take away his life whom you your selves confesse to be of such estimable parts especially for that which may be remedied without bloud I understand that Pausanias saw one night one of my women whom either for the novelty or opportunity he courted and she I think heard him not unwillingly For this reason it concernes me that he stay no longer in this Island and since his absence is sufficient to secure you I take that and your danger upon my selfe for Pausanias is a gentleman and can conceale what he hath seen With these hopes they were satisfied and Aurora remained in a thousand perplexityes for she lov'd him so passionately that there would be but little difference betwixt loosing him and her owne life And indeed so powerfull was his discourse and conversation that although he had been lesse worthy of her beauty yet to see and heare him would beget affection And at last she became so resolute that it would have grieved her to have been freed from her prison if she should thereby be deprived of his pleasing conversation for women when they once fall in love are sensible neither of paines or misfortunes which befall them in the company they affect wherefore she considered by what meanes she might comply with her own affection and her servants feare To keep him there against all their wills were to hazard her honour and to give her enemies an occasion of a more severe revenge Having first adviz'd with Celia she writ a Letter wherein she informed him of what had past entreating him affectionately to preserve his life and to prepare for departure two things in appearance contrary When night was come the faire Princesse went forth to take leave of Pausanias and delivering him the Letter with a little Silver Cabinet wrapt in Taffata not having power to speake shee withdrew her selfe to lament her ensuing misfortunes Pausanias also retir'd through the suspition of the late quarrell and kissing the Signature which said Your Celia he read it with much feare on this manner SIr I have had much care for you this day I saw you draw your Sword and I assure you it troubled me I think it was love yet unfortunate since it must dye as soone as borne We are both the cause of it because I ghesse our affection hath been discovered My birth is more noble then you imagine and it concernes us both that you immediately absent your self that you lose not your life nor I my reputation Believe mee I am very sensible of it for in a word I love you and must lose you You may comfort your selfe with this thought that it was impossible I should ever have been yours not for love to any other but for my qualitie too transcendent I send you here a thousand Crowns to serve you in your journey with a knot of Diamonds and Emeralds which I did sometimes weare at my breast that in your Countrey you may remember it was mine and its owner yours Having read and deplor'd the rigorous sentence of his death hee resolved precisely to obey all that Aurora in it had commanded and to let her know some part of his regret he tooke the Pen and return'd this answer I Should have esteem'd it a happinesse if to day I had received death by my enemies since such they were that I might not have expected it from your hands Before the mornings light breakes forth I will absent my selfe from yours that you may say I knew how to love and to obey you What I would not doe for my owne life I will for your honour I cannot expresse what I feele because I write perplexed and can ascertaine nothing onely I assure you my bloud is so noble that the King of Syracuse himselfe cannot say hee is my better I came out of my Countrey to marry in this Kingdome for your sake will return back I give you infinite thanks for your Present and will not excuse my selfe from repaying it hereafter The knot I will keepe as your favour and since you have given me so much cause of griefe give me time to lament it though I hope so to resent it that when you least thinke of it you will heare newes of his death who knew how to love you but had not the happinesse to deserve you Aurora with much trembling made an end of reading the Letter and not able to restraine her eyes bath'd it in teares Celia came to her and tooke out of her hand the occasion of her griefe but that little avail'd for she tooke it not out of her breast so that as she went through a long Gallerie she wrung her hands beseeching heaven to increase her Fathers rigour and Arminda's hate that they might contrive her death She went to looke towards the Sea imagining that her lost lover was already embarqued and comming thither so excessive were her teares and passionat expressions that Celia fearing she might offer some violence to her selfe amongst other reasons said thus to her Is it possible Madam that a disproportion'd affection should so extremely work upon you I should not have beleev'd this of your reserv'd discretion if I had not seene it I confesse Pausanias deserves to be lov'd but you know he is not a man equall to your condition nor can in reason be yours what proofe have you of his discent more then his owne relation which may well be doubted for the meaner sort where they are not knowne give large testimonies of their bloud Alas replyed Aurora that uncertainty is my greatest trouble If Pausanias be as noble as he hath intimated perhaps I might have attempted something you would little have suspected from my reservednesse and I perswade my selfe it might yet well be done were it but to free my selfe from imprisonment And though I should marry into a stranger Country I should not lose my right to the Kingdom after my Father I believe his Subjects affect me so entirely that if they knew I were here in prison he would have little security either of his Kingdome or life Tell me Celia what can I hope for in this Castle but death My Father is married and in love Arminda governes the Kingdome and beares mee so much ill will that I many times eat my meat in feare suspecting shee hath sent something to kill me though I shall now need no other poison then the absence of Pausanias Oh Celia you would oblige me if you could contrive how I might speake with him and be better inform'd of his quality that I may not continue thus in suspence If hee bee of meane Parentage I will rather dye by mine owne hand then admit a thought may staine my bloud and if to my happy fortune he should prove as is not impossible some Prince cast upon this Island by accident be confident I would hazard my life for my liberty though in all things I should first take your advice that I might not erre through mine own opinion Celila was attentive
