him after another Method My dear Tarsis replyed he to shew you the Scruples that I make my self to tempt the Oracles of our great God there is a Month and more past that I have had disquietness of Spirit in the most pressing and Important manner which possibly can be conceived and which merits more than any other the mediation of a God to draw me out thereof however I have not yet my self presumed to consult him it is for that reason Telamon that there is a month past that you have not had news from me it is for that which I have since that time fasted and prayed It is for that I have spent dayes and whole nights to turn over and peruse our sacred Books and in fine 't is for that cause that you see me thus Melancholly and out of Frame whereof you have lately enquired of me the Cause As he said this Agamée and Ergaste who restrain'd themselves and by some steps from thence reproached themselves But when they observed that Timothy spake in particular with his Brothers they willingly would have retired themselves lest they should interrupt their Discourse Timothy who observed them called them hoping that their presence would hinder Tarsis to persist any further in his demand You may be there Agamée said he we have nothing of Secret to hide neither from you nor from Ergaste and besides the disgrace whereof I spake is become so publick that necessarily all Grecia must be certified and advertized thereof Agamée and Ergaste thereupon demanded of him with much urgency the Subject of that disgrace The day of the bloody Sacrifice draws near replyed Timothy and we have no Victime nor Sacrificer Agamée who was but a Stranger understood not nor was instructed with this Sacrifice and who apprehended not the reason for which he called that a disgrace so great and so publick and demanded some inlightning and thereupon the high Priest as he sought not but matter wherewith to entertain them and to spend away the day and take away from Tarsis the means and subject of returning to the Request that he made him conducted them into a great Tent or Tabernacle which was erected in the midst of the Court and where there was a Chamber excellently hung with rich Tapestry and exquisite Pictures and Memorials registred which he began to explicate unto them in this method and manner The History of the Bloody Sacrifice ALl these Pictures Agamée contain the History of the Bloody Sacrifice wherein you desire to be instructed and they have depainted them all at length in this Chamber to serve as a Meditation to the Sacrificer who usually came there every Year waiting and expecting the day of the Sacrifice The first Picture See you in the midst of this Picture this Hunter who is in pursuit of this fair Nymph This is Apollo who having met her in Hunting became all at once passionately in Love and who ran after her to declare her his Love Take you not Cognisance of this God by his fair bushy Hair by the Beauty of his Countenance by the glittering and sparkling Brightness which reverberates from all his person and which seems to illuminate all the rest of this Picture and of his Body which here alone is that which makes no kind of Shadow For although the Painters have usually accustomed themselves to shadow them as others when they represent them under the form and Shape of a humane Body howsoever for as much as it appeareth here in an occasion where it will have its self beloved and make him self known to this fair One for what he is and in that state probably did not forget any thing which might render him amiable the Painter hath Judiciously given him all the Brightness and Beauty which he was capable to receive from his Pencil The Nymph and he have already crossed and past over their Course all over this Plain which you see behind them and that is easily judged by the Arrows and Shafts which are fallen from the Quiver of the fair Daphne and the agitation of her Course hath dispersed through all the Quarter where she passed her Bow and even her Quiver she hath cast off to disincumber her self to be more lighter In the Interim if you take exact notice thereof some impatient desire will appear the God had to overtake and reach her he ran not after her with all his might As the places by which they passed are rough and craggy they believed that he feared to precipitate the course of the Nymph by that of his own and that in slackning his Pace he would give her time to choose out the fairest way In summ is it not true that the Pace of the Gods are only but a part of the extended visible Heaven that the proportion of its Size permits it to give them That his Body instead of bending and inclining a little forward to hasten the Course seems to bear his Weight behind to withold and restrain it That he Ballances not his Arms on both sides to give aid and assistance to the moving of his Body he holds them extended forward a little lifted up in the actings of a Man who is under some Fear But behold his eyes they tell us naturally and properly that which he feareth Consider how he has fastned and fixed them to the Pace of the Nymph more than properly to his own and as he openeth the Mouth of a fiery Face and Countenance but Timerous to advertize her that she have a care of falling But let us consider her now this fair Nymph That is Daphne Daughter of the River Penée She hath nor can have more than lassitude toyling and fear The lassitude or rather violent Agitation of her course hath caused all the parts of her Countenance to blush which was naturally fair and white Fear hath caused it to grow Pale all those that naturally were of a Vermilion and Ruddy Colour Her Forhead is all covered over with Sweat her Hair scattered and dischevelled her Robe in disorder her Mouth painfully breathing Her Body hardly able to uphold it self all that it could do was to stretch forth the Arms towards the River Penée which behold before her Her eyes her Countenance and all her Actions did naturally and clearly express declare and pronounce the succour that she demanded of her Father There are nothing but her Legs which have almost any conformity to the rest of her Body See you that the Colour is changed that this white Skin fair and delicate that the opening of her Robe discovered a little above the Knee is not beneath but a simple Blanching or unrined part of a hoarish Green The Toes of her Feet go to loose themselves in the Earth in the guise form and manner of Roots and behold already some Laurel leaves
upon this new Stock or Stem which marks out the Tree wherein she goes to be changed Astonish not your self that Apollo testifies not of seeing any thing of this Miracle it is hidden to him as you see by the Skirt of the robe of Daphne which is ungrappled and loosned on her Side in the agitation of her Course The second Picture Behold Agamée a terrible example of the wrath of the Great When they cannot revenge themselves upon their Enemies or that they commit some fault themselves whereof they repent it is the People who suffer by their Wrath. In effect although Daphné had bin changed into a Tree by her Father himself he ceased not to become furious by a loss whereof he had bin in some sort an Accomplice and in the boyling of his Wrath he over-whelmed with its Waters all our Medows and Fields and the large and spacious Valley of Tempé was converted into a great Channel He drowned the Inhabitants with their Lands and punished Men for the Faults and Defects of two of their Gods The sole Draft and Picture of this Spectacle imprints even yet some Horrour For would they say that this Plain of Waters which you see in this second Picture had bin the delicious and delicate Valley of Tempe would you not take it rather for an outrageous and tempestuous Sea What heaps of dead Bodies or dying Men and Animals which are tossed and float Pel mel upon its Billows with the wracks of Houses of Hamlets and even entire Towns and Cities It seemeth therefore that this Deluge hath not yet had enough to satisfie the great Vengeance of Penée For cast your view at length by this Perspective between these Mountains Behold that the Tritons and the Nayades who labour to raise the bounds of their Streams and to open all the Cataracts and violent Falls from the high and steep places of their Fountains Here others make a Dike or Damm for the opening of the Sea there to impede the running and gliding of all the Waters through their ordinary Course Are they not already joyned together both the Mountains of Olympia and Ossa even those prodigious Mounts of Hills appear they any other thing than a Causey or Bank at both ends There others trill and slip to the floor or foundation of a Vessel or Bark where a troop of our miserable Inhabitants thought to save themselves and there others indeavoured with their three forked Instruments to overturn the Workmanship or Roof of a Tower whereon a good number of People had betook themselves as to a place of refuge Behold these Neryedes who went to pump Water into the Sea with their Pitchers to carry it yet into the River and how there are none but these little Tritons who by Complaisance for their Masters who could not do worse in the debility and weakness of their Age inforced themselves to repel in the Water with their Pitch-Forks or Prongs a poor Man who endeavoured by swimming to Land on the Mount whose highest and utmost top was yet uncovered As for Penée he set not his Hand to the Work that not becoming the Majesty of that God But behold him who over-looks these Demy-Gods from the top of Olympia who appoints what must necessarily be done and who animates them by his Voice and by his presence The third Picture For the understanding of this here we must tell you that those who could escape from this great Ship-wrack went to consult the Oracle of Delphos and had recourse to the God himself who had cast them into this danger Apollo appointed them to build up two Temples one at the foot of the Mount Olympie to Jupiter Olympie his Father and the other to the memory of Daphné in the self same place where she had bin changed to enact and establish a Colledge of Priests in the one and a Company of Maidens in the other to sacrifice every year a young Boy to the God Penée and to his Daughter and after they had pierced him with a Dart or Arrow to cast him headlong into the River to revenge them from the out-rage they had received upon the self same Sex that had done it unto them The choice and care of that Victime was committed to the Priests the right of that Sacrifice to the Daphnides that is to say to the Maidens consecrated to Daphné As soon as a young Boy of the Countrey offered himself to the Sacrifice he was Sacrificed and offered up after all that was done all the Waters were retired and because this young Lad called himself Hercules it s for that they read in the greek Fables that this was Hercules who separated both the Mounts Ossa and Olympia in two to drain the Marishes which did occupy all the Valley of Tempé That is therefore the cause why you see again in this Picture the Woods the Hills and the Plains exposed to the view of the World The Waters of the River are re entred within its Bed and the World seemeth to be renewed again in this delectable and pleasant Valley Every one there cultivates the Fields replant there the Vineyards and there rebuild Houses but the two Structures which appear above all the others are our Temple which you will easily know by its Form and Situation and that of Daphnides which behold is in the Isle at the mouth of the River Penée You will possibly ask me why it is in an Island having seen the Nymph metamorphosed upon the Bank of the River and on firm Land But it is that Penée retains the same place she embraceth with her Waves in returning and reserves unto her self that space and distance to consecrate it to her Daughters Now I pray you let us examine here the admirable Architecture of these stately Structures and how the three orders are there found artificially intermixed admire the just and even Degradations of the Plain in a word how all the regular Rules of the Optick Vision are here marvellously exercised and contrived Agamée seeing the high Priest in his Train and Retinue to be long and observing the impatience of Tarsis whereof he knew the design was not willing that his peculiar and particular satisfaction should prejudice the Consolation and Content that the Shepherd expected Which is the reason why he took occasion here to interrupt Timothy and to say unto him Wise Timothy its to abuse your Patience to give you the trouble to shew me in Picture the things that I can see and whereof I have already seen a part originally and as for that which is of the over-plus which relates to the Sacrifice I hope soon to instruct my self in assisting there since the day as you say is near approaching Alas replyed the high Priest it is that which I have already said unto you which makes me despair the day is certainly approaching But we have not yet a Sacrifice as it ought to be voluntary it hath bin formerly to him who first offered himself The place was no
