of his greatest and so powerful an enemy But his return to his Souldiers was so seasonable that at the same time they were ready to give way to the assailants but reanimated with his presence on the contrary forced them to retire Wherefore intending a fair composition and an honorable retreat he sounded a Parley and went himself to the battlements to declare his intentions were not to use any farther violence but without any the least damage to quit the City When day beginning to appear though so as things were scarcely distinguishable he perceived by the Ensigns that he was attacqued by Hydaspes forces wherefore he only cryed out to them Tell Prince Hydaspes who hath gallantly forced his way thus far that Demetrius is advanced hither to meet him and will immediately set open the gates to receive so noble a friend Whereupon his voice being known by some of the principal Officers there was an unspeakable joy amongst them all which when they met was expressed by a general shout and acclamations on either side and the Princes having embraced Demetrius though his heart returned into the Palace thinking it necessary for the preservation of the Army to unite his forces marched towards the chief Market place which Hydaspes told him Telamon had possessed and that thereupon he was advanced with three thousand men to attempt the Palace which they conceived had still held out But as he was marching away turning about to behold those walls that enclosed his incomparable Mariana a Damsel of a most exquisite beauty having a small Casket under her arm in the habit of a slave came running towards him and almost breathless with her cheeks bathed in tears prostrating herself at his feet besought him by the love he bore to vertue by the reverence he ought the Gods and as he was desirous by their protection to obtain a noble fame to take compassion on the sufferings of a distressed Captive who amongst many other grievous calamities was at length reduced to an ignominious slavery and had no hope of freedom but by the generosity of so noble a Prince Demetrius was not a little surprised at so wonderful an object for such a dazeling beauty appeared through that cloud of sorrow that he thought he never beheld any thing more excellent but his most excellent Mariana Wherefore raising her gently from the ground he assured her if the hazard of his dearest blood could contribute any thing to her repose she might give an intermission to her griefs for when he once understood what way he might afford her relief he should not think any enterprise impossible in the assistance of so rare a creature and that in the mean while she might rest secure upon his word that he would sooner transgress the sacred ordinances of the divine powers then suffer any violence to approach her person Wherewith seeming a little comforted she said Upon that noble pawn I deliver my self and honour into your protection and that preserved dispose of this miserable life as you please Then immediately calling me to him Here Lysander said he I dare trust to thee my own life and in that confidence commit to thy care till these disorders are a little over the safeguard of this excellent Maid whose preservation I charge thee to be as tender of as thou wouldst be of mine or thine own honour I confess I was not a little pleased with so worthy a charge Therefore with great submission approaching to her she rested her hand upon my arm and we continued our march towards that quarter where Telamon lay with the rest of the army But when we came to the market place we found him engaged in a hot conflict with the enemy who when the day approached rallied their forces and made a gallant attempt to recover their lost city and indeed had forced Telamon to give ground but when they saw a fresh supply come to him their hearts absolutely failed them and casting away their weapons they yielded at discretion to our mercy Whereupon Demetrius instantly commanding all actions of hostility to cease called for the Governor who being brought into his presence he spake to him in this manner I believe no neglect of yours hath caused the surprisal of this noble City you appear a person worthy so great a trust as the command of that place which is the residence of the Empress Theodosia and those excellent Princesses her daughters therefore into your hands I deliver it agen there shall no violence be offered to the inhabitants nor to any thing that belongs to them And all that I require of you is That you tell Andronicus the Emperor from Demetrius the son of Polidor his mortal enemy that he could as easily and with more justice have laid desolate this metropolitan City than he deteins the Country and patrimonial inheritance of Prince Philocles but if he continue his oppression that we now know the way to Constantinople and in his own Palace shall force him to a due surrender or bury him in the ruines of it Then not suffering any reply looking back once more upon the Palace and sighing to himself the name of Mariana he immediately gave the word to march and having appointed a chariot for the stranger Captive commanding her to be attended with all manner of observance in a short time we arrived at Sparta the capital City of the United Provinces where Demetrius was recived with a general applause and acclamations both by the States and common people but especially by Polidor who gloried more in this one exploict of his son then in all the actions of his own life Insomuch that if being deprived of the presence of the incomparable Mariana he had been capable of any content he might have enjoyed a perfect felicity but he was so far from esteeming his condition happy that he believed himself the most miserable man living Nevertheless his afflictions made him not forget his respects to the stranger Virgin but having according to her desire placed her in a private condition with the Queen of Macedon mother to Philocles who being driven out of her own country lived there retired she received from her being a Lady of incomparable goodness and humanity towards strangers such extraordinary demonstrations of kindness that though her griefs were so pressing that they were not to be forgotten nevertheless she found some relaxation for them at the present yet Demetrius could find no intermission of his own but on the contrary by unexpected accidents was so traversed in the designs of his new affection that he grew almost desperate of any future happiness Lysander had continued his discourse but that a servant came in haste to give notice that the Prince being awake called for him and would not be satisfied but with his presence Wherefore Alexandro giving him many thanks for what he had already related and expressing an impatience to hear the rest they all returned together into the house and would have visited
