thrice in my life time abandoned by her though peradventure I have been assisted by her upon an hundred difficult occasions But yet said Philoxypes shall I not know what 't is that afflicts you It very well behoves that I tell it you said Salon since 't is from you alone that I can expect any help I will not repeat unto you said he the so many particulars of my fortune which formerly I have acquainted you withall for I believe you have not forgot them but that you may perfectly know the cause of my grief I must howsoever take the rise of my discourse afar off and tell you some circumstances of my life which you have not yet known You know I never believed that marriage was incompatible with Philosophy and true Wisdom as Thales that famous Milesian did imagine you know likewise that I married a personage of great worth and understanding by whom I had children who died soon after they were born one onely son excepted whom I have bred up carefully intending to make him worthy of that noble blood whence he is descended He was about 14 or 15 years old when I was at Milet about some affairs of mine where I visited wise Thales who was one of my very good friends He civilly reproacht me with my weaknesse and said I did sufficiently witnesse my indulgency to love by a little image of Cupid which I one day consecrated to that Deity and placed in the Park belonging to the Academy there where they who run with the sacred Torch are wont to assemble themselves Passing from one thing to another we spake of the happinesse and of the misfortunes of marriage and thus our discourse varying as it oft fals out from our first subject we spoke of news and other such like matters Presently after Thales feigning to have some order to give to one of his folk about his own affairs rose to speak to him in his ear and came and took his place again Not long after I might see a stranger come whom I knew not who told him he was come from Athens not above ten dayes ago Prest by the naturall desire of curiosity to know whether there was nothing of new befaln in my Countrey since my departure thence I askt him whether he knew any thing considerable there or no No said he save onely that the day I came away on I saw the Funerall observed of a young youth of the best rank whereat all the people of note in the Town were present and were very sensible of the sorrow this childes death would cause in his Father who was not then at Athens I confess when I heard him speak thus my colour changed fearing my son might be concerned which made me ask him whether he knew not the name of that unfortunate Father I have forgot it said he but I know he is a man of great integrity and who is much esteemed of in that place I confesse Sir that since Philosophy teacheth sincerity as well as modesty I thought I might be the man spoken of was willing to know the truth without offence to good manners his name doubtlesly said I was not Solon pardon me said he his name came just to my memory as you pronounced it To what end serves it to deny it I could not hear so sad news without sorrow and that so great as Thales pitied me and jesting at my weaknesse asked me whether it were advantageous for a wise man to marry or no Putting himself thereby in a condition to have studied Philosophie for others not being able to make use thereof himself After this he told me there was not one word true of all that this man had said that he had not so much as been at Athens of a long time and that he had said all this by his directions which he had caused to be given him when he rose from me to speak in the ear with one of his servants At my returne to Athens I found my son alive indeed but I found the whole Town in confusâ—on by reason of some disorder that had happened between those that were descended from Megacles and those that were come of them that had been of the Ciâ—onean conspiracie The Megarians surprized the port of Nisa and re-took the Isle of Salamina which had caused me so much trouble And to adde to the misfortune all the people were seiâ—ed on with a superstitious snare which perswaded them that spirits returned that fantasmes and apparitions appeared and this imagination prevailed so much with most of them as there was an universal humiliation Those who had the charge of the sacred things said that they found infallible signes by the Victims that the Town needed purification and that the gods were incensed by reason of some secret offence committed To this effect by the advice of the wisest sort they sent an Expresse to Creta to Epimenides the Phaestien who was and doubtlesly is stil an incomparable man a man whose life is altogether pure innocent and holy who eats no more then what is sufficient to maintain life and whose soul leans as little to the senses as in this life it can who is very learned in the knowledge of heavenly things and who passes in his Countrey not only for one who hath sometimes Divine Revelations but is by the people of Crete believed to be the son of a Nymph called Balta However if it be Sir he is a man of extraordinary knowledge and vertue Epimenides not refusing the entreaties that were made unto him came to Athens and of so many famous men as were in that noted City did me the favour to chuse me for his most intimate friend having through his wisdom and through the peoples belief in him dissipated all their false imaginations and that by Prayers Sacrifices and Ceremonies he had rid them of all their fears he would yet stay awhile at Athens for my sake where certainly he told prodigious predictions to a hundred several people As we were speaking one day of humane weaknesses and how little a man ought to rely upon his own strength nor yet upon Philosophie I acquainted him with what had befallen me with Thales the Milesian and how much ashamed I was not to be Master of my first opinions Solon said he to me is easie to be overcome on that side and as often as fortune will make use of the affections of nature against him she will certainly overcome him For he hath a soul as tender upon such encounters as strong against ambition But Solon said he you are to be bewailed if you do not resolve to believe me and believe that what you underwent whilest you were with your friend Thales is little in comparison of what you shall one day suffer in the person of a Daughter of whom your wife is at this present with Child I have said he observed your birth and your life and I find that this child which will be soon born will
that aâ—ter this you would aid him to recover his Dominions And indeed he did execute the first part of his design for he went out of Heraclea not any thing of two flourishing Kingdoms remaining unto him but the title of King which fortune could not deprive him of When the Princess received this sad news she resented it with insupportable sorrow for Sir be pleased to know that the insolent Artanus assuming new boldness upon this new misfortune came unto her with more incivility then ever before we saw him Madam said he unto her since I ever thought that the strongest reason which moved you to treat me so imperiously as you have done was because I was a subject unto the King your brother I think it therefore expedient to let you know that now he must never be my Master again since fortune has taken from him his Crown and two Kingdoms which he enjoyed and has nothing left him but one single shâ—p â—n which he has convayed himself away from his enemies therefore Madam since you are not now the sister of a King you may well look upon my condition as not inferiour unto yours and for the future carry your self otherwise then heretofore you have done Since you have only the heart of a Slave replied the Princess I should do you too much honor to regard you as a simple Subject of the King my brothers and though fortune should take away his Crown yet since she cannot take away his birth which is infinitely above yours she therefore cannot change my opinion of you and though you had more Crowns then the King my brother has lost yet should I despise and scorn you upon your Throne as much as I do now and though there should be an alteration in your soul as I think it impossible yet should you never sâ—e me change therefore Artanus consider a little better what you say and remember that my fathers were ever Masters over yours that I have the honor to be daughter and sister unto three Princes unto whom I have seen you subject and indeed there is an undispensable obligation lies upon you to reâ—pect and honor me all the daies of your life The Princess pronounced these words with so much majestique choler that she made him blush and forced him to make a scurvy excuse for his insolency and aâ— last to leave her at liberty to lament the disgrace of the King her brother which we had a more particular relation of from that guard which was very faithful unâ—o us Alas Hesionida said she how deplorable is my destiny and unto what a cruel fate am I exposed I was boâ—n upon a Throne and am now a Slave and a Slave unto him that is the most unworthy amongst men Iâ— I consider the misfortunes of my brother I have not tears enough to lament his misfortunes If I contemplate my own I shall find them so dismal that I see no way buâ— death to terminate them hitherto I have loved Spitridates most innocenâ—ly the late King my father desired it the Prince and King Sinnesis my brother appointed it But now Hesionida since he is son to an usurper of my brothers Kingdom and a ruiner of my Family how is it possible I should love him without a sin But Madam said I unto her Spitridates was not in this war 'T is true said she but yet he is son unto the usurper of the Kingdom of Pont so that though my reason does not induce me to accuse him yet it is not handsom or fit I should love him any longer therefore Hesionida whether he be innocent or culpable I ought not to see him any more though he were in a place where I might do it Moreover in what part of the earth could he possibly be where he could not hear the Pontean and Bythinian war discoursed on and is it credible that since he must needs know the state of things I should never hear any news from him if he was fuller of ambition then love why did he not appear in the head of his fathers Army and if he was fuller of love then ambition why does he not endeavour to deliver me out of the hands of Artanus and why did he not let me know that his heart did not approve of what Arsamones his father had done I confess Madam said I unto her that I cannot understand why Spitridates should be so long silent No more can I replied the princess and therefore in all reason I must imagine him dead but I wish the Gods he may not justifie himself in my opinion by so sad a way If I should Sir repeat unto you all the lamentations and reflexions which the Princess had upon the King her brotâ—ers misfortunes upon the muâ—ability of terrene things and upon the innocent passions of her soul I should abuse your patience therefore I shall slightly pass by them and tell you that Artanus considering himself under the verge of a victorious Aâ—my commanded by a Prince who had conquered two Kingdoms he was not without some unquiet thoughts fâ—r althâ—ugh he had very gallant mâ—n in his party yet was he not at all grown more valiant himâ—elf and notwithstanding all his love unto the Princess I believe he repented more then once of his undertakings He also sent unto Arsamones to capâ—tulate and propound some conditions betwixt them But since he desired that Cabira should remain in his hands for his security and that he might alwayes keep the Princess Aramâ—nta under his power Arsamones absolutely desiring it himself would not hearken unto him nor handsomely entertain those which came from him so that after this refusal Artanus was more perplexed then before 'T is true he enjoyed some dayes of rest because Arsamones falling sick it retarded the march of his Aâ—my which was coming against him As things stood in this condition there came a Cavalier into Heraclea where then the Queen Arbiana was for it is but just to give her that title which is her duâ— there came I say a Cavalier who on his Buckler bore the Emblem of a Slave which seemed â—o have his choâ—ce either of Fâ—tters or Crowns and he broke the last and assumed the first with th 〈…〉 Mâ—tro More heavy but more glorious As it was late when he came so he was unknown at his entrance into the Town and his devise was not observed that night but as soon as he alighted from his horse at the house of an old acquaintance he went unto the Palace where the Queen Princess were as for Arsamones he was yet sick in the Country whither these Princesses with the Princess Istrina sister unto Intaphernis who was then in that Court were the next morning to go This Cavalier went straight unto the chamber of the Princess Aristea and desired a servant to tell her there was a stranger which desired to speak with her in private concerning some important business the servant told him that she was with the Queen
came to ask leave that they might rebuild the Temple my father commanded all the Inhabitants of Miletus to bring all the provisions of corn that were in the Town and to set them down in the publick place of sale where the Embassadours of Lidia were to pass which being done according to his command and the Embassadours making a report of what they had seen unto their Master they caused him absolutely to despair of ever overcoming my father and since they saw the Milesians themselves were able to make war with four Kings at once they offered them very advantageous and glorious conditions of peace Alliattes then caused two Temples in lieu of one to be rebuilt and afterwards recovering his health he became a very intimate friend of my fathers who since that pacification was a very quiet Possessor of his Dominions notwithstanding the several secret factions which he knew was amongst his Subjects for he was very constant bold and politick one that made every one to fear him and one who defeated all manner of conspiracies against him This being the state of things he lived a long time in great tranquility and Miletus was questionless one of the most magnificent Towns of all Cairo I was then about the age of thirteen or fourteen and a natural Son unto the Prince my father called Alexidesmus was some seventeen or eighteen years of age since he was the son of a Concubine whom my father did highly affect he loved him exceeding well and educated him with the same care he did me Since the Princess my mother died when I was very young and the Prince my father did enfranchise and marry that mother of Alexidesmus that illegitimate Prince had a powerful upholder which I was deprived of for that woman was of a witty and subtle spirit and one that was capable of any thing about the same time it was that the wise Thales so famous every where returned from his long voyage cut of Egypt where Solon was then Resident and he took so great affection unto me as I can well boast without any vanity that I am beholding unto his sapient precepts for that little vertue which I have had I made as good use of them as I ought doubtless I should not have been so unfortunate as I am for he always read so many lessons against love and against marriage unto me that had I followed his advice I should at least have prevented one part of my misery The principal rule which he taught for the order of life was never to do that thing which we would condemn in another But though he taught me the lesson over and over an hundred times yet did I not keep close unto his document for though I have often condemned others for suffering themselves to be so far captivated by beauty as to lose their tranquility I my self am so deeply plunged in the snares of love that I even lost my reason But since the miseries of my fortune did precede those of my love it is therefore fit I first tell you Sir that Melasia so was the mother of Alexidesmus called whom my father had married since the death of my mother did project a marriage for her Son with a Milesian Lady who was extream rich and of high quality This at the first seemed very strange unto the world for every one thought that I ought to be first thought upon But yet since the Prince my father did favour the designe none durst make the least murmur and Alexidesmus continued his address without any obstacle for though this Lady whose name was Leonia whose father was dead and she at the disposition of her mother had no fancie unto Alexidesmus yet she concealed it by the command of her mother and indeed if it be lawful to speak sincerely of a man who was the causer of all my misery Alexidesmus was far from amiable for he had the violent humours of my father but he wanted his wit his resolution and an hundred other good qualities which he was owner of on the contrary he was extreamly cholerick cruel ambitious weak and bold both together as for his person it was reasonable handsom and there was a great difference between his body and his mind yet since Melasia had the heart of the Prince her Husband at command he would not see the faults of her Son or at least seemed as if he knew them not for he was continually cherishing and flattering him up and made no distinction between me and him though I dare boldly affirm I was free from many vices which they winked at in him The mother of Leonia was Sister unto the Prince of Phoceus whose Son as I told you before my father killed at the last battel against the King of Lidia so that in her heart she hated our house yet notwithstanding the Prince of Phoceus being all ambition he sent heâ— word that if she could so contrive it that Alexidesmus should raign and I disinherited that then she should consent unto this match but otherwise not so much as to think upon it This Lady being ambitious as well as her Brother and holding a great correspondencie with Melasia did so cunningly break the business unto her that there was no question but to find a sutable compliance between two women of one and the same disposition both of then did quickly understand the desires of each other since the same ambition did enflame them so that no longer hiding the matter they plotted together how they might make Alexidesmus Raign and concluded to bring it about though at the rate of many crimes committed Whilest things were thus transacting the Prince my Father finished that good strong Cittadel in Miletus and I was continually busied either in my exercises or in the conversation of Thales or else diverting my self in such delights as were fit for a Prince of my age I carried my self with all civility to wards Melasia and Alexidesmus but I do ingeniously confess that my aversion to them both was so great that I had much ado to dissemble it All this while the marriage of Leonea went slowly on for since the Prince of Phoceus would see some appearance of his hopes before he would consent unto it his Sister whose name was Philodicea did cunningly protract it neither could he bring it about soone because they of Prienna being forced to declare War against Policrates Prince of Samos who would needs be King of the Sea and fight with all he met my father thought that is common policy he was bound to oppose this new Soveraignty since he had a good pretence unto it and set forth a great Nevy of Ships of which he was constrained to make me Admiral because he could not handsomely do otherwise since he would not go himself in person unto this War Not but that I was very young for such an employment being then but fifteen years of age but since my Lievtenant General was a man of great experience he
was to manage the business and I only to have the honour of the Title neither do I know whether I should have had that if Alexidesmus had not faln sick so that he could not go this Voyage The Prince Philoxipes who was then about my age and the Prince Tisunder being both of them moved with a desire of glory came and took our parts and carried themselves most heroiquely in this War which proved not very prosperous unto us for the Fortune of Policrates was so great that nothing could refin him yet may I truly say without a boast that though we were sometimes worsted yet was it not without glory and though we were not so fortune as to conquer yet we shewed our Enemies that we deserved it At the last a Peace was concluded by the mediation of sage Bits who to that end went from Prienna unto Samos though it lasted not long since it was impossible to tye up Policrates from roving at Sea and assaulting almost all he met At my return to Milete I found the marriage of Alexidesmus and Leonea almost concluded for during my absence Melasia and Philodicea had cajolled with the chief of that faction in the Town who were opposite unto the wise Thales who though he was a great Lover of his Countries Liberty yet would he not buy it at the rate of any violent courses oftentimes saying that a Tyrant who governed his Subjects in Peace was better then that Liberty which was bought at the price of a War But there were some of another faction who transacted upon other principles and after another manner for conceiving that the Prince my Father had usurped an Authority which did not belong unto him and desiring to reduce the Government into a Popularity and to prevent his Successors from raigning after him see how they argued the matter amongst themselves without acquainting Melasia and Philodicea with it though they were all of the Conspiracy They thought that as long as the Prince my father lived there was no thoughts of recovering their Liberty but all their design was how to carry things after he was dead These men took notice how the people of Milete did extreamly affect me and seeing by my inclinations that my Raign would be milde and sweet they conceived it would be very difficult to make the people shake off their obedience but on the contrary foreseeing plainly that it Alexidesmus should Raign he would prove the most cruel violent and tyrannique Prince in they world they thought it would be a most easie business to induce the people to revolt and to shake off a weak and wicked Master so that in hopes this way to ruine soveraign Power the promised Melasia and Philodicea that when it was fit time they would set Alexidesmus in the Throne so that these two women were ignorant of their principles but however they were even ravished with joy to see their design like to prosper according to their wish and therefore the Marriage between Alexidesmus and Leonea must be solemnized without any longer delay and a Feast is prepared in Milete for it at which the Prince of Phocius seeming to forget the death of his Son was present and for a Months time nothing but publique Rejoycings and Sports were to be found amongst all those who were not of this close design Every one did think it strange the Prince my father should marry Alexidesmus before me since by usual course he who was to be his Successor should first be thought upon But since it was not the custom to murmur at whatsoever he did all the Town seemed to be very jocund I seeing which way things were like to be carried consulted with wise Thales who always told me that what the Gods had ordained must needs come to pass and therefore the best course would be to submit unto their Providence The state of things standing upon these terms and the Prince my father thinking himself the happiest man upon Earth Periander King of Corinth who at that time found no very exact obedience from his Subjects did send unto him to ask what would make a King that was but ill obeyed to live quietly in his Dominions The Prince my father who naturally was of a jealous disposuion and one of whose principal Maxims was to trust asecret unto as few as possible and to put nothing to hazard in lieu of writing unto Periander or giving any answer unto the Messenger he carried him to walk in a great Meadow and through a great field of Corn ready to reap for it was that time of the year and said unto him Tell the King your Master what you see me do in this Corn field and tell him that 's my answer The Messenger who knew not the Contents of their Letter which he brought began to observe very exactly what the Prince did who as he walked along the field of Corn as if he were in a deep study did break of those ears of Corn which grew higher then the rest and medled not with those whose weight did bend them down to the ground Whatsoever this Messenger might think upon this action yet he could not comprehend the meaning but resolved to tell his Master what he had seen yet since it seemed something odd and of small consequence after the Prince my father was entered into the Town and this Envoy gone to his lodging he could not chuse but tell the matter unto a man of Milate whom he thought to be his very good friend and one who promised him not to speak of it But as soon as he was gone this man told another and that other told his friend and that friend told another friend and he unto the chief of the Conspirators against me As this man was of a subtle wit and knew very well the state of the Corinthian Affairs and who moreover understood from Melasia that Periander had sent to ask counsel of my father concerning some important business did well enough interpret the riddle and easily understood that the breaking those highest ears of Corn was as much as to say that he must pull down the Grandees of his Dominioes who he thought did aspire above their quality So that fearing lest this lesson which was taught unto Periander should be executed upon himself if ever the Prince of Milete should come to discover his Plot he told those of the Combination that it was requisite they put their plot in execution sooner then once they intended But it was a long while before they could act their intentions so that I had leasure to go into that War wherein Leontidas served Policrates of which he told you in his Relation at Sinope But during my absence Anthemius so was the chief of the Conspirators called did so cunningly manage his business that he induced Melasia to think that the Prince my father lived too long for since the vices of Alexidesmus did every day grow higher the Prince began to make some difference