his Wit nimble lively pleasant and facile he employed himself after his return to write some Conceptions which came into his mind on that Subject and there he passed all that Evening In the interim Telamâ—n and his Company being returned to Cenome and that very early before the day was spent Tarsis unto whom the Oracle of Jupiter seemed to be clear enough on the Counsel which he had to take sought nothing more than an occasion of putting it in Execution and this Shepherd resolved to dye and that the Gods had taught him to be the sole means to rejoyn Zelie he had no other thoughts in his Heart nor yet any more hopes It is true that this had given him more Consolation than any other for all other designs do still hold us in suspence in inquietude of Soul by the uncertainty of their success but death leaves us nothing more to fear nor yet to those who are determined and thereunto resolved He wished for nothing more than to see himself alone to be entirely at Liberty to give satisfaction wholly to the Command of the Oracle and to his Dolour and in the Conceptions he had that Zelie was dead he reproached himself every moment that he survived that Shepherdess And for as much as he know with how much exactness his Brother had not omitted nor failed to observe him for the little that he defied of his Intentions he put all his Cares to deceive him at first and to perswade him by a thousand Reasons that he began himself to conceive some hopes of the answer of Jupiter My Brother said he to him I call to mind to have seen enough and frequently compare the Sepulchers in the Desarts and name Death a long night The Gods would they not have me therefore understand that I shall refind Zelie during the Night and in Solitude as it was in Solitude and in the Night that I lost her He counterfeited also a Vision more pleasant than he had done of a long time and passed even to make some Jeast with Philiste upon the perplexity wherein he saw she was disquieted in Mind by reason of that Oracle In fine he dissembled so well that he found means by little and little to steal himself from the Company that they might not follow him and going forth of the Hamblet of the side of Olimpia he went to pass into that Wood which reacheth the length of the Mountain from Gonnes to the Sea It was there that not being more seen by any Person by whom he might apprehend himself to be witheld and feeling himself free he prepared to execute upon himself that tragical Resolution which should put an end to all his trouble and pains For that effect after some Reflections which he yet made to confirm himself in his Design he looked to see if the point of his Dart or Javeling was whetted and sharpned and finding it as he would have it he there put the point of it towards his Heart and lifting up his Arms O Zelie cryed he Divine Zelie receive the sacrifice that I go to make thee with my Blood and know that as I lived but for thee since I could not live a moment after the hopes of my being with thee hath bin taken away He pronounced yet these words when two Women all affrighted passed running before his eyes and that which strangely astonished him was that the first appeared to him to be Zelie by her Stature and more by her Habit which he believed to have oftentimes seen He could not consider the Visage by reason that they passed before that he had had leisure His Surprize was such that he remained as immoveable in the Action wherein he was before But he soon retired by the sight of a Wolf that he perceived holding between his Teeth a Sheep which he had carried into the Wood or Forrest and went upon the Track of the two Women He well judged that it was undoubtedly that which made them afraid and for as much as the Thought he had that one of them was Zelie he had in a Moment changed all Resolutions into that of following her and to inlighten and satisfie himself in so important a Doubt he dream't only of taking away the cause of their Fear that he might afterwards have more Liberty and Opportunity to rejoyn them He advanced therefore towards that furious and ravenous Beast who in seeing him let fall his Prey and grinding his Teeth menaced himself But the Shepherd without fear or astonishment turning against him the Weapons that he had formerly designed for himself so directly pierced his Javeling or Dart through the Flanks and overthrew him that he fell down dead In the same Instant he ran towards that side where he saw the Women go and in following them he discerned a Vail or Scarfe which hung upon a Bush that a Thorn had hooked and stayed in passing and torn away from the Head of one of those unknown He diligently took it up and considering it with Inquietude of all Hands he knew and remembred it to be the very same of Zelie's That was not difficult because it was he himself had bought it by appointment of Melicerte and it was all wrought with Figures of Gold whereof he had caused it to be enriched and where the Letters of his name were intermixed with those of his Shepherdess Who could delineate the diverse Motions wherewith his Heart was at that Instant agitated The Joy the Impatience and the Fear all these Passions seized his Soul all at once but that of Joy ruled and reigned there above all the rest For in fine he made no more Doubt but that one of them was Zelie and his hope confirmed by the circumstance of the moment in which it seemed that the Gods had resent him there to hold Discourse and to satisfie the Promise that they had made him to make to the Oracle not leaving almost any more doubt nor uncertainty in his Mind He kissed therefore a thousand times and with a thousand incredible Transports this favourable Pledge of his good Fortune and advancing himself still forward upon the way and course that they seemed likely to have taken he had no more of Apprehension but that the approaching Night would too soon prevent him and consequently interrupt the success of that important research VVhilst he was there employed Agamée pressed by Impatience to understand the remainder of the Lines or Verses and the History wherewith Telamon entertained him in the Morning and that their Voyage was interrupted could not conceal from that Shepherd that it was in part the desire of satisfying that Curiosity that he had reconducted him to Cenome He besought him therefore not to delay any longer the giving him that Content and Telamon accorded thereunto so much the more willingly that he could not scarcely himself have greater He returned to his Chamber to take the Papers that he had lockt up there and leaving Ergaste in the Garden to entertain
as you shall not have abandoned me I will be to you still what I have bin continued Melicerte But what can I do since Leucippe hath prohibited me to speak and in the manner as you have understood Will you have me yield him occasion to believe that your Interest is more considerable to me than his Rest God forbid reply'd Tarsis that I should have so unjust a Thought But if Leucippe hath forbidden you to speak he hath not prohibited your Wishes and provided you would wish that which to me would be happy it seemeth to me that I should not know how to fail to be so Alas replyed Melicerte what shall secret and important Vows be able to do where neither my Prayers nor Reasons can effect nothing They will be able to do this replyed Tarsis that Leucippe calling to mind in the end all that which he ought to do for you he will have a great deal of Trouble to resist so long a time your desires They will make him not to take it any more for a Fantastical transitory Passage but a fixed Resolution supported by Generosity and Constancy and if they produce not that Effect they will at least wise cause me to dye less unfortunately when I shall see that you will not have abandoned me He would have cast himself at her Feet in finishing those words But Melicerte impeding him said unto him Tarsis since you believe it not requisite that you repulse your self let 's essay what our Patience will be able to and let us refer the rest to the Gods In the Sequel she gave him some Counsel after what manner and method he should live with Zelie not to wound the Spirit of Leucippe and above all she recommended to him to take heed that he should not be found with her Daughter Whilst Tarsis and Melicerte discoursed after this manner the young Shepherdess was in a corner of the same Chamber where she was retired to leave Tarsis and her Mother the Liberty of a Conversation the Subject whereof she was not Ignorant and where she therefore believed that Decency permitted her not to be present Howsoever they spake so loud that it had bin very easie to her to understand them and as that amiable Daughter had since the avouching of her Mother followed with willingness enough the bent of her acknowledgment and Inclination which gave her some liking and kindness for Tarsis it is easie to Judge that it was not without Grief that she learnt the resistance of her Father Also her eyes were not without some Tears when this Shepherd discoursed Melicerte and although those of her Mother had possibly bin the Occasion she had notwithstanding given the major part by a disgrace wherein she had as well as himself the principal Interest Tarsis approached to her in going forth from the presence of Melicerte and accoasting her with an Action very Passionate Amiable Zelie said he unto her you see a Man who would be in the last Desperation if he had not a Mother and a Mistress so generous who is assured that nothing shall be able to move or shake their Constancy and will finish with Courage that which they have began with so much goodness Tarsis replyed she if you were not very generous your self you would not accoast me but with reproaches and 't is a strange thing that instead of an Acknowledgment of the Obligations I have to you I should be the cause of giving you so much displeasure But that you quit not also this unfortunate One who seems not but destinated to do you Evil and that you serve not your self by the Counsel of Melicerte What Zelie cryed Tarsis you also give me those Counsels Ah! I did not find them strange from a Mother who believeth not always a duty to enter into the Passion of her Children But that you your self should Counsel me to loose you and to do worse by me than Leucippe can do pardon me Zelie if I say that in that I find you more cruel than he He will do me evil but you without Compassion take from me even Consolation it self since I expect it but from you You Transport your self very easily replyed him sweetly Zelie If I give you this Counsel do I take from you the liberty of not following it No replyed he but when one gives such Counsel to another that is to say that one is very capable to take them for ones self If I were capable to take them for my self sadly replyed Zelie I should not have had to do but to give them to you For you know Tarsis that although there must be two Persons to make Friendship there needs but one to break it But also added Tarsis with a deep Sigh when one would not violate a Friendship one Counsells it not to another for there must be both the one and the other to conserve it as there must be two to make it Zelie was some moments without replying him afterwards lifting up her eyes towards him which she before had fixed upon the Earth then when one better loves the rest of his Friends than his own proper said she unto him one looks not upon that which one would one considereth not but their Advantage It is true Zelie replyed Tarsis but when we well love our Friends we believe them not to be of greater Advantage than our Friendship because we judge of them by our selves But replyed she beholding him always with eyes where the Regret with which she had given him this Counsell was well painted when I see that this Friendship causeth you not but so many Evils can I figure my self that you may have some advantage thereby and is it not my Love to you much more when that in the expence of my own proper Affection I wish you another much more happy no answered yet this Shepherd passionately Nor that Zelie one cannot when one well loves his Friends to wish them a new Friendship because one believes not that another can equal that which we have for them nor who is worthy of their Amity But that which we should it is to do that on our part which may prove happy for them in despight even of Fortune For in fine Zelie Friendship it 's not of those benefits which depends of the hazard of their Success all it's Perfection consists but in our Heart alone when the Heart is faithful and constant Friendship is perfect and when 't is perfect it is still very happy Alas Tarsis replyed Zelie in conclusion with a Sigh wherefore are you then unhappy Tarsis well understood what would be said in these few words and the Consolation which he had re-inflaming him with a new Ardour My amiable Shepherdess said he to her I know your Fidelity and Constancy But tempt no more also mine and believe that I prefer my misfortune to all the Felicities of the World provided that you would permit me to hope in despight of the Cruelties that Leucippe hath for me Aye
of his good Fortune after which he had sighed after so many years I will not stay here to mark you out his Joy nor his Transports to the change of so desirable a Fortune for as you your self have very much loved you should better be able to conceive these things I will only read you these Lines he made in that time of his Patience to press Leucippe to conclude this Marriage He made them in form of a Request and very much after the method of those that he had seen when they served the Senate at Athens whilst he was there solliciting the litigious Suit of my Father A poor and unfortunate Lover humbly remonstrates and makes request saying that the same days Journey that his eldest Son by Hymeneé entred your House the younger was clapt in Prison The unfortunate one without Defiance and under the fidelity of an Alliance came to the Solemnity of a Marriage contracted and for this Ceremony he led the Company made the Sports the laughter the chearfulness the youth the liberty the pleasures and the indifferency and amongst the joy and delight the Imprudent took no heed to the Snares and Ginns that they prepared for him When Love learnt the mystery and Hymen that had done it without having bin contracted in this Divinity the whole Destiny having conducted wholly this sacred Himenée Then he became furious Fire sprang up in his eyes through despight he poured forth Tears and arming himself with all his Weapons he ran nimbly and lightly and protested to avenge himself and in his irredoubtable Fury without discerning the Guilty for a Sacrifice offered up himself The first he met withal Alas I was that miserable One. Immediately with a thousand or rather a hundred Darts he over-whelmed me He emptyed his Quiver but I therefore resisted him when I perceived my self that Zelie was of that Party also and perfidiously sent him the last Dart that he cast at me This Arrow done to satisfie him that which his own were not able to do for immediately I was felled down and even at the same Instant wholly overcome and soon without Compassion he loosned the string from his Bow and with a thousand inhumane Knots binding my hands and Feet delivered me as a Reward into those of the Shepherdess who a hundred other blows gave me and wickedly imprisoned me but in a Prison so strong that it 's not possible for me to get out and that her self could not thence draw me though she would for this Tragical Adventure was wholly done by Magick Art and you only have a Right to undo the Enchantment This therefore considered my Judge my Redeemer Refuge attended that being innocent and for a long time languishing it is not for your Justice to prolong my Torment By your gracious Favour let it be appointed that rest may forthwith even immediately be given me and that for to make recompence and reparation for my Pain within three days at most the inhumane One for a punishment may be committed to my Discretion to order a Correction in effecting which you will execute Justice Telamon having finished the reading of this Paper the Areopagite took it out of his Hand and as it was in some respect one certain piece of his Occupation he took Pleasure to read it over again Leucippe also found it very