have need of our Charity and since she is of our imbeciller sex we will not feare to satisfie our selves with a better discovery and see to what acts of charity the Gods conduce us with this strengthning our selves with a close adjunction we aproacht you and not perceiving you to breath I forc'd my self to so much hardinesse as to feel whether your body had been destitute of heat by the relinquishment of your soul which â—ction it seems awaked you I madam replyed I that gentle touch hath rais'd me from the grace of my distresses and your continuall presence will consolidate all my happinesse for which felicite evenement I am indebted a hundred thousand prayers to the Gods and as many lives if I had them to your service other discourse we had till those maiden strokes had brought us to the landing place where we left our floateing house and set our feet upon the more solid element The envious darkness wrapt in obscurity all the rarities of the place and denied me the intuition of those pleasant gardens that circundated the habitacle of Atalanta But by the sicke sight of the nights gubernatrix I could perceive that the place gloried no lesse in its siteâ— and all the happy adornments nature could out of her greatest benignity afford than in being the blessed habitation of one of the greatest bauties in the world Art could likewise challenge no lesse share in the conservation and imbellishment of its pride and deserv'ed no lesse praise for its exact and exquisite Imitation every thing being methodiz'd into a naturall wildnesse so that it was hard to say whether nature Imitated art or art nature in those compartments and indentments of groves and walkes It was a place fit indeed to be the receptacle of so fair a creature and where pleasure seem'd to glory in becoming a servant to her greatnesse Between that object of all my desires and her tutoresse I was conducted along a most pleasant walke which led from the place where we landed to the house being set on each side and mingled alternately with yellow and orange coulour fruit-bearing trees which gave so fragrant a smell that would have reviv'd a benummed sense and which surpassed the odours of the Arabick forrests The fruites like those of Alcinous hung with a continuall fairenesse and those golden apples fairer than those of the fabulated Hesperides hung like aureated studds amoungst the fresh verdure of their tremulous leaves which delighted the optick sence with their sight and the odorate with their fragrancies Between these pleasurable trees treeding upon a continuall spring of virdant grasse we walked till we came to the house which in all things equall'd the concinnity of the best and corresponded with the greatnesse of Atalanta Being entred Atalanta renewed her welcomes with many strickt embraces and at last saluted me as a token of her Love and frindship The touch of those Rubies had allmost extracted my soul totally from my body which fled to the portalls of its structure that it might with more ardency receive the impression of her lips My senses hardly exerciseing their functions for some time after the receipt of that inflaming kisse I exhibited an amazednesse in my looks and hardly answered sense to what she said but at last recovering my selfe and perceiving she took notise of it I excused it the best I could with these words Madam Truly I had lost my selfe in the Maeanders of your goodnesse which contemplation had so implicated me that it was imposible for me suddenly to returne I cannot but see that my greatest acknowledgement will be but as it were ingratitude if compar'd to the excesse of that goodnesse you exhibite for in beholding the exiguitie of my deserts I find the immensity of your favours No marvell then if I am amazed being none besides your self could perswade me that my senses had the fre exercise of all their functions but that these immense favours were but the pleasing phantasmes presented in the Kingdome of Morphâ—us Atalanta answered me with no lesse grace than the Queen of Heaven her words exhibiting her to be the daughter of Mercurie I beseech you said she do not magnifie these small testifications of my amity to so great a magnitude for I professe they are so much below the desires I have to accommodate your goodnesse that I will not own them farther than the diminitive of my will and that by this minute service you may Judge the cordiality oâ— my affection Other discourses we had in which she exhibited her wit and goodness till she had conducted me into a chamber where riches and decency strove to accomodate beauty After she had put off an accessary mantle which serv'd to keep off the cold blasts of the night and that we had seated our selves Atalanta in very good terms pray'd the audition of my foruntes I then not without fear of triping told her at large this sigment with many circumstances and imbellishments which I will tell you in two or three words I fain'd my self to be niece to King Juba though I was borne after his death I told her a brother unto that King hearing of the voluntary death of Juba and that he saw the hand of fortune resolv'd to sling that kingdome into the lap of the Romans loath to follow the example of his brother and yet loath to become a slave to the Romane greatnesse fled from that unfortunate place and passing beyond the mountaine Atlas natures bound-mark to the Roman Empire he found a habitation in the court of the King of the Getulans where at last he was maried to a neece of the Kings from which conjunction I feign'd my self to be produc'd My father I told her dyed when I was very young and whom I could not remember my mother I feign'd liv'd till I was fourteen years of age who in her life time had bred me in an extraordinary way of behaviour and civility contrary to the custome of that Rude people And that after her death my small formosity increasing with my years made one of the chiefest in the kingdome desire me but that I not enduring the great incivility and rude nature of those Getulans despised him and forbad him ever to mention his sute any more But he I told them more enflam'd with Lust than Love sought one day having an opportunity to have forc't me a crime of the smallest nature amongst them and seldome punisht but by laughter However I made my force to resist his violence and with helpe to preserve my chastity and that my complaints and teares to the King at last procur'd his banishment which filling that wicked Getulan with enragement lawes being of too small force to curbe his Insolency watching his opportunity stab'd the King and having a party ready set the whole Kingdome into a combustion and flames of war I said that hearing the truth of the Kings death and fearing death lesse than to fall into the hands of that parricide
