especially in a time wherein Fortune had been adverse to her and where she was forced to acknowledge that the surety of her Troops and safety of her person depended wholly upon his bounty She received the Prince in the presence of Merodates Phrataphern Barzanes and other principal Officers of the Army Amphimacus presented her with a Letter from Orontes by which he hoped to incline her more than by the mouth of his Ambassadour Amalthea opened it in the presence of the Princes and read aloud these words ORONTES King of SCYTHIA to the Queen of DACIA IT is not in my power great Queen to blot out of your memory the losse you have received by our Armes But I can easily represent to you that the King Decebalus dyed in the Field with his Sword in his hand without trechery cruelty or any circumstance that might inspire you with a greater hatred towards me than other common Enemies You have already powred forth much blood in his revenge and you ought to be satisfied with the death of a hundred thousand men whom you have sacrificed to his Ghost Few Women have so solemnly and gloriously acquitted them of their conjugal affection But it is enough Great Queen and I demand peace in a time when you may well judge I can nothing apprehend the event of the War There is blood enough spilt and I have pity both upon your Subjects and mine own And if you refuse it not I desire your amity and Alliance the gods as I am informed have promised the Crown of SCYTHIA to the Princesse MENALIPPA your Daughter and I offer it in presenting ALCAMENES for her Husband I beleive 't is thus the gods would be understood and all other wayes to advance her upon the Throne of our Ancestors will be found lesse easie MENALIPPA hath conquered SCYTHIA in a moment since in a moment she hath conquered the heart of ALCAMENES and this Prince whose life she assaulted with so much animositie layes the same life with the Crown I shall leave him at her feet The Prince of the TAUROSCYTHES whom I have impowred will negotiate according to your Commands so soon as you let him understand them and will testifie unto you how much I desire the union of our Crowns Families and Affections Whilst Amalthea readd this Letter the divers agitations of her Soul were legible upon her face and if on one side the resentment of the King her Husbands death possessed still her spirit filling it with aversion to the King of Scythia on the other part the advantage she found in his offer and the pitiful condition she was in through the defeat of her Amry of which in all likelihood she could expect nothing but the intire ruine disarm'd by degrees that revenge which she had preserved so many years forcing her to give Reason audience though hitherto she had preferred Passion and Animosity and beside comparing the offer of Orontes with the Oracles which had promised the Crown of Scythia to the Princess her Daughter her eyes were opened to these appearances and judged that it was by this Marriage and not by Force the Gods intended she should be Queen of Scythia Whilst she rowled these thoughts in her mind without expressing them to the Company Merodates being amorous of Menalippa and impatient of a proposition which destroyed his hopes cryed with precipitation that the offer of Orontes ought not to be imbraced and that the Gods Blood and Nature would be visibly offended in case Menalippa should marry with the Son of her Father's Murtherer Phrataphern full of amorous pretences confirm'd his exclamation and added what ever he thought capable to authorize it but Barzanes more prudent than they though he exceedingly resented the death of the King his Brother found no difficulty to tell the Queen after they had conducted the Ambassadour of Scythia into another Chamber that she ought to receive with open arms the Kings proposition and that this fortune which at this time was very great for Menalippa could not with prudence be rejected at a time wherein through the defeat of their Army they lay exposed to the mercy of the Enemy where neither the valour of Merodates nor Phrataphern could hinder them from being cut in pieces if the Scythians had any such intent The reasons of Barzanes were confirmed by all the Officers of the Army and by Pharnaces who having a few moments before lost all hope of re-seeing their dear Country could not hear the proposition of so glorious a peace and so little expected by all appearances without protesting aloud to the Queen that unless she intended their intire ruine she would not reject it Amalthea hearkned to this discourse as unwilling to be accused of the destruction of those Souldiers which remained by her obstinacy nor could she think without some joy upon the fortune which presented its self to Menalippa in a conjuncture of time when she expected to be expos'd with her to a multitude of disgraces so that maugre the crye of Merodates and Phrataphernes who would never consent but in a rage departed the Chamber she sent for the Prince of the Tauro-Scythes and told him that she willingly imbraced the Peace which he offered nor had she any repugnance to the Kings Alliance but it was just that she communicated it to her Daughter who had herein the principal interest and whose consent she would demand Amphimacus reply'd to this discourse of the Queen with much civility and respect who having left him with the King of the Sarmates and the principal Officers of the Army she with Barzanes went into Menalippa's Chamber to whom she read the King of Scythia's Letter and informed her that all the Dacians setled their desires on this Peace and Alliance and her self also who had a desire to terminate this War by an honourable conclusion Amalthea hoped that notwithstanding the hatred Menalippa had exprest against Alcamenes she would yet submit her resentments to those of her Mother and open her eyes to Orontes's advantagious proposition but scarce had she discovered her thoughts when the irritated Princess casting a transported regard at the Queen How Madam said she do you designe me for the Spouse of Orontes's Son who kill'd Decebalus and who would yesterday have taken away my life in your presence with the same Sword wherewith he hath slain three Kings fighting in your Quarrel and him against whom you have inspired me with so much hatred from mine infancy Daughter replyed the Queen It is not just that enmities should be eternal and prudence commands us to persevere in or change our resolutions and inclinations according as they are either advantagious or hurtful Alcamenes is very innocent of the King your Fathers death and in the death of the Kings his Enemies he hath done but his duty if he wounded you in the Combat not knowing you he treated you with respects so soon as he knew you and yielded to you with the Victory both his heart and
to him all dismay'd and finding he was in a deep swoond after I had often jogg'd and call'd him in vain I ran to the Fountain that was not far off and brought back water which I threw in his face in abundance at last his faculties return'd to their several functions and perceiving himself between my arms Prithee let me alone Emimilius said he I would fain die So you shall Sir said I if this mishap that spurs you to it can shew you a just cause to pick a quarrel with your life but by the Gods assistance I shall not suffer it before you can make a clearer construction of your misfortune and what greater illustration can I ask reply'd he in a languishing tone than I have already receiv'd from Cleopatra's mouth who in terms that needed no comment has sentenc'd my my life in condemning me to see her no more with that he looked about for his Sword which by a timely precaution I had seiz'd before and the Gods were willing his grief assisted by the malady that then began to assault him should subdue his strength to such an Ebb and the tender affection I had ever for him so redoubled my mind as whatever strugling he made he could neither wrest mine nor his own from my hands 't is true his unwillingness to hurt me would not let him employ all his puissance which I could never have resisted but I would my self into such a posture as he would have found it hard to have forc'd my resolution unless he had killed me since thou wilt not suffer me said he to fall by my own Sword thou shalt see me run otherwise to my death wherein thou canst not stop me At these words whose every syllable was divided with sighs he roll'd himself upon the grass still pouring forth complaints capable to have melted the savagest Hearts that ever gave a rocky resistance to pity After I had suffered him to take a long tiring upon his grief without interruption Sir said I if you humour this obstinacy to run so eagerly upon your death for one single proof of Cleopatra's anger you will shew less Courage and Vertue than the meanest Woman had death divorc'd you from the person you loved were she married to Tiberius or any other whose felicity had power to murder all our hopes despair might then be pardoned but for a single fit of Choler that may resolve into the aery nothing that begot it for the Caprichio of Spirit who as it hath strayed from Love to anger may step back again with the same facility from Anger to Affection or a Malady whose Cure you carry about you for a Disease which rising from no other womb but Report and foster'd with a false opinion will give way to a single justification and flye like a thin mist before the beams of truth to throw your self upon Death is a design unworthy of your Courage unbecoming the lustre of your Judgement and disproportion'd to those great endowments the Gods have given you I allow Queen Cleopatra Cato and the King your Father bravely fled the world to flye the shame that was intended them but that a petty birth either made by Jealousie or any other motive in affection should rashly procure a self-sacrifice Ah Sir and where should be the Judgement where the Vertue where the Resolution in adversity and where the Constancy I have so often known you preach to others Coriolanus was too great a Master of reason not to discern some in this Discourse but sorrow had so entirely prepossess'd his Soul as reason and truth both lost their influence and had I not added the interest of honour of which he had ever been more sensible than of all things else my endeavours had doubtless been too weak to draw him from the precipice of Despair Sir said I I know it must be some treacherous practice against your quiet that has rais'd this storm in Cleopatra's breast try to dis-invalue the truth which once discovered will either help you to disabuse the Princess and wipe out those impressions have been given her of you or guide your revenge to those artificial Enemies that plotted this mischief against you Sir I assume the liberty to tell you that your honour binds you to allow these reasons nor can you without sinning against your Courage resign to Tiberius whom I suspect the Author of your disgrace a treasure which none but his subtility can carry from you All that I said to my Master though ill express'd was yet so strongly built upon truth and reason as he could find but little to resist it and he listened so eagerly to the proposal I made him of seeking his revenge upon those that had destroyed his repose as at last he concluded to prolong his dayes only in homage to that intention and after he had taken some time to ballance this resolution in his thoughts Yes Emilius said he I will live and but live to no other purpose than to give death to those whose perfidie has drop'd so many stains upon my innocence yet I feel my grief grown strong enough to post me from the world before it lends me the leisure to act these thoughts unless a timely succour prevents it O Death pursu'd he lifting up his eyes to heaven as they swam in their own tears if by thy means Cleopatra may be satisfi'd my heart shall receive thee with open embraces and thus he went on enlarging his laments which would never have ended if perceiving the night at hand I had not conjur'd him to remount his Horse and return to the City where I hoped his woes would find a lenitive as I still press'd him more eagerly to retire by chance I touch'd his arm and found by the high distemper of heat that a violent Feaver had seized him this fomented a fear of his life that encreas'd my importunity which at last prevailed so far as he grew contented to quit that unlucky place where he had received so bloody a displeasure to go learn the cause of his misfortune at Syracusa and find out Tiberius whom we both suspected guilty of laying the train earnestly inferring these hopes I got him on horse-back and at last drew him to the City which we entered without any precaution because the night had already shed her shades upon the earth we had some trouble to find our lodging because the City was so every where pestered and stuffed with perpetual throngs of people we were no sooner gotten thither but perceiving my Princes malady encrease I quickly got him to bed he would not be perswaded to take any thing nor did I much press it because his Feaver was grown very violent but the next day it raged to that height as I really feared his life and within three more it was almost despair'd by all those that undertook him I had no easie Province to combat his aversion to remedies but the desire of surviving the revenge he intended upon those that had
themselves towards Artemisa who was younger than Arsinoe by a year This Princess by a sympathy which powerfully acted in the beginning of our affections permitted at the first that I should contract all the amity with her that we were both capable of her beauty which gave at that time marvellous hopes of its future excellence already made impressions in the soul of a child of seven or eight years old and the sweetness of her spirit and the gracefullness which accompanied all her actions did so Captivate my heart that it was impossible for me to live without her I disdained all sorts of entertainment and all manner of company to enjoy hers and I had this happiness too that she expressed no greater inclinations towards her own brother and sister than she did to me If any from Anthony or Cleopatra enquired after the little Alexander they must look for him in the company of the little Princess of Armenia and they had so much ado to get him from her that she was fain often-times to follow him to the place whither he was sent for or otherwise they would have hardly got him thither without tears and grand expressions of his displeasure The Queen diverted her self sometimes with these innocent testimonies of our affection and causing us to play together in her presence she pleased her self to hear our conversations She heard me one day talking to her more seriously than my age did seem to permit Artemisa said I to her I am affraid you do not love me I love you said she as well as my Sister That is not enough replyed I for I love you much better than the Princess Cleopatra And how would you have me love you then answered the young Princess As you do your self said I As my self replyed Artemisa ah Alexander that will be impossible for I love nothing like my self and I am very sensible that when I take any hurt I could wish it to any person in the world rather than to my self but next to my self I will love you as much as any thing else in the world besides Artemisa answered I I protest to you that when I see you suffer any harm I resent it so much that I would willingly endure it my self to ease you If it be so said she I confess Alexander that you love me better than I have loved you hitherto but for the future I will do what I can to render you the like affection I humbly intreat you to do it added I otherwise I shall never be satisfied The Queen my Mother was much pleased to hear this discourse and having told Anthony of it he was pleased oftentimes to make use of the same diversion Jealousie too began already to mingle it self our affection and I remember that Anthony seeing me one day extraordinary sad and having asked me before the Queen and before Artemisa and her Sister who at that time was in the Chamber the cause of my sadness I am sad said I because that Artemisa hath not looked kindly upon me to day You have nothing to do with my looks answered Artemisa disdainfully and you are sufficiently satisfied with the caresses which my Sister hath rendered you all this day Artemisa replyed I your Sisters kindnesses do not please me like yours and if you would have me I will tell her in your presence that I love her not in comparison of you You will do me a pleasure briskly answered the young Princess for she hath hit me in the teeth all this day that you you have quitted me for her with disdain which hath angred me very much Arsinoe continued I turning my self towards her Sister if you have any such thought you deceive your self and I desire to acquaint you in your own presence that I love Artemisa much better than your self Arsinoe who in an age so full of innocence had a composed spirit and admirable knowledge troubled not her self at my discourse and Artemisa was so satisfied with it that from that moment she began to look more kindly upon me I am tedious in relating to you these petty effects of Nature but these beginnings of my life have been of such importance in relation to the last events which have happened to me that I am forced to make you a slight mention of them and to prepossess you with the opinion that I was really amorous of Artemisa at that time when by the priviledge of my age I was permitted to see her that you may be induced to excuse those things which the memory of these beginnings caused me to do at an age more capable of reason During this time as without doubt you have heard the war between Anthony and Octavius Caesar brake out into such a flame that all hopes of peace were extinguished and these two being Masters of the greatest part of mankind did so eagerly pursue each others ruine that nothing was capable to divert the destruction of him that was most unfortunate In the time of this war the King of the Medes the ally and friend of Anthony but an irreconcilable enemy to Artibasus continually importuned Anthony and Cleopatra to put him to death and offered them in requital his forces to serve them in the war against Caesar but they rejected his propositions and could not resolve to use so much cruelty to a great Prince who by his ill fortune had faln into their power they persevered a long time in this resolution and I believe they would have continued so still if her misfortunes had not exasperated or rather changed the inclinations of Cleopatra The famous battel of Actium was fought wherein by the Queens flight the fortune of our Family was totally ruined and the victorious Caesar found himself in a condition to pursue the remainder to the gates of Alexandria Then it was that the King of the Medes redoubled his solicitations for the death of the King of Armenia and sent to offer Cleopatra in the absence of Anthony the whole forces of his Kingdom for the head of Artibasus the pressing necessity of her affairs and the despair to which she saw her self reduced might make the Queen hearken to the propositions of the cruel Mede but yet she would not have disposed her self to grant him what he demanded nor have stained her memory with a blot which will never be wiped off if at that time she had not been informed that the eldest Son of Artibasus who remained in Armenia having declared himself King served Caesar with all his forces and did highly threaten to ruine Anthony and Cleopatra and be cruelly revenged for the injury they had done to his Family The resentments of this Prince were just but the spirit of Cleopatra being as I told you exasperated by her misfortunes she did that out of despight which she would never have done for any other interest and giving ear to the pressing solicitations of the King of the Medes out of a boyling precipitation which was too late repented of
to the passion of an inhumane brother and Cleopatra that Cleopatra which by her cruelty authorized Artaxu 's shall never accuse me amongst the shades below for approving against her blood of the revenging of the injury which she did to our family She spake some other words besides after which having employed all the rest of the day almost in seeking unprofitably for some expedients for my assistance at last she abandoned her self to desperate resolutions All this while I was in prison where about the end of the day my sentence was pronounced to me and I was advertised to prepare my self for death the terrible countenances of those that brought me this news could not refrain from shewing some signs of compassion and according to their report they found something extraordinary in my face which made them regret my destiny I will not tell you that I received this sad intelligence without being troubled at it and whatsoever courage Heaven bestows upon a man when his mind is not prepossessed with despair it is a difficult thing for him to endure the face of an horrible and shameful death without astonishment and trouble I was young and more happy in the affection of Artemisa than I had confidence to wish and in a likelyhood to improve my life to the best advantages these reasons without doubt made me find death of a more hard digestion than usually it is to those whose misfortunes smooth the face of it I confess I was troubled and that I had a combat with nature wherein reason at first did not prevail without some difficulty and I could not dispose my self without regret to abandon my hopes but yet after I had yielded a little to humane frailty I was sooner resolved than many persons very timorous would have been and at last I made use of my courage to let my enemies know that all the ill they could do me was not capable to cast me down After I began to speak O Cleopatra said I 't is just that since I have received my life from you I should render it back for the reparation of your faults And afterwards turning my self towards them that had brought me news of my death Artaxus said I doth very vigorously revenge the death of his father and hath taken a great deal of pains and run a great many hazards for his own satisfaction but tell him that he should have taken his course by way of arms both against Anthony and the deceased King of the Medes for the liberty or the revenge of his Father and that this which he now takes upon me can neither repair the baseness he hath committed in suffering this injury for the time past nor give me so much regret for my death as to oblige me to be beholding to him for my life if he should be in the humour to give it me yet let him know that his cruelty shall not remain unpunished and that I shall leave persons behind me who shall more nobly and more generously call him to accompt for this offence I sent them back with these words and staying with those of my ordinary guard I began by little to surmount all the difficulties that I found in this passage Night was come on when the Keeper that was wont to give me Artemisa's Letters by the means he was accustomed to use presented me with the last which she had written an hour before and with the Letter he gave me a little Vessel wrapped up in a paper the little necessity I had at that time to dissemble my affairs made be presently open the Letter and at the sight of those dear Characters which I immediately kissed not being able to forbear some tears O Artemisa said I 't is just that your goodness should continue as long as my life but after my death wish you a repose which may never be crossed by any remembrance of Alexander and after I had given some kisses more to this precious writing I read these words The Princess Artemisa to Prince Alexander YOu must die my dear Alexander and I would not send you this news but that I am resolved to die with you all my hopes are extinguished Artaxus is inexorable and I see my self at last reduced to that deplorable condition I so much feared Let us die since Heaven hath so decreed it but let us not suffer Artaxus and the People of Armenia to glut their eyes with the cruel spectacle By this poison that I send you you may avoid the shame they intend you and I have kept as much for my self to avoid the shame I should have to survive you Adieu my dear Alexander and if by my death I do not acquit my self of what I owe to yours let your affection supply that defect and believe that if my life were far more precious I should have given it you with all my heart There was hardly any need either of dagger or poison to take away my life at the reading of this Letter and I was so struck to the heart that grief alone wanted but a little of immediately contenting the rage of my Enemies these last testimonies of Artemisa's unmoveable affection rendred me the most happy of men but they made me find some regret too in my death which without doubt I should not have done if she had not loved me and seeing her as she sent me word in a resolution to die I was seased with so violent a displeasure at it that there was no room for comfort in my soul I took the Vessel wherein the poison she sent me was and delivered it to Tideus to prepare it in a potion receiving this present from Artemisa with a great deal of satisfaction as likely to free me from the shame wherein a great part of the punishment to which I was destinied did consist After I had sufficiently tormented my self at the Princesses design wherein I found sufficient reason to die desperate if I should not divert her from it I desired to give her the last assurances of my fidelity in a Letter which I wrote unto her in these terms Prince Alexander to the Princess Artemisa I Am ready to die my dear Princess and I part from this life without any other regret than of quitting you for ever I shall die but half if you preserve that part of me which I leave you and death it self cannot take from you but I shall die twice and the most cruel death that can be imagined if you suffer me to part in that fear whereinto your fatal resolution hath put me I have dearly received the present you sent me but I conjure to employ the remainder for other uses than for the destruction of the most perfect Master piece of the Gods a loss so inconsiderable as mine should not give a Princess of your quality occasions of despair and you cannot conceive a thought of it without rendring my end full of horrour and giving me greater resentments against your cruelty than against
hands of thy companions As I uttered these words I put by a thrust which he made at me and slipping under his sword he thrust mine up to the hilts his which I seized upon in the pass I kept in my hand and with that I laid Elpenor upon the head who advanced to assist his companion with so much ill fortune for him that having cleft him to the middle of the face after he had reeled a little way he fell down dead upon those who were nearest to the Scaffold I received no small consolation at the death of these two enemies over what I expected and seeing that Cepio with two mortal blows had tumbled two Souldiers down from the Scaffold at the same time Courage cryed I brave Cepio we will not die alone to day follow me into the thickest throng of our Enemies and let us render our death famous by so many others that we may have no cause to regret our own Speaking these words I threw my self from the Scaffold upon the nearest of the Souldiers that environed it and laying at all those without any difference which I found in my way I quickly made way enough with my Sword Cepio was presently at my side and seconded me with divers actions of admirable valour 'T is certain that there are no efforts comparable to those that proceed from persons which fear not death and that when men have abandoned their lives they are capable of doing prodigious executions Upon another occasion when he should have fought with some consideration of our own safety without doubt we should not have done half we did upon this but having lost all hope all desire and care but to revenge our death we appeared to be somewhat more than men in this dayes work and we did actions that would hardly find belief if they had not the testimony of many thousand witnesses Our Enemies being intimidated by the great blows we dealt amongst them as much as if our number had been equal with theirs made way for us on both sides and having no Commanders to encourage them I believe they would have given us free passage if we had sought it but instead of Elpenor or Eurilochus they were animated by a more formidable voice than of any of their Captains and then it was that the baseness of Artaxus rendred it self manifest to all his people for he opened the Window behind which he concealed himself to satiate his eyes with the cruel spectacle and shewing his face to the Souldiers he no sooner saw the disorder into which we had put them but he cryed out with a terrible voice Whither do ye flye O ye cowards whither do ye flye from two men And a litte after seeing that at this cry they faced about and began to put themselves into a condition to set upon us Take them added he and if ye cannot take them alive kill them At these words the Souldiers being ashamed of the fear they had expressed rallied up together and began to environ us and at the same time they turned the points of a thousand Javelins against us we knew then that our death was not far of but that was no news to us nor any more than for what we were fully prepared and therefore casting a look upon Cepio Let us die Cepio said I since you desire it but before our death let us send some of our Enemies before us I had scarcely made an end of these words when I saw my blood trickle down from some slight wounds and poor Cepio having received two or three mortal ones fell at my feet where immediately after he expired This man certainly for his courage and admirable generosity deserved a better destiny and if I had been in a condition to make some reflection upon his loss I had without doubt expressed all the resentments of grief that his valour and the assistance he had given me could merit from my acknowledgment Adieu brave Cepio cryed I thou dyest for my interests but it shall not be long before I bare thee company With these words I flew much more furiously into the middle of my Enemies dispatching the two nearest to me with the two first blows I gave them some others besides bare them company and I behaved my self so amongst them that alone as I was the boldest of them durst scarcely venture within the length of my Sword Nevertheless my resistance was to very little purpose and though I had been more valiant than many Achilles's together it was impossible for me to prolong my destiny I retired my self against a wall that I might not be assaulted but only before and there my Enemies made a semi-circle about me and pressed me so close that not being able to put by so many thrusts as they made at me and finding already a great diminution of my strength I was even a sinking under such a number when Artaxus himself came into the place and advanced himself towards that part where I was crying out they should take me alive and that they should take care of killing me upon pain of death This command certainly saved me and after I had defended my self a little longer having engaged my sword in the body of a Souldier who was forwarder than the rest his companions threw themselves upon me in so great a number that not being able to stir amongst them I was thrown down and disarmed a little after they tyed my hands behind me and in this condition they presented me to Artaxus who came near us and made the people give way that he might see me After he had cast his eyes upon my face Thou shalt not die said he as thou didst desire and I am resolved that thou shalt not have the satisfaction of changing the kind of death I had ordained for thee against my will thou shalt return into the hands of an Executioner from whom thou flyest but it shall be to die there in torments I heard his threat without any fear and looking upon him with more scorn than before I expect from thee said I all that can be expected from a base and cruel man and I know thou fearest my resentments too much to restore me to liberty Artaxus made no reply to this discourse but committed me to the custody of Theogenes and Sarpedon and putting them in the place of Eurilochus and Elpenor he commanded them to carry me back to prison and to guard me there till he had deliberated what kind of death to put me too fearing likewise lest I should die of my wounds and so avoid the punishments he prepared for me he gave order that I should be carefully looked to and thus his cruelty was every way for my preservation and by destining me to torments he himself made way for my safety I returned to the same prison from whence I came some hours before without hope of seeing it again and a little after they brought thither to me Narcissus and my two Squires all three
all other care and thought but for her and yet I could make no other acquest upon her spirit but of esteem and a litle compassion at such time when I was likely to lose her for ever by an accident or rather an attempt which I cannot call to mind without trouble I was in bed and it was about break of day when one of Andromeda's Officers came to my Chamber door and having desired hastily to speak with me he told me that the Princess had sent him to me to advertise me that Delia was a dying and that she had been tormented part of the night with such violent pains and was in so bad a condition at that instant that it might be easily perceived that there was something extraordinary in her distemper Being surprised and amazed with this news as you may well imagine I made my self ready and flew out of Chamber to my Sisters Lodgings The first person that I met with at the entrance of Delia's Chamber was her Sister who running to me with loud acclamations Ah! Sir said she to me Delia is a dying Delia is poisoned These words having redoubled my confusion I entred into the Chamber in a very great perplexity Delia's bed was environed by divers persons and the Princess my Sister being interessed in this Maids health by the friendship she had for me and that she bare her her self had not stirred from her pillow since the beginning of her being sick and had sent for her Physitians and mine by whose report we knew that Delia was poisoned None of them had spared any care to give her help and they knew well enough that my life depended upon hers which made them to neglect nothing which might tend to her preservation but the poison was so violent and had already produced such grand effects that Delia's complexion as vigorous as it was was not able to resist it and in the opinion of those who served her there remained then but little hope of her life I approached her bed more like a dead than a living person and I saw her in such a condition as would have split not only Philadelph's but the cruellest Tigers heart with pity The force of the poison had changed the admirable whiteness of her countenance into a colour as pale and wan as lead her eyes were dull and heavie and her lips being dry and parched in stead of their ordinary carnation were covered with a deadly paleness Yet in this condition she seemed very fair to me and no change could hide her natural beauty from my eyes her fight was good still and her reason and remembrance was still perfect At the noise they made when I came near her bed she turned her eyes towards me and seeing me in a case as worthy of pity as her own Prince said she with an assured voice I must die and this culpable Delia hath caused too many disorders in your Family not to be punished for them These words were more capable of giving me my death than the arms of my most cruel enemies had no answer and grief had seized upon me with so absolute a power that having no strength to resist it I fell into a swoon between their arms who stood near me Delia though dying as she was interessed her self in my sad condition and as I understood afterwards she expressed almost more resentment for my displeasure than she did for her own by the assistance of those persons who employed themselves about me I recovered my sences at the last and having crept along with a staggering pace to Delia's bed-side from whence they had taken me I no sooner saw her again throwing my self upon my knees before her bed and taking hold of her hand which burned like fire whereupon I fixed my mouth with greater liberty than I had taken before I expressed my grief to her with cries and sobs not being able to express one distinct word she being moved with pity at my action after she had made some unprofitable endeavours to draw her hand from betwixt mine Sir said she you must be resolved and you ought to make use of your courage to give your self consolation in a disaster wherein you would need none if you would but employ your reason Delia does not merit the regret you express for her loss as she did not deserve your affection and by her death she will restore quietness to your Family and to your mind from whence she had innocently driven it I pay that tribute to nature which we owe her and if they hasten my end a few daies I cannot hate them that render me that office when I consider the miseries whereunto my life hath been exposed and the intention they have had of procuring the good of the state and your particular good by my death Pardon them after my example if you love me and do not for the Maids sake exceed the bounds which nature and your vertue prescribe She would have said more if I could have suffered it and if I had not interrupted her by rising up before her with transport No Delia said I no Delia never hope for that from me neither expect a base obedience from him whom you do not leave in a condition to take notice what he owes to nature vertue or your will The cruel wretches shall die who tear away my life by an inhumanity and perfideousness without example and I will throw death into the bosom of mine own Father if Delia be not preserved for me This is my resolution from which all the considerations in the world shall never startle me and I desire of the Gods to live no longer after you than to put it in execution and when I shall have given my self this reparation I know how Delia to sacrifice my self upon the tomb whereunto I unfortunately draw you by the love I have for you After I had spoken these words turning towards those which were employed about her cure and had already given her some remedies My friends said I either you must cure Delia or dispatch Philadelph and for the recompence which you ought to expect for that action cast your eyes upon whatsoever is most precious in my power and if you ask but the Crown of Cilicia for Delia's health I promise it you before all the Gods so soon as it shall be in my power These men who were well enough affected by me to the hope of a great salary were much more encouraged and employed all their skill and power to expel the poison out of that fair body and that they might the more conveniently go about it they prayed me to withdraw a while into the next chamber with the Princess my Sister the Aunt and Sister of Delia stay'd with them to tend her and in the mean while I passed those cruel moments or rather ages of torment in such a condition as is as difficult for you to comprehend as for me to express All the discourse that Andromeds could make
Justice alone that thou art stript of all and exiled wandring without retreat or place of safety but though these miseries are too light for thy crime they witness for me that I have not contributed to them and that I have had no more part in them than I had in those Kingdoms which thou hadst destined and didst offer with thy self to more happy persons Do not reproach me then with evils which I have never been the cause of and which I never so much as wished thee I am contented to accuse thee of ingratitude and unworthiness and to manifest marks of sorrow for thy shameful change which possibly thou hadst not deserved without wishing any greater punishment to thy treason than my forgetfulness and disdain But at last the transported Prince cryed out shall I not know this treason and shall I see my self condemned and condemned by a Judge whom I cannot call unjust without having any knowledge of my crime What replyed the Princess wilt thou still for a conclusion of thy perfidiousness deride her whom thou hast so unworthily abandoned and art thou not ashamed by a base and unprofitable dissimulation to make as if thou wert ignorant of a crime which thou hast manifested thy self to the whole world and which thou hast endeavoured to conceal neither from my knowledge nor from the whole Roman Empire Answered the Prince if it be known to me as without doubt it ought to be if I have so publickly committed it aggravate by your last reproaches which you will heap upon me for it the remorse I ought to feel and if not to inform me of it seeing I am not ignorant yet to convince me before this fair Lady which hears us let us understand from your mouth the treason which I have committed against you Artemisa who heard this dialogue with wonderful attention and suspense and did favour Coriolanus as much out of the esteem and amity which his presence might cause in all those which saw him as for the advantageous relation she had heard made of him a thousand times by her Alexander at this last discourse turning her self towards Cleopatra Sister said she to her this Prince demands so small a matter that if he were yet more criminal than you represent him you could not refuse it him and whether he makes himself ignorant or is so really you will do him but little favour when you shall set before his eyes the offence he hath committed against you Ah Sister replyed Cleopatra though this man little deserves any satisfaction how small soever and though you oblige me to a thing to me painful and unprofitable when you desire that I should inform him of that which he himself hath discovered to the whole world yet I will do it to please you and I would willingly make him blush if it be possible at the last reproaches I owe to his unworthiness The Princess was about to proceed and Coriolanus hearkning to her with all the confidence his innocence could give him expected from the end of this conversation either his death or his justification when she was interrupted by a great noise which obliged the Princesses to arise affrighted from the place where they were Their fear was not without reason and they were hardly got up upon their feet but they saw themselves set upon by ten or twelve horsemen which were in search of them who having left a party of their Companions engaged in Combat against them from whom the Princesses might hope for succour had run over part of the wood to find them out They had no sooner discovered them but that he which marched in the head of them cryed out with joy to his Companions See here they are and with these words having caused them to be environed on all sides he had no sooner cast his eyes a little nearer upon them but that he knew not only Cleopatra whom he fought for but the Princess Artemisa likewise He appeared astonished at this sight and recovering his speech after some moments of silence Ah my friends said he how happy are we to day Behold the Princess Artemisa she must accompany her whom we seek and our fortune will be accomplished He had scarcely uttered these words but four or five of his Companions alighted and whilst those which remained on horseback stopped the passage to hinder the flight of the two Princesses they advanced towards them to take them Coriolanus who since the moment that he had been interrupted had beheld their action without being astonished no sooner saw these enemies approach Cleopatra and Artemisa but he put himself before them and drawing his sword which at that time was all his arms he Presented himself in their defence The number of his enemies and the advantage they had over him of horse and arms was not capable to daunt him but only casting a look upon Cleopatra Madam said he to her this accident hinders my justification but the death I go to suffer for you without regret will possibly justifie me in part He had not ended these few words but that one of these Barbarians had already seized upon the daughter of Anthony but his boldness was fatal to him and the valiant King of the Moors giving him a blow with his sword upon the arm which he had advanced separated it from his body and put him into a condition to do no more outrage to that he loved After this blow with an admirable readiness he fell upon another who held the Princess of Armenia and finding free passage for the point of his sword whither he directed it he thrust into the hilts They which continued on horseback having seen the sudden fall of their companions advanced to revenge them and two amongst them spurring on their horses upon the valiantest Defender of the two Princesses had overthrown him with their shock if he had not been sheltered by a tree against which he threw himself from the foot whereof singling out one of the Barbarians in his passage he reached him with the point of his sword where his Curiasse was defective with so much success that he pierced him to the heart and made the Barbarian fall down dead to the ground From this place Coriolanus by his admirable valour might have defended his life but he heard the cries of the Princesses and seeing them between the arms of divers men he neglected his own safety to run to their defence Mars the God of War himself could not have performed actions like to those of this great Prince and his despair redoubling his forces made him pass amongst the Barbarians for a Daemon of valour or a whirle-wind which mingling it self amongst them with unconceivable fury presented death unto them on all sides where they would assail him O how might then incensed Cleopatra have found in these miraculous actions if she had the liberty of taking notice of them great occasions to be appeased and how well might she have judged that with so
depredations in my soul 't was impossible for me to dispose my self to it and to deny Ericia the permission to see me which she desired on his behalf I saw him not without trouble and emotion I saw him as he appeared to me in my dream which came incessantly into my remembrance and I saw him in a condition capable to overthrow all the resentments that I had mustered up against him in my spirit He spake to me as I thought with a great deal less assurance than before and I believed that every time I spake to him I discovered some part of my own disorder I will not amuse you with the particularities of all our discourse which proceeded no farther yet than to things indifferent or at least very distant from those thoughts which took up the most room in our Spirits we talked concerning the incommodities and miseries of our shipwrack what hopes we had of our safety from Heaven and what resolution we ought to take to die couragiously if we received no succour before the little provision we had was spent and when we were upon this Subject I plainly perceived that the fair Unknown expressed more resentment for the danger which threatned me than for his own The more he proceeded in his discourse the more he spake to me with an assured countenance his words were alwaies accompanied with sighs and his looks which were sometimes fixed upon my face lost all their confidence when I looked upon him Though I had no design to engage my self to this Unknown person who probably was not of a Birth proportionable to mine and with whom in the evident danger we were I could not contract any friendship without the imputation of folly yet I confess my heart having made him way it was with some joy that I observed this alteration in his spirit and having been afraid till then that besides the disproportion of his birth he had but little disposition to love me I could not begin to dissipate that fear without some satisfaction I had a great desire to be informed by him of his Name his Country and Extraction but then I met with great difficulties and I no sooner opened my mouth to ask him about the business but it was stopped with the fear I had to understand something that might dsplease me He was not forward of himself to declare himself and I durst not venture to desire any fuller intelligence of him for fear of finding something in his extraction that might make me condemn the thoughts I had for him This fear really hindred me from expressing my curiosity and alwaies when this desire urged me this fear expelled it so that I had not the confidence so much as to enquire of Ericia to whom he might have discovered himself more familiarly than to me Divers daies passed in this manner I not daring to inform my self any farther and in the interim I found so many amiable parts in this Unknown or rather so many parts capable of surprizing the hearts and souls of persons less apt to receive the impressions of Love that neither the difference that I believed to be between our conditions nor the uncertainty of being beloved by him nor the apprehension of an approaching death wherewith we were so evidently threatned could hinder me fair Princesses I speak it with some confusion could hinder me I say from loving him It must needs be that this affection was decreed from above seeing it received its original by such extraordinary wayes and in a condition when according to all probability our Spirits should have been incapable of its impressions but in conclusion whether it were out of Sympathy which ordinarily produces such effects or by destiny which acted conformably to my dream in this adventure I began to love this Unknown to the prejudice of mine own interests and all the resistance I could make was not strong enough to defend the entrance of my heart I fear Ladies that you have not indulgence enough to pardon this weakness in me and that you have reason to find it a thing very much to be condemned in a Kings Daughter to have so hastily engaged her inclinations to a man of whom she had no knowledge but the good opinion she had conceived of his person one that she had never seen but a few dayes befoee and to whom she was not beholding for any service or obligation and truely I will not excuse it either by the extraordinary merit of the Unknown or by any of those reasons which are wont to be alledged in a justification of this nature but I will impute it only to the force of my destinie which as you will judge by the sequel of my discourse acted extraordinarily in this engagement of my soul 'T is true I began to love this fair Unknown whatsoever endeavours I used to the contrary but I conserved command enough over this growing affection to frame a very strong resolution never to make the least discovery of it till I knew that his condition was such that without any blame I might hope one day to receive him for my Husband if the Gods were pleased to prolong our daies by those succours which were necessary for us to get out of this little desart Island where in all likelihood we could hope for nothing but death and if it were my misfortune not to find him such as I might desire to suffer death rather than ever to declare to him my affection in which without eclipsing my honour and incurring reproach I could not rationally expect any good success This was my resolution and I found my self capable of putting it in execution a great deal more than I was to resist this passion which had assailed me with so much impetuosity and from this moment I began to curb my looks and to lay a restraint upon all things that might give the Unknown any intelligence of the advantage he had gotten upon my Spirit I entertained him as seldom as in civility I could and he observing that I retracted somewhat of that which I permitted him at first became a great deal sadder than ordinary and favoured my design himself more than I would have wished in seeking solitude in the most retired places of our little Island I confess for all that I was troubled at it and though I did all that I could possibly to avoid him yet my desire was that my distance only might separate us one from another without his contributing any thing on his part and I was well pleased thai he should look after me though I was sometimes troubled to meet him Yet the complacency I had with my affection made me suspect that it was not out of aversion that he kept from me and that I had possibly wrought something upon his Spirit which rendred him more circumspect in avoiding the occasions of displeasing me but the uncertainty I was in very much troubled me and the condition of my Spirit being strangely changed I was as
the wrack began to renew his acquaintance with the Shoar and Walls of Alexandria and beheld them with astonishment from thence turning his Eyes upon the Stranger 's Face he perceiv'd her change colour and understanding some Sighs which the words of Tyridates had forc'd from her Breast but striving to recover her temper she intreated Tyridates to instruct her further It is Cornelius Gallus said he that now commands Alexandria together with all Aegypt for the Emperour Augustus who gave him this Government after the deplorable death of the unfortunate Anthony and the great Queen Cleopatra who in this unhappy City about nine years since lost both life and Empire but sure you must know this Story for it is not likely the Earth hath any part which the fame of that fatal quarrel that decided the World's command has not visited I have heard of it replyed the Stranger with a faint voice but by the Discourse you have made me I see my self reduc'd to make use of your bounty and accept of the retreat which you proffer Let us go then said she offering him her hand when you please and the dangers I have newly scap'd among Treacherous men cannot hurt the Confidence my opinion hath of your Vertue At these words she began to set forward and on either side staying her Arm on him and the Man that was preserv'd with her she overcame that short way not without much trouble caus'd by her former weariness together with the coldness and weight of her wet Apparel The House whither Tyridates conducted her and where he then made his own abode was seated amongst divers points of a Rock which over-look'd one side of it on that quarter where the High-way lay it was conceal'd from the Eye by a Wood mingled with Rocks but on that side which regarded the Sea they might have a full free view from the Windows as far as the sight would reach The fair Lady with her Retinue was no sooner arriv'd there but Tyridates having given Command to some Servants speedily to make a well furnish'd Chamber fit to receive them led them thither and there respectively took his leave that they might freely enjoy the privacy of laying off their Robes They went to bed the Mistress commanding her Servant to lie with her being a priviledge she had often granted her in their former Travels Tyridates chang'd Cloaths and sent a Servant with a dry Sute to the Stranger whose countenance gave him a good Character and spake his Age about Fifty years After they had all bestow'd some hours upon repose Dinner was serv'd up to the Ladies in their Bed and Tyridates having din'd in another Chamber with his unknown Guest desired him to ask the Ladies at what hours he might visit them and not be importunate the fair Stranger having sent her answer that she was ready to receive him he entred the Chamber where she treated him with much civility she was then so well recovered that all the Beauty which pain and fear had put to flight was come back again to its usual lustre which Tyridates took some time to admire for though his heart was captive to another yet it could not hinder him from giving her the Palm from all that ever his Eye acknowledged fair The Lady had no less satisfaction from his brave looks and this mutual esteem gave to each an almost equal desire of a further discovery The Respect which the Lady's Face had imprinted in Tyridates would not suffer him to own his Curiosity but she was so hardy to profess hers and after she had invited him to a Seat near her bed and beheld him with a more pleasing Aspect than she had yet exprest I should be very ungrateful said she if I had any design to hide my condition from a Person to whom I am indebted for my life and though there be many Reasons weighty enough to disswade the discovery of my Name Birth and Fortunes in a Country that has deserv'd to be suspected yet I should easily consent to trust the secret of my life to the Remembrance of what I owe you and the opinion I have of your Vertue if my desire to know you better did not want some satisfaction Pardon this Curiosity to my Sex and apprehension and think it not strange that I am willing to understand his Name and Condition whose Face and Behaviour have already spoke so much to his advantage If you do not find cause to suspect me deny not my desire and in exchange I shall give you the Relation of divers passages which with the confidence I repose in you may be judged important Tyridates took some moments to reply to these words but a while after lifting his eyes from the Earth and fixing them upon the Face of his fair Guest You desire that of me said he which can never be paid for with a less price than what you offer and I should be very hardly drawn to reveal the the secret of my life to any that could challenge less respect and obedience than your self it were frivolous to conceal that to the confession of my Name is fasten'd the manifest danger of my life for that is faln to so low a value in my consideration that it cannot oblige me to hide it from you but if I give this relation faithfully I must disclose things which were never yet declared to any and which I was resolved to continue secret so long as my brest could hold them yet I shall forget all these considerations and arm'd with the hope of your promis'd exchange trie to subdue all the difficulties that withstand my obedience Instead of rebating these words enflamed the Lady's desire yet she reserved so much discretion to tell him that she should be sorry to importune the recital of so weighty a secret But Tyridates reply'd he had already clear'd all the obstacles that resisted his inclination to obey her and having kept silence some moments to prepare attention he began his Story in this manner The History of TYRIDATES THE Discourse I am now begin is nought else but a Web of Miseries interwoven with a few memorable Events it would afflict your Patience if I did not resolve to abridge it and slightly touching the rest only enlarge my self upon those Adventures that are most important My name is Tyridates I am of the illustrious bloud of the Arsacides Son of Orodes King of the Parthians under whom the Roman Power receiv'd so great a shock by the lose of Crassus and his Army and Brother to the cruel Phraates who now possesseth that great Empire which our Ancestors have commanded since the grand Arsaces founded that proud Monarchy of whom we are descended from Father to Son in a direct masculine line At the knowledge of Tyridates his quality his fair Guest regarded him with a graceful eie and interrupting the beginning of his Discourse I took my conjecture said she from many signs I observ'd that your birth was not common
and am well pleas'd to find my opinion not erroneous and lest you should believe her a mean Person that hath engaged so great a Prince to this long Narration I shall let you know before I give a more ample Relation of my life that I was born a Princess and am lawful Queen to one of the most puissant and Rich Empires of the world At these words Tyridates rose from his Chair and making an obeisance as low as the verge of her Robe demanded pardon for the faults his Ignorance had committed the fair Queen made him the same excuses and when they had allow'd some time for this Discourse Tyridates being return'd by the Queens intreaty to his Seat thus pursu'd his Story I was born under an unfortunate Planet and those which consulted the Stars at my Nativity did all find me menaced by most malicious influences especially the Mathematician Thrasillus who before his Youth had done blooming had acquir'd a great reputation in that Science and does at this day pass for one of the Worlds living Wonders he saw me in Armenia which I visited in one of my unfortunate Voyages after he had perused some lines in my Hand and Face and been inform'd of the day and hour of my Birth he foretold my Miseries should not end but with my Life that neither should long continue that I was threatned with a Death which should be neither Violent nor Natural but participating something of both In my first Childhood I was nourished in the King my Fathers Court with a great number of Brothers of which I was the youngest Pacorus and Phraates being 16 or 18 years elder than I. I was not 8 years old when my Brothers the Princes Pacorus and Labienus broke into the Territories of Asia that obeyed the Roman People defeated Saxa and swel'd with their lucky success ravaged Cilicia with a part of Syria it may be you have heard of the progress they have made in so short a time But the end was much different for the following year they were defeated and unluckily slain by the Roman Army commanded by Ventidius Lievtenant to Antonius After the death of Pacorus the Prince Phraates my Brother not much short of his Age being already married succeeded to the Helm of the Parthian affairs for the King our Father beginning to stoop under his years desired the Comforts of a Calm Age and to be releas'd of the Troubles which his Youth had sustain'd At my tenth year the King sent me to a little City upon our Frontier where usually the Parthian Royal Infants were educated and there the Prince Pacorus had learn'd part of his Exercises I took some pains at mine with a success fruitful enough to content my Tutors and after I had there imployed about four years time and began to think of being called home to my Fathers Court I understood it had been lately dyed with bloud and that bloud Royal newly drawn from my poor murthered Brothers this Act hath been too well known to all the world for the honour of Arsacides whose name to all ages will stand blotted with eternal Obloquy the cruel and ambitious Phraates unworthy of the Race and Memory of Arsaces desirous to make sure of that Authority which he feared his Brothers might one day find means to disturb caused them to be barbarously slain and the aged King our Father for making his grief appear in his just complaints and declaiming against his detestable Inhumanity in some terms that displeas'd provoked him to compleat the Horror of this Age and the Infamy of Royal Dignity by the addition of Parricide thus punishing no other Crime in his murder'd Father than the giving life to that Cut-throat of him and all his Off-spring I had shar'd the same Fate with my Brethren if he that was dispatch'd with the bloudy Commission to the City where I was had not been touched with the sense of vertue and a respect due to the Extraction of Kings In stead of executing Phraates command he sav'd me from his Cruelty and having inform'd me in few words of my Brother 's deplorable Murther for that of the King my Father was not yet perpetrated with the charge he had given him But Arsanes said he will sooner choose a thousand ways to perish than consent to dip his hands in his Masters Bloud let us save our selves Young Prince and evade the dire design of that savage Monster that would destroy us I intirely resigned my self up to his conduct and being followed by my Governour with five or six Servants that were willing to run my Fortune I got to Horse and though I had scarce attained to 14 years I exposed my self to the hardship of a painful Journey uncertain to save a life which I never yet could own with comfort Thus I first grew miserable and began at an early age to inure my self to Banishment and thus I have learn'd to hope no better than to finish my disgrace and my dayes together Arsanes first conducted me to the Court of Armenia where the King keeping no very friendly correspondence with Phraates and not willing in his behalf to violate the right of Nations received me into his protection In that Court I enjoyed some Tranquility Besides what the King allowed me Arsanes had brought a quantity of Jewels valued at about a thousand Talents which the King my Father to whom he disclos'd the design he had to save me had given him at his departure but Fortune soon shew'd how much my repose displeased her by the Calamities that befell the good King that had given me shelter who most unfortunately fell with all his Family into the hands of Antony her Enemy and was led bound to Queen Cleopatra who some time after with most barbarous Inhumanity caus'd his head to be struck off This Disaster which doubtless you have heard being important enough to spread over the whole Earth sent me to seek another Sanctuary which Arsanes would needs have to be the Court of Media betwixt whose King and the King Orodes there was some alliance there I found the retreat I desired and staid two or three years In that time there happened the ruine of Antony and Cleopatra the establishment of Augustus Caesar in the Roman Empire and many other Revolutions in which the whole World was concerned The cruel Phraates often sent to demand me of the Median King but could never dispose him to put me into his hands yet after he had made many Incursions upon his Territories he at last obtain'd his promise to protect me no longer At Praaspa the Capital City of Media I receiv'd his Orders to retire colour'd with divers excusive reasons which laid the blame upon Necessity From whence I went into Bithynia where I was received by the old King Pharnaces who for two years time treated me with Humanity enough but at last the baseness of his nature shew'd it self And indeed what faith could I hope for from a disloyal wretch that
Court was then more glorious than ever the King highly pleas'd with the success of his Affairs and having nothing else to subdue that might keep him from getting above the reach of Fortune but the spirit of Mariamne he sought all sorts of occasions to divertize her but if the Queen whose griefs were gone too deep to be sweetned with the vain shadow of pleasure took little notice of it I was not less incapable than she of tasting any jollity and my remembrance kept the deep graven Characters of my Love and her Anger so fresh in my Soul as all the splendor and pomp of Herod's Court wanted power to charm them I still saw her every day because she forbad it not but I scarce durst open my mouth in her presence scarce lift up my eyes to her Face instructing all my actions to inform how deeply the fear to displease her was engraven in my heart yet neither her looks nor her actions exprest any sign of aversion indeed she had a Soul too beautiful too sweet an inclination to loath a man who had only offended with Affection since she had much ado to return hatred where it was deserv'd by such bloody Injuries but believing she could not hear my Love plead farther without offending Virtue she avoided all occasions of Discourse as much as possible and though she still spake to me with much affability yet she never did so but in Company and so contriv'd it that we never exchang'd words without a witness though this behaviour of hers could not give me an entire satisfaction yet it left me no cause of complaint and the knowledge I had of her admirable Virtue having extinguisht with my hopes a part of those flames her Beauty had kindled I learn'd to think my Passion sufficiently rewarded by the esteem she had of me Indeed there was never any person loved with less interest and with Truth I may say I loved Mariamne for her self alone nor in all the process of my Passion did I ever consider Tyridates In this manner I liv'd a whole year and though my eyes did all the Messages of my Love yet she might easily read in all my Actions that it had lost no ardour and that my sufferings were therefore more cruel because they stood in awe of Respect At last my perseverance link'd with discretion which she knew by a thousand marks touched her with compassion I say compassion for Love could never be admitted And what she did since in my favour did all proceed from a motion so purely generous as the most perfect Virtue was engaged to commend it nor could it be censured by any without Injustice Her heart which was neither Stone nor Brass suffer'd it self to be softned with pity but it was never capable of an impression not conform'd to the severe Rules of her Duty she could not see a Prince languishing so many years a Prince dying for her but dying in a fashion so respectful and obliging and dying without complaining of the cause of his death or of death it self and not give some proofs that Nature made her sensible but she would rather have suffer'd him to die nay died her self than let in the least thought to her Soul of pitying him to the prejudice of her virtue I was so happy in the conduct of my Passion and had carried so much caution in all my Actions that Herod the most jealous and distrustful of all men had not yet the least suspition of me and this discretion was not undervalued by the Queen I was one day in her Company with the King Pheroras Salome and some other of the chief Courtiers in the Palace-garden where we had walked a long time and where I had done my best to evade the pursuits of Salome who had then been trying having too much courage to give me her naked Passion to make me spy it in her Actions and understand it by a thousand ambiguous Discourses when the King who had walked all this time with the Queen alone being oblig'd by some important Affairs to retire he call'd me to him and giving me the Queens hand which till then himself had held I leave you to Prince Tyridates saith he and I cannot put that which I tender more dearthan my self into better hands than his Try if you please to divert her from her deep Melancholy To these words I returned no other Answer but an action â—â—ll of reverence and respect and considering how my condition stood with the Queen I durst not adventure to take her hand till she tender'd it her self with a countenance that did put on a world of sweetness And thus I helped her to walk without daring either to open my mouth or to look upon her Her behaviour was a long time like mine but at last she broke silence and took this opportunity to declare what her heart had for me Tyridates said she if the King knew your intentions he would not put me into your hands with so much confidence and since they were known to me I ought to have hindred it I could easily have done so if my will had consented and probably I had too if I had not believ'd I might permit your converse and acquaint you with my thoughts without interessing what I owe to him or my self Know then Tyridates that the first notice I had of your malidy gave me some resentment against you but the progress of it compassion I have truly pitied the estate you are in and cannot without grief see a Prince to whom Heaven hath given such excellent qualities pass his life in a condition so miserable But in fine Tyridates what are your pretences and if you have judged me worthy of your esteem what can you hope for of me Think you I can license in your favour the least Act that may satisfie your Passion I say the least for I did believe you could harbour a thought to my Dishonour I would look upon you as a Monster as a mortal Enemy Do you think the little content I have with Herod and the remembrance of the wrongs he hath done me can turn my affections upon another because less worthy of my aversion Is it upon this thought you build your hopes if so Tyridates disabuse your self and believe that if Heaven hath made me miserable by submitting me to this cruel man I will never consent to merit my misfortunes by my actions though my forlorn hap hath married me to him it shall never match me to his Crimes I would not be so ungrateful to the goodness of Heaven that is ever sending Comfort to my Miseries nor so unworthy of your estimation For my sake Tyridates consider these Truths since they are represented with as much mildness as much affection as I can keep for you with Reasons leave call up the greatness of your courage to give a brave assault upon your self and propose this ruinous passion to your thoughts as an Enemy you ought to fear as an
my misfortunes and still persecute the Asmonean memory by the shame thou preparest for the last of its Illustrious bloud which thou hast spilt so brutishly Hope not I will assert my innocence no that account must only be rendred to him that knows it and by his goodness will defend it against the calumny of my Enemies believe all of the unfortunate Mariamne wherewith her envious detractors have inspir'd thee Thy cruelties have given me but too much cause to dispence with the justification which I owe to him whom Heaven in its anger gave me for a Husband but do not involve such persons in my misery as have no part in the crime thou imposest and if thy rage demands a victim to appease it seek no other than her whom thou hast taught to desire Death by rendring her Life calamitous The last words of the Queen transported Herod to the farthest degrees of fury and now more than believing the care she took of my justification while she disdained her own could spring from no other root but that of Love he concluded the proof clear enough to convince her and not able so far to over-rule this belief to dissemble his intention Yes perfidious Creature cryed he I will credit all that my eyes and ears and not the envious detractors have told me I will credit all that will convince thee of the most shamefull and blackest of all Treasons and in fine believe that of thee which thou wouldest I should do and disdainst to disavow The care thou takest of that ingratefull wretch which has so basely betrayed me to the prejudice of thy own safety shall suffice for his and thy Condemnation the ruin of that thou holdest so dear shall begin the punishment ofthy disloyalty and the choice of victims due to my just anger shall not be at thy disposal for before thou learnest what to resolve upon thy self prepare to know what I shall execute upon the person of thy Adulterer At these words he flung out of the Chamber with a Countenance so furious as those that met him in the passage could not behold him without trembling Alas how erroneous was the opinion he had of my fortune how remote was I from that Soveraign degree of happiness and how worthy my condition had been of envie had his suspitions been true In the mean time I was at my Lodging wholly ignorant of what had passed at the Palace and employed the rest of that day upon my ordinary diversions The hour of Supper being come I was serv'd after the usual manner and sitting at the Table with some friends of the Court which were come to visit me we had done part of our repast when calling for drink one of the Kings Cup-bearers that was accustomed to serve me presented the Cup with a troubled look and discompos'd countenance I observed this change in his Visage but made no reflection upon it only contented my self to ask him if he was not well and in the mean time taking the Cup from his hands I was carrying it to my mouth when Arsanes enter'd the Chamber and hastily running up to me just as I touched the Cup with my lips he rushed against my arm so rudely as he made me let fall the Cup and spill the Liquor part on the Table and part upon my Cloths this action of Arsanes was so little respectful that knowing his disposition I concluded he had not done it without some powerful motive but he stayed not till I should ask the reason and desirous to hide his intent from those were with me Sir said he I beseech you to pardon the offence which my rash haste made me commit and be pleased to vouchsafe me the liberty of your ear for one moment This said he drew me by the Arm with an action so earnest as I perceived he had some advice of importance to communicate I rose from the Table making a bad excuse to those that supp'd with me and followed Arsanes into my Cabinet which he first entred We were no sooner there but Sir said he nothing but a speedy flight can save your life the Gods in good time conducted me hither to spill the Poyson was prepar'd you but if we stay longer here it will not be possible with the same facility to put by those other dangers that menace you Read this Note which just now I received of the Queens chief Eunuch it is written with her own hand and if the Gods consent that we escape t is to her alone you owe your safety I was amazed at the words and actions of Arsanes and without reply to his Discourse I took the Letter where I found these words written with the hand of my Divine Queen Mariamne to Prince Tyridates THE peril to which I expose my self in writing to you cannot hinder an advice which I owe to your vertue and the proofs of your affection Tyridates if it be possible save your self and stay no longer in a place where Poyson and Sword are employed to give you Death I read over the Billet twice or thrice kiss'd those amiable Characters which that adorable hand had traced and after the perusal I was much to seek whether the cruelty of Herod that sought to destroy me after he had given me shelter or the goodness of Mariamne who took such noble pains to preserve my life with the peril of her own touch'd me deepest I knew not to which of these resentments my soul was to give preheminence but I know well the death that was threatned could not put on so rude a shape as that departure to which I saw my self condemn'd by the hand of Mariamne The grief I felt was too prodigious to be wrap'd in words I stood a long time silent and immoveable which Arsanes who had ballanced the estate of my Affairs disapproving after he had often urged me to resolve What would you I should do said I what Resolution can you wish me to take in so cruel a proposition think you this life which through your care I have miserably drag'd from Court to Court is so dear to divorce me from Mariamne do you believe this separation more easie than that of my Soul from my Body Shall I abandon her for ever whom I can scarce leave for a moment without dying And to avoid one single death shall I carry a thousand in my Brest through all those places where my pitiless Fortune shall lead me Ah! Let us die first continued I walking a great pace without listening to the Reasons Arsanes pressed for departure let us die a ready death since a slow one is much more sensible leave the Body cold and pale in that place which the Soul cannot abandon and since we must die one way let us seek to die in the eyes of Mariamne and if that glory be refused at least give up that Spirit which neither was nor ever shall be but to her as near her as is possible I pronounc'd these words with an
me doth oblige me to declare my Innocence I protest unto thee Herod both before thy God and mine that I have no way deserved to offend thee in those employments thou gavest me for thy Service thou hast found it and possibly to thy own advantage that I neither spar'd my Blood nor my Life for the interest of thy State and for that which concerns thy Person I repeat my protestation that I never did thee any injury If that which seems amiable in they Eye hath appeared worthy of veneration and respect those sentiments to which thou canst only attribute my Crime cannot make thy complaint against me legitimate and I wish this very Temple which now serves to shrowd me from thy Malice may crush me with its own ruines if in the most culpable of all my thoughts there was any mixture of what might be capable to wrong thee Nor do I assert this truth with design to disarm thy fury or avoid the death thou threatnest I cannot fear basely nay could I now be shown any occasion to perish nobly thou shouldst quickly see how low I prize my life but I perceive that either thy own blind transport or the rage of mine and thy Enemies have made thee involve in my imposed crimes the purest and the most entire innocence that ever yet was injur'd Destroy him if thou wilt whose thoughts may have displeas'd thee though they were alwayes innocent enough to endure stripping but do not let fall thy rage upon Her that never understood them What I have represented may plant quiet as well in thy Family as thy breast and if thou wilt promise me at the foot of thy Altars and before the Ministers of thy God to make me the only mark of thy fury I will abandon this Asylum that defends my Head from thy rape and without further delay render it up into thy hands I had further enlarg'd my self if the enraged Herod would have given me a longer hearing without interruption He had endur'd the beginning of my Discourse with some patience or at least had suffered me to speak because the excess of choler that possess'd him had ty'd up his own Tongue But when he saw with what passion I endeavour'd to justifie Mariamne and then remembred that her goodness had taken the same care for me he let himself fall into a cruel re-doublement of his Jealousie and not able to dissemble the rage that remembrance inspir'd Barbarous Traytor cry'd he unworthy of the Protection I have given thee against those that knew thee better than my self and would justly have cut thee from the world through the experience of thy disloyal inclination dost thou hope to find that at the foot of our Altars against my just resentments which none but my Arm could have given thee against the pursuits of thy own Brother thinkest thou Heaven that abhors thy ingratitude can arm it self in thy defence against a King that hath but too well defended and received thee not onely into his Dominions but with a hospitable liberality into his House a favour thou hast unworthily abused Ah! no false Man do not hope Divine preservation for such Crimes as can neither be excus'd before God or Man nor think thy artificial words can pacifie an Anger armed but with too much Justice Thou shalt perish for the expiation of thy own ingratitude nor shall thy Counsel direct me what punishment to inflict on the complices of thy Treachery He would have said more and possibly in the end violated all right of priviledge to get me into his power if Sosius followed with a great Guard of Romans and Jews had not arrived at the Temple Gate This man was a Roman Senator that some dayes since came to Jerusalem to treat with Herod about certain Affairs concerning the Emperor Augustus And the same Sosius that with a Roman Army had formerly aided him in his War against Antigonus and contributed more than himself to the defeat and taking of that poor Prince Herod highly respected this man as well for his personal as his representative condition being the Emperors Ambassador Sosius had formerly known and fancying something in me worthy of his amity gladly consented to be my friend and at that time understanding the danger I was in he came to find Herod with intent to imploy all the Imperial Authority for my preservation and so successfully he laboured it that Herod as hot as his rage had made him was constrained to tame it at the name of Augustus of whose power and greatness he was a timerous Idolater Sosius urged that he ought to permit me to retire to the Emperor who had oft invited me to Rome and professed an interest in my preservation that his proceedings were but too violent against a Prince of my extraction that it was fit to consider what might follow his quarrel being grounded upon nought but weak suspition besides that he had learnt the wound of Alexas was not dangerous which I had given him in such a resistance as was allowed to all men Besides these he represented divers other considerations to which in the end he joyn'd the Emperors Authority protesting he should render an exact account of that Action and to this menace Herod that was a slave to the Roman fortune and greatness and without that prop knew it impossible to support his own rather rendred than to any other consideration At last therefore he consented I should go safely out of the Temple with all that was mine on condition I should make no stay in the City but quit it the same day and in six more depart the limits of his Realm pawning his word to Sosius who received it in the Emperors name that neither in the City nor upon the way there should be any trap laid for me This was our Capitulation and having paid my thanks to Sosius and the Priests for their kindness as well as my grief to abandon Mariamne would suffer me I quitted the Temple and soon after the City under the Conduct of Sosius and his Romans and they accompanied me without the Gates it was likewise permitted to the rest of my Train to repair to the place of my first nights lodging which was at a Town distant about a hundred furlongs from Hierusalem Thus I escaped Herod's fury but not the persecutions of my unfortunate Love the ills I had avoided were found scarce worth considering when compared with those this cruel parting procured me and though my resolution was thus imperfect thus far I had gone rather to suffer a thousand deaths than renounce Mariamne for ever for fear of one We were no sooner arriv'd at the place where we were to lodge but taking Arsanes aside My dear Arsanes said I You see that I have condescended to your reasons that urg'd my parting from the Temple and the City to avoid Herod and possibly the consideration of you was none of the feeblest arguments to win my consent to preserve a life which I can never
respect in every soul that saw it Cleopatra who had eyes as well as others to regard it finding her self deeply oblig'd to his noble offices and affection insensibly fell to tie on her own Chains and had already begun to engage her self when the Affairs of Aegypt received that memorable revolution of which you have doubtless heard and from that belief I shall abridge the recital as much as possible While Caesar entirely gave himself to his Love and endeavoured with all the proofs of it to gain Cleopatra's the wicked Ptolomee and his perfidious Counsellors nursed designs very different They had found in Caesar as they apprehended little acknowledgment for the service they had rendered him in the death of great Pompey and indeed that high rais'd Spirit that could neither approve villany nor esteem those that committed it had contemptuously treated all those that had dipp'd a hand in that black Treason besides Ptolomee saw with despite the Love he bare to his Sister and not without cause feared that he would favour and support her against against him in the Partage they were to make these considerations joined with the counsels which Pothinus Achillas Theodorus and the rest of their perfidious Companions were ever fomenting made him at last resolve to use Caesar as he had done Pompey and find a way to his ends by the death of him and Cleopatra Caesar had lodg'd none but his most considerable Persons in Alexandria and to satisfie the Citizens had left the Body of his Forces at the Isle of Farion which was so near the City that it might easily be seen from his Chamber window Ptolomee believed this occasion might favour the execution of his Plot and secretly causing his Army which was yet undisbanded to advance he made it approach to Alexandria and assur'd himself of all those in the City whom he knew at his Devotion his Design was ill contriv'd worse conducted and worst of all executed And it is to be thought the Gods that abhor Crimes forbad success to so loathed a Treachery and so blinded the Contrivers of his mischievous intention Caesar was in Cleopatra's Chamber when one came to advertise him that the whole City was in Arms that Pothinus and Achillas one of Pompey's Murderers were marching towards the Palace in the Head of a Troop with a design to kill him at a Feast he had made that day Caesar did not despise this advice but having rallied such of his with an admirable diligence as had time to range themselves about him he quitted the Palace and marched against his Conspirators with an assurance worthy of himself But before he left Cleopatra's Chamber Madam said he It is not I that seek the ruine of your Brother but Heaven who unwilling so wicked a man should longer Reign does this day present you the Crown of Egypt I go now to fight for you and my self and I promise with the Victory our common Vengeance Cleopatra had no time to reply because he instantly departed but her Eyes kept him company as far as possible and knowing he went to Combat for their common Interest she aided him with Vows to Heaven for his Success The Traytors perceiving they were discover'd resolv'd to fight it out couragiously and in effect disputed it very hotly yet the justice of his cause with his own admirable Valour gave Caesar the Victory Pothinus was killed upon the place with the greatest part of his Forces and Achillas with such as could follow him fled out of the City to Ptolomee whom the report of that ill success had made retire with his Army Caesar might safely have staid in Alexandria and enforc'd himself by Cleopatra's Faction which was none of the weakest but he rather chose to retire with his Troops to give Ptolomee Battel and hearing the Alexandrians of the contrary part endeavoured to cut off his Retreat by surprizing his Vessels he ran thither with that handful of men that followed him doing such deeds against them as in any other but Caesar would have been accounted Miracles Yet he there ran a greater danger than he had done before in all his former Battels For no longer able to make Head against the great number of his Enemies which grew every moment stronger by the coming up of fresh Reserves he threw himself from the Cliff into one of the Boats to gain the Isle but being discovered he was environ'd by his Enemies and pressed upon with such desperate fury as after he had received divers blows and Arrows upon his Arms he was constrain'd to throw himself into the water and swim that space between him and the Island not without excessive pain and peril At last he recover'd his Forces gave order for the Battel Shipped them and rowed towards Ptolomee's Army who conducted by his evil destiny advanced with full Sails to meet him The Battel prov'd very dubious and bloody but I shall forbear the particulars because I believe I have already repeated things of which no person can be ignorant It shall suffice to tell you that Caesar was always Caesar that the Egyptians were defeated with a mighty loss and their King by a just chastisement of Heaven being fallen into the Sea was drown'd by the weight of his Arms and not taken up till the next day where he was found Arm'd in a guilded Curass half buried in the Sand. After this Victory Caesar advanc'd toward the City and at the Gates found the fair Cleopatra with a part of the Citizens that begg'd Pardon for the others who through obedience to their Princes Authority had taken up Arms against him the Princess obtain'd all her desires and he entered the City and Pallace with her in a fashion wholly Pompous and triumphant Never was there seen so sudden an Execution nor so many troubles appeas'd in so short a time Ptolomee's evil Counsellors were all either perished with him or had sought their safety by flight The rest of the Egyptians willingly submitted to Caesar who told Cleopatra that for her sake he was sorry for her Brothers death but he knew so well how to represent the small cause she had to afflict her self for his loss as after she had given some tears to his memory which such an excellent nature as hers could not refuse him she accepted the comforts he profered The Funeral Honours she Celebrated with much Solemnity and the following day Caesar having conven'd the Egyptian Nobility in their presence put her in possession of the Realm and with an Universal Applause Crowned her with his own hands all the Egyptians by whom Cleopatra's Government was much more desir'd than Ptolomee's receiv'd her for their Queen with excessive contentment and render'd publick thanks to Caesar for his magnanimity and munificence But the the troubles that agitated the soul of Caesar were not quieted with those of Aegypt and in giving peace to that People he had not done so to his own spirit the eyes of the fair Queen still made war upon him
Diligence and having gained that Victory with the slaughter of 50000 of his Enemies and the loss of but fifty of his own Souldiers he was return'd to Rome where he had made three Triumphal Entries the fame of these great deeds pleasingly flatter'd the Soul of Cleopatra and she dismissed all her anxieties with a confidence that such a man could not be capable of infidelity In the mean time no longer able to hide the swelling fruit of her Womb and unwilling to contract the ill opinion of her Subjects she was constrain'd openly to declare the truth of her Marriage and instead of the shame and confusion her Fear suspected from that Discovery she found her Aegyptians possessed with new joy in the expectation of such a King from her Loins as might prove a perfect Copy of Caesar and Cleopatra The Queen was brought to Bed in Alexandria almost at the same that Caesar made his Entry into Rome of a Son not only worthy of his Father and Mother but of all that the most fruitful hope should conceive never did the light salute a thing so beautiful the Astrologers never knew a Birth so advantagious for this Royal Infant immediately became the admiration and delight of all that saw it but because his Childhood was but the spring to that lustre which hath since appeared in him with riper advantages I will not stay upon the beginnings of his Life because they are of less importance By a general consent he was call'd Caesario and we all hop'd that though there was little difference between his and his Fathers Name there would be yet less in their qualities and the greatness of their actions the Queen took a marvellous care of his Education and made the whole world to be searched for the most expert and knowing persons in all Sciences and Exercises wherein he was to be instructed when his Age permitted him and though I did but weakly merit that Honour and a better choice might have been made among the Aegyptians she was pleased to make me his Governour for my Father was too old for that employment and only desired it for my self In the mean time the Queen whatever consolation she tasted in the enjoyment of her Son was galled with bitter grief seeing there appear'd no proof of Caesars promise Not long after she understood he had given the last blow to that War by the defeat of Pompey's Sons that in Rome he had usurped the Soveraign Authority and forced a Master upon that proud City the imperious Mistris of so many Kings and so large a part of the Universe Then her hopes began to swell with the expectation of his Promise and Caesar by frequent Letters endeavour'd to confirm them excusing his absence from her delights with very specious Reasons which for a time appeased her but when she saw a whole year wasted and yet no haste made to accomplish his Vow she began to lose her patience and complain of his infidelity yet before she thought fit to make her resentments speak lowder she sent my Father Apollodorus to Caesar as well because he was the faithfullest of her Servants as that in his presence Caesar espoused her and might therefore better than any other reproach the violation of his word This Voyage of my Fathers proved ineffectual yet when Caesar saw him he hugg'd him in his Arms entertain'd him nobly gave him rich Presents and often mentioned the Queen with dear resentments of affection but could afford him no other reasons for his delay than what he had written to Cleopatra He protested that so soon as he had felt himself sit sure upon his Imperial Throne he would accomplish his promise but in that condition while his Monarchy was yet infant feeble and staggering he found it not safe to enterprize any thing against the consent of the People and Senate whom he had already exasperated with imposing his Yoke Cleopatra was contented for a time to flatter her self with the likelihood of these excuses but in fine after her patience had learned another Lesson as tedious as the first she broke into reproaches against him gave her self up to the sway of a just passion and probably was hatching thoughts to make it known in some deadly blow when news came that Heaven had revenged her and that her faithless Caesar was murdered in the Senate-house with twenty three wounds by those that he thought his dearest friends This report fell like a Clap of Thunder upon her spirit and all her Choler could not disswade her from receiving it at first as the greatest blow that Heaven and Fortune could contribute to her overthrow She solemniz'd this loss with a deluge of tears and such actions as could best express most passion and would possibly have abandoned her self to grief if the last marks of Coesar's ingratitude had not brought her comfort for she learn'd that a little before his death he had adopted his Nephew Octavius who is now the great Augustus Caesar for his Son declar'd him his Heir and oblig'd him to take his Name and Dignity without making the least mention of his Son Caesario or Cleopatra This last assurance the Queen received of her Husbands ingrateful disesteem kindled a despite that dry'd up all her tears and shewed her cause to rejoyce in the same death she so lately bewailed however she ceas'd to bemoan his loss in publick though she rendered to Caesar's memory the Funeral Honours which she believed due as to her lawful Husband but her resentments against the Father descended not to the Son for she nourished the little Caesario with as dear indulgence as if his Father had been still faithful and remembring that perjur'd as he was he had been the greatest of all men in his face she beheld the Image of his mighty Sire as another dawning of her Comfort To him her resolutions intended the Crown of Aegypt and though the Aegyptians perceiving the Ptolomean Race was almost extinct did oft petition her to make choice of another Husband she alwaies denied their entreaties and at last so won upon them by her mild and prudent Government as they were content to approve her Design of passing the rest of her Life in Widowhood Alas how happy had the poor Queen been had she held her resolution she had avoided those famous misfortunes that made so much noise in the World and her miseries with the lamentable Catastrophe of her Life had not forc'd tears from her rudest Enemies Sir I suppose you know that a few years after Julius Caesar's death the unfortunate Antony having shar'd the Empire of the world with young Caesar since called Augustus and with him reveng'd the murder of their Predecessor by the defeat of the Conspirators and by that bloody Triumvirat which produc'd such fatal effects in Rome passing through Cilicia to make war upon the Partbians he summon'd Cleopatra to appear before him and because the Queen was too weak to resist the puissance of that great Master of half
had been of his Party and was then a Companion of his Fortune at the end of their repast regarding him with a visage that breathed nought but Death Petreius said he 't is fit we dye to preserve our liberty for if we stay on earth but a few days we shall have no power left to put by the shame is prepared us I demand no other proof of thy affection but Death from thy hands and as my Fortune is now stated I cannot receive a greater from thy Friendship Here stab this breast pursu'd he presenting his naked bosom pierce this heart which the Arms of our Enemies have unluckily spared and make a KING fall by thy friendly hand whose courage scorned to bow under the fortune of a puissant Enemy He mingled these words with some others so pressing that Petreius could not refuse the fatal courtesie but without farther delay ran him through with his own sword the King not so much as turning his eye aside nor letting fall the least action unbecomming the grandeur of his spirit Petreius when he had seen him breath his last turned the same point against his own breast and throwing himself upon it with all his force fell dead at his feet thus were the festival Ornaments discoloured with Royal blood and thus did this great King catch up the shield of of death to defend himself from ignominy A few days after the victorious Caesar rendered himself Master of both the Realms and with them of the Queen his spouses liberty whom he designed for one of the principal Ornaments of his Triumph she was gone some months with child when the King her Husband lost his life and was brought to bed of the Prince my Master two days after her arrival at Rome whither Caesar sent her two months before he made his triumphal entry Thus was my Prince begotten free and the Son of a King but born a slave and between his Conception and Birth happen'd that deplorable revolution of his Fortune Some days after his Birth he was carried along as one of the most remarkable Ornaments of Caesar's Triumph happy in his misfortune that as yet he understood not the shame they made him suffer being then of an age incapable of resenting the loss of his Crowns his brave Father or the death of the Queen his Mother who resigned her life a few days after she had disclosed the little Heir of her misfortunes to the World But there wanted not persons that took care of his bringing up for the great Caesar from whom the disastrous fate of his Parents had drawn some compassion caus'd him to be brought up at Rome in the garb of a Kings Son and bestowed such a particular care upon him that scarce any of his neerest kindred in that high swoln prosperity was trained to a braver Education I will yet say further and believe I shall not injure truth in affirming that the losses of his estate were in part repaired by the gallant Education he receiv'd among the Romans wherein that tender age escaping the impression of the Affrican customs and the Company of such persons which falling far short of the Romans politeness might have given him a taste of the Barbarian his excellent nature contributed such marvellous assistance to the care of those that were ordained to form him that before his age could promise it he became as accomplished in all requisites of a Prince as wish could fancy and rarely skil'd in every undertaking to which his vertuous inclination carried him In his earliest Infancy Caesar would often cause him to be brought into his presence and observing that someehing Majestick and Heroical was already risen with that morning of his excellent beauty he let him get ground in his affections to that degree as one day he broke into an earnest protestation that if the little Juba for at his birth they gave him his Father's name seconded those hopes he had already begun he would restore him the Crowns of his Ancestors but he took special care to mould him to the Roman fashion and deface all such unpolished manners as his inclinations might possibly borrow from his Affrican blood Besides to fortifie the friendship he would have him bear to the Republick he gave him a Roman name and because he was brought up in the Martian Family illustrious among the Patricians and derived from the famous Coriolanus whose valour survived him in so glorious a reputation he would have the young Prince called by his name that the appellation of Juba which sounded harsh and barbarous to a Roman ear might be covered with that of Coriolanus In all likelyhood the affection and bounty of that great Dictator would not here have stopped and doubtless the Prince had gathered the fruits of those promises if Death had not robbed him of that Protector or rather that Father before he attained to his fourth year an age that hardly rendered him capable to dream of those hopes were given him That man the greatest that ever liv'd was murder'd in the Senate-house by the ingrateful conspiracy of those that his own generosity and nobleness had rais'd from their knees all the world knew it self interessed in the loss of him who had made himself Master of it with his Sword yet held it in so gentle a subjection After Caesar's death the little Coriolanus for so was always called wanted no protection for the Senate succeeding Caesar in his Patronage took up that care of him which his death had let fall and trained him up with the Sons of divers Kings that were Friends and Alleys to Rome without making the least difference in their Expence or Equipage though their Fathers had still their Crowns in possession Divers children of noble Exteaction and an equal age descended from the families of Roman Knights were placed in his Service of which number I was appointed one and as I was always brought up near his person so his affection did me the honour to take me nearest to his heart During those cruel and dismal disorders of my Country that bloody Civil War which revenge kindled for Caesars murder the prodigious effects of that horrible Triumvirat which overflowed Rome with the blood of her noblest Citizens and that famous contest betwixt Antony and Octavius Coesar the young Prince grew up with a success miraculous Never did Eye behold a youth of those years handle his Arms with so great a grace or perform any Bodily Exercise his Tutors taught him with a dexterity comparable to his his propension led him with so much advantage to the study of Sciences as he became so learnedly vers'd in Astrology and Philosophy so critically skilled in all kind of History as the World could scarce afford another to match him and for Eloquence that famous Orator that lost his life in the heat of the Triumvirat by the cruel command of Antony could hardly challenge preheminence nor had he qualities disproportioned to these rare endowments of body and mind so that