much to his satisfaction Telamon continued the Sequel and he was pleased to sign it with his own Name So you see that this Marriage was wholly resolved on But admire the misfortune of poor Tarsis for the succeeding day Leucippe fell Sick I know not whether it was through a purely natural Indisposition or by the Vexation that his litigious Suit had given him or by the Efforts and Endeavours that he had made upon his Spirits to overcome himself on this Marriage But so it was that a high Feaver seized him with such Malignity that in less than eight days he raved and talked idly There Desolation came and took place instead of the Joy that prepared it self Behold the prudent Melicerte who passionately loved him grieved excessively and Zelie in an Affliction inconsolable For besides the Love she had for her Father as Melicerte loved her Husband that is to say infinitely Besides the Obstacle that she saw in the success of her Affection that is that Leucippe perpetuallly named them she her self and Tarsis in his raving Fits That was not strange by reason that being fallen Sick at the time that he had the Marriage in his mind the fresh Impression and Smack thereof might make him naturally speak more of that than of any other thing even as those who rave rage ordinarily dream of the Thoughts wherein they were when they fell asleep In the interim Zelie by a scruple of Friendship and Tenderness for her Father went and put it into her Mind that she undoubtedly was the cause of his Disease and that possibly she should be the cause of his Death Behold her therefore in so great grief and trouble of Mind that she also fell Sick her self with Affliction and almost even to Extremity I will not however declare the Complaints and Moans and Alarms of poor Tarsis nor yet speak of the care and good Offices that he rendred her during her Illness She was fortunately restored and revived before Leucippe But however I know not if I ought to say Fortunately for it was not but with a Resolution undoubtedly worthy of a high Vertue but which cost poor Tarsis exceeding dear Leucippe yet continued Sick but however a little better when Melicerte whose Cares Toyls Troubles and Afflictions that she had had through the indisposition of her Husband was reduced to the necessity to think of her self she came to walk on the bank of the River to take the benefit of the Air and exercise her self a little I gave her my Hand on one side she with the other hold Philiste by the Arm and my Brother aided the fair Zelie in walking holding her by one Arm and she held in the other Hand her Crook leaning on it her weakness by her late Indisposition constraining her to follow softly after us not being able to go faster During the time of the Walk Tarsis told me that he found her speak Idly and Fantastically so that he understood not what she meant or said and through the disquietude he had by reason thereof he frequently asked her if her Disease reseized her At length after much pressing he saw her betake her self to Weeping Tarsis yet more alarmed impatiently asked her what she ailed and seeing the first Instances served to no purpose he conjured her by her Love and by all he knew might have most influence on her to declare to him the cause of her Trouble At length Zelie having discharged her Stomach of the Hickhocks or Yexing which hindred her Voice and seeing us so far as not to to be able to hear her resolved to speak to her thus Alas Tarsis you press me to tell
you a thing that I am much more desirous to let you know But I avow you I know not how to undertake it when I conceive that from the Moment that you shall learn it you will be angry with me and possibly will hate me Tarsis was much surprized at these words and could not divine what they meant For me to hate you replyed he O Zelie you must then tell me that you love me no more and although you should tell me so much I should rather dye in the Field but should never be able to hate you I am yet less capable not to love you more replyed Zelie There she stopped and Tarsis seeing that she did not unfold him the rest asked her what she had to say unto him And as she saw her Mouth opened twice or thrice ready to speak unto him and as often to shut it again and to utter nothing but Sighs behold him in the greatest trouble of the World What is it therefore fair Zelie said he unto her Make me not to languish any longer For in fine whilst I know not what it is I fear a hundred thousand Evils which I imagine and yet others which I imagine not It is true replyed she wiping her eyes that I am a Fool thus to alarm you and to believe you and to believe you could be angry for a thing that you undoubtedly would find just and even for the weal of our Friendship At the uttering these words she said unto him with the fairest Colour that she could there find that whatever Effort or Endeavour Leucippe had made upon her his Aversation against their Marriage still continued undoubtedly that it was assuredly that which had made him Sick and which held him and entertained him in such perplexity that his Life was in danger and that if he should dye she should never be exempted from that Conception but that she had bin the cause thereof that all the World would have the same thoughts after they should hear any mention made of his Disease and what he had therein saâ—d and of all that which had passed she therefore besought him to abstain a while from seeing her for some space of time to observe what would thereby be produced in relation to his cure and recovery Whatever proportion she had made to this discourse Tarsis was so Surprized that he remained all in confusion and amated His dart fell out of his hand and left goal so that of Zelie and judging by the cross of all the counterfeiting and dissembling which she had used that her resolution was to infringe the course of their friendship and amity and to sacrifice it to an imagination that to him appeared Fantastical and Frivolous he crossed his arms athwart his stomack and held himself a long time in that posture not being able to speak only casting his eyes on her where grief said a thousand things that his Tongue could not express In the mean time Zelie who divined the state of his Soul and mind not only by his countenance but yet much more by the affliction that she felt in her own heart was very willing to say something to him to consâ—late him for the evil she had done him and a hundred times she he sitated and stammered to retract the word she had spoken and let go But on the other side the Image of sick Leucippe and sick as she believed by the displeasure that she had caused him re-animated her vertue to combate against the tenderness of her affection So that after having held for some time her eyes down upon the ground remaining silent she thus re-assumed her discourse and said I very well see Tarsis that that which I have said hath much afflicted you and I am not much astonished at the effect it hath had on my self For in fine its requisit you should know that 't is through the rude and churlish combat between my duty and my friendship that I am reduced to those extremities you have found and seen me in But it s withal requisit Tarsis that you make this reflection with me You see the condition wherein my father is Will you that I be I tremble to speak it and only to think of it but in fine it 's that which possibly may arrive will you that I be the cause of his death and that I render my self the shame and horrour of my family Ah! Tarsis you would hate me your self if I were capable to suffer it and if you punish me not by your hatred the Gods would punish us both I very well know that you will make my thought pass for a vision and a Chimera but I have but one world to answer you Either it is true that Leucippe will have us married or it is true that he will not if he will he will suddainly recall you if he will not I ought not to think thereof any more my self Have you said enough cruel Zelie quoth Tarsis at that very passage where or what more remains for you yet to say to thrust on my dispair any farther Is it not yet enough that you have testified to me that you would defeat your self of me without giving so many reasons which serves no other than to shew me the premeditation with which you make me dispair and the care you have taken to heap up wherewith to combat my resistance and wherewith to ruin me Are these then the fair meditations of your Malady and is this the fruit of the vows that I made for your health you come to tell me and oppose me with the sickness of a father But is it by his own order at least that you make me this fair and Eloquent Oration No Tarsis replyed she but it is by the order of my duty which is yet more to me than my father Therefore cryed he out all Transported You oppose me with an Imaginary duty though you have nothing more of a father to oppose me withal and you come to make a pretext to betray my love when Leucippe hath approved and confirmed it You are born and carryed away Tarsis replyed the shepherdess with a thousand tears But I am taken only in my own Mischief and in a common disgrace wherein already I am undoubtedly the most unfortunate I will yet see my self overwhelmed with all reproaches O! Cruel one said she unto her these reproaches touch you but little and you very well prepare your self thereunto and are prepared to make me this discourse But believe not that I make you do it long I will put my self very suddainly in a state where I shall never be able to make you do it He became silent there and continued his eyes a long time fixed upon the ground sometime lifting them up towards heaven notwithstanding where he stretched out his arms also sometimes as demanding vengeance for the cruelty of Zelie On the other side these last words had also penetrated the heart of Zelie the shepherdess with so vigorous a pain
more astonished now at the strange Disquietudes of Tarsis to know what possibly may become of her for I see not in all that you have taught me any thing that can assist me in never so small a manner to divine what could have bin the Subject or Ground which should cause her to disappear for so long a time I cannot find any reason nor do I imagine why she should flee from her Fathers House nor be disposed to fear she should be carried a way by any Rivals since that by good Fortune particular enough in a Man who loves so fair a Person I apprehend not therein Tarsis hath bin crossed and thwarted I see well that it is the great stayedness wherein she hath bin brought up and educated the Prudence of Melicerte and the small hope that they also found to walk upon the Track of Tarsis which hath warranted her from so universal an Evil in Love But whatsoever it be the less I see the cause of the loss of this Shepherdess and the more I apprehend some mournful Accident whereof there is not yet any discovery made or distrusted They afterwards had some discourse on this Subject and as it grew exceeding late Agamée took leave of Telamon who promised to go and see him the next day The End of the Second Book of the Second Part. Tarsis and Zelie The Second Part. The Third BOOK THe amorous Tarsis continued in the mean time searching her out with all the diligence of a Man who saw his Salvation and Health fixed in the discovery of that whereof he was in pursuit He had soon crossed over a great part of the Forest and judging well that Women could not walk so many Steps in so short a time he returned upon his first Track and repassed twenty times by the same places without meeting that which he hoped and was in quest of In fine weary of so unprofitable a search and seeing the night began to increase and thicken it's obscurity and to take from him the means of discerning the Objects that presented themselves to his sight and view he had recourse to the Voice and made all the Forrest resound and eccho of the Name of Zelie But nothing made him an answer but the eccho of the Mount which he nearly approached unto so that after having unprofitably run on all sides he was in the end constrained as well through his Grief as Pain and by the want of Strength to betake himself to the foot of a Tree where he lay also smitten with displeasure whereas he was before animated with Joy there a thousand mournful Thoughts came crowding to dissipate those Beams of hope which had some Moments before bin re-given him in the day and fear succeeding this same hope it made in his Heart a new Combat between these two Passions in which his reason was a hundred times ready to leave him So that he addressed himself to things insensible unto whom he spake as if they had bin able to understand him and 't was only occasioned through the small effect of his Fear Sometimes he complained to the Trees accusing them by their thickness to have taken away the means of following the sight of his Shepherdess then he would address himself to the Sun to have too soon precipitated and hastned it's going down and reproached it to have formerly stopped it's Course for a less important Occasion and soon in returning to the Vail or Scarse of Zelie that he had gathered up and approached it to his Mouth with Transport he seemed to conjure it to tell him if it was not true that his Shepherdess was yet living and to demand of it the cause of her absence and the places of her retreat A profound Silence had succeeded these Complaints and his Grief shut up again in his Heart was no otherwise expressed than by Sighs which he was forced to burst forth time after time when he heard the Noise of some Persons speaking and having thereunto lent an ear he judged they advanced towards him Their Voices appeared to him to be those of Women and with the attention which he thereunto gave he understood that one said I am not come yet out of my right but it is time that we retire our selves to morrow we will come to seek your Vail These words made Tarsis to judge that these were the Women he was in quest of and indeed he soon understood the Person to continue after this sort Without lying or dissimulation yours is a sad Destiny to be reduced to take flight from your Parents to hide your self in the Forrests and know not which to fear either savage and bruit Beasts or Men. But is it possible that the Son of Alcidias hath not bin advertized that he hath not bin touched and that you have no News from him These words seeming to be marvellously relating to those of Tarsis and Zelie strangly alarmed the Heart of the Shepherd He knew not whether it were better for him to speak and make himself known or whether he should content himself and softly follow these Persons and attempt to learn the place whereunto they retired His Love growing Impatient pressed him to name himself and go to cast himself at the feet of her whom he took to be Zelie and to go and make her see the injustice of a doubt which seemed to him to be outragious but the fear that he saw them in to be known gave him apprehension that it would make them flye in his approaching them and as one of the precedent nights when he named himself to Zelie upon the River the design of making himself known had so ill succeeded he had a thousand Fears to be no more happy in a second Attempt and Probation In this perplexity he knew not what to determin yet notwithstanding he still rose up without making any noise when he understood her who had not yet spoken answer the other thus after sighing once or twice or thrice Ah! Cousen the Son of Alcidias shall always be the same that he hath bin as my Brother shall never be other than cruel and without Pity It 's therefore my Resolution having well thought thereupon I believe it is better for me to embrace the Condition which I refused and to give my self solely to the Gods since there is nothing but Inconstancy and cruelty in Men. These Terms all obscure as they were to Tarsis did not but too much enlighten him the entire doubt which held his mind in suspence He very perfectly knew by that Voice that the Person who so spake was not Zelâ—e and that Fortune had taken Pleasure to abuse him by some resemblance or similitude of Height and Habit and by an equivocation of words It is not possible to express or conceive how much Pain and Grief seized him at the same Instant he had before lifted up himself half he had then but one Knee upon the ground and his hand leaning against a Tree at the foot whereof he