in the same thicket feeding upon such provision as they carried about them and though unarmed every man laying hold of his Sword they made so stout a resistance that many of my companions bear as you see the marks of their valor But at length being hedged in on every side and three of their associates already slain the rest throwing down their weapons yielded themselves all saving that pointing to one who held by half a dozen was stronglyer fettered then all the rest I know not whether to call him more or less then man for though in his defence he shewed a courage more then humane yet so obstinately to resist such a multitude was rather the testimony of a savage fierceness then of a courage guided by reason His looks threatned to devour and when moved by compassion to see so much valour so desperately employed intreating him to yield we offered him his life disdaining our courtesies as assured of the prey he ran more furiousty upon his assailants Nevertheless he was at the length overthrown by his own strength for with a prodigious force directing a blow at my self missing his aim and following his stroke his feet failing he fell to the ground whereupon half a dozen of our most resolute men at the same instant falling upon him he was rather catched as in a toil then taken What himself and his fellows did intend we know not nor were we so over curious to seek to force that from them which they seemed so resolute to conceal but by preventing of danger in bringing them thus captived into your presence we conceive we have performed our duty The Princes exceedingly attentive to this relation with curious eyes observed the comely personage of the valiant prisoner who all this while never lift his eyes from the earth till being asked by Synesius with such civility as might oblige him to a reply what he was With a stern regard he boldly answered A Souldier I suppose no less said he But how came you hither when with a disdainfull smile he replyed Hath not this gallant champion who with his quaint Rhetorick cals valour brutality already told you By the vile cowardise of my companions who basely yielding themselves betrayed me into the hands of this rabble It is not my intent continued Synesius to irritate you with unseasonable or impertinent demands I mean what designes brought you into these Quarters My revenge replyed the Souldier which since I have failed of accomplishing upon my enemies if I did not still retain hopes to satisfie I would presently execute upon my self Whereupon Alexandro steping forward said so great a courage ought not to be vanquished by despair if your quarrel be just you shall not want the liberty in a noble way to prosecute your revenge nor yet friends that will readily embrace your cause But before we proceed any farther tell me freely whose Souldier you are When the Prisoner looking stedfastly upon him with a more submiss but with a countenance expressing something of disgust answered Should any here but your self by asking that question have dared so much as in thought to doubt of my loyalty my hands in despight of these fetters without other reply should soon have forced him to learn that truth which by a natural sympathy with my heart is so plainly charactered in my face This answer discovering to Synesius that the Prisoner knew Alexandro presently causing him and his companions to be loosened with great commendations and many thanks especially to the young Farmer he dismissed the Countrey people and the Prince with his company retiring into another room whether the Souldier was commanded to follow after they were seated he told him I perceive you know me so well that you cannot but know the respect you are obliged to bear me yet I will not now use my power but with entreaties perswade you to lay aside your fierceness and in complyance with my curiosity to acquaint us both what you are and with the cause of your discontent I dare not said the Souldier disobey so great an authority though to any else I might justly excuse my self in the renewing the remembrance of my griefs not to add to my torments But since so sad a Story cannot but make impressions in a Princely heart it will be some comfort to my miseries that they have been honoured with so noble a compassion When breathing forth a mighty sigh which like a sudden tempest ended with a few dissolving drops after a little pause he entred into this tragical Relation The Story of MONELIA IT is no boast to say my descent is noble nor have my actions though they merit not the report of fame rendred me unworthy the name of Clorimanthes what wants in performance hath been supplyed by loyal intentions for since I was first able to wield a sword I have employed mine in the service of my Prince under the command of that renowned Captain Honorius who for his signalized fidelity is entrusted with the Government of that impregnable Cittadel which awes the inhabitants of a City six Leagues from hence and though not great the most considerable place next Nicosia that now remains in the Kings obedience To this City drawn by the worthy esteem of the Governor resorted divers young