order which he had received he found us not unwilling to go the voyage Ariobarzanes being naturally amorous of great things joyfully received the proposition which was made him of going to that stately City Mistris of the greatest part of the Universe to pass some years in that pompous Court where almost all the Kings in the world came to pay their homage and besides he had small inclination to the severe dealings of Artaxus but being of a sweet and pityful disposition he could not live without repugnance with a man so cruel and inexorable towards those who had offended him These were the reasons which obliged Ariobarzanes willingly to undertake the voyage to Rome and his good will easilie gained mine without him I should hardlie have ventured upon this enterprise but ever since we were little ones there was contracted so near an amitie between us that we could hardlie live one without the other I did more easilielresolve to go all the world over with Ariobarzanes who was as dear to me as my self than to stay at Artaxata without him It would be to no purpose to relate to you the preparations for our voyage and the regrets which Artaxus and Artemisa expressed at our departure it will suffice me to tell you that all things were ordered as they should be with an equipage beseeming our birth we departed from Artaxata upon the way towards Italy and marched as far as the Egean Sean where we embarqued after we had crossed a good part of Armenia and coasted Licia and Pamphilia by land without any memorable accident From the Egean Sea in stead of passing over the Streight to descend into Macedonia and to take shipping again upon the Adriatique Gulph as that was our most direct way fearing the tediousnesse of those long voyages by land where with we were already tired we turned upon the left hand towards Peloponnesus and descended into the Mediterr auean Sea believing that though it would be the longer yet it would be the easyer way not being obliged to embark and disembark so often It was rather our destinies that would have it thus and the Gods who reserved Ariobarzanes I for other adventures had not ordained that we should see the banks of Tiber. We had been but a small time upon this Sea when we were seized upon by that furious tempest wherein we suffered that shipwrack which you have heard spoken of and lost our lives in the opinion of so many persons I will not describe to you the particulars of that impetuous storm I will content my self to tell you that the winds immediately rose so contrary to us that they made us take a quite contrary way to that which we had begun to sail and after we had been tossed up and down two dayes and two nights in perpetual fears of death which presented it self to our eyes they cast our battered vessel upon that coast of Cilicia which is opposite to Cyprus where navigation is so dangerous by reason of an infinite number of small rocks which reach no higher than the superficies of the water against one of which our vessel being disabled from sailing was dashed all to pieces and left us exposed to the mercy of the pityless waves I could not know then what became of Ariobarzanes and though the strict amitie which had alwayes been between us rendred his safetie as dear to me as mine own yet I was in a part of the ship distant from that where he was employed and the dreadfull danger I was in at that time made me forget every thing else but the preservation of my life I had little hope of it and yet I would not neglect the means which Heaven might give me to prolong it I closelie embraced a piece of the mast upon which I laid hold just when the vessel split and my Governesse and one of my maids who were alwayes close by me were likewise companions of my fortune and holding by my two sides they were carried above water by that favourable piece of wood to which I owed my safetie the violence of the waves made us manie times almost let go our hold but necessitie gives strength in such extremities as those to which next to the assistance of Heaven we owed without doubt the preservation of our lives By good fortune the shore was not far off and after we had been a long time tossed up and down with little hope and small strength or knowledg left the mast which sustained us by a wave which was more impetuous than all that went before was driven on shore with so much vehemence that we found our selves upon the sand when we almost despaired of ever reaching to it We continued lying a long while upon the shore half dead with wearyness the coldness of the water and so many miseries as we had suffered where I looked upon what had befallen us as upon a dream and had hardlie so much knowledg left as to reflect upon my shipwrack We were in this condition when Briseis that good woman at whose house you met me arrived as she was walking upon the shore and being moved with compassion at so pityful a spectacle she presentlie offered us all the assistances we could desire of her in our present miserie I did not refuse her offers in the necessitie we had of her succour and I easilie disposed my self to go with her to her house to dry my self and to take some rest which I had need enough of But I hardlie began to know that the Gods had saved my life from the danger which had threatned it but I remembred my brother and