thus low What more can be desir'd by cruell Fate No hope my sad thoughts know Of reinjoying their past happy state Oh my afflicted minde Death would'st thou come a welcome thou shalt finde With patience forlorne I passe the Moneths the yeares in solitude The Evening and the Morn In vaine my hopes thus striving to delude My teares I constant keep And as I am Aurora daily weep When the Rebellious Sea Armed with Snow strives to subdue this Rock It seemes my miserie At once kindly to warne and rudely mock For so the Destinies My life each minute offer to surprize Soon as the morne appeares And ushers in with dubious light the day My reall sorrow weares So true a shade of death that I betray My reason to that dreame And though awake dead to my selfe do seem All things within my view All things that grow and thrive by Natures care My sorrowes doe renew For by successive change they better'd are But to me fortune still Is therefore constant ' cause she first was ill This Tree from January No livery but the hoarie Frost receives Yet May its dresse doth vary Proudly adorning it with painted leaves Vnto the fruitfull plaine What August stole April restores againe This Sea somtimes enrag'd Swells up in Christall mountaines to the skies Yet often is aswag'd But onely I in constant miseries Confin'd to endlesse griefe Expect no liberty nor hope reliefe Aurora clos'd this sweet Musick with so many Sighes and Teares that hee must have had a soule truely insensible that could heare her without Compassion One evening as shee entertain'd her selfe with the present prospect of the sea shee saw a man strugling with the waters and breaking the waves though hee relyed more on the mercy of a Planke then the strength of his armes endeavouring to recollect his fainting Spirit till he might approach the shore for preservation of his life Aurora mov'd with a noble pitty and tender feare to have him die before her eyes commanded those few that attended her to relieve him who putting to sea in a little Skiffe took him up and treated him most carefully for so Aurora had commanded them besides the person and civilty of Pausanias for that was his name mov'd them to respect and affection Being recover'd from his rough usage which had caus'd him to vomit much water he shar'd amongst them some Jewells which hee had preserv'd from the sea in his late danger telling them that he was nobly descended and that untill he saw his fortune amended it was necessarie for him to live conceal'd and therefore desir'd the company to accept of his service for that possibly hereafter it might not repent them of that favovr His gold and person had purchas'd the affection of those that heard him they return'd thanks for the complement promising to serve him to the utmost of their power Pausanias was glad conceiving hee might securely continue there without being known for that Island was little acquainted with other then the watchfull Guardians of that beauty which so unjustly suffer'd Going forth one night when the bright 〈◊〉 with her beames enlightned the Wood hee heard a voyce that with a chearefull sweetnesse thus related its griefe to the Birds and Waters From th' early Dawne untill the Sun retire I to these woods and hills my griefe exspire My eyes with boundlesse Rivers over-flow Like troubled Fountaines murmuring at my woe Perpetuall miseries I still deplore As they are mine but as immortall more What is' t by nature beauties wealth to owne If to these woods confin'd I live alone Or that my eyes have power to kill with love If neere me none but birds and beasts doe move Too cruell heav'n that know'st my innocence Or with my sorrowes or my life dispence Thou to torment me dost forbid me die For death is pleasing unto misery Let those that happy are enjoy their breath The wretched never live but in their death To each dull houre that slides through lazy day My griefes or memory of griefes I pay Thus live I only pleas'd with this reliefe Death is the latest remedy of griefe For patience failes where th'injur'd soule sustaines The rigour of unintermitted paines Pausanius was astonisht as well at the sweetnesse of the voice as to heare it in so strange a place wondring who it could be whose soul so feelingly deplored its owne misfortunes and as well that he might not be ungratefull for the favour he recived though he were ignorant from whom as to try if by this meanes he might come to know the divine owner of so sweet a harmony to the suspence of the listning Nightingales he sung this song Torment of absence and delay That thus afflicts my memory Why do'st thou kill me every day Yet will not give me leave to dye Why dost thou suffer me to live All hope of life in life denying Or to my patience tortures give Never to dye yet ever dying To faire Narcissa's brighter eyes I was by loves instruction guided A happinesse I long did prize But now am from their light divided Favours and gifts my sute obtain'd But envious Fate would now destroy them Which if to lose I only gain'd What greater paine then to enjoy them The same wonder which before seiz'd Pausanias surpriz'd Aurora knowing none of her servants were of such extraordinary parts or could so sweetly complaine of the insupportable torment of absence Aurora inquisitive to know and incited by the curiosity that is incident to women was desirous to see the Orpheus of those Rocks but the shadow of the trees the distance of place and above all the regard of her quality which detained her represt this desire so that she deferr'd it till some other time and calling one of her attendants demanded of him if there dwelt any in that wood besides those that came with her out of Sicily The servant answered she forgot him whom not long since she commanded them to succour seeing him in danger of his life Aurora asked if he knew who he were Hee replyed he knew no more then thâ—t he had said he was call'd Pausanias concealing his quality and country yet could assure her that he seem'd to be of noble Parentage or at least his person and spirit deserv'd to bee so Aurora would not enquire further lest her curiosity might breed some suspition and although it be true that none can love what he never saw or convers'd with yet Fame Vertue and Desert incite a desire to see whether that satisfie the eye which had by the eare affected the soule Wee will not say Aurora was in love though her solitude might require it her greatnesse would not consent to it Yet she had a desire to know the man so well qualifi'd Pausanias soone seconded this desire for not enquiring the mystery inclosed in the Palace he continued to frequent the place where he first heard her and Aurora had the opportunity many evenings of seeing him passe by with such
a grace as might endanger the liberty of one lesse restrained then she was for the afflictions of love are not for those that have other misfortunes to resent Pausanias could not behold the faire Aurora the windowes and lattices debar'd him her sight neither would he discover himself to those hee convers'd with supposing that since they kept their businesse so private the secresie much concern'd them and therefore he conceal'd what hee desir'd For it is a rule of discretion to know no more of any man then he is willing to communicate Neverthelesse desisted not to prosecute his intentions hoping he might finde opportunity to see that sweet Syren The morning often found him under her window not knowing whom he courted loving in ignorance yet confident more then a private Lady was within those Walls Before the Pallace he us'd severall pastimes and recreations that hee might thereby obtaine a sight of the Goddesse whose voice had enchanted his soule Pausanias had good successe in all things having bin brought up in the exercise of arms he hunted the wild Beasts of that wood so fortunately that he made their deaths acknowledge him Master of their strength and furie There was not any in the Pallace but applauded his gallantrie only Aurora was perplext at his perfections for every day he encreas'd her affection by new deserts And although she lik'd all she saw in him yet the inequality shee conceiv'd was betwixt them displeas'd her discretion those that disparage themselves being unexcusable Hereupon she advised whether it were not expedient to have him kill'd for when a meane person may occasion extraordinary mischiefe his death is esteemed mercy but shee could not attempt it in earnest For to take away the life of those we love because we love them is no good reason in the state of