Cavaliers under his discipline to passe their noviciat in the War but amongst the rest none better employed his time or arived at a higher degree of perfection in all martial exercises then Perrotus who by the advantagious endowments both of body and mind gained an absolute dominion over the affections of all those that had the honour to know him for my own part I was so true an admirer of his vertues that his heart was the treasury of mine and he was so faithfull a Steward that he both preserved the principal and paid me such a large proportion of Interest that our friendship being observed was paragoned with the best examples of antient times We consorted our selves together in all actions either of danger or recreation our thoughts were so vniform that whatsoever pleased the one was the delight of the other and even our loves which it was impossible to separate by the secret sympathy of our souls were without jealousies or emulation directed both to the same object Our Academie of Mars was not without a Temples of Venus to whom all his Disciples offered the devotion of their hearts A virgin besides the advantages of her birth which being the sole heir of the illustrious Family of the Amelfi gave her the preheminence both for nobility and wealth adorned with such a resplendant beauty that her tragical end may be thought to proceed from the malignity of the heavens through envie that the earth should enjoy another Sun The day of our horizon brake from under that aromatical cloud her Ivory forehead and set in an ocean of tears flowing from those eyes to whom she obscured her self When Monelia so was this Luminary called was pleased to
even amongst the Souldiers also that they were ready to abandon the City the Commanders with much difficulty perswading them to make any defence neither had they been able to prevail over them if Theodosia the Empress with her daughters had not gon from place to place themselves to see the Ports secured Where they saw any forwardness animating them to the defence of their capital City her self and Children who were committed to their trust and above all of their own honours which would suffer with perpetual infamy if the sight only of an inconsiderable Enemy should make them abandon their Country their Emperor who was then hazarding his life for their â—â—leties the dear pledges of his soul his Children and the Temples of the Gods to a certain destruction On the other side where they found any neglect reproaching their vile cowardise That if they were not corrupted by the Enemy they could not so basely betray the whole Nation and that if they had but so much the hearts of men as to shew themselvs only the very sight of their numbers would gain the victory But since the Gods had deprived the Emperor of his son they did well to deliver up his daughters to the mercy of strangers for even women would disdain the subjection of so pusillanimous a people and that it was far more honour for them to live in perpetual slavery then to have the dominion of such treacherous subjects These and the like speeches so wrought upon them that partly through shame partly through a sense of honour they began to stand to their arms and things being now in a reasonable posture of defence she retired with her daughters to the Palace where besides the ordinary guards all the chief Cavaliers and young Noblemen of the City assembled themselves for their defence In the mean while Demetrius was not unmindful of his condition That he was too far engaged in the Enemies country to make any long stay having so small a force lest the passage for his retreat should be cut off besides the allarum being once given the Emperor with his whole power would come upon him But perceiving no Sallies to be made out of the City imagining the true cause thereof that his sudden approach had struck them with a panick fear being informed by Emilius a principal Officer who the year before had been prisoner in Constantinople of the scituation of the place with the several advenues and approaches and that the Palace was a spacious building by it self on the one side compassed in by the Sea on the other separated from the City with strong wals and towers and that part which lay exposed to the Campagne very well fortified in the same manner The description agreed so in all points with the several Planes he had seen that imagining he knew enough thereof a little before Sun-set calling me to him he said Now Lysander is the time to make a trial of our valour and either to dye gloriously or to live with eternal fame Whereupon communicating to me his whole design I thought it an undertaking though of wonderful hazard yet nothing impossible and withall of such infinite honour that I could not but applaud the generosity of his resolution Wherefore giving presently order that the Souldiers should refresh themselves and repose till midnight he divided the Army into two bodies the one under the command of Hydaspes and the other of Telamon his Lieutenant-General appointing them at that houre having left some horse to guard the baggage to assault the City in two several places at once and reserved to himself for a particular service only a thousand selected men that were the eldest and most experienced Souldiers which Emilius and my self chose out of the whole Army Things thus disposed he rid out himself with a small party of horse to view the wals and being returned commanding Emilius and me to draw out those thousand reserved men apart coming to the head of them made a short speech to this purpose Fellow-souldiers I have from my infancie been bred among you being in my cradle destined to be your General and to shew my self worthy of so great an honour I would do something worthy of that birth which advanced me to it wherefore amongst thousands of others I have made choice of your tryed valour to assist me in an enterprise which is not more full of danger then of glory in which we will be all equal sharers