my fame might resound in Amenia's ears caus'd me with so great animosity to break into the troops of my enemies that giving life and courage to the Austures I oft times enforc't them to a victory and by my example gave puissance to their arms It was a reasonable encounter when chusing out a hundred of the chiefest of Lilibilis's Camp we attacqued a thousand of the Romans well appointed and put them to a shameful flight which extreamly irritated Caesar to see his Eagles flie backwards but neither his anger nor endeavours could recover the losse nor save his men from a miserable slaughter These actions of mine carried on with prosperous successes rendred me another Hannibal amongst the Austuâ—es Lilibilis giving me more Encomiums than my modesty could receive That speedy Herald Fame still echoed my actions in Amenia's ears and an action was no sooner done in the field than known in Austurica I shall let pass the honour I receiv'd from Lilibilis the Love from the rest of the commanders the encomiums of the souldiers and the general applauses from all the Iberians and tell you Winter being far entred and Caesâ—r having withdrawn his Troops falling at that instant sick as we thought for his ill success we returned to Austurica where under triumphal arches they made me enter the City seeking for new honours to expreâ—s their gratitude Amenia carried the sure testimonies of joy for my return in her countenance and with a very pleasing language gave me thanks for my services my content was unexpressable at the reinvisaging those lamps which had kindled the ardours in my soul and the kissing those fair hands infus'd new vigor into all my limbs I did believe my actions could not be so lively represented to her ears as to beget that affection which was possible for the intuition of them to have done This suscitated a desire to sheâ— some feats of activity in her sight that her eyes might be witnesses of my strength and agility The next day I told Lilibilis that it would not be amisse to exhibit some publick rejoycings for our good successes thereby manifestinâ— to the world the little fear we had of the Romans He was very well pleas'd with the motion and referr'd the ordering of it to my self I immediately caus'd every thing to be prepared against a time which I had prefixed and published a running a Tilt in the City Whilst every thing was preparing for these sports I gave continual assaults to that specious fort with my eyes not daring as yet to come so near as to prove its strength with the engine of my tongue for fear of a repulse and losing that ground I had gain'd not knowing the desire my amiable enemy had for an assault that the Fort might be rendred with honour Those favours she shew'd me were with so great discretion that I could not distinguish whether she favoured me as a Lover or for those services I had done her father for those shots which went from my eyes could not but declare me an amorous foe Neither could I perceive that she manifested any more signes of Love than Clotuthe Lilibilis's wife who was a young Lady and married to him since the death of Amenia's mother and indeed too young for his years My designs being nothing but what were truly honourable I resolved after those publick pastimes to exhibit my passion with a more apert language than that of the eyes Euripides was about to proceed not minding the stealing away of the time when one whose misfortunes had made a companion to him in his solitary life came into the Grove to look him but unexpectedly finding a Cavalier with him in discourse was about to return had not Euripedes espying him desired him not to descede I could not imagin said he being come near Euripedes what should detain you longer than your usual musings the consideration that you were yet fasting and the afternoon far entred made me come to seek you not thinking fortune would have brought me so abruptly to trouble your discourse with this Cavaliere I believe said Euripedes that you have done him a pleasure for I lackt a remembrancer being entred into the discourse of my life which you are acquainted with and truly not denoting the elaption of the time I might have entertain'd him yet longer with it and it may be to the tryal of his patience I beseech you said Argelois think not that I am weary of your discourse for if you studied to do me the greatest injury in the world you could not find a greater than to debar me of the content I receive in the audition of your fortunes for my diligent hearkning to the relation of your life gave me no time to reflect on my own miseries and I did not think anothers relation could have eas'd my passion I should importune you to continue your story at this time did not the remembrance of your fasting rather cause me to desire you to forbear till a fitter opportunity wherein you may better continue your discourse Euripedes following his advice having prevailed with Argelois to accompany them returned all three through those pleasant shades to his grott ELIANA BOOK the second THey had not walked very many paces in that delectable place before they came to a rock where that little rivulet which ran through the grove had its Original The rock was of a hard stone and the top and sides covered with moss round about it grew very high trees which gave a great umbraâ—e and made the place seem with so great solitude as if it had been the habitation of silence The declivity of the rock made an entrance like to the mouth of a great cave and so dark that it would have feared one ignorant of the place to have ent'red it Being at the end of that obscure entrance there was no further way to be perceiv'd still Euripedes slideing away a stone pulled at a line which rung a bell within a cave but so far that the sound came not to their ears without which gave notice to them within to give them entrance By and by some stones being taken away which on the inside might veâ—y artificially and easily be slid by gave them an entrance into a large entry which admitted light through certain artificial holes at the top of the rock that entry introduced them into several rooms having the light admitted after the same manner here it was that nature and art strove which should excell in the illustration of this Cryptoporticus Nature provided the rooms and had suffulted the roof of the rock with admirable obdurate pillars which divided the Chambers of this curious Cavern But art had so imbellished the more rude workmanship of nature that it made it surpass many pallaces Argelois little thought so tenebrous an entrance would have conducted him into so fair dormitoâ—ies but having past two or three they went into a very fair Chamber where Euripedes desiring his guest to sit down bid him
