did redouble his grief in as much as for that he seemed concerned in any thing which belonged to Policrite and that this slave appeared to him worthy of such good fortune as that in losing him hee lost almost all hopes of ever discovering where Policrite was He forbare not notwithstanding to have watch kept for a while to see whether any bodie should come to that rural Cottage or no but at last wearie of wearying out his people he dispenced with their further trouble therein and abandoned his fortune absolutely to the guidance of the gods As he was one daie in this sad mood Solon came to Claria hee was at first much joied to hear a name he so dearlie loved but considering what an alteration there was in him since he had seen him and how confounded he should bee to acknowledge his weakness to him though he knew that lawful love was not a passion to which Solon had declared himself an enemy this joy suffered a little allay He went notwithstanding with much eagerness to meet him but sadness having so deeply seised upon his heart and eyes the satisfaction which he received to see the famous Solon was so inward as there hardly appeared any sign thereof in his countenance Solon no sooner saw him but he observed his melancholy and Philoxypes on his part looking on Solon in stead of the peacefull physiognomy and that chearful and pleasing aspect which he had wont to have in his eyes he seemed to see a great deal of sorrow The first complements being over and Philoxypes having brought Solon to his chamber Sir said he the sight of you would surely much rejoyce me did I not see some signs of sorrow in you of which I must needs request to know the cause Noble Prince reply'd Solon I should have prevented you and have desired to know the cause of your melancholy before having afforded you leasure to inform your self of mine But I confesse unto you the Law-giver of Athens is not at present in a condition of prescribing Laws unto himself and that the sorrow I feel is stronger then my reason Philoxypes embracing him then straitly conjured him to tell him the reason thereof and desired him to believe he would do all that laie in his power to comfort him But Sir said he I thought that Philosophie had been a salve to you against all the misfortunes of life and that sorrow was a thing unknown to Solon to whom whole Greece gives the name of wise Philosophie said this famous Athenian is a vain-glorious art which boasts of governing in places wherein she hath no great power she may doubtlesly said he teach men to bee vertuous make them know whole nature teach them how to discourse and give them Laws and Precepts for the government of Kingdoms and Common-wealths Nay she may oft times make us overcome our passions but when an equitable feeling which nature gives us is to be overcome believe me Philoxypes the same Philosophy which hath sometimes made us lose Crownes without change of countenance or which hath made us not stick to refuse them is weak in lesse eminent occasions And in my particular I may say I have beene 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 vvhat 't is that afflicts you It very well behoves that I tell it you said Solon 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 withal 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 incompetible with Philosophy and true Wisdome 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 worthie of that noble bloud whence he is descended He was about 14 or 15 years old when I vvas at Milet about some affairs of mine where I visited wise Thales who was one of my very good friends He civily reproacht me with my weakness and said I did sufficiently witness my indulgencie to love by a little image of Cupid which I one day consecrated to that Deitie and placed in the park belonging to the Academie there vvhere they who run vvith the sacred Torch are wont to assemble themselves Passing from one thing to another we spake of the happiness and of the misfortunes of marriage and thus our discourse varying as it oft fals out from our first subject wee 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 vvho told him he was come from Athâ—ns not above ten daies ago Prest by the natural desire of curiositie to know whether there was nothing of new befaln in my Countrey since my departure thence I askt him whether he knew any thing of considerable there or no No said he save onely that the day I came away on I saw the Funeral observed of a young youth of the best rank vvhereat all the people of note in the Town vvere present and vvere very sensible of the sorrow this childs death vvould cause in his Father vvho vvas not then at Athens I confess when I heard him speak thus my colour changed fearing my son might be concerned vvhich made mee ask him whether he knew not the name of that unfortunate Father I have forgot it said he but I know hee is a man of great integritie and who is much esteemed of in that place I confesse Sir that since Philosophy teacheth sinceritie as well as modestie 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 heare so sad news vvithout sorrow and that so great as Thales pitied me and jesting at my weakness 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 mee 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