and if you stand firm to me both vanquish the one and triumph with the other Remember only that when I lead you on I commit my honour into your hands therefore whosoever is not a friend to Demetrius honour let him with leave depart and to those who undertake the protection of that Demetrius here in the presence of the Gods dedicates both his life and fortunes There was none so meanly spirited as to relinquish his General in a personal occasion but all cried out with one voice Demetrius honour is his Souldiers glory Wherefore having thanked them for their forwardness he presently divided them into two bodies and giving the conduct of the one to Emilius led the other himself commanding me as I always did to accompany him The night being very dark was exceeding favorable to our design for by the help thereof marching with a wonderful silence we passed quite beyond the City till we came under the Palace-wals without being discovered by any of their Sentinels and lay close there for almost the space of an hour under the covert of a thick Wood but the time being come that the assault was to be given by reason of the silence of the night we plainly heard the beating of the drums accompanied with a great shout by which we knew our men were engaged who on both sides made a furious onset and though Telamon's after a fierce contestation were at length repulsed Hydaspes shewed such an example of courage to his men with a pike in his hand himself first mounting upon the ladders that being seconded by Philander and Drusilius two eminent Commanders they forced the Enemy with great slaughter to retire and possessed themselves of one of the Towers which being secured they advanced notwithstanding all resistance to the gate and having killed most of the guards letting fall the bridge made an easie entrance for Telamon with all his Forces This gave so hot an allarum a general cry runing through the City that all was lost that the Cavaliers who were in the Palace thinking all secure on that side leaving none there but the guards hasted to the place from whence the chief allarum came and so encouraged the Souldiers that they rallied their forces and began to make a strong resistance but by reason of the darkness not distinguishing enemies from friends miserably slew and oppressed one another And there was now such a confused cry in the City that Demetrius thought the time no longer to be delayed but having commanded his men to put
object of my happiness and consider in Polidor the counterfeit of an indulgent father Mariana's beauty is the star by which I direct my course and his cruelty the storm that threatens a miserable shipwrack to all my fortunes Then relating to me the beginning of his love how he deteined the Picture when he sent the Casket back by Mercurio and all the particulars that had newly passed between him and the old Prince he continued Now canst thou wonder that this constancie is shaken that lies exposed to such furious batteries Rather admire that the whole fabrick is not sunk into the earth which hath been so cunningly undermined by the councels and policies of an erronious affection But Mariana makes good the place and will for ever keep possession not by secret plots and stratagems but by an open defiance against the assaults of the whole world Nevertheless it is a miserable condition to maintain a war though in a just cause against a Father and in a Subject a crime so capital as cannot be expiated by the life of the offender but the whole race must be involved in the same punishment Yet it is as impossible to disunite me from my Love as to be separated from those relations A fathers severity may be turned into mildness and a Prince at his pleasure may alter his laws nay the vast frame of the world may be shaken and the universality of nature suffer a change but a perfect Lover can neither turn nor alter nor change for Love is the chiefest attribute of the Gods and he that participates so much of their divine nature must like themselves still remain the same That power therefore which hath laid a necessity upon me to continue constant in my love will either inspire me by a just means to overcome these difficulties or else infuse such a gentleness into Polidor that he will at length comply with my desires In the mean while I expect from thee an assistance to my resolutions which to avoid the anger of an incensed father and to dash at first all hopes of proceeding farther in this business so fatal to my happiness are immediately to retire into the shelter of some other Country till the violence of the storm be over Prepare therefore habits with all things necessary for our escape and after to morrow about midnight meet me in the wood on the farther side of the Park without the City from whence before any notice can be taken of our departure we may easily get out of the States territories And wheresoever I am freed from these incumbrances and Lysander in my company I cannot want somthing of content which in this place is wholly denied by the cruel adversaries both of my life and liberty I perceived that the apprehension of being crossed in his designs had so firmly setled him in this resolution that it was impossible by any arguments to disswade him from it Wherfore only desiring he would duly consider the condition of his affairs without farther circumstance I promised faithfully to obey his commands yet that it would be necessary however to recollect his spirits and not by a dejectedness to express his discontents but by appearing in the Court with his usual alacrity if occasion of discourse were offered by Polidor to shew a flexibility to his desires and that it was rather a youthful ardor or love of liberty then any aversness that had moved him at first to disrelish his proposition which a little time with better consideration might bring to an effect agreeable to his wish Whereupon having with many kind embraces testified a great satisfaction in my ready compliance