Souldiers gave him but only to reduce them unto obedience But at the same time he sent one of his servants secretly unto the Princesse Ladice conjuring her to retire from the Court and to come and receive a Crown which the Gods by his hand did offer her In the mean time the King was advertised by some faithfull Officers of the Army how things passed and hee grew into such a choler against Amasis that in lieu of dissembling his resentments he railed against him as a Rebell and dispatched a man of good Quality named Paterbenis with orders to joyn with some few Officers who were faithfull and to seize upon the person of Amasis or else kill him if they could not take him On the other side Ladice who was truly generous and did extreamly disapprove of this manner of acting though she did extreamly love Amasis yet she sent him word that she was so farre from removing away from the Court or participating of his Crime as she would declare that if he did not quickly return unto his duty she would become his most mortall Enemy Yet did she endeavour to glosse the matter at Court as much as she could but all in vaine for Apriez being resolved already upon his course dispatched Paterbems with his Commission yet it took not successe for as secret as it was carryed Amasis did know it So that when Paterbenis came to the Camp he found him he was already acquainted with the businesse of his voyage When he came unto him he found him busie in exhorting the Souldiers to draw up into Battalia and to defend his life which Apriez would take from him by some amongst them Paterbenis comming to him as Amasis was thus busied he resolved to speak unto him as if the King did credit all which Amasis told him and as if he did not suspect his fidelity to the end he might gaine more time to plot with those Officers of the Army who advertized Apriez of the truth But Amasis knowing the cause of his coming gave him no time to talk No no Paterbenis said he unto him Dissemble not that which I know as well as your self You come with intentions to carrie my head unto Apriez but I cannot beleeve these Souldiers who Crowned it will suffer you therefore I advise you to return immediately and tell that Prince who sent you that if he defend his Crown as well as I shall my head I shall not be King a long while Paterbenis would have replyed unto this bold language but there was such an acclamation amongst the Souldiers at the answer of Amasis as the Messenger saw his best course was to return for the Souldiers began to threaten him with insolent menaces Paterbenis then returned to Sais where Apriez was in his stately Palace which he had newly built yet he found but faint entertainment from her for this unfortunate King seeing the ill successe of his voyage beleeved he did comply with Amasis so that upon the information of some Souldiers who followed him who affirmed that if he had stayed a little longer in the Army there had been a mutiny he did not onely arrest him but put him to death This hasty and violent death did ruin Apriez for Paterbenis being a man of much integrity and known honesty to all the world the people of Sais did exceedingly murmur at it All the friends of Amasis fearing the like treatment from the King since he was capable of so unjust an act did take their friends part and went unto him and amongst the rest the Father of Heracleon So that in lesse then a moneth Amasis had a formidable army which still did every day encrease from all the Provinces of Egypt In the mean time the heart of Amasis was very restlesse love of Ladice did strive with his ambition yet could not vanquish it and so much the lesse because his marriage with her being not known she was in lesse danger of Apriez his violence but alasse this unfortunate Princesse was much to be lamented for she was not onely forced to separate from her dearly loved Amasis but she perceived she was with child consequently must tel the Queen whom she tenderly loved and who tenderly loved her that she was Wife to him who would pull her from the Throne Being put to this extremity she consulted with all her thoughts and endeavours how to winne Amasis unto repentance and in order to that she sent to acquaint Amasis with her condition and after a thousand most tender and perswasive arguments and invitations she sent to tell him that if he would not condescend unto her desires she would acquaint the King how she was his wife and shared in his crime and so consequently the next news he should hear would doubtlesse be that hee had lost both a Wife and a Child since it was not probable but he who put to death the innocent would take the same course with the Wife of an Usurper who confessed her self culpable But all the perswasions and threats of Ladice were in vain For Amasis did think that the Queen loved her better then to see her perish and that Ladice was wiser then to accuse her self and therefore he sent her word that he thought himself unworthy of that honour which shee had done him unlesse he pursued his design and set her upon a Throne To that end he caused it to be proclaimed that he was descended from the Line of the first Kings of Egypt from whom the Predecessors of Apriez had usurped the Soveraign Power So that to give some colourable glosse to his rotten cause he made it passe for good and strengthned himself the more Apriez seeing himself forsaken of his own Subjects and particularly of Heracleons Father who was a man of great power made use of some Auxiliary Forces The Ionians the Carians and some other Asiatique people raised him thirty thousand men so that being in the head of this army he went out of Says with resolutions to fight One thing is here observable which never perhaps was seen before the right King of Egypt had not one Egyptian in his army which was composed all of Strangers and on the contrary all the army of the Usurper was composed of naturall Subjects who fought against their right King In the mean time the miserable Ladice having not power to execute the message shee sent unto Amasis hoping still to move his heart she remained in unconceivable sorrows for she knew that had not she been a Mediator for him he could never have arrived at that passe So that looking upon her selfe as the onely cause of his crime of her Countries desolation and of the States ruin there was not a day but she desired death Nor did she know what she should ask from the gods But ever refigning her self unto their will she waited for the successe of War with more restlessnesse of mind then did the Queen Sesostris her onely sonne was then some four or
the Passion which possesseth me is upbraided but yet for all that I find it to be well grounded Indeed pursued he and smiled since it is permittable in War to have Spyes in the place which one would take it is as well allowable to have some in the heart which one would Conquer and so hold intelligence Since Spyes are only implyed replyed Mandana to know what passeth amongst Enemies you stand in need of none to know what passeth in my heart for there is no War declared betwixt us However I assure you Madam replyed Cyrus that somtimes one may as much long to know the thoughts of her he adores as to know the designs of his Enemies and for my particular I had rather have a faithfull Spy in your heart then have a hundred with the King of Assyria or the King of Pontus though they were Masters of Babylon or Sardis Yet Madam I beseech you do not think that this my Curiosity hath any smack of Jealousie nor that I am one of those Lovers who are extreamly inquisitive for what they would not find But Madam the reason of it is since I must confess it because there is a notable difference between thoughts of esteem which are expressed by obliging Language and hidden thoughts which are concealed almost from the parties themselves and which others can know only but by guesses Think it not strange then Madam that though I am not so impudent as to think you have any advantageous thoughts of me which you would not honour me with the Participation yet I cannot chuse but desire that I were able to dive into the secrets of your heart I must needs desire to have a sight of all the Virtues together and wish your heart were open that I should know all your thoughts all your desires To satisfie one part of your Curiosity replyed Mandana to divert the discourse I must tell you that I have a strange desire to know all the thoughts of Menesteus since this eight years that he hath lived in the Tomb of this fair one whom he loved and lost Oh Madam sayd Cyrus by seeming to satisfie my Curiosity you rather ayme at your own and not my satisfaction But it is not my part to prescribe Laws unto you therfore since it is not yo 〈…〉 pleasure I should be more scrutinous into your Soul and since you had rather I could talk of Menesteus then of you or my self I shall tell you that I cannot easily conceive all his eight years thoughts for love and sorrow are two inexhaustible gulfs of thoughts if I may so express that bottomless Abyss in the mind of a grieved Lover and which wholy possesseth him as long as his love and grief lastes But the greater wonder is how he hath lived so long after the death of her he adored For really Madam without any aggravation of my sorrows at Synope when I had cause to fear your being drown'd I can truly protest that I had not one day more to live when I heard you were living I am much obliged to you Sir replyed Mandana for your engaging sorrows though I will not beleive it to be so violent as you express least you should upbraid me with ingratitude yet truly I must confess that the most sensible sorrow of all sorrows is the death of the Party loved and I am so fully perswaded of this truth that as oft as I imagine that there is an absolute necessity I must one day hear of the death of persons whom I love or they hear of mine I am so melancholy as I hardly know my self Oh Madam cryed out Cyrus what a dismall image do you make to pass out of your Spirit into mine I ask you pardon Sir replyed she but yet I think you are obliged to concur with me for since I cannot think without a sad remembrance that you must one day hear of my death or I of yours methinks it is a mark of amity which merits a pardon for my sad discourse your expressions Madam are so obliging replyed Cyrus that I owe you a tribute of a thousand thanks but for all that Madam I beleive I shall scarcely pardon you this day for infusing into me such apprehensions of your death As soon as Cyrus had pronounced these words Eucrates came to acquaint him that there was a man of Quality from Phoceus whose name was Thrymetus whom the Son of Menesteus had sent unto his Father who desired to speak with him and who arrived immediately after he was come out of the Tomb Adding that he was accompanied with two strangers unknown either by their Habits or Language Since Mandana conceived that this man could have no business with Cyrus which her presence might hinder she desired that Prince that Thrymetus might have audience before her which Cyrus accordingly commanded and Eucrates obeying Thrimetus with his two strange Companions was brought into Mandana's Chamber who with Cyrus saluted them Thrymetus having a Letter which was only of Credence to present he uttered these words Sir sayd he unto him in Greeek I am sent unto you from a Prince whose good or bad fortunes you have power to make but since he hath been so unhappy as to be engaged in a Party opposite unto yours and constrained to preserve his liberty by abandoning â—his Country unto your Victorious Armes and to have recourse unto flight I cannot tell Sir whether his hopes of reception be well grounded but I am most certain that the Prince Menesteus his Father unto whom I came upon a message is so charmed with your generosity that he makes no doubt but that I shall obtain my demands To testifie replyed Cyrus that I have a great disposition to grant any thing unto a Prince of his merit who sent you I will not assume the Right of Conquerors which nere allowes their vanquished Enemies the names of those Countries which are conquered from them But on the contrary though Peraneus was never yet called the Prince of Phoceus because he who left him that Title did not perish untill since his departure yet I will be the first that will call him so and intreat you to name him no otherwise for since the Prince Thrasibalus hath given once such noble Characters of his Virtue and Valour I am resolved to treat him as favourably as I have done others who merits it no more then he Oh Sir reylyed Thrymetus I ask no more for since you are pleased to acknowledge Peraneus in the presence of these strangers to be a Prince and the Prince of Phocens you have granted as much as I had in Commission to ask and you have made him the most happy Prince upon Earth if I may phrase a man so who hath not the glory to be particularly known unto the greatest Prince in the World Since the expressions of Thrymetus did surpize both Cyrus and Mandana and since they observed much joy in the face of one stranger and much sorrow in the eyes
of Artamenes his most glorious descent It will suffice to say his Name is Cyrus and derived from the illustrious Race of Persides This is enough to inform you that there is not one more Noble in the world Cyrus hath this advantage above others that he is Soveraign of a people if it befit a Persian to say it amongst whom Virtue is loved and vice abhorred with such disgust that it dares not appear unless under a cloak of Virtue Artamenes moreover for so I will call him yet has the glory to be subject unto a Prince and Princess whose Applauds fills the story of all Nations so that he derives nothing from them but what is most Noble and Heroicque Now since the History of the King of Medes does much conduce to the cleering of my relation I shall be forced to fetch far off a foundation to build the rest of my discourse upon Be pleased to remember how the Ancient Kings of Assiria became Lords of all higher Asia and how the wise and famous Deiocus Sonne of Phraortes did incite his Countrymen to rebell against their Tyrant Kings and after he had got the Soveraignty of the Medes into his own Power restor'd it into the hands of a Mede again You know Sir that this Great and Generous Prince was Lineally descended from the Ancient Kings of Medes and that it was he who ordained such excellent Laws who built the stately Town of Ecbatane and who reduced under his obedience all the state of his Ancestors which were the Brussians the Paratecenians the Struchatians the Arisentines and the Budiens After Deiocus who raigned fifty three years Phaortes his Sonne inherited the Crown and raigned so peaceably as if the Assirians had never usurped But being not content to sit quietly in the Throne of his Predecessors he began to make war against the Persian a People so rusted with more then a whole age of Peace that they finding themselves assaulted by a most Martiall People accustomed to conquer and to prevent the utter desolation of their Country complied with them and Peace was so concluded that the two Crowns of Persia and Media were inseperably interested so that as often as Phraortes should stand in need of their Assistance they were obliged to lend it Here Sir was the first Connexion of the Medes with the Persians I need not relate how Phraortes swel'd with ambition pronounced war against the King of Assiria who slept securely in a downy bed of Peace within his own Dominions Nor how after he had raigned two and twenty years and besieging the Town of Minos perished in the attempt Nor how after his death Ciaxares his Sonne the first of that Name among the Kings of Medes succeeded in the Kingdom nor how Fortune was sometimes a friend and sometimes a fo unto this Prince for I know you are not ignorant how in giving Battle to the Libians when he was at the very point of being victorious it became so accidentally dark upon a sudden that it was impossible for him to continue fight and finish his almost gotten victory You know also that in besieging the Town of Minos of which we spake before intending to revenge the death of his Father Phraortes who was killed before this Town and being at the very point of taking it Medeas King of the Scythians appeared with an Army of a hundred thousand men within shot of his Camp You know also how this King lost the Battle unto the Scythians and his Empire with it but got again into the Throne for this Invasion of the Scythians lasted not above eight and twenty years You know also that this Ciaxares not changing his Resentments with his fortunes revived the warre with the King of Assiria and at last became Master of the Town of Minos Then Sir you know how this first Ciaxares was Father unto Astiages whom he left a quiet Inheritor of his Dominions but as this Prince was born in a turbulent time so I beleeve that the restless spirit of the Father was transmigrated into the soul of the Sonne and imprinted such Melancholy thoughts in this Prince his Sonne as caused him to passe his life with much inquietude and was partly a cause of all those thwartings in Artamenes his fortunes He was married very young and in a manner doubtless extraordinary though out of my memory The Battle which the King his father lost unto Aliattes King of Lydia by reason of that obscurity which blinded both Armies was a cause of this marriage for after so strange an accident the King of Medes consulted with the Priests and Aliattes went unto the Temple of Diana at Ephesus which by reason of the Oracles there was grown in great repute These Princes were told by the Priests and by the Oracle of Diana that the Gods did express by this remarkable sign they were not pleased with the warre but that they ought to resolve upon termes of Peace The King of Sicily who was a mediator in the matter did so negotiate between them that the King of Lydia who had but one Daughter Sister of Craessus should marry her unto Astiages the Sonne of his enemy So you may collect by this that the marriage which was made up so soon after the warre of Lydia gave me some say cause to say that this Prince born when the Starres had such tumultuous influence received from them such troublesome Inclinations As for his Raign Sir because it is so late since it ended it would be superfluous to relate it Let it suffice to tell you how he knowing that none of his Predecessors ever since the Famous Deiocus had enjoyed their Kingdom in Peace therefore he alwayes stood upon his guard and feared some Revolt You know Sir that he had by the Queen his wife and sister of Craessus Ciaxares who now raigns and retains the invincible Artamenes prisoner You know also that he had one Daughter called Mandana an admirable Beauty of great virtue and wisdome That long since the Queen his wife died and with her all his affections to any other so that he would never marry more Since this losse all his thoughts are upon his young Sonne Ciaxares and his young fair Daughter Mandana endeavouring to keep himself peaceable within his own limits without any attempts upon his Neighbours And though he had the good fortune never to be in any considerable actuall warre yet he had to be in continuall preparations for it sometimes against his antient enemy the King of Assiria sometimes against his Allies and sometimes against his own Subjects yet for all these inquietudes which his perpetual turbulencies did procure him his Court held up the proudest head in all Asia For as you know the Medes were alwayes addicted to Magnificence and Pleasures Astiages especially who was most of all devoted unto all manner of Diversions of his Melancholy and pensive cogitations Ecbatane was the fittest seat for it of all places in the world This Prince therefore ever
