retired having left him the sole command of the Army he gain'd a memorable Victory terminating that War by the most glorious successes could be desired These marvellous beginnings fam'd the reputation of Alcamenes through all the neighbour Kingdoms they talked every where of Alcamenes as of a prodigie of valour and the noise overtaking all places arrived in Dacia possessing the irritated Queen with a mortal displeasure fearing this young Prince as a potent obstacle to her designs of one day possessing his fathers Territories and this rendred the name of Alcamenes both to the Mother and to the Daughter as odious as that of the King his father The Scythian Monarch who had a great and generous soul view'd with an incredible joy these transcendent actions of Alcamenes and beholding in him nothing but grand and elevated above the rest of man-kind treated him as an extraordinary Son a Son given by Heaven for the glory and consolation of his dayes and as a Prince who would bear the honour of Soythia to a higher degree than it ever yet arrived and moreover being acquainted with the Queen of Dacia's practices and the preparations she made against him who with those succours she hoped to draw by her Daughters beauty was not to be despised he believed himself furnished in the person of Alcamenes with a valiant desender and disdained more than formerly the evil designs of his adversaries He had often spoken of it to the Prince and perceived him burn with a generous resentment against those enemies of his Family and a vehement desire to measure his Sword with whomsoever the perswasions of Amalthea or the beauty of Menalippa had armed against his father desiring rather to carry the War into the enemies Countrey than expect it in their own The King who was as moderate as valiant and who now loved peace as well as formerly he had done the Wars reprov'd without condemning the noble heat of his Son alledging that he ought after the examples of his Predecessors contain himself within the justice of his cause and expect the enemies on-set before he endeavoured their ruine and besides he had compassion on a Queen whose resentments could not be condemned though they were not entirely reasonable and who transacted more through the love she bare her husband than out of any hope she could conceive to conquer Scythia Alcamenes in whom generous resentments found all manner of approbation troubled not himself to combate these reasons and easily excusing the revenge of Amalthea and Menalippa both through the respect he bore to their sex and by the report he heard of the beauty of the Daugther and vertue of the Mother so that turning his anger against those Princes who had embraced their interest he no more solicited the King his father to begin this War Besides this consideration which prevailed upon the spirits of these two Princes they understood that the irritated Queen instead of being in a condition to fight them was imbarked in another War against the Prince of the Sarmates and the Prince of the Nomades upon some dispute they had with Amalthea about the extent of their Frontiers The King Arontes might have taken this advantage against his Enemy and others possibly would have done it but he judged it unworthy his courage and the Prince his Son boyling as he was for occasions to get glory had not the least thought to lay hold on this advantage But although the King of Scythia tasted the greatest satisfaction in the company of a Son so brave and so lovely he was forced to part with him through the necessities of his affairs and ordered him a journey into some Provinces where the Father's or Son's presence were absolutely necessary Alcamenes departed from Palena where the King then made his abode and transported himself into those places whither he was sent by his presence he reduced all things into an entire tranquillity But having bravely acquitted himself of his Commission given by the King his Father instead of returning where he was expected he found himself prest with an ardent desire to travel and visit unknown some stranger Courts few persons 't is possible have known his true designs which came not to my knowledge and I have thought with the rest of the world that curiosity only and a youthful desire led him to that resolution which many have condemned But whatever was the cause he writ a Letter to the King wherein with many excuses he begg'd his pardon for this sally of youth professing that he left him only to render himself more worthy to serve him by the experience he hoped to reap by his Travels promising not to absent himself longer than a year and during that not so far from Scythia or Dacia but easily to observe the motions of his enemies in which case he would abandon all things to render his King that service to which his duty obliged him he accompanied these promises with words full of humility and submission to efface the resentment which the King might conceive for his fault and having given the Letter unto the principal of his servants with whom he returned all his retinue retaining only two Squires to accompany and serve him in his Voyage and on this manner maugre the resistance of all his attendants he leaves them and takes his way by the side of the Boristhenes to go towards Bizantium I 'le not entertain you with the return of his People to the King nor the Kings grief at this unhappy news you may believe it was excessive and Orontes had need of all his courage to resist this displeasure yet he had a firm confidence in the Princess promise and knew his courage too well to believe any thing could recall him save the War that threatned his Father he only feared those dangers to which he might be daily exposed in an equipage so little conformable to his dignity and turning all his thoughts this way he not only caused publick vows to be offered to the gods for his preservation but commanded some persons in whom he had most confidence to march after him with express order not to leave him what commands soever he gave to the contrary whilst this Prince Adventurer carried with a youthful desire to see the world visited a part of Thrace under the name of Alcimedon which he would take to disguise his own and seeking occasions to signalize himself in some Wars wherewith this Kingdom was troubled by divers actions of extraordinary valour he rendred the name of Alcimedon famous through all Thrace obliging the old King Adallas Father of this which now reigns to entreat him to come to his Court. Alcimedon went and by his good Mine added greater credit to the fame of his actions receiving all manner of Carresses from this good King he would not here make any long abode though they offered him charges as much as they thought above him as they were indeed below him the fear of being known in a Court
visage with a timerous eye yet he met something there that hinted the occasion he desired and mingling the respect with his words which that new Majesty imprinted Madam said he if I may be permitted without offending the veneration I owe you to undisguise a part of my Sentiments I must take the liberty to say that the severity that sits upon your brow does promise no happy Augury to my hopes indeed if it only springs from a right understanding of what you are I have no reason left me to complain and mine shall agree with the judgments of persons most dis-interessed that it is but a fit companion of that bright Majesty which we all acknowledge in you as the Princess of the World in whom it is most justly spher'd but if it parts from another cause I do there behold my condemnation and read my irreparable ruine I did not perceive said the Princess interrupting him that my behaviour to you had put on any other fashion than it has formerly worn and if a small access of years has a little checked the freedom of my carriage I cannot think the change can either disadvantage your hopes or disquiet your repose I did always judge replyed the Prince that the childhood of my fortune was too forward to be long-liv'd nor can I frame a just complaint because you cut off a part of those favours which I never merited but since all men are as unworthy as I with your permission I will believe that Tiberius has not more right to demand them than my self By these words Cleopatra perceived the kindlings of my Masters jealousie and now not doubting but he had heard of the pursuits Tiberius had made in his absence she resolv'd to keep on the Mask no longer and preventing his discourse with a smile Indeed I thought said she you would meet with the notice of what has passed since your departure and if you still owned an interest in my affairs you would not stay long for the knowledge that Tiberius has offered me affection I did believe it necessary to dissemble what I knew of it nor shall I make any scruple to avow if my apprehension scap'd mistake that the resentments Tiberius has for me are the same with yours With mine said Coriolanus with a hasty interruption Ah! Madam do not wound me with so deep a displeasure to think mine can suffer comparison without a mortal offence I will easily believe Tiberius doth love you for there is nothing upon Earth deserves less incredulity but that his Passion can measure with mine is a belief that all the strength of my submission and obedience is too weak to bow me to Tiberius has excellent qualities and possibly a Person more considerable than mine but our dispositions are very different I know our souls are incapable of cherishing an equal flame if all the requisites of Love were comprized in offering Protestations of fidelity at your feet or sprusing up the passion in artificial language perhaps I might justly claim no advantage but if to misprise and abandon all those things wherewith ambitious persons build their felicity to sacrifice my life at your feet nay and if possible to dye it a thousand times over in your sacrifice be to love aright methinks you should find some difference 'twixt the Passion of Tiberius and that of Coriolanus Then I will tell you said the Princess to repair the displeasure I have given you that I do distinguish betwixt you and if I thought you would not take too much advantage of my words I would add that you are better placed in my opinion than Tiberius not that his affection has not put on as fair and specious proofs nor that it has almost spoke the same language that yours have utter'd yet with truth I dare assure you that neither his discourse nor actions have got any hold in my heart and if I change not my humour I think it will ask a long time to make my inclinations look that way This free and unreserv'd Declaration of the Princess gave my Master a satisfaction that drove away all his fears and calm'd his displeasures which not being able to dissemble one moment recovering that gaiety that usually sparkled in his lively looks I am made too glorious said he by the honour you have done me in thus unmasquing your propensions and since they are not dispos'd of my Rival but I am permitted to try my title with him by my services I will learn to hope from your bounty and the Divine favour that he shall not carry the advantage and now Madam I will freely confess that I take not my greatest fears from his person for I do much more redoubt the credit of the Empress than either the services or good qualities of Tiberius 'T is true reply'd Cleopatra the Empress did a while since speak in his favour but she had not as yet much pressed it for as her thoughts are busier in building up the fortunes and greatness of her Son than soothing his affection so I think her studies are more directly levelled at a power in the Emperors spirit than in mine May she have the Gods consent replyed Coriolanus to the success of that design for they all know I will neither grudge him the favour of Augustus nor the possession of the Empress provided he lets fall his Title to my Princess affection Cleopatra was going to reply but was hindered by the arrival of the Princess Julia and Marcellus who with a great train of other persons then enter'd the Chamber but the following days they resumed opportunities of reviving this discourse which gave my Master a clear discovery that he was not only preferred to Tiberius in his Princess thoughts but was almost as well seated there as his own reason could desire from such a person as Cleopatra whose courage was already mounted to that pitch that there was not a humane consideration capable to abase her spirit so much as to one single thought unworthy of her former Fortunes In the mean time the two Princes her Brothers were brought up at Octavia's house with as much care as was due to their extractions and equal to the hopes they promised Alexander was of the same age with his Sister Ptolomee one year younger and both endow'd with a beauty so excellent such an amiable gentileness was stamp'd in their behaviour performing all the Exercises were taught them with such a graceful dexterity and disclosing so much grandeur of Courage in all such encounters as gave them opportunities to shew the marks of it as all the Roman People regarded them with admiration the Emperor highly esteemed and the Court considered them as the deserving Children of so great a Father and worthy to inherit a better destiny they no sooner reach'd 15 but they appeared at all the great Meetings and despising the childish employments that commonly busied persons of their age they mingled with those of riper years that addicted themselves to such
be happened to you in so small a time and who could have the power to trouble you in our presence and render you so much astonished as you seemed to me to be 'T is no slight matter that hath caused it added the Princess and without doubt thou wilt judge so thy self when thou shalt know that in the person of the false Alcippus I have found the true Alexander whose countenance we took notice of in Alcippus O Gods Madam cryed Leucippe what is this you tell me I tell thee the truth replyed Artemisa the Son of Anthony of whom we have often discoursed when we called my infancy to mind is here in Artaxata he is here in this Palace he is in my service and hath continued so divers months as you have seen under the name of Alcippus But Madam said Leucippe what assurances have you of it I have all answered Artemisa that I can desire and besides what thou mayst gather as well as I from the resemblance of his countenance I have his confession and the relation of divers things which could not be known to any but Alexander and some more particular marks besides Hereupon she repeated all that had passed and made her as well acquainted with the truth as she was her self Leueippe seemed astonished at this discourse and continued a while without speaking whilest the Princess being risen up from her chair walked up and down in her closet deeply musing what resolation she should take After they had been long enough silent Leucippe began to speak first and coming to her Mistris Madam said she I really find in this rancounter something strange enough to cause your astonishment and it is no common adventure that such a Prince as the Son of Anthony should pass through all the Countrys which divided him from us to you that he should disguise himself and put himself into your service in the condition of one of your plain Domesticks He that in any place else might enjoy one of the supremest dignities upon earth and live gloriously secure from the danger which without doubt will threaten him in this Court if he be known but in so extraordinary an accident I see no cause you have to be displeased and you ought not in my opinion to be afflicted that a Prince so considerable as Alexander both for his birth and the qualities of his Person a Prince for whom in your tender years you had all the inclination you were then capable of should despise all manner of dangers to come and submit himself to you and neglect all the fortune which with less trouble and less danger he might find elsewhere to obey the command you heretofore laid upon him and to put himself into your service in the most submissive quality whereunto a man of his worth would never have debased himself Leucippe spake in this manner and having some inclination for me without doubt she spake well of me beyond the truth when Artemisa who had hearkened to her a long time without interrupting her casting her eyes suddenly upon her Leucippe said she I know very well that thou never wantest reasons to maintain thy opinions and in this very thing I do not say that thou art absolutely without reason 't is true that Alexander is a great Prince that I loved him as my Brother when we were children together and that I am obliged to that affection which hath made him strip himself of his condition and expose himself to great troubles and dangers to come and see me and finally that it is not a cause of displeasure to the Princess of Armenia that the Son of Anthony heretofore the Master of so many Kings should be ingaged in her service but we must consider too that he is descended from those very Persons which after a hard and unjust captivity made the King our Father suffer a cruel and shameful death that there is not nor ever can be any reconciliaation between his Family and ours and if I were to be pardoned in my childhood for not having expressed to her children how sensible I was of the injury we had received from Cleopatra I am now of an age that obliges me to very different thoughts Ah Madam replyed