and assured me punctually to follow my advice he prepared himself to receive his ordinary visits and I retired the private way out of his chamber but upon the stairs unexpectedly met Mercurio who was newly returned yet knowing he would not communicate any thing of his business to me passed by him only with a salute and though I thought his coming might cause some retardment of our intended departure yet not to give any suspition of a neglect as Lovers are subject to all kind of jealousies I went immediately to put things in order according to my directions In the mean while after some great persons were dispatched who attended to present their customary respects Mercurio gave a short account of his voyage That the Princess Mariana at his arrival shewed him so little countenance that at the first he doubted whether he should see her any more nevertheless after two days attendance one of her Ladies having sent for him delivered him a Casket and afterwards with her own hands she gave him a Letter which having presented he told him that the Emperor being advertised of the surprisal of Constantinople marched that way with his Army but afterwards understanding he had agen left it came only himself with his ordinary train to see how matters stood and by the relation made to him by Theodosia of his proceedings so admired his valour and was so enamoured of his generosity that it was commonly discoursed he had an intent to offer him his younger daughter Clarinda in marriage and upon ratification of the match both to relinquish his right to the united Provinces and to acknowledge them a free State it being said there was already one nominated to be sent to propose a Treaty and an indifferent place for Commissioners of both sides to meet because the Emperor for the preservation of his honour to the world stood only upon this punctilio That at the same time he offered his daughter the States should likewise send an honorable Embassie to demand a Peace Which news was so displeasing to the Prince that he could scarce forbear to break out into complaints against the hardness of his destinie which raised so many oppositions to his happiness But having received the Letter his joyes and fears were infinite till he had perused the contents wherefore Mercurio being dismissed first he considered the Characters then kissed it a thousand times but going to open the seal he made a pause as loth to offer violence to an impression made by those fair hands and when pale and trembling he began to tear the paper a messenger from the Princess Solmona came to give him notice that she desired instantly to speak with him When remembring my advertisements and indeed considering how necessary it was by a present cheerfulness in some measure to asswage Polidors anger and apprehending the Letter might move such an alteration in him as would render his compliance impossible having agen kissed it with great reverence he put it next his heart and went directly to the Princess appartement who beginning to enter into a discourse concerning Diophanta he so behaved himself that she received an unexpected satisfaction beyond her hopes and the old Prince likewise coming in he found his humour so changed that he believed the greatest difficulty already past wherefore with a seeming content on all
life in the Country he in that sollitude punctually related to me those secret transactions between Heraclius and the Queen with the inveterate hatred of his malicious enemies not to incite me to a revenge but on the contrary by so great an example to arm me against the various uncertain changes of the world and foreseeing I should not be favoured at the Court instructed me with principles of Philosophy to suit my mind to the present condition of my fortunes which I easily comprehending applyed my self wholly to martial exercises or those harmless recreations of hunting hawking and racing which so unbend the mind from any great thoughts that the lovers of them for the most part become incapable of any other imployment But neither that retirement his excellent precepts nor these divertisements could defend me from the resistless power of love For Lysimacus a person highly esteemed by the King being appointed Governor of our Province the Inhabitants of Nicosia the capital City prepared to entertain him with that honour which was due to the dignity of his place and one in such special favour with his Prince Wherefore being advertised of the time of his arrival and that he brought with him accompanied with an illustrious train his Lady and two daughters of a renowned beauty being swayed by a cross fate I was so transported with a desire to be a spectator of those triumphs that communicating my design to Parmenio one of my most familiar companions and finding him possessed with the same inclinations we went privatly together to Nicosia where the first night of our coming at a publique ball though unknown we had a full survey of all the choice beauties in the Country but the two sisters Belinda and Artemia were adorned with such admirable graces that the whole assembly receiving lustre from their motions all the delights ordained for mankind seemed to move in that circle as in their proper sphear Belinda the elder though not more mature in perfections was by the Kings mediation already espoused to an ancient Lord who by his meritorious services deserved no less a reward but so unequal to her in years that it was not probable she could entertain his embraces with that content which was necessary in the conjunction to satisfie his hopes in raising an heir to his Family and indeed though she had complyed with the commands of authority it appeared too evidently by exposing her self to the Courtship of others that she had not pleased her own fancy in the choice of a husband But Artemia was so tender a Virgin that though she were desired of all nevertheless being thought incapable of the impressions she was not yet acquainted with