heaven with eyes sparkling with indignation and an action expressing the very depth of despair Though gods and men cryed he and all the elements combine to ruine me yet shall they not abate a jot of my courage and if I must perish implacable destinies you shall find I can do it without either basenesse orremorse With these words he returns to Coriolanus as conceiving it absolutely necessary that he should be dispatched out of the way before the enemy were come up and thinking it now past time to dally and that he was to make all the haste hë could with him he comes up to him in such manner that the Prince after he had warded off certain blows which the other had made at him struck him over the head with all the strength he had The goodnesse of the head-piece saved him from death but it was not able to hinder him from being stunned in such wise that after he had staggered a while he fell down within some few paces of the Princesse Cleopatra Megacles ran immediately to help him and Artemisa out of the excellency of her good nature remembring what she ought her own bloud came to him and took up the visour of his head-piece to give him a greater freedom of breathing and more aire While he continued in that condition Cleopatra running to those that were still fighting against Coriolanus and who possibly notwithstanding his miraculous resistance would have dispatched him at last comes up to them without any fear and lifting up her voice that she might be the better heard Hold your hands said she to them and if you expect any favour from those whom you see coming to our assistance make no further attempt on the life of a Prince on whom your own will within these few minutes depend T is the onely way you have left you to secure your lives for you are not to hope for any mercy if you betake you not to your own Prince and by complyance make your selves worthy the pardon which I promise you These words proved effectual upon some part of those that heard them and particularly upon the Armenians who were most of them persons of considerable quality These were content to do as the Princesse would have them and giving over fighting went to see how their King did but the Pirates in whom the death of their leader and the despaire of pardon wrought a different effect were obstinate in the designe they had conceived to take away Coriolanus's life and though there were but one half of them left yet despaired not of revenging the death of Zenodorus The Prince perceiving himself eased not onely of the greatest part of his enemies but also of the most dangerous and most valiant valued not much those that remained and though he must needs be very much weakened as well by the continual action he had been in as by some slight wounds he had received yet was he now in greater hopes than ever of gaining the victory and delivering Cleopatra In the mean time Artaxus who had onely been stunned with the heavy blow he had received comes at length to himself by the assistance they had given him but ere he had so far recovered himself as to know all that were about him and become master of his strength that is before he was in a condition to discern what passed in the ship and to give out orders about any thing the other that was coming in to the assistance of Cleopatra and which had already been known to be one of those of Alexandria was gotten so neer that they could hear them hollow that were within her and in a manâer discern their faces Artaxus having got up and taken his sword again looked about him of all sides and perceiving that all his hopes were vanished he was convinced his final ruine was at no great distance He sighed again for very grief and rage as coâceiving himself not to be in a condition either to execute his revenge or keep Cleopatra in his possession and therefore was at such losse and irresolution that he knew not what side to take Whiâe in the interim the other ship came on still with such speed and such hollowing that it was out of all question she was an enemy and indeed within a few minutes after Cleopatra and Artemisa perceived in the head of those that were coming to their assutance Prince Marcellus and Prince Alexander who that they might be known to the Princesses had raised up the visours of their head-pieces If their joy was extraordinary the grief of Ataxus who upon the first sight knew Alexander was no lesse violent He blâsphemed against Heaven and railed at his evil fortune and that hateful sight filled him no doubt upon the first apprehension thereof with satal resolutions We must perish cryed he but it is but just we bury under our ruines those that should derive any felicity from our destruction And for thy part Alexander said he loud enough to be heard by him assure thy self thou shall not laugh at the dâfeat of Artaxus With these words he comâs up to the two Princesses and looking on them with eyes red with blood and fire he put them into a greater fright then ever they had known before See bere said he these are either my security or my victimes what shall escape my love shall never escape my revenge and if it be lost to me it shall be lost to all the World besides As he uttered these words he took Artemisa in the left hand and with the right presenting the point of his inhuman weapon to the fair breast of Cleopatra he directs his fatal looks on Alexander and Marcellus just at the instant that they were preparing all things to fasten the grappling-irons and addressing his speech to the Son of Anthony Alexander said he to him hope not thou shalt have any thing to rejoice at in the misfortune of thy enemy and think not to triumph over me so many several wayes as thou hast through the malice of my fortune and the persidiousness of Artemisa It was through the basenesse of this Princesse that she ever came into thy power and the revenging gods have been pleased that Cleopatra should fall into mine but if my Sister hath been too susceptible of thy love thine hath been too ungratful to entertain the affection I have had for her Thou returnest again conducted by that Fortune which hath ever been in hostility against me with a design and haply in a condition to force them both out of my hands but know that thy hope hath deluded thee and all thou art to expect from this enterprize is the death of these two Princesses Thou maist save their lives by directing thy course some other way and leaving me at liberty to pursue mine but if thou losest a single minute in considering what resolution thou should take thou shalt find me already resolved to sheath this sword in the breasts of Cleopatra and Artemisa
arrested my intentions and I have shak'd at the thought of my design like a timerous Souldier at the sight of an Enemy or his approaches to an Assault yet I exprest part of that in looks which my tongue would fain have said at large and then if she chanced to cast her eyes upon mine and take them in the fact they lost all their assurance and were either too feeble to receive the beams she shot without astonishment or confounded with the surprisal threw themselves at the feet of this Divine Princess and seemed by that submiss action to ask pardon for the fault The Queen had soon discovered the truth if she had not been prevented by so many cruel Cares that would not permit her to fasten an observing thought upon any of my particular actions I was one day with the Princess Alexandra her Mother and as I kept a complacence full of respect in my behaviour to them by the help of an opinion which they had conceived to my advantage they began to repose much confidence in me Alexandra being of a boiling spirit and a temper which wanted much of the sweetness and patience the Queen her Daughter was indued with abandon'd her self to the resentment which was yet fresh for the death of Aristobulus exclaimed against the cruelty of Herod in most violent terms and deplor'd her own and her Daughters condition in words full of passion and transport from the injuries she received in her Son's death and the ruine of her Kindred her bitter complaints passed to the deadly jealousie of Herod and the fatal effects it had like to have wrought by the Order he had given to his Unkle Joseph which at the brink of his going to appear before Anthony at Laodicea commanded him to kill Mariamne in case that voyage proved fatal to him Alexandra went on with vehemence in recounting divers other effects of her Son-in-law's cruelty and during all the discourse the Queen never so much as open'd her mouth but only to let go some redoubled sighs and made her tears keep company with her Mothers words which gave fresh lustre to her beauty Oh Gods what new deep wounds did the sight of that lovely sorrow give me how possible it was to behold my Divine Queen in that estate without suffering all her sorrows I had now no longer power to dissemble and losing all remembrance of my present condition and the danger whereinto I threw my self headlong by provoking Herod against me I blindly abandoned my self to the motions of my passion and casting my eyes moist as the Queens upon hers that were letting fall their dejected looks to the Earth Good Gods cried I sighing is it possible you should submit the most accomplish'd piece that ere you made to so much affliction and must I owe safety to a man whose actions have given me so much horrour I presently repented that I had suffered these words to escape me fearing I had declared my self too far but after I perceived I was understood by none but the Princesses and that they appeared unmoved I recovered my assurance and a little after the Princess Alexandra being retir'd to the other end of the Chamber to confer with some Persons and seeing my self alone with the Queen by her bed's side I made a strong assault upon my fear to recover my Discourse and beholding the Tears that still crept upon her fair Cheeks Would to Heaven Madam said I that all the bloud I have could stay the recourse of those precious tears you spill Ah! with what joy should I resign it how gladly sacrifice my Life for the repose of yours These words wholly compassionate as they were were ascribed by the Queen to nought but the Compassion I took of her Misfortunes yet they called her from the Contemplation of her miseries which had seized her thoughts and raising up her eyes to mine with a look full of a sweet acknowledgment I should be sorry said she to buy the quiet of my life with the danger of yours and I have yet more right to my own miseries than to your afflictions we are both persecuted you by a Brother and I by a Husband your resentments I cannot disapprove but I can admit none that are unlawful against my Husband and if his actions do frame our calamities 't is fit I should believe that Heaven makes use of them to chastise our Crimes By them it hath let fall its wrath upon the head of our deplorable Family and therefore if any complaint breaks from me it makes its way through the weakness of my Nature and must be owned for the Child of Justice O miraculous Virtue cry'd I interrupting her It is requisite I should redouble my griefs to see you plunged in such deep Calamity My Misfortunes are not insupportable replied the Queen if you would find the way to understand them right and if you knew the God which I adore you would likewise know the consolation I tast in my sufferings which now you cannot apprehend If he hath given me Herod for a Punishment as well as a Husband I ought to receive him from his hands as both and if he ordains me to pardon the injuries done by the most cruel and remote Enemies sure he would have me forget those with an entire resignation I received from him to whom he hath pleased to tie me in a knot so sacred It is that Madam answered I that makes me hold my condition unfortunate that Heaven hath raised you up an Enemy and a Persecutor against whom I cannot offer you my Sword and Life without offending your Virtue that your high raised Reflections cannot be combated by a man that reveres you nor can I censure the consideration you keep for the King your Husband since in his Arms I found my refuge nor do him any ill office without ingratitude but if the interest which I take in your wrongs the admiration I have of your virtue and resentments much more pressing and particular make me find in your afflictions a Subject at these words I stopped and considering how the insensible transport of my passion had carried me into terms of discovery I staid in an abrupt silence without conducting my words to any period The Queen observing my strange breaking off looked upon me and doubtless either expected what was behind to close my Discourse or would have asked the cause of my sudden silence when the Princess her Mother came back again to my rescue from the perplexity wherein my imprudence had engaged me yet I think we had spent more time in this entertainment if the arrival of some Ladies had not interrupted us the principal of which was Salome the Sister of Herod It was not amity that brought her to visit the Princesses for she hated them mortally but having a dexterous and artificial spirit she made it bow to her Interests and knowing the power Mariamne had as unfortunate as she was in the Kings affections she forced her self to
all other care and thought but for her and yet I could make no other acquest upon her spirit but of esteem and a litle compassion at such time when I was likely to lose her for ever by an accident or rather an attempt which I cannot call to mind without trouble I was in bed and it was about break of day when one of Andromeda's Officers came to my Chamber door and having desired hastily to speak with me he told me that the Princess had sent him to me to advertise me that Delia was a dying and that she had been tormented part of the night with such violent pains and was in so bad a condition at that instant that it might be easily perceived that there was something extraordinary in her distemper Being surprised and amazed with this news as you may well imagine I made my self ready and flew out of Chamber to my Sisters Lodgings The first person that I met with at the entrance of Delia's Chamber was her Sister who running to me with loud acclamations Ah! Sir said she to me Delia is a dying Delia is poisoned These words having redoubled my confusion I entred into the Chamber in a very great perplexity Delia's bed was environed by divers persons and the Princess my Sister being interessed in this Maids health by the friendship she had for me and that she bare her her self had not stirred from her pillow since the beginning of her being sick and had sent for her Physitians and mine by whose report we knew that Delia was poisoned None of them had spared any care to give her help and they knew well enough that my life depended upon hers which made them to neglect nothing which might tend to her preservation but the poison was so violent and had already produced such grand effects that Delia's complexion as vigorous as it was was not able to resist it and in the opinion of those who served her there remained then but little hope of her life I approached her bed more like a dead than a living person and I saw her in such a condition as would have split not only Philadelph's but the cruellest Tigers heart with pity The force of the poison had changed the admirable whiteness of her countenance into a colour as pale and wan as lead her eyes were dull and heavie and her lips being dry and parched in stead of their ordinary carnation were covered with a deadly paleness Yet in this condition she seemed very fair to me and no change could hide her natural beauty from my eyes her fight was good still and her reason and remembrance was still perfect At the noise they made when I came near her bed she turned her eyes towards me and seeing me in a case as worthy of pity as her own Prince said she with an assured voice I must die and this culpable Delia hath caused too many disorders in your Family not to be punished for them These words were more capable of giving me my death than the arms of my most cruel enemies had no answer and grief had seized upon me with so absolute a power that having no strength to resist it I fell into a swoon between their arms who stood near me Delia though dying as she was interessed her self in my sad condition and as I understood afterwards she expressed almost more resentment for my displeasure than she did for her own by the assistance of those persons who employed themselves about me I recovered my sences at the last and having crept along with a staggering pace to Delia's bed-side from whence they had taken me I no sooner saw her again throwing my self upon my knees before her bed and taking hold of her hand which burned like fire whereupon I fixed my mouth with greater liberty than I had taken before I expressed my grief to her with cries and sobs not being able to express one distinct word she being moved with pity at my action after she had made some unprofitable endeavours to draw her hand from betwixt mine Sir said she you must be resolved and you ought to make use of your courage to give your self consolation in a disaster wherein you would need none if you would but employ your reason Delia does not merit the regret you express for her loss as she did not deserve your affection and by her death she will restore quietness to your Family and to your mind from whence she had innocently driven it I pay that tribute to nature which we owe her and if they hasten my end a few daies I cannot hate them that render me that office when I consider the miseries whereunto my life hath been exposed and the intention they have had of procuring the good of the state and your particular good by my death Pardon them after my example if you love me and do not for the Maids sake exceed the bounds which nature and your vertue prescribe She would have said more if I could have suffered it and if I had not interrupted her by rising up before her with transport No Delia said I no Delia never hope for that from me neither expect a base obedience from him whom you do not leave in a condition to take notice what he owes to nature vertue or your will The cruel wretches shall die who tear away my life by an inhumanity and perfideousness without example and I will throw death into the bosom of mine own Father if Delia be not preserved for me This is my resolution from which all the considerations in the world shall never startle me and I desire of the Gods to live no longer after you than to put it in execution and when I shall have given my self this reparation I know how Delia to sacrifice my self upon the tomb whereunto I unfortunately draw you by the love I have for you After I had spoken these words turning towards those which were employed about her cure and had already given her some remedies My friends said I either you must cure Delia or dispatch Philadelph and for the recompence which you ought to expect for that action cast your eyes upon whatsoever is most precious in my power and if you ask but the Crown of Cilicia for Delia's health I promise it you before all the Gods so soon as it shall be in my power These men who were well enough affected by me to the hope of a great salary were much more encouraged and employed all their skill and power to expel the poison out of that fair body and that they might the more conveniently go about it they prayed me to withdraw a while into the next chamber with the Princess my Sister the Aunt and Sister of Delia stay'd with them to tend her and in the mean while I passed those cruel moments or rather ages of torment in such a condition as is as difficult for you to comprehend as for me to express All the discourse that Andromeds could make
of the children she left in the World as so tender an age that they were not yet capable to understand the loss they received Her cruel Enemies fearing lest that Herod should return to his right mind and making a rational reflection upon what was done should recall the inhumane sentence which he had pronounced hastened all things against all forms and gave no time to love and reason to produce the effects they feared Poor Sohemus and the miserable Eunuch were first sacrificed and Salome sent Executioners to strangle them in the Prison They say Sohemus died like a man of courage and protested the Queens Vertue and Innocence to his last gasp for whose death he expressed more sorrow than for his own Those which went into the Prison with the Queen to prepare her to die reported afterwards that she scarcely changed her countenance at their sad discourse and that she received news capable to daunt the most hardy spirits with such an assurance as shamed her Enemies and confirmed them to their confusion in the opinion they themselves had of her Vertue Nothing of passion appeared either in her countenance or discourse she never spâke better sense or with more temper and there proceeded out of her mouth neither complaint nor word which might make one judge that she went to die unwillingly nay they who sometimes saw her passionate against Herods inhumanity when she was provoked by the death of her near kindred found her much more moderate as to her own and observed no new resentment in her for this last effect of his cruelty She only said to those who were present at her last actions Tell Herod that 't is this day that I begin to receive a good office from him and that I accept the present which he hath pleased to send me and with more joy and acknowledgment than ever I did all the testimonies of his love I can nevertheless protest before the God which we adore and I owe this justification to my memory and the blood from which I am descended that the repugnance which his cruelties have caused in me either to his manners or person never inclined me to the least thought of offending against my own honour or the duty of a Wife Tell him that the blood of Joseph and Sohemus which he hath shed will cry for vengeance against him and that if I be culpable at my death it is because that by my imprudence I have caused the ruine of those innocent persons As for Tyridates I thank God I feel no remorse of conscience that can accuse me of the least fault against my Husband and I hold no other thoughts for his person but of acknowledgment and esteem as due to his vertue Tell him that I beseech him if I may beseech him at my death that he would stop the current of his cruelties with me and look with more affection and pity upon the Children which Heaven hath bestowed upon us upon whom the rage of our Enemies may extend it self if he do not remedy it After this supplication I pardon him for my death with all my heart and I pardon Salome too for it though she might have contented her self to hasten the end of my dayes without blasting my reputation and I go without regret to render an account to God for my actions whether criminal or innocent After these words which drew streams of tears from them who heard them she gave some small orders for the recompence of those persons which had served her and having setled her mind in that respect she kneeled down in a little Oratory which she had in her Chamber where she prayed with an action nothing relishing of the world After she had bestowed a quarter of an hour in this pious employment she returned with a much more chearful countenance than before and after she had given the last embrace to her inconsolate Maids who melted into tears at her knees turning her self towards them who waited to conduct her to her death Let us go my friends said she 't is time to part Hyrcanus and Aristobulus call for me and I must go to find out those Illustrious Asmoneans who through the care which Herod hath taken preserve a place in Heaven for me With these words she gave her hand her self to him who was to lead her and having again with a look full or sweetness and Majesty taken her last leave of those who were about her she went out of the Chamber and passed into the Court where the Tragical preparation was made for her death Dispence with me Sir from telling you the last particulars it may be enough and more than enough for you to know that upon that mortal Scaffold the most beautifull head was separated from the fairest body in the world and the most vertuous the most innocent and the most couragious of all Women lost her life by the horrid command of a Monster thirsty after Illustrious Blood whereof he sacrificed the fair remains to the rage of its Enemies The Sun being at the latter end of his course gave light unwillingly as I believe to this sad adventure and the universal nature would have put on mourning if it had been capable of sense for the greatest loss it could ever suffer These last words of Arsanes were interrupted with sighs and sobs and not being able to go farther to finish what he had to relate concerning the remorse of Herod and some accidents which followed Mariamne's death he cast his eyes upon Tyridates to see what effect the conclusion of this pitiful narration had wrought upon him He was amazed and Marcellus too that there proceeded not one word from his mouth nor sigh from his breast but their amazement ceased when after they had looked near upon him they saw that he was fallen into a second swoon much deeper than the former Marcellus being touched to the quick with grief both by the pitiful relation of Mariamne's death whose eminent vertue and admirable beauty he had heard a thousand times highly extolled and at the condition wherein he saw the unfortunate Tyridates was hardly capable of giving him either succour or consolation and whilst Arsanes with the rest of Tyridates his Servants that were left in the house took care by all possible remedies to fetch the Prince out of his swoon he sate by him with his arms across and lifting up his eyes to Heaven as it were to accuse Fortune for the misâhaps to which she exposes vertuous persons he made sad reflections upon the misery of men Tyridates came not to himself again a long time and the greatest part of the night was past before he recovered his senses Marcellus seeing himself very far from the repose and comfort that was promised him did not so much as seek for any in that desolate house and out of the excellency of his nature did so far interess himself in Tyridates misfortune that for a while he lost the memory of his own At last
began to enter into the Woods where the shade and coolness was more agreeable than in the beginning of their walk 'T was in this place that the way turned a little from the Sea and betwixt the Wood and the shore there were divers houses built and amongst them there was that wherein the unfortunate Tiridates made his last abode Clitie who had taken upon her the care of finding it out did not fail to take notice of an Alley which fronted the Rode and advertised the Princesses that this was the place which they sought for but the better to conceal their Design they thought it fit to pass on and continue their walk an hour longer with an intention to return the same way and to execute their resolution as they came back Candace could hardly prevail so far upon her impatience but she knew of what importance it was to her to be careful in concealing whatsoever concerned Cesario The business was done as she desired and after they had spent almost an hour upon the same Rode she caused the Chariot to turn about and returned the same way Clitie took exact notice of the path and as the Princesses after they had made the Chariot to stay were deliberating whether they should go to the house or send Clitie to enquire News of Prince Tiridates they saw one of the Officers of that poor Prince coming from the house whom Clitie knew immediatly having seen him with his Master during the short abode she had made at that house When he was come near to the Chariot and Clitie had called to him he knew her and the Queen her Mistriss too and as according to the effect which merit ordinarily produces he had taken as great a share as he was capable of in the displeasure of his Master for the Queen being carried away so he was joyful to see her in that place and in a condition conformable to a person of Quality The Queen having caused him to come close to the Chariot that the might speak to him without being over-heard by the Cavaliers who guarded the Chariot and who out of respect and their Masters order kept themselves at a distance Friend said she Wilt thou tell us no News of the Prince thy Master and whether we may be permitted to give him a Visit and to have a moments Discourse with him The afflicted Servant instead of returning an Answer to these words let fall abundance of tears and a little after forcing himself to speak Ah! Madam said he with a voyce interrupted with sobs Tiridates is dead he expired two dayes since in that unfortunate house which you see before you and that love wherein he hath been engaged for divers years hath brought him at last to his Grave Candace was struck with this Discourse as with a Thunder-clap and resented the death of this poor Prince with a very violent grief Elisa who had never seen him not being able to resist the force of blood and having much esteemed her Uncle upon the Relation she had heard of his vertue was very nearly touched with this News and joyned her tears with those which the fair Queen of Ethiopia shed in abundance for a Prince to whom she was beholding for her life and whose merit was very considerable to her Ah! Madam said Candace to the fair Elisa turning sadly towards her If you know how worthy this Prince was of your amity and how deplorable his loss is to all those persons that were acquainted with him I assure my self that you would bestow a great many tears upon him Doubtless I ought to do so answered Elisa but they have been so usual with me of late that the poor Prince would be little obliged to me for those I should shed for his loss Upon these words they continued a great while without speaking whil'st the desolate Servant repeated succinctly to them what Arsanes had reported concerning Mariamnes's death and the sudden and the sad effect which it wrought upon the amorous spirit of Tiridates Oh! Example cryed the fair Queen at this lamentable Relation of the most firm and real love that ever heart was inflamed with Oh Fidelity pure and entire to the very end poor Prince And upon these words pity made the two Princesses redouble their weeping with so much violence that for a long time they were not able to speak When they had recovered the use of their speech they enquired of the Servant how his body was disposed of and in what place they intended to render him the honours of a Funeral At this instant said the Servant Arsanes who was the Princes's Governor and whom we obey since his death is employed in one of the Chambers of the house in causing his body to be imbalmed to be carried into Parthia to be interred in the Tomb of the Arsacides and those parts which could not endure the Voyage for fear of corruption are lately laid in a Tomb which we are a raising for him about Five hundred paces hence upon the shore where Prince Marcellus who was present at his death would have us leave this Monument of the loss of our Prince Madam said the afflicted Elisa to the Queen I should not have Courage enough to go and see the body of the Prince my Uncle and I am very sensible that I could not see it without a great deal of emotion and some fear But if you think good I should be willing to visit the Tomb which they are erecting for him upon the shore and to render there to his Manes the last Devoirs they can expect from the Arsacides You have reason said Candace not to be willing to go into the house where all objects would be very doleful and where considering our visit would be useless too there is no need that we should shew our selves to the persons that may be there We may with more facility and handsomness go visit the Tomb as you desire and I will willingly bear you Company thither Upon these words they caused themselves to be conducted that way which Tiridates's Servant guided them and passing by the side of the House they had not gone Five hundred paces but they saw the Tomb and the persons that were employed about it Arsanes had sent for Workmen from the City the day before and because the work was plain and without curiosity 't was almost finished 'T was a Tomb of fair stone without any workmanship and upon it a Pyramid of the height of a man upon which they had newly fixed an Epitaph upon a Copper-plate The Princesses alighted before they approached that doleful place and taking one another by the hand they advanced towards the Tomb on foot They which were still at work about it being moved with respect at the sight of those Beauties and being advertised by Tiridates's Servant retired to their quarter to leave the place free to the Princesses who falling upon their knees washed the cold stone with those tears which this sad object