my Son since I have nothing more pretious to bestow upon thee Cleomedon putting one knee to the ground took the Kings hand and kissed it but he had not the power to bring forth one single word and the King after a few other short breathed Discourses wherein among other things he commended Tiribasus to him as a man very capable of State-employment his Spirits wasted themselves by degrees to that low Ebb as in fine he lost his speech and within an hour after his Life Pardon me Madam pursu'd Candace with a face cover'd with tears if I cannot pass this Tragick part of my story without paying this watry tribute demanded by Nature and reason to the memory of so sad a loss Madam I lost a Father to whom I was very dear and a Father whose vertues merited the esteem and love of all that knew him he remain'd cold and pale in Caesario's arms and that Prince whose former affection to Hidaspes as his Protector his Benefactor and the Father of Candace was passionately increas'd by his last scene of kindness after his death appear'd in a condition little differing from his as if one Soul had animated both their Bodies and the same time forsook and unfurnished her double mansion from this profound astonishment he succeeded to sighs and then by degrees found a tongue of his griefs which delivered themselves in such doleful accents as wrought as much pity from the company as the loss of their King that caus'd them All the credit that his Governour Eteocles had with him was then grown very necessary and after he had suffer'd him to wast that whole night in Sighs Tears and Plaints whereof I suppose you willing to bate me the recital he could find no other way to reduce him to himself than by presenting me to his memory that proved the strongest bridle to retire the overflowing of his woes and began to lead his thoughts aside from the loss to a reflection upon the Legacy the day following he grew more flexible to those reasons that assaulted his melancholly and at last knocking off the Manacles of his grief and restoring his courage to a perfect liberty which indeed as the general interest of Aethiopia was then tempered necessity enjoyned after he had caus'd the Kings body to be embalmed with an intent to lay him at Meroe with the Ashes of his Ancestors and remembring the Enemy was near by a general consent he took the command of the Army with a solemn Oath in presence of all the Officers that he would never turn his back upon Nubia till he had bath'd his revenge of their Kings death in whole Rivers of the Rebels blood This promise was fortunately followed by effect and the next day having taken a general Muster of his Army and finding it still consisted of more than 10000 Horse and 35000 Foot he put himself in the head of it and marched directly to Tenupsis whither the Enemies Army was newly retir'd It yet amounted to more than 50000 Combatants and their General Evander who had already been advertis'd of the Kings Death with which he fed the fairest hopes of his success and disdaining to fear a Man whose unpractised youth he condâ—ded incapable to manage so great a Command marched up to him with a confidence full of pride and offered him battel Caesario accepted this defiance with a fierce joy and actively appeared at the heal of his Troops in an Armour whose deep black represented the sadness of his Soâ—l though now half turned into a noble anger he led them on the Combat with such a daring and undaunted resolution animated the coldest courages with Examples so brave and beautiful and spy'd them out advantages by such a prudent and quick-sighted conduct as the victory long disputed by hot arguments on both sides listed her â—â— on our party but she came in Scarlet for the greedy fury both of General and Souldier still hunting for blood to quench the thirst of the revenge for the Kings death did that dâ— sacrifice to his Ghost above 40000 Nubians and compell'd the rest that escap'd the slaughter to seek their safety within the walls of Tenupsis which open'd its gates to favoâ—â— their retreat Three days after the victorious Cleomedon though he had taken some slight wounds â—â— the Battel sate down with his Army before it but because the City was strongly fortifiâ— and now defended by above 10000 Men it held his whole Army play for at least the Months time during which Evander who disdained to shut himself up within the walls of a Town dexterously posting in person from place to place where he had his greatest resources was grown as strong in number as before and had once more received a condition to spin on the War to a tedious length At last the besieged City was carried by Storm and all Cleomedon's authority could not hinder the Aethiopians from cutting the greatest part of the Souldiers that defended it in pieces and leaving very cruel marks of their vengeance in that desolate City After Tenupsis Cleomedon besieged it and with less pain took in divers other Cities that were seated upon the banks of Nilus and when he had totally ranged that Country under his obedience he advanced to meet Evander who once more desirous to try his Fortune came up the third time to give him battel Caesario proved again victorious and not to amplifie my story with needless circumstances or over-lade this relation with things that pass my experience in one years time which he spent in recovering Nubia he defeated the Enemies in five signal Battels took ten or twelve of their Cities by force reduc'd all the rest by the terrour of his Arms and for a conclusion of his glorious exploit accepting a defiance from Evander now brought to the brink of his last extremity that challenged him to a single Combat he fought with him in view of both Armies bravely slew him upon the spot and by his death cut up the last root of that Rebellion I have suffered my contracted recital to go down the stream of Cleomedon's actions without touching some other things that pass'd in the interim of much greater concernment to my self than any I have yet mentioned but I trac'd these passages as far as they would reach that I might not distract the method of my story and now I shall step back to some accidents that befel my self whereof the recital will doubtless be less offensive than my late discourse of War which yet I drew within as narrow a compass as my skill would give leave Think it not possible Madam reply'd the Princess Elisa that I can tast any trouble in your narration you tell your story so gracefully and I already feel my self so deeply interessed both in what regards your own person and concerns the adventures of a Prince so accomplished as Caesario as it is only a divertisment of this nature that has power to conclude a short truce betwixt my griefs
and I. The Gods grant reply'd Candace embracing her you may receive as happy a release of all your sorrows as my wish can contrive for my own misfortune In the mean time since you have relished some pleasure in the beginning of my story I hope the part untold will much improve it because it contains adventures of more importance and much more worthy of your attention HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece PART III. LIB II. ARGUMENT The politick practises of Tyribasus to play the double game of his Love and ambition He seizes the sinews of the Kingdom surprizes Meroe and secures Candace's person Caesario hastily advances with his thin Army to pluck the prey out of his hands defeats Antenor 's forces by the way and kills him Fights the gross body of Tyribasus Army with his handful of wounded men which is all cut off and himself after he had deeply hurt and unhors'd the Tyrant thrown to the ground among the dead The unhop'd intelligence of his miraculous escape stops the sourse of Candace 's tears for his loss by a secret combination he plots her liberty and the Tyrants ruine Surprizes the Pallace by night with 4000 Men and sends her down the Nilus to the City of Bassa She is taken in the way by the Pyrate Zenodorus Her strange delivery from the rage of his brutish lust by the successive assistance of Eteocles and Tyridates WHile Caesario reveng'd the King my Fathers death by spilling deluges of the Faithless Nubian's blood and by so many memorable victories was raising his renown to the highest sphere of Glory I staid at Meroe under the guard of Tyribasus and was long kept ignorant of my deplorable loss 't is true an extraordinary sadness that sat heavy upon my heart might well have hinted something to my fears but I still imputed all to the absence of what I lov'd and easily taught my self to believe that to be barred by so vast a distance from the company and comforts of a Father and a Lover was capable enough to wrap my Soul in the dull clouds of as deep a melancholly at first indeed I confess it was often intermitted by the frequent intelligence of their happy progress in the War nor could I receive young Caesar's letters or listen to the language of some that rung the report of his gallant actions through the City with a mean or trivial delight and yet that satisfaction was still subject to the checks of those continual fears that tendered his life and I never understood how bravely he had beat off the foregoing dangers without trembling at the thoughts of those that were were likely to follow At last necessity became my intelligencer of this fatal disaster and the arrival of the Kings body conducted with a solemn funeral pomp to Meroe left them no possibility to keep the mask any longer upon the face of truth Tyribasus whose authority allowed him the freest access to my person was he that first undertook to break the ice and acquaint me with it his recital of that lamentable Tragedy brought me to the saddest estate that any affliction of that nature was ever capable to reduce the weakest most womanish resistance besides the impressions of blood that still sink themselves very deep in a tender heart the memory of those particular indulgences and Caresses I receiv'd from the best Father in the world produc'd such doleful and almost deadly effects within me as begot a sad suspition in all those that came on purpose to bring me comfort that I would hardly be ever won to receive it complaints tears and sighs from which nothing was capable to divert me were the only company I was willing to keep and converse with for many whole dayes together and those that saw me assist at the Funeral obsequies of that great Prince with a face that gave colours of death law some reason for their fears that the Daughter would follow her Father too fast to the other world to charge the Court with a second mourning and yet I must avow that in my hottest fit of affliction I could not be insensible at a letter I receiv'd from Caesario since a sweeter Solace for my sorrows was wrap'd up in that papper than all other remedies were capable of giving it was put into my hands the next day after the Kings obsequies by a man of his whom he had commanded to stay the delivery till I had receiv'd the sad news from some other hand not willing that the first message of my misfortunes should come from him I read it so often over as my memory has kept the words ever since in the same order they were written and I think they were these or very little different Cleomedon to the Queen of Aethiopia MAdam the Gods have thought it fit to call away the King your Father from the society of men to shew them by your Example that even those persons that nearest approach their nature are not exempted from adversity and they permitted me not without the shame of surviving him to render you this feeble proof of the deep share I go in your affliction yet they are all my witnesses that if I had not endur'd my life for your sake I should scarce have suffer'd him to resign his Being from whom you had yours and dye alone without my attendance to the other world nor can I stay my thoughts upon the sad condition to which this deplorable news will bring you without relapsing into those woes that are little short of yours I dare not Madam dispute against the expence of some tears your piety will doubtless pay to so dear a loss which your interests here will not suffer me to come and wipe away before I have finished the sacrifice of that revenge I owe to my Masters Ghost and tam'd your disloyal people to an incapacity of raising new storms in the haven of your Government but my affection calls to your grief for a little moderation and alarms your High-born heart to arm it self in its own greatness for the encounter of these crosses that heaven prepar'd on purpose to try its Courage they are those that may raise you trophees upon fate it self who has only forc'd a misfortune to leap over some few years which at last you could never have avoided and they are only those if that consideration deserves the weighing that have power to appease the perturbations of a Spirit which must still be torn with mortal inquietudes so long as you are afflicted This letter did really sweeten my displeasures more than all the arguments of comfort could be rais'd by the whole company about me and since 't is but fit that I pass by those passionate and vain discourses which flow'd beyond all rule and measure from my head long grief I will refer them to the judgement of your excellent nature and only tell you that after I had render'd to the death and memory of my Father all that might
inferiour rank of mortals for the choice of a husband and though I were willing to lean to such low thoughts you know Tyribasus I could never justly act them since all the right I might have had in my own disposal was cut off by the Kings last will who nam'd the person at his death he had design'd to espouse me Tyribasus discovering much trouble at these words by the often changes of his colour When the King named you that husband said he by report of those that saw him he had lost the greatest part of his reason and I know you are too well advis'd to cast your eyes upon a man that is no better than a fugitive dispoil'd of goods friends revenue and all that should support him and one that could not have another Asylum in the whole world but what your Father gave him besides he is Caesars enemy to whom after the narrow escape of his pursuit by disguising his name and condition he will be no sooner known for what he is but he will draw the whole Roman Puissance upon himself and all those that support him his birth since we only take his own word for it is uncertain enough and suppose I grant him born of Caesar and Cleopatra I shall yet hold him inferior to the meanest Prince in the world if the issue of a lawful bed I was deeply incens'd at this rude language of Tyribasus in contempt of Caesario and had I let fall the reins of my resentment I had doubtless shown him the saucy and uncivil injurie he offered me at the perfect magnitude but I was fearful to exceed the decorum of modesty by patronizing what I lov'd with too much ardour and from that consideration not without using some violence to bind my spirit I was content to return him this answer The dying King declar'd no intention in Cleomedon's favour that the dimmest eye about him might not easily discover had been long designed in his perfect health and therefore it was rather an effect than a disease of his reason that made him publiquely avow that esteem at his death which had dwelt very long in his breast before his birth is such as he need not envy the highest extraction upon Earth if he be a fugitive despoil'd of goods and friends it is only the default of his fortune which yet he advantagiously repairs by his vertue and if Caesar still hunts his life we have power enough to oppose his persecution to which we are deeply obliged by the grandeur of his daily actions and the glorious victories he still stains for our service What Madam reply'd Tiribasus wholly transported is it then true that you prefer Cleomedon before so many considerable men among your Aethiopians that are a thousand time more capable to command them and more worthy to obey you than that stranger and where are those men reply'd I among the Aethiopians that are worthier to command than Caesario See Madam answer'd the audacious Tyribasus clapping his hand upon his breast Tiribasus alone not only by his vertue but all sorts of other advantages carries a better title than Caesario to every thing that may be call'd the reward of merit it is my love Madam and not my ambition that composes this language or if there be a little tincture of ambition in it it is only to possess Candace and not her Crown this passion that has so long been the Prisoner of my fear to displease you was never extinguished and if it once more adventures to break from its melancholly Cell and invade the light 't is because you have brought it to such extremities as it could no longer endure to be led in so short a chain while I thought it could not appear without the sin of offending you she never so much as help up her dejected head but now in avowing Cleomedon's you authorise her liberty and 't is from his fortune that he borrows her boldness if he be worthy to serve you I may challenge preheminence by the right of a thousand reasons known to the whole State and if the Aethiopians must submit to the dominion of one of us sure they will sooner chuse to obey one that was born in the bosom of their Country than put on the shameful yoak of him that is an alien He would doubtless have gone on in this peremptory language if grief and anger strained to their highest extream by his unparalleled rudeness had not provoked me thus to intercept him Insolent man said I darting a look at him compos'd of scorn and anger if my indulgence has fed thy pride so high to starve thy duty I will make thee know thou hast plaied the fool to abuse it and instead of making thy self a Soveraign to thy fellow-subjects thou shalt soon feel that thou art still my vassal I will never dispute reply'd Tyribasus the command you have over me but Cleomedon shall always find my pretences are neither inferior to his in power or merit I had certainly lost all thoughts of patience if after these audacious words he had stayed longer in my presence but willing to avoid the first bolts of my choler he withdrew himself without staying for an answer and left me liberty to converse with the anxious thoughts and digest the cholerick humour he had stirred within me I should find it a hard task to represent my self as my resentments had then render'd me and the agitations of grief and anger still kept so strong a pulse at my heart as made me that whole day incapable of any company Oh! how did I accuse the King my Fathers memory for lifting one of his Subjects to so prodigious a height as gave him commission to offend me with impunity what vain and airy inventions did my fancy frame to ruine the power of that man and stay the execution of his wicked inventions but alas which of these thoughts could lead me the way to a probability of prospering in such designs I then considered I was young a Maid and Queen to a People whose whole herd afforded not a Man that durst shock with Tyribasus puissance without the support and assistance of some faithful persons I found it impossible to shape any Engine or Enterprise against him nay had I encountred some loyalty among my own they would still have wanted strength to manage so haughty a design Only Cleomedon and he divided from me by the large Tract of Provinces betwixt us was the sole person upon whom I could fasten any rational hope of rescue for besides what the high reputation that his vertue his grand services and the King my Fathers last will had won him among the Aethiopians might promise me I expected all things from the greatness of his courage and I knew his proper interest would engage him to the conservation of what another would unjustly deprive him I resolved then to call him home from Nubia without considering how much his presence might still be necessary among those
to render my life still serviceable to your interests I would not stock it upon so desperate a cast in this unequal Combat whereto I am now marching without any hope of Victory and this incertainty might happily induce me to preserve it if something did noe prompt me with a probability in this attempt of tumbling Tyribasus from the top of his plundered honour Madam if I can sacrifice him to your just resentments and redeem you that pretious liberty and repose of which he has so barbarously bereaved you at the price of his blood and mine I will spill them both to a drop and perish without reluctance but if death cuts me off before I execute the Traitor pardon the failing to my weakness and let pity preserve some remembrance of him who could not part with his life upon terms of more happiness and glory than to die for the rights of his Royal Mistress The perusal of these words laid a greater weight of woe upon my Soul than ever yet it supported and though of late it had been argued with many anxious perplexities yet I now resented so cruel an encrease of my misery as rendered me incapable of company and comfort I spent that day in Tears and Sighs but the next that succeeded it was yet more dolefully employed since it brought me the accomplishment of all my fears in the sad news of Caesario's bloudy defeat with the loss of his whole Army all those that had made me the recital assured me he was seen fall dead from his Horse after he had left some impression of revenge upon his Rival in two dangerous wounds he had given him and done actions besides of so stupendious a nature that they seemed to hold as great a disproportion to Truth as those fictious tales of our ancient Heroes Madam you will easily judge how cruelly the sense of this disaster stretched my heart-strings and to confirm that thought you may please to know that I sunk dead in my womans arms and lay a long time in that condition before the remedies they applyed could bring back my senses that were all fled away from their usual offices and when at last they waked me from my trance I fell a wailing my loss in the dolefullest accents that were ever expressed by the lawfullest and most impetuous grief and all my actions perswaded those about me that I was become an Enemy to my Life My woman durst not stir from me in that estate wherein they saw cause enough to fear that my own hands would dispatch the business of my despair and all that day I was strictly guarded rather as a distracted person than a Princess that in the preceding accidents of her life had given the world so far a Sample of her constancy When my sighs had left me some liberty to speak My dear Caesar cry'd I since thy soul is driven from her sweet habitation for my Interest 't is but reason mine should follow her to the other world and I am very willing to go keep thee Company by resigning that life which thou hast bought too dear at the price of thine would to heaven I could have condition'd with the destinies aforehand to excuse thy thred for mine thou should'st have seen me run into the arms of my pale Executioner with as great a greediness as hurry'd thee to this unequal Combat but since the Deities deny'd me that favour believe it I will do that without repugnance to follow thee which I would have done with joy to save thee there is nothing left upon Earth that has power to stay me here now when thou art gone and my last Act shall tell that monster who thinks he has securely seated his fortunes upon thy ruine that all those flattering hopes will prove Impostours To these succeeded a world of other words to the same purpose and as the kindness I shew'd Cleomedon had been publiquely Authoris'd by the King my Fathers will so I made no scruple to avow the inclinations I had for him to all those that overheard me the force of my imagination still kept his lovely image before my eyes both day and night and my reason was sometimes so giddied with the violence of my grief as talk'd to my poor Prince in such discoursive terms as if I had seen him there in a condition to return me an answer My sorrows were risen to this degree when Tyribasus came back to Meroe or was rather brought back in a Litter with the marks of Cleomedon's valour still about him which had made him run such a manifest hazard of his life He saw me not of divers days after his arrival as well because his wounds confin'd him to his Bed as that he yet fear'd understanding to what desperate estate the violence of my grief had brought me to appear in my presence but so soon as the success of his cure would give him leave to take the air he came to my Chamber My passionate detestation of his last act had still held it self up at the same impetuous height whereto it was risen at his first conception and I no sooner saw him that was the cruel cause of it set his foot in my Chamber but breaking into a furious out-cry against him Barbarous man cry'd I dost thou come to shew me the bloody spoils of Cleomedon and could'st thou not content thy self to rob the world and me of so great a treasure without increasing my horrour by bringing the face of this inhumane butcher in my sight com'st thou to insult upon the miseries of a wretch that is taking care to die since thy cruelty has bereav'd her of him for whose onely sake she lov'd her life and can'st thou not think thy revenge compleat in the murder of him that merited my affection to the prejudice of the unjust pretences but thou must rudely press into my presence to aggravate the weight of woe thou hast to my soul for ever Tyribasus gave way to this Torrent of words which was violently followed by divers others of the same stamp till they had wearied out my weakness to admit from a tumult of sighs and sobs the short interruption of some moments silence in which vacancy striving against the stream of his own thoughts to express some sorrow for what he had done I am too deeply concern'd in your displeasure said he to sing any Io Paean 's in your presence for a thing that immoderately afflicts you and though the death of my Brother with divers of my friends besides the dangerous impediments he strewed in the path of my intentions and his particular design against my life might leave me little cause of regret for the loss of Cleomedon yet truth her self is my witness that his death cannot sink so deep an impression of grief in your spirit without stamping some sensibility of the same nature in mine and were it now in my power to give him his life though I knew it would prove yet a greater foe to my
the City he did not doubt but he would quickly raise a party besides his standing Militia that would out-number the Soldiers he had with him and from thence concluding his Forces incapable to resist him upon equal terms after he had cleared the Palace by the death and defeat of all those that kept it he caused the Gates to be shut and set guards upon every passage resolving to defend himself there till the arrival of some supplies that he took but a few moments to range his men in the same order they were to observe for defense of the Horse and when he had put every requisite in its due place as well as that short time would permit him he came to my Chamber followed by his Governour Eteocles and twenty or thirty Soldiers besides I trembled in every part when I saw him come towards me covered with bloud and was utterly unable to bring forth one word when throwing himself at my feet and embracing my knees with an action wholly passionate he stayed a little while in that posture and then rising again from thence Madam said he we have done but half our work the Tyrant is not dead but we are able to put your person beyond the reach of his power he is now doubtless raising Forces in the City to come back and assault us I cannot Madam abandon those loyal Souls whom I have engaged in this Enterprize for your service without a baseness that I dare not be guilty of and my honour enjoyns me since I have led them to this Labyrinth of danger to run their fortune but for you we have contrived a safe retreat if your Majesty aproves it I shall only lead you through the Garden to a Vessel that waits there by the banks of Nilus which fortified with a sufficient number of men under the conduct of my Governour Eteocles and Telimachus the faithfullest of all your Subjects will carry you to the City of Bassa which is totally at your devotion it will cost you but six hours time to go thither where I hope to kiss your hands before to morrows Sun shall hide his head in the Western Ocean besides what I owe to my honour and my friends the consideration of your Interests will detain me here whereby the succour of some additional numbers whose coming up is expected every hour I hope to determine all your affairs and though the event of this design should fall short of what my expectations promise me I shall still have left me an infallible way to preserve my life and safely conduct my self before tomorrow night to the City I named you This was Caesario's proposition which I combated with all the arguments could be raised from my indisposition to desert him in so manifest a danger but he protested so solemnly that he had an assured means to slipp the peril when he pleased and save himself and often falling at my feet conjured me to grant his request with such undeniable reasons as at last my averâ— slow lost the victory however I told him that if I found him a deceiver in the promise he had made me to secure himself he should carry the guilt of my death to the other world without my pardon He lead me over a great number of dead bodies that the slaughter had strewed about the Garden from the sight of which I took much horrour and from thence to the bank of Nilus where we found a boat guarded with three or four men ready to receive us I stept into it with Eteocles and Telimachus and a dozen of the Soldiers which were all the boat could well contain being only designed for our conduct to a greater Vessel that waited our coming at the mouth of the River Of all my Maids only Clitie and two of her Companions attended me the rest had been driven by fear to hide themselves in several corners so that we had not seen any of them since the first alarm and of my officers there were only three or four that followed me when I came to set my foot into the boat and divide my self from my dear Cleomedon I could not forbear to embrace him before so many witnesses and when I gave him my last adieu the tears started from my eyes in great abundance Cleomedon said I be sure you remember my abode upon earth has the same date with yours and that cannot lavishly neglect your own life without a carelesse contempt of mine Upon these words the boat went off from the bank and immediately we heard a horrid noise in the Palace from thence concluding Tyribasus returned with forces from the City had renewed the Combat Gods what excessive torture did I suffer from my timerous apprehensions how lavish were my vows and what costly sacrifices did I promise Heaven for Caesario's safety Eteocles who ever kept himself near me strove with all the strength of his reason to tame the tempests of my inquietudes and to lessen the credit of my fears he assured me that 15000 armed men drawn from those Cities that Caesario had secretly reconciled to their old obedience would at break of day be ready to force the Gates of Meroe and strike a considerable blow for my service and his Princes safety My knowledge that Eteocles was ever justly accounted precisely honest should not let me refuse some faith to his words in the mean time under the conduct of him and Telemachus a person very eminent among the Aethiopians for birth and vertue we gently glided down that arm of Nilus till we arrived at the main channel where the Vessel waited us The Nile brings up ships to that place of as great a bulk and burden as any that ride the Ocean We found the Vessel manned with two hundred Soldiers and going aboard about the birth of day we followed the current with all the haste we could make by the help of Oar and Canvas It was no ordinary example of Caprichio to see the lawful Queen to one of the greatest and most puissant Kingdoms in the world exposed in one single bottom to the mercy of such men as she never knew though besides Eteocles they were all born my subjects yet this condition narrow as it was to me was far sweeter and more supportable than to stay still in the power of Tyribasus at a time when he was ready to abuse it in so barbarous a manner by the violence he intended to my person but Heavens how remote was I to that Port of repose which I thought so near me and how unfortunately did I break away from one danger to step into the jaws of another that was far greater and more merciless We had now two hours work to reach the City we bent at which was seated about 10 or 12 furlongs from the bank of Nilus when we deserved four ships of War very near us that not only opposed our passage but surrounded our Vessel on all sides before we had time to think of a retreat commanded us
perceiving his designs to advance but slowly Madam said he since I see all my Civilities have been lost upon you I have henceforth decreed it to seek some other means for my own satisfaction I must now therefore tell you that if you dispose not your self to let me have it by frre vote of your own consent you must resolve to see me struggle for it with more success than I have done formerly He accompanied this first menace with divers others of the same moâ—d that almost struck me dead with apprehension and after that day he began to treat me with an air more imperious and absolute than ever his looks had put on before Then did I see my sad condition wound up to the very extreams of misery and I fearfully expected every moment when the Barbarians violence should assay to bereave me of that which was a thousand times dearer than my life and had never been attacqu'd in all my former misfortunes So soon as I saw my self at liberty to talk with my maids without being over-heard by the Pirates Come said I my dear Companions in misery 't is time to think of dying Fortune had not harassed us all this time with supportable calamities but to observe a method in her mischiefs and at last compleat the tragedy she intended this honour which we prize above our lives is now ready to become a prey to Barbarians if a generous resolution do's not rescue it by the hand of death from the shame it prepared us let us dispose our selves to take this only antidote that is left to preserve it and fear not to make use of Waters or Steel to void an ignominy which is a thousand times worse than those tortures that carry the greatest horrour To these words succeeded many others that displaid the unquiet agitations of my spirit and sometimes though absent and remote as he was addressing my speech to Caesario Ah Son of Caesar would I say how welcome would thy succour arrive to silence the threats and stop the mouth of this danger how deeply mightest thou oblige me in neglecting the interests of my state to run to the defence of my honour but oh Gods continued I how vainly do I call thee to my assistance possible thou art no more in the number of mankind but hast rendered thy spirit under the arms of the treacherous Tyribasus and the Gods have laid this punishment upon me with the hand of Justice for leaving thee so cowardly in the mouth of a devouring danger for my interests These words were succeeded with several actions of the same strain but if my grief received a violent encrease from this last intelligence of my fears it quickckly mounted by large strides to a greater height when I saw the Pirate persevere in his design and pass to the cruel execution of his menaces from hour to hour he still became more fierce and terrible and ceasing those entreaties that were the first factors of his passion he now discoursed it in a more imperious stile deeply protesting if I still refused to render the fort by treaty he would take it by assault this extremity provoked me to tear off my disguise and regarding him with an eye that spoke the spirit of anger Barbarian said I thou maist kill me if thou wilt but thy threats shall never fright my consent to the least satisfaction of thy brutish appetite No no replyed the cruel Zenodorus you shall not dye but since there is no other way to obtain my wishes but by putting violence in the place of sweetness my resolution is irrevocable when the thing is done I shall easily gain your pardon since I shall only have your anger for taking that by conquest which should have been mine by consent Well wicked man said I this unjust power thou usurpest is yet inferior to that which arms the hand of divinity and if thou continuest thy detestable intentions believe it the Gods will want no thunderbolts to crush thee The impious wretch derided my hopes of divine assistance and repeating his own wicked resolutions backed with deep Oaths to confirm it he swore I should have but three days more to resolve his contentment and the next day to prove his words and intentions grew up from the same root he licensed himself to take the liberties which he had not presumed before and after some obscene expressions which pudicity forbids me to mention he would have ravished a kiss from my mouth but at that rude attack I forgot the weakness of my Sex and furiously flew at his face with so much violence as I left the characters there of my scorn and anger in a deep impression This provoked him to cashier all thoughts of patience and desperately swearing he would no longer delay to execute the effects of my fears he had already called for some of his men to pull my Maids out of the Chamber when by a manifest succour from Heaven which then armed it self in my defence he heard the Pilot cry out there was a furious tempest coming The terrour he took from this alarm put a sudden stop to his design and running up upon the Deck to know the truth he saw the enraging waves begin to raise a battery against his floating fortress and Heaven prepare to pour its Artillery upon him with so black a defiance as all those foul thoughts that lust had stirred grew cold and did homage to the apprehensions of death which hurried from a place where his presence might animate his men to employ all their force and industry against the choler of the winds I may safely avow that at that time the particular interest of my honour made me rejoyce at the common calamity and I scarce listned to the language of fear for my own or the ruine of those about me since either by his death or mine it promised me a rescue from the brutish fury of Zenodorus this made me only appear with a tranquil and untroubled aspect amidst the disorder of all the rest and when the natural horrour of death had it self painted in its usual Palour upon the face of all the Pirates mine by report of those that saw me still kept its ordinary colour and composure The storm lasted two entire days with a great deal of violence but as Zenodorus and his men had gained the skill from a large experience how to make use of all advantages when they wrestled with that angry Element so they received not all the loss that would doubtless have befallen others less practised in that exercise of four Vessels they lost but one and after they had discharged the other three to the Pirates grand regret of such lading as was most weighty they saved themselves from Ship-wrack without dis-uniting and when the storm had spent its greatest fury they discryed the Egyptian shore with the stately walls of Alexandria As yet none of them knew upon what climate the winds had tossed them for though they were very
dislike and resentment against him I remember he made a thousand bravado's in our presence and denounced as many menaces against Artaban whom he call'd the contemptible revolted and with too confident a cruelty designed him for an exemplary punishment he held us in too long a discourse to perplex your patience with the repetition and a few months before he parted from our presence directing his particular addresses to me Madam said he if your solicitations of Heaven did not bandy against me I should think my self already in a possession of a certain victory but sure the Gods will not hear them because they are unjust and I shall quickly return with Bays in my hand from the conquest of a man that will not dare to look upon the face of his offended Master I know I shall bring home that Insolent in chains that would have killed me with a cruel separation from you but for your sake I shall make it my care to get a gentle victory upon your Fathers Subjects and endeavour to spare their blood because I adore her that must be their Mistress I am obliged reply'd I to your good intentions but success is not alwaies suited to our expectations and victory till their bounty removes her lives rather in the Gods hands than in mans disposal Ah! might it please the same Gods answered Tigranes that the conquest I pretend to upon your rigour might not prove more difficult to obtain that I had no more to do than to vanquish the Parthians with their new General to compleat my victory upon your spirit which my fears tell me will cost me many combats that include far more dangers and difficulties than I am able to encounter among your Fathers Subjects He staid not for an answer to this discourse but taking his leave of us he went out of the Chamber and departed the City the same day he only advanced some two dayes march towards Artaban spoiling and devasting the Countrey as he went and at the two dayes end having found an advantagious past to encamp his Army he resolved to stay the coming up of his Enemy and take that time to rest his men and horses which he martiall'd for the battle in a very beautiful order He waited not long for the approach of his Rival for the third day afer Artaban who because he was loath to harass his Army had caused it to march but slowly appeared encamped in view and the next day presented him battle Tigranes accepted his offer with all sorts of advantages his Army was much the stronger in number far less weary than the Parthians and his station much more commodious but all these considerations were in capable to unbend the resolution of his Rival to fight him and after he had ranged his Troops with a military method that got him the admiration of all that beheld it he gave the signal to begin the Combat and fought it with such a mingled skil and bravery of Captain and Souldier as after six hours bloody dispute wherein Tygranes by the confusion of his very Enemies behaved himself in his Office like a gallant Gentleman and a good Commander victory voted for the Parthian party and declared her self so entirely for them as after they had dyed all the Field in the Crimson Livery of death and strewed it with the greatest part of the Median Army there remained but a few miserable reliques that escaped the tired gluttony of their Enemies Swords and their King who stayed to see some of the latest Scenes of that deplorable Tragedy had scarce time to secure his person by a retreat with 5 or 600 horse which he had gleaned from the several scattered Troops to the City where he left us The victorious Artaban who after he saw his Enemies backs did all that was possible to manage his Victory with moderation and spare the Median blood marched after Tigranes with such a winged expedition as he appeared within view of the Walls almost assoon as the King of Media entered them and eagerly desirous to block up the passages and so deprive him of the means to carry us away he made his Circumvallations the same day and stopped up the advenues on all sides Tigranes then too late saw the Rock against which his precipitate Pride had dashed him deduced his repentance for what had passed as well from the change of his Fortune as some sad reflections that almost broke him upon the wheel of despair the losse of that battel justified his affliction but when he saw himself besieged and shut up in a City whence all the hope of retreat was cut off by his own imprudence and these things done by a man whose resistance he had scorned and by a man who a few days before had taken pay in his service he was struck with so violent a grief as all the courage he could make had scarce force enough to resist it You need not doubt but the frowns of his Fortune and the view of his Enemies which we discovered from our Chamber-windows began to get life again in our swoonded hopes and call home our banished Joys however the Queen deemed it fit we should visit him in his affliction he had not seen us since he took his leave when he went the expedition but full of rage and confusion had confined himself to his Chamber where maugre all the comfors his Servants could alledge from what his hopes might yet lay hold of he abandoned himself to a very desolate condition nevertheless he knew that so long as he had us in his power he might capitulate when he pleased and obtain a free passage to retreat into his own Countrey but he looked upon that as a cruel remedy and he could not consider Artaban as the man that had reduced him to it without a whirl-wind of furious thoughts that threw down all his patience After the Queen had sent him notice that she intended him a visit we went at last to his lodging for we had liberty to walk the City through with a great number of men at our heels which under the honourable vizard of a train to attend us were no other than a guard to prevent the stealth of our liberty we took care in the composure of our looks to set a modest face upon our Fortune and found his in too deep a melancholly die to dissemble it he had no sooner paid his salutes to the Queen but addressing himself to me Your wishes Madam said he have been more prevalent than our armes they have given the victory to mine Enemies and Gods as well as men believed it unlawful to crosse your will 't is you alone that have been the fountain of my misfortunes and if that affection which can never be shut out from hence unless my soul keep it company had not dazled my judgement I had ordered my affairs with a greater caution and the faithless Artaban had never forsaken my Colours to go serve my Enemies I will not
retir'd and coming to my beds side when the Coast was clear with a wax Taper in her hand Well Madam said she what reception have you given the news from Artaban and how do you relish that success which conducts you to the Crown of Media I can do no less than rejoyce as I ought said I at such events as advance the fortune of our family and I quadrate mine with the King my fathers resentments who from Artabans victory reaps a grand assurance of his own estate and growing hope to increase it by the spoils of his Enemies and do you not feel replyed Urinoe you that are the great wheel of all actions for whom alone he lavishes his blood and life a gladness that intirely depends upon it self and singly grows up from its own root Ah Mother said I turning away my head to the other side with a troubled look will you eternally torment me with the memory of that man whose ambitious flames have kindled my disdain and anger And instead of helping me to disdain against his presumption must I ever be persecuted with the grandeut of his services and the merit of his person If I could hold my peace reply'd Urinoe without ingratitude and injustice I would leave him out of my discourse to please you but all the care and complacence requir'd in a servants fidelity cannot make me blot out the remembrance of a man to whom I owe all for the love of you and whom I would not love but because you ought to do so Sure Urinoe said I you have lost a large part of your discretion and I find of late so little reason in your words as I know not whether innocence will allow me to listen any longer to them You may pass what judgment you please upon me reply'd Urinoe with a serious visage but if you tax me with imprudence for so slight a cause I fear you will judge me à convicted fool when I have told you that I lately receiv'd a Letter from Artaban directed to your hands with an ingagement of all the credit that my care and your goodness has given me in your thoughts to perswade your perusal Be not astonish'd Madam pursu'd she remarking some amazement in my looks I would sooner have taken my death than this imployment if I thought it might justly offend you and you would wrong me to believe that my own life is not less dear to my desires than your interests 'T is true Artaban is no Prince but his vertue has already rais'd him above the greatest and will doubtless place him in a rank that shall overtop the best of those that enoble that title Besides Artaban adores you with the same respect that he owes the Gods Artaban fights for you and possible in shedding the last drop of his blood at this moment in your quarrel Urinoe followed this discourse with a long train of other arguments arm'd and authoriz'd with so much power deriv'd from my education as in spite of all my repugnance she forc'd me at last to read Artaban's Letter though I think she had not gotten so cheap a victory upon my resolution if the treachery of my proper inclinations had not aided her and my own desires struck as many blows as her perswasions in the combat Madam I have made you a confession which then I would not own to Urinoe and to that end indeavouring to possess her with a belief that to her alone Artaban was endebted for all the obligation I suffered her to approach with her candle and she open'd the Letter wherein I read these words Artaban to the Princess Elisa I Know not Madam what success I ought to expect from the continuation of my faults since my fate enforces me still to offend you and if fortune be so kind to conduct these blots to your bright eyes and so noble to lose a few moments upon the object you will read an unhappy obstinacy in my crime that may provoke a heavy doom from your anger yet Madam I have no power to repent it and though I were sure my ruine were infallibly tyed to the perseverance I would run with a greedy haste to embrace it as my last felicity To die for you is a thousand times more glorious than to put on laurel for the conquest of Media or make the spoil of Asia wait upon the triumph and the victories I may win for the King your Father must ever yield precedency to the honour of being vanquish'd by you I know you cannot chuse but blush at the conquest nor rank a private man without shame among your slaves since 't is the duty of all the Kings upon earth to submit to you and wear your chains as their greatest ornament but we have no power to fight against the force of destiny and as mine has not suffered me to fasten my regard upon any thing that is not above me so yours can let you see nothing that is not as much below you you will hardly find an equal to your self if you seek it among men and if that poverty of merit in mankind be suppliable in part for default of a full proportion it can be no other way than by such thoughts of respect and veneration as mine I know the present pitch of my short winged fortunes disgraces all the proof I can give of any zeal to serve you but possible the Gods may one day permit me to put longer feathers to their opinions and strengthen my plea to that priviledge by supplement of vertue which my birth has refused me In the mean time Madam do me the grace to receive my services without aversion and suspend your judgment which doubtless by the vote of your first resentments could not choose but be rigorous till the sequel of my actions may better inform you whether justice will enjoyn you to sign my pardon or pronounce my condemnation This was Artaban's Letter which at the solicitation of Urinoe I read distinctly and though I found some cause to be vexed at the process of his boldness yet I had not reason enough left me to confute the reasons that induc'd me to pardon him Urinoe read more than half a confession of this in my visage and willing to compleat her discovery after she had taken up the letter which I had thrown by with a regardless action Ah! Madam said she why will you do this violence upon your self do you taste any sweetness in this constraint or does my fidelity begin to be suspected is it to me that you ought to disguise your thoughts and do you believe that you hazard any thing in telling me that you are not willing to hate Artaban These words spread the Crimson livery of shame upon my cheeks and covering the blush as well as my hand would do it Urinoe said I you have almost put me past the power of answering and if customary freedom did not give me a larger Commission of boldness with you than other persons I should
in his Port and visage or something so great and lofty as there was as much difficulty to misprize him for his face as his actions Pardon me Madam if I sin against the Majesty of your thoughts by shewing the easiness of mine 't is true I was too hasty to disband the forces of my judgement that should have resisted the batteries of his merit and affection but they lost the field at the first appearance all my anger presently tendered its arms and I felt my reason in too weak an estate to put a tongue to my resentments All my attendants staid in the Chamber and Artaban perceiving no body present but Urinoe and her Daughter the same you see with her here in my Chamber who he knew deserved his confidence as well as her Mother concluding he might safely take that liberty in their presence threw himself at my feet so hastily as I had neither time nor power to prevent him and kissed the lower part of my robe with an action wholly suppliant and indeed onely due for a meaner merit but unwilling to let him stay in that condition and recoiling a step or two from the place where I was Rise Artaban said I if I were not prepossessed with too much indulgence to your offences this prostrate action could not obtain their pardon 'T is true Madam answered Artaban raising himself that I could look for no less than death from any other judge but you and I vow by all that 's great and good if your anger has prepared me a condemnation to receive the fatal doom from your mouth with as perfect a resignation and obedience as the pardon I beg at your hands Believe it Artaban you will not obtain that so easily replyed I as your imagination flatters you and perhaps your own opinion has not taken your crime at the full proportion but I shall refer the punishment to your self in appealing to your judgement for the censure of your faults My faults replyed Artaban are worthy of all the pains that cruelty it self can invent and would be utterly of any hope of pardon if they could not borrow some excuse from the violence you have done me 't is not my will Madam that has offended you for the Gods are obliged to witness I levyed all the power against you that was likely to present any fruit to hope from a soul capable of knowledge and reason even in my greener youth which you know is apt to take home objects to the heart before it has weighed them I have endeavoured to fortifie my soul against the force of nature with an opposition under which I was like to fall your sacrifice I saw my resolutions cowardly turn their heads in the combat against you and though I called the knowledge that I ought to have of you and my self to re-inforce them at last I found an absolute impossibility to hold up arms any longer no Madam it was no blind presumption that thrust me headlong upon this attempt for I never found any thing in my person or services that might authorize my boldness 't is a restless constraint that onely labours to excuse me and my thoughts are clad in all the whiteness and purity of truth when I protest at your feet it was onely your self that forced me to offend you I should think my self very innocent of your faults replyed I if by forbearing to cut them off in the infancy I had not contributed to their nourishment 't is that has made me an accomplice in your crimes and had I timely given the consideration of my birth and duty the precedency of those services you have rendred us I had happily prevented the sequel of a mischief whereof I could not avoid the beginning but since it is not in my power to revoke what is past I will try to expiate a part of my errour by a better regulation of the future and I hope my prayers will prevail with your self to assist me by changing your aims to some other object No Madam said Artaban interrupting me let me beg you will never hope my consent to that if you desire my obedience ordain me any thing but ceasing to adore you since all your power and mine are too weak to effect it and 't is as possible that I should live without a heart as without a heart that is not entirely yours But what are the thoughts you foster answered I or what design can you level at the King of Parthia's onely Daughter that may promise any hope of satisfaction The same replyed Artaban of rendring you what we owe the Gods with a clearer submission and a warmer zeal than commonly composes those vows that are twice a day winged for the starry Palace the same of making your glory the mark rule and guide of all my thoughts and actions and the same of passing my life or finding my death in the affairs of your service But do you believe added I that the King whose will is the law of mine does approve your intentions or do you think that without his commission I can keep an unstained duty and still suffer them to run in the same channel I will not say replyed the hardy Artaban that such a Princess as Elisa can be merited by Man and I know too well that the gaining of a hundred Kingdoms and the loss of a thousand such lives as mine can infer but weak arguments to legitimate that ambition but I think I may safely say that if I rendered the services that Phraates has received of my sword to any other King than him that is Father to Elisa I should think I could not set them at a meaner value than the honour to serve his Daughter no Madam 't is the only disproportion betwixt your self and me leaving your birth out of the ballance and not betwixt my services and the Royal dignity that frames my presumption and if my vast distance below your personal merits were weighed up to an equality by your permission I would learn to hope that by greater conquests than that of Media I might become considerable enough to the King your Father to own a demand of that nature without blushes In this discourse of Artaban there was something that favoured of a great deal of arrogance and yet that arrogance appeared so well placed in him and indeed all things else speak so near an alliance and so perfect a conformity to the grandeur of his courage as instead of condemning I felt an affectionate impulsion to augment my esteem and I found my self utterly unable to hinder the confederacy of my words and actions with the treason of my love I avow said I that men of your condition may fasten very haughty and pregnant hopes to their courage and if Justice guided the hand of Fortune in the distribution of her treasury there could be nothing above you I know not how the thoughts of Phraates agree with this opinion but without his seal I can make no assurance
to have made his Executioner and he often put a hand to the guard of his Sword with a purpose to make a passage for his Soul to get out at some few moments after a furious Demon of vengeance turn'd the impetuous torrent of his thoughts against Phraates And so long as that violent paroxism of choler lasted never did open anger or secret malice contrive a deeper revenge than what tumultuous thoughts then urged against him but the remembrance of Elisa hung chains upon his passion and he had no sooner admitted the consideration that Phraates was her Father but it turn'd the edge of his keenest resentment and banished all that disobeyed his love sometimes he prepared himself to go find Tigranes and joyn intregue with him for their common vengeance feeding his hopes of that design with the haughty opinion of his own merit but these motions were quickly out of favour when the memory of Tigranes affection to Elisa came once to accuse them and it less affronted his reason to seek a retreat in the remotest corners of the earth than hide his head under the roof of his Rival besides he remembred the promise he had made the King never to bear Arms against my Father and though his Conscience could have grown contented to dispense with the breach of that engagement yet the fear he still kept to displease me had too powerful an influence upon him to defeat that resolution in fine where ever his fancy moved a wing she encountred new torments and fresh causes of incurable vexation and still as he sent his thoughts to hunt for comfort they brought home no other quarry than variety of ways to perish Unfortunate Artaban cryed he what dost thou longer here get thee down into the shades in quest of that repose which the world denies thee and contest no longer with thy implacable enemy Fortune whom thy evil genius has bribed to undo thee the Sun has shin'd upon no part of the world where thou hast been wherein thy felicity has not been affronted and if the fates have favoured thee in War the harvest of the victories have been taken in by other hands the pain the shame and the despair still stays with thee to thee Earth is fruitful in nothing but ingrateful persons every man to thee will either be a Tigranes or a Phraates and by such as those the Gods whose wrath is the product of thy pride have decreed to tread upon the neck of thy ambition sure they are angry to see how audaciously thou dost raise thy courage above the birth they allotted thee and if thou canst not humble it to equality try to bound thy unjust pretences with a death that has only power to free thee from these calamities to which thy aspiring desires will eternally expose thee But why should I die continued he after a little breathing before I see how the powers above will dispose of those punishments which how severely soever they have used me are doubtless ready to drop upon the heads of these unworthy wretches it may be they have made them their instruments to humble thee without an approbation of their ingratitude and the destiny that waits on that may instruct thee to hope a happy change in my Fortune and a revenge of my Injuries Did I say to hope added he what base fear shall usurp such power to pinion my endeavours that I may not make it a certainty Has the change of my condition sunk it self into my nature and is that valour shrunk away from my assistance that a few months since has caused such strange revolutions in too great Empires May not I restore to the humbled and possible repentant Tigranes what I took from him for the proud and disdainful Phraates for Phraates a thousand times more ingrateful than the King of Media and all this with a success so unconceiv'd by the most pregnant hopes as my self had enough to promise all that was perform'd go then wronged Artaban and once more draw thy Sword against this inhumane monster whose Soul is sanguin'd with the ruine of all his nearest kindred espouse thy quarrel with the loud cries of his Fathers and Brothers blood whom he barbarously butcher'd and if we have provok'd the Gods in lending succour to this Parricide let us strive to appease those angry powers by carrying the sword and fire into the bowels of his Parthia which in his quarrel too lately devasted the Median Empire Oh my resolutions continued he after a little interval of silence how just you are and yet how faint and feeble when Elisa enters the lists against you with an invincible difficulty does my spirit feel deeply stung as it is with the sense of my injuries to frame the projection or so much as shelter a thought that may displease my sovereign Princess this sword that once was fortunately drawn for her interests has neither edge nor point against her Father and if the greedy thirst of revenge should ever seduce my consent to offend her so rudely I could not think of a less expiation to force a passage with the point to that heart which the entertainment of so profane a desire would render utterly unworthy to be the Guardian and Tablet of so fair an Image Thus did the two factions of his reason grapple with each other while he sought the most unvisited corners of the Garden to make a list for the Combat and in fine the contest was like to be determined by some desperate resolution when his Eyes encounter'd with me only attended by Urinoe and her Daughter I had spy'd him as I crost an Alley with a purpose to shelter my self from the Sun in the covert of an Arbour and descrying a part of the truth through his melancholly garb and choice of solitude the trembling desire I had to clear my conjecture made me give the rest of my train a command to wait my retreat upon the bank of a Brook that ran through the Garden while I propping my self on either side with Urinoe and Cephisa directed my steps to the farther part of that Alley which I had spy'd Artaban enter at the other end and I had not left many paces of it behind me when I was suddenly upon him before the deep dispute of his thoughts would permit him to discover me I am still troubled at the remembrance of that sad estate wherein I found him his visage was totally changed and if for some moments it was painted with the fiery colour that Choler gives presently grief got the victory drove that sanguine tide to a retreat and cover'd it with his own complexion so wan and pale as if the cold approach of Death had newly frozen up all those Crimson channels his Eyes the usual Heralds of his Heart that were still sparkling the contents of something there that was great and noble were now eclips'd with a dull gloomy cloud of woe and his very discerning faculty almost choak'd up with some tears which made
thee again and now thou hast rashly removed that affliction but Ah! thou hast done it with a dangerous appearance that puts me to far greater pain than a perpectual divorce could ever have inflicted I tormented my self in this manner and wasted the whole night in such a doleful condition as I think my sorrows would have softned the stony heart of Phraates himself had he rightly understood them but in this full tide of affliction maugre all my protestations and tears I was forced to obey a cruel order from the King that caused me to be conducted to the Temple there to espouse Tigranes in the person of his Ambassador and receive the Crown of Media I was too great a sufferer at this Ceremony to bring away the description In short I was there espoused there publickly Crowned and after all the ordinary formalities that usually wait upon such solemnities led back to the Palace in an estate that contracted pity from all that saw me the King my Father excepted After this action he fell to consider what he should do with Artaban the revenge he believed was due to the unbecoming words he had given carried weight enough in his thoughts to make a seeming justice his assassine but besides the turbulent motions of his Choler he had many other reasons and those of no feeble footing in his breast that solicited Artaban's ruine his experience of this mans invincible spirit and his amorous aims at me hatched him some sanguine fears that he would prove a perpetual ague to himself and his Son-in-law remove Heaven and Earth to ravish Elisa from the hands of Tigranes and alwayes keep a capacity consistent with his life to disquiet the two Kingdoms as well by the help of his offended courage as the affection and authority which his grand actions had acquired and were likely to preserve him among the Medes and Parthians In fine he thought he could not sleep securely so long as such an Artaban was above ground to traverse his designs and this consideration easily got the victory of all that resisted it to conclude his murder but when his memory made fresh opposition by reviving the services that man had done him he gave credit to a new conception that he could not bring him to a Scaffold without deepning the tincture of his execrable crimes to the eye of the World and drawing upon himself a dangerous encrease of his peoples hatred to whom he was already very odious The influence of these reasons on both sides held him some dayes irresolute but the last could not prevail for Artabans pardon in fine he closed with one invention that he thought would render him less odious than any that had trod their successive steps through his fancy He was well acquainted with the cause and temper of Tigranes resentments against Artaban and besides the knowledge that all the world had of it he remembred in his propositions of peace he demanded his head or Artaban dead or alive in his first Article besides he had understood that since his imprisonment Artaban had openly protested if he were at liberty again he would kill Tigranes which being told to the Median Ambassadors they had brought it in as a new complaint against him to the King this sprung him a conceit that he might safely rid himself of Artaban and tye Tigranes to him in an immortal obligation sending with his spouse his Enemy in chains by his death to satisfie for all the losses he had caused him This thought had no sooner made it self known but presently grew up to a resolution and to the persons were appointed to conduct me into Media there was added a great number of others to guard Artaban thither but because he feared those friends that Artaban's vertue had acquired among the Parthians should attempt a rescue if we took the ordinary road he directed our voyage through Hircania though much the farther way and gave secret orders to a certain number of vessels that he judged necessary for my conduct and Artaban's to wait us at a Port upon the Caspian Sea where we were to imbark after we had traversed Hircania See Madam how far he stretched his ingratitude and what a rancorous malice inhabited his heart to expose a man that had so gallantly obliged him to the rage of an Enemy that had never been so but because he served him The rumour of this resolution that raised a general murmur among the Parthians stuck me with an unparallel'd astonishment all the bloud I borrowed from his veins could not stop my cryes against this last effect of Phraates cruelty but when I had spent some serious reflections upon this design I spyed a little glimmering of comfort and I believed there was more hope of procuring Artaban's safety by my intreaty to Tigranes upon whose spirit I still thought affection had left me some authority and whose disposition was never voiced by the common repute to be cruelly enclined than by leaving him to my Fathers mercy whose marble heart never gave access to pity when choler or ambition kept the gate But why should my relation travel the farther way towards its journies end by such unpleasant passages this design of the Kings was acted as resolved and I was snatched out of the Queen my mothers arms who as well as the wretched Elisa was ready to dye for grief at our separation before my fears of such a sudden divorce had time to feel themselves in season and conducted with Artaban through Hireania which is under the King my Fathers Dominion to the Caspian Sea where after I had given my last farwel to those who through private respect or publick command had accompanied me thither was put into a vessel among the Medes Artaban laden with Irons in another full of armed men and both these followed by three other Ships fraughted full of Souldiers that were rather sent as a guard to the Prisoner than a train to the Princess they were commanded by Orestes Brother to the same Euphrates that was killed by Artaban a few dayes before in the Court and therefore for the greater assurance preferred by the King to that charge as his bitterest Enemy Orestes had with him a thousand well trained men in those vessels and Polinices who by the Kings Commission was captain of my Convoy commanded two or three hundred Parthians that were all in our Ship with my Women and a part of my Family of all his Servants then the unfortunate Artaban had no other with him but Telamon a young man of a great heart a lively wit and rare fidelity I seemed as if I had rather been conducted to my Tomb than my Nuptials and if some Bolts and Shacles had not made the difference betwixt us it would have troubled any judgment not anticipated to distinguish which or Artaban or I was the Prisoner All the time we travelled by Land I durst not so much as demand a sight of him and I deemed the request would be easier
obtained when we were once on Ship-board and had lost the sight of so many persons that came no farther than the shoar and might propably carry back dangerous news of them that permitted it however the first day I thought it unfit to hazard a repulse till I had made my self better acquainted with the faces of those that had power to grant it but the next day after some endeavour to soften and flex the spirits of Polinices and Tigranes Embassadors with gentler words and smoother looks than I had formerly put on I begged their permission for a sight of Artaban upon the deck of his Vessel at first these barbarous Men made some scruple to consent and defended their disobedience with the Kings orders which they alledged were positively express and rigorous against it but at last I assaulted their obstinacy with so many powerful and prevalent reasons telling them that the sight of me could no way conduce to the safety of Artaban that at best they would but rob themselves of an opportunity to oblige me since I knew I could owe the same favour to Tigranes when ever I desired it and at last threatning to let my self dye with hunger and so bereave them of all the honour and reward they expected for their service in my conduct to the King of Media if they refused my demand as in fine whether the fear of a future revenge for the churlish refusal or the importunity of my prayer was the best advocate they gave me my desires then was Artaban's vessel brought near to mine and himself placed upon the Deck with all his Irons about his arms and feet this object struck a horrour through me of my Fathers inhumanity and if Cephisa had not supported me doubtless I had fallen upon the Deck and all the succour she could lend my feeble spirits had much ado to hold in my senses to their several properties Artaban took some ruddy shame into his looks that I saw him in that slave-like posture charged with Irons and I read in the very rays that his eyes darted downwards for I saw they fled my face that it was not the fear but the kind of death that troubled him and he could not patiently take the account of those thoughts that told him he was carried to be thrown at the feet of his mercy who had so lately been dispoiled and strip'd of his Purple by his own hands of a man that was Enemy and Rival conjoyned and such a Rival whom not only his anger but his amorous interest had composed him a resolution to kill him in the very centre of his guards these reflections swelled his great heart to a purpose of anticipating his death before he received it by the King of Media's doom and in pursuit of that design perceiving he was too strictly guarded to surprize any opportunity of throwing himself into the Sea he resolved to make hunger his Executioner and had therefore taken very little nourishment since we first imbarqued After I had a little recovered my spirits that at first were driven from their places by the assault of so sad a spectacle fastning my eyes upon his face and discovering all to his easie interpretation in the Dialect of my looks that the presence of so many Witnesses advised me to hide Artaban said I the condition you appear in is very unworthy of you and if I received not some comfort from a hope to release you of all the shame and danger you should quickly know how large a propriety I claim in your misfortunes Artaban fierce as a Libian Lyon to all besides only in my presence ever gentle and submissive raised his eyes to my visage and strugling with himself to keep some sighs from breaking prison Madam said he my condition is very glorious since it takes a pedigree from no other fountain but the love of you I shall imbrace my death and finish my Tragedy without the least reluctance if my sufferings for you may speak the Epilogue for you alone I abandoned Tigranes Interests for you chased him out of your Fathers Kingdom and despoiled him of his own for you incur'd the indignation of Phraates and in fine for you am now going to tender my naked throat to the sword of the incensed Tigranes 'T is I Madam must be made the sacrifice to propitiate your Hymen and Tigranes will possess his Heaven of happiness in you without a cloud when he shall once see his fears washed away with the blood of a man that had he lived would still have held him to a very close dispute of his title this is my Destiny and yours Madam is to be led in triumph into the arms of a young King that attends your approaches with a panting expectation to receive a flourishing Crown and pass away your dayes with all the varieties of content and delight that are worthy to entertain you the establishment of yours and the end of my life I believe will both arrive at one conjuncture of time since your consent has sealed to these I forbid my soul so much as a secret murmur but if my preceeding services have made me worthy to prefer a supplication I would fain conjure you to obtain of Tigranes that he would not let me survive this last Scene of my misfortune there is cause to supect if I come alive into his hands he will prevent the death he intends me by another matyrdom ten thousand times more cruel which I shall suffer every several moment in being made a spectator of his felicity but your goodness bids me hope you will take care to cut off this approaching disaster and represent to Tigranes that he ought to content himself with his Fortune and my single fate without trampling upon me by an ignoble triumph at my death that will sully the credit and tarnish all the glory of his life While Artaban expressed himself in this manner I was half drowned in my own tears which the sad contexture of his language and the deplorable estate wherein I beheld him drew away from my eies in great abundance and though his reproaches offered me some cause of exception I easily pardoned all to his grief and assured my self they were the off-spring of a belief that I had willingly dispos'd my self by the conquest of all my repugnance to espouse Tigranes If I could safely have trusted my justifications in that place as it was then peopled I had quickly cured him of his errour and indeed I that had been the source of all his misfortunes could not owe less to that gallant man whom I then saw ready to perish for my sole interest I durst not give him my thoughts at their full proportion and yet I was unwilling to keep all under hatches that my heart had for him supposing those that heard us would partly conjecture pity to be the parent of that which indeed was the child of affection encouraged by these thoughts and regarding him with more passion than
a time quitted the greatest part of our cares and after Artaban had caused the Vessels to be cleansed of the bloud that defiled them and the dead bodies to be buried in the Sea we disposed our Canvas to accept the favourable breath of a wind that blew towards the shoar of Iberia where we were first to land Madam it is not necessary to tire you with the recital of a tedious voyage In short we traversed the Caspian Sea to the Port we intended and there providing such things as were requisite for our journey by Land we passed by the foot of mount Caucasus saw the Sarmatique Ports and having crossed Iberia and Colchis we re-imbarqued and passing through the Euxine Sea with three Vessels that we hired spread our sails for the Coast of Affrick Alas how treacherous was the tranquility of the winds and waves how short lived the quiet of our spirits it seems the Gods had not freed us from a foregoing misery with any other intent than to plunge us in a greater or rather the deepest that ever imagination sounded Poor Artaban thy valour only served to prolong thy misfortunes and wretched Elisa the Gods only brought some ease to thine with a purpose to exquisite the sense of thy last calamities The forth night after we imbarqued was already well advanced when the mutinous waves began an insurrection abetted by the most raging tempest that ever frighted a Pilot all the winds declared themselves against our safety the waves flew up as if they had taken up the Giants quarrel to storm Heaven again and the danger became so dismal as the skilfullest heads and the hardiest hearts among us began to despair of life We had only three Ships in the company whereof two carried our Souldiers and the third only my self Artaban my women and the officers of my house a while they withstood the angry Elements without separation but in fine dispersed by the impetuous winds and drivâ—n to a large distance from each other without hope of rejoyning our Vessel was left alone to the mercy of those enraged flouds that flew upon us with a sensible encrease of fury A thousand Images of death presented themselves to our affrighted fancies but the unfortunate Artaban took all his fears upon my account and the care he had of my safety made him neglect his own in that manner as he seemed to let fall and disavow his title to wit his great courage was utterly unable to charm the pangs of his grief and he detested his own life because his uncharitable sorrow charged it with the guilt of destroying mine In the mean time the tempest roared every moment louder and at last raged to that extremity that our mast was broken and our ship reduced to the miserable obedience of being governed by the tyranny of Sea and fortune all my women were half dead with fear of death and the weakness of sex considered 't is easie to believe I felt my share in the common calamity but the inconsolable Artaban was all this while embracing my knees letting fall new floods of tears at my feet and offering the Gods with a prodigality of nobleness to die a thousand times over upon condition they would pity me and save my single life Thus we had spent two entire daies and a great part of the third night when the billows as if they had been tired with so violent a motion began to take a repose that let in a little glimmering of hope to Artaban and the Pilots I say a little for the storm had so miserably torn our Vessel as the forwardest among us could see but little more than a possibility of escape the ship drank water on all sides the mast and rudder were both broken and the Marriners forced all their skill now became ineffectual to refer themselves only to the courtesie of heaven for deliverance the rest of that night we were carried up and down at the uncontroled will of the winds and she had scarce begun to disband her shades when we descryed a great fire upon the water though this spectacle appeared very strange yet it lent us some rayes of comfort and our men took courage at that sight to employ all their strength and art to get our miserable Vessel nearer to a place where they expected to receive-some succour The daies arrival drowned a great part of that light in his own that out-shined it but by the aid of those clearer beams we received objects at a truer dimension and the first that saluted our eies was presently known by the Pilot for the stately Alexandria The comfortable sight of this City perfected some half-drawn hopes within us when in the midst of our toil to get near the fire we beheld two ships of war make towards us to oppose our passage and having laid us aboard on both sides they commanded us to yield Artaban unused to be overcome by words quickly got into his Arms and presented himself upon the deck like a man resolved to sell his liberty but he was followed by none but his own Squire and of all those that wore the faces of men in our Vessel there was scarce one beside himself that had a heart undismayed at the number of our Enemies I was terribly affrighted at the sight of Artaban's rashness and believing unless stopped in time it would infallibly cost him his life I commanded him to render himself as well because it was as utterly hopeless that he alone should maintain the Combat against five or six hundred armed men as likely by a perverse resistance he would provoke the cruelty of our enemies upon us who if we set the face of submission upon our miseries might perhaps be drawn to some compassion the fear to involve mine in his own destruction gave a sudden birth to his obedience and he had no sooner let fall the point of his Sword when our Ship grappled on both sides was become full of Enemies in an instant at the sight of me their Captain let fall some signs of respect but the faces of him and some of his men were no sooner discerned by those Pirates we had taken to supply their places in our vessel that we lost in the last Combat who with the rest of our people had followed us all our land voyage with outward pretence of obligation and acknowledgment for the mercy and mild usage they received at our hands though indeed with an intent very different but running to him with loud cries Ah my Lord said they ah Zenodorus See the cruel man that has made us his slaves defeated your forces and killed your Nephew Ephiastes with his own hand These words spread the face of Zenodorus with a trouble that presaged a fatal effect and regarding Artaban acrosse Is this the man said he that slaughtered my forces and murdered Ephiastes the Pirates confirmed their language with loud exclamations and Zenodorus no longer doubting the truth Let him die said he let the butcher of
Ephiastes die or rather let the wretch be taken alive and suffer such punishments as are cryed for by his bloudy crime This barbarous doom was no sooner given but a hundred swords were drawn upon Artaban who daring all with a brave derision and shooting a furious look at the face of Zenodorus Yes Pirate I will die said he if be that killed Ephiastes must not live but before I dismiss mine perhaps I shall send thy black soul to keep thy Nephews company at these words he flew at Zenodorus through the throng of his men for he knew it impossible for himself to escape Zenodorus avoided Artaban's thrust by starting aside yet he could not throw himself so far from his reach but he catched him in his strong arms and desperately pressing towards the deck he threw himself and his Enemy as his revenge had tied them together backwards into the Sea but the waters would not suffer him to perfect his intent and separating those hateful embraces in the fall Zenodorus not incumbred with arms easily kept his head above water by swiming till his men brought him succour and the unfortunate Artaban carried to the bottom by the weight of his did there sink down with himself all my hopes all my joys When the Princess arrived at this deplorable passage she selt it impossible to pursue her story before she had paid such lamentable Obsquies to the death of her dear Artaban as touched the fair Aethiopian's tender heart with a true grief for her misery and instead of staying the course of Elisa's tears she mingled the stream with a silver shower of her own let loose by a just compassion It was long before Elisa's sighs and tears would let speak but when she had once cleared the passage for her words Thou didst die said she my faithful my generous Artaban and I stay here among the living to consecrate the wretched reliques of a languishing life to regester and repeat what I owe to thy dear and illustrious memory in thee I have lost all that in my eye was lovely upon earth and I think the world could not have parted with any thing greater and more truly estimable than thy self but Artaban I must adventure to say that thou didst not totally die since there is still a part of thee unravished by the hand of death in the heart of Elisa and so long as that little parcel of life shall last to which the Gods have condemned me thy memory shall ever be as dear and never die but with her self After this Rapsody of grief she dried her eyes and turning towards Candace What remains to tell you Madam said she besides that my own weakness acquaints me with a necessity of drawing to a period is very inconsiderable I was present at all that past had heard the Pirates words to Zenodorus trembled at the cruel command he gave them and turned pale at Artaban's furious resolution but when I saw him fall into the Sea I fell too into a desperate swoond that snatched all the knowledge from me of what had passed the recovery of my spirits rowsed the remembrance of my loss and I regained the use of my tongue to no other end but to breath complaints that would have softned any thing with pity but the rocky souls of Pirates when my senses returned I found my self laid upon a course bed with Urinoe and Cephisa standing on either side and only them two the Pirates could not fright from my attendance who had resolutely told them they would sooner choose to throw themselves into the Sea than forsake their Mistress they had put the rest of my Servants into another vessel and divided them into several shares before I knew how they were used as a part of the booty Zenodorus essayed to give me comfort but when he saw I was utterly incapable of receiving it he left me to his Lieutenants care himself appearing with the marks of a deep discontent in his face for something that had befallen him It was the loss of you Madam that touched him to the quick and I think with design to learn what had befallen you after he had rode at Anchor in the same place the rest of that day without going nearer the shoar the night following he secretly landed with twenty of his men leaving me in the Vessel under the guard of his Lieutenant whom he commanded to attend them there and not to stir from that place till he came back again This Pirate permitted me during the remains of that night to take such repose as my sorrows would licence but coming the next day to my beds side where I lay breathing out my soul in sighs and melting into tears the winds and ways of grief for my loss resolving a quick dispatch of my life by shutting up my tears from comfort and my mouth from nourishment he began to make love to me with a brutish rhetorick if my force had equalled my spight I think I had torn out his eyes however weak as I was I made shift to handle him coursly enough to put him to a cold retreat but a few hours after he renewed the assault and by the hateful prosecution of his suit taught me so true a repentance for surviving Artaban as if Urinoe and Cephisa had not violently rescued me from my own desperate resolution I had infallibly thrown my self into the Sea he was content for a few hours more to attend his Captains return but at last perceiving Zenodorus came not and spurred by a base and bestial inclination to rob him of the prey he had committed to his keeping he quitted the place where he promised to attend him put off to Sea and took a contrary course to Alexandria with all the hast his Canvas wings could make When once he saw himself absolute Master he easily resolved to abuse his authority and after he had lost some breath in perswading my consent to his will he began to make force his executioner of the black purpose which certainly would have made me run blushing to my death if the Gods had not sent some ships to my succour commanded by Cornelius to scour the Sea upon report of Pirates that infested it by these Romans the Sea robbers with their Captain were all cut in pieces and thus the unfortunate Elisa was snatched from the gulph of her greatest danger conducted to this City and brought to these lodgings where she had the honour to see and embrace the great Candace from whose dear society alone she has already received more comfort then she could ever have hoped while her soul and body are companions And now Madam continued she I have brought my woful story to a period and acquainted you with accidents rarely found in the fortunes of a Princess of my age and extraction you have heard the confessions of my faults and though perhaps they have justly incurred your censure I have laid them naked before so perfect a candour as I can hope for
my sister by the permission of Angustus took her to Court and bred her in a garb little different from that of the Princess Julia. We were brought up with as great a care as we could have been in the greatest lustre of our Family and if at Rome we were not called Kings of Kings and had not titles full of pride and vanity nor a numerous train of Princes as at Alexandria yet it is certain that we were educated like Marcellus Tiberius and the greatest young Princes that were bred in Rome and through the generous care of Octavia there was nothing wanting that might form our nature to things worthy of our birth My Brother Ptolomy and I had towardly inclinations and a disposition great enough to learn as well the exercises of the body as those sciences wherein they employed our minds and we proceeded in both with a very general approbation Augustus having extinguished in the death of Anthony all the hatred he bare him looked upon us and treated us as really as if we had been the Sons of Octavia and according to his example all the persons of the greatest importance in Rome or of the most illustrious families took it as an advantage to be allied to ours and considered us almost in the same manner as they could have done in the time of Anthony's greatest fortune In the mean time that I may return to give an account of the inclination I had to Artemisa in my very infancy I will tell you that the tender youth wherein we were separated being not capable of a strong and solid settlement Time as you may well imagine did partly wear out of an Infants mind an impression which it could not long conserve it was a hard matter that at nine or ten years old a firm affection should be formed in my Soul but certain it is that the continuation of time was never able to banish this memory out of my spirit and though I grew to a more rational age the Image of Artemisa never returned into my thoughts without leaving some tenderness and passion behind it without drawing sighs from me and without putting me for some time into the sweet thoughts of my infancy I carefully likewise preserved a Ring and a Bracelet of her hair which I had received from her and whatsoever coldness theee arrived in a passion which at an age like ours could not strongly establish it self I desired alwayes to carry about me with high respect the precious marks of the affections of a great Princess This is all that war left of it then and it is probable that no more could have remained of it and that this remembrance would have been totally laid to sleep if it had not been awakened again afterwards as I will relate unto you In the Interim if Ptolomy and I grew in stature and divers qualities wherein according to the judgement of the Romans we had sufficiently profited Cleopatra our Sister arrived to such a degree of beauty that the general voice of Rome published it for the most rare and the most accomplished that ever appeared within the circumference of the Empire and all those who had formerly pretended to handsomness yielded her the advantage at an age when she had hardly had time to shew her self Amongst a great number of illustrious Adorers that she had acquired Tiberius the Son of Livid by Drusus her former Husband and Juba surnamed Coriolanus the son of Juba sometimes King of Mauritania were the most considerable Marcellus as I believe at the first had a very strong inclination for her but his compliance to Augustus his will who had designed his Daughter Julia for him or as others believe the amity he had for Coriolanus obliged him to disingage himself frrom it and Tiberius and Coriolanus stood single to dispute their affections in publick though Tiberius was a person worthy of esteem for his birth and many qualities he was master of yet I confess my inclinations were entirely for Coriolanus and that Prince hath such great and amiable parts in him that it is impossible to know him without being absolutely his I could tell you some things both of his valour and the vertues which accompany it which possibly would make you prefer him before all the persons in the World but I will reserve a more full relation till another time and will only tell you at this present that the advantage which in my judgment he had over Tiberius and all other persons that I knew made me take his part and obliged me to favour him in all that possibly I could Those of either side signalized themselves by their addresses in divers actions of gallantry and we began to appear amongst them when we approached our sixteenth year and to put our selves forward in all things even beyond what our Age did seem to permit the Emperor approved our forwardness proceeding as he said from courage worthy of our birth and Marcellus and Coriolanus shewed us as much favour in it as possibly could be At last I attained to the seventeenth year of my age and I began then to desire some occasions to acquire a little reputation and seek out means to advance my self by some actions of valour I already perceived my self strong and valiant enough to undertake and support all things and the glory of Coriolanus Marcellus and Tiberius who had their essayes in arms at an age not much different from mine and by a thousand brave effects had already rendred themselves commendable to all the Romans spurred me on with emulation Fortune quickly gave me the means to satisfie my self and upon some combustion that happened then at Rome between Coriolanus and Tiberius about the love and the pretensions they both had for Cleopatra the Emperor to regulate their differences and to encourage them to his service by their mutual jealousie and the hopes of gaining Cleopatra gave them two equal employments and sent them to command two Armies Tiberius was designed for Germany against the Pannonians and the Dalmatians and the Son of Juba against the Austurians and Cantabrians At first my resolution was to follow Coriolanus in his expedition but the Emperor at the entreaty of his sister Octavia who saw me at that time a little indisposed refused to give me leave and forced me to stay at Rome till the departure of Tiberius who went for Germany I had no inclination to march with Tiberius seeing I could not go with Coriolanus but the Empress Livia having told me about that time that if I would essay my fortune in arms with her son she would obtain me permission I thought I could not handsomly refuse this occasion of going to the wars and I feared that the difficulty I should make of it would rather have been attributed to some other motive sooner than to the inclination I had to march with Coriolanus rather than with Tiberius I resolved then upon that voyage which was in some sort contrary to my humour
Artemisa may be ranked among the meaner beauties Compare said he as he was drawing out the box wherein the picture was inclosed compare the imperfect draughts of a young child with the completest points of perfection see if you can still find there the marks of that which seemed so beautiful in your eies and judge if you have not some obligation to your fortune that it did not make you sensible of her forces but when they were not great enough to wound incurably Artamenes had not quite finished this discourse whereby in discovering to me his wounds he made mine bleed afresh but I had already opened the box and greedily cast mine eyes upon the pourtraiture of Artemisa True it is that the Idea of the former beauties of that Princess which remained in my memory made me expect some what very handsome yet that which then presented it self to my eies appeared to me very different from what I had imagined and the beauty of Artemisa had received such a wonderful growth with her age that I could not behold so much as her picture without being dazled at it I easily discovered the same lineaments that I had formerly seen and the same sweetness in her eyes that she had in her infancy but all was admirably heightned by a lustre which eight years time had added to it and to the former sweetness there was joyned a Majesty capable of imprinting respect and love in most insensible souls I could not untye my sight from this dear image which unperceivably recalled all my old affections and if I had not feared to displease Artamenes by keeping his picture so long I should have passed the whole day in this agreeable conversation at last he took it again out of my hands which did not quit it without some violence and looking upon me with an action which seemed only to require my judgment of what I had seen Well Alexander said he do you find the Princess of Armenia such as you left her at your separation Ah Artamenes answered I with a sigh how fair is Artemisa and what a marvellous encrease hath that Beauty received which she had at the time of our first acquaintance Take heed replyed Artamenes with a smile that you do not find her too fair for your own repose and if you will take my counsel do not imbark your self upon that dangerous Sea where I have suffered shipwrack Lions and Panthers have nothing in them so cruel as the disposition of Artemisa and pity which is natural to persons of her Sex hath no access to her She hath reason to be cruel answered I if extraordinary advantages may create haughtiness in any there is no person in the World in whom it may be more justly placed than in the Princess Artemisa We had spoken more to this purpose but that our discourse was interrupted by some of our friends I was not at all displeased at it for I thought it long before I was alone to entertain my self with the fair Image which did re-assume its former place in my heart I passed the rest of that day and all the night following in a deep musing which would not let me sleep and never possibly was any spirit more troubled than mine was at this rancounter Artemisa presented her self to me then in a condition which could hardly find any resistance in a mind which had been prepossessed with affection for her at a time when her powers were much different from what they were then and the natural disposition I had to love made my soul incline to that relapse with such forces as it would have been in vain for me to oppose Whatsoever advantages there were in the Princess Artemisa the sight of the picture was not capable to give birth to my passion if I had known them only by that and the impressions of love which I had received in my fancy were not strong enough to kindle that fire in my Soul if they had not been otherwise assisted but my former inclinations being joyned to the view of the picture to my former inclinations and my destiny as I believe having operated above all these natural causes that passion whereof I had made essayes in my infancy insensibly possessed it self of my soul All the most sweet and agreeable passages which had happened in the beginnings of my love returned then into my memory and all the proofs I had received of the innocent amity of that Princess presenting themselves to my memory I began to condemn my self either of lightness or negligence in slighting a fortune which well deserved that I should entirely engage my self therein Why did I not continue said I what I had so happily begun and why having loved according to my power when I was not capable why do I cease to love now when I am so Ah without doubt the Gods by their just decree reduce me to my duty which I had ungratefully forgotten and they have permitted me to have knowledge of the present beauties of Artemisa only to make me acknowledge my fault and to bring me back into the way which without any reason I had forsaken they remember better than I that I have promised that Princess a thousand times to love her eternally and I remember very well my self that I promised her at our separation to come and see her one day in Armenia and that she required this promise of me as a proof of my affection Why shall I not acquit my self of a word which I gave voluntarily and what reason can dispence with me for the many and deep protestations of eternal fidelity which I made to that Princess as young as I was Ah Alexander rouze thy self out of this sleep which hath possessed thee so many years pursue thy former inclinations thy duty and thy destiny it self as thou may'st judge by so uncommon an adventure calls thee to the service of Artemisa she will not possibly be so cruel to thee as Artamenes represents her if by what is past thou may'st judge of her inclination she is not so inaccessible to pity as she hath appeared to this repulsed lover and possibly she will call to mind her own promises when she shall see thee perform thine By this kind of reasoning which flattered me I introduced love into my heart with precipitation but yet I wanted not another counsellor within me which represented such difficulties to me as might have been able to divert me from my enterprise if I had been capable my self to consider them I knew that I was the son of Anthony and Cleopatra who against all right both divine and humane had cruelly put to death the Father of that Princess and besides that I might justly fear lest the Princess her self being come to more maturity of age might bear regret against the children of her Father's murtherers I was not ignorant that the King of Armenia her brother had conserved that irreconcilable hatred against the memory of Cleopatra that he publickly
so maturely deliberated upon I took my time one day when at her departure out of the same temple of Diana where I saw her the first time and where she visited almost every day the Virgins consecrated to that Goddess who dwelt there she was walking on foot in the fair alleys which are within the inclosure of the Temple into which access was permitted to all persons She had already taken some turns when Narcissus as we had agreed drawing near to one of the principal Officers of her train with whom he was very well acquainted he prayed him to present me to her and to give me the opportunity to entertain her some moments with a business of very great importance this Officer very courteously did so and having spoken a word to the Princess of whom he easily obtained the audience that I required he made me a sign to draw neer I did reverence to the Princess after the Mode of her own Country and when as I raised my head to look in her face I saw her eyes fixed upon mine with a sparkling vivacity which pierced me to the bottom of the heart I was so surprized that I had hardly any assurance left to finish what I had begun she went aside from her Gentleman-Usher and the Ladies which followed her about seven or eight paces to give me the liberty of speaking to her without being over-heard and after she had commanded me with a great deal of sweetness to declare what I had to say to her striving against all the fear which kept me tongue-tyed Madam said I Artaments whose Servant I was she interrupted me at this word Speak no more to me of Artamenes said she he is a man who hath offended me and you cannot say any thing to me on his part but it will displease me Madam said I if Artamenes were alive I would not speak to you of him knowing that in his life time he displeased you by his audacious thoughts but since he is no more amongst the living I thought I might without offence render to his memory what he desired of me at his death How answered Artemisa is Artamenes dead He is Madam replyed I and at his death he commanded me to assure you that he died without any other regret but for having displeased you and that having fought after death as the only expiation of his fault he received it with joy if thereby he might obtain your pardon for the fault he had committed against you The Princess out of the goodness of her nature was moved at this discourse and shewing some signs of sadness in her countenance Artamenes did offend me said she but the resentments I had against him did not extend so far as death and his fault was of such a nature as might have obtained its pardon of me by discontinuation and repentance without requiring any greater reparation I have as much regret for his loss as one can have for the loss of a very vertuous man and if I believed that I had contributed any thing to it I should be very sensibly troubled at it a long time It would not be just Madam replyed I that you should find a Subject of grief where he himself found his last comfort and his condition is much more happy in that he hath appeased by his death an indignation which made him hate and fly life than if he had lived to linger it out in torments which wou'd never have caused your compassion Time would have cured him added the Princess and that with the assistance of reason would without doubt have reduced him to a more comfortable condition Time and reason replyed I doth hardly cure evils like those of Artamenes and by good reason time would have wrought no effect upon him seeing that according to reason he could not raise his thoughts to a subject more worthy of his adorations These words escaped me with little discretion but I could not keep them in in the violence of the passion which transported me and the Princess in stead of taking my liberty ill took some pleasure in it and having a mind to oblige me to speak more after she had called one of her Maids she commanded me to relate the death of Artamenes I did it in the most passionate terms that possibly I could and I took notice that during my discourse wherein the Princess seemed to take extraordinary delight she kept her eyes fixed upon my countenance with a marvellous attention I had hardly finished but we saw the King arrive who with a numerous train of Courtiers and his guards came to the Temple As soon as he alighted he went to the Princess his Sister to walk with her in those allies and at his coming I went another way with Narcissus This was the first time I saw the King of Armenia he was about eight and twenty years of age of a comely proportion and a gallant mind but of a haughty carriage and a fierce aspect which partly denoted the roughness of his nature as I had no desire to make my self known to him so I came not near him but seeing that the Princess was engaged with him in a long discourse I retired home with Narcissus I was so contented with this first entertainment I had with Artemisa that I could not conceal my satisfaction and besides the beauty which the Picture and my ancient remembrance had figured to me I found a sweetness in her conversation and such rational resentments for the destiny of Artamenes that the force of my passion was very much augmented thereby Ah! without doubt said I she is not so cruel as Artamenes hath represented her to me and if Heaven be not mine enemy I hope we may yet have some access to her I find in her same goodness she had in her younger years and if she hath contracted any thing that is more stately and venerable 't is beauty and majesty that hath imprinted it in her countenance and not the change of her nature In the mean time I sought all occasions to be present at those places where most frequently she was as often as was possible and there hardly passed a day but I saw her and was seen by her always at her passing by I caused her to take notice of me by the profound reverence I made her and she being humble and courteous observed my respects and took them in good part One day I coming into her walk in a fair Garden which is without the walls of Artaxata and rendring her the accustomed salutation at her passing by she sent for me by one of her Maids named Leucippe who had been with her at Alexandria during all the time she had continued prisoner there I went to her being uncertain what the Princess desired of me and when I was come near her Of what Country are you said she and how long have you been in Artamenes his service I am an Egyptian Madam answered I born in the City of Alexandria
