the end they both comforted themselves for the losse of their child by him fortune had given them and by the consolation they had to see one another after they had believed never to have seen one another again and it seemed that in the shipwrack where they had believed to have lost all they saved that which was of most value for they found a part of their vessel run on ground on a heap of sand where the richest things which they had were and Sulpicia strugling in the water had seised on a plank of another broken vessel upon which was a casket fastned by divers cords wound round about it in that turning which was made at the time of the shipwrack so that this faithfull slave of Clelius who had saved Sulpicia having found her sustaining her self by this plank which was ready to sink by the weight of this casket supported her and brought her to the vessel where Clelius found her for it was very nigh bringing likewise in his hands the casket which was fastened to the plank imagining without examination that it was hers so that after Clelius and Sulpicia had had the leasure to meditate on the accident which was arrived they found that their losse was lesse then they thought of in this occasion for they had found a child instead of theirs and stones of an inestimable value in that Casket In the mean time Clelius believing that he could not better acknowledge the favour that the gods had afforded him by saving his life than in having a particular care of that child he had found prayed Sulpicia to nourish it instead of hers and to love it as her own and as they both felt the grief they had for the losse of theirs they would have restored this child to those which had lost it if they were not perisht themselves but they could not hear of them for the misfortune was that those of the Carthaginian Vessels saved none but those which were with Clelius and the other vessels which were nigh that in which Porsennas son was shipwrackt succoured those which escaped there but as the tempest separated them and their wayes being different Clelius could learn nothing of the birth of this child neither of what country he was neverthelesse his hope was that the vessel which had saved him went thither where he had a design to go he obliged the Captain to whom he owed his life to bring him to Carthage where he had a design to passe the time of his exile to the end said he that I may not have my spirit troubled by the recitall of Tarquins tyranny But to make Sulpicia love the child better the gods had given them he desired he should have the name of Aronces which was the name of the child he had lost but he would not say when he came to Carthage that Aronces was his son though he had for him a paternal affection for fear that should obscure his knowledge and not knowing whether he should have other children he would not disguise the truth but he would carefully keep the Cradle and the swading bands in which this child had been found and likewise imagined that the stones he had found in that Casket might conduce to his knowledge And he had for this child which was unknown to him all the cares which his high birth rendred him worthy of but whilst Clelius rendred to him all the offices of a true father Nicius and Martia which had been saved by a Syracusian vessel were in so strange a despair for the losse of this young Prince which was trusted to their care that they durst never declare his death to the particular friends of Galerita though they were strongly perswaded he had perished for as things were then if this young Prince had been in their power they durst not in any wise have revealed his birth and they remained at Syracusa where they learnt that Porsenna was more strictly kept that Bianor persecuted Golerita and that Sextilia had no children But to return to Clelius and Sulpicia you shall know Madam that they lived at Carthage where their vertue soon gained them many friends and the young Aronces comforted them so well for the losse of their son that if they had had a desire to destroy him to resuscitate the other they could not resolve to do it and indeed I have heard them say he was amiable even from his Cradle and that he ever appeared to have something so great in him little as he was that it was easie even then to imagine that he should be of illustrious extraction he was likewise more dear to Clelius and Sulpitia because they were four years without any children but in the end Sulpitia had a daughter which was called Clelia but a daughter so fair that they spoke of her beauty even at her birth I shall not trouble my self Madam to exaggerate to you all her first attraction though I have heard Aronces say she testified so much spirit even before she could speak for as I have things of more importance to tell you I shall not weary your patience by a recital of that nature and I shall content my self to assure you that if Clelius forgot nothing to bring up the young Aronces Sulpicia likewise forgot nothing to bring up the young Clelia neither shall trouble my self Madam to tell you many particularitis of the Grandeur and Magnificence of Carthage to make you comprehend that these two Persons could not be better in any place of the Earth since it is true they found in it all they might find in the most political Republicks and in the most flourishing Monarchies but as it is not that of which I must treat but it is the life of Aronces you must know I shall tell you in two words that Carthage is one of the richest and fairest Cities in the World and that as all the Africans have a natural inclination to delight though they are a warlike People all pleasures were found in this Magnificent City as much as in any place of the Earth Moreover as Carthage is dreadful to her Neighbours it is never without the residence of men of Quality from all bordering Estates and it hath in its Neighbourhood a Prince which is called the Prince of Carthage because he derives his descent from an Aunt of Dido which did likewise reside there before he imbroyled himself with this Republick the Prince of Numidia here present was at this time there and there was no Prince in Africa which desired not to send his Children to Carthage so that Aronces saw even from his Birth Persons whose conditions were proportionable to his for as Clelius was much esteemed in this City and Aronces was of a pleasant disposition and a dexterous wit he easily familiarised himself with the Carthaginian and Numidian Princes they being all of one Age the Prince of Carthage so entirely affecting his Conversation that when he went to a City