upon that remembrance grief wanted but a very little of making me lose that which the waves had spared I would not leave the shore as wet and weary as I was without searching it as far as my strength would permit and calling on every side with a feeble voice upon the name of Ariobarzanes I will not Philadelph describe to you the particulars of my grief that discourse would be too troublesome to you but I will protest to your trulie the Gods bear me witness that the loss of my dear brother hindred me from being sensible of any joy for my own safetie I earnestlie complained that Heaven had permitted me to survive so amiable and so well-beloved a brother and if I had not been flattered with some small hope that he might have received from Heaven an assistance like to that which saved me whereof being much stronger than I he might make much better use my grief would have been strong enough to have given me that upon the land which I avoided upon the water The comfort which my Governess laboured to give me in this uncertainty and the endeavours of Briseis who applyed her self to comfort and serve me with a great deal of goodness wrought no effect upon my Spirit and I spent the three or four first dayes in tears which no discourse could dry up I had
the two Princesses which fortune had committed to the care and custody of the Pretor of Aegypt a fit subject to exercise himself upon These two admirable persons from the very first day of their acquaintance had contracted such an amity as had left nothing reserved in their souls and if by the charming conversation of the Queen of Ethiopia the fair Princesse of the Parthians could not represse that smarting grief which the losse of her brave but unfortunate Artaban had rendred Master of her heart yet 't was certain tha in the sweetness which she found in the affection which she had conceived for so extraordinary person as Candace was she relished some sort of consolation and gave place too to some shadow of hope induced thereto by the discourse which the fair Queen made her of the marvailous events of fortune and the appearances which might in some sort flatter her with a belief of Artabans safety Candace's cares though not slight ones were yet more moderate than Elisa's sadness and the remembrance which was fresh in her mind that she had seâ—n her dear Cesario a few days before dissipated the greatest part of her grief and she was a thousand times more satisfied to see her beloved Prince escaped from the dangers wherein she had left him at her departure from Meroe than she could be afflicted at the losse of her dominions or with the other effects of her misfortune which would have produced greater resentments in any other spirit but hers Notwithstanding if her mind found any repose in the knowledge that Cesario was living that he was not far from the place of her abode and that by the report of those whom Cornelius had sent to his assistance she had learned that together with his valiant companions he was victorious in the combat wherein she had left him ingaged she could not banish her fear which continually represented to her that he was not escaped out of so great an incounter without wounds and her love making all things appear in the most dangerous condition she beleeved she saw every moment her beloved Prince all wounded and bloody and reduced to the extremity of his life In the fear which this imagination imprinted in her Soul suffering herself to be transported with the motions of her grief Ah Gods said she if it be true that my dear Cesario is still in danger of a life so often exposed and so often relieved from so many perils why should you present him to my â—yes to give a more sensible redoubling to my grief than if he had died far off from me in that unfortunate Country where I left him the subject of my dispair would be lesse reasonable if I had understood that he had perished upon an oc casion when I had little hope of his safety than if after he had recovered me contrary to all my hopes you should permit my cruel fortune to deprive me of him for ever Alas 't is possible that at this very moment whilst I spend my life in such cruel apprehensions the unfortunate Prince draws near his end and is breathing out that faithfull soul which he had bestowed upon me to his misfortune and the glory of my days Ah! if my fears be real ye pâ—tyfull Heavens do not permit me to survive him one minute or if he be still Master of any remainders of life to imploy them in the research of a Princesse who is more happy in his love than unfortunate in the accidents of her life guide his steps hither for pitie's sake and do not suffer us to live in this darkness wherein absence entombs us As she spake these words her eyes performed what her mouth could not absolutely express and Clitie who stayed by her to dry up her tears could have no successe in comforting of her but by recalling things past to her memory and by representing to her the advantagious difference there was between her present condition and that wherein she saw her self a few days before both in respect of the security of her own person and of her beloved Cesario They consulted then together what course they should take to learn news concerning that Prince and they could find no other expedient than to seek some person