Sky when painted with the bright beams of smiling Phebus in a Summers morn over-spread the glorious Face of this Princess when Clidamant still proceeded saying It being then generally believed that this Princess was dead indeed Evagoras being almost arrived to these years his Father expected after he had caused him to learn all things necessary for a Prince as well the managing the Horse breaking of the Lance as other Souldierly Exercises he wanted nothing now but Travel to render him exactly accomplished though it cannot but be confessed that he seemed to want that the least of any thing and whatever he studied he alwayes arrived to that height as even to out-do his very Tutors themselves so active and forwards was he to learn great things when things indifferently mean at his age might have been esteemed incomparable What his Father designed he soon put in execution wherefore he took his last farewel of him at Nicosia last indeed since it was the last time he saw him and imbarking at Famagusta first sailed towards Syria thence to Cilicia Pamphilia Lydia Morea and other Countreys He had not long been gone when Aphistamenus who fled from Silicia sometime before for aspiring higher than became him and whom Evagoras knew not to be a little favoured by his Father obtained of him by his subtil insinuations that since he had no Successor but Evagoras to the Crown that after his decease and his Sons he would establish him in the Cyprian Throne and for the same purpose caused him to confirm it with his Great Signet which he did as judging he could not bestow a Crown on one whom he loved more than this Ingrate Some small time after during the absence of the Prince his Son he died charging his Nobles to establish Aphistamenus Protector of the Crown till his Son returned which he at first managed with much seeming mildness till a report was spread by means of the Tyrant himself that Evagoras was cast away in the Straight of Charibdes and then he swayed the Scepter with much Rigor and Tyranny and caused himself to be proclaimed as King proving himself by means of the Great Seal and Writing he had from the late King to be justly established and thus reigned with much seeming quietness till the news reached the ears of Evagoras who failed not with all speed to come to Cyprus though he was no sooner come but he found all things in combustion the Tyrant having raised forces to withstand his Arrival because he had made those that were his true Subjects believe him to be an Impostor and a Counterfeit Evagoras and one whose aim was ambition upon which ensued several bloody Battels between this Prince and the Tyrant though the fate of War which every body knows to be uncertain did always by reason of his numbers render the Tyrant more fortunate insomuch that in the last Battle the Prince fought who though he behaved himself very gallantly and like one that contemned Death for Glory The too great numbers of the Tyrants men constrained him to retreat and at length finding it difficult to raise more forces he retired as they reported into Sicily where he is forced to remain deprived of his Kingdom by one his Father loved Then said he addressing himself to Clarinda Thus Madam has my willing obedience to this small command made you I hope in some measure sensible how much I should think my self honoured to receive greater from you Clarinda answered his Complements wittily enough and could not forbear to lament the miserable fate of this Prince Orontus proffered his service to Agenoris but he would by no means let him go telling him that he had permitted Clidamant to go with him and that he must remain behind to entertain the Ladies in their absence who would otherwise take it as a disobligement to deprive them of all their company Emilia who at first began to be concerned at what Orontus had demanded was now sensibly pleased when she understood that Agenoris would not grant his request But Clarinda was struck with a damp that had like to have made her swound away when she heard she must lose the presence of her Clidamant she imagined she should never see him again but when he was dead however there could be no other Remedy found for her but patience At length when they were preparing to leave the Garden to walk into the House Agenoris singled out the Princess and walking with her into a little Wilderness of Sycamore Trees that was at one side of the Garden he first unscaled his Lips to her in this manner Illustrious Madam I am now going to leave the only object I love in the World Pardon Divine Lady that word that escaped my Lips at unawares for not being in a capacity to deserve you you may with justice esteem me a Criminal for pronouncing it Let me carry with me then but the esteem and well-wishes of your Royal Self in exchange and I am made the happiest of men I dare not crave more though I desire more I shall likewise then question not but to return more than Conqueror You may imagine Madam that my Birth is mean too mean I confess now to merit your love yet I may boldly say that it is almost equal with yours for he that now speaks to you he that hath lived thus long in private is that disconsolate Prince Evagoras robbed of his Kingdom abused by an Impostor and believed by his subjects to have no living Being it is I Madam then that am going to obtain what may make me more deserving of you than I am at present You have a flourishing Kingdom under your power but alas I am disabled from presenting you with this small Island which was once under my Fathers and till I am in possession of it I dare not Madam presume to think I love you Your Discourse said Alcandra though it be surpizing surprizeth me but little since I have been every moment ready to suspect what you