to deprive me of my life not thinking her selfe safe whilst there remained a witnesse of her cruelty I was forc'd for my owne safety to write to her not to persist in seeking my life unlesse she would force me to discover her and to rest contented that the child being dead I intended not to discover but only to detest her cruelty and inhumanity I believe those few lines I sent her gave her satisfaction especially when she understood that Palemedon was dead for after that I heard no more from her but remained free from her assasinous attempts Long it was not before I was once more constrained to leave the happy sorte of Content pleasure and quietude being forced thence by the Shaftes of that sworne enemie of my rest Cupid My age nor all my former miseries were bulwarks sufficient to keep off his fires nor free me from those passions which had ever been my ruine Alas as if I had been born onely to love or as if it had been my naturall element wherein I was only to live I could not have had a more propensitie to it I once more found my frozen years melted away with loves ardors and that over youthfull God inspired me with his youthfull flames and with Medean art brought back the spring of my age makeing it finde a repulluation under the heate of his fires The object of this last love was a widow in whom beauty and wit equally strove for mastership her birth was noble but her fortune meane which made her exercise her wit to maintaine her state being also touched with that plague Ambition the mother of all mischief and the wicked Daemon's eldest daughter The Gods thwarted my other loves and made me lose that which I sought to obtain for which I rendered them a thousand reproaches accounting them enemies to my happinesse therefore it was Just that I should acknowledge the plagues of my own acquirements and see that the Gods in denying were friends to my happinesse I obtained what I ardently desired being she whom I Sought desired it no lesse not out of love but ambition and avarice hopeing to make a Son that she had heire of that estate I possest Content cannot last long where mutuall love tyeth not the affections the love I bore her serv'd but to extinguish my reason and blinde my eyes from Seeing her projects and the respect she bore me was but forc'd for her own interest and till she had made her selfe master of what I held The first appearing of her enmity was at my denial of certaine unreasonable demands for her son Wherein she exhibited that her desire was for nothing more then my death and that the advancement of her son was the scope of all her projects however though it was too apparent not to be seen yet could I not use any remedy against it Five yeares having consumed themselves since our marriage her desires being growne too bigg to be contained within its limits and her projects being fully ripned she suddenly effected them for having great friends among the Romans through their aide she possessed her selfe of all I had and by force maintained her selfe in it useing me as her profest foe and would could she have effected it have put a period to my dayes Love that before appeared to me as the most beautifull goddesse and with a luster that begat her adoration now seemed to be converted into a most ugly Erinnrs worthy of all detestation the scales began to fall from my eyes and I began to see my folly and to recount those enormities it had made me run into and finaly recovering my reason I profest my selfe a foe to that passion which before I so much observed Endeavouring to recuperate that which was violently withheld from me I in some time effected it with the aide of my friends where I spent some more years but being subject to the complotting of my wife and her Sonne having a desire to spend the rest of my dayes in contemplation in a place free from the accesse of men I sould my estate and leaving my ungracious persecutresse taking with me the two Sons of Lascaris and very few servants else I repaired to this place being known to me to be a place as full of pleasure as Solitude and where I might be free from the perquisitions of my friends and plotts of my enemies By the way to this place I happily met with Lonoxia and understanding each others fortunes being tyed with a mutual Love and friendship we resolved to spend the remainder of our dayes together This place being designed for our habitation we added art to perfect nature and by the help of both we compleated this domicile as you see in which we have spent some yeares without any evenement or seeing any stranger but your selfe beeing a place so unfrequented and this adjoyning grove being the utmost of our ambulations Here neither the troubles of Love or armes assolt us here neither the envies or plots of our enemies annoy us here quietude and peace accompany us and here being sequestred from the world the knowledge of its affairs doth not deturb us but being naruralized to this solitude we finde a pleasure which all the Empires of the world cannot give us I have now concluded my narration wherein you cannot but perspiciously see if that passion wherewith you are so inbued hath not already exoculated you that Love hath been the cause of my miseries made me the Sport of Fortune and tyraniously triumphed over my Liberty and who lastly with so many vicissitudes hath made me an abject to my self Here Euâ—ipedâ—s absolved his narration and Argelois beholding him some time in silence till having collocated his thoughts he in few words display'd them thus Give me leave to represent in briefe those Speculations which I have