towards heaven O Artibasus cry'd he O deplorable Father of a Son who was too weak to give thee succour If hitherto thy Manes have been unsatisfied with my cares and if I have not been able to appeale them by part of that hateful blood behold me now in a condition to sacrifice to thee the most agreeable and most just victim that could ever be afforded to thee And afterwards turning himself towards me with an action full of terrour I am sorry said he that thou hast but one life to satisfie and if the Gods had bestowed more upon thee I might make a more agreeable sacrifice of them to the soul of a King whom against all manner of right thy Parents put to a cruel death since it hath been the will of heaven that the cruel executioners of the greatest King of Asia should escape my vengeance but not from that of the Gods who have brought them to an end suitable to their crimes I will take such as they please to send me and will make such an example of thee as all the world shall take notice of Artaxus spake in this manner but I was not at all intimidated by his threatnings and without being troubled I replyed Artaxus I will not justifie nor excuse my Parents actions before thee if they caused thy Fathers death 't is possible they were induced to it by some lawful occasion thou knowest I was then of an age that was capable to take little cognizance of it but if notwithstanding I was absolutely innocent of the displeasure done thee thou findest in me any matter to satiate the resentments follow the motions wherewith they inspire thee and do not expect that I should beg thee to reflect upon the birth of a man who is not born thy inferiour or upon the vicissitudes of fortune which may yet throw thee into the power of my relations as I am fallen into thine Neither the consideration of his birth answered Artaxus nor of the inconstancy of fortune to which Cleopatra her self was shortly after exposed could guard my Father from her cruelty and when she took off his head by the hand of an Executioner she had not the death of a Father to revenge as I have nor the least occasion to violate upon his account what is due to the Persons of Kings when upon so just a motive of revenge I shall do what she did out of a base desire to oblige the King of the Medes no Person will blame me and thou art not innocent because thou art the Son of the murtherers of my Father but to this reason which might give thee a thousand deaths thou hast added another by continuing disguised as thou hast done in my Dominions thou couldest not have continued concealed and unknown as thou hast done in the Court and near the Person of thine Enemy upon any good motive Tell us the occasion of this brave design and do not hide from us a truth that we shall force out of thy mouth if thou dost not make a voluntary confession of it I valued thy power too little replyed I to content thy curiosity out of fear of thy menaces and though the occasion which hath brought me into thy Dominions hath glory enough in it to justifie it to the World thou shalt be the last to whom I will make confession of it Young man replyed the King with a smile full of sharpness we shall see if this resolution will accompany thee to the last and then turning himself towards the Princess his Sister who had hearkned to our Dialogue more like a dead than a living person and by the divers changes of her countenance expressed a part of her thoughts Madam said he this Egyptian was not unknown to you whom I suspected at the first sight and whose part you took so earnestly If he had been known to me answered the Princess I should not have permitted him to continue so long so near an Enemy whose inclinations I was acquainted with If yours replyed the King were such as they ought to be you would have a resentment equal to mine against the murtherers of the King your Father but you sufficiently discover to me by your countenance your discourse your past actions that instead of a just enemy as you ought to be Alexander hath found you a person more affectionate than your duty did permit 't is you alone without doubt that have retained him with you and this intelligence you hold with him is the effect of that amity you contracted with him whilst your Father's head was cutting off These words sensibly touched the Princess but she having a courage that could hardly dissemble her thoughts and believing it a baseness upon this occasion absolutely to deny them made no difficulty in part to discover them and looking upon the King with a countenance void of fear I have contracted no amity with Alexander answered she wherewith I may fear to be reproached and I call the Gods to witness that during his continuance with me I knew him for no other than Alcippus but when I knew him to be Alexander the resentments which are common to us both against the culpable were not extended to the innocent and if upon my account he hath exposed himself to the danger whereinto he is fallen next to my honour I have nothing so dear that I would not have given to save him from it Artaxus became almost mad at this discourse of the Princess and not being able to dissemble his rage Madam said he since you are so pitiful to your Enemies you shall have matter enough shortly to exercise your compassion Carry him to prison continued be turning himself toward the principal Officers of his Guards whom be called by their names and upon pain of your Lives see that he be kept laden with Irons till by a publick spectacle I make all Armenia see their Kings revenge I did not vouchsafe a reply to these cruel words of the Armenian and only casting a look upon Artemisa where by I declared as much as possibly I could that I died for her without repugnance I marched in the middle of the guards that environed me towards the Prison whither they conducted me Thus as you see I passed from felicity to danger in an instant and that supreme happiness to which Artemisa some moments before had advanced me ought to be counterbalanced by some misfortune my projects hitherto had been crowned with too prosperous success and this too great a calm was without doubt the presage of a urious tempest I was according to the intention of Artaxus really conducted into the common Prison and not into those places of restraint for the custody of Princes or any persons of a considerable condition and though out of the respect or pity of those who had the command to do it I was not loaden with Irons as he had ordered yet I was kept under so severe and strict a guard that all my liberty had no greater
extent than the limits of a Chamber strongly grated with Iron my two Squires came presently to serve me in my imprisonment but Narcissus kept himself close both because he was an Armenian and so would have been worse used than servants that were strangers and also because being at liberty he continued in a condition to do me greater services than if he had been in prison with me I know not well generous Cleomedon how to express to you what my thoughts were at that time the fear of Death did not much intimidate me and Heaven had given me courage enough to meet it in all its most horrible appearances but having at that time no misfortunes in my life which might make me hate it and on the contrary having seen my self a few moments before in a most glorious condition and the fairest hopes in the world I could not be deprived of them so suddenly without regret nor change the favours of Artemisa for a common prison from whence according to Artaxus his threatnings I could not hope to come but only to my death Being young as I was and in a flourishing condition of life these thoughts were hard of digestion and I could not think that possibly within a few days I should lose my head in publick and draw the people of Armenia to the spectacle of my death without losing some part of my constancy and yielding to something that favoured of youth and the infirmity of nature but again when I reflected upon the cause for which I suffered and that I came to think that it was for Artemisa's sake only that I saw my self exposed to this danger I found a sweet consolation in that thought I would suffer more yet for Artemisa said I if it were possible and it ought to be indifferent to me which way I part with my life for her which I have given her without condition But if I were sensible of some grief which was almost entirely grounded upon the regret I had to quit Artemisa the Princess as I have been informed since was so much afflicted at my misfortune that she could hardly bear it with any moderation She loved me before this disgrace as well out of a remembrance of our former affections which continued deeply engraved in her mind as out of an acknowledgement which she believed was due to what I had undertaken for her but after the arrival of this unlucky accident and that she saw me fallen into great danger upon her occasion the moderate affection she had for me before was changed into a violent passion and as she naturally had as generous inclinations as any person in the World so she believed her self obliged not only to love me better than before and to engage all her credit for my safety but to perish her self if she could not divert my destruction No Leuoippe said she to that faithful Trustee of her most secret thoughts I make no difficulty to confess before thee and will confess before the whole World if need be that now I love Alexander more than my self and that Artaxus could not redouble the affection I had for him with more violence than by the effects of his cruelty one hour of imprisonment one moment of danger hath gained more for Alexander upon my spirit than a year of service could have done and I cannot think that he is in prison for love of me and that for my love only he is possibly upon the point to satiate the rage of his enemy without acknowledging by bestowing my heart upon him that I cannot pay him so much as a part of what I owe him Let us dispose our selves therefore to render him part of what he hath done for us let us not permit our selves to be reproached that after we had drawn him into danger by our former amity and the command we laid upon him in our infancy we have basely and ungratefully abandoned him let us try all manner of ways for his safety and if they be all unsuccessful let us perish couragisly with him and not dream of living without him seeing we are not permitted to live with him as we had resolved Upon this design she began to set all manner of Engines at work for my safety and the first thing she did was to send her most faithful servants post to advertise Augustus of my misfortune and to interess Octavia Marcellus and all my nearest friends in procuring my liberty and because they were uncertain which way to take because of a rumour that had passed some days for current that Augustus was departed from Rome to make his progress through the Provinces of Asia which are under the obedience of our Empire she sent divers persons several ways with the like commission but this way to save me was too long by reason of the hast they made to frame my process and the Princess desiring to essay all other means gained with all the address she could possibly all those of the Armenian Court that had the most power over the Kings inclinations to oblige them to sweeten him and divert him from the fatal design he had against me She endeavoured most of all to gain those who had the charge of guarding me working this effect by her caresses to the chief of them and her presents to those of inferiour condition In all these businesses she made use of the address and the fidelity of Narcissus whom she had known a long time and though he kept himself concealed part of the day yet when he was in less danger of being discovered he employed himself in those commissions she gave him with wonderful care and affection In the mean time Artaxus resolved or rather continued in the resolution he had already taken to put me to death and besides his will was to an ignominy to the punishment and to make the head of Cleopatra's son to be publickly cut off by the hand of the Executioner as by the command of that Queen Artibasus had received the like or little different usage in Alexander He proposed his design to some persons of his councel not to govern himself by their advice but to acquaint them with his will the greatest part of his Counsellors either out of a repugnance which they really had against this cruelty or out of respect of Artemisa who had solicited them before in my behalf endeavoured to divert him from this resolution and represented to him that he would render himself odious to all the world by shedding innocent blood and putting to death one of the greatest Princes of the Universe for anothers fault that he would put himself in danger to draw upon him many powerful enemies and in particular Augustus who as they were informed loved me and supported me no less than those who were nearest to him that he ought not to be too hasty in an action of this importance which without doubt would cause a late and unprofitable repentance They used many more arguments besides capable to
him That time is past with you said the insolent Eurilochus and since fortune hath now submitted you to those who heretofore attended upon you you must do by them as they did once by you and expect your destiny from their will as they expected and received from Anthony's These words full of Pride and reproach put me into such choler against him that spake them that I could not dissemble but looking upon him with an eye full of disdain and indignation both together 'T is thy interest said I to him to oppose my liberty and if it pleased the Gods that we were in another condition assure thy self thy life should pay for thy insolence Eurilochus though he was in a condition not to fear my threatnings looked pale at this discourse and seeing something in my face which in spight of the condition wherein I then was forced him to some respect he held down his head and turned himself another way without reply After that day I had no more conversation either with him or his companion but I entertained my self only with my two faithful servants who were acquainted with the whole secret of my life and sometimes when I could by stealth with the Keeper that brought me the Princesse's Letters In fine after some scurvy formalities that Artaxus made use of in his proceedings by his cruel orders I was condemned to lose my head upon a scaffold in the great place of Artaxata the rumour of it presently spread it self through the whole City but I assure my self that the most pitiless of the inhabitants did not approve that cruelty Cepio by whose imprudence I was reduced to this condition who since that time had not stirred from Artaxata was one of the first that heard that news He almost died with grief when he considered himself as the cause of my misfortune and the only cause of his stay in the Armenian Court was to seek some occasion to make some reparation for the fault he had committed When he understood the cruel sentence passed against me he went boldly to present himself before Artaxus and without fear of the danger he might incur by provoking him King of Armenia said he I understand that you have condemned the Son of Antony to a shameful death but take good heed how you execute that sentence which will be your ruine and give no way to the death of that Prince except you desire to see the destruction of your People and the absolute desolation of your Dominions And who shall lay desolate my Dominions replyed the King of Armenia with a scornful look who shall ruine my people and execute thy threats Augustus answered Cepio and all the principal persons of Rome who either by blood or friendship have interest in Alexander the whole Empire the whole World will arm with them for the revenge of that Prince and you will see such powers fall upon you upon this quarrel as will infallibly ruine you Augustus replyed Artaxus ought rather to be a friend to me than to the son of his enemy and the remainders of the blood of Anthony will not be more considerable to him than the Kings of Armenia his most ancient Allies Iâ— Augustus be dis-interessed as without doubt he is I do not much value the rest and to those powers thou talkest of I shall oppose others that shall protect me from the effect of thy menaces but let what will happen the Son of Cleopatra shall die to morrow and thou shalt have thy part in the spectacle if thou hast a mind to it in the publique place Yes bluntly replyed Cepio I will have my share in the Spectacle and seeing the young Prince is fallen into this misfortune by my imprudence I will hazard my dearest blood in endeavouring the reparation of my fault With these words he went from the King who had left hearkning to him before and would not have suffered him to have said so much if those about him had not perswaded him to give way a little to the humour of this hair-brain'd man In the mean while the Princess no sooner understood that the sentence of my death was passed and that I was to die the next day without delay but she flew out of her chamber transported with grief with an intention to make use of the last remedies that were left her As she was going to the King she found him upon the top of the stairs and she no sooner saw him but running to him with an action full of the marks of her grief and casting her self at his knees which she embraced and moistened with her tears Sir said she once my brother full of tenderness and affection and now a King inaccessible to pity either command my life to be taken away in your presence or give me Alexander ' s. The barbarous King was not at all moved to compassion at this spectacle but rudely snatching himself out of his Sisters arms Die if thou wilt said he woman without resentment or honour and believe that in the dis-esteem thou hast caused me to have of thee I shall be so far from giving thee Alexander 's life that I would not give the life of the least of my enemies to save thine With these words he flung away without so much as looking upon her more and the Princess rising up full of grief and despair Yes Monster cryed she I will die and death will be a thousand times more sweet to me than the life I can lead with a Tiger and a Barbarian I will die seeing thou wouldest have it so but by my death I will furnish thee with revenging furies which shall eternally torment thee At these expressions breaking out a fresh into tears and being in a condition that imprinted a tender compassion in all that were present at this action she ran to her appartment where she threw her self between the arms of Leucippe and the rest of her women and was ready to expire there through the violence of her grief What Alexander said she shalt thou die and shall this unfortunate creature for whom thou hast exposed thy self with so much love not have the credit with a brother to divert the inhumane instrument of death from thy head Doth this day onely remain to thee of that life which thou hadst so generously bestowed upon me and shall I behold the bloody preparatives of thy death without preventing it Ah no Alexander hope better of my courage and do not suspect me of a baseness whereof I am not capable I might possibly have lived or lingred out a few days in grief if any other kind of death had separated us but dying here and dying only for my sake who wert always faithful to me since our first acquaintance I am engaged both by my affection and by my honor to bear thee company it shall never be laid as a reproach upon me that I drew thee hither by the command I did once lay upon thee to sacrifice thee in our Country
that of the King your brother Live then to reserve your self for a better fortune and live that you may let me live still in your memory if I could obtain this assurance of you before my death I should receive it with such satisfaction as without doubt would deprive Artaxus of a great part of his revenge and in hope not to find you inexorable to this my last supplication I likewise make this my last protestation before you and the Gods not only that I die yours but that death it self is not capable to take Alexander from you It was much easier for me to deliver this Letter to my Keeper than at other times and this last night my enemies were pleased to express a little more complaisance to me than before After this being desirous to put all things in order I divided some Jewels I had between my two Squires and commanded them to give Narcissus a share and to signifie to him how sensible I was of his fidelity but they melted into tears at this discourse and made it appear to me by their actions that they were in a bad capacity to take notice of the orders I gave them There was nothing in the prison but horror and dreadful silence and the greatest part of the night being past a little before day I called to Tydeus for the poyson I had given him which he had already prepared for me in a potion Tydeus made some difficulty at the first to do it telling me I ought not to take it but in case of extremity and there might some change happen in the King of Armenia's mind or in my condition by some accidents which might free me from the danger I was in but having convinced him that these were ridiculous and that if I should defer any longer to serve my self with this remedy it would not have done its execution within the time prefixed and so would prove useless as to the design I had to avoid a shameful death by its assistance he disposed himself at last to obey me and went to fetch the vessel which he presented to me with a trembling hand They which saw this action believing that he brought me something to drink as he was often used to do did not oppose it but whether it were out of Tydeus his fear or some design he had when I reached out my hand to take the Cup he let it go too soon and either by his fault or mine it slipt from us both and fell upon the floor where all the Liquor was spilt This accident caused me a sensible displeasure but being upon terms to support any thing from my fortune I stifled my resentment and lifting up my eyes to heaven 'T is just cryed I that my destiny should be punctually accomplished and the punishment of the blood of Cleopatra would not be perfect if I should die any other kind of death than Artibasus did With these words resigning my self to the will of the Gods without reasoning the case any farther I threw my self upon my bed either to get a little sleep or to expect my death without troubling my self any farther I confess that death presenting it self to my eyes in all its most horrible forms did not permit me to sleep and though possibly I should not so much have feared its approach if it had been presented to me in a Battel or upon some occasion where I might have disputed it with my Arms or received it with glory yet I could not think that within a few hours in the sight of the people of Armenia I should lose my head upon a Scaffold by an infamous hand without finding a great repugnance in my nature against that kind of death At last the darkness which augmented the horror of my condition vanished and the Sun began to give light to that day which was destined to be the last of my Life At day-break the place where I was to dye was full of company all the windows were taken up and the people of Armenia accounting it a very extraordinary thing to see the Son of Anthony dye in publick ran together in heaps to be present at that action My Enemies to give some formality of honour to my birth had caused the door of my prison the Scaffold where I was to lose my life and some other places where I was to pass to be hung with black I had already taken all the resolution that was necessary for me to go to dye without shewing any tokens of weakness and in expectation of my last hour I passed the beginning of the day with some impatience At last it came to hold you no longer in suspense and the cruel Ministers of Artaxus came to conduct me to my death Eurilochus and Elpenor the two chief of those that guarded me were in the head of them and I saw them no sooner appear but advancing towards them Behold the day said I that frees me from your cruelties let us go Eurilochus let us go Elpenor I am prepared to dye for Artemisa and if the inhumanity of Artaxus hath nothing for me more terrible than death he is too weak to terrifie Eurilochus having acquainted me in a few words that it was time to go caused a man to come to me with a cord to tye my hands This indignity moved me and turning my self towards Eurilochus What said I will they add this ignominy too to the death of Anthony 's Son Artibasus replyed Eurilochus was loaden with Irons and the King uses you more gently than his Father was used by your Relations I saw well enough it was to no purpose to oppose a thing which they would doin spight of me in the weak condition I was and not being willing to offer at such actions as possibly might be imputed to want of courage I moderated my choler and stretching forth my hands to him that held the cord Do said I to Eurilochus cause these Princes hands to be bound whom thou usest unworthily to the very death and do not suffer them to be free if thou desirest to avoid that death which yet they may give thee Eurilochus did what I said to him without any reply and when I saw my self tyed I was a little moved with shame which sent up a blush into my face I turned my self then to my Squires who lying at my feet bathed them with a stream of Tears and endeavouring to oblige them to some constancy by the expressions of mine Go my Friends said I support your destiny with patience and expect from my Brother and the Princess Octavia the recompence which I am not able to give you for your good services tell them I do not desire them to revenge my death if Artemisa disapproves of any thing that may be done against her Brother but if the Princess abandons his interests I desire of my kindred and of Caesar the ruine of this barbarous King who revenges injuries upon the innocent and lets those that are culpable alone
I saw divers of those that guarded me weep at this discourse and turning my self to the Commander I bad them shew me the way I was to go they conducted me out of my Chamber amongst a great number of Javelins and having passed the stairs I found at the gate a Chariot covered with black which waited for me and in that I was mounted to march to the great place I was followed and environed with a great number of men both on foot and on horseback and in this manner I advanced into the streets where by reason of the throng of People we could pass but very slowly there were few persons amongst those that met me in my passing but shewed divers signs of compassion and highly blamed the cruelty of their King some spake in pity of my youth wherein they saw me cruelly snatched from the fairest hopes others paused upon something of gallantry that they saw in my face and the greatest part reflected upon my birth and the inconstancies of fortune which from the height wherein I had been formerly seen had thrown me down into so extraordinary a misfortune We arrived at last at the place where I saw the fatal scaffold erected and the press was so great that we could not get thither without a great deal of trouble I lighted from the Chariot and mounted upon the scaffold with a very assured countenance to shew my enemies that the fear of death had not much staggered me and when I was at the fatal place where I was to lose my life I walked a little and turned my eyes on every side upon the standers by who had filled all the place and windows adjoining I looked upon them a while without speaking and then on a sudden addressing my discourse to those which were neer enough to understand me Armenians said I since it is the destiny of the innocent to suffer for the culpable I believe you will one day undergo the punishment of your Kings cruelty as I am exposed to the resentments he might justly conceive against my relation you may possibly see your blood shed in his quarrel as I am upon the point of giving mine for Cleopatra I do not wish this to you nor to Artaxus himself because as unworthy as he is he is the Brother of the Princess Artemisa but I very well foresee that the cruelty of your Prince will not remain unpunished and I advise you his people and subjects either to arm your selves for his defence or to quit his party These words were heard by Artaxus himself who out of an horrible baseness had placed himself in an house adjoyning and from behind a glass window saw all that passed in the place The infamous Ministers of my death were already upon the Scaffold and the chief of them coming to me told me that it was time for him to do his duty and prayed me to let him bind my eyes with a cloath he had for that purpose Friend said I to him I am not so much afraid of death that I cannot see its approach without being frighted at it I will receive it with my eyes open without putting thee to the trouble of closing them before death does it After these words disposing my self to take my last farewell O Artemisa said I I give you my life as willingly as you will bestow some tears upon my death These words were followed with a mournful murmur of the greatest part of the standers by and immediately after putting my self into a posture to receive the fatal blow I commanded the Executioner to do his duty and stretched out my neck under the instrument of death which he lifted up into the aire to separate my head from my body O Gods cryed Caesario at this part of Alexander's Narration O Gods is it possible that you should escape death after you were reduced to such great extremities and that fortune which had brought you to so near a precipeice should be ready to succour you in such a desperate condition You shall hear replyed Alexander a very strange event and I am about to tell you of an action that can hardly be parallel'd by all antiquity Divers attributed it to folly others to a real and uncommon generosity and it is to that vertue that in memory of him who did it for my sake I will absolutely impute it instead of robbing him of a glory which is due to him which in ages to come they cannot deprive him of My neck as I told you was stretched out and the Executioner had already lifted up his arm to give the fatal Blow when he was stopped by a voice which cryed out Hold two or three times He stopt his hand which he had advanced believing it was some order from the King and turning that way from whence he heard the voice he saw a man who mounted upon the scaffold with a naked sword in his hand who presently ran him through the body and tumbled him dead at my feet At the noise he made in falling down by me I turned my self towards him who had done that action and no sooner cast my eyes upon his visage but I knew him to be Cepio who animated by the most generous courage in the world came to repair his imprudence by the boldest attempt that ever was undertaken Narcissus followed him but could not get near the Scaffold by reason of the press which environed it and the great number of Souldiers that hindred his passage Cepio had no sooner dispatched the Executioner but he seized upon his sword and coming to me Alexander said he here 's Cepio who having by his imprudence brought you to your death comes to suffer with you I cannot preserve you from it but I will change the manner of it and you will be more satisfied to die with a sword in your hand than by an infamous arm Before he had ended these words he had already cut the cord which tied my hands and gave me a sword I felt my self animated by this assistance with an extraordinary courage and looking upon Cepio with a countenance full of acknowledgment I am sorry Cepio said I that you run upon your death and you do not owe me such a reparation as this for the ill you have innocently procured me but since through your generosity we must die together let us sell our lives dearly to our most cruel enemies We had not time to make any longer discourse and we saw already the Commanders of those that guarded me followed by divers of their Souldiers mounting the Scaffold with their swords in their hands I no sooner knew the cruel Eurilochus and his companion at the head of the rest but being seized with a motion of joy for the occasion that offered it self to me to revenge those indignities they had done me I flew to Eurilochus with a threatning cry Barbarian said I I have promised to be thy death and thou shalt receive it at my hands before I fall at the
I should not dare to express my curiosity any farther but I can really assure you that it is less upon that account than out of a desire of comforting you in your displeasures if it be possible for us that I desire this knowledge The Unknown at these words held his eyes a while fixed upon the ground and afterwards raising them up to Artemisa's face Since my misfortunes have made me said he I have not declared them to any person and besides that the secrecy of them hath been of importance to me in many places where I have passed 'T is somewhat sensible to me to recal to mind by this discourselthe cause of my displeasures but a person so unordinary as you may expect extraordinary differences from me and besides the obedience which those divine beauties may hope for from the most savage souls I know too well what I owe to your generous goodness which you have expressed both in the consolation and the assistance you have given me to avoid or neglect any occasion of complying with your desires I will acquaint you without dissimulation both with my name and birth but the relation of my adventures if you desire it should be any thing large it may possibly be of too tedious a length for you and I fear I shall put you to some inconvenience by detaining you here with a discourse in which you are not certain to find any divertisement Without doubt I abuse your patience replyed Artemisa in exacting this of you but you may pardon it if you please upon the account of the interest I take already in your fortune and if this place be inconvenient for the relation I desire of you there is a house hard by at your service where you may repose your self as long as you please and possibly find some consolation to your sorrows in very agreeable company The Unknown humbly thanked the Princess for this offer and after some words of obliging contestation The condition wherein I am said he doth not permit me to receive the favor you do me I can neither stay nor take any repose in the most agreeable companies in the world though such as you offer me so long as I am possessed with these tormenting cares but since you desire to understand the Fortunes of this miserable person if you please I will satisfie your expectation here in this place The Princess having accepted his offer the Unknown after he had called his two Squires which looked to his horses hard by and given some orders to one of them came back and sate down by her upon the brim of the Fountain Sarpedon Leucippe and Tideus did the same some paces from them by Artemisa's order who prayed the Unknown to give leave that they might be present at his Narration and a little after the Stranger having mused a while upon the discourse he was to make he began in this manner The HISTORY of PHILADELPH I Would tell you Madam that by the relation which you desire of me and whereunto I dispose my self without repugnance in obedience to a person for whom I feel so extraordinary a respect you go about to revive my resentments if I could not say with greater truth that nothing is capable to asswage them and that of all the moments of my life there is not one wherein they are not present to my memory neither my long travels nor those accidents which possibly would have produced this effect in a soul less prepossessed were ever able to do it and I shall infallibly cease to live when I shall part with a remembrance which entirely possesses me and whereunto all my thoughts are chained by an eternal obligation Tarchoudemus King of Cilicia well known for his puissance and the amity and alliances he had with Anthony as long as he lived is he that sent me into the world and not having any other children living by the Queen my Mother but the Princess Andromeda my Sister and my self I am now the lawful and sole heir of his Grown This reason hath obliged him to cause me to be brought up with such great care that never possibly had any Prince greater advantages in his education than I nor more means to second good inclinations if I received any from nature my first years whereof I might tell you the employments were it not for troubling you were spent for the exercises of the mind and body whereunto my youth was formed and when the King my Father thought that I had made a passable progress in them to frame my self to a greater perfection to renew the alliances he had made with Augustus after his coming to the Empire he was about to send me to Rome to spend some years there with divers young Princes which were brought up there and to refine me from the barbarism of our own Provinces but he was diverted from this design by a report of a War wherein he found himself strongly interessed Artaxus the young King of Armenia inheriting the hatred which had along time been between his Family and the Kings of the Medes made war against Tygranes newly come to the Crown and conserving the same resentments against him as he had done against his Father by whose sollicitations as they say the Queen Cleopatra was obliged to put Artibasus to death he began to enter his Dominions and to ruine all that came in his way with a great deal of cruelty Tygranes is the King my Father's Sister Son and besides this proximity there hath always been so streight an alliance between our Families that in the affairs that have happened to either there was never known a separation of interests After two years of the War which passed so equally that Tygranes had no need of our assistance in the third fortune began to be contrary to him and having reduced him to the necessity of our succour the King my Father went to aid the King his Nephew in person I attended my Father and in this War I served my first Apprentiship in Arms There were many Battels fought and many memorable Rancounters passed wherein I had the happiness to give good hopes of my future progress by my beginnings and success did so accompany our arms that we chased Artaxus out of Media and got very considerable advantages upon the frontier Artaxus being extraordinarily exasperated and of an inclination naturally very cruel wasted all he could without pity with fire and sword and more fully to express his humour two Princes of the greatest proximity to our Family being by fortune fallen into his hands without any regard either to their birth or to humanity it self he cruelly put them to death and sent their heads to Tygranes By this cruelty the King my Father was so enflamed with choler against the King of Armenia that he solemnly sware to be revenged and in all that passed afterwards he endeavored to execute it without any consideration At last the weakness of either side did somewaâ—aâ—swage
ago in the neighbouring wood whose Image I have so dearly preserved in memory At these words this admirable person appeared more surprised than before but desiring to drive away all fear that these two rancounters might produce and to discover her at the same time what I had upon my heart I drew near her with a respect and a submission in which I felt nothing of constraint and having beheld her a while with a countenance which declared part of my thoughts to her Madam said I I drew you lately very indiscreetly from a place where you had sought your repose but if I disturbed yours I absolutely lost mine own and I will make no difficulty to confess before the persons which hear us that I left at your feet a liberty which till that day I had preserved I was bold enough to give you some knowledge of it at our parting and I cannot restrain this impetuous motion which forces me possibly against discretion to open to you at first an heart which I have given you these sentiments are rendred much more powerful in my soul by this second rancounter and I believe that the Gods and the distinies contribute to my engagement by very extraordinary accidents I confirm unto you Madam the gift I made you of my soul but I conjure you not to receive any trouble into yours either by this conformation or by my former declaration you shall receive no displeasure from my passion and all the power that my Birth gives me in these Provinces shall never give me a moments dispensation from the respect I have for you I will love you to reverence in you those miracles which the Gods have placed there I will love you to serve you at the rate of my dearest interests and I will love you to obey the force of my destiny which though I should have the will does not leave me the liberty not to love you but this love whereof I make this publick confession shall not produce any effects which you may condemn and I would suffer death a thousand times rather than give my self the liberty of the least action or the least thought that might displease you I will consider you as if you were the Daughter of the greatest King upon Earth and those marks of Virtue that appear in your countenance so dear to me that I will employ my life in its defence rather than conceive any desire of opposing it yet if the testimonies of an innocent affection which I give you without artifice may be disagreeable to you I will so imprison them in my heart and though this constraint should bring me to my grave you shall never be importuned by them This fair person re-assured her self by this discourse and finding nothing in it that the severest virtue could disallow of she heard me with patience and when I had done speaking casting her eyes upon my face which before she had fixed upon the ground and discovering to me by the light of the tapers her admirable beauties more fully than she had done before after she had been silent a while to think upon what answer she should make me she replyed with a most incomparable grace Sir said she all the trouble I could receive both by the former rancounter and by your unexspected arrival in this house might have dissipated in a soul much more fearful than mine both by the knowledge of your condition and by the marks of vertue which appear both in your countenance and discourse all the astonishment that remains Sir is to see what pains you take to give me assurances very contrary to all likelyhood and possibly very far from the truth Heaven hath bestowed but a mean beauty upon me and though it had something capable of making it self beloved the accidents and displeasures of my life have not left it in a condition to produce such extraordinary effects yet I received with all due respect the praises which you bestow upon it and the esteem you express to a poor stranger who neither in respect of her birth or fortune did ever expect from a great Prince these effects of gallantry which he might employ upon a more worthy subject Whilest she spake thus with some difficulty to express her self in our language which had already certified me that she was no native of Cilicia it seemed that all the graces composed her action and the prepossession of my soul made me believe that I saw new flashes of lightning proceed from her eyes which absolutely set me all on fire this redoubling of my passion forcing me to interrupt her about the doubt she had of it I do not believe said I divine person that I can be guilty of a lye in your presence and do not attribute I beseech you that to gallantry and artifice which proceeds from the strongest and the most sincere affection wherewith a soul can engage it self this beauty which you cannot dis-esteem without burting me may produce more sudden and more strange effects and it is neither your fortune nor the accidents of your life that can make it lose that miraculous power which ought to make all things submit to it I am yours I call the Gods to witness and I am yours in such a manner that nothing shall be able to hinder me from being so as long as I live Suffer me my divine Beauty to live in this condition and permit me sometimes to give you real assurances of it 't is only the sight of you and your discourse I desire of you and if you see me give liberty to other desires or fail in the least part of respecting you equally to the daughter of Augustus I shall not onely not think it strange that you should cast me off but I condemn my self to be eternally banished from your presence To these words I joyned a very submissive and supplicating action and the fair person to whom I addressed them having hearkned to them with patience I will believe Sir said she for fear of displeasing you that which you take so much pains to perswade me to and though all appearances are to the contrary out of the respect I owe to you I will not dispute any thing against you besides it will be difficult for me to refuse to be seen by one who is an absolute Prince in this Country whose modesty I ought not to abuse because he desires that with submission which he might obtain with authority but I will take the liberty to present to you that this manner of carriage in relation to a person so mean and so far inferiour to you to a Maid whose disasters have made her to be of a very bad humour will be little agreeable or conformable to your grandeur and if you please to give me a little more freedom I will tell you Sir that vertue wherewith I am willing to believe that you regulate all your desires will not secure me from reproach and that a Maid born in a condition
me found no attention and I could not so much as think that Delia was ready to be taken from me by a strange death without abandoning my self to a rage which could leave me nothing but furious resolutions Sister said I to the Princess if Delia die you will shortly be left alone in the royal family of Cilicia this cruel father who precipitates me to my grave shall show me the way thither himself and with the same sword which my hand ought to draw against this unfortunate heart I will pierce that Barbarian's who only gave me life to make me die cruelly These words were criminal and horrible if they had been spoken at a time when reason had had any command upon my spirit but in the condition I then was all things were pardonable and I was capable without doubt of executing whatsoever I said in the transport that possessed me In brief I made such complaints as drew tears from all that heard me and I interrupted them every moment to run to Delia's chamber door to enquire news of her health Amongst those that came to me upon the report of my affliction of whom there was a great number seeing Adrastus whose vertue and affection were dear to me Adrastus said I with a visage which sufficiently expressed the disorder of my soul you may tell the King that he hath found out the assured way of destroying his Son by the most cruel death that the most perfidious enemies could have invented Tell him that I look upon him no longer as my Father but as upon a Tiger who tears my enteral and pulls out my heart Tell him that I renounce with horrour and detestation all the ties of bloud I have to him and that if Delia dies he ought to look upon his Son as a man who only desires to live to revenge her death Adrastus and the rest shrunk their shoulders at these words and I made them some other discourse afterwards so full of trouble and the mark of my despair that the most rocky souls would have been moved to compassion at it At last Delia growing weaker and weaker and believing that her last hour was come desired to speak with me and caused me to be called I entred into her chamber and drew near her bed with a feeble and ill assured pace I fell upon my knees by her so forlorn and cast down that I was hardly able to hearken to what she had to say to me yet I did my endeavour and Delia likewise striving to express her intentions with the little strength she had left Philadelph said she I should die with some regret if I should leave you in the belief that I have been insensible of your affection and I have observed so much purity and so much vertue in it that nothing could hinder me from the acknoledgement that is due to you I protest to you before those Gods whose will it is to snatch me from you that I have esteemed you more than all the persons in the world and that if it had been in my power to express my more particular thoughts and to accept the offers which you made me I should have made you lose the opinion you have alwaies had of my ingratitude to you this is a declaration which I owe to truth and to the end that you may find satisfaction in it I will make you one more which I owe to your affection before I die wherein possibly you may find justifications against the reproaches that might be laid upon you for having too much debased your thoughts No Philadelph continued she with a great deal of pain Delia was not so unworthy of your affection as the King your Father imagined neither have you sinned so much against your self that either you or any of your relations need be ashamed after my death of the resentments you have had for me you have possibly rendred that to me before you knew me which was partly due to me and though you see me a stranger and abandoned by Fortune yet at the period of my life where I now feel my self arrived I will tell you She could hardly finish these words and when she would have proceeded she was hindred by violent fits accompanied with such cruel convulsions that I made no doubt but that she was ready to breath her last Then I fell upon her bed embracing her knees with such transports of love as brought my soul every moment to my lips and when I was constrained to leave her to give them leave to give her their last assistance I tore my face and rent my hair and did a thousand actions so full of rage and despair that my best friends trembled and did not think themselves safe near me Delia cryed I Delia stay for me or let me go before thee to the grave thou canst not leave me without cruelty and if I did not owe the remainders of my life to thy vengeance I would instantly lead thee the way to that death which ought to be common to us both I was in this condition when they presented a man to me from the King who sent to enquire concerning me I could hardly forbear from flying in the face of that hateful messenger and having been held back by those which were near me I took him by the arm and leading him to Delia's bed in a very terrible fashion See said I see the condition wherein I am by that wherein thou seest this innocent Victim of thy Masters cruelty tell that Barbarian tell that Monster that he should come and glut his eyes with this agreeable spectable he will receive a double satisfaction in seeing both her which innocently crossed his intentions and him who of his Son is now become his most cruel enemy die here before his face Sir replied the man all amazed and moved with tenderness at what be saw You do the King your Father great wrong to accuse him of this cruelty he doth not only protest before all the Gods that he is innocent of it but he hath solemnly sworn that if he can discover who are culpable of it he will cause them to be punished without any consideration I made no answer to these words nor hardly gave any attention to them being so intent upon Delia in whom at that time nature was at its utmost plunge that I was not capable of any rational discourse The Princess my Sister and those who were most affectionate to me had drawn me by force into the next chamber and I had staid there above an hour in such transports and impatiencies as you may imagine having nothing but death before my eyes in all its most horrible shapes when by a favour of Heaven which I expected not my fortune began to change and one of the men who was employed in waiting upon Delia entring hastily into my Chamber Courage Sir said he Delia may do well I made a cry at this discourse which sufficiently expressed the speedy effect it had
However it was or whatsoever might be the cause but I was so ill within a few daies that they were in no less fear for me than before they had been for Delia. The King out of the real affection he had for me dissipated the hardness of his heart and came to visit me every day but as I accused him alone for my sickness and all the displeasures which had caused it so I could not willingly see him and I received his visits with little satisfaction The Queen her self to please him visited me divers times and the Princess Urania who bare her company whatsoever cause of resentment she might have against me out of an inclination worthy of her self and purely generous was afflicted at my sickness and interessed her self in the return of my health Andromeda never stirred from my pillow and for my greater comfort Delia pale as she was after her late sickness was often other with her One day that she was by my bed-side desiring to animate me to a recovery What Sir said she will you make no resistance against your disease for their sakes who desire your health and did you only interess your self so much in mine to cause me a too just displeasure by the absence of your own Ah! Delia replied I with divers sighs the Gods have taken notice that my sufferings were uncapable of prevailing with you and it hath been their will at last to put me into a condition which might move your pity I will not tell you that I die for you that discourse would have some appearance of a reproach and Heaven is my witness that I have no intention to make you any but I will tell you and truly too that I should receive death from what cause soever it might proceed with a great deal of resignation if by it I should not lose the means of seeing and serving you or if thereby I might draw from you more particular thoughts for me than those which you have discovered to me and if they were expressed to me by some efforts which proceeded from a little love as now they proceeded from your goodness only Delia at these words looked upon me with an eye full of the marks of her compassion and laying one of her fair hands upon mine which I held out of the bed Sir said she in the name of the Gods do not accuse me that the reasons which might justifie me to you are unknown to you you shall know them as soon as I shall be permitted to discover them to you and in the mean time believe with all manner of certainty that I will rather lose my life a thousand times than fail in the acknowledgement of your affections I only desire you to have a little patience if you love me you will prevail so far with your self for my sake and I protest to you before the Gods who hear us that as soon as I shall be in a capacity to declare so much to you without meriting your disdain you shall know that all my inclinations have not proceeded from good nature and compassion only I tell you more than with decency I may continued she with a little blush but I will pass by that for the repose of a Prince to whom I owe a great deal more The real love and respect I had for Delia made me find some comfort in these words and lifting her hand to my mouth though she endeavoured to hinder me I will not die said I seeing there is some hope left I will preserve my life if it be possible since you do not esteem of it as a thing indifferent Delia was not willing to make me speak any more for fear of doing me hurt and after she had confirmed to me what she had said by a gracious look she retired her self She was scarcely out of the Chamber but the King came in and having understood before he came near my bed that my disease grew every day worse and worse and that without flattering him they could not conceal from him that I was in great danger he drew near me full of tenderness and having found me in a worse condition than they had represented to him after he was fate by the side of my bed and had taken one of my hands which he pressed a great while between his without speaking My Son said he is it possible that you will let your self die 'T is time to die answered I since my life is odious to you Ah! Philadelph cried the King with tears that came into his eyes with that approach take heed the Gods do not punish you for the outrage you do me and believe the protestation which I make you before them that my own life is not so dear to me as yours Ah! Sir said I if that were so you would not have abandoned it those torments which have reduced it to that extremity you see and you would not see your Son ready to die under the cruel persecutions you have made him suffer No Sir continued I strugling with my weakness to express my resentments No Sir I could not live without Delia and seeing I was not permitted to think upon her without disobeying you and throwing her into the danger wherein I saw her a few daies since I have been willing to prevent this misfortune and the continuance of my disobedience by a death which is the dearer to me and which I heartily embrace since by that I shall be freed from the miseries to which my life was exposed I leave it without any other regret than this that it hath been disagreeable to you and I quit it the more willingly because it would be impossible for me to preserve it without the hope of bestowing it absolutely upon Delia. I uttered these words with a vehemence above my strength and the King having hearkned to them with a great deal of grief and tenderness fixed his eyes upon the ground and continued a long while without being able to reply At last after a great contest in his spirit having taken his resolution and turning his eyes towards me Philadelph said he 't is true I opposed the passion you had for Delia after I knew she did not only divert you from the designs I had for you but likewise that you had an intention to marry a strange unknown Maid of so different a birth from your own the reasons I had for it were so great that if you had never so little reason left your self you could not dis-approve of them and they are so well known to you that it is not necessary for me to repeat them No Philadelph there is no Father but would have done as much at least and would have employed his authority more publickly to divert his only Son and the Heir of a great Kingdom from a Marriage so unequal and unsuitable to his dignity Philadelph I would still give part of my Dominions to wean you from this resolution if it were possible and if you
my kindred besides him that caused my production into the world He quitted his Countrey in the times of the wars of Julius Cesar by whom his native Countrey was made desolate and out of the aversion which he had against the Enemy of his Country he a little after engaged himself in the party of Pompey the Great where he bare arms with honour and applied himself particularly to his service Pompey the Great honoured him with his affection and married him to a Lady of a noble Roman Family and kept him inseparably in his Retinue to the end of his daies This time was of no long continuance for the unfortunate Pompey after the overthrow at Pharsalia found his death where he sought for refuge and perished upon the shore of Pelusium by the infidelity of Ptolomee Briton for that was my Father's Name not being able to comfort himself for the loss of so great a Master nor to follow the fortune of his Wife Cornelia who from aboard her own Vessel saw with her own eyes the deplorable death of so illustrious an Husband setled himself in a corner of Egypt with his Wife of whom a few daies after I was born and a little after death took her away as my Father afterwards related to me Briton having but one Son left of his whole Family sought all his consolations in him alone and seeing himself by the liberality of Pompey the Great and by the gift of great store of Jewels of great value which he had received of him to be in a condition to pass his daies without being exposed to any necessity he employed part of those goods which might have been converted to other uses to the education of a Son in whom he had established all his hopes Nothing was spared for my bringing up no more than if I had been born of some great Prince and my father very often perceiving that they with whom he was acquainted blamed the excessive expence he was at for me a little conformable to the condition wherein he then was told them that he made all his goods to consist in me alone and that he could not employ them better than to put me into a capacity one day to repair the ruines of my Fortune by my Vertue But I owed much more to his cares than to those of my Masters which he gave me and by his examples and instructions he formed both my mind and body much more advantagiously than all the persons of whom he caused me to learn either Sciences or Exercises With truth I may say he nourished me like Achilles and though I fed not upon the Marrow of Lions as by the care of Chiron the Son of Peleus did at least after the example of that famous Governor he framed my body in my tender years to the most rough and violent Exercises No sooner could I go but he led me a hunting and after I began to have some strength he did not accustom me any longer to pursue the timorous sort of beasts but those which could not be approached without danger and against which I might make some apprentiship of my valour He made me with my Bow in my hand and my Quiver at my back to traverse the Forrests and Mountains on foot and he did in such sort banish from my education all delicacy and effeminateness that persons of the age I now am cannot possibly be more robustious or more capable of all sort of toil and travel than I was in my infancy Although I was brought up in Egypt Briton was never willing that I should come near the Court of Cleopatra and he had such an aversion from every thing that might bring again into his mind the memory of the murtherers of his Master that all that was reported of the magnificences of Alexandria where so many young Princes were brought up with the children of Anthony never gave him any desire to bring me thither I confess likewise that I never moved him to it and though I was tickled with the relation which I heard made of things more conformable to my humour than my solitude and the mediocrity of my Fortune yet I had inclinations like to those of my Father and whether he inspired them into me by his discourse or his example or whether they proceeded from my own nature I had a repugnance against those persons whose memory and name were odious unto him upon his Master's account In this while he perceived in me by many marks a courage elevated above our condition he saw me disdain those things at which my ambition according to all likelihood ought to aim to u dervalue those which were my equals in Fortune if by an extraordinary merit they were not worthy of a particular esteem to aspire eternally to things above me and in all my discourses and in my actions to express resentment very disproportionable to the estate wherein we were Sometimes he used endeavours to subdue that which he saw excessive and immoderate in my courage and foreseeing in part the evils to which it hath often exposed me he set before my eyes the condition of our Fortune to make my spirit comply unto it and in some sort to restrain the impetuosity of my nature But when he saw that he had unprofitably employed his pains and that all the docility and deference which I had for his instructions could not abase my thoughts he repented himself of the endeavours he would have used to humble me and regarding me with eyes wherein his affection sometimes produced tears Go said he unto me young man worthy of a better destiny follow thy haughty inclinations whither soever they may call thee I cannot prescribe limits to thy ambition and by that I may possibly one day see thee above that envious fortune by which we have been ruined In finishing these words he most times turned away his eyes from my face and seemed in such sort mollified by his passion that as very a child as I was I could not see him in that condition without being touched by an extraordinary emotion In this time by the famous War between Octavius Caesar and Anthony the Countries of Egypt were covered with Soldiers and this place beheld it self the fatal field wherein the quarrel of the whole Universe was to becided Although I was but 13 or 14 years of age I did already burn with impatience to throw my self into occasions of getting glory and though by the inclinations I had to follow the resentments of my Father both parties weere almost equally odious to me yet the name of Caesar to the aversion from which I had been accustomed made his side yet more my enemy and I had followed Anthonies sooner than han his if the intentions of my Father had complied with mine I was not unapt for any kind of Exercise and I had acquired such strength by the laboriousness of hunting and other employments wherein my Father had continually exercised me that a man of thirty years of
pursue with fire and sword the hateful bloud of those who contributed to the death of King Artibasus At this time by the great advantages we gained Media began to totter and Tigranes was really in great danger to see himself entirely ruined if the Gods had not sent him succour The King of Cilicia his ally and the Prince Philadelph his Son came with a puissant army to his assistance and revived his almost dying hopes By so great a supply the face of things began to be changed and we having to deal with a power greater than our own we proceeded with more caution than before and thought now upon defending our selves whereas before all our thoughts were only bent upon assaulting the Enemy Several bettels were fought the success whereof was doubtful wherein the advantage inclined sometimes to the one sometimes to the other party but in the last wherein I was for the King of Armenia's service the glory was intirely mine which not withstanding was counterballanced with one of the most sensible displeasures that ever I received in my life Ariston and Theomedes two Nephews of the King of Cilicia being departed from their Camp with 2000 Horse and 5 or 6000 Foot to go and surprize a small place which we had taken the year before and the King of Armenia having intelligence of their march and the condition they were in thought good that with a number of men little different from theirs I should go and encounter them and fight them as I should find occasion I departed I marched with great diligence and met the enemies before they were arrived at the place which they went to surprize The fight began and was maintained doubtful a long time but at length the victory fell to us and it fell to us so entire that almost all the Souldiers of the enemy were cut in pieces and the two chief Commanders being preserved alive in the battel by the care I took of their safety remained my prisoners I comforted them for their disgrace I promised them all manner of good usage and I returned from thence with my troop being victorious and laden with spoils to the King of Armenia he made me a wel-come which sufficiently testified what notice he took of this action and expressed an excessive joy for my good success and the taking of the two Cilician Princes whom he presently put under a strict guard and employed almost all the rest of this day in praising and caressing me Upon the morrow I no sooner appeared before him but he fell again upon my praises and in terms full of Elogies extolled in the presence of the Principal Commanders this last action promising me for it excessive recompence I then took my time for a request which I had to make and after that I had answered the praises he gave me with as much modesty as I possibly could Sir said I to him this slight action whereupon your Majesty sets so high an esteem is too well recompensed by the goodness you shew in accepting of it but if your Majesty judges me worthy to obtain any thing as a reward of this petty service I request of you the liberty of the two chief Commanders of the enemy which I brought prisoners and which yielded themselves to me upon the hope I gave them of being treated conformable to their condition Britomarus replyed the King to me with an action which expressed the little intention he had to grant me what I had desired of him your services are worthy without doubt of a greater recompense than what you desire of me and I shall requite you for them in such a manner that you shall have no reason to judge me ungrateful but I cannot grant you this you demand of me without violating an oath which all humane considerations are not capable to make me infringe and I do not so much esteem the other fruits of your victory and all the progress we have in the beginning of this Campania as I do the means I have to let the King of Cilicia know by the present I will send him of his two Kinsmen's heads after what manner I mean to make war with him and how ill advised he hath been to bear arms against a Prince which never offended him These cruel words of Artaxus made me tremble and beholding him with some horror What Sir said I to him can you find in your heart to put to death two prisoners of war so highly descended as Ariston and Theomedes And though I should not request their lives of you for all the services I have rendred you can you take them away from Princes escaped from the heat of the battel taken with their Swords in their hand in a just war and which never did you any particular offence The King did not approve of the liberty of my speech and answered me with a more serious countenance than before I shall be able to do it without doubt and in revenge of my Father I shall yet do things which may seem to you more cruel which nevertheless pass for just in my lawful resentments but do not alarm your self any more at it and be not so earnest for a thing wherein you have so little interest Have I but little interest in t it Sir replyed I Ah! I have interest in it as in the defence of my own life as in the conservation of my own honour and when either of them shall be in the extremity of danger I shall not be more interessed It is by my means that you have these prisoners in your power it was to me they rendred themselves whilest yet they had their arms in their hands whereby they might have found either safety or a glorious death and I cannot see them come to be put to death upon my parole without exposing my self with them to the greatest cruelty that your resentment prepares for them you forget your self said Artaxus to me bending his brows and possible it would be better for you to contain your self within the bounds of respect and not fly out in this manner for enemies which must and shall Perish though all the world should joyn their solicitations with yours for their safety And I will perish with them replyed I so transported that I had hardly any understanding left to consider his dignity and I cannot part with my life with less regret than in sacrificing it to my word and compassion for these men and the displeasure to see my services so ungratefully acknowledged you have received them from my inclination and not from my duty and it is by my own will only that I am engaged to give you that respect you require of me which by my birth you cannot exact of a man that was not born your subject The choler of the King of Armenia was mightily moved at these words and looking upon me with eyes sparkling with indignation Insolent said he to me it is the rank whereunto by an excess of favour I have
desire death both in the perseverance of Cleopatra to hate him and in the carrying away of Cleopatra to which he believed himself to have contributed by the feebleness which as he thought he had shewed in her defence The great and prodigious efforts which he had made use of in this occasion seemed unto him unworthy of his ordinary valour and looking upon himself with disdain Ah my hand said he ah my strength in what necessity have ye basely abandoned me and in what occasion could ye have been more necessary than in the defence of Cleopatra ye have seconded my courage with success when I have fought for the interests of Caesar and when I have employed you for the recovery of a Crown and you disgrace your selves and quit me when the conservation of my Princess is conserned Ah ye Gods which vouchsafe no pity to the miseries of my life by what crimes could I possibly draw your eternal wrath upon my head was it not enough for the unfortunate Coriolanus to be exposed to the hatred and disdain of Cleopatra but that he must have also the displeasure to see Cleopatra between the arms of those inhumane ravishers which possibly may rob him of her sight for ever He continued some moments in judging wherein he was most unhappy whether in his disgrace or in the carrying away of Cleopatra but after he had reasoned with himself a while Ah! said he let us make no judgment upon it we are unfortunate in the same degree both in the one and the other and the misfortune of being hated and disdained by Cleopatra could not have been equalized but by the loss of Cleopatra Alas added he in pursuance of a thought which succeeded the former but for this misfortune I had possibly been upon the point to give a cessation to the former when these Barbarians interrupted us I was about to have learned of my Princess the crime whereof I am accused and no doubt but in the evidences of my innocencé which she would have discovered I should have found my justication But Fortune that Enemy of mine which without pity hath declared her self for my ruine could not dissemble in this accident and it was not from her that I ought to expect this favour seeing it is by her means that I lose all and by her it is that I see my self exposed to eternal miseries She did not present Cleopatra to me contrary to my expectation but to redouble my misfortunes by this last assurance of her indignation and to ruine me utterly with the regret of seeing that which I adore totally changed as she is and as to me insensible fallen into the power of those Monsters which have ravished her from my eyes Let us follow nevertheless added he let us follow that we love even to the utmost end of our life and let us render the succours we owe without any consideration Cleopatra is possibly no more lost to us in the arms of her ravishers than she will be in the embraces of Tyberius or of some other rival to whom she may have destined her self and we shall reap no advantage to our selves by the succour which we give her if it please the Gods that we be so happy as to give her any and yet we ought to employ our selves in her service even to the last drop of our bloud and though we should take her out of the hands of our ravishers only to put her into the hands of Tyberius we must close our eyes to our own interest blindly to involve our selves in hers and leaving her all the remorse which her change may cause in her die in the glory and satisfaction of having done our duty even to the end of our life In these discourses and these thoughts which accompanied his course the afflicted Prince traversed all the Wood and came to the Sea-shore where by a misfortune like to that of Caesario some dayes before he lost all track of the horses which till then he had exactly followed He continued in this place unresolved looking about him on every side and considering upon the choice of the way he was to take and he was in this condition when a Cavalier clad in rich and stately armour and gallantly mounted passing some paces from him made a stop to take a view of him Coriolanus to refresh himself from the heat which he had endured had his beaver up and his face was almost entirely discovered this was that which stayed the Unknown who presently knew the lineaments which he had engraved in his memory and whilst that Coriolanus marched by the Sea-cost but much more slowly than he had done till then out of the uncertainty he was in which way to take the Unknown marched seven or eight paces from him by his side having his eyes still fixed upon his visage and marking in his action a great deal of uncertainty and irresolution The King of Mauritania being attentive only to the pursuit of Cleopatra scarcely took any heed of him and when he did perceive him he took him for one of those which he had seen a little before go in pursuit of the ravishers In this thought and others wherein he was too profoundly engaged he followed the way he had taken without speaking to him and they passed some furlongs together in this condition till the Prince lifting up his head and seeing this man still by his side with all the appearances of a person that had to me design against him he began likewise to view him with some attention and was about to ask him what he was and to what intent he followed him when the Unknown preventing him and breaking silence first which till then he had kept Ah! I have considered too much cryed he I must die or be the death of this perfidious whom I have fought so long Speaking these words he drew his sword and opposing the Prince in his passage Defend thy self Son of Juba said he to him I must give death or receive it The Mauritanian Prince who was not naturally over-patient and who had at that time his humour exasperated by his discontent easily disposed himself to the Combat and he would with all his heart have made the efforts of his choler to have fallen upon the first object that presented it self if he had not found it an obstacle to the speediness of his pursuit This hindrance did somewhat abate the first motions of his anger and looking upon the man which stood before him with his sword advanced And what art thou said he to him as he was putting down the Beaver of his Helmet and laying his hand upon his Sword Thou which demandest the Combat of me at a time wherein my stay is worse than the death thou threatnest me withall I am replyed the Unknown the greatest of thy Enemies that 's enough to oblige thee to fight Yes 't is enough answered the furious Coriolanus and it may be too much for thy life Speaking these words
in memory of them we can refuse nothing Though I am ignorant of all other crimes I cannot be ignorant of this wherewith my conscience reproaches me that I have lifted up my sword against thee and my friendship which is not altered by the attempts which thou hast made against my life though thou knew'st me will never pardon me those which I made against thine though I knew thee not Whilst Coriolanus spake in this manner Marcellus who had stay'd himself after he had seen him cast away his sword looking upon him with an hundred different motions which were remarkable in the changing of his countenance but his soul being pre-possessed with an opinion which made all the discourses of Coriolanus to pass for false and full of artifice they did not work that effect upon his spirit which according to the excellency of his nature they should have done and after he had hearkned to him with impatience enough taking the word with an action altogether passionate Ah unworthy and unfaithful Friend said he to him to what end doth this dissimulation serve thee hast thou found any thing in this encounter which thou didst not expect and canst thou hope for any remainders of friendship in the soul of Marcellus after thy ungrateful and unworthy usage of him and hath he made it appear in the affairs thou hast had with Caesar that his interests were more dear to him than thine and could he have any thought of depriving thee of Cleopatra after he had done all that he had done to make her thine No Coriolanus never seek farther for an artificial disguisement of a perfidiousness which thou wouldst not have concealed from any man Retake rather that sword which thy remorse and not the remainders of thy friendship hath made thee quit and if it be not to defend a life which was more dear to me than my own let it be to make him perish who as long as he lives will justly reproach thee with thy infidelity But tell me said Coriolanus interrupting him Tell me in the name of the Gods what infidelity is that which I have committed against Cleopatra and against my self What is the crime for which I wander up and down as a vagabond and exposed to all manner of misfortunes without having received any knowledge of it and what have I done that could make those persons for whose sake only I live to become my most cruel and implacable enemies I desire O Marcellus either this favour of thee or my death and in stead of that resistance which thou desirest of me that thou mayest give me the more honourable death I will cast away not only my sword but these arms too which oppose the passage of thine The resentment and the natural goodness of Marcellus made at that time a combat in his Spirit which Coriolanus might take notice of by some tears which trickled from his eyes and all the indignation that transported him could not hinder him from seeing in the visage of his Enemy the resemblance of that person whom he had most dearly loved in the World Yet he opposed himself to these motions as much as possibly he could and beholding him with eyes wherein through his choler and despite something of tenderness and compassion might be discerned Go unworthy Man said he to him the Gods shall punish thee for me and seeing it is not for the hand of Marcellus who unfortunately was thy friend that the vengeance of thy crimes is reserzed Heaven which begins to punish thee with evils which I never wish thee will bestow upon thy infidelity better than I can do the pains that are due unto it With these words without looking any more upon Coriolanus he ran to his horse which was not far distant from him and getting upon him with admirable readiness he put him to full speed and in a few moments disappeared from the eyes of Coriolanus The Prince remained so confounded and so afflicted both together at this last accident that he could find no means to serve himself of that great courage from which in the misfortunes of his life he had received so great assistances and repassing his memory in a moment over the deplorable condition of his life and those things which had happened unto him that day from the astonishment which these strange events produced in him he fell into a passion of grief that all his constancy was not able to support Besides that Cleopatra was incensed or changed and ravished from his eyes by her barbarous Enemies he found Marcellus in whose amity alone he had founded his last hope more changed than Cleopatra and as much his Enemy as Tiberius could be He could not make this reflection without abandoning himself to grief and breaking silence wherein his astonishment had kept him a long time Ah cryed he This is it to dispute too much against the destinies there is a necessity of dying since our life is odious to all the persons we love and the earth which might furnish me with places of refuge from the powers of Augustus hath none for me against the hatred of Cleopatra and the enmity of Marcellus I must content this pitiless Fortune which after it had raised me enemies which I might have resisted by force and valour arms Enemies to my utter ruine against which my courage and my valour are not capable to defend me I owe my blood to Cleopatra to repair that offence whatsoever it may be which I have committed against her I owe my bloud to Marcellus to wash away that infidelity wherewith he reproaches me and I shall give it unto them both without regret if by my death I may justifie my life and testifie unto them by my end that I never had a soul capable of ingratitude and treason He took up then full of a deadly resolution the sword which he had cast upon the ground and in the transport which then possessed him he had possibly executed some horrid thing against himself if he had not called to mind at the same time that Cleopatra was the prey of Barbarians amongst whom her Honour and her Life were in hazard and that he owed her his assistance even to the extremity of his life This remembrance stay'd the effects of his despair and fixing all his thoughts in an instant upon the assistances which he he owed to this Princess Stay Marcellus said he I will acquit my self towards thee when I shall have acquitted my self towards Cleopatra I have no less a quarrel with her than with thee and besides the reparations which I owe to the infidelity wherewith she reproaches me as well as thou I am obliged in the condition wherein I have seen her to succour her to the last of that bloud which thou demandest of me At these words sheathing his Sword he dreamed of nothing more than to pusue after the ravishers of Cleopatra but by a redoubled misfortune he found himself on foot and casting his eyes upon his horse
commanded the greatest part of my Troops this young Warrior who in an age scarcely distinguishable from infancy might already be really accounted the most valiant that ever wore a Sword quitted my service and to my misfortune carried elsewhere the effects of an admirable valour which would have been very necessary for me against the re-inforcement of my Enemies The course of my good successes was stopt and my Enemies being stronger than I had some advantages which made me lose all that I had gained in Media and after some Combats wherein Fortune was not very favourable unto me I was constrained to retire upon my frontire where I made preparations for the last decision of our quarrel when Augustus employed his authority to appease our differences and sent Mecenas and Domitius with order not to depart from our Countries before they had concluded a peace between us I had that repugnance against it that you know of and the Kings my Enemies bing exasperated by the death of some of their near Relations whom I had sacrificed to the Ghost of Artibasus had no more disposition to it than my self But we must needs yield to the will of Caesar and when it was declared on his part that he would arm in favour of him who submitted first against him who made most resistance neither of us was bold enough to oppose it any longer and having signed the Articles which Mecenas and Domitius presented to us we both of us laid down arms and contented our selves to keep our animosity in our breasts without making it appear any more I retired to Artaxata whither a little after Caesar whether it were that he desired to have them as hostages of the treaty we had made or that from the relation he had heard made of them he had conceived a desire to see them and have them with him sent to demand of me the Prince Ariobarzanes my Brother and the Princess Arsinoe my Sister to have them brought up at Rome to frame in them inclinations to the Roman party and to treat them like divers Sous and Daughters of the Kings his Friends and Allies which were brought up with him and the Empress Livia This effect either of the amity of distrust or Caesar troubled me at first and yet the pretence was so fair that I could not handsomly refuse that which he demanded and the Prince and Princess at the first proposition which was made to them of it having expressed no unwillingness to the Voyage I caused a magnificent equipage to be prepared for them and sent them from Artaxata they crossed a part of Armenia and coasted Licia and Pamphilia by Land and afterwards they embarqued upon the Egean Sea but they embarqued in an unlucky hour and a few days after by means of a terrible tempest they suffered a cruel shipwrack and lost under the Waves their lives which were worthy of a better destiny You may well believe that an accident so deplorable the relation of blood only might produce in me very sensible displeasures but besides this natural resentment Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe were two persons so uncommon and so accomplished in the perfection of mind and body that it would have been hard for any to have known them without shedding abundance of tears for their death The Gods took out of the world all that was great and amiable in our family and depriving me of a Brother and a Sister worthy of the esteem and the affection of the whole world they have left me only one Sister worthy of the general scorn a Sister which by her baseness and infidelity hath stained with a shameful blot the illustrious blood from whence she is descended and hath raised me all these troubles of spirit for which I have abandoned my Kingdom and by the means whereof I find my self in a strange condition Time had now given some consolation to the grief which I had suffered for the sad shipwrack of half our family and I believe in peace though against my will at a time when I might have ruined Tigranes by joyning with the King of Parthia his enemy against whom he made War with successes wherein Fortune diversly sported her self if I had not been hindred by the authority of Augustus who would never permit me to break the peace which he had made me make with the Medians nor to give my assistance to the Parthians the cruel Enemies of the Roman name with whom he could not endure that his friends should have any alliance I passed my life I say in this forced tranquility when to overthrow my repose and blast the honour of our Royal house Alexander the Son of Anthony and Cleopatra a worthy object of my lawful vengeance came unknown to my Court with a design to give me yet more subjects of hatred than those I had against him and his for the cruel death of the King my Father Tyridates interrupted the King of Armenia in this part of his discourse Alexander the Son of Anthony said he to him who was believed to be lost at that time when I was at Rome or at least there was no news of him was in Armenia then He was there but too fatally replyed Artaxus and Fortune which in appearance presented him to me to satisfie my just resentments served her self with him to render them more violent and to carry on my displeasure to the last extremities I know you will condemn my rigour in the design I had to render what I ought to the Manes of Artibasus and the Oath I had made but that shall not hinder me from relating to you the naked truth nor from expecting from you that you should approve part of that I would have done out of a sense of pity or paternal love and honour it self too much interessed in the bloody injury which he had received After these words he recounted to him all that had passed at Artaxata after he had known Alexander there the taking of that Prince his cruel imprisonment the solicitations of Artemisa for his safety the extremity of danger whereunto he arrived and in fine all that which Alexander himself related to Caesario till his departure from Armenia and the carrying away of Artemisa Tyridates did not hear this relation without great pain though it was made by a person interessed who did partly sweeten the greatest strangness of his actions by the excuses he made for them and besides that he naturally detested cruelty the friendship he had contracted with Coriolanus and the acquaintance he had at Rome with the Princess Cleopatra Prince Ptolomee and the greatest part of young Alexander's kindred put him into great fear for him in the recital of the dangers he had run and made him very averse from the cruelty of Artaxus The impatience he had to hearken to him sufficiently appeared in his countenance but when he saw Alexander escape from the rage of his Enemy he composed himself and all the complacence which probably he ought to have
follow the destiny of your Father I see my self reduced by my destiny to hearken to discourses whereunto possibly at another time and amongst other persons I should not have been exposed but I support it with patience and it is just that I should suffer something from him who hath received so cruel a displeasure from my relations If by my discourses replyed I you suffer any thing the Gods are my witnesses it is not by my intention and it shall never be out of revenge that I give you my heart and despoil my self of my liberty Your powers are too well known by your self to let you find any strangeness in this change and though you have not contributed to it by your own design yet you will not be innocent of it if you do not look with pity upon the evil you have done me Cleopatra then composed her countenance to gravity and severity more than before and looking upon me with a coldness accompanied with some disdain You shall never be in a condition said she to me to have need of my pity and it shall never be my intention to reduce you to it I shall be very much obliged to you if for my sake you would abandon the desires of revenge you have conceived against the remainders of our family but if you please I will pass by that or if I require any effect of your goodness it is only this that you would cause us to be conducted to Alexandria the passage over thither is very short and there without doubt you shall receive thanks from Caesar for the good office you have rendred to persons who are not indifferent to him These word of Cleopatra did not presently receive an answer and the request she made to me was very unconformable to my intentions Fortune had put her into my hands by a too extraordinary adventure to make me lose all the advantage of it so quickly and if her beauty had freed her from my choler I could not consent that her return to her Friends should so speedily rob my love of her I saw that in the very place where she was subject to my power and where in respect of the danger she had run she had some cause to fear me she appeared little disposed to any compliance with my love and I had reason enough to fear that when she should be no longer in the place where I might serve my self with those advantages which fortune had given me near her she would reject my affections with disdain whereof I had noted some marks in her visage and her last expressions This consideration made me resolve not to have her back to Alexandria till I had better sounded her inclinations and judged whether I might hope for any acknowledgement of my love from her when she should be at liberty yet as my passion made me affraid to displease her I dissembled my design to her and after I had told her that I was disposed to obey her will I prayed her to pass out of her own vessel which was broken and unprofitable for navigation into mine which was in a condition to do us service The Princess passed into it with her Maids and the few men that were left the rest having lost their lives in the resistance which they would have made against us Of two Chambers that were in the vessel I left her the best where having intreated her to repose her self a while I retired my self into the other with my men and having caused those to be called who had the care of conducting the vessel I commanded them to sail slowly towards Alexandria but not to land and to keep themselves along the coast some furlongs from the City I caused them to take this way though as I told you my intention was not to go to Alexandria partly not to allarm the Princess and partly because the wind stood that way and was quite contrary to our return for Armenia A little after night came on and we having cast Anchor in a place where we found ground we passed the night at so near a distance that if the darkness had not hindred us we might have seen the walls of Alexandria Some while after I returned to the Princess from whom I could stay no longer without great constraint and being entred into some discourse with her she prayed me to inform her what displeasure I had received from Prince Alexander her Brother for whom she was extreamly in pain having heard no news of him since the arrival of his Equipage at Rome after his return from Pannonia I made some difficulty at the first to satisfie her desire fearing to incense her against me by the use I shewed to her Brother but because I naturally hate to dissemble I was willing to let her understand the truth and beginning to speak after a short interval of silence Madam said I I cannot give you a more perfect testimony of the power you have over me than in making the relation you require I fear truly that by recounting what I have done and what I would have done against your relations I shall incur your aversion and if you do not excuse me by the just subject of my resentments without doubt you will condemn them of effects contrary to clemency but seeing it is impossible to disobey you and my humour shall never be to conceal my most secret thoughts from you and lastly what I have done against your Brother is less criminal than that which I have undertaken against you I will inform you of all without any disguise After these words I related to her all that had happened to her Brother in Armenia in the same manner that I related it but now to you and though I endeavoured in some places to smooth over the roughness of my proceedings I could not do it so but that the Princess was troubled very often and found in the confession which I made to her great cause to hate me During my discourse I took notice of it divers times by the change of her countenance and by some exclamations which she made in those parts of my relation wherein she saw her Brother in the greatest extremity of danger but when I was at the end of my narration looking upon me with eyes wherein her new resentment was expressed whatsoever she did to disguise it I must needs tell you said she and I cannot hinder my self from doing it that to have been capable of what you have recounted to me you must have been the issue of a Lion or some thing yet more cruel and this perseverance to make an innocent Prince die a shameful death joyned with an obstinacy against pity which so many objects and so many reasons ought to have introduced into your soul expresses an harshness of nature which I should never have suspected in the Son of a King If my cruelty against your Brother replyed I merits the horrour which you express at it you will hardly excuse
longer nor constrain an Husband who loves thee too well to abandon thee to the rigours of Justice which will bring us both to our graves He pronounced these words with a very terrible gesture but the Queen was not affrighted at it but looking upon him with more disdain than before Neither thy threats said she nor thy caresses shall ever move me and thy threatnings are more dear to me than the protestations of thy love thou dost more naturally act this latter part than the former and there is no necessity for thee to constrain thy self for a person to whom the death which she expects from thy cruelty will be a thousand times more pleasing than all the proofs of thy affections Thou shalt dye then since 't is thy will cryed Herod full of fury and transport thou shalt dye Woman unworthy of the care I took of thy safety unworthy of my love and now devoted to the justice of a King and an Husband who hath been injured in the most sensible part I was too weak to interess my self in the conservation of thy life but now thou hast nothing to ground any hope of it upon but only thy justification and the evident proofs of thy innocence My friends continued he turning himself towards them to whom he had given Commission to be her Judges perform now your charge with all liberty and do not any longer look upon this woman as the spouse of Your King but as a woman which hath base and shamefully violated her duty to the Law of God her own honour and her Husbands love Having spoken these words he went out of the Chamber so terrible that he made all he met in his passage tremble for fear Only Mariamne seemed little moved at it and when the Judges according to Herod's last command would have examined her she did not vouchsafe to open her mouth but only to pray them to be gone and leave her in quiet Herod was no sooner returned to his lodgings but he was visited by Salome and Pheroras and he had no sooner told them that which he called the last effect of his weakness and the last proofs he had received of Mariamnes inflexibility but the revengeful Salome and Pheroras being interessed by the envy they had alwayes born to the authority of Mariamne after they had a long time blamed him for the action he had lately done as ill-beseeâ—ing his dignity and being contrary to all the laws of prudence they represented to him as vehemently as they could that he ought no longer to be negligent and that if he left so obstinate an enemy any longer in the World she would infallibly attempt against his life what she had already attempted and possibly executed against his honour Herod drunk with rage gave ear to them but too patiently and when he had understood that the Queen had refused to answer those who had the charge to examine her and that they were gone out of the prison without getting one word from her by the pernicious Counsel of Salome he commanded to put Sohemus and the Eunuch Philon to the torture with order to omit no kind of torment to draw out of their mouths a confession capable to condemn the Queen with some form of Justice Joseph in regard of his birth was not exposed to the rack but Herod in an hasty rage sent executioners that strangled him the same day in the prison though he were not convinced of any crime but of having revealed his Masters secret to Mariamne This sudden execution would have amazed the Jews if they had not been used to see such actions proceed from their King every day and if they had not known too well that death was familiar with him upon the least motion of his passions Alexander moved at the misfortune of her Daughter as in all likelihood she ought to be used all means for justification but she had not Herod's ear which her enemies had possessed and by all the power she had over her Daughter she could never oblige her to take any care to verifie her innocence or to be reconciled to her Husband All the world believed that it had been but willing to have endeavoured it and as resolute as she was not to seek the friendship of this cruel man he would never possibly have consented to her death if the things which happened afterwards had not cruelly contributed unto it I am very unwilling Sir pursued Arsanes looking pitifully upon Tyridates to let you know the part you have in the death of this great Princess and if I could without disobeying you and without varying from the truth which you will understand from other mouths I would spare you the displeasure you may receive from thence Make an end said Tyridates with a deadly look my grief is not in a condition to receive any augmentation by the particularities of thy discourse and since Mariamne is gone out of the World the ways whereby she went cannot at all change my condition I will tell you then since it is your pleasure pursued Arsanes that before they put Sohemus and Eunuch Philon to the torment Salome gave express order to those who had the charge of the business to examine them and press them by torments upon what had passed betwixt the Queen and Prince Tyridates believing that if she could represent that a little to Herod 's memory she should carry him to any thing she would desire Her orders were punctually executed and the two men were fearfully tormented but whatsoever they made Sohemus suffer to make him reveal the favours which they pretended he had received of the Queen whereby he had been obliged to betray his Master's secret they could not draw one word out of his mouth but what tended to the glory and advantage of Mariamne He confessed that out of weakness or out of compassion which he had of the miseries of that Princess he had permitted himself so far as to discover to her the cruel orders which Herod had given him and that he never intended to put them in execution but when they questioned him concerning his or Joseph's love to the Queen he denyed it to them with so much constancy and answered them with so much candor and resolution that they easily judged both the Queen and himself to be innocent by his answers The Eunuch though inferior to him in strength of body and courage endured the first torments with resolution enough and having nothing to say of the Queen to this purpose but what served for her justification he kept to the naked truth whatsoever pains they made him suffer but at last being examined upon what had pass'd between the Queen and Tyridates and the torments being renewed with more cruelty than before upon the solicitation of Salome he was not able any longer to resist them but said to those which tormented him that if they would give him a little respite he would declare all he knew concerning that business The torments
of the children she left in the World as so tender an age that they were not yet capable to understand the loss they received Her cruel Enemies fearing lest that Herod should return to his right mind and making a rational reflection upon what was done should recall the inhumane sentence which he had pronounced hastened all things against all forms and gave no time to love and reason to produce the effects they feared Poor Sohemus and the miserable Eunuch were first sacrificed and Salome sent Executioners to strangle them in the Prison They say Sohemus died like a man of courage and protested the Queens Vertue and Innocence to his last gasp for whose death he expressed more sorrow than for his own Those which went into the Prison with the Queen to prepare her to die reported afterwards that she scarcely changed her countenance at their sad discourse and that she received news capable to daunt the most hardy spirits with such an assurance as shamed her Enemies and confirmed them to their confusion in the opinion they themselves had of her Vertue Nothing of passion appeared either in her countenance or discourse she never spâ—ke better sense or with more temper and there proceeded out of her mouth neither complaint nor word which might make one judge that she went to die unwillingly nay they who sometimes saw her passionate against Herods inhumanity when she was provoked by the death of her near kindred found her much more moderate as to her own and observed no new resentment in her for this last effect of his cruelty She only said to those who were present at her last actions Tell Herod that 't is this day that I begin to receive a good office from him and that I accept the present which he hath pleased to send me and with more joy and acknowledgment than ever I did all the testimonies of his love I can nevertheless protest before the God which we adore and I owe this justification to my memory and the blood from which I am descended that the repugnance which his cruelties have caused in me either to his manners or person never inclined me to the least thought of offending against my own honour or the duty of a Wife Tell him that the blood of Joseph and Sohemus which he hath shed will cry for vengeance against him and that if I be culpable at my death it is because that by my imprudence I have caused the ruine of those innocent persons As for Tyridates I thank God I feel no remorse of conscience that can accuse me of the least fault against my Husband and I hold no other thoughts for his person but of acknowledgment and esteem as due to his vertue Tell him that I beseech him if I may beseech him at my death that he would stop the current of his cruelties with me and look with more affection and pity upon the Children which Heaven hath bestowed upon us upon whom the rage of our Enemies may extend it self if he do not remedy it After this supplication I pardon him for my death with all my heart and I pardon Salome too for it though she might have contented her self to hasten the end of my dayes without blasting my reputation and I go without regret to render an account to God for my actions whether criminal or innocent After these words which drew streams of tears from them who heard them she gave some small orders for the recompence of those persons which had served her and having setled her mind in that respect she kneeled down in a little Oratory which she had in her Chamber where she prayed with an action nothing relishing of the world After she had bestowed a quarter of an hour in this pious employment she returned with a much more chearful countenance than before and after she had given the last embrace to her inconsolate Maids who melted into tears at her knees turning her self towards them who waited to conduct her to her death Let us go my friends said she 't is time to part Hyrcanus and Aristobulus call for me and I must go to find out those Illustrious Asmoneans who through the care which Herod hath taken preserve a place in Heaven for me With these words she gave her hand her self to him who was to lead her and having again with a look full or sweetness and Majesty taken her last leave of those who were about her she went out of the Chamber and passed into the Court where the Tragical preparation was made for her death Dispence with me Sir from telling you the last particulars it may be enough and more than enough for you to know that upon that mortal Scaffold the most beautifull head was separated from the fairest body in the world and the most vertuous the most innocent and the most couragious of all Women lost her life by the horrid command of a Monster thirsty after Illustrious Blood whereof he sacrificed the fair remains to the rage of its Enemies The Sun being at the latter end of his course gave light unwillingly as I believe to this sad adventure and the universal nature would have put on mourning if it had been capable of sense for the greatest loss it could ever suffer These last words of Arsanes were interrupted with sighs and sobs and not being able to go farther to finish what he had to relate concerning the remorse of Herod and some accidents which followed Mariamne's death he cast his eyes upon Tyridates to see what effect the conclusion of this pitiful narration had wrought upon him He was amazed and Marcellus too that there proceeded not one word from his mouth nor sigh from his breast but their amazement ceased when after they had looked near upon him they saw that he was fallen into a second swoon much deeper than the former Marcellus being touched to the quick with grief both by the pitiful relation of Mariamne's death whose eminent vertue and admirable beauty he had heard a thousand times highly extolled and at the condition wherein he saw the unfortunate Tyridates was hardly capable of giving him either succour or consolation and whilst Arsanes with the rest of Tyridates his Servants that were left in the house took care by all possible remedies to fetch the Prince out of his swoon he sate by him with his arms across and lifting up his eyes to Heaven as it were to accuse Fortune for the misâ—haps to which she exposes vertuous persons he made sad reflections upon the misery of men Tyridates came not to himself again a long time and the greatest part of the night was past before he recovered his senses Marcellus seeing himself very far from the repose and comfort that was promised him did not so much as seek for any in that desolate house and out of the excellency of his nature did so far interess himself in Tyridates misfortune that for a while he lost the memory of his own At last