tell me for I ever thought you could be no less than a Prince by your obliging Actions and Behaviour Let me likewise tell you That Love founds so pleasingly in your mouth that I could never be weary of hearing you pronounce it I have not loved you so long as to disown it now more especially when I find your Birth not to be inferiour to mine I were ingrateful if I should Love then Noble Sir and love for ever her whose constant love to you Time never shall extinguish But then proceeded she with a lamentable languishing look and pressing his hand with a Lovers extasie Must you must you leave me ah Can you leave me that loves you as I do hard Fate What comfort do you think I can find in your absence and when I know you to be exposed to all the perils that sharp pointed Swords murdering Lances and consuming Arrows are like to make you endure ah said she putting her Handkerchief before her Eyes I
Clidamant said Agenoris not only unkind but unjust thus to prophane that sweet Emblem of Heaven Had you called them destroyers of poor men nay had you called them Murderers I could better have endured to have heard it than to hear them named Frail Inconstant and Mean and thus to abuse a Passion that is as spotless as Innocence innocent as Virtue virtuous as Humility and as pure as Chastity it self And since I find I must cherish the fore that pains me my comfort is that it was occasioned by so splendid and transcendently beautiful an object You replied Clidamant who have often conversed with the fairest Ladies in Asia both at home and abroad you who in the Field have smiled when Blood and Death hath encompassed you will you stoop to the soft Enchantments of a Woman remember great Sir that now it is the worst of times to submit to Love You must cast away the Banner of Venus and bravely put on that of Mars Now is the time because the present state of affairs requires it Appear once more in the Field Sir and let Aphistamenus see how much your great heart disdains him This and much more he said to cause that rising Flame to cease that had already possessed him but it was all unavailable for it did but make it burn the fiercer After they had entertained each other with these and the like Discourses for some time they thought upon the Stranger and went strait towards the Castle and entred both into his Chamber whom they found awake they first made an apology for their long absence from him and afterwards asked him if he had found any refreshment since they left him His answers were so exceeding courteous and obliging to what they demanded that he even charmed Agenoris and Clidamant with the sweetness of his behaviour Agenoris had already so great an esteem for him and Clidamant thought he saw something so singular in him that he could not forbear acquainting him how desirous he was to be ranked among the number of his choicest friends wherefore with much humility he beg'd the favour to know how he should call-what he so dearly esteemed Sir replied he I cannot but be very sensible how much your noble Friendship exceeds my poor deserts who am no other than a Stranger to you both however since you have conferred the honour of your Friendship on me I find my inclination not undisposed to embrace so great a happiness unless it be because I know my self as yet not to have merited it He seemed to have a special amity for Clidamant and no small respect for Agenoris though his Eye was ever fixed on the first with a more than ordinary outward show of tenderness and in truth it may be said that Friendship never appear'd to be more sincere than it did afterwards between Clidamant and this pretty Youth They desired at length of him the knowledg of his late misfortune whereto he gave them some satisfaction though but small and they were loath to press him too much because they perceived by the measures he used that he had some most urgent reason to conceal the greatest part of his adventures from them notwithstanding he told them that if they pleased they might call him by the name of Theocles and that his Father was Governor of a Town in the neighbouring Island called Creet and that his occasions calling him to sail for Lydia the Ship wherein he was being driven upon the Cyprian Coasts by contrary winds and foul weather it chanced to run with great violence against a Rock where it split all to pieces and that when he found himself exposed to the merciless Seas that it was his lucky fate to lay hold of a small Box which he believed the Mariners had cast over-board with many other Goods to lighten the Vessel and which he now perceived to be his own by the aid whereof it appeared that he was carried above the water towards the shore where they had found him And now said he how sensible I am of those courtesies I have received from you nothing but my own grief can express for not knowing in what manner to repay them and indeed they do far exceed what-ever can be offered They both of them in the most obliging language they could were paying him their acknowledgments for what he had now related to them when they judged it time to retire by reason the night was pretty well wasted away and therefore after the usual Ceremonies in such cases they left him to his repose to seek their own But before the Sun had drunk up the Morning-dew they arose with an intention to entertain him and were scarce entred his Chamber when Agenoris espied his fair Kinswoman Emilia already performing the Office he designed to do a person endued with all the choicest Gifts of Nature I need not make a particular description of her Perfections since it is but guessing what might be thought most worthy of admiration to judg of her In the time the Court flourished she was thought by all that beheld her to