the wrack began to renew his acquaintance with the Shoar and Walls of Alexandria and beheld them with astonishment from thence turning his Eyes upon the Stranger 's Face he perceiv'd her change colour and understanding some Sighs which the words of Tyridates had forc'd from her Breast but striving to recover her temper she intreated Tyridates to instruct her further It is Cornelius Gallus said he that now commands Alexandria together with all Aegypt for the Emperour Augustus who gave him this Government after the deplorable death of the unfortunate Anthony and the great Queen Cleopatra who in this unhappy City about nine years since lost both life and Empire but sure you must know this Story for it is not likely the Earth hath any part which the fame of that fatal quarrel that decided the World's command has not visited I have heard of it replyed the Stranger with a faint voice but by the Discourse you have made me I see my self reduc'd to make use of your bounty and accept of the retreat which you proffer Let us go then said she offering him her hand when you please and the dangers I have newly scap'd among Treacherous men cannot hurt the Confidence my opinion hath of your Vertue At these words she began to set forward and on either side staying her Arm on him and the Man that was preserv'd with her she overcame that short way not without much trouble caus'd by her former weariness together with the coldness and weight of her wet Apparel The House whither Tyridates conducted her and where he then made his own abode was seated amongst divers points of a Rock which over-look'd one side of it on that quarter where the High-way lay it was conceal'd from the Eye by a Wood mingled with Rocks but on that side which regarded the Sea they might have a full free view from the Windows as far as the sight would reach The fair Lady with her Retinue was no sooner arriv'd there but Tyridates having given Command to some Servants speedily to make a well furnish'd Chamber fit to receive them led them thither and there respectively took his leave that they might freely enjoy the privacy of laying off their Robes They went to bed the Mistress commanding her Servant to lie with her being a priviledge she had often granted her in their former Travels Tyridates chang'd Cloaths and sent a Servant with a dry Sute to the Stranger whose countenance gave him a good Character and spake his Age about Fifty years After they had all bestow'd some hours upon repose Dinner was serv'd up to the Ladies in their Bed and Tyridates having din'd in another Chamber with his unknown Guest desired him to ask the Ladies at what hours he might visit them and not be importunate the fair Stranger having sent her answer that she was ready to receive him he entred the Chamber where she treated him with much civility she was then so well recovered that all the Beauty which pain and fear had put to flight was come back again to its usual lustre which Tyridates took some time to admire for though his heart was captive to another yet it could not hinder him from giving her the Palm from all that ever his Eye acknowledged fair The Lady had no less satisfaction from his brave looks and this mutual esteem gave to each an almost equal desire of a further discovery The Respect which the Lady's Face had imprinted in Tyridates would not suffer him to own his Curiosity but she was so hardy to profess hers and after she had invited him to a Seat near her bed and beheld him with a more pleasing Aspect than she had yet exprest I should be very ungrateful said she if I had any design to hide my condition from a Person to whom I am indebted for my life and though there be many Reasons weighty enough to disswade the discovery of my Name Birth and Fortunes in a Country that has deserv'd to be suspected yet I should easily consent to trust the secret of my life to the Remembrance of what I owe you and the opinion I have of your Vertue if my desire to know you better did not want some satisfaction Pardon this Curiosity to my Sex and apprehension and think it not strange that I am willing to understand his Name and Condition whose Face and Behaviour have already spoke so much to his advantage If you do not find cause to suspect me deny not my desire and in exchange I shall give you the Relation of divers passages which with the confidence I repose in you may be judged important Tyridates took some moments to reply to these words but a while after lifting his eyes from the Earth and fixing them upon the Face of his fair Guest You desire that of me said he which can never be paid for with a less price than what you offer and I should be very hardly drawn to reveal the the secret of my life to any that could challenge less respect and obedience than your self it were frivolous to conceal that to the confession of my Name is fasten'd the manifest danger of my life for that is faln to so low a value in my consideration that it cannot oblige me to hide it from you but if I give this relation faithfully I must disclose things which were never yet declared to any and which I was resolved to continue secret so long as my brest could hold them yet I shall forget all these considerations and arm'd with the hope of your promis'd exchange trie to subdue all the difficulties that withstand my obedience Instead of rebating these words enflamed the Lady's desire yet she reserved so much discretion to tell him that she should be sorry to importune the recital of so weighty a secret But Tyridates reply'd he had already clear'd all the obstacles that resisted his inclination to obey her and having kept silence some moments to prepare attention he began his Story in this manner The History of TYRIDATES THE Discourse I am now begin is nought else but a Web of Miseries interwoven with a few memorable Events it would afflict your Patience if I did not resolve to abridge it and slightly touching the rest only enlarge my self upon those Adventures that are most important My name is Tyridates I am of the illustrious bloud of the Arsacides Son of Orodes King of the Parthians under whom the Roman Power receiv'd so great a shock by the lose of Crassus and his Army and Brother to the cruel Phraates who now possesseth that great Empire which our Ancestors have commanded since the grand Arsaces founded that proud Monarchy of whom we are descended from Father to Son in a direct masculine line At the knowledge of Tyridates his quality his fair Guest regarded him with a graceful eie and interrupting the beginning of his Discourse I took my conjecture said she from many signs I observ'd that your birth was not common
see the end before you pass a disadvantagious Judgment if I had not condescended to see you as I had many reasons to disswade it I had missed the occasion of preventing such attempts for the future which I will now do by putting an Order in force for my own repose and yours too if it be possible At these words she stopp'd and while her Discourse lasted having recover'd a little assurance I took the advantage of her silence and lifting up my eyes to her face which till then I had not dared to behold but by stollen glances Madam I confess said I that I am yet more culpable than your words have made me and though my intents have been innocent the ills you have suffered through my occasion do render me the most criminal amongst all men I am therefore come Madam to protest at your feet that all my Blood that a thousand such Lives as mine can never requite the least of your displeasures and to conjure you by all that is capable to perswade that I may have leave to spend this poor Life to purchase the repose of yours employ the courage of Tyridates to break the Chains of your Calamities I know I have committed a fresh offence in seeking means to petition your Goodness for this last favour which I never have nor shall ever merit but it is not just nor can my Passion excuse it that after having been the cause of so many of your misfortunes I should securely retire from the pursuits of Herod and abandoning you to his Cruelties leave you by shameful flight in his savage hands to seek a Refuge at Rome while you stay here expos'd to his fury This only consideration Madam hath had power to shut my eyes upon that danger against which you have exposed such a miracle of goodness and in fine I have learned to believe that if any man may unfetter you from your Miseries you ought to hope it from none but Tyridates as a Glory only due to him I am now no longer retain'd by Hospitality nor aw'd with the memory of my first Obligation Herod's Sword and Poyson have cancell'd those either of which would have infallibly destroy'd me had not your adventurous pity prevented the Blow To you only my Divine Queen this Life such as it is is indebted for its Being and you would have me have carried it away without offering the Sacrifice where it was due it was yours by Gifts yours by preservation and can you think it reasonable that I should wander with it among the Romans instead of coming to submit it to my Sovereign Ah! no continued I casting my self at her feet do not reject that which would reject its own being but for you and that which you cannot justly disavow do not grudge it the hazard of Herod's rigour by dooming my soul to those gloomy Woes a thousand times more black than the night in which he would have clos'd my eyes for ever or if the presence of this wretch does importune or discompose your quiet give leave that death may free you of him from which you have but in vain preserv'd him in Judea since he must infallibly receive it elsewhere from the rigour of this separation I had said more in the transport to which I had abandon'd my self if the Queen who suffer'd with repugnance full of deadly fear had not set bounds to the spacious Discourse I meditated and after she had interrupted me with a command to rise Cease Tyridates said she to make these offers which I cannot so much as hear without offending Virtue and remember I have told you a thousand times that the Crime of Herod cannot authorize mine if I owe nothing to him as to the quality of a Husband yet the debt to my God and my self can never be satisfied I will quit the World when it pleases Heaven to release me without the Crimes of these Miseries or if it have decreed them a longer date I must still have patience to endure them 't is this I oppose in few words to the desires you express to wipe away my displeasure I am neither permitted by Law Divine or Humane to serve my self of your assistance for that which regards your departure know Tyridates it is an indispensable necessity that you suddenly resolve it that I am now half constrain'd to an action unbecoming my quality and duty and can no more consent to see you with so much danger of life and reputation and in fine must intreat you never to see me more Be not astonished at these words you have courage enough to be prepared for them and possibly affection enough too for me to weigh all the reasons that oblige me to this Entreaty I will not speak of my Life which can never be safe while you are in Judea for it was never happy to be worth the prizing if my honour be dear to you if you can ballance the prejudice of your own repose and remember the suspitions of Herod the malice of Salome and the knowledge my self hath of the fault you have committed you must conclude that the stay of Tyridates must be incompatible with the reputation of Mariamne She stopp'd at these words while I stood stiffe and motionless to hear the rigorous sentence of my Death and after I had sometime beheld her with an action that would have let in pity if too strong a resolution had not deny'd it entrance Then Madam said I you condemn the unfortunate Tyridates to a perpetual banishment and you believe you are more gentle than Herod in commanding him never to see you more Ah! if you have that thought for the Gods sake lose it and do not believe that any Duty can with reason oblige you to that which you would not do but for want of affection The affection I have born you reply'd the Queen with an unmov'd aspect is not probably such as you have pretended to nor could it justly oblige me to that I have already done to please you content your self that I have not been sparing in the acknowledgment of your deserts nor the esteem of your reason that therein I have pass'd the precise limits my estate prescrib'd me and since a perpetual separation permits me to avouch it I have not been so insensible but if Heaven and my Parents had left me in a condition to my own choice and Tyridates embraced the true Religion I had preferr'd him above the rest of Mankind The Queen us'd some violence to bring forth these words though they all wore the Badge of Innocence when my Soul drew all the consolation it had then capacity to hope for Ah! Madam said I how glorious is my Destiny and how little cause of complaint hath this Declaration left me But Gods yet glorious as I am I must be banished for ever Oh hard Sentence that alone can ballance the glory you have given me rigorous doom of my Death which I cannot and yet I ought to undergo without a
intirely divided it according to the sway of several affections two greater powers than these never met in opposition and the World never regarded an event with so much interest as that which was to decide its Empire My Lord you have understood the beginnings of this War with the divers encounters wherein Fortune sometimes listed her self in one sometimes in the other party till the Battel of Actium where after she had long ballanc'd her good will she declar'd for Caesar The miserable Antony was betray'd both by Love and Fortune and whatever courage the Queen disclos'd in the spring-tide of her Life was all resign'd to the horror of that one Battel where she assisted in Person whence flying with sixty Sayls in her company she drew along the amorous Antony who rather chose to abandon with the Victory the Empire of the World then to lose his Cleopatra You must needs have heard how after that signal deleat they were forsaken by all their Troops and sure same has told you of the pitisul effects that errour produced among them how upon a false report of Cleopatra's death spread by her self with design to cure Antony of an unjust suspition he had conceived of her that desperate Prince slew himself with his own hand and breathed his last between the arms of his dear Cleopatra in the Tomb wherein she had shut up her self you have heard it related how Caesar having rendred himself Master of Alexandria came to visit her brought her comfort and intreated her to hope for all the civil usage his power could afford all which the great-hearted Princess couragiously disdained and not induring to survive her dear Antony nor to see her self in danger to be led to Rome in triumph she called Death to her Rescue which she gave her self by an Aspick 's tooth for want of other weapons and how Caesar after he had pacifi'd Egypt and left Cornelins Gallus Governour at Alexandria returned to Rome whither he led Alexander Ptolomee and Cleopatra the Children of Antony and our Queen Thus compris'd in a few words I have given you the lamentabie destiny of this infortunate Prince but you are yet to understand that of Caesario and I assure my self you believed with the greatest part of the World that Augustus had caus'd him to be put to Death as same did openly divulge it 'T is true said Tyridates and I had my belief from the general confidence at Rome that it was so where I have often heard that Caesar having taken Alexandria and advising with his friends what he should do with Caesario the Philosopher Arrius who was in great credit with him whisper'd some words in his ear that alluding to a verse in Homer might thus be interpreted Plurality of Caesars is not safe And from that hint Augustns fearing that he might one day dispute the succession of his Fathers Empire put him death Such replyed Eteocles was the general opinion and we are happy that it got so much credit among the Princes Enemies who possibly without that prevention would have made their pursuit and persecution reach to the place that protected him But to you I shall unmask the truth what ever danger the discovery may threaten knowing well I do not hazard my Prince in declaring the truth of his Life to another Prince that equals his vertues and it was but to come the right way to his adventures that with a few words I touch'd a part of the Queen his Mother The History of Caesario and the Queen CANDACE AFter the loss of the Battel of Actium and the disloyal falling away of the greatest part of the Forces the unfortunate Antony and his Queen shut themselves up in Alexandria and there attended the approaches of their victorious Foe with the rest of their Forces resolving to defend it to the last Man and the latest moment of their lives their courage was not revolted with their fortune for they might yet have protected their Fate and again debated the Worlds Command if the prevention of that disastrous mistake had not contrived their ruine Nevertheless the Queen not able to refute her just fears of a sudden wrack began to cast an eye upon her deplorable Family that in so short a time were tumbled from the sublimest pitch of Fortune to the foot of Calamity Oh Gods what words that were fittest to shew the marks of a signal grief did she not give to those sad considerations There was much reason in her fears that the Victor would make his hatred reach to the Children of his Enemy and so choak all the seeds of War that might grow up to give another shock to the tranquillity of his dominion by rooting out the whole Antonian race and these suspitions made her oft solicit that the Children might be put in some place of safety and either sent to the King of Aethiopia a great and puissant Prince their friend and allye who had neither felt nor fear'd the Roman Arms or to Herod a faithful friend to Antony or at least to some others whom the change of fortune had not perswaded to disavow their Amity But Antony who tenderly indulged his Children could not resolve to see them so pluck'd from him or send them to seek their safety from the hands of a stranger he represented to the Queen that the Gods that were yet able to send them succours contrary to the opinion of men might miraculously repair the ruines they had made and should such a change arrive in their favour they should repent the exposing them to a flight whose success was uncertain that if Heaven had resolved to compleat their destruction they might expect a better fate for their Infants from the clemency of their Enemy than the loyalty of any barbarous Prince whose friendship the Child of their Fortune no doubt would follow it to the Conquerours party Cleopatra perceiving his resolution not to be mov'd and her self not able to wrest the disposal of the Children from him fell to consider of his preservation whom he had no part in and judging with much prudence that though Augustus might pardon the Progeny of Antony yet he would not do so to the Son of Julius Caesar who professing himself the off-spring of a lawful Marriage while he lived would at least be armed with Justice to bid fair for his Fathers succession which the other possessed by no other right than that of adoption the lawful power of his disposal sfolely remaining in her self for Antony pretended not to it she concluded that it was not safe to trust him to the mercy of that enemy and could find no other way but such a flight to secure him Caesario was five or six years elder than the rest and then newly arrived at the fifteenth year but at that age was become the most accomplished of Princes his beauty never found an equal among those of his own Sex in the vivacity of his eyes and all the features of his visage was seen an ayr
not tell how to refuse such a toy to a person of whose bounty I held all that I had and I should not have denyed it though my suspicion had foreseen the request was design'd with so little Decorum to her dignity but concealing her intention she carried it her self out of my Chamber and doubtless gave it to her Son who I am confident had obliged her to ask it but when I saw it at the Solemnities appear upon his shoulder I wanted not much of being as mad as Coriolanus himself nor could I since recover such a temper as I durst trust my self withal to visit the Empress for fear the couzenage would have urged my resentments to some unbecoming language Thus Marcellus have I given you the naked truth and should not have scrupled the same to Coriolanus had he not forgot to give me my due and by this indiscreet behaviour redoubled my vexation While Cleopatra spoke in this manner and Marcellus ravished with joy in his friends behalf heard her with a greedy attention Tiberius entered the Chamber and as if the Gods had then voted the conclusion of this adventure he still wore the same scarf upon his Arme that had caus'd so much disorder which he was resolved to carry there as long as it would hold the fastening The Princess no sooner spyed him but the object awaked her anger which Marcellus easily constru'd by the comment of a blush that hastily overflowed her checks nor could his impatience do less than change his colour at the fight of those spoiles in a Rivals possession which had cost his friend so much anguish Tiberius had no sooner taken a seat and disposed himself to enter into discourse when the impatient Princess no longer able to keep her passion under hatches regarding him with eyes that expressed the contents of her meaning Tiberius said she intercepting the first word he uttered I take it very ill you should carry that about you by the Artifice and Authority of a person who has power over me which you could not obtain by your own credit and it was with a most sensible displeasure that I saw you make your publick Parade with a thing which no consideration should ever have bent me to grant you Tiberius was deeply surprized at this Discourse and much ashamed it should happen in the presence of Marcellus whose affection he knew had knit him to Coriolanus interest yet his natural confidence quickly re-assured him and indevouring to chain up his resentment that his respect to the Princess might still be at liberty I did not believe said he we could have sin'd in following the streame of our Fortune and Glory even the same way you have condemned but my desires should have chosen another path had I thought this would have led me to your displeasure but since my unhappiness hath conducted me thither I am ready to render as great a reparation of the fault as you can claim of my obedience All I demand replyed Cleopatra is you would presently restore my Scarf and suffer me no longer to languish in displeasure when it is in your power to free me You gave it to a person answer'd Tiberius from whom I thought you would not have resumed it in this manner and since you know I had it of the Empress I hope you will not ordain me to put it into any other hands than hers When I gave it the Empress added Cleopatra I believed it was intended for her self and not you and when she shall desire it again for her service I will be ready to render it again for her service I will be ready to render it with all the respect I owe her Methinks you should not place it among my offences said Tiberius if I strive to preserve what came from so blessed a place and so good a hand nor think it strange that I rather chuse to abandon my life than a gem that I prize above it of which you have no right to deprive me since I hold it not of your hounty You had never received it of the Empress answered the Princess had you given her the least hint how I was like to relish the disposal for I know she has too much Nobleness to prejudice a Princess for your satisfaction that honours her as she ought but since you have deceived her as well as me if you please you may tender it or take it ill if I intreat you to see me no more Tiberius was struck with a deep astonishment at these last words and at the inflexibility of the Princess of which his hopes had promis'd him the victory but dissembling his trouble as well as he was able You treat me extreamly ill said he in reducing my choice to two evils the least of which is as cruel as death it self but if your resolves stand firm to enforce my election I had rather resign what the Empress has given me than forfeit your sight for ever You will do me a pleasure reply'd the Princess and whether you call it a present or a restitution I shall receive it at your hands as a sovereign remedy for my repose 'T is possibly anothers interest as well as yours said Tiberius in choler that thus carries you against your disposition to do me violence but I obey you continued he taking off the Scarf and throwing it upon the Tabe because I know no Law to dispense with my repugnance yet you may please to remember that I am the only man interessed in this harsh usage and I have right to complain to the Empress of the injustice is done me At these words he flung out of the Chamber so transported with choler as it scarce left him reason enough to guide his footsteps Never did discourse please Marcellus better than this last at which he was present he could only have wish'd for the more entire satisfaction of his friend that he had been ambush'd in some secret place to have discover'd the confusion of Tiberius and seen himself reveng'd for the tortures he had made him suffer he could not conceal his joy from the Princess and as soon as Tiberius was gone he prepar'd to express it when turning her self towards him and preventing his words Think not said she I have taken back my Scarf to please Coriolanus for I could do no less in behalf of mine own repute and your friend has not managed that credit so well which he presum'd he had with me that I could strain my cares to complaisance for his content Ah! Madam reply'd my Masters excellent friend what a vast difference is there if I may adventure to say so betwixt your words and thoughts and how easily your own knowledge may save me the labour of representing the Innocence of poor Coriolanus he has committed an over-sight which if rightly examin'd few men can boast they have not fallen into the same failing and for it receiv'd a punishment which has reduc'd him to the extreams of his life I left
possession would put him in a fair path to the Empire a design that especially toyl'd her working thoughts all the perswasions she could urge were employed upon her Son to change the object of his passion endeavouring to make him feel the stings of Emulation against Marcellus who by the enjoyment of Julia would strengthen his pretences to the Soveraign Authority and doubtless carry the Imperial Crown by the double advantage of Nephew and Son in Law to the Emperor Tiberius was the most aspiring man upon earth yet then more amorous than ambitious which arm'd him with an obstinate defence against Livia's Importunities and after he had assur'd her they were all in vain he press'd so hard for her assistance protesting his repose and his life depended on it as that indulgent Mother to the passions of her Son gave over her perswasions and began to set her subtleties a work to content him losing no occasion to sollicite Augustus in his behalf and practising all those Charms upon him which she knew had greatest influence to perswade his preferrence of Tiberius his services to those of Coriolanus The Emperor long resisted her persecutions and remembring what was due as well to his Royal word as the friendship of Marcellus who publickly prop'd my Masters Interests and my Princes services who was then strugling with death and danger for the glory of his Empire he shut his Ears to the slie insinuations of Livia which incessantly tormented him this perseverance lasted some months during which he often protested to determine the difference 'twixt the two Competitors with an impassionate equity and decide the price of their Actions by such a general Judgment as neither should have cause to suspect partiality but in fine what could not Love do upon a Soul when he had once disarm'd it and what might not Livia hope from him who for her sake had violated the sacred Laws of Marriage and beyond all President had ravished her great with child from her Husbands arms well that subtile spirit ply'd him so perpetually as his easie soul at last consenting to believe that Coriolanus mouth might be stop'd with rewards more important than Cleopatra to please the importunate Livia he declared against him and promised to pronounce his judgement to her Sons advantage Of this the whole Court had present notice and it quickly flew to the ears of Marcellus and Cleopatra the Princess received this news with a most violent displeasure yet supported it with more moderation than Marcellus who burst into a loud and haughty passion at the injury was offered his friend vigorously disputed his Interests in the Emperours presence and went so far with Tiberius upon that subject meeting with him at the door of the Capitol and exchanging some warm words they drew their Swords one at another this quarrel might have raised dangerous disorders in Rome if Caesars authority had not step'd between and forced them to a mutual embrace charging Marcellus to keep his resentments to himself My Master had advice of his misfortune that same day that he fought the last battel with the Asturians and Cantabrians and was giving orders at the head of his Army when two Letters were brought him one from Marcellus and the other from Cleopatra whatever his employment could then alledge to dispence with their present perusal was all over-born by the passion he preserved for those two persons and opening the Letters he found these words in that of Marcellus which he first read Marcellus to Juba Coriolanus Prince of Mauritania I Would stay till you received the troublesome news I send you from some other hand were it not dangerous to retard the Intelligence the Emperour declares for Tiberius if your presence does not scatter those advantages that Livia's perswasions have gained upon ours come away my dear Brother if it be possible and attend all things from the affection of a Friend who would not have told you this mischief but with a purpose to serve you against it at the price of his Fortunes his Blood and his Life This was Marcellus his Letter and Cleopatra spoke thus The Princess Cleopatra to Prince Coriolanus YEsterday I understood from the Princess Octavia that Augustus intends me for Tiberius The previous discovery of my intentions will tell you how I relish the design however I know his authority as big as it is shall never change my inclinations your sudden return will possibly befriend you more than all the power we can stir in your favour and if you apprehend me right no consideration will be able to defer your coming My Master as I told you received and read these Letters just as he was at the point of giving the last signal for the Battel and his eye had no sooner arrived at the period when stopping the forwardest with a loud cry and commanding their stay till the signal was given he remained in a confused perplexity with his thoughts at a loss what resolution he should take his resentments of this injury no sooner took fire in his Soul but it presently flew into such a flame of anger as the first thought that presented it self was to give away the Victory and punish the ingratitude of Augustus by the loss of his Army and the ruine of his affairs in a Country where his valour had established them then distasting the Treason in that design and passing thence to another that clash'd not so much with his generosity he took up a thought to abandon the Roman Troops carry over his Sword to the Enemies party and raise them by that to the same height from whence he had thrown them While this irresolution kept him buried in a profound study som of the Commanders that were neerest his Person had asked him divers questions touching their employment without gaining the least word of answer from his mouth at last awaking from his deep cogitations he lifted up his head which all this time he had hung down as low as his Saddle bow and turning his eyes round wherein Choler was lively represented Let us go said he whither our duty calls us and prefer our honour before such resentments as cannot be justified by the event of this day we may possibly reverse Caesars intention or at least find out a death to guard us from the injustice is offered Finishing these words after he had sent all the Commanders to their several charges he first gave the last signal and was the first that flew in among his Enemies I shall forbear the particulars of this Battel which was the most cruel and bloudiest of all the rest only after the dispute had hotly held a part of the day there fell to our lot so entire a Victory as of more than 50000 Barbarians that faced us in the morning scarce the tenth of that number were alive at night the General Theopistus was there slain with all the most considerable persons of his party and thus this root of Rebellion was cut up without the