Leucippe I have heard you often say and before Alexander himself too that you had no resentment against him for the death of the King your Father I never had answered Artemisa nor ever will have any resentment against Alexander that may oblige me to procure him or so much as wish him ill but I ought to carry my self so against all the children of Cleopatra as not to dream of their alliance or approve of their service the difference is very visible and though my mind should not be so disposed as bloud and reason require decency exacts that of me which I should not allow to nature and though I should let Cleopatra's children live with indifferency as to me without hating him I cannot suffer them with a particular design without being blamed by all the world besides Alexander living in a disguise amongst us doth not expose himself alone to danger but if the cause of his disguise be enquired into and the reason of his staying here it cannot be discovered without rendring me obnoxious to great reproaches the hatred of the King my brother and to all manner of displeasures What will you resolve upon them said Leucippe and in what manner do you intend to deal with this Prince who by all probability as I my self have observed is at this time in very strange disquiets Never to see him more replyed Artemisa but to send him word by thee that he should retire himself and deliver me from that fear which will eternally torment me so long as he shall continue here This expedient is not difficult answered Leucippe coldly but it seems very cruel to me in relation to the Prince after he had done things for you which possibly may make him merit better usage and by the proofs he hath given of his passion I conceive it violent enough to make him use extremities against his own life which if it be true that you do not hate him will cause you some displeasure without doubt What wouldest thou have me to do then said Artemisa and how wouldest thou have me satisfie at once my duty and the care thou takest of Alexander's repose 't is true I am much obliged to him and I naturally have disposition enough to wish him well so as to avoid the occasion of putting him into despair as you fear but withall I consider my own quiet and my reputation too too much to suffer that by an intelligence which will be condemned by all the world Alexander should live unknown amongst us where he cannot be discovered without fatal accidents to himself and a very disadvantagious reflection upon me You may replied Leucippe attend some other time to take your resolutions and not do any thing with precipition which oftentimes causes repentance 'T is
their City dispute their lives so couragiously but in fine our Enemies strength increased to such a measure and ours grew so feeble as we soon perceived without some miraculous assistance the wayes to safety were all block'd up My Governour Politis who till then had accompanied and served me in all my disgraces with a marvellous affection bravely fighting by my side was forced by a multitude of wounds to breath his last his death was succeeded by one of my faithfull Parthians and sure I had not long staid behind him if Arsanes who is endowed with a dexterous Wit and that temper'd with a marvellous Prudence bethought himself in the very midst of danger of a way to save us and approaching to me as near as possible Sir said he I beseech you follow me I have discovered a secure Retreat And at these words in stead of spurring towards the Gate as we did before where the thickest throng of Enemies and difficulty withstood us he caused me to face about towards the Temple Gate which was behind us and on that side having but few enemies to combat we soon clear'd the passage and were no sooner arrived there but we readily quitted our Horses and threw our selves into the Temple which was then open because of the Feast of Tabernacles the Celebration of which lasted three whole days That Temple had always been a Sanctuary for Criminals but at that Feast the most considerable of any the Jews Religion celebrates it was so assured a refuge as the Jews would rather have suffered the entire ruine of their Nation than permitted any to be forced from the Temple that had there taken Sanctuary whatever Crime they were convicted of this cool'd the heat of their pursuits and when they saw us entred they stop'd at the Gate and stood with Arms a-cross without the least offer to follow us Indeed some there were of the most mutinous among them and the most interessed in the hurt of Alexas and the death of their Companions that cryed out to the Priests to put us out That I was the Kings Enemy That it was by his Order and express Command they pursued us But the Priests in stead of listening to their clamour received us with much humanity and protested they would rather perish than suffer the Temples Priviledges to be violated The dignity of Priesthood among the JEWS was very eminent That of High-Priest had heretofore been only exercised by Kings themselves after the Kings Hircanus and Aristobulus the Grandfather and Brother of Mariamne had discharged it and then it was in the hands of one the nearest allyed to the Crown And thus we saw our selves in that sacred Fortress and our Enemies only content to environ it without daring to advance one step to force an entrance but as soon as day shewed it self the King having learn'd the truth after he had sent divers Messages to the Priests in vain he came himself wholly transported with sury in such a Tempest as gave belief to those that were next him it would hurry him to the most violent extremities The Priests inform'd of his Arrival came to the Gate to meet him but so soon as they saw him in the name of their GOD they forbad him to put a Foot into the Temple if he brought any other intention than to render that respect which was as due from him as from the meanest Iew to that Holy Place and the DIVINITY within it Herod though deeply in rage and possibly not over-zealous in the service of his God as he was very politick fear'd that being already hated and but weakly assur'd of the Jews fidelity should he venture to violate their Customs and infringe their Priviledges it might provoke some revolt besides news was brought him that in divers parts of the City the Pharisees that were the greatest Zelots in their Religion and the most considerable among the People began to murmur He considered that there was then cause to fear every thing the Feast having filled the City not only with its own Inhabitants but with the greatest part of all Judaea which the Solemnity had summoned thither These considerations staid Herod at the Gate but the trouble of his Soul exprest it self at the Eyes and in the disjoynted words his Rage let fall yet time having reconciled him to some Reason he represented to some Priests that the Asylum of the Temple was not to protect us that we were Infidels and of a contrary Religion that they ought the rather to put us out lest our presence should prophane the places Holiness but the Priests replyed That Gods Asylum was equally for all men That if our Opinions did not tread the right path we might there find it through the conduct of his Grace That probably having made us incur the Kings displeasure he had therefore called us thither Herod answered that I had violated the chief rights of Hospitality that were as ancient as Temples themselves That no Nation ought to contain a refuge of the Man that had directly abus'd the proper Person of the King and mortally wounded his Brother in Law but all the Arguments he could urge were not strong enough to batter the Priests resolution neither his Menaces nor Promises could dispose them either to remit me into his hands or suffer him to enter into the Temple without thundering against him with all their Authority wherewith their Office had invested them which enjoyn'd the conservation of their Priviledges The Gods can witness that I did not love my life so well to bestow all the care they made me take upon its preservation but I condescended much to to the entreaties of Arsanes and my Servants and indeed to the Priests themselves who would not permit me to leave the Temple though I had desired it Whatever resentment I had entertain'd against Herod as the persecutor of my life and Mariamne's repose yet I could not quit the thought of his first Reception and the shelter that he had so many years given me against my Brothers Barbarism this remembrance made me desire to see and speak to him to testifie that I was neither ingrateful to his former kindness nor had ever injur'd him in the least particular he could imagine upon this score forcing this resistance of Arsanes disswasion I approached within eight or ten paces of the Gate where he contested with the Priests and so soon as I could be seen or heard King of the Jews cryed I I am neither thy Subject nor inferior and the Gods who have given me birth from the noblest Family in the World have not left me to acknowledge any Superior Power but theirs for this reason I have little cause to justifie my self to thee that wouldst have taken my life both by Sword and Poyson and hast pursued me against all Divine and Humane right even to the Temple of thy God but the satisfaction I owe to my Conscience and to the memory of that Entertainment wherewith thou hast formerly treated
auspicious hope of a happy success My Master was so deeply buried in grief as he slighted the officious cares of his friend and earnestly opposed his design to labour his repose protesting if his life were indifferent to Cleopatra he would never try the strength of his own nor others industry to preserve it but Marcellus having staid some time with him made a discreet use of it in insinuating such pressing reasons as if he did not pacifie his spirit at least he disposed it to expect the event of his intended discourse with Cleopatra When Marcellus was gon my Master wasted the rest of the night with nothing but sighs and sobs accompanied with disjoynted speeches and though his feaver was very intense he would not suffer us to call a Physitian nor employ any remedies to rescue his health which himself had abandon'd The next day so soon as the Princess Cleopatra might civilly be seen the officious Marcellus went to her lodging and found her in the same angry mood that possest her the day before nevertheless she receiv'd him with all the civility was due to his condition to the merit of his person and the particular esteem she had always born him she had then no other company with her but one Maid whom she peculiarly trusted which offer'd him opportunity to entertain her with liberty enough and taking a hint from the sadness that over-spread her visage to fall upon his design If I did not highly value your quiet said he I would borrow some comfort from the encounter of a person that appears as Male-content as my self but I will always importune the Gods to preserve you from such afflictions as I endure Though the Princess suspected his drift yet she was not willing to cross it and feigning some amazement at his words If I knew you had a just cause for any inward anguish said she I ever esteem'd you at the price of taking my share in your afflictions but I cannot think you have now any reason to find fault with your fortune Yes I have great cause to complain of her reply'd Marcellus and if respect would permit me would say of you too since you have both joyn'd to destroy me the most generous and perfectest friend that ever breath'd the infortunate Coriolanus dies and I cannot comprehend for what offence you have doom'd him sure you can neither doubt the grandeur of his love nor respect and for the qualities of his person they are so known to all the world that 't is not likely you alone should ignore them I would say more and if you please you may safely give me leave that you have formerly esteem'd him and time is not two days older since he had cause to be proud of his fortune but the space of one night has ruined him and then when he was least prepared for so cruel a revolution he hath seen with his own eyes the indubitable marks of his disaster and received from anothers mouth that brought him your intentions the fatal sentence you pronounced against him yet he does not murmur at you nor complain of his Destiny since he always laid it at your feet but if an innocent may have leave Marcellus would have gone on when the Princess who had listened with impatience hastily interrupted him 'T is enough Marcellus said she I apprehend all you would say for your friend and possible I should not so long have suffered the same discourse from another person I am neither ignorant of his birth nor the qualities of his person and till now I wanted cause to complain of his affection or respect but since he has begun to quit it and believes he may lawfully take commission from my softness for his pretence to the command of my actions he ought not to think it strange if I desire to disabuse him and let him know that I will never resign that power either to him or any person living See what a Letter he hath sent me continued she taking up my Masters Letter which lay open upon the Table consider the terms and judge if you please whether it holds a proportion with that respect for which you would fain recommend him When he wrote the Letter reply'd the discreet Marcellus he deemed himself already lost to your thoughts for he had seen Tiberius vapour it with the badge of a happiness which could never be built but upon his ruine and at the knowledge of so visible and so publick an infelicity would you have him do less than put in his complaint which methinks he has done too with moderation enough Had he made use reply'd the Princess of that moderation and respect you talk of he should doubtless have received a full satisfaction for as his misfortune had no other foundation but his own opinion so that once confuted he would have been restored to the Estate of which he believed him self unjustly deprived but instead of repairing to me with a due respect for my construction of the truth he writes to me in an imperious stile upbraids me with promises made him and favours given to Tiberius in terms full of pride and insolence do you think he did not owe me the deference at least to inform himself calmly of the truth before he flew into reproaches so audaciously against a Princess to whom by his own confession he had given some power in his breast and to whom his Choller would have been very indifferent if she had not formerly allowed him some favours which he has unworthily abused I confess answered Marcellus he was a little inconsiderate yet it is true too that those passions are faint and feeble that in such a trial are compatible with that cold discretion you expected from him and I should not have believed Coriolanus had loved with ardour if after the knowledge of this disaster founded upon so clear an appearance he he had still kept his reason in her Throne He ought to have understood me better said Cleopatra hastily and rather have given his own eyes the lye than admitted an opinion and taken the boldness to declare it too that has mortally offended me he should have left me the liberty of my own actions if it be true that he has given me the command of his and had he called to mind how I have led my life it would have check'd his hasty belief that I had any right to these reproaches I should not then have refused to justifie my self to him as I will now to you not for the satisfaction of Coriolanus but Cleopatra and to stop the course of your opinion least it should condemn me of more kindness to Tiberius than I am guilty of Know then he had not that Scarf of me that helped to deck his Parade at the publick Sports but received it from the Empress his Mother who yesterday came into my Chamber when I was dressing and finding it lay upon the Table she fell a commending the Work and begged it of me I could