themselves from Marcel they assured him that Agamée was not Tarsis and having appeased him and well informing him of the Truth they sent him away with his Sword The first thing that he did was to seek that Tree where Agamée had told him he had taken a duplicate of the Verses and having found it he there gave it a hundred stroaks with the edge of his Sword to break away the Bark and the Writing afterwards he treated in the same manner all those where he perceived the name of Tarsis On the other side Arelise Ergaste and Celemante having separated themselves from other Shepherds discovered the Riddle to Agamée they told him who Marcel was and the History of his Love which was known all over Tempé It was Ergaste who made the Relation and Celemante resuming the discourse afterwards added Well said Agamée see if one can too much hate Love which makes Fools so importunate and foolishly furious and if I had not yesterday much more reason to condemn it than had Ergaste to uphold it Ergaste say I whom we shall undoubtedly one day see even as Marcel Speak no more Celemante answered Agamée you have lost your cause since you durst not appear yesterday at the Assignation Sincere and upright Agamée replyed Celemante you are too just and equitable to condemn a Man without hearing him and I am assured that you are not accustomed nor used so to do at or in Areopage But replyed Agamée How can one understand a Man that flyes It 's true that I absented my self yesterday replyed Celemante But you go to see that it was not but to think upon my defence If I had not written this turbulent Ergaste would never have given me the Patience to explicate it unto you But hold Agamée see now if my cause be not the best I had taken with me the Paper with a design to carry it to you this day At these words he gave him the same writing which he had done the preceeding day Agamée saw that there was this Title A Manifesto of Celemante against Ergaste Ho! Ho! cryed Ergaste after he had also read it I well see that it 's a great War that thou wagest and denouncest against me because thou must have Manifesto's and notorious Evidences Doubt it not replyed Celemante I pretend to arm all Greece against thee and Agamée shall judge if I have not as much ground and subject as Menelaus formerly had to lead him to the Siege of Troy since thou hast robbed me of a Mistress Ergaste who mistrusted what he would say betook himself to smile and replyed to him In truth Celemante I take thee even thy self to be also as very a Fool as Marcel and I put no difference thereunto unless that thou art a pleasant Fool and he is a melancholly One. They will not believe you Ergaste replyed Agamée smiling also let us see his Reasons But it seemeth to me that it would be proper and to purpose that we were sate for the Manifesto is a little long and the Affair well merits to be examined leisurely I would only that Telamon and Tarsis were here to declare also their Advice because they were present at the breaking out of the difference Arelise who yet knew not any thing no more than the others of the tragical Adventures of Tarsis said it would be worth the while and she should be glad to have them called because the Lodging of Telamon was near and that the Wood and the Meadow which they saw on the other side appertained to him and Agamée condemned Celemante to take the Pains because that to justifie him they assembled In the Interim for reposing himself they went to sit with Arelise on the other side of the Wood on the edge of the plain where their Flocks were and they shewed him the certain place where they would expect him Although that Celemante had promised to return immediately However after he was departed impatience took them to see the Writing that he had given to Agamée and they were well pleased to read it in his absence to speak their Sentiments with the more Liberty They had no sooner sate down but they saw Choris pass by who sang and who sporting with her Crook went to see Arelise Arelise who mistrusted it called her and Agamée was ravished to know her having understood that she was the good Friend of Celemante they easily engaged to sit down with them and to hear the reading of the Paper Celemante had left them Agamée having opened it read there that which follows The Manifesto of Celemante THe bloody War which Celemante declareth and denounceth against the unfaithful Ergaste desire that all Posterity which shall understand it may also know the causes of their Rupture and that they remit not to the Judgment of one single Age the Decision of a thing so Important Celemante studied at Athens in the Gardens of the great Epicurus and from the very first year he was rendred more skilful than his Master For he extreamly loved Pleasure exceedingly hated Grief and Dolour sought but to give himself over to past time and would consider of things no farther than they could contribute to his Joy He lived exempt from all inquietudes and passions not establishing soveraign Felicity but in the Health of the Body and Mind and he was possessed of both the one and the other when perfidious Ergaste made a Conspiracy against his Rest and Repose that 's to say that he undertook to make him his Friend It is difficult to imagine for what Reasons for there was little Sympathy betwixt them Celemante was more peaceable and more sweet and gentle than a sucking Lamb A great Lyon is not more furious nor full of rage and Choller than Ergaste However this Ergaste proposed to the other to band Friendship and Amity together and Celemante replyed to him in this manner Ergaste I esteem thee I love thee and I will serve thee with Pleasure sooner than any whomsoever on all occasions wherein I am capable to do it If it be that thou callest Friendship unprofitably thou proposest to me to make any for that is already all on my side made and thou hast no other than to use even the self same on thine but if it be something more I counsel thee not to demand or ask it from me for I would not answer thee Hast thou no shame replyed Ergaste already almost in a rage to be ignorant what belongs to Amity and Friendship and not to know the first and the most amiable Vertue of Civil Society I would through Charity draw thee out of thy Ignorance Know Celemante that Friendship first and principally requires that we prefer our Friend to our selves Continue and remain there Ergaste immediately interrupted Celemante for I tell thee that if I would make a Friend I would make him by reason of my own self and not doing it but because of my self I shall always love my self more than he I have
Dear Arelise I request you be not angry with me if I have failed this Morning am not I punished enough to have lost ever since that time the pleasure of speaking to you of my Love Ergaste replyed she very coldly those faults put you in very little Pain but I am very glad to let you know thai I also very much scorn and despise your Repentance and I replyed Ergaste with an Air much more passionate than before I protest to you that there is not any thing in the World that I apprehend or dread so much as your Displeasure and if I were so wise as I would be I would never give you any Ground Subject or Gause but what will you Arelise think you to find Lovers Wise and would you reform the World no replyed she fiercely and it is for that also that I will have none Well Arelise continued he receive me not as your Lover but pardon me as your Friend At the time that he said this they were very near to Celiane and her Company to whom also were joined Agamée and the other two Shepherds The Athenian who had not yet seen Celiane saluted her and afterwards rendered the same civility to Alce Alce was a Shepherdess who was not very fair but had wit and whom a certain Air of Freeness and Frankness made her beloved of those who knew her and above all to Celiane The Sun was then upon its Setting it seem'd to have no more Beams but what was requisite to enlighten Delectably the Company and areigning Zaphir or Planet throughout all the Plain rendred this hour the Pleasantest and most Commodious for walking after some other discourse they continued the walk in taking the way of Ceris and Celiane to reconduct them and every one without choice having offered his hand to the Shepherdess nearest to whom he found himself mett Ergaste amongst others met with Arelise and Celemante with Celiane Ergaste soon recommended his first converse with Arelise who could not so soon return from her Displeasure continued still to refuse him her hand and even to endeavor to withdraw farther at a distance from him not willing to listen to his Excuse The Shepherd who could no longer support himself nor bear her fury and rage seeing all his Words and Speeches too feeble to Mollifie and Sweeten her at last casting himself at her knees and tenderly embracing them Fair Arelise said he to her must you also yet be more Inexorable than the Gods who in spight of the Offences that we commit against them every day are always ready to pardon us from the Moment that we crave Mercy at their hands you see that I make you all the submissions that I could be able to render to themselves I confess my Fault I demand your Pardon I put my self upon my knees before you I embrace yours and that there may be nothing wanting to the Satisfaction I ow you Impose upon me what pain you please for my Default and I promise you and protest you I willingly will submit thereunto provided it be not that of seeing you a longer time angry with me Arelise not any way heeding this discourse but disintangling her self out of the hands of the Shepherd she returned to join Coris to whom Agamée gave his hand Celiane who knew nothing of their affairs and intricacies and on the contrary understood the great kindness that was betwixt them was astonished to see the coldness of Arelise and demanded the cause of Celemante Amiable Celiane answered he her when you shall see Ergaste and Arelise without being angry together demand of me then the Subject and Cause for then there must be something very extraordinary but what can I say unto you when they do but what is usually done every day and what reason to render you of a thing which is not but Natural to them Celemante made her this Reply so loud that Ergaste heard it and for as much that he saw well that the hour of his Reconciling himself with Arelise was not yet come that the Humor which he knew her to be of he should lose his Labor and thereby make her more obstinate then at that time and therefore must leave her to come to her self he used his Endeavours to conceal his Vexation and dreamed only of fencing himself from the Jests of Celemante he therefore to that effect came up from the place where he had been on his knees However at the time when he thought to speak he was interrupted by Celiane who answered Telamon Shepherd you are Malicious for I know that there were never two Persons that loved one another better then did Ergaste and Arelise I say not the contrary replyed Celemante but you must know Fair Celiane that it is their particular manner of Loving Some do believe that to live together in Unity and Peace one by another is Love and they hold that it cannot be done but only in War and Contention See you Shepherdess that Love is an Ape which always counterfeits the Natural Qualification of all those he meets It is peaceable in a Sweet Temper a Quarelour with one Naturally Prompt and Hasty Merry and Pleasant with those Persons who are given to Sports and Rejoycing Ergaste who still Intended to speak when Celemante had finished seeing that he prepared himself to continue longer yet in discourse Interrupted him at last and addressing himself to Celiane said Amiable Celiane if Celemante knew the Nature of Love he would give you a better then that to what you have required of him Love Fair Celiane is a kind of War where every one seeks nothing else but to Conquer his Adversary That is who shall surprise him shall wound him shall surmount one another and it being so should you be astonished always to see both Parties in Strife and Division Ah! I accord with thee cryed Celemante undoubtedly Ergaste Love as thou managest it is a War and I should so be perswaded if I were Arelise I would not approach thee without putting on my Head-Peice and array me with my Armour Helmet c. Cap-a-Pe from head to foot at all hazards Ergaste who apprehended what he would say rejoyn'd him smiling Celemante it is a War where no blows are dealt but what are received and felt with pleasure and provided the Adversary pleaseth there is nothing but pleasure in being wounded that 's the reason why thou seest that they will give to truth the offensive Arms to the God of Love as well as to that of War and that they paint him with a Bow and Arrows as they do Mars with a Sword but thou seest also that they give him not therefore any Defensive Arms as to the other and that on the contrary they paint him all naked as if he were afraid not to receive all the Shots that they had Aimed and Levelled and made against him and least he should lose one in his Attire Celemante had replyed but seeing that Celiane would speak he