she was desired so as Valeria after she had shut the door had liberty to pour out her tears Now her imagination representing unto her both at once Herminius unfaithful and Herminius dead she was sensible of as much sorrow as love was able to inflict This Ladie having a most tender soul and loving Herminius most ardently her grief was stronger than her anger at the first But when Emilius was gone and Flavia came unto her Closer this afflicted Ladie changed her thoughts For being one who had heard Herminius swear a thousand and a thousand times that he would be eternally faithful her anger grew stronger than her grief Come Flavid said Valeria unto her with as many sighs as words what say you now of perfidious Herminius I cannot tell what to think of his perfidie answered Flavia because appearances are very uncertain and deceitful But I am much afflicted at his death and I must confess I am much surprized to see you more moved at his inconstancy than it Oh Flavia said she I know not well which moves me most for I am so full of grief so full of anger so full of confusion at my own weakness so full of tenderness for unfaithful Herminius so full of hatred for inconstant Herminius and so full of confused thoughts as I know not what I think what I would have or what I say How can I think Herminius whose thoughts I believed so generous should be perfidious he who I have heard say a hundred times that honesty and sincerity ought to be in love as well as in all other things of the world He I say who promised to love me until death he who swore unto me that the loss of youth and beautie should not extinguish his love he who protested unto me that absence would augment his passion And he who imagined that he should be continually melancholy as long as I was out of his sight And yet he forgot all his Oaths he diverted himself at Capua he became unfaithful and which is most strange he did not only forsake me but betray me for the last time he wrote unto me was with all imaginable tenderness Judge then Flavia if I be not the most silly person in the world to lament the death of this ungrateful person for whose sake I have so ill treated Mutius during his absence And I must confess to my shame that maugre his inconstancy maugre my anger and maugre my reason I would fain make a doubt of his perfidie and lament his death But what do I say reprehending her self and not giving Flavia time to speak No no I will not lament him but rather look upon his death as a just punishment of his perfidie and I ought to taste all the pleasure that a sweet revenge can give a wronged heart For Gods sake said Flavia unto her resolve with your self upon one of these thoughts which persecute you either love Herminius or else hate him either only grieve or be only angry and do not pass so suddenly from one thought to another lest this violent agitation should impair your health No no Flavia replied this afflicted fair one I cannot do as you advise nor at the present can I love or can I hate Herminius for as soon as I would hate him my imagination represents him unto me as he was when I was pleased with him and in a minute after does shew him unto me in his grave so as seeing him in that condition I know not what I should think nor do know whether I should wish him living and unfaithful For if he lived I might reclaim him from his infidelity he might repent it and I might hope to see him upon his knees asking pardon for his error and swear new fidelitie unto me But alas I cannot raise the dead and lamentable destinie that has taken him from the earth will never restore him neither unto Clelia nor me But oh Heavens said she and reprehended her self can I pronounce the name of her whom the ungrateful Herminius preferred before me and not hate him who is the cause of this injustice and not rejoyce at his death for though this person were the fairest woman in the world though she had all the wit upon earth and though she possessed all the vertues without exception yet Herminius were worthy of my hatred if he should forsake me for her And yet my imagination never represents his death unto me but I grieve extreamly for him and wish I could raise him from death But presently after imagining that if he were alive again he would not wish to live but to adore Clelia then maugre all sorrows I have not power to wish him alive again but my only desire is that I were dead as well as he After this Valeria was silent for the excess of her grief would not permit her to complain any longer Flavia then said as much unto her as wit and friendship could invent upon such an encounter For sometimes she accused Herminius to see whether that would lessen the affliction of her friend another while she would justifie him to make her grieve only without anger but whatsoever she said she cryed tears as well as she and for a quarter of an hour she did comfort her more by her Tears than her Reasons But love being a passion full of odd devices to torment those that are possessed with it Valeria would sometimes accuse those very tears which did comfort her and take it ill that Flavia should so much lament Herminius Oh Flavia said she never lament the loss of a man who perhaps was as perfidious a friend as a Lover and let me have some share in loose tears which you so prodigally shed Herminius is culpable but I am innocent and miserable and more miserable than ever any was since at one and the same instant I suffer under two of the greatest pains that one can be sensible of Yes yes my dear Flavia added this fair afflicted one I defie the Tyrant Tarquin and all the Tyrants upon earth to invent torments equal unto mine For though Herminius were alive yet the apprehension of his perfidie is enough to make me the most miserable person in the world And though on the contrary Herminius should not be perfidious yet should I be the most unfortunate of my Sex in losing all that I loved all that I ever can love Judge then if in having both these torments upon me at once I am not excusable in giving my self over to despair and in desiring an end unto my life as the only remedie against all my miseries I should never end Madam if I should repeat all the complaints of Valeria who did nothing but complain until night constrained her to go home but when she was ready to go and was upon the stairs pulling down-her hood to hide her tears a thought came into her mind which made her go back into the Closet again and beseeth Flavia to grant her one favour If what
that yours hath happily succeeded and to testifie unto you that I believe not to be so well with you as you may be evil with me I pray send me the Verses I have demanded of you but I likewise pray you to be strongly perswaded that you can never enterprise any thing that less resembles truth than what you have undertook for in fine to speak sincerely I live after such a manner in the world that one must have lost ones sense and reason if he think to procure my friendship and not my hatred by disclosing his affection to me in an amorous Letter I am assured Madam you know that though these two Notes were written on one subject and by one person and that this person had an equal design in writing them that that which addressed to Horatius was clothed with more rigorous and severe language than the other but I must tell you the effect they produced in the minds of those which received them the next day imagine then Madam that when Aronces received that which appertained to him there was a strange emotion in his heart for as he writ to Clelia that if she answered him not he would believe she was favourable to him he thought seeing she wrote to him he was going to receive his arrest of death and that which made him think so was that Clelia's Slave by the orders of her Mistress had given him this Note without staying for an answer so that he opened it with an extreme Inquietude but when he had read it his spirit was a little more setled but he was much perplexed to divine what Clelia would say when she told him that he had contriv'd with another this deceit Nevertheless after he had well considered on