affection shee would have him depart the Island but immediately she repented For it is hard to put that out of sight which is imprinted in the minde In effect seeing that to kill him were cruelty to Pausanias to banish him tyranny to her selfe she resolv'd to divert her sadnesse passing her solitary houres with more delight and that he might never know that it was she that lov'd him she exchanged names with Celia to whom she imparted the Plot that she might assist her in pursuit of it and with her name dissembling her quality shee resolv'd to give entertainment to this new affection untill she might know who he was that had wone so much upon her heart Aurora might safely have admitted to her greatnesse the affection of Pausanias for he was sole heire to the King of Macedonia and being enamoured of the fame of Aurora's beauty which verses and pencills had extoll'd whilst other Princes by Ambassadors solicited her marriage resolv'd that his fortune should rely upon his owne diligence and by going to Sicily to be both the Agent and the Lover This desire made him put to sea and forsake his owne Countrey such is the power of a noble resolution so did the imagined beauty disquiet the Princes minde and attract his will and freedome that he expos'd his life to the perrill of the waves and his greatnesse to a meane lodging of Planks and Canvas to see if truth were correspondent to same But he was lesse fortunate then adventrous for one evening the Sea being angry or weary to sustain the weight of so high a Majesty in so little room begun to rage furiously so that the valiant Princes life was in danger the heavens were darkned and the Aire so turbulent that the company expected every minute should end their lives and without thought of saving themselves made him leap into the foaming Sea fearing some worse event and by embracing a plancke to use the most difficult meanes for his owne safety Thus pass'd he two dayes befriended by the weather at length arrived so neare the Island that Aurora could relieve and after love him so extremely as we see She resolved at last to speake with him but under the feigned name of Celia which defire was encreased by Pausanias for one night he amorously sung these Verses upon the curiosity of his love What wouldst thou have unquiet breast What is it thus disturbs thy rest Say not thou lov'st it cannot be Who never didst deserve or see Love where the mind out-strips the eye Is onely Curiositie But thou wilt say why dost pursue Thine owne disquiet then 't is true And though this onely care expresse Of an imagin'd happinesse Desire to see doth ever prove A sure preparative to love An object so divine I frame Within my breast as doth inflame My captiv'd mind I love subdue Desire oblige hope and pursue Resigne my liberty bestow My soule on one I do not know And thus can Master be of none For I no longer am mine owne As soone as Pausanias had made an end Aurora call'd to him and said though with some difficulty by reason that the Balcon's were very high that he might leave his curiosity and professe love For his addresses were not unacceptable Pausanias remain'd contented with this favour since although hee had never seene the bestower yet at least his affections were not so ill plac'd as he before imagin'd and seeing it vvas not possible to speak to her he determin'd to vvrite transferring his thoughts to the Penne vvhich useth to bee the discreetest tongue expressing more then is felt The Letter vvas short though the subject did not require it to leave her vvith the desire of receiving another and thus it said Madam I May justly say you are obliged to favor me having cost mee infinite cares without any recompence although ever since the last night I have presum'd to be more fortunate and so am resolv'd to dye rather importunate then bashfull for my birth is noble and will not suffer mee to flie from any attempt That which I now desire is to see you if perhaps my love have merited it and since heaven suffers it selfe to bee lov'd and you appeare such bee like it in condition as in beautie for if your beames inflame mee it is but justice I should know the sphere from whence they come Pausanias repaired thither as hee used to doe and having first courted her with a Song which hee had composed that day as well sung as penn'd he shew'd her the Paper saying it was a piece excellent for Musick and that he should be extreame glad to heare it set to the Gittrah Aurora understood him and was pleas'd with the deceit because that which otherwise would have appear'd lightnesse now past for civility for there are some so discreet in what they demand that by encouraging the crime they seem to excuse the fault and throwing downe a string of Pearle Pausanias return'd it more weighty then before Aurora read the Paper and in part to satisfie his expressions desiring him to expect a while commanded Celia to write not that shee could not her self for she was extreamely
him to him Thus went they forth together and coming to the most intricate place of the Wood Pausanias stuck the light upon a Tree and drawing his sword resolutely said to him I am Pausanias thy greatest enemy I love Celia and must enjoy her though the King of Syracuse himselfe should oppose it Since thou saist that thou seek'st mee earnestly make use of this suddaine occasion which is offer'd thee If thou refusest to draw thy sword because thou know'st mee not be assur'd my quality is so noble that whosoever thinks he hath any advantage of mee deceives himselfe I have served Celia if not with as much secresie yet with more affection if shee heretofore lov'd thee and now forgets thee complaine of thy fortune not her easinesse and since thou say'st the Letter which thou unjustly detain'st was sent to me give it me for I will put it a-amongst others that I have of hers if not I le force it from thee Doe not think answer'd Clearchus thy menaces move me my heart is form'd for higher enterprizes and e're long thou wilt repent this foolish rashnesse Yet that thou maist know the cause why I sought thee so earnestly and with what reason I complaine of Celia heare her falshood and thou wilt confesse that I have not spoken very extravigantly of her Celia and my selfe have these many yeares reciprocally exchang'd a pure and secret affection but shee being necessitated to absent her selfe from me for some reasons I was so unhappy that in that time shee saw and lov'd thee if she had neglected me for love of thee I had lesse reason to complaine but shee was so farre from neglect that shee never favour'd mee with larger expressions then now and that thou maist not thinke these calumnies proceeding rather from jealousie then the truth of one that respects his honour see whether it bee faâ—se or no so drawing out of his breast many Letters and Papers he cast them at his feet Pausanias read some of them amongst others his owne and another which the same day she had written to Clearchus A good while he tooke not his eye off from the Papers it seeming to him impossible there should be in the world a woman so facile and so cunning but at last being fully perswaded of her falsehood he gathered together all the cozening Letters and threw them into the fire as if hee could consume so many deceits at once Thereupon Clearchus with his sword in hand bad him if hee were a Gentleman prepaire to defend himselfe for it was not fitting it should bee said in Sicily that having had his enemy in the field he left him alive Thou shalt not need to prevent me answered Pausanias for that was the onely reason why I drew