my Courage the Disdain I made the absence of Eliante had put me in an Estate to wish Death rather then to fear it Also of all that was Affrightful and Terrible in this Island nothing did so much Terrifie me as that I should never see her again we had soon ran over all the Island its Circuit not being at the utmost but sixty or eighty Furlongs There were some Birds and a great number or Serpents we slew the one to eat the other for our own Defence We Roasted our Viands by the Sun Beams and when it was Cloudy Weather we were obliged to eat it all Raw we spent the day close to the Sea side to see if we could see any Ships the night we retired our selves into the Hollows of Trees or Caves of the Earth that which was Incommodious was the want of Water we had none sweet and if there were any that were not altogether salt they had so ill a tast that they excited us to Vomitings The Bread which they had given us could not long suffice so many Mouths we were forced to have Recourse to Roots and to supply the defect of Fountains by great Pits which we made in the lowest places there to gather together the Water of the Rain There was no means to subsist any long time in this Dismal kind of Life Some Dyed with Hunger by and near our Viands others with Thirst near to the Fountains there were some Poysoned sleeping by the biting of the venemous Serpents and there was not one only one in the end but fell sick by ill Nourishment or Pain It was there that I learnt the condition of the Treatment that the Father of Perinte had made with these Merchants to leave me in a place whence I should never return and I knew it from one of my unfortunate Comrades who had heard it also spoken to the Pilot but it is time that you should know that which passed in Babylon whilst I languished in this deplorable Desart and for as much as I have not been instructed but from the mouth of Eliante and that I might possibly omit something I pray you that you will permit her to relate it her self Alceste for that unfortunate Lover was so named ceased then to speak and immediately all the Company cast their eyes upon the fair Eliante and expected from her the recital of what followed She would gladly have bin excused because her modesty rendered her Timerous and her pain and grief had also taken almost her Speech from her and the discourse of Alceste renewing the Memory and Remembrance of so many Disgraces had also renewed her Tears that she could not stay them But as she saw her self in fine pressed by the silence of her Lover and by the impatient desire that she saw upon the Faces of those round about her she betook her self to speak addressing to the Shepherdesses who had made her to sit down in the midst of them I know not fair and wise Shepherdesses why Alceste would that I should recite you my self the State wherein he left me after his departure from Bayblon It is all that which hath bin hitherunto the most difficult to depaint you in this historical Narration and it is that which I am almost least acquainted with For in fine when I saw the manner wherein they made him depart without any Speech thereof ever in my hearing before without advertizing him thereof and under a pretext the feigning and dissimulation appearing very gross for what appearance of care should they take to chuse him Masters in Greece when they would give him none in Babylon When I considered I say all these things I divined immediately that it was an Artifice to separate Alceste from me to force me in his absence to espouse Perinte and I fell into a condition that I knew not well what would become of me I was obliged by the last Will of my Father to consider and love Alceste as a Spouse which he had designed me by his own Choice and I will not dissemble to tell you in his presence that his Vertue and Merit had made a desirable necessity in me to perform my duty My Regrets also tormented me with so much the more Empire that they were authorized by the order of my Father and I permitted so much more willingly Pain and Grief to seize upon my Soul that no scruples should combat my Heart and that it was my duty as well as my inclination My Guardian but can I give this name to my mortal Enemy This cruel one said I used all Artifices imaginable to dissemble his barbarous design He published amongst his Friends that he had sent Alceste to the School of Athens as he had made himself believe and he whom he could not suffer before he dissembled notwithstanding his absence gave him trouble and regret He even affected to testifie it before me be it to gain me by this Complaisance be it to take from me ground and cause to mistrust his Treachery He treated me with much more kindness than he was accustomed and of his Persecutions I had not any greater sufferings then the Pressures of his Son In fine one day I saw him come into my Chamber with a Countenance more sad than ordinary He said nothing unto me but appointed his Son who there was to follow me and when they were upon the Stairs he said unto him as in secret yet loud enough that I could understand him that Alceste was dead that he had received the news thereof and notice was given him that the Ship whereon he imbarked suffered Shipwrack and however he must not advertize me thereof He said this unto him without thinking to approach so near as he did to the Truth for he had not since heard any thing from the Merchants with whom he had agreed and knew not the extremity of Alceste but he would by the design which you see falsly perswade me of his Death thinking to disabuse me by the extremities of the World whereto he had exposed him I who effectively believed that Alceste was dead beheld me alarmed as you well may imagine Grief so seiz'd on me at once that Perinte returning to my Chamber found me there swooned I will not urge you to believe the Complaints I made when they made me return to my Sentiments I will tell you only that I immediately doubted that the death of Alceste was a premeditated Design of the cruelty of our Enemy and I saw well that it was to oblige me to marry his Son or in case I refused to seize on our Wealth and indeed there passed not a Month but he made me this Proposition of this fair Marriage for although he believed that Alceste would never return from the place he had sent him however he would make precautions against all hazards there was nothing more assured then the attempting quickly to conclude our Marriage This was then when I no more made any more doubt of the Perfidy
of the Design whereof I had only a mistrust Until then I had but a simple Aversion against Perinte as we naturally have of all things where we see they force us but when the Grief which I had for the Death of Alceste was joyned with this Aversion when I saw that they would have me become the price of his Bloud and the recompence as I may say of his Murtherers then I had neither Father nor Son but horror and abomination and to say all at once I considered him as the cause of the death of Alceste and the other for his execrable murtherer and parricide In vain did they think to gain me by the consideration of Wealth Let him take said I let him take my Wealth provided he gives me my Liberty Poverty shall be much sweeter to me alone than all the Riches of the World with his Son Let him seize on the inheritance of our Fathers without scruple it is far less Crime to take away Wealth then Life and flight cannot cause Horror in a Murtherer It was not in secret that I made these manner of Complaints I freely discovered it to all Persons whom I saw because that after the loss of Alceste I believed I should have no more cause to fear my Enemy And in reality I would willingly have relinquished the Inheritance of my Father which Joy provided he had left me at liberty to fly where I might never more hear of him nor his Son There was in Babylon a young Persian of quality with whom Alceste had contracted a most perfect Friendshâ—p He was named Oxiarte and was near about the same Age As he dwelt in the Neighbourhood one might say that they had almost bin brought up together for a long time he conceived a great affection for me But for as much as he knew that of Alceste he had so much consideration for his Friend that whilst he believed him living he would never speak of his Passion He thought he could discover it me when he believed him dead and that without being his Rival he could demand of me a place that the other was not capable to occupy If I had bin in a state to listen to a new Friendship I had possibly bin unjust to resist his for there was never one accompanied with more generosity nor sincerity nor yet discretion But Alceste had carried away all my Affections with him and of all Passions I was not capable of any thing but hatred and aversion that I had for those who I believed occasioned his Death I would not however reject him But on the contrary endeavouring to engage him to serve me in the design I had to draw my self out of the hands of my Persecutor Oxtarte said I unto him I am in a trouble where my Soul is not capable to dream of new Engagements and also in the hands of a Man from whom you ought not hope to draw a consent contrary to the design which he hath to Sacrifice me to his Avarice That which I can say to you notwithstanding that I have so much horror for that cruel Enemy and the Marriage he designs me that there is nothing honourable that a Man can hope from me who shall have the courage to draw me out of his hands and set meat Liberty but I will testifie my acknowledgment unto him There was no more need of disposing Oxiarte to undertake all he would but know in what place I had fixed my Eyes for a Retreat I told him I had always heard say that my Father was of Tempe and that he had yet a Sister and some Relations whose Names I knew not but I hoped to discover them there when I should be there personally present and I signified to him in fine that I had designed that place for my Sanctuary and place of Refuge Oxiarte did not ponder upon my Proposition and too well content with the only shadow of the hope I gave him he made all our necessary preparatives ready the most diligently and the most secretly that in him was possible He had a great Patrimony and Inheritance which he enjoyed having neither Father nor Mother He sold it all and having by this means made a very considerable fond of money and capable to repair the loss which he had Abandoned he so very well disposed all that which was necessary for our departure that we in conclusion went out of Babylon by night and having in few days gained the City of Tire by the means of Chariots appointed by turns on purpose we prosperously Imbarked our selves on the Sea before they had leisure to overtake us It is true that I Imagined not that this good Guardian would make any great Diligence to Arrest us For I had with me but one Maiden at my wealth remained in his hands and that was the sole aim of his wishes I believed no otherwise although he would also afterward tell me that he was not soon consolated for what affection can I ever Imagine tn a man who treats me as a Slave and hath done me the Outrages which you have seen As Eliante was there Perinte who had scarce the Patience to refrain himself to Interrupt her divers times willing to say something but the Shepherds having interrupted him and having signified him they would hear him at his turn as much and as long as he pleased he left the Fair Eliante the liberty to continue after this sort We Rowed most Prosperously the first day after our Imbarkation Oxiarte without ceasing or Intermission being always by me and although he had in his heart for me a passion such as you will see by the sequel nevertheless as he saw my Grief all fresh and how many regrets I had for the Grief of Alceste and the Affection that I Conserved for his Memory rendred me the thoughts of a new Friendship unsupportable he had the Discretion to with-hold himself and to hold his Peace as much he was able to refrain his Passion to flatter and dissemble that of mine About the fifth day at the last watch of the night we heard a great noise upon the Deck and that having obliged us to rise up we found all the Mariners there occupied in considering with much astonishment a great fire which appeared very far the cause whereof they could not Conjecture the major part verily believed that it was some Ship burning and our Pilot who was more humane then ordinarily are all those sort of People caused them to steer towards it notwithstanding not too much to go out of our course to see if there were not some Miserable People who wanted succour In Advancing forward they knew that this Fire was much farther and greater then at first was apprehended you would have thought it had been the total burning of an Entire City but it was in a place where they knew there was none at all So this Spectacle increased their astonishment augmented their curiosity yea even gave them fear We omitted not