didst shroud thy head from the showers of danger in our Combats to disturb mine and my subjects repose to re-kindle a war that has already cost so much bloud and by the example of thy own perfidious actions oblige me to break an alliance which my word and honour are laid in pawn to perform At these injurious words Artaban lost all patience and as nature had planted noble scorn in his soul to pocket any wrongs for fear of death his contempt of that bug-bear received an extraordinary increase from the provocation of this unhandsome language and bespeaking the expectation of what he had to say with a terrible look The glory of my former actions said he has power enough to justifie and secure it self against the reach of any stain from thy reproaches and thou hast seen me fight with too much prodigality of blood for thy Interests to make thy self believe that fear could ever force me from the Combat no Phraates if I forsook thee in the war thou knowst 't was thy ingratitude berest thee of my Sword and I cannot be accused of Cowardise and disloyalty by any but Monsters and Parricides These bold words that openly uncovered the blackest of his crimes set his rage a running like wild-fire through all the parts of Phraates body and turning to his guards Seize upon him cryed he in a flame of fury let him be taken dead or alive These words had scarce mingled themselves with the air when Artaban was invironed by a thousand of his Enemies but though the love of life was utterly expelled his brest yet revenge easily got his consent to hold it at a very dear rate to those that first attaqued him and now he presented the same dreadful Sword to the throats of his opposers which they had often seen him brandish against their foes in so many Combats and from which the Sun then first beheld victory to be ravished by an unequal number Phraates their Captain was presently thrown dead at the feet of his Companions and in a few moments the forwardest of his Men received a like pass from his sword to follow him Artaban then quitting the care of his own preservation rushed in among them with a head-long fury and quickly goring himself all over with their blood was in an instant become so terrible to the hardiest of his Enemies as Phraates himself though bulwarked round with thousands of armed men scarce thought his person secure behind so many bucklers Yet at last this prodigious valour grew incapable to guard his liberty and while it was still cutting lanes through those that faced him they assaulted him behind with better success and by an inundation of his Enemies which powred themselves at once upon his back he was born to the Earth and reduced to an Estate of making no more resistance By the Kings orders he was immediately bound and led before him and Phraates had cruelty enough to aggravate the sense of his misfortunes with menaces and reproaches unworthy of enterainment in the mouth or mind of a King Artaban retorted all his threats with contempt and was so far from stooping to a power with the least Flexure of submission that might have given or taken his life at pleasure as regarding him with an eye that spoke nothing but disdain and indignation Phraates said he I shall receive the bloody kindness of thy command that dooms me to die and prefer it the main one denied above all the dignities that Fortune has left at thy disposal credit me King 't is a necessitated sacrifice for the safety of thy Son-in-Law and might concern thy own if my respect to the Princess Elisa did not guard thee from such intentions The King after he had vomited some outragious words against him that shewed the cruelty of his nature sent him to one of the rudest Dungeons in the City commanded his hands and feet should be laden with Irons and imposed very strict precautions upon his guard that made them acquainted with the importance of the Prisoner and the fear was due to the recovery of his liberty The last disaster of Artaban spread a strange amazement through the Parthian Court and those that a while before had seen that great Man at the head of their Armies dealing destruction with a dexterous hand as if he played with victory among their Enemies gaining battles conquering Kingdoms and quitting himself in all his deportments as if he had been sent with a Commission from Heaven to make their Nation happy could not see him thrown into a Dungeon charged with Irons exposed to shame and in all their judgements pitched as an eminent mark for death to draw her bow at without spending some serious reflections upon the sickly constitution of humane fortunes and deploring the fate of so brave a man with all that could signallize an unfeigned affliction 'T is true they found something that required a ballance in the haughty humour and indomitable spirit of Artaban but when their memories glanced upon the marvellous things he had done for them and their Country they knew not how to accuse his confidence since it took a lawful birth from the greatness of his heart and Courage which had so bravely beaten off and defeated danger that threatned chains and ruine to their Country but if the Parthians interessed themselves in Artabans fortune judge Madam in what manner I was touched at the news of this unluckly passage I am discouraged to enterprize the difficulty I feel to perform it and shall close it in as few word as will serve to tell you that my grief seemed to have borrowed some darts of death to strike me and I think the sudden arrest of fate it self would not have dealt more cruelly My sorrows were grown so head-strong as they easily taught their untoward children my tears to break their bounds and I had so little power to pinion the aery wings of my sighs that they broke loose in whole Troops to carry news of my resentments all that day I shut up my self with Urinoe and her Daughter not permitting so much as the sight of any other person all the parts of speech that belonged to the Grammar of a lawful grief had a free passage through my mouth and if I lamented Artaban's misfortune I complained a thousand times of his imprudence and decryed his desperate resolutions that loaded my mind with more misery than it was able to support the Kings bloody disposition filled me full of deadly fears in his behalf and I could not examine the danger that menaced his life without suffering such thoughts to devour my quiet that were the neerest neighbours to despair Ah Artaban would I say art thou come back on purpose to bring the cruellest addition to my grief that it was capable of receiving and was it not enough for the unfortunate Elisa to suffer for thy absence but thy return must throw us both headlong to our Tombs I had sadly lost the hope of ever seeing
who without measuring danger either by the number or force of those he encountred had made it his custome to charge all that came near him the combat was begun by the Pirates and their shock sustained by our men with a great deal of resolution my ignorance will not let me describe you the fight in parts but Madam shall I give you a short list of my resentments at that present indeed I cannot chuse but tell you that the detestation I still cherished of the very thought to espouse Tigranes and the grief I took for Artaban's misfortunes had left me so little care or love of life as I can hardly say that death looked ugly enough to affright me and if I may assume the liberty to undisguise my criminal thoughts without a reserve I think Artaban's danger was attended with as large a portion of my fears as those that regarded my proper safety In the mean time an interchanged cloud of arrows rained upon both parties the Pirates quickly found a resistance that made them wish the danger unattempted and certainly the advantages they got had cost them a great deal more blood if Orestes as if those famous Arms had refused to do service to their Masters Enemy had not been tumbled dead at the feet of his men by some of the first blows that were struck in the Combat and my conductor Polinices with one of the Median Embassadors suddenly acquitted by divers mortal wounds of the the care to obey their Masters Commission The Death of their Commanders distributed a terrour among the common Souldiers which froze up those Courages that were so hot as the Fights beginning and losing all hope of victory they disputed it so poorly as the Pirates almost had it in possession when they least suspected it They were upon point to board our Vessels wherefore the Decks were then but very faintly defended when inspired with a thought that deafen'd me to the threats of of danger I boldly step'd upon the Deck and heightning my voice that I might be understood by those in Orestes Vessel My friends cryed I if you desire safety or wish victory they are only to be had from the hands of Artaban ease him of those irons that will not suffer him to succour you give him but arms for your own defence and hope for all from his valour that man can do when he once fights at the head of you These words succeeded to my wishes for since Orestes death Artaban had no more Enemies left in the Vessel the Parthians that adored his vertue whom the sole authority of Orestes inforced to keep him captive that had so often taught them the art of overcoming no sooner saw themselves at liberty to restore him his but they ran down in throngs to release him and even envied his own Squire the glory of putting the first hand to take off his Irons while the overjoy'd young man was doing this office to his dear Master others hastily employed themseves in stripping Orestes carkass of those arms he had unworthily usurped and Arno sooner saw his chains unlocked when he felt his manly limbs reinvested in the same armour that had faithfully served him in so many victories and when his warlike dress was compleated lifting up his sword and voice with a fierce cry My friends said he in exchange of this freedom you have given me I do here promise to requite you with victory As he brought forth these words he flew before them at the audacious Ephialtes that had newly boarded the vessel and by that bold act provok'd his fate for the furious Artaban darting himself upon him with a sorce and swiftness like that of Lightning prevented his design with a deadly thrust which finding a default in his Arms pierced him quite through the body when after he had reeled two or three paces backward he fell dead into his own Ship The death of Ephialtes congeal'd the courages of his men but the following actions of Artaban quickly stifled all their hopes of victory and as if there secretly lodg'd a fatality in his Sword to all that opposed him he carried it to no part of the fight wherein he did not cut down Enemies in heaps and change the fortune of both parties with a prodigious promptitude the actions he performed with his own hands his admirable conduct and the strong belief the Parthians had entertained that his valour was invincible brought forth such marvellous effects as in less than one quarter of an hour the Pirates changed their design of assaulting their Enemies to defending themselves and prospered so ill in that too as in less than another they beheld their Ships covered with their fellows carkasses and the Sea painted with their blood So soon as Artaban had chas'd out those Pirates that invaded his Vessel he leap'd into mine and there it was I saw him do things in my defence that would make an Infidel of the easiest credulity In fine the victory became entirely ours the greater part of the Pirates lost their lives two of their Ships were taken and the rest saved themselves by flight or rather by the small regard we took to pursue them Artaban contrary to the Parthians inclinations gave the Prisoners their lives but he left all the booty to the Souldiers and commanded divers of the Pirates into our Vessel to serve in the places of those Mariners that we had lost in the combat Thus after he had set the face of order upon all things that haste would permit him he ran to me all covered with blood in a posture that had half affrighted me if he had not taken off his Casque as he threw himself at my feet and discovered his face wherein me thought the heat of combat had disclosed some new beams of masculine beauty that I never saw there before at least my fancy was so deeply inchanted with that apprehension as it degarded my judgment so far to let the Medes and Parthians then present see me throw my arms about the neck of the kneeling Artaban and lean my head upon his with an action so tenderly passionate as at this very confession of my weakness I feel the warm blood is come into my cheeks to accuse me Madam I will not trouble your patience with the repetition of those disorder'd words that Artaban and I exchanged at that point of time and indeed they were too full of confusions to deserve recital and if his liberty gave him some satisfaction I was so ravished with joy to see him in so different a condition to that he appeared in but a few hours before as I could not express my contentment better than in shewing by a few disjoynted words that I could not express it In fine after I had raised him from his knee and presented him to the Parthians Well Parthian said I do you judge Artaban worthy to return to his chains or enjoy his part of that liberty his valour has given you if you have done
him That time is past with you said the insolent Eurilochus and since fortune hath now submitted you to those who heretofore attended upon you you must do by them as they did once by you and expect your destiny from their will as they expected and received from Anthony's These words full of Pride and reproach put me into such choler against him that spake them that I could not dissemble but looking upon him with an eye full of disdain and indignation both together 'T is thy interest said I to him to oppose my liberty and if it pleased the Gods that we were in another condition assure thy self thy life should pay for thy insolence Eurilochus though he was in a condition not to fear my threatnings looked pale at this discourse and seeing something in my face which in spight of the condition wherein I then was forced him to some respect he held down his head and turned himself another way without reply After that day I had no more conversation either with him or his companion but I entertained my self only with my two faithful servants who were acquainted with the whole secret of my life and sometimes when I could by stealth with the Keeper that brought me the Princesse's Letters In fine after some scurvy formalities that Artaxus made use of in his proceedings by his cruel orders I was condemned to lose my head upon a scaffold in the great place of Artaxata the rumour of it presently spread it self through the whole City but I assure my self that the most pitiless of the inhabitants did not approve that cruelty Cepio by whose imprudence I was reduced to this condition who since that time had not stirred from Artaxata was one of the first that heard that news He almost died with grief when he considered himself as the cause of my misfortune and the only cause of his stay in the Armenian Court was to seek some occasion to make some reparation for the fault he had committed When he understood the cruel sentence passed against me he went boldly to present himself before Artaxus and without fear of the danger he might incur by provoking him King of Armenia said he I understand that you have condemned the Son of Antony to a shameful death but take good heed how you execute that sentence which will be your ruine and give no way to the death of that Prince except you desire to see the destruction of your People and the absolute desolation of your Dominions And who shall lay desolate my Dominions replyed the King of Armenia with a scornful look who shall ruine my people and execute thy threats Augustus answered Cepio and all the principal persons of Rome who either by blood or friendship have interest in Alexander the whole Empire the whole World will arm with them for the revenge of that Prince and you will see such powers fall upon you upon this quarrel as will infallibly ruine you Augustus replyed Artaxus ought rather to be a friend to me than to the son of his enemy and the remainders of the blood of Anthony will not be more considerable to him than the Kings of Armenia his most ancient Allies Iâ Augustus be dis-interessed as without doubt he is I do not much value the rest and to those powers thou talkest of I shall oppose others that shall protect me from the effect of thy menaces but let what will happen the Son of Cleopatra shall die to morrow and thou shalt have thy part in the spectacle if thou hast a mind to it in the publique place Yes bluntly replyed Cepio I will have my share in the Spectacle and seeing the young Prince is fallen into this misfortune by my imprudence I will hazard my dearest blood in endeavouring the reparation of my fault With these words he went from the King who had left hearkning to him before and would not have suffered him to have said so much if those about him had not perswaded him to give way a little to the humour of this hair-brain'd man In the mean while the Princess no sooner understood that the sentence of my death was passed and that I was to die the next day without delay but she flew out of her chamber transported with grief with an intention to make use of the last remedies that were left her As she was going to the King she found him upon the top of the stairs and she no sooner saw him but running to him with an action full of the marks of her grief and casting her self at his knees which she embraced and moistened with her tears Sir said she once my brother full of tenderness and affection and now a King inaccessible to pity either command my life to be taken away in your presence or give me Alexander ' s. The barbarous King was not at all moved to compassion at this spectacle but rudely snatching himself out of his Sisters arms Die if thou wilt said he woman without resentment or honour and believe that in the dis-esteem thou hast caused me to have of thee I shall be so far from giving thee Alexander 's life that I would not give the life of the least of my enemies to save thine With these words he flung away without so much as looking upon her more and the Princess rising up full of grief and despair Yes Monster cryed she I will die and death will be a thousand times more sweet to me than the life I can lead with a Tiger and a Barbarian I will die seeing thou wouldest have it so but by my death I will furnish thee with revenging furies which shall eternally torment thee At these expressions breaking out a fresh into tears and being in a condition that imprinted a tender compassion in all that were present at this action she ran to her appartment where she threw her self between the arms of Leucippe and the rest of her women and was ready to expire there through the violence of her grief What Alexander said she shalt thou die and shall this unfortunate creature for whom thou hast exposed thy self with so much love not have the credit with a brother to divert the inhumane instrument of death from thy head Doth this day onely remain to thee of that life which thou hadst so generously bestowed upon me and shall I behold the bloody preparatives of thy death without preventing it Ah no Alexander hope better of my courage and do not suspect me of a baseness whereof I am not capable I might possibly have lived or lingred out a few days in grief if any other kind of death had separated us but dying here and dying only for my sake who wert always faithful to me since our first acquaintance I am engaged both by my affection and by my honor to bear thee company it shall never be laid as a reproach upon me that I drew thee hither by the command I did once lay upon thee to sacrifice thee in our Country
that of the King your brother Live then to reserve your self for a better fortune and live that you may let me live still in your memory if I could obtain this assurance of you before my death I should receive it with such satisfaction as without doubt would deprive Artaxus of a great part of his revenge and in hope not to find you inexorable to this my last supplication I likewise make this my last protestation before you and the Gods not only that I die yours but that death it self is not capable to take Alexander from you It was much easier for me to deliver this Letter to my Keeper than at other times and this last night my enemies were pleased to express a little more complaisance to me than before After this being desirous to put all things in order I divided some Jewels I had between my two Squires and commanded them to give Narcissus a share and to signifie to him how sensible I was of his fidelity but they melted into tears at this discourse and made it appear to me by their actions that they were in a bad capacity to take notice of the orders I gave them There was nothing in the prison but horror and dreadful silence and the greatest part of the night being past a little before day I called to Tydeus for the poyson I had given him which he had already prepared for me in a potion Tydeus made some difficulty at the first to do it telling me I ought not to take it but in case of extremity and there might some change happen in the King of Armenia's mind or in my condition by some accidents which might free me from the danger I was in but having convinced him that these were ridiculous and that if I should defer any longer to serve my self with this remedy it would not have done its execution within the time prefixed and so would prove useless as to the design I had to avoid a shameful death by its assistance he disposed himself at last to obey me and went to fetch the vessel which he presented to me with a trembling hand They which saw this action believing that he brought me something to drink as he was often used to do did not oppose it but whether it were out of Tydeus his fear or some design he had when I reached out my hand to take the Cup he let it go too soon and either by his fault or mine it slipt from us both and fell upon the floor where all the Liquor was spilt This accident caused me a sensible displeasure but being upon terms to support any thing from my fortune I stifled my resentment and lifting up my eyes to heaven 'T is just cryed I that my destiny should be punctually accomplished and the punishment of the blood of Cleopatra would not be perfect if I should die any other kind of death than Artibasus did With these words resigning my self to the will of the Gods without reasoning the case any farther I threw my self upon my bed either to get a little sleep or to expect my death without troubling my self any farther I confess that death presenting it self to my eyes in all its most horrible forms did not permit me to sleep and though possibly I should not so much have feared its approach if it had been presented to me in a Battel or upon some occasion where I might have disputed it with my Arms or received it with glory yet I could not think that within a few hours in the sight of the people of Armenia I should lose my head upon a Scaffold by an infamous hand without finding a great repugnance in my nature against that kind of death At last the darkness which augmented the horror of my condition vanished and the Sun began to give light to that day which was destined to be the last of my Life At day-break the place where I was to dye was full of company all the windows were taken up and the people of Armenia accounting it a very extraordinary thing to see the Son of Anthony dye in publick ran together in heaps to be present at that action My Enemies to give some formality of honour to my birth had caused the door of my prison the Scaffold where I was to lose my life and some other places where I was to pass to be hung with black I had already taken all the resolution that was necessary for me to go to dye without shewing any tokens of weakness and in expectation of my last hour I passed the beginning of the day with some impatience At last it came to hold you no longer in suspense and the cruel Ministers of Artaxus came to conduct me to my death Eurilochus and Elpenor the two chief of those that guarded me were in the head of them and I saw them no sooner appear but advancing towards them Behold the day said I that frees me from your cruelties let us go Eurilochus let us go Elpenor I am prepared to dye for Artemisa and if the inhumanity of Artaxus hath nothing for me more terrible than death he is too weak to terrifie Eurilochus having acquainted me in a few words that it was time to go caused a man to come to me with a cord to tye my hands This indignity moved me and turning my self towards Eurilochus What said I will they add this ignominy too to the death of Anthony 's Son Artibasus replyed Eurilochus was loaden with Irons and the King uses you more gently than his Father was used by your Relations I saw well enough it was to no purpose to oppose a thing which they would doin spight of me in the weak condition I was and not being willing to offer at such actions as possibly might be imputed to want of courage I moderated my choler and stretching forth my hands to him that held the cord Do said I to Eurilochus cause these Princes hands to be bound whom thou usest unworthily to the very death and do not suffer them to be free if thou desirest to avoid that death which yet they may give thee Eurilochus did what I said to him without any reply and when I saw my self tyed I was a little moved with shame which sent up a blush into my face I turned my self then to my Squires who lying at my feet bathed them with a stream of Tears and endeavouring to oblige them to some constancy by the expressions of mine Go my Friends said I support your destiny with patience and expect from my Brother and the Princess Octavia the recompence which I am not able to give you for your good services tell them I do not desire them to revenge my death if Artemisa disapproves of any thing that may be done against her Brother but if the Princess abandons his interests I desire of my kindred and of Caesar the ruine of this barbarous King who revenges injuries upon the innocent and lets those that are culpable alone
I saw divers of those that guarded me weep at this discourse and turning my self to the Commander I bad them shew me the way I was to go they conducted me out of my Chamber amongst a great number of Javelins and having passed the stairs I found at the gate a Chariot covered with black which waited for me and in that I was mounted to march to the great place I was followed and environed with a great number of men both on foot and on horseback and in this manner I advanced into the streets where by reason of the throng of People we could pass but very slowly there were few persons amongst those that met me in my passing but shewed divers signs of compassion and highly blamed the cruelty of their King some spake in pity of my youth wherein they saw me cruelly snatched from the fairest hopes others paused upon something of gallantry that they saw in my face and the greatest part reflected upon my birth and the inconstancies of fortune which from the height wherein I had been formerly seen had thrown me down into so extraordinary a misfortune We arrived at last at the place where I saw the fatal scaffold erected and the press was so great that we could not get thither without a great deal of trouble I lighted from the Chariot and mounted upon the scaffold with a very assured countenance to shew my enemies that the fear of death had not much staggered me and when I was at the fatal place where I was to lose my life I walked a little and turned my eyes on every side upon the standers by who had filled all the place and windows adjoining I looked upon them a while without speaking and then on a sudden addressing my discourse to those which were neer enough to understand me Armenians said I since it is the destiny of the innocent to suffer for the culpable I believe you will one day undergo the punishment of your Kings cruelty as I am exposed to the resentments he might justly conceive against my relation you may possibly see your blood shed in his quarrel as I am upon the point of giving mine for Cleopatra I do not wish this to you nor to Artaxus himself because as unworthy as he is he is the Brother of the Princess Artemisa but I very well foresee that the cruelty of your Prince will not remain unpunished and I advise you his people and subjects either to arm your selves for his defence or to quit his party These words were heard by Artaxus himself who out of an horrible baseness had placed himself in an house adjoyning and from behind a glass window saw all that passed in the place The infamous Ministers of my death were already upon the Scaffold and the chief of them coming to me told me that it was time for him to do his duty and prayed me to let him bind my eyes with a cloath he had for that purpose Friend said I to him I am not so much afraid of death that I cannot see its approach without being frighted at it I will receive it with my eyes open without putting thee to the trouble of closing them before death does it After these words disposing my self to take my last farewell O Artemisa said I I give you my life as willingly as you will bestow some tears upon my death These words were followed with a mournful murmur of the greatest part of the standers by and immediately after putting my self into a posture to receive the fatal blow I commanded the Executioner to do his duty and stretched out my neck under the instrument of death which he lifted up into the aire to separate my head from my body O Gods cryed Caesario at this part of Alexander's Narration O Gods is it possible that you should escape death after you were reduced to such great extremities and that fortune which had brought you to so near a precipeice should be ready to succour you in such a desperate condition You shall hear replyed Alexander a very strange event and I am about to tell you of an action that can hardly be parallel'd by all antiquity Divers attributed it to folly others to a real and uncommon generosity and it is to that vertue that in memory of him who did it for my sake I will absolutely impute it instead of robbing him of a glory which is due to him which in ages to come they cannot deprive him of My neck as I told you was stretched out and the Executioner had already lifted up his arm to give the fatal Blow when he was stopped by a voice which cryed out Hold two or three times He stopt his hand which he had advanced believing it was some order from the King and turning that way from whence he heard the voice he saw a man who mounted upon the scaffold with a naked sword in his hand who presently ran him through the body and tumbled him dead at my feet At the noise he made in falling down by me I turned my self towards him who had done that action and no sooner cast my eyes upon his visage but I knew him to be Cepio who animated by the most generous courage in the world came to repair his imprudence by the boldest attempt that ever was undertaken Narcissus followed him but could not get near the Scaffold by reason of the press which environed it and the great number of Souldiers that hindred his passage Cepio had no sooner dispatched the Executioner but he seized upon his sword and coming to me Alexander said he here 's Cepio who having by his imprudence brought you to your death comes to suffer with you I cannot preserve you from it but I will change the manner of it and you will be more satisfied to die with a sword in your hand than by an infamous arm Before he had ended these words he had already cut the cord which tied my hands and gave me a sword I felt my self animated by this assistance with an extraordinary courage and looking upon Cepio with a countenance full of acknowledgment I am sorry Cepio said I that you run upon your death and you do not owe me such a reparation as this for the ill you have innocently procured me but since through your generosity we must die together let us sell our lives dearly to our most cruel enemies We had not time to make any longer discourse and we saw already the Commanders of those that guarded me followed by divers of their Souldiers mounting the Scaffold with their swords in their hands I no sooner knew the cruel Eurilochus and his companion at the head of the rest but being seized with a motion of joy for the occasion that offered it self to me to revenge those indignities they had done me I flew to Eurilochus with a threatning cry Barbarian said I I have promised to be thy death and thou shalt receive it at my hands before I fall at the
