an inevitable death but I could not rejoyce at the assurance of their misfortune Neverthelesse when Melintus was sent backe againe to prison and I saw him no more I re-entred into fury against him I accus'd my selfe that I had not provoked the Judges to punish them that I had not invented some crime to have made them be condemn'd at the instant I represented to my selfe all the contempts and all the indignities he had offered me and was impatient till Nero sent to murther them in the prison All day long I did noting but torment my selfe upon this occasion and at night I could not sleepe I conceited in my mind that I saw Nero's soldiers enter the prison and massacre with a thousand blowes that perfidious man I imagin'd that I arrived there at the same time and rejoyc'd to see him in the expectation of death and then to wash my hands in his bloud After I had pass'd away the night in these ravings I sent to know at the prison if they were not yet dead but they brought me word that all was in great tumult there and how they beleev'd they had precipitated them from the top of the Tower into the Tiber having found meanes to get out by the chimney of the Chamber where they lay that a great multitude of people was about the river and many men in Boats to search for the dead bodies which were thought either drowned or brained because a pinacle of the Tower was fallen downe with them My fury perswaded me to a strange curiosity I would needs goe to the very place where they search'd for the bodies for to satiate my sight with that spectacle and I beleeve that if Melintus his had beene found I should have died for joy to see it But all the care so many persons tooke and I my selfe that gave money to have the water search'd proved unprofitable the night came on and I was constrain'd to give over this search with all the rest of them that had labour'd in vaine I wanted not satisfaction though it were not entire beleeving them to be dead and that the streame had carried them away Some dayes after when I would goe upon the water I made them conduct me farre out of the City to see if peradventure these bodies were not cast by the streame upon some banke A young youth that guided us seeing an empty Boat at the banks-side told us without thinking any thing See there a Boat without a Master I ask'd him what he meant hee answered me A young man bought it but I beleeve it was not to make himselfe a Water-man and gave it me to keepe that night the prisoners sav'd themselves Then he added a little after They thought good to search in the water the other daye I beleeve they are farre enough off by this I fretted pursued Emilia to heare him speake thus and I urg'd him to tell me what he knew of the businesse I will tell you sayes he upon condition you will not discover me which having promis'd him he continues that he had seene the prisoners save themselves in that Boat after they had beene a long time descending from the Tower by a rope and how hee saw them passe by because that night he watched upon the river I made as if I rejoyc'd added Emilia that they were safe but in my soule I resolv'd not to let them scape so unpunished and he that had well regarded me would have seene that I could not choose but have my face all of a fire for excesse of choler What said I to my selfe shall this Barbarian be presently in Sicily beside his faire Ariana and have no dearer entertainments with her than to relate what contempts he made of my affection and shall he boast himselfe all his life time for having securely triumph'd over all my passions No I will not dye so without a revenge he is not so safe as he thinks himselfe to be I will pursue him into what part of the earth soever he retires and if I be not powerfull enough my selfe I will provoke the fury of all the world against him to hinder his escaping out of my hands I return'd into the City musing of a thousand wayes to his destruction but to be more assured that he were living I resolv'd to send one of my men expresly to Syracuse that might enquire if Melintus were arriv'd there This man reported to me all the rejoycings were made at their returne the sacrifices and the playes with the glory of Melintus and Ariana whom they beleev'd to see very shortly married together All these things so animated me with jealousie shame and despite that I purpos'd to prevent their happinesse by the death of that villaine I advis'd to make use of the Emperours power that I might not faile of my enterprise I saw you then more than of custome sayes she to Trebatius because I began to acknowledge that you had alwayes lov'd me with a true affection and that had resisted all my contempts and I was sorry for having made choyce of this traitor and this perjurious man in stead of you that were never wanting to me I resolv'd to be no more ingrate towards you but to content your just desires upon condition you should first see me reveng'd upon Melintus You promis'd me to satisfie my passion before you would presse me to content yours It was then continued Emilia that I gave you advice to goe and declare to Nero that Melintus and Palamede his enemies were living and to demand a Commission from him to goe put them to death I desir'd besides to have it publish'd throughout Rome and all the Cities of the Empire that they should be kill'd in what place soever they were found and I was willing my selfe to assist you in this Commission by disguising me thus that if it were possible I might kill that perfidious wretch with my owne hand for I confesse to you it is the greatest pleasure I can ever hope for in all my life Emilia ended thus pursues Arcas and Trebatius answered her Well then Madam I see that he must dye or I shall never have any contentment from you Now I know how much cause you have to seeke his death I will joyne the desire of revenging your injuries to that desire I had before onely to obey you They had other discourses afterwards together sayes Arcas besides these O gods interrupted Melintus must this woman live still for my torment See what rage she is possess'd of Arcas prayed him to let him goe on and hee replied I was in a strange wonder to have heard all Emilia's fury yet I had an opinion that the gods had suffered me to be advertised of all these things to give me the meanes of doing you service I had no other care than to keepe my selfe from being knowne to Emilia and so wee arrived at Syracuse I knew very well you were not there so as in that place I was in no
