be her Soveraign Mistress In a word that 's the place where we shall evidence that 't is not safe to provoke a Souldiery There is no doubt to be made of the success of this Enterprise I will undertake for the Event It is enough to tell you that you are fear'd to let you see at the same time that you are Victorious Take therefore this money of Giscon since it is due to you seise his person and all his train of Carthaginians lest they give our Tyrants notice of our designe and let us go carry them the Tidings thereof our selves effecting it with sixty thousand men The Discourse of the perfidious Spendius had but too much power upon the mindes of this rebellious multitude insomuch that Giscon was immediatly clapt under a Guard with seven hundred Carthaginians who had convoy'd him and the Law of Nations was violated in the person of a Delegate and such a Delegate who had not repaired towards them but to give them satisfaction Spendius being unwilling to lose this occasion which he had so much desired divided his Troops into three bodies making the first of Lybians and Baleares which was commanded by Matho the second consisted of Gaules and Spaniards of whom Autharic was Leader the third which Spendius chose to command himself was compos'd of Greeks and Ligurians This division was but too well contrived and it suffices only to know the Scituation of Carthage to conceive the pitifull estate whereunto we were reduced I beleeve you know My Lords that our City is built upon a Cape and consequently is advanced something into the Sea that it is on one side environed with the waters thereof and on the other side with a Lake which together almost give it the form of an Island So that it adheres to the Continent of Africa only by a tongue of Land on one side of which Tunis is seated which looks towards the Lake and on the other is seen the City of Utica upon the Sea-shore About the middle of this tongue of Land slow the streams of Machâ—ra whose discharging is not much remote from the Port of Carthage This River is not altogether fordeable nor wholly Navigable and the only passage is at the Bridge of the City Sephira which is further advanced into Africa Spendius marched towards Utica with his forces who were much augmented by the way and immediatly took order for drawing of a Trench whilest Autharic made preparations for the winning of Sephira and Matho betook himself to besiege Tunis Behold all our Revenues debar'd by the siege of these three Cities Behold also our Enemies possessing this tongue of Land I spoke of which only affords commerce with Africa and three armies ready to be united according as any enterprise should require But it is better to unwinde my self from this part of the story and silently pass over all the cruelties which the seditious exercised during the warre It suffices to tell you that this irreconcilable war was more bloudy then can be imagined the Rebels gave no Quarter they stoned all the prisoners and put to death all the Officers considerable they took with excessive torments upon the Cross In a word this cruell warre was remarkable for more inhumane actions then ordinary war are eminent for generous Atchievements The great conduct of Amilcar and Hannibal was no advantage in this conjuncture and these two Heroes being destitute of Forces proportionable to those of the Revolted were constrained to attend some succours from Sardinia when in the mean time News was brought that all the Garisons of the Carthaginians in that Island were cut in peeces and the Romans received into the most considerable holds With this News was joyned that of the loss of Tunis Utica and Sephira it was also said that Hippo which had been alwaies faithfull to us during the war of Agathocles and that of the Romans had opened its gates to the seditious and for a completing of our misfortunes two dayes after we beheld from the tops of our Towers an Army of about fourscore or a hundred thousand men coming to besiege us Then it was that despair possessed the hearts of the Carthaginians and this poor people resolved to abandon the City since they had the Sea free to save themselves But Amilcar whose heart was invincible detain'd them and told them that affairs were not come to so deplorable an extremity as to have recourse to remedies of that nature He shewed them that they might receive succours from Sea that they knew that Naura Prince of Numidia had fifteen or sixteen thousand men beyond Sephyra with which he designed every day to break through the Enemies and put them into Carthage and at last added he they should alwaies have the same opportunity of embarking since the enemies had no shipping The Senate and the people were immediatly instant with Amilcar to take upon him the care of this important affair and all with a common consent put the Sovereign authority into his hands chusing rather to give their City to an illustrious Citizen then to abandon it to the Barbarians The Prince Amilcar was in great thoughtfulness framing and quashing designs in his mind and felt inquietudes conformable to the miseries of his Country insomuch that I think in this distressed conjunction any other spirit would have been broken but his But at length this great man to whom nothing seem'd impossible took a resolution to deliver Carthage but such a resolution as was not lesse extraordinary then the soul that fram'd it or the miseries unto which our City was reduc'd The Prince caused a Muster to be made of all their Troops and found that the Souldiers and the Inhabitants could not furnish more then thirty thousand fighting men of which he drew off twenty thousand and embarked them leaving the other ten thousand to guard the City Amilcar had observed that there was a very strong wind up and thereupon judg'd that that wind entring upon the mouth of the River Machaera did there increase its violence being straitned and inclosed so that by reason thereof the current of the River being in some measure repell'd the tumultuous waves recoiling into the River and driving back the Channel made the River Navigable Wherefore the same night the wind arose he put his men upon the River and went to unship his Army beyond the Enemies Camp in a place secure from discovery from whence he speeded one to Narva to injoyn him to come to Sephira whence he was not far distant assuring him by his Messenger that himselfe would be at the foot of the walls of that City in the head of twenty thousand men about break of day Narva could not at first give credit to what the envoy related and if any other but Adherbal whom he knew full well had brought him these surprising tidings he would not perhaps have believed him but at length he credited the message and exactly obey'd the Orders of Amilcar These two Princes
something of a glittering brightness Upon which turning his eye toward the way which crossed his he beheld a Cavalier followed by four others and advancing toward the place where the wayes crossed the first of these unknown persons did by a nobler aire evidence himself the Master of the rest rather then by the disparity of his Arms which although of silver enriched with scales of burnish'd gold and beset with many jewels did less draw the eyes of Hannibal by these ornaments then by the fierceness of his countenance and the gracefulness of his port The Carthaginian Prince would have passed on after he had a little considered this stranger but he was surprised when he saw himself accosted and heard these words I know by your Armes said the stranger that you are a Carthaginian therefore inform me if it be true that Hannibal is encamped within a few furlongs of Leptis The Carthaginian Prince who was accoutred with a very plain suit of Arms the better to pass unknown in his short journey ought not reasonably to have been surprised with this discourse of the stranger but he was so notwithstanding in a great measure and as he had not quitted the heart of Hannibal by laying aside his arms and harness he could not suffer these words which he esteemed not civill and fiercely answered thereunto If you are of the friends of that Prince and would serve him I will soon accord your demands in giving you the news of him I will not receive them on those terms replyed the stranger and I am Shew then interrupted the impatient Carthaginian if your valour be sufficient to merit this advantage and know that a Prince that hath such friends as my self would perhaps take little care to gain persons of your account He said no more but drawing his sword assailed the stranger who had soon drawn his and being not able to prevent him contented himself to receive him with a very gallant and heroick firmness The other four Cavaliers knowing the generosity of their Master were constrained to be spectators of the combat and obliged Aspar to be so by their example These two valiant warriours dealt great blows to one another which they warded with their shields for a long time with much dexterity till at length the stranger was wounded in the right arm and having drawn bloud from Hannibal by a hurt he gave him in the left he received at the same time a stroke that proved the weakness of his curasse Whereupon the stranger who was one of the bravest persons in the world and had never been treated in this manner in his combats perceiving his flux of bloud changed all his fiercenesse into fury and flew upon his enemy with so impetuous a Violence that the great Hannibal stood in need of his whole force and skill But at length this haughty Prince being incensed to finde a resistance he used not to meet with in his encounters discharged from that arm so dreadfull to many Nations such a heavy blow upon the head of the stranger that it made him reel and would without doubt have born him from his horse had not two of his Cavaliers speeded to his succour while the other two run to revenge him Of which the first that lifted up his sword to strike the Prince Hannibal soon received his death as a punishment of his temerity in presuming to attaque this great man and the other whom Aspar engaged