it he believed that Clelia had purposely premeditated it not to be obliged to evil treat him and that it was I that she made him seemingly think which had part in this pretended deceit of which she spoke in her Note so that looking upon this Artifice of Clelia as an obliging procedure for him he found himself more happy than he hoped He likewise received me with much joy when I entred into his Chamber a quarter of an hour after he had received this Note but as I was sufficiently troubled at the anger of Fenice I hearkned not to him so attentively as he would have me so that being angry at me Ah cruel friend said he to me you interest not your self in my fortune You take so little part in mine said I to him that I have more cause to complain of you than you have of me for after you have told me you are not so miserable as you thought your self you demand not of me how I stand with Fenice but for to make you see you are happier than I to read the Letter I leave you that this fair person hath wrote on the adventure of the Echo for I am pressed to go to a friend of hers to adventure to oblige her to justifie me to her After I had left Fenice's Letter in his hands I left him but departing from his Chamber I met Horatius who entred there and who appeared to have something in his spirit which made him melancholy for he took no notice of me In effect Madam you must know that Clelia's answer had highly perplexed him for he knew he had not mentioned his love to any one nor the Letter he had wrote to her so that he knew not what to think of that she wrote to him seeing that on whatsoever side he looked on the thing he found nothing of true semblance In the mean time he felt I know not what in Clelias words which made him believe that he had not any part in her heart he was notwithstanding perswaded that he might have right to pretend thereto if it was not engaged so that now thinking on what he never before thought of he sought to find if it was possible whether Clelia lov'd any one but after he had examin'd it he found that if this fair person had some particular affection in her heart it must necessarily be for Aronces and that it must consequently follow Aronces lov'd her for he suspected her not to love without being belov'd This thought was no sooner formed in his imagination but it excited in him a great disturbance In effect as Horatius is generous and that he had many Obligations to Aronces he had a strange agitation of heart when he thought he might be his Rival it likewise raised a War in his Spirit and he effectualy took a resolution to resist his passion if he learnt Aronces loved Clelia So that endeavouring handsomly to clear himself he went to Aronces his house and he arrived there as I told you when I departed from thence so that he had the Letter of Fenice in his hands I had given him and Clelias answer but as soon as Aronces saw Horatius enter he concealed Clelias Letter and still kept Fenices in his hands for in this inopinate occasion he thought on nothing but his own interest and not mine 'T is true that this Letter was writ in such a manner that the Author of it could not be known if one did not know the writing neither for whom it was it having no superscription and the reproaches of Fenice were in such a nature that one would not divine the cause of them Horatius then entred into Aronces his Chamber with an intention to discover by a familiar discourse if he loved Clelia and endeavour to divert his love if it was so he saw some emotion in his countenance because his mind was then disquieted and according to the nature of love which make Lovers fear the slightest things in certain occasions he feared that Horatius should see Clelias Letter and know it so that this disquised Lover seeing some agitation on Aronces face and seeing a Letter in his hands which was written in Tablets he held open without thinking on it he so little dreamed of me and seeing they were made in a manner as Ladyes ordinarily use to write to men he demanded of him after some complements if those Tablets came from Clelia Horatius having not any other design than to speak to him of that fair Maid on all sorts of subjects to note either by his actions or words if there was any suspicion that he was amorous of that fair person But Horatius had hardly demanded this of Aronces but this Lover which was unprepared was much surprised at it because it was true as you know that he had one of Clelias Letters about him and would not hinder himself from telling him this Letter was not from her so as Horatius noting it and not doubting but those Tablets were Clelia's he spoke to Aronces beleeving it so by your favour said he to him do not conceal the truth from me and tell me if the Letter you have in your hand is not from the admirable daughter of Sulpicia as I do not doubt of
you could not deceive when I did not distrust judge then if you can do it now you have rendred your selves suspected Aronces and Horatius hearing Clelia speak in this manner were strangely surprised for her words agreeing with her writing they knew by this both had written and that both their Themes were love since she used the same terms to them both and not having power to hinder their surprisals and their astonishments they changed colour looked on one another and afterwards looked on Clelia as if they had desired to see her thoughts in her eyes or what they should answer her On the other side Clelia seeing the agitation of their spirits knew she was deceived and blushed by a modest thought mingled with confusion but she did not judge it fit to retract what she had said and she continued to make war to them as she had begun for after Aronces was come from his astonishment For my particular Madam said he to her I protest unto you I had no desire to deceive you and Horatius very well knows I never proposed any deceit to him I confess what you say replyed he but confess likewise I never proposed to you in my life to deceive the fair Clelia to the end that as I shall make yours you may make my justification the path which you tread to justifie your selves will render you more culpable than you imagine replyed she therefore if you will believe me divide the controversie between you concerning the crime I accuse you At least amiable Clelia replyed Aronces with precipitation tell me if Horatius his crime is in the nature of mine I pray you Madam added Horatius yield not to Aronces that he demands of you without doing the like to me and without telling me if the fallacy of which you accuse him is like that you accuse me of If I should consent to your demands replyed Clelia prudently I should give you honour to have deceived me since I should take the pains to tell you a thing I suppose you know but in fine whether your terms be equal or no speak no more of it for in the humour in which I am I cannot tolerate such abuses take then some care to make me forget those you have done me and never propound it more to me if you will not have me fear or flee you as if I had contracted much hatred against you I know not replyed Aronces what Horatius hath done or said which hath angred you but for my part Madam I protest unto you that if I have incurred your displeasure I am disposed to displease you all my life Those which have begun a thing added Horatius do not so easily leave it off