observ'd in your narration where you so satyrically inveigh against love which indeed if we retroâ—pect into the often vicissitudes of your fortune and into those Hurricanes of passions and dangers into which you have been driven by love we cannot but in Justice excuse you But as I conceive we are not to increpate a passion for the irregularities of others or of our selves for if virtue be adjoyned to it its effects are glorious if vice abominable So that the passion produceth effects according to the virtuous or vicious disposiof the person it agitates This distinguisheth Lust from Love for Love without virtue is Lust and Lust concatinated to virtue is Love This distinction it may be may be thought too grosse for the stricter and more refined Lovers will not admit of Lust though as I conceive it is the same which they call desire which being involved in the actions of virtue and as it were chain'd to it it cannot be perceiv'd to have a being and therefore so refined Lust is imperceivable and wholly converted to love Love some distinguish thus undetermined is Lust Lust determined to one Love This cannot be to those who as
sooner you resolve and the more you endeavour the likelier you are to effect it for 't is a thousand pities that one so accomplisht as your self should languish away in the prison of love But we often find it to be the pride of that God to make the perfectest the butt for his arrows It is impossible replyed Argelois for me to take warning by others harms or to escape now I am so far entangled in the net I confess I have not so much as a desire to be free from my pain but by fruition and the small or rather no hopes that I have gives life to my desire and though by intuition I receive more pain yet also it is an accretion to my pleasure such contrarietie is in the composition of Love for a Lover though he acknowledgeth a captivity yet he confesseth a freedome and though he sayes his love is a prison yet he calls that prison a paradise He cryes out he 's full of pain and yet 't is almost equalled with pleasure complains of torment and yet he would not forego it for the greatest ease So it is with me I am sensible of my captivity my pain my torment and cruel disquiets and yet I account it freedome joy ease and no trouble neither can I so much as desire to be freed but by the fruition of the object which will recompence all the miseries endured for ever but those hopes are so small that I am almost arriv'd at the brink of despair After some such discourses Argelois arising they went into their lower rooms and after some refection Argelois put Euripedes in mind of desiring Lonoxia to relate the evenements of his life Lonoxia who was willing to satisfie Argelois in what he desir'd he having gain'd extremely upon their affections with his generous behaviour without much intreaty consented to it Euripedes withdrawing left Lonoxia to divert the humour of Argelois with his relation himself in the mean time betaking him to some Philosophical contemplations in which he daily spent some hours Lonoxia and Argelois being seated and seeing him ready for the audition of his relation after a little pause he began thus THE HISTORIE of LONOXIA IT is a vanity not to be born of some continually to Jactate of the the antiquity glory and opulency of their Ancestors whereby they fill themselves like so many full-blown-bladders and become a foot ball for the calcations of the wise Virtue not birth or riches at first wan the prize of Glory but their successors thought it enough to weare their badg without making themselves worthy of it glorying that their predecessors had been thus and thus So that greatenesse is now of the highest esteem and virtue little regarded it being pretense enough for some to obnubilate their own vices by exhibiting the vertue of their ancestors To avoyd this crime therefore I will not stand to declare ether the antiquity opulency virtue or vices of my parents thereby either to hide my vices with their virtues or to set off any virtue of mine by their vices But indeed the Gods favoured me with an honourable birth though they have disfavoured me with a wretched Life The country of Mauritania Tingitana claimes my Birth and Education and more particularly the town of Lixus The antiquity of our house was there well known which I wave as a thing frivolous for the furtherance of virtue My fathers name was Marcipsius brother to King Bogadus who unhappily fell under the sword of the renowned Agrippa at the battel of Actium takeing the part of infelicit Antony I had two brothers elder than my self the eldest was nam'd as my father the other was call'd Massanissa I was but young at that time when my uncle Bogadus was slain and my father not affecting those glorious cares of a Crown the war immediately following he kept close in Lixus without medling in those broyles But my brother Marcipsius being of a stirring nature went into Aegypt till the war being ended with the death of Antonius when returning he hop'd to attain the crown but being oppos'd there grew great broyles which lasted for some years till Marcipsius was driven out of Africk where he was absent from us three years At last Marcipsius returns and tells us of many strange occurrents that had hapned to him in Spain and other places our parents were full of Ioy for his safe arival whom they had feared had been Lost I was now arrived at 15 years of age and began now not to fear the Envie of my brothers for I being the darling of my moâ—her and the cheif depositum of her affections whilst I was little it procur'd their Envie and that megre squint-ey'd hagg sufflateing that fire in their breasts increas'd it as I grew in years For the Gods propitious to my studies made me surpasse them in all literature and in the arts and sciences recompensing my young yeares with great knowledg I would not boast my self of these things or glory in such vanities yet it is requisite that I acknowledg the favour and benevolence of the Gods seing it is at their pleasure to give either knowledg or strength to whom they please But however that my studies chain'd me within dores yet had I a peculiar inclination to the actions of Mars and I thought Mars and the Muses would do very well together and as soon as I arrived at this age of puberty it exhibited my great desire to armes which my father being carefull to