conjectured a part of it and if I have not taken this Princess for what she is yet 't is very certain that since the first conversation we had together I have judged her Birth to be very disproportionable to her present Fortune After these words Candace and Elisa embracing the Princely Slave who making no difficulty after the discovery she had made to receive their caresses with more equality than she had done a few moments before stretched out her arms too and received their embraces with tears of tenderness which trickled down the eyes of the three Princesses out of the consideration which they made at the same time upon that Fortune which treated three persons of so high a dignity with an equal rigour and brought into the same place from divers parts of the Earth three Kings Daughters in an Estate so different from their condition O humane grandeurs and felicities cryed Candace how are they abused that lay any foundation upon your stability and how much inconstancy and weakness have ye to blot out all the charms that blinded spirits find in you After these words and some others which they added upon this Subject they desired the Princely Slave to sit between them and relate the Story of her life the knowledge of her condition having much augmented their curiosity She made some difficulty to take that place in the habit she then wore for fear she might be surprised in a place which would have made her discover a truth which she desired to conceal But the Princesses would not permit her to sit elsewhere and to remedy the fear she had of being surprised they made one of their Maids stay at the entrance of the Arbor to give them notice when she saw any one approach The Princesses being thus placed the Slave was intreated again by the two others with all manner of civilities and caresses to discover them the events of her life wherein they already took a great deal of interest and she being willing to give them that satisfaction without being any further pressed to it after she had meditated a few moments to recal into her memory a great many accidents wherewith her life was crossed she began her discourse in these terms The History of Olympia NOthing doth more strongly perswade me to believe the immortality of the Soul and the passage from this life to another more happy and more quiet than the miseries of the good and the prosperity of the bad and seeing the Gods are just there is little probability that they should suffer lives altogether innocent to pass away in misfortunes and lives highly criminal in happiness and impunity if we were not reserved to another life wherein vice shall receive its punishments and vertue its recompences If it were not so I should have great cause to complain of that Providence which hath the Soveraign rule over our destinies having experimented in such a condition as mine and in an age which hath made no great Progress miseries under which a long life would have groaned and an ordinary constancy possibly have sunk Adallus King of Thrace who was a great Friend to Anthony and served him with his forces and his person in the famous battel of Actium was my Father and his Son who bears the same name and reigns at this day over that people is my only Brother I was but a very young Girl when the Queen my Mother died and her death was to me an irreparable loss for had she continued longer in the world she might possibly have secured me from a great part of those disasters wherewith I have been since overwhelmed The King my Father caused me to be educated with the greatest care and tenderness and the Persons to whom he committed my education forgot nothing that might frame my Spirit to all things agreeable to my Birth I was brought up in good manners in the fear of the Gods and the love of Vertue and all means was used to work in me from my very Infancy an aversion and horror to Vice I passed my first years without the arrival of any remarkable accident or any thing that is worth the relating to you having a relation to make to you of such a great number of adventures so strange and possibly so little correspondent to what you expect of me that I should believe I lost time if I employed it in discoursing of things of small importance The change which the sorrows and the toyl of my mind and body have wrought upon my countenance will leave little credit for the report I can make of what it formerly was and not having reserved any footstep of beauty it would ill become me to go about to perswade you that I was once handsome yet 't is certain that this was the received opinion in the Countrey where I was born and that this beauty such as it was produced effects prejudicial to my repose whereby I have been reduced to the misery wherein I have passed my wandring and unfortunate life I do not doubt said the Queen Candace interrupting the Princess I do not doubt but that your beauty hath been more accomplished than your modesty permits you to represent it to us and if your grief could be but dissipated by the change of your fortune there is nothing so ruined and so defaced in your countenance but that in a person of about twenty years of age as you seem to be a moneths satisfaction may restore to its former condition and render you one of the fairest Persons in the World I was never such replyed the Princess of Thrace and to expect the return of that mean beauty which the miseries of my life had deprived me of I must likewise expect revolutions in my Fortune which really are in the hand of the Gods but so remote from probability that I should be unreasonable to hope for them Howsoever it be that I may return to my narration at that time when my sorrows had made no impression upon me the King my Father thought me handsome and the Prince my Brother to my misfortune thought me but too beautiful I was younger than he by seven or eight years and he was almost a Man grown when I began to be Mistress of a little reason I know not by what rigour of my destiny he found something in me whereupon to ground an affection different from that which he ought to have for his Sister I was not yet twelve years old when he began to spend whole days in bestowing his caresses upon me he sighed before me and hated all other company but mine I was so far from suspecting him of so irregular a passion that at first I took all these testimonies of his love for the proofs of an innocent amity I render him caresses almost in the same manner that I received them of him and I conceived an extream contentment in having a Brother so good and so affectionate and it was without doubt by this indulgence
sweetness as I could possibly I represented all things to him which might strike some horror of it into him with all the amity of a Sister and a rationality above my age But my endeavours were in vain and he parted from me protesting that death only should cure his love and that he would renounce his life if I would not preserve it for him by an affection equal to his own After this day he lived with me as a declared lover and though his Love partly blotted out of my Soul that friendship which nature had established there and began to render him odious to me as a man whose thoughts were detestable yet such was his Birth that I could not avoid him as I might have avoided any other person if I had had the design to do it and besides whilst I expected that time or reason or the Kings authority should procure some remedy I did all that possibly I could to conceal a thing of which as I thought half the shame reflected upon me and upon this consideration I could not openly express with what repugnance I received the Prince's visits because I would not divulge the cause yet I could not hinder it from being quickly known and he grew so blind in his passion that he lost all manner of discretion and by his ill conduct made all the court sensible of that which he should have concealed at the rate of his own life The King had knowledge of it by a thousand too visible marks and when I was no longer able to support the persecutions of my brother I took my last resolution to complain of him and to discover to my Father that which out of my care of his repose I had alwayes concealed from him When he was fully confirm'd in this knowledge and when upon the discourse he made me concerning it I was constrained to confess it my self to him he was transported with anger and testified his displeasure by divers marks which wrought no effect upon the Princes spirit He caused him to be called and after that he had signified to him with divers words full of sharpness the grief he had to see him fall into and persevere in so uncommon a crime he represented the deformity of it in such terms as were capable to reduce him to reason if he had been in a condition to hearken to them but after he had given a very quiet audience to the Kings discourse and surmounted the confusion which his reproaches might have caused in him making an effort upon the fear which the character of a father ought to have imprinted upon his Spirit Sir said he I wish with all my heart I were in a condition to testifie to your Majesty the submission I have to your will and I would strip my self of my strongest passions to render what is due from me to my Father and to my King if reason acknowledgment had preserved power enough over my spirit to retain it within the limits of its duty But Sir by the rigor of my destiny I see my self reduced to such terms that I have no power left to comply with you but only by making an end of my life if that be disagreeable to you 'T is true Sir that I love Olimpia and I love her in such a manner that nothing but death can free me from that passion which you condemn 'T is in this that my condition is more worthy of pity than reproach and seeing my self conducted by my ill Fortune to the love of a person of whom I am not beloved a love condemned as a crime by the King my Father I see no safety nor refuge for my self but in death alone nor will I seek it else where but since I am so unhappy as not to find pity neither in the Soul of a Sister nor of a Father I will escape by the only remedy wherewith my passion can inspire me from the long calamities to which it would expose my life if the course of it were not cut short by my final resolution He pronounced these words with so much violence that the King was so much troubled at them and feared some violent effect of his despair being well acquainted with his boyling and impetuous humour This fear made him act with the more sweetness to endeavor to reduce a Spirit which was not in a condition to be restrained by violence but all the things he could alledge to him to make him submit to reason were but in vain and his love as it seemed being spurred on by the resistance that it found grew stronger every day and by its augmentation augmented my displeasure I passed above a whole year in this condition that neither the treatments that I made him to extinguish his hopes nor the Kings dealing with him who from flattery when it was without effect oftentimes fell to threatning nor any humane consideration be able to remedy this disaster of our Family In fine the King believing that it was his last and surest expedient resolved to marry me to some one of the neighbouring Princes amongst whom there were divers that desired his alliance and he judged that by this separation from the eyes of my Brother his passion might be mortified and that all his criminal thoughts might be dissipated by impossibility when he had executed his designs I know not what would have happened thereupon if the poor Prince could have acted this resolution but to my misfortune it was hardly formed when he was seized by a violent Feaver which laid him in his Grave within ten dayes Before he dyed amongst divers instructions that he gave his Son for the government of the Kingdom he left him he exhorted him the most tenderly that possibly he could to quit himself of the love he had for me and threatned him with all manner of misfortune if he persevered in it Adallus seeing the King near his end dissembled his thoughts and feigning that he was moved with these expressions of his Fathers last will promised him all that he desired of him The King Preached to me too upon the same Text and expresly charged me never to suffer that his Family should be polluted with an incestuous Marriage But this command was not necessary and the horror of my Brothers intentions was so deeply engrave in my heart that I had no need of the King's sollicitations to dispose me rather to death than to his shameful consent The good King died to my great regret and his peoples grief whom he had governed with a great deal of Justice and sweetness I will not entertain you with the complaints which this loss caused me to make you may judge Ladies that they were excessive and besides the grief which the nearness of blood could not but make me sensible of in the loss of so good a Father I was particularly interessed by the loss of his protection who had till then defended me against the pursuits of my Brother He was publickly crowned in
't was not without trouble that I began at last to speak I am very much satisfied said I to see you in a condition so different from that wherein you appeared to me yesterday and that succour upon which you set too high an esteem produces in you an acknowledgment which exceeds the benefit I could wish it had been rendred to you to greater purpose and that you had received that from us for many years which neither you nor we are like to enjoy but for a few daies Those few daies replied the Unknown with a sigh and an action wherein there appeared something of an interessed person will be very different to me from those I have passed hitherto and I do not believe that the Gods by your assistance would have saved me from a common or single death to make me perish by a death which will give me great cause to accuse them of cruelty I would not suddenly penetrate into the sence of these words though the action of him that uttered them and mine own inclination made me partly suspect what they meant I answered him likewise in such terms as might make him judge that I did not understand them We entred into a conversation full of civility the handsomness of his person and the marks of as high birth which appeared in his countenance having wrought in me as much consideration as I could have had for a great Prince The day being clear and fair and very much different from those which had preceded it we went out of our Lodging and walked up and down the little Island which in some places we should have found agreeable enough if we could have looked upon it otherwise than upon the place of our Scpulture Eurilus caused some to stand Centinels upon the top of the Rock to discover some favourable Vessel sent by Heaven for our succour and our little company did incessantly make vows to Heaven to obtain assistances from thence of which they had little hope This day being passed the succeeding night filled my mind with importunate thoughts and the Idea of the fair Unknown presented it self and fixed it self there more pertinatiously than I would have desired his gallant mind and the sweetness of his countenance intermingled with Majesty his noble deportment and the admirable grace which attended his discourse and action came again into my memory in a very advantagious form and made good their possession maugre my endeavour to expel them thence Leave me said I leave me troublesome Idea which presentest thy self to my imagination so inconveniently and unseasonably it must be in some other Spirit than mine that thou mayst find part of that complacency which thou seekest for but in Olympia's thou shalt never produce any effect if the Gods do not forsake her If this Unknown be handsome if he be amiable if he be admirable in all parts what doth it concern the unfortunate Olympia And what interest can she take in a man with whom her acquaintance is out of a days standing whom she cannot know but for a few daies more and whom she would not know at all if that knowledge must disturb her repose Let him serve himself against some other heart than mine with all the advantages that he hath received from Heaven and Nature and let him work admiration and love every where else but let him leave a mind in peace to which neither nature hath given nor her Fortune left any dispositions to receive the thought which he would introduce there By this reasoning with my self I put off for some moments this persecuting remembrance and embraced as I thought very strongly a resolution never to think upon him more But a little after maugre my resolution this importunate Image came again into my memory and made me fix my thoughts in spite of my teeth upon the consideration of those marvels which I had found in the person of the Unknown This agitation of my spirit permitted no access to sleep and seeing the greatest part of the night was passed and I had not been able to close my eyes I began to be really angry both with these thoughts till then unknown to my spirit and with him that caused them What said I shall this Unknown usurp that already with authority which possibly he would not have sufficiently purchased all his life-time Have I scarcely seen him and must he oppose my sleep and encroach upon my repose and liberty In a condition of life when I ought to think upon nothing but death shall he alone be capable to withhold my thoughts and shall he possess them so that I should lose my sleep my repose and liberty Ah! my liberty Ah! my repose ye are but weakly grounded in my soul if the first sight of a man can so easily overthrow you and if you abandon me for having seen a man a few moments in whom possibly all appearances are deceitful a man that possibly hath nothing amiable but that outside which blinded me at first sight a Man it may be of no Birth or Vertue a Man which loves me not nor possibly ever will whilst he lives Wilt thou Olympia hazard thy affections upon such doubtful terms and are they of so little value that thou oughtest not to settle them in a place conformable to thy birth and the profession which hitherto thou hast made of a large share of vertue It would have been much better for thee if thou hadst been buried under those Waves which have spared thee or if they had swallowed up this Enemy which they have driven upon this shore to ruine thee and if thou findest thy self so weak as to suffer thy self to be so taken with the seducing charm which appears in his face thou must hate him as a Monster ready to devour thee or at least thou must avoid him as an enemy ready armed for thy destruction With these words I really gave way to some resentments and some motions of choler against him and making a very violent effort upon these importunate thoughts I delivered them in such a manner that a little after I fell fast a sleep But in my sleep I was more strongly assaulted and I was hardly asleep but the cruel enemy of my repose presented himself before me with something more great and more extraordinary than all I had observed till then and looking upon me with a countenance which as full of passion as it seemed to be did yet express a great confidence in his fortune Olympia said he in vain dost thou arm thy self against me let the destinies take their course 't is to no purpose to oppose them 't is the will of Heaven that you should love me 't is for me only that thou hast been brought upon this shore I am not unworthy of thy affections and howsoever thou wouldest dispose of them I tell thee from the Gods that 't is for me that they are absolutely reserved It seemed to me that as he finished these words and was
much afraid then that I was not beloved by him as I was at first that I loved him better than I should do Whilst we were upon these terms when any other Spirits than ours would have found another subject for their thoughts than that which took up ours we saw no Vessel appear to succour us and our provisions decreased in such a manner that we had no more left than for eight daies 'T is true our men had found an invention to catch fish and there was in that little Island a spring of fresh water and by that means we hoped to spin out our daies a little longer when all our other Victuals failed us but this was but a very sorry shift and there was little probability that a tender complexion should long subsist upon no nourishment but only Fish and Water besides the incommodities of lodging and bedding might in time ruine a more robustious constitution than mine All our people were in a very desolate condition and though they expected some return of the Prayers which they continually made to Heaven all hope had almost deserted them I was the least troubled at the apprehensions of death and the Unknown made it sufficiently appear to me that if he was moved at it 't was not upon the only consideration of his own life I should be very unfortunate said he to me one day if I had only prolonged my life to see the end of yours and the succour I received from your goodness would be very cruel to me if I must purchase these few daies which it hath added to mine by the greatest of all displeasure under which a courage can suffer Ah! If my destinie be so I may well excuse Heaven to my last gasp for not permitting me to lose my life amongst the waves where all my company have sound their sepulture If that must happen answered I we must conform our selves to the will of the Gods who with soveraign authority dispose of our daies and your murmuring will not make them change their decrees No added the Unknown but it will convince them of cruelty and injustice and where there is so just a cause of complaint it it is no easie thing to keep within the bounds of an absolute moderation Vertue replied I ought to produce this effect in us and from that only we may receive ability to support the utmost rigour of our destinie Ah! Vertue cried he with a sigh if thou oughtest to succour me why is thy assistance so slow and why hast thou not defended me in a far greater necessity than this danger is to which our lives are now exposed Ah! Madam continued he looking upon me with an ill assured countenance how much inequality will there be if the Gods have so decreed it the end of our dayes and how great ought the difference to be between our grief in respect of the losses we must have In uttering these words he let fall some tears and I was so moved at them that I had almost let him understand by some marks of weakness that in the death which we expected or in the thought which then took up our spirits there was no such great difference as he imagined We passed divers days in this manner without his giving me any more particular knowledge of his cruel inquietudes which I could not impute only to the fear of death and he went alone to spend the greatest part of the day in the most private and unfrequented parts of the little Island that he might not be interrupted in his musing and melancholy humour and at those hours when he was obliged in civility to visit me accosted me and spake to me with a countenance so troubled and so different from that which he had shewed me some days before that it was easie to judge by exterior appearances that he had inwardly received some powerful alteration According to his example I sought occasions of solitude and oftentimes quitting the company of my governess and Eurilus I went abroad to walk with Ericia only in those places where we might be least disturbed in our conversation This Maid had related to me the discourse she had heard from the mouth of the Unknown in which one might easily observe some particular interest and having an absolute confidence in her I had discovered to her though with a little shame all my most secret thoughts and the inclination I had for the Unknown Ericia was not troubled at this declaration and whether it were that her condemning me or whether she was favourable to the man because she suspected his thoughts to be of the same nature with mine she did not strive to suppress this inclination in the birth but oftentimes told me that if any man was capable of producing a sudden affection without doubt it was the Unknown and that if it pleased the Gods that he were of a birth never so little near to mine one could not see a couple in the world better matched This indulgence which Ericia had for my thoughts made me love him the more and I declared my mind to her with the greater liberty We often made conjectures together upon the actions and discourses of this man to judge if I was beloved by him and though we had great suspitions of it we were still in uncertainty when fortune sent us an occasion to clear our doubts I went one day out of my lodging only with this Maid to entertain my self with her concerning that which at that time wholly imployed my thoughts and leaning upon her arms I walked to the least frequented parts of the little Island when approaching to one of the extremities of it where there was a little thicket of trees and some points of a Rock above the Shore Ericia made me take notice of divers inscriptions engraved upon the bark of the trees with a bodkin or the point of a knife the letters which composed the inscriptions were Greek and the little knowledge we had of that Character hindred us from discerning them handsomely but among the inscriptions there were wounded hearts True-lovers-knots and other pretty representations much used amongst amorous persons We were amazed at first at this accident and in regard the Letters were but newly cut we knew very weil they could not have been there long and that consequently they were made by some person then in the Island Amongst my retinue I judged that none but Eurilus was capable of these things and yet both his age and his humour too in the condition we then were were so little conformable to his gallantry that I could not accuse him of it and I was immediately of Ericia's judgment that it must needs come from the fair Unknown Never believe me said Ericia if these be not the effects of that which I have so much suspected and if this man who is as passionate in my imagination as any man can be doth not communicate to trees and things insensible that which his respect and
my own Country and be well assured that whensoever thou shalt add violence to thy flatteries thou shalt see that I can so much despise death that the face of it shall be much more supportable to me than thine Though Antigenes might partly have known my humor in the time I had staid in Cilicia and have observed a great deal of constancy in my resolutions yet he believed I might be changed in time and being willing to let the heart of my first resentments cool he ceased from afflicting me any farther with his discourse 'T is very certain that in this encounter I had need of that little courage and strength of Spirit which the Gods had bestowed upon me and had it not been for the resignation I had to their will I should have died rather than have any longer patiently endured the misfortune whereinto I was fallen Ericlea and Melite though they were well acquainted with my humor yet they did not so much trust to it but that they alwayes kept close to me to hinder me from attempting any thing against my own life They did not see me any way go about it but they had much ado to make me take any nourishment and I rejected all as poyson which my infamous Ravisher caused to be offered to me In fine they represented so many things to me and did so plainly convince me that I ought to commit the conduct of my destiny to the Gods and that I might still hope for the succour after the example of divers persons who in as miserable a condition as mine had received visible assistances from them that at their intreaty I took something after I had fasted almost two dayes We passed the Streight which separates Cilicia from the Island of Cyprus and being landed in that Island Antigenes put us again into the Chariot and with the same violence as before carried us whither he pleased He chose this retreat because his Kindred were originally of this Island and his brother dwelt there to whose house it was his design to carry me supposing that the news could never come to the King your Father nor to you and that being born of an obscure and unknown family there would be no body to enquire after me or ever think upon me after I was gone out of Cilicia Besides if you should know the truth he believed he was secure being out of the Dominions under your obedience and if he could conceal it as he hoped he should by the distance of place and the separation by Sea he had the conveniency to return to Tharsus leaving me with his brother where he thought me secure and report to the King that he had executed his commission In conclusion whatsoever his thoughts were or howsoever I could express to him that he should never gain any thing upon my Spirit either by fair means or by violence he carried me to his Brother's who was as bad as he whose house was scituated upon the bank of the River Lapithus in a place very solitary and proper for his intention He was received there according to his expectation and I was treated there as a person whom they desired to pacifie with their caresses You are willing Philadelph as I suppose that I should relate these passages the most disagreeable of my whole life as succinctly to you as I can possibly and you will content your self that I should tell you without descending to the particulars of all the discourse I had with this perfidious man that he forgot nothing which he thought was capable to perswade me and dispose me to his intentions He made a proposition of marriage to me as a great advantage for me and would have made me believe that my condition should be very happy with such a man as he who passionately loved me and was Master of no mean fortune that in time he should make his peace with you and the King your Father and might recover all the possessions and dignities which he had in Cilicia and which he forsook only for my sake but I rejected his proposition with so much scorn that he not being able to endure such usage which judging of my birth as he did he imputed to an unjust pride from fair means he fell to threatning and made me fear all things from the violence of his passion and the power he had over me You must have a Kings son said he to me sometimes in his choler and you will look upon no body under a Crown and such a Prince as Philadelph This ambitionis very laudable Delia but you may be very certain that Philadelph dreams no more of you and if the King his Father had had any care of it he would not have committed you to the conduct of a man whose love and intentions were known to him He spake divers other words to perswade me that the King your Father was not ignorant of what had befallen and that you would make no account of it when you knew it but besides the little disposition I had to suspect either of you of that infidelity I thought so ill of every thing that came out of such a man's mouth that I gave no credit at all to it Melite when she saw him transgress the bounds of respect would have had me declare the truth of my condition to him and I was often almost resolved to do it but I considered at last that this knowledge in stead of making him respect me the more would have rendred him the more bold to injure the Sister of Artaxus out of hope of being easily pardoned by the King of Cilicia whose hatred was so cruel against our family or possibly if he could not work me to his will he would put me himself into the Kings hands from whom I might expect the worst that could be if I were known to be the Sister of Artaxus He kept me in this manner above two moneths at his brothers house who being as bad or worse than he employed every day both prayers and threatnings to make me change my humour But neither of them could prevail and the wicked Antigenes after he had tryed both wayes in vain at last slew out to the extremities of insolency and villany and let me know the perfidiousness of his intentions in a business that threatned me with manifest danger if the Gods had not succoured me I am going now to relate to you without any farther delay the most disagreeable passages of my story I was permitted to walk upon the bank of the river which washes the foot of the house and in a great wood which environed it on every side but never without having with me either Antigenes or his brother named Thrasillus or many times both of them with six or seven men at their heels One day attended by this convoy having followed the bank of the river where the walk was very pleasant and being gone farther from Thrasillus's house than ever I had been before drawing near
interressed presently perceived it and reproached me with it upon the place I took little care to justifie my self before a man to whom I thought my self to owe no Duty and if I did take any 't was more for Ariobarzanes's security than out of any respect to my self When he was gone forth the King constraining me to sit down by his Beds-side set his passion defore my eyes in the most moving rerms that it could furnish him withal and representing to me the pains and the hazards to which he had exposed himself in following me as proofs of affection for which he judged I was very reduceable to him but the more he spake of it the more repugnance I had to hear him and at last my patience being tired I so much encouraged my self that contemning all the power he could have over me and looking upon him with a disdain not conformable to the thoughts we ordinarily have for a Brother and a King Adallas said I to him Do not think thou hast found any favourable change in thy condition by this encounter and think that Olympia is not so fallen into thy hands but that she can get out of them when she pleases the wayes are alwayes open to persons who like her know how to condemn death and thou may'st be well assured that to flie thy Arms she will make no difficulty to cast her self into the embraces of death Do not think therefore to triumph over my former Resolutions by the power which Fortune seems to have given thee over me and believe with an absolute certainty that at that moment when thou shalt go about to abuse it I will either throw my self into the Sea in thy presence or sheath a weapon in my Breast or if these means of avoiding thy Tyranny be taken from me by force I will infallibly obtain that by fasting which may be denied me by any other assistance I spake these words with such a resolute action that Adallas did not doubt but that I had Courage enough to execute what I expressed and having a fresh example of what I had lately done he certainly believed that a person who had braved death with so much assurance and by the memory of the dangers which she had lately escaped was not staggered at all in her designs was capable of undertaking any thing and of throwing her self self into greater extremities than the former when she should see her self constrained to it The reflection he made upon it kept him a long time from speaking lifting every moment his eyes to Heaven and using such gestures as did sufficiently express the trouble and the inquietude of his spirit At last breaking silence and looking upon me with an action full of the marks of his passion Olympia said he to me the gods are my witnesses that if it were in my power to cease from loving you I would cure my self of this passion which is so disagreeable to you for our common repose and that hence forward I have so little hope to conquer your inclinations that I would no longer endeavour to contest with them but seeing that in the violence whereunto my love is arrived this hope is forbidden me I cannot Olympia I cannot promise you that I will cease to love you Neither will I promise you that I will give you no more testimonies of my love by my discourse and actions it will be difficult for me to live near you without making that appear to you which takes up my whole life I will love you to my Grave and to my Grave I will testifie to you that I cannot cease to love but I will promise you and do now promise you before all the gods That I will never employ any thing whil'st I live but love perseverance and all the devoiers of a true lover to perswade you without having recourse to the Authority which my Birth gives me and I was heretofore resolved to make use of Yes Olympia you may be very certain that you shall never be forced to give me those testimonies of your affection which I might desire if you be not induced to do it by my love and services and with the assurance you may return without fear into a Kingdom where you shall reign as in my heart but withall believe assuredly that I will never consent whil'st I breath to anothers happiness but will rather undo all and bury my self in the ruines of our Family than permit that any body else should obtain that of you which you so cruelly deny me In fine Olympia I will never enjoy you by force nor will I ever suffer any other to possess you as long as I shall have any life left to hinder and if it be possible for me I will be the death of all those who shall have the intention to do it These words made me tremble upon Ariobarzanes's Account to whom this menace was particularly addressed but finding some consolation in the promise which Adallas made me never to force me to marry him I thought it best to make use of this good motion in expection that Heaven might send more absolute assistance and that by time and the Accidents which might happen in my life there might arrive a greater change in my Fortune Sir said I to him upon this thought you would undoubtedly obtain a very glorious Victory if you could banish out of your Soul this passion which is so fatal to your repose and so injurious to your Reputation and you secure me but from one half of my pains in reserving to your self the liberty of loving me and of continuing to give me testimonies of that fury which you call love Yet I will endure them more patiently than the violence which I feared at your hands and if you observe the promise you have made me never to use your Authority to constrain me I will be contented to wait till the gods shall change your inclinations without using any extremity against my life The King being well pleased to see me a little recomposed confirmed his promise to me and conceived some small hope that time might work some favourable revolution in my Fortune In the mean time the Chyrurgions prayed the King to give some intermission to this long and vehement Conservation if he would not have his wounds grow worse and 't was with a great deal of constraint that he resolved to keep silence and to let me go from him for some few hours I had the liberty to walk in the Vessel and so had Ariobarzanes too the King having taken no care to retain him any other way knowing very well that he had no means to get out of his power but by throwing himself amongst the waves but though I saw him and had a thousand things to say to him yet I durst not speak to him seeing my self observed by all the Kings Retinue who were as so many Spies and could not have informed him that I entred into a particular Conversation with Ariobarzanes
without redoubling his Jealousie which might have broken out into Tragical effects yet my looks which I did not retain with so much Circumspection as in the Kings presence did partly declare my thoughts to him and fearing lest they should fail in the discovery of my mind one time when I saw his eyes fixed upon me I took my Bodkin out of my Head and making as if I played with it and made some letters upon one of the boards of the Vessel after I had mused my self in that manner for a while at last I wrote my intention there in a few words making him a small sign with a private wink that when I was gone from thence he should come and read what I had written Ariobarzanes easily apprehended my design and coming into the place a little after I was gone he did not fail to look what I had written and though the letters were ill made upon the wood yet he made a shift with some trouble to read these few words Bridle your great Courage if you love me endure any thing at the Kings hands so long as his resentments go no farther then words and endeavour to gain his heart by submission and services Ariobarzanes read these words which immediately after he scratched out with a Bodkin only subscribing I will obey In the mean time we were all intended upon by the Kings Officers and though they knew the resentment he had against Ariobarzanes they could not choose but love him for his rare qualities remembring the wonders he had done in their defence to which they were sensible that they were beholding for their lives That little of the day which remained and the Night following past away before we saw the King again there being another Cabin in the Vessel whereinto I was put with my Maids and Ariobarzanes being accommodated amongst the men who all looked upon him with Veneration The next day the Chyrurgions seeing that the Kings wounds grew worse and knowing that the Sea and the agitation of the Vessel were naught for him they told him that he must of necessity land at the nearest Port and continue there till his wounds were in a better condition if he would not put his life in great danger Adallas received this News with impatience and yet he was nessitated to resolve upon it and being not far distant from the Coasts of Cilicia and the Island of Cyprus he commanded the Vessel to put in to land with all speed not in Cilicia for he knew that there it was where I would have chosen my retreat and he was afraid to see the King our Uncle who probably would not have approved of the wicked intentions he had for me but in the Isle of Cyprus where in the next Town he might attend the cure of his wounds Yet he ordered his men to conceal his Name and not to discover him to any body during all the time he should be forced to continue there This order being given and the Vessel being turned that way the King made me be called and after his first Discourses which were still of the ordinary stile and that he had told me that he had resolved what to do with Ariamenes whom he knew by that Name he commanded him to be brought into his Chamber The Prince came in and opproached his Bed with a countenance which were no marks of fear and which caused admiration and love in all those that saw him The King looked upon him a while without speaking and then beginning to discourse with a more composed action than the day before Ariamenes said he The gods are my Witnesses that I look upon the benefit which I have received from thee in such a manner that if it were not counterpozed by the outrage thou hast done me I have neither Estate nor Dignities no not so much as a Crown but what I would make thee partaker of as my Deliverer and the Preserver of my life And the same gods know likewise that the offence which I have received from thee doth so sensibly move me That if it were not equalized by the greatness of the Service which thou hast rendred me there is no consideration or humane power which could hinder me from taking away thy life I have therefore been obliged to seek out a middle way between the offence and the benefit to moderate the resentments which are due to both and seeing I am not permitted to destroy my most cruel Enemy because he is the Defender of my life I do not owe that acknowledgment to the Defender of my life which I intended him because he is my greatest and most cruel Enemy Know then that I acquit my self of the obligation which I have for the Service which thou hast rendred me in leaving the thy life and liberty offering thee according to my promise the conveniences of conveying thy self into any part of the World whither thou wouldest retire except my Dominions and I satisfie my revenge and my repose as much as I can by withholding the Recompences which I designed for thee in my Court by forbidding the ever to set foot in any part of the World where thou may'st see Olympia 's face again and protesting to thee by all the powers of Heaven that all the powers upon Earth shall not save thy life if after this prohibition thou fallest again into my power in my own Dominions prepare thy self therefore to be gone as soon as we come a shoar and demand any thing that may be necessary for thy Equipage or Conduct but remember that our separation must be eternal and that thou can'st not ever dream of seeing Olympia again without exposing thy self to an inevitable death Adallas spake in this manner and I trembled all the while that his Discourse lasted but Ariobarzanes hearkned to him without changing his countenance or shewing any sign of passion though he laid a great deal of violence upon himself to obey the command which I imposed upon him to endure the Kings threatnings with patience and when he had done speaking the Prince looking upon him in a resolute manner Sir said he I never did you any injury nor have I rendred you any Service but what you have already requited and as my death ought not to satisfie for those outrages wherewith you reproach me seeing it is certain that you never received any from me so you owe me no Recompence for having exposed my life for the defence of yours seeing you saved my life afterwards by freeing me from a place where in all probability I should quickly have seen an end of it By this only benefit I acknowledge my self paid for the Service I have rendered you and I acquit you of it desiring nothing else of your liberality but the liberty you have offered me to retire into any Dominions but yours and to a place whither it shall please the gods to conduct my Destiny He would not speak any more for fear of letting fall some word that
continually encourage the industry of his Mariners We had already passed by Apolbusa Eramnusa and Cholidonia we had Coasted Rhodes and Doris upon the right hand and left Crete behind us upon the left hand when as we were sailing forward amongst the Isles called the Cyclades the gods who were really angry with Adallas were pleased that we should be surprized with a furious Tempest which after it had tossed our Vessel divers dayes with great danger of our lives made us turn back the same way and constrained us to land in the Isle of Crete The King my Brother almost dyed with displeasure when he saw himself so cruelly crossed in his intentions but he had cause enough to exercise all his patience when he was forced to wait above six weeks in Crete till the wind which all that while was contrary to us changed to a favourable point and gave him opportunity of putting to Sea again You need not doubt but that this obstacle put him almost in despair and seeing that above two Months were slip't away since he had received intelligence of the unfortunate condition of his Affairs he had reason to fear that they were grown much worse and that his Enemies had gained time enough to corrupt the Fidelity of his Subjects or to reduce them by force to the utmost extremities He received News in Crete too whereas in other places he continued always concealed and the wind which opposed our going towards Thrace being very favourable to them who came from the Coasts of Thrace into Crete gave him opportunity oftentime to see some persons who could give him a confused Relation of that which came to their knowledge by the general Report concerning the estate of his Kingdom They told him that all things there were in a far greater disorder than before that Eurimedes Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom having been constrained to come to a second Battel was defeated and himself killed upon the place and after this last Victory Merodates had hardly found any resistance in the Field only they thought that the City of Bizantium and the Country thereabout continued faithful and in a defensive posture by his care who having been Eurimedes's Lieutenant a little before his death had since succeeded him in his charge and as they said defended those small remainders with a great deal of Valour Adallas had much ado to dissemble his grief before those who made him these Reports not knowing who he was and in the impatiency which tormented him he would possibly have sunk under his sorrows if that foolish Love which did predominate in his Soul above all the other passions had not made him lose or at least laid aside some part of the sensibility which he might have for all other Affairs At last after six weeks expectation as I told you before the wind which had been so directly opposite to us giving place to that which we had so much desired we went to Sea again and continued our Voyage with our former diligence We quickly recovered the Cyclades we left Eubea upon our left hand and sailed on in the Egean Sea But when we were past the Isle of Lesbos the King understanding by the Discourse he had heard That he could not land in safety in any part of Thrace but only at Bizantium which continued faithful to him still he was very much troubled to think what way he should take And it was not without reason that he was so sollicitous seeing that to get into the Straight of Bizantium he must of necessity sail all along the Coast of the Taurica Chersonesus which was his Enemies Countrey and pass through all the Hellespont to enter into Propontis which he could not do without a great deal of danger there being no doubt but that his Enemies had Ships at Sea either to take him or destroy him there and he almost certainly believing as indeed the Truth was that the Encounter which he already had at Sea whereby he was reduced into such great danger was with the men which Merodates had sent out upon that design He was forced for all that to resolve upon something and seeing no other means to land being naturally very Couragious he ventured the passage and upon this occasion either by his good Fortune or the negligence of his Enemies who left the Sea free having enough to do at Land the gods were favourable to him and we sailed through the Straight along all the Coast of Chersonesus and entred into Propontis without meeting with any opposition When we were past the Straight we kept out at Sea and sailed at a further distance from the Coast for fear of falling into the Enemies hands not knowing which way to get to Bizantium without great danger We continued two dayes in this uncertainty and the third day we discovered a Vessel which made towards us Adallas was in doubt a while whether he should come near it or no because of the danger there was of meeting Enemies sooner than Friends but his Affairs being in a condition which obliged him to venture very much and that without hazarding himself there was little probability for him to recover that which he had lost he determined to try his Fortune and to enquire of those persons who were in the Vessel in what condition the Port of Bizantium was and by what means he might land there in case he found them to be his Friends and faithful Subjects and if they were his Enemies he resolved to fight them With this Resolution he advanced towards the Vessel which coming directly to us and no way avoiding us afforded us all the facility we could desire of coming near to it There was immediately a signal of Peace given from our Ship and the other having returned the like they both came close up to each other and the persons which were on Board began to speak one to another but Sosias who was the most considerable man about the King no sooner saw the Captain of the other Vessel but he knew him to be Nicocles one of his familiar friends and one of the Kings faithful Servants Upon this happy Encounter Sosias after a joyful Exclamation called Nicocles by his Name and he had no sooner made himself known to him but Nicocles who knew very well that Sosias went from Bizantium with the King running to the side of his Vessel Sosias cryed he Where is the King Where is the King At these words the King who had concealed himself behind some of his Servants knowing the person and the affection of Nicocles came out before them and discovering himself to him Here he is Nicocles cryed he Here he is Nicocles being not mistaken either in the voice or countenance of his Prince immediately leaped into our Ship followed by the principal of his Companions and embracing the knees of his King with tears of joy he gave him to understand That all Fidelity was not extinguished in his Subjects hearts The King having spent some
in the hands of the gods and that he ought not to dispose so confidently of that which he will do after the Victory and yet his threatings shall not hinder me from praying to the gods for the prosperity of his Arms and the interest of my Countrey but let him consider more than twice what will be the event of the design which he hath against Ariamenes 's life and let him expect if he treats him ill to draw upon himself a greater and more puissant Enemy than Merodates is I will not trouble you with the Relation of my fears and inquietudes but to abridge this Narration I will pass to Adallas's Camp and will tell you that the King my Brother seeing his Forces augmented and those of his Enemy weakned thought himself strong enough to give him Battel and his passion depriving him in part of his ordinary rationality and hindring him from foreseeing all the consequences that might happen thereupon he dared Merodates to an Encounter and marched out of his Camp to advance towards him Merodates being a very valiant and well experienced Captain and who might with less hazzard give Battel in his Enemies Countrey than if he had been in his own joyfully accepted of it and marched to meet Adallas in the best order that can be imagined I will not entertain you either with the preparations or the particulars of that dayes Action having too little skill in War to be able to give you a pertinent Account I will only tell you that after both Princes had provided on either side whatsoever they thought necessary for their advantage they gave Battel The Engagement was cruel and doubtful the Commanders and Souldiers did wonders and disputed the advantage with the effusion of a great deal of blood and the death of divers thousands of men But at last the same Fortune which had accompanied Merodates in the two former Battels attended him likewise in the third and about the end of the day our Troops turning their backs abandoned the Victory to him and the liberty of their King Who scorning to owe his safety to a base flight and fighting with a great deal of Valor was thrown to the ground and taken Prisoner with divers of his Souldiers who were resolved to be Companions of his destiny Behold the success of the proud and insolent Propositions of men and behold this ingrateful and audacious Prince who a few hours before hasting as he thought to a Victory only to go and sheath his Sword in the bosome of his Benefactor saw himself the same day a Prisoner to his Enemy and to such an Enemy who to confirm his Conquest which was but ill-assured so long as the lawful King of Thrace was living was very likely to make use of the same designs against him which he had against Ariamenes and might do it with so much the more Justice because that in putting him to death he should only destroy an Enemy whom a Conqueror could not in policy permit to live and not the Deliverer and Defender of his State and life I do not doubt but that the unfortunate Adallas made these reflections in his imprisonment and was cruelly tormented with Sorrow Fear and Repentance Yet Merodates treated him very civilly and though the greatest Polititians about him counselled him to send him out of the World as soon as might be and represented to him that after his death he need not feare any opposition in Thrace where otherwise he could never hope to be quiet as long as Adallas was living yet he was not forward to frame any such resolution but believed that the death of a great King was not of so small a consequence to be so suddenly and so easily resolved upon Besides in gaining the Victory he had lost almost as many men as we and his Forces not being in a condition to make a hot pursuit gave time to ours to retire under the conduct of some of their Commanders who led them back towards Bizantium in good order This consideration making Merodates judge that as yet he was not absolute Master of Thrace especially as long as Ariamenes whose Valor he was too well acquainted with and whose confinement he had heard of was in the service of his Enemy hindred him from determining what to do with him and contented himself at present to keep him in secure Custody causing him to be served like a Prince in his condition He had the curiosity to see him the same day that he was taken and though in other things he carried himself very modestly towards him yet he could not forbear to tell him That the gods had punished him for two Crimes wherewith his Reputation was very much blemished in the eye of the world which were his unjust and irrational love to his Sister and his ingratitude towards his Benefactor and to these words added he You were much to blame to deprive your self in a time of necessity of such an assistance as you had received from the Valor of Ariamenes had it not been for him I had been long since Master of Thrace and if he had commanded your Troops this day I durst not have promised my self that I should have been Victorious The King being full of grief and confusion gave no Answer to Merodates's words wherein he knew there was a great deal of Justice and Truth and Merodates not desiring to make any insolent use of his Fortune did not importune him any farther In the mean time my fair Princesses you may partly conjecture what my thoughts were when this News was brought to Bizantium and how my Soul was divided between the passions which assaulted it 'T is certain that I was sorry to hear of the defeat of our men the loss of a Kingdom which in all probability was upon the brink of ruine and the Captivity of a Prince who though he had not those intentions for me which he ought was nevertheless my Brother and my King The gods are my witnesses that I was very much afflicted at his misfortune and ours but they will pardon me and you too my princesses if I confess to you That the repugnance which I had against Adallas's love the resentment wherein I did very much interesâ— my self of his ingratitude to Ariamenes and theâ— sear I was in for Ariobarzanes's life did so suspend the judgment I should have made of my Fortune that certainly I did not bestow all the tears I should have done upon the calamity of our Family and which at another time without doubt I should have shed I could not think with my self that the King my Brother was a Prisoner to his Enemies and in great danger of his life that the Affairs of the Kingdome were in an undone condition and that we were in all probability upon the point of seeing our selves exposed to the miseries of Tyranny and Captivity without being sensible of a great deal of displeasure But upon the other side I could not conceive that I was
freed from the cruel importunity of Adallas that Ariamenes had escaped the cruel design which he had taken against his life and that I might possibly have the opportunity to restore him absolutely to his liberty and to put him again into a condition of giving me new marks of his Affection without receiving a great deal of comfort upon that score and the gods were pleased immediately to make it as compleat as I could desire For the Inhabitants of Bizantium had no sooner heard of the loss of the Battel and the Captivity of the King but after they had bestowed a few hours upon the first All-arms and the first Affright which ordinarily renders the people incapable of all resolution after they had replenished the City with their cries and groans rather out of fear and the consideration of their own interest than out of the love they bare to their Prince They assembled at last in great Troops and putting the most considerable men formost they marched towards the Palace where I was crying out aloud in the streets That I was their only lawful Princess and that in the Absence and Captivity of their King they could address themselves to no body but me nor receive Orders from any one but my self No body contradicted this Discourse of the people or if it was disapproved by some their Party was the weaker and they durst not rely upon it You need not doubt but that I received a great deal of satisfaction when I saw all the people at my feet to give me the absolute Command over them and to pray me to advise with my Council to find some means to save the remainders of Thrace if it was possible I could not have wished for an handsomer occasion of setting Ariamenes at liberty and seeing the people so well disposed to follow my will My Friends said I to the cheif of them the King hath great cause to be satisfied in your Fidelity and I will acquaint him with it when the gods shall be pleased to restore him to us but I am too weak to undertake your defence and the recovery of his liberty you have need of some valiant man to repulse the fury of your Enemies which threatens your gates and lives and to command the remainder of your Forces The people having signified to me by their loud out-cries That they approved of my opinion and having prayed me divers times to appoint them a Commander Where can you find one added I than in the person of Ariamenes Was it not he that with a handful of men defended your Walls against the same Enemies that threaten you Was it not he that repulsed them with loss and confusion though they were much stronger than now they are VVas it not he that defeated them by Sea and by Land in all manner of Encounters And briefly VVas it not he alone that saved you either from death or Captivity VVhat hinders you from knocking off his Fetters which he wears for nothing else but for having defended you too well and from making him once more your General Go my friends and restore liberty to your generous Defender to a great Prince who of his own good will hath been prodigal of his blood and life for your interests to the Son of a great King whom your King being reduable to him for his life and the preservation of his Dominions hath imprisoned only upon a motive which honest Men and his faithful Subjects cannot approve of Do not fear that your Prince will complain of you if you restore him to liberty he will only make use of it to endeavour his and besides the assurance I give you that the King will look upon this Action as the greatest Service he could receive from you if there be any fault lay it all upon me seeing I advise and order you to do it and I will go along with you my self to put that in execution which I have propounded to you These words being pronounced with a great deal of Action were so far from finding any contradiction that they were seconded by a general shout of all the people who publickly desired Ariamenes and began to proclaim his praises and the greatness of his Actions with so much affection that it easily made me understand that by the Proposition I had made to them I had only prevented the Design which they had to desire him of me Eusthenes himself who had him in Custody signified to me That he desired nothing but an absolute Command from me for his discharge to the King And in fine having found all the facility I could desire I was willing to render the Prince some part of what I owed him to go break his Chains my self and draw him out of a danger whereinto he was fallen only for the love of me This Action had something of very handsome in it and being attended by all the people who loudly ecchoed out the Name of Ariamenes I went to the place where he was imprisoned I caused the Gates to be opened to me with Authority and being accompanied by the principal Citizens of Bizantium I went to his very chamber He had already heard of the Success of the Battel and the King 's being taken and that was it which hindred him from being surprized as he would have been without doubt at another time He seemed for all that to be very much astonished at the sight of me and running to me after he had employed some moments in recollecting himself he fell upon his knees before me without speaking a word My confusion was no less than his out of the fear I had to express my Affection too largely in this Encounter And yet summoning up all my Courage to assist me in the Action which I was to do after I had reached him my hand to raise him up We come said I to free you from a place where the Thracians cannot without too much shame behold their valiant Defender and we are sorry that we cannot acknowledge the greatness of your Services by a recompence more worthy of you Receive Ariamenes receive your liberty from the hand of Olympia but for her sake endeavour the recovery of the King her Brothers freedom with your accustomed Valor and in regard of the Service you receive from the Sister forget the offence you have received from the Brother I hope thus much from your Generosity and upon that confidence I desire you together with all the people who implore your assistance to reassume the Command which heretofore you accepted over them and over the Force which are left us and to employ that Valor whereof you have given them such admirable proofs for their protection and the safty of their Prince Ariobarzanes hearkned to all this Discourse upon his knees and beginning to speak in the same posture after I had done speaking Madam said he I receive the liberty you restore me and the Command you lay upon me with that respect I ought to do and
fatal to Ariamenes as to Merodates and consider once more that it will be in thine own power without injuring thy Reputation to be the Friend of Merodates revenger upon Adallas and possessor of Olympia This was Merodates's Letter which Ariobarzanes readd with some astonishment and found it very different from what he expected It was written with a great deal of Artifice and likelihood of Truth and Merodates had forgotten nothing which probably might move a man very much injured and very amorous All the reason in the World seemed to be upon his side and certainly there were but few men whom this hope of becoming possessor of a person beloved by such wayes as his just resentment might in some sort save his honour would not have caused to waver and it may be have absolutely convinced but the vertue of Ariobarzanes was very remote from this Proposition and neither all his resentment against the Brother nor all his love to the Sister kept him one moment unresolved what in point of Duty to do He gave the Letter smiling to some of his Officers which were near him See said he what opinion they have of us and with what Arms they would encounter with us In the mean time he returned an Answer to Merodates which as I take it was in these Terms Prince Ariamenes to Merodates Prince of Chersonesus IF thou hadst really valued my Courage thou would'st not have ventured upon the Proposion which thou hast made me and 't is but a bad Testimony of thy Amity and Esteem to counsel me to baseness When thou didst detest Ingratitude and bemoan my Disgrace thou didst follow the motions of thy Vertue but without doubt thou wert not guided by that when thou didst propose to me to betray a People who have absolutely committed themselves and their destiny to my Conduct If I would be revenged upon Adallas it should not be whil'st he is a Prisoner and if I would pretend to the possession of Olympia it should not be by unworthy meaus if it please the gods that I shall obtain her she will be much more gloriously acquired by me when I shall have restored to her Family the Crown of her Ancestors when I shall have chased her Enemies out of her Countrey and when I shall have brought back her Brother with Freedom and Victory than when by a base Treason I shall have dishonoured all the Actions of my life and rendred my self unworthy of her Esteem I thank thee for the Dignities which thou offerest me but if thou knewest me thou wouldst possibly understand that the Prince of Chersonesus hath no Dignities in his power that are worth Ariamenes 's acceptance Yet I will not disdain thy Amity when I may receive it without Reproach and possibly thou wilt judge me more worthy of it than thou didst before when thou shalt have seen me in the Field near enough to take an exact knowledge of me This was the use that Ariobarzanes made of Merodates's offers and the next day according to the deliberation which he had formerly taken he dislodged his Troops to march towards the Town where the King was kept Prisoner As he had no design to conceal his march so it was presently taken notice of by Merodates and being it was not Merodates's intention to suffer that place to be taken which he knew was not strong enough to endure the first Assault he discamped his Army and marched to meet Ariamenes His Troops were stronger still than ours and composed of men better versed in War than those which we had drawn out from amongst the Citizens of Bizantium and this was that which easily diposed him to a Battel not believing that Ariamenes as valiant as he was could stop the course of his Victories and Fortune The Armies having not far to march before they met were quickly one in sight of another and then it was that their valiant Generals employed their utmost cares to facilitate the Victory Neither of them forgot any thing that might conduce thereunto and I understood afterwards that Ariamenes having ranged his men in such an order as my incapacity doth not permit me to describe made a speech to them with so much Eloquence and Gallantry that he inspired them with a more than natural ardor and animated them by his Discourse and Example to attempts beyond his expectation I cannot inform you of the particulars of that Battel which possibly was the most bloody and the best disputed that was ever fought between two Armies of their strength Above eight long hours the Success continued doubtful and uncertain and in that time the Troops on either side were almost absolutely defeated The Generals were extreamly valiant and their Souldiers seconded them with all their power Merodates's men had an advantage over ours by reason of the Number of those who were drawn out of Bizantium who being a great deal less used to War than the rest much weakned our Party But the brave Ariamenes did so well supply their default and did so encourage them both by his words and his great Actions that he made them do that which could hardly have been expected from Veteran Souldiers and in fine confirmed them in the resolution to suffer themselves to be cut in pieces or to purchase that day the peace and repose of their Countrey Alas how much blood did these gallant resolutions of both Parties cause to be shed on either side and how many deaths made that day famous in the memory of the Thracians A great part of the day was spent when at last that Fortune which had so inseparably accompanied Merodates against Adallas and Eurimedes began to give ground before Ariamenes and by the prodigious efforts of that young Prince the remainder of the Troops of Chersonesus began by little and little to give way to ours and looked as if they were about to quit the Victory Merodates perceiving â—t and being filled with despair at the knowledge of it did things above beleife to recover the advantage we had gotten and to preserve that which the precedent Battels had acquired him He rode from rank to rank with a Martial countenance and by his ardent endeavours turned his Forces more than once upon ours with such an impetuosity as made the event of Battel a long time doubtful Ariamenes who had fought for him all that day as much as the Functions of his charge could permit him having percieved him and taken notice of him by several marks charged up to him with an exclamation and an action which discovered him to his Enemy and when he was near enough to be understood by him Merodates cryed he there is blood enough shed spare that which remains of thy Party if thou can st possibly and let us finish the destiny of this day in our own persons Thou shalt see by that proof whether I be worthy of thy Amity or not and thou wilt not dishonour thy Arms in employing them against a Prince whose Birth is
not inferior to thine Ariamenes had leasure to make this Discourse to Merodates and the two Chieftains were no sooner met but as if they had made an agreement together it seemed that the Troops which they commanded had suspended all their interest to see their Fortune decided by the hands of their Generals they both expressed a great deal ' of joy to see them so disposed and having confirmed them in it on either side by a publick Order which they gave that none should stir out of their places whil'st they were a fighting they advanced one towards the other like two Lyons or like something more terribly and with the first blows they shivered in pieces the Javelins which they had taken into their hands and afterwards lifting up their redoubtable Swords all dyed with the blood which they had shed they gave each other such blows as struck a Terror into the Spectators of either side I am no better skill'd in the Relation of a particular Combate than of a Battel and though this be worthy of eternal memory yet I will report no more particularities to you but will only tell you what I have heard since from Ariobarzanes That Merodates gave Testimonies of an admirable Valor in that Combate and reduced him oftent mes to such terms as not to hope for the Victory but at last â—t declared it self for Ariamenes and the valiant Merodates whose puissance as they say never yielded to any but the great King Alcamenes after he had given his Enemy divers wounds received one from him at last in the body which made him fall from his Saddle cold and pale and deprived him of life in a few moments Ariobarzanes who was desirous of the Victory but not of the death of that great man was very sensibly afflicted at his destiny but not being in condition to give any long Testimonies of it he contented himself to give Command that they should take up the Prince to give him all the assistance he was capable to receive and bestowing his thoughts upon his present necessity he with his men sustained the utmost fury of Merodates's Troops who being resolved to revenge their Prince or to perish with him fell up on ours with such an impetuosity as deprived Ariamenes of the opportunity to put in execution the desire which he had to compleat his Victory without shedding any more blood if it were possible This fury of his Enemies was no great Remora to his Victory and the Thracians having Routed them with a great deal of Valor besprea'd all the Field with their bodies and lest none of them alive but what their Generals pity made them spare In the mean time Ariamenes who in the greatest heat of the Combat preserved his judgment sound and entire having a Design in his Head which he desired to bring to pass when he saw that the Victory could be no longer disputed against him commanded Eusthenes to hasten away at all full speed with Three hundred Horse to the Gates of that little Town where the King was detained Prisoner and to take Order that no body should enter there to give the King intelligence of that dayes Success The business was done as he desired and Eusthenes did so closely block up all the Avenues to the Town that not a man could carry in the News of what had passed A little after the Conqueror Ariamenes having put his Camp in necessary order as well in relation to the wounded men the Prisoners and the Booty as to render to Merodates's body the honors which were due to him advanced in the Evening towards that little Town with part of his Troops and presented himself at the Gates in a condition that caused Terror in those that guarded them He presently gave order to parly with those that commanded in the place and some Officers coming out to him upon faith given he informed them what had passed and shewed them such evident marks of his Victory that they could no longer doubt of it In brief he shewed them the means he had to force them in an hours time and told them that he would be very glad to spare their blood and to give them free liberty to march away provided they opened the Gates immediately and engaged themselves upon their lives to take order that the King that was Prisoner there should have no intelligence of what had passed before he had seen him These men being intimidated were joyful to find safety and liberty in Ariamenes's Proposition they promised him all that he desired and punctually executed it So that Ariamenes in less than half an hour entred into the Town with a Party of those that followed him and went to wait upon the King before he could learn any News of what had passed Adallas supported his imprisonment with a great deal of impatience and reflecting upon the great interest that Merodates had to put him to death to confirm his dominion over the Thracians he was in continual fears and expected every-day with a great deal of Terror what should be resolved in relation to his destiny His unjust passion for me was not extinguished by his imprisonment but he was the less fixed upon that because he was constrained to bestow part of his thoughts upon the pressing considerations of his Fortune and though he was still jealous of Ariamenes yet he had often repented that he had Treated him so knowing what mischief he had done himself by depriving himself of the service of that great man Ever since that moment when I set Ariamenes at liberty he had employed the time with so much diligence and made so little stay at Bizantium and upon his march that the King to whom those that guarded him had no Commission to relate all the Truth had no time to be advertised of it So that when he saw Ariamenes come into his Chamber he was as much surprized at his sight as at the most unexpected thing in the World and not knowing how to take it well or ill he remained quite astonished and confounded Immediately at the sight of this formidable Rival his jealousie revived and so strongly moved him that he could hardly contain himself looking upon him as his most cruel Enemy though he had rendred him all the Offices of the firmest Amity He was very much troubled to see him at liberty and looking upon himself at the same time as a Prisoner his Captivity seemed a great deal the more insupportable but reflecting likewise upon the generous humour of Ariamenes and considering that this man notwithstaning the displeasures he had done him seemed to have been born on purpose for his conservation a little interest forcing its way through his passions made him hope that this third view of Ariamenes would be as advantagious to him as the two former These various cogitations agitating his spirit at the same time and keeping him uncertain and unresolved did likewise keep him a great while unmoveable and silent and by his
with a great cry and being desirous to try if I could divert him from his resolution by my presence and my Discourse Euribiades said I Do you so little consider what you owe to your Princess and will you murther him before her face who ought to be her Husband a Prince from whom you have received such good Offices Madam briskly replied Euribiades I am very sorry that I have received this Commission but my life lies at stake if I do not obey my King Begin with me then cryed I and make thy passage through my heart to hurt Ariobarzanes Thou hast no other way open to come at him and thou must shed all my blood before thou spillest the first drop of his As I spake these words I kept close to the door being resolved to be killed there rather than give them passage and I plainly saw that my words immediately raised a murmur amongst those men and in conclusion drew Ten or twelve more of them to our Party who with the same Courage as the first came to join with them and entred into my Cabin by the other door which belonged to Ariobarzanes's Cabin 'T was the same way that Euribiades would have rushed in at with some of his Party making some difficulty to pass over me and fearing to put me in danger of my life betwixt the Swords ofboth Parties but he found the Prince at the entry who being compleatly Armed and holding his Shield in his left hand did so defend the passage against him that the two first that came fell dead at his seet Antenor and his Companions with the Princes Domesticks amounting in all to the Number of Seventy men or threabout ranked themselves about him and did so encourage themselves by his Valor that they quickly made Euribiades know that without losing a good part of his men he could not execute his Design And t is certain that if he had resolved to sorce his entrance into the Cabin and to sight in a narrow place where he could not make use of all his advantages though he had been a great deal stronger he would have gotten nothing but shame and loss but judging that if they fought at large the Prince though endued with never so admirable Valor would not be able with Threescore men to sustain the brunt of a Hundred and sixty he commanded them to pull down the Boards of both Cabins and to lay all the top of the Vessel open That which he commanded was put in execution with so much speed that within a few moments there was no separation between the Cabins and the rest of the Vessel and the Prince was necessitated to resolve to defend himself by open force against his Enemies who had liberty to assail him on every side and so he did with such prodigious effects of Valor that his Enemies trembled at it and were more afraid of his fury than of as many men more as made up their Number Few that came near him retired without receiving mortal wounds at his hands and sometimes advancing before his Company and flying amongst the Barbarians like a Lyon he killed the boldest of them and made the rest retreat to the side of the Vessel Whil'st these things passed I sent up cryes and prayers towards Heaven and detesting Adallas's black infidelity I begged assistance of the gods with a face quite drowned in tears Above twenty men of the Princes party were already slain and above forty of our Enemies when Ariobarzanes seeing Euribiades eagerly pursuing his Destruction and encouraging his men with his voice as much as was possible he resolved either to hasten his own death or to be the death of that cruel man Though he had alwayes had this intention he was so close beset that he had not the opportunity to put it in execution but then despising all Dangers and Obstacles he flew immediately to him through all those that defended him and in spite of all their resistance he thrust his Sword into his body up to the Hilts. This revenge which for all that he could not execute without receiving some slight wounds redoubled his fierceness and seeing him fall dead amongst his men Thou shalt not rejoyce said he in the Success of thy Enterprize and thou shalt not carry Adallas the News of Ariobarzanes death now Euribiades is dead His men were not discouraged for all that for he had a Nephew amongst them who being afflicted at the loss of his Uncle animated them to revenge it and fell on amongst the formost with a great deal of eagerness What shall I say more unto you The Combat was very hot and was maintained in such a manner that all the Vessel swam with blood and the Deck was covered with dead bodies the cryes of the wounded and dying men reached Heaven with a terrible noise and I did so accompany them with mine and my Maids who melted into tears round about me that possibly there was never seen such a spectacle of Desolation and Terror At last the valiant Ariobarzanes after he had done things above all credibility and had covered himself from head to foot with the blood of his Enemies with the assistance of his faithful Defenders had sacrificed above a Hundred of them to his vengeance but against Threescore and above that still opposed him he had not above Twelve or Fifteen left and those almost all covered over with wounds and though by great good luck and the assistance of his Arms he had received but very slight wounds yet he was so wearied and tyred that he could hardly heave up his Arm or hold his Sword and there was great probability that ere long he would fall amongst the rest considering that he was neither immortal nor invulnerable when contrary to our expectation the gods sent in to our assistance three men which the trouble we were in had hindred us from discovering and which invironed our Ship before that we had scarcely perceived them This sight having transported me with joy I ran to the first men that I saw appear and stretching out my hands to them in a supplicating posture I conjured them to assist against the cruelty of our Enemies Without returning any Answer to my words they did what I desired of them and after they had stayed a little while to look upon the inequality of the Combat they grapled our Vessel and entred in it three places at once They presently assisted the weakest side and having easily by reason of their Number cut in pieces the greated part of our Enemies the rest of them threw down their Arms and cryed out for Quarter At the same time the Prince not being able to stand any longer for weakness and weariness sate down amongst the dead bodies leaning his back against the Mast and letting his Head and Arms fall into a careless posture not having strength either to thank his Defenders or to stir out of his place I presently ran to him seeing him in that condition and
my loves I have made little use of the assistance of that vertue which is not over-familiar to persons of my humour and have gone by another path which the long usage of that Passion and the inclination I have naturally to it might have tanght me above a great many other persons and thence it is that possibly I have had better success in my petit amorous projects than our Cato 's and Philosophers would have had with all their prudence And to answer Cornelius 's Discourse who accounts me very happy in comparison of a great many others I will confess my self to be really happy if I make my happiness to consist in a thing of nothing and not being able to give my self any other vanity but only to cause the persons whom I have loved to endure the Discourse of my love I satisfied my self with it leaving to the more happy and the more meritorious the glory of having camsed love in others which is far to be preferred before the speaking of it only You are very modest said Agrippa looking upon Ovid with a smile but we are better acquainted with your Affairs than you are aware of and your feigned-Corinna whom you have so handsomly disguized to all the world is not possibly so unknown to me as you imagine Ovid blushed at Agrippa's Discourse and expressed sufficient trouble to oblige Agrippa who was of no disobliging humor to repent himself of what he had said Fear not added he to recompose him I will say no more of it and that which you keep secret is so still seeing 't is only the suspition of your best Friend Sir replied Ovid I have no secret worthy of you which I would have concealed from you if you had had a desire to know it I shall try that answered Agrippa perhaps before this day be past and if you have any confidence in me I promise you I will not abuse it Ovid made a Reply to this Discourse with that respect which was due to such a personage as Agrippa was and Agrippa whom his Dignities and the greatness of his Actions had not made proud received his Discourse very civily and with a very good grace Immediately after Candace having winked upon Elisa according to the Design they had that fair Princess turning her self towards Cornelius prayed him to give them the opportunity to walk a few hours that day along the shoar and in the Neighbouring wood to take the Aire and to entertain their sad thoughts at liberty You may absolutely command what you please said Cornelius and you shall have Chariots ready at what hour you please both for your selves and for those persons whom you will receive into your Company We two would be alone if you please replied the Princess with our Maids and the men that shall be necessary for our Conduct There is no likelihood said Agrippa that you should go out of the City so and besides that it will be unconformable to your Quality since the Accidents that lately hapned to the Princess Cleopatra and to you Madam said he pointing to the Queen of Ethiopia we should be blamed if we did permit you to expose your selves to the same danger We have no more Enemies in this Countrey added Candace and if you do not grant us this liberty as we desire it we will not receive it any otherwise Both Cornelius and Agrippa contested a long time with the Princesses to have permission to bear them Company but when they saw them fixed in thir resolution they were constrained to comply only prevailing with them to consent that Twenty men should follow them on Horseback at a little distance to secure them in case of necessity from such Accidents as might arrive The business was thus resolved and the two Lovers did so much the more willingly submit to the will of the Princesses because they assurd them that they desired to be alone only for that day and afterwards they would not refuse their Company A little after they went forth to give the Princesses liberty to prepare for their going abroad and to go to Dinner the hour being near at hand but they would not think upon either before they had seen the Princess Olympia to know the condition of her body mind and fortune since the last Night but as they were going out of their own Chamber to go to hers they saw her come in with a more assured countenance than she had at their last interview I am resolved said she to them to make a full discovery of my Destiny to day and whatsoever it pleases the gods to send me I hope to know it before Night The two Princesses expressed a great deal of joy to see her so healthful in body and so quiet in mind as she seemed to be and confirmed her by all manner of reasons in those hopes which she ought to conceive They had not spent half an hour in this Conversation but they saw Cornelius come back into their Chamber who came to them and told them that Philadelph Prince of Cilicia Ariobarzanes Brother to the King of Armenia and the Princess Arsinoe his Sister having understood that the Princess of the Parthians was in the Palace were come to visit her and desired permission to see her If the Habit of a Slave wherewith Olympia was disguized had permitted Cornelius to observe the emotion which his words had wrought in her he would have perceived that they operated otherwise upon her than they did upon the Princess to whom he addressed them and the illustrious Slave had no sooner heard them but in spite of all her assurance a trembling seized her from head to foot Yet how sweetly was she surprized when she heard the Pretor say that the Princess Arsinoe was with her Brother and when by that Discourse she had reason to judge that she doubtless was the fair unknown with whom he was found and to whom he addressed his innocent Caresses which had caused her so much trouble and yet the Relation she had heard of the death of that dear Sister did oppose her hopes and not knowing what she might expect with a great deal more tranquility than before she left what might befall her to the conduct of the gods She had neither time nor liberty to express these different thoughts wherewith she felt her self assaulted and at that very moment the Queen Candace having cast her eyes upon her to let her know what share she would take in the interest she would have in this Visit easily observed the agitation of her Soul In the mean time the Princess Elisa having answered Gallus that these persons which intended to honour her with a Visit should be very welcome that the house of Armenia had been long allied to that of Parthia and for that reason and for their particular merit she should be very glad to see a Prince and a Princess whose death was spread by same throughout all Asia and as for the Prince of Cilicia
began to enter into the Woods where the shade and coolness was more agreeable than in the beginning of their walk 'T was in this place that the way turned a little from the Sea and betwixt the Wood and the shore there were divers houses built and amongst them there was that wherein the unfortunate Tiridates made his last abode Clitie who had taken upon her the care of finding it out did not fail to take notice of an Alley which fronted the Rode and advertised the Princesses that this was the place which they sought for but the better to conceal their Design they thought it fit to pass on and continue their walk an hour longer with an intention to return the same way and to execute their resolution as they came back Candace could hardly prevail so far upon her impatience but she knew of what importance it was to her to be careful in concealing whatsoever concerned Cesario The business was done as she desired and after they had spent almost an hour upon the same Rode she caused the Chariot to turn about and returned the same way Clitie took exact notice of the path and as the Princesses after they had made the Chariot to stay were deliberating whether they should go to the house or send Clitie to enquire News of Prince Tiridates they saw one of the Officers of that poor Prince coming from the house whom Clitie knew immediatly having seen him with his Master during the short abode she had made at that house When he was come near to the Chariot and Clitie had called to him he knew her and the Queen her Mistriss too and as according to the effect which merit ordinarily produces he had taken as great a share as he was capable of in the displeasure of his Master for the Queen being carried away so he was joyful to see her in that place and in a condition conformable to a person of Quality The Queen having caused him to come close to the Chariot that the might speak to him without being over-heard by the Cavaliers who guarded the Chariot and who out of respect and their Masters order kept themselves at a distance Friend said she Wilt thou tell us no News of the Prince thy Master and whether we may be permitted to give him a Visit and to have a moments Discourse with him The afflicted Servant instead of returning an Answer to these words let fall abundance of tears and a little after forcing himself to speak Ah! Madam said he with a voyce interrupted with sobs Tiridates is dead he expired two dayes since in that unfortunate house which you see before you and that love wherein he hath been engaged for divers years hath brought him at last to his Grave Candace was struck with this Discourse as with a Thunder-clap and resented the death of this poor Prince with a very violent grief Elisa who had never seen him not being able to resist the force of blood and having much esteemed her Uncle upon the Relation she had heard of his vertue was very nearly touched with this News and joyned her tears with those which the fair Queen of Ethiopia shed in abundance for a Prince to whom she was beholding for her life and whose merit was very considerable to her Ah! Madam said Candace to the fair Elisa turning sadly towards her If you know how worthy this Prince was of your amity and how deplorable his loss is to all those persons that were acquainted with him I assure my self that you would bestow a great many tears upon him Doubtless I ought to do so answered Elisa but they have been so usual with me of late that the poor Prince would be little obliged to me for those I should shed for his loss Upon these words they continued a great while without speaking whil'st the desolate Servant repeated succinctly to them what Arsanes had reported concerning Mariamnes's death and the sudden and the sad effect which it wrought upon the amorous spirit of Tiridates Oh! Example cryed the fair Queen at this lamentable Relation of the most firm and real love that ever heart was inflamed with Oh Fidelity pure and entire to the very end poor Prince And upon these words pity made the two Princesses redouble their weeping with so much violence that for a long time they were not able to speak When they had recovered the use of their speech they enquired of the Servant how his body was disposed of and in what place they intended to render him the honours of a Funeral At this instant said the Servant Arsanes who was the Princes's Governor and whom we obey since his death is employed in one of the Chambers of the house in causing his body to be imbalmed to be carried into Parthia to be interred in the Tomb of the Arsacides and those parts which could not endure the Voyage for fear of corruption are lately laid in a Tomb which we are a raising for him about Five hundred paces hence upon the shore where Prince Marcellus who was present at his death would have us leave this Monument of the loss of our Prince Madam said the afflicted Elisa to the Queen I should not have Courage enough to go and see the body of the Prince my Uncle and I am very sensible that I could not see it without a great deal of emotion and some fear But if you think good I should be willing to visit the Tomb which they are erecting for him upon the shore and to render there to his Manes the last Devoirs they can expect from the Arsacides You have reason said Candace not to be willing to go into the house where all objects would be very doleful and where considering our visit would be useless too there is no need that we should shew our selves to the persons that may be there We may with more facility and handsomness go visit the Tomb as you desire and I will willingly bear you Company thither Upon these words they caused themselves to be conducted that way which Tiridates's Servant guided them and passing by the side of the House they had not gone Five hundred paces but they saw the Tomb and the persons that were employed about it Arsanes had sent for Workmen from the City the day before and because the work was plain and without curiosity 't was almost finished 'T was a Tomb of fair stone without any workmanship and upon it a Pyramid of the height of a man upon which they had newly fixed an Epitaph upon a Copper-plate The Princesses alighted before they approached that doleful place and taking one another by the hand they advanced towards the Tomb on foot They which were still at work about it being moved with respect at the sight of those Beauties and being advertised by Tiridates's Servant retired to their quarter to leave the place free to the Princesses who falling upon their knees washed the cold stone with those tears which this sad object
Artaban and ' twice in the same day we recommenced the Combat which was interrupted in Ethiopia Artaban said Elisa to him intermingling with their Discourse If you value my friendship and desire that I should esteem you you shall not only not be any longer an Enemy to a Prince who serves the Queen Candace but you shall contract as great an Amity with him as there is between this great Queen and I and you shall seek for opportunities to serve him with as much ardor as I have for the interests of the Princess whom he loves Artaban continued some moments without making a Reply and then upon a sudden resuming the Discourse Madam said he to Elisa the Prince of whom you speak doth so worthly deserve the esteem and the affection which you would create in me for him that 't was by the means of my misfortune only that the occasions which I thought I had to complain of him joining themselves to a natural repignance without reason and foundation made me resist the inclination which his Vertue â—ight have wrought for him in all the men of the World besides But though I had been a great deal more sensibly injured the declaration of your Will is so powerful over my spirit and the cause that gave birth to my first resentments hath so long ceased that I shall render to you without any repugnance the obedience which is due to you and to that Prince whatsoever he can expect from the most faithful of his Friends and the man who is best acquainted with his Uertue of any in the World These words proceeding from the mouth of a man who could not be suspected of any want of sincerity and freedom gave a great deal of satisfaction to the two Princesses and Candace turning towards him with a countenance that expressed her contentment I receive in Cleomedon 's stead said she a considerable Amity as that of the great Artaban ought to be and I promise you in the behalf of that absent Prince that he shall answer it with a freedom equal to yours Though he be absent replied Artaban I believe he is not very far off and if he got off from our Combat and from that we had afterwards against the Pyrats in such a condition as I did I believe he could not make any long Voyage But added he speaking to the two Princesses you know possibly where he is and in the mean time I cannot sufficiently wonder at the Fortune which hath brought you two together and in so small a time hath joined you in so firm a friendship You shall understand that at leasure said Elisa but in the mean while 't is as just that we should know from you by what miracle you are escaped from the Waves wherein my eyes beheld you entombed and where we had great reason to think that we had lost you for ever Artaban was about to return her an Answer when at first they heard a noise of Horses and afterwards turning about their Heads they saw a Body of Thirty or Forty Cavaliers who passed along the shore and marched towards Alexandria The Commander of this Troop had his Head unarmed and only covered with a little Bonnet shaded with a black Plume of Feathers the rest of his body was clad in Armor as were all the persons of his Retinue At the sight of the Ladies he left his Troop and turning a little out of the way where he left it he galloped towards the place where they were and he was no sooner come to them but having cast his eyes upon Elisa and immediately knowing her he remained so ravished at this incounter that for some moments he could not either by Action or Discourse express the perturbations of his Soul At last dissipating his astonishment O gods cryed he Behold behold her whom I seek for all the World over Having finished these words he threw himself hastily from his Horse and ran to the Princess of the Parthians Elisa at the first was surprized with his Action but she was a great deal more surprized and Artaban too when casting their eyes upon the mans face they knew him to be Tigranes King of the Medes Never was astonishment like to that of the fair Princess when she saw before her eyes a Prince whose sight after she had given him such great causes of resentment could not but be very formidable to her the man to whom the King her Father had given his consent the man that had espoused her by his Ambassadors and expected her in his own Dominions as his lawful Spouse and the same man whose Ambassadors she sent disgracefully back after that she was forcibly taken from their Conduct and had declared her intentions to them 'T is certain that at the sight of a Prince so highly offended and whom Elisa could not look upon but as a cruel Enemy the Princess was more like to one dead than alive and had not so much power as to stir out of the place where she was nor to utter one word 'T was at that moment that she took notice of the instability of Fortune seeing that when she thought her self redevable to her for the life of her Artaban upon whose death she had bestowed so many tears and when she was about to wipe away her sorrows by an unexpected felicity and to tast of an agreeable change in her condition she saw her self at the same time precipitated into the greatest miseries she could apprehend and fallen again into the hands of a man whom she was more afraid of than all the dangers to which she had been exposed to avoid him and under which neither Artaban's nor her own life could be otherwise than hateful to her Tigranes plainly perceived her strong surprize and not being ignorant of the cause of it he did not seem much troubled at it The usage he had received from the Princess did certainly give him matter of resentment enough but having a great deal of respect and love for her he believed that 't was not fit to make any uncivil use of this incounter nor intimidate Elisa's spirit by a rough demeanor towards her and so aggravate the grief which probably she might be sensible of for this effect of her bad Fortune He smoothed his countenance as much as possibly he could and he had no great difficulty to mollifie himself before a Beauty which might have wrought the same effect upon Tygers neither did he need to look far for humility before those eyes which might humble the proudest hearts In fine reflecting a great deal more upon his present happiness than upon all his past misfortunes he seemed to express in his countenance the change of his condition and accosting Elisa with an Action full of the marks of respect Be not astonished Madam said he to her at the meeting of a Prince whose Duty towards you nothing can dispense with 'T is not a Barbarian 't is not an Enemy that you have met and though the
