Secret he knew well enough I blam'd her carriage towards him But in short he departed I delivered his Letter Melicrita would not read it but I read it to her She blushed she sighed and I perceived she could hardly conceal the trouble of her Heart We were interrupted and she avoided during several days to speak to me in particular But this was extraordinary in this occasion that she treated those who were in love with her much worse since Theramenes was absent revenging her self upon them for the torment she suffered in not daring to abandon her Heart to the inclination she had for him But in a short time after Athens was exposed to two the greatest Calamities in the World War and Pestilence wherewith it had long before been menaced by an Oracle I shall say nothing to you of that War since you are perfectly informed of all its Events And I have already told you that Alcibiades and Socrates signalized and distinguished themselves therein after such a manner as that they were not to be equalled by any other These two misfortunes together put Athens into a great Consternation all those persons who had Country-houses retired to them But the Air being infected they met with the Pestilence in all places The Contagion was brought into the Camp before Potidaea where many died of it Almost all those died who had any understanding in Physick so as people died without help And this had so much the Air of a Divine Punishment that publick Prayers were made in all the Temples but the Mortality was so great that few people were seen there It was not as formerly a popular Malady persons of the highest Quality were attacked by it as well as others Thucydides had that terrible Disease but recovered My Husband died of it in the Army being very young so that I retired with Stebonia Melicrita's Mother into the Country Socrates was almost the onely man of all those who were at the Army who was spared by the Infection and this was attributed to the protection of the Gods and his great Sobriety Melicrita has confessed to me since that sometimes she was very glad her cruelty had banished Theramenes from a place where he might have perished either by War or by Pestilence but she knew not that the same Passion which had sent Theramenes away recalled him and exposed him to the same dangers which she thought to have made him avoid And indeed Madam assoon as Theramenes had notice his Country was in War and his Mistress exposed to the Pestilence he changed his Course and Design how far off soever he was and retuned with much more diligence than he weâ—…t away But to shew that the Love of Melicrita had more share in his Return than the love of Glory instead of going directly to the Army he approached Athens to know where she was But he found there a hideous Solitude and more dead Corps than living Bodies They told him I was with Melicrita in the Country that Stenobia was very sick though not of the Contageous Disease And that Melicrita having had news her Father was taken with the Pestilence in his return from the Army his Domesticks all dead of it except a young Slave and that knowing the lamentable condition her Father was in she would have left me with Stenobia and gone to Aristocrates iâ—… I had not hindred her from so doing Theramenes hearing all this forced as I may say by great Presents the onely Physician who remained at Athens to go with him and wrote to Melicrita in these terms Love Madam banish'd me from my Country the same Passion calls me home that I might have the Consolation to see my self near you and endeavour to succour him to whom you owe your Life Continue with Stenobia Madam I am carrying to Aristocrates a very able Physician I steal him from a great City but I value you above all the World If I can by my cares save Aristocrates's life and that his Disease does not prove Contageous to my self I will go seek Death in the Army too happy in having rendred you a Service which perhaps will be the onely one of all my life that will be acceptable to you Theramenes used all possible precaution in writing to us He came from a good 〈◊〉 took a table-Table-book out of such things as had not been in Athens He sent them by a Slave he had brought with him from the Country he came and went directly to the place where he knew Aristocrates lay ill I forgot to tell you that I received Theramenes's Packet as I was weeping with Melicrita who underwent a mortal Grief knowing that her Father whom she tenderly loved had so terrible a Disease without having any help All his Servants were dead at the Army and not a man could be found to be sent to him we had onely Women except an old Domestick who was not in a condition to undertake a Journey All the others were sted away and I could not divert her from going without knowing however how she should get to Aristocrates In that condition we received Theramenes's Messenger as a Messenger from Heaven And when she knew the care this generous Lover had taken to procure her Father a Physician and that he was going to expose himself to the Pestilence for the love of her It must be confessed said she that this action is admirable and without saying a word more she went to acquaint Stenobia her Husband would not die without help and that Theramenes was going to him This News gave so much joy to that virtuous Woman that her Fever diminished two hours after 〈◊〉 then represented to Melicrita all I thought capable of moving her but she was ingenious in tormenting her self Do not you see said she to me that it is not now a fitting time to speak to me of Theramenes's Passion Perhaps he came too late perhaps it lies not in his power to save Aristocrates And perhaps alas added she sighing he will meet with his own death in endeavouring to render me a great Service which would be to me a greater misfortune than I can express In fine notwithstanding the severity of my Conduct added she blushing I love Theramenes and it is onely the tenderness of my Heart which has made me treat him so as I have done What touch'd her still more is that I knew from the Messenger Theramenes had sent us and who had Wit enough that his Master had been under a mortal Melancholy during his Travels not having had the least curiosity wandring almost here and there at hazard yet still going farther off In the mean while we knew not what course to take for to hear from Aristocrates and Theramenes But the Slave he had sent us offered his service which we accepted and Melicrita after having twenty times changed her Resolution wrote these few Lines to Theramenes by Stenobia's Command I obey a Mother whom your generous action does restore to life again