hands of thy companions As I uttered these words I put by a thrust which he made at me and slipping under his sword he thrust mine up to the hilts his which I seized upon in the pass I kept in my hand and with that I laid Elpenor upon the head who advanced to assist his companion with so much ill fortune for him that having cleft him to the middle of the face after he had reeled a little way he fell down dead upon those who were nearest to the Scaffold I received no small consolation at the death of these two enemies over what I expected and seeing that Cepio with two mortal blows had tumbled two Souldiers down from the Scaffold at the same time Courage cryed I brave Cepio we will not die alone to day follow me into the thickest throng of our Enemies and let us render our death famous by so many others that we may have no cause to regret our own Speaking these words I threw my self from the Scaffold upon the nearest of the Souldiers that environed it and laying at all those without any difference which I found in my way I quickly made way enough with my Sword Cepio was presently at my side and seconded me with divers actions of admirable valour 'T is certain that there are no efforts comparable to those that proceed from persons which fear not death and that when men have abandoned their lives they are capable of doing prodigious executions Upon another occasion when he should have fought with some consideration of our own safety without doubt we should not have done half we did upon this but having lost all hope all desire and care but to revenge our death we appeared to be somewhat more than men in this dayes work and we did actions that would hardly find belief if they had not the testimony of many thousand witnesses Our Enemies being intimidated by the great blows we dealt amongst them as much as if our number had been equal with theirs made way for us on both sides and having no Commanders to encourage them I believe they would have given us free passage if we had sought it but instead of Elpenor or Eurilochus they were animated by a more formidable voice than of any of their Captains and then it was that the baseness of Artaxus rendred it self manifest to all his people for he opened the Window behind which he concealed himself to satiate his eyes with the cruel spectacle and shewing his face to the Souldiers he no sooner saw the disorder into which we had put them but he cryed out with a terrible voice Whither do ye flye O ye cowards whither do ye flye from two men And a litte after seeing that at this cry they faced about and began to put themselves into a condition to set upon us Take them added he and if ye cannot take them alive kill them At these words the Souldiers being ashamed of the fear they had expressed rallied up together and began to environ us and at the same time they turned the points of a thousand Javelins against us we knew then that our death was not far of but that was no news to us nor any more than for what we were fully prepared and therefore casting a look upon Cepio Let us die Cepio said I since you desire it but before our death let us send some of our Enemies before us I had scarcely made an end of these words when I saw my blood trickle down from some slight wounds and poor Cepio having received two or three mortal ones fell at my feet where immediately after he expired This man certainly for his courage and admirable generosity deserved a better destiny and if I had been in a condition to make some reflection upon his loss I had without doubt expressed all the resentments of grief that his valour and the assistance he had given me could merit from my acknowledgment Adieu brave Cepio cryed I thou dyest for my interests but it shall not be long before I bare thee company With these words I flew much more furiously into the middle of my Enemies dispatching the two nearest to me with the two first blows I gave them some others besides bare them company and I behaved my self so amongst them that alone as I was the boldest of them durst scarcely venture within the length of my Sword Nevertheless my resistance was to very little purpose and though I had been more valiant than many Achilles's together it was impossible for me to prolong my destiny I retired my self against a wall that I might not be assaulted but only before and there my Enemies made a semi-circle about me and pressed me so close that not being able to put by so many thrusts as they made at me and finding already a great diminution of my strength I was even a sinking under such a number when Artaxus himself came into the place and advanced himself towards that part where I was crying out they should take me alive and that they should take care of killing me upon pain of death This command certainly saved me and after I had defended my self a little longer having engaged my sword in the body of a Souldier who was forwarder than the rest his companions threw themselves upon me in so great a number that not being able to stir amongst them I was thrown down and disarmed a little after they tyed my hands behind me and in this condition they presented me to Artaxus who came near us and made the people give way that he might see me After he had cast his eyes upon my face Thou shalt not die said he as thou didst desire and I am resolved that thou shalt not have the satisfaction of changing the kind of death I had ordained for thee against my will thou shalt return into the hands of an Executioner from whom thou flyest but it shall be to die there in torments I heard his threat without any fear and looking upon him with more scorn than before I expect from thee said I all that can be expected from a base and cruel man and I know thou fearest my resentments too much to restore me to liberty Artaxus made no reply to this discourse but committed me to the custody of Theogenes and Sarpedon and putting them in the place of Eurilochus and Elpenor he commanded them to carry me back to prison and to guard me there till he had deliberated what kind of death to put me too fearing likewise lest I should die of my wounds and so avoid the punishments he prepared for me he gave order that I should be carefully looked to and thus his cruelty was every way for my preservation and by destining me to torments he himself made way for my safety I returned to the same prison from whence I came some hours before without hope of seeing it again and a little after they brought thither to me Narcissus and my two Squires all three
stopt at these words and having put my self during her discourse into a condition to reply Madam said I those sufferings and those dangers which you esteem so highly are not worthy of the smallest effects of your goodness and I thought to account them a thousand times more dear than my life since 't is by them 'T is enough said the Princess interrupting me and I am forced to break off your discourse Time calls upon us to be gone but in the first place Alexander I will tell you before Sarpedon to whom I am obliged for all I do in relation to your safety before my Maids and your Servants that together with your liberty I will give you Artemisa and that I am disposed absolutely to follow your Fortune as you are a Prince whom before these Witnesses I here receive for my Husband before Artaxus his cruelties I should have found a great resistance in my self against this action and though I had born you never so much affection I should never have received you for my husband without his permission but now that by his horrible actions he hath effaced all the characters of respect and friendship that were due to him from me and that he hath reduced me to such terms as that I cannot live with him but as with a monster or a savage beast I will make no difficulty to abandon him to follow you upon the confidence I have in your love and vertue nor to espouse you when we shall arrive at Augustus his Court or at any other place where you shall make your retreat If the sight of Artemisa if her former words had filled me with astonishment and joy judge you Cleomedon to what a height of both I was raised by this discourse and passing in one moment from a prison and the expectation of a cruel death not only to liberty but to the possession of Artemisa her self which I preferred before a thousand liberties and a thousand lives in what manner I could receive this strange alteration of my condition Truly it would be as hard for me to represent it to you as it was then to express it to Artemisa and I will content my self to tell you that being full of confusion and transport I threw my self the second time at the Princess's feet so amazed at the excess of my good fortune that I could give no intelligence of my thoughts but by my countenance After I had continued a while in this condition fixing my mouth upon one of her fair hands which I held betwixt mine Madam said I you have put me into such a condition as is impossible for me to express and the fortune which you offer me is so far above those hopes I might reasonably conceive that I cannot receive it without trouble and confusion yet from thence I received this so little deserved favour and since it pleases you out of an excess of your divine bounty to advance me to a quality whereof I am so unworthy I protest before the same persons whom you call as witnesses of my fortune that I will submit my self all my life long to your will with an absolute obedience and that I shall be ambitious of the honour to wait upon you and conduct you to those places where possibly you shall have no cause to regret the loss of any thing that you leave in Armenia I shall never regret any thing replyed Artemisa so long as I have a part in you and in your company from whom I hope all manner of fidelity and discretion I shall never be unhappy but let us remit these mutual assurances till another time and let us be gone from hence without any farther delay our stay may yet ruine all and I shall be in no quiet till we be better assured of our liberty With these words not expecting a reply she gave me her hand and causing those to march before that carryed the lights she guided me her self being conducted by Sarpedon down a little pair of stairs which till then were unknown to me into the street where we put out our lights and there about fifty paces from the Gate we found a Chariot with six good horses and those that were needful for Sarpedon my servants and the two Keepers that followed us and seven or eight horsemen besides being the Princesse's most faithful Officers attending upon the Chariot She made me enter presently with her two maids and Sarpedon and the rest being mounted on horse-back we set forwards and marching with great speed under the conduct of one of the Princess's men who was very well acquainted with the way we were to go We left Artaxata behind us in a very small time and when we saw our selves in the open fields we made away with all the speed our horses could At the break of day we came to a passage of the River Araxes where we had boats attended us and when we had passed the River we brake the boats in a thousand peices to deprive our enemies of the means to pursue us About half a days journey farther we found fresh horses which had been sent thither before and those we made use of instead of our own which were already tired with the great haste we had made We marched on still a great pace the rest of that day and all the next on the way to Cilicia for we would not take the way to Rome supposing they would pursue us that way and besides we had intelligence that Augustus and all his ordinary Court was in Asia with whom I hoped to find those persons that were nearest and dearest to me next to Artemisa But why do I amuse you any longer We passed out of Armenia without any hindrance and as we entred into Cilicia we were informed that Augustus was then or was to be shortly at Alexandria This was the most convenient way we could go and this way we took having informed our selves of all passages and expecting in that place the best retreat we could desire I will not repeat to you the conversations full of sweetness that I had with the Princess during our Voyage 'T was from her that I understood the means wherewith she had served her self for my deliverance and from her I knew that having gained Sarpedon by her caresses by her presents and the inclinations he had to vertue she disposed him to set me at liberty and to follow her fortune and mine throughout the World and that to this end having drawn Theogenes his companion into a house without the City he made him be detained prisoner there by some Souldiers that were at his dispose and returning into the City about the beginning of the night he placed all his guards except those that were privy to his intentions upon the stairs of the great Gate of the prison with order to attend there upon pain of death till his return and by this means he had the passage as free for us as we could desire I thanked Sarpedon
in quiet till I know to whom the thoughts of Britomarus are addressed Cinthia out of the violence of her despight totally lost all respect and discretion and looking upon the Princess with a more assured countenance than before It is to your self Madam said she to her and Britomarus since you force me to tell you so hath presumption enough to aspire to your self At these words she parted from us and left me alone with the Princess in an astonishment which can hardly be represented Arsinoe remained in no less confusion and repenting that she had drawn this displeasure upon her self by pressing Cinthia so far she continued a long time without daring to look up in my face My eyes were fixed upon the earth with an action whereby I was more convicted than by the discourse of Cinthia and when the Princess began to look upon me she saw me in a condition that perfectly exprest to her the disorder of my soul this sight causing her to make a reflection in a moment upon divers of my actions presently gave her suspicion and joyning to Cinthia's discourse and my troubled countenance the memory of a great many things which then appeared to her in another form than they had done formerly she believed part of that which this enraged Maid would have perswaded her to yet as she was of an admirable prudence and reservedness she believed her self to be obliged for divers reasons to dissemble her belief and endeavouring to dissipate her astonishment as speedily as possibly she could I did not believe said she to me that Cinthia had had so little discretion and you must needs have done her some signal displeasure seeing that her resentment hath made her commit such follies The Princess spake these words to me with an action so full of sweetness that I was deceived thereby and my Spirit which till then stood in great awe of her assumed from these appearances of goodness a boldness above what I naturally had At last whether this confidence obliged me to it or whether I had not force enough in this encounter to resist the impetuosity of my Love my indiscretion followed that of Cinthia and giving an answer to the words of the Princess without daring to look upon her It is certain Madam said I to her that Cinthia 's resentments against me must needs be great seeing that they carry her on to ruine and make her publish a crime for which I should hardly hope from a less goodness than your own The Princess at these words was much more troubled than before and breaking silence with a great deal of precipitation What Britomarus said she to me are you then culpable of that which Cinthia reproached you with I should sooner have suffered death replyed I then have declared it and I should yet expose my self to all kinds of pains rather than confess it if your Highness whom I cannot disobey did not demand the truth of me I am not ignorant of the disproportion which renders my thoughts criminal and thoughts in adorations proportion is not necessary and that with thoughts like those I have for you we may raise our eyes even to the Gods themselves yet out of a more profound respect than what we usually pay the Gods I should have concealed even to my grave that which out of fear to displeasure you both my heart and mouth ought eternally to keep secret from you if by Cinthia's indiscretion my crime had not been discovered contrary to my intention and if by her fault I did not see my self necessitated to acknowledge my own whereby possibly I expose my self to torments equal to my ambition I should have said more and the astonishment of the Princess gave me time enough to make her a long discourse if out of a little assurance which I recovered I had not advanced my eyes to her face wherein I beheld all the marks of a violent displeasure At this bold declaration which appeared very offensive to her from a man infinitely inferior to her resentment took the first place in her mind which presently represented to her that such an insolence as mine ought not to remain unpunished and in this thought she continued some time unresolved which way to proceed to my chastisement but by the moderation of her spirit she repressed her first emotions and having an admirable command of her self she quickly reduced her choler to such terms as she was pleased to give it and whether it were in relation to her self that she feared the publication of a thing which might redound to her shame and dishonour or out of a real effect of her goodness she would not expose me to all the pains which in her opinion were due to me she disposed her self not to pardon my fault but to punish me without noise and to cut off all possibility of a relapse Having framed this resolution after she had kept silence a great while I am sorry said she that by your presumption you have made me lose the dispositions I had to esteem you out of the good opinion I had of you and if I did as I should I should reduce you to the knowledge of your self by such wayes as you have obliged me to but the same goodness which you have so imprudently abused leaves your fault unpunished upon condition that you speak no more to me as long as you live and that you do not permit your ambition to aspire higher than Cinthia or her equals Ending these words with an action and a look which sufficiently expressed her disdain she retired her self towards those which were at the other end of the Terrace and left me alone in a condition full of displeasure and confusion In effect I was so moved with this accident that all my natural constancy was not capable to preserve my soul from a great disorder Grief shame and regret first took their place there and I know not which of these passions did most powerfully possess me I was extreamly afflicted at the ill success of my declaration and the little hope I saw in the pursuit of my love being ashamed to see my pride checked and my ambition humbled and stung with the resentment of disdain whereunto my spirit could never accustome it self neither for love nor any other passion All the enemies of my repose began to torment me with violence and upon this Terrace from whence the Princesses a little after retired themselves and whereupon I walked alone a long time I found my spirit much more agitated than it had been in all the other passages of my life All the night which followed this day I could not get so much as a taste of sleep and the change which I found in my condition presenting it self continually to my memory left no repose at all in my soul and tormented it with the most cruel inquietudes that it ever yet had felt What wilt thou do said I what wilt thou do unfortunate Britomarus in a design so
pursue with fire and sword the hateful bloud of those who contributed to the death of King Artibasus At this time by the great advantages we gained Media began to totter and Tigranes was really in great danger to see himself entirely ruined if the Gods had not sent him succour The King of Cilicia his ally and the Prince Philadelph his Son came with a puissant army to his assistance and revived his almost dying hopes By so great a supply the face of things began to be changed and we having to deal with a power greater than our own we proceeded with more caution than before and thought now upon defending our selves whereas before all our thoughts were only bent upon assaulting the Enemy Several bettels were fought the success whereof was doubtful wherein the advantage inclined sometimes to the one sometimes to the other party but in the last wherein I was for the King of Armenia's service the glory was intirely mine which not withstanding was counterballanced with one of the most sensible displeasures that ever I received in my life Ariston and Theomedes two Nephews of the King of Cilicia being departed from their Camp with 2000 Horse and 5 or 6000 Foot to go and surprize a small place which we had taken the year before and the King of Armenia having intelligence of their march and the condition they were in thought good that with a number of men little different from theirs I should go and encounter them and fight them as I should find occasion I departed I marched with great diligence and met the enemies before they were arrived at the place which they went to surprize The fight began and was maintained doubtful a long time but at length the victory fell to us and it fell to us so entire that almost all the Souldiers of the enemy were cut in pieces and the two chief Commanders being preserved alive in the battel by the care I took of their safety remained my prisoners I comforted them for their disgrace I promised them all manner of good usage and I returned from thence with my troop being victorious and laden with spoils to the King of Armenia he made me a wel-come which sufficiently testified what notice he took of this action and expressed an excessive joy for my good success and the taking of the two Cilician Princes whom he presently put under a strict guard and employed almost all the rest of this day in praising and caressing me Upon the morrow I no sooner appeared before him but he fell again upon my praises and in terms full of Elogies extolled in the presence of the Principal Commanders this last action promising me for it excessive recompence I then took my time for a request which I had to make and after that I had answered the praises he gave me with as much modesty as I possibly could Sir said I to him this slight action whereupon your Majesty sets so high an esteem is too well recompensed by the goodness you shew in accepting of it but if your Majesty judges me worthy to obtain any thing as a reward of this petty service I request of you the liberty of the two chief Commanders of the enemy which I brought prisoners and which yielded themselves to me upon the hope I gave them of being treated conformable to their condition Britomarus replyed the King to me with an action which expressed the little intention he had to grant me what I had desired of him your services are worthy without doubt of a greater recompense than what you desire of me and I shall requite you for them in such a manner that you shall have no reason to judge me ungrateful but I cannot grant you this you demand of me without violating an oath which all humane considerations are not capable to make me infringe and I do not so much esteem the other fruits of your victory and all the progress we have in the beginning of this Campania as I do the means I have to let the King of Cilicia know by the present I will send him of his two Kinsmen's heads after what manner I mean to make war with him and how ill advised he hath been to bear arms against a Prince which never offended him These cruel words of Artaxus made me tremble and beholding him with some horror What Sir said I to him can you find in your heart to put to death two prisoners of war so highly descended as Ariston and Theomedes And though I should not request their lives of you for all the services I have rendred you can you take them away from Princes escaped from the heat of the battel taken with their Swords in their hand in a just war and which never did you any particular offence The King did not approve of the liberty of my speech and answered me with a more serious countenance than before I shall be able to do it without doubt and in revenge of my Father I shall yet do things which may seem to you more cruel which nevertheless pass for just in my lawful resentments but do not alarm your self any more at it and be not so earnest for a thing wherein you have so little interest Have I but little interest in t it Sir replyed I Ah! I have interest in it as in the defence of my own life as in the conservation of my own honour and when either of them shall be in the extremity of danger I shall not be more interessed It is by my means that you have these prisoners in your power it was to me they rendred themselves whilest yet they had their arms in their hands whereby they might have found either safety or a glorious death and I cannot see them come to be put to death upon my parole without exposing my self with them to the greatest cruelty that your resentment prepares for them you forget your self said Artaxus to me bending his brows and possible it would be better for you to contain your self within the bounds of respect and not fly out in this manner for enemies which must and shall Perish though all the world should joyn their solicitations with yours for their safety And I will perish with them replyed I so transported that I had hardly any understanding left to consider his dignity and I cannot part with my life with less regret than in sacrificing it to my word and compassion for these men and the displeasure to see my services so ungratefully acknowledged you have received them from my inclination and not from my duty and it is by my own will only that I am engaged to give you that respect you require of me which by my birth you cannot exact of a man that was not born your subject The choler of the King of Armenia was mightily moved at these words and looking upon me with eyes sparkling with indignation Insolent said he to me it is the rank whereunto by an excess of favour I have
advanced thee that puts thee besides the knowledge of thy self but know that I shall find ways to humble thee as much as I have unjustly advanced thee and that I shall lay thee so low if thou dost not cease from provoking me that possibly thou shalt serve for an example to those whom immoderate presumption makes to transgress the limits which their birth hath prescribed them Ending these words full of disdain and outrage to an heart like mine he turned another way without giving me time to reply I should have done it for all that how Tragical soever the reply would have been to me if Artamenes had not opposed it and with divers others of my friends which had been present at this conversation had he not led me to my Tent so inflamed with choler and transported that I was hardly capable of suffering the violence they did me with any moderation When I was in my Tent and that I had made a reflection of some few moments upon my adventure and the unworthy usage I received turning my self to Artamenes and those that were with him My friends said I to them behold me subjected to more outrage and indignity than I ought to expect from my services and besides the injurious words wherewith Artaxus had a mind to humble me I see my self by the death of these two unfortunate men which he is about to sacrifice to his cruelty exposed to the most sensible displeasure that my soul is capable to receive I do little esteem the words and disdain of Artaxus upon whom I never had any design to bottome my Fortune Henceforward the favours of a King is he is shall be less dear and glorious to me and I dis-esteem them too much to purchase them with the least compliance or to receive them when they shall be offered me but in things wherein my honour is engaged I will spend my blood to the last drop to defend it and though I should infallibly lose my life in this design I will leave nothing unattempted to save the two Cilicians whom I have imprudently delivered up to his cruelty All those that heard my words could not condemn my resolution but they saw me in no capacity to execute it and I was able to do it so little alone against Artaxus that all I could devise in this design proved but ridiculous propositions Artamenes endeavoured to represent so much to me and appeared interessed in my displeasure as much as a good and generous friend could be but he could not bend my spirit to an unworthy and base complyance with the intentions of a cruel ingrateful King and I could not conceal from him that I was resolved to arm a party of the Souldiery whose affections I might conceive I had gained and go and free the Prisoners by force from the place where they were detained or of I could not find sufficient courage and affection in the hearts of the Souldiers for so bold an execution I would go and make my self be killed in defence of these infortunate men whose death in my opinion ought eternally to be objected to me as a reproach Artamenes wanted no reasons to oppose against this resolution neither was he forgetful of them but our dispute was as unprofitable as any design and presently after I had quitted Artaxus this cruel man or rather monster of cruelty whether it were that his spirit was more exasperated by the resistance I made against his will or that he feared lest I should attempt and execute something for the safety of the prisoners sent the Executioners who beheaded them in Prison without any further delay The memory hereof makes me tremble as well for the compassion I had of the destinies of these two men and the horrour I have had all my life of cruel actions as for the reproach I might receive from my own conscience though I was innocent for having contributed to their destruction after I had promised them life and usage conformable to their condition Artamenes and the rest of my friends were still in my Tent when I received this news and I confess they saw me break out into discourses and actions wherein there appeared no remainder of reason which made them fear some Tragical event from the grief and choler which transported me In these first emotions I thought and threatned no less than to revenge the blood of those poor wretches upon the person of Artaxus from whose cruelty the remembrance of my services could not free them and if those which were present at these menaces had not been my real Friends upon the least intelligence given to Artaxus I had undoubtedly found the death I despised Artamenes would not abandon me and guarded me all that day as if I had been a mad man doing all he possibly could to quiet my spirit from these violences by his discourses indeed he made me abate the rashness of them and put me into more moderate terms than before but for all our friendship he did in vain oppose the resolution I had taken to quit the service of Artaxus for ever and to go over to the Enemy it the remembrance of the mischief I had done them would permit me to hope for a reception there I will sooner suffer a thousand deaths said I than continue any longer in the service of this Barbarian this blood-thirsty Tigre whom a man cannot serve without rendring himself a complice of his cruelties this ungrateful Prince who requites mens services with disdain rage and unworthy usage The only cause which might make me own his interests ought not any longer to engage me Arsinoe disdains me as much as her Brother and if I cannot cease from loving her yet I ought to cease from seeing and desiring to please her and to seek a cure far from her which possibly I may find in an eternal absence and in other employments than in suffering unprofitably at her feet Although in the complaints which I made against Artaxus I mingled some too against Arsinoe yet I know well how to put a difference between them and I did not confound the ingratitude and inhumanity of the Brother with the severity of the Sister who was really born with all the great qualities which might render a Princess accomplished I was not cured of my passion by the usage she had shown me but I was desirous to be cured and I did so confirm my self by the injuries which I received of her Brother that I not only desired but conceived hope to find repose in my mind by separating my self both from Artaxus and Arsinoe for ever My destinies whereby I was called to something more important than these beginnings of my life which I have related unto you gave birth to this design and it was by my destinies that I was disengaged from Artaxus and Arsinoe to be conducted into places where fortune was as advantageously serviceable to me as I could desire where I found honours and dignities above my