she dissembled them as well as she was able and desirous to indear the purchase to Marcellus with a little difficulty she plaid the politick Tyrant and made him suffer Marcellus complain'd and sigh'd away some time for these feigned rigours of Julia but at last she unmask'd her sentiments and after she had received some months tribute of sufferings and services she shewed him her acknowledgement and affection at as full a magnitude as he could vertuously desire nothing was refus'd him that might justly be demanded of Augustus daughter and her confessions were the freer because she knew the Emperor not only approv'd them but that she could not more dearly oblige him than in the person of his Nephew he almost spent his whole day in her company and his life wheel'd away with as much delight as his wishes could fathom for though some of the cheifest Romans with divers Kings Sons that were brought up at Rome were his Rivals yet they all submitted to his Fortune and paid so deep a respect both to him and the Emperor as they durst not shock his intentions with the least appearance the Senate and People to whom as I have already told you Marcellus was the darling and delight were tenderly concern'd in his happiness and joyfully hop'd to see the Daughter and Throne of their Emperor one day possest by the person of the World that was dearest to them their hopes were founded upon their likely-hoods and doubtless might arrive at their aim there being but few persons under Heaven whose fortunes would shew envy so faire a mark as those of Marcellus if Julia with one of the rarest beauties and the most vivacious and subtill wits had not the most wavering and inconstant heart upon Earth of this she has given the World so much experience as while you resided there you could not chuse but meet it in many a Roman mouth She began with a person who of all the stock of mankind was farthest from cause and consent to wrong Marcellus I confess he is master of so many bewitching qualities as might well produce the same effects upon a constant heart and by this reason I might possibly excuse a part of Julia's first revoltings but they have since been followed by so many others without ground or reason as all that can be alledged in her defence is too weak to justifie her My Master as the dearest friend Marcellus had was he that had the easiest access to her of all the Court and rendring her greater respects for Marcellus sake than were due from him to the Daughter of Augustus it oblig'd her to requite him with an esteem beyond all the other Princes that were educated in the Emperors Court he daily exchang'd long Discourses with her but talked of no other Subject but his friend and because he was acquainted with most of his thoughts they still furnished him with matter to entertain the Princess The love she bare Marcellus made her treat my Prince for a time in terms that were reasonable but at last she ty'd her thoughts too fast to the consideration of his incomparable qualities and by little and little from a particular esteem she proceeded to good will and from thence was insensibly conducted into loves territories had not any other spirit but hers thus suffered it self to be taken her whole life would have kept it a secret and she might have borrowed reasons from the grandeur of her birth the Emperors Command and Marcellus his services puissant enough to do violence upon her self and shut it up in her breast for ever but her soul was of another temper and ever impatient of Constraint and Tyranny nevertheless she had yet modesty enough to dissemble it though not so covertly but if she betray'd not her infidelity to a publick notice she could not so cozen the Advertancy of interessed persons Marcellus was the first that percieved it for my Masters regards were so fixt to Cleopatra as he had much ado to allow the lightest reflection to any thing else and finding Julia's behaviour much colder towards him than it was accustomed he often demanded the cause but the promptitude and artifice of her wit never fail'd in finding pretences to paint the truth she was loath to break with him knowing how highly it would displease Caesar and what she was to expect from his anger besides its possible her breast might still keep some sparks unquenched that were of his kindling but the impression of this new image had so alter'd her as if she had not finished the ruine of all those thoughts that once held him dear yet she took no delight to see him and only tasted content in the company of Coriolanus One evening Marcellus discoursing with her by her bed side a liberty which the higher powers had allowed him and perceiving her thoughtful and melancholy Madam said he has your goodness given me no right to the knowledge of those inquietudes that have lately disturb'd you have not I share enough in your pains and pleasures to to be led unto their Fountains I perceive you muse I hear your sighs and your face characters an unquiet mind Is it just my Divine Princess if I have any title to your thoughts I could be longer kept a stranger to them and if any thing perplexes you where will you find a comfort so readily as in that person of the world that does most participate of your Passion The earnest sollicitation of Marcellus awak'd Julia from her dumps and regarding him with an Ayrie something more affable Do not you know said she briskly that we cannot alwayes be of the same humour and this alteration you remark in mine may it not as well proceed from my present temperament as any cause of affliction I will believe what you will have me replyed Marcellus but either all conjectures shoot very wide or else your temperament cannot so suddenly bring forth effects so contrary to your ordinary humour Your belief is at liberty said Julia without so much as turning her face to Marcellus and since you repose so little in me you may seek for that in your own conjectures which you cannot find in my Discourse This cold Answer froze the very soul of poor Marcellus and beholding the Princess with an eye that sent out part of his thoughts before-hand Ah! Madam said he what have I done by which of my actions have I merited your anger You have done nothing to me replyed the Princess but at present I find you a little too pressing and since you are melancholy as well as I pray take it not ill if I change your company for a persons whose mirth may divert my sadness She spake these words just as she saw my Master enter the Chamber where he had not trod many steps when rising from Marcellus with a face that had changed in a moment the Sence of Sadness into Gaiety she advanced towards Coriolanus and offering him her hand with a free kind of action
the sole assistance of an unbyass'd reason Dost thou not know replyed I that I was never prone to regard a person with any other interest than such an esteem as we all owe to vertue where ere we find it nay did my inclination place a particular value upon Cleomedon's person I would make it bow to that obedience is due to the King my Fathers will which shall ever be the rule of all my thoughts and I ought to judge them very Criminal should they dare to act by any other power than his commands I doubt not said Clitie but your intentions are the same you spake them but granting that I find no cause to disapprove my opinion The King your Father who has long since perceived Cleomedon's pretences would never have suffered or at least not favoured their progress as he has done had he thought that alliance deserved his rejection his behaviour in this affair might easily instruct you to believe that he had looked upon the prologue of his amorous designs with a serene aspect and finding in Cleomedon's person all that his wishes would contrive in that of a Prince whom his thoughts voted worthy of the honour of your Bed you need not doubt but he will prefer him before all his neighbour Princes on whom though Fortune possible to shew her blindness has bestowed some Crowns yet Heaven has neither given them a Birth so illustrious not a Vertue so eminent as its bounty has conferred on this brave Son of Caesar besides Madam you being his legitimate and only heir 't is vain to think he will fix his desires upon any addition to your grand inheritance and 't is the opinion of persons far more prudent and politick than I that he will rather fear than desire the alliance of a stranger King and deem it far more requisite to give a Prince intirely to his People than transport their subjection to a forreign Scepter When it once arrives at that point replyed I I can do no less than avow unto thee though possible not without a blush that I will receive Cleomedon from his hands with less repugnance than if he had rifled the whole stock of mankind for another choice and indeed I confess thou were not wholly deceived by thoughts that concluded me neither blind nor insensible to the merit of his person nor the proofs of his affection I had thus no sooner displaid my hidden thoughts when I beheld Caesario whose approach I then least expected enter the Arbour and throw himself at my feet with a face that boasted such a complement of joy and satisfaction as I timerously concluded he had heard all those words I so lately let fall to his advantage this called a fiery blush into my cheeks and I was at first surpris'd with so much shame as wanting the confidence to look him in the face I covered mine own with my hand on purpose to hide a part of my confusion the Prince who construed the cause of it right was ready to borrow repentance of his tender affection for the perplexity he had given me and left the excess of his joy corrected to a sober moderation by a belief that I was not satisfied with this passage however loath to forfeit so fair an occasion he began to rally his scattered spirits and imbracing my knees with a tender and yet a passionate ardour Madam said he do not grudge me the Fortune that Heaven has given me without your consent and be not troubled that I am indebted for a happiness to this encounter for which I might long have waited still the companion of my own woes before I had obtain'd it of your goodness Madam what I learn'd from your fair mouth has taught me to believe my self the happiest and the most glorious Prince in the world but all that you have said has given you no just cause of shame or repentance unless you draw it from the choice you have made of a man so unworthy of that precious priviledge you have given him in your breast your intentions are so nicely wrapt within the strict rules of Duty and Vertue as when the King your Father though advis'd by the severest persons upon Earth shall understand them they cannot scan this act with Justice and pass any thoughts upon it to your disadvantage for my self Madam I receive this knowledge with a respect so profound and so perfectly conform'd to the devout veneration I have for you as you shall ever find a greater encrease in my submissions to your will than in those hopes you permit me to conceive While he spake in this manner I recover'd some confidence to disparkle the astonishment had seiz'd me and whether my opinion of his discretion or the Innocence of my intentions pleaded best to my self in my own behalf in effect I was prompted to believe I had not lavish'd any language that left such a spot upon me as shame first taught me to imagine with this perswasion taking my hand from my face and licensing my Eye to regard him with more assurance than before How Cleomedon said I are these the proofs of your respect do you think you have not forgotten what you owe me thus by an ambush to intrap my secrets before you knew how I would relish or receive the freedom I had rather dye answer'd Cleomedon than give you any just cause of displeasure but if you find it in this encounter believe it Madam it was only accident and not design that plotted the offence Let it be design or hazard reply'd I I do not think you can construe my words to that advantage you pretend nor can believe you could find out reason enough to beget a doubt of my obedience which was ever taught to bow it self to the Kings command nor of that desire which I ever tenderly preserv'd of a total submission to his will not only in what regards the great sacrifice to Hymen but the entire disposal of all my actions so long as the thred of my life is uncut No Madam reply'd Caesario I never doubted it but I was uncertain whether your inclination would declare with your obedience in my behalf and prevail to let affection go a share in that which Duty has only power to exact at your hands 't is that Madam is the basis on which I build all my glory and if I may have leave to mingle a litttle Interest with it will say that if my opinion does not abuse me your own inclinations will have all the power to compleat our destiny since the Kings have ever so tenderly comply'd with yours as they can never permit him to offer any force in the choice of a Husband I confess my hopes look the same way said I and since though against my will you have gotten so large an acquaintance in my thoughts upon the confidence I repose in your vertue and the respect which can never give you leave to abuse that intelligence you have got in the breast of a
and if the latter does not rise from a root in our nature it often springs from the womb of an irregular ambition which usurping the throne of the will excites all thoughts that are the legitimate race of Reason and shuts the eyes of those that are possessed with this Devil upon every consideration that Piety Justice and Honour it self can represent to their intoxicated judgement the proofs of the truth are but too conspicuous in our Family and if I derive some glory from a birth that has few equals in the world I have received shame enough from the cruelties of him that gave it to convince me that he has left me no cause to boast my extraction The King Phraates my Father was born with qualities great enough and in the first bloomings of his youth and given such hopes of his future bravery as made him pass in the opinion of men for an equal to his generous brother the Prince Pacorus who fell in the flower of his age under the Roman arms after he had made them know by divers memorable advantages that they were not invincible The old King Orodes my Grandfather after the death of Pacorus ignorant of his destiny had transplanted his chief affection upon Phraates then the eldest of divers Brothers and with it resign'd the entire management of all State-affairs to his disposal he had been married some years before and I had already liv'd about six or seven when his greedy desire to Reign alone and remove that fear of a Rival in ambition transported him to that horrible piece of cruelty which report has told to the whole world you know it but too well Madam that the cruel Phraates to make the Crown sit fast which his bloody jealousie told him did but tremble upon his head while so many of his Brothers lived put them all to death only Tyridates the youngest then absent from court who being spared by the mistaken piety of him that was sent to be his assassin has since wandered from Court to court begging sanctuary against the inhumane persecutions of his Brother The Queen who had received this truth from the mouth of Tyridates was yet resolved not to trouble the stream of her relation by interposing what she knew and deeming it requisite to keep the news of her Unkle till the closure of her story and then impart or reserve it as discretion counselled she lent a silent attention to the sequel The cruelty of Phraates pursu'd Elisa could not so quench its thirst with the blood of his Brothers but the old King Orodes whose long life seem'd to tire the expectation of his heir compleated the Sacrifice to his jealous ambition and lost it by the horrid command of his own Son I confess I am willing to contract the relation of this unnatural act in as few words as will barely serve to tell it and indeed could be content to leave it intirely out if my design to draw you the perfect pourtraiture of my life could allow it Phraates having thus secur'd his Throne by hewing down the stock with all the royal branches that grew near it began to play the Prudent as well as the Paricide to preserve his acquest the terrour of his arms made a quick distribution of its self among his Neighbour Princes and the bad success of Anthony who with a part of the Roman puissance brought the War into our Country where he lost his whole Army and with much ado sav'd himself by a shameful retreat struck a general fear through all those that probably might nurse any thoughts of attempting the Crown of Parthia In the mean time I was trained up by the Queen my Mother whose inclinations were ever sweet and vertuous with a very discreet care and that good Princess perceiving docility enough in my Spirit forgot not to season my education with all other sage lessons that might frame me a disposition suitable to her intentions her affections told her that I had not played the truant in the School of Vertue and by the help of that blindness which is the usual disease of a Parents indulgence fancying some qualities within me which I dare not pretend to in me she stored up all her love all her delight After me that was the Eldest of all her Children she had divers others of both sexes but the Gods perhaps to punish Phraates by the misfortunes of his Fathers family cut them all off in the dawning of their infancy and of five or six Brothers that succeeded me at several births scarce one of them attain'd to a full years age before they were laid in their little Sepulchres This mishap of our house rendered me more considerable and a short time after the Queen though still in the flower of her age going over child-bearing I was regarded by the Parthians as the presumptive Inheritrix of that weighty Crown 'T is true the King had a Bastard Son that was called Vonones but he did not behold him with an eye that designed his succession and though he fail'd not to endeavour the gaining of a faction that might prop his pretences he was generally known to be born within the Marriage of the King and could therefore hatch no apparent hope of being declared legitimate I will not trifle with your patience so much to give you the account of my Infancy but stepping over the Prologue of my life wherein there befel me nothing memorable I shall only tell you I had worn out fourteen years of it when my Father invaded Media the hatred had been long hereditary betwixt the Kings of that Country and those that wore the Crown of Parthia and though they had taken breath in some intervals of Peace since the fall of the unfortunate Anthony and the coming of Augustus to the Empire they were still ready to obey the beck of every trivial occasion to pick a new quarrel which they both embraced with their old animosity Phraates complained that at the Median Kings solicitation Cleopatra had murthered his Ally the King of Armenia and though he that did it was since dead and his Heir succeeded to the Throne he thought he might justly entail his revenge upon the Son since Fate would not suffer the Father to stand the shock of it and the new King of Media not less eager than he to revive the quarrel whereto his young courage was whetted by divers reasons on his side there broke out a cruel and bloody War betwixt them The beginnings were very doubtful much blood spilt on both sides in divers Encounters and some Battels wherein Fortune seemed to stand in a study on which side she should list her smiles At length after a years uncertainty wherein she had kept the ballance equal she apparently lean'd to the Parthian party and the King my Father swollen with some late successes began to advance towards the heart of Media carrying ruine and desolation to all places where he waved his Ensigns divers blows had been given