as to that said Iphicrates and tell you in few words all that has been done before I acquaint Melicrita with her Fathers Command All the Company being very willing to know so extraordinary an occurrence Iphicrates satisfied their curiosity in these terms As you have not been at Athens since the desolation of the Pestilence for that you came from the Country to the Bath said he to Melicrita and to me and that Theramenes at his delivery out of Prison came directly hither after having seen Aristocrates at his Country-house you cannot comprehend to what a degree is the solitude of that City So as that at the first Assembly which was held for the renewing the Senate of Five hundred they were terrified to see the diminution of the people For as you know being divided into ten Tribes it is the more easily remarkable And as you are not ignorant that no Proposition is made to the People but what has been examined by the Senate after that by the Lot of White Beans and Black the Senators were elected and that they had regulared the Prytanes who as you know have all the authority during five Weeks There was one of 'em who had six Daughters to marry and another three or four Sisters Those two Prytanes caused notice to be taken that the War having swept away great numbers of Men as well as the Pestilence there was a great number of Maidens who could not be married and that it was nevertheless necessary for the repeopling their City to to marry 'em all This Proposition was contested by some but he who had six Daughters to marry and the other who had three or four Sisters urged and maintained this point so strongly that it was concluded by those ten Prytanes that the matter should be proposed to the people in a general Assembly And this having been performed accordingly the people with an unparallel'd precipitation would needs make a Law which should absolutely constrain all the Men to take two Wives But a man of good sence having made a vigorous and eloquent Remonstrance it was agreed this Decree should merely bear a permission of having two adding great praises for those who out of zeal to their Country should take two accordingly So that Socrates who makes the Publick good his darling Passion though cruelly tormented by Xantippa his first Wife has wedded Mirton Grand-Daughter of Aristides the just for the shewing an Example to others And it is evident this action of his was neither out of Voluptuousness nor Interest since he chose a Woman who had nothing of Beauty and was in such a condition as not to know what would become of her if Socrates had not married her as he did And indeed this Example of Socrates has been so powerful that there has been made several double Marriages in imitation of him I have certainly for Socrates resumed Theramenes all the respect his Virtue merits but I boldly declare I will never imitate him in this business Aristocrates does expect you will not reassumed Iphicrates and it is for that reason he has given me in charge to order Melicrita whom he tenderly loves to engage you to promise her not to make use of the permission of the Decree for having adopted you for his Son and being desirous to live and die with you he is willing to be assured you would not bring any Stranger into his Family I promise it solemnly said Theramenes and I am ready to swear it at the Feet of the Image of Minerva Protectrice of Athens and in the mean while I swear it before Theano who serves that great Goddess This being so added Iphicrates Theolinda when the Baths are ended must bring Melicrita to Aristocrates his Country-house where you are to marry her before you return to Athens to let pass during some time the fancy which the people have for these double Marriages Iphicrates had hardly done speaking but Theramenes gave him a thousand thanks And Melicrita though so reserved made appear in her Eyes a modest Joy which rendred 'em their Brightness and their Charms and re-established her so well she was in a condition to receive Company So as that in the Afternoon all the Illustrious persons at the Bath having known by those to whom Androcles had with regret told that this pretended Law was onely a permission to have two Wives and not a Command came to see us without excepting the Princess of Sicyon Theano returned with her Companions and Alcibiades Euripides Lysander Xenophon Philocles and Polemon spent the rest of the day at our Lodgings You must at least confess said Eupolia agreeably speaking to Melicrita that this Fantastical Law put you into a terrible fright Truly Eupolia replied she blushing you are very cruel in reproaching me with so just a Fear You I say who have daily such as are so ill-grounded I do not blame you for it resumed Eupolia I onely put you in mind of it Alcibiades interposed after a pleasant manner in this Conversation not being able to forbear admiring the resolution of Socrates For in short said he if he was in love I should