in whom they might have the confidence to send him to Tyridates his house hoping that by the means of that Prince they might have some intelligence either of Cesario or Eteocles But if this fair Queen was troubled with fome disquiets whereunto her long sufferings might have already inured her spirit she caused as many in the mind of a man who a few days before had passed his life in liberty enough and the soul of Cornelius Gallus had so deeply received the dart which the Princess had fixed there that in the morning of his love he felt himself as much inflamed as if he had already bestowed whole years upon this dawning passion At first he was filent out of the respect which the Majesty of Candace might imprint upon the most licentious spirits but afterwards he believed he might indulge himself a little more liberty both in regard of the condition wherein he saw this person abandoned by all other assistance but his own and the memory of the service which he had rendred her by which in all probability she was obliged to a very great acknowledgement This consideration joyned to the condition of his fortune and the absolute power he had in Alexandria gave him more boldnesse than the countenance of Candace had wont to leave him and he beleeved at last though beauty and high appearances might represent so much to him that no reason ought to oblige him to a constraint which did incommodate him and that he might justly hope much from a person who was much engaged to him The morrow after that day which the two Princesses had bestowed upon the relation of the adventures of the afflicted Elisa Candace being more early up than the Princesse of the Parthians and walking alone with Clitie upon the ballistred Terrace which belonged to her lodging saw he self accosted by Cornelius and having no knowlege of his intentions nor any repugnance against his person or entertainment but what her inquietudes generally caused in her against every thing that might trouble her thoughts she receided him with that civility which she beleeved was due to his condition and the importance of the service which he had rendred her Gallus having taken her by the hand to assist her in her walk entertained her a while with things indifferent and being in a place which had a prospect into the Sea and some of the parts near Alexandria he shewed her those places which were most remarkable either for their beauty or the memorable things that had passed there He caused her to behold that famous place where the great Julius Caesar whose memory was so venerable amongst men seeing himself pressed by Ptolomies troops threw himself into the Sea and swam over the streight
which divides the City from the Isle of Pharos From thence causing her to look further he shewed her the place where the battail was fought the next day and where the treacherous Ptolomie found under the waves the punishment due to his perfidiousnesse as well for his attempt against the person of Cesar as for the horrible cruelty which he had committed upon the shore of Pelusium against the great but unfortunate Pompey After that causing her to look more forward upon the Sea he shewed her the place where the Queen Cleopatra first presented her self to Cesar and desired his protection against the cruel persecutions of her brother and the place where Anthony met with that fair Queen at the beginning of their unfortunate loves and all other places which were remarkable for any important events during the life of that Princesse and the war she had with Augustus wherein she lost both life and Empire Candace beheld what Cornelius shewed her and hearkned to his discourse with such a tendernesse as brought tears into her eyes and Gallus attributing that to compassion only which proceeded partly from another interest was the more inflamed by the knowledge he received of the goodnesse of a person in whom he had already observed all other excellent qualities in their highest perfection After he had given by his discourse what was likely to be due to the curiosity of a stranger Princesse and what he more truly rendred to the complacency which his love caused in him towards her looking upon her with eyes which partly signified his intention But Madam said he now I have acquainted you with these small triflles which you desired to know of me shall I be too curious my self or rather shall I be indiscreet if I take the liberty to enquire of you the name and the condition of this admirable person to whom by my good fortune I have rendred some small service without knowing of her and who though unknown is in as high esteem with me as if she were the wife or daughter of Caesar 'T is not upon any design of abusing it that I expresse this curiosity to you but only out of a desire of finding greater opportunities to serve you in a more plenary knowledge of you Cornelius spake in this manner and the Queen who was already prepared for this rancounter and had premeditated with Clitie what to say seemed very little surprized at Cornelius his discourse She did so far acknowledg the Obligation she had to him as to have declared to him the truth of her life and the condition of her fortune if she could have done it without interessing and endangering her dear Cesario whom she knew to be in that Country and to have all Cesars friends