desire death both in the perseverance of Cleopatra to hate him and in the carrying away of Cleopatra to which he believed himself to have contributed by the feebleness which as he thought he had shewed in her defence The great and prodigious efforts which he had made use of in this occasion seemed unto him unworthy of his ordinary valour and looking upon himself with disdain Ah my hand said he ah my strength in what necessity have ye basely abandoned me and in what occasion could ye have been more necessary than in the defence of Cleopatra ye have seconded my courage with success when I have fought for the interests of Caesar and when I have employed you for the recovery of a Crown and you disgrace your selves and quit me when the conservation of my Princess is conserned Ah ye Gods which vouchsafe no pity to the miseries of my life by what crimes could I possibly draw your eternal wrath upon my head was it not enough for the unfortunate Coriolanus to be exposed to the hatred and disdain of Cleopatra but that he must have also the displeasure to see Cleopatra between the arms of those inhumane ravishers which possibly may rob him of her sight for ever He continued some moments in judging wherein he was most unhappy whether in his disgrace or in the carrying away of Cleopatra but after he had reasoned with himself a while Ah! said he let us make no judgment upon it we are unfortunate in the same degree both in the one and the other and the misfortune of being hated and disdained by Cleopatra could not have been equalized but by the loss of Cleopatra Alas added he in pursuance of a thought which succeeded the former but for this misfortune I had possibly been upon the point to give a cessation to the former when these Barbarians interrupted us I was about to have learned of my Princess the crime whereof I am accused and no doubt but in the evidences of my innocencé which she would have discovered I should have found my justication But Fortune that Enemy of mine which without pity hath declared her self for my ruine could not dissemble in this accident and it was not from her that I ought to expect this favour seeing it is by her means that I lose all and by her it is that I see my self exposed to eternal miseries She did not present Cleopatra to me contrary to my expectation but to redouble my misfortunes by this last assurance of her indignation and to ruine me utterly with the regret of seeing that which I adore totally changed as she is and as to me insensible fallen into the power of those Monsters which have ravished her from my eyes Let us follow nevertheless added he let us follow that we love even to the utmost end of our life and let us render the succours we owe without any consideration Cleopatra is possibly no more lost to us in the arms of her ravishers than she will be in the embraces of Tyberius or of some other rival to whom she may have destined her self and we shall reap no advantage to our selves by the succour which we give her if it please the Gods that we be so happy as to give her any and yet we ought to employ our selves in her service even to the last drop of our bloud and though we should take her out of the hands of our ravishers only to put her into the hands of Tyberius we must close our eyes to our own interest blindly to involve our selves in hers and leaving her all the remorse which her change may cause in her die in the glory and satisfaction of having done our duty even to the end of our life In these discourses and these thoughts which accompanied his course the afflicted Prince traversed all the Wood and came to the Sea-shore where by a misfortune like to that of Caesario some dayes before he lost all track of the horses which till then he had exactly followed He continued in this place unresolved looking about him on every side and considering upon the choice of the way he was to take and he was in this condition when a Cavalier clad in rich and stately armour and gallantly mounted passing some paces from him made a stop to take a view of him Coriolanus to refresh himself from the heat which he had endured had his beaver up and his face was almost entirely discovered this was that which stayed the Unknown who presently knew the lineaments which he had engraved in his memory and whilst that Coriolanus marched by the Sea-cost but much more slowly than he had done till then out of the uncertainty he was in which way to take the Unknown marched seven or eight paces from him by his side having his eyes still fixed upon his visage and marking in his action a great deal of uncertainty and irresolution The King of Mauritania being attentive only to the pursuit of Cleopatra scarcely took any heed of him and when he did perceive him he took him for one of those which he had seen a little before go in pursuit of the ravishers In this thought and others wherein he was too profoundly engaged he followed the way he had taken without speaking to him and they passed some furlongs together in this condition till the Prince lifting up his head and seeing this man still by his side with all the appearances of a person that had to me design against him he began likewise to view him with some attention and was about to ask him what he was and to what intent he followed him when the Unknown preventing him and breaking silence first which till then he had kept Ah! I have considered too much cryed he I must die or be the death of this perfidious whom I have fought so long Speaking these words he drew his sword and opposing the Prince in his passage Defend thy self Son of Juba said he to him I must give death or receive it The Mauritanian Prince who was not naturally over-patient and who had at that time his humour exasperated by his discontent easily disposed himself to the Combat and he would with all his heart have made the efforts of his choler to have fallen upon the first object that presented it self if he had not found it an obstacle to the speediness of his pursuit This hindrance did somewhat abate the first motions of his anger and looking upon the man which stood before him with his sword advanced And what art thou said he to him as he was putting down the Beaver of his Helmet and laying his hand upon his Sword Thou which demandest the Combat of me at a time wherein my stay is worse than the death thou threatnest me withall I am replyed the Unknown the greatest of thy Enemies that 's enough to oblige thee to fight Yes 't is enough answered the furious Coriolanus and it may be too much for thy life Speaking these words
I had received this aversion answered the Queen from my nature I should have known how to have bridled it by my duty and I should have reduced my spirit to fit terms of submission to an Husband if in stead of my Husband he were not become the murtherer of all my Friends and my particular persecutor Ah! replyed Herod you are to blame to complain of my persecutions and hitherto I have not persecuted you but with too much love 't is for that you may really reproach me and though you had some reason to accuse me for the misfortune of your friends yet by the ardent testimonies of my love which I give you every moment of my life these resentments would have been effaced out of any spirit but yours Ah! what testimonies answered Mariamne what testimonies do you give me of your love which may endear me more than those actions whereby you have rendred me the most unfortunate of all Women What testimonies replyed Herod can you be ignorant of them ungrateful and unacknowledging Woman have you your eyes only open to injuries and will you eternally keep them shut against all the proofs of this violent passion whereby I have lost the reproof of my life Do not you remember that for you alone I abandon the care of my Subjects and of my own person which by your ingratitude you expose every day to the extremities of grief The Queen not able to dissemble her thoughts in this rancounter and by too prompt a precipitation losing part of that prudent precaution which she had hitherto used in the conduct of her life You forget said she in a disdainful manner to put me in mind of the most important proofs of your love and you would not have me know the obligations I have to you for the care you had of my safety in the Voyages you made to Laodicea and to Rhodes to Anthony and to Augustus It is certain answered Herod who did not at first apprehend the reproach she would make him that in spight of your cruelty nothing was so sensible and so insupportable to me in those Uoyages as the regret of being absent from you and they who saw me in that time of absence observed sufficiently in all my actions that I was separated from the better part of myself It was for this reason added the Queen that in both the Voyages you gave such excellent orders first to Joseph and afterwards to Sohemus for the conservation of my life and this part of your self was so dear to you that you were not willing that death it self should separate you from it At these words Herod seemed to be struck with a thunder-bolt and instantly calling to mind the orders he had really given to Joseph and Sohemus for the death of Mariamne he presently understood this reproach He had hitherto believed that she was ignorant of this effect of his cruelty and he had so odered the secret to those whom he had chosen for the Ministers of his cruel intentions that he could not imagine that for any consideration they could ever resolve to discover it but contrary to his expectation receiving this knowledge of the contrary and not being able to dissemble to the Queen this horrible effect of his jealousie he continued confounded and amazed expressing the motions of his soul by his silence and by the astonishment which appeared in his visage The shame of seeing his villany discovered to that Person of the world who should have been most ignorant of it was the first passion which possessed him and which made him hold his eyes fixed upon the earth without daring to raise them to the face of the so justly offended Queen then he thought upon the ill office he had received from his Subjects and sighed with grief for the infidelity of those in whom he most confided and in fine having an outragious spirit and capable by what he perceived in himself to entertain the strangest thoughts he imagined that Joseph and Sohemus could not have betrayed the confidence he had in them nor have failed in their duty to him both in regard of their birth and the benefits they had received of him but for the love of Mariamne This thought which threw it self with violence into his soul found as much room there to establish it self as could be and he knowing the powers of Mariamne by the daily proof he made of them made no further doubt but that by them only the fidelity of Joseph and Sohemus was staggered Jealousie that furious passion to which he naturally had so much inclination possessed it self incontinently of his soul and as in a place taken by assault it presently set all on fire the blackest suspicions he could conceive of the vertue of Mariamne presented themselves to his imaginations and the proofs he had received of it upon so many occasions could not in this last defend it from the criminal impressions which established themselves in his soul Ah! cryed he all in a rage I am betrayed I am undone both Heaven and Earth abandon me and all those whom I thought worthy of my friendship and my confidence ingratefully unite themselves to ruine me Ah envious Heaven Ah disloyal Wife ah ungratefull and perfidious Servants to what extremities do you reduce me After these words he continued some while without speaking revolving in his mind a thousand furious resolutions and walking in the Chamber with an action full of fury and transport The constant Queen who saw him in this condition was little moved at the expressions of his choler but she repented she had spoken so much and that by her discourse she had exposed to the rage of this cruel man those whose ruine she foresaw already she would have remedied it if it had been possible for her but she could not revoke what she had said and considering with her self which way to avert the tempest which hung over their heads and threatned them she continued in silence not without some confusedness which confirmed the jealous King in his unworthy imaginations After he had continued a while in this condition he approached the Queen with a pale and disfigured countenance and viewing her with a furious eye from head to foot Those which told thee of my intentions said he to her told thee but the truth and it imports me nothing to deny it that out of a violent excess of love I would not have left thee after my death either to thy Friends or to my Enemies yes my design was not to be separated from thee by death it self and I should have been too happy if I had performed in my life-time what I have commanded to be done after my death Those perfidious persons who have betrayed me have told thee nothing but the plain truth but they did not dispose themselves to deceive the confidence I had in their friendship and expose themselves to the punishments which are due to their infidelity but upon some powerful considerations thou hast
without doubt proposed a recompence to them which hath made them despise what they could expect from me and not fear that death which they affronted in betraying me It was not by a present of small price that thou hast corrupted those persons which had been always most faithful to me and Joseph who is one of the most eminent ranks in Judea as being my near ally and Sohemus whom by my bounty I had put into a condition not to aspire to Riches by so dangerous a Treason could not have been seduced by any Power inferior to thy beauty these are the charms which have gained them and thy favors only have made them contemn the dangers which might divert them from their Treason Herod pronounced these words with an impetuosity which sufficiently expressed the cruel agitation of his Soul and the Queen having hearkned to him with an admirable patience Say what thou wilt said she to him against a Person who is no longer in a condition to receive new offences either by this action or by thy discourse and God hath discovered to me the fatal orders which thou gavest against my life by other ways than thou imaginest and those whom thou suspectest to have revealed thy secret are not they by whom thy cruel intentions are made known unto me This is thy custome replyed Herod crying out more than before to excuse thy lovers in the bloody out-rages they do me and thou takest care of their love who never hadst any care of thy Husbands repose or thine own reputation Thou wouldst have rendred the like office to the perfidious Tyberius and those favours which thou hadst prodigally bestowed upon a Barbarous Prince are since communicated to my allies and descended to my Domestiques This is the high spirit this is that pride which hitherto hath made part of our divisions and the haughty blood of the Asmoneans which disdained a King her husband hath debased it self even to Sohemus In conclusion he gave her a thousand reproaches full of injuries against which the Queen did nor vouchsafe to justifie her self but looking upon him with more disdain than ãâã Thou may'st believe said she whatsoever thy rage can inspire thee with against me the outragious reproaches which thou layest upon me shew the baseness of thy soul and of thy birth and I scorn thee too much to take any care to defend my self against thy unworthy accusations Thy care would be but in vain replyed the Jewish King and thou mayst reserve thy justifications for the defence of a Life which I have spared but too long the time is come that I will mock at thâ scorn and thy infidelities shall be punished that love which hitherto hath guarded thee against my too just resentments shall no longer oppose it self against my justice and I have lost that fatal passion which created all my misfortunes since I have discovered amongst thy lovers the basest of my Domestiques they shall pay me part of the offences they had done me by their blood and torments shall draw such verities out of their mouths as shall make thy shame and perfidiousness appear to the world Having spoken these words to which the Queen had not time nor possibly any design to reply he called the Officers of the Guard and commanded them upon pain of death to conduct the Queen presently to the Prison to which they were wont to commit Persons of Quality The Queen submitted to this command with less repugnance than she had to come into his chamber and she followed the officers whither they would have her without speaking a word or changing countenance At the same time he sent other Officers to seize upon Joseph and Sohemus and though the former had married his Aunt and was of a considerable rank amongst the Jews yet he used him with no more gentleness than Sohemus but sent them both into several parts of the Prison He had hardly given these orders but the wicked Salome having learned by her spies whom she had ordinarily about him part of what he had passed came to see him in his Chamber where she found him in the violent agitations of rage and transport He no sooner saw her but coming to her with a disfigured countenance Sister said he I am very sorry that I did not follow your counsel long since and I had freed my self of those mortal displeasures which torment me if I had not suffered my self to be so much blinded with the love of this Woman which Heaven hath given me for the scourge and Plague of my Life 'T is not only upon Tyridates that this ungrateful Woman bestowes her affections she descends to Jews of a much inferior Birth than that Barbarian Prince and at last debases her self even to my Domestiques Salome made as if she were amazed at this discourse and by a mischievous and dangerous address whereby she gave more room and credit to her artifices she fainted at first as if she would have excused the Queen and not have given credit to so apparent accusations Herod who though prudent and subtile in all other things had incredible weaknesses in things of this nature fell into the snare which she laid him and opposing her seemingly officious humor with the testimonies which he believed he had of Mariamnes infidelity he related to her with a discourse full of vehemence and impetuosity what had passed at this last visit that she had rendred him he confessed to her that upon the knowledge he had of Anthonies amorous inclinations and the advice he had received that Gallus had carried the Pourtracture of Mariamne to that Prince to make him affect her at his departure to go to him at Laodicea he commandeth Joseph if he died in this Voyage to put Mariamne to death not being willing that she should survive him to enjoy with Anthony the fruit of a death which possibly she might have procured him and that upon the same consideration he had given the same order to Sohemus when he went to Rhodes to appear before Augustus but that he had commended the secret to them both in such a manner and had engaged them besides to the fidelity which they owed him by so many benefits that Mariamne could not have perverted them but by favours exceeding his and by proofs of affection which made them both despise the friendship of their King and death which they might infallibly expect for betraying him Salome shrank her shoulders at this discourse and feigning to be of the Kings mind against her will It is very difficult said she to guard ones self from the misfortune which it pleases Heaven to send us and principally in things so little foreseen and so far from appearance I never doubted but that Mariamne loved Tyridates but I should not have believed that she had fallen so low as Sohemus if in the discourse you have made me I did not see proofs sufficiently convincing Ah disloyal woman continued she after she had kept silence a while
after a great deal of pains taken with him Tyridates opened his eyes which he turned every way in such a manner as caused those that stood about him to judge sadly of it Marcellus called him by his name divers times and seeing that he did not answer him but with dying looks Tyridates said he to him will you not call to mind that you are a man and more than that that you are a man of courage Afflictions may touch you but they should not make you lose either your knowledge or your reason Tyridates made no reply to these words of Marcellus but only after he had tumbled a few turns upon the bed like a person full of agony opening his mouth to give passage to a voice interrupted with sobs O Mariamne said he you are dead and more than that 't is Tyridates who hath hastened your death this was it that remained to conclude his deplorable destiny with an end conformable to the beginnings of his calamities and it was not aggravation enough to the last misfortunes of Tyridates that Mariamne should die but that Mariamne should die for Tyridates his fault I have brought you to your Grave O Queen whom I have so religiously adored and I have not a life precious enough to sacrifice to your memory in change for yours He sâopt at these words and recollected himself to receive the favourable death which he desired and whereof he already felt the approaches whilst Marcellus endeavoured to divert his grief Tyridates had no more ears for his discourse nor eyes for the objects which presented themselves before him nor thoughts for things of this world Never possibly did Love produce a more excellent and more marvellous effect than it wrought in this Prince and by the means of his love alone his grief served him in stead of a Sword Poyson Precipices and without requiring any external help death which was desired by him and is to be wished for by unfortunate Men like him offered it self to his assistance and presented it self to him at a time when he received it with a joy which in appearance could have no residence in his soul He perceived the approach of it and took notice of it and giving it entertainment worthy of the good office it did him O death said he with a lower and more feeble voice than ordinary O death how willingly do I receive thee and though I ought possibly to refuse thy help at a time when some remainder of life is necessary to me to tear out the soul of Mariamne's Executioner with mine own hands yet how dear is thy succour and thy coming favourable to me O Mariamne continued he a little after receive this soul which I render you as the only reparation I can make you for having contributed to your death It takes its flight towards you unworthy as it is to present its self before you and in what condition soever you be the purity of yours will never be offended by the last gift I make you of it These were the last words he spake and a little after grief giving its last assaults seized upon his heart in such a manner that that part which lives first and dies last was not capable of sustaining the functions necessary for the conservation of life He only looked a farewell to Marcellus and Arsanes and a little after his eyes were covered with darkness his speech failed him and all his strength having totally forsaken him he remained cold and pale between Arsanes his arms not in a swoon like those whereinto he had formerly fallen but really dead a death which being neither violent nor natural but participating of both did punctually accomplish Thrasillus his prediction a death which freed him for ever from the more tedious and cruel deaths which he had incessantly found in the memory of Mariamne Happy Man in his destiny that he did not survive the person for whom he had only lived and glorious in his end for having given in his death so brave an example of the most pure and real passion that ever any soul was enflamed withall The End of the Fifth Part. HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece PART VI. LIB I. ARGUMENT Cornelius Gallus Pretor of Egypt is deeply taken with Candace's Beauty He taketh an opportunity to discover his affection which she receives with much inward trouble and outward coldness The coming of Elisa breaks off their discourse Elisa acquaints Candace with her dream and she gives her her thoughts upon it Walking together in the Garden of the Palace they over-hear the complaints of a fair Slave that attended upon Elisa Their curiosity prompts them to a farther discovery and upon their request she relates the story of her life She speaks her name Olympia and her self Daughter to Adallas King of Thrace Her own Brother falls in love with her and discovers his incestuous desires which she entertains with horror and amazement She opposes his passion with all the strength of Vertue and Reason but in vain She acquaints her Father with it who sharply reproves him and resolves to dispose of her but is prevented by death The young Adallas succeeding in the Kingdom armed his solicitations with authority and threatens to compel his Sister to marry him She with a small retinue flies from Byzantium WHilst Love produced these sad effects at the gates of Alexandria his powers were no less imployed in the City and the ancient Palace of the Ptolomies that Tyrant God found in the two Princesses which Fortune had committed to the care and custody of the Pretor of Egypt a fit subject to exercise himself upon These two admirable Persons from the very first day of their acquaintance had contracted such an amity as had left nothing reserved in their souls and if by the charming conservation of the Queen of Ethiopia the fair Princess of the Parthians could not repress that smarting grief which the loss of her brave but unfortunate Artaban had rendred master of her heart yet 't was certain that in the sweetness which she found in the affection which she had conceived for so extraordinary a person as Candace was she relished some sort of consolation and gave place too to some shadow of hope induced thereto by the discourse which the fair Queen made her of the marvellous events of Fortune and the appearances which might in some sort flatter her with a belief of Artaban's safety Candace's cares though not slight ones were yet more moderate than Elisa's sadness and the remembrance which was fresh in her mind that she had seen her dear Caesario a few dayes before dissipated the greatest part of her grief and she was a thousand times more satisfied to see her beloved Prince escaped from the dangers wherein she had left him at her departure from Meroe than she could be afflicted at the loss of her Dominions or with the other effects of her misfortune which would have produced greater resentments in any other spirit but
much afraid then that I was not beloved by him as I was at first that I loved him better than I should do Whilst we were upon these terms when any other Spirits than ours would have found another subject for their thoughts than that which took up ours we saw no Vessel appear to succour us and our provisions decreased in such a manner that we had no more left than for eight daies 'T is true our men had found an invention to catch fish and there was in that little Island a spring of fresh water and by that means we hoped to spin out our daies a little longer when all our other Victuals failed us but this was but a very sorry shift and there was little probability that a tender complexion should long subsist upon no nourishment but only Fish and Water besides the incommodities of lodging and bedding might in time ruine a more robustious constitution than mine All our people were in a very desolate condition and though they expected some return of the Prayers which they continually made to Heaven all hope had almost deserted them I was the least troubled at the apprehensions of death and the Unknown made it sufficiently appear to me that if he was moved at it 't was not upon the only consideration of his own life I should be very unfortunate said he to me one day if I had only prolonged my life to see the end of yours and the succour I received from your goodness would be very cruel to me if I must purchase these few daies which it hath added to mine by the greatest of all displeasure under which a courage can suffer Ah! If my destinie be so I may well excuse Heaven to my last gasp for not permitting me to lose my life amongst the waves where all my company have sound their sepulture If that must happen answered I we must conform our selves to the will of the Gods who with soveraign authority dispose of our daies and your murmuring will not make them change their decrees No added the Unknown but it will convince them of cruelty and injustice and where there is so just a cause of complaint it it is no easie thing to keep within the bounds of an absolute moderation Vertue replied I ought to produce this effect in us and from that only we may receive ability to support the utmost rigour of our destinie Ah! Vertue cried he with a sigh if thou oughtest to succour me why is thy assistance so slow and why hast thou not defended me in a far greater necessity than this danger is to which our lives are now exposed Ah! Madam continued he looking upon me with an ill assured countenance how much inequality will there be if the Gods have so decreed it the end of our dayes and how great ought the difference to be between our grief in respect of the losses we must have In uttering these words he let fall some tears and I was so moved at them that I had almost let him understand by some marks of weakness that in the death which we expected or in the thought which then took up our spirits there was no such great difference as he imagined We passed divers days in this manner without his giving me any more particular knowledge of his cruel inquietudes which I could not impute only to the fear of death and he went alone to spend the greatest part of the day in the most private and unfrequented parts of the little Island that he might not be interrupted in his musing and melancholy humour and at those hours when he was obliged in civility to visit me accosted me and spake to me with a countenance so troubled and so different from that which he had shewed me some days before that it was easie to judge by exterior appearances that he had inwardly received some powerful alteration According to his example I sought occasions of solitude and oftentimes quitting the company of my governess and Eurilus I went abroad to walk with Ericia only in those places where we might be least disturbed in our conversation This Maid had related to me the discourse she had heard from the mouth of the Unknown in which one might easily observe some particular interest and having an absolute confidence in her I had discovered to her though with a little shame all my most secret thoughts and the inclination I had for the Unknown Ericia was not troubled at this declaration and whether it were that her condemning me or whether she was favourable to the man because she suspected his thoughts to be of the same nature with mine she did not strive to suppress this inclination in the birth but oftentimes told me that if any man was capable of producing a sudden affection without doubt it was the Unknown and that if it pleased the Gods that he were of a birth never so little near to mine one could not see a couple in the world better matched This indulgence which Ericia had for my thoughts made me love him the more and I declared my mind to her with the greater liberty We often made conjectures together upon the actions and discourses of this man to judge if I was beloved by him and though we had great suspitions of it we were still in uncertainty when fortune sent us an occasion to clear our doubts I went one day out of my lodging only with this Maid to entertain my self with her concerning that which at that time wholly imployed my thoughts and leaning upon her arms I walked to the least frequented parts of the little Island when approaching to one of the extremities of it where there was a little thicket of trees and some points of a Rock above the Shore Ericia made me take notice of divers inscriptions engraved upon the bark of the trees with a bodkin or the point of a knife the letters which composed the inscriptions were Greek and the little knowledge we had of that Character hindred us from discerning them handsomely but among the inscriptions there were wounded hearts True-lovers-knots and other pretty representations much used amongst amorous persons We were amazed at first at this accident and in regard the Letters were but newly cut we knew very weil they could not have been there long and that consequently they were made by some person then in the Island Amongst my retinue I judged that none but Eurilus was capable of these things and yet both his age and his humour too in the condition we then were were so little conformable to his gallantry that I could not accuse him of it and I was immediately of Ericia's judgment that it must needs come from the fair Unknown Never believe me said Ericia if these be not the effects of that which I have so much suspected and if this man who is as passionate in my imagination as any man can be doth not communicate to trees and things insensible that which his respect and