would have perhaps followed the fate of his companion by a lesse honourable hand had he not suddenly cryed out for sparing his life to go and provide with his companions for the preservation of that of his Master The Prince Hannibal caused Aspar to retire and went himself to see in what condition his enemy was and to offer the strangers all manner of assistance He found that they had taken off his Helmet and perceived an aspect composed of fierce and comely with severall marks of greatness The stranger was not in so bad estate as was supposed and seeing his Enemy approach he endeavoured to re-enforce himself to go against him but was restrained by his attendants and arrested himself when he understood the intention of the generous Hannibal He was surprised with the good meene of this Prince when he saw him lift up the Visour of his Casque and remarked in his Visage so noble and great an air that he was as much astonished therewith as he had been ill-treated by his valour Valiant Sir said the unknown person I wonder not that you are friend to Hannibal since there is so much resemblance between you in the most heroick of all qualities but I beleeve that Prince loves little of the world if he love not such persons as you and I think if he had more friends of the like valour he might promise himself success in Africa more advantagious then those his arms have had in Italy Hannibal is not so happy in friends as you imagine him answered the Prince of Carthage since you have refused to be of their number but however if you please to go to his Camp you shall there receive such treatment as shall restrain you from hating a man who perhaps never offended you Hate said the stranger I honour his person and admire his high reputation too much to be guilty of such sentiments but I told you before I could not serve him because I was engaged on the contrary side Neverthelesse upon your word I will go to the Camp of Hannibal provided you promise me I shall leave it at my pleasure and that neither the knowledge of my condition nor that of my engagement for the Romans shall be any cause to retain me in the Carthaginian Army when it shall be fit for me to go serve against it Hannibal accorded the stranger his desires and having seen him mounted on his horse with one of his Attendants behinde him to hold him up they took the way to the Camp together These great Persons had an extreme desire to know one the other and view'd each other many times to learn that which they durst not enquire of but after they had marched some time without any speech at all the stranger at length ended the silence to render thanks to his Conquerour and to desire the knowledge of his Name who had so generously obliged him Scarce had he began to speak when he spyed a Body of Horse making toward them with a large trot which he perceived were Carthaginians Wherefore to prevent being known by any of this Troop he pul'd down the visour of his helmet but he no sooner understood that these Carthaginians came to attend their Prince as his guard and that the person with whom he had encountred was the great Hannibal but he approached with a very submiss action and told him obligingly that his ignorance had made him guilty of a great mistake and my Lord said he you could not have made your self known in a more heroick manner your great
Army to march directly against the Enemies and to draw them out to fight for the Prince Narva was now perfectly cured and I have made proceeded Asper my relation without distinction of times to avoid being troublesome by endeavouring to be circumspect The Princes had not long marched but they received intelligence that Matho Authoric were advancing with forty thousand men which news giving more joy then fear to the Carthaginians and Numidians Amilcar and Narva hoped a very advantagious success The Armies were no sooner in sight but the Princes omitted nothing of that which experienc'd Generals ought to do in the marshalling and disposing of their Troops and contenting themselves to speak in few words to those whom they lead Let us on my friends said they and revenge our Comrades you are not going to fight with valiant Enemies you are going to charge base Murderers but do not flatter your selves they are of those base ones that give no quarter and so ought to oblige you either to dye or overcome and to chuse death in the heat of a battel not to suffer it afterwards by the tortures of Barbarians The Carthaginians and Numidians answered with a great shout that joy and undauntedness made them rush forwards and they went against the enemy with countenances that promised nothing but Victories and fought very valiantly If the passionate Narva performed brave actions the Prince Amilcar also though somewhat more advanced in years discharged his part so well that the Enemies were wholly defeated Autharic slain by the hand of Narva and Matho made prisoner by Amilcar At the same time Hanno who commanded within the Town made a fally out upon the quarters of Spendius where he got very great advantage in so much that the Carthaginians were upon the point to march directly to the Rebels Camp to force their Trenches But Amilcar restrained them determined to call a Council of War wherein it was resolved by the advice of the Prince to withhold the Carthaginians and not to enterprise so suddenly the raising of the siege but to entrench themselves near the enemies Camp and cut off all their Avenues There was no delay to put this design in execution so that within a few dayes the Barbarians saw themselves enclosed between the City and Amilcar's Camp and though on the other two sides they had onely the Sea and a Lake yet they were destitute of Ships and Boats to do themselves any benefit by them whereby they were reduced in a short time to a strange extremity for refusing with an inconceivable obstinacy the peace which was offered them there became so great a famine in their Camp that they were constrained to kill and eat all their Horses of service they even eat those which were slain at the assaults which were made at several times There cruelty rested not here they murdered divers of their Companions which were wounded instead of succouring them and were brought at length to cut the throats of their slaves and eat them Amilcar intended to let them perish by little and little but the impatient Numidian who desired with all speed to see the Princess Asdrulia was in the mind to attempt their lives which he did with so great valour that being back'd by Amilcar and assisted by a sally which Hanno made at the same time there was a compleat Victory obtained Spendius was taken prisoner all his Troops cut in pieces except a few Souldiers that were drowned in the Sea and the Lake by which they endeavoured to save themselves After this defeat the Conquerors entered into the City where they were receiv'd with all the joy and acclamations wherewith important actions are wont to be solemnized And as they beheld Spendius and Matho who were led after the Princes they fell upon the Traytors and tearing them in a thousand pieces punish'd them for some part of their crimes On the morning after there was a great Sacrifice celebrated to render thanks to the Gods After which Amilcar intended to recompence the Numidian Prince by giving him his Daughter the fair Princess Asdrulia I will not entertain you with the description of the Feasts and publick rejoycings nor hold you with discourse of Narva's joy or that of the Princess Asdrulia nor of their loves which preceded that Declaration which the Numidian Prince made to the Prince Amilcar as being not much to my story I shall onely tell you that upon the end of this War which was termed Irreconcilable because it could never have ended but with the total ruine of one party Hippo Ulica and Tunis put all their Garison to the sword and deputed some of their prime Citizens to Carthage to declare their return under its Government Soon after the Assembly of the Estates General was holden wherein it was ordained that seeing the Prince Amilcar had alwayes very well served the Republick had sold all his goods to discharge the debts of the publick that he had even bestowed the Princess Asdrulia his Daughter to acquit Carthage of the services it had received from Narva It was ordained I say that the Prince Amilcar should be confirmed in the charge of Prince of the Senate which had been formerly given him and which he had made no use of but to the quiet and advantage of the City even with the peril of his own life After which the affair of Sardinia was deliberated upon it was believed there could have been no commotion in this Island without some forrain Abetters and so that it must needs be that the Romans had stirred up the Rebellion which they had made sufficiently apparent when they put themselves into the best of its fortresses And being it was not permitted to abet the Rebellious subjects of a Republick that was in league with them the injustice of the Romane proceedings was laid open but without clear examination of the nature of the offence which Carthage received thereby because she was not yet in a condition to demand reason of them for it You see therefore My Lords how the Illustrious Amilcar obtained the charge which is so worthily executed by the Prince Hannibal at this day and you also understand the reasons which have obliged my Master to make War upon the Romanes and that this is enough to authorize a digression in some measure which possibly may have seemed too tedious Now whereas I have neglected to observe the diâ—ference of times you will not wonder if I tell you that the little Hannibal was now grown to be capable of receiving some instructions and that his excellent genius supplying the defect of his age he so well seconded the care of his Masters that he gained the admiration of all the City The Prince Amilcar beheld these fair beginnings with some pleasure and not wholly relying in the esteem of the people who too forwardly admire any thing they find in persons rais'd above them he design'd to educate the young Hannibal after a clearly particular fashion and to lead