to approach In fine being much nearer they began to discern it was a small Island in the Sea wherein there was a Forrest burning and by and by we observed even some Men on the Sea who stretched their hands towards us and by a supplicating posture seemed to call us to their relief and succour Generous Oxiarte was the first to press the Mariners to go to them and he was Forward Zealous and Ardent in all acts of Humanity he was of those who leaped into the Boat to fetch those unknown ones ashore They there found only three Men lean lank scraggy looking like Ghosts that had nothing but Skin and Bones left on them having their Faces as it were drest or tann'd their Eyes sunk in their heads Men rather like Hobgoblins and Ghosts then Men. He made them enter into the Skiff and turning to one of them to enquire of him the cause of that great burning fire that they saw in the Isle he astonisht himself that the same Person casting himself about his neck and Imbracing him very streightly and closely said unto him O! My Dear Oxiarte is it possible that it should be you can you bring me no news of poor Eliante these words and the sound of that Voice soon instructed Oxiarte who it was that spake thus He however looked upon him again to see if he decieved not himself and having at last known him to be Alceste he let himself fall upon his neck quite confused without being able to say or speak one single word to him Alceste redoubling his imbraces and impatient to hear some tidings of me he asked again if there had a long time past since he came from Babylon and in what condition he left me there But Oxiarte Transported with Sentiments which I cannot very well express unto you never answered him but by Sighs At this silence Alceste perswaded himself all that his fear could suggest unto him the most dismal that he could imagine He believed that his Friend would not declare any thing unto him because he supposed he had none to tell him but what was Mournful and in that belief transported by an excess of Grief Ah! cryed he I see too too well how matters are Eliante is Dead or Marryed to Perinte and you will not declare it to me because you well know that will give me a Mortal Wound O Gods did you not conserve me from so many evils but to reserve me for this here the greatest and the most terrible of all those to which you have exposed me and the only one where I cannot any more expect a remedy But Eliante it shall not be said that I survive the news of your Marriage or Death nor that I conserve a Life which possibly serves no more but to separate my self from you At these words he turned to the edge of the Skiff to precipitate himself headlong into the Sea but Oxiarte returning to himself withheld him and streightly clasping his hand into his own and crushing it said unto him No Alceste Eliante is not Dead and you are going to see her even in our Ship He would have added something but from the first Syllable a blushing came up over all his face and Alceste observed him to shut his mouth again and look downwards with his Eyes with some Signs and Tokens of Confusion All that gave him Incredible Alarms and as he knew the kindness that Oxiarte had for him it was impossible for him to Divine that which could so moderate the contentment that the like encounter should in truth semblably bring to this Dear Friend nor that which held him so in suspence between Joy and Grief He therefore pressed him the third time to declare to him in what condition I was conceiving at least that I was undoubtedly seized with some dangerous Sickness In fine Oxiarte said unto him Reassure your self too happy Alceste there is no cause of fear neither for you nor for Eliante there is no cause of fear but for Oxiarte Ah Oxiarte replyed Alceste there can be no peril to you unless there be peril to me also On these words he began again to press him anew and instantly prayed him that he would no longer leave him disquieted Whilst all this passed the Skiff reapproached our Ship and I was not a little astonished to observe from the Deck all these Imbraces and all these Demonstrations of Friendship and Familiarity which had appeared between Oxiarte and one of those Men. I will not however conceal from you that a certain palpitation of heart seemed to advertise me that I had concernment and some part in that encounter but the Death of Alceste whereof I was perswaded and which I had always before my eyes too much preoccupied my mind to leave me some disposition to divine such an event I looked in the mean time from the Deck of the Ship with unparallel'd attention upon all that which is passed between them I attempted afar off to observe the Face and the Lineaments and Features of the Countenance of that unknown one but the nearer he approached the more his great change made me farther distant from the knowledg of the Truth I observed only when they were near that Oxiarte had his cheeks covered with Tears and after having Imbraced him to whom he spake in shewing him the Ladder that they had cast out unto them to ascend Go to O Happy Alceste Go and take a place which the Gods have Reserved you whilst that I as for my part will return to take that which they have prepared for my Misfortune It is a thousand times easier for you to imagine the effect that these words produced in me than for me to express them unto you For this great disguise which hindred me before to know Alceste disappeared in a moment in mine eyes and my Imagination giving him me again in the same instant all the former Features in which he had formerly appeared to me so amiable I felt my self wholly seized with an astonishment of all the joy that could transport an Heart in encounters so delectable auspicious and casual I knew Alceste in a word and cryed as if I had bin out of my Wits Ah Alceste is it possible that it should be you I could not speak more for Joy so dissipated all my Spirits that there remained not force enough to sustain and uphold my self and I was constrained to suffer my self to fall into the Arms of a Maiden which was near unto me On the other side Alceste had no sooner perceived me from the Skiff wherein he was that yet far more transported than I was he ascended or rather flew into our Ship without any more heeding what Oxiarte said unto him and came to cast himself at my Feet But amiable Shepherdesses I insensibly engaged my self in declaring unto you more then you have demanded of me Behold all which passed in the absence of Alceste it concerns him now to finish the rest for he was there present
with me and he can acquit himself much better than I shall be able to do In saying this she modestly and gracefully cast her eyes upon Alceste to signifie him that she yielded him precedency and place of Speech but Alceste having replyed her that she must necessarily know more then he did and knowing the recital that she made to him was very acceptable and pleasant from her mouth and all the company having also signyfied her the pleasure wherewith they heard her she was obliged to continue which she did in these words Whilst Alceste and my self were in the Transports of our Joy they informed us that Oxiarte who remained in the Skiff refused to ascend into the Ship and that by a Despair the reason whereof was unknown he would have them row him to the Island again and that they left him there whence Alceste came this news strangely surprised us both As for me I was not long in Divineing the reason and I thought Wise Shepherdesses that I have sufficiently testyfied you the Love he had for me to let you conceive this design was in effect of the Grief and Despair in observing that the return of Alceste ruined all the pretensions of his Love But Alceste to whom this passion was unknown could not Imagine the cause of this strange resolution he inquir'd me thereof all amazed and having apprehended it by three or tour words I had let fall I saw in an instant a fire breaking out in his face and a paleness succeeding that ruddiness soon after even in an instant and I observed in his eyes all the signs and tokens of the last pain and grief O Gods Cryed he so many pains and crosses deserve they not very well at least a moment of consolation without bitterness at these words he desired my permission to quit me for an instant and running to his Friend he forced him by his Imbraces and request to abandon his wild and blind design and to return with him to our Ship the Pilot presently steered again our former Course and Alceste and my self with the Mournful Oxiarte retired our selves into a certain part of the Ship whilst all the others interrogated the two others whom they had delivered with Alceste on the subject of their Adventure and of the burning that still continued upon the Island they in like manner declared us the cause thereof and after having told us how he had been put ashore and left in that Island after the same manner as he hath already declared you the sad and deplorable life that they had led therewith his Comrades the Persecution that they had suffered by Serpents and by hunger the Miserable Kind of Death who of thirty persons that were there had reduced them to the only number of three he added that in fine having devoured all the roots and green things capable to nourish them not seeing any to pass by Vessels either great or small and not knowing how to have any farther succor they advised amongst themselve to set the Forrest on fire hoping the flame thereof by being seen at a Distance might draw and allure the Curiosity of some Sailing on the Sea to come to and succor them He told us that to that end they gathered all the leaves they could find amongst the Rocks that were exposed to the heat of the Sun and having made them very dry they brought them into the Forrest and taking some Flint Stones they had beaten and knocked them against one another out of whom came sparks of fire which kindled these leaves whereon they cast branches of Trees which they had made exceeding dry on purpose and by this means set them on fire in the thickest part Of the Forrest which they had so burnt After he had declared us this he would for the satisfaction of his curiosity have us tell him wherefore and how we were gone out of Babylon and I cannot possibly declare you how he was concerned and sensible of the generosity of Oxiarte when I had declared him how he had abandoned his Country quitted his familiar intimate Friends sold all his Inheritance to succour me and follow me wheresoever I would go Although he very well and sufficiently saw that he ought not impute this generous Resolution but to a passion Enemy of his own yet he a thousand times embraced him not as his Rival but always as a generous Friend with an ardent and sincere Affection and with all the Expressions that he deemed capable to administer him any little Consolation Oxiarte on his part did what in him was possible to answer the Caresses and Love of his Friend and one might very well see that his Soul did within it use all it's Endeavours to overcome a certain heaviness and burden wherewith he felt himself oppressed and to conceal at least his Sadness But one might also see that his Sorrow was still more and more and that the Combat that was in his Heart between his Passion and his Friendship Oxiarte alone remained overcome If there appeared any Joy in his Countenance it was but an imperfect Joy and in Similitude like to the weak Beams that the Sun casts forth sometimes out through the dark Clouds who no sooner appear than they are dissipated If he thought to open his Mouth to speak a word he would immediately shut it again and utter forth nothing but Sighs and we knew not what he would say but by the Pains and Repugnancy which he felt in declaring it us In fine he brake this long Silence and after he had a little disburdened and discharg'd his Heart of the Vexing and Hickhocks which suffocated it he took the hand of Alceste which he tenderly crushed in his own and looking upon me the same time with some sort of confusion he said unto me What will you think of me Madam to see me in the Grief and Despair where I am at the time I recover the best Friend I have in the World and what will you say of a Man who sees not his Friends revive but with the Affliction which others have in seeing them dye That I would apprehend that you would not believe me guilty towards you if you knew less the value and the worth of that you return to carry away from me I love you my dear Alceste and I take and call Eliante to witness that the Sentiments that I have conserved for her have never violated the Duty of my Affection and if ever I declared my self her Lover as much as I could believe my self to be so without becoming your Rival I will tell you very much more for in fine I affirm and attest to the Gods that at the same hour that I speak to you I have yet for you all the kindness and friendship that I owe you and that I have so many times sworn to you But Alceste The greatest Kindness and Friendship finds it self feeble when it comes to oppose it self in a Love founded upon such legitimate Hopes when
another fear for I dreamed that possibly he would fall into the hands of some cruel and inhumane Person and I suffered already in my heart all the ill Treatments that I could for him The House where they had led me was upon the Port as the Mistress unto whom I had bin sold having some visits to make was not so soon returned to her House she had appointed that in expectation of her they should shut me up in a Chamber The Windows opened towards the Sea and I could thence discover not only all that passed upon the Port but also who came from and went to our Ship I was then attentive to see if they did not disimbark some Prisoners and was very much surprized that after they had returned the Women aboard whom they had sold on the Shoar I saw the Mariners weigh the Anchor haul Sails and went out into the open Sea It was at this time I thought I should never see Alceste again Whence could I ever expect hereafter this good Fortune arrive unto me I knew he was a Slave in the hands of these Corsarios the Vessel where he had bin made Prisoner was gone and I could not doubt but they would sell him in some other part I re-commenced or re-began to weep more than ever to utter forth a thousand cryes in a word to be wholly desperate I was in this condition when I understood that the Mistress of the House was returned and commanded one to fetch me and bring me to her Chamber As soon as I heard the door open and looking upon him who entred I knew the Person who came to me to be Alceste If ever there was an accident so surprizing I believe you will Judge that this was it I came from beholding the Ship whereon I supposed he had been departed in her with all the reasons Imaginable I thought him to be in the open Sea I would consider him for so I may say already in some Barbarous Country at a great distance and at the same time when I was aifflcted with these Imaginations I saw him in the same City in the same House and in the self-same Chamber As for him he appeared not much surprized and his Joy seemed not to me to be mixed with Astonishment That made me believe that he had already been advertised that I was there and I deceived not my self After having made one another the Honest and Honourable Caresses that the time permitted us he told me that as there was many days already that the Vessel of our Corsario was in the Road of the Island there had been eight wherein he had been brought to land with many other Prisoners and that he had been sold to an old man in whose house we were that he had been happy enough in obtaining his good favor that the Master had a daughter a Widdow who nourished him that this daughter having need of a Slave he had told her there were many aboard our Vessel and that amongst others there was one whereof he had heard a thousand Commendations That he had already notwithstanding spake of her as one unknown unto him for fear of being rendred suspect that that had given her occasion to buy me and we contrived to avoid all suspicion that we would not make any shew of knowing one another All this was expressed me in fewer words than I deliver them to you for the least delaying or lingring would have given cause of mistrust and it was our great