cruel injuries by which you have filled his Soul with despair might give him just cause enough to complain yet they have not expunged that profound Character of Love and Respect which your Beauties had ingraved in his heart Though you turned away my Ambassadours though you declared your cruel intention to them and though in scorn of my Services and of the King your Father's will and of that solemn Action which gave me lawful pretensions to the possession of you you followed the fortune and the person of a man unknown at the mercy of the Waves of Pyrats and of a Thousand other Dangers yet you have not so much injured me by rejecting my person and my love as by the neglest you have had of your own life in exposing it to so many perils only to avoid the sight of a Prince who adored you The just gods in preserving you from so many hazards that apparently threatned you have been pleased out of their goodness to put you again into the hands of him for whom your Conduct was reserved Do not look upon him then with the eye of an Enemy since he beholds you still with the same eyes through which love made a passage to his heart and be pleased that by freeing you from a condition which doubtless is not conformable to your Dignity he may deliver you from all the outrages that Fortune could do you and settle you upon a Throne where you shall Reign not so much over the Subjects as over their Prince Doubtless heaven would have it so that hath so luckily conducted my steps to meet with you those whom your Birth might give some Command over you have sufficiently expressed that it was their intention and I hope that you will not be repugnant to it your self if you permit any consideration of Justice to succeed that cruel aversion which I am bold to say I never deserved and which hitherto hath exposed me to so many misfortunes During Tigranes's Discourse Elisa having had time to recompose her self a little and taking Courage from the Command which she knew she had still over his spirit after she had expressed by a look the thoughts of her Soul to Artaban upon whom Tigranes had not as yet cast his eyes and made that valiant man judge that the fear she had for him was the thing that most troubled her At last lifting up her eyes towards Tigranes with a more assured countenance than before Tigranes said she I do not doubt whatsoever cause of complaint you believe you have against me but that I shall still find you to be a vertuous Prince from whom I ought not to expect any thing but respect and service neither do I expect any other from you if you give ear to reason in the complaints you make of me and when you shall consider that I have alwayes resisted the Testimonies of your Affection without giving you any hope and on the contrary have done all that possibly I could to extinguish all those which you might have conceived and that I did openly and to the uttermost of my power oppose the violence which the King my Father did me in your Favour when he committed me into the hands of your Ambassadors you will not receive as an injury the Declaration I made to them of my intentions nor the retreat I pretended to make to the King of Lybia my Uncle with whom I might have made an honourable stay till the violent humor of the King my Father was a little moderated I did not commit my self to Artaban 's Conduct neither did I follow Artaban 's Fortune and you your self are not ignorant that it was much against my will that he was put into our Ship laden with Irons to be conducted as a Prisoner to you and that he was not freed from his Irons till your men and mine had need of his Valor for the defence of their lives I have since by good Fortune found Sanctuary under Cesar 's power they which command here for him have put me under his protection and at his feet I will expect my Destiny without undertaking any longer Voyages till it shall please the gods and the King my Father to assure the condition of my life The King your Father replied Tigranes will never like it that you have chosen your retreat amongst his Enemies the Empire of the Romans and that of the Parthians are too opposite and they have had too many bloody Contests for you ever to think to perswade the King of the Parthians to permit the Emperor of the Romans to dispose of his Family But though it should fall out so I will never trust my Rights to any mans disposing and seeing that by the will of the gods and the consent of the King your Father you are my lawful Wife I ought not to endure that you should beg for Refuge who may offer it to others nor seek for protection from any Forraign Power since you your self have absolute command over a great Kingdom which acknowledges you for its Queen I should be answered Elisa your lawful Wife indeed as you pretend if together with the will of the gods and the consent of the King my Father which you alledg you could have gotten mine too that was more necessary for you than the other to make you my Husband and without my will there is no power can make you so The Action replied Tigranes was too Authentick not to be known and no man will wonder if I take possession of that which belongs to me wheresoever I can find it Upon these words drawing near to her he took her by the Arm and though she made resistance he did what he could to lead her towards his Troop Artaban who till then had hearkned to their Discourse expecting what conclusion they would make grew altogether impatient at this Action and though he knew very well that being alone unarmed and feeble after his wounds as he was he could not shew himself to Tigranes without exposing himself to an apparent death yet he closed his eyes against all the considerations of danger and presenting himself to Tigranes with that great Courage which nothing could ever daunt Stay Tigranes said he and do not think to do Elisa any violence as long as Artaban lives The King of the Medes had been till then so taken up with the unexpected meeting of Elisa that he had not so much as cast his eyes upon those that accompanied her and Artaban being on foot without Arms or any thing that might attract the sight of a man which was strongly fixed upon other Objects Tigranes took no notice of him but he had no sooner spoken nor appeared besore the King who for very great reasons had alwayes his Idea present in his memory but not withstanding the condition wherein he saw him and the change of his countenance he immediately knew him The fire doth not more suddenly seize upon the most combustible substance than Tigranes's Choler was
imployments and dignities to which he had no right to aspire he quitted my party so soon as Fortune began to be mine Enemy The audacious Britomarus beholding the King with a disdainful smile As I followed thy party without any obligation replied he till by thy Cruelty and unworthy Treating me thou madest thy self unworthy of my Service thou may st easily judge what esteem I made of thy dignities by my great unwillingness to forsake them and if Fortune for sook thee when I did thou needest not wonder that those Victories which thou heldest by my Sword only should follow the same Sword that brought them The King grew pale with anger at this Discourse and impatiently supporting these audacious words of Britomarus Time said he hath not abated thy pride but were I in another condition thou should'st not speak with so little respect to the King of Armenia Artaxes replied he disdainfully since our separation I have seen more than one King humbled beneath me and possibly thou should'st soon be so thy self had I not regard to the condition wherein I find thee and to the remembrance of Arsinoe and Ariobarzanes I know not what were the Kings thoughts to whom Britomarus's Valor was too well known to be despised but both were without Swords and ours were in the Chamber but I believe this their strange Conversation would at last have run to the utmost extremities had not that man of the noble aspect whom we left in the Chamber with Tiridates appeared upon the Gallery and interposed between them conjuring them not to make a greater disorder in a house wherein grief had already produced so mournful effects Britomarus received this intreaty in good part and testifying by his proud face less choler than disdain he retired with his Esquire that accompan ed him into a Chamber which was at the end of the Gallery and the King being in his we did put him to Bed He continued a good while most livelily touched at this Encounter and I doubt not but he formed many Designs against the life of Britomarus which his feebleness would not permit him to execute In the mean time the Unknown being called away as I believe by his Affairs left order with the Officers of Tiridates to prevent the meeting of the King and Britomarus and they promised an exact care therein The King meditating a long time both upon his anger and his love at last considering his unability to express his resentments against Britomarus and fearing that in case he called us to him to revenge him upon that valiant man he should lose the occasions of keeping and carrying away the Princesses for once he made his anger give place to his love and deferring his revenge until another time he sent me with Orders that you carefully preserve the illustrious Prisoners and commanded me to return to morrow a little late to assist at his bringing hither Thus finished the Armenian and Megacles made reflexion upon all that had been related and particularly upon the Encounter of Britomarus and the two Princesses who had attentively hearkned learn't by this Discourse some part of their Destiny Cleopatra understood with much grief that on the morrow they must leave the shoar of Alexandria and fall yet more into the power of that barbarous King and Artemisa though part of her fears diminish't at the News of the Kings milder inclinations towards her yet could thence draw no consolation for her love being unable to resolve without a mortal grief to be separated perhaps for ever from her beloved Alexander yet had not all hope forsaken them that that day which Artaxes's wounds gave them might be a day of succours through Alexanders means and the assistance of those whom that Prince might draw to his succours in a Countrey which obeyed Cesar and in a Countrey wherein the very Name of Cleopatra's Children was considerable the two Princesses communicated this thought to each other and hearing neither of those two men speak whose Discourse was ended or else they were in some other part of the Ship thus began their sad entertainment on this adventure and although in appearance they had enough to do with their own Fortunes without medling with others yet Cleopatra could not hear of the death of Tiridates whom she had known at Rome and whose vertue she had in great esteem without a very sensible affliction neither could Artemisa apprehend the Encounter which the King her Brother had with Britomarus whose name and person was very well known being drawn thereto by his brave Actions whilst he lived in Armenia without interessing her self in the adventure Cleopatra demanded who that hardy man was who spake to Kings with so much fierceness and Artemisa who had the same opinion of his vertue as the rest of those that knew him replyed It is a man said she who appeared like a bright Sun amongst the men of our Nation and who if the other Actions of his life do correspond with those of his youth may deserve a condition as high and great as his ambition we knew him but very young our sensibility of his loss might make us say that he passed from us so swift as lightning of a mean birth he is great above Princes and if Fortune answer his Valor and Vertue he will soon receive from his Sword the Crowns which Fortune hath denied to his house He is sierce and presumptuous beyond the bounds which his condition seem to prescribe but that fierceness appears in him so naturally well placed that one cannot condemn it nor imagine him any thing below the person he represents These words stirred up the curiosity of Cleopatra to understand more of the Fortune of Britomarus and Artemisa briefly related part of what he did in Armenia and by her Discourse raised in that Princess as much esteem for him as aversion for Artaxes at the recital of that cruel Action which caused Britomarus to leave his Service After that the fair Princesses had spent some moments in this entertainment they found their eyes heavy and their bodies wearied and distempered through their long watching so that permitting sleep to steal upon them they gave some interval to their displeasures Whilst they slept and that Cleopatra's Maids slept also or careful of her repose kept themselves in the Chamber with a profound silence The Armenians who guarded the Vessel endeavoured to acquit themselves exactly of their charge and though they treated the two Princesses with all respect and deference and took great care that they might be well served yet they guarded them so carefully and so prevented their discovery under the Rock which quite hid them from those that on the shoar might seek them so that these lilustrious persons had but little hopes from thence Megacles who commanded in the Kings absence walked upon the Deck giving orders to those that were about him and on a sudden he thought some strange noise descended from the Top of the Rock whose head shot
it self out into the Sea further than the Ship At first neither he nor those that were with him could discern what it was but a little after advancing upon the upper part of the Vessel and lending an attentive ear they heard the voyce of a man from the Top of that horrible Precipice uttering these words Implacable gods said he Malicious men Irreconcilable Fortune it were insensibility to hope for any good from you and since to defend me against so many Enemies Death only stretcheth forth her Arms and that the miserable reliques of this life are unprofitable for that end to which they were conserved O Death I willingly receive the assistance thou presentest Scarce had Megacles and those that were with him heard the last of these words when they saw him that pronounced them cleaving the Aire from the Top of the Rock fall into the Sea some four paces from the ship The waves parted under his feet with a great noise and rebounded higher than the Mast of the Vessel The water was very deep and that desperate man who threw himself into its bosome being armed at all points had quickly found his death had not Megacles though a Servant to a cruel King been possest with some pity and vertue and commanded earnestly that they should do what they could to draw this man out of the pitiless waves The Mariners who were Masters of their Trade taking great Poles headed with Crooks of Iron sought him amongst the Sands with an admirable diligence Had the success of their labours been less speedy they had been utterly unprofitable but by great good Fortune after some moments search they found the body the weight of whose Armor had hindred its rising and fastning their Irons in some default of the Arms not without lightly wounding the bearer they easily drew him up and uniting their Forces got him into the ship Presently the natural compassion of men how barbarous soever and the curiosity which so unordinary a spectacle raised caused them to flock about him Megacles commanding them to take off his Casque the visit whereof was half lifted up yet could perceive by his pale and meagre face but few signs of life but as he would not succour him by halves he neglected nothing that might save him and by his orders whilst some disarmed him others holding him up by the feet gave passage for the salt water out of his mouth He disgorged a great quantity and when they supposed him intirely discharged they layed him upon a Bed and attended the effect of their succours Presently Megacles knew they would not be unprofitable and although the unknown came not quite to himself he began to breath freely and to stir his Head though with much weakness Megacles gave him some spirits to drink and either through the means of that or what was done before or both a little after he he opened his eyes and found his strength by little and little to return in some proportion Had not Megacles understood this mans despair by his own words which he uttered falling he would have left him to take some necessary rest but imagining that since he sought death he would run to it again were he left to his own dispose he not only watched him to prevent any second effects of his Despair but resolved if it were possible to cure him by reason and to perswade him of all those things that might give him some desire of life He was confirmed the more in this Design when with attention he cast his eyes upon the face of the unknown for he believed that what he had done out of compassion ought to be done to preserve a man of the best Mine he had ever seen His face though pale and changed as well through the last effect of his Despair as through the preceding displeasures was formed with a proportion so accomplish't the sweet and charming being raised by some things so great and high that it was difficult to behold him without respect the beauty of his body marvellously accorded with that of his face and lastly all his parts made an admirable accomplishment Whilst Megacles ran over all those marvels with his eyes the unknown began also to turn his towards the place where he stood and opening his mouth so soon as he was able to speak Ah miserable man said he with a feeble voyce art thou then returned to this odious life he stopped at these first words and a little after easily recollecting all that had passed O Coward added he thou hadst not re-entred thy miseries if of thy hand thou hadst demanded what the pitiless waves have refused thee hadst thou considered that with the gods men and fortune even the Elements are become thy Enemies thou hadst not unprofitably sought that assistance from the water which thou mightest have commanded from thy Sword Finishing these words he attentively beheld those that were about him and not doubting but that it was they who drew him out of the water he testified by some sighs the little thanks he gave them for their officiousness Megacles who carefully interessed himself in his safety sitting down by him and pressing one of his hands between his with much affection I know not said he what misfortunes have caused your Despair and I imagine by all advantagious appearances that you have courage enough to support all the ordinary assaults of Fortune but whatsoever the cause be that hath given you so much aversion to life I cannot repent me of what I have done towards your preservation and I shall do what lies in my power not only to oppose your Design of dying but to find what may render life less odious to you The unknown beholding Megacles with an acknowledging Aire so well as the sad condition he was in would permit and gently pressing the hand that held his Your good intention said he hath obtained pardon for the injury you have done me and I also beg your pardon if I can give you no greater thanks for the care you take of my safety These few words pronounced with an extraordinary grace touched the heart of Megacles and becoming more affectionate towards what he had undertaken Is it possible added he that such a man as you appear to be can find in Death only a remedy of his misfortunes and have you not resolution enough to resist Fortune having so much as to precipitate your self into a terrible Death The horrors of life when the causes are legitimate sadly replied the unknown proceed not always from want of courage and those that can voluntarily expose themselves to Death as you say may easier resist lesser evils than Death is in the opinion of most men but I believe there are causes that can render Despair honourable and though it be weakness and a shame to flie to Death for the loss of some goods or advantages of fortune yet it is honourable to imbrace it rather than survive ones glory or the loss of a beloved
retain public demonstrations of that happiness which so many reasons commanded him to conceal he made a thousand passionate Discourses and as he loved with as much violence as ever any did so all that his love produced was violent like it self but if his joy was immoderate at the first view of his happiness it became more compleat when he perceived that he was not only dearly loved by Menalippa but that he had need of a spirit firm and solid to require a Princess born with a true generosity and uncapable of any artifice At last through the sympathy of their humors and the force of their destinies their affection became so strong as to justifie the opinion of those who believe that the love proceeding from inclination is more powerful than that of acknowledgement and obligation you will see by the sequel of this Discourse that this is true and may thence conclude that there was never a more strong love contracted than between these two illustrious persons Menalippa inâ—irely opened her heart to Alcimedon and this happy Prince read there his happiness with extasies his love increased daily by the fresh graces he received from the Princess and although they extended no further than the honour of kissing her hand yet he found so many charms in the Action and those words by which she daily established his happiness that he scarce believed there could be a compleater Bliss yet he was sometimes perplexit to think what the knowledge of Alcamenes would produce against the Fortune of Alcimedon and Menalippa justified his fears a few dayes after when in a converse they had together having hearkned with her ordinary bounty to the protestations made of his fidelity Alcimedon said she whatever promise I have made to favour your Designs in case you prove faithful and true yet that which you call your happiness is not intirely in my hands and although I hope the Queen my Mother will yield much to my choice yet it is certain that in the disposition of Menalippa she will follow her first resolutions to give me only to him that shall most powerfully advance the King of Scythia's Ruine and were I not confident of your Valor from which I hope in this occasion much more than from all the other pretenders whatsoever affection I have entertained for you I should not think my self obliged to my promise but as I know that in this War we are to expect nothing but Wonders from you you need not doubt a favourable success and I am more troubled at the danger you must expose your self to for the love of me against those redoubtable Enemies than comforted by the advantages you may carry away This Discourse troubled Alcamenes though he long since expected it and being prepared he quickly recollected himself and did all he could that the Princess might not observe the disorder in his face Madam said he I am not ignorant of the conditions that engage those who aspire to the glory of serving you and you ought not to doubt since my heart is yours without reserve but that I will also espouse your resentments and I will not only serve you in your Design against Scythia with ardor and fidelity but I dare promise you above all those who ingage in this War for your Service that I will serve you with success and will put the Crown of Scythia upon your Head This promise may seem extravagant in the condition you see me but when I shall be better known I hope you will expect the performance with some confidence there is a great deal of presumption in my Discourse yet to drive it to the highest point I promise my Princess never to demand the possession of Menalippa till I have Crowned her Queen of Scythia Whil'st Alcamenes spake Menalippa beheld him attentively and being unable to accuse a man of vain boldness and presumption whom she knew of a true and solid vertue was ignorant what judgment to make on this hardy Proposition and the conditions wherewith he bounded his own good Fortune his great confidence in promising things so great perswaded her of the grandure of his condition and calling to her thoughts all the powerful Princes of the Earth to find Alcimedon amongst them Alcamenes only being excepted in the Number not imagining that Prince would unnecessarily expose himself to too manifest danger or that he against whom the Queen her Mother arm'd the whole Earth should come and submit himself to the power of his implacable Enemies Having kept silence a good while and then beholding Alcimedon with a smile You promise things difficult enough said she but I will distrust neither your power not intention I will only say that in case you prosper not in your Design of making me Queen of Scythia I will not bind you so rigorously to the conditions your self hath put to your pretences and will not for the Crown of Scythia lose the affection I bear to Alcimedon yet you have given me an occasion to call to mind the Oracle by the conformity I find between it and your promise for the Queen my Mother having consulted with the most famous of the Earth concerning her Design of revenging the King my Fathers death they have all unanimously answered That the Conquest of Scythia was reserved for Menalippa and that Menalippa should be one day Queen of Scythia You need not doubt that the Queen received great satisfaction from this answer of the gods and I believe that this hope is as great an incendiary to the War as the vengeance she breathes against the King of Scythia Alcamenes hearkned attentively to these words and instead of fearing the success of this War he saw his hopes increas'd and believed that the gods promised not the Crown of Scythia to Menalippa but by her Marriage with Alcamenes he again confirmed the promise he had made and Menalippa protested with incomparable bounty that she desired not so much the Crown of Scythia as she feared the death of Alcimedon having Martial Enemies to encounter a King valiant and experienced and against the young Prince Alcamenes his Sonne who had the Repute of one of the most Valiant men upon Earth But whil'st Alcimedon enjoyed this felicity he had the displeasure continually to see his Rivals and was obliged even before his face to permit Merodates Phrataphernes Euardes and Orosmanes publickly to proclaim their affections to his Princess 'T is true the cold reception she gave them did minister some comfort to his spirit and if the need she had of their assistance did seem to smooth her brow with a pleasing aspect 't was with such a visible constraint that Alcimedon had not any cause to harbour the least umbrage of discontent she alwayes testified more esteem to Merodates than the rest viewing him as a Prince whose vertue and courage claimed every ones respect but she confin'd her resentments to this esteem without permitting him any place in her amity Alcimedon by the appearances of his
Phrataphernes and Orosmenes with the Inhabitants of Pont and the Basternes commanded the first Barzanes alone with the Dacians Getes and Gelones Subjects of Amalthea made the second Pharnaces and Orchomenes with the Sarmates and Nomades their Subjects took the third place and Merodates who had learnt that Orontes was in the fourth Body would be his opposite hoping to terminate this War by his Valor and the Scythian-King's death and Euardes being joined to him composed their fourth Body of the Bithinians and Tauriques All agreed that on the day of Battel as the Queens Representative the Prince Barzanes should be General yet not to claim a propriety of the place for the future and they rather chose to submit to him than that the pretenders to Menalippa should obey each other This Army was stronger by a fifth part than that of the Scythians and commanded by valiant Princes each of which might with reason entertain hopes of Victory The Queen of Dacia could not without trembling think of the event of this great day and had she not believed the Oracles which promised the Crown of Scythia to the Princess Menalippa her perplexity had been far greater All the pretending Princes made a Parade before their Princess and there was not one of them that promised her not the King Orontes's Head they all seemed very angry that the Prince Alcamenes was not in the enemies Camp against whom they had made so many menaces and upon whose death they hoped to raise Trophies of Reputation Amalthea who had heard the Valor of the Scythian Prince spoken of with fear and admiration received the News of his absence with a proportionate joy and a happy Omen of a good success of her own Dacians she retained Four thousand for hers and the Princesse's Guard causing them to stand in battalia before their Tents which she ordered to be invironed with a Ditch such a one as could be cast up in so short a time At length both Armies being drawn into Battalia the Chiefs of each marched towards each other in excellent order but when they came in sight they sent their Salutes by dreadful shouts and exclamations Orontes and Barzanes having quitted their particular charges to give general orders caused the Signal of Battel to be given so that Phrataphernes and Orosmenes on the one side and Mandates Prince of the Massagetes on the other began this cruel day They amused themselves for a while with a Combat of Arrows but both parties being experienced and the impatience of their Chiefs which breathed nothing but Victory the one in a just defence of his Countrey the other for the Conquest of Menalippa brought them quickly to a conjunction and here it was that the fight became terrible and bloody The second Bodies followed the first and after those the rest impatient for the danger and consequently for the glory hardly expected orders for the on-set but falling on with a terrible impetuosity gave death a perfect dominion on every side It will be hard for me great Ladies and troublesome to you to relate all the particulars of this Battel I will pass over that which is not necessary for you to know and relate only what imports much the continuation of this History and that which composeth one of the most remarkable parts thereof The Plain was already covered with dead bodies and drowned with blood on all sides the Air resounded with the cryes of wounded and dying men and every where the Battel put on a terrible and hideous face Here the Dacians sunk under the Arms of the Scythians and there the Scythians turned their backs to the Dacians the mixture of different Nations and their different manner of fighting increased the confusion and a great part of the day was past ere it could be discerned to which side the Victory would incline when the Princes Rivals in Menalippa's love impatient of the Victory and desiring to signalize themselves in carrying the prize of this glorious day began to make extraordinary Assaults the Princes of the Satarcheens and Arimaspes fell under the Swords of Phrataphern and Orosmenes those of the Aseens and Edoniens lost their lives by the hand of Euardes and Pharnaces Orchomenes wicked as he was fought with very much Valor but the brave Merodates though he had already slain the Chiefs of the Agripeens and Antarians and defeated the Enemy wheresoever he addrest himself yet not satisfied with his Valor unless it had performed some more important Service and knowing that the death of the King of Scythia was the price of Menalippa it being the most equal revenge of the King her Fathers death he sought him on every side and desired nothing more than to sacrifice his life to Amalthea's resentments nor was it hard to find him for this valiant Prince maugre the dignity of his Age which though still vigorous might well have cooled that boyling heat that commonly hurries men into such dangers ran from Rank to Rank carrying Death and Victory wherever he went and bathing himself in the blood of his Enemies Merodates having pierced many Squadrons and Battalions met him at last and knowing him by divers marks King of Scythia cryed he I come to receive death from thy hands or to sacrifice thee to the Ghost of Decebalus and the resentments of Amalthea disdain not to turn thine Arms against me I am Merodates King of the Taurique Chersonese The King of Scythia had neither intent nor leisure to answer these words but covering himself with his Buckler prepared to receive his powerful Adversary and to overthrow with him the effect of this cruel menace At the first stroaks these two Princes mutually knew each others Valor and though Merodates was in the flower of his Youth and valiant amongst the most valiant yet he soon understood that this Victory was not so soon or easily to be obtained as he imagined but whilst these two Princes fought obstinately in despight of the throng of those who indeavoured to part them and Orontes busied wholly to defend his life against the fury of Merodates was constrained to quit the function of a General Barzanes taking advantage of this disorder charged the Scythian Troops with so much vigor and was so well seconded by Phrataphernes Euardes Pharnaces and Orosmanes that defeating the Etheens Cameens and the Histians with their Princes made the Scythian Army stagger and at length visibly give ground Barzanes and his valiant Companions knowing their advantage made use thereof with prudence and courage and at last perceived a large path to Victory but on that side where the King Orontes fought with Merodates advantagiously enough they saw appear a body of Cavalry of some two thousand Horse conducted by a man covered with black Arms who entring the Battel with an impetuosity to which the already wearied Troops were forced to give place carrying a terrible disorder to that side against which he addrest himself he that headed these succors struck like lightning or
Path nor Retreat In the Estate wherein he was nothing being more odious to him than life which he so neglected that few dayes would have put an end thereto had not the diligence of his Squires prevented He left off those fair and famous Arms which under the Name of Alcimedon had rendred him so well known in Dacia and all other places where he carried them and delivering them to his Esquires to keep he covered himself with black ones in their stead imbroydered they were with branches of silver underneath which he doubted not to remain unknown I will not relate his continual sorrows wherein he alwayes reserved a profound respect for Menalippa not permitting himself the consolation of a murmur against her commands At length he arrived upon the Frontiers of Dacia and his Esquires not knowing what would be his Design saw him fall sick of a Disease which proceeded from his Grief and had like to have brought him to his Grave they found the commodity to conduct him to a little Town though against his will where they concealed both his true Name and also that of Alcimedon by his own order and there they serv'd him so carefully that what neglect soever he had for his life they preserved it by their diligence and intreaties yet could not this health be restored in some Months during which time though he yielded to the will of his Esquires and received the succors of nourishment which they gave yet he lived in such a manner that his life could not be properly called any other than a continual death In the mean while the great Discourse was concerning the preparations against Scythia and being perfectly cured of the indisposition of his body he left the little Town to continue his Journey hearing that the Rival Princes had joined their Troops with those of the Queen of Dacia and had begun their march towards Scythia What Despair soever possessed his Soul and how great an indifference he shewed to all things that regarded not the cause of his grief he could not but kindle at this report and as he loved Honour as dearly as Menalippa and alwayes preserved great tendernesses and respects for his Father the almost extinguisht flame of courage began to rekindle neither could his mortal sadness forbid him to go whither his Honour and Paternal Love and the hatred he bare to those presumptuous Rivals call'd him He found himself daily more and more confirm'd in this solution but it was resisted by the love of Menalippa and considering that he could not take up Arms for his Father without turning them against his Princess he knew not how to satisfie both his duty and his love nor please the one without offending the other How would he say shall I not succor the King my Father against those unworthy Rivals who perhaps aim more at his Life than his Kingdom And alas replied he How shall I fight against Menalippa to whom maugre her cruelty I will perserve a faith inviolable so long as I live But ah I must not leave the King my Father without assistance in the extremities to which his life may be expos'd so long as I can hold a Sword and yet shall I carry my Arms against Menalippa No the dues of Nature cannot disingage me from those of love With these Contests he grievously tormented himself visiting many unknown Provinces or rather many Forrests and horrible Desarts where he ordinarily sought his Retreats unable to to take any certain resolution and I think he would have remained irresolute to the end without being able to declare either against Love or Nature if in passing near a Temple of Apollo famous for the Oracle it gave he had not consulted that god at the solicitations of his Esquires whose answer was thus THE ORACLE Go Thy Father help thy Mistress see And so Repress that Grief which presseth thee This Answer so clear beyond the custom of the Oracle wrought very much upon the spirit of Alcamenes and resolved the doubt of what resolution he ought to take and something eleveated his abated hopes he resolved therefore without weighing the business any further to march and succor his Father and Countrey and he fancied that by the command of the Oracle which injoined him to revisit his Princess he ought to hope for a change in his Fortune the storm of that anger which made her banish him being blown over These meditations dissipating part of his sadness gave him his health and intire forces and put him into a condition of serving his Father against the lovers of Menalippa He entred Scythia a few dayes after covered with the same black Arms he had born ever since his depart from Tenasia and marcht directly to the City of Serica where the King made his abode but before he got thither he understood that the King was gone to meet the Enemy and by good Fortune lighting upon Two or three thousand Horse which were the last Levies of the Province of the Issedons and the choice of Oronte's Cavalry Alcamenes made himself known unto them and putting himself at their Head marcht with all possible speed to Nicea and reacht it on the day of Battel as I have related On this manner the Prince Alcamenes passed his life since his depart from Tenasia and because there hapned nothing memorable to him during that time I have comprised it in a few words but will relate at large the following Events which seem to me more worthy your attention Scarce had the Prince whose resentments were divided betwixt Love and Duty rendred as he thought what was due to the one but he felt himself sollited to do the same Justice to the other and as in succouring the King his Father he had obeyed part of the command of the gods he believed to that whereby they commanded him to see the Princess Menalippa was due an equal obedience and he found himself powerfully enough carried by his inclination though he had not been obliged thereto by Religion He already resolved of the order he ought to take though it was not without trembling that he disposed himself to appear before Menalippa and it may be valiant as he was he would never have had the assurance to have done it if by the command of the gods he had not been incouraged and by the success of the beginning he had not expected a like event to the last effects of his obedience The morrow so soon as he was up he called Cleomenes a young man whom he loved dearly and who had been nourisht with him in age and person so like they were that a great part of the Scythians supposed him a subreptitious Child of the King Orontes he had indeed exceedingly the hair of the Prince whereby you might judge him next to Alcamenes the handsomest man amongst the Scythians he waited not on Alcamenes in his Travels because he was not with him in the Province whence he departed having a little before sent him to the
Combate against Alcamenes and for the same reasons which you alledge I believe I shall be accepted so well as you And I added Phrataphern rising up do protest that although you prevented me in the declaration yet not at all in the design of defying Alcamenes and although Merodates first proposed it yet have I courage and resentments enough to perform it so well as he and to attempt the same hazard for the Queens service and my own particular revenge Scarce had Phrataphern spoken when Pharnaces with as much boldness as the rest demanded the same advantage and the wicked Orchomenes though he waxed pale at the proposition and could not but tremble at the remembrance of Alcamenes his fury not daring to do lesse than his companions demanded the combate with the same earnestness Amalthea to whom the death of Alcamenes was of far greater importance than the life of either of these Princes was not troubled at this contest but Merodates who made the first proposition swell'd with rage to see himself traversed in his intent not enduring that any should so much as demand the combate against Alcamenes save himself At last the Queen having hearkned to all their reasons and prais'd the noble Ardour which carried them to so generous a contest ordered that the pretences should be decided by Lot and so flattered Merodates with the aid of Menalippa that he permitted his name with thè names of the four other Princes to be written in Billets and drawn out of a Casque But as they began to write they heard divers times the name of Alcimedon repeated at the entry of the Chamber and a little after they acquainted the Queen that Alcimedon was at the Chamber door and desired permission to kiss her hands Amalthea at this News arose from her seat transported with joy and cry'd with precipitation Let him enter and ran to meet him as far as the Chamber door The Princes grew pale with anger at the arrival of a man whom they loved not whose valour umbraged theirs and whose words they had found so true to their confusion But had they observed Menalippa's face they might have perceived that this return of Alcimedon toucht her very heart she was so surprized and troubled that unable to master the agitations of her soul and body she remained upon her seat with the countenance of a person quite nonplust and confounded Alcamenes entred the Chamber with that grace an I majesty which was naturally in his gate and all his actions and scarce was his foot in when the Queen cast her arms about his neck with all the marks of a true amity The Prince put one knee to the ground and saluting the Queen with a profound submission received her caresses Alcimedon said she having imbraced and raised him up your departure hath sensibly afflicted me but your return is in a time wherein you may with glory enough repair the fault which you have only committed to merit its pardon Madam replyed Alcamenes the necessity which forced me to leave you when I was unprofitable could not retain me when I believed my hand necessary behold me then with the same zeal and the same affections which have linkt me to your interests and dispose Madam of the life and fortune of Alcimedon who will spare neither the one nor the other in the glory of serving you The Queen replyed to those words in a most obliging manner and taking him by the hand presented him to the Princess Menalippa who striving to overcome the trouble which possest her rose from her seat with an unassured countenance Alcimedon threw himself at her feet kissing her hand without the courage to speak one word and the Princess who was in no better condition than he only raised him unable to testifie either by word or action her joy to see him The Prince began to interpret this reception as a continuation of her anger and complained within himself that he had been abused by the promise of the Gods but he had no leisure to reason for he was scarce risen from Menalippa's feet but he saw himself in the arms of Barzanes This Prince made him a thousand affectionate carresses and what cause soever he had to complain of his departure and the whole ingratitude which he had apparently testified yet his inclination being more predominate than his resentments he beheld him as his Son and imbraced him with all the marks of tenderness and affection The Princes though unsatisfied with his arrival and full of ill intents towards him yet fearing to disoblige the Queen saluted him with civility enough and Orchomenes himself who in this moment designed his ruine received him with an open countenance After those first ceremonies which interrupted the business which Alcamenes found them about the Queen who minded her interests more than any thing else addressing her self to Alcimedon You come fitly said she to participate a glory which all these brave Princes have disputed for they are upon drawing Lots upon an account so honourable that I am confident you will be joyful to turn also an adventurer Alcamenes doubted not but that this occasion of glory was some design against his Father and himself and finding no way to avoid the Queen's proposition he answered with much respect That he should esteem himself too happy to enter with those great Princes into an occasion of serving her and commanded the same time his name to be put into the Casque amongst those of the Princes But Merodates beholding all his actions with envy began to murmur and signified to the Queen that being all of them either Kings or Kings Sons she ought not to rank any other with them save persons of their own quality Alcimedon knew their intention and turning his eys upon them with a Noble fierceness My Lords said he make no difficulty to receive me for a Companion in the glory which you seek and believe it before the end of this War you shall possibly see that my birth is nothing inferiour to yours The Princes were not contented with this discourse and had perhaps disputed with Alcimedon the title he pretended to but they feared to displease the Queen who made this proposition and who believing her interests more secure in the hands of Alcimedon than any others insisted still in her resolution At last the name of Alcimedon was put into the Casque amongst the rest and as Fortune or some higher Power would have it Alcimedon was drawn to fight with Alcamenes All the Princes testified a sensible displeasure though it may be there were some amongst them to whom this election of Fortune was not disagreeable But the Princess Menalippa what confidence soever she had in the valour of Alcimedon waxt pale with fear and sighed knowing how redoubtable the Forces of Alcamenes were But the Queen what love soever she bare to Alcimedon knew she could not bestow on Alcamenes a more valiant enemy and so much rejoyced at this effect of hazard that she
any decessity Alcamenes having heard the King with much respect answered that he had rather lose his life than cast the least stain upon his honour which he had alwayes dearly preserved that he knew Alcimedon for a Prince full of valour and for a man whom the greatest Prince upon earth could not refuse without dishonour To these words he added many more so pressing that the King being naturally very generous was constrained to yield yet much less to the force of his perswasions than to the opinion of his valour against which he believed that of the unknown Alcimedon could make no long resistance The Prince sent an Herald immediately to the Camp of the Dacians to acquaint the Queen that having received the challenge of Alcimedon which her Herald had made in his absence he accepted it and would wait him at the place of Combate an hour after Sun-rising between both Armies with one Judge on his side and only a thousand Horse for the Guard of the Field The Queen Amalthea promised the same thing on the behalf of her Champion and the business being thus setled Barzanes was chosen Judge for Alcimedon and the Prince of the Massegetes for Alcamenes The night passed in the expectation of both parties of the event of so memorable a Combate and the knowledge which they had of the valour of each others Champions made them to expect this spectacle with extraordinary impatience The morrow so soon as the day brake all things were prepared though Alcamenes provided for this feigned Combate with repugnance and a divination of some misfortune Amalthea who was charged with all things that concerned Alcimedon made ready for him with no less diligence but the Gods had otherwise disposed of the event of this day than men had appointed for the unfortunate Cleomenes covered with the Arms of Alcimedon as Patroclus with those of Achilles had a like destiny He departed at the appearance of day from a Country-house where he had passed the night and to obey the Prince he marched with all diligence towards the Dacian Camp he was so fierce under these brave Arms of his Prince that he almost conceited he was metamorphosed into him but this innocent pride lasted not long for scarce had he made some paces in the Wood where the day before he had exchanged his Arms but he saw twenty Cavaliers making towards him who having encompassed him before he had time scarce to think on them cast him to the earth and pierced him through with their Javelings in a moment The cruel men stopt not there but part of them alighted ran upon him and lifting up the vizor of his Helmet they gave him several stabs in the face and throat When they thought he was dead they took Horse and made towards the Dacian Camp not touching either his Horse or Arms. The perfidious Orchemanes Prince of the Nomades the wicked enemy of Alcimedon partly for and in revenge of his Brother's death and partly for his own imprisonment had sent those Assasines to expect on the way by which the Prince must return into the Camp as he had learnt promising them for their performance great rewards and these cruel men had but too well acquitted themselves had not the Gods to whom the life of Alcamenes was dear prevented it by the fall of the unfortunate Cleomenes The Princess Menalippa having been troubled this night with some unlucky dreams and being very melancholly both for the Combate which Alcimedon was to undertake the next day with Alcamenes and out of the displeasure she received for not having spoken to him the day before To cure him of the fear of her displeasure she arose early in the morning seeking some divertizement amongst her Train which attended her She caused a Chariot to be prepared to take the Air and would only permit Belisa and the faithful Leander who remained still in her service and who by chance was not in the Queens Tent the day before and so mist the happiness of seeing his Master to wait upon her Menalippa accompanied with only these two persons giving order to tell the Queen when she awaked that she was gone to take the air in the Fields and would return after the Combate between Alcamenes and Alcimedon was ended desiring not to be present at it after which orders given passing through the Dacians Tents she caused her Chariot to be guided towards that Wood which was within sight of the Camp and wherein the unfortunate Cleomenes lay slain as the distance was not great the Chariot was quickly in the Wood and the Princess causing it to stay alighted and began to walk amongst the Trees leaning upon Belisa's arm and her spirit being possest with sad I dea's her converse was full of sadness and was disposing her self to disburthen her troubled heart when she saw a gallant Horse sadled and bridled feeding at liberty and lifting up his head to approach the Chariot-Horses he filled the Wood with sneezings this Horse being that whereon Alcimedon used to charge Leander thought he knew it and the nearer he came the more he was confirmed in his opinion he told the Princess what he thought but the had already cast her eys upon a Buckler which she saw lye some paces from the Horse and she no sooner beheld it than by its famous devize familiar to all the Dacians she knew it for Alcimedons She recoyled at this sight and calling Leander Thou shewd'st me Alcimedons Horse said she and I can shew thee his Buckler and by what we see we may judge he is not farr off Scarce had she pronounced these words when she saw the miserable Cleomenes under the Arms of Alcimedon and believed effectively that she saw Alcimedon strecht at the foot of a Chestnut Tree She thought he had been a sleep and making no difficulty to approach him intending to charm all fear which the suspition of her anger might have left upon his heart and to make him satisfaction for the ill treatment she had given him when drawing near this feigned Alcimedon she saw the ground covered with blood round about him and the great bubbles which issued out of the defaults of his Cuirass from those wounds which he had received in the face This spectacle forced cryes both from Menalippa and Leander and running on him together with precipitation they took off his Casque and Cuirass and Leander with a cloath wiped his face covered with blood and wounds and since in an other condition he very much resembled Alcamenes being of the same age and his hair of the like colour 't is not difficult to suppose that it being now disfigured with wounds he might be taken for Alcimedon All the courage of Menalippa made too weak resistance against this deplorable sight and whilst Leander cast forth cryes and tore his hair Menalippa more sensible than he though not less couragious lost all sense and knowledge and fell in a swoon upon the couragious pretended Alcimedon Belisa though
if it be true that I have succoured my Father with successe it is as true that this sight of Menalippa which you ordained me is the greatest misfortune that can happen to me in my life since by this visit I have found her more cruel and inexorable than I could have imagined nor have I seen her O Gods but to present my Sword unto her beautiful breast and to draw blood from her fair Body Speaking thus he felt his Grief boyl into rage and casting his eys by chance upon the Sword which he had used in the Battel and upon which he might still have observed some drops of Menalippa's blood had not the mixture of so much which he had spilt that day confounded it Perfidious instrument of my crime cry'd he the first service thou hast rendred me hath been sufficiently fatal to me if I had the Sword of Alcimedon which I left with Cleomenes and which is now in Menalippa 's power it would possibly better than I have known Alcimedon 's divinity and would have denyed obedience to the sacrilegious hand which drew it against her but this first service shall be the last I will receive from thee for I shall be ashamed to wear the criminal steel that hath drawn blood from Menalippa Saying thus he brake it into several pieces not without a revery of some moments whether it were not better to plunge it into his breast Thus did he passe the Night tormenting himself and the day appearing ere he had either sought or found a moment of rest one of his Squires who entred his Chamber related that the Queen Amalthea under pretence of carrying off her dead demanded of the King Eight Days Truce Alcamenes who well knew into what condition the Enemy was reduced and that if the King would take his advantage he might ruine them in a day had reason to fear that he would refuse the Queens demand and finding himself too culpable towards Menalippa he sent and instantly desired the King to grant Amalthea's desire The King Orontes who naturally was an excellent Prince and who beheld with regret this effusion of blood considering also the prayer of his Son he thereupon granted Amalthea the Eight Days Truce and having given orders to fetch off and bury the Dead and incamped his Army further off by reason of the infection of the Air he went into his Son's Chamber with a spirit full of tenderness and quite bent upon a resolution which he now discovered He found Alcamenes in the condition I represented him and though he indeavoured to recall himself in the Kings presence yet was it difficult to hinder the whole appearance of his grief from him The King having sometime entertained him with the affairs of the War and seeing he could not draw a word from him which was not diffected into sighs and sobbs he resolved to oblige him to disover his heart to advance which design he took one of his hands and pressing it between his own with much affection My Son said he I cannot taste with satisfaction the advantages your valour hath given us nor rejoyce to see in a few days my Kingdom intirely delivered from its Enemies so long as you appear in this condition wherein to my extream sorrow I behold you I alwayes hoped better things from your courage what reason soever you had to afflict your self and I must believe it exceeding great since it can conquer a heart like that of Alcamenes I thought yesterday upon the first observation of your sadnesse that it proceeded from drawing your Sword against a Woman and a fair Princesse but seeing you this day in the extremities of the most violent grief I believe it could not render it self so powerful over your spirit were it not fortified by some other passion and it is not impossible but that in the moment wherein the fair face of Menalippa appeared to you in the Combate it might produce love enough in your Soul to resent the violence of your Sword against her and for having drawn some drops of her blood Blush not Alcamenes continued the King seeing him change colour if this be the true cause of the sadnesse wherein you appear to the eyes of a Father who dearly loves you you shall receive no hindrance from him to the compleating your felicity and though the action of Menalippa hath something in it very contrary to the sweetnesse and moderation of her sex yet hath she many vertues as I have heard by the common report which makes me look-over this action And born she is of a Blood and in a Fortune which might make you hope from me an approbation of your love and indeed the Heir of Dacia is a person considerable enough to surprize the affections of the greatest Prince and the repose of Alcamenes is dear enough to me to make me overcome those resentments I might have against my Enemies If your sadnesse may be dispell'd by this proposition I will offer peace to Amalthea in a time when she can no longer make War against us and with the Peace propose to her the marriage of Alcamenes with Menalippa She will not perhaps be so obstinate in her hatred towards me as to shut her eyes against so great advantages and she will be ill advised to refuse a Peace when it lyes in our power to ruine her or reject for her Daughter the greatest and most advantagious Match she could wish Whilst Alcamenes heard the King speak thus though he received by this discourse but an imperfect joy yet could he not dissemble it and kissing the Kings hand with a profound reverence and some sighs which he could not retain My Lord said he beside the obligations which are common to me with all children I have particular ones to your bonnty which I cannot dissemble without ingratitude I will not deny to your Majesty since you have discovered it against my will that the face of Menalippa inspired me with love when my Sword was upon the point to have given her death I will say no more nor give bounds to a bounty too great for Alcamenes But if your Majesty hath any inclination to this alliance I will receive it with all the respect I ought I doubt only that all the advantages which Amalthea can find will not bow the spirit of Menalippa and I beseech your Majesty not to use the authority of the Queen to force her inclination Alcamenes said no more and the King who knew his intent and who as I told you was weary of the War though it had continued but a little while and preferring the repose of his people before a bloody Victory having commanded the Prince to comfort himself and to hope all things from his care left the Chamber and past into his own where sending for Amphimachus Prince of the Tauro-Scythes he largely instructed him with his intention and giving him a Letter to Queen Amalthea caused him to depart towards the Enemies Camp Here it was that Grief
and Desolation put on their true shape and if the whole Camp groaning for the losse of so many thousands that had been slain that day for the death of the Prince of Bithinia and the King of the Nomades and for that of a great number of principal Officers who had left their Bodies in the Field as Trophies of Scythian Valor The Queen to the great cause she had to regret this loss joyned the grief she resented at Menalippa's despair She caused her to be carried off the Field to be disarm'd and her wounds drest and though they were but light yet the unconsolable grief of the Princess would have put the least bodily distemper into a capacity of indangering of life In vain had the Queen imbraced her and bedewed her face with tears in vain had she conjured her by the most pressing words affection could put into her mouth to declare the cause of her despair and funest resolution The desperate Princess answered not but by sobbs and tears which flowed incessantly from her fair eys or if the afflicted Mother could sometimes force a few words from her they so savoured of rage and fury that they easily discovered her Soul to be possest with a mortal sadness But though Menalippa could not conceal her grief yet she would her love choosing rather to suffer the perpetual demands of the Queen than confesse she had loved Alcimedon and that it was for him she fought with Alcamenes and was faln into despair Notwithstanding the pre-occupation of her Soul she caused Belisa to order the Body of Alcimedon secretly to be buried which was very easie amongst so many thousands that kept him company and this Maid who with Leander had carried it to the Camp according to her orders would nevertheless divulge nothing of this adventure having not yet received the Princesses commands so she put the Body of Cleomenes in an unfrequented place where it could not be known by reason of the wounds in his face and being stript of Alcimedon's Arms which might have made him observed Menalippa in her design of concealing her love from the world received some satisfaction from this discretion of Belisa charging her to recommend the secret to Leander and all those who knew ought of this adventure The Queen pressed her uncessantly to reveal the truth partly to understand the cause of her despair and also to know how she came by Alcimedon's Armour and what was become of that valiant man and how he permitted her to fight in his place yet he could never draw the least word out of her mouth that might give any satisfaction in what she desired and all that she could obtain was a promise to declare the truth within six days on condition that till then she would give her the liberty of her tears without troubling her for a clearer knowledge The Queen who even adored her and placed in her only all her affections and hopes was constaained to be satisfied with this promise and though she disapproved and condemned the furious resolution and Combate of her Daughter which she could not attribute but to a violent despair yet durst she not blame her for this action as she would doubtless have done had she been in a condition capable of reproof Yet was not Menalippa's heart so replenisht with her own misfortunes but there was room left to resent the Queen's and seeing her drowned in tears at her Pillow Madam said she I render my self unworthy by my folly of that bounty you testifie towards me In the Name of the Gods allay the troubles of your spirit and hope with me from the bounty of Heaven that mine will repose it self when yours becomes more serene Ah Menalippa reply'd the Queen with a sigh You have little reason to imagine my spirit can be at rest whilst yours remains in the condition it now appears and you have little valued my repose when you exposed a Daughter more dear to me than my own life to the conquering Sword of the valiantest man upon Earth I am not reply'd sadly Menalippa the first person of my sex that hath drawn a Sword against men and you your self have inspired me with Warlike inclinations by the education you gave me however this action may partly be excused to you by the hatred which with my milk you have made me suck against the Fâmily of Orontes and which I believed might reasonably transport me to this extremity against the Son of my Fathers Murtherer against a man who robbs us of the hopes of revenge and of the possession of Scythia which the Gods hath promised us and against a man to whom for other reasons also I have an irreconcileable aversion It must be Menalippa reply'd the Queen and shaking her head that these desperate resolutions against Alcamenes have some deeper causes than those that are common to us both and were he not born of your Father's Murtherer he hath done nothing in this War nor in the Combate against you but what might rather cause esteem than aversion Pardon me Madam repli'd Menalippa brisquely in that my resentments are not conformable to yours and if I have not generosity to love enough vertue in mine Enemies Amalthea knew by the manner of pronouncing these words that she could not contradict her without augmenting her affliction and a little after going out of the Chamber she permitted her to passe the night through her instant intreaties without any other company save that of Belisa During the remainder of this night which she gave wholly to sighs and tears for unhappy Alcimedon she made often reflections on the actions and words of Alcamenes in the Combate and observing amongst those cruel ones whereby he owned the death of Alcimedon that he was in love with her and offered himself to her with all the marks of a passionate man she became astonisht at the quick birth of his love and flattered her self possibly notwithstanding her mortal grief with the glory of such a conquest and of the quick and marvellous effects of her beauty After a long revery If it be true said she that Alcamenes loves me I praise the gods for the occasions they have given me of revenging his cruelty by that I will exercise against him and if the Barbarian be so happy to escape the death which I prepare for him I will make him feel from this heart pre-occupied by a passion so just all that a just resentment can inspire me with of most cruel and most conformable to the hatred I bear him In these furious thoughts she passed the night and part of the next day receiving some nourishment and permitting them to dresse her wounds not out of love to life but of design to imploy it wholly in revenging Alcimedon Part of the day was past when they came to advertize the Queen that the Prince of the Tauro-Scythes desired admittance from the King of Scythia What hatred soever she bare his Master yet knew she how to treat Ambassadours
the World by the most unworthy and barbarous treason all that I could love amongst men and all that could carry me to these extremities which may make it appear to thee that I am weary of my life Thou shalt know no more and Heaven is my Witness that I would never have said so much to any one else dispose now of my destiny at thy pleasure preserve only in my death the respect due to the modesty of my Sex and the dignity of my Birth The tears which the remembrance of Alcimedon drew from Menalippa's eye stopt the course of her words and the King shaking his Head at her Discourse testifying the little Credit he gave to it Those reproaches of Treason and Unworthiness said he wherewith thou abusest Alcamenes will find little faith amongst men with whom his Actions are clear enough and if he hath slain any one that was dear to thee it must have been in Battel or in some of those Combats which thy Rage hath raised against him But Alcamenes is not yet dead and if it please the gods to leave him with me I shall have generosity enough to return thee free into thy Countrey and forget in favour of thy Sex and Beauty and Alcamenes love the bloody injury thou hast done me but if my Son dyeth of the wound received from thy hand by the immortal gods I will not leave his death unpunisht were Alcamenes dead I would lose that life without regret which I only preserve for his ruine and in which there remains nothing which can make me desire its conservation These words made the King judge that the Soul of Menalippa was possest with a powerful despair and he began to believe that her hatred might have another foundation than the King her Fathers death yet quite transported with grief and anger as he was he commanded them to take away the Irons from her hands and feet and to give her Garments conformable to her Sex if she would and instead of the Goal an Apartment in the Palace with order to guard her carefully yet so that she might taste nothing of Captivity save that of a Prison Menalippa praising the moderation of Orontes and unable to disapprove his resentments had some regret for his grief and being discharged of her Irons she retired into the appartment they offered her where she put on womans Cloaths not those they presented because they were her Enemies but such as she caused Belisa to carry with her she refusing any other attendants Whilst the wounded Prince disputed betwixt life and death his wound being so great that a complexion less robust than his could not have one moment survived the cruel stroak he passed the Night with great weakness and the day following when they took away the Playsters the fear ceased not and the Chirurgions only said as the day before there were some hopes and though his cure was difficult yet was it not impossible As they permitted not the Prince to speak so they permitted only such to stay in his Chamber that were necessary for the present necessity and it was in this solitude and silence that they perceived this poor Prince whose judgment in spight of his feebleness and violent Feaver was intire and sound studying upon his adventure unable to imagine by all conjectures that his wound came upon any other account save Menalippa's The King would not tell him what he knew for fear the News should increase his misfortune and affliction by letting him know that Menalippa had been charged with Irons and dragg'd to a Prison but that which the Princes thoughts were most busied on was that the Sword wherewith he had been wounded remaining after the blow in his body he believed that by this Sword he could clear himself of part of his suspitions and having called one of those which served him he commanded to bring it to him it was remarkable enough through the beauty of the Hilt to have caused some one in the Chamber to have it carried it away but by Fortune it was left and presented to the Prince who no sooner cast his eyes upon it but he knew it for the same he had along time worn under the Name of Alcimedon and which he had given to Cleomenes with the rest of his Arms and which he saw in Menalippa's hand in the first Combat This sight made him imagine that it was by Menalippa's hand he had been wounded and calling to mind that little of her face which appeared as she fell on him and remembring the Letter which Merodates received from her by Leander whom he believed to be still in her Service he no longer doubted but that it was from Menalippa that he received the wound This knowledge was the Parent of different thoughts and if it redoubled his grief to see the continuation of Menalippa's hatred he received also much consolation through the belief he had that to please Menalippa before he dyed he could not dye more gloriously than by her hand he rouled this thought sometime in his mind without speaking at last raising his voyce with a weak and an unassured tone Ah said he the gods be praised I dye by the hand of Menalippa He repeated these words divers times and a little after Well Menalippa added he since 't is your Will that I dye by your hand I willingly imbrace it and shall receive my death with an intire joy if I may be permitted to kiss the hand that gave it He stopt at these words casting his eyes sometimes on the fatal Sword and sometimes on those that stood round about him who conjured him to be silent if he desired to preserve his life but they were much more astonished when after he had kept silence sometime But why said he do I oppose my self to Menalippa's Will since she thrust not this revenging Sword into the odious body of Alcamenes but that he should dye thereby What should oblige me to suffer these Remedies which are contrary to Menalippa's intention In saying thus he would have carried his hand to the binding of his wound to tear them off but those which were with him knowing his intention had laid hold of his hands which by reason of his weakness were easily mastered whilst others went to advertize the King who was in a Chamber by and who never but almost by force left his Sons Bed-side Alcamenes stayed his hand when he saw the King for whom he had alwayes a great respect and this afflicted person who came to know the cause of his Despair telling him with are proach full of tenderness that he could not neglect his own life without hazarding that of his Fathers Alcamenes instead of answering to this Discourse beholding the King with a passionate Aire My Lord said he Menalippa is in your hands in the Name of the gods hide not from me where Menalippa is The King who imagined he could not long conceal the Truth confest it all and told him that for his sake
time since we have either seen or heard of him that we have acted hitherto as if there were no such person in the World His beginning discovered him not to be unworthy the blood of Anthony and all things in him were great enough to rescue him from the oblivion of his neerest relations But before I acquaint you with the first beginnings of his life and the strange accident whereby we lost him I shall tell you what condition the unfortunate Anthony left his family in when he dyed though I doubt not but you have heard somthing of it from Alexander I am easily perswaded Sister you are not to learn how that Anthony left seven children by three wives by Fulvia who was the first Antillus and Julius Antonius by Octavia Caesar's Sister the two Princesses Agrippina and Antonia and by Queen Cleopatra Alexander Ptolomey and my self For the two daughters by Octavia and for us the issue of Cleopatra we all had our education together in the house of that Vertuous Princesse with all the civilities and kindnesses that could be expected from a most affectionate mother and as to the two children of Fulvia Antillus was killed not long after the death of our Father by Caesar's Souldiers his fate having proved not unlike that of our Brother Caesarion whose first eruptions and the great inclinations he discovered raised some jealousie of him in Augustus who for that reason took away his life and Julius Antonius was provided for as we were by the indulgent Octavia and not long after possessed of the house of Fulvia and all the estate belonging thereto with an addition of somewhat out of Anthony's To be short his condition was such that he needed not envy the fortunes of any Roman whatsoever and though he had not those Kingdoms at his disposal which had been at his Father's yet did he keep up our house in the greatest lustre it ever was in before the death of Julius Caesar and before Anthony and Augustus made themselves Masters of the Empire He was elder than Alexander and my self by seven or eight years insomuch that within a short time after our misfortune and while we were yet brought up as children by Octavia he was numbred among the young Princes that pretended to employments and opportunities of acquiring fame He was certainly born to all the noblest and greatest endowments and though he were not so fair as Alexander yet had he a high and majestick look was of a proper stature and wanted not any of those advantages either of body or mind which could rationally be wished in him With this his inclinations were absolutely noble he was wholly disposed to the acquisitions of vertue and an earnest suitor to those opportunities which lead a man to glory We cannot indeed complain but that he expressed as great affection towards us as we could expect from a Brother and him a vertuous one but in regard we were of several venter's lived in several houses nay that ours was in some sort divided between him and us and that even among the kindred of Fulvia there was no small aversion for the name of Cleopatra certain it is that our familiarity was so much the lesse with him and that he concerned himself lesse in our Affairs than if our family had not been dis-united which is the reason that you have had so little mention made of him in the first beginnings of the life of Alexander and mine Whence yet I would not have it thought as I told you that we can reproach Julius Antonius with any backwardnesse to do all the civilities and good offices we could expect from his friendship but that when any great emergencies interven'd he was no longer among us and it is upon that account that I have been destitute of his assistances in all those occasions which the love of Coriolanus hath furnished me with to make use of them and of which I have already made you a relation You have I question not understood from Alexander as also from me all the particularities of our youngery ears but to give you an account of Julius Antonius I am to tell you that after he had attained perfection in all those exercises that are proper to persons of his birth he was no sooner arrived to an age fit to bear arms but he sought out the wars with much earnestnesse and ingaging himself in the armies of Dalmatia Pannonia as also that which Marcus Crassus conducted against the Basternes and having gone through all employments and charges suitable to his age with all the good success imaginable he acquired a noble same and gave the World ground to conceive as glorious hopes of him as of any other whatsoever Being after several years spent in travel returned to Rome he setled there and was honoured by all nay wanted not from Caesar himself more then ordinary expressions of esteem and affection He was at first established at the Court among persons of the highest rank so far that onely Marcellus and the children of Livia particularly favoured by Caesar seemed by reason of the advantage of their fortune to aim at higher pretences His expence was noble and magnificent his disposition inclined to do civilities and to oblige and his whole deportment such as all the World approved and were satisfied with Accordingly he soon got him a great number of friends and those onely excepted whom the divisions of Rome and the distractions of the Triumvirate had made irreconcileable enemies to our house there were very few of the Roman Nobility who had not a particular esteem for him and courted not his friendship When he went to Augustus's Palace he was attended by a gallant retinue of young Gentlemen In all publick shews and all Assemblies that met either at the Empresses or at the young Princesse Julia's he alwayes had the general acclamations and it was already the ordinary talk in Rome that if Fortune were any thing favourable to him he would raise the house of Anthony to the height of lustre it had been in some few years before But it was not the pleasure of the gods he should continue long in that condition and the quiet that he himself lost after a very strange manner proved the occasion of our losing of him to our no small grief Now Sister shall you hear something which you will haply be astonished at as to the parallel you will find there is between the fate of Alexander and that of Antonius whence you will haply imagine that fortune treating them as Brothers would needs have some conformity between their adventures Among those exercises of the body he was most addicted to Antonius was the greatest lover of hunting and used it very often To that end being gone adays journy from Rome on the Tusculum side where the Country is very pleasant and very fit for that kind of divertisement he passed away certain dayes there with abundance of satisfaction The last of those he intended to bestow on that
not obliged to afford my enemy Or wilt thou in requital force me once more to quit Rome to avoid what is to me of all the earth contains most abominable These words pronounced with a shrill voice and after a manner absolutely imperious struck Antonius like a Thunder-clap and put him for a while to such a loss of spirits that he knew not what to say At last rallying all the courage and resolution he had about him to stand out this encounter Adorable enemy said he to her whom I do adore though I do not know and to whom I am odious yet am to learn the reason why mistake not for a persecution or any want of respect for your Divine Beauties those effects that proceed from a cause absolutely contrary No these are the expressions of my gratitude and a passion full of veneration and respect which I fatally conceived for you at the very moment I became obliged to you for your assistance Then it was that I became yours much out of a consideration of the assistance you afforded me but infinitely more through the violent impression which your celestial beauties made of a sudden in my heart which there upon absolutely yielded to be yours without the least resistance I have tenderly nay indeed but too too tenderly for my own quiet preserved the memory of the obligation you put upon me and the glorious wound I received and therefore you ought to be the lesse offended if I am at some pains to sind out the opportunities both to acknowledge your goodnesse and to see again those fair eyes that had hurt me If my eyes have done you any hurt replies the Unknown Beauty somewhat angrily they have done me such an injury as I shall never be able to pardon them and if what you say be true you will find your self very unfortunate in your addresse to a person who cannot otherwise then by hatred and aversion make any return to your affection I am indeed easily perswaded replied the amazed Antonius that I deserve this cruel aversion by reason of some defects in my person since I am confident I could never have merited it by any action or thought I have ever been guilty of I see then replyed she much displeased with him that I am still unknown to you and were you not ignorant whom you speak to I am confident you would not speak to me at all Certain it is said he to her with a very submissive gesture that I am to learn whom I speak to and whom I have be stowed my self on unlesse there be no more requisite to know you then to have well observed the divine qualities of your admirable person all the endeavours I have used to gain a more particular knowledge of you have proved ineffectual so that I am now at a losse what I ought to learn or what I ought to desire since the knowledge of your person is of no lesse concernment to me then that of your aversion You shall know both together replies the Unknown Beauty and you will be no longer to seek why I shun you when I have told you that I am Daughter to Cicero and you remember that you are Son to Anthony and Fulvia his Executioners With these words she goes out of the Closet into Emilia's Chamber and out of that into another where she locked up her self for fear of further pursuit But indeed there was no necessity she should take all that pains for he whose pursuit she was so much afraid of was at such a losse and so surprized at the discovery she had made to him of her self that he hardly knew where he was No that from his understanding that she whom he loved was Cicero's Daughter he felt any diminution in his love nor yet that being his Daughter she appeared lesse amiable but that all the hopeshe might have conceived vanished away in an instant And when it came into his mind not onely that Anthony had caused Cicero to be put to death but also that Fulvia his Mother had caused his head and his hands to be fastened to the Rostra where he used to make his Orations and had committed a thousand cruel indignities on the reliques of that great person whose memory was so precious among the Romans he had no more to say for himfelf and could not blame his Daughter for the horrour she had conceived against the Son of Anthony and Fulvia For though indeed divers persons had lost their lives during the proscriptions of the Triumvirate which yet occasioned not eternal enmities between families yet it is certain that in the death of Cicero there had been some circumstances so cruèl and Fulvia naturally inclined to bloud had used him with so much inhumanity even after death that my Brother whose memory was of a sudden burthen'd with all those things and whose inclinations were absolutely vertuous could not think on them without horrour Woe is me cryed he at last rising up from the place where he had continued all this while and turning to Scipio and Emilia who had been witnesses of all that was passed the Daughter of Cicero hath indeed reason to avoid the Son of Fulvia hath not his own destiny at his disposal and cannot forbear loving whiles he lives the Daughter of Cicero With these words he at the entreaty of Emilia sate down and lay under such a dark cloud of affliction that for a good while he was not fit for any conversation During that time he understood from Emilia without any desire of his to be informed that Tullia was a neer Kinswoman of hers and that her Mother Terentia was of the family of the Scauri that the beauty and excellent endowments of that young Lady had made no great noise in Rome and that her person had not been known there so much as in all probability it ought to have been by reason that while she was yet very young and that during the time the house lay under disgrace her Mother had carried her to a Country-house neer Tusculum where she had spent her life in solitude without ever returning to Rome and that haply she had not come thither so soon if upon occasion of her Mothers death which happened not long before her Brother Quintus Cicero who lived at Rome after a very noble and high rate and had been nominated Proconsul in some part of Africk had not some few daies since sent for her Emilia further acquainted Antonius and Scipio that Tullia besides the perfections of her body had a many admirable endowments that she had cultivated an excellent disposition with an excellent education and that during the time of her solitude being addicted to the study of the nobler kind of Sciences she was grown perfect therein that she discovered abundance of courage and vertue that she was not subject to the weaknesse of our Sex and that she was of a conversation infinitely pleasant when she was among persons to whom she was pleased to communicate
I had restored it to Emilia and not to you However it be Cecinna you ought not to expect it as being the last of all men for whom I should have that compliance I thought indeed replyed Cecinna I should be forced to those extremities with you which the Emperour hath forbidden us and it is with that design that I sought you out resolved to take away either your life or Tullia 's picture This is it I expected from thee replyed Antonius fiercely and which I thought I had so sufficiently obliged thee to as to make thee contemn all other considerations With these words they both layd hands on their swords and drew at the same time there being not any body neer to hinder them They exchanged a many blows with much more fury then circumspection Cecinna fought with abundance of courage but with little good fortune and being over-rash and inconsiderate be received two mortal wounds in the body upon which he fell down at my Brother's feet with very little remainder of life Antonius had no doubt wished the death of Cecinna and had behaved himself in that duel with abundance of indignation and animosity against him but being a person of a great and noble soul seeing him fall with all the mortal signs his anger vanished and compassion took place in his heart into which the passions whereby it was then moved were not against its admittance He came to Cecinna to do him all the good he could and endeavouring to stop his bloud perswaded him to take courage by all the words which might expresse the regret and sorrow he conceived at his misfortune But while he was employed in this compassionate office there comes by an accident you cannot but be astonished at a Chariot full of Ladies to take the pleasure of a solitary walk in the Wood to the place where they were and the Ladies who intended to take a walk being got out of the Chariot came on easily without any jealousie of what had happened to the very place where the unfortunate Cecinna was expiring his last in my Brother's arms You may well imagine what astonishment this sad spectacle raised in the Ladies but it will be hard for you to conceive that of my Brother when with Emilia and some other Ladies of his acquaintance he saw the cruel Tullia that very Tullia whom he had so well engraven in his soul I leave it to you to supply the difficulty of expression I meet with in this strange rencounter so hard is it for me to give you an account of the agitations of these two souls in so unexpected an adventure If Antonius was surprized to see that Tullia whom he adored that Tullia who shunned him with all the cruelty imaginable nay the same Tullia whose Lover that was to be within a few dayes her Husband he had killed you may well think that Tullia on the other side was not less astonished to meet with that Antonius whom she avoided standing over the expiring Cecinna and soiled with the bloud of a man she was to be married to She had not had t is true any violent affection for him yet it is withall certain she had no dis-inclination towards him and since she had been acquainted with the design her Brother had to make her his Wife she had entertained in her heart all the love she thought her self obliged to have for a person that was shortly to be her Husband so that she could not see him weltring in his bloud and expiring at his enemies feet without feeling an extraordinary affliction and whatever her soul was capable of upon an accident of that nature She at first sight gave a great outcry and was ready to swound in Emilia's arms who made a shift to hold her up and a little after casting her eyes on both Antonius and Cecinna on the one with all the demonstrations of compassion and on the other with all those of indignation sheding tears for Cecinna and darting forth her wrathful looks on Antonius she continued for some minutes in an uncertainty as to what resolution she should take whether to avoid what she hated or to succour what she was obliged to love And whereas she seemed to be rather carried away by the aversion she had for my Brother or at least inclined rather to the motives she conceived she had to avoid him then to the affection she had for Cecinna her first reflections seemed to engage her to avoid the face of an enemy especially he being such a one as confirmed himself to be such by the action he had then done But afterwards upon second thoughts she being a Lady that chose rather to be guided by her duty then her passions and conceived her self obliged to relieve Cecinna dying upon her account rather then to avoid Antonius comes to him with a face bathed in tears and by certain broken words entreated him to take heart and to further all he could the design she had for the preservation of his life The expiring Cecinna met with this satisfaction in his misfortune that he breathed out his last in the arms of Tullia and mustering up all the strength he had left him to turn his eyes towards her and to take her by the hand she reached forth to him while one of her Mayds held up his head in her lap Madam said he to her I loose my life by the hands of Antonius but it was through my own fault and seeking and therefore I beseech you to forgive him my death as heartily as I do my self The compassion he takes at my misfortune deserves yours and I dye happy and glorious since I dye at your feet for your sake and in a condition that forces those fair showers from your eyes With much difficulty was he deliverd of these words but with them he lost his speech and some few minutes after breathed out his last leaving in Tullia's soul such violent characters of passion that she hardly knew where she was or what she did My Brother to give her way retired some few paces when she came neer Cecinna and being extreamly moved with pity for his misfortune the affliction he perceived it was to Tullia heightned his own so much and so violently that he had much ado to keep off from despair He at first thought himself obliged to avoid the eyes of that incensed Beauty nay though he was infinitely desirous to have a sight of her yet must he need imagine that as things then stood he could not without inhumanity importune her with his Out of this consideration had he already retired some few paces but his passion growing too strong for him would needs oblige him to speak to her and to make some reparation for the injury he had done her This resolution grew so strong upon him that he could not resist it and so slighting all those reflections that were incompatible with the violence of his love he came some paces neerer he looked on that desolate
Beauty with all the agitations that a soul that hath lost all command of it self can be capable of He had not hardly had the confidence to open his mouth had he not been encouraged by the presence of Emilia whom he knew to be favourable to him and from whom he expected some relief But at last having rallyed a the courage he had he sets one knee on the ground and looking on Tullia in a trembling posture I should not presume to importune you with my sight Madam said he to her if I thought not my self obliged to make you some satisfaction for the injury I have done you and though Cecinna hath in some sort justified me by telling you that I onely stood in a defensive posture against him yet the displeasure I have done you is greater than to be passed over with such a reparation There was no need of this last misfortune to heighten the aversion you have ever had for the unfortunate person that now adores you and this sight of you which I so earnestly begged before should not have been granted me together with that of an accident which can raise in you nothing but horrour for this so unhappy a wretch But since it is the disposal of heaven it is but just that both Heavens anger and yours should be appeased and since I am already so well acquainted with your heart as to believe I shall find in you all the resolution requisite to revenge your self and to do right to the Manes of Cecinna here take the sword continued he drawing it and presenting her with the hilt take the sword that hath taken away the life of Cecinna thrust it into this breast which lyes open to you and spare not after the injury I have done you a life which even in a condition of innocence hath ever been odious to you At these words Tullia who all the while would not so much as look towards him but turned her face another way gave him such a sudden and furious look that haply upon the first sallies of the violent passions she was then absolutely subject to she might have granted the desolate Antonius the death he so much desired and that accordingly she would have taken the sword he presented to her and whereof the very sight very much enflamed her indignation when she perceived upon it certain drops of Cecinna's blood But the prudent Emilia fastening immediately upon it got it not without much difficulty from Antonius and this she did as well in regard of the uncertainty she was in as to Tullia's intention as to prevent that desperatè Prince from making use of it against himself as he might have done in the distraction his grief had then put him into Tullia continued for some time without so much as opening her mouth expressing the agitations of her soul by her looks and silence more effectually than she could haply have done by her words But at last not able to master the impetuosity thereof and looking on the prostrate Antonius with eyes wherein through the tears that fell from them the fire of her indignation discovered it self but too apparently Unmercifull disturber of my quiet said she to him thou who being the issue of my Fathers Executioners art resolved not to degenerate from their cruelty Is it possible that thy inhumanity cannot be satisfied either with the bloud of Cicero spilt by thy Friends nor with that Cecinna which thou hast shed thy self but thou must persecute to the death an Unfortunate Mayd who hath not without reason avoided thee and who never yet gave thee the least offence Dost thou hope stained with the bloud of him that was to be her Husband that she can regard that odious passion which hath proved the cause of all her unhappinesse Or dost thou imagine she can look otherwise on thee than a Monster and the foulest object of detestation and horrour Go Barbarian go Sonne of Fulvia and disturb no longer the Daughter of the Unfortunate Cicero for whom thy cruelty hath opened a source of tears which no passion could ever have made her shead As she uttered these words which came from her attended with a deluge of tears she rested her face on Emilia's arm when Scipio who was then in quest of either his Mistress or his Friend came into the place directed thither haply by the gods to prevent my Brother's despair He was in few words made acquainted with all that past and though compassion had that effect which it could not but produce in him yet he made a shift to smother it the better to serve his Friend and so joyned with Emilia to oppose those sentiments of hatred and indignation which Tullia had conceived against my Brother But notwithstanding all their arguments intreaties and remonstrances she was still as inflexible as ever and the suppliant posture wherein Antonius had continued all this while or the abundance of tears he shed after her example could not raise in her the least touch of compassion nor any way moderate her exasperation When he saw that the mediation of Emilia and his Friend proved altogether ineffectual rising up from the place where he was and looking very dreadfully on Tullia I now see Tullia said he to her that nothing but my death can satisfie you and I were very much to blame if being neer the dead body of Cecinna I should hope to find that pitty from you which in the greatest innocence of my life and amidst the most prevalent expressions of my love I could never obtain nor indeed was it to your compassion that I addressed my self but I defied the implacable aversion you have for me to put a period to that life for which you have so much horrour I must confesse I should have embraced death more kindly from your hands than my own as conceiving your revenge would be the more absolute when you took it your self But since Emilia hath deprived you of that satisfaction which yet had been but proportionable to the grief I have innocently caused you I shall make it my own businesse to sacrifice to you the remainder of this life which hath been so unfortunately preserved and is so cruelly abhorred With these words he pretended as if he would go away with an action not far from extravagance but Scipio who during his discourse was gotten neer him stayed him and Tullia implacable as she was yet having abundance of vertue about her would not leave in the persons that heard her the sentiments which her distraction might have raised in them so that endeavouring once more to express her self to Antonius yet without looking on him I come not out of a cruel race such as thine is said she to him nor do I desire any bloudy reparations for the injury thou hast done me I neither wish thy death nor thy life and leave thee Master of a Fate wherein I never intend to be ary wayes engaged but if the horrid outrages which my family and my self
first civility to Octavia addressed themselves to Antonia intreating her to entertain Drusus into her service and give him leave by open hostility to take in that heart which he would have surprized by stratagem Antonia some what troubled at the adventure found it some difficulty to recover her self out of the disorder she was in and though it be certain that it was some joy to her to see the unknown Lover changed into Drusus who was the person of all the Romans into whom she had most reason to wish him changed yet was she still vexed at the artifice he had used toward her and could not of a sudden overcome the resentment which was risen thereof in her mind However she had a command over her ordinary moderation and having raised Drusus who was on his knees before her she onely told him that there was a consonancy between her will and those of the persons to whom her birth had made her subject and that I mean her moderation she made use of not only for that day but was the same for a many that followed insomuch that Drusus hath found it true that all the demonstrations of love that may be have no influence on her spirit and amount to no more than the complyance she had for the disposal of Octavia He was at last received into her service with the joy and acclamations of all insomuch that Antonia having since had a greater acquaintance with his excellent endowments if she were incapable of Love hath at least submitted to the commands laid on her by Octavia and Caesar in his behalf and hath satisfyed him by expressions worthy his solid vertue and of the esteem she hath for him And so it hath continued ever since by the happy meeting of these two complyant dispositions who are not subject to any trouble because not to the weaknesse of a many others so that it is out of all question that the Emperour will have them marryed at the same time that the nuptialls of Marcellus and Julia shall be solemnised Drusus hath told us since how that he had heard from Mithridates's own mouth the discourse that had passed between him and Antonia when they walked together upon which he grounded his first letter as also what course he had taken to conceal himself from all the World as well that day that he bestowed on her the magnificent Galley as that of the publick shewes before which some few dayes he had pretended affairs of consequence in the Country because there should be no notice taken of his absence at an Assembly wherein he should in all likelihood be one of the first Some few dayes after Archelaus overcome with grief went to ease himself of it in the war whither he was called to assist the Kiâ—g of the Medes his kinsman against the Parthians and wherein as they say he hath gained abundance of reputation Mithridates was in the same posture uncapable of any consolation though his love had not made so much noise as the others but to satisfie him in some sort the Emperour having the Crowns of Pontus and Comagenes where there had happened very great revolutions to dâ—spose of bestowed that of Pontus on Polemon and that of Comagenes on Mithridates and sent them to take possession thereof Ptolomey according to his ordinary way of courtship continued his addresses to Marcia that is with little earnestness and much esteem and respect but discovering little inclination to marriage He never minded Tullia who in requital was very violently courted by Lentulus but I shall not give you any account of their loves because they relate not much to the subject of my discourse though they may be said to be some consequences thereof I have already given you an account of all that happened to my self at that time as well as to the news I received of the infidelity of Coriolanus the departure of Marcellus and Tiberius and the Emperour's voyage wherein we accompanied him so that you are fully acquainted with the affairs of our house and the better to satisfie and entertain you therewith I think and that truely that I have spoken more in three dayes than I had done all my life before Thus did the fair Princess Cleopatra put a Period to her long relation which to do she had done a more than ordinary violence to her disposition and Artemisa had heard her with an attention which had suspended in her mind the memory of her misfortunes The End of the Second Book HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-piece Part. IX Lib. III. ARGUMENT Megacles discourses with the unknown person whose life he had saved about the constancy and inconstancy of Fortune Cleopatra and Artemisa of the fidelity and infidelity of Coriolanus The King of Armenia visits Cleopatra with a great dal of Courtship and personated Affection She abhorring him for his cruelties and having resolved to be Coriolanus 's slights him and looks on his addresses as the pure effects of insinuation and sycophancy However he forbears force because far from his own Kingdom whither he would make all the haste he could but is prevented by contrary winds Zendorus the Pirate entertains Artaxus with the History of his Life He marries Elisena a beautiful Lady of Armenia and not long after grows jealous of her through the means of one Cleontes a young man with whom she was over-familiar His jealousie still increasing Cleontes is by Elisena desired to depart the Court. The day before his departure he and Elisena taking their last leaves in an Arbour are surprized by Zenodorus who transported with rage and jealousie immediately kills Elisena in the midst of their embraces Cleontes gets away but afterwards hearing of the death of Elisena offers himself to Artaxus 's sword who runs him through As he lay dying he discovers his neck and breast and is found to be a Woman Artesia of neer kin to Phraates King of the Parthians to avoid whose addresses she had disguised her self Phraates to revenge her death comes with an Army and drives Zenodorus out of his Tetrarchy which is afterward begged of Augustus by Herod Zenodorus having lost all seizes some few ships and turns Pirate He follows Piracy with great success for ten years at last takes Candace Queen of Aethiopia whom he falls in love with but she firing his ships and casting her self over-board escapes Losing her he takes Elisa sole Heiress of the King of Parthia but going ashore to seek out Candace he loses both Elisa and all his ships hath most of his men killed and is himself wounded He is met with in a Country-mans house under the Surgeons hands by Aristus and by him brought along with the men he had left to the King of Armenia WHile the two Princesses were thus engaged in discourse Megacles whose care was equally divided between that of having them in safe custody to obey the commands laid upon him by his Master and that of affording them the best attendance he could to
she would not speak openly in his justification In the mean time Coriolanus deriving a little more confidence from the silence of Cleopatra as also from those discoveries which he perceived in her countenance of the disposition she was in to be perswaded of his innocence reassumed the discourse with an action that argued a greater setledness of mind You see then Madam said he to her what I can say for my self to justifie my intentions but for the effects since they have proved so fatal in relation to your quiet and that it is impossible to recal what is past the reparation I am to make you must be extraordinary And therefore this very hand that hath done the mischief must find out the remedy for it and this sword continued he putting his hand on the hilt of his weapon which he had taken into his own hands when he got up this very sword that hath put you into the power of the King of Armenia ought to bring you out of it or take away his life were it to be done not only in this vessel but even in the heart of his kingdom T is with this resolution that I cast my self at your feet added he coming neer her ready to defend you against him to the last drop of my blood and it may be in a condition yet to give him his death in the midst of all his men if he does not resign up to me what is mine and restore you to that liberty against which I have so unfortunately fought Artaxus had hitherto with a great deal of patience hearkned to all the discourse that had past between Coriolanus and Cleopatra and was content to hear the Princesse charge him with cruelty and declare that he was odious in her sight but at this last discourse of the Prince of Mauritania he thought his temerity and confidence insupportable and accordingly looked on him with a malicious and scornful smile Coriolanus said he to him I have passed by the first affronts I have received from thy presumption out of a consideration of the service thou hast done me and I have given thee leave to speak against my concernments with too much liberty because thou hadst defended them with abundance of valour but now I perceive thy temerity knows no limits so that it will be hard for me to observe those bounds which I had proposed to my self upon the first reflections I had made on the assistance I have recived from thee and the esteem I have conceived for thy person Artaxus replyed the valiant Mauritanian looking on him very fiercely there cannot be any such thing as a mutual esteem between us and if my actions have raised any such in thee towards me haply not without reason possibly have the same effect upon me Besides it cannot be expected we should be any longer Friends not only because thou keepest Cleopatra as a captive but also because thou lovest her For the service thou hast received from me thou art soon disengaged as well by the regret and affliction it is to me that I have done it thee as by the little intention I should have had to do it had I known thee to be him that carried away Cleopatra and for the good office which I received from thy people when they took me out of the water I have sufficiently requited it by exposing my life for their defence We are therefore upon equal terms as to point of obligation we are equal as to that of extraction and if we are unequal as to fortune it is in the power of Heaven who protects justice against oppression and iniquity to make our forces and conditions equal and to put me once more into such away as that I may be able to deliver Cleopatra If it be the pleasure of fortune that I perish in the design expect not thou ever the more that she will be long at thy disposal nor indeed canst thou be ignorant that the whole Empire is at this present in arms against thee and that when thou hast brought the Princesse into Armenia thou wilt be soon followed thither by the most dreadful forces of the Universe who will destroy all that lies before them by fire and sword upon so just a quarrel The Armenian King was silent all this while as if his astonishment was no lesse now at the confidence of Coriolanus then it had been not long before at his valour and thereupon giving him a look wherein he sufficiently discovered his indignation Thou speakest to me said to him with as little respect as thou wouldst haply do if thou were in the head of a hundred thousand men but there is it may be some flaw in thy memory and thou hast quite forgotten that thou art alone and without arms in my ship in the midst of all my men and that thou art already obliged to me for the life which thou hast enjoyed upon my courtesie ever since that moment wherein thou gavest me the first occasion of displeasure From this very indulgence Cleopatra might infer so much as might oblige her to quit the opinion she hath conceived of my cruelty and there are few Kings in the World who having an absolute power such as mine is would have suffered so much from any man and not have cast him into the sea I shall cast my self into the sea of my own accord replied the Prince of Mauritania when the misfortunes of my life prove so insupportable as to advise me to put a Period thereto but thou wilt find that to cast me into the sea against my will is not an attempt so easie in the execution as thou conceivest it And though thou hast a a great number of men about thee yet am I confident that the most daring among them will bethink him more than once what he hath to do ere he attempt it and though they should forget all respect to the royal character which I bear as well as thy self they are better acquainted with the mettal my sword is made of then to come over-confidently too neer the point of it Artaxus had his hand ready on the hilt of his sword and by his own example was going to oblige all his men to fall upon the King of Mauritania who securing himself with a buckler expected them with an undaunted courage when Zenodorus having recovered himself of his fall and the lethargy occasioned thereby and being come up to him told him that the wind was turned and was very good for their departure thence and that it was their best course to weigh anchor and be gone from a coast where they must expect to be assaulted again if they stayed there any time Artaxus overjoyed at that happy change of weather gave order to hoise up sail and that they should make what haâ—t they could out of the river But now was it that Coriolanus made them know what he was and turning toward Cleopatra who heard that order of Artaxus as she would have the sentence