further my inclinations as far as they tended to virtue perceiving provided excellent tutors for me together with my brother Massanissa we learnd under one master who sought impartially to Instrct us and to imbue us with the best of his skill but in that martiall discipline I did precell which augmented his hatred and made it implaccable I often found it in many injuries and affronts which I had borne all my life time patiently enough but now I could no longer resent them espetially when I saw both of them desir'd no lesse than my Life such are the inspirations of Envy that anothers prosperity is their plague and anothers ruin their delight though nothing accrews to them thereby I had pretty well found the use of my weapons and could use with them dexterity enough either for defence or opposition when Marcipsius returned out of Spain Marcipsius hating me no lesse than Massanissa sought all occasions of quarreling and under pretence of trying me at my weapons would endeavour to take away my Life and sometimes would put me to my shift to save it and to come off with considerable wounds Having been dealt withall so once or twice I took heed how I fell into their clutches and avoyded all occasions I could of offending them useing those advantages the Gods had given me with as much modesty and humility as could be required I sought with meeknesse to overcome their envie but alas it was too strong for Love to Conquer I dayly found it to
deeply sighing is this the gurdion then that I must give thee for thy fidelity her eyes shedding the fairest of pearls see see continued she to cure that which my unfortunate hand hath acted let not this reproach me of my cruelty No Madam reanswered I I will neither seek to cure it or wag from this place unless you promise me to leave off such unlawfull and bloody designes against your self I promise it said she I will endure that impatible shame rather then injure thee seeing thou wilt interesse thy self in my miseries rejoycing at these words I soon bound up the wound and playing the part of the Chirurgion my self lest I should discover the cause of it with balâ—oms I at last effected the cure of it In the mean time my Lady though â—he had promised me not to do any violence to her self yet her grief and torment was so excessive that in few dayes it cast her into a violent feavour which brought her even to the portalls of deaths sable City Her father almost dead with the griefe his daughters sicknesse procured him sought for the skilfullest in Chiron's art to give her ease and then he sent for this ancient Lady who brought her up from the cradle who had been absent almost a year with some of her neeces in the further part of Spain she always loved Atalanta as her own daughter and my Lady loved her reciprocally which made her very comfortable to her neverthelesse she would not consent that I should tell her the true cause of her sicknesse At last through the favour of the Gods in blessing the Aesculapian means she recovered though some months were first past over in all which time we heard nothing from that sinfull perjuror and causer of our miseries The thought of which often afflicted poor Atalanta in so much that I feared a relapse Her governesse that good old gentle-woman wondring that her eyes were oftentimes swoln with griefe and her face looking pale and wann would often object to her that griefe was the greatest promoter of her distempers but she could not wrest the truth from her till at last accedentally it was thus discovered Atalanta emitting a flood of teares was entred into most sad complaints of the injury of Marcipsius and blaming me for the retardation of her death I feared her violences would have led her into new extravagancies I had cast my selfe upon my knees to give her all the consolation I could and with my teares and prayers sought to allay her distempers Her nurse suddenly surprizing us in this posture and hearing some words that I speak to comfort her would be no longer denyed the knowledge of that which she was too certaine afflicted Atalanta For what reason said she doe you thus exclude me the knowledge of your grief why must I be ignorant of the cause of it have you not confidence enough in me to entrust me with your secrets am I not in the place of a mother yea and my affections supply the place of maternall interest as well as my outward appearance The love I beare you is able to overshadow all faults and to administer helpe to your distresses by the experience of my longaevity Atalanta could now no longer hide it from her nor could she know how to declare it her teares supplying the place of Speech At last terging the fluid pearls that slid from those two Magaritiferous founts she gave me a permission to let her governesse know the sad cause of her dolor When I had performed my relation she well saw that Atalanta's condition would not admit of any chideing but that comforts and relaxations were more convenient for her she wisely made use of her best oratory to comfort her and omitted her severity which would have augmented her dolor and made her have sunke under the burden of it And truly I am verily perswaded but for the continuall perswasions and comforts of that wise Lady she had not grac't this place with her presence at this time but would have been resident in the Elysian fields To satisfie our selves conerning Marcipsius we sent one into Affrick to know what was become of him The messenger return'd with certaine intelligence that he was not returned thither and that his father had not heard of him since his departure from Affrica This was a renewing to Atalanta's sorrows so perspicuably to behold his deception and falsities The fourth month was now come since the departure of unworthy Marcipsius and the growing pledge of his perfideousnesse receiving Life from the influence of genial starrs gave notise by its lively moving to Atalanta that she was likely to become the mother of some fair infant The old lady carefull of her honour and to prevent the ignominy that might accrew by the appearing tumour of her belly obtain'd permission of her father to change the aire for her healths sake He would have accompanied her but the lady with many reasons perswaded him to the Contrary promising in little time to bring her from her melancholy and to restore her to her perfect health He knowing the wisdome