so vertuous a friend but constraind his prudence to obey the transports of my youthfull fancies If the gods are resolv'd rather to take my life from me than make me wise by these accidents I submit to their justice praying them to give you another friend as affectionate but more moderate than I Yet if your friendship cannot easily change the subject of it I have another my selfe whom I may well call more deserving than I I leave behind me a sister whom I desire you to love if already as I beleeve you have not esteem'd her worthy your affection I know your merits be above hers but yet I am assur'd she will never give her selfe to any man of lesse worth than you This consolation I shall have at least after my death when I shall know that with the goods I am to leave her she is to possesse the greatest I was able to procure The first words of Palamede had possest with sadnesse the soule of Melintus and his eyes with teares but the last surpriz'd him with astonishment not thinking that Palamede had ever had knowledge of the secret love hee had to the faire Ariana his sister and not willing to avow it seeing shee her selfe would not have it discover'd at all to any he contented himselfe to give him this answer It were not possible for me to have more joy receiving so deare witnesses of your friendship if the occasion thereof were not so unfortunate But I cannot choose but give you thankes for the first and regret the other and I will yet hope that the gods will not so soone separate us but that the occasion of my discontent shall cease and I long time enjoy the affection of so perfect a friend If the estate wherein you are suffer'd me to accuse you I might complaine of you for beleeving that I could ever blame your actions If at any time I have dislik'd them it was rather because my humour was contrary to them than my reason Cure your selfe onely and imagine not of giving me any person that may hold your place I would not conceive the like thought of you that after me you could love any thing Melintus conceal'd so violent and respectfull a passion for Ariana that he durst not pronounce her name nor speake one word of her and so left off his discourse Palamede when he had stayd a while said to him And what say you to my sister This replyed Melintus is a matter that I find so farre above my merits that I cannot thinâ—e upon it without presumption and besides that Aristides your father hath his designes more high in all reason wherefore I content my selfe to honour her with all the respect I may Palamede would have answer'd this but Melintus told him that hee could no longer endure to heare him speake with so much paine and desir'd hee would remit that discourse to another time and rest himselfe for feare of some greater danger I will make but one request to you said Palamede to send into Sicily as speedily as you can to my father it may be I shall be alive yet some dayes in which time hee may be here with my sister or at least render me the last duties of a friend if my death prevent their arrive I have no greater wish than this that I may see them before I dye Melintus tooke that occasion to leave him after telling him that he went instantly to dispatch one of his men and that hee hoped for all that when they should be come to Rome they would have more cause to rejoyce for his cure than to mourne his losse Then studying how hee should write for putting Aristides and Ariana into too much feare he determin'd to dissemble his griefe as much as might be and wrote these Letters Melintus to Aristides I Was not able to refuse Palamede this service he desir'd of mee to advertise you of some wounds he receiv'd in a combat and to beseech you by the affection you beare him to come to Rome to him with his sister The feare he hath to dye without seeing you was stronger than all the prayers I could make that hee would not give you so much apprehension and paine But in satisfying of his desire diminish your owne feares and beleeve that your sonne defying all remedies will not be beholding for his cure but to your sight He put this other apart to be deliver'd in secret to Ariana Melintus to Ariana IT is with sorrow that I make you understand newes that will a little trouble your mind Neverthelesse when you shall know that the brother that is so deare to you feares to dye for any wounds and desires to see you thinke not this misfortune so neere but rather that your happy destiny hath brought forth this accident to have the fairest person of the earth appeare in the chiefe City of the world You are not to thinke it strange that he will have you gaine this glory with the prejudice of a little feare you shall there find men to whom love cannot be favourable farre off from Syracusa and that wait but for your presence to cure them In the meane time I mistrust no ill fortune nor can I judge the cause ill that shall produce so faire an effect as the happinesse to see you Melintus that had not yet dared to make a full discovery of his passion to the faire Ariana had taken this liberty to write to her since his depart from Syracuse and for this reason was he permitted to doe it because Palamede was over negligent and that she might heare often from them so as hee spake but insensibly of his affection to her intermingling covertly that which nearest touch'd him in the things that passed without giving her any cause to accuse him of unadvisednesse And shee her selfe was very well pleas'd to receive testimonies of his passion without the ingaging of her honour by feigning ignorance of his designe and so they did both deceive one another willingly if we may call deceit the secret knowledge they mutually gave of a vertuous and inviolable affection After Melintus had clos'd these Letters hee gave them into the hand of Arcas his faithfull Freeman and instructing him what was to be done gave him charge to make all haste to report Palamedes disaster in such a sort that they might not be too much affrighted and to say that he would have written himselfe but for a hurt in his hand then hee went backe againe to his friend and dispatch'd this bearer in his presence to let him see how he obeyed his request and to give him this content at least Marcellin that had alwayes before made esteeme of Palamede and Melintus because of their merits and had not declar'd himselfe against them his jealousie having not yet burst forth full of despight that they had twice escap'd the death he had prepared them and not thinking that hee was knowne the Author of those treacheries counterfeited himselfe to be