thee out into this wood and so assaulting him furiously the Combate began without any apparent advantage on either side Clearchus was the more weary as being lesse dextrous in the exercise of Armes Pausanias avoiding a blow that he made falsifi'd another and wounded him dangerously in the head Clearchus having his face bathed in bloud lost not his courage but enflam'd with revenge assaulted Pausanias so desperately that he was forced to use all his skill to guard himselfe The clashing of their swords disturb'd the Shepheards that went whistling their Sheep together They came in the instant when the losse of bloud abated strength but not courage in Clearchus They all ran in to him seeing him the more necessitated and carried him home to their Cottage where with medicinall Herbes they entertain'd and cured him The valiant Prince no lesse astonish'd at the courage of Clearchus then at the lightnesse of Celia expected the approach of day with intent to take shipping and returne to his Country He went towards the Sea and discoursing with himselfe on the various events of his fortune saw a ship which by its losse of tackling and sailes shew'd it had suffer'd the anger of inconstant Neptune He observ'd the Armes it carryed and knowing they were his drew neerer to satisfie himselfe but this doubt lasted not long for Leontius Sonne to the Admirall of Macedonia leaping a shore with his Company knew him and gave thankes to Heaven for the favour it had vouchsaf'd them in preserving his life They related to him how that after a long tempest and imminent death it pleas'd Fortune to appease the Sea But all of them bewailing their Princes absence resolv'd not to returne to Macedonia without him since hee might possibly escape alive Pausanias gratified their noble resolution with favours and rewards Hee caused them to repaire their Ship determining to goe privately into Sicily that they might not returne unsatisfied to Macedonia to see if the Beauty of Aurora pleas'd him and to revenge himselfe on the inconstant Celia With this resolution hee went to Court but his arrivall could not be so private but Dionysius had notice of it and immediately gave him a visit bestowing such extraordinary favours upon him that words sufficed not to expresse his thankfulnesse Dionisius carried him to see the Princesse knowing her beauty to bee the chiefe motive of his comming thither Pausanias amaz'd when he perceiv'd Celia to whom he spake to be by all call'd Aurora was ready to have accus'd Dionysius of imposture but Leontius who had beene Ambassadour before in Syracuse assuring him it was Aurora hee was almost distracted and not treating with Dionysius any further in that businesse he resolv'd to returne to Macedonia since a woman engaged to another in love was not fit to be his wife Aurora's thoughts were very different from his for perceiving her good fortune that Pausanias was every way equall to her shee thought the time long till shee had some meanes to accomplish her affection Celia already was inform'd of the quarrell that had beene betwixt Clearchus and the Prince And as Aurora was once complaining of him for not comming to sollicite that which he so much desir'd Celia told her that the reason why hee was so coole in his Love was the deceit of her Letters and thereupon recounted all that past advertising her that this mistake was as well cause of her losing Clearchus for hee was infected with the same jealousie so that it concern'd them both to discover the private devise her Love had made use of Aurora excusing the Princes indifferency in regard it proceeded rather from his owne honour then neglect of her called Clearchus and discover'd to him the whole businesse that he might not suspect any thing in prejudice of Celia's honour she commanded him to go visit Pausanias from her and to let him know the mistake that had detained him in jealousie Clearchus now freed from all former suspition obey'd and having kiss'd the Princes hand ask'd pardon for drawing his sword against him though unknown Pausanias told him he was engag'd to love his valour and to desire his friendship I must requite this honour answered Clearchus with welcome news and then related the
whereby the warres that have long infested both Kingdomes may have an end Ismenia would not proceed any further nor indeed could shee for jealousie and anger a lesse discovery might have been sufficient to have kill'd her she accused her malicious fortune and much bewailed the losse of Perozes apprehending so many inconveniences that it seemed impossible he should ever bee hers First his Birth and the distance between them next hee was to marry a Princesse enrich'd as the Picture shew'd with extraordinary beauty but hearing some body come she dissembled her griefe and perceiv'd it was her Enemy who as hee came along sung thus As faire Ismenia forth did goe A Saphire sparkled in each eye And on her cheek did Jesmines grow Bath'd in the Roses Purple dye But when I nearer came t' have plaid Within the Sun-shine of her light She scorc'd me in her beames betraid Like sportive flyes to losse of sight What feare and reverence doth beget Th' approach unto so bright a flame Which can extinguish with its heate And makes both love and death the same An injur'd woman is not sensible of any thing so much as of flattery from him that wrongs her and Ismenia confident that Perozes love was counterfeit tooke it more unkindly to bee deceiv'd then unrequited for disaffection may bee naturall and out of our power but dissimulation is not being bred onely in malicious breasts That Perozes might not boast he had forsaken her first though for the Princesse of Albania she went to him and betwixt reason and jealousie said thus Perozes though you see mee in this Mountaine so rudely attir'd that my richest ornament is the spotted skin of a Tygresse yet you may well perceive my soul hath more worth then my habit promiseth You say you love me so infinitely that though you are of the best bloud in Armenia yet you will hazard both life fortune to be my Husband and as this expression must not either by the Laws of Civility or affection be unacknowledged I requited it with the like But as those that love cannot dissemble for that 's a crime it grieves my affection to have hid a secret from you It is impossible wee should ever enjoy each other Do not wonder that I undeceive you now whereas I might as well have done it before All women at first conceale their passions unwilling to discover their imperfections to them they know not for by open profession of love they might beget too slight an opinion of themselves but when we find engagement wee have a care to discover the truth to such Professors of affection that they may see the danger they incurre either for avoidance or excuse The summe of all is to let you know I am anothers he who I told you was my Father is not so but one whom misfortune hath banish'd Albania and he has my promise to be his wife though in truth he hath yet had no other assurance then my hand therefore love me lesse and containe your selfe more my descent is noble and I must be his having once profest it for my Obligation cannot be discharg'd but by giving my selfe unto him and he is of so excellent and gallant a mind that he thinke it not passion surpasseth you Scarse had the jealous Ismenia ended when without expecting an answer of satisfaction shee ran away into the more envious part of the Wildernesse Perozes being unacquainted with the place presently lost her expressing so much passion as might have mollifi'd a