But I should never come to an end if I should reckon up all the places where he fought Therefore to be brief I must assure you that he fought every where where his presence was necessary and that wheresoever he fought he animated his party both by his voice and by his example and beat down all his enemies that made head against him At length the Prince Hannibal put the Rebels to slight after he had slain fifteen thousand of them I say the Prince Hannibal My Lords since it is certain that he carried this Victory by his conduct and by his great courage The Rebels rallied again and fought several times after but the advantage continued alwaies intire with us During this war it may be said that my Master began to discover those fair accomplishments and habitudes which now fill the mouthes of the whole world He never thought upon himselfe till he had put every thing else in order he neither eat nor slept but when time and the exigence of affairs permitted him he oftentimes lay in the Corps du Guard but that which hath been observed for the most generous and singular in this Prince is that in this War and in all others as without doubt you all know My Lords he hath been alwaies the first to charge and the last to make the retreat But My Lords I come at length to give you an account of that bloody battel of Castel-alto where the Vectones were absolutely defeated but alas where we finish'd the Victory with the loss of the great Amilcar This Prince not being able to suffer that Hannibal should be exposed to so great dangers rush'd forward to partake with him who was figting on all sides and after he had performed all that a valiant man and of an age less declining could have done he was dispatch'd with three or four wounds which he received at the same instant and could utter onely these words Ah Hannibal I leave thee in danger My Master who had never cast eye upon his enemies but to beat them knowing the sound of this voice turned his head and seeing the great Amilâ—ar fall under the Horses feet whom he loved and honoured infinitely he cast himselfe upon the ground to embrace him and perceiving that he was dead he uttered all the resenting words that tenderness could inspire a Son with and afterwards betook himselfe to do all that rage could enforce to when in its greatest extent For having caused the body of Amilcar to be carried to the Camp and being become more terrible and cover'd all over with blood he remounted his Horse and soon carried terror and death to every place where he discharged his dreadful blowes It is impossible My Lords to represent unto you all that he did in this fury it is enough to let you know that never any enraged Lion in our Africa did so much as our provoked Prince did in this occasion At length our enemies were cut in pieces and the Prince Hannibal who had committed nothing that a man resolved to perish could attempt found himselfe but lightly wounded in three places of his body After this general defeat of the Vectones which cost us so dear my Master caused the body of Amilcar to be interred with all the military pomp that could be imagined But the tears of the Carthaginians were more glorious to the deceased Prince then any ceremony whatsoever and 't is credible this death did so sensible touch our Souldiers that it might have been conceived by our Army that the loss of Carthage was involv'd in that of Amilcar if that Prince had not repaired it in leaving us the great Hannibal For all the Commanders and Souldiers remarked in my Master all the accomplishments of Amilcar and had then saluted him General if at Carthage it had not been deemed convenient to make a kind of inter-raign by putting the soveraign authority into the hands of the Prince Asdrubal who was Brother-in-law to Hannibal by marrying the Princess Magarisbe for my Master was look't upon as too young to manage the affairs of our Empire You know without doubt My Lords that Asdrubal was slain three years after his advancement and that the Prince Hannibal was declared Prince of the Republick of Carthage and Generallissimo of all its Armies notwithstanding the canvasings of Hanno who was head of a contrary party My Master was no sooner raised to this great dignity but he framed a design not less noble and eminent then the condition he was in for not contenting himself to go into Sicily or Sardinia to recover them he deâ—â—rmined to carry the War into Italy gain a conquest worthy of his courage in marching against the proud Rome But being of a deep entendment he would not enterprise this War but upon reasonable grounds because his late Brother-in-law Asdrubal had also made an alliance with the Romanes of which the principal Article was that the River Iberus should part both the Empires and that the Saguntines should be Neuters Hannibal to the end he might be better served by his Souldiers and not incur the hatred of the people made it evident that he had cause to complain of the Saguntines who had joyned themselves to the interests of Rome contrary to what had been agreed and drew forth his Army to march against the Sagâ—ntines declaring it his purpose rather to revenge the outrage then to possess himselfe of the Territories of another he saw notwithstanding that Rome would declare her selfe for a people that had declared for her and that so the Romanes appearing invaders of the Carthaginians he might represent them odious to the Nations which should be infested with this War and might fight his Enemies with the aid and assistance of several people who would look upon him as a Pâ—ince injustly attaqued But in the first place before he set upon the Saguntines he marched against the Olcades who are scituated on this side the River Iberus I shall not recite you the particular adventures of this War but onely tell you that Hannibal in four moneths conquered this Province and took the rich City Carteia which was the Metropolis of it From Carteia he went to take up his winter quarters at New Carthage where he caressed all the Commanders and Souldiers of his Army commending the vivacity and greatness of their courage and thereupon making a division to them of all the spoiles he yet more satisfied them then by all his Elogiums As soon as the Sun by his approaches began to chase away the cold which is wont to incommodate Armies Hannibal took the field and caused his to march against the Vacceans This Prince was too valiant to meet with any great resistance so that he overcame the Vacceans be sieged and took the great Cities of Hermandica and Arbacala and after so good success attaqued also the Carpen aines But it was not without pains that my Master aâ—chiev'd this last enterprise for their Army which consisted of a hundred
accompanied with deep-fetch't sighes whether it were that this mutual view was a new cause or grief greater then their power to sustain or whether there were something more tender and touching then the great mis-fortunes which had already fallen out and were less proper to pierce the soul then to overwhelm it But Nadalia being willing to lose no time My Lord said she to Lucius the Princess is resolved to dye The princess resolv'd to dye interrupted he How Madam said he turning to Thomira will you then be obstinate against life Lucius I must be so answered this afflicted Beauty Must be so Madam cryed Lucius Ah Madam what say you ought you not to preserve one of the fairest persons in the world ought you not to preserve a life which is so precious and necessary to all that are devoted to you Alas Madam added Nadalia can you refuse the prince Lucius that which he requests And although he were not such as he is could you without being affected behold a young prince who hath left the Court of the King his Father to come and embrace your quarrel who hath spent his blood and that of his subjects for your interests who hath adventured to grapple with the most redoubled valour in the world and in a word a young Prince who hath been ready to dye for you Will you not be drawn to preserve your life at his request I perceive well Nadalia answered the Princess that I am culpable and that I shall die ungrateful but I also perceive that I am not culpable in any other respect but becauâ—e I am a Woman and because I am weak and for that not having strength enough of soul to preserve an unhappy life there remains nothing but a necessity to dye which would be a sufficient contentment were it not troubled with the regret I have to leave such persons as are deare unto me I will not tell you continued she in extenuation of my crime that if Lucius had dyed for Thomira he should onely have ceased to be happy whereas if Thomira should live for Lucius she should onely preserve her sorrow to be perpetually tormented by it so that if there were no difference between the soul of Lucius and mine if there were none between the losing a happy life and the preserving a miserable which yet there is not although I say all this were equal yet were your demands too high for me to accord unto For in brief I sufficiently find that griefe acts much more sensibly then joy and that a person suffers more that is overwhelmed with misery then when he renounces some contentments which may betide him during the course of a happy life These words of the princess made it appear that she was not in so weak a condition as she head signified before and that the disquiets of her soul did not hinder her from discoursing of these things with clearness and freedom of spirit which yet could gain nothing upon the minds of Lucius and Nadalia The Celtiberian Prince beseeched her very earnestly and added reasons to his prayers Nadalia also did the like and as they saw that Thomira remained inflexible Ah Madam said Lucius to her with a tone declaring both his grief and his dispair is it your pleasure to have me dye I will so Madam I will dye immediately to avoid the time of seeing or hearing that doleful fate you threaten us with and I question not to find means to dispatch my life I will