therefore Madam you ought not to think it strange if I make use of Aronces his expressions and assure you if I am criminal I shall be so till death I shall suffer the rest of the day replied Clelia seeming to believe that in effect you have deceived me but I declare to you my patience extends no further and that if to morrow you thus speak to me I shall effectually act as if the deceit had succeeded As Clelia had finished these words one of Horatius friends entred and I entred a little after with Fenice with whom I had made my peace since I left Aronces 't is true the better to confirm her I was not very sorry to accompany her to Clelias house to the end she might hear from her mouth that t was Horatius had made the Song which was the occasion of our quarrel she accusing me to have done it and I turned their discourse in such a manner that I finished to Fenice my justification but I was much surprised to see Aronces and Horatius both melancholy that they which used to be very civil had some disposition to contradict one another I assure you Madam this I tell you surprises you for after I had told you that Horatius had a design to discover if Aronces was his Rival to the end to endeavour to vanquish his passion I am assured I say Madam that you are astonished to see this exasperation at first principally in Horatius his Spirit but I may say he is not culpable because it is so natural not to love a Rival that what obligation soever he had to Aronces he would not look upon him as his Rival without feeling in his heart an extreme agitation Aronces on his part not doubting but that Horatius loved Clelia had a most sensible grief and as reasonable as he was he would not hinder himself from telling me afterwards that he was as much incensed against Horatius as if after he had made him the confident of his passion he was become his Rival he therefore endeavoured to overcome the tumultuous resentments of his heart and in effect those two Rivals departed from Sulpitia's house as if they had nothing in their souls which had begun to change their thoughts but the most remarkable thing in this adventure was that Aronces and Horatius both took an equal design for Horatius resolved to acquaint Aronces with his affection and Aronces to precede Horatius resolved to discover first his passion for Clelia to him so that those two Rivals instead of flying one another departed together from Clelia's house as I have told you and having proposed to one another to walk they went into a publick Garden where every one had the liberty to go but they were no sooner there but both being desirous to use one anothers confidence they hindred themselves sometimes by their own impatience and as soon as they were in the Garden Aronces thus said to Horatius As I infinitely esteem you I shall be very glad to acquaint you with the most important affairs which have hapned to me in the whole course of my life I pray said Horatius let me first finish my discourse for there is no reason you should deprive me of that advantage since I first begun to unlock to you the greatest secret in my heart When I have told you I am amorous of Clelia interrupted Aronces then tell me what you please Ah Aronces cryed Horatius you have prevented me and I have nothing now to tell you but that I fear I shall be conscious of ingratitude towards you and shall not have enough power over my self as not to be your Rival What Horatius said Aronces is it true that you love Clelia Yes said he I love her and it was to endeavour to discover if you loved her that I came to your house that day Clelius interrupted us and when I entred into your Chamber I had taken a resolution if I could discover you to be my Rival to vanquish my passion by all means I could possbly use but truly I cannot tell whether my inclination induced me to do it for since I have known you love Clelia I have so terrible an agitation in my heart that I do not know whether I should love Clelia hate you or hate my self
grieve more to die far from Crete then to die near me Believe me said I unto him I do not understand your reason since I profess unto you that if you were very sick in danger of death I would not see you For what delight soever can be taken in the sighs of a dying Lover I profess I would not be present at your last groan and thereforee I cannot see any reason you have to desire dying in Crete more then the furthest part of Africa Yes Madam said he unto me if I die in Crete I shall have a Tomb and I should hope that the sight of my Urn would hinder you from engaging in a new affection And therefore Artaxander added she and laughed if you take any care for the burial of your Rival you do not know that you do a thing against his intention and a thing which hereafter will be serviceable unto you However since it was his Fate to die I am very glad it was in Africa for I should have been troubled in passing by his Monument and I cannot endure any sad objects for I do not know any greater folly in the World then to grieve when it is a thing cannot be helped by grief Believe me Madam replied Artaxander very discontentedly in this you are the wisest Woman in the World You speak in such a tone said she as if you took it ill I did not cry for the death of your Rival I know not Madam replied he whether I should take it well if you should cry but I confess I think it strange you should so little grieve and to be plain with you I will do what I can to perswade my self that it is my self who gives Consolation to you after his death But Madam it is impossible I should ever be so perswaded for the first time I had the honour to see you in the Carden where you were so 〈◊〉 personating that ridiculous Lover 〈…〉 were a◠after the old mode you had 〈…〉 and blithness in your eyes and mind then ever I saw you since yet it is so short a time since my Rival died and as one can hardly imagine him to be dead Thus I must conclude with sorrow to my self that it was not I who did comfort after your loss but that it is only your own natural temper which is to love the diversion and not the divertor unless it be for such diversions as proceed directly from his person so as such as think to be tenderly loved by you will be much deceived and miserable for since my Rival could not attain to any perfection of love from you no Man else can ever pretend unto it and to be plain with you I think it wisdom in any person to dis-engage himself from such a one as you who is not capable of any violent passion Since you think that you have found out a new fantastical and pleasant way of complaint replied she I wonder not you should make your self a little merry with it and since I think my self a little good at Rallery as if I did believe you spoke your real thought Seriously Madam replied Artaxander I am much afflicted to see you so much incapable of loving aright and that you should so little love the most lovely Man upon earth I assure you said she that I loved him as well as ever I could and that I do not love you better then I did him I do believe it Madam answered he and believe it easily for my Rival was a Man incomparably above me in all things he hath done you a million of services a million of services more then ever I did and I make no question but that you loved him more than you do me And therefore you need not think it strange I should