the assaults of love The contemplation of this Saint-like innocence so diverted my thoughts from all other objects that I observed not with what delight Parmenio's eyes followed the motion of Belindas but perceiving her so open to all addresses he fancied such a success to his new desires that he had leasure enough to mark with what a greedy appetite I sucked in that poyson the infection whereof hath since spread with such a rancorous aspersion upon my honour But alas how can man avoid the perversness of the fates since from his birth he is ordained to pursue those means which submit him to their decrees I saw Artemia I admired her beauty her innocent behaviour even ravished my thoughts with the contemplation of her growing vertues and by envying their happiness who had the honour to approach her person though ignorant of such passions I knew I loved her and loving her with a restless anxiety of mind employed all the arts a Lover could invent to betray my self to my own ruine in which I was so successful that having found the means to discover the fervency of my passion I met with such a reciprocal concurrence of affection that in short for I will not detain you with a narration of the circumstances I approached in my conceit to the fruition of all earthly happiness for the example of her sisters disproportioned match which I failed not to enforce rendring her more plyant to my desires we were solemnly contracted in the presence of Parmenio and Hortensia her confident attendant who were privy to all our proceedings Nevertheless because Lysimacus fortunes depended wholly upon the Court doubting lest he might seem to favour his cause he would not easily consent to bestow his daughter upon the son of him that had suffered as a Traitor that no opposition might traverse our joyes we resolved having performed the rites secretly to consummate the marriage And things were at length brought to such a point that nothing wanted to the accomplishment of our wishes but the period of all wishes an oportunity to perfect our felicity in the mutual blisses of the sacred nuptial bed In this difficulty Hortensia her confident nurse used such dexterity that soon after having one night concealed my self in the Governors Palace the Court being all at rest I was secretly conveyed into Artemias Chamber where meeting no opposition but a yielding Virgins modesty I soon entred like a triumphant Conqueror into the Fort of Love but had scarce taken possession of that inestimable treasure which all the graces her faithfull attendants had then been fourteen years amassing together when suddenly the whole Palace being filled with a confused noise Hortensia as one amazed came running into the chamber and trembling told us that her old Lady Calista with Belinda and their maids by what accident raised out of their beds she knew not were coming towards the Lodging You may easily imagin such an unexpected alarm struck terrible apprehensions into the poor Artemia who notwithstanding my best perswasions to assure her against the encounter sunk down upon her pillow in a swound at which sight though resolved to justifie the action yet moved with a tenderness of compassion I cast such a vengfull regard upon Hortensia that she easily understood I believed her treachery to be the cause of that mischief whereat either offended or thinking it necessary to shew her innocence having recollected her self and being aided by her womans wit ever excellent in such occurrences without any shew of perplexity it is now no time said she to talk or by frivolous protestations to seek to remove your suspition if you can shift for your self leave to me the care of my Mistress honor and of my own justification Whereupon with a great lighted Taper that she had in her hand in an instant she put fire to the curtains and to the other combustible things either about the bed or the Chamber and taking the half dead Artemia in her arms ran hastily with her towards the next room which fell out so seasonably that just at the dore meeting Calista without any stay thrusting by her she cryed out Alas Madam what do you here If you regard your own safety or my Mistress life let us convey her quickly to some more open place for what
with the smoak and the flames that I know not by what mischance have seised upon our Chamber she is almost stifled and if by chance sitting up late I had not the sooner perceived it she had undoubtedly perished in the fire Which by what they had seen being already affrighted bore such an appearance of truth that none suspecting the deceit they hasted again to Belindas appartment where by their diligence Artemia soon recovered her sense and was presently so carefully instructed by Hortensia that not any of them imagined the true cause of her distemper In the mean while when I perceived the Nurses subtile intention and withall heard what he had said to the Ladies I was so altered in my opinion both of her fidelity and address that I was in no further pain for Artemia but conveying my self our of her Lodging under the same disguise that I had entred the distraction was so great that I easily mingled amongst the croud without any danger of suspition The occasion of this uproar was a tumult amongst the Country people who having a little before had a new Tax laid upon them though in it self very easie yet being unaccustomed to such impositions thinking the pressure thereof insupportable they ran in multitudes to Nicosia hoping either through entreaties or fear to force Lysimacus being scarce in possession of his Government to discharge them of that burden and the better to effect their desires knowing the advenues of the City at a certain place where the Wall was decayed entered at that dead time of the night without being perceived either by the Watch which in a time of peace was but slight or any of the inhabitants who slept securely under the protection of their careless guards untill having possessed themselves of the