furnish you with them my selfe My Lord said the generous Nadalia and this Poniard continue she drawing one from her sleeve shall serve you to execute a just design and afterwards serve my selfe with it by following so glorious an example for in truth if Thomira dye there is no reason for us to survive her My Lords the Princess implyes her pleasure concerning our fates in her own resolution not to live and therefore this Ponyard which was intended only to secure me from the insolence of the Souldiers which is too ordinary in the taking of Cities this Ponyard shall be sheathed in our breasts alas how incredible a while since by our fair Princess It shall pierce none other but mine cryed the desperate Prince of Carthage with a terrible voice and running the bed of Thomira And this Hannibal this Barbarian who hath been able to reduce the adorable Thomira into the condition she is in is minded to sacrifice himselfe as a Victim to establish your common repose In saying these words he laid his hand upon that of Nadalia and offering to seise upon the Ponyard Ah my Lord said Thomira Ah Lucius Ah Nadalia you have prevailed I will live that you may I will live that you suffer not a death which seems more terrible to me then that which I was going to suffer my selfe I will do all that you desire I should for the preservation of a life wherein you take so important interest Never was seen so speedy and great a change as that which these words of Thomira caused all the tumultuous and fatal thoughts which raigned before in the minds of those present were dispelled by this one sentence and hope and joy with the pleasingness that accompanies them took compleat possession of the same minds after they had chased from thence all that is wont to withstand and be contrary to these amiable passions At the same moment one came to assure Thomira that the Prince her Father had been seen taking the way of the Sea-shore with a body of Horse and to make the face of things absolutely new my Master pronounced aloud that the Princess gave liberty to Lucius Regulus and Nadalia and not onely to all the people of Saguntum but even to all those who had taken arms for her interests You may judge My Lord said Aspar to his Illustrious Auditors whether all these things together and joyned with soveraign remediâ—s did not produce a speedy effect and without holding you longer in the describing a malady wherein you can find nothing agreeable besides the fair Princess that suffered it I shall content my self to tell you that the incomparable Thomira was within a few dayes in a condition to leave her bed and soon after also her Chamber Aspar held his peace at this part of his Narration either not presuming to pursue it without understanding whether it were their pleasure to hear the continuation of it or perhaps to reâ—ume new Idea's but as soon as he perceiv'd the King of Syria the wounded King the Prince of Macedonia and he of Bithynia seemed by their silence to expect the sequel of Hannibal's Adventures he reassumed his discourse in this manner The End of the First Book The Grand SCIPIO The First Part. BOOK II. NEver did they which had escaped a shipwrack resent so perfect a joy as that was which the recovery of Thomira raised in the breasts of all the City of Saguntum nor did the Sun after a dissipation of the Clouds that
adorable Sophonisba Ah my Lord how unhappy is my lot that that fair Queen should be deprived of life by the hands of that wretched King and that among so many illustrious qualities which rendred Sophonisba Divine she had not also that of immortal which was onely wanting to a person so accomplished No no my Lord what you have told mens not possible but without question you have been misinformed and the Queen of Numidia is still alive if she hath not ended her days by some other accident My Lord replied Hannibal I have always so highly esteemed Masanissa that I have had great repugnance to entertain the belief of his being capable of so black a guilt and I am glad continued â—e to chear up the wounded King that I finde my hopes any thing confirmed that that news is erroneous Masanissa never merited your esteem replied the King but at least he was never capable of an ignoble thought For my Lord seeing it is requisite you know the King whom you have treated so generously I must declare to you that he is the Masanissa of whom you speak Yes my Lord I am that Masanissa whose life hath been attended with accidents so strange that they have filled the world with wonder I am that Prince who hath lost and recovered Kingdoms who have confederated both with the Carthaginians and the Romans and who have adored Sophonisba from the time I first had the honour to know her and at last that Masanissa who hath been overcome by the great Hannibal who hath been treated by him with civility altogether extraordinary and that Masanissa who regulating his life onely by that of Sophonisba expects with extreme impatience to know the condition in which that adorable Queen is The Carthaginian Prince was infinitely amazed to behold Masanissa in his Tent and that Masanissa who was fallen off from the Cathaginians but presently reflecting upon the great adventures which Love and Honour had drawn that King into to break with Carthage and also considering him in a state of pity he encreased his civilities instead of diminishing them Masanissa constrained himself to answer the caresses of the Prince of Carthage but he acquitted himself in so forced a manner that Hannibal easily knew that he was still strangely disquieted Ah my Lord answered Masanissa it is hard to be composed of spirit when there is hourly apprehension of hearing the most cruel and fatal news confirmed that I am capable of receiving For what can be imagined more cruel then this accident I have been afflicted for the loss of a Kingdom but I have been also comforted with a belief as it effectively hapned that the Romans could re-instate me in that which the Caathaginians had assisted King Syphax my Enemy and my Rival to gain from me I have lost all my relations yet conceived nothing of surprising or extraordinary in these misfortunes But my Lord I finde my condition far more unhappy when I consider my self bereaved of the fair Princess Sophonisba to put her into the arms of my enemy at the same time that the Prince Asdrubal her Father had promised her to me and that adorable person had given me many testimonies of her esteem and good inclination Neverthelesse being I loved Sophonisba more for her selfe then for my own sake I found some contentment when I considered that I alone was miserabe and Sophonisba Queen of two Realms Then indeed I did not resolve to dye because I lived more in the great Queen of Numidia then in the unfortunate King of the Massessilians But the thought of that illustrious Queens death of this cruel separation Ah! this is it my Lord that breaks the greatest constancy and subdues it to the violence of the calamity here the strongest soul finds it selfe too weak to resist the stroke of fate Yet there may be unfortunate persons of this kind but none comparable to me if these tidings be true and the Gods yea the Gods themselves can add nothing to my punishment For my Lord as if it were not enough to lose all that I love I am like to pass for a wretched prisoner and that of the most fair and sweet person that ever eye beheld and my innocence will onely serve to redouble my torment when I shall consider it buried in the same Tombe with me and so never being published my memory become odious to all Posterity Can you therefore imagine a misfortune more great and strange Bethink your selves of circumstances that may augment it if there be any such or confess that I am upon the point of being the most unhappy of men I confess answered Hannibal that your case would be such in the extremity although you would at least dye with the satisfaction of being innocent and I judge that the true Author of this impiety would be farre more miserable How say you interrupted Masanissa Can you believe that a man who should be so wretched as to commit this crime would be capable to resent the loss of his reputation to the quick Can you beleeve he would be sensibly afflicted for the death of a person whom himself had murdered And do you not consider that he would have even some contentment although unworthy and malicious to have effected that which he judged he ought to do or which he had designed The Prince Hannibal was willing to put off this conversation which served onely to redouble the grief of Masanissa and not being able to give him any hope after the intelligence he had received he would not be an occasion to continue his dispair But Masanissa prevented him and beholding him a few moments with an aire wholly submissive My Lord said he to him I hope the illustrious Hannibal will grant that to Masanissa which a valiant Carthaginian promised some dayes since to a Cavalier whom he vanquisht You know that â—he promised to procure him licence to depart from the Camp of the Carthaginians when he pleased Perform that engagement now my Lord seeing it is impossible for me to live in the condition I am in and permit me to depart to morrow morning before day-light to go to Zama where I may receive intelligence from Cyrtha If the King Masanissa remembers that promise answered Hannibal perhaps he hath not forgot the principal condition of it which was the unknown Cavalier might depart from the Army of the Carthaginians vvhen it vvas requisite for him to serve against it We will attend therefore if you please till you are perfectly cured and not suffer you to undertake a journey in the condition your are in and albeit you are a friend of Scipio and one of the bravest courages in the world yet I had more regard to the preservation of a formidable enemy then to hazard the life of a generous Prince by a consent which I cannot give but to his prejudice If you expose my life to danger replyed Masanissa by permitting me to undertake a journey in the condition wherein I am you will