they carried him away to a place where now I beleeve he has ended his daies All my entertainment and consolation in the cruell vexations I endur'd was in the nurcing I had of the little Prince which was called Eurymedon who also bare me a great affection and as he grew gave testimonies not onely of the greatnesse of his extraction but of a minde very generous also When he saw me afflicted he labour'd to appease me and comforted me by the hope he gave that as soone as he had any power he would restore my liberty and endevour to discover where Hermocrates was that he might be mine againe Neverthelesse when he had the command over all the Pyrats he could not so soone effect what he had promis'd me being retain'd from doing it for not offending their lawes About a yeare since desirous to goe to Sea he promis'd me that I should goe with him but I fell so sicke that it was impossible for me Some dayes since he return'd for to assemble all the Pyraticke forces with a designe to goe upon some great enterprize whence fearing never to returne and willing to deliver me the Pyrats never knowing of it he intreated one called Amyntas that was come to finde him in a Squiffe from some of his friends to save me secretly with himselfe when hee return'd hither to finde out those persons he sought for This Amyntas had a care of me as if I had beene his mother and brought mee into this City where not encountring those he thought to have found he left me with the people you see for to serve and accompany me unto Syracuse Amyntas knowing that Eurymedon was here hard by for to assist those he was in paine for is gone to finde him and I beleeve they are gone away together having heard no newes at all of them As for me attending the recovery of the sicknesse is fallen upon me and the labour I endur'd in my flight I made a stay in this lodging where I was in a great wonder to see this same Dicearchus the author of all our displeasures all whose wicked practices I learned of Eurymedon and to whom for all this I cannot wish ill since he hath restor'd me my deare Melintus and makes me conceive some hope being become our friend that hee will helpe us to finde Hermocrates your father Euphrosyne thus ended and Melintus told her how they knew who Eurymedon and Amyntas were and that he hoped very soone by meanes of Eurymedon to learne what was become of his father wherein he would employ all the diligence he could possibly use He entreated afterwards this vertuous mother of his to pardon Dicearchus for his deare Ariana's sake which she promised him and they embrac'd one another with much affection He told her then the greatest part of what had happened to them and among other things the faithfull friendship of Telephus and the infidelity of Diocles and how hee had beene knowne for the sonne of Hermocrates Then these discourses being ended every one retir'd to goe to bed and to attend with repose the ceremonies and joyes of the next day ARIANA. The fifth Booke WHile the sage Euphrosyne thus entertain'd Melintus Palamede whom Epicharis losse gave no repose to would not lose the time he might employ in search of her hee tooke a horse and rode out of Nicopolis and went into all places thereabouts to see if she might not be retir'd somewhere out of the Towne In vaine he spent all the evening in this search and a great part of the night that was very darke and as he return'd towards the City he heard two men on horsbacke comming to him who spake of Melintus and Ariana expressing a great deale of angry malice against them He could not know who they were because the obscurity was so great as he did not so much as see them But when they were past he had a minde to know more of their secrets and after he had tyed his horse to a tree he overtooke them on foot as speedily as might be then going a light pace by them without making himselfe be heard he listned their discourse some while not able yet to understand any thing but in the end one of the two replied thus What have I brought from Syracuse with such respect and care this traiterous and perjurious old man have I so long courted him at Corinth and since followed him through all the ports of Greece for to revenge his injuries and now he is satisfied himselfe shall he take no care whether I be so too or no Palamede knew then by this discourse and by the voyce that it was Pisistratus who went on And shall I suffer Melintus to marry her that is promis'd me whose love brings so many desires and unquietnesses upon me Shall they goe away together contented and leave me here full of despite of shame of rage In the meane time must I appeare without heart and not make them feele what a man of my condition is able to doe betrayed on this fashion and wanting no resentment No no though they have escaped the hands of Trebatius they are not yet safe from mine and if they stay here but one day more for to marry together I am certaine to make a funerall-wedding of it But answered the other that accompanied him are you very sure they are still living I saw this evening replied Pisistratus Arcas the free-man of Melintus leading Dicearchus bound and bringing him into a house I sent one of my servants to follow them and commanded him to enquire what they did in that lodging making as if he had some businesse there He brought me word that hee saw Trebatius Melintus Palamede Ariana and Dicearchus at good accord together and that there was nothing but rejoycing amongst them and I make no doubt of what he told me because he knowes them all as well as I doe But returned he whom he spake to when you have spoken to the Governour of Epire to put to death Melintus and Palamede because they are the Emperours enemies and told him how Trebatius had beene sent from Nero for the same purpose doe you thinke he will beleeve you Pisistratus answered you doe not know then how they have beene proclaimed throughout all the Provinces enemies of Caesar and of the decree that is gone out to kill them in what place soever they be found No no Maxentius cannot deferre their putting to death because he is advertis'd of the Imperiall order and if he makes any difficulty of doing it I will threaten to accuse him too before Nero. Palamede knowing in what sort Pisistratus would be revenged resolved to prevent him by killing him first presently he drew his sword and staying him by the reines of his horse for feare he should escape strucke him a great blow into the body Pisistratus cryed out that they murder'd him he that was with him tooke his flight and Pisistratus had never escap'd that danger had it