heaven with eyes sparkling with indignation and an action expressing the very depth of despair Though gods and men cryed he and all the elements combine to ruine me yet shall they not abate a jot of my courage and if I must perish implacable destinies you shall find I can do it without either basenesse orremorse With these words he returns to Coriolanus as conceiving it absolutely necessary that he should be dispatched out of the way before the enemy were come up and thinking it now past time to dally and that he was to make all the haste hë could with him he comes up to him in such manner that the Prince after he had warded off certain blows which the other had made at him struck him over the head with all the strength he had The goodnesse of the head-piece saved him from death but it was not able to hinder him from being stunned in such wise that after he had staggered a while he fell down within some few paces of the Princesse Cleopatra Megacles ran immediately to help him and Artemisa out of the excellency of her good nature remembring what she ought her own bloud came to him and took up the visour of his head-piece to give him a greater freedom of breathing and more aire While he continued in that condition Cleopatra running to those that were still fighting against Coriolanus and who possibly notwithstanding his miraculous resistance would have dispatched him at last comes up to them without any fear and lifting up her voice that she might be the better heard Hold your hands said she to them and if you expect any favour from those whom you see coming to our assistance make no further attempt on the life of a Prince on whom your own will within these few minutes depend T is the onely way you have left you to secure your lives for you are not to hope for any mercy if you betake you not to your own Prince and by complyance make your selves worthy the pardon which I promise you These words proved effectual upon some part of those that heard them and particularly upon the Armenians who were most of them persons of considerable quality These were content to do as the Princesse would have them and giving over fighting went to see how their King did but the Pirates in whom the death of their leader and the despaire of pardon wrought a different effect were obstinate in the designe they had conceived to take away Coriolanus's life and though there were but one half of them left yet despaired not of revenging the death of Zenodorus The Prince perceiving himself eased not onely of the greatest part of his enemies but also of the most dangerous and most valiant valued not much those that remained and though he must needs be very much weakened as well by the continual action he had been in as by some slight wounds he had received yet was he now in greater hopes than ever of gaining the victory and delivering Cleopatra In the mean time Artaxus who had onely been stunned with the heavy blow he had received comes at length to himself by the assistance they had given him but ere he had so far recovered himself as to know all that were about him and become master of his strength that is before he was in a condition to discern what passed in the ship and to give out orders about any thing the other that was coming in to the assistance of Cleopatra and which had already been known to be one of those of Alexandria was gotten so neer that they could hear them hollow that were within her and in a manâ—er discern their faces Artaxus having got up and taken his sword again looked about him of all sides and perceiving that all his hopes were vanished he was convinced his final ruine was at no great distance He sighed again for very grief and rage as coâ—ceiving himself not to be in a condition either to execute his revenge or keep Cleopatra in his possession and therefore was at such losse and irresolution that he knew not what side to take Whiâ—e in the interim the other ship came on still with such speed and such hollowing that it was out of all question she was an enemy and indeed within a few minutes after Cleopatra and Artemisa perceived in the head of those that were coming to their assutance Prince Marcellus and Prince Alexander who that they might be known to the Princesses had raised up the visours of their head-pieces If their joy was extraordinary the grief of Ataxus who upon the first sight knew Alexander was no lesse violent He blâ—sphemed against Heaven and railed at his evil fortune and that hateful sight filled him no doubt upon the first apprehension thereof with satal resolutions We must perish cryed he but it is but just we bury under our ruines those that should derive any felicity from our destruction And for thy part Alexander said he loud enough to be heard by him assure thy self thou shall not laugh at the dâ—feat of Artaxus With these words he comâ—s up to the two Princesses and looking on them with eyes red with blood and fire he put them into a greater fright then ever they had known before See bere said he these are either my security or my victimes what shall escape my love shall never escape my revenge and if it be lost to me it shall be lost to all the World besides As he uttered these words he took Artemisa in the left hand and with the right presenting the point of his inhuman weapon to the fair breast of Cleopatra he directs his fatal looks on Alexander and Marcellus just at the instant that they were preparing all things to fasten the grappling-irons and addressing his speech to the Son of Anthony Alexander said he to him hope not thou shalt have any thing to rejoice at in the misfortune of thy enemy and think not to triumph over me so many several wayes as thou hast through the malice of my fortune and the persidiousness of Artemisa It was through the basenesse of this Princesse that she ever came into thy power and the revenging gods have been pleased that Cleopatra should fall into mine but if my Sister hath been too susceptible of thy love thine hath been too ungratful to entertain the affection I have had for her Thou returnest again conducted by that Fortune which hath ever been in hostility against me with a design and haply in a condition to force them both out of my hands but know that thy hope hath deluded thee and all thou art to expect from this enterprize is the death of these two Princesses Thou maist save their lives by directing thy course some other way and leaving me at liberty to pursue mine but if thou losest a single minute in considering what resolution thou should take thou shalt find me already resolved to sheath this sword in the breasts of Cleopatra and Artemisa
The King of Armenia had made this discourse without the least interruption while Alexander seeing him in that cruel posture against the Princesses had given order to those that were preparing to fasten the ship to forbear and stood in a confusion and absolutely at a losse what to think of so terrible a spectacle Upon the first sight of that Barbarian and his inhuman attempt his indignation would have broke out against him with all its violence but fearing on the other side by his precipitation to lose what was a thousand times dearer to him then his own life his love tyed up his hands with considerations as strong as the other and kept him in an irresolution full of perplexity Thence it was that he not onely forbore interrupting Artaxus while he spoke but also when he had given over was not able to make him any reply and onely looked on him with much confusion and as if he had been in trance Marcellus was also afraid for Cleopatra whom he loved as dearly as he could a Sister but his soul being not upon this occasion capable of such a violence of passion as was that of Alexander he was guilty of a greater freedom of apprehension and consequently was the lesse troubled at the horrour of that object Hence was it that he took occasion to speak while the other was silent and darting on Artaxus a look expressing the greatnesse of his indignation Barbarous wretch said he to him if the sight of those divine beauties cannot stay thy hands consider what will become of thy own life in that horrid attempt and doubt not but thou shalt loose it by the most exquisite torments that humane invention ever found out if thou execute thy barbarous resolution The Armenian smiled at this discourse of Marcellus and looking on him very scornefully Do not imagine said he to him that thou canst frighten me with thy menaces or that I stand in any fear of death my self after I have given it to what I love beyond my self but if thou with Alexander art desirous of the safety of these Princesses resolve immediately to do as I would have you for sear your resolutions come too late Ah! saies Alexander to him assâ—ming the discourse at last will thy cruelties never have any end and wilt thou treat me with more inhumanity upon the sea of Alexandria then thou didst upon the scaffold at Artaxata Thus did he speak to him as much out of tenderness as indignation when the couragious Cleoapatra out of a jealoâ—sie that that softness might prove prejudicial to her liberty and standing less in fear of death then of her captivity and the importunate Love of the King of Armenia broke that sileâ—ce which she had observed all the time before and looking on Alexander with a countenance that argued much more confidence than his Brother said she to him have a greater relyance on the gods then to forsake us upon the vain frights which Artaxus would put us into He dares not put us to death but though we were to expect it we think it much more supportable then the life he prepares for us Artaxus was in a manner satiâ—fied that these words of Cleâ—patra would have that effect on the spirit of Marcellus and that of Alexander as she expected they should and fearing to be surprized he lifted up his arm as he drew near to Cleopatra who was gotten some paces from him either to frighten them the more or possibly to execute his bloody resolution But as happy fortune would have it at the very same instant of time the valiant son of Juba who was fighting at the other end of the ship against those that were lest of the Pirates had notwithstanding their fiâ—ding him so much employment minding the safety of Cleopatra much more than his own partly taken notice of what was past Transported at the imminent danger he saw her in and perceiving it was not now a time for him to be so mindful of his own life broke through those enemies that stood in his way and laying on the ground all that any way opposed him he got up to the King of Armenia with so much speed that before he was sensible of his coming he gave him a thrust with such force that he laid him at his feet and tumbled him upon the deck to one side of the vessel Artaxus made a shift to get upon again but e're he could do it Coriolanus was gotten before Cleopatra in a condition to defend her while in the mean time Alexander and Marcellus in taking their advantage of this intervall had caused their ship to close with the other and notwithstanding the opposition of the Armenians and the Pirates who joyned with them with abundance of resolution made their way through and boarded the Armenian This fight as it was undertaken upon a barbarous occasion so was it managed with more animosity than ordinary and upon that account was it that there was some blood spilt which upon another occasion had haply through the clemency of the Chiefs been spared The Egyptian souldiers that followed Alexander put all they met with in their way to the sword but that Prince and Marcâ—llus scorning a victory too easily gained ran to Cleopatra and Artemisa and if love obliged the son of Anthony to mind in the first place what he most loved Friendship had in a manâ—er the fame effect upon the son of Octavia Alexander full of fury and indignation ran towards Artaxus whom rage had upon the last and most violent attempts and who must needs have expected the execution of a just revenge but Artemisa stepped before him and speaking to her dearest Alexander with her natural goodness Alexander said she to him put not to death the King my Brother and satisfie your self with the victory and possession of Artemisa Alexander let fall the point of his sword at this discourse and looking on the Princesse with an action full of affection and respect Madam said he to her had not you laid your commands on me I should have considered in the person of Artaxus both the blood of Artemisa and the dignity of a King Whereupon turning to Artaxus who swelling with rage and confusion and overpressed with grief and wearinesse sate upon the deck whence darting his scattered looks of all sides his thoughts ran upon what was most barbarous and horrid King of Armenia said he to him thou shalt receive from us what thou hast never granted any one and what indeed thou should not expect if thou call to mind that cruel scaffold upon which my head was once made a publick spectacle We leave thee thy life and absolute liberty to dispose of thy self as thou pleasest and desire no other advantage than that of delivering Artemisa and Cleopatra out of thy cruel hands From this difference of carriage thou maist reflect on what there is between us and from the ill successe of thy enterprises infer what horrour and vengeance the good and
I perceive there is between her sentiments and thine that it is upon thy account and to enjoy thee that she slights me as conceiving her fortune will be much better with Caesars Nephew a person destined for the Empire of the Universe then with a beggarly dispossessed Prince whom Fortune hath not left any thing but his sword And yet as contemptible and as wretched as I am I would not resign the interest I have in her to Tiberius while I had one drop of bloud left in my veines and I would wander all over the World but I would find him and take away his life did I but once imagine that Clcopatra were designed for him But for thee who didst sometimes quit the pretentions thou hadst to her to me I find in my self a complyance for thee suitable to so great an obligation and if I cannot look on thy fortune without dying I will be so far from being any way thy hindrance that I shall haply by my death remove out of thy way the greatest obstacle which any other but thy self could have met with in such a business This was the discourse of Coriolanus and notwithstanding the cruel prejudice whereby some that were concerned in it were possessed yet had it that influence upon their spirits that it was impossible for them to conceal the discoveries of their sympathy Marcellus who was a person of an excellent good nature could not dissemble it and doing himself a certain violence to expresse what he felt within him Coriolanus said he to the Prince how far soever I ought to be perswaded of thy infidelity yet have I not so great an a version for thee but that I would spend the best part of my blood might it contribute any thing to thy justification and if thy proceeding had been such as to leave us any thing to doubt of thou hadst found an advocate in my heart that would have maintained thy innocence against all the World to the last minute of my life But Coriolanus thou wert not pleased to afford us that comfort and hast taken such a course to have thy crime noised through the whole Roman Empire that unlesse we had been without the limits of it banished into the most remote parts of the earth it was impossible we should be ignorant thereof Ask the most inconsiderable person among the Romans what the infidelity of Coriolanus was and by what means it broke forth and then ask Caesar ask all the Romans nay Cleopatra her self whether I have betrayed thee or whether from the day that for thy sake I have disengaged my self from the affection I had for her I ever looked on her otherwise then as a Sister or minded any mans interests as to her but thine Do not therefore charge either her or me with any basen ess since there hath happened no change in our sentiments and that when we both accuse thee with a departure from thy former thoughts and the infidelity thou hast committed against us infer not that I have quitted Julia for Cleopatra or that Cleopatra shunning Coriolanus as a monster of ingratitude hath looked on the Empire or Marcellus or indeed any other person that thou canst any way reproach her with Coriolanus being out of all patience at this discourse rises up of a sudden and coming to Marcellus in an excess of passion I am satisfied said he to him that what thou saist is true but thou must either run me through this heart with thy sword or expect to see me fall upon the point of my own after the example of the King of Armenia or let me understand at last what this infidelity is which is so well known to all the World and unknown onely to the person that hath committed it I have nothing in particular to acquaint thee withal replies Marcellus but it was ever my opinion that was apparant to the eyes of all the World carryed crime enough in it to deny thee the thought of innocence and that thou needest not expresse thy self more plainly both to Cleopatra and Marcellus then by sending plenipotentiary Ambassadours to Caesar with credentialls under the great Seal of Mauritania to demand of him the Princesse Julia in marriage and thereupon to do him homage for thy Kingdom Who I cries out the Prince at this discourse of Marcellus have I sent Ambassadours to Caesar to demand Julia of him and to do him homage for my Dominions T is true Coriolanus saies the Princesse Cleopatra who had been silent all the time t is true Coriolanus you did send them and if we had not seen them our selves with their credential letters in form and with full power we should hardly have been perswaded to a thing so improbable Theocles one of the most eminent of your Subjects was the chief person of that Embassy and he came along with Volusius to Rome at his return out of Mauritania There was nothing omitted in that affair either as to solemnity or form and if it wrought not the effect you expected it should it hath raised in the heart of your friend and that very justly the resentment he hath discovered to you and in that of the unfortunate Cleopatra a grief which will bring her to the grave Cleopatra having thus disburtnened her thoughts by this discourse Camilla whom the vertue of that Prince had ever obliged to side with him perceiving he was mute and immoveable at these reproaches comes to him and in few words acquainted him more at large with the cause of his misfortune and the truth how all things were managed between Volusius and his Ambassadours The son of Juba no lesse cast down at this discourse then if he had been struck with a thunder-bolt stood still for a good space of time looking still about him as if it had been to seek for some either to witness his innocence or make good the charge put in against him At last dispelling his astonishment and feâ—ring his sâ—lence might be thought an argument of his guilt he comes nearer to Cleopatra and setting one knâ—e to the ground Madam said he to her I humbly crave your pardon for my having charged you with any thing unjustly I should have known that you are just in all things and thence have inferred that your change could not proceed but from a cause suitable thereto I might haply not without reason hope it from your goodness and the friendship of Marcellus that you would have proved my advocate to your self and plead my cause against the artifices and designes of my enemies And this it was not hard for you to take notice of since there was little likelihood I should so much court the allyance and friendship of Caesar when I was possessed of the throne of my Ancestors having slighted it in a time when I had no favour or fortune to hope for but from him alone or that I should voluntarily offer him the homage of my kingdomes after I had conquered them by open war and
the defeat of his forces when I had not long before refused them of him upon those very terms But in fine since I have not been so fortunate as to find that protection in you and that you have really been perswaded that I had been guilty of a baseness so improbable as that and if I may presume to say it so disconsonant to the other actions of my life it concerns me â—o endeavour my own justification and to satisfie both you and all the world besides of the impossibility there is I should be guilty of so base an infidelity I must find out Volusius and Theocles and I must find out Tiâ—â—rius who no doubt is the Authour of this cruel intrigue I hope through the assistance of the gods to make my innocence apparent to all and am confident that within a short time I shall dispel all these mists of plots and prejudice But Madam you may be pleased to remember that when you banished me out of your sight for ever and pronounced that dreadful sentence which hath occasioned all my losses I was master of two great Kingdoms which I came to present you with and that through the despair you put me into you deprived me not only of the power but even of the design I had to go and maintain them as no doubt I could have done against all the forces of the Universe Through that misfortune is it now come to passe that I have nothing left me as having lost not onely the crowns I had conquered but also the Friendship of Caesar from whom I was to hope for all I could expect So that when I shall return again into your sight in a condition innocent enough to hope a readmission into your favour I shall have no Crown to offer you nor indeed a refuge in any part of the earth it being not so easie for me to expect a second revolt of my Subjects after I have by my negligence betraied them to Caesars severity and the orders he hath setled in the Provinces since his last conquest thereof Thus Madam can I not cast my eies on you with any confidence nor indeed desire you should fasten your self to the fortunes of miserable person that hath not an inch of earth to offer you and to entertain you in However I go my waies in order to my justification so to satisfie both my love and my duty by both which I am equally obliged thereto and when I shall have affected it I shall either out of a complyance with the will of the gods not disturb a better fortune which it is in their power to send you or with my hopes lose a life which must needs be troublesome to you and to me insupportable To this effect was the discourse of Juba's son and Cleopatra and Marcellus were so moved thereat as also at the reflection he caused them to make upon the deplorable change of his condition that they could not forbear teares and all other demonstrations of the tendernesse compassion and sympathy which might be expected upon such an occasion Cleopatra the most concerned of any to expresse her sentiments to the Prince looking on him with with eies wherein could not be seen any thing of displeasure Go Coriolanus said she to him go and endeavour your justification I desire you should effect it no lesse than you do your self 'T is possible you might be sufficiently justified in my apprehensions by the things you have done for my deliverance by the probability which I find in your discourse and by the good opinion I have of you were it not requisite to make your innocence apparent that so it might be lawfull for Cleopatra to readmit you with honour into her former favour and affection They are but justrewards of pour fidelity if you have continued in it and the losse of your Kingdomes shall loose you nothing in my heart if yours have suffered no change In the mean time conceale your selfe in a Country where you are to feare all things as being so near so powerful an enemy and assure your self that in the uncertainty I may be in of your fidelity I am not so little concerned in the safety of your life but that I tremble when I reflect on the hazards whereto you expose it With these words she reached forth her hand to raise him up and the Prince imagined to himself so much kindness and obligation in what she had said as also in all the other demonstrations of her affection that for the time he had in a manner lost all remembrance of his misfortunes He stood still and made no reply not knowing how to express his resentments when Marcellus looking on him with eyes red by reason of the tears he had shed Prince whom I once loved so dearly said he to him and whom I cannot yet hate if you are innocent I know not what reparations to make you but what condition soever you may be found in I here promise that I will never oppose you Having said thus much they all went towards Artemisa who was showring down her tears upon the body of her Brother and after they had given her a little time to recover her self they intreated her to pass into the other Vessel Artemisa was content and was handed in by her Alexander who looking on her now as Queen of Armenia by reason of the general opinion there was of the death of Ariobarzanes would have behaved himself with more respect towards her than he had done before would she have permitted it They ordered Megacles to carry the body of Artaxus to Alexandria that it might be embalmed and transported thence into the monument of his Fathers and Coriolanus who had a great esteem for Megacles out of a consideration of his vertue would needs be carried ashore in his ship Cleopatra Marcellus Alexander and Artemisa having once more taken their leaves of him went into their own and with all the joy and satisfaction which they could derive from the liberty of the two Princesses set saile towards Alexandria The End of the Nineth Part of Cleopatra HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. X. LIB I. ARGUMENT Artaban and Elisa Princess of the Parthians take sanctuary in Alexandria Agrippa under whose protection they had cast themselves falls in love with Elisa but out of consideration of Vertue and Generosity forbears the discoveries of his affection Candace and Elisa discourse of their loves Caesaria generally known by the name of Cleomedon comes to Alexandria upon intelligence that Queen Candace was there with whom he hath a secret interview in the night-time He entertains her and Elisa with a continuation of his History He gives battle with 16000 men to Tiribasus who had 100000 is left for dead in the field but afterwards miraculously recovered by Eteocles who was left in a condition not much better The next day after the battel Eurinoe an Ethiopian Lady coming into the Field to seek the body of her beloved Teramenes is
knew my voice Whereupon having called me softly by my name he acquainted me with his own and not long after with his person whereof I had an impression so well graven in my memory that it would not have been very hard for me to dave discerned him in the greatest darknesse While Clitia gave this account of Caesario the beautifull Queen was in a manner overwhelmed with an excesse of joy which by a pleasant authority got the dominion of her Soul and though fear and disquiet endeavoured to disturb it yet was there a necessity they should give place to the first sallies of that passion and suspend their effect till the first violence of the other were spent The Queen casting one arme abount Clitia's neck Ah Clitia said she to her it is certainly decreed that it is from you I must expect all the most happy tidings and it was you that heretofore brought me word into the garden at Meroe of the life and return of Caesario at a time when I bewailed his death and that I had renounced all the enjoyments of life After she had said these words she would have put a hundred questions to Clitia and that all of a sudden upon that accident but she told her that the time she had was to be otherwise spent and that she must resolve either to see Caesario at the place where he expected her return or permit him to come into the chamber Now was it that fear begâ—â— to disturb her joy and if on the one side she were satisfied to see her self so near the Prince she dearly loved she trembled on the other when she considered that he was in a Palâ—â—â— whereof Augustus's Lieutenant had the command and that a place where he must expeâ—t no less than to lay down his life if he were discovered This fear made her to shake again and put her to such a loss that she knew not what resolution to take looking sometimes on Elisa sometimes on Clitia as if it had been to ask their advice what she were best to do The fair Princess of the Parthians who had received so great consolations from the Queen together with such remarkable demonstrations of Friendship conceived her self extreaâ—â—y concerned not onely in the joy but also in the fear which she now strugled with and would have been as glad as the other to find out a way to see Caesario with as little danger as might be But after they had continued for some time in uncertainty and at a loss what course should be taken they at last thought it the safest way that he should be brought into the Chamber it being then such a time of the night that it was not likely they should be troubled with any more visits especially there being conveniences enough to hide him in case it were necessary and that Clitia proffered as soon as she had brought him into the Chamber to go out upon the terrace along with Cephisa and to walk there a while to see if any body came by whom they might be surprised Besides all which it made something for the security of the Prince that he was not only not known in Alexandria but also his death was more firmly believed there than in any other part of the world Upon all these grounds summed up together yet not without a great deal of doubt and terrour the Queen commanded Clitia to go fetch him in whereupon Elisa thinking her self obliged in discretion and civility to go into her own Chamber that they might be at a greater freedome in that interview would have done it but Candace embracing her would not permit it and entreated her to be present at her felicity as she had been at the happy meeting between her and her Artaban Elisa at the entreaty of Candace staies in the room and presently after Clitia returns bringing along with her the son of Caesar into the Chamber At that first sight these two excellent souls felt in a moment all that a passion such as theirs could produce in a longer space of time and their first looks communicated one to another of an instant what their hearts meant of greatest tenderness and passion As soon as ever the Prince appeared at the door the Queen ran towards him with an action whence he might easily infer how welcome his presence was to her and the son of Cleopatra kissed her hands and embraced her knees with such transportations of joy as might well convince her that his Love had not admitted of the least diminution or remission Candace after she had embraced him very earnestly with both her armes while he was yet in that submissive posture raised him up and entertained him with all those Caresses which were suitable to her dignity and modesty considering withal the violence of her affection During the first expressions of their mutual satisfaction and joy their discourse was accordingly confused and incoherent but when the violence of those were over Candace retreating some few paces back as it were to take the better notice of the Prince What Cleomedon said she to him the gods it seems have thought fit to restore you to me after so many dangers as I had run through my self and so many others wherein I had left you But Madam replies the Prince it was then decreed I should find you after I had so unfortunately lost you and what is more I do not only find you living and full of goodness for me but I meet with you in Alexandria in the Palace of my Fathers and in that very Chamber wherein I drew the first mouthful of air and saw the first beams of light 'T is an accident I must confess replies Candace that speaks something extraordinary and if you are surprised at it I must needs be not a little moved thereat O how does this second life which I here receive added the Prince make the Palace of the Ptolomey 's much more dear and precious in my apprehension then the former which I ought it and how easily can I bear with the loss of the command of it when I find therein what is a thousand times more dear to me then thousands of Empires and thousands of lives To this discourse he would have added much more to the same effect and the beautiful Queen whose affection was not inferiour to his though out of the civility and reservedness suitable to her sex she moderated her self the more looked on him with a certain delight and had pleasantly seconded him her self in the expressions of his love had she not thought it unhandsome to suffer any more before the Princess of the Parthians till Caesario had taken notice of her and saluted her Upon that account mildly interrupting him she obliged him to turn towards Elisa and prepared him to salute her as the greatest Princess upon earth and the best friend she had in the World Caesario however he might be transported at the sight of Candace was astonished and in a manner dazled
of assistance and out of the fear he was in it might so come to pass he importuned Heaven with cries and exclamations and did all that lay in his power to call in some body to our relief Yet were they not his cries that wrought that effect but it happened by an adventure very strange and unexpected whereof for many reasons I thought fit to give the Queen but a slender and imperfect account but shall now relate at large since it hath been your pleasure to command it from me I had already made a shift to open my eies fully though all I could do was only to stir them a little when Eteocles hears the neighing of certain horses and the noise of their going which made him imagine that there were some people coming towards us He thereupon looks about him and perceives a Chariot coming into the field among the dead bodies wherewith it was covered and a man riding on horse-back before the Chariot as if he had been a guide to those persons that were within it Those were only two women one whereof filled the aire with the dolefulness of her Lamentations and there followed the Chariot only three slaves all a-soot At last when they were come quite into the field the heaps of dead bodies hindering the passage of the Chariot the Women that were within it were forced to alight and the Man that was on horse-back having done the like took the more considerable of the two by the arme and led her towards the place where we were Eteocles whom this accident put into a great hopes of relief took very much notice of all that passed and distinctly heard the mournful cries and expostulations of that disconsolate Lady which certainly were such as might have been heard many Stadia's Her hair was loose and dishevelled as if she had been fallen into some extravagance her eies showred down tears her breast almost rent with the violence of her sighes in a word her deportment was no other then that of a person distracted and ready to fall into despair Terrible death cried she implacable devourer of mankind which appearest to me here in so many formes it is possible that in this place where thou hast exercised thy power with so much cruelty thou shouldst forbear to dispatch one miserable creature that defies thee or that thou canst deny her thy assistance after thou hast deprived her of all that could oblige her to shun thy face Insatiable Goddess to whom my malicious Fortune hath sacrificed all that the earth had that was amiable in my sight is it possible thou shouldst avoid an unfortunate Woman as I am while thou cuttest off such noble lives and that more inhumane in thy compassion than thy cruelty thou must needs strike a thousand times at a heart which there needs but one blow to deliver from thy Tyranny Here sighs and sobs made a parenthesis in her discourse for some minutes but soon after reassuming it with an accent much more doleful Teramenes continued she my dear Teramenes where art thou why dost thou conceale thy self from me O thou body that I have loved beyond all things why dost thou hide thy self from her eies that was sometimes so dear to thee Art thou afraid thy countenance covered with the horrours of death may frighten me or that it will be a less delightful object to me in that figure then it was in that wherein I was so much taken with it No no my dearest Teramenes even under that dreadful livery under that irremissible ice of death I shall think thee amiable and it may not haply be impossible I should by my kisses restore to thee some part of that which thou hast lost and reinfuse into thy cold body that soul which thou hadst enflamed with a fire that death it self is not able to put out At this passage she made a little truce with her Lamentations but it lasting not above a minute or two she turns her self to the man that conducted her But Pelorus said she to to him where is then the body of Teramenes You shewed me in this place with a confidence it was that where I should infallibly find it and yet among this vast number of carkases I see not that of my Teramenes Fear not Madam replied the man to whom she spake it will not be long e're we find it for now we are come to the place where I saw him fall yesterday by the hands of Cleomedon No doubt but he came by his own death out of the over earnestnesse he had to revenge that of your Brothers who died by the same hand in the former battle as also out of an excessive desire to have the honour of dispatching with his own hands a Prince of so great a fame Cleomedon falling at his feet drew him upon him and with that little remainder of strength he was yet master of ran him into the throat with a dagger which he had still in his hand Teramenes though mortally wounded with that thrust made a shift to get off the body of the expiring Cleomedon but after he had staggered a little he fell down within some ten paces of him and by reason of the bloud which coming out abundantly hindred his respiration died immediately Ah cruell man cries out the Lady ah inhumane stranger whom I had never any waies injured and that leavest thy native soile to bring death after so many severall waies into the breast of the innocent Erinoe May it please the gods since I have no other revenge either to take or desire upon thee that thy body may be the prey of Vultures and that thy shade may eternally wander amongst the most unfortunate ones without ever obtaining of the infernal Gods any other rest then what thou leavest this miserable woman Thou hadst opened the sluces of my tears by the death of a brother I infinitely loved which thy unmerciful arms had deprived me of not many dayes before but thou thoughtst it not sufficient to assault my self only upon the account of Blood and Friendship without sacrificing to thy cruelty whatever there is in Love that is most passionate and most violent in the death of my Teramenes While she disburthened her grief by such expostulations he who conducted her shewed her the body she looked after which lay not above fifteen or twenty paces from us and it was upon the cruel spectacle that the desperate woman casting her self on the cold body with a great cry fell into a swound which for some time interrupted her lamentations and found those persons that were about her work enough to relieve her For my part I had not the least apprehension of any thing that passed though I had my eyes open wherewith all I could do was to look on the dejected Eteocles But he had not missed one of these words and was infinitely troubled to find himself so far from the relief he had expected upon that accident as not doubting but that I should
Cleomedon to death The man who was on the other side as ready to obey her was quiet and Eurinoe having sate her down some few paces from me began to look very earnestly upon me and ever and anon disburthened her self of certain sighs which her breast was not strong enough to keep in She looked still more and more earnestly and the more she looked on me the more she seemed to struggle with her passion and by all her deportment it was easily visible to those that took notice of it that there passed strange things in her soul and that there was an engagement of passion there whereof she was not over-confident which should have the Victory Sometimes she would take her sight off my countenance with some signes of reassuming her resolution but presently after she would fasten her eies on me again with greater earnestness then before and during those uncertain and impetuous motions which raised such a tempest in her soul she with much ado made a passage for certain sighs Which when she had disburthened her self of Cruel man said she loud enough to be heard by Eteocles who was the next man to her fatal Enemy of our house must thou needs after thou hast triumphed over the life of my Brother and my Lover prosecute thy Victorious arms even into my heart With these words she held her peace and observed not without confusion that Eteocles might have over-heard them I here entertain you with a discourse not much consiâ—tent with the modeâ—ty which is natural to me and which Eteocles might better have undertaken than my self but it was your pleasure to command it and I know not any reason whereby I may be dispensed from the obedience I owe you While the Woman was still struggling with the incertainties she was in and that by several discoveries it was visible that she was guided by a passion contrary to that which a little before had put the weapons into her hand to dispatch me Eteocles who notwithstanding the extremity whereto he was reduced himself by reason of his wounds was satisfied of the truth of his observation Being accordingly desirous to make what advantage he could of the adventure wherein he could not but imagine something miraculous and extraordinary and looking on Eurinoe in a very submissive manner Fair Lady said he to her since your indignation hath submitted to your pitty be not generous by halves and consider with your self that to thrust a dagger into the â—reast of Cleomedon and to leave him without relief in the condition whereto you now see him reduced is no question one and the same thing Let your vertue have an absolute conquest in favour of a Prince who hath offended you only through his misfortune and will serve you by his acknowledgments if the gods shall through your assistance prolong your life Eurinoe needed no more prevalent sollicitation to oblige her to do a thing which she was earnestly bent to do and thereupon giving Eteocles an immediate answer I shall satisfie your desires said she to him I shall relieve Cleomedon though he be the murderer of both my Brother and my Love and the gods who were not pleased he should receive his death at my hands command me to preserve his life if it be possible With these words turning to the man that accompanyed her Pelorus said she to him the hazard I run in this action is very great and besides the report I am to fear by doing this good office to him that hath shed the blood that was so dear to me you know I have yet one Brother left about Tiribasus exasperated to the revenge of his own relations and without doubt an irreconcileable enemy of Cieomedons But I have so great a confidence of your fidelity that all my hope is in it and I am accordingly inclined to believe that you will not betray this secret and will afford me your assistance upon an occasion of so great consequence The man who was become absolutely her Creature by the death of his Master complyed with her in all things and promised her to be as secret as she expected But why should I importune you any longer with the relation of particulars of little consequence By the command of Eurinoe the care of those that were about her a horse-litter was prepared brought to the place were we were into which I was put Eteocles by me and we were conveyed as gently as could be possible to a Castle which was but one houres riding from that place where we were at first disposed into several beds but in the same chamber Eteocâ—es it seems being very unwilling to be in any other place then where I was But now give me leave to beg your attention O ye great Princesses and withal your astonishment as what I have to tell you or at least be pleased to infer thence the constancy of those affections which seem to be the most violent You have heard the account I have given you of the affliction Eurinoe was in for the loss of her Teramenes as also of her lamentations and her deportment full of despair and extravagance which in all probability were the expressions of the most violent love that a soul could be capable of and now you are to know that when she left the place whence she caused us to be conveyed away she hardly so much as thought on him or at least bestowing all her pains on the living who might stand in need of her assistance she thought it enough to give Pelorus order to cause the body of Teramenes to be carryed away and to see it buried They presently sent into the next Town for Surgeons by whom we were dressed with much secrecy taking great care they should not come to the knowledg of my name who knew me not by sight And these being excellent men in their profession their endeavors proved so successeful on me that ere that day was passed they brought me absolutely to my self again and within a few days after undertook to Eurinoe and Eteocles that I should not dye of my wounds I have understood since that Eurinoe entertained that assurance with as much joy as if her life were concerned in the preservation of mine but for my own part I can truly affirm that I received it without any and that after I had recovered my memory and began to make my first reflections on the wretched condition I was in I had almost cast my self through my own despair into that danger out of which they took so much pains to deliver me Whereof this certainly must be the reason that the violent desire of death which forced me to engage in the fight being not yet gotten out of my mind I should in all likelihood have followed what that inspired me with and had tendred the endeavors of those that took so much trouble upon them about my recovery absolutely ineffectual had it not been for the continual sollicitations and importunity of
Eteocles for whom I have ever had a very great esteem and a most affectionate friendship I shall not trouble you with a repetition of all those reasons whereby he endeavoured to make me apprehend that I did not only betray a great want of prudence but that I was guâ—lty of a capital crime against my Love by courting my own death at a time that my life might be necessary for the Queens service and that since I had not received any tidings that she was either dead or married to Tiribasus there was no reason I should rush into extremities which I might overtake time enough when those misfortunes were come to pass To be short he pressed these things to me with so much reason and conviction that I began to acknowledg the truth of them and to submit to his judgment that it was not well done of me to hazard upon such light grounds a life which I had bestowed and consequently could not dispose of my self while she that was the Mistress of it might expect any service out of it Upon this consideration I was content they should endeavour my recovery and entertained with great acknowledgments the care they took of me As soon as I had arrived to such a degree of recovery as that I was able to endure discourse Eteocles came and told me what place I was in and by what adventure I was brought thither and at the same time acquainted me what aversion Eurinoe had had for me upon account of the death of her Brother and her Love and what affection she had conceived for me of a sudden Now his health being in a much better posture then mine as having given over keeping his bed while I was yet in great danger he had had more leasure to informe himself of all that he was desirous to know and had understood that Eurinoe was a Widow of very great quality that her friends and her husband had alwaies kept her at a distance from the Court that she had had two Brothers very deeply involved in the interests of Tiribasus whereof the younger was slain in the late Battle and the elder had staied at Meroe by the orders of Tiribasus who affected him very much and reposed great trust in him that she had been very earnestly courted since her widow-hood by that Teramenes on whom she had bestowed so many tears a person it seems of very great worth and very amiable as to his person that she had loved him very dearly and that after many great traverses and revolutions she was upon the point of marrying him with the consent of her friends when death deprived her of him Eteocles acquainting me with all these things told me withal how circumspectly I should carry my self that I might not be discovered by any other persons then those whom Eurinoe was forced to trust with that secret not doubting but that if such a misfortune should happen my life must needs be in manifest danger as well by reason of the rage of Eurinoe's Brother as the near relation he had to Tiribasus who out of all question would never suffer me to live should he once find out were I were retired But as things stood the security of that secret consisted not altogether in our circumspection for Eurinoe was so much concerned in it her self not only out of the desire she had to preserve a person on whom she had bestowed her affection but also for fear of her Brothers indignation whose savage humor she was acquainted with that she omitted nothing which in point of care or caution might be expected from her I shall not presume my great Princesses before you whose beauties eclipse what ever is beautiful in all nature to say any thing of the beauty of Eurinoe but certainly among the beauties of the rank next inferiour to the first and chiefest she might very well pass for a handsome woman somewhat duskish not absolutely black the lineaments of her face very good of a good stature and in a word one of the handsomest persons that ever I met with in Aethiopia I should commend her farther were it not that you would imagine fairest Queen that in the commendations of her beauty I should have no other design then to celebrate my own fidelity As soon as I was grown any thing capable of conversation I had her perpetually at my bed-side and I soon observed in all her deportment what Eteocles had told me before of her affection Her modesty-indeed was such that she would not in words discover what her heart was burthened with but her eies betraied some part of it and all her actions sufficiently confirmed the observation which Eteocles had made of her During some few daies at first while the success of my recovery was yet doubtful my fever very violent she said little to me I saw her not but at some certain times but when I was a little recovered and permitted to discourse she was very liberal of her company She was one day at my bed side where she seemed to be extreamly satisfied to see my health in so good a posture when I venturing to speak more than I had done before took occasion to give her thanks to make all the acknowledgment I could of her care tenderness towards me commended the generosity she exercised towards a man who had been of a party contrary to that of her Friends withal so unfortunate as by the chance of war to do her a displeasure She patiently bore with my discourse taking her advantage of my silence My lord said she to me I have done no more for you than your vertue deserved but shall entreat you not to attribute meerly to a consideration of generosity all that I have done to serve you After you had not only been the death of my Brother but also deprived me of a person I infinitely loved and one with whom I was upon the point of marriage there was no reflection of generosity strong enough to oblige me to do an action whereby I cannot but incur if it be known the reproaches of all the world and the indignation of all my kinred and you may therefore well judge that it must proceed from some more powerfull motive that I conceived my self engaged to relieve you I shall take it upon what ground you please replied I but you will give me leave to imagine that it is meerly to your goodnesse that I am to attribute the assistances I have received from you since I had not any waies deserved them If it be meerly upon the account of goodnesse replyed she with a sigh alasse how fatall will that goodnesse prove to me and if I am onely good to you how cruell am I to my self It would be an infinite trouble to me replyed I to think that the good offices you do me should cause you any displeasure and therefore when my health shall be in another posture than it is now I shall heartily spend
so free as to give you this advice which assure your self proceeds from a heart full of grateful apprehensions as also if I presume to beg no other love from you then such as you would afford a Brother since that you perceive by the posture of my affairs that I cannot love you otherwise then as a Sister I had not till then spoken in such terms to Eurinoe whence it came that she was the more surprized thereat in somuch that for a long time she was not able to make any reply And yet I think she had bethought her of something to say when our discourse was interrupted by a little noise which we heard behind the hedg-row against which we were sate and not long after by the appearance of a man who being come into the walk made all the hast he could towards the place where we were Eurinoe's thoughts being empâ—oyed at that time much more than mine I took notice of the man before she did and saw that he was of a very goodly presence a noble and majestick air and had a very fair countenance for a man of that Nation though he seemed to be weak and brought very low and discovered in his eyes some dreadful resolution Being for my part ignorant what occasion might bring him thither I was very glad of a sword I had by my side which Eurinoe had given me the day before I had begun to wear it but that very day to make use of â—f need were in a Country where I was to suspect all things but Eurinoe who had thought before that it was either Eteocles or Pelorus cast not her eyes on him till such time as he was come up almost to us At the same time the woman that was with her gave a shriek which she hearing and endeavouring to find the cause of it in the countenance of that man she immediately found it when she knew him to be her unfortunate Teramenes on whose death she had bestowed so many tears and on whose body she had made so much lamentatition and done things that sufficiently argued her extravagance and despair At this sight she gave a great â—hriek and she brought forth the name of Teramenes and the terrour she conceived thereat was so great that she fell into a swound upon the seat where she was sate Her action that of the woman that was with her and the name of Teramenes which they pronounced put me into an imagination it might be his ghost or haply he himself preserved by some miracle During that uncertainty retreating back a little when he was come up very neer us and putting my hand to the hilt of my sword Stand there said I to him and if thou art only the ghost of Teramenes disturb not any further by thy approaches those whom thy presence hath frightned Were I only the ghost of Teramenes replied the man it were to thee that I should address my self as having been my murtherer but since I am Teramenes living and recovered of the cruel wound which I received from thee in the battle thou shalt not need to fear in this deplorable condition him whom thou couldest look upon without any dread in the head of an Army I am Teramenes the over-faithful Lover of that faithless Woman whose heart thou hast gotten from me after thou hadst taken away my life not only in her opinion but in that of all the world besides I was thine Enemy upon the concernments of Tiribasus who was my Friend I became thy Enemy upon the wound I received from thy hands which hath brought me to the extremities of life and death and I have yet a more just ground to be thy Enemy for the injury thou hast done me in Robbing me of the affections of Eurinoe which I was in possession of and had well deserved I must further acknowledge that this last injurie though thou hast done it innocently had armed me against thee and that I came abroad this day though the first of my stirring with a resolution which might have proved fatall to one of us but the words that have fallen from thee and which I have over-heard have wrought a change in my thoughts and I have found so much vertue prudence and goodnesse in them that they have taken off all the indignation I had coâ—ceived against thee I come therefore no longer as an enemie but as a person that hath a veneration for thy vertue and as one that is an humble suitor to that generosity which thou discoverest as well in thy actions as thy words to beg that heart of thee which thou hast taken away from me without making any advantage thereof and which thou keepest from me yet wouldst rather be without it Restore to me Cleomedon a thing which thou hast no mind to preserve or if thou wouldst be further revenged on the Friends of Tiribasus behold the sacrifice which I shall now offer at the feet of an ungratefull woman of a life which must now be as detestable to her as my death was grievous at the last moments of her affection While Teramenes disburthened himself after this manner and that I hearkened to him with attention and astonishment Eurinoe by the assistance of her woman and that of Eteocles and Pelorus who came in at the same time was come to her self again and might have heard some part of what Teramenes said while Pelorus who had cast himself at her feet assured her that he was really living and craved her pardon for having put such a tick upon her The woman was so strangely at a losse between horrour astonishment shame and possibly grief into the bargain for the return of a man she had then no affection for that she knew not in a manner where she was was not able to speak and had not the confidence to look upon him With this she found it no small difficulty to be perswaded that Teramenes was living though Pelorus had by protestations assured her of as much as but too too well remembring the last kisses she had given his cold and bloody body and the orders she had given for his enterrement While she was in this perplexity Teramenes comes towards her though by her shrieks she sufficiently discovered the fear she was in he should come near her and thereupon stopping at the distance of some few paces from her because he would not disturb her any further and looking on her with a countenance where in his passion was extreamly visible Is it possible Eurinoe said he to her you should be so much affrighted at Teramenes living when you could find in your heart to give him kisses when he was dead and wash his face with so many tears But can I think that change any miracle cruel and ungrateful Euninoe when I am so well acquainted with that of your soul and that I am not ignorant how that in the same minute you were seen to pass from the effects of the most violent passion in the world
gods that notwithstanding my Obligations to him I might without attempting his life deliver Clopatra and Artemisa out of his hands and I protest to you that I should neither spare my pains nor my blood upon that account The King of Armenia added Artaban hath shown himself in those last actions to be the same man he had ever been for it was out of the horrour I conceived at his cruelty that I sometime quitted his service when he barbarously put to death two Cilician Princes both Prisoners of War whom I had taken my self in fight But I can assure you thus much that he is hardly in a condition to undertake any long Voyage or any great enterprise that I have seen him and spoke to him within these two daies and that we parted but yestereday after we had remained for some daies together in the same house Upon this he related to them how he had met Artaxus at the house of Tiridates as also what discourse had past between them and told them how that the day before he had left that house not long before his departure thence upon a visit to Tiridate's Tomb. That discourse of Artaban gave the Company new matter of reflection upon that adventure insomuch that at last Philadelph who had been silent a long time taking upon that occasion to speak If I thought that Prince Ariobarzanes and the Princess Arsinoe said he looking on them would pardon me the injury I have innocently done them I should acknowledg how far I have been engaged in this adventure and would tell them that if I am not much mistaken it was my self that fought with Artaxus for the recovery of Cleopatra and who encouraged by the justice of the quarrel gave him such wounds as made him incapable of further fighting Here he took occasion to acquaint them how he had met with Artemisa neer the spring though he spoke of her as a person absolutely unknown to him how that at first he took her for Delia what grief it was to him when he grew sensible of his mistake what compassion she had expressed thereat the long discourse there had past between them and how that upon the point of their departure one from the other he had seen Cleopatra passing by making all the hast she could before a person on horse-back that pursued her He told them that he had not any acquaintance with that Princess but that by the admirable beauty he had observed in her countenance it must needs be either some Goddess or the Princess Cleopatra This account of Philadelph raising in the Company new matter of astonishment as that by a strange traverse of fortune two men that were implacable Enemies should come and engage one the other yet without eithers knowledge of it and that the amorous Philadelph should fight with the Brother of his beloved Delia. He once more craved their pardon for it and both of them assured him that the greatest affliction they conceived at that adventure proceeded from the fear they were in it might further exasperate Artaxus against Philadelph and would make him the more inexorable as to the consent he expected from him for the quiet enjoyment of Arsinoe It was generally concluded that the faire Ladie he had met with at the spring was no other than Artemisa and that especially after the description he had given them of her and the resemblance which upon the first sight had made him mistake her for Delia though there were a difference between their faces observable enough an imagination that were not so violently prepossessed with the impression of Delia. The end of the Second Book HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. X. LIB III. ARGUMENT Flavianus is brought in wounded to Alexandria having been worsted in his attempt for the deliverance of Cleopatra Whereupon Agrippa Artaban and others prepare for her rescue but upon their coming to the port discover a ship arriving wherein were Alexander and Marcellus bringing in Cleopatra and Artemisa Tigranes desires the favour of a visit of Elisa but is denyed Cornelius persisting in the presumption he had that Candace was onely a Lady of great quality in Ethiopia persecutes her with the discoveries of his affection Cleopatra and Alexander are brought into Alexandria Artemisa perswaded that Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe had been dead swounds upon the first sight of them and afterwards acquaints Ariobarzanes that he is King of Armenia by the death of her Brother Artaxus Ariobarzanes Alexander Philadelph Olympia Artemisa and Arsinoe condole his death and afterwards reflect on the advantages they all have by Ariobarzanes 's coming to the Crown Candace and Elisa are made acquainted with Cleopatra to whom Queen Candace discovers both her self and quality and entertains her with the History of Cleomedon Elisa does the like with that of Artaban Agrippa hath a private conference with Elisa wherein he further discovers his passion to her Artaban entertains Elisa and Candace with a relation how he escaped drowning after he cast himself all armed into the sea with Zenodorus the Pirat in his armes Cleomedon hath a secret interview with Artaban in Elisa 's Chamber where he discovers himself to Cleopatra and Alexander to be Caesario the son of Caesar and Queen Cleopatra which they not easily crediting are confirmed and satisfied by Candace Elisa and Eteocles WHile these Illustrious Persons were thus in the midst of their entertainments discoursing of the many strange accidents that were come to their knowledge Cornelius comes into the room discovering by his action that he had something of news to communicate Whereupon addressing himself to Agrippa My Lord said he to him I have just now received some tidings from the Princesse Cleopatra and those that carried her away Those whom we sent in pursuit of them were gotten far enough hence to find her when in the mean time they were neerer us then can well be imagined insomuch that Flavianus a Commander of one of our ships met but this morning with that wherein were the Ravishers lying close under one of the Rocks which in some places hang over this coast came up to her saw the Princesse spoke with her and fought for her deliverance with so much good success in the beginning that he boarded the enemy with divers of his men and was in a manner possessed of her when a certain Person who had not appeared at the first engagement comes up upon the Deck without any other arms then his sword and fought ours with so prodigious a Valour that having either killed or forced away all that were gotten into the other vessel he struck down Flavianus himself loading him with such wounds that he was incapable of fighting any longer and so by the death of the Commander abating the courage of the Souldiers they gave over the enterpâ—ise and were forced to quit their attempt for the deliverance of Cleopatra and to make what hast they could into our Port. Flavianus is brought into the City very desperately
Alexander to see whether he was of the same opinion I must needs acknowledge said she to the Prince that I find abundance of resemblance between your countenance and that of a Prince with whom my Brother and my self were brought up and one that might have been much about your age if the gods had thought fit to have continued him in life and health and to preserve him against those powers by which he received an untimely death I am also very much satisfied added Prince Alexander that if our Brother Caesario were living he might be very like the brave Cleomedon And though that from the age of fourteen years which was that of Caesario when he dyed to that of Cleomedon which seems to be greater by nine or ten years there happens more alteration both in the bulk and countenances of men then in all mans life besides and that it might be withal granted that time may in some measure have worn away out of our memories those Idaeas which cannot be expected otherwise then imperfect in the minds of children such as we were then yet can I not call them to my remembrance without a certain conceit that I find them again in Cleomedon and imagining to my â—elf that if Caesario were now alive there would be a very great resemblance between them Nay I am much inclined to believe from the great hopes that were conceived of him and the glorious bloud that ran in his veins derived from illustrious ancestors that this resemblance might have reached to the greatnesse of courage and that he would have thought it a dishonour to come too far short of that stupendious man whom it was his glory to imitate in all things The modesty of the son of Caesar made him blush at these obliging expressions of the son of Anthony whereupon looking on him with a smiling countenance It is but just indeed I should suffer any thing said he to him from a Prince to whom I am obliged for an assistance that preserved my life But since you and the Princesse Cleopatra are pleased to flatter me so pleasantly with so advantageous a resemblance I must in requital assure you that it is yet greater in all things then you imagine it and that I am not onely as to my inclinations comparable to Prince Caesario but also that my fortunes have been absolutely suitable to his I should put you to some astonishment should I tell you that as he so I was dearly loved by Alexander and Cleopatra in their younger years That I was loved as tenderly as he was by the Queen your mother and that her indulgence towards me was as great as what she expressed towards him that as he so I also left you to seek out my safety in Ethiopia after the downfall of your house That I was born as well as he of an unfortunate Queen and am son to the greatest that ever was of mankind and in a word I am so extreamly like him that I might even in Alexandria presume to own the name of Caesario if by such an acknowledgment I should not put you to the hazard of loosing him once again These words of Caesario raised such a distraction in the souls of Cleopatra and Alexander that neither of them being able to comprehend any thing of it could do no more then look on him that had spoke them with a silence which argued their astonishment much more then any verbal expressions could have done The son of Caesar had suffered them to continue a while in that posture when he sees Eteocles coming in whom he had caused Clitia to call from the Terrace where he had left him Whereupon reassuming the discourse with an action which held the Brother and the Sister equally in suspence That you may be absolutely satisfied said he to them that my fortunes have been in all things conformable to those of Caesario behold the man that brought me up and who presumes that he hath been of the same name was of the same Birth same Country and same countenance as the Governour of Caesario If you look on him with more earnestness then you have done for some daies past when he was with you in that very house where I received your assistances you will easily observe that resemblance and he is a person of such an age as wherein ten years cannot make so great an alteration as they may in that wherein one passes from infancy to a more advanced age While he thus spoke the eies of Cleopatra and Alexander were fixed on the countenance of Eteocles and it being very certain that it had undergone much lesse alteration then that of the Prince they immediately found therein all the features of that of Etâ—â—â—le with whom they had sometime been so familiar as having been one that had carried them thousands of times in his arms and had been brought up in the house as son to the faithful Apollodorus the dear favorite and confident of Queen Cleopatra Whereupon both the Prince and Princesse cryed out that it was really Eteocles and immediately turning to the Prince with an astonishment much greater then what they were in before by reason of this last circumstance Cleomedon said the Princesse to him for heavens sake keep us not any longer in the disturbance which you have raised in us and let us know that Caesario is living to tell us so much himself T is onely his death that abates that confidence which we raise from all the other circumstances and if Caesario were living I should be immediately satisfied that you were he Should he discover himself to be Caesario in any place that is under the jurisdiction of Augustus replyed the Princesse there is so little expectation of any Fortune thereby that iâ— were hard to suspect such a confession subject to any imposture but it is withall a thâ—â—g so glorious to be born of Caesar and Cleopatra that without an excesse of basenesse a man cannot disclaime it and there is so much satisfaction to Caesario to meet with a Brother and Sister great and amiable as Alexander and Cleopatra that no consideration in the World can oblige him any longer to conceal from them a brother they have dearly loved and one that hath continued towards them the tender affection he ever had for them With these words he came near Cleopatra with his arms stretched out and that fair Princesse soon satisfied those that were present that she knew him to be her brother by receiving from him and returning him those caresses which never had passed between her and any but those that were of that neer relation Alexander also received and returned the like by the command of Elisa and Candace whose presence obliged them to a greater reservednesse But notwithstanding all that bloud might perswade the children of Anthony to and the joy it must needs be to them to meet with a lost brother in the person of so great a man as Cleomedon yet was not all enough to
instead of making any answer Cleopatra and Marcellus hearkened very attentively to him he reassumed the discourse in these terms The History of VOLUSIUS WE are satisfied by experience that both the remembrance of good turns and that of injuries have a different operation according to the different character of those souls where they are entertained and that as there are some minds wherein offences make but a very light impression much lighter then that which good offices might make in them so on the other side there are some in whom the greatest benefits cannot smother the least injuries or to say better who not much sensible of obligations said upon them have nevertheless eternal resentments for injuries That I have been worsted and disgraced by Prince Coriolanus I must attribute it meerly to his valour and my own unhappinesse and that I was nobly treated by him it was the effect of his pure generosity and yet the impression of the injury filled my soul in such manner that it leaves not any place for that which the generous entertainment should have had there and opposed the resentment it should have conceived thereof that so I might be the more absolutely hurried into contrary resolutions I doubt not Madam but you have heard how that having been several times defeated in the persons of my Lieutenants I was at last overthrown in my own and through the valour of the son of Juba having lost a battel which in all probability I should have gained I was by the same valour cast to the ground and taken prisoner You have also further understood how that after some daies imprisonment such as was sweetned by all the kind entertainments which I could have received from a brother or the best friend I had the same Prince whom by all manner of injuries I had obliged to treat me with cruelty forgetting all out of an admirable generosity and comforting me in my disgrace with the most obliging words could fall from man gave me my liberty without any condition loadâ—d me with presents of great value and furnished me with ships and men to bring me to Rome or any other place where I would my self It might in all probability be expected I should have been sensible of this treatment as much as I had been of my misfortune but having through my disgrace besides the fame I might have acquired in my former years lost the government of two great Kingdoms a very high fortune for a private man and the hope of finding again among the Romans an establishment comparable to that I had lost the grief I conceived thereat had so cankered my soul that I was not able to entertain those expressions of the goodnesse and clemency of the King of Mauritania with the least discover of gratitude However I pretended to be extreamly sensible thereof as I ought to have been of a favour I should not have expected and I received with my liberty the other effects of the magnificence of that Prince with those demonstrations which might well perswade him that I was not insensible thereof I went a-board with a soul half burst with grief and I carried with me into the sea an affliction grown so violent through the change of my fortune that there was nothing able to afford me any satisfaction And yet I am apt to imagine that my grief would have been satisfied in being only a torment to my self without producing any effect prejudicial to the fortune of my Conquerour if something of chance and the sollicitations of other persons had not furnished me with the occasions to do it and that at a time wherein my sufferings were not aggravated by any design of revenge The third day after my departure I was overtaken by a Vessel that came after me from Mauritania and he that was Commander of it being come aboard mine to give me a visit was known to me to be a person of very great quality among the Moors named Theocles whose Father had had under King Juba the Father of Coriolanus the greatest places in the Kingdom and the governments of greatest importance But it happening upon the death of King Juba that Theocles revolted to the Romans and sided very particularly with me as having not the least remainder of love for the Royal blood and that further he had expected till the issue of the war without declaring himself for his Prince as the greatest part of the Moors had done young Juba coming to the Throne had accordingly slighted him though he had not any way disobliged him nor taken away any thing he was possessed of and in the distribution of the Governments charges which he bestowed on those whom he thought most worthy and had expressed most affection towards him he conceived himself not at all engaged to prefer Theocles whose pretensions were great suitably to his quality and the high rank his Father had lived in before him Theocles thinking himself hardly dealt with and taking it very impatiently that his soveraigne should prefer other persons before him such indeed as were inferiour to him in birth but much more considerable than he by their services their fidelity to their Prince would needs leave Mauritania and lurk among the Enemies of his King and bring over with him among the Romans his resentments and desire of revenge So that having taken ship the same day that I departed the third after he comes up to me and coming out of his own Vessel into mine he gave me a visset making the greatest expressions he could of the affection he had for me Now this man being he that of all the Moores I had held the greatest correspondence with and his discontents being not unknown to me I was extreamly glad to meet with him and having understood from him that the resentments he had against his Prince were the occasion why he left the Country to follow me and to go along with me to Rome this consonancy of thoughts made me the more confident of him and raised in me a certain affection for him and engaged me to promise him all the friendship and assistance amongst the Romans that I could possibly help him to Thus resolved we continued our voyage together and in the same Vessel though we made his to follow us and that very day Theocles acquainted me at large with all I knew not that related to his affaires and disburthened himself of all that lay upon his heart but with so much aggravation and animosity against his Prince that though I were really his Enemy and well pleased to meet with a man that loved him not yet could I not in my Soul approve the procedure of his Subject and that one that had no ground given him of discontent However I dissembled the apprehension I had of it as thinking it not amiss to encourage him in that exasperation against a man I loved not and so mutually communicating our resentments one to another we kept on our voyage and having very
would have found the pretence he was so desirous of pretended to be transported with indignation at this discourse drew his sword and ran at me with all the fury he could I should have been but little frighted at his action if all those that were about him had not done the like and with the same labour satisfied me that Tiberius had not bestowed that guard on me but to give me my death Of my two men the more affectionate lost his life at my feet and the other frightned saved himself by getting into the wood so that I was forced to stand alone to the fury of those cruell Butchers who came about me and gave me two great wounds No question but a thousand more had followed to dispatch me out of this world and I saw it was to no purpose to think to lengthen my life by a fruitlesse resistance when it pleased Fortune to direct into that part of the wood a man armed all over mounted on a very stately horse and attended onely by an Esquire He made a little halt to see what was done and perceiving he had but little time to loose if he would save my life after he had anticipated his coming by a great outery and in few words reproached my enemies with baseness and cowardice he ran in among them with a fury to which nothing can be compared and having with the shock of his horse overthrown the first he met within his way he set upon the rest with such eagerness as shewed he was nothing daunted at their number And whereas they as well as I had no other armes then their swords he spent very few blowes which either carried not death along with them or made those they met with uncapable of fighting any longer Theocles astonished at this miraculous relief and perceiving there was no possibility to make an end of me till he had rid his hands of the stranger endeavoured with the assistance of his men to dispatch him But as it happened he ran upon his own death for that valiant man having received upon his buckler the blowes he made at him ran him clear through the body and so he fell down to the ground and immediately breathed his last His companions were but weak in their endeavours to revenge his fall and finding themselves reduced to one half of the number they made at first and that by the same hand they were quite discouraged and placed all their safety in their flight Finding my self rescued in that manner from those unmercifull enemies though very much weakened by the two wounds I had received I made a shift to come nearer my deliverer to give him thankes for his assistance and it happened at the same time that he feeling himself very much heated either by reason of the sultriness of the season or the action he had been in put up the visour of his head-piece to take in a little fresh air I had hardly fastened my eies on his countenance but I was in a manner dazzled by the lustre and goodliness of it and thereupon looking on him a little more earnestly I knew him to be that person to whom I had been so cruelly perfidious the valiant King of Mauritania It is impossible I should represent to you the confusion I was in to find my self obliged for my life to a Prince whom I had so basely abused and to see that Fortune should after so strange a manner direct to my relief that person from whom of all men I had least reason to expect it An adventure so unexpected could not but tie up my tongue for a while and stifling the discourse I intended to disburthen my self of by way of acknowledgment for the deliverance I was obliged to him for I stood still before him mute immoveable and in the posture of a man whom an excess of remorse had deprived of all confidence And it was certainly from my remorse rather than any fear that this proceeded as not knowing whether the injury I had done him was come to his knowledge but if I was astonished to see him he was no lesse to meet with me and calling me to mind by the idaea's he had still in his memory of my countenance and haply confirmed by the astonishment he observed in it he stood still as well as my self like one lost in suspence and irresolution At last the passion which produced that effect in him being much different from that which had put me into so great disturbance he soon recovered himself and having viewed me with much more earnestness then before Are not you Volusius said he to me sometime Praetor of Mauritania I am the very same Volusius answered I who am now obliged to you twice for this wretched life as having once received it with my liberty as a demonstration of your generosity and being obliged to you for it now by the relief I have received from you when I was reduced to the last extremities You might have added to that said he that you are the same Volusius who being once before obliged to me for your life and liberty have neverthelesse made me the most unfortunate man in the world and by your perfidiousnesse have occasioned me the losse of Cleopatra 's affection my Kingdom and whatever should make me in love with life This reproach put me to such a losse that I knew not what answer to make whereupon casting my eies on the ground with an action expressing the greatnesse of my confusion I satisfied the Prince that I had nothing by way of justification to say for my self When he had looked on me for some time in that posture What injury soever I may have received from you said he to me it troubles me not that I have been the occasion that you are yet alive but certainly 't is a visible example of Heavens justice to reserve the revenge of your perfidiousnesse to me who have been most injured thereby Reassume the confidence which the conscience of your crime seems to have deprived you of and since I have seen you defend your life with courage enough against diverse men at the same time muster up all you have to defend it against one man alone and give me not occasion by a feeble resistance to blush at the defeat of a man of inconsiderable vaâ—our Do not imagine I shall make use of the advantage I have over you though the nature of the injury you have done me might very well induce me to wave that consideration and since you have nothing about you but a bare sword I shall put off this armour which if I should keep on the engagement were unequall With those words he cast off his head-piece and buckler and was going to unhaspe his cuirats when looking upon him with the countenance of a man already overcome and one that prepared himself for voluntary death rather then a combate My Lord said I to him If these little remainders of life I have left me
him you see that Coriolanus is innocent and that it was not without some ground that I was satisfied of it before I had understood so much from the mouth of Volusius I acknowledge the indulgence of the gods replies Marcellus as great towards me in this as in the greatest favour they ever did me and I take them to witnesses that what you and Volusius have perswaded me to of the constancy of Julia hath not caused in me such a satisfaction as what I have understood of the fidelity of Coriolanus How replyed the Princess with a certain transportation not suitable to her ordinary moderation it is then infallible that Coriolanus whose pretended infidelity cost me so many tears hath ever been constant to his Cleopatra and that Princess who by her misapprehension thought her self condemned to eternal afflictions may now re-assume those joyes and hopes she had before broke off all acquaintance with Here would she have taken occasion to open her soul for the reception of a passion which of a long time had not had any entertainment there but that joy was soon eclipsed by an interposition of grief and a certain reflection which filled her heart with all the sadness it was capable of when she thought on her cruel deportment towards that Prince the deplorable effect it had produced as having proved the occasion of the loss of his Crown and of all her hopes and that fatal resolution which he had expressed to Volusius that he intended to take and whereof he had given her some notice at their last parting In a word being thus convinced of his fidelity she could not call to mind the cruel entertainment she had made him at Syracuse when enflamed to the highest pitch of love and thinking it a thousand times more glorious to be her servant then that so noble a conquest and the recovery of his Kingdoms had made him he had passed through thousands of dangers to come and offer her those very Kingdoms she could not think on the cruel and injurious speeches wherewith she had received him and the sad condition wherein she had left him without a mortal wound in that heart which nothing but the love of that Prince could ever make any impression in For that doleful reflection calling to mind how she had met him in the Woods of Alexandria the day that he relieved her with greater valour than success against those that afterwards carried her away and lastly remembring the meeting she had had with him in the King of Armenias's ship whereof she represented to her self all the particulars after another manner then they had appeared to her while she was still prepossessed of her cruel mistake as well out of a consideration of that long swounding into which her sight and words had put him as the discourse full of a generous confidence he had made to her and the admirable resolution he had taken and gone through with by fighting alone for her liberty against so great a number of enemies with such prodigious valour and by the last words he had spoken to her at their parting wherein as well as in his actions his innocency was but too too apparent And from these things whereof her eies had been but too too faithful witnesses diverting her thoughts to others that were of no less consequence such as the loss of a great Kingdom which he had conquered for her and which he neglected to maintain through the despair she had reduced him to that which he had expressed when he cast himself into the Sea because he would not survive his disgrace and the shame he thought it that he was not able to rescue her from her Ravishers the miserable condition he was brought to having no place of refuge no relief nor any comfort in the World and lastly the resolution he had discovered to Volusius and her self of his unwillingness to have her any longer engaged in his misfortunes and to seek out the remedies thereof only in death which for a courage such as his was it should not be hard to find she could not fasten her thoughts on all these truths which were but too importunate upon her memory without giving way to such a grief as neither all her own great constancy nor yet the joy she conceived at the innocence of Coriolanus were able to abate After she had for some time smothered the disordered agitations she was in being not able to hold out any longer and conceiving she might freely disburthen her self before Marcellus whom she was confident of and whose soul during that time was persecuted by imaginations much of the same nature Coriolanus is innocent said she breaking forth into a rivulet of tears But O ye Heavenly powers such is my cruel destiny that Coriolanus cannot be innocent but I must at the same time be the most criminal person in the World That Prince the most amiable the most generous and the most vertuous of men hath continued inviolately constant to me and hath still persisted in the same perfect affection which had at first taken in my soul and yet unfortunate wretch that I am I have had the cruelty for to banish him my presence as a Monster I have had the inhumanity to see him in a manner expiring at my feet and never could be moved at it and I have at last reduced him to such extremities as have proved the occasion of loosing that Kingdom which he had designed for me have made him a restless Vagabond all over the Earth made him seek out precipices and now make him resolve to seek in death a Period of these deplorable miseries into which I only I have brought him O Cleopatra unfortunate Cleopatra what pretence of joy canst thou find in the justification of Coriolanus since it must needs expose thee to the most cruel regrets that ever persecuted guilty souls It were much more for thy satisfaction at least if it were not for thy satisfaction it would be much more to thy advantage that thy Coriolanus had been found unconstant and that thou shouldst be found innocent thy self and since that thy innocence and his are things inconsistent either he ought to be guilty or thou have continued in the misprision which thou hadst been perswaded to O cruel Vuolsius cruel in thy malice and cruel in thy remorse thou art in both equally the messenger of death to me and I find fatal poison in this appearance of life which thou bringest me when thou tellest me that Coriolanus is constant to me Let us then till death bewail the misfortune which attends us as well in the one as in the other condition and never entertain any comfort since that is a kind of happiness which guilty souls are never to expect Here the tears interrupted the course of her speech and fell from her in such abundance that she was forced to allow them a free passage and to let them express some part of what she felt within her In that interval
she repented her of her last reflections and assoon as she was in a condition to reassume her discourse I crave thy pardon said she with a voice imperfectly accented with sobs I crave thy pardon faithful Prince for so unjust an apprehension and what ever I may fear from my own remorse and the reproaches thou maist justly make me yet must I needs acknowledge that it is more satisfactory to me nay a thousand times more satisfactory to me to be found criminal by thy innocence then to be found innocent by thy infidelity for I set such a value on thy affection that nothing can repair the loss of it nor counterballance the happiness it were to me to recover it I am content to be though guilty of all that the artifices of my enemies have occasioned me to commit and shall not seek for any excuse either in my errour or my repentance but onely flatter my self with this comfort that thou hast ever loved me lovest me now and wilt love me to the last gasp It is not therefore in thy justification that I would be thought unfortunate because then the guilt lies on my side but I acknowledge my self unfortunate in the ingratitude I have expressed towards thee in the misfortunes I have occasioned thee in the irrecoverabled losses I have caused thee and the cruel resolutions I have forced thee upon It was by my means that at Syracuse thou wert reduced to those extremities that brought thy life into danger upon my account hast thou lost a Kingdom which thou didst design for me thou hast spent thy daies in wandring up and down the World with much misery thou hast sought death among the Waves and thou art still resolved to run thy self upon death meerly because thou wouldst not either by thy presence or memory disturb the enjoiments thou wishest me Ah Coriolanus 't is in that resolution thou art unjust and cruel no lesse then I have been and thou oughtest not by loosing thy own life imagine to add any thing to my happiness since it is from thee alone that all the happiness of my life is derived Thou hast but little acquaintance with Cleopatra if thou canst think the loss of thy Kingdom able to abate any thing of the value I set on thee I have ever preferred thy person before all the Monarchies of the World and supposing the condition thou art reduced to as miserable as can be imagined I would run fortunes with thee with no less satisfaction then if thou hadst the universe at thy disposal Do not therefore court thy own death Coriolanus if thou dost it not to rid thy hands of an unhappy woman whom for her ingratitude thou hast reason to abhor or if thou proposest to thy self greater felicity in death then in Cleopatra let us go to it together and know that as well as thy self I am come from a house wherin the examples of voluntary death are but too too familiar for me to be daunted at any such thing With these words she as it were opened the flood-gates to that grief which was ready to over-run her and cast her self on her bed after a most pitiful manner insomuch that Marcellus who had never seen her so unable to command her passions being astonished at it and rising from the place wher he sate came to her with an endeavour to recover and comfort her Is it possible Sister said he to her that so unreasonable a grief should have such a powerful influence on your imaginations whom I have known with so much constancy resist the assaults of a just affliction and cannot you entertain an account of Coriolanus 's innocency with some moderation who have supported his infidelity with so much settledness and resolution Can it possibly come to pass if the affections of that Prince were ever dear to you that you should not with joy entertain this change of your condition and that the remorse you conceive at the miscarriages that have happened through your misapprehensions should have a more powerful operation on you then the assurances of a fidelity which you have wished with more earnestness than you could have done any thing relating to your own life Ah Sister if these must be the effects of your regrets let them fall only upon me who am ore-burthened with crimes by the engagement I have had in your mistake for that it was upon my sollicitation principally that you came to hate a Friend who loved me beyond himself It was I that travelled up and down several Kingdoms and crossed many seas to find him out purposely to dispatch him when in the mean time I was dearer to him than his own life and that was it that all my attempts were bent to cut off even while by the force of his Friendship he contributed to the execution of my design by presenting his naked breast to me to satisfie my cruelty Let therefore all those arrows of remorse be stuck in my brest with all the care of the reparation we owe him and take heed you do not incense heaven by not entertaining with the acknowledgments you ought a favour you have put up so many suits to the gods for I entertain Brother replied the Princess this favour from the celestial powers with all the resentments I ought to have for it and cannot but acknowledge that there is not anything could be more dear to me than the innocence of Coriolanus but Brother after what manner would you have me consider the miserable condition whereto he is reduced for my sake and upon my account and with what constancy can I hear of the fatal resolution which he sends me word he intends to take to run upon death meerly to prevent his being any way a hindrance to my felicity For what concerns his Fortunes replyed Marcellus what lownesse soever they may now be reduced to it is not impossible but that they may be recovered to their former greatness by such another revolution as that whereby they were ruined and that either by open hostility or those other ways he practised formerly he may yet reascend into the throne of his Ancestors But supposing all this were nothing but pure matter of imagination and should never come to pass he hath those Friends who will never have anything of fortune to dispose of which they shall not divide with him and will disclaim all they can pretend to in the world if all be not common among them For his fatal resolutions we must endeavour to divert him from them and since that he is not far from this place hovering hereabouts in hopes to meet with Tiberius I am in some confidence that seeking him out diligently he may be met with That care ought to be mine and I accordingly take it upon me and in order to that design I immediately take my leave of you with this protestation that I will never return while I live till I have met with Coriolanus till I have obtained his pardon for the
they went all together into the Closet taking onely Camilla with them where being sate and having seated Lentulus near them when he perceived they gave him attention he began his discourse which Cleopatra ordered him to address to the Princess Artemisa as the least acquainted with his adventures and spoke in these terms The History of LENTULUS and TULLIA IT was no slight enterprize that I engaged upon when I undertook the service of Cicero's Daughter and had I examined apparences I could have expected but small success in the disputeof a Heart prepossessed before-hand by a strong passion and that raised by a merit such as that of Ptolomey a person illustrious and recommendable for his Birth and Vertue and one amiable in all things Nor indeed was it any effect of my Will that enclined me to prosecute that resolution but I was dragged to the pursuance thereof by the importunity of a Passion to abate which all the opposition of Reason Proved ineffectual as being so strong that disarming me of all the assistances which the other might have supplyed me with to fortifie my self against its violence left me no other liberty then that of sighing and considering to my grief the sad and sudden change of my condition Certain it is that I went out of Lucullus's Garden a place fatal to me for the loss of my freedome as really and as passionately in love as I could have been had I for the space of several years suffered under the influence of Tullia's attraction and that I was as much metamorphosed during those few minutes wherein was effected that engagement upon my soul as if I had spent a considerable part of my life in the service of that person to whom my Dâ—stiny had but newly enslaved me Those things which should have secur'd me against that growing Passion contributed to my further engagement therein For howere it must be acknowled'd that the fair Tullia was infinitely amiable and really able to raise love in persons much less inclined thereto then my self yet is it my opinion that of a long time I should not have submitted to the yoke she hath forced upon me if in that fatal instant her beauty though of a vertue to work a far more miraculous effect had not received a certain supply from her grief that made it more attractive then ordinary and afforded it those forces against which my heart could not make the least resistance Those tears whereof all-her constancy could not obstruct the passage gliding from her fair eyes down her beautifull face and which contrary to their opinion who would attribute that effect rather to laughter and joy gave a new lustre to her beauty the languishing sweetness was so remarkable in her eyes and all over her countenance the gracefulness of her singing perfor'd with much Art and heightned by an admirable voice the words wherein notwithstanding the eclipse of her passion she discovered so much prudence and so great vertu in a word so many several things having conspired together to give my heart the fatal assault wrought it in the first place into a certain tenderness grief and compassion and afterwards reduced it into such a posture as that it was in an absolute incapacity to make the least opposition against the imperious Passion that possest it self thereof In fine Madam I was in love nay in an instant was eagerly in love with the beautifull the afflicted and the passionate Tullia Ptolomey to whom I discovered my affection at first made sport at it but afterwards bemoaned my Destiny From that very first day was I grown a great lover of solitude and I thought all company insupportable but that which I had then left During the remainder of that day and the night following I imagined to my self that Tullia was perpetually present in the same condition I had seen her as well engaged in the conversation she had had with Emilia in the Arbour as at my last meeting with her when I had her swounding in my arms and saw her breathless in Emilia's lap The night which for that time had drawn a curtain over her fair eyes and the paleness which during those few minutes spread it self over her countenance seemed not to me to have taken ought from her Beauty So that whenever I represented her to me in that posture and that it came into my thoughts it was for Ptolomey an ungratefull obstinate young man who had seen her in that affliction without being moved to the least compassion O ye Gods cried I is it possible that Tullia the object of my adorations should be reduced to these extremities for a persons sake who is not in the least sensible of her sufferings and that he who is ready to die for her dares not hope for any part of that which another so ungratefully disdains O Tullia what cruel Destiny reigns over thee that thou must love him that shuns thee and art so insensible of his devotions that dies for thee O Ptolomey is there any necessity that thou shouldst be possessor of a Good thou do st contemn and that thy unfortunate Friend should derive from that Good which thou deprivest him of without the least enjoyment to thy self all his hopes and all the happiness of his life O Lentulus must thou needs fall in love with Tullia whose soul is insusceptible of all impressions other then what it hath received for Ptolomey or shouldst thou hate Ptolomey who though not chargeable with any such design will prove the occasion of all thy unhappiness Such and the like expressions did my first agitation break forth it self in whereupon making some reflections on the change of my fortune I summoned all the assistances of my Reason the better to fortifie my self against it Not that I could hearken to any consideration that should divert me from continuing my addresses to Tullia if my own inclinations engaged me thereto save onely that of the love she was prepossessed with for Ptolomey which misfortune onely removed all things else seemed to encourage me in the services I had for that excellent person as well in regard of her disposition as her birth and the equality of our conditions which gave me much reason to hope a fortunate issue of my design but that one obstacle appeared so formidable and so cruel that upon the least reflection I made on it I fell into a kind of irrecoverable affliction There had been heretofore a very great enmity between our Families upon occasion that one of our House and Name had been unfortunately engaged in Catiline's Conspiracy which Cicero during the time of his Consul-ship had discovered insomuch that Lentulus with Cithegus and divers others of the noblest Families in Rome lost their lives for it But since Cicero s death these divisions had been appeased and though the familiarity between me and his Son was not very great it proceeded rather out of the intractableness of his disposition then any resentment might be left of our