the handsome stranger was seated upon a â—uâ—t of green Grass Ah my Lord cryed he instantly there are about thirty Cavaliers come to assail and kill the great Hannibal who hath not above seven or eight persons with him The young stranger had no sooner heard these words but a noble ardor animating his countenance he leapt upon his Horse and commanded his Armour-bearer to do the same and to speed with him to the defence of Hannibal To defend Hannibal cryed the Squire Alas my Lord I beseech you pardon me if I tell you you are in a mistake and unquestionably mean some other person then him you named It is enough that I have told you what I intend to do answered the generous Stranger Ah my Lord said the Squire again will you fight for your Enemy No no you must not do it notwithstanding your magnanimity but be pleased to remember that the Hannibal you are going to defend is he who hath ruin'd your Country who hath caused all the losses of Rome and in a word whom you ought to fight against as the most irreconcilable of your enemies I have considered all that you tell me replyed the magnanimous Stranger marching towards the place where he was to joyn with the Prince of Carthage but besides I have consider'd that Hannibal is over powred by great inequality The Stranger so hasted in speaking these words that he soon reach'd the place vvhere the fight vvas beginning when the Squire endeavouring again to divert his Master from his design My Lord said he to him behold your enemy vvhat course will you take Dye or save Hannibal ansvvered the Stranger Great Gods cryed the Squire notwithstanding his being accustomed to the Heroick actions of his illustrious Master is it possible that He could not continue out his examination for beholding his Master rush with an extraordinry impetuosity upon the enemies of Hannibal he seconded him to fight near his person The valiant Stranger began to distribute death as soon as he began to strike and the first whose unhappy fall guided him to utter a blow at him lost his life at the very instant that he attaqued that of the couragious Stranger Hannibal for his part fought like himself but how great soever the valour of this Illustrious Carthaginian was yet it cannot be denied but that of the unknown assistant caused admiration in this Prince by actions wholly miraculous These two brave persons redoubled their efforts and either of them strived to call up all their strength and prowess to the view of an emulous valour and these two Heroes being infinitely ardent of glory by the bent of their minds they beheld one another as rivals and performed things so prodigious as do almost surpass belief That which was yet more rare in this conjuncture was that they highly valued each the other without any disposition to love mutually and fought with an intention so strange and yet so generous that the stranger exposed his life onely to preserve that of Hannibal and this Prince also fought not but for the safety of the stranger so that being thus accorded they beat down as many enemies as they dealt blowes and within few moments of the thirty Cavaliers at the beginning of the combate they overthrew four and twenty and put the rest to flight But if these two Warriours appeared extreamly redoubtable yet they accused themselvs in their own breasts that they had not done enough and in the noble ardor which quickned them they believed they had too few enemies to encounter and oftentimes wished there had been a greater number as a more ample subject of manifesting their prowess in all its extent Nevertheless there was some difference remarkable in the manner of fighting between these two great men for choler animated the courage of Hannibal but that of the Stranger was a valour purely generous and if the Prince of Carthage seemed furious and terrible the magnanimous unknown by a deportment much heroical did not overcome more then was necessary to do to be the defender of the Prince of Carthage Wherefore he restrained himself from pursuing the six Cavaliers which fled and perceiving Hannibal making after them Stay Hannibal stay cryed he after which turning towards his Squire Let us on then said the generous Unknown and either perish or dispatch Hannibal since we may now do it without ignominy This design is worthy of your selfe answered the Squire but my Lord although you are the most valiant man in the vvorld yet you ought to take notice that the match is not equal for Hannibal hath five Cavaliers with him still Those five Cavaliers interrupted the unknovvn do not hinder Hannibal from being my enemy They do not without question replyed the Squire but they make your enemy a little too powerful And 't is because he is so said the stranger that I intend to fight him and that my heart prompts me to attaque him He said no more being he savv Hannibal at a little distance off him Hannibal cryed he to him presently you must now turn your svvord against me 't is I that am left for you to fight vvith your greatest enemy vvho hath already â—ought to preserve you that he might afterwards cause you to perish in a way that vvill not be dishonourable unto me You speak so surprisingly ansvvered Hannibal that I am wholly unresolved vvhat I ought to do But I shall no longer debate upon it pursued he fiercely since I am no more obliged to you after the Declaration you have made me and that I understand you too valiant not to fight you with very great satisfaction and glory Hannibal upon these words turned tovvards those that were vvith him and commanded them not to stir what success soever he had in the combate he vvas going to ingage in and then put himselfe in a posture to encounter his illustrious enemy But this Prince vvas strangely surprised vvhen he beheld the King Masanissa speak to the valiant unknown Whoever you are said he to him who seem to be a Romane by the enmity you have against the Prince Hannibal do not attempt upon a life which you have so generously preserved but if you have no regard to the preservation of a Prince to whom you declare your selfe an enemy yet at least allow something to the reqâ—est of Masanissa whom without doubt you know and who beseeches you not to begin a combate wherein he is likely to interest himself so farre that he will be the first that perishes and that in such a manner as cannot satisfie you And you my Lord continued he addressing to the Prince of Carthage have you drawn me on hitherto unprofitably all indisposed as I am and will you refuse Masanissa the favour which he intreats of you to consider this generous Unknown as a person that hath fought for you ratheâ— as one that desires to fight against you These words of the sick King made some impression in the minds of these two
what manner he was betray'd for Madam he learnt nothing from the mouth of Minutius who vvas obstinate not to make the lest discovery but with all coming at the same time to think on the perfidiousness of Minutius and Varro and on the adorable person vvho vvas to be carried away by that treachery his choler became extreamly violent and this last passion having something more impetuosity then the other seem'd alone to possess him Ah Traytor cryed he ah perfidious is it thus that thou betrayest me Is this the course thou takest to attain the possession of the fairest person in the world No no. Traytor thou shalt never have the success thou promisest thy self and the Gods who have lately by mine arme punished thy complice do not now discover thy crime to leave it with impunitie But let us not lose time added he in an impetuous manner let us go or rather fly to punish the Traytor since the concernment is to serve Aemilia Ending these words he took his sword and without remembring that he was not absolutely cured of his wound caused one to conduct him to Claudia's house at the Gate of which we found seven or eight men with arms Who indeed were Varro and his complices and as we vvere informed afterwards stood there expecting Titus's answer vvho vvas gone to advertise Claudia of their arrival and of the cause that brought them This infamous wretch having already spoken against Scipio all that the blackest perfidiousness could inspire him with my illustrious friend did not stay to deliberate when he beheld those people at the Gate but drew his sword and couragiously set upon them Are you here traytor Varro cryed he with a fierce and menacing tone are you run upon the punishment of your crime Yes I am here answered Varro insolently to your unhappiness who come to punish your self for the attempt you were preparing to commit These words so augmented Scipio's choler that he cast himself upon his enemy with such violence that he wounded him the first pass he made at him Varro who was so far from being pusillanimous that he has bin alvvaies accus'd of rashness was not dismaid at this on-set but on the contrary being of a violent temper grew inrag'd and omitting the necessary care of guarding himself sought to dispatch Scipio with one violent thrust So that Scipio was also wounded But his heart being perfectly the heart of a Hero and that of Varro the heart of a Lyon Scipio wounded him deeply in three or four places and vvas onely slightly hurt himself in tvvo for though he fought vvith more love more impetuosity and choler yet he fought too with more judgment so true it is that the valour of Scipio cannot be proportionably describ'd having something in it too great and too extraordinary to suffer it self to be comprehended In the mean time Madam our enemies being well arm'd and stronger in number we had perhaps at length bin worsted although Varro was already with-drawn from the combate because our Host who had guided us thither was wounded and so was Scipio's slave and I had receiv'd one wound in the body and another in the arm We had bin worsted I say if an inhabitant of Ostia who came to the beginning of the fray had not called a great multitude together to his assistance to separate us But Madam I still tremble when I think that at this time the perfidious Titus came forth from Claudia's house and seeing Varro all