since the birth of his Sonne Ciaxares did alwayes every year Celebrate a certain day of publike Jollity It was his Custom to go himself unto the Temple to thank the Gods for his Sonne and offer Prayers for his Preservation The young Prince Ciaxares was then about sixteen and the Princess his Sister about fourteen years of age when one of these Festivall Ceremonies were observed there chanced a strange Accident which did much disturb their Devotion and Jocandry for as Astiages was going out of his Pallace in the morning unto the Temple and carried with him the Prince his Sonne upon a sudden the brightness of the day became all dully dim and the Sunne so eclipsed as it cast such a black obscurity over the face of the whole earth as none could almost distinguish each other that little light which was gave such a glooming shaddow as was most terrible to them all This Accident extreamly troubled Astiages The People took it for no good Omen for though those which saw this Eclipse had seen others also yet this was much more affrighting then they as well because it was much greater as because it happened upon such a remarkable day Insomuch as they did think it more then a meer cursary and naturall accident and concluded it to be a Commet or some sign from Heaven by which the Gods did portend and advertise the King and People of some important matter Some remembred that terrible darkness which affrighted Ciaxares the Father of Astiages and 〈◊〉 none made it any question but it was an advertisement from Heaven to move the t 〈…〉 gs of Medes and Lydia unto Peace and therefore they thought this Commet to signifie some such thing To be short every one vented his peculiar phansie and explained the meaning of it according to his own capritious humour Some said it might presage the Kings death others feared the destruction of the Empire Some the losse of the Prince his Sonne and all did Augure mourning consequents But although this obscurity did much amaze them yet that which followed this Eclipse did absolutely confound them for after it had continued thus dark four compleat hours the Sunne contrary to its common naturall course discovered it self all at once in an instant and was so hot so cleer and of a light so transplendent as it blinded all them who durst gaze upon it the heat no lesse extream then the brightness for it was so excessive as the People thought all the earth set on fire All this while Astiages who was alwayes naturally too apprehensive and superstitious of such Accidents and was fully perswaded that the Priests knew almost all things future therefore he assembled them together and commanded them to consider seriously what might be the meaning of this Prodigie Doubtless Sir you know how these men lead theirlives which afford them leasure enough to contemplate these celestiall Signs and have so deep an inspection into the influence of Stars that they can by them oftentimes divine long before what shall afterwards come to passe The Gods also do sometimes inspire them by secret wayes which are unknown unto the vulgar Their Answers are as certain as Oracles and have this advantage above them that they have much more cleerness and far lesse riddle in them then Oracles use to have so that Astiages having got them together as I formerly said and after they had pray'd unto the Gods and contemplated the Starres they told the King having prepared him beforehand to receive patiently whatsoever they should tell him least he should break into any violent passion That according unto their speculations those gifts and that knowledge which they had received from Heaven this great Eclipse which had such supernaturall Courses did signifie either his own death or the Princes his Sonnes or the decline 〈…〉 his Soveraign Authority As for the two first of these they told him that they 〈…〉 onceive it should be either of them because they had heretofore according to his 〈…〉 ands Calculated both their Nativities and had collected severall Astronomicall Observations concerning both their Lives they alwayes found and concluded that both their Lives should be long therefore they must by Consequence conclude that it Portends decay in Dominion and that universall revolution threatens all Asia particularly Medea and that it shall be upon them suddenly unless they make some happy use of those Advertisements which Heaven does signifie unto them as Ciaxares his Father had done before him Astiages was Planet-struck with this discourse and conceiving that out of fear the Priests had not yet revealed all they knew did presse them further to declare their full knowledge In conclusion they told him that in their opinions it was to be feared the extraordinary brightness which followed the darkness and the Sunnes so sudden discovering it self in an instant did signifie that the Prince his Sonne following too much the Counsels of Ambitious spirits would one day usurp his Crown The darkness did signifie his Power which should also be obscured and the brightness did signifie the sudden splendor of the young Prince But yet for all this there was a Remedy for the Gods did not admonish Men in vain But that the King his Father when he was forewarned did appease them in making Peace with Lybia And so likewise ought he to render himself submissive unto them by Sacrifices by Prayers and by his Virtues and that he ought to have extraordinary care in placing Wise and Prudent men about the young Prince such as should infuse sapient Instructions into him and root out of his minde all those corrupt seeds which ill disposed men had sowed The King no sooner heard what these magick Priests had said but he was fully satisfied for though his naturall disposition was alwayes prompt and superstitious in such things yet he had some apparent colour for this because Ciaxares his Sonne did begin to put forth some ambitious budds and all his inclinations were Grandure and Dominion Also he had many about him who fomented this naturall propensity so that the thoughts of Astiages no sooner reflected upon him but he imagined him in his Throne snatching the Scepter out of his hand and throwing him into Prison You may imagin Sir how disgustive this discourse was unto the soul of a Prince who priz'd his Crown above his Life but who in spite of all jealous resentments did yet retain the affection of a Father towards a Sonne In the mean while he charged the Priests not to publish what they had told him fearing that it might cause his ruin if they did and that if his Sonne should come to the knowledge of it he might chance think it no Crime to make bold with the Crown since it seem'd to be the pleasure of the Gods to have it so Therefore he gave express command unto them that they should tell the Prince his Sonne and divulge it unto all the People how this Eclipse had nothing extraordinary in it
that the Circumstance of Day upon which it happened was a meer Casualty from whence no ill consequences can be drawn and that they should not cease their Prayers unto the gods for his good fortune The Priests were obedient unto his commands but he did not reap that profit from their obedience which he expected For since the People were told it threatned no evil they apprehended and feared much more The young Prince did imagin that perhaps the Magicians found it foretold his death so that both Court and People were in great disorder The King did all he could to testifie he harboured no ill apprehensions in his minde yet for all that in the midst of the feasting jollities which were sumptuously prepared for his diversion and disguise of his melancholy thoughts one might see him troubled and his minde much disquieted His heart was possest with two Passions at once Paternall affection towards a Sonne contending with Jealousie of his Soveraign Authority so that it was easie to conclude he was not at peace within himself he loved the Crown as well as he did his Sonne and perhaps was biassed on that side more then the other as the sequell presently after made it appear for advising with himself by what expedients he should divert the young Ciaxares from his aspiring thoughts he concluded the best was to send him farre off from Court where the Grandees of State were alwayes resident and who all lookt upon him as one who one day should be their King which was dangerous to a disposition too apt already to hearken unto ill councell yet this resolution of removing him was not without much anxiety and sorrow for he feared least this course should more incense Ciaxares for said he to himself as long as he is with me and under my eye I shall need no spies to observe his actions I shall my self be a witness of them but when he is in a farre off Country whom shall I trust to be his Protectour may it not be well supposed that many ill disposed persons will there speak aloud that which here they dare not so much as think In conclusion Sir when he had throughly argued the matter and weighed every Circumstance he conceived he had found out a safer 〈◊〉 then to remove him for when he remembred that the King of Cappadocia had but one 〈…〉 ghter living under the tuition of the Queen her Mother he thought that if he could bring about a Match between her and his Sonne Ciaxares it would be an excellent way to remove him without giving him any occasion of complaint and without any appearance of any close design in it Moreover it might probably be conjectured that the putting one Crown upon his Sonnes head would satisfie his young Ambition from aspiring unto the other and stifle all usurping designs against his Father To be short he apprehended so much advantage in this Match as he bended all his endeavours to bring it about I will not trouble you Sir with relating all the Passages in transacting it nor the rubbs he met withall in the negotiation for I do suppose you are not ignorant of a Law in Cappadocia which permits not their Kings to marry their Daughters unto any strange Princes least their Kingdom should become subject unto the dominion of a Forraigner yet Astiages acted his part so well and with such good success as the Marriage was concluded for he found it out by chance that Ciaxares was born in Cappadocia For the Queen his Mother going a Pilgrimage to visit a famous Temple which was in that Country fell sick when she was great with childe and was delivered of Ciaxares within the confines and jurisdiction of Cappadocia At last he married his Sonne Ciaxares unto this young Queen whose Beauty and Virtue might be rated at a higher value then her Crown As soon as she was married the Queen her Mother died the People resented her death as a punishment for not precisely observing the fundamentall Law of the Land Mean while Astiages is secure finding his Sonne wondrous well pleas'd with his condition Also that the Crown of Cappadocia and the Virtue of the Princess his Wife did highly contribute unto his happiness and that Ciaxares so esteemed of it After this Marriage all Pleasures and Delights do bid adieu to Ecbatane The young Princess Mandana Daughter to Astiages will needs depart from that Court wherein she was so adored for since the absence of the Prince hâ—â— brother there was none could obtain any thing from the King her Father but by her intercession Amidst this calm serenity and universall quietness Astiages had a most odd and horrid Dream which is talked on by every one As he was in consultation again with his Priests concerning the accidents of his Life they told him how they found that all their former Prediction was in a likelihood to fail but that infallibly the Princess his Daughter should have a Sonne who would make himself Master of all Asia and by consequence should possess this Throne in lieu of his Sonne Ciaxares and who to conclude should cause a generall Revolution Astiages contrary to his old custom had much ado to beleeve a Tale so unlikely to prove true and for a long time rejected the Priests thinking all their Predictions to be no better then lies since they so failed in their first But those extravagant visions and operations of his phansie did perplex him so many nights together that he began to think again that there might be some truth in their speeches yet this had not caused him to fear the menaces of these signs so much though Dreams were much considerable among the Medes especially their Priests who beleeved them to be the ordinary wayes by which the Gods did communicate themselves unto men if other signs also had not concurred and augmented his fears and seemed to authorise them The Princess Mandana who knew nothing of all these Passages being one night in her Closet which was illuminated by many Lamps of Cristall it was told her the King her Father intended a visit for Astiages was resolved to entertain himself with her in hopes to temper his disturbed minde by the moderation of this Princess society who without doubt was as virtuous as ever any He no sooner was setled in the Room but all the Lamps did immediatly of themselves extinguish only one which was just over the head of Mandana which still retain'd its light and doubled that which all the other had lost Astiages more troubled at this Prodigie then at all his Dreams consulted afresh with his Magicians who assured him that this was an infallible sign his Soveraignty should cease and be all in subjection unto that one Son which Mandana should be mother of according unto the dreams which before they had interpreted unto him The next day after when the Princesse was at the Temple the Earth quaked and all the ornaments of the Church fell to the ground except the
his minde and to free himself from all his jealousies and fears so likewise her soul was sensible of much sorrow when she feared also that her Husband would not so part with her but for this time they parted Cambises to Persipolis and melancholy Mandana to Ecbatane where at first she was received with abundance of Joy so that Astiages was more at hearts ease then he could have imagined Before she was married many disswaded him from it but now since she was married and so far from her Husband he could not conceive any thing possible to disturb his quiet He foresaw that if he should retain her long and she desirous to depart perhaps a warre might thereupon arise 'twixt him and the Persian but he valued that lesse then to see Mandana in a condition to have a Sonne so then all was fill'd with welcomes feasts and jocundary insomuch as the Princess began to be in some hopes she should be deceived in her former fears Yet amid all these pleasant diversions her health began to impair and visible marks of indisposition appeared in her complexion she beleeved the cause might proceed from her weariness in her journey or from the change of though her native air only it might be her resentments of her Husbands absence but within a little after she certainly perceived she was with childe and this troubled her so much as she fell absolutely sick for she concluded it questionless that her Father would not suffer her to return in that condition and if she should so chance as to be delivered of a Sound in Ecbatane the best of her expectations would be an exchange of his Cradle for a Prison or so ordered that she should not have the dispose of her own Childe Sometimes she imagined her Husband angry with her for concealing from him her Fathers humour and so 〈◊〉 troubled thoughts did disturb her as she stood in need of all her Constancy to concealed Melancholy Mean while she resolves to conceal her Condition as long as she can 〈◊〉 keeps her Chamber continually and for the most part her bed A while after she complains of the Air in Ecbatan and intends a request unto the King her Father that she may return into Persia or else that he would be pleas'd to permit her to go unto a fair house in the Country about some five miles from Ecbatan conceiving that place was most fit to conceal her condition in But as ill-luck would have it one of the Physicians which came to visit her discovered the truth in spite of all her care to conceal it for she often complained of so many untrue distempers thinking thereby to delude them and divert them from knowing the true cause as made them more inquisitive The Physician hoping to be a welcome intelligencer told Astiages she was with Childe so that when the Queen presented her desires unto her Father she was hansomely denied and told this was much better Air so that if she were in Persia so ill as she is he would wish her in Medea for recovery of her health this being both her native and incomparably better Air then that of Persipolis therefore he would by no means have her think of return That he would most willingly consent unto her desires of going into the Country if he could be perswaded it were better for Ecbatan had more pleasant Gardens by much and the Court was fitter for diversion of her melancholy then any Country solitude could be therefore he desired her to remain where she was Presently after all her women about her are removed and others put in their rooms The time of her delivery drew neer and Astiages is fuller if fuller possible can be of new fears In few words Sir Mandana is delivered of a Sonne and timorous Astiages causeth his confident Harpagus to take it with express charge to carry it closely into some remote Mountain and there leave it amongst Tygers in the wilderness This Prince was so inhumane as he would have presently killed him but the Gods restrained him from a fact so foul Harpagus being somewhat less cruel then he would not at that time do it but faithfully promised it should be done and not daring to be seen in the destruction of this Infant he committed it unto the execution of a Shepherd called Methridates who dwelt at the bottom of a great Mountain in the wilderness whom he sent for and commanded him to do with this Childe as he had received charge And be pleas'd to know Sir that this Shepherd carried this Childe away which was the fairest that ever eye beheld During the time that this Shepherd was at the Town with Harpagus his Wife chanced to be delivered of a dead Childe the Shepherd brings this live one to her which presently began to Laugh upon her she took in her arms and forsaking the Corps of her own dead Childe took the care of this fair Little one and would never let her Husband rest untill he consented As for the dead Childe he threw it out amongst the wilde beasts to be there torn in pieces This poor Nurse whose Name was Spaco thought no more of the dead one but resolved to become Nurse unto the other who she knew to be of some high quality by the Mantle in which the Childe was lapt it being made of cloth of gold You may see Sir It had been an easie matter for Methridates living at the foot of a desart mountain far off but towards the north of Ecbatane and the Euxean bridge to have put this Childe to death and never fear discovery in a place so rude and desart And you know Sir as well as I that all the parts of Medea towards Aspires are mountainous wilde forrests covered with woods and fill'd with salvage beasts Be pleased Sir to know further that this Methridates putting his own dead Childe into the Cradle which was very rich and which brought Mandanaes shewed it unto those which Harpagus sent thither to see it These men taking it carried it unto their Master Harpagus who having acquainted Astiages with it received orders to entomb it amongst the Kings of Medea Thus you see Sir the Sonne of a Shepherd in a Royal Sepulcher and the Sonne of a great King in a Shepherds poor Cottage Know also how Astiages caused it to be divulged about the Court that Mandanaes Sonne died of some disease and told the same unto the Princess he sent also unto Cambises to condole the loss But poor Mandana all this while although she did more then suspect the truth yet she with much ado continued in her Constancy and took no notice And though the deep melancholy which dwelt in her eyes did witness as much yet since it could not be helped she would not discover the cause nor infuse any jealousies of it into her Husbands thoughts The better to colour her grief she desired the second time leave to go into the Country which now without any repugnance is consented