within a few days and upon that confidence I sent Dion to her with this Letter which I wrote to her Prince PHILADELPH to the Divine DELIA A Pressing and cruel order divides me from you for some days and I should speak more truly if I should say that it divides me from my self since that the better part of me remains with you and I cannot be torn from you without the separation of my body which is drawn another way from my soul which I left with you I should not have constancy enough to support this displeasure if it were likely to be of any long continuance and if I did not hope to overcome my ill fortune by the absence of a few days but why do I call them a few days they will be of so insupportable a length to me that I shall reckon every one of them for a year Dion carried this Letter to Delia but he brought me back no answer neither did I expect any judging by the course of life that this Maid took with me that her severity would not permit her a long time to favour me with her Letters I departed from that place and arrived at Tharsus the day following where I received great reproaches from the King for not having seen him in so long a time and I found him in such an humour upon that account that made me believe that he would not permit me to return to my solitude a great while This fear afflicted me with a mortal displeasure but I was no less troubled at the command he laid upon me a few days after to serve the Princess Urania in good earnest and to dispose my self to marry her within a small time There was so little room in my soul for this new affection that all the powers on earth could not give it entrance and I found no disposition in my self to obey the Kings command I began likewise to acquit my self of what he desired of me so coldly that all persons who had a mind to observe my actions knew very well that I proceeded with a great deal of repugnance The image of Delia engraved in the middle of my heart made every thing else but her self disagreeable to my imagination and not only the beauty of Urania but all those of the Court of Tharsus instead of moving me were looked upon with disdain and oversion Within a few days her absence began to make it self sensible in good earnest and a little after those who would take notice might have read as much in my face Delia alone eternally possessed my memory and in the best company I could come into I fell into a profound musing which rendred me incapable of all conversation If I desired to entertain Urania according to the Kings intention it was necessary that by the force of imagination I should suppose that I directed my discourse to Delia and when I could not work that effect upon my spirit I came off so unhandsomely in what I spake against my own heart that she might easily take notice of my constraint and the little disposition I had to comply with my Fathers intentions I wrote to Delia divers times and in my Letters I did incessantly express the displeasure I received in being separated from her but though she received them courteously and treated Dion who brought them with a great deal of sweetness and civility she never returned me any answer and contented her self to send me word by Dion that she was very much obliged to my memory and that she would persevere as long as she lived in the design of honouring and esteeming of me as I deserved In all probability there was but little cause of contentment in this kind of treatment but I could not dis-esteem any thing that proceeded from such a vertue as Delia's and that which would not have satisfied me from another person coming from Delia it was received by me as something supreamly precious In the mean time my languishing and the profound Melancholly that possessed me made it self apparent to all the world the King asked me the cause of it divers times but in vain and he was the last person in the world to whom I should have discovered it but the Princess Andromeda my Sister for whom I had a very firm friendship informed her self of me with more success I really affected her both as the rare qualities she is mistress of might oblige all the world to do and as the ardent affection which she always had for me did particularly oblige me There are few persons endowed with a greater share of beautythan she and fewer endued with more rational intellectuals She questioned me oftentimes concerning the change of my humour and not being able to get any thing out of me at the first she did so interess her self in my condition that I believed my self obliged at the last to discover the cause of it to her especially considering as I imagined that I might receive assistances from her upon that account which might be capable of sweetning my displeasures Upon this design one day having shut my self up with her in her Closet after I had meditated a while upon the discourse I had to make to her Dear Sister said I 't is impossible for me to conceal my heart any longer from you and the amity I have for you hath rendred you so powerful over my spirit that henceforth I shall not be able to disguise any thing from your knowledge yea Sister I will discover to you my most secret thoughts but by this testimony of my amity I would oblige yours to render me all the assistance I may receive from it and which I only desire for the preservation of my life Doubt not Brother replyed the Princess but that I shall be always disposed to give you the most difficult testimonies of my affection and I shall never be more satisfied than when I shall be able to contribute any thing to your repose Open your heart to me upon this assurance and expect the utmost of my discretion in concealing your secret and of my intentions to render you those assistances you may desire of me I expected no less dear Sister said I but I conjure you to persevere in these intentions and not to refuse me that upon any slight consideration which I neither can nor will receive but only from your self In the close of these words I plainly discovered to her the condition of my soul I related her the rancounter I had with Delia I described her beauty and forgot nothing in the repetition of all the discourses I had with her Andromeda was troubled at this Story and not approving of a passion wherein I had so lightly engaged my self she did her endeavour to oppose it and alledged to me all the reasons and consequences that probably she could set before my eyes but after I had quietly hearkned to her Sister said I I know very well that my love hath strangeness enough in it
and as your passion will permit and we will continue upon the same terms we now are without enraging our selves farther in relation to any thing that either of us shall do in obedience to the King and Queen This was the resolution of the fair Princess of Cappadocia and I found it so rational that in spite of all my passion I could not hinder my self from crying out O Gods how generous are you and how unfortunate am I that by the pre-ingagement of my soul I am rendred unworthy of the glory which my fortune hath offered me but at least since that by this fatal engagement the thoughts I ought to have for you are forbidden me permic me Madam by a continuance of your goodness that in stead of those passionate resentments I may conserve others for you of another nature and interess my self in the occasions of doing you service as if I had the honour to be your brother Urania did not refuse me what I desired and appearing satisfied with the confession I had made to her she was well pleased that I should follow my inclinations without laying any constraint upon my self I did so too thenceforward and though I did seemingly render her my respects out of design and that in publick I pretended to some interest in her when no body heard our discourse I talked to her as to the Princess Andromeda and conversed with her very differently from the Kings and Queens intentions I could not forbear discovering all to Delia but at the relation I made her of it she was troubled in good earnest she protested to me she would not suffer that for the love of her I should fly out into disobedience to the Kings pleasure to my own hurt and that she would rather quit Cilicia than see me shun my advantages upon an amusement which could not have any good success This indifference wherewith she answered the proofs of my passion afflicted me with a sensible displeasure and looking upon her with an air that signified a little discontent I did not think said I that these testimonies of my love ought to be disagreeable to you and though besides Urania I should disesteem all the world for your sake I do not believe you could make it any just cause of complaint This possibly would have had some operation in any other spirit but yours and I am very unfortunate if by putting my self in danger of incurring the Kings displeasure I should likewise incurr yours in stead of a little acknowledgement which I might justly hope I am not wanting Sir replied Delia in the acknowledgment that is due to you and possibly 't is only in regard of that that I oppose those designs that are disadvantageous to you the proofs of your affection are exceeding glorious to me but I cannot approve of them if they be incommodious to your self and I do so far consider your interests as never to give way that you should abandon them for an unfortunate stranger or that for her sake you should expose your self to those troubles which your disobedience without doubt will raise in the Court if you persevere in it Ah Delia said I with a gesture all composed of passion the troubles of my soul ought to be more considerable to you than those of the Court and I am far enough from finding any repose or felicity in that obedience to which you would oblige me seeing I can protest to you before the Gods that I shall never find it but in your self and that if I lose the hopes of gaining your affection I shall lose all pleasure and desire to live Do not oppose then any longer what the Gods have ordained as to my destiny do not vainly endeavour to introduce another Image into a heart which yours will absolutely possess to the end of my life all the obedience I have for you would be unprofitable upon this account and by all the power you have over me you shall never divert my thoughts from Delia for one single moment These were the contestations that most commonly I had with her and if out of complacency she forbare to contradict me in this design yet she continually assured me that she would not contribute to the displeasure which by that means I might receive In the mean time whatsoever discretion I used to regulate the conduct of my love it could not long continue secret and as you know the actions of persons of my rank being much more observed than those of private men it was a difficult thing that Delia should be so fair and that they should see me render her offices full of assiduity and respect without suspecting that I loved her The fame of it spread it self largely about the Court and quickly came to the ears of those persons who were most interessed in it Urania who had suffered my engagement with a great deal of moderation and little resentment could not take notice that I dis-esteemed her for a person who was so inferiour to her without being a little moved with despite and without expressing as much to me upon some occasions but when she had well considered the person of Delia she began to accuse me and believed that there were but few spirits that could defend themselves against the powers of so admirable a person but the Queen her Mother who had often complained of the coldness I shewed in the courting of her Daughter could not give credit to this common report without being netled at it and without complaining to the King at first he heard without much taking notice of it and excused that to the Queen as the fault of my youth which she condemned with a great deal of sharpness But the Queen in process of time being confirmed in her opinions and having pressed him by her continual solicitations wrought upon his spirit and obliged him absolutely to declare his will Upon this design having one day detained me in his privie Chamber and causing all other persons to withdraw that he might speak to me with the greater liberty Philadelph said he I shall tell you no news when I shall acquaint you that to preserve and augment the alliances which we have with the King of Cappadocia I have resolved upon your marriage with the Princess his Sister but I desired to put you in mind that it is time to make preparation for it and that for very important reasons I am obliged to hasten the design I believe that you are fully disposed to it already and that you acknowledge as well as I that there cannot be a more advantageous offer made you than of such a Princess as Urania is Whilst the King spake in this manner it was easie for him to read in my countenance the displeasure I received at his words and when he had done speaking I continued a long time with my eyes fixed upon the ground without making him any reply he took two or three turns about the Chamber in expectation but when he
to look upon Upon the opinion of a Divinity imprinted in their minds by those celestial lineaments they had much ado to forbear falling at the feet of this person to render her adoration and though the memory of Delia left no place for other impressions in the soul of Philadelph and Artemisa's beauties had much of that which she admired at in others yet this could not keep either of them from the astonishment and veneration which so extraordinary an object might produce in most pre-occupated souls They continued fixed in the contemplation of this prodigie not knowing where to begin the discourse they had to make when the divine Unknown being less discomposed than they addressing her self to Philadelph whom she knew to be her deliverer and opening her mouth a thousand times more handsome than imagination can conceive to express her resentments to him I owe all to you valiant man said she with a tone of speech that spake something more than humane and if your vertue did not find its recompences in it self I should be much ashamed that I can render so little to him who hath hazarded so much for me and at the peril of his own life hath drawn me out of those cruel hands whereinto Fortune had made me fall 'T is certain replyed Philadelph more ravished and confounded than before that this action such as it is finds a high recompence in it self and all the rewards that can be proposed are infinitely below the glory I have received in rendring you this petty service This service is not so inconsiderable answered the Unknown but that by it you have restored my liberty and repose and possibly preserved my life too and something else more precious She had said more to that purpose if the beauties of Artemisa and the courteous reception she gave her had not diverted her to apply her self more particularly than she had done till then to an object so worthy of her attention Artemisa knowing her self to be what she was dispensed with a part of the respect which had retained her and stretching out her arms to this miracle which she could hardly yet behold without dazling Whosoever you are said she for in my opinion you are rather a Goddess than a mortal person permit me I beseech you to approach you with the respect that is due to you and since I have been so happy as to be present at your passage and possibly to contribute something to the succour you have received do not disdain the offers I come to make you of all the services you can desire of us and of a retreat very commodious and safe against those enemies of yours that remain The marvellous Unknown who had not beheld the beauty of Artemisa without astonishment and really found in it part of that which Artemisa admired at in hers received her discourse and obliging offers in the handsomest manner in the world I might have more cause than you said she to make those advantagious judgments of your beauty which you make of mine I am not only a mortal person but a person exposed to very great displeasures and rescued by your assistances from the greatest misfortunes whereinto a Maid of my concondition could fall I do not refuse the offers you make me and though I could find a sure retreat in Alexandria the obligation I have to your goodness and the inclination I conceive for so extraordinary a person as your self will make me find more sweetness and consolation with you than I could hope for in any other company Having spoken these words according to the liberty of her Sex these two persons embraced each