interest to shun it To make short I was brought before my Mistress her Father was then with her they saw me and considered me and I was Interrogated by both of them and I was happy enough not to displease the daughter but unhappy enough also in pleasing more then I was willing the fancy of the Father although he was approaching so great an Age where they say that men are Vertuous through a kind of necessity and where it is believed that Vice quitteth those who have not had the Courrage to abandon it however he had an extraordinary inclination to Women and one might say that he had yet all the foolish passions of youth It was not long but I perceived his inclination and from the very first time I omitted not to advertise his daughter thereof She prised the method I had used to preserve my self and appointed me to tell her of all that passed and was said From the moment she knew it she aided me to cut off all occasions of discourse with me above all to be found alone with me She was very exact in having me with her where ever she went the passions of this good man were increased by the obstacles that were applyed and the more he found of difficulties there the more obstinate he grew to make his Attempts Succesful He would not however have his daughter take cognisance thereof and also knew not any thing of my having made her acquainted therewith Behold wherefore he sought a Mediator and that which was also sufficiently pleasant in our misfortune he made Alceste his Confident That was a conjuncture to us favourable enough for heretofore we durst not speak almost together he nor my self and when we designed it we were forced to conceal it from the old man and his daughter but the one having of his own accord furnished a pretext to see us and to entertain our selves frequently in discourse we had but to steal our selves from the sight of one single person We passed so many Months during which Alceste to prolong his confidence and that little Liberty that we had was obliged to entertain his Master with a little hopes Dissembling from time to time that he hoped he might make some Impression upon my Spirits taking such measures as he Judged needful But in fine he could not still abuse him and he did it not also but with some kind of regret and by a necessity to which our Misfortune and Unhappyness reduced us because of a certain scruple of freedom and Ingenuity with which he was born gave him an Aversion to the most Innocent Deceits In fine he said to his Master that there was nothing would prevail with me nor could he make any Impression upon me This would not make him recoil for still he pressed him to be Instant with me and urgent upon me even to come so far as to make her a promise that he would marry me Alceste did all that to him was possible on this occasion and what was his duty to do and represented him the wrong he would do his Family and undervalue himself to Marry his Slave and essayed as much as could be to divert him from that design His Master hated him not but contrarily as Alceste spake to him with much sincerity and he saw well that all his Remonstrances were very reasonable he received his advice as so many Marks and Tokens of his Fidelity It is true he also received them without any Benefit or Utility he praised
so much Honour in taking it up he will undoubtedly find more to wear it They could not all refrain from laughing at the pleasant imagination of Celemante Ergaste smiled himself and rejoin'd him Shepherd neither thou nor my self are worthy to wear that which hath been upon the head of Areliseâ— but if I deceive that Honour doubt not not only that I should esteem to have gained the first Prize but that I should make even a greater account thereof than of all the Crowns in the World during their contest all the Shepherds which were present at the Race were come to hear them and took so much pleasure in their dispute that they apprehended not any thing but that it would too soon be decided Arelise and Coris were very well pleased to let it continue and that is the cause why the Shepherds prayed them immediately to judg them they refused a long time to give or to declare their advice Arelise excused her self because the difference had not sprung but on the subject of the Service that had been rendred her by Ergaste she well saw that she was in some sort suspected by Celemante Coris defended her self handsomly on what she alledged that agitating her in so Importunate a matter as a Crown was of too great weight to be left to the judgment of one Shepherdess all the rest of the Company dispensed themselves also in referring the Honour to the judgment of Coris because she had chosen upon her to give the Prize However they agreed all together at last to give their Sentiments and after Celemante and Ergaste had yet added some reasons on their own parts respectively Coris having taken advice of the Company they judged that Celemante had gained the Prize of the Race but that it was not therefore Just but that Ergaste should have a recompence and Arelise because she had a Branch of Mirtle in her hands they appointed that she should therewith make a Crown to put it upon his head whilst Coris placed that of hers on the head of Celemante Whilst this Fair Assembly spent the day in these Diversions Telamon and Philiste Generously imployed all theirs to succour their Unfortunate and Illustrious Guests from time to time he went to know if the King of Lesbos wanted any thing they sent likwise to inform themselves of the state of that Fair Unknown one whom he had met in an equipage so astonishing and deplorable in the corner of the Forrest he stirred not the rest of the time to be neer Tarsis and went out yet one of the next succeeding days towards the evening when that self same man whom the unknown one had retained by her came to inform him that his Mistress desired to speak with him and besought him to ascâ—nd into her chamber He immediately repaired thither and she saw him no sooner enter but she drew one of her Arms out of the Bed and stretching forth her hand said unto him I well see Telamon that your Family is in possession of me and in preserving my Life and I begin to hope well since I have known I am fallen into your hands Telamon was much astonished at this discourse answered he I have reputed it a great Honour for me to have occasion to render service to a person the sole view of whom hath made me conceive so great an opinion and if this same Honour had formerly hapned unto me or to some one of mine the which I knew not I would have esteemed my self much more happy Then the unknown one made a sign to the servant maid to retire out of her chamber who was there to serve her and having also appointed the man whom she had sent to fetch Telamon to leave them alone she spake to the Shepherd in these terms If they have not deceived me in the Particularities that they have taught me from your Family you are the Brother of the Shepherd Tarsis and he might possibly have declared you the obligation that Amelicente had to him Telamon who had understood from his Brother the Adventure of Amalecinte not having doubted by these words but that it was he who spake so to him admired how Nature had given such a Beauty to the Countenance of that Young Prince as if it had made him expresly for that Personage whom Fortune alone made to sport and jest withal and as he was but eighteen years of Age he found in his youth so great a delicacy a hue and dye so little beseeming or becoming a man that he scarcely believed him to be he whom he was if what his Brother had not formerly spake of him had not prepared him to that credulity He then spake unto him with much astonishment and respect What my Lord is it possible that you are the Prince Amelecinte and that your Imbarking hath also had so mournful an Issue Ah it is indeed it is true that I should esteem my self happy to receive into my house a Prince for whom I have conceived such a Veneration and respect without knowing him if the estate and condition wherein I see you my Lord did not almost dissipate all my Joy Amalecinte replyed obligingly to this Civility and Testified him that he would Inlighten him in this last Adventure but before-hand added he I will demand from you news of your Brother Telamon told him the accident in few words and this Prince who had already known something from those who served him for it was by that which he heard of the name of Telamon and of the accident of Tarsis that he had Judged with whom he was signified unto him that he had received a very sensible displeasure The Shepherd would have retired himself after that for fear of giving him to long occasion to speak and some curiosity that he had to learn by what Course and Sequel of Adventures was found at Tempe with a Ship so soon after he had been parted a Fugitive and without a thought of returning there however he did all that he could to oblige him to conserve his rest representing to him the evil that the Emotion could cause him in the state wherein he was But Amalecinte to whom they had made or put the third preparation and who felt himself very much better replyed him That it was of importance to him to take Counsel of him upon the consideration of some affairs wherein he had need of his succour and it was for that which he sent to fetch him And as he was a young Prince of an active and lively Spirit and who tormented himself for the rest when it was necessary for him to defer the execution of things that he had projected all that the Shepherd could do it was to obtain of him only that he would attend till the morrow when having sent again to fetch him he spake unto him after this sort The Sequel of the History of Amalecinte YOu have understood by your Brother after what manner I Imbarked upon your River and by what
penetrating and the most politick that ever was having had in his Life time even from the Queen some advice of what was projected after his Death was advised at my Birth to make me pass for a Boy which unto him was then easie the one and the other Sex being yet equally capable to succeed in the Kingdom For that end he even gave me the Name of a Man and made me be called Philitere as was he it is not but that he pretended still to dissemble that which I was He only thought that in the design that he had to oppose himself to that Decree his Opposition would be so much the more considerable then having apparently a Son he would appear disinterested and he dreamed that in all cases if he could not hinder it in the first Movements of the general Aversion that the People had against the Government of Ariane he could at least whilst he should have the Helm in hand find a day to cause it to be revoked His Stratagem had not neither the one nor the other the success which he imagined for he could neither hinder the decree nor being become King cause it to be broken It was then requisite to continue by necessity the disguising which had bin begun by Artifice and the better to succeed therein from the time I had a little Strength the King my Father caused me to learn all the exercises convenient for a Prince But as he judged well that the difference that Age hath accustomed to put between the Countenances of Boys and those of Maidens would not fail one day or other to betray his Intention and that the People would be astonished at the conclusion not to see born on my Cheeks the ordinary Marks which serve to discern betwixt both Sexes he feigned I know not what Accident by which he caused deafly and dumbly to sow a noise that they had bin obliged to abandon me to the hands of Chyrurgions and to reduce me to the condition of those People to whom the Persians do commit the Guard of their Wives and their Treasure The fair Queen could not speak this without using some violence to her Modesty and Pudicity and the redness which appeared in her Face finished the explaining to Philiste that which she would have her understood After that that Blushing had vanished away she thus continued her Discourse The King as I have told you did not however sow this Noise but confusedly and with some kind of uncertainty to sound and fathom only their Minds and Dispositions and to dispose them one day or other to receive it and believe it when it was needful for he was not ignorant that the major part of the Greeks have as much Misprision for or of these sort of People which I have spoken to you of as the Persians have them in Veneration They will have Kings which can be able to give them Successors and are ashamed to obey Persons whom they put in the rank of Monsters rather than among the number of Men so he would not hazard this noise with so much certainty but that he was still the Master to revoke or confirm it at his own Leisure Whatever it was the King my Father reigned peaceably enough during the first years and during the minority of a natural Son that a Brother of the deceased Queen had left but when the Son was grown greater some discontents were buzzed in his ears that the Kingdom appertain'd to him being Nephew of the Queen and my Father being but a Relation distant enough and as there was not a precise Law in the State by which Bastards were excluded from Succession he did so well that the Estates were convoked or assembled together to judge of this great difference The King my Father carried it but not by all Voices The Bastard Prince did not render himself to the Judgment of the States he would decide the question by force of Arms and as he had a very strong Party we saw our Army less than nothing at the Gates of Mitilene What say I he was Master almost as soon as he appeared there by the means of intelligences which he there practised and my Father who was not then mistrusted was reduced to fly from his Capital City It is true that it was not but to re-enter therein with more Honour afterwards for when he had had Leisure to Levy his Army he reconducted it before Mitilene in Person he there gave Battel to the Enemy and having vanquished them in the Combat he besieged him and took him in the same City After this manner all the War was ended in a very little time I pass over all these things lightly O Philiste not only by reason that that 's nothing but Wars which are not convenient for our Sex and where you could not take pleasure but also forasmuch as you undoubtedly know all that which passed there most memorable since that they were Telamon your Husband and Tarsis your Brother-in-Law which did them Philiste having replyed that she had heard them sometimes speak thereof but after a different manner I doubt not interrupted the Queen that their Modesty hath supplanted their Honour But it is however true wise Shepherdess that these two Brothers who travelled then being happy for us met in our Island and having offered their Service to the King bore up alone on a small Bridge the effort of a Battalion who had put a part of our Men in disorder and routed them and having given them time to rally themselves they were the cause of gaining the Battel This is not all in the Siege they were the first that ascended scaling and having cast themselves alone into the City as they say that Alexander the great formerly did at Tire they foiled the Troops destinated to the guarding and keeping of the Wall gave opportunity to ours to follow them and caused the taking of Mitilene Also there were not Honours enough by which the King attempted not to acknowledge due to their Valour and I remember for this Prince would that even at the Army I was always near him I remember I say to have heard him say that to pay well for such a signal Piece of Service it was requisite to offer them a part of his Kingdom He did all he could to oblige them to continue by him by the offer of the first dignities but all our Court had nothing capable to tempt them and I am not astonished for assuredly Telamon would have found nothing there in comparison with Philiste The Shepherdess not having replyed to this obliging Discourse than by a respectful Inclination of the head and by a modest Silence the Queen persisted thus the taking of Mitelene was soon followed by a â—reaty of Peace But alas the King did not long enjoy it for he dyed soon afterwards and left me in an Age young enough over burden'd and oppressed by the weight of all the Kingdom I was Crowned King of Lesbos without any