unto And Astiages sent afterwards unto her to let her know that if she pleased she might return into Persia for he had this conceit that it was the first Sonne of Mandana only whom he had to fear which being secured he was then glad to be rid of the Mother whom if she should detain any longer would by her extremity of sorrow draw a thousand reproaches upon himself As soon as this Liberty is obtained she presently returns to Cambises unto whom she opened not a syllable of her troubled soul but attributed the alteration of her Complexion unto her absence from him and her sorrowes for the death of her Sonne I am forced Sir to be a little longer then is fitting in the relation of my Masters strange Infancy who though all this while in a poor Shepherds homely Cottage was notwithstanding Apprehensive of those Glories which belong unto a Kingdom Be pleased Sir to know in few words that this young Prince though then unknown unto himself or any else to be one did then act the part of a King and caused himself to be called so amongst all the neighbours Children which played with him when he was but ten years of age He made himself feared loved and obeyed amongst them as if he had been really their absolute Prince One day having punished one of the boyes whom he called subjects for some offence committed the Father of that Childe so punished chanced to be an Officer in the Kings house who coming to the knowledge of this passage and wondring that this young poor Shepherds Sonne should act the part of a King so well told Astiages of it and infinitely extolled the beauty and boldness of this Childe The King caus'd him to be sent for and asked the Childe why he punished the other boy the Childe did return so quick an answer as struck the King into a wonder seeing him speak unto a King with as much confidence as if he had been among the boyes Moreover Astiages was infinitely astonished to see this Sonne of a poor Shepherd so much resemble his Daughter Mandana as never two were more like Indeed he had some secret suspicions in his soul which told him it was the same that he suspected him to be In conclusion Sir Astiages could not be satisfied untill he sent for the Shepherd himself out of his Cottage and asking him in a terrible tone and with stern looks where he got this Childe the poor simple Methridates thinking the King had known the passage and being terrified with the Kings looks and question confessed the whole story The King in spite of all his fears could not chuse but like and love this admirable Childe and after he had assembled all the Magicians they told him whether it was the truth of their thoughts or whether it was their pity which moved them to dissemble I know not that the Royalty which this Childe had exercised over the boyes was an infallible sign that the Gods had heard their prayers and that all the Dominion which this young Prince should have over the Medes was limited and confined unto that which he hath exercised over the boyes so that there need no more fears of him They further told him that the Gods do sometimes threaten great Princes by these Prodigies only least they should forget that duty which they owe unto them and in conclusion they told him that if he would be pleased to follow their advice he should send this young Prince unto the King of Assiria his Father Astiages who conceived many affectionate thoughts of this Childe was glad of the advice and being himself of a weak soul relied much upon the judgement of these Magicians and was fully perswaded that this imaginary Royalty was the fulfilling of his Dream and truly Sir as the case stands now with Artamenes it is apparent that Astiages has no reason to fear Cyrus yet though he permitted this young Prince to live whom he named Cyrus he would not pardon Harpagus for he banished him the Court and Kingdom This man who would neither be absolutely pittifull nor absolutely cruell is left without support or refuge and compl'd to the rigor of a long exile Nevertheless as I know you are not ignorant Astiages sent Cyrus unto Cambises his Father writing this excuse unto him That to prevent certain malignant Constellations which threatned this Childe he out of his affection was forced to hide him and cause his sorrowes in divulging him dead but this sorrow will quickly change it self into a double recompence of joy when he shall see him living so well and so amiable Cambises received him with unexpressible joy and the wise Mandana gave as many thanks unto her Father Astiages as ever she received causes of displeasure from him though she had learned the truth of the story by the information of Harpagus who was fled thither and told her all in hopes thereby to procure himself Protection And though she could not be convinc't that Astiages was so innocent as he made himself yet by the knowledge of what was past she was instructed how to prevent the like for the future Mean while the young Cyrus is in Persipolis for joy of whose welcome both publike and private Sacrifices are made throughout all Persia and for whose Education all men of high parts throughout the whole Kingdom are imployed When Ciaxares heard of these passages he sent unto Cambises and the Queen his Sister to congratulate their good Fortunes in finding their Sonne and he writ in a high Complement unto the Queen how he wisht his Daughter Mandana might hereafter become worthy to be the Mistris of Cyrus whose fame fil'd all the world This young Princess was born unto the King of Cappadocia about three years after the birth of Cyrus and had the Name of her Aunt Mandana given unto her Now Sir to tell you how young Cyrus was educated would but abuse your Patience for his high atchievements since does sufficiently demonstrate it unto all the world I shall only tell you that both the King and Queens endeavours were with all possible care to infuse such good dispositions as now appears to be in him For all men finde in all his actions and all his words something so sweet so high so complacentiall and so full of goodnesse as it is an absolute impossibility to know him and not to love him He was marvellous well proportioned exceeding fair and as this charming Symmetry did from his very infancy appear in all parts of his body yet his soul and spirit was infinitely above it Perhaps you know that in Persipolis there is a pleasant spacious place called the place of Liberty in one Quarter thereof stands the Kings Palace None inhabit within this square but Grandees and wisest sort of Persians for wisedom in that Nation is no lesse valued then Nobility by descent which also is in very high esteem It was within this famous Quadrangle wherein none but persons of great wisedom
Arguments to induce him thereunto yet as for her part in consideration of the King her Father his humours she did not much disapprove of the motion I perceived she had some inclinations that he Sonne should be removed but that her Maternall tenderness joyned with her desires of concealing her Fathers cruelty from Cambises knowledge did impede it and that this was her only reason which hindred her from absolute consenting to his departure both she and I did conceive much likelihood of producing good effects provided he were so hansomely disguised and not discovered by the Spies which Astiages had lurking in every corner of Persipolis Moreover she considered that the King of Medes her Father was old and of a mutable disposition therefore it might so happen that during her Sonnes travell he might either die or alter his minde when he knew that he who was the cause of his fears was far enough remote from being in the head of any Army to trouble him and since he was so giddily travelled without any Accommodations or Train proportionable to his quality And though the Queen did well enough resent and understand all this and confessed it yet the presence of her Sonne was so deer unto her as she could not fix upon this harsh resolution however so full of reason I pondering all these Circumstances and knowing that Honour was the only motive which prompted Cyrus to this design also conceiving it the only prudential course for the preservation and maintaining of Peace between these two great Kingdoms then I resolved without disclosing any of these reasons unto the Prince to consent unto his desire and I my self to be a partaker of his Fortunes and a witness of his vertues from which I expected high atchievements Certainly it was not without great reason that I concealed from him the causes of all our fears which we apprehended of his Life if he had stayed any longer in Persia for doubtless if he had known the truth he would quickly have alterd his resolutions and would not have quit the Name of Cyrus for that of Artamenes which now I advised him to take upon him I cannot express the joy this Prince was in when I went unto his Chamber and told him that he had overcome me and that I would consent unto his desires upon condition he would promise me that in all the voyage he would be pleased to promise me to condescend unto mine and be rul'd by me Indeed I never in all my life saw so many signs of full satisfaction as appeared in his looks Ha my Chrisantes cried he out and embracing me since you have consented in this fear not but I will obey you in any thing Let us go let ut go upon any conditions for as long as you shall demand nothing but what is just and honourable be confident I will never disobey In conclusion Sir not too much to abuse your Patience it was resolved that Cyrus and I and Feraulas from whom he had not hid the design and two other servants should be all the number As for our subsistence we took with us all the Princes Jewels which were not a few nor common ones though the Persian Nation does openly profess to contemn all such magnificent superfluities but the Queen following the custom of her own Country brought with her a vast number and gave the most and best of them unto Cyrus her Sonne who seldom wore them unlesse at publike Feasts and grand Ceremonies intending to poise himself between the magnificent Mede and the moderate Persian We put up all these Jewels and pretending to Hunt with a small number we did prolong the Chase until night then dispersing our selves in the Forrest and meeting at an appointed Rendez-vous we took our way and began our voyage the horrid sequel where of affrights me when I think upon it But before our departure the Prince writ unto his Father asking pardon for departing out of the Kingdom without his leave He wrote another Letter also unto the Queen his Mother upon the same subject and without acquainting me he left a Note to be conveyed unto Harpagus in which he told him that though he had refused his offer yet he should see ere long by what Rule he squared his Actions As for my part I thought it not good for me to write unto the Queen least the King should come to see what I writ and gather something out of it which the Queen would have concealed Now Sir Cyrus must cease to be Cyrus and under the Name of Artamenes you shall understand some of his glorious Acts. After we had layn three dayes in the wildred Forrest where we chang'd our habits and travelled three nights we arrived at Susianes that way seeming more safe then the other to passe into Assiria of which you know Babylon is the Metropolis a Town then of the greatest splendor of any that ever was But Sir it befits me not to speak of it before you since you all except Thrasibulus contributed to the destruction of it and therefore are not ignorant I will only tell you that though Artamenes had no intentions to take part with the Assirian against the Phrygian because the Assirians were the old enemies of Astiages yet we went thither to see the Court which then was the greatest and most pompous in all Asia When we approached neer it the object did much delight Artamenes As we passed along the banks of the River Euphrates we admired the situation of this proud Town which stood between two of the most famous Rivers in the world Tygris and Euphrates Here passed by us two men talking together how that the Queen was possessed with great Joy and great sorrow both together Artamenes did overhear them and you must know Sir Cambises had alwayes a great desire that his Sonne should be taught the Languages of all the prime Nations in the world It was his customary Speech that it were very strange a Prince should not understand the Language of that Nation from whom he would entertain an Embassadour so that both Artamenes and I understood that Language Artamenes then understanding what these two men said addressed himself very civilly unto them and asked them in their own Language What did the Queen so much joy and so much sorrow at The one answered That her joy was because about some eight dayes since the tedious warre between the King of Assiria and the King of Phrygia was happily ended a happy Peace was concluded upon advantagious termes and joyfully proclaimed about some two dayes since But the joy of this great Queen who solely governed the Kingdom since the death of the King her Husband although she had caused the Prince her Sonne to be crowned King this joy I say was turned into great sorrow the reason of it is because she having but this only Sonne whom she intended to marry unto the Daughter of a Prince called Gadates with whom this Peace was concluded and whom
the King of Saces Father of Prince Mazares who has suffered shipwrack where I dare say of my self that in a little time I got some honour But after his wars were ended and peace was established throughout all Asia I was compelled after two years spent among the Saceans and in my Travels to return unto Ecbatan which as you know is one of the goodliest most magnificent and most delightfull places in the world I arrived there some few daies after Astiages received news of the death of young Cyrus son to the King of Persia and the Princess his daughter Then I know you have been Sir so long in Cappadocia as you cannot be ignorant of all the passages in Medea of the menaces of the gods of the fears and frights of Astiages and of the joy which he conceived for that security which all Asia hoped for by the death of that Prince who as men say did promise mighty matters unto the world I came then to the Court in a time of great jollity and feasting and there I staid a while with all delight imaginable The King never hunted but I was with him There was never any meeting of Ladies but I was sure to be there I wore rich clothes and recreated my self in the pleasant walks And as you know there is not a more delightful place upon Earth then the Kings Palace and Gardens at Ecbatan so there was not one day which did not afford me fresh delights The King was pleased to take more notice of me then I deserved I got the love of all the young Gallants in the Court and if I durst say it there was none of the Ladies which did hate me for as my design was generall to please all so it had been a hard matter to have displeased any one in particular Thus did I enjoy my youth and liberty with abundance of satisfaction Whenas Artambaces who as perhaps you know had heretofore been in love with the Queen of Persia before she was married unto Cambises Father of Cyrus of whom I speak and who going from the Court upon that occasion was afterwards married in the Province of Arisantine unto the daughter of a great Prince in that Countrey and who went away from Ecbatan and carried with him his only daughter about fifteen years of age whom he loved extreamly and who doubtless did deserve as much It chanced so at that time being glutted with variety of pleasures and weary of the tumultuous court I took Horse being waited upon by only one servant to go and enjoy my solitude at a fair House which my Father had some thirty miles from Ecbatan I departed very melancholy and lumpish not knowing any cause for it at all my design being only to recreate my self in viewing the Pictures Statues Gardens Grotts and Fountains about my Fathers House that thereby I might make my conversation more pleasant at my return to the Town But alas Sir little did I think what would hap unto me in this Voyage I have often wondred since at the pains which I took to captivate my self and how I found out a way which lead me into such a Labyrinth of trouble as hath disquieted all my life When I came into a great high way a hundred paces of the Castle I saw a chariot overturn'd which was quite broken in peeces the magnificence of it did tell me that it belonged unto some person of quality but since there was no Grooms about this Chariot of whom I could enquire I went on being come unto the first Gate of the Castle the Porter who opened the Gate told me that Artambaces whose Name and Quality I knew very well coming from the Countrey to Ecbatan had the misfortune to break one of his Chariots and seeing he could travell no further that day desired to stay there that night whilest his Chariot was repaired The Porter told no more then that Artambaces was there but mentioned not a word of Hermanista his wife or Amestris his daughter So after I had given order for the best entertainment possible I went straight into the Garden where I was told he was But Sir I was much amazed when crossing a Quarter in the Garden I saw in a green Arbour the fairest Lady that ever eye did look upon and whom I did not know at all for Amestris had never been at Court This beauty was no less surpris'd to see me then I to meet her in that place For she thinking there had been none in the house but Servants she little expected there one of my Garb It was very hot and she had none with her but one of her women she had pulled off her Cypress wherein she used to cover her fair neck and being bare armed she lay negligently upon a bed of green grass her head lying upon the knees of that woman which was with her I no sooner saw her but I stopt and as soon as ever she perceived me she started up and put on her Cypress we both did blush at the passage but certainly it was out of different apprehensions modesty causing that in her which Love did in me For Sir the first minute of this fatal view was the first minute of my Passion yet notwithstanding all my unparallel'd astonishment and wonder I saluted the adored Amestris with much devotion and beginning discourse Madam said I to let her know who I was I did not think to finde such fair and pleasing company in my Fathers House and if I had known that such an one as you had been in the Arbour the reverence I owe unto such as you seem to be though I think there is not such another in the world would have taught me better manners then to disturb your rest Sir answered she it belongs to me to desire pardon for interrupting the pleasure of your solitude which it seems you came to take in this pleasant place But Sir said she in beginning to walk on It is my Fathers part to make excuses for the freedom which he took upon him to lodge with you to night since an unexpected peece of luck did force him to it Seeing then that her design was to conduct me to her Father I presented her my hand and easily observed by this first address that she had a desire to make me know who she was for there appeared in all her actions so much gallantry spirit and modesty as I saw she was Mistress of as much Soul as Beauty Madam said I conducting her and answering unto what she said it is a great happiness to be interrupted by such an one as you and I think there is no reasonable man who would not for such a blessedness not only quit his solitude but the Court also with all its magnificence and pleasures I alwaies lookt for Flattery said she smiling out of Ecbatan and perhaps I shall well enough defend my self against it here but I do confess unto you that I do fear it a little here where I did
of Pontus although he hath lost both his Kingdoms yet he retains the Quality of a King The Prince Mazares was Royally born and lived in expectation of a Crown But as for Artamenes do doubtlesse he was born in a prison his Parents were some slaves else he would not hide his condition from us as he doth Sir replied the King of Phrygia Artamenes has performed such Martiall Actions in War as me thinks sufficiently denotes the contrary to what you say Artamenes replied Ciaxares has committed such a Crime in stealing away my Daughters heart that I will never pardon him for he saw I denied her unto the King of Pontus who had then two Crowns He saw that I Armed above a hundred thousand men to fetch her out of the power of one of the greatest Kings in al Asia and yet he presumes to bear such an assection unto her as cannot be innocent For if he do not design to marry her then his aims are to defame her and if his presumptuous thoughts do aim at marrying her then his design is to set a slave upon the Throne of Medea and doubtlesse to depose me hereafter since it is not possible he can ever hope that I should consent unto his design The truth is he has such unjust so strange and guilty thoughts that death is too small a punishment for them and him that owns them yet Sir replied the King of Hircania what new matter have you against him since you were once in a mind to acquit him A hundred things answered Ciaxares which makes me think of nothing but his ruine Sir replied the King of Phrygia such a resolution as that ought not to be tumultuously undertaken and though Artamenes were culpable as I believe him innocent yet he hath so gained the hearts of the souldiers that it is much to be feared that if you should ruine him it would make a great disorder in your Camp Not at all replied the King for when I shall fully know the basenesse of his birth as doubtlesse I will know it since know it since I have Chrisantes in my power and when I have published unto the world by a Declaration that a common souldier of fortune and perhaps something worse is so audacious as to think upon the daughter of a King and to take away his Crown I believe there will be none so unjust as to oppose me in punishing such a one For truly it is most strange that such a man as Artamenes should be so insolent as to dare so much as to look upon my daughter My daughter I say who hitherto has appeared as wise and prudent as any in the world But Martesia shall tell me by what charms she lost her reason and by what enchantments Artamenes made her forget her duty both unto her self and me But Sir replied the King of Phrygia you did accuse Artamenes for holding intellignece with the King of Assyria as a lover of your daughter and now you accuse him for loving her himself how can you reconcile these two things which seem so directly contrary I know not replied Ciaxares but the rigour of punishment and fear of death will doubtlesse make Chrisantes Ortalques and Artamenes himself confesse that I yet know not But Sir said the King of Hircania what convincing reasons have you for it I have a hundred I tell you replied Ciaxares all which do plainly let me see that Artamenes does hold intelligence with my enemy and with my daughter and that my daughter hates not him there needs no more to move me to pronounce sentence of death against a man whom I so much loved although he was of so hase an extract But Sir replied the King of Phrygia what if he should prove the son of a great King he would have told it long since replied Ciaxares if he had been such a one but certainly he is only a forward ambitious man whom fortune favours and whom the simplicity of my daughter has made both happy and culpable and when I am fully informed in all the circumstances of his crime out of his own mouth and by the confession of Martesia Chrisantes and Andramias whom I suspect to be too much his friend when I shall know I say by Artucas Ortalques Araspes and by Feraulas if I can catch him all that love and ambition did prompt this secret enemy unto then I will call you all to be witnesses of his condemnation Sir said the King of Phrygia unto him I do most humbly beseech your Majestie not to condemn him upon surmises appearences he is perhaps one whom you do not know how great he is and that affection which he has unto the Princesse also the intelligence he hath held with the King of Assyria are not so criminal as you suppose them aftewards the King of Hircania added I dare tell your Majestie thus much that those services which Artamenes has done you deserves a pardon for greater crimes then these It is true replied Ciaxares and truly I was resolved to pardon him for holding intelligence with my enemy but that such a man as he should have any attempts upon my daughter I shall never pardon that These Princes seeing Ciaxares so incensed would not urge him any further at that time they only intreated him to examin the businesse very well and not to condemn him but upon convincing proofs as that he was absolutely of a guilty correspondency with the King of Assyria that he had plotted some unjust design with the Princesse Mandana and that he should prove no more then a vile slave as he supposed him or a common Cavalier after this they left him intending to advise altogether what was most expedient to be done As they went out of the Kings Closet all they who were in the chamber gathered about them to know how squares went seeming by their discourse and actions that they were ready to undertake any thing in behalf of Artamenes but those Kings being unwilling to enform them of any thing in that place went unto Hidaspes whither they were waited upon by all this multitude of brave men which this great alteration brought unto the King They were no sooner there but Feraulas who there expected them desiring to speak a word in private unto the King of Phrygia told him that since he went out he understood that Metrobates had taken the Cabinet of Artamenes from him and carried it unto the King he told him further how certainly he would find Mandana's picture in it which was never made for him and that Mandana did not give it unto him as it would be easily proved and that Martesia did lend it unto him that same day But though it was an easie matter to justifie the Princesse concerning this picture yet there was no pretence to colour the love which Artamenes bore unto Mandana which seemed to be the cause why he desired to have this picture in his prison In conclusion since all those who were