other with emotions accompanied with something more of tenderness than is usually produced by the first interview and in the caresses of the admirable Unknown Artemisa found such charms as insensibly stole away her heart They had some discourse besides full of offers and civility on Artemisa's part and full of expressions of acknowledgment on the part of the Unknown but she being tired with her long course and the pains she had taken in strugling between the arms of her Enemies and night drawing on Artemisa thought she ought not to let her continue any longer in a place where she might still be exposed to some disaster and giving her her hand she entreated her to walk with her to Tideus his house She desired the same thing of Prince Philadelph and pressed him as much as possibly she could to bestow some dayes of his company upon such persons as knew how to render what was due to his birth and merit but the Prince was strongly fixed upon the thoughts and design which possessed him that it would have been impossible for him to spend a day in any other employment than of searching after Delia and therefore making the bad humour whereinto his misfortunes had put him his excuse and the condition of his spirit being incapable of all company and society he humbly besought them to dismiss him and to give him leave to retire if his presence were not necessary for their assistance Artemisa who upon his sight his conservation the relation of his life and the marks of valour he had shown in her presence had conceived a marvellous esteem of him and had earnestly desired to make him known to Alexander looked upon his departure with a great deal of regret and the fair Unknown who was so much obliged to him forgot nothing at this parting that might express her resentments to him Philadelph having taken his last leave of them both mounted his horse and took his way towards Alexandria without so much as expressing so great was his pre-occupation any desire of knowing the fair persons he left behind which might have moved that curiosity without doubt in any spirit less taken up than his The fair Ladies seeing him gone took their way towards the house but in the little way they had to go Artemisa viewed the marvellous Unknown a thousand times over without being able to satisfie her sight with the prodigies which wholly took it up Before they came to the house they saw Alexander appear who having left Caesario a little after he had made him a relation of his Life and being full of an amorous impatience came to meet Artemisa We will leave them a while and pursue the relation of what had passed and did then happen at Tyridates his house HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece PART V. LIB I. ARGUMENT Tyridates is very careful of the recovery of his wounded Guests Coriolanus quits his Chamber first and with Tyridates visits the valiant Stranger By the relation of their own Stories they engage him to a recital of his Life He speaks his Name to be Britomarus Son of Briton a Gaul driven out of his Country by Julius Caesar and thereupon engaging in Pompey 's party After whose death he takes a private retreat into Egypt where he employs all possible care and cost in the education of his Son
exempt a man from the rank of the vulgar Artamenes defended himself a while by the knowledge which he had that it was only for Kings and not for the subjects of their Brother that the Princesses of Armenia were destined but he defended himself to no purpose and at last laid his liberty at Artemisa's feet We began thence forward to sympathize and to entertain our selves reciprocally with the effects which our passion produced in our spirits without concealing any thing from each other Because of the rank which Artamenes held in Armenia there was less temerity in his thoughts than in mine and except the Sisters of his King he might without presumption pretend to any of the Ladies of the highest quality yet this did not encrease his boldness and he suffered as well as I during the time we passed together without daring to open his mouth to discover his Love Mean time the season approached for our Army to take the field and the King whose will it was as in former years to return thither in person after the winter was past hastened all the preparations for our departure All this time was slipt away and I had never the confidence to speak and certainly I had gone away in the same condition if my destiny which called me to other things had not presented me with occasions to discover my self which I never expected Cinthia in whose soul despight had powerfully operated though possibly she had extinguished all the affection she had for me yet she was not so far interessed but that she had great desire to know the subject of my real inclinations and as she was privy to all the acquaintance I had and knew all the Persons whose company I frequented she believed it would not be very difficult to discover the truth She began to be very industrious therein and as it is much more hard to deceive persons interessed than those which observe us without any particular design and that besides I had little disposition or adresse to dissemble my thoughts that which had been concealed from the eyes of others began quickly to appear to hers and if she were not certainly assured of the truth she conceived at least great suspicions wherein by the observation of all my actions she confirmed her self more and more I believe she found some consolation in this discovery and the dignity of the cause made her support my usage towards her with greater patience than she did whilst she was ignorant of it She was almost continually with the Princesses and seeing me there every day she had leisure enough to take notice of my regards my sighs and all the other signs whereby a passion might be discovered All the Court knew the familiarity between us but I discovered our rupture to none but to Artamenes and though I did not visit Cinthia at her own house yet in the presence of the Princesses I accosted her as before and she constrained her self before the World to carry her self towards me in appearance as she had been accustomed to do and not to make her resentments break out the cause whereof would have been disadvantageous unto her This was that which retained part of the Persons of the Court in the opinion which they had conceived that I had affection for her The Princesses themselves and particularly Arsinoe with whom Cinthia was more familiar than with her Sister oftentimes questioned her about it and though by this discourse the despite of Cinthia was augmented yet she durst not express it and she suffered it a while with a seeming patience but at last this moderation failed her and whether it were by resentment which possibly had animated her against the imprudence of her age she was carryed away contrary to my thought and whatever might probably be expected from her The Princess was walking upon a ballistred Terrace belonging to her lodging leaning upon Cinthia's arm and the rest of her train believing she would entertain her particularly retired to the other end and left them free in their conversations They had been discoursing some time together when I came and the Princess who at that time was speaking of me no sooner saw me but called me to her and did me the honour to make me the third person in their entertainment Cinthia blusht at my coming and the Princess taking occasion to continue the war she had made her Ah well Cinthia said she to her you blush at it and by your countenance discover that to me which your mouth hath so long disavowed I make no further doubt but that you are the cause of the melancholly and all the inquietudes of Britomarus and besides what I have learned from the publick voice of the Court I see marks which sufficiently declare the truth Cinthia was almost quite out of countenance at this discourse which the Princess made her in my presence and not being able to imagine whether she questioned her upon appearances and the common opinion or whether having knowledge of the truth and the little esteem I had of her affection she would joyn with me to mock her and make her serve for divertisement in an occasion wherein she found so much subject of displeasure she was ready to dye with dispite and could hardly find in all the respect she had for the Princess so much power as to contain her self I was but a little more assured and the confusion of us both confirming Arsinoe in her suspicions you confess enough both of you continued she with a very good grace To remove all uncertainty that might remain in my mind and I hope Cinthia from the amity I have for you that henceforth you will not use so much subtilty and dissimulation with me At this recharge Cinthia lost all patience and after she had several times changed colour in a few moments Madam said she to her your Higness diverts it self at my cost and possibly you well know that it is not to me that Britomarus addresses his thoughts and that he hath far higher pretentions At these words knowing that out of the despite which transported her she transcended the bounds of discretion and was about to speak things in my presence which could not but put me into a confusion I would have retired but the Princess staying me by the arm Tarry Britomarus said she to me and seeing that I interess my self in your affairs suffer me to understand a little more of them Ah! well Cinthia continued she turning towards her you persevere then in your dissimulation towards me and you would have me believe that Britomarus hath higher thoughts than Cinthia Perhaps you know better than I replyed Cinthia but if you do not your urgency possibly will force me to tell you more than the respect I have for you ought to permit me Ah Cinthia said the Princess to her smiling provided you satisfie my curiosity I pardon you for all things but seeing it is not to your self I will not let you rest
Mecenas that together with reproaches which had pierced his heart he had received from a Maid such instructions how to reign that he should be obliged to her for them as long as he lived he continued divers daies much netled and troubled and without scarce seeing the persons who would have caused him to lay constraint upon the Daughter of Anthony This accident is remarkable and the greatness of Caesar's courage certainly produced in this rancounter an effect worthy of his actions Livia remained much afflicted and full of confusion and Tyberius was no less a few daies after when with a like resolution to that which she had shewed before Caesar Cleopatra protested to him that if he did obstinately seek to espouse her by any other waies than by his services she would infallibly destroy her self and that he ought to be very certain that the very day of her Marriage should be the day of her Funeral By this couragious resolution in favour of Coriolanus Cleopatra recovered the liberty which they had deprived her of upon the point that it was most desperate and I saw this unexpected change with a joy as great as was the confusion of Tyberius He almost died with the grief he took at it and whether it were that he had no hope to make Caesar change his resolution or whether he himself feared the effect of Cleopatra's threatnings and would not expose himself to the danger of seeing her execute them but he used no more any authority to acquire her and employed only submissions and testimonies of his love The affairs of Coriolanus were in this condition at Rome when the repose of my mind was ruined there by the ingratitude and inconstancy of Julia. This Princess as I told you either to vex me with jealousie or to pursue her real inclinations made no difficulty of bestowing publick testimonies of affection upon Drusus and she having a spirit which is not troubled with the report and opinion of the vulgar carried her self so that scarcely any person at Rome made any doubt but that Drusus possessed that place in Julia's heart which was destined for me and which sometime I enjoyed At first I endeavoured to receive this change with indifferency and to let Julia know that I did not envie Drusus his Fortune and to that end I forced my self to put the best face upon it I possibly could before her and to appear as little moved at her inconstancy as if I had not been concerned in it but I could not long lay this constraint upon my self and though I was incensed I was still a lover and a very passionate one too To my misfortune all my resolution proved vain against a power to which I had too much submitted my self and in spite of my heart I could not behold the advantages of Drusus without being heartily sensible of them The violent grief I conceived thereupon quickly made it self remarkable and not only the Princess Octavia my Sisters and my most familiar Friends perceived it but the Emperour who took more interest in me than I deserved took notice of it with regret and pressed me every day to acquaint him with the real cause of it In discovering it to him I had an assured means to satisfie my self upon Julia and Drusus in ruining the pretensions of my rival and declaring the Daughters infidelity to a Father who would not have approved of it I and all the Romans knew that the intentions of Caesar were entirely for me and though Drusus were Son to the Empress he could not hope to do me any prejudice but I would not make use of this advantage in a case wherein I thought I could not do it without baseness and seeing that by the merit of my person I could not conserve the affections of this volatile Princess I would not employ the authority of a Father for a thing which seemed due to my personmy love and services I alledged to Caesar sometimes the indisposition of body and at other times other causes of sadness and I was not only unwilling that he should learn the truth from my mouth but when I saw Octavia my Mother and his Sister who was interessed in my afflictions as much as a good Mother could be in a resolution to discover that to him which I kept concealed and to make complaint to him of his Daughter with a great deal of resentment after I had in vain requested her not to render me that displeasure I protested to her that if she would not condescend to his desire I would be gone from Rome so far from her that possibly in divers years she should have no news of me the fear of it restrained her against her design but she sharply blamed me for my vain considerations and could not forbear upon divers occasions to testifie her particular resentment to Julia but if Octavia were ill satisfied with her the Empress in revenge had all the cause that might be to be contented and seeing her designs proceed with all the success she could wish she made so many demonstrations of amity to Julia that if she had been her own Daughter she could not have received more All these things stung me at last in a part where I was very sensible and according to my judgement my honour finding it self interessed was more impatient than my love I could not endure that it should be believed that I had quitted a place to Drusus which I had first possessed and which by all reason was more due to me than to him and when I sought means to make my resentments appear without injuring the consideration which was due to Caesar in the person of his Daughter she gave me so great occasions that I thought it impossible any longer without baseness In all the assemblies and all the publick spectacles that the Emperour often exhibited to the people Drusus was always with her and if at any time by coming late he was distant from her she called him in my very presence and made him take the nearest place to her he could possible There is a sacrifice yearly offered in the Capitol the same day that the City was delivered from the Gauls wherein amongst other Ceremonies one of the principal Roman Ladies elected for that action by the voices of the people goes to make an offering to Jupiter of some gifts of acknowledgement in behalf of the Common-wealth and causes her self to be conducted to the Altar by one of the chiefest Romans and ordinarily by one of her nearest Relations whom she most esteems This year Julia was entreated to perform this office and the Emperour as it is ordinary with the Empress all the Senate and the whole Court was present at the Capitol and assisted at the Sacrifice When it was time that Julia should approach to the Altar all the company cast their eyes upon me as the man who infallibly should accompany her and what misunderstanding soever was between us the Emperours will being publickly