handsome and so capable of making it self beloved and of disarming my anger that when I thought to open my mouth to condemn his temerity with words of rigor my heart could never consent to it but stifled in my mouth the discourse I intended I turned away my eyes once more from his face to recall a resolution which this sight did too strongly oppose and I began to examine my self and study what discourse to make to reconcile my duty with my inclination or to comply with my inclination without offending against my duty I know not whether my silence and confused action did embolden him but after he had waited a while for my answer seeing that I opened not my mouth to reply I see very well said he that my rashness is condemned and 't is reasonable that I should expiate the offence I have done You with that which I owe to Your goodness I will willingly sacrifice it on that score and all the regret I can have in so doing will be that in parting only with my life I shall part with nothing that is mine for the reparation of my crime Command me Madam to restore back again to the Sea that which by a secret order of Heaven it threw at your feet or command me to take out of the World this object of your resentment by any other way that is capable of giving you satisfaction and if You find me slow in obeying you judge as you may have reason to do that I have undertaken to serve you with a courage too low for so high an enterprise or if Heaven which hath subjected me to you by so uncommon a way stirs up Your pity in my favour and disposes You to suffer my adorations as it suffers them it self do not oppose those pitiful inspirations and look with a gentle eye upon the most religious and submissive slave that ever your divine beauties could make conquest of Whilst he was pronouncing these last words I had a little recomposed my self but not so much neither but that there remained enough disorder and confusion in my soul to hinder me from forming any rational discourse I turned my self a little towards him and seeing him in that submissive posture which he had used all the time And who art thou said I that comest to assault my heart with such arms as oblige me to look upon thee as my enemy and one who in a place and a condition where and when we expect nothing but death endeavourest to trouble the tranquillity of my last days What is thy thought what are thy hopes what is it thou desirest of me I offer you replyed the Unknown I offer You a heart that was never offered to any but Your self and sacrifice unto You the most innocent thoughts that ever any mind conceived I onely desire You to allow of this respectful passion which fixes me at Your feet for that short time of my life which yet remains the fear of approaching death which You set before my eyes hath not been able to oppose its birth and if it please the Gods that our days receive their period in this place where we seem to be deserted by their assistance the glory of these last days when you have owned them will be more dear to me than all the time of my life I have passed hitherto in a more composed condition if I trouble the repose of Your days and make an attempt upon Your heart with arms too weak to make any impression there impute it to Your own powers which are too strong to find any resistance in a soul that is susceptible of love and to the destinies which have acted after an extraordinary manner in this engagement of my liberty Whilst he was speaking in this manner by little and little I inured my self to look upon him and hearken to him and to a mind prepossessed as mine was all things appeared in him so agreeable and so advantagious that I could no longer retain the motions of my inclination which urged me to let him know that I did not hate him In conclusion I could not be so much Mistress over them but that I blushed and expressed my self to him in such terms as quickly discovered my thoughts to him I see nothing in Your person said I but what appears to be worthy of esteem and your thoughts do not seem so criminal to me but that with a little indulgence they might be excused if they were accompanied with that which ought to authorize them but two obstacles are in the way which should have stifled such thoughts the hunger in which we are when probably such a passion as you represent to me could not but have an unseasonable birth and my extraction which ought to have extinguished all your hopes if You be not of a blood proportionable to Your designs I pronounced these words with so much shame that it hindred me from proceeding but the face of the unknown was filled in a moment with all the marks of joy and beginning to speak with an action full of transport As for the fear of death said he Madam I confess it hath not been powerful enough to blot out of my heart the fair image you have imprinted there and as for the consideration of your birth that hath not extinquished my hopes because I believed if I may say so with respect that the blood from whence I am descended is not inferior to yours I will no longer conceal from you who I am and if you had given me order I had discovered to you sooner a truth which possibly would have made you find less crime in my audacious thoughts I am Olympia would have proceeded when Ericia who stood at the entrance of the Arbor to hinder her from being surprized in her discourse gave notice that Cornelius was coming and immediately after the Princesses saw him approach attended upon by divers of his followers Olympia presently removed from the place where she was seated that she might not be taken for any other than a Slave both Elisa and Candace received a very sensible displeasure to see her narration interrupted when their curiosity expected most satisfaction and they would have been more troubled at it if they had not hoped to prevail with her to resume her discourse when they should be freed from Cornelius his company and in the mean time with some marks of discontent they rose up to receive him After he had given them the time of the day and by some expressions of civility wherein his looks spake particularly to Candace he had signified to them that the care he had of their repose and divertisement had held them that morning in some inquietude he obliged them to return to their appartments to take their repast and the hour being already come The Princesses could not contradict him and taking leave with their eyes of Olympia who with Ericia turned another way they not daring to make any greater demonstration for fear of
Prince whom I could not leave in grief without resenting a great deal of it my self 'T is to the Court of the King of Armenia my Brother that I retire my self and if after you know this you have any love left for the Sister of your Enemy 't is in that place you may seek for Delia in the Person of Arsinoe and there learn that my birth is not inferiour to yours By this declaration I partly justifie what you condemned and you will know without doubt that the Sister of Artaxus had reason to keep her self concealed in the King of Cilicia's Court and that a Princess of Arsinoe's extraction was obliged to a greater circumspection in the conduct of her life than a mean and unknown Delia. You know the wayes you must use to acquire me if you retain any desire to do it the enmity which is between our Families will not hinder Artaxus from considering the obligation I have to you and the merit of your Person if the King your Father desires his alliance I am obliged by decency and by vertue to submit my self to his will but as far as they can permit my inclinations to act for you I promise you that Arsinoe will be as favourable to you as you can expect from the honour and the generous treatment you have shewed to Delia. O Gods O omnipotent Gods cryed Philadelph having heard out the words of Arsinoe's Letter from how many pains and troubles and sorrows worse than death might I have secured my self if I had been permitted to read these sacred words wherein my destiny was contained O my too regular obedience and yet such an obedience as I cannot repent of how many tears hast thou caused me how many torments and cruel traverses hast thou cost me Accuse your negligence rather replyed the Princess smiling seeing by your negligence only in not preserving of that which you say was so important to you you exposed your self to all the displeasures you have been sensible of yet I will willingly pardon it upon the score of the obligation I have to that regular obedience whereof you complain and to give you some comfort upon that account let me tell you that though you had read that Letter the loss of which hath so much afflicted you you would have received no other satisfaction by it but onely to have known that in the person of Delia you had loved the Daughter of a King without knowing for all that the place of my retreat which hitherto hath been quite contrary to my intention I wrote the Letter in these terms I gave it to you and I exacted of you the promise which was necessary for my security and I saw you depart if I may be permitted to say so with more regret than I expressed to you either by my countenance or discourse yet you observed by that that I was not insensible of that separation and 't is certain though I may be blamed for this confession that you were not so indifferent to me but that I felt the grief of it at the bottom of my heart I endeavoured to dissemble one part of it and discovered the other believing that I was so far obliged to you that I might without crime give you these marks of my acknowledgment and affection Nevertheless I would not quit your Country immediately after your departure that I might receive news from you which was very welcome to me and that the Princess Andromeda might not judge by my sudden going away that your consideration only detained me with her During the stay I made there I heard with a great deal of joy of the happy success of your arms and the particular relation of your gallant actions in the glory whereof I interessed my self possibly a little more than I should have done and at last when I judged that the affairs of that War were very forward that you might shortly return into Cilicia I resolved upon my departure to the end that if your return was more speedy than was believed you might not find me in a place where possibly your presence and your Prayers would have staid me still contrary to my intention 'T was the knowledge of my own weakness which made me hasten my Voyage and I was very sensible of the trouble I had to resist those tears and those marks of grief and dispair which had retained me so long in Cilicia I will not repeat particularly to you the difficulty I had to obtain leave to go of the Princess your Sister but truly you have this obligation to her amity that out of the care she had of your satisfaction she spared neither prayers nor tears nor any testimony of the most ardent affection to stay me I continued divers dayes before I could dispose her to let me go and besides the displeasure she expressed at my departure upon her own consideration she protested to me that I could not have that design except I meant to take away your Life and that I committed an action of ingratitude and inhumanity unworthy of my self I told her but in vain that the matter was not so bad as she made it and that in the Letter which I had given you you would find wherewith to comfort your self and all the address you could desire towards an absolute satisfaction and contentment which doubtless would be more dear to him than my continuance in Cilicia She took all this discourse for a put-off and I believe I had never wrought her to consent if she had not remembred the request you made to the King and to her to use fair means only to retain me and not to offer me any violence This consideration brought her at last to that which I desired of her when she saw that my resolution could not be altered she acquainted the King with it her self and prayed him as I had requested her to cause me to be safely conducted to one of the Cities under the obedience of the King of Armenia I desired no more for fear of declaring my self too far and I knew well enough that when I discovered my self in the King my Brothers Dominions I should find all manner of assistance and convoy to Artaxata The King himself after the Princess had done employed a great deal of care to stay me and protested divers times to me that he was as desirous now that I should be his Daughter as he had been averse from it before At last when he saw me resolved upon my design he offered me all I could desire for my Voyage and after he had considered whom he might trust to conduct me he gave the employment to Antigenes This man at first I suspected because he had formerly made love to me with a great deal of earnestness and with assurance to marry me by the Kings favour who as you know upheld him in that design yet remembring how he had behaved himself towards me since the day you prohibited him to see me the respect he
unknown is this possible that you tell me and shall I be so happy as to be able to render you part of that which you have bestowed upon me Upon these words Ariobarzanes briefly acquainted him with the Shipwrack we had suffered the condition we were in for want of provisions and a Vessel to carry us off and the expection of our certain death if his Arrival had been deferred but a few dayes longer he made him this Discourse without telling him either his own name or mine being resolved not to discover himself before he knew my pleasure and the stranger without asking him any thing at that time more than he desired to tell him expressing an extraordinary joy in his look I praise the gods said he for the good Fortune they send me beyond my hopes and I protest before them that I will make such use of that no body shall ever possibly accuse me of ingratitude I will not only carry you and the persons which are with you out of this place but if the absolute Command which I offer you in those places where I can claim it cannot cause you to stay there I will cause you to be conducted to any part of the World whether you would retire and in all respects I will expres the acknowledgment which is due to the miraculous preserver of my life having spoken these words he would have gone along with Ariobarzanes to look for those persons which he had signified to him to be so considerable but Ariobarzanes seeing that he was weak and lost blood prayed him to retire into his Vessel to cause his wounds to be bound up supposing that it might be more commodiously done there than in the little Island where we were not provided of any thing necessary for that purpose whil'st he went to seek us to conduct us into his Vessel The unknown gave way to Ariobarzanes's will and some of his men being gone to put the Skiff into the water he passed into his Vessel with his men whil'st the joyful Ariobarzanes came back to us to acquaint us with his good fortune and ours You need not doubt but that the fear which I had during the Combat was succeeded by an excessive joy when I perceived the success of it and that from the place where I was I could observe that it suited with my desires though I was not without some trouble for fear Ariobarzanes might have received some hurt I saw that the Commander of those men whom he had assisted being followed by all his Company came to him and though I did not hear their Discourse yet I conceived and partly knew by their action that it expressed their thankfulness I had two causes of joy at the same time almostequally great the one to see Ariobarzanes escaped from that great danger with so much glory after he had performed such actions as made me know him to be one of the most valiant men in the World and the other to see our selves probably upon the point of being freed from the danger of death which had so long threatned us and from which we had so little hope to escape I began for all that to wonder when I saw all the men go away and reconduct their Captain to the Vessel without taking us with them and I apprehended that all was not well when I saw Ariobarzanes come to us His Cloaths in some places were covered with the blood of his Enemies and the heat of the Combat had overspread his Cheeks with a colour which made him look more handsome than ordinary I did not know what to expect from him when by the chearfulness of his countenance I guessed he had no bad News to tell us he expressed as much in coming to us throwing himself at my knees with Transports full of violence Madam said he to me you shall not dye and 't is not without reason that I alwayes hoped for particular assistances from Heaven for you I will not render you continued he with tears of joy the Office for which you designed me and it shall not be in this Island that you shall recieve from Ariobarzanes the Duties of a Burial He used many more expressions of joy and transport but in all the actions which were occasioned by his joy he made it alwayes sufficiently appear that his contentments were much greater for my safety than for his own my satisfaction was not inferiour to his and believing that it was unnessary to dissemble it before him and Ericia Ariobarzanes said I I rejoyce as I ought to do to see escaped out of so great a danger with so much glory and I am sensible as you may very well judge me to be of the happiness we have in being rescued from the death which we expected I look upon both occasions of joy with little difference and you ought not to believe that I am less contented to see Ariobarzanes Conqueror in so gallant a Combat than to vnderstand that we are upon the point of getting off from a place where we believed we should lay our Bones I was too favourable in my expressions without doubt if you censure them with any Rigour and Ariobarzanes's joy was so augmented by them that it would have broken out into excess if he had not taken notice of the coming of those few persons that were still left of my Retinue who upon the report of that great Combat which one of them had related to his Companions came all about me to receive my Commands I ordered them to go and fetch those things of ours which were worth the carrying and the gods know away they ran with excessive contentment and were no long time returning these poor people being quite transported to see themselves almost miraculously delivered from a death which they believed to be inevitable did such things as sufficiently signified the disorder which joy had occasioned in their Souls and this spectacle did so move me to tenderness that I could not hinder my self from shedding tears after their example In the mean time we enquired of Prince Ariobarzanes if he was not wounded and after he had retired aside to search himself he told us he had a little hurt upon his left Arm and the skin of his body a little razed in two or three places I praised the gods for this good Fortune and when our little Company was come together we marched towards the shoar where we found the Skiffe which waited for us to conduct us into the Vessel We passed into it thanking Heaven for our Fortune and though I looked upon the Rocky Island which we left behind us as upon a place where a few moments before I thought to have found my Grave and where I had lost some persons whose remembrance did very sensibly afflict me yet I confess I could not hate it when I remembred that it had bestowed Ariobarzanes upon me and the Prince as he hath told me since looked upon it with tenderness when he
interressed presently perceived it and reproached me with it upon the place I took little care to justifie my self before a man to whom I thought my self to owe no Duty and if I did take any 't was more for Ariobarzanes's security than out of any respect to my self When he was gone forth the King constraining me to sit down by his Beds-side set his passion defore my eyes in the most moving rerms that it could furnish him withal and representing to me the pains and the hazards to which he had exposed himself in following me as proofs of affection for which he judged I was very reduceable to him but the more he spake of it the more repugnance I had to hear him and at last my patience being tired I so much encouraged my self that contemning all the power he could have over me and looking upon him with a disdain not conformable to the thoughts we ordinarily have for a Brother and a King Adallas said I to him Do not think thou hast found any favourable change in thy condition by this encounter and think that Olympia is not so fallen into thy hands but that she can get out of them when she pleases the wayes are alwayes open to persons who like her know how to condemn death and thou may'st be well assured that to flie thy Arms she will make no difficulty to cast her self into the embraces of death Do not think therefore to triumph over my former Resolutions by the power which Fortune seems to have given thee over me and believe with an absolute certainty that at that moment when thou shalt go about to abuse it I will either throw my self into the Sea in thy presence or sheath a weapon in my Breast or if these means of avoiding thy Tyranny be taken from me by force I will infallibly obtain that by fasting which may be denied me by any other assistance I spake these words with such a resolute action that Adallas did not doubt but that I had Courage enough to execute what I expressed and having a fresh example of what I had lately done he certainly believed that a person who had braved death with so much assurance and by the memory of the dangers which she had lately escaped was not staggered at all in her designs was capable of undertaking any thing and of throwing her self self into greater extremities than the former when she should see her self constrained to it The reflection he made upon it kept him a long time from speaking lifting every moment his eyes to Heaven and using such gestures as did sufficiently express the trouble and the inquietude of his spirit At last breaking silence and looking upon me with an action full of the marks of his passion Olympia said he to me the gods are my witnesses that if it were in my power to cease from loving you I would cure my self of this passion which is so disagreeable to you for our common repose and that hence forward I have so little hope to conquer your inclinations that I would no longer endeavour to contest with them but seeing that in the violence whereunto my love is arrived this hope is forbidden me I cannot Olympia I cannot promise you that I will cease to love you Neither will I promise you that I will give you no more testimonies of my love by my discourse and actions it will be difficult for me to live near you without making that appear to you which takes up my whole life I will love you to my Grave and to my Grave I will testifie to you that I cannot cease to love but I will promise you and do now promise you before all the gods That I will never employ any thing whil'st I live but love perseverance and all the devoiers of a true lover to perswade you without having recourse to the Authority which my Birth gives me and I was heretofore resolved to make use of Yes Olympia you may be very certain that you shall never be forced to give me those testimonies of your affection which I might desire if you be not induced to do it by my love and services and with the assurance you may return without fear into a Kingdom where you shall reign as in my heart but withall believe assuredly that I will never consent whil'st I breath to anothers happiness but will rather undo all and bury my self in the ruines of our Family than permit that any body else should obtain that of you which you so cruelly deny me In fine Olympia I will never enjoy you by force nor will I ever suffer any other to possess you as long as I shall have any life left to hinder and if it be possible for me I will be the death of all those who shall have the intention to do it These words made me tremble upon Ariobarzanes's Account to whom this menace was particularly addressed but finding some consolation in the promise which Adallas made me never to force me to marry him I thought it best to make use of this good motion in expection that Heaven might send more absolute assistance and that by time and the Accidents which might happen in my life there might arrive a greater change in my Fortune Sir said I to him upon this thought you would undoubtedly obtain a very glorious Victory if you could banish out of your Soul this passion which is so fatal to your repose and so injurious to your Reputation and you secure me but from one half of my pains in reserving to your self the liberty of loving me and of continuing to give me testimonies of that fury which you call love Yet I will endure them more patiently than the violence which I feared at your hands and if you observe the promise you have made me never to use your Authority to constrain me I will be contented to wait till the gods shall change your inclinations without using any extremity against my life The King being well pleased to see me a little recomposed confirmed his promise to me and conceived some small hope that time might work some favourable revolution in my Fortune In the mean time the Chyrurgions prayed the King to give some intermission to this long and vehement Conservation if he would not have his wounds grow worse and 't was with a great deal of constraint that he resolved to keep silence and to let me go from him for some few hours I had the liberty to walk in the Vessel and so had Ariobarzanes too the King having taken no care to retain him any other way knowing very well that he had no means to get out of his power but by throwing himself amongst the waves but though I saw him and had a thousand things to say to him yet I durst not speak to him seeing my self observed by all the Kings Retinue who were as so many Spies and could not have informed him that I entred into a particular Conversation with Ariobarzanes
wonder my Princesses That having made you a long Relation of the great Combat wherein the King my Brother received his wounds I have not told you the cause of it nor who the persons were against whom he fought but indeed the King himself was ignorant of it and so were all those that were with him and the Kings wounds having hindred him in the time of the Victory from thinking to take some Prisoners who might have acquainted him with the Truth when he had an intention to do it afterwards it was too late and he could find no body that could give him any information At the beginning of the Combat he thought they had been Pirats who had set upon him but he perceived afterwards that his Enemies aimed more at his life than at booty and they were too cruelly violent in the pursuit of him to be carried on by no other interest but the desire of Pillage as ordinary Pirats are At that time they could make no further discovery but time and things which hapned afterwards acquainted them with the Truth as you shall likewise understand by the Sequel of my Discourse The King knowing very well that there were in his Kingdom some persons ill-affected to his Service and that at his departure he had left things disposed to some Insurrection fearing lest his long absence and the uncertainty of his life might cause a great prejudice to his Affairs sent some of his Followers in his Vessel to go and assure his people That he had a design to return very speedily to them and to retain them within the limits of their Duty as much as possibly they could In the mean time the Chyrurgions employed themselves with a great deal of care in the curing of his wounds they were not dangerous but the Sea and the violent passions wherewith the Kings mind had been disturbed had exasperated them and rendred the cure of them more difficult In this place every one was ignorant of the Name and Quality of the King and the Countrey being very quiet his Equipage did not make him suspected and his Servants were ready with an Answer telling those who asked them That he was a Lord of Quality born upon the Frontiers of Thrace and had been wounded by Pirats who were frequently met withal upon those Seas In the interim I was guarded like a Prisoner though in all other respects I was treated served like a Queen and the King who remembred what I had undertaken a little before and fearing to lose me by a second flight or being afraid lest Ariobarzanes who might be concealed in that Island should use some endeavor to see me and possibly to get me out of his hands caused me to be so strictly watched that I had scarce liberty to go into my Chamber which joined close to his and during all the time that his Chyrurgions permitted him to see any body I was forced to be continually by his Beds-side and consequently always exposed to his cruel persecution Yet when he saw my spirit exasperated with a little more than ordinary violence he gave me a little intermission and protested to me that he would inviolably observe the promise he had made me not to force my inclinations but that was not capable of giving me any repose but was perpetually disturbed by his pursuits which I could not endure without horrour And if I may dare to confess it my fair Princesses that was not able to comfort me for Ariobarzanes absence His Image since I must conceal nothing from you continued in such a manner engraved in my memory and the remembrance of his Excellent qualities and the testimonies which he had given me of his love were so present and so dear to my memory that nothing could intermingle with them though but for a few moments without causing me a displeasure The Conversation which I had with my faithful Ericia was all my comfort and those hours when I had the liberty to converse with her without Witnesses I used all the expressions that a real affection could put into the mouth of a person that is very sensible of it and received from her mouth all that in that condition could afford any consolation to my sorrows Alas How many times hath she dryed up the tears which the consideration of my misfortunes made me shed promising me some change in my condition by the sight and by the cares of Ariobarzanes And how often against her own thoughts hath she flatter'd a grief which she judged to be capable of bringing me to my Grave The Name of Ariobarzanes was Musick in my ears but I could not so much as fancy a real hope of seeing him again and I found so little probability of it and so little safety for him that I could not comprehend how it might be done and indeed I did not know whether I might desire it or not Ericia said I sometimes to that Maid My misfortunes are real and my happiness is nothing but illusion I know that I am really tormented by the cruel persecution of Adallas that I did really expose my self to the mercy of a tempestuous Sea that I suffered ship wrack in an Island where I had almost perished by famine with those persons who were dear to me and I know very well that by the countenance of my ill Fortune I am really fallen into Adallas's power but as for all that concerns Ariobarzanes it seems no more to me than a Dream or a Vision But alas such a Vision as hath imprinted deeper Characters in my heart than the most real things In the very Arms of death Ariobarzanes appeared to me like a flash of lightning he inflamed me the first moment and in a short time after disappeared from my eyes with the same suddenness Whatsoever Beauty Valour Wit and all the most excellent qualities could contribute to accomplishment was presented to me in the person of a man unknown and at a time when I expected nothing else but death this admirable Master-piece of perfection immediately opened himself a passage to my heart and it seems my destiny shewed him to me by so extraordinary a way only to subdue a Soul till then in vincible to that passion and when it had wrought its effect when the miserable Olympia was upon such terms whereunto she never thought to see her self reduced the same destiny snatched away Ariobarzanes deprived me of that which made me in love with life and deprived me of it so that I shall see him again no more No Ericia I shall never see him more and the gods who have sent him to me by a prodigious Adventure do not work Miracles every day in our favour I will not suspect the spirit of Ariobarzanes of inconstancy or infidelity and I believe what you tell me That he will be alwayes faithful to me but what Advantage will that be to my happiness And how can he serve me without exposing himself to that death wherewith Adallas hath so
didst expect from a King obliged to thy Valor be not found in an injured and desperate Love As he finished the words he turned towards Sosias and Eusthenes the Captains of his Guards and commanded them to seize upon the person of Ariamenes and to be responsible for him upon pain of death At this Command all those who had followed Ariamenes and who with the rest of the Army had conceived a marvellous Affection for him could not forbear to murmur aloud at it and those that came along with the King who were acquainted with the merit and services of Ariamenes could not hear it without a deal of displeasure Ariamenes seemed to be the least tcoubled at it and if he was was only with some motions of Choler and that Passion of which till then he had rendred himself Master upon the consideration of his Love could not be so absolutely restrained in a fierce and fiery spirit as Ariobarzanes's was but that at last it would in some measure appear I should lye said he to the King If I should say that I expected any other usage from thee and thy Actions have so much congruity with that gallant Passion by which thou would'st excuse thy ingratitude that the value of thy life and Kingdom could not make me expect any other recompence than what thou bestowest upon me It suffices me for my satisfaction to see thee declare that thou art beholding to me for thy life before those who know already that thou art obliged to me for the preservation of thy Kingdom and I am sufficiently satisfied and revenged upon thee by the shame which I leave thee for using those so to whom thou confessest that thou owest thy Crown and Life After these words seeing Sosias and Eusthenes though very much troubled at the employment to draw near him and demand his Sword This Sword said he laying his hand upon the Hilt hath done too good service in the defence of your King and you to endure to pass out of my hand into hands unworthy to bear it but seeing that it is to no purpose to defend it against an Army I render it to the Princess Olympia and 't is to her only continued he throwing it at Sosia's feet that I charge you to present it as being the only person in Thrace who can deserve that honour and that hath reason to glory that she hath made Ariamenes yield up his Arms. These words pronounced with an admirable Grace re-inflamed the Kings anger afresh and not being able to dissemble it Thou hast pronounced the sentence of thine own death said he in pronouncing the Name of Olympia and that fatal Love whereof thou makest so publick a Declaration in throwing thy self into thy Grave shall give a fair example to such audacious Youngsters as thou art to be more regular in their Ambition Thou may'st judge what thou pleasest of my thoughts replied Ariamenes but if I love the Princess Olympia know she is not offended by my Love as she is highly injured by thine and seeing that I am neither her Brother as thou art nor of a Birth inferior to hers she might receive that from me without wronging her self which she cannot endure from thee without detestation Upon these words the King had almost made his indignation appear in some Tragical effect and seeing himself covered with shame and confusion by the reproaches of Ariamenes he was ready to run him through with his Sword at last retaining himself though with much difficulty I endure any thing said he from a man whom I can punish at my pleasure a man devoted to death by my just resentments and his own confession Take him out of my presence and whil'st there is order taken for his punishment we will learn if his Birth be not inferior to mine Thou shalt know it possibly replied Ariamenes sooner than thou desirest and upon this hint which I have given thee consider more than once how thou wilt proceed against the Son of a greater King than he of Thrace Having spoken these words he turned another way without having any longer Conversation with the King who being unwilling to have him conducted into the Army where he was adored by his Souldiers and where he was afraid of some Commotion if the Souldiery had seen their valiant General a Prisoner commanded Eusthenes to carry him to Bizantium with a Convoy of Five hundred Horse and to stay there to Guard him till he received farther Orders but he expresly forbade him upon pain of death to permit me to see him protesting to him That if any such thing hapned he would never pardon him Eusthenes having received this Order with regret and yet being forced to obey it caused Ariamenes to mount upon another Horse instead of his own and putting him into the middle of the Troop which was to conduct him he caused him to march towards Bizantium Before that he arrived there the Report of his being taken and of all that had passed upon this occasion was already spread abroad and I was one of the first persons that had the Relation brought to them You may imagine what effect this News produced upon my spirit and you need not doubt but this sad Adventure made me fall into the most violent grief that any Soul could be sensible of Indeed the danger whereunto I saw this young Prince whom I loved as much as his merit and affection did oblige me to do exposed for the love of me did so nearly touch me that I should tell you nothing but the Truth if I should protest to you That I would willingly have been in his place and have been made the mark of all the mischief that was aimed at him By the new proofs which he had given me of his Affection in coming without any care of his life to make such a generous and noble search after opportunities of seeing me and serving his most cruel Enemy upon my-Account he had as I conceived so far obliged me That I could not without ingratitude deny him as much Affection as he expressed to me And in that my fair Princesses I acquitted my self as I ought loving him as dearly and as sincerely as my Soul was capable to do O gods what did I not think what did I say at this cruel News And what Testimonies did I not give to all the persons which came near me how much I interested my self in this Accident One while I complained of the cruelty and ingratitude of Adallas which could not but render him odious to all the world for the unworthy usage which he shewed to the valiant Defender of his Dominions and the preserver of his life Another while I accused Ariobarzanes of rashneness and want of consideration as to my Repose for coming and casting himself so imprudently into the hands of a man almost mad with Jealousie who had so seriously threatned him and sometimes I checked my self knowing very well that I had partly contributed to this disaster