out-shine the brightest Star there She followed her Kinsman Agenoris where-ever his destiny led him and was now an Inhabitant with him in his solitude as were also two Illustrious Gentlemen who were her faithful Adorers they both equally admired her whereby they forsook the former friendship in which they lived and became Rivals and by consequence enemies one of another They neither of them yet had revealed their griefs to her but by their sighs and eyes of which she did ever seem to take little notice The name of the one was Periander who indeed was of an age that could add no great lustre to Love The other was called Orontus a person endued with great Merit and one whose Youth did seem to argue on his behalf what the wasted years of the former seemed to oppose Agenoris with his Friend and Kinswoman after very pleasant discourses of Gallantry Theocles not being in a condition to make up the number to help to pass away the time all unanimously agreed to take a walk in the Plain that fronted the Grove wherefore all retiring to a private corner of the Chamber till Theocles was dressed which was not very long they went to execute this their design with very much content and pleasure only there appeared a small alteration in the brow of Agenoris ever since he had seen the unknown Lady insomuch that he found some difficulty to suit himself to the chearful humors of the rest of the company They had not walked far under the tuition of a pretty row of Trees that elevated their ambitious branches over the middle of the Plain but they were surprized with a clashing of Swords which they heard on the other side Agenoris and Clidamant were presently so curious as to the hazard of themselves to discover who they might be and to their no small trouble they found it was Orontus and Periander and
and making two Passes at him he run him in at his Shoulder and it came out again at his Neck upon which he fell down but the Furious Monster feeling himself wounded and as if he had gathered new strength in his fall gets up again and leaps at his Adversary and now it seemed as though Agenoris must expect inevitable ruine by a lamentable death the Pretty Shepherdess trembled and looked pale for fear of this Stranger lest his too great Courage should undo him But Agenoris who thinks no Laurels greener than those that are reaped in the midst of dangers stands firm upon his Guard against his furious Attacks and taking his time runs him in again in the Flanck insomuch that at length in an heavy groan his life left him then was it that laying down his Bloody Sword he approached the Nymph but good God how was he astonished how great was his joy when he knew her to be that Fair One that first assaulted his heart in the Wood and though she had appeared most excellently Beautiful there yet here she appeared so incomparable Fair that she did even lay a new Siege to the place that was already surrendred in the Grove he thought he saw but one Beauty but by the perfect survey his eyes now made he perceived thousands in one face and in the same moment his eyes making a more neer enquiry discovered something in her that made a shew of Greatness and Majesty and therefore with a most Reverend Zeal he Accosted her in these words Beautious Nymph how careful the Gods are of what is most Heavenly they having made me the happy Instrument of protecting you from the fury of this Monster does witness so great a wonder of Beauty so near a resemblance of what is most Divine could never be destined to be a Prey to that rude Animal The Gods themselves had they not used me would doubtless by some more secret Power have restrained his fury nay had the Monster himself beheld your Charms he would gently have lain down and fawned upon what he purposed to have destroyed Most Noble Sir replied the Shepherdess I must confess my Thanks are too poor a Recompence for so large a Service yet as it is not in the Sphere of my power to make a Return suitable to the Act I hope you will accept of them as the best and as the greatest Return I can make But after you have thus been the Protector of a poor Maids life be pleased to neglect those Praises which are due to none but Persons of Honourable Extraction but not to me alas whos 's mean Birth dare not claim them If your eye makes you think me Fair as your tongue expresseth believe it to be deluded for the knowledg of my self teacheth me the contrary The Sun replied Agenoris that giveth light to and beholdeth all the objects of Nature yet can it not behold it self Even so Rare Virgin the Gods were not the Authors of that lovely Face to make it admire it self but to raise admiration in others and what though you are pleased to think your Birth mean the greatness of your Soul and the Charms that dwell in that Face do say your Birth is more than Noble Much more his passion caused his lips to utter to which she as readily replied and among many other things he demanded of her he presumed to enquire whether she was Born in this Island to which she answered affirmatively and whether her Parents were alive and how he might call them Mother said she I have none for my Fate hath deprived me of her but my Father is a poor Shepherd of this Countrey and lives in a small Cottage on the back-side of the Wood where I am told I was Born My Father is called Melintus and I am known among the Shepherds and Shepherdesses of this Island by the Name of Mellissa Agenoris paid her his thanks with much submission for the satisfaction she had given him and then with much discretion revealed his passion to her and if it may be said that ever any Virgins heart was inclined to pitty at the recital of a Lovers flame surely hers was He gave her a full relation of his having seen her in the Wood and