more inclination to acquaint us with good than evil we should offend them without doubt if we should not rather expect good than evil upon an occasion when they leave us more room for hope than fear Candace spake in this manner partly against her own thoughts and Elisa out of the belief she had in that fair Queen did what possibly she could to receive part of the consolation which she desired to administer to her From this discourse which was of some longer continuance between them Elisa passed to that which she had had with the Slave of whom she made such a mention to the Queen that she made her desire to see her presently She commanded her to be called and a little after she came into the Chamber and presented her self before the two Princesses They beheld her then in a perfect light and with more care than they had had for her before and they found in her person where withall to entertain their eyes and their attention In the condition whereunto the miseries of her life had reduced her the beauty which she might have received from Heaven could not appear in its ordinary lustre she had almost lost all her flesh and the vivacity of her complexion was almost spoyled by the length of the grief and troubles wherewith her mind and body hath been perplexed her lips did not blush with that pure Carnation which formerly had covered them and her leanness had lengthened her visage and changed the features of it so that upon a sleight view nothing could be seen in her face which might give any ready knowledge of the beauties which she had once been Mistress of But after that the Princesses had more nearly and more carefully observed her they took notice of something in that almost decayed complexion that was wonderfully delicate in the form of her mouth and the composition of the features of her face though they were altered by the loss of her flesh they remarked an admirable regularity and when she lifted up her eyes to answer the demands they made her they saw lustres or rather lightnings proceed from thence which dazled their sight As languishing and cast down as they were yet they were full of that potent fire against which Souls have little power of resistance and if their languishing had taken some what from the force of their regards it had made them lose nothing of their sweetness but seemed to have added something more tender and moving to them they were of a bright gray as Elisa's were and her hair very near the Princesses her proportion was stall and streight and finally by the ruines of this beauty one might judge considering it attentively that it had been one of the most excellent in the World and according to the youthfulness of the Slave who seemed not to be above twenty years of age might return to its former condition if the cause of those sorrows which had thus defaced it were removed Candace looked upon her with a particular curiosity and when she had observed in her countenance some things which moved her to a different consideration from that which we have for persons of that condition Fair Maid said she I have understood some things concerning you from the mouth of this Princess that have created a great desire in me to see you and the report she hath made me of your person and the vertue which appears in your discourse hath wrought an interest in me for you that will make me willingly seek out the means of administring comfort to you in your present condition Madam answered the Slave this effect of your goodness is very conformable to the grandeur and nobleness that appears in your person and as I believe that it is very difficult to find any in the World equal to your self and the Princess who hath made you this advantagious relation of me so I do not doubt but that in the honour of serving you both I may find all the ease of my miseries that I can hope for in the condition I now am But O Gods continued she with some tears that fell from her fair eyes how hard is it to apply any remedy to my displeasures and how much are my griefs above ordinary consolation You are not replyed Candace the onely Maid that fortune hath ill used and possibly you see an example in us of the the greatest rigors that ever she exercised against persons of our Sex and Birth If the cause of your grief proceeds from your servitude we will employ our credit to make you change your condition and possibly we shall have power enough with the Pretor continued she smiling upon Elisa to obtain your liberty of him They would have spoken more and Candace being moved with tenderness to the Slave and less oppressed with grief than the Parthian Princess would have pressed this Maid to a more ample declaration of her self if Cornelius after he understood that they were in a condition fit to be seen had not entred into the Chamber The Princesses received him with civility and though the knowledge of his love began to work some repugnance in Candace she thought her self obliged by the necessity of her present condition to lay some constraint upon her self After the first complements of salutation and reception Cornelius told the Princesses that he came to impart to them the news that he had received from Augustus he informed them that Caesar departed from Cyprus to come to Alexandria where he had been long expected had been assailed by a furious tempest probably the same that brought the Princesses upon that shore that great part of his Vessels were either cast away or scattered and that he being by a singular favour of Heaven preserv'd with a few others was landed at last at Pelusium where he staid a few dayes to refresh himself before he came to Alexandria and thence had sent him command to stay for his coming thither and not to meet him as he was resolved to have done He told them likewise that it was believed that by that shipwrack divers important persons were lost and amongst the rest the Princess Cleopatra of whom they could hear no news and for whom the greatest part of the Emperor's Court was in great sadness Candace was mightily moved at this news out of the interest she took in all the Kindred of Caesario and having asked Cornelius how Cleopatra had been enveloped in that Shipwrack seeing the principal persons had escaped it She was replyed Cornelius in Octavia's Vessel whom she accompanied in that Voyage and some hours before the tempest that Princess with all her attendants having passed into Caesars Vessel Cleopatra who that day found her self indisposed or melancholy and unfit for greater company stayed in Octavia's Ship with some Maids that served her and the Seamen A little after the Tempest surprized them with so much suddenness and violence that the Vessels could never joyn again and since that time the Ship
Artaban and ' twice in the same day we recommenced the Combat which was interrupted in Ethiopia Artaban said Elisa to him intermingling with their Discourse If you value my friendship and desire that I should esteem you you shall not only not be any longer an Enemy to a Prince who serves the Queen Candace but you shall contract as great an Amity with him as there is between this great Queen and I and you shall seek for opportunities to serve him with as much ardor as I have for the interests of the Princess whom he loves Artaban continued some moments without making a Reply and then upon a sudden resuming the Discourse Madam said he to Elisa the Prince of whom you speak doth so worthly deserve the esteem and the affection which you would create in me for him that 't was by the means of my misfortune only that the occasions which I thought I had to complain of him joining themselves to a natural repignance without reason and foundation made me resist the inclination which his Vertue â—ight have wrought for him in all the men of the World besides But though I had been a great deal more sensibly injured the declaration of your Will is so powerful over my spirit and the cause that gave birth to my first resentments hath so long ceased that I shall render to you without any repugnance the obedience which is due to you and to that Prince whatsoever he can expect from the most faithful of his Friends and the man who is best acquainted with his Uertue of any in the World These words proceeding from the mouth of a man who could not be suspected of any want of sincerity and freedom gave a great deal of satisfaction to the two Princesses and Candace turning towards him with a countenance that expressed her contentment I receive in Cleomedon 's stead said she a considerable Amity as that of the great Artaban ought to be and I promise you in the behalf of that absent Prince that he shall answer it with a freedom equal to yours Though he be absent replied Artaban I believe he is not very far off and if he got off from our Combat and from that we had afterwards against the Pyrats in such a condition as I did I believe he could not make any long Voyage But added he speaking to the two Princesses you know possibly where he is and in the mean time I cannot sufficiently wonder at the Fortune which hath brought you two together and in so small a time hath joined you in so firm a friendship You shall understand that at leasure said Elisa but in the mean while 't is as just that we should know from you by what miracle you are escaped from the Waves wherein my eyes beheld you entombed and where we had great reason to think that we had lost you for ever Artaban was about to return her an Answer when at first they heard a noise of Horses and afterwards turning about their Heads they saw a Body of Thirty or Forty Cavaliers who passed along the shore and marched towards Alexandria The Commander of this Troop had his Head unarmed and only covered with a little Bonnet shaded with a black Plume of Feathers the rest of his body was clad in Armor as were all the persons of his Retinue At the sight of the Ladies he left his Troop and turning a little out of the way where he left it he galloped towards the place where they were and he was no sooner come to them but having cast his eyes upon Elisa and immediately knowing her he remained so ravished at this incounter that for some moments he could not either by Action or Discourse express the perturbations of his Soul At last dissipating his astonishment O gods cryed he Behold behold her whom I seek for all the World over Having finished these words he threw himself hastily from his Horse and ran to the Princess of the Parthians Elisa at the first was surprized with his Action but she was a great deal more surprized and Artaban too when casting their eyes upon the mans face they knew him to be Tigranes King of the Medes Never was astonishment like to that of the fair Princess when she saw before her eyes a Prince whose sight after she had given him such great causes of resentment could not but be very formidable to her the man to whom the King her Father had given his consent the man that had espoused her by his Ambassadors and expected her in his own Dominions as his lawful Spouse and the same man whose Ambassadors she sent disgracefully back after that she was forcibly taken from their Conduct and had declared her intentions to them 'T is certain that at the sight of a Prince so highly offended and whom Elisa could not look upon but as a cruel Enemy the Princess was more like to one dead than alive and had not so much power as to stir out of the place where she was nor to utter one word 'T was at that moment that she took notice of the instability of Fortune seeing that when she thought her self redevable to her for the life of her Artaban upon whose death she had bestowed so many tears and when she was about to wipe away her sorrows by an unexpected felicity and to tast of an agreeable change in her condition she saw her self at the same time precipitated into the greatest miseries she could apprehend and fallen again into the hands of a man whom she was more afraid of than all the dangers to which she had been exposed to avoid him and under which neither Artaban's nor her own life could be otherwise than hateful to her Tigranes plainly perceived her strong surprize and not being ignorant of the cause of it he did not seem much troubled at it The usage he had received from the Princess did certainly give him matter of resentment enough but having a great deal of respect and love for her he believed that 't was not fit to make any uncivil use of this incounter nor intimidate Elisa's spirit by a rough demeanor towards her and so aggravate the grief which probably she might be sensible of for this effect of her bad Fortune He smoothed his countenance as much as possibly he could and he had no great difficulty to mollifie himself before a Beauty which might have wrought the same effect upon Tygers neither did he need to look far for humility before those eyes which might humble the proudest hearts In fine reflecting a great deal more upon his present happiness than upon all his past misfortunes he seemed to express in his countenance the change of his condition and accosting Elisa with an Action full of the marks of respect Be not astonished Madam said he to her at the meeting of a Prince whose Duty towards you nothing can dispense with 'T is not a Barbarian 't is not an Enemy that you have met and though the
and 't is certain that at this time the difference was so small that she might easily have been taken for Alcimedon When the Princess saw her self in this posture as she desired and that Leander had brought the Prince's Horse and Buckler she bowed towards the beloved body and took her last adieu with a tenderness able to cleave with pitty the most savage hearts and conjuring Leander and Belisa to remember her commands and to declare nothing that they knew till the time she had prescribed she took Horse and being no Novice in that exercise she spurr'd him forward to the address of the strongest men and ran with so much impetuosity that they presently lost sight of her The field of Battel was already covered with the Souldiers of both parties who with great diligence had fastened the Barriers and erected a Scaffold for the Judges there were two of them one for the King of Scythia and the other for the Queen of Dacia and the Princes of her side and the Barriers were invironed with a thousand Horse of either Army The Judges had already taken their seats with much civility and a little after the King Orontes on the one part although he had some wounds which would have kept in bed any person of a less robust complexion and the Queen Amalthea on the other with the Princes of her Train placed themselves upon the Scaffold at the sound of a hundred Trumpets that attended them and which made the fields of Nicea eccho they expected only the two Combatants who seemed a little slow and 't is certain that Alcamenes marching not to this Combate with that ardour and fierceness which used to accompany him in others it being only a fiction and dissembled action was not over-hasty to take the Field yet he appeared a little after the appointed time but it was not with his accustomed boldness and gallantry nor with that menacing Mine which darted fear into the most assured His Arms were enriched with Gold and some stones his Buckler of the same without any device his Casque was covered with a shade of Plumes and he alwaies kept the vizor of his Helmet down because of Barzanes who from the Scaffold might easily have known him though he affected nothing terrible in his gate yet could the God of Battels have pleaded small advantage over him and Barzanes concluded with the Prince of the Massegetes that nothing could match him unless the brave person who was to fight him this day had the good fortune Alcamenes walked a long time in the Field ere his Enemy appeared and all the world began to condemn the sloath of Alcimedon and those to whom he was not well known made sinister censures on his courage Amalthea who was out of humour and in some trouble for the Princess the cause of whose walk the could not divine and prickt with delight at Alcimedons delay and the more in that the Princes his Enemies indeavoured to stain his courage and openly blamed his sloath the perfidious Orchomenes who with the life would also have taken away the Honour of his Enemy said he knew him better than the rest and had alwaies made a judgment of him different from that of others and that he believed he would not come at all Barzanes who dearly loved Alcimedon supported impatiently their murmures and still assured the Prince of the Massegetes that he would not fail to appear usless some important adventure hindred Alcamenes himself was astonisht at the delay of Cleomenes and for some moments thought that he wanted courage for this enterprize at last he heard the most remote say that Alcimedon was come that Alcimedon was hard by and a little after they saw him approach or rather the furious Menalippa in his Arms in a posture so terrible that it had been easie to have perceived with a little observation that she was agitated with some other passion than the desire of glory the Dacians gave a great shout at his arrival and Orchomenes believing himself betray'd by his Servants beheld him to whom he had given the commission with a menacing eye and by an inflamed regard reproacht his fidelity So soon as Menalippa was in the Field not musing her self with formalities she road to the end of the Barriers and fastning her self in the Saddle she started with a mighty impetuosity imploring assistance from the Gods she might pass her Javelin through the throat of her Enemy Alcamenes started at the same time but having no design to hurt Cleomenes he had chosen the weakest Javelin he could find and instead of addressing it to the Vizor or any other dangerous place he threw it against the middle of the Buckler where it brake without any further effect Menalippa aim'd hers directly at Alcamenes's Vizor but whether it were by the fury of her course or passion or the little experience she had in this exercise which made her fail in the attempt her blow sliding by his Casque it past without doing any harm then drawing her Sword she made to her Enemy who expected her in the same posture She aimed many blows at him which he put by with his Buckler and wherein he perceived if not more force at least more fury than he could have expected from Cleomenes struck only at those places where he found her covered with her Buckler being very careful not to hurt a man who only sought to serve him and as he had not been accustomed to sport and feign in such occasions he was quite ashamed of the person he represented being obliged in this Combate to dissemble that valour which on all occasions he so prodigally testified At last the impatient Menalippa breathing nothing but fire made a furious blow which he avoiding it fell upon her own Horse and the Blade being exceeding good it gave him such a wound that the inraged Beast ran with all his force to the end of the Field yet not so swiftly but the Princess had leisure to quit her Stirrups and alight Alcamenes joyful to see his enemy on foot ready to terminate the Combate after the manner he had designed with Cleomenes alighted and approached Menalippa with his drawn Sword The desperate Princess cast her self upon him with so much fury that the Prince could not prevent her Sword meeting with the default of his Arms a light wound Alcamenes was astonisht at this fury of Cleomenes and seeing that all the spectators were too far to understand what they said Friend said he thou sparest me not and if thou fightest long thou wilt not represent amisse the person of Alcimedon These words confirmed the Princess in the belief she had against Alcamenes and not induring a discourse wherein he seemed to play with the destiny of poor Alcimedon Ah Traytor said she hast thou imagined that the obscurity of the Wood could hide thy Treason or dost thou think to save thy self by thy deceit Give me death immediately or expect to lose thy life by the hand of thy