by the indulgence which I had shewed to the Affection of Ariobarzanes or rather to mine own which made me approve of all that the young Prince could undertake to see and serve me Upon these considerations I almost drowned my self in tears and did so afflict my self that had it not been for Ericia's comforting of me I believe my grief would have been able to have laid me in my Grave In the mean while it was no small consolation to me in my displeasure to see how all the world participated in it and the Inhabitants of Bizantium who a few dayes before had seen Ariamenes behave himself with so much Generosity and Valor in the defence of their lives and liberties or rather had looked upon him as their miraculous perserver and had still a fresh remembrance of the prodigious Actions which they had seen him do for their interest could not see him brought prisoner into their City being accused for nothing but for loving the Princess Olympia without expressing publickly how much they were discontented at it and plainly declaring That the King did very ill to Treat a man so to whom he was indebted for his Crown and to whom by his own confession he was beholding for his life too And when Eusthenes caused him to pass through the streets to convey him to the place where they were wont to secure considerable prisoners he could hardly hinder the people from breaking out into Sedition and attempting to take him by violence out of his hands What fear soever I had of exasperating the Kings spirit yet not believing that it was any longer necessary to use so much dissimulation to please a Prince who did not Treat me nor look upon me as his Sister I sent presently to demand of Eusthenes if I might not be permitted to see Ariobarzanes But he came himself to make his own Apology and to tell me That the King had expresly forbidden him upon pain of death This redoubling of my grief made me flie out more than possibly I should have done and I could not forbear in Eusthenes his presence to exceed the bounds of moderation which till then I had better observed Well said I to him with my eyes covered with tears Let the King finish his shameful persecutions with the utmost cruelties that he can exercise against me and let him join to that horrible and foolish passion which already renders him the Fable of the whole world a cruelty and an ingratitude towards his generous Deliverer which will make is Name detestable to all Princes He cannot render himself blacker than he is neither can he ever work any thing upon Olympia's spirit but horror and repugnance After I had spoken these words I shut my self up in my Closet where I passed the remainder of that day in the saaddest contid on imaginable The next day I received a Letter from the King by a Messenger whom he sent from the Camp whereof these were the very words The King of Thrace to the Princess Olympia IT is no time for you to deny that which Ariamenes himself hath openly declared to me He loves you Madam and is beloved by you The knowledge of this is sufficient to be the death of Adallas but it is capable too of making him sacrifice that Rival to his just resentments I owe very much to him without doubt but according to the sense of Nature I owe no less to my self and I had rather stain my reputation a little with ingratitude than make the preservation of his life an eternal torment to mine own In brief Olympia as our common misfortune will have it he must dye and dye he shall without doubt if to save a man whom you love but ought not to love you do not bestow your self upon him whom youâ love not but ought to love If you make this attempt upon your inclinations of his safety he will have no cause to accuse you and doubtless he will have reason to complain for you at his death if you refuse to save his life the preservation whereof depends upon you Consult with your affection hereupon and be resolved with your self that you cannot preserve the life of Ariamenes but by bestowing Olympia upon me You may very well comprehend my fair Princesses how much this Letter augmented my Affliction and you need not doubt but that I found a great occasion to torment my self in that cruel choice which Adallas presented to me This Letter made me weep it made me deplore my misfortune in very pitiful expressions and make imprecations too against the cruelties of this unnatural Brother But whatsoever care I had of the safety of Ariobarzanes or whatsoever fear I might receive from the menaces of Adallas I did not waver at all in the resolution I was to take and knowing very well that Ariobarzanes would not take it as a Courtesie to receive his life at my hands if he must purchase it by my bestowing my self upon his Rival I consulted no farther either with my Affection or my Duty what Answer I should return to Adallas but sent it him immediately by the man which had brought me his Letter and I believe I wrote to him in these or the like words The Princess Olympia to the King of Thrace I Could not hear of the Captivity of Ariamenes without bearing a share with all your faithful Subjects in their affliction for the misfortune of their valiant Defender That Captive whom you intend to put to death before you know him might expect other recompence from you and you would not be in a condition to threaten his life if he had neglected the preservation of yours nor to keep him Prisoner in Bizantium if at the rate of his own blood he had not defended the walls of it His destiny is in your hands or rather in the hands of the gods whose power is superior to that of Kings and who may still put you into a condition of having need of an Ariamenes If I could contribute to his safty doubtless I would do it at any rate but what you demand But as for that 't is possible that Ariamenes himself would not accept of his life upon these conditions but would be generous enough not to desire that I should save it by so horrible an action If he does not love me I should be too blame to do that for the preservation of his life which I have alwayes avoided at the peril of mine own and if he does love me as you accuse him he will receive his death more cruelly by my bestowing Olympia upon you than by those means which you have to destroy him In brief if the gods will have him live they can free him out of your hands and if he must dye I had rather that he should dye by your ingratitude than by mine Though these words if you take them in a contrary sense to mine expressed some indifference as to Ariobarzanes's life and though it was my intention too to
perswade the King that I loved him less than I did yet the gods know that his life was dearer to me than mine own and I would willingly have given mine if Adallas would have been so contented for the preservation of his But though by a prodigious change I could have wrought my inclinations to Adallas's will yet I had too good an opinion of the Affection and Courage of Ariobarzanes to believe that he would receive his life in exchange of his hopes or consent upon any consideration that to purchase his liberty I should throw my self into that misfortune which I had so much avoided and against which I had so much horror and repugnance Besides I could not absolutely believe that the King whatsoever he threatned was resolved to put him to death after such pressing and known obligations and it was probable that unless he had the heart of a Tyger and his eyes closed against all considerations of honour Adallas would never proceed to those extremities In the interim I found a way to prevail with Eusthenes who of himself was not disaffected to Ariobarzanes not to permit me to see him but to give way that I might have a Note conveyed to him by Erieia's Brother who was in my Service and in whom I had a great deal of confidence the Note was in these terms The Princess Olympia to Ariamenes IF you were in another Condition doubtless I should complain of the injury you have done me in coming as you have done to cast away a life which you know is not indifferent to me but it would ill become me to reproach you whil'st you are a Prisoner for my sake and I ought rather to use my endeavours to set you free at any rate but what is demanded of me in expectation of a better opportunity to accuse you of the little care you have had of your own safety and my repose You may judge how far I participate in your disgrace by the interest I have in it and the thoughts I have for you they are and alwayes shall be such as are due to the merit of your person and affection and I should render my self unworthy of the testimonies you have given me of it if I did not look upon your misfortunes as mine own Ariobarzanes received a great deal of consolation by the reading of my Letter and as nothing was capable of making any strong impression upon so great a Courage as his but what had relation to his love so he was more contented in his imprisonment after this testiomony of my Affection than he could have been in the absolute injoyment of his liberty if he had been uncertain what thoughts I had for him By the liberty which Eusthenes gave him to do it yet with all possible secresie he had the means to discourse with Euricia's Brother whom I sent to him and who according to the charge I had given him to that purpose gave him a full Account in what manner I supported his Captivity how I delt with the King upon that Account and how I was resolved not to suffer him to perish upon my occasion without bearing of him Company Ariobarzanes received these marks of my friendship with all the testimonies of a perfect acknowledgment and after he had expressed as much to Ericia's Brother in the most extatical words that the most violent Affection could furnish him withal he gave him a Letter with the same secresie and precaution whereof these were the words Ariamenes to the Princess Olympia I Do not think my self unfortunate since that my fair Princess takes a share in my misfortune and my Fetters are now more worthy of Envy than Commiseration I beg your pardon for what I have undertaken to gain a sight of you I cannot justifie my self in it since you have received some displeasure upon that Account But in truth it was a very difficult thing to have seen to have adored the Princess Olympia and to live without a second sight of her 'T is true that happiness which hath been sought with some danger and is of too high a value to be obtained any other way is cruelly denied me And this my fair Princess is all the misfortune of my life and all that can be worthy of pity in my condition I am too much obliged to your goodness for having refused those conditions which the King hath offered you for my safty and as you know very well that no consideration could have rendred you excuseable of a crime before the gods or men if you had accepted of them so you are not ignorant that by bestowing the Princess Olympia upon Adallas you would put Ariamenes to a far more cruel death than Adallas could do either by Sword or Poyson I will not go about to confirm you in that resolution being sufficiently acquainted with your vertue to believe that it will be as immoveable as the fidelity of Ariamenes His Letter was of no larger extent though he had matter enough because he left it to Ericia's Brother to acquaint me with all their Discourse He did so divers times because I took a pleasure to make him repeat all the words which he had heard from Ariobarzanes's mouth and by the Relation which he made me of his passionate Discourse and his resolution to suffer a thousand deaths for my sake if he was capable of suffering so many with joy and patience he did so confirm me in the affection I had for him that he would have been unjust if he had desired any more of me But alas after I had done discoursing with Ericia's Brother I had scarcely read over this Letter once more but I received another from the King which turned me into Ice with fear and these were the very expressions of it The King of Thrace to the Princess Olympia YOU have signed the death of Ariamenes by the Letters which you wrote to me and since you consent to his death all humane considerations shall not be able to secure him from it I should have given you your share of the spectacle which I intend before this but that I was minded to participate of it my self and am detained here by some occasions which are strong enough to retard my vengeance a few dayes I am marching to give Merodates Battel and to morrow without any farther delay the decision of our Fortune will appear After my Victory I will turn all my Arms against Ariamenes and when I shall have no other Enemies to fight with I shall the better execute my vengeance against the last and the most dangerous of my Enemies I know not how very well to represent to you what my resentments were upon the reading of this Letter and I had much ado to contain my self within the limits of that respect and consideration which was due to Adallas I returned him no Answer in writing but contented my self only to say to him who brought me his Letter Tell the King that the success of Battels is
from assisting at the other and did so far deprive him of all sensibility of his own happiness that instead of appearing like a Conqueror and as one Triumphant in the judgment of his people he could not have looked with a more sorrowful countenance when he was Prisoner to Merodates Ariobarzanes himself could not but look upon his misfortune with some pity but as the cause of it was odious so he could imagine no remedy for it or at least the best he could find was to hasten the execution of his Design and to take me speedily out of the sight of that Prince to remove me from his memory In fine not being able to continue any longer in that silence which the King did but too strictly observe and disposing himself to speak to him of it one day in my Gallery where they were a walking together after he had prepared his mind for it by his precedent Discourse when the King saw that he could no longer avoid the hearing of that unwelcome proposal he was minded to prevent him and looking upon the Prince with Passion lively painted in his eyes Well Ariobarzanes said he Must I then needs part with Olympia to you Ariobarzanes seemed astonished at this Discourse and after that he had continued some moments without a Reply You shall not part with Olympia as a Lover said he but you shall bestow her upon me as her Brother Whether as a Lover or as a Brother answered Adallas I must keep my word but you cannot exact it of me and reduce me to the cruel necessity of a performance without throwing death into my Bosome Sir replied Ariobarzanes if your distemper were of such a nature as that it might be remedied by an Action of Generosity and Franchise you should possibly find more of it in me than you have reason to expect and it may be I should have enough to force my inclinations in your favour if instead of a Sister from whom you can never expect any thing you loved a Princess which might entertain your affections But believe it Sir I do no way contribute to your misfortune and though I should quit Olympia you would have never the more satisfaction in the love you have for her And in brief though Ariobarzanes were out of the world the Princess Olympia would never marry the King her Brother Well replied Adallas with an Action full of Despair That which the gods have Decreed will come And having spoken these words he went and shut himself up in his Closet and would see no body all that day Ariobarzanes being troubled at this Conversation and highly displeased to see himself a great deal farther off than he thought from the effect of his hopes came to render me a Visit with a countenance which partly discovered the displeasure he resented and as soon as he had accosted me not being able to dissemble that which he had upon his heart I see Madam said he That I am not so near the Haven as I imagined my Fortune is no more changed than Adallas's mind and I shall never cease to be unhappy because he will never cease to be ungrateful Being inforced by the necessity of his Affairs and the fear of death which threatned him he gave me his word which he had no intention to keep but either let him put me to death whil'st I am in his power or let him not think to use me thus without answering it and after that he hath gotten all the Services out of me which he could desire let him consider more than once that 't is to no contemptible person that he hath engaged his word He uttered these words with such an Action as I never saw him use before but he had no sooner acquainted me with the cause of his anger but I found it to be very just and conjectured as well as he that indeed the King had no design to perform his promise I used all the Arguments that possibly I could to recompose his mind and to mitigate his resentments but he was very uncapable of relishing my consolations neither was I in any good condition to give him any really participating with him in his affliction and when I would have preached patience to him There is no patience in the world said he that can brook this usage If I do receive it and you be not minded to attempt á second flight for my sake and to trust your self to the conduct of a Prince to whom you have given hopes of possessing you will you please to consent That I should Arm all the Friends which the world can furnish me with come in the Head of Fifty thousand men to demand of Adallas the execution of his promise All your intentions are very just replied I but the effects of them are not so easie and besides that my Duty would oppose my retreat with you which you seem to propose the execution of it would be now impossible and since my first flight Adallas hath deprived me of all means to attempt a second therefore there is no thinking upon that and as for the War you speak of I should think my self very unfortunate to cause so much blood to be shed upon my occasion and besides the distance is so great between your Countrey and ours the passage by Sea so long so difficult for the conduct of an Army and the events of War so doubtful that I shall never advise you to follow that way What would you have me to do then cryed the afflicted Ariobarzanes And what means can I have to acquire you if you disapprove of all that I have left I know not answered I and all that I can really protest to you is That I am sensible of our common misfortune as you can desire and I have still some hope to see Adallas in a better mind if we manage his spirit gently not knowing that ever he received any reproach for having failed of his word By these Discourses and some others I disposed the spirit of Ariobarzanes which was naturally very courteous to moderate his resentments so long as things were not grown desperate and yet not to lose the opportunity of solliciting the King in a mild way and of moving him to a consideration of his honour engaged in his promise The next day the King who would not see any body after the last Conversation he had had with Ariobarzanes came out of his Chamber and came almost all alone to visit me in mine Ariobarzanes whether out of Design or by Accident I know not came in immediately after and I saw very well that the King and he could not look one upon the other without changing of colour but the King being resolved what he would say to me the Princes presence could not hinder him and beginning to speak though with a very ill assured Action Madam said he If you could have Conquered those scruples which hindred you from loving me or rather that strong aversion which
Artaban and ' twice in the same day we recommenced the Combat which was interrupted in Ethiopia Artaban said Elisa to him intermingling with their Discourse If you value my friendship and desire that I should esteem you you shall not only not be any longer an Enemy to a Prince who serves the Queen Candace but you shall contract as great an Amity with him as there is between this great Queen and I and you shall seek for opportunities to serve him with as much ardor as I have for the interests of the Princess whom he loves Artaban continued some moments without making a Reply and then upon a sudden resuming the Discourse Madam said he to Elisa the Prince of whom you speak doth so worthly deserve the esteem and the affection which you would create in me for him that 't was by the means of my misfortune only that the occasions which I thought I had to complain of him joining themselves to a natural repignance without reason and foundation made me resist the inclination which his Vertue âight have wrought for him in all the men of the World besides But though I had been a great deal more sensibly injured the declaration of your Will is so powerful over my spirit and the cause that gave birth to my first resentments hath so long ceased that I shall render to you without any repugnance the obedience which is due to you and to that Prince whatsoever he can expect from the most faithful of his Friends and the man who is best acquainted with his Uertue of any in the World These words proceeding from the mouth of a man who could not be suspected of any want of sincerity and freedom gave a great deal of satisfaction to the two Princesses and Candace turning towards him with a countenance that expressed her contentment I receive in Cleomedon 's stead said she a considerable Amity as that of the great Artaban ought to be and I promise you in the behalf of that absent Prince that he shall answer it with a freedom equal to yours Though he be absent replied Artaban I believe he is not very far off and if he got off from our Combat and from that we had afterwards against the Pyrats in such a condition as I did I believe he could not make any long Voyage But added he speaking to the two Princesses you know possibly where he is and in the mean time I cannot sufficiently wonder at the Fortune which hath brought you two together and in so small a time hath joined you in so firm a friendship You shall understand that at leasure said Elisa but in the mean while 't is as just that we should know from you by what miracle you are escaped from the Waves wherein my eyes beheld you entombed and where we had great reason to think that we had lost you for ever Artaban was about to return her an Answer when at first they heard a noise of Horses and afterwards turning about their Heads they saw a Body of Thirty or Forty Cavaliers who passed along the shore and marched towards Alexandria The Commander of this Troop had his Head unarmed and only covered with a little Bonnet shaded with a black Plume of Feathers the rest of his body was clad in Armor as were all the persons of his Retinue At the sight of the Ladies he left his Troop and turning a little out of the way where he left it he galloped towards the place where they were and he was no sooner come to them but having cast his eyes upon Elisa and immediately knowing her he remained so ravished at this incounter that for some moments he could not either by Action or Discourse express the perturbations of his Soul At last dissipating his astonishment O gods cryed he Behold behold her whom I seek for all the World over Having finished these words he threw himself hastily from his Horse and ran to the Princess of the Parthians Elisa at the first was surprized with his Action but she was a great deal more surprized and Artaban too when casting their eyes upon the mans face they knew him to be Tigranes King of the Medes Never was astonishment like to that of the fair Princess when she saw before her eyes a Prince whose sight after she had given him such great causes of resentment could not but be very formidable to her the man to whom the King her Father had given his consent the man that had espoused her by his Ambassadors and expected her in his own Dominions as his lawful Spouse and the same man whose Ambassadors she sent disgracefully back after that she was forcibly taken from their Conduct and had declared her intentions to them 'T is certain that at the sight of a Prince so highly offended and whom Elisa could not look upon but as a cruel Enemy the Princess was more like to one dead than alive and had not so much power as to stir out of the place where she was nor to utter one word 'T was at that moment that she took notice of the instability of Fortune seeing that when she thought her self redevable to her for the life of her Artaban upon whose death she had bestowed so many tears and when she was about to wipe away her sorrows by an unexpected felicity and to tast of an agreeable change in her condition she saw her self at the same time precipitated into the greatest miseries she could apprehend and fallen again into the hands of a man whom she was more afraid of than all the dangers to which she had been exposed to avoid him and under which neither Artaban's nor her own life could be otherwise than hateful to her Tigranes plainly perceived her strong surprize and not being ignorant of the cause of it he did not seem much troubled at it The usage he had received from the Princess did certainly give him matter of resentment enough but having a great deal of respect and love for her he believed that 't was not fit to make any uncivil use of this incounter nor intimidate Elisa's spirit by a rough demeanor towards her and so aggravate the grief which probably she might be sensible of for this effect of her bad Fortune He smoothed his countenance as much as possibly he could and he had no great difficulty to mollifie himself before a Beauty which might have wrought the same effect upon Tygers neither did he need to look far for humility before those eyes which might humble the proudest hearts In fine reflecting a great deal more upon his present happiness than upon all his past misfortunes he seemed to express in his countenance the change of his condition and accosting Elisa with an Action full of the marks of respect Be not astonished Madam said he to her at the meeting of a Prince whose Duty towards you nothing can dispense with 'T is not a Barbarian 't is not an Enemy that you have met and though the
it self out into the Sea further than the Ship At first neither he nor those that were with him could discern what it was but a little after advancing upon the upper part of the Vessel and lending an attentive ear they heard the voyce of a man from the Top of that horrible Precipice uttering these words Implacable gods said he Malicious men Irreconcilable Fortune it were insensibility to hope for any good from you and since to defend me against so many Enemies Death only stretcheth forth her Arms and that the miserable reliques of this life are unprofitable for that end to which they were conserved O Death I willingly receive the assistance thou presentest Scarce had Megacles and those that were with him heard the last of these words when they saw him that pronounced them cleaving the Aire from the Top of the Rock fall into the Sea some four paces from the ship The waves parted under his feet with a great noise and rebounded higher than the Mast of the Vessel The water was very deep and that desperate man who threw himself into its bosome being armed at all points had quickly found his death had not Megacles though a Servant to a cruel King been possest with some pity and vertue and commanded earnestly that they should do what they could to draw this man out of the pitiless waves The Mariners who were Masters of their Trade taking great Poles headed with Crooks of Iron sought him amongst the Sands with an admirable diligence Had the success of their labours been less speedy they had been utterly unprofitable but by great good Fortune after some moments search they found the body the weight of whose Armor had hindred its rising and fastning their Irons in some default of the Arms not without lightly wounding the bearer they easily drew him up and uniting their Forces got him into the ship Presently the natural compassion of men how barbarous soever and the curiosity which so unordinary a spectacle raised caused them to flock about him Megacles commanding them to take off his Casque the visit whereof was half lifted up yet could perceive by his pale and meagre face but few signs of life but as he would not succour him by halves he neglected nothing that might save him and by his orders whilst some disarmed him others holding him up by the feet gave passage for the salt water out of his mouth He disgorged a great quantity and when they supposed him intirely discharged they layed him upon a Bed and attended the effect of their succours Presently Megacles knew they would not be unprofitable and although the unknown came not quite to himself he began to breath freely and to stir his Head though with much weakness Megacles gave him some spirits to drink and either through the means of that or what was done before or both a little after he he opened his eyes and found his strength by little and little to return in some proportion Had not Megacles understood this mans despair by his own words which he uttered falling he would have left him to take some necessary rest but imagining that since he sought death he would run to it again were he left to his own dispose he not only watched him to prevent any second effects of his Despair but resolved if it were possible to cure him by reason and to perswade him of all those things that might give him some desire of life He was confirmed the more in this Design when with attention he cast his eyes upon the face of the unknown for he believed that what he had done out of compassion ought to be done to preserve a man of the best Mine he had ever seen His face though pale and changed as well through the last effect of his Despair as through the preceding displeasures was formed with a proportion so accomplish't the sweet and charming being raised by some things so great and high that it was difficult to behold him without respect the beauty of his body marvellously accorded with that of his face and lastly all his parts made an admirable accomplishment Whilst Megacles ran over all those marvels with his eyes the unknown began also to turn his towards the place where he stood and opening his mouth so soon as he was able to speak Ah miserable man said he with a feeble voyce art thou then returned to this odious life he stopped at these first words and a little after easily recollecting all that had passed O Coward added he thou hadst not re-entred thy miseries if of thy hand thou hadst demanded what the pitiless waves have refused thee hadst thou considered that with the gods men and fortune even the Elements are become thy Enemies thou hadst not unprofitably sought that assistance from the water which thou mightest have commanded from thy Sword Finishing these words he attentively beheld those that were about him and not doubting but that it was they who drew him out of the water he testified by some sighs the little thanks he gave them for their officiousness Megacles who carefully interessed himself in his safety sitting down by him and pressing one of his hands between his with much affection I know not said he what misfortunes have caused your Despair and I imagine by all advantagious appearances that you have courage enough to support all the ordinary assaults of Fortune but whatsoever the cause be that hath given you so much aversion to life I cannot repent me of what I have done towards your preservation and I shall do what lies in my power not only to oppose your Design of dying but to find what may render life less odious to you The unknown beholding Megacles with an acknowledging Aire so well as the sad condition he was in would permit and gently pressing the hand that held his Your good intention said he hath obtained pardon for the injury you have done me and I also beg your pardon if I can give you no greater thanks for the care you take of my safety These few words pronounced with an extraordinary grace touched the heart of Megacles and becoming more affectionate towards what he had undertaken Is it possible added he that such a man as you appear to be can find in Death only a remedy of his misfortunes and have you not resolution enough to resist Fortune having so much as to precipitate your self into a terrible Death The horrors of life when the causes are legitimate sadly replied the unknown proceed not always from want of courage and those that can voluntarily expose themselves to Death as you say may easier resist lesser evils than Death is in the opinion of most men but I believe there are causes that can render Despair honourable and though it be weakness and a shame to flie to Death for the loss of some goods or advantages of fortune yet it is honourable to imbrace it rather than survive ones glory or the loss of a beloved