Rock if it could have heard him but all in vaine Ismenia would not runne the hazard of relenting by hearing what hee could say for the tender disposition of women is perswaded to weepe by seeing others do so yet was she not without resentment for retiring to the remotest corner of the Cave shee wept affectionate teares and taking out the Letter that was directed to her lover shee kist that name in the superscription which was engraved in her heart Thus the two Lovers passed two dayes without meeting not through Perozes neglect but Ismenia's obstinacy who saying late one evening at the border of the mountaine to behold a tree on whose barke both their names were engraven What availes it said shee complaining to her selfe that Peroses writeth himselfe mine on the trees when the Princesse of Albania may countermand it what that he flatters mee with such kinde affection in this solitude if at Court he adores a brighter beauty shee would have said more had shee not been interrupted by the Musick of a sweet voice from amongst the Poplars though she knew it was her ungratefull Lover yet shee was willing to dispence a little with her resolution and hearken to this Song Ismenia's eyes my soule divide A faire yet haplesse Sheperdesse In whom rich Nature all her pride And Fates their poverty expresse To move the sute I feare to misse Her worth and my respect deny For where even hope endanger'd is Lovers in silence use to dye Thus the desire I entertaine Neither shuns love nor sute preferrs For though she to be mine disdaine I 'me blest enough in being hers Ismenia perceiving by the words and voice it was Perozes sought to hide her selfe in the bushes that she might avoid sight and speech with him not that she was averse from it but she would not give occasion to awake that love which slumbred in absence but the rushing of the leaves betraid her Perozes told her She had no reason unlesse she had with her habit changed he humanity to fly from one who had not lost her through any offence of his own But since he was so unfortunat that he could not be hers he entreated her to informe her selfe by that Paper of his extreme passion that she might at least know how much she was indebted to him so taking leave of her he left in her hand these Verses which she imprinted as she read them in her soule Divinest Syren cruell faire Cause of my life and my despaire Griefe that descends to words is weake But mine is full and cannot speake For how can Fate more cruell be Then to grant life denying thee Yet I in death hope to adore Those joyes without which life is poore My reason 's banish'd by my paine Who can lose thee and it retaine How soon was my calme soule dejected And ruine suffer'd ere expected But since that blisse which once was mine Thou to another wilt resigne Be happy in thy choice whilst I In unregarded ashes lye Be happy in him 't is unfit To wish thee joy and hinder it Then finish what thou hast begun Encrease my griefe and kill me soon And when I 'me dead let pitty move thee But to remember I did love thee Ismenia relenting would have read them often had shee not beene hindred by Gesimenes who comming to seek her and glad to have found her entreated her to divert his continuall Melancholy with a Song whereupon more to obey him then please her selfe
suppoz'd the Queens was esteem'd heire of the Kingdome and I had a better pretence for my affection Gesimenes who was indeed my lawfull Son had Clorinda the Lady I most esteem'd assign'd for his mother The whole Kingdome wondered I should hate Gesimenes the son of her I adored and esteeme Lucander whose mother I hated I will not relate how cruelly I us'd Gesimenes iâ— cannot but grieve you to heare it if you love him my disaffection proceeded so farre as to banish him Albania If hee bee alive as we had newes of his death he hath lived many yeares miserably abroad in strange Countries But the nature of man is unconstant the love I beare Clorinda vanish't and my undeceived understanding perceiv'd its errour then began I so much to dislike Lucander that I intended to have discovered his Birth but I forbore considering the Crowne would be without an heire seeing Gesimenes was wanting But since Lucander proves so ungratefull as by treason to deprive me of life and Scepter you assure me Gesimenes lives if you performe your promise in bringing him you shall see him King of Albania that hee may have his owne and you in part be paid the debt is owing you for my life His happinesse cannot but reflect on you who are so much his friend Gesimenes was not able to containe his joy but falling downe at his Fathers feet discovered himselfe saying he was Gesimenes and that he was well content with the miseries Fortune had inflicted on him since he had been banisht from his sight Now shee had bestow'd on him the happinesse to rescue his gray haires Pharnazes transported with such joy to see him alive as the strangenesse of the accident required embraced him most affectionately and told him that he should goe along with him for on the morrow his Commanders should kisse his hand and his presence would animate the Souldiers for they all loved him extremely and knowing his valour would undertake the warre with the greater resolution In this Gesimenes could not obey excusing himselfe with the acknowledgement of many favours received from Perozes of whose Forces he was Generall yet that he had taken Armes against his Father was not to offend him as he had shewne but to be a meanes of peace between both Kingdomes Gesimenes at parting enquired of him for his Wife Polixena he much troubled desired him not to speak of her for it would afflict his heart to remember the cruelty which her Father and Lucander had us'd in her death Let it not grieve you so much said Gesimenes For she is living and although it may seeme impossible I have long enjoy'd her company in this Desart for Heaven doth favour innocence and protect those Lives which Power and Fortune doe unjustly persecute Hereupon Gesimenes departed joyfully And Pharnazes was no lesse glad for having found his son and with him his owne life which had that night been lost had it not been preserved by Gesimenes Then communicating this strange event to his Counsell he determined to treat with the King of Armenia and Prince Perezes concerning Peace and the former Marriage The evening following a place of meeting was appointed for the two Kings The first thing they did was the proclaming of Gesimenes King of Albania and the same day Polixena was confirm'd his Wife the King and Queen of Armenia offering themselves to give her at the Temple Perozes told Pharnazes that the reason why he rejected the propounded Marriage with the Princesse was because he was already married to Ismenia who was Niece to him and Daughter to Gesimenes and Polixena Hereupon they both to informe him of the truth replyed that they had no further knowledge of her then that she had been brought up some years in their company that the businesse was now of such consequence that it would be unjust to deceive him and though they had reason to love Ismenia as well as if she were their Daughter yet in truth she was but of poore and meane Parentage This struck Perozes as if he had heard the sentence of his death but it troubled him more when he understood Ismenia could not be found for seeing a necessitie that her deceit must bee discovered and that she must lose Perozes shame would not suffer her to appeare so she retired into the woods flying from him she loved and intending to end her life in that solitude The Nuptialls