and Desolation put on their true shape and if the whole Camp groaning for the losse of so many thousands that had been slain that day for the death of the Prince of Bithinia and the King of the Nomades and for that of a great number of principal Officers who had left their Bodies in the Field as Trophies of Scythian Valor The Queen to the great cause she had to regret this loss joyned the grief she resented at Menalippa's despair She caused her to be carried off the Field to be disarm'd and her wounds drest and though they were but light yet the unconsolable grief of the Princess would have put the least bodily distemper into a capacity of indangering of life In vain had the Queen imbraced her and bedewed her face with tears in vain had she conjured her by the most pressing words affection could put into her mouth to declare the cause of her despair and funest resolution The desperate Princess answered not but by sobbs and tears which flowed incessantly from her fair eys or if the afflicted Mother could sometimes force a few words from her they so savoured of rage and fury that they easily discovered her Soul to be possest with a mortal sadness But though Menalippa could not conceal her grief yet she would her love choosing rather to suffer the perpetual demands of the Queen than confesse she had loved Alcimedon and that it was for him she fought with Alcamenes and was faln into despair Notwithstanding the pre-occupation of her Soul she caused Belisa to order the Body of Alcimedon secretly to be buried which was very easie amongst so many thousands that kept him company and this Maid who with Leander had carried it to the Camp according to her orders would nevertheless divulge nothing of this adventure having not yet received the Princesses commands so she put the Body of Cleomenes in an unfrequented place where it could not be known by reason of the wounds in his face and being stript of Alcimedon's Arms which might have made him observed Menalippa in her design of concealing her love from the world received some satisfaction from this discretion of Belisa charging her to recommend the secret to Leander and all those who knew ought of this adventure The Queen pressed her uncessantly to reveal the truth partly to understand the cause of her despair and also to know how she came by Alcimedon's Armour and what was become of that valiant man and how he permitted her to fight in his place yet he could never draw the least word out of her mouth that might give any satisfaction in what she desired and all that she could obtain was a promise to declare the truth within six days on condition that till then she would give her the liberty of her tears without troubling her for a clearer knowledge The Queen who even adored her and placed in her only all her affections and hopes was constaained to be satisfied with this promise and though she disapproved and condemned the furious resolution and Combate of her Daughter which she could not attribute but to a violent despair yet durst she not blame her for this action as she would doubtless have done had she been in a condition capable of reproof Yet was not Menalippa's heart so replenisht with her own misfortunes but there was room left to resent the Queen's and seeing her drowned in tears at her Pillow Madam said she I render my self unworthy by my folly of that bounty you testifie towards me In the Name of the Gods allay the troubles of your spirit and hope with me from the bounty of Heaven that mine will repose it self when yours becomes more serene Ah Menalippa reply'd the Queen with a sigh You have little reason to imagine my spirit can be at rest whilst yours remains in the condition it now appears and you have little valued my repose when you exposed a Daughter more dear to me than my own life to the conquering Sword of the valiantest man upon Earth I am not reply'd sadly Menalippa the first person of my sex that hath drawn a Sword against men and you your self have inspired me with Warlike inclinations by the education you gave me however this action may partly be excused to you by the hatred which with my milk you have made me suck against the Fâmily of Orontes and which I believed might reasonably transport me to this extremity against the Son of my Fathers Murtherer against a man who robbs us of the hopes of revenge and of the possession of Scythia which the Gods hath promised us and against a man to whom for other reasons also I have an irreconcileable aversion It must be Menalippa reply'd the Queen and shaking her head that these desperate resolutions against Alcamenes have some deeper causes than those that are common to us both and were he not born of your Father's Murtherer he hath done nothing in this War nor in the Combate against you but what might rather cause esteem than aversion Pardon me Madam repli'd Menalippa brisquely in that my resentments are not conformable to yours and if I have not generosity to love enough vertue in mine Enemies Amalthea knew by the manner of pronouncing these words that she could not contradict her without augmenting her affliction and a little after going out of the Chamber she permitted her to passe the night through her instant intreaties without any other company save that of Belisa During the remainder of this night which she gave wholly to sighs and tears for unhappy Alcimedon she made often reflections on the actions and words of Alcamenes in the Combate and observing amongst those cruel ones whereby he owned the death of Alcimedon that he was in love with her and offered himself to her with all the marks of a passionate man she became astonisht at the quick birth of his love and flattered her self possibly notwithstanding her mortal grief with the glory of such a conquest and of the quick and marvellous effects of her beauty After a long revery If it be true said she that Alcamenes loves me I praise the gods for the occasions they have given me of revenging his cruelty by that I will exercise against him and if the Barbarian be so happy to escape the death which I prepare for him I will make him feel from this heart pre-occupied by a passion so just all that a just resentment can inspire me with of most cruel and most conformable to the hatred I bear him In these furious thoughts she passed the night and part of the next day receiving some nourishment and permitting them to dresse her wounds not out of love to life but of design to imploy it wholly in revenging Alcimedon Part of the day was past when they came to advertize the Queen that the Prince of the Tauro-Scythes desired admittance from the King of Scythia What hatred soever she bare his Master yet knew she how to treat Ambassadours
Martia and further representing to her that Ptolomey deserved not so great expresons of her good will and that it was but fitting he should not be acquainted therewith lest it made him too insolent I by degrees so laid that mild nature that I brought her to a resolution of not grieving any longer after that manner and that she would reassume her former freedom and pleasantnesse of conversation In the mean time give me leave to acquaint you with the adventure which the same day happened to Ptolomey and prepare your self to hear a very strange accident He went to Sabina's as he told us he would where a great many Ladies met and among others besides those he had named to us Helvidia Sulpicia Emilia whom I made mention of in the adventures of Julius Antonius who was some years since married to Scipio and with her that inexorable Tullia who had been the cause of the losse of our Elder Brother After the death of Caecinna and the deplorable accident I have already related to you she retired to Tusculum where she continued six years without ever coming once to Rome during which time Cicero her Brother had made his abode in Africk where he was Proconsul but being not long before returned to Rome he had brought his Sister with him which to effect he had used all the authority he had over her otherwise she had still continued her solitude 'T was not above three dayes before that she came to Rome where she was thought as beautiful as when she left it though she were then about three or four and twenty years of age and had a sufficient measure of affliction to cause some alteration in her beauty Her dresse was not after the exactnesse of the mode yet neat and there was in her countenance such a conjunction of sweetnesse and majesty that Ptolomey who had never seen her before immediately took notice of her more than of any of the rest At his coming in the company was gotten into a long Gallery where they were looking on the pieces that were hanged about it yet so as they were divided into parties according to the difference of pictures more or lesse inviting them Ptolomey was not expected in this company and if Sabina had had any notice of his coming she would not have had Tullia there though she were of her most intimate acquaintance but he being of a quality that won him a welcom-reception every where and that the excellencies of his person recommended him no lesse then the rank he was of he was very kindly entertained so far as that some part of the company came about him at his entrance into the room Being a person of a majestick look a noble carriage of body and a deportment infinitely taking Tullia immediately observed him not without surprise and she viewed him with such a look as discovered that notwithstanding his being Anthony's Son he seemed such to her as could not raise her aversion Now she being the onely person in the company to whom he was unknown she asked one that stood next her what his name was which she had no sooner heard but there rose such a tempest in her countenance that the alteration happening therein was observed by all those that looked on her She was once in a thought to leave the company whereupon coming up to Emilia and whispering her in the ear with some disturbance What said she to her can the World afford me no place of refuge against the Children of Anthony Emilia who was troubled at the accident made her no immediate answer but Sabina as Lady of the House coming neer her to make excuses for what was happened and to let her know that she was as much surprized at Ptolomey's arrival as she was told her withal that he was a person of such quality as not to be forced out of the house Whereupon Emilia having somewhat recovered her self intreated her not to make any disturbance in the company and to remember her self that the too publick discoveries she had made of her aversion for the children of Anthony had produced effects but too too deplorable that she might stay in the room yet not engage her self into any particular conversation with Ptolomey and from that day avoid all opportunities of meeting with him that she would undertake that Ptolomey should not endeavour any acquaintance with her and that she knew so much of his humour as raised in her a confidence that he would not be guilty of those importunities towards her which his Brother had been Sabina added her intreaties to those of Emilia and both together prevailed so far with Tullia that they perswaded her to stay with them as long as the rest did In the mean time Ptolomey who upon the first sight had taken notice of Tullia's beauty and had further observed some part of the trouble which his presence had raised in her and some thing of what had passed in that part of the Gallery where she had retired being in some impatience to know the name of that beautiful person asked it of Albinus who making no difficulty to give him an account of her filled him with astonishment He retreated some few paces as somewhat amazed and looking on her more attentively than before What said he is this the same inexorable Tullia that terrible Beauty by whose means we have lost our Brother At these words he stopped running over in his mind thousands of things which presented themselves confusedly to his imagination The relation had been made of the insupportable treatments which our Brother had receaved from her and the sad effects they had produced raised in him such bitter resentments against her as made him abhor her as an over-cruel enemy And though he were not ignorant of the reason she had to defie all communication with our house yet was it his judgement as well as of a many others that she was excessively violent against a Prince that had given her so great assurances of his love and who as to his Person was very amiable and much respected He had often wished a meeting with her to see as he would say himself what making that terrible person was of and to try whether his soul were so immalleable and consequently not able to resist the influences of her beauty better then that of Julius Antonius did But Tullia being not returned to Rome and that there was no expectation of her coming thither he had quitted all hopes of it nay lost all remembrance of her At last having recovered himself out of the first astonishment he had conceaved at the rencounter he fortified his heart with more fiercenesse then ordinary summoning all his indignation to avoid a fate like that of his Brothers But he stood not in any need of that assistance for whether it proceeded from the prejudice he had against her or from a certain Antipathy he was not guilty of the least inclination for her and accordingly looking on her with