obligation in it for a person that 's too ungratefull and if my Sister hath not answered as she ought the demonstrations of your affection she must needs be her self prepossessed by some Passion that disturbs her Reason I have very much suspected it by the change I have observed both in her disposition and countenance and I should haply have been the more confident of it if I had not heretofore known her mind to be far from all manner of engagements It is certainly at this present more then ever said I much troubled to find him inclining to that opinion and as the concernment I have in her inclinations makes me the more vigilant to observe them so I can assure you there 's no man in the World so happy as to be lov'd by Tullia and that I can charge my unhappiness upon nothing so much as the general aversishe hath for all our Sex or at least for a Passion which she can raise in us but not be sensible of her self No certainly nothing can be the object of her love as there is nothing that deserves to be lov'd by her and you cannot without aggravating my affliction entertain the least suspicion of any such thing This I should have pressed further as being unwilling to leave him in that opinion knowing that Tullia would be extreamly troubled at it if there had not appear'd at the other end of the walk certain persons that were coming towards us Whereupon I being desirous of solitude and consequently loath to engage in that Company intreated Cicero to go and entertain them and leave me to the freedom of my walk Cicero to humour me did so whereupon coming to a place where there was a passage into another Walk I left that I was in before with an intention out of that also to steal into some more private place But I was hardly gotten into the other walk but I unexpectedly met with the fair Tullia who having walk'd on the other side of the Palisade and hearkened to our discourse had over-heard all we had said without missing a word of it I was not a little surprized at that meeting and Tullia reading my astonishment in my countenance Pardon me said she to me with an attractive mildness if I trouble your solitude and take it not ill that I have over-heard all the discourse you have had with my Brother I have found in it so many expressions of Goodness Wisdom Discretion and an Affection which I have not deserv'd that the service of ten years could not have gain'd so much upon me and you may thence imagine that I am no less to be bemoan'd then you since my misfortune is such as suffers me not to make any advantage of an affection which no doubt would exchange my unhappiness to a proportionable degree of felicity ......... At these words she made a stop with an action attended by a certain confusion and observing I still had my eyes fixt on the ground without making her any reply I know added she that you are acquainted with my misfortune and notwithstanding that out of interest or resentment you might have publish'd it you have not onely concealed it from all the World but have chased away the jealousies which my Brother had conceiv'd thereof Nor have you cast a slight obligation on me in the contempt of his proffers because they are contrary to my unhappy inclinations and these effects of your goodness I have such a resentment of that if you knew what struglings pass in my soul upon your account no doubt you would not charge me with an excess of severity I found somewhat in these words which to my apprehension made more to my advantage then any thing she had said to me before and attributing them to pure acknowledgement and her gratitude whereof I had already receiv'd several assurances I conceiv'd I ought to entertain them no otherwise then the rest Whereupon lifting up my eyes to fasten them on her countenance with an action wholly passionat I do not charge you with any thing said I to her and I appeal to both Gods and Men. That all I bewail is my own misfortune without the least repining thought against you I have undergone it hitherto with all the constany Heaven was pleased to afford me but now my strength is spent and I am reduc'd to such necessity as to imagine there can be no remedy for me but onely in Death I need not haply go any further then my own grief to find it but the effect might prove so slow as to tire my expectations so that I must be forc'd to court it in those wayes wherein so many great persons have have met with it I will go and spend in a Military employment the unfortunate remainders of a life that was so odious to you nor is the Universe so peaceable as not to afford War enough to dispatch one whom his miseries have long since sacrific'd to Death These words I utter'd with such an action as produc'd some effect on Tullia's mind already softened into compassion so that when she was going to make me some answer she perceiv'd coming into the Walk where we were Cicero and the company newly arriv'd who came along with him to find us out Yet not willing to leave me without some reply in those terms of despair wherein she saw me No Lentulus said she to me do not think of any such resolution the Gods have haply some compassion reserv'd for us and will work some change in our fortunes These few words were all she could say to me nor had I the time to reflect much upon them by reason of the coming up to us of Cicero and those that were with him whom we found to be Scipio and Emilia and two other Ladies of Tullia's more intimate acquaintance that came from Rome to visit them The arival of Emilia and Scipio brought me all the consolation I was at that time capable of but my condition was such as that joy could not make any impression on my mind And though I entertained both with all the kindness and caresses I was able yet did they discover what observation they made of my affliction by what they expressed themselves Cicero a lover of pleasure even to excess endeavoured above all things the diversion of the company he had in his House and for the space of two days I endeavoured compliance to avoid disgusting my Friends as also to find in Tullia's last expressions some ground to hope But my Melancholy having infected all my apprehensions and left in my soul nothing but sadness and distractions I could derive no more encouragement from them then I had done from the precedent as proceeding from a compassion whereof she had given me many fruitless marks such as had nothing common with Love Emilia would perswade me to the contrary when I gave her an account of it and endeavoured as having as she said observed somewhat more then ordinary in her Friends
she should never have been any man's but yours had I not designed her for Marcellus or that he were not living to enjoy her Be not then discouraged at these difficulties but confident there 's nothing you may not overcome by your own great merit with our assistance Augustus added to this much other discourse full of the greatest expressions that could be of a tender Friendship and Agrippa who had hearkned to them with such transports and resentments as he was not able to express would have cast himself at his feet if the Emperour who had long before forbidden him all such carriage had not prevented it Agrippa made his acknowledgements with the greatest demonstrations of gratitude declaring withal that rather then be thought unworthy the honour he designed him for he resolved never to see Elisa again and to endavour by an eternal absence his own death or recovery But Caesar knowing he could not take any such resolution without doing too great a violence to himself such as haply might have proved fatal to him would by no means hear of that proposition and thereupon telling him that he should be no less in his affection if he married Elisa then if he were matched to Julia he said his commands on him to joyn endeavours with him in order to the purchase of his own quiet and to hope all things with his assistance Agrippa submitting himself to the will of Caesar and complying with his desires My Lord said he to him now is it that I am of all men the most unfortunate in that the assistance of Caesar from which I might promise my self all things I can upon this occasion make no advantage of as not being able to employ it against the fortune of a man for whose vertue I have so much respect Did not the affection I have for Elisa over-ballance it I should never have been induced to cross his designs The reflection I make on the merit of Artaban and the advantage he hath over the inclinations of Elisa discourages me more then all the pretensions of Tigranes 'T is a Rival whose admirable endowments upon the first sight of him forced my esteem and affection and it is out of sincere respect which I have for him that I have solemnly promised Elisa not to dispute her affections against him otherwise then by Love and Services without offering the least violence by any authority derived from Caesar Thus am I disarmed of whatever I might hope of assistance having nothing but merit and services wherewith to oppose a man who by those wayes hath already deserved all things I may very well doubt the issue of a combat which I undertake against him with so much disadvantage 'T is true replied the Emperour after he had continued silent a little while take all mankind it will be hard to pick out such a dangerous Rival as Artaban or one more worthy the affections you would despute against him and I shall tell you withal that out of the esteem I have conceived for his worth I could wish it were any other man's fortune that we were to crush but when Agrippa 's safety and satisfaction lies at the stake all other considerations vanish We will endeavour to find out some other wayes to satisfie Artaban 's ambition since we must oppose him in his Loves and conditionally he will quit his pretensions to Elisa I will pamper him with those Honours and Dignities which shall give his very desires a surfet It was imprudently done to engage your self to refuse my assistances and though you have promised not to receive them you cannot hinder my design to afford them you No my Lord replies Agrippa I cannot frustrate the effects of your goodness the expressions I receive whereof are too precious and too glorious not to be acknowledged but it is not in my power to make any advantage thereof as resolved to keep the promise I have made Elisa as well out of the respect I have for her as the violence it is to my nature to take the advantage of my fortune against a man who for his vertue is more worthy of it then my self It speaks a more then ordinary generosity in you replies the Emperour but not over-much reason Go and take some rest if you can and let me take that care for you which you will not for your self Upon these words he bid him good night unwilling to hear what he would have said further against himself on the behalf of his Rival Agrippa withdrew with a soul engaged in a tempest of different reflections not knowing whether he should rejoyce or not at that kindness of the Emperours who desirous contrary to his intentions to make him happy would have in some sort engaged him to a breach of his word and the generous resolution he had taken Being in this uncertainty he passed away the night with a certain reciprocality of hope and joy which though his Vertue would not admit yet could not his Love but entertain them with some delight All the illustrious Persons that were then in Alexandria passed it also diversly according to their several conditions and Candace was one of the least satisfied as having not seen her Caesario that night as she had done the precedent and foreseeing it would be much more difficult for him to wait on her during the time she intended to stay in Alexandria then it had been before The next day as soon as the Emperour was to be seen all the Princes and the most considerable persons were expecting his appearance The King of the Medes was one of the first to wait on him out of a design to have some discourse with him about his own concernments before the press would be too great And the Emperour having entertained him with a seeming kindness he in a long discourse acquainted him with what had all this while lain so heavy on his heart He in the first place represented the great desires he had ever had to serve him as he in duty ought and the submission he had had for his commands as well in the differences there had passed between him and the King of Armenia as upon all other occasions that had offered themselves Then he comes to complain of the injustice had been done him by forcing and still detaining from him against all right and all appearance of reason a Princess whom by his Ambassadors he had married and that with the consent of her Father To this he added the satisfaction he conceived to find her in a place where he feared not any injustice nor yet any prejudice on the behalf of his enemies so concluded with adesire that he would do him that justice which he never refused any order his Spouse to be delivered to him as he would do for any though ever so inconsiderable upon the like occasion Augustus gave him the hearing with much patience but being now engaged to promote the passion of Agrippa and that withal he thought it
and spared those that forbore further resistance nay permitted them to relieve and look after their Prince if so be he were capable of it Having no more Enemies to engage with he alighted and running to Ismenia's Chariot he presented himself before her covered over with bloud and dust and in a condition that might have frightned her if â—he had not immediately called to mind the countenance of Arminius The joy he was in smother'd his speech but taking her by the hand he kissed it with such earnestness as would not suffer him of a long time to quit it Ismenia as having greater command of her self spoke first and endeavouring to overcome the disturbance that spectacle had raised in her apprehensions aâ—d to re-assume the wonted serenity of her looks Arminius said she to him I see you in a terrible posture after so strange a manner that I know not whether I can rejoyce at such a meeting with you If Arminius reply'd he be more dear to you then Marobodes you have reason to rejoyce but if you love Marobodes better then you do Arminius I confess you have but little ground to be glad I had no love for Marobodes replies Ismenia and Arminius cannot doubt but he is precious in my affections but I put a Father into an implacable indignation I am in the hands of a Lover whom he is an enemy to and I am the cause of all the bloud that hath been spilt in my sight Yet does not this hinder but that I am what I ever have been to you but it should not seem strange to you that all these things should disturb the joy it is to me to see you again and to escape the danger I was in never to have been yours Arminius answered this discourse of the Princess with words full of transportation and embraced her knees a long time notwithstanding her endeavours to make him forbear it My dearest Princess said he to her it stood not with the goodness of the Gods to suffer the injustice was done me and they have made the cruelty of Segestes contribute to my happiness Let all the world now arm it self against me nothing shall trouble my Fortune since I am at the feet of my Ismenia The Princess interrupted his transportations by asking him whether Marobodes were dead and she put that question to him with a disturbance whence he could not but perceive the compassion she was moved to Arminius called into her presence those who had taken care of him and they informed her that he was not dead but in great danger if he were not looked to Ismenia ordered him a Chariot wherein were some of her Women to carry him to the next Town where he might be relieved and discovered to those were left of his party the pity she had of his misfortune They departed with their Prince in the Chariot and Arminius himself expressed to them how much he was troubled for his wounds Upon which Ismenia desired to quit the place where the engagement had happened as conceiving a horrour at the sight of the dead bodies but when she was gone some distance from it causing the Chariot to stay and speaking to Arminius who rode by it Arminius said she to him I pray let me now know what your intentions are No other Madam reply'd he than to submit to yours even to death But how reply'd she do you intend to dispose of me I conceive says the Prince to her there is no place where you may be more sure or more powerfull than where you are to regin over the Cherusci and over Arminius since I cannot think you would return to Segestes I haply ought to do it reply'd she and dif I fear onely the treatment I might receive no doubt but I should But I am confident if ever I should see Segestes again I shall never be yours and that he would take such order hereafter as not to fear such an accident as hath now happened to him What reproach soever therefore I may make to my self for leaving a Father to go with a Lover I am resolved not to come near him nor shall I on the other side stay with you and you ought not to take it ill that having offended against Decency in the things that are most essential being by the malice of my Fortune forced thereto I should observe it in those I may without putting you into any danger of my loss Having uttered those words she cast her eyes on the countenance of Arminius and saw he looked earnestly on the ground with all the marks of a mortal affliction that he sigh'd not knowing what to answer her and could hardly refrain certain tears which would force their passage out What ails you Arminius said she seeing him in that posture speak Arminius and give me your advice to find out a secure and honourable place for my retreat in expectation of the change of my Fortune and the humour of Segestes I thought says Arminius to her after the saddest manner in the world that you could not have found one either more secure or more honourable than to be with a Prince whom you are willing to make your Husband and performing the Ceremony thereof put your self out of all fear both as to the reports of people and the displeasure of Segestes But since I have been so much mistaken and that haply I am still as unfortunate as ever I was in my life let us go Madam let us go to what part of the earth you think fit to retire to let us go if you think fit even into the arms of Segestes I shall be able to conduct you any where without repining leave you when you command me to do it and be the Authour of my own death without complaining when I shall have lost all my hopes He spoke these words after so pressing a manner and accompany'd them with so great discoveries of his grief that Ismenia's constancy immediately gave way and after she had continued a while as it were in suspence without answering him of a sudden taking her resolution and reaching him her hand Arminius said she to him I am yours and no question had you the full reward of your Love and Vertue you were worthy something of greater value than Ismenia Let us go to Clearchus since you desire it should be so I shall follow you thither without any repugnance and am satisfied that with such a Husband I shall not need fear ought as to the displeasure of a Father or the reproaches of men 'T were impossible for me to represent to you the joy Arminius conceived at this discourse of Ismenia's and I should spin out my relation to a tedious length to entertain you with all the particulars thereof I shall therefore onely tell you that after he had thousands of times embraced her knees and spoke the most passionate words imaginable to express his resentment to her he caused the Chariot to drive on and rode by it with his
were dead and that Segesces who hath already a Son by the Wife he lately married designs him to inherit his Dominions not thinking any more of Ismenia nd thus much I have understood as to what you are concerned in I shall endeavour by all the ways I can imagine to learn what is become of Ismenia and since Varus is the person by whom she was taken or at least the sorces under his command I shall haply come to the knowledge of something by his means he being now in Alexandria and am confident she will not conceal the truth from me Arminius entertained this discourse of Agrippa with all the discoveries of a real acknowledgement looking on him not onely as a person he was so much oblig'd to but as one of the greatest men in the world My Lord said he to him I receive these effects of your Goodness as so many assurances of the Greatness of your Soul on which the compassion you have for my misfortunes hath doubtless a greater influence then the esteem you may upon the relation of Inguiomer have conceived for my person His affection is haply greater to me then to have spoken of me without passion it may be partially but he hath been faithfull to truth if he hath told you that I am of all men the most miserable The deplorable condition my fortunes are in which hardly vouchsafs me any sentiment of things even of greatest importance cannot yet hinder but that I have the sense I ought of your generous favors as also of the proffers of your assistance and authority to find out Ismenia among the Romans and by the directions of Varus who can discover more then any other to get some account of her What I expect must certainly be dolefull and deplorable it being not improbable she may have been exposed to those miseries during her captivity then which death it self might be more supportable to her such as have haply forc'd her to sacrifice her life for the preservation of her honor How ere it may be I am resoved to die or find out the truth of it and though I were to wander all over the world I will never return into my native country without Ismenia I would intreat Inguiomer to see it again and accept which I gladly resign him the Soveraignty over the Cherusci and I wish the Gods were so pleased I had some great Empire to present him with to requite the obligations I have received from his Friendship T were unjust he should be perpetually involved in my miseries he hath suffered enough by a harsh and cruel captivity the infamous exercise out of which you relievedus to exempt him from anyfurther engagement in my errant fortune which will carry me all over the world either to find out Ismenia or if my endeavours prove ineffectual death Arminius having uttered these words could not but burst into tears whereat Agrippa was extreamly troubled Whereupon Inguiomer turning to him with a dissatisfied look Do not Arminius said he to him do not offer so great a violence to our Friendship by the aversion you express for my company and the injurious proffers you would make me I shall be equally able with you to support the injurious proffers you would make me I shall be equally able with to support the inconveniencies of our fortune and it is long since you might have been assur'd that I value your Friendship beyond the Soverainty of the Cherusci They were thus engag'd in discourse when an Officer of Agrippa's causing torches to be brought into the Closet gave him notice that the Princess Julia accompany'd by several other Princesses was come into his Chamber and that her visit proceeded out of a curiosity she had to see those two famous strangers whose adventure had made so much noise that day in Alexandria Agrippa somewhat surpriz'd at it turns to Arminius and being infinitely circumspect and generous in all things It is far from my thoughts said he to him that you should be oblig'd to any thing disconsonant to your own inclinations and though the Princess Julia be a person the most abliging and officious in the world and that I dare assure you her presence will contribute much to your satisfaction yet if in the condition you are in you have any aversion thereto I will go and make your excuses and am confident it will not be taken amiss Arminius had indeed some aversion for such a company as then came to see him and would gladly have avoided it but he was willing to comply with the civilities of Agrippa seeing with what circumspection he treated him And to that end wiping the tears that were still in his face he told him that had he known he were desirous of any such thing he would have gone himself to wait on the Princess Julia and those other persons whom he was willing he should see He had hardly said so much when the Daughter of Augustus was come to the door and enters the Closet followed by the two Princesses of Armenia Olympia Andromeda Vrania and several other Ladies who ordinarily kept her company Agrippa ran to meet her and the two Cheruscian princes made low obeisances to give her the salute due to her quliaty The comelinesse of their persons heighten'd by garments suitable to their condition appear'd to that illustrious Assembly much otherwise then it had seem'd to those who had seen them in the Amphitheatre though there broke forth ablushing into their countenances out of a reflection on the ignominious treatment they had that day receiv'd Julia was infinitely satisfi'd to see them and was going to speak to them with her ordinary civility when of a sudden she perceives a change in the countenance of Arminius and that so remarkable as that he seem'd to be wholly transported and in a manner at a loss of all apprehension He retir'd some paces back staggering and lifting up his hands and eyes to Heaven but while the Princesses were observing his action not without astonishment they heard a noise behind them and turning about to see what the matter was they perceived the fair Cipassis who came along with Julia to make that visit falling into a swound between Andromeda and Sulpitia and discovering but with much more weakness a surprize not inferiour to that of Arminius While the Noble Assembly were in suspence what to think of that accident Agrippa having with some precipitation ask'd Arminius the reason of the disturbance he was in Ah my Lord said he with a transport he was not able to suppress I see Ismenia And immediately not minding the respect he should have observed in the presence of Julia and so many great Princesses which upon any other occasion he had not been a wanting to and quite forgetting the care he had till then taken to conceal himself from the Romans he runs to Cipassis whom Sulpitia held in her arms and calling her by the name of Ismenia he fell down at
thereof he could have wish'd They were falling into a more private discourse when Drusus Ptolomey Mithridates and divers other illustrious persons came into the Chamber and it was not longere it was full by the access of many others whom the great excellencies of Alcamenes and the fame of his miraculous actions obliged to wait on him Mean time the Princess Julia as soon as she was drest took Arminius and Inguiomer along with her to the Emperour and presenting them to him as the valiant Princes of the Cherusci whose reputation though so great Enemies was so much spread among the Romans Caesar notwithstanding the difference of parties treated them suitably to their Birth and Valour and entertained them with so much the more respect as it were to make some reparation for the unworthy treatment they had endured and the ignominious divertisements they had been put to the day before He made his excuses to them upon the ignorance of their condition to which discourse of the Emperours the Princes made no other answer than that of a blush which spread over their faces so as that the Emperour could not but infer how hard it were for them to forget it He thereupon took occasion to celebrate their Valour insisting on certain particulars he had received thereof and to assure them that no consideration should prevail with him to treat them otherwise than as if they were his Allics especially seeing that not long before his Generals in Germany had made a certain Truce with Arminius's Father and such of his Neighbours as were of his party The illustrious company then present and particularly those who had not without trouble seen them engaged in the exercises of the day before entertain'd them with extraordinary kindness and received them with all the civility due to so great persons But they would not by any means see Varus and though Agrippa spoke to Arminius of it yet could he not prevail with him to abate ought of the resentment he had against him Augustus having design'd this day to be spent in Hunting for the divertisement of those illustrious persons of both Sexes whereof his Court then consisted gave order that Dinner should be ready before the ordinary time And immediately after all things were in readiness and the Court before the Palace full of Chariots for the Princesses and Horses for the Princes and other great persons that were to accompany them The Empress Octavia then Queen of Cilicia and divers other Ladies who by reason of their age were not for that divertisement remained in the Palace and all the rest by order from Augustus and Julia who had to that purpose sent them invitations met in the Court and were disposed into the Chariots design'd for them Cleopatra having acquainted Artemisa and Antonia with some part of her intention obliged them to take their places in Julia's Chariot out of a fear that Princess might entreat Elisa Candace or her self to come into it Olympia was already set by her in it and the Princess Arsinoe was gotten into another with Andromeda Urania and the Princess Ismenia who was no longer called Cipassis Martia Agrippa and Marcella to shew their respects and observance of Caesar were with the fair Terentia and a great number of other Ladies illustrious as well for their Rank as Beauties took up the rest of the Chariots so that the Princess Cleopatra Elisa and Candace had the opportunity they so much desired to go together and whereas their Chariot had place only for four they admitted Camilla to take up the fourth They were no sooner all disposed into the Chariots but the Emperor and all his magnificent Retinue got on Horseback and leaving the Palace were gotten without the Gates of Alexandria Augustus who out of his own natural inclinations as also what he then had for Terentia was gallant and magnificent appear'd no less that day in his Hunting Apparel That of Alcamines was rich and sumptuous that of Agrippa glittered with Gold and precious Stones those of Philadelph Ptolomey Polemon Archelaus Mithridates Crassus and Lentulus splended and pompous but that of Drusus was acknowledged the most accomplished of all those of that illustrious Assembly Ariobarzanes had upon his something of the Mourning he was in for the death of the King his Brother and Artaban by reason of the disturbances he was in had purposely omitted all gaudinesse as to Apparrel and rode on an excellent Horse which the Scythian King had furnished him withal as being more remarkable for the comliness of his person then he could have been by any exernal ornament Nor were Arminius and Inguiomer on whom joy had bestowed countenances much different from what they had some days before the least observed in that celebrious company in a word there never had been nor haply ever could be seen any thing comparable to the appearance of so many noble persons as that day went out at the Gates of Alexandria Cornelius had by Order from Augustus caused a spacious Wood nor far from the place where the unfortunate Tiridates had made his last abode to be enclosed and the day proving very fair and cool enough considering the season that there were a many beasts within the enclosure they had made and that the places about were very commodious for the Chariots because of the many fair and spacious ways which every way crossed the Wood there was a general expectation of excellent good sport The Horse-men rode by the sides of the Chariots according to their different inclinations as far as the ways permitted them but if Artaban had for a while the satisfaction to entertain Elisa before Cleopatra and Candace who obliged him not to the least reservedness he had also not long after the trouble to have Agrippa for companion on the other side of the Chariot which he took so unkindly that neither the great esteem he had for him or the remembrance of the service he had received at his hands or a reflection on the authority he had in those places could hardly make him forbear expressing his resentments with some violence Ariobarzanes had some discourse with his Olympia Philadelph with his amiable Delia Drusus with the fair Antonia Archelaus with the Princess Andromeda Arminius with his lovely Ismenia and Caesar himself rode a long time by Terentia displacing thereby Crassus who entertained her before This lasted till they came to the place where they had made the enclosure and where the Chariots being placed at those passages whence the Ladies might best participate of the divertisement all the Princes together with the Emperor took other ways and with a certain emulation courted the occasions of signalizing their valour by the death of several beasts Accordingly many fell having the glory to dye by the hands of the greatest men in the world and among those who gained most reputation Artaban and Alcamines made remarkable discoveries of that admirable valour which had raised them to so noble a fame The Ladies
most cruel agitations of grief her soul was capable of as not able to imagine that the gods had sent Coriolanus to her rescue without conceiving withal that his own evil fortune had sent him to his death Oye Gods cryed she with an action full of despair if it he Coriolanus as no doubt but it is I cannot it seems divert the cruel Destiny whereby it is decreed that I should be a spectator of his death O ye all powerfull Gods added she who have not the least compassion for the misfortune of the disconsolate Cleopatra if there were a necessity this unfortunate Prince should lose his life in my sight why did you not suffer him to die while I thought him unconstant to me and not now that I am so well satisfi'd of his Innocence Nor indeed was it without reason that Cleopatra was in so much fear for her valiant defender and besides that it was impossible for any mortal force to stand out against so great a number of enemies there were some among them who without any advantage durst engage against the stoutest men in the world yet had the exasperation they were in so blinded them that they were going to crush an illustrious life with number when there comes into the place three Horsemen all arm'd from two several ways He who came alone was follow'd by two Squires and the two that came in together had but two between them All three stood a while to see what passed and perceiving with admiration how that a single man fear'd not the attempts of so many enemies and immediately desirous to engage in the same design they set themselves before him and one of the two that came together very civilly intreated those that seem'd to head the party not to dishonour themselves by endeavouring the death of a single man We would give him his life as the reward of his valour says one of the two who seems to command the rest though by his temerity he hath sufficiently incensed us if he were not himself so desirous of his own death and discover'd by his so imprudent opposing of our design that he is weary of his life I oppose your design indeed replyed very fiercely the unknown Defender of the Princesses but it is much more out of a respect to the injustice of it then any aversion I have for life and all the earth ought to arm it self with me for the rescue of Clepatra Though the casque he had on disguised his voice yet did it not hinder but that the words he spoke were understood by those that were near enough to hear them whereupon the three unknown persons looking about them no sooner perceived the three Princesses but joyning with their first defender Take courage valiant man sayes one of them to him we will engage with you nay if the Gods have so disposed of us die with you in this quarrel And immediately drawing their Swords with a miraculous confidence they made their enemies sensible that Vertue and Valour could not be daunted with number The first blows they dealt prov'd mortal to three of the most daring of the contrary party and thereupon rushing in amongst the rest like men not to be frighten'd with danger they convinc'd their Adversaries that thought they had such extraordinary odds in point of number the victory would not prove so easie as they expected This supply did in a manner turn the scales of the engagement and he who had received it finding his party so much stronger than it was did such things as could not be expected from his valour without the assistance of despair and such as haply might have gain'd them the victory notwithstanding that great inequality had they been to deal only with number and that there had not been among their enemies some whose valour was not inferiour to that of the most valiant in the world And this it was that made the danger they were in the greater and in all probability they were ready to be o'repressed by so unequal a power when in pursuit of a wild Boar that had broken the toyls there appear'd three men who were gotten a great distance before those that were coming after them and who having changed their design upon sight of that engagement and approaching the place where it was were soon known by the Princesses in regard they had no Arms on that might any way disguise them to be Alcamoues Artaban and Arminius The coming in of these three men whose valour was so well known raised no small joy and hope in the Princesses though that of Artaban occasioned some disturbance in Elisa out of an apprehension of the danger whereto he was going to expose himself and they on the other side perceiving the three Princesses whom they immediately knew thought not fit to lose the least minute in reflecting on the resolution they ought to take They had only their Swords by their sides and either of them a Hunting spear in his right hand but that inequality of Arms they stood not upon and charging with the same Hunting-spears wherewith they had killed several beasts that day they turn'd the first they met with to feed on the dust and employing them against others with the same success they dispatch'd many out of the way before they medled with their dreadful Swords Artaban fighting in sight of Elisa was the most earnest as being the most concern'd yet could he not out-do the invincible King of the Scythians but beheld with astonishment the effects of that valour which had raised so much admiration in the world Arminius was not much behind in his performances upon this occasion insomuch that the four valiant men whom they had releiv'd finding themselves fortified by so considerable an assistance doubled their blows with so much fury that in a short time the number of the enemies being diminish'd by the one half they entertained some hopes of the victory The principal persons among the Ravishers exasperated at the ill success of their enterprize did things very considerable and Artaban imagining by several marks he knew one of them to be Tigranes King of the Medes made towards him through those that stood in his way and notwithstanding the Arms he had about him having given him two wounds with his Sword and thereby put him into disorder he gave him so violent a shock that Horse and Man were both overthrown He might have gain'd a more absolute victory over him had he not scorn'd it he saw that at that same time King Alcamcnes had used another of their Leaders in the same manner and that he who remain'd and who doubtless was the most valiant of the three enrag'd at the ill success of his design was particularly engaged against him who had been the first hindrance of it and the same whom the Princess Cleopatra still look'd on as her Coriolanus These two men heightned by a suspicion which particularly incensed them one against the other were gotten from the main
engagement after some blows dealt on both sides and fought with little inequality at the distance of about a hundred paces from their companions The defender of Cleopatra had not engaged in that combat till such time as he saw there was no danger of her being carried away and meeting with an enemy more worthy his valour then the others he slighted he employed it against him with an ardent desire of victory He had given him many blows and had received from him a considerable number of others which proceeded not from an ordinary strength when with a back-blow he gave him over the head he broke the chin-pieces of his Casque and thereupon casting his eyes upon his face which was disarm'd he found in it the detestable countenance of his Rival and emplacable enemy Tiberius This discovery added to his fierceness and indignation but instead of offering at the Head of Tiberius who held up his Buckler to defend it Tiberius said he to him I am the Son of Juba thy Rival and mortal enemy I now bring thee a life which thou hast so long sought after and there is a possibility thou mayst this day satisfie thy self for the wound I gave thee at Rome and secure Cleopatra if Fortune prove favourable to thee But it is not before so many witnesses that our difference can be determined and to prevent their interposition let us go a little futher to decide it with more freedom I shall not make use of the advantage I have over thee and since thou hast lost thy Casque I will put off mine and fight with the upon equal terms With these words which Tiberius had heard with much patience he unty'd the chin-pieces of his Casque at king it off his head he discovered to him the face of Coriolanus The son of Livia grew pale at the sight but more out of exasperation then fear finding in the Proposition made to him by Coriolanus what he had been so much desirous of and what in the present condition he should most have wish'd after he had cast both on the Chariot where Cleopatra was and his almost defeated companions a look full of rage and madness he goes away without making any answer to his enemy and giving him notice by a sign that he would follow him went to find out a place more convenient wherein to decide their quarrel Their impatience and exasperation suffered them not to go very far so that being come to a place where they thought they should not be interrupted in their design they turn'd one against the other and with a force accompany'd with threats they began to deal hearty blows They were both careful to secure their disarmed heads with their Bucklers nay though they were not over-tender of their lives yet they opposed the Buckler to the Sword by a certain natural address or inclination and by that means their attempts for some time prov'd mutually ineffectual Tiberius was a person of great valour but one withal who had ever imagin'd it lawfull for a man to mind his advantages any way whatsoever and thinking it much more upon this occasion then any other after he had vainly endeavoured to draw bloud of his enemy he in a pass wherein himself receiv'd a wound in the shoulder watch'd his opportunity to run his Horse into the breast and so fortunatly met with the place where it should prove mortal that the Horse after some resistance fell down of a sudden with his Master under him so unhappily that burthened with his weight he found it no easie matter to disengage himself Tiberius naturally cruel and aspiring at a victory that should gain him Cleopaira put his Horse forward to ride over his enemy with a design to dispatch him out of the way but the Horse frightned at that of Cortolanus which lay still strugling upon his Master notwithstanding all the endeavours of Tiberius could not by any means come near him The impatient Son of Livia loath to let slip an occasion so favourable alights to go and make sure of his enemy and with his Sword ready for the execution went towards him O whathappiness was it to the fair Cleopatra that she was not present at that spectacle and what affliction would it have been to her to see her dear Coriolanus overthrown and at the mercy of the cruel Tiberius He was in a manner perswaded that nothing could rescue his Rival from death when he perceives him after much ado got from under his Horse coming towards him with an indignation heightned by his fall such as against which all the strength of Tiberius were likely too weak to make any resistance Nor was it long erc he made him sensible of it the provoked Son of Juba continually charging with such blows as the Buckler being vainly opposed against them drew bloud from Tiberius in several places and put him out of all hopes of a victory which not many minutes be fore he thought indisputably his own However the rage he was in supply'd his strength for a time notwithstanding the bloud he still lost nay he was sofortunate as to see some of Coriolanus's upon his Arms to hope that if he could not overcome he should in some measure reveng his death But that satisfaction lasted not long for soon after he grew so weak and was so by his Adversary that staggering backwards he fell down and had not the strength to rise again Coriolanus advanced towards him with his Sword the point up and coming to him with a menancing out-cry Thou diest Tiberius said he to him thou diest or if thou wouldst live thou must quit all retensions to Cleopatra The Son of Livia in whom rage and madness had smothered all desire of life looking on him with a direfull aspect wherein notwithstanding his weakness his arrogance was sufficiently remarkable Strike Son of Juba said he to him and suffer not to live an Enemy from whom thou hadst received thy death if Fortune had been less unkind to him I shall be thy Rival to the last gasp nor is it the fear of death shall force me quit Cleopatra This discourse of Tiberius raised in Coriolanus a greater esteem for him then all the precedent actions of his life had done and looking on him with a look wherein appeared nothing of an enemy Thy example said he to him shall not oblige me to give thee thy death that it may be seen Tiberius and Coriolanus can make different advantages of their victory according to their several inclinations Thou shalt live invincible and thou shalt live a Servant to Cleopatra but since thou hast courage enough to dispute her even to death remember It is by vertue thou shouldst have gained her and that artifices and illegal authority are unworthy a person that can prefer death before the shame of being overcome Having spoke those words which Tiberius heard with an augmentation of grief and jealousie he was going towards him to give him an assistance he
the Emperour himself though the resentment he had for Tiberius's enterprize had a while held him in suspence whether he should do him that honour or not and certainly had his condition been otherwise he would have made him sensible of his displeasure rather than visited him But considering the posture he was in he conceiv'd he ought to remit somewhat of it as having withall for Livia a tenderness and respect too great to forbear the discoveries thereof upon that occasion She was accordingly much pleased to see him come into the Room and he was no sooner sate down but she joyn'd her sollicitations to the intreaties of Tiberius to obtain his pardon for an offence which she absolutely imputed to that passion upon the account whereof it might be thought excusable or at least by which they endeavour'd to make it appear such Augustus heard them with much patience and at last addressing his discourse to Livia Madam said he to her you know your own omnipotence and though the injury I have received from Tiberius be in it self very great yet is it in your power to oblige me to quit all thoughts of it and you are to assure your self that the resentment I have of the affront he hath done me is much below the affliction I am in for the inconveniencies he hath run himself into thereby Contribute therefore continu'd he speaking to Tiberius after he had been inform'd of the nature of his wounds all you can to your own recovery and since you are reduced to this condition by our common Enemy remit to me the execution of our common Revenge Livia gave not Tiberius the time to reply and rejoyning to the Emperours discourse My Lord said she to him Tiberius is so generous as not to desire any revenge on his enemy but by such ways he conceives more honourable But for me who am a woman who am his Mother and who have the honour to be Wife to Caesar I suppose I may with honour demand justice of you against an African who by ways less honourable put him once before into the condition wherein we now find him and one from whom you your self have received such extraordinary affronts as if I were not mother to Tiberius yet as Wife to Caesar I ought to press the revenge due to them Take you no further thought of it replies Augustus and assure your self that no intreaty no consideration whatsoever shall divert me from doing exemplary justice upon him Whereupon understanding that the wounded person stood in need of rest and was to forbear all discourse he left the Room taking all those who were come thither upon visits along with him Drusus stay'd with him after all were gone and of all the men that were in Alexandria he was the most at a loss how to behave himself He had a great affection for his Brother though he were inclin'd to some things he could not but disapprove and he also well understood that consideration of Honour which engag'd him in all his interests so as to embrace and prosecute them with all the earnestness of a generous and affectionate Brother But he was also in love with the Vertue of Coriolanus whom he saw in Chains and reduced to a condition that required his compassion much rather than his resentment he had a particular respect and veneration for the Princess Cleopatra and had as fervent an affection as heart was capable of for the fair Antonia her Sister So that as a servant to Antonia as a Friend to Cleopatra and as a person generous and full of virtue he could neither sollicite nor with the death of Coriolanus and as brother to Tiberius and Son of Livia he could not endeavour his deliverance He accordingly took the mean between these two extreams and doing those things his duty oblig'd him to his wishes were still consonant to his own vertuous inclinations and the design he had undertaken to appease Livia as much as lay in his power so as not to be thought of a party contrary to that of his Brother and his House The same night the Princess Cleopatra was visited by most of the Princesses and other Ladies of quality that were in Alexandria and whereas she had a strange command over the respects and affectious of all that knew her there were many among them who observed not the circumspection they should have done to prevent their disobliging of Livia upon that occasion Julia came thither in person and with her Prince Marcellus who had made his peace with her and on whom as she told him she was loath to exercise any further rigour as finding him too much cast down at the misfortune of Coriolanus to need any aggravation of his affliction The vertuous Octavia came thither with the first and had not been awanting upon that occasion to assure Cleopatra that she looked on her as her Daughter and that she would be as free of her sollications to serve Coriolanus as she could be for Marcellus were he reduced to the same extremities Cleopatra had given her an account of the innocence of that Prince and acquainted her with the Artifices of Tiberius as she had receiv'd the relation thereof from Volusius So that that generous Princess having restored the Prince of Mauritania to the same place in her affections she had formerly allowed him prepared to joyn her interest with that of all her Friends to counterballance on his behalf the power of Livia Her receptions of Julius Antonius was such as that he could not but be satisfi'd that the children of Anthony were no less dear to her then her own and she had expressed no less joy at his return then at that of Marcellus Finding her self somewhat indisposed she retired the sooner to her own lodgings the Princesses her Daughters staying with Cleopatra to accompany Julia Elisa Candace Artemisa Prince Marcellus Agrippa and Cleopatra's three Brothers Julia who naturally hated sadness would needs change the discourse which till then had been altogether concerning the accidents of that day into some other of a different nature and turning to Prince Marcellus and Antonius whom all entertained as a person newly revived Me thinks said she to them it might be expected from you both that you should give us some account of your Travels and you especially said she to Julius Antonius who in all probability must needs in the space of seven or eight years have run through some memorable adventures and I think there are not any other persons whom you should be more willing to acquaint therewith then those here present nor that there can be a time wherein such a discourse might be more seasonable then it may be now to divert the melancholy of your sister and friends Antonius perceiving the Princess addressed her self particularly to him thought himself obliged to return her some answer and looking on her with an action full of respect 'T is very certain Madam said he to her that there are not any in the
night torn off all and was this morning found dead in his bed almost drowned in the blood he had lost This Discourse of Aquilius very much troubled the Emperour who had loved Cornelius and had in time pardoned the miscarriage which the extravagance of his love had caused him to commit so that having continued some time silent I was not desirous of Cornelius's death said he and am sorry he should so far despair of the pardon he might have obtained from one that had a particular affection for him My Lord says Aquilius coming up close to the Emperour with an action whence he inferred he had something more than ordinary to tell him Cornelius writ the last night a Letter which one of his men hath just brought to me and which I bring you because directed to you and is besides of very great consequence Augustus took the Letter from Aquilius and having opened it found therein these words CORNELIUS GALLUS TO CAESAR AUGUSTUS THough I have by the last action of my life rendred my self unworthy the favours you had sometimes honoured me with yet can I assure you sincerely as one ready to close his eyes to this world that the fidelity I had towards you leaves me not even to the last gasp and being unwilling to live burthened with the confusion and misfortune whereto the loss of your affection and the unsuccessfulness of my own have reduced me it is my Lord the greatest of my desires that my last thought may do you such a service as may in some measure force out of your memory the offence I have committed against you I must confess my pretensions to Candace were too too presumptuous and that I have endeavoured to gain her by such waies as have justly drawn on me your displeasure but it was not so much my design to gain her as to deprive your enemie of her and by taking her away from him I began an act of Revenge which you are to prosecute The son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra and the same Caesario whom you have thought dead these ten years is the person for whom the Queen of Aethiopia is designed he is not only living but in Alexandria and he is the same Cleomedon who is so famous in Aethiopia for many great victories Aquilius whom I send you with this account can inform you further knows the retreat of your enemy and will tell you how he is to be secured I shall be happy in my death if these last minutes of my life contribute ought to your service and may satisfie you dying that I may well have miscarried through a passion which hath brought the greatest men into the like inconveniencies but that I have not been unfaithful to my Soveraign Lord and Benefactor The more intentive the Emperour was in the reading of those words the more did the disturbance arising in his soul become remarkable in his countenance insomuch that Mecenas and Domitius taking notice of it expected with some impatience he should acquaint them with the cause thereof Augustus took Aquilius aside and being got to such a distance as none could hear them he commanded him to give him an account of what he knew concerning the business about which Cornelius had written to him and for which he directed him onely to him Aquilius who was ready to satisfie the Emperours desires told him that the night before the hunting match Cornelius and himself to whom he had discovered his inclinations for Candace walking in the Palace Garden had seen the same Caesario whom Cornelius spoke of in his Letter and being behind a row of Trees had over-heard all the discourse had past between him Queen Candace the Princess Cleopatra his Sister the Princess of Parithia and Artaban and thereupon gave him the particulars of it as far as he could remember insisting most on those things whence it might be inferred that that Cleomedon whom Candace so much affected was Brother to Cleopatra and indeed no other then Caesario To this he added that after the departure of the Princesses Cornelius and himself who had hid themselves to avoid being discovered had followed Caesario at his going out of the garden and that desirous to know his retreat Aquilius by command from Cornelius had gone softly after him yet at such a distance as not to be observed and had seen him go into the house where he lodged which was in one of the most unfrequented parts of Alexandria That Cornelius would have given him notice of it that very night had it not been for his design to carry away Candace the next day which upon that discovery would have been prevented That he had ordered the Emperour should not be acquainted therewith till his return from hunting and to that end though Aquilius were a person of whose friendship he had as much considence as of any mans and one he might have engaged in that enterprise yet had he purposely left him in the City to observe Caesario and to acquaint the Emperour with his being there in case he should not return to Alexandria Further that he knew the house where he made his retreat and whence he stirred not but in the night to visit the Queen of Ethiopia and that if he would give him order and a party fit to secure him he promised him that a few minutes should bring him into his power Augustus hearkened to this discourse of Aquilius with much disturbance of mind and thoughts but put it out of all question that the Son of Caesar was to be secured nay he thought it prudence to have all those in custody who had been of the conversation whereby he came to be discovered Though he was very open in all things to Mecenas yet he would not speak to him of this because he would not raise any jealousie in Domitius to whom he thought not fit to discover it by reason of the pretensions he had to the alliance of Cleopatra but having sent for Levinus Tribune of the Praetorian bands a person whom he put much confidence in he commanded him to take a Party and go to the house whither Aquilius would bring him and having secured the persons he should shew him bring them immediately before him giving them these Orders with that secrecy and particular Instructions as whence Levinus and Aquilius could not but infer that if they failed in the execution thereof they run the hazard of incurring his displeasure They immediately departed taking the most secret way they could to the house where Caesario was lodged and Aquilius having acquainted Levinus with the quarter of the City where it was he took such a number of the guard with him as he thought necessary dividing them into small parties and ordering them to meet from several ways about that house to the end less notice should be taken of this design The Son of Caesar whom the magnificent Palace of the Ptolomies had given his first lodgings and who had sometime possessed it with so much
disclaim it to those who might have a perfect knowledge of it And on the other side he thought it imprudence to discover what might be yet doubtfull and by that confession run the hazard of losing Candace who was dearer to him then his own life and without whom life signifi'd nothing with him Between these two considerations he was in some suspence what resolution he should take when Augustus observing what doubtfulness and perplexity he was in It is to no purpose said he to him to dissemble with us or to consult whether you should let us know you are Caesario we know all even to the least circumstances and Candace her self does not deny but that Cleomedon is Son to Caesar and Cleopatra Upon the hearing of these names of Candace and Cleomedon the Prince was fully satisfi'd of his misfortune and being unwilling to deny what he thought Candace had acknowledg'd 'T is very true said he to him Cleomedon is Son to Caesar and since Candace hath thought fit this truth should be known it is too advantageous for me to disclaim it I am Caesario and I am also Cleomedon Under this name I have haply done those actions which render me not unworthy the bloud of my Ancestors and the name you bear You are onely by adoption what I am by birth and bloud and name are common to us though our fortunes are much different I have not envied yours as thinking my own glorious enough in the service of Candace and purely out of the extraordinary inclinations I have had for her alone I have without any regret seen you in the place of him that brought me into the world I am apt to believe what you say replies the Emperour and withal willing to acknowledge that the noble actions of Cleomedon are not unknown to us and that they no less discover you to be the Son of Caesar then the resemblance you have of him in your countenance but you will give me leave to require some reason of your abode unknown in Alexandria and you are not to be much astonished if it hath raised some jealousies in us When you know replies the Son of Caesar that I serve the Queen of Aethiopia you will not much wonder I should endeavour to find her out even in Alexandria nor can you think it extraordinary I should conceal my self if you reflect on the Orders you sometime gave out against my life at a time when it was not fear'd I could do you much prejudice The same observations of policy replies the Emperour whereby the actions of persons of my rank are regulated may change their resolutions according to several times and exegenes and there may have been of the Orders you mention in one season a necessity in another none Howere it may be you will give me leave to examine those things whereof the knowledge does so much concern me and to find out how I may with safety treat you suitably to my inclinations rather then according to Maximes of State which are sometimes rigorous even contrary to their intentions who are obliged to follow them With those words he commanded Levinus to conduct him to a Castle not for from Alexandria where were commonly disposed Prisoners of quality and whither they had the day before carried the Prince of Mauritania but as he went away he bid him not fear any thing and commanded Levinus he should be treated and attended as Caesar's Son This personated kindness did Caesario look on as more dangerous then menaces and open discoveries of displeasure insomuch that he doubted not but Augustus had resolv'd his death though hedissembled his intention He departed without making him any reply and march'd away in the midst of the Guards which receiv'd him at the door towards the prison whither he was sent As he passed through the great Hall he met full butt with Candace led by Eteocles who transported with grief was come to give her notice of that misfortune and the fair Queen being wholly at a loss thereat and not thinking any observance of decency and feminine reservedness obliged her to smother her sentiments upon that occasion was running to the Emperor resolv'd to participate of the danger with her beloved Prince though her resolution were the greatest of any of her Sex yet could she not see him surrounded by a Guard without being so troubled thereat that for some time she was no better then in a swound though held up by Eteocles But seeing the Prince carried away she overcame her weakness and runing before him What Cleomedon said she to him is this the condition wherein you appear to me 'T is not Cleomedon replies the Prince 't is Caesario that is carried to Prison and it may be to his death it being in vain for me to conceal my name from Caesar after your acknowledgement of it to him Who I replied the Queen I discover your name to Caesar Ah Cleomedon or Caesario since you will have it so assure your self I know nothing of what you say and that before I should be guilty of a confession so prejudicial to you I would have endured all the torment that mans invention could have put me to And not be assured of this would speak more cruelty in you then in our mortal Enemies And if he who puts you into Chains shall be moved neither by my intreaties nor a respect to my dignity you shall find whether I make any difficulty to run fortunes with you May your preservation be the care of the Gods reply'd the Prince with a gesture wholly passionate but if it be their will I should die upon this occasion they know I shall do it without any other regret then that of losing you If you die replies the Queen you shall not die alone I shall as gladly accompany you to Death as to a Throne She would have said more if Levinus who was afraid his suffering that conversation might give offence after he had made some excuse to her caused the Prince to march on and carried him immediately out of the Hall leaving the Queen so struck at that cruel separation that notwithstanding all that great constancy whereof the had made so many discoveries she fell into a swound between their arms who stood about her to hold her up She was in that condition and the unfortunate Eteocles between the desire he had to relieve her and that of following Caesario was at a loss what to do when the Princess Julia comes into the Hall accompanied by the Princess Andromeda Ismenia and some other Ladies Being a person the most officious in the world she runs to the Queen with much earnestness and having understood from those that were about her the cause of that accident her thoughts were divided between her compassion and astonishment thereat Mean time the Queen by the help of those that were about her recovers her self and seeing the Princess Julia very busie and earnest to relieve her after she had looked on her
being as it were in the haven after so many tempests and finding an inconceivable felicity in the demonstrations which they without any obstacles received of the affections of Olympia Arsinoe and Ismenia had they not thought themselves out of respects of Vertue obliged to a sympathy for the mis-fortune of so many Illustrious Persons for whom they had so much tenderness and esteem Lentulus besides his participation of the common stock of sorrow sighed for his absent Tullia Crassus for Terentia though present because loved by a Rival who derived no small advantages from soveraign authority nay Caesar himself besides what he felt for the love of Terentia was distracted by several passions and not a little troubled to find himself forced to do things that were contrary to the reputation he was desirous to raise himself to in the world of a good and just Emperour But there was not any of all that proud Court whose minde lay open to more cruel disturbances then that of the gallant Artaban as well by reason of the love of Agrippa the powerfulness of Caesar and the over-reserved dispositition of Elisa as through the torment it naturally was to him to â—n-the effects of an unjust authority Nay besides what he suffered upon his own account he was extreamly troubled at what had happened to Coriolanus and sighed our a regret that he was not in the head of those armies whereby he had done so great things that so he might by open hostility force him out of the hands of so powerful an Enemy but when he heard of the misfortune of Caesario whose vertue he had experience of and with whom notwithstanding the differences that had been between them he had contracted a sincere and solid friendship the affliction he conceived thereat was hardly expressible insomuch that without any dispute with himself he resolved to hazard all in order to his safety and to serve Queen Candace whom he still looked on with abundance of respect He accordingly assured that excellent Queen of it with so much earnestness and such discoveries of a real grief that of all Augustus's Court she derived not that encouragement from nor placed that confidence in any which she did in him He thereupon visited all those persons who upon the account of blood or friendship were any way concerned in the welfare of the two Princes such as Marcellus Julius Antonius Alexander Ptolomey and all that were allied to the House of Anthony and Cleopatra as also those whose vertue inspired them with sentiments suitable to his as the Kings of Scythia and Armenia and the Prince of Cilicia and discovering his intentions to them with a greatness of courage they could not but admire he eagerly sollicited them to leave nothing unattempted to preserve two such Illustrious lives and in them to rescue the sacredness of Royal dignity which was highly injured by the tyranny exercised upon two Princes such as the King of Mauritania and Prince Caesario The end of the First Book HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. XII LIB II. ARGUMENT Agrippa is in his sickness visited by Livia who by the instructions of the Emperour bringing Elisa with her he makes a further discovery of his affection to her but she expressing her constancy the Emperour threatneth to return her into the power of her Father or that of Tigranes While she bemoans her self to Alcamenes and Artaban news comes to her that the Queen of Parthia her Mother was at the Port of Alexandria she is brought in by Drusus and Mecenas She relates the History of the cruelties and exorbitances of Phraates who exasperating the People into an Insurrection is therein killed Upon his death the States of Parthia meeting in order to the Election of a new King fix upon Artaban upon discovery of his being the Son of Artanez a Prince of the Blood of the Arsacides who only are capable of that Crown Artaban 's relation how he came to that Name and to be Son of Artanez disowning the Title and his pretensions to Elisa upon that account Livia consults with Tiberius about the death of Coriolanus as the only means to gain Cleopatra but Tiberius disapproving it the Emperour sends Sempronious to Cleopatra to propose to her a Marriage with Tiberius conditionally to save the life of Coriolanus SOme dayes passed away in the disturbance that had interrupted the divertisements of Augustus's Court during which through the perpetual mediations of Marcellus the Princess Octavia Julia Alcamenes Ariobarzanes and Philadelph the Emperour passed not the cruel sentence of death as it was much feared he should against the Princes in restraint yet could not the sollicitations of all those illustrious persons prevail so far with him as that he would grant them or indeed put them in any hopes of their deliverance things being so managed by him as whence they imagin'd he only deferred upon their intreaties what he had absolutely resolved to put in execution and that he stayed only for some discoveries which as he had not yet received so was it his expectation that Time would furnish him with Many were of opinion that he only stayed for the departure of the Scythian King for whom he had those respects which made him unwilling during his abode in it to stain his Court with the blood of two such great Princes for whom he constantly sollicited him it being also certain on the other side that the generous Alcamenes incensed at the fruitlessness of his intercession and conceiving an aversion for the implacable humour of Augustus would have left him with much resentment had he not imagined his presence might contribute to the delivery of the Princes and chose rather to run the hazard of some further refusals though much against the nature of a Prince of his rank and courage than to leave them in the danger they were in What was most fear'd was that the Emperour to avoid the exclamations of the people especially in a City where the blood of Cleopatra was still in veneration would give Order for the secret dispatching of the two Princes in Prison either by the hand of the Executioner or by Poyson But Prince Marcellus whom these disturbances afforded not the least moment of rest being a person so generally beloved by all that were about Augustus and considered as him who was one day to be their Master had made sure of all the persons whom the Emperour might employ upon a secret execution and had engaged Levinus to whose care he had trusted the Castle and Prisoners to promise him that if any secret Order were issued out against them it should not be executed before he had notice of it For Augustus himself his discourses were much different concerning the two Princes and whereas he openly declared that Coriolanus should inevitably die for it as being one from whom he had received such injuries as for which it concerned the Dignity of the Empire that he should be made an Example he said only of
he thought himself obliged to the attempt of his enemies upon him since it had proved an occasion of his gaining my acquaintance and that if he might purchase my Friendship he would value it beyond all he had lost through the cruelty of the King of Parthia Having in consequence to this had an account of my Fortune and understood that I had neither Countrey nor any Revenues but what I derived from my Sword he intreated me with affectionate tears to become Master of all that Fortune had left him told me that Death having deprived him of his onely Son he should think him self but too happy if I would take his place and be to him in stead of a Son that he desired not I should pass away my life in solitude and that it was but just I employ'd to advance my self a Sword which would haply one day raise me to a Throne but in the interim that I would accept in order to the prosecution of my designs part of what he had to dispose and that if Fortune either by the change or death of Phraates restored him to those great possessions which he had left among the Parthians I should have as much command there as if I were his own Son and that it would be the greatest satisfaction in the World to him he might leave them to me at his death as if I were descended from him The acknowledgments of that good Prince moved me in such manner that I could not receive so many discoveries thereof without confusion and they withal raised in me so much affection and respect for him that had I really been his Son I could not have honoured him more He in a short time recovered of his wounds but it was impossible for me to part with him so soon and had he not been jealous of my reputation and perswaded I was born for great things he would never have been content I should have left him During my abode with him we understood that the King of Armenia had been beaten out of all the advantages he had gain'd by the relief which his enemy had received from the Prince of Cilicia and King of Cappadocia and that thereupon a Peace had been concluded between them by the interposition of Augustus who had employed his Authority to reconcile them But soon after came news that Tigranes had hardly the time to breathe by the peace made with the Armenian but the King of Parthia dissatisfied with him upon some slight occasions and as was reported partly for the refuge he had afforded Artanez brought a War upon him and went in person into Media with a powerful Army putting all to Fire and Sword and leaving every where the horrid examples of his cruelty Having heard all the world speak with horrour of the inhumanity of Phraates and that the affection I had for Artanez obliged me to hate his persecutor I immediately felt a certain inclination within me to serve Tigranes against the King of Parthia and all my thoughts being bent upon the War I thought I could not meet with a nobler occasion nor one more suitable to my humour to give Artanez some assurances of the acknowledgments I had for his Friendship I had no sooner made the Proposition to him but he approv'd it and that so much the rather for that this obliged me to be nearer him then would those occasions of War which I should have sought out elsewhere and when he saw that his concernment and the aversion I had couceived against his enemy in some measure obliged me thereto it much heightned the affection he had for me But telling him upon the discovery of my design that if I engag'd my self in the service of Tigranes I would change my name as having under that of Britomarus done service for the King of Armenia against Tigranes which no doubt had made it known to him and might have raised some resentment in him against me I am clearly of your opinion said he to me and think it not fit you should present your self to Tigranes under the name of Britomarus or at least not discover it to him till such time as you have by some signal action forced out of his thoughts the resentment which your past actions may have raised in him against you But since you think it requisite to change your name let me intreat you by all the Friendship you have promised me and by all that I have for you to take that of Artaban who was my Son by bloud but as to affection was not more mine then you are it is by that name of Artaban that I first called you and I have a certain inspiration that under that name of Artaban I shall one day see you advanced beyond your own expectations I willingly took on me the name which Artanez was pleased to give me with this protestation that he who had born it had not had a more sincere respect for him then that which I should have while I lived But to what end Madam should I tire you with a long discourse of a businesse of so little consequence In fine though I was much against it Artanez treating me as his Son as he had given me his name ordered me a Retinue much more noble then what I had brought with me out of Armenia went himself along with me to King Tigranes and presented me to him as a person of admirable valour and one whom he was obliged to for his life He made no mention to him of Britomarus but gave such a character of me as obliged him upon his aecount to put me upon a very honourable employment What happened to me afterward is Madam come to your knowledge and you have not forgotten that Tigranes was unfortunate and lost several Battels and part of his Kingdome while I had but an inferiour command about him But when by certain degrees which I run through suddenly enough I came to the place of General and that Tigranes trusted me with the absolute command of his Army you know Fortune put on another face I gained many Battels and so proceeded to those other actions of my life which you have had an account of During that time I often saw Artanez who with an excess of joy was confirmed in the hopes he had conceived of me and when Tigranes's breach of promise the service of the Princess and my own Destiny had made me quit his party to come into yours Artanez's affection towards me continued the same Nay I prevailed with the King to suffer him to live in his solitude and to forbear all further attempts on his life but durst not sollicite for his return into Parthia not out of a fear of incurring the displeasure of Phraates for I would have run a greater hazard to serve such a Friend but least I might unadvisedly expose him to the mercy of a man near whom I could never have thought him secure what engagement soever he might give me thereof During the War
sollicitation of Augustus was to be omitted as to that particular and that it was by the death of Coriolanus that Cleopatra must be gained to be Tiberius's and that on the otherside it was a shame to her not to dispatch out of the way an enemy who had twice brought her Son to death's door as it were in her arms She communicated her design to Tiberius but he approved it not for besides that though he were of a cruel and revengful nature he was a person of much courage and dreaded she shame it was by such wayes to compass the death of a man who had treated him so generously he could not imagine that his death would any way facilitate his possession of Cleopatra and calling to mind that the pretended infidelity of that Prince whence he might better have hoped it had not been able to produce that effect on his behalf he was perswaded his death would occasion the contrary and raise in that Princess the highest resentment and greatest aversion that could be against him Upon these reasons which he urged to the Empress he intreated her not to prosecute the death of Coriolanus but rather by solliciting for his life to procure him to possession of Cleopatra and to have a Message sent to that Princess by order from the Emperour That if she would marry Tiberius she should save the life of Coriolanus which otherwise would be assuredly lost Livia found some probability in that Proposition and having that very day started it to the Emperour she so managed the influence she had over him that he was content Cleopatra should have the choice of either Coriolanus's death or a marriage with Tiberius This resolution was hardly taken when Prince Marcellus comes into the Emperour's Closet Livia upon his coming in went away and as all the thoughts of that young Prince were taken up with the safety of his Friend so he never appear'd before the Emperor but he renewed his sollicitations on his behalf The Emperour who till then had put him off with cruel menaces against the Son of Juba heard him at that time with more patience then ordinary and when he had given over speaking I shall for your sake Marcellus said he to him do that which otherwise I should not have done for that insolent person by whom I have been so highly affronted and though I have protested that no consideration should prevail with me to spare his life yet is there one way left to you to save him which you are not to neglect since it is all you are to expect in a word his life is in the hands of Cleopatra she may save it if she will marry with Tiberius If it be dear to her she may do her inclinations so much violence as to save it if that be not a motive strong enough to oblige he she can blame none but her self nor regret the loss of it with any justice Be your self the Messenger of this news to her and use the influence you have over her to dispose her thereto since it is the only means you have to save a person for whom though my greatest enemy you pretend so much Friendship Marcellus was at such a loss at the Emperour's discourse that he knew not what to say insomuch that having looked on him a while without making any answer And is this said he to him at last all the favour you do me for Coriolanus It is greater replied the Emperor then should be slighted as being contrary to the resolution I had taken and the protestations I had made not to grant it any man I know not my Lord replyed the Prince very coldly whom you have done it to not certainly to the Friends of Coriolanus The favour you now offer would be more cruel to him then the death you threaten him with and Tiberius who cannot suffer him to live but upon so hard a condition should remember that he gave him his life without any You will pardon me if I make not this Proposition to Cleopatra it is too much at a distance with the respect I have for her and the assurance I have of her courage and vertue But if I can prevail with you no further on the behalf of a Friend whose admirable endowments are adored by all the world one from whom you have received considerable services and whose misfortunes I have my self aggravated through the cruel artifices of his enemies I shall resolve my Lord to die with him and leave you absolutely free to bestow on Tiberius to whom you sacrifice him the favours you had design'd for me With which words he went out of the Closet and left the Emperour partly troubled and partly incensed at what he had said but still constant to his resolution against Coriolanus Nor was he ever the more mov'd at the intreaties of Julia who came into the Closet as soon as Marcellus was departed though she employed all her interest and eloquence on the behalf of Coriolanus and Caesaria as well upon the desires of Cleopatra Candace and Marcellus as out of her own inclination and the compassion she had for the misfortunes of those two Princes The generous Octavia came not long after and renewed the sollicitations she daily used to the same effect but what affection and respect soever the Emperour might have for her yet could not all her meditation prevail ought with him insomuch that the Princess who was acquainted with his inflexible humor was afraid not without reason it would go hard with Coriolanus That very day the Emperor sent Sempronius to the Princess Cleopatra to acquaint her with his resolution and the means she had to save the King of Mauritania life if she would accept of it The respect which the presence of Cleopatra forced on all that saw her obliged Sempronius to deliver his message with greatest mildness he could but at last he gave her to understand that it was onely by her marriage with Tiberius that she could save Coriolanus's life The Daughter of Anthony entertained this discourse of Sempronius with her ordinary constancy and moderation and when he had said all he could to perswade her I expected said she to him that the Emperour would not have imployed his Authority to force me to a marriage with Tiberius as relying on the promise he had made me and the Oath he had taken to forbear You see Madam sayes Sempronius to her that he doth not herein employ his Authority since he leaves you at liberty and offers you as an acknowledgement of your compliance toward him the life of an enemy whom he had resolved to sacrifice to his just resentments His resentments replied the Princess are not haply so just in the apprehensions of all the world as they are in yours and there are few persons condemn the King of Mauritania 's maintaining his pretensions against his Rival by his valour as he ever did and not by base artifices or question whether he may not with justice
regain the Throne of his Ancestors which the Romanes were possessed of onely by usurpation and not with any legal right In fine Sempronius you may tell Caesar that the life of Coriolanus is indeed at his disposal through the ill fortune that hath brought him into his power but not with justice that he hath the same right over mine but that he is not the Master of our Wills and inclinations which are not subject to any Empire nor any revolution of fortune that he may well put to death a King whom he keeps in chains and that I shall have the courage to die with him were it only to give him those assuranes of my affection which may be more cruel to me then those are desired of me that to save his life I would submit to misfortunes more insupportable to me were it possible then the marrying of Tiberius but that he would rather lose it after the most cruel manner that Augustus can desire then save it upon those terms and that I am confident Coriolanus will prefer Death before the sight of my being Wife to Tiberius The love of life is so natural to men replied Sempronius that Coriolanus will haply prefer it upon those conditions before the death that is design'd him Do you know the King of Mauritania well replies the Princess No question but I know him replies Sempronius for a Prince of great courage and one whom the fear of death could not hitherto divert from the most dangerous enterprises but Madam be pleased to consider that the death which a man defies in fight is much different from that which Augustus may put Coriolanus to there are many persons who as he have slighted it in combates yet have not been able to endure the horrid appearance of it when it hath presented it self under another form If what you say be true replies the Princess with an action whence Sempronius imagined she was in some measure perswaded there is yet a possibility to save the life of Coriolanus by the satisfaction of Tiberius since I would not have it thought I am so much against the enjoyments of Tiberius as the death of Coriolanus So that you may tell Caesar that if Coriolanus will receive his life upon the condition proposed to us I shall endeavour to preserve it and that I shall not fear any reproach from that action if I do it with his consent but that to be satisfi'd of it I would have it from his own mouth and that there is not any person in the world whom I will trust in this business that I will visit the Prince when he will give me leave to do it that I will speak to him before such persons as he would have present at our discourse and that when I have his resolution though it prove such as you hope it you shall be sure of my compliance therewith Though Sempronius was of opinion that the Princess made this proposition meerly to have the opportunity to see Coriolanus and sufficiently satisfi'd that that Prince would rather embrace death then consent to the marriage of Cleopatra with Tiberius yet he pretended more satisfaction at this discourse then what had passed between them before and undertook to give an account of it to Caesar and to do what lay in his power to perswade him to the interview of Coriolanus and the Princess As soon as Sempronius was departed the Princess giving way to a Rivolet of tears whereof she had stopped the current in his presence O Fortune cry'd she it is time to get out of thy tyranny and the day is now at hand wherein I hope to see the end of thy insupportable persecutions I have indeed with too much earnestness disputed with thee a wretched life which is not worth our contestation whereas by losing it as no doubt I shall be able to to do I shall exempt my self from the unknown continuation of thy crueltics But O ye Gods added she presently after it is not the life of Cleopatra that lies at the stake but a life much more dear to Cleopatra then her own which is to be sacrified to the malice of her fortune the present she would make of her own cannot preserve it and the ransome which is demanded for it is more terrible to her then the most dreadful instrument that it is to take it away Thus was she bemoaning her self when the fair and and vertuous Antonia her dear Sister comes into the Chamber and she hardly wiped off her tears when the generous Octavia came in also and employed all the power which her more then maternal affection gave her over the Princess to make her capable of some comfort The end of the Second Book HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. XII LIB III. ARGUMENT AUgustus secretly encourages Tigranes to renew his pretensions to Elisa purposely to oppose Artaban favour Agrippa and retard the Queens's and Princess's departure from Alexandria Artaban is by Order from the Emperour confined to his Lodgings and a Guard set upon him The Queen of Parthia hath audience of Augustus with whom she expostulates about the imprisonment of Artaban whom she is permitted to visit and is followed to his Lodgings by an unknown person who proves to be Briton the reputed Father of Britomarus who entertaining the Queen and Princess with the History of himself and Britomarus discovers Artaban to be Son to Pompey the Great born after his death and brought up by Briton as his own Caesario and Coriolanus are still continued prisoners in the Castle Cleopatra is permitted to go to Coriolanus to propose to him the saving of his Life by her Marriage with Tiberius but she resolves rather to die with him and will not be gotten out of the Prison from him All the Princes that were about Augustus 's Court sollicite the Emperour on behalf of the prisoners but to little effect A difference between Archelaus and Tigranes upon a promise made by the latter to marry the Princess Urania The Queen of Aethiopia 's Design to raise an Insurrection in Alexandria discovered to the Emperour who is upon resolutions to put Coriolanus to death but is diverted by Marcellus upon his engagement to perswade Coriolanus and Cleopatra to comply with the desires of Augustus NOr was the Emperour less in disturbance for the quiet of Agrippa then for that of Tiberius nay that of the former had no question been much more considerable with him then that of the latter if the interest of Livia joyned to the esteem which he had for her Son had not in his apprehensions over-ballanced the affection which he had for Agrippa The arrival of the Queen of Parthia had somewhat surprized him insomuch that he was of opinion that it would have proved prejudicial to his designs but upon further thoughts of it he took encouragement out of a confidence that he might bring a Womans will to what he pleased and ere the day was past he understood by persons whom he
but I have sometime been in such a condition as he would not have found it an easie task though he had employed all the Forces of his Empire to do it and if the Gods are so pleased they may restore me to such again Quintilius who admired him as indeed all those did that saw him and could not but fear that resentment which he observed in his countenance would have made some wretched excuse to him for the Commission he had taken but Artaban interrupting him with scorn I wonder not said he to him that you have by the command of your Master secured Artaban when out of your own inclination you have exposed Arminius to Gladiators and Savage Beasts It is in him that you have raised your self a dreadful enemy but for my part if I have any resentment of the injury I receive you may be sure it shall not fall upon Varus With these words which Varus as it were by a fatal prediction grew pale at he went into his Closet where they left him at liberty to walk there being before the Window a strong iron gate The noise of this accident was soon spread all over Alexandria and whereas the Princess of Parthia and the Queen her Mother were the most concerned in it they were accordingly the first that had notice of it The news put Elisa into no small disturbance though she had ever feared that her designs would be crossed by Augustus and that he would never consent to the felicity of Artaban while he might hope any thing for Agrippa Nor was the Queen her Mother less troubled insomuch that the news made her hasten the design she had to see Augustus that morning as imagining that when she should tell him that Artaban was a Prince of the bloud of the Arsacides and give him an account of the death of Phraates and the state of the Parthian Monarchy she should oblige him to a greater respect for a Prince raised to so eminent a Dignity then he might have for a private person Upon this consideration after the had sent a person before to demand audience she went to him attended by the Princess her Daughter and some of her Women The Emperour received her in his Closet with all apparent discoveries of respect and civility but they were hardly set down ere came in the King of Media whom they had not thought so well recovered as to be able to walk so far That sight was very ominous to the Princess and the Queen her Mother nay Elisa was so much the more surprized in that Augustus had seemed to be incensed against Tigranes insomuch that she thought he durst not adventure into his presence However the Queen resolved to disengage her self out of her astonishment and resolved to speak to the Emperour before Tigranes since she was reduced to that necessity and to that end assuming all her courage My Lord said she to him that which is this day happened by your Order hath given me in some measure occasion to change the design of this visit and the Audience I have desired of you or at least obligeth me to add another of no less consequence then those which I had before I came hither my Lord to make acknowledgment of the kindness which you have expressed towards a Princesse whom a malicious fortune had cast upon your Territories and the protection which you generously afforded her I should then have acquainted you that by the death of the King my Husband Elisa being designed for the Ctown of her Ancestors was obliged to go hence and desirous at her departure to demand an Alliance of you wherein her Subjects might hope a Reign much different from that of her predecessors that is such as should bring a long uninterrupted tranquility and lastly I was to tell you that this same Artaban who by such extraordinary actions hath defended and maintained the Parthian Crown having been acknowledged a Prince of the Royal Bloud of that Nation hath been demanded by the Parthians for a Husband to their Princess and is expected among them to take Possession of a Scepter which hath never been but in the hands of those who were of that extraction This my Lord was the occasion of my voyage and I thought I should not have met with any other but understanding that the said Prince whom the Parthians desired for their King and whom the consent of Elisa and my self have granted is secured by your Order and deprived of his liberty in a place where you had honoured him with so many demonstrations of your esteem and at a time wherein he was accounted no other then a private person in this place I am apt to believe my Lord that when you caused him to be apprehended and secured you knew not that he was of the Royal Bloud of Parthia and called to be their Governour and therefore hope that knowing it you will consider Dignity in the same person in whom you had before considered Vertue and will not injuriously treat in your Territories a person designed for a Monarchy with which there are few others in the World dispute precedence Thus ran the Queens discourse and after the Emperour had with much patience heard it Madam said he to her I can with sincerity assure you that my design hath been to receive you into the Dominions that are under my jurisdiction with all the respect due to you and all the discoveries of affection observed between Allies and you may also very well believe that I have been a stranger hitherto to the Birth of Artaban and that Fortune whereunto you have designed him but you will give me leave to tell you that though I had been acquainted therewith I should not have forborn the securing of his person considering the just occasion I have to be distrustful of him since I have after much another manner secured the Son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra who is of a rank no less considerable then a Prince of the Bloud of the Arsacides and who as well as Artaban is designed for a powerful Monarchy It is with that Prince whom I have discovered lurking in Alexandria and whose intentions I am justly to be very jealous of that Artaban hath had a secret intelligence and conferences in the night time which the Princess your Daughter hath not been ignorant of That is that which obliges me to secure him and that the rather the more I am certified of the greatness of his courage and think him a person capable and fit to carry on the greatest enterprises You will be pleased therefore to give me leave to take some time to inform my self what the intention of either my enemies or those of our Empire may be and to take those courses which may secure me from the attempts of two men whereof the one looks upon me as the Usurper of a Dignity which he thinks justly his and the other by your confession is of the Bloud and designed for the Throne of those
which she had for her Son put into her thoughts kissed him a thousand times with affectionate tears and recommended him to us as a Depositum which was more dear to her than her own life bid us at last a doleful adieu and took shipping to pass into Italy where we retired to her house near Alba with the Ashes of her Husband which Caesar sent her some time after After her departure we took up our habitation as she had directed on the other side of Cyprus where though obscurely we lived handsomely enough and brought up our dear charge with an affection no less than if he had been our own Son and suitable to the respect we ow'd him as that of Pompey There we spent two years at the end whereof perceiving that too much notice was taken of our being in Cyprus and that we might be suspected by such persons as had seen us about Cornelia we bethought us of another retiring place and having understood that the two young Princes Cneius and Sextus Pompeius had a very powerful Army in Spain and were in some hopes by the favour and assistance of Fortune to revenge their Father and restore themselves to their former Dignity we departed from Cyprus with the Child and what Gold and Jewels we had left with a design to pass into Spain But we had not been many dayes at sea ere a violent tempest overtook us which having put us out of our way and continued several dayes with much hazard of our lives and that of little Pompey whom we were more in fear of than our selves cast us upon the coast of Egypt but at the great distance from Alexandria and the fatal channel where I had seen the ruine of my great Master We were hardly got to shore but the design we had to pass into Spain came to nothing by the news we had of the overthrow of Pompey's Children who had been defeated near the City of Munda in a bloody Battel wherein they had found Caesar more work and had put him into more danger than he had met with in all the engagements he had ever been in we understood that the elder Cneius had been killed and that Sextus had escaped but whether he had retreated none knew This fatal news which ruined all my hopes and put me into an insupportable sorrow was seconded by an unfortunate accident that happened not long after the death of my Wife Herennia whose loss I was so much troubled at that certainly wearied out with so great misfortunes I should gladly have parted with my life had I not thought my self obliged to continue it for the education of Pompey's Son I therefore resolved to make it absolutely my business as thinking it all I had to do in the world and finding the air of that part of Egypt where we then were excellently well agreeing with the Child and considering there was no place where with less probability a Son of Pompey might be found I resolved to expect in that place the change of our Fortune and how the Gods should dispose of Prince Sextus I accordingly took up my habitation in a considerable Town where by what I had received from the liberality of Cornelia finding I might live after a handsome rate I would spare nothing as to the young Prince's education whom I named Britomarus the better to perswade the world by that resemblance of names that he was my Son He may well remember Madam and haply hath given you an account how I have brought him up and how that upon discovery of the miraculous advantages he derived from nature I endeavoured to improve them by my care and a noble education My pains therein Madam were suitable to my design finding out with no small charge the most excellent men the Country could afford to instruct him in all exercises insomuch that those who measured me according to the outward appearances of Fortune much wondred to see the Son of such a Father so brought up Britomarus himself hath many times been astonished thereat and knows that I have omitted nothing that might heighten the excellency of his natural abilities My hopes were somewhat raised by the actions of Sextus Pompeius who had possessed himself of Sicily and put to Sea a powerful Navy wherewith after the death of Julius Caesar he continued the War against Octavius and Anthony his successors and that with great suspence of Fortune but at last having been basely murthered by his Lieurenants all that remained of the blood of Pompey was in the person of Britomarus I shall not put him in mind of many particulars which he cannot forget whence he might well imagine that he was somewhat greater than Son to Briton Nor shall I dilate my self any further as to his education you may have learned it from himself how that desirous to train him up to some high and noble things in some Princes Court and having a horrour for that of Alexandria where reigned the detestable Progeny of that wicked Ptolomey who had with so much baseness put his Father to death I brought him to that of the King of Aethiopia and made him particularly apply himself to the service of the Princess Candace You may also have understood from him the generous difference happened between him and Prince Cleomedon wherein he discovered himself to be the Son of Pompey and by his management thereof which put the whole Court into admiration gave me such satisfaction as that I found some pleasure in the inconvenience it was to me some days after upon that accident to find out another abode He may further have acquainted you how we left Meroe and Aethiopia how we travelled into several Provinces and how passing into Arabia we were set upon by certain Arabian Robbers by whom I was taken and by him given over for absolutely lost Only I am to tell you Madam that whilest I brought him up in Egypt notwithstanding the distance between it and that part of Italy where great Pompey's Widow made her residence I often gave her an account of him by a slave she left with me to that purpose to whose fidelity she trusted that secret He made many journeys upon that score and brought me many Letters from that vertuous Princess whereof I have very carefully preserved some which the Robbers and the several Masters into whose hands I fell were pleased to leave me though they took from me all things else which they thought better worth the taking I shall not trouble you Madam with a relation of what hath happened to me since that doleful separation besides that it were not just to abuse your attention by a discourse of so little importance I have not been engaged in any thing that might deserve it and shall therefore only acquaint you and the Prince I have brought up who no doubt out of the excellency of his nature thinks himself in some measure concerned therein that after I had been taken by the Arabians and robbed of
all I had left of the presents of Cornelia except two Letters which out of the excess of their kindness they were pleased to leave me I was some dayes after given in exchange for one of their companions to certain Cilician Pirates who kept me two years in their ships undergoing the same insupportable hardship and inconveniences with the other slaves yet with much more patience then the loss of my Britomarus The Pirates sold me afterwards to a Fhenician Merchant who had many Vessels at sea and a great number of slaves who treated me with more humanity and with whom I have continued since not meeting with any opportunity to recover my liberty though I might hope to be redeem'd by Cornelia could I have given her an account of my misfortune At last after many voyages my Master had occasion to come to Alexandria where he died some days since and to gratifie the good services I had with much patience done him he at his death gave me my liberty The kindness he did me in that hath prov'd the occasion of a far greater happiness for walking as soon as I was free the streets of Alexandria which I could not look on without horrour out of a reflection on the base Ptolomey I perceived among those illustrious persons who accompanyed Augustus a Hunting my own Britomarus well mounted and sumptuously clad and in a condition not much different from that of the most eminent persons in the world Though I had not seen him in many years before heard nothing of him and was in doubt whether he were alive yet did I without any difficulty call him to mind and by the Idea I had of him in my heart should have known him however he had been disguised I asked his name of those I met and it happening they were intelligent and not unacquainted with the Court they told me that that person whom I saw among so many Kings and Princes and seem'd not inferiour to them was himself neither King nor Prince but one whom his vertue and great actions made more considerable than they and that it was the famous Artaban who by somany noble victories had maintain'd conquer'd the Kingdomes of Parthia and Media and spread his reputation all over the world Having during the time of my slavery made many voyages and been upon several coasts with the Phenician Merchants I had heard much talk of Artaban and his great actions but never suspected that Artaban was my Britomarus So that not doubting but it was he and so much the less for that it was also said he was a person of unknown birth my joy was such as I could hardly bear It was my business all that day to inform my self of all could be learn'd of Artaban at Alexandria I understood that it was generally believed he might in time be married to the Princess Elisa Heiress of the great Kingdome of Parthia The next day having taken greater notice of him and gotten so near him without his perceiving of it as to hear him speak to those persons whom he was with I was so well satisfied that it could be no other than Britomarus that I was absolutely confident of it yet durst I not discover my self to him in publick out of a fear he might be troubled to see a person so ill accoutred whom he was to look on as his Father and while I was thinking of some way to do it with convenience and so as he might not take offence thereat I understood yesterday Madam of your arrival at Alexandria and heard this morning from the common report that it was credibly thought your intention was to bestow the Princess your Daughter on Artaban and to advance him to the supreme Dignity of the Parthian Kings but I had hardly given entertainment to the joy I should have conceived at that news when I heard that he was by order from Augustus secured That account of him hath brought me not a little frightned to finde him out and being neer his chamber door when your Majesty came thither I thrust my self among those of your retinue as if I had been one of it I made a shift to follow you even into the closet and having found by your discourse that Pompey's son was now in the condition wherein his Mother had given me leave to discover the truth I had conceal'd from him I made no difficulty to let him know it especially at a time when I ought to have done it to recompence the generosity which you and the Princess your daughter have had to prefer Vertue in such a birth as he was of before the dignity of so many Kings as envy his fortune as the most glorious the greatest men in the world could aim at Thus dip Briton put a period to his discourse and thereupon taking advantage of the silence of the Queen Princess and Artaban himself who look'd on one the other without speaking any thing he drew out two Letters he had left of Cornelia's and presenting them to the Queen intreated her to read them The Queen having opened them found in the first she took these words THe account you give me of my Sons education and the hopes you conceive of him fills me with the greatest joy I am capable of and would rejoyce even in the ashes of his Father if the Gods receiving him to themselves had left any sentiment in what is remaining of him among men Continue dear Briton the faithful affection you have for the Son of a Father who dearly loved you and a Mother who owes you all the enjoyments nay haply all she has remaining of life Sosippus will give you an account of me and tell you more than I dare trust to this paper as I do to his fidelity The second contained thus much THe greater things you tell me of the Son I have committed to your care the more you put me into fear for him and if he one day prove such as you hope he will it will be hard for him to conceal himself from his enemies and confine his thoughts to his present fortune This consideration obliges me to intreat you by all the affections you have for him and the Oath you have made to me not to let him know the truth of his birth till he be arrived to that greatness among men as that he may with defiance of his enemies acknowledge it I shall see him when fortune shall so bring things about as that I may do it without exposing a life which continues my own in the just occasions I have had not to cherish it and I shall dye satisfied if I can but once more see in his face the resemblance of his Father such as you represent it to me While the Queen and Princess were busied in reading these Letters Briton having ask'd Artaban whether he still had the box he had given him Artaban who had very carefully kept it taking it out of the place where it was presented it to him It