were deferred till they might have news of the lost Ismenia for the married couple were so discontented at her absence that their resentment gave occasion to many to suspect she was indeed their Daughter and that they denyed it onely because they were unwilling to give her to Perozes The truth was they lov'd her so extremely that if Gesimenes had not known Ismenias Parents might have contradicted it he would have owned her Perozes in great passion offered a great summe of money to any that should bring newes of her Gesimenes calling to minde that shee had often told him the place where she was borne instantly dispatched Messengers to informe themselves with all diligence of her Parents and to see whether shee were not return'd to them After enquirie they found them and upon examination they confessed That Ismenia was not their Daughter thought they had professed her such almost ever since shee was borne that a Gentleman of Albania named Artaspes one night brought her to their house to be brough up by them charging them upon forfeit of their lives not to reveale the secret to any that three yeares agoe having a desire to match her with a Kinsman of theirs on the day intended for marriage she stole away since which time they could never know whether shee were alive or dead This encreased the admiration of all seeing Artaspes had brought her thither they supposed shee must bee his He being at that time in Albania they sent for him to declare what he knew concerning Ismenia Being come hee desired a little privacy with Gesimenes and thus spake unto him What I shall affirme of her that you call Ismenia concernes none so much as your selfe to know not to keepe you in suspence Prince Lucander and my selfe walking late one night in the City as wee were returning to the Palace a woman with her Face vailed called to us and addressing her selfe to Lucander hee ask'd her being well nigh dead if she would goe along with him or that hee should doe her any service I would beseech you answered the Lady delivering a Childe into his armes to carry this infant to Gesimenes who will easily know from whence it comes and believe me we may both be able to requite this favour so giving it to Lucander whom if shee had knowne she would sooner have given it to a Lyon she went away desiring us not to follow her because it concern'd both her life and honour We both stood amazed devising who this Lady might be for knowing how intirely you did love Polixena wee could
AURORA ISMENIA AND THE PRINCE BY Don Juan Perez de Montalvan ORONTA THE Cyprian Virgin BY Sign r. Girolamo Preti Tout vient a poinct qui peut attendre Translated by Thomas Stanley Esq The Second Edition with Additions London Printed by W. Wilson for Humphrey Moseley at the Sign of the Princes Armes in St. Pauls Church-yard 1650. The Reader MAy be pleas'd to take Notice That what hee hath in his hand was undertaken with no other Intention then as an exercize of both Languages That it now comes abroad in Obedience to private command which could not be withstood That the Licentiousnesse of the French Translation brings hither no assistance But if he finde the Names of Persons or Places differ from the Originall let him suppose it done for the better accommodation of the Scaene Upon AVRORA THis Transplantation of Sicylian Loves To the more pleasing shades Albions Groves Though I admire yet not the thing betrayes My soule to so much wonder as the waies And manner of effecting that thy youth Vntravail'd there should with such happy truth Vnlock us this Iberian Cabinet Whose Diamonds you in polisht English set Such as may teach the eyes of any Dame I' th' British Court to give and take a Flame But here the greatest Miracle we see That Spain for this hath travell'd unto thee W. H. LAnguage and Wit which equally dispose Both light and life to Poetry and Prose In this traduction as their Orbe doe shine And make these Stories like thy selfe Divine Aurora brighter then she was of late The Prince in his misfortunes fortunate Montalvan proud to see himselfe out-done By a Reflection clearer then his Sun W. F. TRanslations that should give light Eclipse their Authors from our sight But here like Christalls doe convey The lustre of a forraigne day Which the inlightned world might see Is owing to thy Charity Who reinspir'st Aurora's cheek With such fresh Roses that we seek Truth in th' originall which Spaine To owne must borrow back againe J. H. Upon ORONTA FLames rescu'd faire Oronta from the power Of an insulting Thracian Conquerour The Fame of which brave action Preti's Rhime Freed from the greater tyranny of Time Yet in that freedom she lesse glories then In being thus made Captive by thy Pen. E. S. FArre brighter now in thy Poetick fire Oronta seemes then in her fatall Pyre For there her beauty lost her vertue shines But thy admir'd expression both combines And Cyprus whose best glories here are seen Is prouder of her Virgin then her Queen W. F. Aurora DIonysius the Sicilian Tyrant had a daughter for her Celestill beauty named Aurora not more faire then unfortunate scarse had she compleated the last yeares of her Infancie when Heaven was pleased to let her know that she was beautifull by eclipsing her fortune For Nature as if she esteem'd beauty a crime not her owne image doth for the most part punish it The Mother of Aurora dyed and Dionysius although the losse of his wife gave him no reall resentment exprest in feign'd teares how extremely he lov'd her but within a few days discover'd the hypocrisie of his griefe receiving in her place Arminda an Italian Lady of quality but not worthy of that Crowne because he had many yeares before kept her as a Mistris She was of a lively spirit witty and faire but of a disposition so harsh that she gain'd little upon the affections of the people bearing such command over her husbands actions that shâ— permitted not any thing to pass in the Kingdâ—me without first consulting her pleasure a care proper to suâ—h of small worth as make ostentation of the power they enjoy that by this meanes they may dissemble their low beginnings but the sucesse proves contrary in regard the injur'd by murmur and complaints discover more then was imagin'd Aurora considering that to permit such excesse were to lend wings to her pride advis'd her not to rely with so much confidence on her fathers affection since it was not impossible that it might faile then would she fall lower for not having treasured the good will of his subjects adding moreover that shee should remember what shee was formerly that shee might not vainly be transported with her new estate These words so incens'd Arminda that from thenceforward she plotted Aurora's death and to effect her desire made Dionysius beleeve that shee was jealous telling him hee lov'd his daughter so passionately for being the picture of the dead Originall since as the Phoenix leaves her ashes to perpetuate her succession so affection useth to leave some living pledges to preserve its memory and certainely the neglect he sometimes exprest towards her was occasion'd by that dead love pictur'd in the beauty of Aurora Arminda urg'd this so earnestly that Dyonisius making impiety a Complement resign'd his daughters fault into her hands allowing her in this cause to be both Judge Party Love the common excuse of all extravagace did not here acquit Dionisius for a man is not oblig'd to dispise the pledges of his blood for a woman that dissembles when she weepes and weepes when she pleases Arminda was satisfied so that Aurora were in some remote place out of her