how he designed to come to the speech of her and touching the miserable condition he hath remained in ever since for not knowing where to find her To all which she seemed to lissen with much attention and in truth it may be said the present joy of Agenoris to see her heart was not of Marble made him be forgetful of his past afflictions And now said he to her since Fortune hath been so kind to let me enjoy that happiness I least expected I hope you will not kill me but let me live in your esteem Here Mellissa interrupted him saying What can you expect Sir from a Shepherds Daughter to be your Bride will dishonour you and though I have no Riches I have so great an esteem for Virtue that I 'll rather lose my Life than taint my Reputation in retaining which I enjoy a Wealth not to be exchanged for that of Croesus and though Honour is thought to inhabit no-where but in Princes Palaces yet is there a sort of Honour in the Cottages of Shepherds though but an homely Dwelling you will say for Honour but such is it that Virtue her self is ever cherishing and defending it from false allurements and unjust pretences You say you love me Sir do not endeavour to cheat my Innocence for if it be as you say you do love me for some end or other If you design to make me your Bride your proceeding to me thereby will seem just but to you dishonourable because of my mean condition If your design be to abuse my Chastity Virtue that glorious Guard of Honour bids me tell you that you must never dare to see me more The Gods themselves replied Agenoris are witnesses that my flame is too pure to wrong so much Innocence and too innocent to abuse so much Virtue I should wrong Heaven it self were I but guilty of such an unjust thought I only beg you would receive an unfeigned Heart that loves you and that you would pronounce me in some measure either miserable or happy Pitty pitty this poor Heart that lives only by you and seeks no other dwelling but your dear Breast Alas replied Mellissa suppose I should love you and indeed I find I have little reason not to esteem you I I should love you too well to undo a Person of your Worth However live Sir and live in my esteem but never live to enjoy a miserable Maid like me except Fortune had raised me to a degree of Bliss whereby I might have deserved you Ah cruel Mellissa said he you give Agenoris life by commanding him to live and in your esteem yet seem to kill him again by that heart-breaking word never he must never enjoy thee Alas thou art too deserving for
exemplary revenge of my Crime and that a common death would not be sufficient to content the Ghost of Cleobulus for so was the Name of this cruel Tyrant They presently fettered me with Irons and whilst two of them carried away the dead Body the other drove me before them It availed m not to call the Gods to witness of my innocence and to swear to them by what was most holy in the Heavens that I was not culpable but what greater proof could they have than to find me by the dead Body armed with his own Sword and in a posture of giving him an hundred wounds more had there appeared any sign of Life in him The affliction they had on one side for the death of their Master and the joy they had on the other for a prize so important soon gathered them companions for I saw them come round me as from all parts like so many Wolves to devour me for my part I knew not how I was for wheresoever I turned my eyes although the present danger might have given me some apprehension the memory of Mellissa's disaster left no room in me to deplore my own misfortune If those that led me had but taken notice of my Tears it was not possible that their Rage could have continued for it seemed as though the Heavens the Woods and all things that Nature had made insensible had compassion on me the Heavens were sad and distilled themselves in tears the Air and Earth sounded with my sighs and the Valleys through which I passed with my complaints Nevertheless the further we advanced in our way the greater was the insolence of thost Villains till having perceived the Walls of Latronia the principal City of their Retreat where there is a Magazin of Arms and an innumerable quantity of all sorts of Robbers whose power is equal to that of those Kings and Princes that border upon them Presently there came out to meet us above five hundred men in Arms as if they would conduct me in triumph for they believed there was some of their Enemies according to the report that was spread abroad that an Army was coming against them Scarce was I got into the middle of their Crew but I found my self saluted with new reproaches especially when they exposed the Body of Cleobulus to the view of the publick for his Wife who was in the Town being advertized of his pretended Murder breaks thorow the Guards and tears me from the hand of him that held me fast What says she is this the man that deprived me of a Husband and the Town of Latronia of a Captain his death shall be dearly bought for I my self will be the Executioner I 'll take away his life and tear him in a thousand pieces She had scarce ended those words when she fell upon me and threw me down imprinting the fury of her nails and anger in my Face But those who had taken me seeing that this Megara continued to persecute me in that manner and for fear the little life I had remaining might not serve to sustain that vengeance and cruelty to which I was destined took me from her put me in Prison consulting in the mean time what manner of torment I was to suffer for there is no manner of Justice in this Town and when they take any stranger they consider not amongst themselves whether he ought to die or no but what sort of death must make an end of him About eleven of the Clock at