be comprehended in a short story and necessity compels me to let you understand not only those which relate only to the Princess her self but those also which concern her father the usurpation of the Kingdom of Bythinia is the real cause of all those miseries she endures You Sir who has won so many battels thereabouts do know that a river only divides the Kingdom of Pont and the Kingdom of Bythinia so that it is not at all strange that an ambitious King of Pont should stretch his limits over it But I believe that the course he took will appear so unjust unto you that you will hardly endure so much as the relation of it Be pleased to know Sir that the Grand-father of the Princess Ariminta was a very violent Prince one that was most jealous of his authority and as adventurous as any man in the world all his life was wholly taken up in wars with his Neighbours sometimes against the King of Phrygia other whiles against the King of Cappadocia and Galatia and sometimes against the King of Paphlagonia but in all these wars he was continually assisted by the King of Bythinia which then reigned who was father unto Arsamones who now is upon the reconquest yet notwithstanding he bore a spleen in his heart against him because he once opposed a new war which he would needs undertake against Cappadocia without any ground or reason for it for since Bythinia was between the Kingdom of Pont and Galatia he could not make any attempts upon it unless that Prince gave him a passage through his Dominions which he refused to do After this he always looked upon Bythinia as a great Obstacle unto his ambitious designs But Sir it befits me to pass this over very slightly for since I am originally a Bythinian the love of my Country may perhaps make me speak more then is fit considering the respect which I am obliged to render unto those Kings from whom the Princess whom I serve is descended yet must I not make that crime a secret which is publikely known unto so many Kingdoms since it is the very foundation of all I shall tell you Be pleased to understand then in few words that the King of Pont desiring to confer with the King of Bythinia about some important affairs which he said concerned them both both these Kings drew towards their Frontiers and since the river Sangar is the limits unto both of those Kingdoms they made choice of a most pleasant Island wherein there was a very fair house fit for this enterview which was made ready with all possible magnificence But yet since this Isle belonged unto the King of Pont he therefore was at all the expences of these feasts which lasted three days in all imaginable prodigality and splendor The last of these three days the King of Bythinia was seized upon with so suddain and violent a sickness that the Physicians did give him over and it was impossible that he should be transported out of this Isle where the King of Pont stayed with him expressing so many testimonies of real sorrow that all the world were deceived in him and especially the King of Bythinia more then any else This Prince then having only one son about six years of age and having buried the Queen his wife seeing himself in this extremity and thinking to prevent the King of Pont whom he knew to be of an ambitious humour from usurping Bythinia he would declare him Governour over the Prince his son so that being in this deplorable condition unto which all the Kingdom believed he was brought by a poyson which the King of Pont had given him he assembled all the Grandees of Bythinia which waited upon him to this enterview and declared unto them how he intended the King of Pont during the minority of his son should have the Government of his Dominions and disposure of all things with this proviso yet to confer the offices of Government only unto the Bythinians The King of Pont made a shew as if he were unwilling to accept of this offer but at the last this unfortunate Prince pressing him more urgently unto it he promised him to preserve the Crown of Bythinia as his own and he spoke with so much seeming generosity that he caused him to die a satisfied though a violent death Though all the Grandees of Bythinia did seem to approve of this resolution not daring to desire their dying King yet after he was dead reports of poyson making great noise they opposed against it and made use of the guards unto the late King to secure the person of their young Prince who was within fifty furlongs of that place in a Castle where the Kings of Bythinia used to bring up their children until such times as they were fit to be taken out of the hands of women But the King of Pont foreseeing such a design caused all the Garrisons of all the towns along the river secretly to redouble their guards so that in drawing them out he quickly made up a little Army with which he seized upon the person of the young Prince and made himself master of Bythinia procuring the favour of some Grandees in the Kingdom by golden arguments After this he returned into Heraclea where he educated the young Prince Arsamones at the first he caused all honors due unto a King of Bythinia to be rendred unto him to the end he might the handsomer deceive the Bythinians and allure them to receive his orders But afterwards when he had well established himself he published a Declaration by which he would make it appear that the late King of Bythinia did acknowledge his Kingdom had been formerly usurped from the Kings of Pont and by which he said that the late King desired his son should be only a subject unto him who now raigned In short Sir Force not Justice was his Law and Arsamones was now created only as a Prince not a King and was indeed no more then a Slave which is loaded with heavy chains of gold he wore them with an unexampled patience and dissimulation Those who use to dive deep into the reason of things could not comprehend why the King of Pont should put the father to death yet spare the son but whether it was out of fear to force the Bythinians unto a war against him or that he was restrained from it by a predominate power of the Gods which would not suffer him yet he did it not Arsamones then lived as a subject and married a Bythinian Princess which was permitted because she was not rich but in recompence thereof she was at that time admirable fair and at this time as vertuous as fair then you know Sir her vertues and condition as well as I do since you were with her when you were taken for the Prince Spitridates he permitted also a sister unto the King whom he had imprisoned to marry the Prince Gadutes yet it was because Nitecris Queen of Assyria
this Prince had a desire to engage the Milesians to his party but the wise Thales did oppose it I understood also from Leosthenes that the Prince Tisander knowing that Craessus would send unto the King of Armenia desired that imployment and obtained it chusing rather to travel since he must needs be from Alcionida then to stay in a Court so gallant as it was So that coming to Artaxates just as you came thither he was shut up in it and was forced to follow the King of Armenia into the Mountains conceiving he might more easily escape from thence then out of Artaxates if he stayed in it And indeed his designe was to escape at this time when he was so dangerously wounded and to go and render an account of his negotiation unto the King of Lidia Leosthenes told me further that the Affairs at Milete had much changed faces for Anthemius who never set up Alexidesmus but only to ruine him had brought his designe 〈◊〉 pass having stirred all the people against him so that he was forced to retire to Phoc 〈…〉 with his mother his wife and Philodicea So that now Milete was as a free Town whe 〈…〉 popular Government was begun to be established Notwithstanding Thales and all my friend◠did resist this new alteration yet Leosthenes told me the fear was that if the people were once accustomed unto liberty they would never receive any Master again and he told me also that in the mean time the Prince of Phoceus was combining with all his Neighbour Princes to promote the interest of Alexidesmus But Sir Dare I after all this tell you that Leosthenes who had married her he loved told me that Alcionida was never so fair as now and will you excuse my weakness if I neglect all my State affairs to discourse of such things as only concerns my love Cyrus seeing Thrasibulus had no more to tell him did express much grief for his misfortunes and resolved to apply all expedient remedies for the satisfaction of his ambition for as concerning matters of love my dear Thrasibulus said he unto him it must be the same hand which wounded must cure you And though Tisander be your Rival yet I find him so worthy of assistance that I extreamly commend you for your cares of him As Cyrus was advising Thrasibulus of such expedients as he thought best for the recovery of his Dominions Leosthenes entered into the Tent very hastily Sir said he to Cyrus who understood all languages I ask your pardon for my bold interruption but the Prince Tisander being at the last gasp I thought it fit to advertise the Prince Thrasibulus of it At the last gasp replied Cyrus Yes Sir replied Leosthenes for having a great desire to write notwithstanding all my endeavours to disswade him as he ended his Letter all his wounds opened and he lost so much blood that he fell into abundance of weakness and swounding is not yet come unto himself Thrasibulus did then ask leave of Cyrus to go and assist his most faithful friend and Rival whom he could not love in one respect nor could not hate in another But Cyrus calling to mind the high valour of this Prince would also go himself As they entered into the Tent the Chyrurgeons had revived him out of his swound yet with such small hopes of life that they told Cyrus who asked what they thought he could not out-live that day yet since he had a free mind and a great soul he was not at all terrified at the looks of death and he carried it as one that was worthy to be Son unto such a Prince who was reputed the wisest in all Greece He patiently submitted unto the wills of the Gods and neither asking death nor life he prepared himself for the first of these with most admirable tranquility of mind and was contented to leave the other with unparalleld contentedness he knew Cyrus as soon as he came in so that addressing himself unto him Sir said he you see the Gods have punished me for lifting up my hand against so illustrious a life as yours since it had been much more glorious for me to have died by the invincible hand of Artamenes then by the Souldiers of great Cyrus It is also more advantagious to the Prince Thrasibulus said he that I die since then he would not be so miserable as he is Cyrus answered him with all possible civility and would have infused some hopes of recovery notwithstanding all the Chyrurgions said But Tisander interrupting him No no Sir said he I cannot live and therefore I beseech you let me imploy the last minuts of my life in remembrance of one who in causing my highest happiness has made my dearest friend most miserable In saying so he turned his head towards Thrasibulus and giving him the Letter which he had let fall after he had writ it and which was given unto him again upon his coming to himself Here my dear Thrasibulus said he unto him take this and I make you my Executour of my last Will give it if you please unto our dearest Alcionida and since I did not murmur when I heard her bestow some sighs for your misfortunes so I beseech you do not murmur when she bestows some tears in memory of my death since I shall no longer be an obstacle unto your happiness let me have the integrity of your friendship and look not upon me any more as your Rival I do acknowledge you merit Alcionida more then I and I will do that which fortune would not I give up all my interest in her unto you In pronouncing these last words Tisander blusht and tears trickled from his eyes so that Thrasibulus being extreamly moved with the generosity of his friend and not being able to contain his sorrows he came nearer him and taking him by the hand Live most generous Prince said he and be assured that I will never more envy your enjoyment of the incomparable Alcionida Indeed I shall ever love her but it shall be as she is yours without any other pretence unto her No no replied the weak Tisander that must never be Live you and let me die all the favour I ask is that you will sometimes speak of me unto my dear Alcionida Let me have this last satisfaction my dear Thrasibulus and I will leave you an unvaluable Treasure in the Person of Alcionida for her soul has an hundred thousand more shining beauties then her face But in recompence of so rich a Present promise me here in the presence of Illustrious Cyrus that you will tell her I value not the loss of life or Grandure or kindred or any thing in the world but only her and that I find no bitterness in death but only my sorrows to leave her and when you have done this enjoy her quietly all the rest of your life and live happy longer then I have done Thrasibulus was so grieved to see his Friend in this condition that his love
father I am â—ully resolved never to fight against yours I do conjure you to do so said she unto him by the affection which you have promised me There needs not so strong a conjuration answered he for certainly I should never have done it though I had never promised you But Madam I see very well what I ought not to do but I do not yet see what I ought to do and yet I must do something and resolve upon it presently for the King will needs have me depart within this day or two all my men are already upon their March the Troops which I must command are perhaps already in the King of Phrigia's hands and the least delay may prove fatal unto me Tell me then Madam would you have me discover my self unto the King your father or would you have me go and make my self known unto the King of Phrigia and that I endeavor to move him unto a Peace whilest you transact the same with Cressus Pronounce my doom I beseech you but whatsoever it be do not banish me from your heart nor exile me a long time from you Then said she and sighed I must know how to do miracles since under them there is no possibility of contenting you for since the condition you are in permits me with more fitness to open my heart unto you I shall tell you one thing which will make you wonder and which will grieve you both which is that if you had still continued in uncertainty of your birth at your return from this Battel it was the King my fathers pleasure that he who should marry me should help the Prince Myrsiles to govern after his death and support the Scepter after his death and was resolved if I can tell it you without a blush to make choyce of you and engage you unto it by his alliance Oh Madam said Cleander since it is so let me not be a son unto the King since I do not wish to be so but only to obtain that honour No said the Princess and though ways could be devised to prevent your fighting against the King your father none could be devised to hide your illustrious Birth Thimocreon Thimettes Sosicles and Acrates would never keep that secret which would deprive you of a Crown neither do I my self desire it But that which moves me to tell you this is to let you see it would be in vain to discover your self unto the King my father for I understand this morning from the same person who gave me the first intelligence of it that several stranger Princes have made offers of Marriage unto him and his answers to them all was that he was resolved as I told you before to marry me unto one who should hereafter assist my brother to govern How Madam cryed out Cleander is the quality of a Kings son which I so much wished because I thought it absolutely necessary to obtain that happiness which without it I could never hope for is it then an invincible obstacle unto my felicity Ah Madam if it be then I reject a Crown and had much rather be Cleander then Prince Artamas I do not directly tell you replyed she that this obstacle is invincible but I say it is a great one Moreover since it is permitted me to discover my weakness unto you I must confess I could hardly resolve to marry a man whom all Asia thought to be of a mean original Therefore let us transact as we ought and leave the rest unto the providence of the Gods This absolute resignation replyed Cleander and sighed denotes thus much unto me Madam that all my affection all my cares and all my services have obtained nothing from you but this that you permit me to love you without your hating me But Madam if you will with a little more tenderness towards me consider it you would find that it is not so easie a matter to do what one ought or to know what ones duty is Yet I think replyed she that as long as you neither fight against the King your Father nor mine you cannot be much blamed But Madam answered he I do not see how I can do that unless I discover my self unto the King and by his consent send unto the King of Phrigia It would be difficult replyed she for the King your father to know you are his son unless he see you especially not knowing you to be in his Enemies Country Moreover do you think that the King my father will be contented to lose both the Conqueror and the Conquest in one day do you not apprehend more probability that he will incline more unto Policy then Generosity in this business No no said she I will not counsel you to that What will you then advise me unto Madam replyed he Since Timocreon replyed she knows the state of your fortune discover unto him the state of your affection unto me also I know him to be wise and generous and he will not advise you unto any thing which shall be disserviceable either to the King his Master or your self At the last after much such discourse as this Cleander sent to seek my father and also let the Princess see Thimettes and Acrates secretly and he shewed unto her the Letters of the King of Phrigia and the Queen his wife After much consultation upon the best course it was resolved that Cleander should depart without discovering any thing unto Cressus that my father and I should accompany him that Thimettes and Acrates should go this voyage also That after one days journey from Sardis Cleander should send one of his servants unto Meneceus with a Letter for him and another for the King which he should present unto him by which he should discover his birth and assure him that he will never act any thing against his service nor forget his benefits That he should write also unto the Prince Myrsiles unto Mexaris and Abradates that they should address themselves to the King in his behalf That in the mean time they should stay upon the Frontiers of Phrigia and send Timocreon towards the King his father to acquaint him with the story and to beseech his favor unto Thimettes and Acrates who was as generous in his Repentance as he was weak in committing his Crime by the Commands of his Master That Cleander when he was made known should endeavor to move the King his father unto Peace and that the Princess as well as Meneceus should on their side endeavor the same with the King of Lidia After these Resolves she restored the Letters back unto Timocreon who loving Cleander no less then if he had been his son was ready to engage his utmost in his service Since all these Consults and Meetings could not be but some Spies which the Prince Artesilas always kept about the Princess would perceive it he was presently acquainted with it Moreover since Cleander had not bid his last adieu unto the Princess Palmis he endeavored to