sight whereupon her Father commanded her to depart out of Sicily chusing rather to live without a daughter then displease a wife such was the affection of a blinded Lover the rashnesse of an unnaturall Father They conveig'd the faire Princesse to a little Island seated betwivt the two Promontories Pelorus and Pachynum which seem'd as a Garland of Flowers in the Tyrrhen Sea it was done privately to avoid the mutiny of the people who lov'd her for her beauty and her vertue Hee order'd a select number of servants for her attendants with forfiture of life to any who should discover that Aurora resided in that narrow Pallace The discreet Lady did with much wisedome beare her Fathers unkindnesse diverting her minde now with the musick of the little wanton Birds which hearing her name thought it ever morning and sung continually Now with the pleasant wind which sporting upon the smoothnesse of the Christall sea did amorously disquiet it now with reflecting on her owne misfortunes for the unhappy are often recreated with the same thing that afflicts them Now with the Ladies that attended her especially with Celia who being of the same age and kindred well deserv'd her privacie but when all fail'd and nothing could delight her she took an Instrument which in her hands might boast it was not dumbe and weeping sung thus When will arrive the Day Which must my life and sorrowes terminate That angry fortune may The tyrant goddesse of all humane state Her crueltie fulfilling By one kinde death thus make an end of killing When shall my troubled yeares Be to a verdant grave of flowers restor'd My injuries my feares Too little merited too much deplor'd When shall my just complaint From equall heaven receive a full restraint Now I am throwne
accomplish'd in every thing but for the danger might ensue if her hand were knowne and betwixt them both they fram'd this Answer THat you may not when you returne home to your Countrey accuse the Sicilian Ladies of ingratitude since your desire is so reasonable as the sight of a woman I will performe what you require me though then your eyes will contradict your fancie for it is certaine that I am fairer in your opinion now then I shall bee afterward I am call'd Celia and attend a Lady of quality that lives in this Castle She and I will be to morrow in this place so that you may then see me bee of good courage and thanke me for being so soone quit of your love if that can be love which hath past no further then imagination I only entreate you to keepe this indiscretion secret and to tell me your name estate and quality for it imports us both Pausanias kist the Paper and read it often for a Lover is never satisfied at the first the day following went to see what hee so much desir'd Aurora had commanded her servants to retire to another quarter of the house and being alone with Celia caused her to attire her selfe richly and shee stood beside her Pausanias beholding was exceedingly ravisht in regard his fancy had come short of the truth for Celia besides her slender shape was of a pleasing beauty but her lustre was eclips'd by Aurora's presence whose eyes were spheres of light her forehead a plaine of Lillies her haire the riches of Arabia in her cheeke Roses her mouth Pearles her neck of Alabaster her breasts of Snow and hands of polisht Ivorie she was attir'd in greene Tabey wrought with gold so that she appear'd like a Diamond enchased in Emralds her Gowne Skie-colour laid with black Buttons and Loopes in a word she was altogether divine her perfections many and her yeares few Pausanias was much astonished yet fearefull the Sea should see her lest he should wooe her for one of his waterie Deities and thanking his own perseverance hee determined to gaine her that had got his soule though at the expence of a long absence from his Countrey for he found that the Picture of Aurora that he had seen was farre unâ—quall to the divine Celia he esteemed the time well employ'd that he had spent in adoring those Walls since within them hee had found so much more then expectation had promised Whilst Pausanias enjoy'd these favours passing the night with them and the day with hopes it happened that Dionysius sent for one of those that waited on Aurora aâ—d threatned him that if either through his or his fellows fault it should be known where his daughter was they should instantly dye a shamefull death With this feare he returned to the rest and gave them notice how much it concerned them that Pausanias would quit the Island since he might easily at one time or other as he walked in the wood see the Princesse and occasion all their ruines So easie is it replyed another that I thinke he pretends if he have not already effected it for I have observ'd that he looks up very intentively to those Balcones and she hath enquired of me who he is and if he persist hee must of necessity come to know her and we to lose Dionysius favour In effect feare overcame them and all agreeing that hee should not continue there they advertis'd him that it concern'd his life to absent himselfe Pausanias wondred at their suddaine resolution and after many conjectures began to suspect that without doubt some one of them lov'd Celia and would use that meanes to secure his jealousie or envy and thereupon he determin'd to speake to them all that he might satisfie him who conceiv'd himselfe injur'd and to beseech them againe not to offer him so great a discourtesie as to constraine him to depart the Island untill such time as he had news of his servants whose lives perhaps the Sea had pardoned He plainly perceiv'd how difficult it was to reclaime them seeing those that before so kindely entertain'd him now behold him distastefully for ill will is discover'd by the eyes countenance and carriage and one morning finding them altogether hee said to them Gentlemen and friends my birth is noble and though I live where I am unknowne to all but my selfe I doe not thinke any here can complaine of my demeanour for men of my parentage receive not benefits unthankfully ingratitude and noblenesse differing as night and day I came to this Island or to say better my fortune threw me here not unhappily since in it I have found both protection and friends Here I have liv'd a while endeavoring to satisfie to my power though not to my desire the favours I have receiv'd from all but it seemes I have not sufficiently exprest my selfe since when I think you most my friends you threaten me with death unlesse I depart I have enquired what might be the reason but indeed can finde none unlesse some one of you being jealous incites the rest to this violence which if it be so hee ought to consider that a man doth not offend unlesse hee know that he injures for he who through ignorance or innocence sollicits that whereunto another hath right can onely then be said to offend when after he knowes the truth he pursues his wish and so to have surveigh'd this Castle with a desire to see what it inclos'd or by curiosity to have obtein'd that fight can not disquiet any one for before this present I knew not that it would give offence and if I conceive aright there is more then one Goddesse inhabits there so that none hath reason to complaine of mee because I neither injur'd him out of malice nor can he know to which I am enclin'd Pausanias thought by this to have appeas'd and satisfied them but the event was contrary for the knowledge of this secret being their greatest feare they needed no other information to draw their swords and assault his life But before they could dispatch it Aurora and her gentlewomen hearing the noise saw the treacherous mischiefe they intended to a single stranger and forgetting her greatnesse for love considers not quality when that which is esteemed is in danger sent to command them all to desist and informe her of their quarrell who comming before her related what charge her Father had given them adding that Pausanias for certaine either had already or else meant to speak with one of the Ladies that attended her highnesse which might give occasion to discover what Dionysius intended to keep so secret that none but heaven and themselves should know and therefore to excuse the danger that threatned them it was necessary to take away his life It would be replyed Aurora impiety in me to consent to it and treachery in you to effect it because I am informed you have received courtesies from this Gentleman there is no reason you should