for his declared enemies Upon this precaution which she believed was due to the safety of her beloved Prince she resolved to conceal her name her birth and the greatest part of her adventures upon this design after she had signified to Cornelius with obliging expressions that his curiosity was not importunate to her she told him that she was born in Ethiopia of very noble parents who during the life of King Hidaspes had enjoyed the highest dignities of that Kingdom but that afterwards being desirous to testifie their fidelity to the Qu. Candace his daughter when she was deprived of her Kingdom by Tiribazus that Tyrant being too powerfull for them had ruined them and so eagerly pursued them that they were constrained to put themselves upon the Nile with part of their most portable goods from whence sailing down into the open Sea with an intention to seek out a Sanctuary from his Tyranny they fell into the hands of the Pirate Zenodorus After this passage she concealed nothing of the truth from him but only what would have obliged her to make mention of Cesario and relating to him the dangers which she had escaped by reason of the Pirate's insolence and the flames of the Vessel which she had fired and the waveâ— into which she had cast her self she powerfully moved him upon diverse accounts and filled him full of admiration at her vertue and greatness of courage When he had given due praises to that noble resolution of sacrificing her life to the preservation of her honour looking upon her with an action much more passionate than before I should be ungratefull to the Gods said he if I should not be thankfull to them as long as I live for the favour they have done me in guiding me to the occasions of serving you and in giving me the means to conduct you into a place where I can offer you part of what you seek but if my interest might be considered to the prejudice of yours and if I might afflict my self as much at my own ill as I ought to rejoyce at yonr good fortune possibly I would say that in this rancounter I have no more cause to commend than to complain of my destiny and that it is as much for my losse as for your safety that the Gods caused you to land upon this Coast and leade me into the wood where I defended you agaiust the violence of Zenodorus Gallus spake in this manner and the Queen though she almost comprehended his discourse and received it with a very grief pretended for all that that she did not understand him and that she might not continue without a reply she answered him without being moved I should be very sorry that my arrival in this Country should occasion any damage to a person to whom I am ingaged for the preservation of my life and honour and to prevent the future since it is not in our power to recall what is past I shall depart without regret from a place where you have given me refuge if my continuance here be never so little offensive to you Alas replyed Gallus with a sigh how unprofitable would your departure be now since you cannot carry away the wound that I have in the midst of my heart together with the eyes that made it or rather how cruel would it be to me now since in parting from me you will deprive my days of all that makes them desirable to me and possibly bereave me of a life whereof all the remaining moments are dedicated to you Whilst he spake thus the Queen oppressed with a violent grief upon this occasion of new crosses which former passages made her foresee in a moment studied for terms to explain her self both according to the greatnesse of her courage and the condition ofher present fortune whereby she saw her self absolutely subjected to Cornelius his power and when he had done speaking composing her countenance to a more serious posture than before which with the Majesty that Gallus observed in it strook him into some awe I am obliged to you said she to him for my life and honour and I should be much more engaged to you if you would preserve the glory of your benefit entire and not
away with sweetness and tranquillitie enough and the time of our tender infancie was spent in a flourishing Court and a peaceable and fortunate Kingdom but I hardlie began to have the use of reason or any knowledg of our condition of life when by the cruel surprize of Anthony the unfortunate Artabazus our Father was carried prisoner to Alexandria and all his familie with him except Artaxus our elder brother who succeeded him in the enjoyment of the Crown My brother Ariobarzanes my sister Artemisa and my self lived in a captivitie in a pompous Court till I was about eight or nine years old and this loss of our libertie the sorrow whereof was so cruellie redoubled by the deplorable death of the King our Father which I believe no person is ignorant of was not repaired till after the defeat and the last misfortunes of Anthony and Cleopatra at which time Cesar being master of Alexandria and the Empire too by the fall of his competitour freed us from captivity and sent us back with an honourable convoy to the King of Armenia our brother whom he received into the number of his Friends and Allies Prelate this to you in a few words as a thing sufficientlie divnlged and I will not entertain you with the reception which Artaxus gave us who looked upon the wrack of our familie with great resentments