night that being the time they make their Sacrifices because the Adoration they paid was to the Infernal Gods such as Pluto Proserpine with the Furies themselves about that time I say a general noise was heard all over the Town and the Streets were filled in an instant with lighted Torches for soon after our arrival the Wife of Cleobulus was making preparation for the Interment of her Husband whose Body lay in the Temple of Proserpine till they could Bury him in the Sepulchre of his Ancestors according to their Custom insomuch that the Priests of the Goddess judging that it was time to depart sent to give notice to the Chiefest of Latronia to assist at his Burial they had in the mean time concluded that I should be burned alive for the Murder I was accusd of At the same moment being weary with the hardship I endured the precedent day and night I began notwithstanding all the apprehensions that troubled my mind to take some repose when two men came in and clothing me in a black Robe commanded me to follow them This Ceremony at first seemed strange to me for I knew nothing yet concerning what they had determined against me in Councel nevertheless I put on this mourning Robe and after they had fasthed me in Irons of the same colour they conducted me to the Temple where the people were all ready assembled in Mourning Habits having every one in his hand a Torch I was no sooner come but all the Funeral Pomp marched in order I brought up the Rear being covered with Chains and guarded with the greatest part of the Army we went about half a mile from the Town and entred into a spacious Field where the Citizens of Latronia were accustomed to be Buried The Priests having opened the Tomb stood upon a piece of ground something higher than the rest and began to read the Sentence of my Death much to this effect That for the Murder committed on the person of Cleobulus I was condemned to be burned alive before the place of the Sepulcher and my Ashes to be cast into the Wind that the memory of my Name might be dissipated with the rest of my Body I was nothing startled at this pitiful Sentence neither was I concerned at the manner of my death for death was a thing could never strike terror in me I had a Soul far greater than my misfortunes Casting my eye upon the stake where I was to be consumed I considered it as a place where I should enjoy that I desired and as my only road to the all-pleasing Elizinm when I also considered in my self that Mellissa was dead and that to live longer was to consume my life away in perpetual anguish I mattered not to dye and it seemed as though the Flames of Love which are divine would render the matrial less sensible Whilst I was about meditating what I had best to do and as my mind was imployed on other things than to search out artifices to deliver me from a danger that was so near they buried Cleobulus in the Sepulcher of his Ancestors and all the people thronged about the stake to see me burned in the same instant the Priests made me mount upon the pile of Wood. When I saw my self in that pitiful condition the Wife of Cleobulus holding a Torch in her hand to put Fire to the Wood I could not forbear to mourn out my disaster in these words Agenoris mourn the day that ever thou didst see Mellissa
for there there was the beginning of thy disaster but alas what do I say fair Mellissa pardon these words caused by an excess of my grief and if yet thou hast any thing of life remaining or if old Charon concerned at my misery will cause his Boat to stay go not alone to the Elizian Shades let my Soul accompany thee and as Love united our Hearts so now let Death reunite our Souls Whilst I was breathing forth these words towards the Heavens they that led me fastened me with Cords which was no sooner done but the Wife of Cleobulus set fire to the Wood which was presently in a flame the Smoak having almost choaked me not so much as giving me the leasure to brathe and my Senses failed me and what could fortune have done more to me than to cause me to be fastened to a stake in that manner and ready to be swallowed up by the Flames among the most detestable Crew that live under Heaven Could l be in a mor miserable condition and nevertheless you shall hear how the Gods would not suffer my innocency to be oppressed and how they do not begin to succour Mortals before all other helps fail Know then that this Troop of Robbers and Pyrats increasd in Process of tim by a number of Vagabonds Slaves and Fugitives who seeing they could not live under the severity of the Laws of the Prince of Cappadocia and other Neighbouring Provinces had taken refuge upon Mount Taurus as in an approved Fortress where they might defend themselves against the Incursions and Power of their Enemies the King of Lasonia as most interessed in this affair and being the nearest Neighbour to these Robbers had often endeavoured to put them all to the Sword ut this Mountain was so strong and the approaches of their Latronia so difficult that it was impossible for them to overcome them for Cleobulus permitted them to commit all manner of crimes and there was no wickedness under Heaven but found a recompence among them No body dare come near them they would come in Arms even to the adjoyning Frontiers and would sometimes take and destroy whole Towns as I have since understood but Cleobulus was the cause of their general Defeat for Polecrates King of the Pisidians having a little before sent his Son against this Rabble with an Army of eight thousand men for to rout them He ingaging his Person a little too far in the Combat was killed by the hand of Clobulus himself and all his Troops cut to pieces Polycrates justly concerned at such a loss conjured all his Allies and begged of them