to allow me so much patience as to hear me out Why said he unto her would you have me beleeve your words because you have lightly given credit unto the deceiving words of Cleander Do I not plainly see you are his Confederate in this gross Imposture by which he would make himself the son of a King just now when he is accused of a Crime which brings his life in danger Where are all the convincing proofs of it You tell me you have seen them but you shew not one As for this Picture which all the Court hath seen and I my self also have seen that argues as much as nothing nor any thing else except the King of Phrigia's Letter as for that I confess I have seen and know his Character and it may be of some consideration but they will shew it seems only unto you who does not know it and will not produce it to shew unto me because I should discover its forgery In a word Cleander is unknown and you ought to look upon him no otherwise neither ought you to beleeve that I would have married you unto him unless I had told you so my self and if by reason of some reason in State I should have married you to him I know not whether or no you would have willingly obeyed 〈◊〉 Moreover admit Cleander were the son of a King yet you ought not to hold any secret intelligence with him but since he said himself to be the son of my Enemy was it just in you to conceal it from me one minute Might you not well suppose that this very circumstance of Enemy was enough to prevent all alliance with him Which way soever then I consider your actions I find you so culpable and in so deep a manner that I cannot endure the sight of you Therefore retire unto your Chamber and obey my orders without medling any more in the Justification Since my own justification is inseparably linked unto his replyed she methinks Sir your command is not just Go said he unto her begone and answer no more but without insisting upon your pretended innocency go and pray unto the Gods that they will pardon you for my part I cannot The Princess Palmis would have replyed something but he would not suffer her and commanded the Lievtenant of his Guard to carry her unto her Chamber and be responsible for her person The Princess then seeing she could not prevail with the King her father obeyed with tears in her eyes and returned to her Lodging without having the comfort of her dear Cylenisa with whom she might condole her misfortunes Her Chamber becoming now a Prison none were admitted nor permitted to see her no not so much as the Prince Myrsiles because he seemed always very affectionate unto Cleander The Princess of Classomena desired it but was denyed Abradates endeavored very much to do her service yet all in vain The Prince Mexaris though glad perhaps of these disorders yet seemed very angry at it The Princess Anaxilea widow of the Prince Atis remembering what an obstacle the Princess had heretofore been unto her marriage shewed not much generosity But as for Esope he was constant and spoke boldly unto the King in behalf both of the Princess and Cleander Meneceus also was very generous and spoke high so that the King grew angry with him and employed him no more in his Councels expresly forbidding him to publish that Cleander was the son of a King As for Artesilas though he was a Lover of the Princess Palmis yet her prison was no great grief unto him because he hoped that this disasterous course would make her repent of her affection unto Cleander and was in hopes to transact in her behalf so cunningly as that she might think her self in some sort a Debtor unto him for her Liberty In the mean while Cleander hearing the next day by some of the Guards that the Princess Palmis was a prisoner all the sorrows that ever he suffered in all his life were not comparable to his sufferings then he saw his fortune was in a pitiful condition for he knew certainly that he was the son of a King and had no power to justifie himself he appeared ungrateful and guilty towards Cressus and was not able to produce any convincing proofs to the contrary he was in love with the Princess and knew she loved him again but according to all appearances he should never be in a condition to enjoy her or himself he heard she was a prisoner for the love of him and this last consideration made so deep an impression upon his spirits that he valued not all the rest until then he suffered his fetters without any desires of breaking them but when he heard she was a prisoner he thought upon nothing but his liberty to the end he might release her He desired the Guards to go unto the King and beseech him that he might immediately dye upon condition she might be set free and express so many signs of real love and in so moving a manner that one of the Guards did offer him all his endeavours for his comfort at the least if he could do nothing for his liberty Cleander did accept his offer and conjured him to go unto the Palace there enquire very exactly what Orders and Guards were upon the Princess that afterwards he might judg whether there was any possibility of sending her a Letter This officions Souldier did as Cleander desired him and went unto the Palace but being not so wise as well affected some men that are ready to do any ill offices espied him and knowing him to be one of Cleanders Guard did acquaint the King he was there who did command him to be seized upon and since he gave no good reasons for his coming to the Palace and since information was given that he enquired what guards was kept over the Princess they clapt him up in prison and the King imagined there was some design to release her so that to put her in a place which he conceived inviolable and to send her further from Cleander whom he would not yet put to death as much incensed as he was against him therefore he sent the Princess the next morning unto Ephesus unto the Temple of Diana appointing her who commanded the vowed Vestals there not to let her speak unto any whosoever causing the Companion of Cylenisa to be released and likewise the Son of Pactias because of his fathers fidelity to have his liberty This wise Princess desired to take her leave of the King but the favour was denied her then she desired to have Cylenisa with her that also was not granted so that the day following none having the liberty to see her she departed from Sardis guarded by five hundred horse unto Ephesus which was three days journeys from thence But Madam the way thither was of necessity behind the Garden of the Palace and by the Cittadel under the window where Cleander did speak with
found that I came without the order of Amenophis she would stay me But at last remembring that in my Infancy there was a great League of Friendship between me and another boy which was the onely Son of a very Rich man I enquired of a Merchant which was in the Port concerning his Father and I understood from this Merchant that both the Father and Mother of my friend were dead and that he was in possession of his Estate Then I enquired where his house was and we went immediately thither and I desired to speak in private with him So that after some patience in waiting I was brought unto him who at first knew me not both by reason of my shepheards habit and because I was much altered in my stature and face But after I had talked with him and revived the memory of our ancient acquaintance he embraced me with much joy and knew me perfectly Then I told him after I had enjoyned eternall and inviolable secrecie how Amenophis since the death of Apriez had renounced the world and took himselfe unto a desart where he kept me and that I being weary of that life had escaped from him after which I presented Sesostris to him under the notion of sonne unto Amenophis In conclusion Sir I carryed the matter so handsomely and found my friend so generous that he entertained us in his house and accommodated us with all things necessary whatsoever In the mean time we knâ—w not where Timareta was nor knew not where to seek her in so great a towne though we sought her in all places as well as in places where she was likely to be as where not The sight of so fair a Town did spring some ambitious thoughts in the heart of Sesostris and the sooner to cause Amenophis to bring Timareta into the Isle againe he resolved to goe into the Warrs where he might satisfie his ambition at least though not his love and to get glory though he could not get Timareta He had no sooner formed this design in his imagination but he imparted it unto me and no sooner communicated but consented unto and the sooner because a report went there was some commotion against Amasis in one of the Provinces in Aegypt so that without any longer delay I communicated our intentions unto my friend who being of a very generous disposition did furnish us with all things requisite to put our selves in an equipage of Warre thus quitting the Shepheards crook for a sword we left Elephantine not hearing any thing of Timareta and indeed how was it to be hoped ever to heare of a simple Shepheardesse in such a Town as that However since Sesostris desired his Shepheardesse should know it was for love of her he left the Isle I forgot to tell you Sir that he had engraved some words upon a Sycomore which grew upon the Hill in the midst of the Isle where Timareta used often to sit and enjoy the pleasant prospect and where they had often held such amiable discourses in that place as he was confident that if ever she returned she would come unto that place and find these words Sesostris not being able to live where the faire Timareta is not he is gone with a designe to dye assoon as he hath lost all hopes of finding her But Sir before I tell you any thing of our martiall voyage give me leave to relate in few words how Amenophis was astonished when about two hours after the departure of Pythagoras he understood he was gone as farre as Elephantine to conduct him yet since he could not imagine Sesostris to be in a condition of going he did not at first suspect his departure but sending unto his chamber to ask whether he knew of my intentions he was extreamly amazed when he heard he was not there he presently sent for all those that saw Pythagoras embarque who all said they saw none but three Shepheardesses the stranger and my selfe since the number of women in that Isle is not great he sent out Traseas Nicetis and a servant to enquire what women went unto Elephantine but after an exact search they found only two wanting so that Amenophis not doubting but Sesostris went out of the Isle in disguise he was extreamly troubled but knew no remedy for there was not one Boat to be had in all the Isle to send after them all being gone out to fish but towards night to put him out of all doubt of our flight the two women returned and gave him the letter saying they were much amazed when they found her whom they thought to be a Shepheardesse to prove Sesostris yet Amenophis did hardly beleeve them and was as angry with them as any so wise a man as he could be with them which had failed rather out of simplicity then malice However without more delay he sent Traseas Nicetis and a servant with orders to stay two or three daies in Elephantine and walk up and down the streets Temples and publique places to see if they could meet with them not daring to go himselfe for feare of discovery But do what they could no tidings was to be heard of us so that Amenophis was the saddest man alive But since he saw that the violence of his passion had driven him away he thought that perhaps the same passion might bring him back unto this Isle yet he durst not call back Timareta so soon lest Sesostris should have some design to take her away in her return and so he might perhaps lose her for ever not having her in his power which might invite his returne nor durst he quit the Isle lest Sesostris should return when he should not be there so that he was forced to stay by himselfe to lament his miseries yet was he never out of hope for his knowledg in Astrology shewed him such happy presages for Sesostris that maugre all malice of his fortune he trusted more to the signes of the heavens then to his sufferings upon earth yet was he extreamly sorry for the absence of Sesostris for he understood that his stratagems to raise a party against the usurper proved not effectuall and that his private friends in Thebes and Heliopolis had so well transacted that the people did not only begin to rise but men also of great quality began to declare themselvse especially in Thebes where the spirit of revolt was riâ—e amongst the people because Amasis when he came first to the Crown to oblige the people unto a declaration for him did tell the inhabitants that he would restore their Town unto its antient lustre for Sir you know that heretofore it was the prime town of all Aegypt before the ever renowned Menez caused Memphis to be built which since that hath been the usuall aboad of all their Kings by reason of the scituation which is most Majestique most pleasant and lovely in the world so that as Memphis increased in wealth Thebes decayed and the inhabitants of Thebes knowing that riches
witnesse but Heracleon he charged him to tell the truth after which he asked him where Amenophis was and what was become of the Queen the young Sesostris and the Princesse Ladice For I am sure said the King though he knew not but by conjectures that they were in this Isle Traseas finding by the manner of the Kings speaking that he was not so well informed as he said he was resolved to prosecute his former designe which was Sir not to confesse that Sesostris was the sonne of Apriez lest then he should perish in the hands of his enemy but to tell him on the contrary that he was the sonne of Ladice and himselfe For argued he unto himselfe so Sesostris doe raigne what matters it whether it be as the sonne of Apriez or as the sonne of Amasis Traseas being thus resolved did not deny but that the Queen was in this Isle but for the furtherance of his project he seemed as if he were ignorant that she who came with the Queen was his wife he confessed that the Queen and Sesostris came into this Isle with another Princesse who dyed three daies after her arivall and her death gave life unto a sonne adding that four daies after a contagious disease happening in the Isle the Queen and the young Sesostris dyed also and since that Amenophis gave the name of Sesostris unto the sonne of this Princesse who dyed in child-bed of him Where is the Child said the King Sir replyed Traseas this is he I speak of who thinks Amenophis to be his Father and whom of late I have said to be my sonne because Amenophis was wondrous carefull to conceal him though I knew not his reason for it but was so bold as to say he was mine But where is Amenophis said the King Sir replyed Traseas I doe not know only I am sure he recommended Sesostris unto me Oh Heracleon said the King questionlesse this Traytor who carried away the Queen and Ladice from Sais had a design to arme my owne sonne against me by perswading the people that he was the son of Apriez yes yes Heracleon 't was he that made the people of Thebes beleeve that he was alive and doubtlesse his design was to have my sonne to be taken for that Prince But Traseas said the King who knew his name may I give credit unto your words must he whom you shew unto me weare the Crown after me Yes Sir replyed Traseas if the Princesse Ladice were your wife moreover Sir doe not think that I conceal the sonne of Apriez command me to prison and if any other Sesostris but this be found then put me to death But said Heracleon who was nothing pleased that Amasis should have a son after such fair promises the danger is not in your concealing Sesostris but the point is to know certainly that this is not Sesostris the sonne of Apriez and that he who came from Sais dyed and not the Child of the Princesse Ladice Traseas hearing Heracleon urge this began to confirm his words with a thousand deep Oathes But whilst Heracleon and Traseas were in contest about it the King remembring the Apparition of Ladice and all the rest of the prodigies his heart began to tremble the guilt of his crimes so gnawed upon his conscience that he could have wished for a sonne of Apriez unto whom he might have rendered the Scepter so that not insisting upon such niceties as Heracleon did he did beleeve that Sesostris was either his owne sonne or the sonne of Apriez so that which soever he was he deserved to raigne he resolved to acknowledg him after he had well examined others in the Isle who spoke nothing in contradiction of what Traseas said In the mean while all the younkers of the Isle were assembled to see the King and not daring to approach too neer they got tenn or twelve of them upon a thatcht Sheep-fold the better to look upon him but the timber being rotten both Sheep-fold and Shepheards tumbled down together and it fell so neare the Princesse Liserina who being much taken with the beauty of Timareta had called her unto her that she could easily see the wonderfull accident which this little disorder caused For Sir be pleased to know it happened to be in the very same place where Amenophis before his departure had caused all the Queens and Ladices Jewells to be hid so that two Boxes in which they were being broke open with the fall one might perceive a thousand Rich Diamonds glistering amongst the rubbish of this old sheepfold The Princesse Liserina no sooner espied them but she cryed out not being lesse amazed at the sight then those shephcards with their falls The screek she made caused the King to turn towards her and she telling him what she spied he came to her and himselfe saw the cause of her wonder so that commanding all the Jewells to be gathered up and brought unto him hee presently knew the case of a Picture which Ladice was wont to wear and which was very remarkable and likewise many other Jewells which he had seen both the Queen and Ladice wear After this making no question but they had been in the Isle he gave more credit unto the reports of Traseas questioned not but that Sesostris was his Son But Heracleon having yet a mind to hinder that beliefe observed unto Amasis that Sesostris was too big and tall for that age which his Son could be off and therefore could not be his Son Traseas answered unto this objection that it was every daies experience to find some of fourteen or sixteen years of age as well grown as others of twenty and the King adhered unto that argument In conclusion Sir Amasis believing in his very heart he was either his Sonne or the Sonne of Apriez he would examine the matter no further knowing that it would be a stronger support unto him to have Successor then not He since confessed that if at this time it had appeared clearly in the eyes of the World that Sesostris was the Sonne of Apriez he would not have treated him as he did But seeing it appeared he was not his Sonne he could not make him passe so and restore the Scepter unto him unlesse it did appear to be a Restitution therefore he would not make the businesse so intricrate as perhaps he should if he had not had that thought But he enquired as much as he could to know whether Sesostris was his or the Sonne of Apriez Whilst he was thus busied Simandius who came with the King and had stayed behind speaking with some of his friends and being now come up he began to look upon Timareta whose wonderfull beauty attracted the eyes of all the World but afterwards turning towards Sesostris who yet saw not him he presently knew him to be the valiant Psammetites unto whom he was debtor for his life so that coming to him whilst the King was in talke with Traseas Heracleon and Liserina Is it
Archers and maugre the thick clouds of Arrows and Darts hee hath carryed fire and burned the whole fleet He hath been seen with one single ship give chase to three others and take two of them On the other side he hath been seen set upon by five and not taken Furthermore what hath he not done both in private and generall Combates both by Sea and Land Yet for all this though he had all the fury of an incensed souldier in his heart and eyes when there was any ocsion yet he had all imaginable sweetnes in the aire of his Countenance Spirit when no occasion was for his valour And I am able to assure you of a truth that he was as great a lover of the company of Ladies as of honour And certainly in his person it might be seen that Warr and Love were not incompatible Indeed he was a lover of all merriments which were the consequents of Peace I meane Poetry Musique Painting and in generall all that belongs to the Muses He writes most elegantly either in matters of serious or matters of gallantry and I am sure he can both describe a Battle very well and also a combate of Love in his heart if he would declare his passion As for his person it is infinitely pleasing though his voyages at Sea hath a little blasted the great beauty of his youth His stature is tall and big his carriage high and noble the Aire of his Aspect smiling and serious both but never was any more sweet nor of a greater Civility The first time one sees him he commonly speaks little but there appears so much judgment in what he speaks as it is easie to see that if hee would he can speak more and speak well Moreover one should never heare him speak upon matters of War among women unlesse he were forced and much lesse of any glorious acts which hee had done for he could not endure that any should commend him But on the other side he was extreamly zealous in commending the valour of others upon all occasions and would be just even unto his greatest Enemies Moreover he was one of the faithfull friends and the most violent Lover that ever was and he was as liberall as he was brave but he was as apt for ambition as love and no lesse jealous of his glory then of his Mistresse Further then this Madam I have no more to say of the Phocean Prince only that he seemed wise in all his undertakings and the impetuosity of his humour never appeared but only in love and warre for out of them he was so composed as it cannot be sayd there was ever turbulency in his heart or disorder in his spirit This Madam was the temper of the Phocean Prince thus he was when he heard that his Country was entring into warrs and he returned to defend it Though he knew very wel that the Pr his Uncle was engaged in an ill cause knew the pretentions of the Prince Thrasibalus to be just yet for all that since it is sometimes Justice to defend those who are unjust therfore he went unto Phoceus there behaved himself as the Prince Thrasibalus hath acquainted the illustrious Cyrus At his return into his Countrey he found that his sister named Onesienta was grown one of the fairest and most a miable persons that could be seen Yet he was not joyed at the sight of her because he found her all in tears by reason of her fears to see her country ruined She would have gone out of the Towne if she could though she had gone and cloystered up her selfe w2ith Menesteus in the Tombe but the Country was not open and there was as much danger in going out of Phoceus as to tarry in it so as she was forced unto patience Also there being a man of high esteem great merit son unto unto one whose name was Sfurius and whose own name was Menedorus who was in love with her I believe it no small reason of her stay in Phoceus However the Town was in a very deplorable condition when the late Prince of Phoceus accompanied with Alexidesmus and many enormious persons who drew the wrath of the Gods upon our Town by leaving it in the night time without acquainting any or leaving a Souldier to defend it You may imagine Madam how the Inhabitants were amazed at such an accident At first they cast their eyes upon the Prince Peranius who would have exhorted them to defend themselves but feare of servitude quashing their spirits he could not prevail so as resolving in a tumultuous manner to quit their Countrey for the preservation of their liberty they intreated this Prince that he would be pleased to be their Generall telling him that as his Predecessors carryed into Asia the Collony which built Phoceus so that he would please to conduct them unto some Country promising him most exact obedience He would once more have perswaded them to defend their walls but it was impossible to perswade them unto a certain death Insomuch as the Prince being forced to yeeld and choosing rather to fly then yeeld without blows as he must have done if he did not yeeld unto them therefore he amuzed the Prince Thrasibalus under colour of a two dayes parley during which time he tackled up all the Ships in the Port which was no small number and in one night loading them with all that was precious in Phoceus even to the very statues of the Temples all the people of this stately Town embarqued But Madam they embarqned in such disorder and confusion that never was a more pittifull sight to be seen then these miserable Inhabitants loadned with their goods and children followed by their wives and servants all forsaking their Town with teares and making the most lamentable cryes that ever was heard Many were so hasty in entring into the Ships as they fell into the Sea where death quitted them from that servitude which they feared For my part I must confesse I never saw the like for in lien of prayers which Pilots use at leaving the Port for a favourable wind nothing but a confused noise of crying Children could be heard women lamenting men cursing their hard fortune and Marriners crying Whole families might be seen striving to get into one ship Friends with Friends Lovers with Lovers desired they might perish together if storms did rise In the mean while the generous Prince who was Generall of this Fleet having assembled most of the women of Quality together he put them into a ship that was to be his owne with the Princesse his Sister choosing three hundred of the best men for Souldiers As for Menedorus he left his Father Sfurius and was with the Prince of Phoceus that he might in this generall misfortune be nigh unto her he loved and mixe his sighes and sorrows with hers At last Madam all being embarqued Anchors weyed and day ready to dawn the Prince of Phoceus gave command to saile towards the