for our common mis-fortune We lived in his Court with all the splendor we had lost and we recovered there together with our libertie our former rank and dignitie We were brought up my brother my sister and my self with great care and it was not the fault of those persons who were put about me that the slight advantages which I might have received from nature were not favourablie seconded by good education There was nothing forgotten which might frame my Spirit to the horror of vices and to the love of vertue and I will say if I may do it without offending against modestie that I had my inclinations naturallie carried to esteem that which seemed good and to avoid that which appeared to me to be vicious I had a good Governess the verie same you saw in Cilicia whom I made to pass for my Aunt who took a great deal of pains to cultivate whatsoever she thought she observed of good in me and contributed as much as possiblie she could to form me according to her desires vertuous inclinations About this time as you know the King my brother prompted by a verie just desire of revenge made war upon the King of the Medes your Allie and in the first year he had some advantages which made him hope the absolute ruine of his enemies 'T is true by what we could understand he dis-honoured them by his crueltie and the Gods likewise to punish him for it stopt the course of his good fortune by the succours you gave Tigranes which changed his fortune and forced him to be gone out of the Dominions of your Allies 'T was at that time that hee committed that action which hath been so much condemned by all vertuous persons to cut the throats of two Princes of your blood prisoners in a just war and against whom he could have no lawful resentment This was that which made him lose the valiant Britomarns whose valour had been so favourable to him in the first years of the war and upon the relation which was made me of the generous quarrel he had with the King for the safetie of his prisoners what cause so ever I had otherwise to blame the presumption of that young warriour I could not but have his vertue and greatness of courage in admiration and that esteem made me forget some part of the resentment I had against him Ariobarzanes who by the Kings command continued at Artaxata as well because of his youth which as yet was not capable of bearing armes as to keep the Armenians in obedience whilest their King made warre in forein Countries wept for regret and grief at the relation of this cruelâ—ie and made all those judge who saw him at that time that his inclinations would be verie different from those of the King his brother I enlarge my self particularlie upon this action of Artaxus because it was upon this account that the hatred of the King your Father was so violentlie exasperated both against him and his and it was upon the resentment of this action that he made an oath never to pardon anie person of the blood or Alliance of Artaxus whom fortune should cause to fall into his hands and it was upon this knowledg and out of the fear of this choler that I obstinatelie resolved upon so long a disguise in Cilicia You know better than I what were the last successes of that war and how at last it was ended by Augustus's authoritie who by the terror of his power made these Kings who were cruellie bent to ruin each other to lay down their armes and forced them to peace when the weakness of them both might sufficientlie have disposed them to it if their hatred had not maintained the war rather than their forces 'T is true said Philadelph interrupting the Princesses discourse that the King my Father retired with so much grief and resentment against Artaxus for the death of Ariston and Theomedes his Nephews that to revenge himself of that cruelty there was no cruelty but he would have exercised and I believe if fortune had made you your self fall into his hands with this miraculous beauty and these divine graces which might have disarmed the rage of a hunger starved Tyger he would have made you to have felt the effects of his indignation without any respect Do not think it strange then if I was affraid of him replied Arsinoe and do me the favour to believe still that the consideration of my life was not the cause of my greatest fears and I had not used so much care for the preservation of it if I had not thought it due to my honour which in his indignation an implacable enemy might possibly have exposed to ignominy to take the more severe revenge upon Artaxus's his cruelty I should not possibly have had this fear of a man born of a Royal blood and of one that was your Father if it had not been confirmed in my Spirit by the knowledge he gave me of it as you shall understand in the sequels of my discourse You know that a little while after this forced peace Augustus sent to demand Ariobarzanes and my self to be brought up at Rome near him with diverse Kings children which were educated there in the same manner and were kept by Augustus near himself either to testifie his affection to their Parents or to have a greater assurance of their sidelitie by means of those hostages Artaxus knew not presentlie what to judge of it but he durst not disobey Augustus's will of which in all probability this was an obliging effect on his part and having communicated to us the