to succour him against those barbarous villains so that in a little time there was an Army of 25000 men raised for the Enterprize In so much that as it pleaseth the Gods to bring all things to the point to which they are destined King Polycrates having brought his Troops to the top of Mount Taurus that separateth all Asia it was even a wonder for contrary to the Opinion of the most prudent men his Van-guard was at the Gates of Latronia at the same time that I was going to be consumed a Confusion flies presently into the middle of the Assembly and fear having scattered them into all places the Enemy entered pelmell into the Town and seized upon the Gates The Wife of Cleobulus who yet held the Torch in her hand to set fire to those parts of the Wood that were not yet lighted was one of the first that left the Sacrifice and ran away I knew not what to think of this new Accident and believed that Fortune not being satisfied to see my Body reduced to Ashes prepared a more cruel Death for me But contrary to my exprectation Captain Dyonisius Son to the great Priest who commanded in this Van-guard perceiving m in that condition ready to give up the Ghost and half stifled with the Smoak whether it was not of pitty or whether he would reserve me for a greater pain caused me to be taken down I rendered him thanks for the favour he did me and told him briefly the Reasons why they intended to sacrifice me that truly I had not killed Cleobulus as they all imagined but that if he had not been dead when I saw him in the Wood no body had more reason to kill him then I had I reserved the rest of the Discourse for another time for he was too busie and too eager in the pursuit of the Enemies He put me then to be guardd by one of his own men and turns his Troops against th Inhabitants of Latronia who still continued to make a resistance and who were got into the Fortress that was in the Town in the mean time the whole body of the Army followed which came pouring upon these barbarous wretches turned their Town topsey turvey and fired it in all parts to the end that in the deepest darkness of the Night their very houses might serve them as Torches to Massacre them the Streets were filled with nothing but dead Bodies and bleeding Carcasses never was the Alarm so furious in the Town of Troy when the Greeks reveng'd the injury done to Hellin for wherever you turned your eyes you could see nothing but Blood and Death But pray observe the extent of Choler when it hath got the sole government over Reason and the rest of the Passions Some Soldiers of Dyonisius his Army coming luckily to know that Cleobulus was newly buryed they surrounded his Tomb with horrible noises and out-crys as if they would pull his very soul out of Hell to make him suffer that pain which they would inflict upon his insensible Body taking him then out of his Coffin they tore his winding-Sheet in a thousand pieces and after they had cut off all the parts appertaining thereunto the Nose Ears Fingers and all other Members they run him in a hundred times with their Swords and Halberts and upon the first approach of day light they carryed him before the Fortress where they fastened him to a Gibbet that he himself had built not for Criminals for they remained all unpunished but for those that commit not Robberies and wickedness enough then thy cut him in five or six pieces and for Trophy of their Victory dragged him along the Streets with all the Calumnies and Indignities that the unbridled Multitude are capable to invent if one can commit any Indignity to such a noted Rogue His Wife who had taken shelter in the Fortress with the most eminent persons of Latronia could not see this Spectacle without testifying her resentment she tore her Hair and made her Face swell with Blood and after she had vomited an infinity of Blasphemies and injuries against Heaven and against Dyonsius she went to the top of all the principal Tower and cast her self down all the place was covered with her Brains and with thick lumps of Blood that came out of her Head After that the Town of Latronia was sacked and that there
Princess and that he must either presently produce her or die All the poor man's prayers and intreaties were in vain to the seemingly-cruel Cleonidus which having his Sword drawn in his hand ready as it were to pierce him to the heart with it The fair Alcandra who was seated upon a Bank of Flowers rose strait up and approaching the amazed Melintus bad him be of good cheer and told him he should not die and commanding Cleonidus to hold back his hand bid the affrighted Melintus look upon her and see if he could know her He had no sooner cast up his eyes but by some token he found her to be his supposed Daughter and with tears of joy cast himself at her feet which he embraced After they had a little rallied upon the Old man for being thus concerned Cleonidus with much sweetness desired him to fetch the Jewels and the Mantle he had left with him when he put the young Princess into his custody telling him he should have Gold in exchange for them He failed not in all haste to go for them and was not long before he returned which when he had shewed them to Agenoris and the rest that were there they were even dazled at the magnificence and richness of them there was a Diamond among the other Jewels which for the largeness and goodness the world could not produce one to compare with it Cleonidus having performed his promise to Melintus by giving him money in exchange for them he went away with a very joyful heart blessing the day that ever he had had such a Daughter as his supposed Mellissa was I could not hear whether he betook himself to his old Vocation of keeping of Sheep but certain I am that the Old man was now