Corps of Spargapises But assoon as they were gone Cyrus gave himselfe wholly to fitt his Army for an advance towards the Tents Royall in case Thomiris did not change her mind as there was no great likelyhood she would In the mean time Cyrus was in such a miserable condition as no signes of any victory was to be seen in him Thomiris and Ariantes suffered incredible torment of mind and Mandana though a Captive yet had more sweet minutes then they all had for since the fame of Cyrus his victory had reached her ear maugre all the oppositions of Ariantes she was extreamly well satisfied and talked merrily with Doralissa and Martessia The Princesse Istrina and the Princess of Bithina were joyed beyond meafure for they verily believed that it was advantagious for them that Cyrus should be Conqueror and the fair Arpasia whom Licander had brought unto Thomiris was in the same mind In the meane time Ariantes used all his endeavour to Rallie that Army which Cyrus had Routed and gave all requisite orders for securing and guarding the narrow passes in the Wood that his Rivall might not advance towards the Tents Royall untill all the Forces of Thomiris were joyned Aripithis who bore a deadly hatred unto Cyrus because he was perswaded that if Thomiris had not loved him he should have been happy therefore he endeavoured all he could to give a stop unto the Victories of that Prince Yet he wished with all his heart that Mandana were out of the Power of Thomiris and his mind was so ravelled that he knew not himself what to wish Since his Troopes did not yet fight he stayed at the entry into the wood to stop Cyrus if he advanced So it happed that when Spargapises was killed a Prisoner escaped for this accident made such a noise as the Prisoners were more carelesly guarded their souldiers lurking some nights in the woods at lest came to the place where Aripithis was This Prince knowing hee had been a Prisoner unto Cyrus asked him what newes The souldiers having but a confused knowledge of Spargapises death said that that Prince was taken That the souldiers of Cyrus bound him and carried him into a Tent separate from theirs and that a little time after it was said he was dead Yet adding afterwards that the souldiers of Cyrus said he killed himself Aripithis desiring no more then to drive Cyrus out of the heart of Thomiris made use of this report to that end Not that he did suspect Cyrus would ever kill Spargapises but knowing that Thomiris was of a violent spirit and that the tale of this souldier was something probable and enough to make that Queen think that Cyrus had treated her son very ill he moved this souldier by large promises of recompence to tell Thomiris the same tale he told him and to chuse his time when he should be present At first this souldier dorred at it for the valour and clemency of Cyrus having gained his heart he was unwilling to infuse any suspitions of cruelty into Thomiris But at last Aripithis telling him that it highly concerned Thomiris to know it and joyning menaces with his promises he undertook it So that as soon as Aripithis came to the Tents Royall and was with Thomiris this souldier presented himself and told the Queen what he had told Aripithis to wit that the Prince her Son was taken Prisoner that they bound him that he was carried into a Tent by himself and that presently after it was reported he was dead which made such a hurley burley that in the interim he escaped Thomiris no sooner heard this from the souldier but Aripithis added that he knew as much from two others though he durst not tell her Is it possible cryed out Thomiris That my Son should be dead Dead by orders from Cyrus Is Cyrus capable of such a bloody Act against all the Lawes of Honor or War Is his hatred of me so high as it makes him violate all manner of Rights Since so I must and will be revenged As she pronounced these words one came and told her that Anacharsis was come with the messenger she sent to Cyrus and brought the body of the Prince her Son She no soooner heard this but all in a fury she went out and passed from Tent to Tent untill she came unto one which opened into a great Plain as if she would her self go see whether this was true or no But as soon as she came into this great Tent she saw the Coffin in which the Prince her Son did lie This sad object both grieving and amazing her and her mind being also highly incensed to think that the man whom of all the World she loved best should kill her Son she was almost starke mad She no sooner saw the Coffin but after such a sad cry as would have tendered a heart of stone she addressed her self unto Anacharsis How durst you said she unto him with eyes ful of fury bring me any thing from the murtherer of my Son who certainly would never have sent me his Corpes but because hee hoped it would be my death The Phrase you give Madam unto that great Prince who sent me to you doth so ill and so little sute unto him said Anacharsis to her that I am forced to interrupt your Majestie and to hinder you from wronging the Generous and most illustrious Prince upon Earth Ah Anacharsis cryed shee I must interrupt you For I cannot endure to hear a Prince commended who has treated my Son so ill who caused him to be bound like a slave and who has most inhumanely stabbed him I beseech you Madam replyed Anacharsis be pleased to receive the truth from my mouth and harken not unto those Lies which are belched out by the Enemies of Cyrus For believe it Madam confidently believe it that Cyrus never treated Spargapises ill But on the Contrary sent in all hast to unbind him and was grieved to the soul when he heard that young and generous Prince had stabbed himself as soon as ever he was unbound Since I was not in the Tent where that unfortunate Prince dyed replyed she I cannot directly tell the passages But I am sure that in all likelyhood Cyrus caused him to be killed For he was bound and none of the Prisoners besides he was carried into a Tent by himselfe and as soon as two men came to him from Cyrus his death was presently published Also though it bee as you say yet Cyrus is not innocent for though my son did not die by any order from him yet the rigour which was used to him did cause his death and therefore I charge you to say no more in his behalf but command you to tell him from mee that I declare eternal War with him That in revenge of my sons death I will loaden Mandana with more Irons then that unfortunate Prince carried And that within a few daies I will send him back the Corps of that Princesse whom he
she commanded me to say unto you for upon second serious consideration I canot beleeve she can continue in such unjust thoughts but will even abhorre her own injustice Since you will not tell me what Thomiris said replyed Cyrus you give me some cause to think that she does intend the most horrid cruelty in the world And that shee intends to loaden the Princesse Mandana with the weight of her Irons Anacharsis being desirous to make him feare the very worst did returne him two or three something indirect answers to the end that fearing the worst he might apprehend less fears afterwards So that Cyrus imagining that perhaps Thomiris intended to put Mandana to death broke out into such sad expressions as Anacharsis thought it time to tell him the truth and so in few words he accquainted him that Thomiris did accuse him for killing her son and commanded him to tell him that if he did not render himselfe within three dayes under her power shee would send back the body of Mandana in the same Coffin in which he sent the body of her Son Yet to your comfort Sir continued is Anacharsis I must in all tell tell you that the Prince Ariantes does all he can to justifie you in the opinion of Thomiris and you may be assured his disposition is such as that he will oppose the fury of this incensed Queen as much as ever he can Alas Anacharsis cryed out Cyrus in a sad dispaire nothing can stop the reveng of such an humour as Thomiris is off And I see my self in the saddest condition of any man in the world For my particular said Mazanes with much sadness I am perswaded that Thomiris for her own interest will not put Mandana to death But I am fully perswaded replyed Cyrus that shee will only be revenged upon mee unless I will ruine my selfe And I am fully resolved to do it rather then hazard this most excellent Princess However I must heare what the messenger from this cruell Queen will say Then commanding he should enter this Massagetan told Cyrus that Thomiris fearing Anacharsis should not fully deliver his message she sent him to let him know that if within three dayes he did not render himselfe unto her she would put Mandana to death and send him her Corps Will you unjust Queen replyed Cyrus sternly that within this three dayes shee that have my answer and tell her also that if shee offer any violence unto the Princesse Mundana I will not pardon one of the Prisoners who are in my hands and laying aside that respect which hitherto I ever bore her though shee was my enemy I will most hotly pursue her untill I have revenged the Princesse whom shee shall wrong Yet I will hope that you will find the mind of the Massagettan Queen changed when you are returned to her and that she will repent of her Injustice and cruelty against a Prince who never offended her But once more I charge you to tell her it is her best to take heed of injuring the Princesse Mandana assure her it concerns the lives of all the Prisoners which are or ever shall be in my power After this Cyrus having dismissed the messenger he was a while silent considering what to resolve upon At first he thought it best to march immediatly to the Tents Royall to force the passes and in the head of his Army to save the life of his Princesse but afterwards considering that the more he pressed upon Thomiris the more reason he had to fear Mandana and than the nearer the Massagetan Queen was unto her ruine she would the sooner hasten Mandanas he knew not what to resolve upon But as his great heart advised him to fight so his love perswaded him rather then to hazard his Princesse to put himselfe into the hands of Thomiris Provided she would release Mandana yet since it was not likely she would release her though he should put himselfe into her power he rejected that thought as well as the rest In the mean time considering the state of things he must either submit himself her Prisoner or endanger the life of Mandana So as not knowing what to resolve upon his mind was so turbulent as not being able to enclose his sorrows in his own heart for heavens sake said he unto all the company tell me each of you what you think to be my best course and what I should do not to hazard the life of my Princesse But I beseech you consider only her and never care what becomes of mee Advise me what I shall do to save her and never consider my Army nor my Conquests nor my life for I am so farre from all these considerations that I do not value my own Glory in competition of her safety And though it be a shame for the Conqueror of Thomiris to take her fetters upon him yet I am most ready to do it unlesse you can find out some other way to keep my Princesse from perishing I know ther 's none amongst you who dare tell me it is requisite to receive fetters from the hands of a Queen whom I have conquered but unlesse you find me out some better expedient I shall tell it unto my self For my part Sir said Anacharsis I conceive the best expedient is to draw the businesse out at length by returning a dubious answer and so gaine time for the Prince Arcantes either to perswade Thomiris unto reason or else til he get himselfe into a condition able to give a stop unto her violences Alas wise Anacharsis said Cyrus It seems you are ignorant of the height of that passion which possesseth me since you think it possible I should love even but a few dayes in such a cruel incertainty The truth is added Mazones most sadly minuts wherein the life of Mandana is feared seâ—m very long unto those who are neerly interrested in her Since I am well acquainted with the power of Love replyed Intaphernes I do easily understand your meaning but to speak unto the businesse as I do think I can never beleeve that Queen who had never made warre but only to make her self loved will ever give so great a provocation of hatred unto him of whom shee desires to be loved as this to put the Princesse whom he adores to death Since Thomiris is reported to be of a most hasty and violent temper replyed Atergatis what you say is no security for Mandanas life But my greatest hope is in the love of Arcantes for since his passion hath been so high as to make him forget his duty unto the illustrious Cyrus and so violent as to attempt so bould an act as to carry her away before his face doubtlesse he will be as forward and ingenious as to preserve Mandanas life and to find out away of stopping the violence of Thomiris Though he should not replyed Hydaspes yet I cannot beleeve that Thomiris will offer to make any attempts upon the life of the Princesse Mandana
any of the Letters which he undertook except those unto Adonacris and Anabaris And the preservation of Mandanas life did so wholly take up his mind that he could not think of any thing else In the mean time this unfortunate Princess wondered at the doubling of her Guards Doralisa and Martesia no less then shee Yet they were greeved much more when enquiring of one of the Guards the Cause he told them so as expecting every minute when Mandanas throat should be cut these two generous minded Ladies were greeved beyond all comforts On the other side the Princesse of Bythinia and the Princesse Istrina having not the liberty to see Mandana and enquiring the state of things they were exceedingly sad Arpasia for her part she found her selfe in a miserable condition by being in the Court of a Queen who was capable of so great a peece of Injustice And Aripithis himselfe who was the cause of all this tumult was extreamly vexed to see Thomiris as full of love as fury and to see that the measure of the one was the measure of the other Though all these several-Persons did suffer very much yet all was nothing in comparison of what Thomiris suffered For Love Hatred Revenge Jealousie and all Passions did shiver her heart with such violence as I assure you she was in a most strange Condition The truth is after the first fury was over she saw there was no Coulor to suspect Cyrus of killing Spargapises yet she was very Cautious of not divulging this thought for having a Design to revenge her slighted love upon Mandana she would still have this sad Pretence for her Revenge to blind the eyes of the People So that though she could not see the hands of Cyrus stained with the blood of her Son yet she would shed the blood of Mandana purposely to take away the cause of that Princes Love yet sometimes she doubted of his innocency and looking upon him as the Murtherer of Spargapises she would make himself a Sacrifice upon the Coffin of her Son But after these tumultuous Motions had ruffled her mind thinking somtimes that perhaps Cyrus would put himself into her Power part of her Fury cooled and she began to consider what she should do to justifie Cyrus before the People and justifie her self before Cyrus So that being somtimes surprized with thoughts of Revenge and hatred and somtimes with thoughts of Love she was ashamed at her own weakness and abhorred her own Cruelty but these good Intervals came not often but commonly Fury was the Mistress of her Reason Consider Thomiris would she say and be carefull to keep up the great Pretence thou hast to be revenged of thy proud Enemy who hath so cruelly affronted thee and though thou art sure he did not kill thy Son yet still look upon him as the cause of his death for though he were innocent yet he is Culpable of so many others that he deserves thy hatred Truth is he is a trouble to thy tranquility he hath caused the to lose all the innocency of thy life and he hath made the do things against thy own Glory Pursue him therfore to death and be revenged upon a Princess who is the cause of his scorning thee Consider that the Passion which he raised in thy heart hath sent thy Son to his Grave and that the fire of thy love hath kindled such a Warr as nothing perhaps will extinguish but the blood of all thy Subjects Sacrifice therfore Mandana as the first Victim of thy Revenge and stay till Cyrus be himself in a condition to be Sacrificed as a Victim unto thy Resentments But what am I doing sayd she and reprehended her self and what do I speak in my Fury I talk of Sacrificing a Prince who whether I will or no does Raign in my heart and who no sooner would be in my power but I should be absolutely in his Can I see Cyrus a Prisoner and look upon him with eyes and heart of hatred yes yes I can for since he comes into my Chains only out of his love to Mandana doubtless I shall hate him more then ever I loved him After this Thomiris being resolved to give way unto her fury intended to move the hearts of the People by the Funerals of Spargapises to the end so sad an Object might animate the Massagettans to revenge the death of their Prince And indeed this sad Ceremony moved many tears Aripathes in particular was deep in mourning and so was Ariantes But after the Ceremony was ended Ariantes followed Thomiris to her Tent and having made sure of many friends particularly of Octomasades and Agathises he talked to her very boldly in favour of Mandana moving her to send her back unto Cyrus So as this Princess being exasperated she answered him very sharply but Ariantes was resolute and cared not therfore he went on and told her all that was fit to be spoken both for her own Glory and the Preservation of that Princess whom he loved For I must profess unto you Madam sayd he unto her that since she never had been in your power but for me I will do all that I am able to get her from you if you offer to attempt any thing against her Since you are able to do but little sayd she very sharply to him I shall not much value what you do In the mean time I charge you to see me no more till I send for you I will obey you Madam replyed Ariantes but I pray take it not ill if I do stop you in all you shall attempt against Mandana If Cyrus do put himself under my power replyed she you need not fear that Princess If he do not I shall follow my own advice and not yours After this Ariantes having left her she went into a Tent which was her Closet and called for Aripithes purposely to give him severall Orders for opposing Ariantes if he should attempt any thing but it was to late For this Prince had not only got almost all the Officers and Sou 〈…〉 s on his 〈◊〉 but he had also sent unto those Forces which were coming up to make sure of them also if need were Moreover Aripithes though glad to be imployed by Thomiris yet he was very fearfull least Cyrus should become her Prisoner imagining that if ever Thomiris saw him all her fury would dye Also he being advertised that Ariantes had many friends and that this resolution of Thomiris to put Mandana to death did incense all men of any honour he plainly saw that he was Master only of that body which was under his Command And this act of cruelty seemed so horridly strange unto all the World that he durst not absolutely trust unto that neither In the mean time the wise Gelonide knowing that there was no thwarting the fury of Thomiris at first yet now thought it time to speak and endeavour to reduce her unto Reason Therfore striving to insinuate her self handsomly into the mind of the enraged