Magazine the Souldiers that escaped their fury gave the alarm which being unexpected was so much the more terrible and the Peasans being by this time Masters of all the Ports none durst stir to make any resistance but the Citizens running distractedly to the Palace had raised the Governor who by their confused relation not understanding rightly the cause of their fears nor perceiving any thing as yet but clamor and disorder assembling his guards stood only in a posture of defence in expectation of the day whilst Calista more apprehensive of danger having raised her daughters intended to retire with them to some place in the Palace that might best secure them from the outrage of any sudden attempt But the flames by this time bursting out from Artemias lodging caused a second confusion at the sight thereof a general cry running amongst them that they were miserably betrayed to an inevitable destruction and they were so possessed with the horror of their present danger that death was the least of their apprehension Nevertheless Lysimacus whose courage had advanced him to eminent honours being accustomed to perils with an unaltered temper endeavoured to allay the tumult and having by his example animated them to a better assurance first gave order to quench the fire and then sent a party of his most resolute men amongst whom I intruded my self towards the chief Market-place where finding none to encounter them they made a stand in expectation of a further order This pause gave me time to retire to my Lodging where being presently armed and well mounted I returned again to the Governor with the offer of my service in this unexpected occasion which he accepting with his usual civility and day by this time appearing I marched out of the Palace to discover the cause of this sudden uproar But before I had passed through one street the party which was first sent out being beaten from their Post by the Rebels fled in such haste and disorder that if I had not happily withstood them in their carreer Lysimacus having so small a force must of necessity have submitted to the licentious will of an incensed rabble but having encouraged them to a second attaque the pursuers began quickly to retire in which action though my service might perhaps merit from the King it was from none but Artemia that I expected the reward whose beauty only was of that power to animate me to such a performance O that she whose outward graces had then so strong an influence to repel the rage of a lawless multitude had not afterward so much vertue within her self to give the Law to the unruly appetite of one single man or rather of an impuissant effeminate Courtier But she being yet guiltless her Champion fighting under the protection of her innocence soon gave those Traitors the chastisement due to their delinquency and afterwards though they compassed not their ends they obtained what they less expected not only a free pardon of their offence but a promise that their complaints should be favourably recommended to the King with which they were so well satisfied that returning again to their several Villages they infinitly extolled the justice and clemency of their Governor This tumult thus appeased Lysimacus spent some daies in rectifying the disorders of the Province that the Government being well settled he might return again to Palermo in which interim though I had frequent access to Artemia yet since the late accident being lodged in Belindas appartment it was impossible to enjoy that privacy of conversation which the united hearts of the chastest lovers are priviledged to desire Wherefore knowing her departure would be sudden and that the air of the Court was not my proper element rather then to be separated from my happiness or by appearing at Palermo to revive the remembrance of my fathers disgraces I resolved publickly to avow our marriage yet doubting Artemia who had ever been bred up in an awfull obedience to her parents being young and timerous would through fear of their displeasure oppose my proceedings without acquainting her with my intentions I went directly to Lysimacus whose many obliging civilities since the suppression of the Rebels encouraged me to reveal my secret first to him With this resolution entring into his Chamber I found him having newly received a Packet from the Court giving order for his removal the next day and before I could find an oportunity to utter my mind taking me by the hand he retired into his Cabinet and after many endearing professions of kindness said If you have been rightly informed of my actions you have no reason to esteem me an enemy of your Family On the contrary as I lamented your fathers fall so I should rejoyce to see you advanced to such a height that you may be above the reach of his persecuters wherefore since your own vertue hath opened you a way to those honors which belong to your birth neglect not the means by pursuing of glory to establish your security and that you may perceive I intend more then a superficial complement peruse this letter and according to the contents judge how forward I shall be by advancing your hopes to confirm