rich enough to live without it Scarce was he gone when a Page comes to the Arbor to demand for Agenoris who going to him he with much submission delivered him a Letter which having hastily opened he was much surprized to find it contain thus SIR I Doubt not but my abrupt departure and my concealment so long from you may cause you to esteem me unexcusable but when you know that it was occasioned by the Cruelty of Emilia whose rigor banished me her presence you will I hope be less severe in your censure of me but thanks to my kind fate that my love hath inspired me with warlike enterprizes thereby to seek a noble death to avoid the trouble of an uncomfortable life â—nce to live and not to be esteemed by her I love will make it no less I have under-hand raised an Army of Twelve thousand men to your assistance all of them your faithful Subjects and who by the information I gave them are well satisfied that you are living being likewise the more encouraged because that I told them that within these two days they should see you at the head of them We lie encamped upon the plain of Massara and hear by our Scouts that Aphistaminus is coming against us with a Body of Twenty thousand men though ours are not in the least discouraged at it but are every moment ready to receive them with a courage that does plainly evidence the justice of our Cause and which your presence will make boundless Wherefore I question nor but you will come since you are to fight for no less than a Kingdom and your own right which shall be also maintained to Death it self by Your Loyal Subject PERIANDER When Agenoris had perused the Letter he failed not to bid the messenger tell his Master that he would not miss being with him at the time mentioned who made all the haste he could away and afterwards Agenoris returned again to the Ladies and Gentlemen he had left in the Arbor extreamly pleased at the happy news he soon called Clidamant aside and informed him of it whose joys was so excessive that he scarce knew how to bear it and desired Agenoris to let him wait upon him and serve him in this great work Agenoris at first seemed backward to give his consent but Clidamant pressed him so much and so passionately that he could at length not deny him though he was loath to let him hazzardhis Life with him Clidamant told him that as he hitherto had accompanyed him in his solitude and sufferings he hoped he would not now cause him to forsake him Many more obliging expressions passed between them to the same effect and then they joyned again with the rest of the company in the Arbor who were all very curious to partake with Agenoris in the Joy they saw in his Face when he first approaching Orontus and then Emilia told them the real truth of what had happened and then betaking himself to his place again told them all aloud that he had received an express Order from Evagoras who had raised another Army and who was now in Cyprus and not dead as the Tyrant had reported to attend him in the Battle he was going to fight against the Rebels in the plain of Massara and so desired them all to be patient till he came back again for he doubted not but to return Victorious they all were troubled to hear that he must again hazard his Life more especially Alcandra who though she then spoke but indifferently against his going as the rest of the company yet by the grief that appeared in her Visage her Heart seemed to be not a little interessed Clarinda who helped to make up the assembly and who told the company that she had heard very much spoken in commendation of that Prince in Creet and had heard there something of his misfortunes though but obscurely as also concerning the Tyrant now reigning in Cyprus but that she never yet could hear by what means he came to possess the Throne and therefore told them if any of them could satisfie her curiosity in what she now desired she would take it as a singular Favour Clidamant who was ever ready to perform any command injoyned by her after a few Complements which are usual on the like occasions began his Relation much after this sort The late King of Cyprus and Father to the present Evagoras Indubitable Heir to the Crown was a Person of a Disposition very mild and sweet and beloved even by his very enemies his Son the present Prince not as then arrived to the third year of his Age was by his Royal Father designed when he should arrive to more mature years to have him matched with the Princess of Sicily which he supposed death sometime afterwards put a period to I need not speak in praise neither of her outward or inward Beauty since with one only look upon her as she now Graces the Company they may be sufficiently convinced that the first is more than Angelical and by the long experience we even all have had of her Conversation we cannot not but know that the later is Divine indeed Here a deep Carnation like the
shall sink beneath the weight of such a loss Madam said Evagoras These sweet expressions have revived my drooping heart and having you on my side I do not question Victory Dearest Princess were it not more for my Honour and the Love I bear you than for my Right I would not nay I could not leave you Generous Sir said Alcandra since I see you to be resolute then in your purpose go and may you return Victorious may all things answer my wishes to compleat your happiness and may the Gods prosper you but added she speaking more low however forget not her you have left behind in the midst of dangers blot not Alcandra out of your minde No said he with a deep sigh the thought of her will spur me on to Victory which I hope will be speedy that I may hasten my return too morrow then Madam I will take my farewel of you till then I shall not so taking the freedom