grieve at the small affection which you had unto him For Madam I must tell you again that I wish I had been the Man who had comforted you and that I had seen you weep the first time I had the honour to see you in lieu of seeing you laugh I wish that I had wiped away your tears But had you seen me crying replied she and laughed you would not have loved me and so far would you have been from courting that you would have fled from me and therefore I see no reason you have to complain I complain Madam replied he because you did not well enough love my Rival for being perswaded that you did not love me so well as him It much concerns the happiness of my life to think that you loved him very well and therefore it is not so santastical as you imagine that I should grieve that you grieve no more for his loss I do not tell you replied she that I love you less then I loved him but out of my plain sincerity I told you that I loved you no better then I loved him I do believe you Madam replied he indeed I do believe you and I do too much believe you for my own tranquillity for when I do consider that an absent Lover and a dead Lover are both alike unto Women of your humour and when I consider that as soon as I am out of your sight you will forget me as one whom you never saw my vexation is more then I am able to express Moreover my imagination is so weak and apprehensive as I cannot chuse but think that if I were either dead or absent you would within one month contract affection with some other and would relate unto him all our adventure as merrily as you have related unto me the adventure of my unfortunate Rival And therefore to be downright plain with you I am resolved to the utmost of my endeavours to dis-engage my heart and considering your extreme insensibility if I could revive my Rival I would do it to the end he might upbraid you with your affection unto me Oh Sir said she and laughed if you could work that wonder you would put me to it indeed for then I think I should quit you both together and perhaps make choice of a third before either of you two As Pasithea said so much company came in so as the discourse of necessity became general But as chance would have it the discourse did fall upon the very same subject for Cephisa began to talk of a Lady who after the Death of her Husband did strange things to testifie the excess of her sorrow and who afterwards did so chear up self as if she had quite forgotten him For my part said Pasithea then I think these things the greatest follies in the World for when any hath received a loss of this nature all a whole Town will run to comfort the party afflicted If you chance to meet one of them and ask whither he is going they will answer that they are going to comfort forsooth ask another and they will answer the same and yet those they go to comfort would not be comforted unless they came as if the
Artemidorus Zenocrates and Celeres lodged where taking their Horses they mounted Aronces on Amilcar's which done Brutus having found them a guide directed them to a House which Valerius had near Collatia there to lie concealed till such time as they had more leisure to consider what they had to do For his part he would not depart telling them that his apparent stupidity would excuse him in this adventure and bidding them not trouble themselves about him There being no other course to take they went where Brutus directed them and were there gladly received for Valerius who had left Rome at the break of day to go thither was there two hours before But as they went what did not the unfortunate Aronces think on If he had followed his own inclination he could not have been prevailed with to quit Rome but as it had been madness not to have done it considering what was past so was it his concernment to leave it which yet he could not without so much regret and reluctancy that never was there any Lover so miserable Ah! said he to himself How unfortunate art thou Canst thou express no valour but what must be prejudicial to Clelia Is it possible thou shouldst destroy him who was to deliver her Is it possible after such a cruel and monstrous disaster hath hapned to thee thou canst doubt thy own destruction or conceive the least hope No no it were more rational to despair and that thou shouldst by an inconsiderate death put a period to so unhappy a life While Aronces entertained himself in this sad manner Herminius who was extremely troubled at the accident came up to him and demanded his pardon as if he had been guilty of his death Alass dearest Herminius said he to him what do you mean It is I should rather demand your pardon as the cause of your misfortunes for I am perswaded that my single unhappiness causes that of all my friends and that Fortune who is resolved to make me the most miserable of all thinking it not sufficient I should be such through my own misfortunes is pleased I should have no friends but what are unhappy It is indeed easie to discover that my unhappiness is particular to me and waits on me every where for it happens as it were by appointment since when it so much concerns Clelia that I should remain undiscovered at Rome the particular house wherein I lay concealed must needs take fire which must force me out of it in the sight of two thousand persons and the malice and inconstancy of my Destiny must needs have it so that of the infinite number of people who made it their business either to kill or take us I who would have been content to die a thousand and a thousands times for Clelias Liberty must precisely kill that man who should have delivered her It is certain my Lord replied Herminius this unhappy accident hath in it something more insupportable than were the loss of a Battel or something else of that nature but all considered I find in my self a certain confidence that something will happen which we expect not for in fine there hath not been in Rome since Tarquin's assuming the power so general an inclination to some great turn of affairs as I have observed within these few days Ah Herminius replied Aronces was there any thing more certain in appearance than Clelias Liberty and yet by a strange shifting of Fortune I must needs kill him who was to deliver her If you then take my advice let us not hope any thing added he but let us rather prepare our selves either to endure all misfortunes imaginable or by death to accord them Whilst Aronces and Herminius was thus engaged and that Artemidorus Zenocrates and Celeres bemoaned their friends and their own misfortunes and were upon their way altogether to Valerius's house divers things past at Rome For Brutus whose great heart admitted not the least fear went to Tullia to acquaint her with his ordinary simplicity that he was present when the Captain of Tarquin's guard was killed who he said came by his death among a great multitude of people by setting upon certain men who endeavoured to quench the fire at his Aunts house exaggerating according to his affected stupidity how much he was to blame for disturbing such as were burthened with her goods which they were carrying to the house of a certain friend of Racilias Tullia who had already understood the death of the Captain of the Guard and was extremely troubled at it took no heed to what was told her by a man whom she thought no great master of his senses On the