Crown Do you imagine that this injustice is of the same kind with those which the gods punish and are you not afraid to incense them your self by entertaining so much aversion and animosity against a King that adores you and is ready to dye at your feet Having said these words he turned towards Artemisa and looking on her with a little more mildness than ordinary by reason of the presence of Cleopatra whom he knew to have a horrour for his cruelties Well Artemisa said he to her you see after what manner Heaven hath prospered your designes and how it hath approved that the Daughter of Artabasus should forsake her Brother and her King to run away with the Son of Anthony My Lord replies Artemisa endeavouring to recover her self a little though my affection was I must confess very great towards Alexander yet was it not such as should have obliged me to forsake you to follow him could I have taken any other course to have saved his life which you would have taken from him and he should have lost for my sake This makes nothing for your justification replies Artaxus but you do not stand much in need of any having sound such a sanctuary in the Princess Cleopatra The power she hath over me disarms the indignation I have against you and I have no hatred for Alexander since I adore Cleopatra In a word your destiny is in her hands and I shall not only pardon you the offence you have committed against me but I shall further consent to your marriage with Alexander if Cleopatra will be but mine It is not impossible replies Cleopatra not staying for any answer from Artemisa but that we may find other means to get out of your power and if they â—aile us we will follow those resolutions which the gods and our own courage shall inspire us with In the mean time be not flattered with so fond a hope as that Caesar should tamely suffer you in his own dominions and almost in his arms to carry away a Princess that is one of his house and under his protection but on the contrary assure your self that by such a contempt of his authority you may stirr up such a fire as may set your Kingdom all into a flame Caesar I question not replies Artaxus will remember that my Father hath alwayes served him and dyed in his cause through the cruelty of your Father who was his implacable enemy I my self in my younger years have drawn my sword on his side against Anthony and if the children of his enemies are not more considerable to him than those of his Friends and Allies he will not think there is more injustice in the carrying away of Cleopatra than in that of Artemisa Artemisa hath not been carryed away replies Cleopatra she hath only fled away from your wrath after she had saved my Brothers life It was her obligation to preserve it because it was for her sake that he had exposed it to that ignominious death which you had intended he should suffer And so after she had thus acquitted her self towards a Prince who was not unworthy of her she was content to follow him and participate of his fortune in order to the safety of her life which she could not hope to have secure with you after those examples of cruelty which she had so fresh in her memory Well Madam replyed the King of Armenia whether Alexander carryed away Artemisa or Artemisa carryed away Alexander it matters not this is certain that I received the affront in the very heart of my dominions and that a Prince of the quality of Alexander had no ground in the World to go and remain incognito in the Court of a King whom he knew to be his enemy whether it were to gain the affections of his Sister or out of any other design which he might have had and that there is not any Prince in the World by whom he had not been ill treated upon such an account But though this reason and the others I have already alledged of the interests and the services of our house should amount to nothing with Caesar I am now to appeal to another power than his and since I have submitted my self to yours I stand in greater fear of your indignation than Augustus's This he seconded with some other discourse after which he desired leave of her to sit down by reason of his wounds which had weakened him very much and were not a little troublesome to him Cleopatra laughed in her sleeve at this pretended respect and yet was not a little pleased to keep him in that humour out of a fear he might break forth into disorder and accordingly not much care what violences he put in execution Nor indeed was the design of Artaxus any other it being impossible that his fierce and cruel nature should spend it self long in fruitlesse complyances But he thought it his best course to dissemble while he was yet in a condition to fear all things and out of that consideration would not make use of his power till such time as he were come into his own Kingdom In the interim he had resolved to do all that lay in his power to humour Cleopatra and omitted no humble submissions to make her forget if possible the aversion she had conceived against him He would needs have the ship hoise up saile at that very instant though his Chirurgion had made it appeare to him that the sea was prejudicial to his wounds and indeed on the other side some reason to fear he might be surprized upon that coast by those that were sent out in quest of Cleopatra He conceived and that not without probability that he had not escaped so long had it not been for the little likely-hood there was that those who had carryed away Cleopatra should stay so neer Alexandria And indeed it was out of that very consideration that those who went in their pursuit as well by sea as by land had gone the farther from the place where the fact was done Besides the vessel was so hidden by a Rock which in a manner covered it that on the land-side it could not any way be seen and to prevent all suspicion from the sea of its being that vessel wherein were the Princesses order had been taken that neither they nor any belonging to them should at any time appear upon the deck With this precaution and these favourable circumstances Artaxus not conceiving himself secure would needs have been gone thence at that instant when a wind contrary to his designs and consonant to the wishes of the Princesses rises at the same time but a wind so contrary to the course they were to take that it was thought impossible to get out of the river while it blew with the same violence it had begun nay there was some fear that if they went out of the place where they were wherever they had cast anchor it could not be so private as the
thought it not fit to lodge her out of the Palace but had appointed her certain rooms within that which had been designed for Octavia And Candace either to leave the more room for the Empresse or that she could not be without the company of of Elisa was upon the desires of that Princesse gone along with her and had left her lodgings void so that Cornelius finding none more convenient for the Princesse Cleopatra changed his former resolution and disposed of her into the place which before had been taken up by the Queen of Ethiopia When the two Princesses were alighted out of the Chariots they met at the bottom of the staires with Elisa Candace Olympia and Arsinoe with Ariobarzanes and Philâ—delph coming to meet them Agrippa immediately shewed Elisa and Candace to Cleopatra to whom he had spoken of them before in the Chariot and those two Princesses coming up close to her she saluted them with sentiments not much different from that admiration which they expressed at the sight of her divine beauty She knew Elisa to be sole heir to the Empire of the Parthians and looked on Candace as a Princesse of the royal progeny of Ethiopia and accordingly made the return of civility to both which upon the sight of their countenance they might have chalenged from all the World and at the same time Artemisa saluted Olympia who knowing her to be Sister to Ariobarzanes was through a forwardnesse of affection come up to her Artemisa entertained with very much civility the effects of an affection whereof she yet knew not the cause But when after she had disengaged her self out of her embraces and received those of Candace and Elisa whom she first met in her way she was going towards Arsinoe who stretched out her arms with a cordial friendship to entertain her and at the same time cast her eie on her countenance as also on that of Ariobarzanes who stood close by her she was seized by such an astonishment that had it not been for Artaban who was not ignorant of the cause thereof and came forward purposely to hold her up she had fallen all along on the ground In the mean time Arsinoe kissed her and embraced her with much tendernesse yet was not able to bring her to her self nor make her apprehend that what she saw was real Whereupon Ariobarzanes after he had saluted Cleopatra whom Agrippa had acquainted with his name as also with that of Arsinoe taking Artemisa out of his Sisters hands after he had begged the pardon of those great Princesses to acquit himself of the civilities he ought his Sister saluted her at last with all the demonstrations of an affectionate friendship and perceiving that that Princesse astonished at the unexpectednesse of the interview could not be recovered out of her amazement What Sister said he to her will you not know Arsinoe and Ariobarzanes Artemisa with much ado coming at last to her self again and looking on them one after another for some time before she would venture to speak Alasse said she at length I very well see the countenances of Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe but I question whether I may trust my eyes so far and I find it no smal difficulty to be satisfied whether they are shades that present themselves to me after their death so wel known throughout all Asia or whether they appear really before me and without any illusion Assure your self Sister replyed at the same time Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe you see us really and you may embrace us without any fear since we are truely living and have not been dead but in the opinion of men Artaban who stood neer Artemisa gave her further satisfaction as to that truth acquainting her in a few words how they had both escaped shipwrack and when the Princesse was convinced and that the caresses of her brother and Sister had dispelled all her doubts she in the first place gave way to certain tears which a tender joy would needs adde to those which the death of Artaxus still forced out into her face And then instead of returning the caresses she had received from Ariobarzanes suitably to their ancient familiarity she cast her self on her knees before him and taking him by the hand and bathing it with her tears Since it is certain said she to him that you are Ariobarzanes alive and that I am now absolutely at your disposal be pleased to pardon the unfortunate Artemisa what too too justifiable a gratitude hath obliged her to do for the safety of Alexander she embraces your knees to obtain that favour at your hands and she hopes the gods have not restored you to life to raise in you a severe and an inexorable judge of my actions Ariobarzanes astonished at the deportment of Artemisa from whom he expected those caresses that spoke more familiarity raised her up with much ado and discovering how much he was surprised at it in all his looks Sister said he to her I apprehend not what you mean by this kind of behaviour towards me and besides that the crime you charge your self with descraves rather to be commended then blamed and that I should have done no lesse my self for the safety of Alexander it is to the King our Brother and not to me that this submission is due from you If it be due to my King replies Artemisa it is to my King that I make this submission and since I am the first of your Subjects that hath demanded any favour at your hands I am also the first that brings you the news that you are King of Armenia These words put Ariobarzanes to such a losse that he had not the power to make any present reply thereto and during the silence he kept by reason of the astonishment he was in Agrippa assuming the discourse acquainted him with the particulars of Artaxus his death as he had not long before understood them from Cleopatra and in the relation he made thereof he forgot not to insist very much upon this that his death was purely the effect of his own rage and exasperation and that his enemies had been so far from contributing any thing thereto that they endeavoured all they could to prevent it Artaxas had no doubt been a very inhuman Prince one for whom it could not be expected that the inclinations of Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe should be very violent by reason of the great disproportion there was between their dispositions yet being both of excellent good natures the grief they conceived at that unfortunate accident was for the present so great that It could not be abated by the purchase of a Crown in the apprehension of Ariobarzanes nor by the hopes of a more happy condition of life in that of Aâ—sinoe For Philadelph and Olympia if they were astonished in some measure at the first hearing of that news assoon as it was dispersed joy took its place and there was no reason it should give way to any thing in their apprehension it being
disclaim it to those who might have a perfect knowledge of it And on the other side he thought it imprudence to discover what might be yet doubtfull and by that confession run the hazard of losing Candace who was dearer to him then his own life and without whom life signifi'd nothing with him Between these two considerations he was in some suspence what resolution he should take when Augustus observing what doubtfulness and perplexity he was in It is to no purpose said he to him to dissemble with us or to consult whether you should let us know you are Caesario we know all even to the least circumstances and Candace her self does not deny but that Cleomedon is Son to Caesar and Cleopatra Upon the hearing of these names of Candace and Cleomedon the Prince was fully satisfi'd of his misfortune and being unwilling to deny what he thought Candace had acknowledg'd 'T is very true said he to him Cleomedon is Son to Caesar and since Candace hath thought fit this truth should be known it is too advantageous for me to disclaim it I am Caesario and I am also Cleomedon Under this name I have haply done those actions which render me not unworthy the bloud of my Ancestors and the name you bear You are onely by adoption what I am by birth and bloud and name are common to us though our fortunes are much different I have not envied yours as thinking my own glorious enough in the service of Candace and purely out of the extraordinary inclinations I have had for her alone I have without any regret seen you in the place of him that brought me into the world I am apt to believe what you say replies the Emperour and withal willing to acknowledge that the noble actions of Cleomedon are not unknown to us and that they no less discover you to be the Son of Caesar then the resemblance you have of him in your countenance but you will give me leave to require some reason of your abode unknown in Alexandria and you are not to be much astonished if it hath raised some jealousies in us When you know replies the Son of Caesar that I serve the Queen of Aethiopia you will not much wonder I should endeavour to find her out even in Alexandria nor can you think it extraordinary I should conceal my self if you reflect on the Orders you sometime gave out against my life at a time when it was not fear'd I could do you much prejudice The same observations of policy replies the Emperour whereby the actions of persons of my rank are regulated may change their resolutions according to several times and exegenes and there may have been of the Orders you mention in one season a necessity in another none Howere it may be you will give me leave to examine those things whereof the knowledge does so much concern me and to find out how I may with safety treat you suitably to my inclinations rather then according to Maximes of State which are sometimes rigorous even contrary to their intentions who are obliged to follow them With those words he commanded Levinus to conduct him to a Castle not for from Alexandria where were commonly disposed Prisoners of quality and whither they had the day before carried the Prince of Mauritania but as he went away he bid him not fear any thing and commanded Levinus he should be treated and attended as Caesar's Son This personated kindness did Caesario look on as more dangerous then menaces and open discoveries of displeasure insomuch that he doubted not but Augustus had resolv'd his death though hedissembled his intention He departed without making him any reply and march'd away in the midst of the Guards which receiv'd him at the door towards the prison whither he was sent As he passed through the great Hall he met full butt with Candace led by Eteocles who transported with grief was come to give her notice of that misfortune and the fair Queen being wholly at a loss thereat and not thinking any observance of decency and feminine reservedness obliged her to smother her sentiments upon that occasion was running to the Emperor resolv'd to participate of the danger with her beloved Prince though her resolution were the greatest of any of her Sex yet could she not see him surrounded by a Guard without being so troubled thereat that for some time she was no better then in a swound though held up by Eteocles But seeing the Prince carried away she overcame her weakness and runing before him What Cleomedon said she to him is this the condition wherein you appear to me 'T is not Cleomedon replies the Prince 't is Caesario that is carried to Prison and it may be to his death it being in vain for me to conceal my name from Caesar after your acknowledgement of it to him Who I replied the Queen I discover your name to Caesar Ah Cleomedon or Caesario since you will have it so assure your self I know nothing of what you say and that before I should be guilty of a confession so prejudicial to you I would have endured all the torment that mans invention could have put me to And not be assured of this would speak more cruelty in you then in our mortal Enemies And if he who puts you into Chains shall be moved neither by my intreaties nor a respect to my dignity you shall find whether I make any difficulty to run fortunes with you May your preservation be the care of the Gods reply'd the Prince with a gesture wholly passionate but if it be their will I should die upon this occasion they know I shall do it without any other regret then that of losing you If you die replies the Queen you shall not die alone I shall as gladly accompany you to Death as to a Throne She would have said more if Levinus who was afraid his suffering that conversation might give offence after he had made some excuse to her caused the Prince to march on and carried him immediately out of the Hall leaving the Queen so struck at that cruel separation that notwithstanding all that great constancy whereof the had made so many discoveries she fell into a swound between their arms who stood about her to hold her up She was in that condition and the unfortunate Eteocles between the desire he had to relieve her and that of following Caesario was at a loss what to do when the Princess Julia comes into the Hall accompanied by the Princess Andromeda Ismenia and some other Ladies Being a person the most officious in the world she runs to the Queen with much earnestness and having understood from those that were about her the cause of that accident her thoughts were divided between her compassion and astonishment thereat Mean time the Queen by the help of those that were about her recovers her self and seeing the Princess Julia very busie and earnest to relieve her after she had looked on her