cover'd with blood who made no longer resistance and withal perceiving by the light of the Torches that were brought Scipio's sword glittering in his hand which carryed death or dread on all sides this villain either to revenge Varro or not to be discover'd resolv'd to kill this great person and accordingly went behind him to run him through the bodie if the Inhabitants of Ostia I mention'd had not bin near enough the Traytor to stop him But he could not so well with-hold his arm but that notwithstanding that obstacle the inraged wretch run him with a deep wound into the back Now when the Inhabitants of Ostia had wholly separated us and Scipio's slave who beheld that action of Titus had requited the traytor with a great wound too our Host who was not dangerously wounded took care of us and caused us to be carryed to his house where he sent to seek the Chyrurgions who attended on us before Scipio and I were desirous to be in the same chamber where this Illustrious Roman in the first place demanded news concerning our Host and seem'd very well satisfi'd when he understood he had received only a slight wound in the left arm Then the Chyrurgions searched our hurts and told us they were not mortal though we judg'd by their countenances that they were very dangerous After which having given them the first dressing they caus'd our Host to enter into the chamber who presently approacht towards Scipio very respectively and thank'd him for his goodness in remembring him 'T is I am to thank you answered the Illustrious Scipio for your assistance but since it has pleas'd the Gods added he that you have not bin considerably wounded I must desire you to do me an other service in which there is neither danger nor difficulty and which nevertheless is of no small importance to me Go therefore continued he observing the man expected only his commands go to Claudia's house tell her she is abused and that Varro is culpable and I innocent Moreover tell her that But no recollected he suddenly I should lose too much time in recounting to you Varro's treachery go tell her onely what I have said to you and assure her that I am ready to justifie both the one and the other After Scipio had given this Commission he commanded the slave I told you of should come to him having resolved to send him at the same instant to Claudia's house there to convince Titus and wholly discover the perfidiousness of Varro After which this Illustrious lover addressing to me Well Laelius I am satisfi'd said hetome with an air that spoke him really to be so notwithstanding the great wounds he had received I am satisfied said he since the adorable Aemilia is now ready to understand the difference there is between the procedure of Scipio and the perfidiousness of the Traytor that would destroy me and carry her away So that Laelius whether I die or be cured I shall receive either fate without excess of sorrow or satisfaction For when I consider I am upon the point to apâ—ear in Aemilia's mind such as I am I resent a joy so sensible that it effaces all other thoughts of whatever importance Scipio pronouncing these words something loud by reason of his passionate expressions the Chyurgions who were retir'd a while to leave us to our rest heard his voice wherefore they returned presently and entreated him with many reasons and importunities to forbear speaking which Scipio promised them because he
less by reason of the wounds he has receiv'd then of love He could not finish what he intended to say love was the last word he pronounced which I believe he could not have reacht to if there had not been infinite sweetness in pronouncing it before the person beloved In brief Madam my illustrious friend fell into a swound by having spoken after a too passionate manner for the pittiful condition into which he was reduc'd by a great loss of blood follow'd with a thousand violent agitations and the denyal of Aemilia to hear him though it was after a manner extreamly civil did not a little contribute thereunto That fair person was so affected with this accident that she immediately made a great shreek and testified as much sorrow as amazement After which turning towards us as Claudia was hastning to see what the matter was Ah! Madam said she to her Scipio is dead Scipio dead cryed Claudia and I together O Gods continued I casting up mine eyes to heaven with the greatest sorrow that ever I resented can you suffer Scipio to perish in so unjust a quarrel Will you suffer so admirable a life to be extinguished in its beginning and can you think it enough to shew to the earth but transiently a Haro whom it seem'd you had destinated for the most memorable exploits by the grand qualities you so liberally favoured him with I continued thus to bewail the infelicity of my friend and beseech the Gods for his preservation not being then able to assist him saving by vows and prayers And indeed the Gods in a short space restored him to us whether it were that they would not a work which they had so excusably framed should be of so little continuance or would not withdraw so great a prop from the City of Rome which they protect with a goodness of which all the world has seen indubitable testimonies during the war which Hannibal brought into Italy So the Chyrurgions recovered this Illustrious person though with extream difficulty who opened his eyes at last after severall cordials and began to give us some hope But when he became capable of well discerning the objects that were about his bed he assumed new vigour by perceiving the lovely eyes of Aemilia were wet and that apparently some tears had dropt from them And indeed Claudia and Aemilia could not without weeping behold such a person as Scipio in so great a danger and even dying for their quarrel to whom they had so great obligations and as yet given him no tokens of the gratitude they pretended to testifie to him Wherefore they went not forth of our Chamber till they had seen Scipio in as good a condition as he was in at their coming to him though Claudia insisted no more to have us carried to her house because the Chyrurgions judg'd it unfitting Assoon as they were gone Madam Scipio related to me the discourse he had with Aemilia and then told me he believ'd the remedies appli'd to him would be unprofitable since it did not please Aemilia he fhould live I cannot Scipio interrupted I suffer this your injustice and without doubt you would not speak in this manner if you had seen the grief of that fair person I oberved well answered he that by all appearance she had shed some tears But Laelius this does not fully satisfie me because most certainly she believed she bestowed them on my death Should what you say be true replied I have you any reason to conclude she would not have you live since your seeming death caused her to weep Ah! Laelius answered he do not deceive your self but believe there is a great difference between these two respects for it is usual enough to be effected with the death of any whatsoever But it does not often happen that any persons interess themselves to contribute towards the contented life of others who are indifferent to them So that Laelius added he though he saw I could not approve his speaking Aemilia forbidding me to speak to her of my passion forbids me also to live for to tell you in a word what I think since I know you desire I should not speak much it is an undoubted truth that 't is impossible I should live without loving Aemilia or that I should live without speaking to her of it and if she has not the goodness to suffer me to do so then take your measures accordingly added he either to preserve my life or to prepare your self to see me separated from you by a death which will without doubt be cruel to me for more then one cause The Gods will preserve us from that unhappiness replyed I and I believe moreover Aemilia will never consent to the loss of an Illustrious Roman whose crime consists onely in declaring to her that one of the most worthy persons of the world dyes for love of her but for a love so respectful that he presumes not to discover it but tremblingly and when he is upon the point to dye of the wounds which he has lately received for her having embraced her interests in the most generous manner that can be imagin'd No no Scipio she is too reasonable to carry her cruelty so far as you apprehend and I pass higher and believe she is not displeased that you love her but for that she make profession of a scrupulous virtue she judges it not becoming to listen to a Declaration of love without endeavouring to impose you silence out of decency But according to the knowledge I have of her I believe she would have strangely ill-heated any other besides you For Ladies of great quality and eminent virtue are very difficult in admitting such discourse as we are speaking of for that they will not their hearts should be attaqued by any being determin'd to dispose of them only according to the pleasure of the persons to whom nature has made them subject Nevertheless I despair not of success for you with Aemilia and if you will promise me to yield to all things for the promoting of your cure I promise you I will act not unprosperously with the person you love Ah! Laelius if you would I have done Scipio interrupted I and I cannot suffer you to speak longer These last words caused my dear friend to be silent who was more apprehensive of displeasing me then injuring his own health and afterwards suffer'd any course to be taken for his cure Not long after Madam an occasion of serving my friend with Aemilia presented it self For Claudia her self visited us and daily came to see in what condition we were though she had sent twice or thrice before for the same cause So that as she was pleas'd from time to time to give such orders concerning us as were necessary her adorable daughter often remain'd near my bed not venturing to approach that of Scipio alone Whereby it was easie for me to take my time to speak to that fair person and to let her know that