contrary without any further discourse with him Did not your stupidity excuse you said she to him I should teach you how those are to be treated who presume to make use of their Swords against his Majesty's Officers But since your madness secures you get you gone out of my sight lest in the transportation I am now in I treat you for your stupidity as your Brother was for his too much prudence Brutus hearing Tullia threatning him so insolently with death had almost broke forth and at once discovered his reason his indignation hatred and his revenge But at length mastering his resentments he withdrew as if he had not heard what Tullia said and repaired to Racilia who was at her illustrious friends house In the mean time the fire being quenched the streets were clear of people and that which was most observable was that though abundance of people had been spectators of this accident yet could not Tullia have any punctual account of it For the Captain being dead without discovering any thing or so much as naming Herminius and his companions being also out of the way all that could be made of it was that they had been killed endeavouring to secure an enemy of Tarquins The people knew not Herminius from another man because he was disguised and for Sivilia the reputation of her virtue was so great that none durst inform against her nor tell Tullia that those armed people who had rescued the other two came out of her house As concerning Aronces there was mention made of him and indeed the business was handled in such a confusion that nothing could be made of it there being an hundred several relations of the same thing But while these things were in agitation Amilcar was gently entertaining Clelia and Plotina who were so transported with the hopes of Liberty that their conversation that morning was as free as if they had really been at Liberty For though Amilcar had received a Letter from Tarquin wherein he easily discovered what a Tyranny Love and Hatred exercised over him yet he shewed it not to Clelia but entertained her altother with discourse concerning Aronces telling her what satisfaction it would be to him to see her at liberty what it would be to her to receive new assurances of his affection and the joy that attends a
left to save the lives of his children But while he was speaking to them a young man very fair and and handsome but withal very sad cast himself before Brutus with the tears in his eyes and directing his speech to him My Lord said he I humbly beg a little discourse with you in private for I have some things to tell you which it very much concerns you to know so to oblige you to some compassion on Tiberius and Titus who are more innocent than you imagine Brutus surprised at what he heard looked earnestly on him that spoke to him but though he was perswaded he had some acquaintance with that face yet could he not discover it to be Teraminta whom he had so often seen at Tullia's for she being in mans clothes he being extremely troubled made no great reflexion thereupon and only gave her the hearing so that assuring her she might speak freely before those that were with him he askt her what she would have Alas my Lord replyed she I would tell you that the unfortunate Teraminta who now speaks to you is the innocent cause of Tiberius's crime How replied Brutus are you Teraminta Tullia's slave I am my Lord said she that Teraminta whom that cruel Princess hath sent hither to engage Tiberius unto her party and who though I have not had the least intention to do it have nevertheless proved the cause that he is engaged therein merely to save my life and to break my chains so that love is the occasion of his crime But my Lord I protest to you that when he engaged in that party it was with provision made for your safety and that you should not receive the least prejudice either as to life or fortune And yet I did all that lay in my power to hinder him from being drawn into the interests of Tarquin but I find though too late that my vertue hath surmounted his and that his affection being inflamed by what I said to him he would needs save the life of a person whom he was told the merciless Tullia would put to death if she prevailed not with him But my Lord I protest to you once more that he knew not in the least that there was any design against your life and for Titus the love he had for Ocrisia and the friendship for Tiberius drew him into the same party and both being prepossessed by their passions were perswaded they did you service even when they conspired against you nay imagin'd they obliged their Countrey in not suffering the Government thereof to be chang'd Have therefore some compassion on your unfortunate Children and do what you can to save their lives for I swear to you once more that they were very tender of yours Not but that I know continued this generous Captive the people generally think otherwise but knowing the whole truth this sad report no sooner came to the place where I was but I got away from the slave that kept me to come and raise pity in your soul and were it the pleasure of the Gods O my Lord that my death might purchase the lives of Tiberius and Titus Not but that if the people knew me to be a slave of Tullia's I should be immediately torn to pieces But my Lord I can defie that danger for I should dye satisfied should your illustrious Sons but live These words fell from Teraminta with such a perswasive kind of grief that there could no doubt be made of what she said for there were in her eyes and face such visible marks of ingenuity vertue and despair as might well have softned the hardest heart in the world So that Brutus already yielding to that tenderness of soul he was much guilty of felt his grief increasing upon him He therefore spoke with much mildness to Teraminta and told her he was resolved to do for his Sons how guilty soever they be whatever honour the interest of Rome and the indeprecability of the people would permit Whereupon intreating Herminius to have a care of that fair and generous slave who were she discovered would be in no small danger he advis'd with Amilcar Artemidorus and Zenocrates about what was fit to be done But after a long debate of the business they concluded that Brutus must not by any means endeavour to deliver his Sons by any absolute authority because it might haply hasten their death and expose Rome to a sedition and that the best course they could take was to divide themselves among the people so to endeavour to perswade them that it were but justice to save the lives of Brutus's Sons out of a consideration of their youth and the vertue of their Father But it being the main key of the work that many should cry out the same thing that so the people might seem to close with the multitude Amilcar took it upon him to go and find out all their friends to disperse them up and down among the multitude and to come and give Brutus an account of the inclinations of the people that so he might act as he thought most convenient So that refraining to come near the assembly till he were satisfied what to do he spoke to Horatius as he passed by and had some discourse with him about the present face of affairs But while he had been talking with Herminius Teraminta Amilcar Artemidorus and Zenocrates and had some discourse with Horatius the people sent in their