but also forasmuch as we had not there any Skiff to carry us to the Land Two of my Men having been willing to attempt it by swimming perished there one after another by the following and rolling of the Billows which were not yet appeased So that one man alone being left with me and not seeing from whom possibly I might have succour or recourse but that a great Ship which the Tempest had cast upon that self-same Coast but who was too far distant to permit those who were therein to hear my cryes I almost dispaired of my safety when the Gods took care to send me to be succoured by Generous Telamon The Fair Princess having surceased speaking Philiste reassumed discourse to signify unto her all the respect the inequality of their condition and qualities obliged her unto how much she had been concerned and touched with Admiration and Grief by the recital of these Misfortunes and in telling her modestly that she knew well that it was not for a Shepherdess to undertake to consolate a Great Queen she omitted not however handsomly and becomingly to tell her things on the Subject of her disgrace whence she received all the consolation she was capable of in the mournful conjuncture of her Fortune It was so late when the Queen of Lesbos permitted Philiste to retire that there was some time that Telamon was layen down and gon to bed with a Design which he had the next day to surprize Alpide at his own house before day and that this Shepherdess being entred into her Chamber found that he was already fallen asleep The fear she had to awake or disturb him obliged her to slide into the Bed as softly as he could but forasmuch as her Imagination was still full of those Wonderful Accidents and Events which she had heard repeated she could not hinder her self from employing a part of the Night to pass them in her Memory and could not almost fall asleep but that it was neer break of day She had not but began to take her rest when Telamon finished his and that he awoke through the extream impatience he had to seek Alpide that design appeared to him of such importance for the enlightning him in the Adventure of Zelie and the rest of his dear Brother that he thought he could never execute it soon enough and although Alpide concealed not himself his affection made him take the same precautions to find him which he would have had need of if the other had sought to shun it and that he had held himself upon his Guard He had the same circumspection for Philiste as she had for him the preceeding Night he arose without making any noise and went out of his Chamber and even out of his House before any Person was there awakned Aurora had not yet appeared but that he was already far off distant from his Hamlet and the first Rays of the Morning began not to appear and peep cleer but that he arrived at the River He walked some paces along the River side going towards Gonnes until he had found a Boat wherein he entred to pass to the other side for the House of Alpide was far before on the other side and almost at the foot of Mount Ossa After he had crost the River he fastned his Boat to the Branches of one of the Trees which were by the water side that he might come there again and take to it and afterwards continued his way towards Ossa Fifty Paces from the House of Alpide he found a Domestick of that Shepherds of whom he enquired News That Shepherd answered him that his Master was not at home but that he was the precedent evening gon and departed to Gonnes whence he was not yet returned Telamon fearing that this Slave had not told him the truth went even to the House pretending to have some business with him which did oblige him to stay and expect him there But as he met no Person there he returned to find this Shepherd endeavouring to make him speak and to draw some demonstration from him He had soon known almost more than he would since that he had learnt things which had been advantageous to him to be ignorant of still In effect Telamon after some other discourse having pertinently asked him divers questions concerning the Places and Persons that frequented his Master after the time that Zelie disappeared that Man replyed I cannot resolve you nor yet declare where he goeth nor whom he seeth for I concern my self only with the care of his Flock and do other things which he appoints me without enforming my self of things that import me not It is not but that I begin to be in pain for that which is happened unto him For there is very neer fifteen days that he prepared all things to make a great Journey I know not where and I believed him departed one evening by reason he gave me divers Orders for the conduct of his House and management of his Affairs during his absence when I saw him returning the same Night but so sad and besides himself that I could hardly know him Since that time his affection hath only encreased he neither eateth nor doth he almost take any Rest and spends entire Days and Nights in walking and bemoaning himself amongst the Rocks of Mount Ossa I was wholly astonished there is not two or three days past but att the time that I kept towards these places there in a certain place where he believed me not to be I heard him in the Wood which is near where he bemoaned himself saying Ah! Miserable One that I am must it be so that my returning to Tempé but that 't is to be the cause of this Misfortune my Amiable Maiden cryed he afterwards must the pain of the Crime fall upon thee and that the Innocent suffereth the torment and execution of the Guilty I soon believed that there was some Maiden with him to whom he spake and that was the cause that I had the curiosity to advance me forward very softly to see who he was but I saw him layen along upon the Ground and as he had his Face turned towards the other side and that he saw me not that made me to continue a time long enough to contemplate and ruminate upon him I observed that from time to time he wiped his Eyes as if he had wept and I heard what he yet said but I am in the wrong Great Gods to accuse youre Justice in the punishment of a Criminal No no You are not therein despised And you Divine Zelie you are not to complain since that you have not without doubt lost this Miserable Life but to reassume another much more happy But what Torments are equal to the Anguishes which devour me the Gods can they deliver me or can they deliver me to Executioners more cruel than my Pain and Grief and if thy Fair Soul can be beaten and made flat by the sweetness of the Vengeance should
and gave her such an apprehension that carryed and bare her away to such a point of extremity that she knew not where she was At length she tare their silence asunder and tenderly said unto him with a voyce feeble enough Well Tarsis is this what you have promised me not to hate me for that which I was going to tell you At these words Tarsis looking upon her with eyes capable to cleave any heart with pitty and whence Trickled a Thousand Tears Ah! Zelie said he unto her I do keep you my word too well and if I could hate you you should not see me in the Transporture nor the despair wherein I am Then he beheld the shepherdess grew pale and in effect the fatigation and faintness with the grief and pain joyning themselves together to the great weakness wherein her disease left her caused her to fall to the ground and possibly it had not been without dangerously hurting her so did all her strength abandon her all at once if the shepherd had not upheld her in her fall and caused his feet to lean at the foot of a tree very near them grief and pain had toyled him in such a nature that he neither dreamed of calling us nor yet to fetch water from the River to cast in her face cause her to revive so that poor Zelie remained there a long time without speech without strength sence or motion unless some affectionate amorous aspect which she piningly and pittifully cast upon Tarsis who with one knee on ground held one of her fair hands between his and endeared them with an infinite number of tears Never was Spectacle more touching and Melicerte my self and Philiste were the mournful Witnesses thereof For as we took notice that there was some time past that we had not heard them behind us I returned to see what was become of them and we discerned them afar off in this lamentable condition I advanced forward toward their Succour and having made Zelie revive we caused her to be carried to Callioure by some Shepherds where we followed them all very sad and mournful The Morrow we returned my Brother and my self from this Hamlet to Callioure to learn some News of the State of Leucippes Health and of hers when a little Shepherd gave this Ticket to Tarsis which is doubtless the Original which she kept For see how many Lines she hath begun and blotted out afterwards before she would determin with her self in what manner to write to him see how many razings out and words changed and replaced and all that marked out well the trouble with which she was agitated But behold what she writ in Conclusion ZELIE to TARSIS THis is to reiterate you the Request I made you Yesterday which I write you this day You may judge of the violence I suffered by the State wherein you saw me and the excess of my Dolour ought in my Apprension purge me from your Reproaches I hope that Leucippe will be touched and that when his Life is out of danger he will have a care of ours But in waiting I demand and desire of you but three things Not to see me till the State of our Affairs are changed to preserve your self and not to hate me ZELIE The same reason which hath made me already pass by many other things yet impedes me to stop me here by the Testimonies that Tarsis gave of the grief that Letter had caused to fall upon him and to declare unto you how many times he re-perused it to see if he were not deceived and if he could not find there some favourable word to disabuse himself for if I should dwell upon these Particularities 't would be to have no end When he was well confirmed in the Truth of what he saw he was born away by a thousand Transports which cannot possibly be imagined But in conclusion he was forced to resolve and having his Soul full of anguish but yet at the self same time full of Love and Respect for Zelie he entred into the very next House where having taken Paper he wrote the answer that you see and besought me even my self to give it to that Shepherdess TARSIS to ZELIE THere is so long a time past that I have bin unfortunate that I should thereunto be accustomed and possibly also constant in some Disgrace or other but that of this kind is to me a Novelty the same Hand who was wont to solace me in times past makes me despair this day I have not nor do find wherewith to contradict it since it depends upon the Health of Leucippe My Life is in such a Nature at your beck that you have a right to redeem his and not being capable to loose it at your Service in particular I shall verily Sacrifice it for the Health of some of yours TARSIS You see Agamée that this Letter is in the end of all our Papers and the last that Tarsis writ unto her And there was the State of his Affection and of his Disgrace there was not any thing left of change unless it were that Leucippe was perfectly recovered afterwards there remained but a little trouble his Indisposition seemed to have added to his natural melancholly when the conclusion of the Marriage between Tarsis and Zelie had bin obstructed by the strange Accidents that you have known and understood There remains no more to me to add you but a Circumstance which will undoubtedly make you bewail him more than any other thing Besides the accident which hath happened Leucippe overcome by the vertue and complaisance of Zelie declared to me even yesterday that although he had not any way signified to his Daughter nor yet to Melicerte any kind of thing he was however resolved immediately upon his recovery to accomplish the desire of these two unfortunate Lovers with the Felicity that my Brother had so much desired Telamon having thus finished Agamée resumed the Discourse and signified to this Shepherd the extream satisfaction he had received in their reading and his recital It 's requisite that I avow to you wise Shepherd said he to him that what admiration soever I had had for Tarsis combating and performing so many rare Exploits and noble Feats with his dear Telamon at Chalcedony and at Panticapée I have had no less an esteem for Tarsis loving at Tempe and if I have infinitely bewailed him in the Prisons of Lysimachus and of the King of the Bosphorus he hath not made me less compassionate in the Shackles and Fetters of the Vertuous but too delicate and too scrupulous Zelie For in fine if at present she were not possibly rather in a State to be bewailed than blamed I could not refrain to have her tast the ill of this superstitious Imagination which had caused her to banish Tarsis so unseanably without doubt as you have said as she hath done and hath bin the cause of all the misfortunes which have hapned them afterwards But I am no