images of Cleopatra and Candace were still present to them and they much more dreaded the loss of their amiable Princesses than that of a life they could not value but for their sakes an interview with them would have been a great alleviation to their spirits might it have been obtained And whereas Caesario had heard miracles of Coriolanus and that Coriolanus could not have seen a Brother of Cleopatra's such a Brother as Caesario without a sudden eruption of joy no doubt but communication would have wrought a great abatement of their misfortune But the Emperor had ordered they should not come together nor see one another as having conceived great jealousies upon the secret conferences of Caesario with Cleopatra and imagined that Coriolanus was not unacquainted with their designs that all together might be engaged in some great and dangerous enterprize Upon this account he had caused them to be lodged in several places but having understood one anothers conditions by Levinus and the Guard who were not ordered to conceal it from them they mutually sent civilities and recommendations to one another wherein they imagined to themselves some remission of their sufferings Coriolanus who was well acquainted with the transactions of the house of Cleopatra had been much astonished to hear that young Caesario whom all the world thought dead so many years before was living and the same who under the name of Cleomedon had done so great actions in Ethiopia had in his presence fought with the hardy Britomarus with admirable courage engaged against the Pirats He had learnt from Britomarus Tridates's house that he was that Cleomedon so famous for many victories he called to minde that for some small time during that combat he had seen his face whereof by reason of its extraordinary beauty he had preserved the idea But the great actions of Coriolanus being generally known Caesario had had a better account of them and besides what he had received from common report had heard from his sister all the particulars of most importance By this mutual account which these two great Princes had one of another they were infinitely desirous to see one the other and thought it an aggravation of their misfortune to be in restraint within the same walls and denied that freedom Caesario endured his imprisonment with so much the more impatience by reason of its hapning in that City where he drew his first breath wher he had passed away his first years with so much splendor whereof he was the lawful Prince and not he whom Fortune had put into his place He could not reflect on these things nor cast his eye on that part of the City where stood the Palace of his Ancestors by the mothers side which he could see out of the windows of his chamber without sighing and bewailing the cruelty of his destiny but his affliction was augmented when he thought of his Queen whom he had left in the hands of his enemies and whose grief he was much more troubled at then his own He had so much the more reason to bemoan his misfortune in that it had hapned to him when he thought himself in a condition to defie Fortune and had nothing to oppose him either in Aethiopia or the inclinations of his fair Queen Coriolanus on the other side seemed to be less sensible of this last stroke of his misfortune as having of a long time struggled with the malice of his destiny and learnt not to be too fond of a life attended by so many miseries yet was it a great ease to his thoughts that he had been so happy as to vindicate himself before his death and that Cleopatra could have no other thoughts of him then as of a Prince that had been ever constant to her Nor could he but derive some satisfactions from the service he had done upon two or three occasions whereto he seemed brought by some divine conduct and thought it some happiness to have seen his implacable Rival laid at his feet and in a posture to satisfie him by his death if he would have accepted of it for all the injuries he had done him having had his life at his mercy who had been the greatest persecutor of his own he could not so much as wish him ill nor repent he had he had given it him though it contributed more to his unhappiness then any thing else Let the Gods now said he dispose as they please of the remainder of this unfortunate life I resign them without any regret since I have made those advantages of them I desir'd and had the happiness in my last days to rescue Cleopatra from her enemies to satisfie her of my innocence and to overcome a Rival and an enemy by whose means I had lost all This done what remains for me to wish since Cleopatra cannot be the reward of an unhappy man whom an implacable Fortune hath not left any thing either of the interest he had in Caesar or the Crowns he had recovered to present her with and by what unjust sentiment should I entertain with grief or terrour the opproaches of a death I have so much desired and sought for These words fell from him with a resolution worthy the greatness of his courage But soon after the last change of his fortune the late deportment of Cleopatra came into his mind when he reflected on his being right in her thoughts that taking she had given him greater and more perswasive assurances of her affection then ever he had received before he was not able to divert the considerations consequent thereto or thing on the retrival of a happiness so great so much desir'd without a regret for the loss of it a resentment such as he had never known in his life Alas said he with a sigh forc'd from the bottom of his heart if it were true that I have still a place in the affections of Cleopatra and that the Love whence I derived my glorious fortune is fully reseated in her heart what had I to fear what to desire or rather what misery could I be sensible of upon the recovery of so transcendent a felicity Ah! were it onely the loss of that Crown which I should have represented Cleopatra with I might hope it from that sword which had put it on my head before for in fine if I were loved by Cleopatra nothing should bring so much terror with it as to force me to despair He was thus expostulating with himself and in a certain suspence as to the judgment he should make of his condition when he hears a noise at his chamber door and having turned his eyes towards it sees is it opened and was struck with a light which by the suddenness and greatness of it dazzled them Inexpressable was his astonishment when he perceived coming in the Princess Cleopatra conducted by Sempronius and Levinus and followed by two of her women the disturbance he was in being
cruel misapprehension armed me against my Friend and that the offences which love made me then commit against friendship are now to be satisfied for that she may yet employ the interest she hath in her Father on our behalf but withal be confident I will run the fate with Coriolanus Go Sempronius and give Caesar nay if you please all the world this account of me and be assured that nothing shall any way shake this resolution Stay Sempronius says the King of Mauritania and return not to Caesar to acquaint him but with one half of this adventure You have been a witness of the generosity of Marcellus and shall not be of the baseness of Coriolanus but know that death is not so terrible to him but that he can receive it alone without such a companion I am apt to believe this an effect of Augustus 's hatred who would consummate that by friendship which he hath begun by love since that after the Princess Cleopatra he sends Prince Marcellus to make death more insupportable to me by the design they have against their own lives But what ground soever I may have to quarrel at his cruelty you may tell him that Marcellus is much more dear to me then Caesar is odius that I am so far from giving my consent to the death of Marcellus because of the revenge I might imagine to my self upon him that for Marcellus his sake his person is sacred to me and I would hazard my life to serve him though my persecutor and enemy because he is loved by Marcellus Whereupon turning to the Prince Cruel Friend said he to him more cruel in the effects of your friendship then in those of your aversion why will you disturb my last hours by the affliction you cause me why will you not suffer me to entertain the joy I should conceive at the return of your friendship without adding thereto the grief I must needs be sensible of upon the design you discover I was but too too happy in the affection of my Princess and yours and sufficiently satisfied with the resentment which you might both with justice have conceived since it was not impossible you might be surprized by these artifices which deceived allthe world so that there needed not this cruel reparation Go then dearest brother go and resign your self to a man nay rather to a father to whom you are more obliged then you are to me go and resign your self to Julia to whom you owe your self wholly and believe I shall dye with much satisfaction when I shall be assured that you might live happily All things seem to favour you the whole Universe contributes to your assurance of a glorious life it is not therefore just that a wretch exposed from his birth to all manner of mis-fortunes should disturb the course of so hopeful a fortune Many vertuous men have lost friends that were dear to them and have found comfort after those losses in time and their own courage you may expect the same good office from both and will find occasion enough to afford my memory such assurances of your affection as I shall more value then those you offer me I shall continue with you in the person of Cleopatra and if possible put you in mind that you were ever her Brother and that you ought to endeavor the furtherance of her fortunes and enjoyments no less then if she were born of Octavia I cannot receive a greater consolation at my death then what I have in leaving her between your arms and I hope that by the kindnesses she shall recieve from your friendship her fortune may be happy when it shall be dis-ing aged from mine The passionate son of Julia would have said more if the Princess had not with much precipitation interrupted him Forbear said she to him forbear recommending Cleopatra to the friendship of Marcellus and only divert him from his unjust resolution without troubling thy thoughts at the destiny of Cleopatra Thou art not ignorant at least shouldst not be if thou knowest me well that after the Protestation I made to thee yesterday nothing shall be able to separate me from thee but death and I should have continued within those limits which modesty had prescribed me if there had been anything in the world which might have hindred us And thus much I had to say to Coriolanus but for you brother continued she turning to Marcellus I have but too great reasons to oppose the unjust resolution you have taken And I have such as are invincible says the Prince interrupting her to persist in it such as yours will ineffectually oppose and though I had no other then to see it is by his means whom of all the world I ought most to respect I lose the person I most affect and that to rescue my friends life I cannot attempt that of the enemy who destroys him there is no other mean to be taken then for a man to die with his friend and therefore assure your selves what ever you may alledge against it I will either save Coriolanus 's life or suffer death with him While these three generous persons outvyed one the other in this noble contestation and that Drusus not interrupting them with admiration heard what passed Sempronius addressing himself to him What shall we do in this misfortune said he to him and with what confidence can we give the Emperor an account of this strange adventure you may do as you think sit replies Drusits but for my part I am already resolved what to do and since you are to acquaint the Emperor with the resolution of Marcellus you may tell the Empress that my intentions are the same with those of Marcellus and that having by my tears and intreaties vaiuly endeaveured to divert him from his cruel resolution I have my self taken that which my love and my vertue inspired me with that she should not have countenanced me in my inclinations for Antonia if she were resolved to she 'd the blood of her relations and by her cruelty deprive me of a hope she had suffered me to conceive That she had brought two sons into the world of much different inclinations but that I will expiate what is odious in me upon the account of my birth by an action that may render me worthy the affection of Antonia and friendship of Marcellus that by delivering my self up to those whom it is her design to ruine I would give them an hostage for the punishment of her cruelty and in a word That I came not along with Marcellus but to run fortunes with him to the end to undergo the same destiny with Marcellus and Cleopatra This discourse of Drusus as it had been least expected so did it raise the greater astonishment insomuch that Marcellus turning to him with a certain precipitation What Drusus said he to him shall your destiny be the same with those for Marcellus and Cleopatra It shall Marcellus replies Drusus and I have so violent
love for Antonia as to have the courage to embrace the resolution you have taken I know the affection and enjoyment of Antonia ought not to be expected by the son and brother of the persecutors and implacable enemies of her house but am sensible withal that I cannot but dying quit the hope I had conceived thereof and I will satisfie both Antonia and your self who do me all the justice you should upon this occasion how little I am concerned in the cruel design of your enemies by exposing my self first to their cruelty and punishing that of Livia by the death of Drusus as you would that of Augustus by the loss of Marcellus Prince Marcellus admiring this generous design of Drusus came to him with his arms spread and embracing him with much tenderness Ah Drusus said he to him your vertue fills me with shame and confusion but the discovery you now make of it was more then needed to produce the effect you desire and as I am satisfied that your sentiments have ever been different from those of Livia and Tiberius so are you to assure your self that our resentment was never directed against you and that we never had any intention to make you lose what you had but too highly deserved from the affections of Antonia Live for her sake since she hath been so fortunate as to gain such a heart as yours and be confident that all the misfortunes whereto the authority of Livia hath exposed us cannot change the inclinations we have for your vertue nor make us repent the joy we have conceived at the good fortune of our sister What you say proceeds from abundance of generosity replies Drusus but it is as contrary to your intentions as it is favourable to mine since I must entertain sentiments so obliging with more acknowledgment then can admit my desertion of their interests and fortunes to whom I am so highly engaged Ah Drusus saye the Princess Cleopatra to him with much mildness preserve your self though but to comfort Antotonia in the grief which no doubt the will be in at our loss I owe replies the Prince this demonstration of a love whereof she hath hitherto received but slight expressions and certainly this opportunity is no more then I stood in need of to perswade her to that which all my past actions have not been able to do Coriolanus who had not yet spoken to Drusus thinking himself obliged to express his sentiments of what he did I durst not said he to him joyn my entreaties to those of Cleopatra and Marcellus out of a fear they might not be well taken by a brother of Tiberius's but I can assure you that as all the inconveniences I have by his means undergone have not diverted me from the acknowledgment and esteem I should have for your vertue so do I not to perswade either Marcellus or any of the house of Antonia see any necessity of the discovery whereto you expose your self If you have had an esteem for me replies Drusus I assure you I have ever admired you and that all the concernments of my brother have not hindred me from paying that to your worth which all acknowledg due to it This reason may add somewhat to all the rest to perswade you if you will not receive me as a Hostage against your enemies to entertain me as a companion of your fortune and if Sempronius stays only for this declaration that he may give Cesar and Livia a full account of our resolutions he need stay no longer Nor shall I says Sempronius to him but go and with Cesar and Livia amaze all the world that two Princes such as Marcellus and Drusus should disclaim the interests of Cesar and their own house to joyn with their enemies Whereupon he left the room and going out of the Castle went to the Palace to give Cesar an account of what passed among those Illustrious persons The whole Court was in sadness and disturbance when he came thither especially all the house of Octavia That generous Princess after she had ineffectually made her application to Augustus with whom the interest of Livia made the sollicitations of all others fruitless was preparing to go to the Castle with her daughters the children of Anth. to get Cleo. thence but the Emperour staid her out of a confidence that Marcellus would bring her along with him upon which hope they were in some impatience for the return of Marcellus when Sempronius came thither immediately gave Augustus a true relation of all that had passed not disguising any thing and by that discourse instead of raising any tenderness in him at the action of Marcellus he put him into the most violent indignation he had ever been in What cryes he Marcellus that Marcellus whom I loved not only as my son but haply as my self that Marcellus for whom I designed both my daughter and the place I have in the world disclaims my party to embrace that of my enemies and persers the friendship of a Babarian before that of Caesar his Father and Benefactor Ah unworthy ah ungrateful person continued he walking up and down extreamly incensed I will punish thy ingratitude and baseness and will begin thy punishment by the death of that African which he shall suffer before thy face While he was speaking he perceives the Empress coming into the room and going to meet her Madam said he to her you are treated by Drusus as I am by Marcellus and your son guilty of an ingratitude great as that of my Nephew disclaims all friendship with his brother and mother and betrays his honour to take part with that enemy who hath so often sheathed his sword in his brothers breast Livia who had a greater affection for Drusus then she had for Tiberius was extremely troubled at that account of him but being one that had an excellent command of her wit she in some measure stifled her grief before the Emperour the better to perswade him that she was less sensible of what had happened to her self then what had befallen him My Lord said she to him Drusus's offence is yet more heinous then Marcellus's and though he may pretend the love he hath for Antonia as a colour for this extravagance and so neglect the revenging of a brother upon a man who had never been his friend as he was to Prince Marcellus yet am I less troubled at his ingratitude then at that of Marcellus because you should be less sensible of it and that the injury you receive from Marcellus is so much the greater by how much his person is dearer to you I shall make him know added the Emperor that I am his Master when I cease to be his father and before this day be over he shall bewail in tears of blood the offence he hath committed Upon which words unwilling to delay any longer the effects of his resentment and the resolution he had taken he commanded Petronius and Aquilius to go along with Sempronius
so much gallantry in their late action it was so highly celebrated by the grateful son of Juba that all those great persons look'd on them with love veneration by a certain emulation gave their generosity the commendations due therto In all probability the meeting of so many extraordinary persons and upon so rare an occasion might oblige them to a longer conversation but they had not the leisure and they were but beginning to express themselvs one to another when Eteocles whom Cesario had receiv'd not as his Governor but his Father came to give them notice that there some forces in sight which in all appearance would assault the place This discourse raisâ—d a joy in so many valiant men instead of affrighting them that Martial heat which was predominant in them above all other passions was inflam'd into itsgreatest fierceness Coriolanus having been taken arm'd his arms were in the castle whither Emilius had also brought the head-piece he had cast a way when he fought with Tiberius Those who had taken Caesario had brought thither his sumptuous arms also and deliver'd them to Levinus and had been found in the castle by his Squire Artaban and the two sons of Anthony had not any but there were in the castle not only for them but a considerable number of men nay some of that magnificence that they had served the Kings of Egypt and put Alexander and Ptolomey in mind of their predecessors The Princes made choice of those that were most fit for them distributed among the Souldiers as they stood in need of Ther was a great number of darts for being the fortres of Alexandria it was also the Magazin of arms The Princes desirous to shift off the command to one another yet being all forced it by the refusal which every one made of it put allthings in order with a miraculos diligence having a greater number of men than was requisite for the defence of the castle they employ'd some part to maintain a dead wal which might have been assaulted and kept the rest to relieve them or to be commanded as occasion should require Marcellus and Drusus wer forced upon the intreaties of Coriolanus Cleopatra not to engage that day it being not just they should appear in arms before Cesar who was coming against them and upon walls where there was no employment for their valour though they might with reason have done it so that with Cleopatra and Candace they retir'd into the dungeon to those Lodging where Cleopatra had passed away the night though with a certain shame and confusion and having sent to find out Levinus who was not dead notwithstanding the wound he had received from Artaban they caused him to be brought into a chamber to receive the assistances he was capable of Mean time the other Princes were no sooner upon the walls but they were set upon of all sides and the Emperor in the head of the Pretorians a body of above ten thusand men and having about him the Kings of Media Pontus and Comagenes Petronius Pleminius Vellus Fulvius Messalla Flaccus Cinna Cepio Varus Norbanus and divers other illustrious Romans was giving out his orders and caused the assault to be carryed on in his presence with a violence proportionable to that of his indignation The Faggots and Ladders which the besieged had brought and were still in the Moat against the walls were employed against them but Cesar caused to be brought from other places great numbers as he well might the City being quiet and the inhabitants little inclined to follow their example whom the sight of Candace and the two sons of Cleopatra had drawn into their party The old Castle seated at the extremity of the City was on one side beaten by the waves of the Mediterranean Sea and on the other encompassed with a dry Moat which the walls that had been built about it had filled in many places through the negligence of the Governers who forbore the repairing of those ruines by reason of the little necessity there was of it in the time of peace so that from the Counterscarp it was easie to get down into the Moat at at any place and accordingly neither the former assailants nor the latter had been much troubled to get in there But Augustus causing it to be filled up almost in all places through the great number employed about it found it no hard matter to plant against the walls such a great number of Ladders that there was hardly any distance between them and notwithstanding the darts that were showred upon them of all sides there were many stil getting up whereof some were beaten off the first rounds others miscarried in the midst of their enterprise and those who held out till they came to the Battlements ventured to certain death eifrom the hands of their enemies or by a fall so much the more dangerous the higher the place was where they fell but the number of the assaylants being two great for the small place they storm'd at which was but half the circuit of the Castle the other being compassed by the Sea the number of the dead and those that were beaten down was immediatly supplyed by those that were put into their places and the assault was carryed on without any intermission and with an earnestness that cost many men their lives and such as might have raised horror and pity in persons who should without passion have looked on that spectacle The Princes walked along the wall between the Bulwarks and having their eyes in all places ran where their assistance was requisite dealing terrible blows on those who made a shift to get up to the top of the Ladders and tumbling them upon their companions with honourable wounds about them And indeed that was the greatest satisfaction those unfortunate wretches had whom Augustus sacrificed to his pleasure and among them some persons of quality of the Romans such as Flavius Elius Petus Calvisius and Rutilius having with much courage got up to the Battlements had the glory to lose their lives by the hands of Caesario Artaban and the King of Mauritania Augustus whom fury and the resentment of the affront he that day received more confident then in other engagements where he had been in person animated his men from a place where he was not secure from the enemies darts and appeared upon a little place which was before the Castle whence by several streets that abutted thereon he caused his force to advance as necessity required but such as by reason of the straitness of it admitted not the engagement of any considerable number if Caesar should be obliged thereto Coriolanus and Caesario took notice of him in that posture were upon thoughts of the same design though with different intentions The son of Caesar exasperated against him who had that day though no way injured passed the sentence of death upon him was extremly desirous if possible to revenge the injury upon
the author of it and could not look on him in the condition he was in without being transported with fury and thinking of some attempt upon his life and the son of Juba impatient to continue in a place where he could not sufficiently exercise his valour and considering that though they kept off the enemy they must starve for want of provisions if they found not some means to open their passage force the besiegers further from their gates and works if it were possible there being not either in the place that was or any other that might be assaulted occasion to employ half their men he resolved to make a salley having communicated his design no Artaban Caesario satisfied them of the importance necessity thereof Cesario would go with him followed by young Ptolomey and Artaban upon their intreaties continued in the Castle where the presence of one of those great persons was necessary Alexander staying with him So that with three hundred men whereof one half were Aethiopians the other Aegyptians well armed and animated by example and the despair of pardon they went out of the gate caused the Bridge to be let down and marched out as thick as the place would permit Ptolomey with fifty men advanced as far as the end of the stone Bridg which from the Counterscarp reached to the midst of the Moat to keep the passage free for the return of his companions and the undaunted Prince of Mauritania and the valiant son of Cesar went into the Moat with the rest of their men who by great shouts sent terror to those places where they were soon after to be the messengers of death The two Princes were in their sumptuous armor but being to fight on foot they made use only of the Casque the Cuirats and the Buckler and with greater freedom of the arm then if it had been loaden with iron they plyed their enemies with the dazling and mortal sword If the number of their men was small the place where they were to fight was accordingly not very spacious and the valour of the two Chiefs might well be reckoned for a considerable party The Romans on the other side were so surprised at this unexpected tempest that they could hardly put themselves into a posture to make any resistance and by that time they were set upon all was in disorder blood and death among them Never had the terrible Affrican Prince nor the undaunted son of Cleopatra been animated by a fury comparable to that which made them fight that day nor ever with their own hands spilt so much blood upon any one occasion Nay they seem'd in some measure to have lost their compassionate inclinations especially the son of Caesar who with a certain satisfaction sacrificed the Souldiers of Augustus to his just resentment The Ethiopians and Egyptians seconded them with much valour and running into the Moat with a miraculous eagerness overturned the ladders with the men that were upon them so that all they came near perished either by falls or the inexorable sword All places were full of blood and the Princes so covered therewith that they could not be discerned from others but by their irresistable blows that fell from them Artaban who looked on them from the Rampart would have envied the glory they acquired by such transcendent effects of valour had he not by so many memorable actions already raised himself to a fame noble enough However even from the place where he was he did them considerable service and perceiving that Caesar constantly supplyed the Moat with fresh men to relieve those who were either dead or run away and that his own had no further work with those who before scaled the Ladders he ordered them to be perpetually casting at the Counterscarp and by showers of darts hindring the enemies access to the Moat he facilitated the victory of his two illustrious Friends Nor was young Ptolomey without employment or occasion to exercise his valour for Caesar desirous to prevent the return of his enemies caused the young Prince to be assaulted upon the bridg he was to keep and gave him occasion to do things so noble that if the two other Princes had that day in some measure outvy'd whatever was celebrated as most dreadful by Antiquity he raissd in those who saw him an apprehension little different from that of the famous Roman whose maintaining of a Bridge against the armies of Hetruria made his name known all over the world The small number of men assigned him were enough for the defence of the place he was to keep and he would have wanted room to employ any more They were weary of assaulting him by reason of the danger they were exposed to he had half lifted up the visor of his Casque to take a little air after the pains he had been at when a man sumptuously armed tall and of a fierce deportment advances towards him with his sword in the right hand and his left covered with a Buckler Ptolomey seeing him coming on goes towards him and gave him a hearty blow which he received upon his Buckler The young Prince vexed he had spent his blow in vain was lifting up his arm to second it when the unknown person retreating Hold Ptolomey said he to him and be not the death of thy Brother who comes to suffer it from the hands of thy enemies and not from thine And with those words lifting up the visor of his head piece he discovered himself to be Julius Antonius and thereupon going over to him he turned against his enemies and set himself in a posture of fighting In the mean time Coriolanus and Caesario had no more enemies to deal withal in the Moat death or flight having not left them any thing to employ their valour upon all the Ladders were pulled down and most broken and among the faggots stones and other things wherewith the Moat had been filled might be seen streams of blood and heaps of carkasses enough to raise horror and compassion The two Princes finding themselves still followed by the best part of their men pursued the defeated out of the Moat up to the Counterscarp with a design to gain a quarter near the castle known to Caesario whereby they would have had a free passage to the Sea to embark their illustrious company in the Ethiopian ships and having put the Romans to the rout Victory attended them upon the Counterscarp as it had done in the Trench and with the points of their swords they made their way so as to get to the place where Augustus was encouraging his men to fight and which he durst not quit though he perceived them coming on whether out of the shame he conceived it to give way to so small a number or the confidence he had in the multitude of his own He was calling them from all sides to his relief and sending orders to make them advance who were at some distance when Caesario from a
esteem and friendship as he was of the blood he was descended of and the name he bore But the King of Mauritania seeing in him that Brother of Cleopatra lost for so many years whom he had loved as the worthy Brother of his Princess and by whom he had been so gallantly seconded against those who would have carried her away the day he had fought with Tiberius and fallen into the hands of Augustus thought himself obliged more particularly than all others to assure him of his affection and resentment and was not wanting to acquit himself thereof though it troubled him above any to see so many persons that were dear to him cast themselves into a mis-fortune which he conceived none should be engaged in but himself Having taken all necessary order for the defence of the Castle the two Princesses would have the Princes put off their armour to take a little rest which in obedience to their commands they did and went all together with them to the chamber where they had staid during the assault There it was that Cesario took occasion to acquaint that Illustrious company with what Coriolanus had done for the rescue of Augustus and that craving Marcellus's pardon for the intention he had to be the death of his Uncle he represented to him the new obligation put upon him by his Friend All present admired the action of the King of Mauritania and the son of Octavia embracing him with a transportation greater than what proceeds from friendship It is certainly your design said he to him that this single action should eclipse all the demonstrations I can give you of my friendship and reduce me to a condition to die ungrateful though I die with you O ye Gods continued he is it possible such an exemplary vertue should find persecutors and enemies among men Ah friends added he but the truest that ever was since that in the heat of fighting and in so just a resentment as that you might conceive against so cruel an enemy you protect him against the armes of your friends Oppose not any longer what I would do for you and only pity my mis-fortune which in acknowledgment of such transcendent discoveries of your friendship permits me not to give you but trivial demonstrations of mine To these words of Marcellus the Assembly added their celebrations of the generosity of Coriolanus but he was but little sensible thereof at that time as being extreamly cast down at the news brought him that there were no provisions in the Castle and that there was hardly to suffice the persons that were in it for the remainder of that day He saw by this account of their condition that the place was no longer to be maintained by valour that there was no way but to perish and that though the Princes might have the constancy to endure hunger to the utmost extremity the souldiers who had no heroick souls would not be so satisfied but the next day if that mis-fortune came to their knowledge deliver both them and the Castle into the hands of Augustus The reflections he made thereon were as so many thorns in his breast and knowing it was through his means that those he so dearly loved were all exposed to the same extremity his constancy how great soever could not but give way upon his thoughts of it Whereupon death presenting it self to his imagination not such as he had often defied in combats where it could never daunt him but under the most horrid shape it could assume by hazarding the lives of Cleopatra and Marcellus made him tremble and put him into a condition much more deplorable than if he had been at that very instant to lay his head down to the cruel Instruments of Augustus's revenge Cleopatra and Marcellus observing in his countenance the disturbance he was in would have comforted him but their presence instead of producing that effect rather aggravated his affliction nor could he but with eyes orecast with a fatal cloudiness look on those beloved persons who so readily embraced death upon his account In the mean time Cesario having had the opportunity of some discourse with Artaban had express'd to him the joy he conceived at his happy acknowledgement of being a Prince descended from Arsaces assuring him that news had not any way surpriz'd him and that he had ever considered him as a person so excellent in all things that he could not be perswaded but he was of noble birth But the Son of Pompey who had not with the discovery of his original reassum'd the unjust aversion which he deriv'd from nature against the son of Julius Caesar and called to mind that generous confidence of Caesario upon which the very day they had been reconciled he would have discovered his birth to him in a place where such a discovery might have prov'd dangerous he concluded it was not from him he had received Elisa's commands to conceal his own and that the Princess would not be dissatisfied that he should make that return to the generosity of so great a Prince To which end taking him aside to a Window whence they could not be over-heard It is not just said he to him I should answer that noble freedome you expressed toward me by a reservedness which I am commanded to observe towards others and since you out of a confidence worthy your courage would have discovered to me that you were the son of Caesar I cut of a like am to let you know that I am the Son of Pompey By this acknowledgment I clear Nature of the aversion she had given me against you but should not vindicate my own reason if it had not overcome it upon my knowledge of your admirable Vertue I am to tell you further that with the discovery of my being Pompey 's son my love to the son of Caesar hath not only received no remission but that I should not hate Caesar himself were he living since he carryed on the War against Pompey for Fame and the Empire and had no hand in the baseness of Ptolomey against whom I should turn all revenge if Caesar himself had not done it I am accordingly inclined to hope that you will not hate me for being Son to Pompey since the misfortunes of Pompey leave not Caesar himself any ground to hate him and that you are master of too great a Soul to wish those ill who court your friendship Caesario had with much astonishment hearkened to the discourse of Pompey's Son and when he had given over speaking rejoyning thereto with an action wherein might be seen that that discovery wrought no change of sentiments in him You surprize me not said he to him by the account you give me of your self it was but necessary that a person who can so well abate the insolence of Kings should be descended from a man who had seen so many Kings at his feet I am infinitely obliged to you that after this discovery you will continue your friendship
towards me nay though I am satisfied that neither Caesar nor Queen Cleopatra had any hand in the last misfortunes of Pompey and that it is not unlikely Caesar would have been moderate in the advantages of his fortune if that of Pompey would have permitted it yet I entertaine the proffer you make me of your friendship as a pure effect of your Vertue and am to assure you that next to the obligations I have to Candace there is not any thing I more value Whereupon embracing one another upon the new confirmation of their Friendship Artaban gave Caesario a short account of the particulars of his birth and the assurances he had of it as he had received them from Briton By this time night was drawing on and the Princes having caused a distribution to be made of what provisions there were in the Castle found much to their grief there was hardly to afford a light repast for so many persons and that the next day they must either be miraculously supplyed from heaven or suffer through hunger what they had avoided by the sword The Princesses and Princes made that poor meale with much constancy neither Cleopatra nor Candace discovering any thing of weakness upon so strange a misfortune Coriolanus and Caesario seem'd the only persons troubled as reflecting it was upon their account that their Princesses and Friends were fallen into that extremity and the grief which seemed to be legible in the countenances of Artaban Drusus and Alexander proceeded from their remembrances of Elisa Antonia and Artemisa rather than the danger that threatned them Drusus and Alexander discovered so much the less because they had left their Princesses safe among their Friends and feared not any thing might happen to them but Artaban was much in disturbance and though he were resolved out of a consideration of honour to perish with his Friends if he could not avoid it and had a courage great enough to face death without any trouble yet could he not reflect that Elisa was in the power of Augustus and that to be revenged for the injury he had that day received he might force her to marry Agrippa without an affliction that proved extremely a torment to him He was upon the rack of those considerations when Coriolanus and Caesario came to communicate their grief to him and ask his advice in the extremity they were reduced to and all the Princes being called to deliberate together what resolution should be taken it was without any contradiction resolved that when the night was a little advanced they should endeavour to force their way through the Guards and with the Princesses and all the men that were in the Castle endeavour to break through the Enemy on that side which led to the Ethiopian ships not but that the execution of this enterprise would prove difficult and dangerous yet was it to be embraced before the death they were assured of in the Castle being of that kind which was most unworthy their courage This resolution taken about an hour after they set things in order for the execution of it and the Princes having satisfied the souldiery of the necessity there was they should behave themselves gallantly Coriolanus Artaban and Caesario led them on and ordered the two Princesses with their women to come behind conducted by Marcellus Drusus and the three sons of Anthony That illustrious company consisting of what was most great in the world either as to Valour or Beauty went in that posture out of the Castle with a courage no less remarkable in the Princesses than the Princes and the three Chiefes who had severally commanded so great armies and were now all reduced to the command of so small a number fell in with such fury upon a guard placed almost at the end of the bridge and immediately forced it with such success that having cut some to pieces the rest fled in disorder to the next post This not only encouraged the souldiers but put their valiant commanders into some hope but when turning their faces towards the sea they would charge those that kept the passage that way they found their attempts would prove ineffectual the wayes being made up with barricadoes and great beames and maintained by above two thousand souldiers commanded by valiant men So that having set upon them very desperately but to little purpose and perceiving it impossible to get through and that upon the loss of some of their men the rest were unwilling to advance upon a design absolutely desperate they were forced to make what hast they could towards the Castle having out of a prudent foresight lest Briton and Eteocles at the end of the Bridge with fifty men to prevent the enemy from getting into it during the engagement and accordingly Marcellus Drusus and the Sons of Anthony conconducted the Princesses thither while Artaban Caesario and Coriolanus made their retreat so as to keep the Enemy in play till they came to the Castle gate into which they were the last that entred Upon this last act of misfortune was it that griefe and exasperation wrought their saddest effects in the two Princes who saw so many illustrious persons that were dear to them exposed to certain death upon their account Caesario fell at the feet of Candace to divert her from the design she had to dye with him and intreated his Brothers to leave him in an extremity wherein he could make no advantage of their generosity He pressed the same thing to the Great Artaban putting him in mind of his obligations to Elisa and representing to him that he should slight all things for the service of that Princess But the son of Juba was transported in such manner as would have raised compassion in the most insensible hearts and betraying what might be thought the effects of weakness in him had he been reduced thereto out of any respect to himself he endeavoured both by words and tears to prevail with those persons in whom the expectation of sudden death produced no such effect to leave him to his own misfortunes He lay prostrate at the feet of Cleopatra washing them with his tears and with much ado recovering the freedome of speech if ever said he to her Love begat compassion in any soul and if you would have me at the period of my life flatter my self with the glory of having been loved by my Princess my adored Princess by that love which I shall inviolably preserve in the other life by all you acknowledge sacred and in submission to those Deities whom you have ever reverenced and now incense by the injustice you do me force me not to die the most terrible kind of death my Enemies could have invented for me and think it enough that after the example of the Queen your Mother you have satisfied the world how easily you can slight death for his sake whom you love without exercising to the utmost this strange kind of cruelty upon me For in fine imagine not that when
greatest man and in a manner Master of the Universe only to employ the greatness I have given thee to the shame of the name thou bearest and the ruine of my posterity What is remaining of it among men in the person of a Prince who would better become the rank that 's due to him and in which I have unfortunately placed thee after he had sought security among the Sun-burnt Nations against the first discoveries of thy cruelty is still exposed thereto and expects the stroke of that inhumane sword which thou hast lifted over his head He disputes not any thing with thee though he lawfully might all and yet thou thinkest much to let him live in the extremities of the earth where he had by the assistances of heaven found refuge Thou wert the death of his mother a person I dearly loved as also that of Anthony my faithful friend Their daughter the miracle and ornament of her times finds in thee a cruel persecutor and a Prince the glory of his age one I loved in his infancy and promised the kingdoms of his father which I had added to thy dominions after he hath setled it by his valour nay after he hath saved thy life in the greatest danger thou wert ever exposed to expects from thy unmerciful hand the period of his noble life Men were in a disposition to forget thy horrid proscriptions upon thy personated change but thou returnest to thy former humour and thinkest it a trouble to acquire a deserved fame by a reall vertue Reflect on all the transactions of my life such as might well be proposed as a pattern for thee and see whether of that great number of enemies who fought against both my life and fortunes I ever put one to death after victory had brought them into my power if this example and the remembrance of what thou owest my blood and the obligations thou hast to vertue cannot move thee go base executioner go Son of Octavius unhappily called into the house of the Caesars by an unjust adoption go sacrifice all to thy revenge and ambition and glut thy self with the blood thou art so desirous to see spilt Thy inhumanity shall not go unpunished and if the Gods give thee a long and peaceablelife it shall be crossed with domestick discontents such as shall haply be stinging enough to put thee in mind of thy cruelties Since thou derivest a satisfaction from the death of mine thou shalt also see that of thy own it shall not be long ere thou lament the losse of thy dearest hopes and after thou hast while living bewayled the death of what had been most dear to thee thou shalt leave thy place contrary to thy present intention to what thou raisest for the destruction of mankind and to such successors as shall be the burthen and hatred of the earth To this effect was the discourse of the Great Caesar which he concluded with a look inflamed with indignation upon his successor who was so smartly moved thereat that making a sudden interruption in his sleep the impression left of it in him was so strong that he thought at his waking he saw disappear the reverenced shade of his illustrions Predecessor Certain it is this dream which seem'd to portend something extraordinary mov'd him in such a manner and fastened on his thoughts with so much appearence of truth that it was along time ere he could well discern whether it were a dream or a real apparition It made him reflect on whatever he had heard said of Visions whether reall or imaginary among other things called to mind that of the evill Genius of Brutus which presented it self to him before the battel of Philippi After all these considerations concluding it was only in a dream that Cesar had appeared to him since he had seen him only in his sleep he began to reflect on the menaces and reproaches that fell from him He was well enough satisfied as to the latter but found much obscurity in the former though by that which was made to him of the loss of his dearest hopes affection naturally guilty of a certain timidity made him imagine it might relate to the death of Marcellus That consideration moved him very much and that the more because Marcellus's condition and resolutions were such as he might well fear any thing so that not able to smother certain sighs What said he must I then lose my son Marcellus whom notwithstanding the resentment I have against him I still love beyond my life His thoughts were much more taken up with that menace and those consequent thereto than they were with the reproaches though these raised in him some confusion and at certain times a remorse It was far dayes ere he could divert his reflections from this importunate dream which incessantly came still into his mind or resolve whether he should persist in his resolutions after the menaces of heaven which he thought discovered to him by the great Cesar At last overcoming the impression that made such a disturbance in him What said he Cesar frightned at a dream a dream make Cesar quit the resolutions he had taken No no continued he I will never be reproached with that weakness and if my father who charges me with cruelty had secured himself by maximes suitable to mine his reign had not been so short nor his illustrious life been exposed to the rage of his enemies With which words he got out of his bed endeavouring to disengage his thoughts of those importunate ideas that disturbed him yet could he not do it so well but that those who were waiting his getting up observed in his countenance somewhat more than ordinary of pensiveness which they attributed to the actions of the precedingday whereby he had been moved to several passions which had wrought some change in his disposition His Court was but small that morning or if it were great it was by reason of the number and not the dignity of the persons about him for of all the Kings Princes and other considerable persons that were in Alexandria there came only King Tigranes and the King of Comagene with such of the Romans as he had cast particular favours on and the Officers of the Pretorian bands All the rest were elsewhere and betimes in the morning upon the intreaty of the King of Scythia the King of Armenia the Prince of Cilicia the King of Cappodocia and with them Crassus Lentulus and divers other illustrious Romans met together at the King of Scythia's lodgings to resolve what course should be taken for the safty of so many excellent persons Every one gave his opinion suitable to the degree of his esteem or friendship for the besieged Princes so that Alcamenes finding the intentions of all concurr'd to do something in order to their deliverance especially Ariobarzanes and Philadelph who sensible of their obligations to Artaban and concerned in the interest of Alexander by reason of that of Artemisa would run any hazard
unless what might be thought to proceed from the confidence he had in his own actions and his indifference for life or death The whole Assembly was in suspence expecting what would be the issue of that adventure when the Prince addressing himself to the Emperour with a grace which rais'd a general compassion for his fortune Caesar said he to him the guilty person now stands before thee presenting himself to save the innocent I only have deserved I only have incurred thy displeasure it is not therefore just that Cleopatra and Marcellus should groan under the effects of it The treatment I have received from thee hath been such as should oblige me with the loss of my life to endeavour thy enjoyments but the affection I have for and the obligations I have for and the obligations I have received from Marcellus are such as that I would gladly part with my own life to preserve his 'T is my greatest trouble that I cannot give Marcellus any thing but what Cleopatra may claim as hers nor lose that for Cleopatra which I do not owe Marcellus but since they are so generous as to give me themselves what I owe them they will be content with an unfortunate life which I bestow on them and would heartily sacrifice to Love and Friendship were it much happier Give thy commands then that the son of Juba be put to that kind of death which thou think'st most fit but send out thy Orders with all diligence for the saving of Marcellus and Cleopatra since it is to secure theirs that I resign thee that of thy enemy I lay it down without any regret provided thou restore thy Nephew to that affection which he hath but too well deserved from thee and permit not Cleopatra to be unfortunate 'T is only with this hope that I give thee the satisfaction of my death which I shall receive without repining if I have this comfort expirng that I have contributed to the enjoyments and fortune of my Princess and Friend Thus spake Coriolanus and his discourse and deportment so conformable to all the actions of his life wrought so with all present that of the many that wer ther most of them would have gladly exposed themselves to some part of the danger he was in to exempt him from it But much different were the apprehensions of Augustus nor was it much to be wondred at that he who upon all the Inhabitants of a City prostrate at his feet had passed that cruel Sentence You must die and answered those desired only Sepulture when he sent them to their Execution That that favour was at the disposal of the Crows was not moved as he should be either at the vertue or misfortune of so great a Prince Not but that he conceived a certain shame at his procedure but being he was the more obstinately resolved to persist in it the more he had been exasperated by opposition he thought it but requisite for the better settlement of his authority to give the Nations a dreadful example of his revenge after the injury he had received the day before Fixt in that resolution and betraying in his eyes some part of what his breast was full of and casting a terrible look on the Prince Thou shalt once have thy desires said he to him and since thou art so willing it should be so I receive thy life as the ransome of those of Marcellus and Cleopatra Yet would I not have thee imagine me obliged to thee for the present thou makest of it I had haply refused it hadst thou proffer'd it while it was in thy disposal but thou art willing to part with it when thou canst no longer keep it and so requitest with what is none of thy own the Love of Cleopatra and friendship of Marcellus I shall have a care of their welfare and fortunes and thou maist take a journey to the other world with this comfort that if thou contributest nothing to their enjoyment thou freest them from the troubles which thy life had alwaies involved them in Whereupon turning to those officers whom he durst best trust with the management of such an execution he commanded them to take away the Prince out of his presence and put him to death without further delay These words raised a horror in all the Assembly the Princesses who had an esteem for the Virtue and Person of Coriolanus expressed their sorrow by the loudness of their sighs Alcamenes was enraged at it and having cast his eye on the Princes who were ingaged in his resolutions was going to rise from his place to put in execution what his great courage and the extremity they were in should advise him to when after a noise like that which had preceded the arrival of Coriolanus entred the Hall Prince Marcellus and some few paces after him the fair Cleopatra led by Drusus Upon their coming in a great shout was given out of a hope of some change Marcellus coming up to Coriolanus just as Norbanus who had received the cruel order was laying hands on him to carry him away he with his left hand seized him by the arm he had held out and with his right laying hold of the hilt of his sword Hold said he to him and think not any respect shall hinder me from taking away thy life if thou offer to be the Executioner of my Brother And thereupon forcing the Prince out of his hands and presenting himself with him before Caesar See now my Lord said he to him the object of your displeasure you vainly seek it elsewhere and there is no way for you to be revenged of Coriolanus but by the death of Marcellus you may be satisfied by what he hath done that it is the death of Marcellus he is so much afraid of and not his own and you now see it is by the death of Marcellus and now his own that you are to punish him By putting him death to save Marcellus you grant him his own desire and by putting Marcellus to death for his safety you sacrifice a life that 's dear to him to preserve one he is burthened with Open your eyes to see your own revenge since revenge is the thing you so much thirst after and you will find you cannot take it with greater cruelty then by putting to death in his presence not what he hates but what he loves above himself 'T is then Cleopatra that must die cries out the fair Daughter of Antonia coming up close to Marcellus for how great soever the friendship may be which Coriolanus hath for Marcellus yet must it be inferior to the Love he hath for me Besides Caesar I am descended of those who have disputed the Empire with thee to the last breath and thou maist fear that as I inherit the Name I may also the Courage and aversion of Cleopatra cut off this unfortunate Branch of a hateful Stock and make it known by a revenge which thy enemy will be more sensible of
would be very precious to me to comfort thee for the losse of Cleopatra or follow the inclination I had to bestow her on thee But I am engaged both by my promises and obligations not easily avoidable and what I owe the affection of the Empresse and that which she hath for her son leave me not in a capacity to make any other disposal of her than what may be suitable to their desires He would have continued his discourse but the Empress interrupting him My Lord said he to him though the injuries I have received from Coriolanus are notorious as having two several times as it were in my slight reduced my son to the extremities of life and death and that I may well endeavour the enjoyments of a Son great enough to deserve some regard yet the complyance I have for your desires and the acknowledgments which Tiberius will while he lives have for your goodness ought to prevail with him beyond all resentments and all manner of interest and accordingly how justly soever I might be incensed against Coriolanus and what affection soever Tiberius may have for Cleopatra we can smother both to satisfie you and I am to assure you out of the influence I have over Tiberius and the knowledge I have of his intentions that if it be your desire to bestow Cleopatra on Coriolanus he will submit to that disposal of her and we will never repine at the favour you do such persons for whose vertue I have my self an affection and esteem There was a general acclamation and beating of hands at this discourse of Livia as being such as gained the hearts of so many Illustrious persons more than all her precedent actions would have done and the Emperour having heard it with all the expressions of an extraornary joy I humbly acknowledg the indulgence of the Gods said he that they afford me in some mesure the means to make reparation for those miscarriages which an immoderate indignation and a certain jealousie of my authority had made me guilty of I shall be very happy said he turning to Alcamenes and the other Princes if I may perswade to an oblivion of them so many illustrious persons who with too much reason were dis-satisfied therwith Thou shalt live Coriolanus continued he turning towards him and enjoy Cleopatra Marcellus hath given thee thy life by being desirous to die with thee the Empress hath given thee Cleopatra by dispensing with the promise I had made her and in regard it were not just that having received my life from the by a generosity beyond all example thou shouldest receive nothing from me I give thee the kingdomes of thy Ancestors which thou hadst recovered by thy valour and afterwards lost by thy mis-fortune thou shalt reign over the two Mauritanias from which I reserve to my self no tribute nor other acknowledgment than that of thy alliance and to confirm it between us I embrace thee as a King my Friend and Allie Having so said he spread his arms to receive him and the son of Juba casting himself at his feet and in that posture receiving his embraces Ah my Lord said he to him now is it that I feel a grief and remorse for having offended you and this expression of your goodness forces me much beyond all the effects of your power to acknowledg you my Soveraign Lord and Emperour Augustus having caused him to rise embraced him with much affection and perceiving that Cleopatra was going to cast her self at his feet he takes her in his arms and preventing what she would have said to him Divine Princess the ornament of the Universe said he to her be pleased to forget the persecution I have made you suffer and receive as a satisfaction I should make you the life and liberty of Caesario which I give you upon that account I am inclined to hope he will not disturb the quiet of our Empire since his fortune will be considerable enough in the enjoyment of Candace and possession of the great Kingdom of Ethiopia not to envie his whom he sees in the place of his Father Upon these last words of Augustus the Illustrious persons that were present reiterated their acclamations and while Marcellus embraced his knees with a certain transportation Cleopatra made another attempt to make her acknowledgements to him in the same posture for the life and happiness of her Brother Only Elisa of all that Illustrious Assembly seemed not to participate of the publick satisfaction so that Agrippa having taken notice of her grief comes up to the Emperor and embracing the knee Marcellus had quitted My Lord said he to him to be absolutely great to be absolutely just to be absolutely Caesar in all things you must consummate what you have begun It is to sollicit your goodness to do it that I have overcome my weakness and made a shift to crawl to your feet You have bestowed Cleopatra on the King of Mauritania and the Queen of Ethiopia on Caesario you must my Lord to accomplish all things with the same greatness bestow the Princess of Parthia on her valiant and faithful Artabau He only of all the world is worthy of her and besides your doing therein an action suitable to your justice you will have the glory to have given the Parthians who were the most in veterate enemies of the Roman name a King The Emperour was not a little surprized at the discourse of Agrippa though he should have been better acquainted with his vertue than to have received that expression of it with so much astonishment and looking on him with a countenance wherein was legible what his thoughts were upon Agrippa said he to him the Proposition you make to me is I must confess conformable to my inclinations but not to the obligations of friendship which lie upon me and you know I have a friend who hath suffered much upon the account of Elisa's love and whose concernments I am obliged to prosecute He for whom you have that goodness replies Agrippa is not more satisfied with the expressions he receivs thereof than he hath been troubled at the effects it hath produced and he would not to save his life did it depend thereon retard for so much as one day the happiness of those illustrious persons In fine my Lord he hath conquered that passion which was so inconsistent with his glory and his duty and with the assistance of his courage had reduced it to such a posture as not to raise any further disturbance to his vertu Consider not any thing somuch in order to his satisfaction as the request he now makes to you for that of the Princess of Parthia and give him leave to repair the injuries he hath done by affording him the means to serve those whom he hath with so much injustice oppressed The Emperour was extreamly satisfied with this discourse of Agrippa and embracing him with a tender affection I cannot give you a greater commendation said he to him than in affirming
very considerable to me and I shall more freely inlarge my self upon the excellent qualities of Ariobarzanes where I shall be obliged to speak of them since that Fame hath already given you some knowledge of them I will tell you then to return to my Narration That it was no small satisfaction to me to see that Fortune had so much favoured my wishes in the birth of a man whom she had caused me to love before I knew him and that Ericia who presently cast her eyes upon my face told me afterwards that she saw in a moment all the marks of Joy depainted there so that she did not doubt but that I was very sensibly moved with it I will add to this likewise That though this Discourse of Ariobarzanes did not seem very conformable to Truth and might not without some reason have been suspected of Fiction in the mouth of an amorous and interessed person 't is certain for all that that I did not ponder what credit I should give to him nor ever imagined that there was any baseness in a man whom I could not believe to be capable of any thing unworthy or rather I will tell you That his Noble Sublime and truly Royal Garb and whatsoever I had observed till then in his Actions so strongly confirmed his Discourse in a mind where inclination did not slightly take his part that I had no difficulty to perswade my self that he was a Kings Son and born with all the advantages of fortune which I could wish might accompany Nature This agreeable surprize held me a while in silence and in a posture which signified some confusion The Prince perceived it and according to the example of Lovers finding an occasion of fear in every thing Can it be possible said he being very much moved that the knowledge of my Name and Birth should disadvantage me with you And hoping to remove an obstacle of Glory and Fortune have I created one my self Is the Royal blood of Armenia any way odious to you or yours or rather O gods Is it the want of a Crown which the priviledge of Birth-right hath bestowed upon my Elder Brother that puts me into too mean a condition to raise my desires to the glory of serving you Ah! if it be a Crown I want as it is probable that the honour of acquiring you ought to be ordained for some great King I finde my self to have Courrage enough to hope for that from my Sword which Fortune hath refused me and the desire I have to render my self worthy of you will make me possibly to surmount that which I should never attain to if I had any other Object in my Enterprizes As he spake these words a blush mounted into his face which made him appear more beautiful than ordinary in my eyes and desiring not to leave him in an opinion which according to my humor did a little injure me I perceive nothing said I in the knowledge you have given me of your Name and Birth which can be disadvantagious to you and the want of a Crown in such a Prince as you and descended as you are from Royal Persons is no deficiency which can render you contemptible in my thoughts You are contiued I with a blush which sufficiently signified my confusion such as I desired you should be to render those infirmities partly excusable which Surprize or Accident made you acquainted with and which possibly you had never understood from my mouth but by the effect of that destiny which as you say acts in us after an extraordinary manner but you and I are such in the estate of our present condition that a particular esteem can serve for nothing but to render us the more miserable and persons whose death in all probability is so near at hand cannot lay foundations of Amity but in an unseasonable time Ariobarzanes sighed at this Discourse and looking upon me with an eye which made me judge that this menace of our death more strongly afflicted him for fear of mine than upon the consideration of his own Our destiny said he is in the hand of the gods and possibly for the preservation of so precious a life as yours they will do somthing extraordinary but though we had no hope of that yet I should esteem my self superlatively happy and much more obliged to this effect of your goodness than to that which caused you to render your pitiful assistances to this dying body if you would own as yours the remainder off my dayes what length soever the gods shall prescribe to them and permit me to hope That if by their help we escape out of the danger which threatens us you will not disdain Vows full of the same respects we owe to them and suffer the glorious Ariobarzanes to render his last breath in the occasion and the glory of serving you I conjure you to it continued he embracing my knees with an action all composed of passion by the same pity which you may desire of Heaven for your own misfortune and protest to you before the Celestial Powers that it can never be employ'd in a greater necessity nor for a person who will acknowledge it with greater veneration and fidelity I confess that my inclination did so effectually assist his words that I could not but be touched with them and I had not the power to dissemble it so well as I desired and possibly ought to have done I continued a while without reply and at last beginning to speak without raising my eyes to his face You are sufficiently acquainted with my thoughts said I contrary to my design so that there is no necessity of any farther Declaration and you know enough to make you believe that neither your person nor your services can be disagreeable to me You would be unjust if you should desire any more or pretend that I should determine any farther of my self as long as there shall be any persons in the World to whom I ought to leave the disposing of me I am more happy a thousand times replied he than I deserved or durst to hope and I should render my self much more unworthy of your goodness if I did not as I ought receive a favour which I can never sufficiently acknowledge but I plainly perceive that our present danger if it threatned none but me is not the greatest misfortune I have to encounter with and by what I have heard of your Story and the cause of your flight I sufficiently foresee that the person to whom Heaven hath left some lawful power to dispose of you will never consent that any other should raise his hopes to a Fortune which against the Laws and order of Nature he pretends to for himself This difficulty answered I very nimbly ought to divert you from your resolution and you will be the more comforted if in our approaching death you lose nothing but hopes which with any probability you could not conceive Ah! Madam replied Ariobarzanes very
much moved Do not imagine that this difficulty can make me lose my Courage you shall see me Conquer far greater if you be pleased to grant your consent and all the most powerful and dangerous obstacles shall not be able to terrifie me if you do not oppose me You ought not to hope said I that I should be favourable to you contrary to my Duty and the esteem which I may have for you shall never make me do any thing unhandsome or not conformable to the Rules prescribed to persons of such a Birth as mine Ariobarzanes seemed a little astonished at this Discourse and stood a while as if he studied for terms to express himself but at last breaking silence with a very passionate action If the respect which I shall equally preserve with my life said he did permit me in the least to contest with your thoughts I would take the liberty to tell you that by the usage you have received from him and the horrible intentions he had expressed to you the King your Brother hath absolutely lost the priviledge which Nature gave him to dispose of you and if your self had had a design to leave it to him you would not have run the hazard of mortal dangers to avoid his Tyranny In fine If he may and must dispose of you he will never do it but in his own favour and you will see your self reduced to the necessity either of consenting to that horrible Marriage which he proposes to you or denying his power to dispose of you I found sufficiently convincing Reasons in Ariobarzanes's Discourse yet it being a Subject upon which I was alwayes prepared I did not continue without a Reply It will be very lawful said I for me to oppose Adallas's will as long as he shall have any design to be my Husband and in this resolution I shall alwayes have Courage enough to suffer this death to which I am already sufficiently exposed but I will never take the liberty to choose a Husband my self and I must wait the leasure of Heaven for the change of my Brothers humor or some other condition of my Affairs which may give me that liberty I will be contented to wait with you Madam replied the Prince with a very submissive Action and I shall be but too happy if you permit me to engage my life upon the account of those changes I know very well that the happiness which my Ambition aims at is of too high a value to be attained by ordinary difficulties and it shall be without a murmuring thought that I will attend upon the effects of your pity to the last period of my breath use me as a criminal if you see me in any impatience contrary to this resignation and in the mean time if you be pleased to think well of it and if Heaven permits us to get out of this Island by some unexpected succour let me have the honour to wait upon you to the place of your intended Retreat and there let me regulate my life according to the Orders which you shall please to give me and seek some means though with the greatest hazard to work a change in the King your Brothers intentions to my advantage or to see some change in yours if his be unalterable My Relation would be too long if I should repeat to you all the words we had together In brief I found the Discourse and the Propositions of Ariobarzanes too just to be contradicted and we resolved at last that if the gods should send us any means to save our selves I should continue my journey to the Court of the King of Cilicia my Uncle whither Ariobarzanes should accompany me and there leave me at liberty to consider what he might merit of me by his Services whil'st he endeavoured by all manner of wayes to gain upon the spirit of the King my Brother and employed all manner of powers even that of Augustus himself to cause him to consent to the design he had to serve me But because Ariobarzanes knew the deadly hatred which the King of Cilicia had against his Family for some Cruelty that the King of Armenia his Brother had exercised against the Princes his Nephews and was not ignorant that in that Court he could not be in any security We purposed that he should enter into Cilicia al' incognito and from that moment should conceal from the persons of our Company his name and condition under that of Ariamenes This was so much the easier because he had not as yet discovered himself to any but to us and there was little danger of his being known after the Report of his Shipwrack had been so long current After that we had spent some time in fixing these Resolutions I desired Ariobarzanes to acquaint me by what Adventure he had been cast upon that Rock in the condition wherein we found him which he did in a few words which I will not repeat to you for in brief his Relation contained nothing else but only that the King Artaxus his Brother having received a Command from Augustus to send him to Rome with the Princess Arsinoe his Sister to be educated there with a great many other Princes and not daring to disobey that Order caused him to imbark with the Princess his Sister to go that Voyage which at first was prosperous enough but at last upon the Coast of Cilicia their Vessel was overtaken with the same Tempest that cast away ours and so battered by the impetuousness of the storm that he believed himself only to have escaped from the fury of the waves by means of a Plank which he laid hold on and the violence of the waves which drave him upon the Sand. That passage of his Discourse which he most insisted upon was concerning the Shipwrack of the Princess Arsinoe whose loss after he had made us a short description of her rare qualities he deplored with so many tears and so many strong sensible signs of grief that I could not forbear weeping and bewailing with him the loss of so extraordinary a person whom he had so dearly loved He protested to me divers times that nothing but Love which tookfull possession of his Soul at first sight was able to counterpoize his grief and without the assistance of that passion which made it self Mistress of his heart above all the rest that had any room there he should scarcely have had strength of spirit enough to defend himself against this affliction After I had endeavoured to give him some part of the Consolation which was necessary for him upon this occasion he described to me the birth of his Love which he protested to me was formed in his Soul the first moment of our first interview and in the declaration he made to me of all his most particular thoughts he expressed himself with such a grace and was so skilful in taking his advantages where he found me weakest that I perceived the fatal inclination I had for him to be
person We have familiar examples enough thereof in our age and they are great persons such as Antony Cato and Brutus who have sought this last remedy either to avoid shame or to yield to the anger of Heaven and not to the assaults of Fortune fitter for feeble souls and ordinary persons The Examples which you alledge replied Megacles have found but few that have approved them and many that have condemned them and though it be confest that Anthony could no longer live with glory after the loss of the Empire neither Cato nor Brutus after the ruine of their party yet it must be granted that fear of their Enemis and their euil Fortune made them forsake that which they durst no longer defend and run to Death as an evil much less than the terror thereof imprinted into their affrighted spirits wheras had they marched with their heads erected against their destiny and had indured until the end all Fortune or the anger of Heaven had prepared for them they had left a more Noble reputation to posterity and had been taken for constant and undaunted for unalterable in good and evil Fortune Well replied the unknown witth a sigh if it be a weakness to seek Death it must be pardoned to our Nature which hath no more strength than Heaven hath given it for my part I will neither justifie nor condemn them that have preceded me herein it sufficeth to believe that life being to me an unsupportable evil to the indifferent strengths of my spirits I have no more reason to preserve it than a Captive to carry his Chains which he may break Nevertheless replied Megacles in case your Despair proceed not from some loss which the gods themselves cannot repair you ought a little to wait their leisure and there is little reason to believe that the gods do consent to your Death or that they preserve you not to a better Fortune for were it so they would have suffered you to perish in that danger from whence you are miraculously escaped Of so many kinds of death that you might have chosen they would have inspired you with another and rather to any of the Rocks that surround the shore would they have directed you than to this you have chosen because perhaps beneath them you would not have found the succors we have given you This is a visible obstacle that Heaven hath cast in your way testifying that it disapproves it and I certainly believe it intends some change in your Destiny since it hath hindred it I exceedingly desire through the interest I take in your life and my advantagious opinion of you that these considerations may arrest your Despair but if they are uncapable so to do and if you think that the assistance I have given you deserveth any acknowledgment and gives me right to demand any thing I beseech you earnestly to receive our Services and to attempt nothing against your life whil'st you are with us we will in time obtain more if it may be done without importuning you but in the mean time give me your word if you think the Service I have done you merits any satisfaction The unknown remained for some time without reply to the obliging words of Megacles but at length beholding him with an Actions which testified his acknowledgment I should be too ungrateful said he for your good intentions for my safety and the pains you take for a miserable Unknown the Butt of angry Heaven and Fortune if I consider not your desire and intreaties but I could wish you had asked something else in recompence of your goodness rather than the prolongation of this miserable life but since from such an unhappy person as I am you can receive no other mark of acknowledgment nor any thing which it may be would be more hard for me to grant I promise you to enterprize nothing against that life which I owe you so long as I am with you I believe it will not be long but be it so long as it will I will exactly perform my promise After this assurance which much rejoyced Megacles the unknown nothing opposed the care they took of him permitting them to take away his wet garment and put him to Bed that he might receive some refreshment after the great quantity of salt water which he had swallowed down Megacles having ordered things towards the assistance of the unknown went to pass into the Princesses Chamber whom he served with much assiduity and secure caution In the displeasure they received through his means he indeavoured to render himself the least odious he could possibly and he the rather hoped it for that he was not of the Number of those who forced them from the shore the day before for the King his Master knowing his little inclination to violent Actions and that he had ordinarily a contradiction of spirit thereto commanded that he should stay and keep the Vessel which was no less important for his return whilst those that he had appointed for the Rape of Cleopatra prepared themselves to execute his Orders Megacles failed not to let the Princesses understand his justification and Artemisa to whom his quality and manners were known forgat not to give a favourable testimony thereof to Cleopatra believing that in the condition wherein both of them at present were they might need this mens assistance and that they ought not to neglect complying with him Cleopatra who with a grandure of courage elevated above the rest of her Sex had an allay of sweetness gratitude and equity easily discerned that he disobliged her only out of fear and if she did not greatly caress Megacles it was through her Souls total occupation upon its own misfortunes rather than any particular resentment Megacles entred not their Chamber till he heard they were up and that it was necessary to sollicite them to some repast The two Princesses sate upon the Bed where they had passed the Night and Megacles having bid them good morrow with a profound respect addressing himself to Artemisa to whom he had the most access he besought her in the most pressing manner he could possible that she would not destroy her self with hunger whilst she was in his guard but receive the food he offered not as from an Enemy since she knew he never had deserved it and that of all the miseries the King had inflicted on her there was not one proceeding from his Counsel Artemisa who saw the truth of what was said receive him with much Civility and as she interessed her self in Cleopatra's health more than in her own she consented to oblige her thereto So that both rifing from the Bed refreshed themselves with a light repast which done though languishing and sick as they were they entred into some converse with Megacles who was a man of spirit and agreeable converse and knew of much the more though his extraordinary Travels having visited the Courts of many Kings both in Asia and in Europe It was by
and 't is certain that at this time the difference was so small that she might easily have been taken for Alcimedon When the Princess saw her self in this posture as she desired and that Leander had brought the Prince's Horse and Buckler she bowed towards the beloved body and took her last adieu with a tenderness able to cleave with pitty the most savage hearts and conjuring Leander and Belisa to remember her commands and to declare nothing that they knew till the time she had prescribed she took Horse and being no Novice in that exercise she spurr'd him forward to the address of the strongest men and ran with so much impetuosity that they presently lost sight of her The field of Battel was already covered with the Souldiers of both parties who with great diligence had fastened the Barriers and erected a Scaffold for the Judges there were two of them one for the King of Scythia and the other for the Queen of Dacia and the Princes of her side and the Barriers were invironed with a thousand Horse of either Army The Judges had already taken their seats with much civility and a little after the King Orontes on the one part although he had some wounds which would have kept in bed any person of a less robust complexion and the Queen Amalthea on the other with the Princes of her Train placed themselves upon the Scaffold at the sound of a hundred Trumpets that attended them and which made the fields of Nicea eccho they expected only the two Combatants who seemed a little slow and 't is certain that Alcamenes marching not to this Combate with that ardour and fierceness which used to accompany him in others it being only a fiction and dissembled action was not over-hasty to take the Field yet he appeared a little after the appointed time but it was not with his accustomed boldness and gallantry nor with that menacing Mine which darted fear into the most assured His Arms were enriched with Gold and some stones his Buckler of the same without any device his Casque was covered with a shade of Plumes and he alwaies kept the vizor of his Helmet down because of Barzanes who from the Scaffold might easily have known him though he affected nothing terrible in his gate yet could the God of Battels have pleaded small advantage over him and Barzanes concluded with the Prince of the Massegetes that nothing could match him unless the brave person who was to fight him this day had the good fortune Alcamenes walked a long time in the Field ere his Enemy appeared and all the world began to condemn the sloath of Alcimedon and those to whom he was not well known made sinister censures on his courage Amalthea who was out of humour and in some trouble for the Princess the cause of whose walk the could not divine and prickt with delight at Alcimedons delay and the more in that the Princes his Enemies indeavoured to stain his courage and openly blamed his sloath the perfidious Orchomenes who with the life would also have taken away the Honour of his Enemy said he knew him better than the rest and had alwaies made a judgment of him different from that of others and that he believed he would not come at all Barzanes who dearly loved Alcimedon supported impatiently their murmures and still assured the Prince of the Massegetes that he would not fail to appear usless some important adventure hindred Alcamenes himself was astonisht at the delay of Cleomenes and for some moments thought that he wanted courage for this enterprize at last he heard the most remote say that Alcimedon was come that Alcimedon was hard by and a little after they saw him approach or rather the furious Menalippa in his Arms in a posture so terrible that it had been easie to have perceived with a little observation that she was agitated with some other passion than the desire of glory the Dacians gave a great shout at his arrival and Orchomenes believing himself betray'd by his Servants beheld him to whom he had given the commission with a menacing eye and by an inflamed regard reproacht his fidelity So soon as Menalippa was in the Field not musing her self with formalities she road to the end of the Barriers and fastning her self in the Saddle she started with a mighty impetuosity imploring assistance from the Gods she might pass her Javelin through the throat of her Enemy Alcamenes started at the same time but having no design to hurt Cleomenes he had chosen the weakest Javelin he could find and instead of addressing it to the Vizor or any other dangerous place he threw it against the middle of the Buckler where it brake without any further effect Menalippa aim'd hers directly at Alcamenes's Vizor but whether it were by the fury of her course or passion or the little experience she had in this exercise which made her fail in the attempt her blow sliding by his Casque it past without doing any harm then drawing her Sword she made to her Enemy who expected her in the same posture She aimed many blows at him which he put by with his Buckler and wherein he perceived if not more force at least more fury than he could have expected from Cleomenes struck only at those places where he found her covered with her Buckler being very careful not to hurt a man who only sought to serve him and as he had not been accustomed to sport and feign in such occasions he was quite ashamed of the person he represented being obliged in this Combate to dissemble that valour which on all occasions he so prodigally testified At last the impatient Menalippa breathing nothing but fire made a furious blow which he avoiding it fell upon her own Horse and the Blade being exceeding good it gave him such a wound that the inraged Beast ran with all his force to the end of the Field yet not so swiftly but the Princess had leisure to quit her Stirrups and alight Alcamenes joyful to see his enemy on foot ready to terminate the Combate after the manner he had designed with Cleomenes alighted and approached Menalippa with his drawn Sword The desperate Princess cast her self upon him with so much fury that the Prince could not prevent her Sword meeting with the default of his Arms a light wound Alcamenes was astonisht at this fury of Cleomenes and seeing that all the spectators were too far to understand what they said Friend said he thou sparest me not and if thou fightest long thou wilt not represent amisse the person of Alcimedon These words confirmed the Princess in the belief she had against Alcamenes and not induring a discourse wherein he seemed to play with the destiny of poor Alcimedon Ah Traytor said she hast thou imagined that the obscurity of the Wood could hide thy Treason or dost thou think to save thy self by thy deceit Give me death immediately or expect to lose thy life by the hand of thy
most mortal Enemy Their Casques so disguised each others voice that they could not discern it yet Alcamenes knew that it was not Cleomenes found himself in a great confusion and his own confusion turning into a fury which Menalippa was not likely to resist What soever thou art said he with a menacing tone thou shalt lose thy life by the hand of Alcamenes and thou hast done ill to draw me out of an order which might have preserved thee He accompanied these words with many blows which put Menalippa into disorder and made her Arms blush with some drops of blood The Judges and Spectators observed this redoubled fury and easily perceived a difference between the beginning and the end of the Combate The Princess could no longer sustain the shower of blows which fell upon her which drew blood in many places and at last the irritated Alcamenes pressing her between his arms though she yielded in strength to few men and that she imployed at this time all that nature hath given her he threw her to the Earth and tearing off her Casque with violence You must dye said he or yield me the victory He had scarce finished these few words but casting his eys upon his Enemies face he saw the tresses of long hair which discovered her sex and perceived at last in spight of all contrary appearances the face of Menalippa O Gods how great was the Prince Alcamenes's astonishment at this sight and with what motions was he seized at so unexpected a spectacle Truly great Princesses it is difficult to express that which he that resented it is certainly unable to relate Astonishment gave place to grief and beside the sorrow he received for the wounds he gave her and in that he had presented his threatning Sword to her fair face he could not see Menalippa metamorphosed into a Souldier for his destruction without becoming infinitely sensible of the hatred which carried her to so great an extremity imagining that she knew him as Alcimedon and as Alcamenes and that Cleomenes had discovered or betray'd him Menalippa gave him time to make this reflexion through the astonishment which her fall had caused but when she was come to her self seeing that she was between the arms of her Enemy who had not lifted up the vizor of his Casque because for divers reasons he would not shew his face to the Judges she indeavoured to dis-intangle her self and to seize the Sword which he held in his hand but Alcamenes holding her arm and pressing hers between his more like a lover than an Enemy Ah Menalippa said he what hatred is this that hath carried you to such violent extremities against Alcamenes Alcimedon hath incurr'd your displeasure but Alcimedon hath been sufficiently punished and I have made him suffer those miseries which possibly your self would have been so pitiful not to have ordained him Instead of culpable Alcimedon receive Alcamenes whom I present unto you in whom you will find all the love and all the fidelity which were sometimes agreeable to you in the person of Alcimedon and you will find here those advantages which you could not have met with in the person of a miserable Unknown Thus spake Alcamenes and it seemed that his evil Genius had dictated all the words he uttered so proper they were to confirm the Princess of the manner of Alcimedon's death and Alcamenes's Treason which working violent effects upon her spirit she dis-intangled her self from the passionate imbraces of her conquerour Traytor said she since thou hast punished Alcimedon punish also the unfortunate Menalippa and give her death by thy cruel hand or prepare thy self to receive thine from hers Alcamenes unable to hold her recoyled some paces and prepared to present his breast to satisfie her cruelty when he saw the Judges of the Field with him who during their contest had descended the Scaffold and knowing Menalippa they ran to separate them and interposing between them hindred her cruel intent but in a few moments the Judges were not alone for Amalthea with the Princes from her Scaffold having known the face of Menalippa and seeing it was her who fighting had received divers wounds unable to submit to the Empire of reason in the violence of her parental compassion which mastered it she cry'd Treason and that it was not against Alcimedon but Menalippa that Alcamenes had fought that the Princess was wounded possibly to death and that the cruel man who had put her into that condition ought to lose his life as a punishment of his crime As she uttered these words they cryed Arms which the Queen transported with grief hindred not The thousand Dacian Cavaliers who guarded the Field overthrew the Barriers to be revenged on Alcamenes but the Scythians who saw them did as much on their side to succour their Prince and if the most zealous of the Dacians took up their Princess to carry her into the Queens arms the most affectionate amongst the Scythians covered their Prince with their Bucklers and Bodies giving him time to take Horse and put himself into a fighting condition The two Judges of the Field having protested their innocency as to the breach of Treaty took leave of each other to attend their charges and in a short time this Field was the place of a general Battel then a particular Combate The King of Scythia beholding with displeasure the rupture of the Truce ran to his Troops and commanded all the Princes and Chiefs to their charges to draw the Army out into the best order which the necessity of affairs would permit Merodates Phrataphernes Euardes and his companions had performed the same on their parts and whil'st those who mingled themselves at the Combate in a disorderly and bloody confusion strove for the Victory by little and little increasing they saw themselves fortified by two great Armies As they fought in disorder so I cannot very orderly follow my discourse and as I oblige my self rather to the particular actions of Alcamenes than to theirs that fought for him I will only say that the Prince finding himself that day animated with the most violent grief and anger he had ever resented in his life he made those who were so unhappy as to present themselves before him such easie sacrifices that they rather took him for a Fury than any thing mortal This Battel had the form of a Massacre without choice or distinction party against party the vanquisht with the vanquisher and the dying with their Murtherers were invelloped in the same ruine Alcamenes who could not fear death but rather through his rage indeavoured to render his depart more funest to his Enemies left every where bloody marks of his fury The first of the Enemy-Princes who presented himself was the disloyal Orchomenes who fierce with the death of the pretended Alcimedon marcht to the encounter with more boldness than before and who conducted by his evil Genius and the Daemon revenger of perfidies durst with a Troop of his
scorn'd at his hands when he hears a great noise of Horses which till then the distance and earnestness of the combat had hindred them from hearing and thereupon looking about him he finds himself surrounded by a considerable number of Horsemen the best part of that illustrious party which came that day out of Alexandria The end of the Eleventh Part. HYMEN'S PRAELVDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. XII LIB I. ARGUMENT Augustus sends away Tigranes under a Guard to Alexandria whither Cornelius is also convey'd by his Friends Augustus comes to the place where Coriolanus and Tiberius had ended their quarrel Coriolanus is discovered the Emperour commands him to be disarmed and taken which he opposing he orders him to be killed when comes before him Marcellus who discovering himself prevents it till at last upon the intreaties of Cleopatra he flings away his Sword and upon the mediation of Marcellus Alcamenes Ariobarzanes Artaban and all the Princes about the Emperour his punishment is delayed and he conducted a Prisoner to Alexandria One of those three armed men who came in to the relief of Coriolanus in the rescue of the Princesses is discovered to be Julius Antonius who had been forced away from Rome six or seven years before by the rigour of Tullia and is by Marcellus Ptolomey and Alexander carried to Cleopatra The Empress hearing Tiberius was wounded and carried to Alexandria hastens thither He is visited by the Emperour who threatens the ruine of Coriolanus Cleopatra is visited by all the Princesses Julius Antonius gives a short account of his Travels Agrippa makes a further discovery of his passion for Elisa who expressing her constancy to Artaban he falls into a Fever and is visited by Augustus who sollicites both Elisa and Artaban on his behalf Tigranes is visited by Philadelph to whom he relates the manner of their Design upon the Princesses Cornelius despairing of Augustus 's favour dies having before written a Letter to him wherein he discovers Caesario who is thereupon taken and carried before the Emperour and by him sent Prisoner to the Castle of Alexander NOr did the Ravishers of the Princesses find Fortune more favourable to them in the other Engagement but Number overcome by Vertue the juster party became victorious The great King of Scythia discovering upon so noble an occasion that Valour which had made him so famous all over the World had dealt in a manner as many deaths as blows The invincible Artaban fighting for Elisa nay fighting for himself had shown himself to be the same Artaban on whose Sword depended the fates of Empires The valiant Arminius no less gallant in those emergencies wherein his Glory then where his Love and the Liberty of his Country were concerned had performed actions truely miraculous And their three generous Companions whose Arms kept their faces from being discovered though they were not known had made themselves remarkable as well to those against whom they were engag'd as those who had seconded them in their design for three of the most valiant men in the world They had already covered the ground with the bodies of their enemies and had but little further employment for their valour when the same Fortune which had brought thither Alcamenes Artaban and Arminius led into the same place Agrippa and Drusus and not long after appeared the Emperour with the greatest part of those accompanyed him Upon this sight what was remaining of the Enemies hardly put those last come to the trouble of drawing their Swords and sought in their flight a safety which it would not be hard for them to find as having to do with enemies that had no great desires to pursue them Onely one among them more faithfull then his Companions not daunted at the danger he was in would not stir from his Master who was laid along at the Foot of a Tree by reason of a blow he had received over the head from the dreadfull Artaban and being carefull of him out of the affection he had for his service he quite forgot in the extremity wherein he saw him the design he had to conceal himself and taking off his Casque to give him more air discovered him to be Tigranes King of Media Having been onely put into some disorder by the weighty blow he had received on the head and that the wounds he had in some other parts were not considerable he recovered himself as soon as he had his head disarm'd and looking all about him he saw the greatest part of his men laid on the ground and was thereby satisfi'd of the miscarriage of his enterprize The grief he conceiv'd thereat forced a deep sigh from him but his affliction became more insupportable when he saw Artaban of the victorious party among the rescuers of Elisa and call'd to mind that it was from his hand he had receiv'd the dangerous blow which made him fall among the dead The rage he was in hindred him to speak he onely asked the person from whom he had receiv'd that assistance what was become of Tiberius and Cornelius and the man not able to give him any account of Tiberius shew'd him Cornelius who with much ado made a shift to get up after the blow he had receiv'd from the King of Soythia and who still bleeding for better support was forc'd to lean against a tree Neither party had the time to make long reflections on their fortune and the valiant defenders of the Princesses were hardly returned to them while Agrippa and Drusus having taken notice of Tigranes and Cornelius who to breath more freely had put up the visour of his Casque were giving order they should be reliev'd when Caesar came in with all his glorious attendance and seem'd extreamly astonish'd at so strange a spectacle He saw on one side the three Princesses not recover'd out of the fright they had been in though they had their Champions about them whereof the three last he soon knew but not the three former whom by reason they were all armed he could not have the knowledge of and on the other above thirty men either dead or dying of the wounds wherein was remarkable the strength of those arms that had been the occasion of them and among others Tigranes and Cornelius whom their hurts and the grief they conceived at the ill success of their enterprize had made neglectfull of concealing themselves and their engagements in an action for which they were in all likelihood to fear the effects of his just resentment He briefly understood from Agrippa some part of what had happened and desirous of further information from Tigranes himself after he was come up close to him yet without alighting What is it I see Tigranes said he to him and upon what occasion have you received those wounds The confusion the King of Media was in would not for some time suffer him to make any reply but the Emperour having put the same question to him a second time I have endeavoured my Lord replyed