he was again falling into a sound Upon which rising up suddenly and being throughly mollified Live said she to him live Scipio I beseech you I conjure you But Madam answered he with a weak and trembling voice you know well what you must suffer in order to preserve my life Well Scipio replied she letting fall a few teares from her lovely eies I will suffer it to avoid consenting to your death my constancy yields at length to your importunateness I esteem you sufficiently and have obligations to you great enough to conform me to resolve to suffer this kind of persecution from you when I cannot avoid it But Oh admirable change Aemylia had no sooner done speaking but Scipio resumed new strength such power have the words of the person loved to penetrate even to the heart and fortifie it against the attaques of excruciating passions Scipio I say assumed new vigour and amorously beholding the fair person that began to be favourable to him I will live Madam since t is your pleasure said he with a stronger voice and moreover I will live happie since t is your pleasure I should live As Scipio ended these words Claudia entered into our Chamber accompanied with Publius and my father whom she had sent to Rome to advertise of all that had passed they were also followed by seven or eight of our relation who came to testifie their obliging sentiments of our unhappiness But for that they spoke but little and that too after a manner sufficiently sad I shall not repeat their discourse to you But I shall content my self with intimating to you that our ordinary Chyrurgions with those our friends brought from Rome having entreated the company to with-draw they all did so and left us to our repose of which then Scipio began first to be capable But Madam I am desirous to leave him to take it as also to give you libertie to go to yours for I believe it is extreamly late and that extraordinary watchings are neither agreeable nor advantageous to fair persons Laelius here broke off his discourse and the fair Auditory beheld one another as if they expected whether or no they should desire him to continue it But for that they judged that besides the unseasonable lateness of the night it might be incommodious to Laelius to speak yet longer the referred they sequel of Scipio's adventures to the next morning After which they gave Laelius very obliging thanks and to shew him some proofs of their attention reflected a little on the most remarkable passages of the History he had related to them Which done the fair Princess of Hippo gave the good-night to Nadalia and having embraced and kissed that amiable Virgin retired to her own Chamber being accompanied thither by Lelius The next morning Palmira and Nadalia were more early then their ordinary custome and Nadalia being ready sooner then Palmira went to the Chamber of that fair Prinncess whither they afterwards sent to call Lelius assoon as they were in a condition to be seen by him This Illustrious Roman repaired thither immediately and knowing with what impatience Palmira and Nadalia expected the continuation of Scipio's History without losing time he seated himself near these two fair persons and resumed his discourse in these terms addressing it again to Palmira The relation of our sickness being not that which you desire Madam if you please I shall pass over in silence all the particular circumstances of it and proceed to tell you that when we were out of our danger Claudia Aemilia and all our relations departed from Ostia where they notwithstanding left us either for that they accounted the air of that City better then that of Rome or believed the numerous visits we should be forced to receive immediately at Rome would be incommodious to us But before their departure Scipio had a time of speaking of his passion once more to Aemilia and I had the happiness to confirm in to two or three conversations the friendship that fair person was pleased to honour me with By which means I heard some daies after her departure from Ostia that she gave many advantageous testimonies of me at Rome commending both my wit and my nature upon all occasions and daily inquiring tidings concerning me which caused me to think my self obliged to testifie my acknowledgments of her civilities in a Letter to which she had the goodnesse to answer How Lelius interrupted Nadalia will you receive Letters in our presence without letting us partake of the gallantries in them being apparently not written in the serious stile of those Letters of businesse which you recited to us before You have reason Nadalia answered Lelius there is without question some peasingness in them and since you desire to hear them perhaps I may be able to satisfie you That which I writ to Aemilia was as I remember conceived in these terms Laelius to Aemilia YOu seem ignorant Madam that you do me the greatest displeasure in the world by indeavouring to make me pass for a wit For I imagine that at such times you think not aright of me but forget I am sick For is there any thing Madam more contrary to such a person then one that keeps his bed then one I say that suffers onely with regret what he ought most of all to seek whose taste is almost continually deprav'd and cannot sleep when all the world is at rest and to express his unhappiness in few words who is unable to come to you Pity me therefore Madam if you please for this last infelicity and I shall be undoubtedly more satisfied then with your Elegies with me and for accomplishment of my joy if you wish me health wish it me I beseech you to the end I may speedily be in a condition to visit frequently the most fair most Illustrious and generous friend in the world I will never pardon you Laelius said Nadalia for going to deprive us of the satisfaction which your Letter has given us for I find something in it perfectly handsome and ingenious Well Nadalia answered Laelius to deserve my pardon I will endeavour to call to mind a Letter which Scipio sent at the same time and was written as you may judge after a different manner being of a passionate strain though not without sweetness and pleasantness it was almost in this manner Scipio to Aemilia HOw happy Madam should I be were I but owner of Laelius's wit for then you would have the goodness to speak of me and continually enquire news concerning me and perhaps you would wish I should write to you often or not be so remote from you But now Madam I have none of all these advantages yet if you refuse me them onely because I love you I am extreamly joyful to be deprived of them for I had rather have all the passion which enflames me for you then possess all the wit of Laelius This Letter begins to appease us said the Princess of Hippo and think
he had put that of his Father in a posture not to fear the enterprises of the Enemies And indeed it was extreamly necessary that this young Heroe should do all those great actions to repair in some manner the losses we suffered in other places for our Armies had successes very contrary in Italy When the fame of our Victories was spread abroad in Rome Rome was no more then a desolated City it was in a strange general consternation the death of Flaminius was publiquely known with the loss of his Army and in a word tydings was meerly brought thither of the events of the battel at the Lake of Thrasymene which I shall not relate to you being certain they are known throughout the whole world I shall also silently pass over that at that time they were constrained to create a Dictator and that Fabius was the person chosen to that charge namely the Father of him that was amorous of Aemylia who with the surname of Most-Great gain'd also that of the shield of the people of Rome These memorble passages are unknown to none no more then that Minutius was made General of the Horse of the Dictators Army that he was afterwards equaliz'd to him in Authority beaten by Hannibal and relieved by the Illustrious Fabius and at length deposed himself from the Magistrates and would fight no longer but under the orders of the Dictator It s also well known that Fabius was called the Delayer because instead of fighting Hannibal he still declin'd the encounter but it was with a destructive design to our enemies whom he held besieged by possessing himself alwayes of the high places that commanded the plain So that the Carthaginians being no longer able to send forth parties to forrage for provisions which they frequently wanted their wilely General was constrained to make use of the Oxen of his Army for opening a passage for his Army in the manner you have heard reported and posterity will without question admire But Madam if we were surprised in hearing of the advancement of Minutius we were much more strangely at that of Varro who sometime after that I am speaking of was to our unhappiness created Consul with the Illustrious Father of Aemylia Scipio suddenly admired the capriciousness of our Nation but being willing afterwards to excuse their proceeding he told me with a sincere and heroical generosity that perhaps Varro had since our departure acquir'd the moderation and other virtues he wanted at our being there that at least he passionately wished it was so and that the people of Rome might not have cause to repent the choice they had made But alas we and all the earth too soon understood that Varro was not at all amended that he was alwayes violent and void of conduct and that the headiness of his humour in a short time rendred the plains of Cannae famous by the dreadfull over-throw he occasioned the Roman there We no sooner understood that in Italy the two Consular Armies were to unite to make one notorious encounter for the driving the Carthaginians from thence but Scipio determined to go thither For seeing the affairs of Spain were in a matter quiet he could not continue there and especially when he saw that by passing into Italy he might render some service to Lucius or Aemylius or at least might partake in the dangers they were going to adventure in Publius had a strange repugnance to suffer us to depart but he consented to it being pressed by the