in this manner very unquietly sometimes he was agitated with anger and hatred not knowing whom he hated or on whom he desired to be revenged sometimes he did a little blame Philoxypes for not having at the very first acquainted him with his passion sometime he betook himself to Aretaphiles beauty but at last he blamed himself Then suddainly considering the pittifull condition into which Phyloxypes was brought and what an unhappy life he led his heart was so touched with compassion as he did almost love his pretended Rival better then his Mistress He then called to minde how that all the favours he had received from her had been husbanded and obtained by Phyloxipes his means He past the next morning in like perplexitie and strange irresolutions at last having dined somewhat early he went well accompanied to lie that night at Claria not affording me any opportunitie to give any notice thereof to Philoxypes for he into whose custodie I was given thinking it had been for some business of another nature treated me as a prisoner of the State and would not give me the least libertie The king commanded me to follow him so as I came with him to Claria he not having spoken one word all the way long but musing still on his adventure But when we were come thither Phyloxipes's people told the King that their Master was not at home and that according to his custom he was walked out all alone The King informed himself carefully of one of his servants who had a long time waited on him whether he knew not the cause of his Masters melancholly this servant who loved his Master dearly that he might make use of the honour the King did him in speaking to him said Sir I know not what my master ayles but this I know that if your Majestie out of your goodness finde not some means to cure him of the Melancholly which possesseth him he will certainly not live long For he eats little hardly sleeps at all does nothing but sigh cannot endure that one should speak to him about busines wanders whole daies in the fields and I once heard him cry out when he little thought I did so Good gods what would the King say if he saw how great my sadness is and how hardly would he guess at the cause of my death In fine Sir said this man with tears almost in his eyes I know not what to say but I am very certain your Majesty will lose the faithfullest of all your servants if you lose the Prince my Master Whilest this man spake thus I was strangely in pain for I saw all that he said tended to confirm the King in his Opinion I was much the better for beckning unto him he never looked on me so intent was he to what he said The King on his part sighed and having left the other well Leontidas you will not have it that Philoxypes is in Love nor that it is Aretaphile whom he loves Sir said I I confess I am stil of that belief and I would your Majesty could resolve to be so too O Unfortunate Philoxypes cried the King not answering me how sad is this distemper and how unfortunat am I my self that I cannot absolutely cure thee of the Malladie that possesseth thee I would then have gone to finde out Phyloxypes that I might acquaint him with the Kings sense before he saw him but the King would not suffer me but making the way be shewn unto him which Philoxypes most usually went we went directly towards the head of Claria Philoxypes was this mean while gone to Cleanthes his house where the face of affairs was a little altered for Policrita-knowing that her condition was not what she believed it to be Philoxypes his desert had made a further advancement in her heart then formerly neither could she so well hide her affection but that Cleanthes and Megisto were much to their grief aware thereof Yet was Philopyxes ne're a whit the more happie for Policrite having tane a Fancie to make tryal of his affection by an appearing indifferency did very carefully conceal from him the affection shee had for him And in truth that very day that the King came to Claria where we mist of Phyloxypes she had caused as much trouble in him as admiration For being gone to her and having found her at the root of a a tree where shee was designing out a corner of the countrey which pleased her he began to entertain her with his passion and to tell her how it grew still more violent upon him Sir said she if I may be permitted to do so I should tell you That if you desire to win my good esteem you should do better to tell me that your passion grows every day more moderate for to tell you the truth I do somewhat apprehend these extravagant passions which I have heard spoken of and which they say does disorder reason makes men lose the respect they ow to virtue though it inhabite in a Cottage and which occasion a hundred strange things the very hearing whereof causeth horror Therefore Sir if you would oblige me you will satisfie your self with telling me you have affection enough for me to wish if it were possible that Fortune had been more propitious to me that I had been born of a higher condition then I am or at least this not being so I might rest content with my own condition without envying others To love you with indifferencie said Philoxypes who acquainted me afterwards with this their conversation your beautie should be indifferent your virtue and discretion should be so also in fine that inexpressable Charm which I finde in every of your words looks and actions ought not to inchant me as it doth But divine Policrite apprehend nothing from the violence of my passion for the stronger it is the fuller of respect shall I be and the more obedient to your will Sir said She if what you say be true speak no more thereof I beseech you for not comprehending that I may lawfully give you any part of my affection mee thinks I ought intreat you to entertain me no longer with yours But Divine Policrita said he for whom do you reserve that Glorious affection which you cruelly affirm I shall never enjoy At these words she blusht and modestly bowing down her eyes I reserve it said she for our woods fields rocks and fountains whereof Sir said shee smilingly I think you will not be jealous I shall not be jealous of them said hee but I shall envy them and I shall not easily endure that you should love things to my prejudice which cannot love you again But cruel maid will you say nothing to me of more obliging and forgoing the Court as J do for love of you and renouncing what ever is in the world except it be Policrite is it possible you should not deal with me a little less severely J do not desire you to love me say onely that you are