of a salute which she did not in the least refuse him they both returned to the Castle Many tender expressions of the like nature passed between Clidamant and Clarinda whose eyes were all in tears at the thoughts of it Clidamant revealed his right name to her and told her how he was a Lord that lived in the Court of Cyprus and had followed the Prince Evagoras in his misfortunes and that she must no more esteem Agenoris as a private Gentleman but as that Prince he spoke of not long since because it is really him Clarinda was much astonished at this news though she said he had not carried himself so like a private Gentleman but that there were some marks of greatness in him that were visible Evagoras and Coriander for so we must now call them having fitted themselves with Armor and all other necessaries for their Heroick Enterprize they were preparing on the morrow to go but when Evagoras was taking his leave of the Princess she wept so bitterly that her excess of grief would scarce give her tongue the freedom of pronouncing the word Adieu and Clarinda instead of speaking to Coriander swounded away and was carried in by her Attendants They both being well mounted on two incomparable Horses Evagoras first having kissed the lips of his dearly beloved Princess gallopp'd away having each of them an Esquire to attend them with an excellent grace To have seen with what a resolution they departed it would even have moved pity and astonishment the first to have observed how ready they were to sacrifice themselves on Honours Shrine the other to remark the greatness of their courage It is to be imagined that in all the time of their absence the two Lovers Alcandra and Clarinda had but very little enjoyment of themselves Often did the Prince write to Alcandra and as often did Clarinda hear from Coriander which in the midst of this cruel affliction afforded them some comfort The last Letter they received was that the two Armies were going to engage and that as soon as the Battle should be ended they would make all possible speed to return to them again The first seemed to pierce their very hearâ—s for the apprehension they were in for those they loved yet their hope for the second was as a salve to heal the wound their fear occasioned Insomuch that the two passions of hope and fear seemed wholly to occupy them during the absence of Evagoras and Coriander Emilia who though she was touched with some regret for the absence of them both yet the presence of her Orontus over-powered all for her countenance was more chearful her behaviour more jovial and her heart more light than the rest and indeed her alacrity and chearfulness would sometimes banish those sullen thoughts which over-ballanced the minds of the other two Ladies She would endeavour to infuse into them the Cordial of Comfort and to that end would cause them sometimes to take the Air with her in the Fields Especially one day the three Ladies being in a Coach and Orontus on Horse-back which was some considerable time after the departure of Evagoras and Coriander when passing thorow a desolate Forrest they espied a Horse running very fast cross it with a man that lay on the ground all in blood as if he was dead they were presently curious to see this Spectacle and therefore all the Ladies presently descended from the Coach and Alcandra who approached it first saw that he was indeed dead Orontus who had a desire to know the original cause of this Massacre advanceth a little forward and at a distance he faw three men fighting very desperately with a young Lord who although he defended himself with much courage and valour yet did they press him with so much advantage that he was to expect nothing but Death Orontus presently hollowing immediately drew his Sword and gallopped directly towards them but he came not time enough to preserve the Lord from two wounds he received the one in his left Arm the other a little beneath the right Shoulder Emilia and the other Ladies there being nothing more timerous than this Sex fearing least some misfortune might happen to Orontus endeavoured to call him back as loud as they were able but as they came near to the dead body and saw him lie in that manner Alcandra whether she suspected something or whether she was desirous to see his face out of curiosity lifted up his Helmet for he was in Armor and finding it to be Evagoras O gods said she what dismal spectacle do I see here Is it then thou Dear Life of my Soul May the day thou departed from us be for ever accursed May the Sun on that day never shew its glorious Light and may it be for ever blotted out of the yearly Register Oh my heart why dost thou not break that I may go with my Evagoras to the Celestial Paradise Must I stay behind when he is gone No my Dear in shining rayes of light we 'll meet each other and since we could not here enjoy the fulness of Love we 'll intermingle souls in the other world and enjoy more sweets in our Etherial Beings than dull heavy Mortals can ever comprehend There will our lives be never crossed by fears nor into black despair our hopes shall never turn through the warm smiling beams of the bright Sun we 'll gently glide and therein amorously sport and play till on a sudden we find our selves wrapt in the heavenly Mansions Then addressing her self to the Corps But art thou then dead Evagoras Must thy Eyes be for ever shut It is Alcandra that calls thee it is Alcandra that bemoans thee and who if thou art now not dead will before thou diest render thee eternal testimonies of her Love At the name of Alcandra Evagoras who was in a swound by reason he had lost much blood and because of the blows he had received as well in the Battle as in this rencounter for his Armor was pierced in several