and discretion of her Governesse and hopeing to see the clouded browes of Atalanta reclear'd and to possesse their former lustre gave way to this separation and assigneing this place which the Romans had left him with many others for our retirement we passed hither with these few servants avoyding all publike invisagements awaiting the time when she shall disburden that which she termes her shame We had been but few weeks in this place so commodious for our sequestration and so delectable for the tyred senses of Atalanta but that her grief rather encreasing than diminishing made us allmost dispair of her recovery Neverthelesse she was so much taken with the place that she resolved never to leave it finding so much convenience for her melancholy There was nothing that wit could produce or the power of Love imagine that we did not make tryall of for her diversion For my part when I heard her exclame against her self and with most bitter remonstrances endeavour to make her self odible I on the contrary and more justlie spit out the anger I had conceiv'd against that wretch in dire execrations for his perfidie who was the cause of all her misery O strange power of Love O wronged innocency do you think she could hear the least reproach utter'd against him no alas she had not lov'd him so poorly as to hate him for his basenesse She would not permit me to speake against him but even sought with many excuses to justify his breach of promise Blame him not would she say let all reproaches be lay'd upon me and it might in justice be so account me as the loosest wretch that lives as the most dispicable thing that breaths as the insulsest animall voy'd of reason wit or Judgment so to part with my honour so to obscure my virtue But blame not I say Marcipsius it may be he is not living how know we
your pardon and will not think amisse of your virtue Ravish'd at these words I cast my self at her feet Ah Madam cry'd I now I can dye content this is more than I have merited but it pleases the goodnesse of Atalanta to be equally mercifull with the Gods The ancient Lady raising me from that humble posture led me to Atalanta's bed side who blushing gave me her hand in sign of confirmation of what her Governesse had said Ah said she sighing have I made known my weaknesse to a man strange providence the brother of the causer of my woes The fidelity and Loyalty of the one said her Governesse shall repay the perfideousnesse and disloyalty of the other who 'd thinke nature could produce two such contraries out of one Venter the one is not so wicked but the other is as good the one is the abstract of Iniquity the other of Goodnesse and constancy Many such prayses that lady out of the depth of her Goodnesse was pleas'd to give me At their request I gave them the relation of my life and how providentially I was brought to Olissippo with the beginning of my Love Me thought said Atalanta I saw the lineaments of Marcipsius face in yours when I first saw you but I attributed it to the effect of a vain imaginatioin That treacherous one hath not alone prov'd perfidious to me but a foe and traitour to you They were pleas'd to Commiserate my condition although their own were enough to imploy all their thoughts The deception of Marcipsius held us in discourse the rest of the day at last they concluded since the providence of the Gods was so manifestly seen in bringing me to that place that I should take care of the Infant that should be produc'd into the world and to bear it thence least the Crime of Atalanta should be made conspicuous to the world Thus past I over the difficulty that affrighted me and after my discovery became serviceable to Atalanta They thought it not convenient to discover me to the rest of the servants and therefore I was permitted to wear the habit I had assum'd and enjoy the happinesse of seeing and being often with Atalanta who many times complain'd that I was not Sabane that she might expresse her Love with that endearednesse she had us'd to do And for my part I loved her as intirely as if we had been produc'd out of one Venter Five dayes after my discovery the hower came wherein Atalanta was to undergo the paines of child-birth and to become the unhappy mother of some fair Infant Whilst with painfull throwes she was produceing into the world the fruit of her furtive pleasures I walked in my usuall places of solitude and with continuall prayers invok'd Lucina to her aid But surely some envious Juno retarded her paritus and made her endure an Alâ—maeâ—ean travell for before Ilithya eas'd her throws by giving birth to a fair and pretty boy she counted twice twelve howers in those bloody sweats and was left with little hope of life After I was made acquainted with the birth of the Infant I departed to Olisâ—ippo to prepare a barque for my transportation to Lixus where I knew I had friends enough that would keep the child secretly I soon hired one for that purpose and appoynting the time when I would come I return'd and being admitted to see Atalanta I sound her so weak and faint that all their endeavours could hardly keep life in her After they had made that little one ready and had indued it with mantells and rich jewells suteable to its quality they gave it to Atalanta to take her leave of it which she did with many bitter teares and scalding sighs Go said she in delivering it to me bâ—be of sorrw the Gods may give thee life to revenge the death of thy mother on thy ungratefull father Go seek thy dessiny in this miserable world thou art born in Sorrow and art expos'd in thy tender dayes to the inexorable rage of Fortune May the Gods be more propitious in thy growing yeares and change these thy miseries into Gladnesse Though thou art the fruite of my crimes innocent babe yet thou art part of my self and I cannot part with thee without bewaileing thy losse with teares that spring from the depth of the fountaine of sorrow Alas innocent thou must suffer for thy mothers crimes and be expos'd to miseries for to save her honour We seeing that she would spend the remainder of her strength in these querimonies took the Child out of her sight but at parting Lonoxia said she 't is to you I commmit this infant and to your care and tuition his life and nurture by that love you have bore me forsake him not whilst life shall last but in him allways call to minde the distressed