intreaties of his Illustrious Son Wherefore we departed as soon as possibly we could and omitted no diligence till we rendered our selves at Lucius's Camp I remember that in our first enterview the Illustrious father of Aemylia embraced Scipio a long time in his arms and then having caressed me almost in the same manner he told us the inconsiderate humour of Varro was more formidable to him then the valour of Hannibal and that in all probability that Roman would do more mischief to Rome then all the Forces of Carthage But as he was continuing his discourse and informing us of the state of affairs Servilius who had bin Consul the year before Aemylius Regulus and Cato entered into the room and brake off the conversation by the civilities and caresses they made to us and Lucius gave way for us to receive We were afterwards astonish'd to hear that the next morning the battel was to be given and that Varro wished for fight with as much impatience as the Great Fabius had avoided it with wisdom But in brief it could not be avoided but all the Souldiers of the Plebeian Consul so they styl'd Varro were absolutely for what their Chief desired apparently incited to it by the false glory of their insolent Captain and the false-apprehended limidity of the Illustrious Lucius What need I tell you Madam since all the world knows it is but too true that the bad genius of Rome and the temerity of Varro caused us to give that fatal battel and suffer those dreadful losses which without doubt posterity will not hear of but with astonishment Yes Madam we gave that bloody battel and as if the good fate of Carthage had not bin well enough seconded by the adventurous blindness of Varro the subtilties of Hannibal must needs bear a part in that disasterous victory For he drew up his forces in such a manner that ours were exposed to the disadvantages of the wind and sun by which they were so cruelly inconvenienc'd that we not only could not overcome our enemies nor so much as fight but remain'd expos'd to their blows without knowing which way to ward them off Not but that for all these inconveniences Scipio surpassed himself in performances exceeding all belief and that Aemylius did wonders and that all the Illustrious Romans I have mentioned to you signaliz'd themselves gloriously but in fine all their endeavours were not capable to resist an Army of an hundred thousand disciplin'd Veterans conducted by a great Captain and who besides all these advantages had all that scituation of places for such bloody encounters could afford So that Madam in this fatal field besides so many thousand of Souldiers that perished we lost an infinite number of Knights and Senators we lost Servilius who had bin Collegue with Flaminius but alas that which afflicted us most sensibly was the loss of the Illustrious and infortunate Lucius who was unfortunately slain in the rout Ah! Madam how can I recount to you the circumstances of this deplorable death The Illustrious Lucius beholding all was lost on our side resolved not to out-live this day but yet to dye gloriously he sought out Hannibal to fight him he thrnst himself where-ever he saw the greatest danger and in a word the greatness of his courage made him perform actions little different from those of Scipio and Aemilius But alas how fatal was that excessive valour to him For as this great person was upon the point to charge Hannibal his
my apprehension there is nothing of more povverfull inspiration to handsome Poetry then that vvhich I understand You have so little experienc'd vvhat you say you understand ansvvered Nadalia smiling that methinks you are not a very fit person to vvhom to be referred in this case 'T is true indeed said Scipio to Cato that I cannot herein be of your opinion though it be the same that most of the vvorld follovvs for I never could conceive it possible to express a violent passion vvell in measur'd vvords and confine transports that vvill ovvn no bounds to a limited of expression Besides added Nadalia I never can indure those superfluous vvords vvherewith such kind of Verses are ordinarily filled though I vvere capable of not hating those pieces of gallantry as I certainly do Yet I have a vvay to cause you to receive the Verses vve speak of ansvvered Terence smiling But Terence interrupted Laelius how dare you speak as you do after what we have from the mouth of Nadalia Do you not know continued he that that fair person would be as cruel a Mistress as she is really a good friend that she had rather see a Lover die then understand his passion And lastly that there is nothing but the death of a poor slave that could warrant a discovery without incensing her that her fetters were worn Assuredly Terence did not remember all these things said Palmira smiling Pardon me Madam answered he to her 't was because I did remember them that I spake after that manner that surpris'd Laelius It would be a desirable pleasure then replyed she to hear the way you speak of for I presume it will be one of those pleasant turns of wit that you are accustomed to use Sincerely Madam answered he affecting to speak seriously there will be neither mirth nor pleasantness in what I intend to make What is it then you intend to make said Aemilia with a little smile My own Epitaph Madam answered he with his affected seriousness for since Nadalia saies she would understand the passion of a dead man without being incensed and that a dead man can speak only by his Epitaph be pleased to judge Madam whether I have not reason to set upon the making of mine and send it to her All the company laughed at the agreeable conceit of Terence and Nadalia having beheld him smiling also Verily said she to him this conceit seems to me so exquisitely ingenious that all the company vvill be glad you make what you speak of and for my part I shall be extreamly pleased with it for I confess to you such kind of fancies are perfectly correspondent to my humour This conversation was upon a subject so agreeable that it would have bin continued longer if time had permitted but for that it was already late the Illustrious Company retyr'd and assoon as they came into the low Hall which was handsomely beset with Lights Laelius and Terence went apart by themselves to speak of important affairs though after Nadalia had smilingly told the Carthaginian she would expect his Epitaph Terence did not sup that night at the Palace of Magasba because having a friend that was unwilling yet to shew himself he did not account it fit to leave him alone Besides added he smiling in answer to those that desired to stay him I do not conceive a Palace where nothing but glorious and brave spectacles amaze the eyes and where all thoughts are unsutable but those of joy a fit place to inspire me with Funerall Verses But if the conversation of so worthy a person was wanting in this Illustrious company the productions of his Wit were not for they had no sooner disposed themselves to pass the evening with Divertisements but a man who was presently known to be a Carthaginian entered and after a low reverence delivered a Pacquet into the hands of Nadalia Assoon as this amiable Lady had her eyes upon it she perceived it was a rich Writing-Table wherein she presently read these words which were written in a Character not unknown to her To a fair person who will not understand the passion of a Lover but by his Death Nadalia mused a little and blushed at the reading of these words after which having opened the Tablets she found therein these Verses How great a number in one rigid fate Iris do you involve If onely you resolve A dead Adorer to commiserate And will not own the Tropies of your eyes Till Death hath made the World your sacrifice Repeal fair Iris this severe decree Unless your sins you will not hide But in your mischiefs take a pride Then think but how untoward it would be A thing so grim so rude as death should darâ— To make a Court to one so young so fair All the company unanimously applauded the hand somness of this conceit and condemned the sentiment of Nadalia since in effect death has all the contrary qualities to those we see in the comely persons of Lovers but as they were going to attaque that fair person who was at that time not so debonair as usual she gladly took occasion to avoid the on-set by opening the other Tablets which she received the cover of which was plain black without superscription and in which she read the following words I expect your Epitaph These fair Nadalia were the terrible words you spoke at my parting from you I know well you have demanded nothing beyond your rights I know you need onely declare your pleasure to persons that know you as well as I do and that I ought not to disobey you even when you require my Epitaph Nevertheless I presume to say you ought something to sweeten the matter and might have shewn less pleasantness in pronouncing these cruel words and moreover that you ought not to demand my Epitaph with the same air that another Lady would have askt me for a Sonnet 'T is true that being you had rather behold the death of a Lover then understand his passion you are so often oblig'd to desire Epitaphs that being accustomed thereto you speak at present not onely without reluctance but even with your ordinary debonarity But since a dead man may tell you the sentiments he has without offending you I believe one that sends you his Epitaph ought to have the same liberty and consequently I may declare to you that I am absolutely yours But fair Nadalia I mean with all the respect that is due to you for as for any thing more in truth I feel my self not yet dead enough to presume to speak it The end of this Letter immediately appeared so pleasantly conceiv'd that all the company was agreeably surprised with it and as they were going to speak concerning the wit that was resplendent in all the works of Terence Nadalia read the following Verses EPITAPH Stay Cousned Reader and forbear to cry But rather envy my blest destiny It was Nadalia slew me for her sake I pass'd with gladness o're the Stygian Lake That I