Queen she did not vehemently contradict her but on the contrary excused her violencies by some shallow reasons so that she might afterwards without incensing her produce more sollid Arguments to perswade her And indeed when she was alone with Thomiris she complained against the lamentable condition into which Fortune had brought her and pittied her that she should be brought unto such a cruell necessity as to be revenged upon so great a Prince as Cyrus was For though Gelonide did wish with all her heart that Thomiris did not love that Prince yet as the case stood she thought no way better to restrain her hands from the blood of Mandana then by the interest of her love Therefore fetching a compass the better to arrive at her end truly Madam sayd she unto her after much other discourse you are much to be pittied in your seeking revenge upon a Prince who is so much in Fortunes favour and so much esteemed by all the World For though they say Revenge is sweet yet I am perswaded that a Soul truly generous cannot seek revenge without abundance of Repugnancy especially when it must be steeped in blood However Madam added she very cunningly I hope your Soule hath changed its Passion and though it be troubled with the disquiet consequences of Hatred yet it is freed from the consequencies of Love Alas Gelonide replyed she I am more miserable then you imagine me and this first Passion hath not driven the other out of my heart But I beseech you Madam replyed Gelonide what likely-hood is there you should love Cyrus still for if you did you would never strive to make him hate you by persecuting Mandana for I am most confident that Cyrus would hate you much less for persecuting himself then for persecuting her whom he adores and therfore Madam if you do not hate that Prince think seriously upon what you do and if you will be advised by me in lieu of menacing the life of that Princess you shall protect it and force that Prince by your generosity to confess you merit his Esteem if not his Affection But I am most sure Madam that if you shed the blood of this Princess and do not hate Cyrus you will make your self the most miserable woman in the World and therfore consider well upon it if you do hate him then I grant you may satisfie your revenge by the most cruell and fatall wayes But if you do not hate him give a stop unto your fury and consider that if you do put Mandana to death Cyrus will do the like to you And though t is possible the love of Cyrus may dye with this Princess yet he will be sure to be your Enemy if you did put her to death Honour doth so engage him to make Warr upon you that though he should hereafter love you yet he durst not entertain any peace with you Therfore Madam sound your heart to the bottom and take heâ—d least thinking to entertain only hatred you find it to be all love I have heard say indeed that these two Passions as opposite as they are yet do somtimes so disguise themselves in such fallacious shews as they cannot be known from each other and when one hath thought he acted by dictates of Hatred it was indeed by dictates of Love Alas Gelonide sayd the Queen I have to my shame found all this to be true For I must with a blush confess that Cyrus is not out of my heart and if I did not love him still I should not seek revenge upon Mandana However I do carry it as if I would revenge the death of my Son though to speak truth my heart doth not accuse him for it Yes yes Gelonide since I must open my heart unto you I do look upon him as ungratefull towards me and not as if he were the Murtherer of Spargapises Thus at the very same time whilst I taxe him in Publick with this horrid Crime I do justifie him in the Closet of my heart as much as I can Since it is so Madam replyed Gelonide you must carry it otherwise and not put yourself into such a State as it will be impossible for you to be happy if Fortune should wheel about For Madam if you do not proceed to the very last Extremity who knows but you may hereafter have Cyrus in your Power he may chance be your Prisoner of Warr and may perchance become fettered in your Chains by Love if you use Mandana well at least this Prince will esteem you more and may happily in the end do justice both unto your Merit and your Affection Who knows also whether those Forces which are coming up to joyn with yours may not get you the advantage over Cyrus as now he hath it over you and whether Ciaxares may not be brought to demand Peace upon no other condition but to exchange Cyrus for Mandana And who knows whether this happy Peace may not satisfie the Passion of Ariantes and you both There is so little probability in all you say replyed Thomyris and sighed that I cannot flatter my self with any thoughts of it However Madam replyed Gelonide though it be not probable yet it is not impossible But if you put Mandana to death it is absolutely impossible that Cyrus should either love you or make any Peace with you Ah Gelonide replyed she you are a great stop unto my Revenge Why will you hinder me from the enjoyment of the only Pleasure that I can ever hope for yet I find your words make a deep impression in my heart and my fears to incurr the hatred of Cyrus restrain me from hating Mandana I wish with all my heart Madam replyed Gelonide that I were able to ease your Majesty of your sufferings but since I cannot yet I would perswade you if you love Cyrus not to provoke him to hate you by Sacrificing Mandana unto your Revenge For by that means I should preserve your glory and perhaps somthing satisfie the passion which raigns in your Soul As for my Glory replyed Thomyris I value it not for since I do not esteem my self I care not whether others do esteem me or no. As Thomyris was speaking this an old Officer of hers who had ever been very faithfull and affectionate to her Service came to tell her how he was very certainly given to understand that Ariantes was Master of all her Forces and that he had sent unto those who were coming up that he who guarded Mandana was wholly at his Command and that the People in generall began to fear the anger of the Gods if she should put this innocent Princess to death that they began to murmure and perhaps would Rebell if she persisted in her Design Since this advise came from a man whom she knew most faithfull it made some impression upon her Spirits and Gelonides discourse having prepared her Soul to receive it wel she thanked him for it and after she had dismissed him she began to consider
since he thought upon her to be unfaithfull or at least too little sensible of his death and too soon comforted at it And yet this sad thought did not lessen his tendernesse nor his affection but by a most cruell and ingenuous device of Fate he was all at once both full of anger tendernesse jealousie pitty love and fury For sometimes he would complain against Mandana and sometimes he would complain against himself in lieu of her Presently after he would curse Ariantes and instantly after that he would wish him at liberty Then would he make imprecations against Thomyris and sometimes against himselfe charging himselfe with all the miseries of Mandana with all his own with all the violences of Thomyris and also with all the affection which his Rivals bore unto the Princesse whom he adored so as passing continually from one sad thought unto another he was in perpetuall torment But the sharpest part of all his miseries was his opinion that Mandana did love him or at least did not love him enough The cruelty of Thomyris did not so much grate upon his soule as the want of affection in Mandana did for he was accustomed to see Death in his grimmest look but he was never used to see Mandana perfidious or indifferent Also he had one addition of sorrow more when he heard of Araminta's death by one of his Guards and he set that upon the score of his own misfortunes and began to number them all up Is it not enough oh cruell Fate cryed he out that I should be miserable in my own person but I must also be so in the persons of those whom I love Must Spitridates dye because he resembled me and was my friend Must Araminta loose her life because I professed friendship to her Must Meliantes be imprisoned because he protected me Must I be miserable because Thomyris loves me and also because Mandana loves mee not Fortune makes use of all this variety to torment me and yet I could support them all were I assured of the affection of my Princesse But alas I am far from that happy condition for since she can soon comfort her selfe after my death it must needs be concluded that she values not my life and therefore why should I unlesse against all reason in hopes of revenge I had indeed some hopes that the Oracle had been fulfilled in Spitridates but Heavens I feare it is not since I am under the power of a loving and yet of an enraged Queen Mandana is under the power of a proud Rivall and I am out of Mandana's heart and therefore I were absolutely out of my wits if I should hope for any rest but in Death yet thanks he unto the Gods I am not capable of such a weaknesse But whilst Cyrus was reasoning with himselfe in this sad manner Thomyris was so full of unquiet distempers as she was not half a quarter of an hour in one mind Gelonide knowing the very bottom of her heart she discovered all the tumultuous thoughts of her soule unto her I perceive Gelonide said she unto her seeing her look earnestly upon her that you desire to dive into my thoughts but let me tell you it is very difficult for they wander upon so many severall subjects as they continually smother one another and such is the agitation of my soule that it would suffer much lesse if I were in the condition of Cyrus And yet replyed Gelonide that Prince is in a very ill condition and I believe that if your Majestie consider it well you will find a great difference between your fortune and his Were I at peace with my self Gelonide replyed Thomyris you were in the right but alas there is such a Civill war in my heart that shivers it into pieces For when I think how this Prince slighted me both under the name of Artamenes and Cyrus I cannot choose but hate him And I am resolved to put Mandana to death to let him see her dead and then to put him to death also For if I consider him upon that account I cannot think upon any punishment which he deserve not he has scorned me enough to merit a thousand deaths he hath blasted my glory he hath made the blood of my Subjects run like Rivers and he hath caused my sons death So as looking upon him upon this accompt and having him in my power I am often in a mind to tast the sweets of a full revenge But alas these thoughts last but a while and when I consider Cyrus as the greatest Prince upon Earth and as the most excellently accomplished man in the whole world my revenge dyes and I am ready to excuse him Yes Gelonide sometimes I tell my selfe that he loved Mandana before ere he saw me that he does no wrong unto me in not loving me and that I am obliged unto him for sparing my life when he might easily have killed me in the Sauromattan wood But after all these Considerations my soule is never the quietter for the lesse reason I find to accuse Cyrus the more I find to accuse my selfe But Gelonide my greatest grief is that Cyrus doth most horridly hate me especially since the time that the violence of my Love and Jealousie did prompt me unto that act of cruelty which vet I only did because he had been cruell unto me But as oft as I thinke upon Cyrus unto whom I have expressed a thousand testimonies of Love and that he should know of this terrible effect of my hatred I am vexed beyond my expression For the truth is I have a desire to see him and yet I dare not after this act of cruelty whereof he is not ignorant 'T is true that if he do me justice he wil excuse my cruelty and Cyrus living doubtless ought to think himself obliged unto me for what I did against Cyrus dead since my inhumanity was as wel aneffect of my Love as all those testimonies of tendernesse which I gave him upon a thousand occasions Truly Madam said Gelonide unto her since Cyrus can never be unfaithfull unto Mandana as long as you give him so many causes to hate you It is not probable he should love you now he may charge you with more hatred than love And therefore your Majestie would do very well to re-establish your glory by some great and high action such an Act as would regain the esteem of Cyrus If you should now set Cyrus and Mandana free and send them to the King of Medes you would do an Act which would render your glory immortall Ah Gelonide said Thomyris and interrupted her I know very well that I ought to love my glory above Cyrus But I have found by long experience that I cannot and therefore without any consideration of generosity or reason or virtue I must take such a course as Cyrus may Reign in my Dominions and in my heart And when all hopes of that is gone then shall my fury have no limits and if I cannot
design of dis-engaging my heart from Meliantes did make me receive the Love of Hydaspes sooner than otherwise I had done so as not to dissemble with you I did did permit him to hope and a while after promised him my Love Since this Madam there hath hapned many strange revolutions and not to insist upon any but the last I will tell you Madam that notwithstanding all my coldness to Meliantes he came disguised unto the Tents Royall and was so generous as to hazard his life in being the death of my last Ravisher and I may truly say Madam that in killing Lycander he hath received part of that affection which formerly I had unto him so as I am now in the most peplexed condition in the World For I know that none can be more perfectly loved than I am both by Meliantes and by Hydaspes The first of which hath done me the most considerable service and the second hath the Engagement of my promise which I am not able to keep unless I be ungratefull unto Meliantes nor can I bestow my self unto Meliantes unless I be perfidious unto Hydaspes Thus can I give my self unto neither of these two unless I should greive for him whose I am not And I am so unresolved what to do that doubtless I should repent it if I should make my choise of either For truly I do no sooner entertain an advantageous thought of Hydaspes but presently I have another which blasts it And therefore Madam to be sincere with you I am not able to make him whom I shall choose or my self happy in my choice After thâ—s Mandana endeavoured to discover whether all this proceeded from the reality of her mind and indeed she did so plainly find that it was so as she could not choose but wonder But the great difficulty was to make Arpasia consent that her thoughts should be made known unto Meliantes and Hydaspes yet resolve upon it she must For after Mandana had given an account unto Cyrus and Gabrias of her conference they could find out no better course then to tell both Meliantes and Hydaspes ingeniously how the case stood So as sending for them both Mandana did so discreetly acquaint them with Arpasias mind and carried the matter with such artifice as she almost infused an equall desire in them both to yeild her unto one another by the impossibility which she made them see in making eithe themselves or her happy yet they could not resolve it so upon a sudden but desired two things The one that Arpasia would in their presence confirm all that the Princess Mandana had told them that they might see there was no possibility of changing her mind The other that they might have time given them untill the next day before they gave their answer Their demands were granted and Arpasia was brought unto them though much against her will But when they saw her they found all that Mandana told them so exactly true that they equally thought themselves most miserable yet Meliantes less than Hydaspes For after an absolute despair he found some sweetness in seeing that he had made some Entrance into Arpasias heart since he had gotten half of it from his Rivall yet this partition was a great affliction unto him as well as unto Hydaspes and they were in a hundred minds to give over all thoughts of a person who could not tell what to resolve upon And thus they passed away that night in a restless perplexity However Meliantes being as generous as amorous the very thought that Hidaspes would still be in a corner of Arpasias heart though he should marry her he was in a mind to quench his flames but since generosity told him it was against the haire to yeild her unto his Rivall he was resolved not to do it when one came to tell him that Cyrus was very desirous to speak with him and stayed for him in Mandana's chamber He remembring his promise of giving an answer did think it was that for which he sent for him but he was much surprized when in entring into the the Chamber of that Princess where there was only Cyrus and the King of Hyrcania and he heard Mandana say that she had such good news to tell him as she desired none should acquaint him with it but her self For Meliantes said she unto him you are Son unto a King and to a King who was the first friend of Cyrus when he begun the Warr But the worst is that in giving a Crown you must loose a mistress for the King your Father before whom I speak hath acquainted me that according to the Laws of his Kingdome it is not lawfnll for the successor unto that Kingdome to marry a stranger Princess Madam replyed Meliantes much amazed what you are pleased to tell is so far from any probability that not daring but to beleive your words I must needs think I have not rightly understood them No no replyed the King of Hyrcania neither the Princess Mandana nor you are mistaken for you are really my Sonn though you do not know it And to testifie that I do know all that ever you have done since you left the name of Clidaris and assumed that of Meliantes I must tell you that you were brought up in a Province of Assyria that you were beleived to be Son unto a man of quality there that you thought Cleonide was your sister and that you have travelled all Greece In the mean time those from whom you thought you had your birth were only the confidents of my marriage with a person whom I espoused secretly during the Life of my Father and who dyed presently after you were born But I beseech you Sir said Cyrus and intterrupted him what is the reason why after the death of the late King of Hyrcania you did not declare your marriage recall home the Prince your Son The reason of it was Sir replied he that having consulted with the Oracle of Jupiter Belus in Babylon concerning the birth of my son I was answered that if I did not conceal his quality untill he had taken the greatest Prince upon Earth Prisoner he should become the most miserable man in the world and if on the contrary I did not divulge it untill he was master of a Princes destiny who had the destiny of all Asia in his hands he should be able to cure himself of a passion which then would torment him and afterwards be very happy all the rest of his days So in obedience to the Gods I sent my son to travell into Greece in expectation of their promises which now are accomplished since my Son hath had the Glory to see the illustrious Cyrus his prisoner So as also the man who did educate him and when the men who did educate him and when he beleived me to be his Father being come hither to tell me he understood that my son under the name of Meliantes was in the Party of Thomyris and that he
adores in the same Coffin which brought my Sonne As she said so the Prince Ariantes coming to her and hearing these words hee grew pale with fear and wonder So that his love of Mandana moving him he was necessitated to justifie his Rivall lest the violence of Thomiris should become dangerous Also shee had no sooner pronounced terrible words but Ariantes spoke unto her with as much reverence as sorrow you know Madam said he unto her that Fate hath brought me into that condition as I can never be a friend unto Cyrus but have many reasons to hate him Yet for al that honour bids me tell your Majesty that I can never believe that Cyrus did either use ill or kill the Prince Srargapises for he is one that stands more upon his glory then to have his hand in any base act and I must tell you Madam that Mandana being in your hands it is not credible he should ever do such a thing I know said she unto him that this Prince had no reason for it but I know better that howsoever it was he was the cause of my sonnes death and if I cannot be revenged upon him yet I ought and will upon Mandana and therefore added she transported with fury I take it ill you should set limits to my vengeance and justifie the murtherer of a Prince in presence of his Corps and unto whom you should have been subject For Heavens sake Madam said Atacharsis then stifle all these thoughts and let your reason surmount your sorrows for I am most confident that to morrow you will repent of this daies thoughts I have already told you replied she that I will hearken no more unto you yet tell Cyrus that if within three daies he will come and put himselfe into my fetters I will spare Mandana's life if he will not I will take my course and in lieu of seeing her in triumph as he hoped he shall see her in Spargapises Cosfin Anacharsis and Ariantes seeing her so incensed would have said something to appease her fury but abruptly left them after she had given three commands The First to set the Corps of Spargapises in one of her Tents in the hands of Religious men the second to double the guards upon Mandana and the third that Anacharsis should depart that very minute and not speak unto any one living And indeed this wise and victorious Scythian was forced to obey this unjust Princess and carry unto Cyrus the saddest news that ever he received since Mazares told him at Synope that Mandana was drowned The end of the Ninth Part. ARTAMENES OR THE GRAND CYRUS THE TENTH AND LAST PART BOOK I. SINCE Ortalgues was not with Anacharsis when he had audieence from Thomiris because he was busied in discharging himselfe of those Letters which he took upon him to deliver Those who were to see Anacharsis depart that very houre from the Tents Royall never thought upon him So that Anacharsis with those who waited upon the Corps of Spargapises went away without Ortalgues But when Anacharsis came to the last guard of the Massagettans which was at the strait passage in the wood and began to think upon the Gulfe of sorrow which the soule of Cyrus would be plunged into to reflect upon all the miseries of this life and to consider the sad consequences which do commonly follow all violent Passions How happy did he think himselfe in that he had wholy subdued all his passions unto his reason and that he was above the reach of fortune in scorning all that shee was able to do unto him and in applying himselfe only unto the love of vertue and study of Philosophy yet he stood in need of all his wisdome to keep himself from murmuring against the gods whom he adored for exposing Cyrus unto so many disasterous adventures But his greatest care was to find out such words as might sweeten that message which he was to deliver unto him from Thomiris yet that labour was saved for this revengfull Princesse imagining that Anacharsis would not deliver her message in such tearms as shee expressed did send an emissary of her own unto Cyrus not only to see that her message was fully delivered but also to know his precise answer So that though this envy from Thomiris did set out two hours after Anacharsis yet making more hast then he did he overtook him before he came to the Fort of Sauromates where Cyrus was Thus this wise Scithian had not power to lessen his sorrows by concealing a little the fury of Thomiris for he was sure that this messenger would speak her message in her own words However this great and miserable Prince no sooner knew that Anacharsis was returned with a messenger from Thomiris but his heart and spirits did begin to beat a turbulent and disordered pulse hopes and feares did successively raise and deject him There was then present with him Mazares Artamas Atergates Intaphernes Hidaspes Araspes and Aglatidas But though much inquietude and impatience appeared in all their faces yet it was easie to discern that Cyrus and Mazanes had such a curiosity to know the business of this envey from Thomiris as could not possibly proceed but from one and the same passion Indeed they had both of them such a desire to heare how that Queen received the news of her Sons death and were so affraid least she should have some revenging resolutions upon Mandana as they expressed their sorrows and their feares in every wrinkle of their faces They did communicat their sadnesse and impatiency by their very looks Though Mazanes did still strive as much as ever he could to hide some part of his resentments purposely to hide his love from his generous Rivall with whom he neither could nor would dispute for Mandana yet he had much ado But at last Cyrus commanded that Anacharsis should enter and the messenger from Thomiris to â—â—ay in the next Tent untill he was a little instructed what to say unto him Come wise Anacharsis said Cyrus to him as soon as he appeared how has Thomiris received you Alas Sir replyed he and sighed I would the fidelity that I owe unto you would permit me to disguise some part of that Princess sury from you But since you must know it and since this messenger will not mince it I must tell you that this unjust Queen did receive me so unworthy both of you and her selfe that even the very worst is to be feared and nothing that is good is to be hoped for Alas Anacharsis cryed Cyrus out so there be nothing to feare concerning Mandana Let fortune do her worst any way else and I will freely abandon my selfe unto the furie of Thomiris But what 's her greif and what unjust revenge does she draw from the death of Epargapnes Sir said Anacharsis then since it is not impossible but her mind may change since I left her I conceive it fityou know what this messenger will tel you before I impart what