Aretaphile to Philoxypes as after having surrendered her to him But Sir since you have rather chosen to specifie an extraordinary mark of Generosity then to give the commonest proofe of love I have no more to say neither have I more to do but to preserve my heart as free as it hath allwaies been The king seeing he could not appease this haughty spirit call'd Philoxypes in into his aid come said he come make amends for the fault which you have innocently committed and if you will preserve my life as I would have done yours be a mean of replacing me in the condition wherein I was before I had compassion of you Madam said Philoxypes addressing his speech to the Princess if you judge of the Kings love to you by his Friendship to me what may you not expect from thence since to save my life he could for some few moments onely renounce the possession of so inestimable a jewel And will you not then believe That upon the least occasion which should present it self he would for your service sacrifice not onely Philoxypes but even all his subjects nay even his own life No Sir said she you are not so much bound to the King as you imagine and instead of your desiring me to judge of his love to me by the friendship he bears to you I shall advise you to judge of his friendship to you onely by his love to me and to believe that since he was able to yeild me up he never had so resolute a passion for Aretaphile as to deserve that Philoxypes should be much beholden to him for what hee hath done for him since he would have done the like for any other But cruell princess said the King what will you have me to do me thinks said she I should demand no unjust thing of you if I should humbly intreat you to think no longer on Aretaphile and quietly to enjoy the life of Philoxypes which hath cost you so little Ah said he if I should have purchased the life of Philoxipes at the losse of your affection I should have bought it more deare then if I should have given my Crown for it Confess the truth said this malicious Princess if Philoxypes had been as sick of Ambition as you did think him love sick he would not for certain be yet cured and you would not so soon have forgon your Scepter as you did Aretaphile Phyloxipes who easilie conceived the hidden sense of these words whereunto the King replyed not so was he over born with grief said Madam if the King shall confess unto you that he hath done amiss and shall ask your pardon for it will you be more inexorable then are the Gods and will you shew no mercy when the King said shee shall have done to cure me of any malady of minde if any such shall befall me so extraordinary a thing as that which he hath done for you I shall then see of what minde I shall be In fine Sir All that the King and Philoxypes could do or say did no waies avail with this imperious Princess When they were come from her and were returned to the Palace Philoxypes who was well acquainted with Aretaphiles humour told the King he knew a way how to work his reconcilement with her Alas said the King there are few things I would not do to purchase that content speak therefore my dear Phyloxypes must I be long in pain must I sigh abundantly and pour forth abundance of tears and must I be everlastingly prostrate at her feet No Sir said he you shall onely put the Crown upon her head But replied the King I would gladly not have owed Aretephiles love to her Ambition on the contrarie I would have had the Crown of Cyprus to have been a reward of her affection to me Five or six daies being thus past over and Philoxypes not being able to tarry any longer at the Court he desired leave of the King to return to CLARIA Those who the King had sent to the Port towns vvhich vvere neerest to Paphos returned at the same time but brought no news of Policrite so as the unfortunate Philoxypes returned to his solitariness in great despair He had yet engaged the King not to discover the cause of his melancholy nor vvere there any that knew it but he the Princess Aretaphile and my self nor did the Princesse know any more then that Philoxypes vvas faln in love vvi … one that he knew not It would be very hard to relate unto you what life he led when it was fair weather he went to visit Policrite's Cottage and all the places where he had seen her or spoken with her he went to ask more questions of the slave who was there and whom they had ever had an eye unto not finding any one that spoke with him nor that he spoke with any one But all the addresses this Prince could make could not prevail against the fidelity of this slave who deserved a better condition When Philoxypes could not walk abroad he walked in his Gallery gazing on the picture of his dear Policrite When he call'd to mind how contented a life he led before he fell in love he almost wished he had never seen Policrite but when he remembred her charming beauty her bewitching mind and the happy howres which he had enjoied in her company though shee had alwaies concealed the esteem she had for him he preferr'd all the sorrows he had suffered since he was in love before all his former pleasures Oh! would he sometimes say to himself when he should read Polycrite's letter how sweet how pleasing and how cruel things have I learnt in one day Policrite is of illustrious birth Policrite will alwaies remember me and Policrite will never more see me Alas if it be so said he why have I not recourse to death and what shall I do with so unfortunate a life Then suddenly remembring that Policrite was alive and that she did not hate him he conceived a beam of hope that peradventure shee might make enquirie after him and knowing how miserable a life he led she might at last resolve to let him know in what part she lived This thought afforded him only so much hope as to keep him from dying not so much as to comfort him in his misfortunes Living then in this manner all the rest of the Winter he went sometimes to see the King when the King could not come to him and despairing of all remedie he only expected death or news of Policrite the one or the other whereof were the object of all his thoughts the bounds of all his desires The Spring it self which seems to inspire joy into whole nature wrought no alteration in him He beheld the roses in his Gardens blush with the same melancholie as hee had seen his knots white with Snow in Winter Those who watched over Cleanthes his slave brought him word one morning that he was suddenly dead This anger some news