not wonder at it at all But that the Publick good should so influence a man as to make him take a second Wife both ugly and poor when he has a very sad peevish and troublesom one already I must confess I do not conceive it Euripides spoke in much sharper terms against Marriage for a private reason he had for so doing And yet said Alcibiadoes Euripides is no Enemy to love as appears by the Verses he made yesterday That is true said he but the reason is Love and Marriage do seldom jump and it is this rarity which is going to make the happiness of Theramenes and Melicrita As I knew this Discourse did but make 'em uneasie I asked Alcibiades what the Verses were they talked of and he told us that having discoursed together the day before of Xenophon's Knowledge and Politeness joyned to the tenderness of his Heart He had made a Copy upon that Subject which he had still in his Memory The Princess of Sicyon desired him to rehearse 'em and Euripides without further pressing told us 'em himself They are as follows These Verses are out of Euripides The School of Love that 's all beset with charms Quickens Old Age and yet fierce Youth disarms Love too does render Learning more polite Loves Divine Flame makes Vertue dazling bright Love fills all humane breasts with hopes joy Love grief does banish which would us anoy Yet not the least of innocence destroy Though all Mankind should fall to censure me I 'll have no Friend who can't a Lover be He must be Salvage who lives without Love Love does the Beauties of the world improve Love the whole Vniverse does new adorn Without Love's aid all things would droop and mourn The God of Love does nought but mirth inspire The God of Love does what we all admire Right reason then your priviledge maintain But do not Loves Prerogative disclaim It must be confessed said the Princess that these Verses are worthy of Euripides and of their Subject Xenophon made a very modest defence and the Conversation was very pleasant all the rest of the day On the morrow in the Evening Theramenes made a very agreeable Feast during which all the Tents at the Bath were lighted by marvellous Illuminations which Theramenes had caused to be prepared before the bad news This shew'd the finest object imaginable These Illuminations were accompanied with several Consorts of Instruments There was a Ball at the Princess's house where Androcles durst not appear and all the Company at the Bath did partake in Theramenes and Melicrita's joy Iphicrates went to Corinth upon some business he had there but obliged us to depart two days after Theano and her Companions went away on the morrow Melicrita out of modesty would not suffer Theramenes to come along with us but he departed the same day and made haste before to thank Aristocrates for the care he had taken of his happiness I dare say all the illustrious persons at the Bath regretted the loss of our Company Alcibiades Xenophon and Euripides conducted us half a days Journy and would have came further if we would have suffered ' em But in short we arrived safely at Aristocrates his House And as Theramenes was got thither with extraordinary expedition we found all things ready for the Wedding so as that he married Melicrita three days after with an inconceivable Joy which I am perswaded will last all their lives This is Madam what you ordered me to acquaint you with if I had had more Wit and more Art you would have found this Relation more agreeable and entertaining FINIS BOOKS lately Printed and Sold by Henry Rhodes 1682. THe History of the Glorious Life Reign and Death of the Illustrious Queen Elizabeth By S. Clark Price bound 1 s. The History of the Victorious Life Reigh and Death of King Henry VIII with the Life of King Edward VI. Price bound 1 s. Pastime Royal or the Gallantries of the French Court A new Novel Price bound 1 s. Female Prince or Frederick of Sicily A new Novel Price bound 1 s. Round-heads or the Good Old Cause A Play by Mrs. A. Behn City Heiress or Sir Timothy Treat-all A Play by Mrs. A. Behn With all sorts of new Plays A new Voyage to the East-Indies and more particularly of the Kingdom of Bantam The second Edition with Additions Price bound 1 s. Conversations on several Subjects Written in French by Madamoiselle Scudery and done into English by Mr. Ferrand Spence
Letters and making Speeches He must likewise as I may say know the Secrets of all Hearts and not be ignorant of one of all the sine Arts whereof occasion may be sometimes found to speak by the by But it is mainly necessary he know how to prune Morality of all it has dry harsh and severe and Varnish it with something so natural and so agreeable as it may divert those to whom it gives Lessons insomuch that as Ladies do not break their Glasses for shewing 'em their Imperfections which they mend when they are once come to their knowledge neither would they hate a Book wherein they very often see things which people would not dare to tell them and which they would never tell themselves Thus 't is ealier for you to judge that it is much more difficult to compose well a Work of this quality than to make an History well What you have now said is admirable well spoken resum'd Anacreon That I grant replied Amilcar but what I think very strange is that if it were possible to meet with a man who should have composed a Fable of that nature yet there would be a great number of People found who would speak of it as of a mere Trifle and as an useless Amusement And I know several old Senators here and likewise several Roman Matrons whom Love would make so much afraid that they would even forbid their Children to read a Fable after that manner That Sentiment replied Herminius would be very unjust For Love is not learnt in Books Nature teaches it to Mankind and I have met with Love