expressed noâ— his condition The timorous shepheardesse when she saw his savage appearance giving her selfe for lost fled from this counterfeit Satyr till staid by wearinesse shee fell at his feet so affrighted and out of breath that it pittied him he had overtaken her When hee beheld her divine beauty hee thanked Heaven that it had contracted its greatest perfections in a poore Shepherdesse Neither did this admiration proceed from a forgetfulnesse of his faire Polixena but the reason which induc'd him to this liking was her resemblance of the other such as would confound a Painter in drawing them both He took her in his armes and carried her to his poore Cave where having first recovered her senses with water which hee fetch'd in a Tortoise shell from the neighbouring Rock hee set before her Cakes and dryed fruits hee assured her that shee was not in danger that his quality was more gentle then his appearance promis'd that she might continne there in safety and that her beauty had kindled in his breast so just an affection that though he had been savage indeed hee should not have been so to her for at the first sight of her an inclination did secretly invade his soul which oblig'd him not onely to honour but to engage his life for her Therefore he entreated her by the great respect which in so short a time she had gain'd upon him not to leave his company but rather to help him to passe the tediousnesse of that solitude then afflict his love by her absence which hee should infinitely resent Truely replyed Ismenia so was the Shepherdesse nam'd what you require is not onely just but due to that civility and protection you promis'd besides it concernes my owne interest as well as yours for I am fled hither to avoid a man to whom my parents would have married me one they say doth every way equall me but to say truth though I was borne among the Rocks and am of a low parentage yet have I a spirit and thoughts so high that I am not in my owne opinion inferiour either the heire of Albania or the King of Armenia This morning I rose with intent to subdue that self-conceit and love him in obedience to those that perswaded me but finding I could not affect him nor reclaime my stubborne will I stole away and hid my selfe in this Mountaine chusing rather to be a prey to the wild beasts then to one I could not without disdaine behold though many women are of opinion that conversation may produce affection yet could not I expose my selfe to so apparent hazard fearing the worst For the danger is great which she incurs who out of this confidence undervaluing her owne liberty marries one that she abhorres But because I finde within my selfe besides the thanks I owe your curtesie and entertainment something that moves mee to love and respect you for though you appear outwardly a son of these Rocks yet your civill demeanour contradicts that appearance I conjure you therefore by your selfe to tell me who you are and the reason of your living in this Desart since we have agreed to dwell together and I have given you an account of my fortune it is fit you requite mee with the like This request said Gesimenes will much afflict me the remembrance of miseries cannot bee renewed without teares though I use often to repeate mine to the heavens to the fields and to this little river yet because in them you are my only comfort and to satisfie in some manner for the favour you do me in dwelling as you have promised with me I will relate my birth condition and misfortunes I am naturall son to Pharnazes King of Albania who dearely lov'd Clorinda a Lady whose eminence and merit made her hope to bee his wife in that confidence resigne her self into his arms but not long after was by reason of state induc'd to marry Rodantha who prov'd with childe at the same time that Clorinda my mother went with me I would to heaven I had never seen the light for he that is borne to be unfortunat e begins not his life but death So it happened that Pharnazes had in one day two sonnes one by his wife the other by his Mistris and though brothers of a different fortune and quality for Lucanders Mother was the more noble but who would think that Pharnazes loving my Mother so affectionately nay she her selfe forgetting the paines and griefe I had cost her should hate me It was sure the malignant influence of my Starres which arriv'd at that hight that I was constrain'd when I would obtaine any thing of my Father to have recourse to the Queen who though she had a just reason to hate me pittied and favour'd me Lucander and my selfe came to the state of youth I as being the lesse fortunate was more beloved of the people he of my Father as heire to the Monarchy Thus farre I cannot say I was very unhappy for if he may justly bee called so who is borne indiscreet and lives hated Lucander was the lesse fortunate but the originall of all my afflictions was the faire Polixena at the same time brought up at Court daughter to the Prince Saga one of great power and neare allyed to the King without whose advise he undertook nothing of weight I would discourse more largely of her beauty and perfections if my love would not make that seem passion which heaven and my selfe know is but truth I speake to a woman and such heare with small delight the prayses of others She was the fairest in that Conntrey and from our tender yeares wee began to court her I with lesse hope then Lucander as one not borne a Prince but Love both a childe and blinde often mistakes and stumbles I did ill to say my birth was attended by no happie fortune since Polixena fixed her eyes on me and that so freely that whatsoever I did shee graced with esteeme whatsoever my brother attempted displeased her At the publike and solemne Exercises her favourable eyes encouraged mee and made me successefull not without the envy of many Princes that ador'd her especially of Lucander truly I had the advantage of him in behaviour discretion and stature yet few women would have consider'd those accidents the qualities of the minde being in little esteem in the unfortunate But Polixena either lesse ambitious or more unhappy inclin'd her affection to mee so farre that after a long time she gave me leave to obtaine her embraces which by a private way into her chamber I enjoy'd Lucander had treated with her Father about marriage engaging himselfe still further in his fond affection knowing I was his rivall he was the more earnest in his solicitation being vext to see Polixena prefer mee the illegitimate sonne before him the heire to the Kingdome Her Father transported with his interest and hope of seeing the Crowne upon his Daughters head being displeas'd with my affection lookt not favorably