Atalanta Her weaknesse would not permit her any more words but teares and sighs inherited their room Mine gave me leave at last to take my leave of her and to assure her whilst I liv'd my life should be onely for the protection of the Infant I parted but with a heavinesse that presag'd my ensueing miseries Most of the servants still ignor'd the cause of Atalanta's sicknesse so that we were fain to conveigh the child enclos'd in a chest to Olissippo where I embarqu'd and with all the speed could possible be made set our prow toward Lixus A gentle gale set us off that shore on which the humerous mares conceiving with the aurâ—'s of the favonian wind brought forth their short liv'd colts We were come allmost in sight of the desired shore when the caprichious element leaving its tranquillity assaulted the sides of our vessel with its liquid billows and the inauspicious apparition of the parted twinns gave the mariners an assured signe of an ensuing storm Presently the furious winds mustering their forces on the plaines of the ocean began to astuate the face of the waters into living mountaines which moveing with a horrible sight threatned us with a tumulation under their liquid ruins but our barque forceing its way to the top of those watry rocks with the like impetuosity descended down their â—â—ideing backes The other Element angry that the force of the windes nor the fury of the waters could neither overturne nor drown our vessell seem'd to promise our deaths by the fires that assaulted us and day betraying us to the discomfortable shades of night left us no light but what the sudden flashes of the threatning lightning gave which was accompained with a tonitruous eccho that took away the audition of those crys our wretched copartners in these miseries made For my part I had sorrow enough to behold into what danger fortune had cast that Infant as soon as 't was borne who yet without perturbation and insensible of its own death satisfied it self with the dulcid liquor of its nurses breasts Our ship slead for many leagues before the fury of the winds on those roughned plaines the strength of the mariners
I spent my years in bringing up this plant my brother Marcipsius having taken upon him the crown of Tingitana and gaining the confirmation if it from Augustus by his presents and bribes to his chiefest favourites promising an annuall tribute and acknowledgment that 't was from his donation married his coâ—sen the princesse of Bogudiana and enjoy'd that basly purchased crown some yeares in peace Marinus now entring into his fifth lustre I made known to him his parents which till then I had hid from him and exhorting him to virtue and patience and to the exercise of Hâ—roick actions and generosity which would obliterate the blot of his mother and his own extraction I gave him all the Instruction and admonition of a father and by my indulgency exacted from him a filial reverence and fear At last I desiring he should be known to his father I would not permit him to lye any longer in such obscurity and accompanying him my self to Tingis noâ— imagining the fire of malice and hatred could have been preserved alive so many years in the King my brother I presented him to him and discovering my self and Marinus I made known to him how he was his son But that wicked one having laid aside all sence of nature and humanity instead of forgetting my injuries and remembring I was his brother and that his son caused us to be imprizon'd and that very closely for fear we should be known who we were lest that the anger of his Queen for his crimes past or the discontent of his subjects for my imprisonment might cause some disturbance to his quiet We endured this restraint with a vertue which we made out of necessity near five years when on a sudden and unexpected by us our prison dores were broke open and we carried to the head of an armie of thirty thousand men to be their guides and conductors against Marcipsius This was occasioned through the evill reign of my brother and the discontents of his subjects and the great a version they allwayes had to him so that many and that of the cheif about him conspireing together procured this revolt and raised this army with great secresy in his further provinces They had not kept our imprisonment so close but that 't was known to some of these who knowing who I was design'd me presently for his successor and for their Generall They made very large remonstrances to me of the equity of their doings the wickednesse of their King and the affection they had to have me succeed Ambition and injury both at once solicited me but remembring that he was my brother and King I told them As I would not approve of the follies and weaknesse of their King so I could not tell how to take armes against a brother and a Prince whom I ought to obey I told them that the Quallity of a brother prohibited me revenge and that of a King swallow'd up all Injures And that what before I had acted against him was not for injuries done to my self but being bound by the obligations of love greater then those of Nature I was forced to what I did and haveing sufficiently compensated for that I could not revenge injuries done to my self And if they could not perswade themselves but that they ought to perpetrate their designes that at least they would not make me the executioner but rather return me to the prison from whence they brought me if I must be necessitated to obey one I had wholly frustrated their expectations if Marinus being more sensible of my injuries than of nature to a father so monstrous and obdurate had not engag'd himself to them and so perswaded me at least to bear him company in the field and see whether he could performe the practick of the Theory his tutors had taught him Father said he if the Pellaan heroe as my tutors have dictated to me acknowledged himself more beholden and bounden to the Stagyraean Sage for his learning and precepts than to Philip his father for 's life who lov'd him left him a kingdome and means to raise him to that stupendious greatnesse he attained to How much more ought I to acknowledg you and to revenge your injuries that have given me life by saving it that have educated cherisht and spent your selfe upon me on a father that begot me into misseries that hates me that imprizons me that seeks my death and ruin Let me give you this