demand to the Senate that these Conspirators might be put to death and that the Oath which Brutus had made all the Romans take which was that all those should dye without exceptions who should but propose the recalling of the Tyrant should be observed Valerius at first would needs tell them that they must not be so hasty but this answer so far incensed those to whom it was made that it was easily inferred thence it could not but be dangerous to oppose that exasperated multitude No no said some who were desirous those wretches might be immediately put to death there 's nothing to be debated in this case these Conspirators must be severely punished to keep the contagion from spreading to others or we must set open the gates of Rome for Tarquin to come in for it were better to entertain him willingly than to stay till he become Master of Rome through the treachery of some base Citizens Hasten therefore the execution of those Traytors who would have cut your throats and let the Sons of Brutus be put to a more cruel death than the rest as being the most criminal In a word added one of those people if they have their lives given them they would take away his from whom they have theirs and would endanger the safety of Rome by destroying him What more suitable than death for Traytors who would be the executioners of their own Father and enslave their Countrey to a Tyrants will This man having finished his Harangue there was heard a strange noise of acclamations and
events without ever considering whether the things be just or not And yet it must needs be granted that there is a Reason above ours which guides us with discretion though we apprehend it not and which by unknown ways makes the same causes produce effects of a different nature 'T is true indeed replied Herminius that all that hath happened to you is altogether extraordinary But when all is done since it contributes to the glory of the Gods and the instruction of men that there should be great examples of virtue there must also be misfortunes and unfortunate persons I grant it replied Brutus but to speak freely it is a sad thing for a man to be the model of constancy and not to live but only to suffer For in a word my dear Herminius would you but take the pains to reflect on what ever hath happened to me you will find nothing but a long series of misfortunes The first of all was to be born in the time and under the government of the lewdest Tyrant in the World and withall to be of his blood The consequence of this you know was that I was brought up in exile that Tarquin's cruelty robb'd me of a Father and a Brother that I was forc'd to conceal my reason to secure my life and to wait the opportunity to deliver Rome How have I been in love yet durst not discover it that afterwards I was not beloved again but that I might be the more miserable How have I been forced by a strange unhappiness to see Lucretia in the embraces of my Rival and what is yet more terrible how have I seen her in those of Death This once endured I thought there was not any thing afterwards to be feared and that to lessen my affliction it might haply be the pleasure of the Gods that her death and my love should prove serviceable to the Liberty of my Countrey And yet it happens that the same passion that makes me undertake any thing for Rome makes my children undertake all things against both Rome and me So that by a sentiment which I cannot but discover I excuse them while I accuse them and I am very much more sensible of their unhappiness than I should have been had they been guided by any other motive Not but that it grieves me to the heart to think that I have had Children that should endeavor to put Rome into her chains again but when I reflect on their being in Love I pity and bemoan them Lucretia appears to me with all her inviting attractions to plead for them and I suffer at this instant all that a paternal indulgence all that the tender resentments of Love can make me endure and all that Nature and Reason when they are contrary one to another can make a man feel that is most harsh and insupportable You are so ingenious and your complaints so just replyed Herminius that a man cannot well find what to say to you But all considered if you are the most unfortunate you are withall the most illustrious of that Praedicament for your misfortunes contribute to your glory and are beneficial to your Countrey Lucretia's death caused Tarquin's removal and that of your Sons will stifle all conspiracies and settle Rome's liberty It is my wish it may be so replyed Brutus but to be free with you I am at a loss what to think of it for who could ever imagine that Brutus's Son should conspire against Rome and against him and yet you have seen it and consequently there is not any thing which we may not nothing which we ought not to be distrustful of even to our virtue nothing that can for any long time secure any mans happiness Nay I am so far unhappy that I am not happy in my friends Aronces is where he would not be Clelia is among the Rivals of that only person whom she loves nor are you yet in such a safe posture as to fear nothing But when all is done the Liberty of my Countrey engages me to live and struggle with calamities and the revenge due to Lucretia's death calls upon me to destroy those whom yet I have only driven hence But that you may live replyed Herminius you must make a truce with your grief on the contrary replyed this afflicted yet illustrious person I must give it way till I have made it habitual and for a man to suffer long he must suffer without any intermission Whilst these two friends exchanged these sad discourses the general talk of all was about what had happened Some discoursed of the Conspiracy others of the death of the Conspirators and all of the constancy and great virtue of Brutus The Prince of Numidia sick and weak as he was would needs have the story of this unhappy adventure exactly told him over and over by Amilcar who came to visit him and who to lessen the grief he might take at it gave him a short account of the History of Brutus So that this generous Numidian haveing heard Amilcar's relation was for a while silent then breaking forth on a sudden Ah Amilcar how far am I short of the virtue of your illustrious friend how weak am I or how much in Love for he hath met with thousands of misfortunes and he bears them and I groan under no other than that of not being loved and it is insupportable to me I am indeed ashamed to be so little master of my self and were it only that I might in some sort deserve Brutus's friendship I will do what lies in my power to overcome the passion now predominant in my Soul Till now was I never guilty of so much as any design to oppose it so that it speaks not a little courage that I am resolved to do what I can to conquer it I have indeed sometimes said that I would do it but must acknowledge I never have and even in the very instant that I say I will do it I am not very certain whether I shall continue in the same sentiments wherein I think my self to be Amilcar who thought it no hard matter to cure him of such a disease assured him of his recovery when he pleased himself and so having comforted him as he was wont he went to Racilia's where were the more virtuous persons of Rome met to do their civilities to Hermilia upon the accident that had happened to her Brothers Sons For though she was very young yet were Tiâ—eriâ—s and Titus her Nephews Clelia Plotina Cesonia Flavia Salonina Valeria and Collatina as also Mutius Horatius Artemidorus Zenocrates and Herminius were in Hermilia's Chamber when Amilcar came thither But of all these Hermilia and Collatina were the most troubled at that unhappy accident for among the Conspirators that had suffered death there were two of near kin to Collatina What made them yet more sad was that the interest of the two Princes by whom they were courted had engaged more into the Conspiracy than any other motive and consequently