in all places where I have travelled But I have found it more buitish gross and criminal among people who have no Politeness and are altogether ignorant of the Gentile Gallantry than amongst people well educated And besides if those Books were not to be read that have Love in them we should not read Histories wherein we find Examples of all Crimes and wherein very often the Criminals are so happy as they raise a desire in some to imitate them History shews the horrible Action of Sixtus the lamentable Death of Servius Tullus the unjust Amours of Tarquin and Tullia and a thousand other things of a very dangerous example which would not be in a Fable after the manner I understand it On the other side Modesty should always therein be joyned with Love and there would never any criminal Amours be seen but what were unhappy For my part said Claelia then I find it of much more importance than some people may imagine to shew that there may be both innocent and agreeable Amours at the same time for there are but too many men who believe that this can hardly ever be Claelia has undoubtedly reason for what she says replied Herminius So those good Senators and those severe Matrons would do very ill to hinder their Children from reading a thing wherein they would find wherewith to learn the use of all Virtues and whereby they might spare themselves the trouble of Travelling for the becoming Well-bred persons Since so exact a Picture of the world might be drawn as they might see it in an Abridgement without going out of their Closets And as for the Ladies I likewise maintain that the reading of such a Piece as I imagine would rather hinder than incline them to the having Gallants For if they would but make comparison of the Love they bare them with that they should see represented in a Book of that nature they would find therein so much difference that they would never suffer ' emselves to be touch'd with their Passion I also firmly maintain that such a Book would not onely teach all Virtues lash all Vices and reprehend all those little imperfections which the World is full of but it might likewise teach men to adore the Gods by the Example that might be given thereof in the person of the Heroes who are proposed for Patterns And of what Nation and Religion soever a person was advantage might be drawn from it For when I see a Persian who worships the Gods of his Country he gives me a good Example though I am a Roman and teaches me I ought to reverence the Deity of my Nation Do not tell me then that there would be people so irrational as to blame a Book of that kind For I could wish I had made such an one at the hazard of meeting with that Injustice In fine as I should be satisfied with my intention I should comfort my self for the severity of a small number of persons by the general applause of the World and by the proper knowledge I should have of the usefulness of that kind of Work wherein Experience might be found without the help of Age Lessons without severity Pleasures without crime innocent Satyrs Judgement that would cost nothing and the means of learning that Art of the world without which one can never be agreeable AGAINST INDIFFERENCE I Perceive Madam it is but too true that you take a Pride in your Indifference though it be the onely imperfection you have As Thrasylus was uttering these last words which I very distinctly heard I entred into Cleocrites Chamber Insomuch as taking 'em up to begin the Conversation I do not ask said I to that beautiful person what that Imperfection is that Thrasylus reproaches you withal for since you have but one 't is easie to divine it Principally being so great as it is and so generally known by all the World In good earnest Lysiana said she to me laughing you have an excessive sincerity And I do not think there is any body on Earth who is so frankly reproached with their Imperfections as I am with mine As you take a vanity in the onely one you have replied I people tell you of it without fearing to displease you and also without hopes of ever having you mend it Then why should People tell me of it said she You take so much delight in their telling you of it resum'd Thrasylus that 't is the least Complaisance that can be had for you to tell you of it Why I am not displeased at it said Cleocrita is by the same reason that Beautiful persons are not angry when they are called Ugly For to speak with the same sincerity as Lysiana if I have no other Imperfection than this I am reproached with I am the most accomplish'd person in the world And indeed said I then to her 't is a little too much boldness in you to perswade us that Indifference is a good Quality Perhaps answered Cleocrita you call Indifference something I am not acquainted with and which is not in my Heart But I maintain that all my Sentiments are just and that of Amity whereof I am capable is the most commodious and the most rational of all I agree with you that 't is the most commodious for you replied Thrasylus but as for its being the most rational I think that is a point to