their shirts above their arms himself and the Officers wearing white scarfs they began to fasten the ladders in several places which could not be so done but the Sentinels took an allarum nevertheless Demetrius covering himself with his shield went on first himself to the assault and was followed with such an unanimous consent of the souldiers that we were upon the wals almost as soon as the enemy yet there we encountred so strong an opposition that our men began to fall back whereupon the Prince crying out to them Will you thus betray the honour committed to your trust â— remembring their promise they were animated with such a courage that they not only possessed themselves of the walls but forced the Imperialists to retreat yet in so good order that if Demetrius had not performed actions above the strength of man we had all certainly perished but he made such way with his sword killing all about him which made any resistance that we advanced into a large open place where our men had room to exercise their valour which was so well employed that divers casting down their weapons cryed out for mercy and the rest paid the forfeiture of their obstinacie with their lives insomuch that having seised upon the gates especially those towards the Sea and placed strong guards about them we became absolute masters of the Palace This attempt was so unexpected and the execution so sudden that the Empress by the information that was given her on all sides finding into what a straight she was reduced and to escape impossible she took a resolution suitable to the dignity of so great a Princess every thing as we heard since by certain prisoners being ordered by her directions For not to shew any apprehension of danger having commanded all the gates and doors that led to her appartement to be set wide open she prepared to entertain her sufferings or if the worst should happen even death it self with as much majesty and glory as if she had been to receive the Emperor returning triumphant with all the spoils of the Persian Monarchy On the other side Demetrius having secured the Ports though he intended no violence meant to shew himself as a Conqueror Therefore giving a strict command that none upon pain of death should follow him save Emilius and my self with two Gentlemen more he went presently towards the Empress quarter whither he was directed by an infinite number of lights that appeared both before the gate and in the windows of the Palace and approaching neerer we found a guard of Halbardiers every one with a great white Torch lighted in his hand who at first we expected would have made some resistance but they were so far from offering any violence that neither using motion nor speech they stood orderly in two ranks from the entry of the gate through a great hall and so up the stairs into another room as if they had been liveless Statues Nevertheless seeing so many armed men and yet such an open passage the Prince made a little stop as thinking some treachery might be intended But then supposing they durst not attempt any such thing or else having a courage above all fear he passed through them into the hall which was a spacious arched room supported with two rows of pillars of white marble with the walls and pavement of the same then ascending a large stair which was likewise of white marble with a rail and balluster of Porphyrie adorned at the bottom with two Lyons and on the top with two figures representing Justice and Fortitude we entred into another great Hall beautified with Statues round about it in niches the rest embellish'd with marbles of several colours curiously carved with a large border of Frutage and the Roof richly gilt and embossed Then having the Guards still on each hand of us to the next room for they reached no further we passed through another paved with Mosaique work and adorned with the pictures of all the Grecian Emperors drawn by the most excellent Masters of their several times in which were divers Pages and Attendants who seeming to take no notice of us we went on into another room that was hanged with Tapestry besides the rarity of the workmanship richly set off with gold and silver which by the reflection of the lights appeared in great abundance At the upper end under a State of wonderful rich Embroidery stood a Chair upon an ascent covered with Persian Carpets and upon seats that were placed round about the wals sate divers persons of several ages by ther habits and presence appearing to be the most eminent Councellors or Officers of the Empire and those which sate uppermost being very aged with long beards as white as snow bore such a reverend aspect that if their sad dejected countenances had not shewed them subject to humane passions they would have appeared more then mortal Yet seeing them remain without motion not so much as casting an eye upon us in so profound a silence I could not for my part but call to mind the strange stories of enchanted Castles which we read of in Romances But as we advanced further our wonder still encreased for the next Room that lay open before us was so richly furnished that it seemed the wealth of a whole Nation amassed together in that place and the company was suitable to the richness of the furniture An assembly of Ladies of such rare beauty and withall so gloriously apparelled and adorned with jewels that the whole world could not afford the like spectacle though the riches and state of that Court made it usual there And this disorder happening before they were retired to their rest they were not devested of those ornaments Nevertheless there was such a silent sadness amongst them as at once represented to our considerations in the pride of those luxuries the glory of all earthly happiness and the uncertain content those glories afford our minds Insomuch that the Prince seised with a kind of admiration turning the point of his sword to the ground made a little stand looking about to whom he should address himself but perceiving that none of them would vouchsafe so much as the least regard seeing yet another door open he boldly â—tept in But if before he were seised with admiration he was now in an instant struck with an astonishment If before he saw none but dejected countenances that seemed to submit to him as a Conqueror he now beheld such transcendent beauties armed with so magnanimous a fortitude that himself was ready to fall prostrate at their feet to crave the pardon of his bold intrusion For at the upper end of the room from the ceeling whereof hung about forty Branches of Chrystal with white Tapâ—rs upon an ascent of some half a dozen steps sate the Empress alone under a State with an Imperial Crown placed by her upon a Cushion of Crimson-velvet and besides those Diamonds in a kind of Coronet upon her head having