testimony of love towards Artemidorus it produc'd in them very different effects The Prince redoubling his fury Infamous Sister cry'd he do you come to defend your unworthy Lover in my sight I shall punish you for your wickedness At which he advanc'd towards her with with his sword drawn and had infallibly kill'd her if the amorus Zenocrates as jealous as he was had not out of an excess of love cast himself between the Prince and Lysimena Artemidorus also offer'd to doe the same but at the very moment Meleontus whose jealousie and fury was redoubled by the generous action of the Princess took a bow from the hands of an Archer and shot with precipitation but instead of killing Artemidorus as he design'd he wounded Lysimena dangerously in the neck and the same arrow glancing from her unhappily enter'd into the body of Zenocrates for Meleontus shot from the right side to the left upon which both of them falling down Lysimena resented the most violent grief that ever was for she saw her self no longer able to hinder Artemidorus from perishing by the hands of her Brother she saw her dear Zenocrates wounded for her sake and understood by some words which he spoke as he fell that he suspected her of being unfaithful On the other side Artemidorus being transported with grief to see Lysimena wounded without caring to defend himself offer'd to lift up the Princess but the jealous Meleontus enrag'd for having wounded his Mistress and Zenocrates whom he now consider'd not as his Rival instead of Artemidorus did his endeavour to kill this valiant and generous Prince But at the same instant the Princess of Leontium coming back from the Temple of Diana on the one side with all her train and the wise Cleanthus arriving on the other suppress'd the fury of the tumult You may judge how astonisht the Princess of Leontium was to find the Prince and Meleontus with their swords drawn so many people slain Artemidorus wounded and Zenocrates and Lysimena at the point of death for the loss of bloud depriv'd them both of speech As for Cleanthus as soon as he appear'd and beheld this strange spectacle he went directly to the Prince and speaking to him with the authority of one that had instructed him in his youth How comes it my Lord said he to him that I find you with your arms in your hand against the Prince Artemidorus your Brother These words caus'd the Prince to blush and Meleontus to wax pale who was approacht whilst Artemidorus having broken through the throng went to give the Princess his Mother an account of what had hapned The speech of Cleanthus whom the Prince knew very well strangely astonisht him for he was conscious there was no ground to suspect his probity Nevertheless not being able to resolve suddenly to believe him How said he is he that I behold my Brother and is that Brother my Sister's Lover No my Lord answer'd Artemidorus who led the Princess his Mother and if you would have heard me you had not done as you have nor enforc'd me to kill those unhappy persons whom I I knew not Ah! my Son cry'd the Princess of Leontium speaking to the Prince I cannot but accuse you of a great crime and regret my own unhappiness However added she leave me in peace in this desert endeavour to save my Daughter's life and be assuredly perswaded Artemidorus is your Brother He made himself known to me first of all your Sister understood his quality from my mouth and had it not been that I waited for the arrival of Cleanthus you had been informed of the truth before Then Cleanthus adding many circumstances for the conformation of his being Son to the Princess of Leontium the Prince better consider'd him acknowledg'd him to be his brother and thereupon being much ashamed of his action he desir'd pardon of him for it My Lord answer'd Artemidorus I am ready to forget the injury you have done me but I beseech you that he who wounded the Princess my Sister may appear no longer in my sight otherwise all the respect I bear you cannot hinder me from punishing him for so detestable an action In the mean time I being descended approacht to the Princess and fell upon my knees by her endeavouring to bring her to her self again Meleontus was at his wits end for what he had done and came to help me to hold her up but as I was going to thrust him away he heard what Artemidorus spoke upon which his rage being redoubled You have reason my Lord said he to him you have reason and to testifie to you that I judge my self as culpable as unhappy behold what a generous repentance shall lead me to In speaking which he offer'd to strike a Ponyard into his own heart but the Prince who lov'd him much abating part of his impetuosity by seising upon his arm the Ponyard did not pierce so deep as he design'd it but yet it did enough to cause some compassion even in him whom he had desir'd to kill The Princess having caus'd Lysimena to be carried to a bed and given order for care to be taken of Zenocrates and the dead to be remov'd out of the Court the Prince committed Meleontus to the custody of three or four of his followers and caus'd him to be conducted into a back Garden-house notwithstanding all his own resistance for he was resolv'd to dy and would by no means admit of any course to preserve his life In the mean time Cleanthus discoursing with the Prince and employing all his prudence to perswade him that Artemidorus would remember nothing that had pass'd reduc'd his mind to a good temper and counsell'd him to return that evening to Leontium and to carry thither him that designing to kill Artemidorus wounded Lysimena till this first disorder were compos'd and it were seen what would become of Lysimena's and Zenocrates's wounds for as for the Prince Artemidorus that which he had received in his left hand was very slight So the Prince following the counsels of the wise Cleanthus for whom he still retain'd much respect departed assoon as he understood Lysimena was come again from her swoon and caus'd Meleontus to be put into a Chariot having first caus'd his wound to be dress'd by force leaving Cleanthus order to tell the Princess his Mother the Prince Artemidorus and Lysimena all that he judg'd conducive to appease their minds tho to speak truth this Prince thought himself guilty of nothing but precipitancy And as for the action of Meleontus he consider'd it as a violence which love and jealousie might excuse But Meleontus himself was more equitable for he accus'd himself in good earnest How unhappy am I said he upon the waies he return'd to one of his own and my friends who told me this and how great a Criminal I have committed all crimes imaginable I have rashly suspected the most virtuous Princess in the World I have accus'd her I have incens'd the