assoon as I can I abandon my Heart to Joy and find my self beyond comparison better than Eupolia does in abandoning hers to Fear For my part said the Princess I am not like you seeing I think of death when occasion is offered for so doing but I think of it without fear For as I must infallibly see it one day nearer than I do at present I take it to be convenient it should not be altogether a Stranger to me It is evident Madam said Alcibiades you have a Soul much greater than that of Xerxes who nevertheless had a grandeur of Courage since you think of death without any great disturbance Now for Eupolia's comfort continued he I am willing to put her in mind that this Prince being desirous to see from a high Hill his Fleet and Land-army he caused 'em to be put in battle-array for that purpose and then seeing above Five Millions of men which composed those two formidable Armies he could not forbear Weeping bitterly when he thought not one man of 'em would be left alive a hundred years after Methinks said Thrasybulus who had not yet spoken and who was then something out of humour that an instance of so great a weakness is no Consolation to the fair Eupolia But that she may know Xerxes Tears were not found to be over-just I must tell her that one of his Relations called Artabanus and of a firmer Heart than himself seeing him weep with that weakness told him Death was not so great an Evil nor Life so great a Blessing because though Life is very short there could not perhaps one man be found in those two great Armies but had found it too long by the evils wherewith it is attended And indeed pursued Thrasybulus with a haughty and melancholy Air if Life was prun'd of all that is vain frivolous troublesome laborious and bitter the remainder would be so small a thing it would not deserve the pains of regretting the loss of it I could rather have wished resum'd Eupolia laughing you had not spoken at all than that you should with such injustice fall a decrying the sweetness of Life For I find nothing in it bitter but the cruel thoughts of losing it How said Thrasybulus Do you reckon Childhood for a great happiness or extream Old Age when it is infirm And for the Middle Age it is so mingled with Crosses whereof the several Passions are the cause that it may be said we have but moments of happiness And the dissolution of humane Minds is such that what often serves to Pleasures is what often causes Grief to follow without excepting Love it self Insomuch as without deviating from the truth we may assert that all things trouble the joy of this Life which the beautiful Eupolia is so much in love with and that Sleep it self does almost bereave her of the half of it Ah! as for that Robbery said Eupolia laughing I could wish with all my heart that one could be without it For as I have unhappily heard one say that Sleep is the Image of Death that fatal Comparison when I remember at my going to bed it hinders me sometimes from sleeping for fear I should not wake again But pray said she let us speak no more of Death I conjure you if you have not a â—…ind to make me die But what course do you take said Areta when any one of your acquaintance dies For still you do not renounce all manner of Decency and Civility You must visit your Friends or at least write to ' em I assure you said Eupolia I never write Letters of Consolation without falling sick and I carefully avoid that terrible word which frightens me I onely say that I share in the grief of my Friends and partake in all that happens to 'em and never write that harsh word Death which I can hardly utter But Madam said Alcibiades how haâ—… you been able to suffer so many fine Verses and so many pretty Songs which your Beauty has given occasion to the making and wherein the expressions of Death are the principal and most melting terms For they often say they dye expire and a thousand suchlike things Ah! as for those Deaths who onely die in Verse replied Eupolia with a smile I am not at all afraid of 'em For we see plain enough they are in good health at the same time they are dying Not but that if my advice was followed they should content ' emselves with saying that they suffer languish grow impatient and should never say they die The word Destiny interrupted Hiparetta laughing puts you in as much pain as that of Death No no replied Eupolia but I am not much in love with the signification of it And in short whether directly or indirectly all that gives an Idea of the last moment of Life does render me uneasie And Melicriâ—… knows very well I could never pardon one of her Friends who as we were diverting our selves changed on a sudden the last Verses of a Song and ended it by these two Verses looking upon me after a malicious manner In spight of all Sports of all Love and all Play Without thinking of Dying you die every day True it is said Melicrita that Eupolia has ever had a peck since that time to the person who had play'd her this malicious Frank. The charming Eupolia said then Alcibiades is not of a Ladies humour whom all the world esteems who would needs know by heart certain Verses of another Lady a Friend of mine Are not they the Verses upon the Leaves which fall and upon the Leaves which bud said Melicrita The very same answered Alcibiades And as they pleased me extreamly seeing the Lady would not bestow 'em upon me I stole ' em The Princess and all the Company who had heard talk of 'em desired Alcibiades to recite 'em except Eupolia who feared those Verses would be too sad I imagine said that charming timerous person those Leaves which fall have some very fatal Moral and that it is a malice of Alcibiades to joyn with Hiparetta in drolling upon my weakness Not at all resumed he have you but patience to hear to the last of the Leaves before you judge thereof Which Eupolia promised him to do and the Princess pressing him to shew 'em Alcibiades began to read 'em After having said that the first were made in a little pretty Grove at the Fall of the Leaf and that they were but a â—…ifle in the opinion of her who made 'em as she was walking and that she would not have suffer'd 'em to be read in such good Company and especially before Euripides The Princess imposed silence on those who would have made answer and Alcibiades read the following Verses Down down you fading Leaves your duty pay You must your Mother Natures Laws obey A cold dark melancholy Winter now draws nigh And gloomy Clouds obscure our once-bright skie Our Hills and Meadows all with flowers adorn'd With