proof of my affection and shew you how sensible I am of injuries done you and that for my sake suffer me to make my father acknowledge me for his son by force and when it lyes in our power to use mercy I 'le make him give satisfaction for injuries done to the best and cheifest of my fathers and then we 'l put on the duty of a son and begg pardon for our selves Not to use any more of those arguments he us'd to perswade me the Love I bore him and the discretion I perceiv'd in those young yeares ty'd me to him inseparably and made me to accompany him in the warr which lasted long and was very Tragicall This war continued five years in which time we had many great battels many slain towns taken Cities and places dismantelled houses burnt the country forraged and all those sad disasters which inseparably follow a civill war The three first years victory still attended us and a sensible successe made us doubt of nothing that might crosse us But Marcipsius having gain'd notable experience in the warrs of Caesar kept himself so secure by the certain intelligence he had of all our councells by his agents so that there was nothing that we resolv'd on but he had notise of it before hand and still frustrated our projects and designes whether it were in knowing our intended marches that he might way-lay us with ambuscadoes or our intended besiegments that he might sufficiently prepare it against us or our sudden assaults that he might prevent us and having mony and men enough he keept us from advancing very neer Tingis The fifth year we came to a pitcht battell which prov'd fatall to us all the whole strength of both sides engaged and on the victory depended the decision of the Quarrell and Crown Both sides were very resolute and fought it out to the last man at least thirty thousand fell on both sides and the plain was like a sea of blood the contrary side prov'd victors Marinus was slain cover'd over all with wounds falling upon a rampart of dead bodies that he had slain My self kill'd in Marinus and having lost all the blood in my body fell amongst the dead But being preserv'd against my will by those that came to gain by the dead and cur'd of my wounds I left Africa With the like sorrow that I left Spain after the death of Atatanta I retired amongst those Pirates that I once commanded and the love they bare me not being extinguished in that intervallation of years that I had been
so great a temptation might overthrow his fidelity All the perswasions of my friends could not detain me from seeking you which I did help'd also by my friends enquiring through all the Neighbour Countries Cities and Towns but after many moneths search in vain I returned not so much as hearing any newes of you To content my friends I stayed almost a year with them but not enjoying my self without you I took a special care to secure that treasure which I preserv'd still untouch'd for you which being laid up safe without the knowledge of any of my friends I departed having vowed never to return till I had either found you out or heard certainly of your death Having in this resolution searched through all Cilicia Capadocia Paphlagonia and through all the lesser Asia I passed over to Greece and searching thorow all those Provinces in vain I returned to Asia again sorrowfull and dejected But coasting all long Pontus and visiting these parts I fell very dangerously sick when meeting with the man you found tormenting me whose name is Proculus he very generously after some small acquaintance conducted me to his house which is not far from this place where I indured a sharp and tedious sickness but so carefully and tenderly looked after by him that I was in an especial manner engaged to him After I began to be well not believing any thing had been able to shake that love in him which I had beheld so strong I gave him to gratifie him the best relation of all my past adventures But O the power of that Stygian vice avarice which is able to convert love into hatred and make friends turn foes and take away that life which they have preserved This was the cause of my stripes and tormenting for he having heard of the Treasure which I brought with me for I concealed not any thing from him it so troubled and tormented his mind that he could not be satisfied without it such was his thirst of gain He at first sought by all fly and cunning means to pump of me in what place I had hid it and whom I had entrusted with it his enquiry made me mistrust him and I was now very sorry that I had spoken any rhing of it my heart misgiving me some disaster so that his inquiries were in vain for I still left him unsatisfied But when he perceived that I grew well and that I was about to leave him he in plaine terms told me that he must know where the Treasure was counselling me to devide it betwixt us seeing you as he said after so many years search not heard of were in all likelyhood dead and rotten so that it belonged to me and to him in preserving my life But when he saw threats would not do he sought to extort it out of me by torments which he also found too weak to break my resolution for he had in that place which you found me in in the like manner tormented me thrice before which so enraged him that he had sworn I should never return to his house alive if I would not confess it to him which I resolved not to do though I had suffered an hundred deaths And I verily believe he would have been as good as his word if that the gods miraculously had not sent you to my relief and out of such afflictions brought me to my investigated happiness A happiness I have sought for this five years it being so much since I returned out of the East therefore it cannot repent me of my torments which hath been the means to my finding of my Master Meador thus ended his narration which had given great content to the Princesses to hear Araterus's story to end with so much pleasure and solace But the day beginning to decline after they had engaged Euripedes and Lonoxia to visit them at their Castle they departed The Charioter being returned to the entrance of the grove according as they had appointed the Princesses mounted their Chariot and Tribulus and Argelois their horses which being done they presently arrived at the Castle whose Gates stood wide open to receive the beauties and the glories of the East The end of the first Part. FINIS