not angry yet blushed and became much disordered and keeping her eyes fixt on the ground as unable to lift them to Alcamenes's face she remained silent The Prince who stedfastly beheld her Countenance and finding nothing there of cruel but much more bashfulness than choler became more hardy than before and putting one knee to the ground some paces from the Princess Divine Princess said he if I have offended you ordain with what manner of death you will punish my boldness only grant me the favour as to believe that if our adorations offend not the Gods you can receive no injury from those my heart intertains for you This heart was yours from the first moment I saw you and shall be yours till the last moment of my life you may disapprove it you may condemne it but you cannot by death draw it out of this gloricus servitude Here he stopped and after Menalippa's example fastned his eyes on the ground and if the Princess had regarded his action she might have seen that fear took possession of his heart in this encounter which it had never been able to do in the greatest dangers Menalippa was joyful that he loved her and she loved him dearly yet knew not how to express her self or treat him She was not ignorant of the Rules of good manners and she had a natural disposition to punish with rigour faults of the like nature with this of Alcimedon yet had she no dissembling spirit nor could receive with appearances of dislike those things which she desired with all her heart This irresolution made her keep a long silence at length a little raising her eyes upon Acimedon whose humble posture helpt to gain her Stranger said she if I behold thy boldness with rigour I should judge it worthy of punishment but if I follow my inclinations I shall do thee no harm thy temerity alone is all I can dislike in thee but nothing of the rest is odious to Menalippa and if thou wilt have her tell thee any more first let her know who is this audacious man that without giving us any other knowledge than that of his Sword dares lift his eyes to the Princess of Dacia on the accompt thou givest her may depend a great part of thy destiny And I tell thee further thou wilt not disoblige Menalippa in letting her know thee to be such a one whose affection she may entertain without offence These words heightned the courage of the Prince of Scythia Divine Menalippa said he with more assurance than before death shall be less cruel to me than any occasions of disobeying you but I am constrained by a necessity which when you know you will certainly pardon for some Months to conceal both the Birth and Fortune of Alcimedon and the gods are my Witnesses that it is only my respect to you that causeth this difficulty in a short time you shall receive a knowledg of me confirm'd by the testimony of all EUROPE and therefore great Princess permit me to say that though in all sorts of great qualities I am infinitely your Inferior yet in Nobility of blood in Dignity and Dominions my House gives place neither to yours nor any in EUROPE and if you are satisfied with the person of Alcimedon that which ought to accompany him to render him worthy of you will be here sound more advantagiously than in all the other Princes who have taken upon them the honour of serving you In the Name of the gods and by your bounty pardon me if I can discover no more When the term of this cruel constraint shall be expired I will declare my self wholly to you without expecting a second command during which time I shall desire no further favour than those I have received from you nor pretend to any thing from your bounty which may in the least ingage you before these truths are sufficiently known and until the Queen your Mother with all the Court of Dacia do confess that Alcimedon is a Prince great enough to pretend openly to the glory of serving you Alcimedon finished not this Discourse but with much difficulty finding a strong aversion to disobey the command of Menalippa But this fair Princess was so intricated on all sides as if the were troubled in being unable to learn of Alcimedon that which she desired yet what he related concerning his Birth and Fortune did highly satisfie her and as she had too much confidence in his vertue to suspect him of a lye and of a lye which could but be unprofitable by his own conditions her contentment became so great that she could hardly dissemble it And beholding Alcimedon with an affectionate sweetness As I am more reasonable than many others said she and that visibly I act with more sincerity than artifice I will excuse for your Reasons the denial you make me but I beseech you not to abuse that good opinion which will have me believe that all you say is true Alcimedon falling on his knees and with Transports imbracing her feet My visible Deity said he if this heart were capable of disguising it self from you it were not that heart-burning for you with a passion the most holy a Soul can be inflamed with and I desire you to banish me your presence as that man of all the World the most unworthy to adore you if before I pretend to any other favour than this of imbracing your sacred knees I present not in the person of Alcimedon one of the greatest Princes of the Universe He uttered these words with an Action so passionate and Menalippa read so much love in his eyes that unable to master the motions of her affection after she had offered her hand with an Action full of sweetness and Majesty Friend said she if this be true Menalippa shall never be anie 's but thine but if to my unhappiness it prove false she shall never be to any one at all Finishing these words she carried one hand to her face to cover a blush and with the other locking upon that of Alcamenes and raising him Alcimedon added she you have gained my heart with too much facility but believe that it is my destiny and inclination which hath given it you rather than your Services and so carry it that I may never have cause to complain of the one or the other to day I will entertain you but no longer Finishing these words she went out of the Cabinet but it was in a condition and with a countenance so changed that had it been observed by the Company they might have feared some dysaster had befallen her But Alcimedon was so transported with joy that it was hard for those who saw him that day not to discern in his face the satisfaction of his heart and no sooner had he quitted the Princess by her command and recollected himself concerning his good Fortune but he found his felicity too great to be contained and scarce in the impetuous motions of his youth could he
through all the actions of his life any thing deserving this treatment and he had always known Menalippa too reasonable to be carried to such extremities against him without any apparent cause First he thought himself discovered for Alcamcnes and that first thought something bridled his astonishment but afterwards calling to mind Menalippa's cruel words and remembring she call'd him unknown and reproach'd him with her preference of him before so many great Princes he knew that it was to Alcimedon not Alcamenes that these cruel words were addressed Just gods cryed he being confirmed in this opinion Is it possible that in so few moments my Fortune should receive so strange a Revolution and that Menalippa so just so generous and who an hour since by a welcome so sweet and by reguards so favourable assured me of the continuation of my happiness should pass into so cruel an extremity against her faithful her innocent Alcimedon Here he buried himself in a profound recovery endeavouring to find out the cause of his unhappiness and never thinking on what passed between Barzancs and himself judging it uncapable to perswade Menalippa that he was unfaithful so that all his study taught him only this that he was the most unhappy of men without being able to ghess the cause Ah Destinies said he Ah Fortune which hast been too favourable to me I ought to have believed that a Fortune so promptly established could be of no long continuance Alcamenes hath not merited those Fortunes where with thou hast favoured Alcimedon and it is just that by the fall of the unfortunate Alcimedon Alcamenes should become the most miserable of all men Ah! fair hopes too lightly conceived Ah! foundations of a great Fortune laid upon sand must you disappear must ye perish in a moment and must the unfortunate Alcamenes be ignorant whence this unprovident Ruine comes How Menalippa added he a few moments after must I obey your cruel Command must I never see you more Ah! if for the punishment of my disobedience to this Command I had nothing to fear save the loss of that life which you threaten you should see how much I despise Death in comparison of a separation from you He arrested his thoughts some moments on this consideration and to flatter himself would believe that the Princess had been prejudiced by some false appearance or the report of an Enemy and therefore it were better to indeavour his Justification than to obey a Command made in the first passionate motion which leaves the mind rather to the guidance of fury than reason but as he loved the most passionately of all men and was inviolably punctual in his love and respect he thought he could not do it without offending both and rendring himself worthy of his cruel destiny through his disobedience He balanced these things a while and had almost perswaded him into some hope that possibly Menalippa might alter her humor when he saw Belisa enter his Chamber and present him with a Billet from the Princess he received it trembling and having k ssed it he put one knee to the ground and read these words MENALIPPA to ALCIMEDON ENdcavour not to justifie thy self with me but depart this Enemies Countrey so soon as thou hast received my last Command thy refusal will but more peremptorily declare thy infidelity and carry me to extremities which thou wilt repent if there remains any spark of vertue in thee These cruel words shot death into the desperate heart of Alcamenes who kissing again the Billet not without some tears which he could not retain Yes Madam said he I will obey you then turning towards Belisa who regarded those marks of his sadness with pity he would have said something to her but her Maid though toucht with his misfortune acquainted him that she had order from the Princess to hearken to nothing and thereupon left the Chamber immediately Alcimedon paused not on what he ought to do only lifting his eyes to Heaven with a desperate regard Let us dye Alcimedon said he let us dye but first let us obey Menalippa after those few words he entred into his Cabinet where he writ a Letter to be given to Menalippa after his depart and having called his two Scythian Squires he commanded them to provide the three best Horses they could to depart immediatly then taking Leander his Dacian Esquire aside Leander said he My love to thee would not have suffered me to leave thee here were not thy stay absolutely necessary to the repose of my Soul give therefore to morrow or when thou canst this Letter to Menalippa and pass the rest of thy dayes in her Service if she will honour thee with it but I desire thee by the affection thou bearest me not to acquaint any with what thou knowest of this business between Menalippa and me I am sorry that I cannot requite thy Services to my desire or thy desert the gods will do it for me and till then keep this Ring for my sake saying these words his face sprinkled with tears which he could not retain he gave the Letter to Leander and a Ring worth more than twenty Talents The afflicted Squire received the one and the other with a deluge of tears deploring as much his Masters misfortune as his own in not being permitted to follow him Alcamenes satisfying the other Officers of his House with the furniture thereof and of some Jewels armed him self took Horse and departed accompanied only with his two Scythian Squires Leaving Tenasia on this manner which but the day before he had entred with Triumph Applause and a thousand fair hopes The End of the Second Book of the Eighth Part of Cleopatra The Eighth Part of CLEOPATRA BOOK III. NExt ensuing Night the Princess Menalippa passed in the most cruel inquietudes a Soul can be possessed with all that a furious Jealousie can produce in a heart wholly given up to it tormented hers with a pitiless violence there were some moments wherein she seem'd to repent her rigor and her rash banishing a man whom she still loved more than her life Belisa informed her with what respect he received the cruel order she sent him how much the pitied him and how dear the vertues of Alcimedon were to her and failed not to relate the grief and despair she observed in the Face Discourses and Actions of Alcimedon This Recital had somthing softned a heart which was still tender with affection towards him at least it gave the Princess some regret for her too quick proceeding beside reflecting on the cause of her anger she could see in any thing that Barzanes spake very little reason to suspect Alcimedon of infidelity or that he should leave her for Alithea so that there were some moments wherein she imagined him innocent In this uncertainty and agitation of spirit she passed the Night without rest and falling asleep in the morning it was late ere she waked and then calling Belisa she put her upon the Discourse of
depart with the pitiful circumstances that accompanied it but the sad Princess felt her self struck as with a Clap of Thunder How said she to Leander Is not thy Master in Tenasia And you may add Madam replied he Is he any longer in the World being unable to imagine he departed from Tenasia upon any other design than that of dying To these words he added many more which had almost lodg'd death in the heart of this afflicted Princess who learning with what despair he departed yet also with how much resignation and respect to her command she became the Subject of grief fear and repentance She mightily indeavoured to shadow part of her passions from Leander and believing that after this Adventure Alcimedon would have less care to disguize himself she asked Leander whether he knew the true condition of his Master I never knew it replied he nor desired to learn since it was his will I should be ignorant and as all things declare the greatness of his birth so the magnificence of a Present he made me ere he went confirms me in the opinion of the grandure of his Fortune whereupon he shewed the Ring Alcimedon gave him and Menalippa with Belisa having beheld it both judged that such a Present could not come but from a great Prince after several Discourses which the Princess with great agitation made Leander said she I do not think that in that little time since your Master departed he can be far from hence go therefore and follow him with all possible speed and if you become so happy as to overtake him give him from me a Letter which I am going to write I should be sorry that Dacia should lose so valiant a man and one from whom we have had so many obligations if it lyethin my power to call him back do what you can to find him but if you succeed not happily return to give me an account and stay in my Service since it is the desire of your Master being the least acknowledgement we can render for those Services he hath done us She sealed these words with a gift and obliged him instantly to take Horse and follow upon the Tract of his Master having given him a Letter which she writ in his absence After Leander was gone Menalippa commanded that Visitants should know she was indisposed that she might remain peaceably in her mournful solitude and desiring the Queen also to leave her this day free she consumed it wholly in tears and laments wherewith she celebrated the sad departure of Alcamenes it would be difficult great Princesses to relate all the complaints she made on the lightness of her belief and the promptness of her anger But if in these first dayes whil'st there remained any hope of the return of Alcimedon by Leanders diligence she afflicted her self moderately her grief became excessive when after a Months search she saw the afflicted Esquire return without any News of his Master All that a sensible grief could produce in a Soul capable of the most violent passions like that of Menalippa tormented hers with most violent assaults and had not the discreet Princess imputed the cause of her sadness to her indisposition whereinto her grief had really cast her she had been discovered to the Queen and Court of Dacia where though she was the most afflicted for the departure of Alcimedon yet was she not singular in her resentments the Queen who beside an inclination she had to for his vertue having lost so valiant a man and on whom she had founded so much hope became unspeakably sorrowful at the News of his departure Barzanes who loved him as his Son and who saw the hopes he had entertained of his alliance vanish could receive no consolation All were at a loss in guessing the cause what care soever they took to discover it only their griefs were seconded by the general sorrow of all Dacia for the loss of so valiant a man The Queen understanding that the Forces of her Allies were on their march prepared her self for the Scythian Voyage and mounted those Troops she had long since designed for that Expedition and found a way to encrease her power by an addition of that of the Sarmates and Nomades whose Kings were by the Valor of Alcimedon still in her Prisons these two Princes sent her word that if she would restore them their liberty they would serve her with all the Force of their States in the Scythian War The Queen by the advice of her Council hearkned to these Propositions and a little after having generously freed them they left Tenasia and marched with diligence towards their Kingdoms where they had Troops ready for the Field and in a condition to march so soon as any of the rest who had been so long a preparing before them At last to abride my Discourse Merodates entred Dacia with Four thousand Horse and Eight thousand Foot and Orosmenes with Six thousand Horse but no Infantry and at the same time the Queen understood that the Prince of Bithinia with Three thousand Horse and Twelve thousand Foot and the Prince of Pont with Fourteen thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse would be in a few dayes at the Rendevouz appointed Amalthea raised in Dacia and amongst the Getes and Gelons her Subjects more than Eight thousand Horse and Five and twenty thousand Foot scarce were they ready when in execution of their promises Pharnaces King of the Sarmates and Orchomenes King of the Nomades appeared the first with Three thousand Horse and Seven thousand Foot the latter with Two thousand Horse and Eight thousand Foot This numerous Army composed of more than Eight and twenty thousand Horse and Sixty five thousand Foot and commanded by many valiant Kings and Princes had probability enough of overpowring Scythia or any other Countrey it should fall into and the Queen Amalthea could not see her self at the Head of such an Army without giving absolute credit to the Oracles which promised the Crown of Scythia to Menalippa She committed the charge of the Dacians Getes and Gelons to the Prince Barzanes which made the greatest one part of the Army and she could not have given them a more valiant or experienced Chief but she sighed for grief not to see Alcimedon on her side fancing her Troops unvincible had this great person fought at their Head But if the absence of Alcimedon afflicted the Queen and Barzanes it incomparably more tormented the inconsolable Menalippa but for Merodates Euardes Phrataphernes and the other Rival Princes it became a Subject of rejoycing to them and particularly the disloyal Orchomenes Prince of the Nomades in whom injuries had made an impression against his Conqueror more than all his civilities during his Captivity resolving to indeavour his destruction by all wayes possible without any consideration of honour or the rank of Prince which he held Over this numerous Army composed of so many different Nations and commanded by so many Princes there wanted a
excessively afflicted ran to her Mistress loosening her cloaths to bring her to her self her pains were for sometime useless but at last the Princess opened her eys and returned from her faintings She cast her self again upon this dying body and by chance Leander at the same time perceived some remainder of life in him At least my Lord said she discover those Murtherers those Monsters that have reduced you to this condition The poor Cleomenes brought to his last sigh endeavoured to speak and desiring as I believe to discover the truth of this adventure Alcamenes Prince of Scythia said he with a voice so low that it was scarce intelligible Alcamenes Prince of Scythia repeated he but could say no more and death in this moment deprived him both of speech and life At the same time two or three Peasants who by the priviledge of the Truce had ventured to come and cut wood and who had seen all which hapned in the murther of Cleomenes came and offered their service to the Princess and unasked told what they saw and how that this man was slain by more than twenty Horse-men without having time to think of his defence so that Menalippa at that moment wherin she thought Alcimedon gave up the ghost remembred that she heard him name Alcamenes Prince of the Scythians and beleived he had murthered him which the wicked Peasants also confirmed and that he was accompanied by twenty men See how strongly Fortune sported against Alcamenes and think it not strange if the afflicted Princess accused him of the death of Alcimedon 'T was here where grief alone was a sufficient conduct to the Tomb and where the adjuncts of rage and fury rather diverted and hindered than advanced the violence of its effects and helpt to recall those forces which had left her to run to that vengeance which she breathed rather than to Death which was ready to imbrace her She arose from the ground quite furious and casting upon this exspiring body a funest and mortal glance How Alcimedon said she dost thou dye before my eyes by the treason and cruelty of Alcamenes if I love thee not sufficiently to survive thy losse I should be weak and cowardly to run to death rather than to thy revenge This Barbarian whose courage hath been so much admired and with so much injustice fearing the Combate he was to maintain against thee this day hath murthered thee basely and inhumanely in the obscurity of the Wood and shall Menalippa to whom by the just anger of Heaven his treason is discovered deplore like a Woman and dye weakly like one of the people instead of executing that vengeance for which the gods have reserved her Ah! no Alcimedon expect not this imbecillity from a Courage which was never sufficiently known to thee I have it possibly comparable to that of men and this arm which hath given death to Bears and Boars shall Arm it self to destroy that Monster who hath snatched from me my Alcimedon She stopt here rowâing in her mind a thousand furious thoughts whilst Leander and Belisa with a River of tears solemnized the Funeral of Alcimedon and the despair of Menalippa who after a long contest being resolved and wipeing off those tears which trickled from her fair eyes wherein rage and grief had an equal stock 'T is no time to weep Menalippa said she 't is on indifferent griefs we should bestow our tears ours requires blood 't is with blood they must be washed away but with Menalippa 's it demands also that of Alcamenes Finishing these words she turned towards Leander and beholding him with eyes swoln from whom in spight of all her resistance a river of tears perpetually flowed Leander said she Alcimedon is dead for me and I ought to be reproacht with his death since it was my Enemy and my interests that took him out of the world I have loved Alcimedon Leander and I scruple no longer to let you know it I have loved him living and I love him still dead as he is more than I love my own life Oh! would to the gods that by the lesse of this unfortunate life I could save that of my faithful my beloved Alcimedon and Oh! would that he breathed in the stead of that unfortunate wretch who now deplores in vain his decease but since it is not permitted me to recall his breath by the exchange of mine I will revenge his death for the Gods have not acquainted me with it and discovered its author by ways so extraordinary but to let me understand that to me only is reserved this vengeance But in telling you my design O Leander O Belisa I also declare that if you indeavor to hinder it you shall see me plunge this steel in my brest and so you 'l make me doubly miserable in taking away the consolation which I hope for before my death speak not one word therefore to divert me from my resolution and help to Arm me with those unfortunate Arms beneath which my poor Alcimedon hath given up the ghost I have strength enough to carry them and to rule his Sword and it was doubtlesse for this action to which the Gods reserved me that I used my self to the chase of wild Beasts and exercises more sutable to men than persons of our sex it was not without mystery that I received from heaven a composition and force of body nothing ordinary and I will make use of in this occasion of that which possibly is not ordinarily placed in a woman when I am Arm'd and have left you expect here my return in two or three hours and if I comenot in that time put this precious body in the Chariot and conduct it into our Tents there to receive the Funeral rites See what I have resolved and fail not in the obedience which I desire if you intend not to hurry me to the utmost extremities of despair The desperate Princess speaking thus Belisa and Leander observed something so terrible in her eyes and face that they lost all the courage and resolution they had taken to contradict her and certainly in those sad moments Love and the Graces had forsaken the beauties of Menalippa to give place to those furies which tormented her and she appeared to those afflicted persons in a posture so terrible that fear overcame them and they durst not oppose that resolution which they condemned Leander at her reiterated command despoyl'd the cold bloody body of its Arms and Casque and Belisa having taken from the Princess her long encombring habits she covered her head with the Casque though bloody in some places and with Leanders help she buckled about her the Arms which she kist and washt with tears as she put them on Being Arm'd she appeared like some Bellona or something more dreadful and by the fury which doubled her forces she seemed no more troubled with the Arms than if she had used them all her life I have told you that her stature was extraordinary
most mortal Enemy Their Casques so disguised each others voice that they could not discern it yet Alcamenes knew that it was not Cleomenes found himself in a great confusion and his own confusion turning into a fury which Menalippa was not likely to resist What soever thou art said he with a menacing tone thou shalt lose thy life by the hand of Alcamenes and thou hast done ill to draw me out of an order which might have preserved thee He accompanied these words with many blows which put Menalippa into disorder and made her Arms blush with some drops of blood The Judges and Spectators observed this redoubled fury and easily perceived a difference between the beginning and the end of the Combate The Princess could no longer sustain the shower of blows which fell upon her which drew blood in many places and at last the irritated Alcamenes pressing her between his arms though she yielded in strength to few men and that she imployed at this time all that nature hath given her he threw her to the Earth and tearing off her Casque with violence You must dye said he or yield me the victory He had scarce finished these few words but casting his eys upon his Enemies face he saw the tresses of long hair which discovered her sex and perceived at last in spight of all contrary appearances the face of Menalippa O Gods how great was the Prince Alcamenes's astonishment at this sight and with what motions was he seized at so unexpected a spectacle Truly great Princesses it is difficult to express that which he that resented it is certainly unable to relate Astonishment gave place to grief and beside the sorrow he received for the wounds he gave her and in that he had presented his threatning Sword to her fair face he could not see Menalippa metamorphosed into a Souldier for his destruction without becoming infinitely sensible of the hatred which carried her to so great an extremity imagining that she knew him as Alcimedon and as Alcamenes and that Cleomenes had discovered or betray'd him Menalippa gave him time to make this reflexion through the astonishment which her fall had caused but when she was come to her self seeing that she was between the arms of her Enemy who had not lifted up the vizor of his Casque because for divers reasons he would not shew his face to the Judges she indeavoured to dis-intangle her self and to seize the Sword which he held in his hand but Alcamenes holding her arm and pressing hers between his more like a lover than an Enemy Ah Menalippa said he what hatred is this that hath carried you to such violent extremities against Alcamenes Alcimedon hath incurr'd your displeasure but Alcimedon hath been sufficiently punished and I have made him suffer those miseries which possibly your self would have been so pitiful not to have ordained him Instead of culpable Alcimedon receive Alcamenes whom I present unto you in whom you will find all the love and all the fidelity which were sometimes agreeable to you in the person of Alcimedon and you will find here those advantages which you could not have met with in the person of a miserable Unknown Thus spake Alcamenes and it seemed that his evil Genius had dictated all the words he uttered so proper they were to confirm the Princess of the manner of Alcimedon's death and Alcamenes's Treason which working violent effects upon her spirit she dis-intangled her self from the passionate imbraces of her conquerour Traytor said she since thou hast punished Alcimedon punish also the unfortunate Menalippa and give her death by thy cruel hand or prepare thy self to receive thine from hers Alcamenes unable to hold her recoyled some paces and prepared to present his breast to satisfie her cruelty when he saw the Judges of the Field with him who during their contest had descended the Scaffold and knowing Menalippa they ran to separate them and interposing between them hindred her cruel intent but in a few moments the Judges were not alone for Amalthea with the Princes from her Scaffold having known the face of Menalippa and seeing it was her who fighting had received divers wounds unable to submit to the Empire of reason in the violence of her parental compassion which mastered it she cry'd Treason and that it was not against Alcimedon but Menalippa that Alcamenes had fought that the Princess was wounded possibly to death and that the cruel man who had put her into that condition ought to lose his life as a punishment of his crime As she uttered these words they cryed Arms which the Queen transported with grief hindred not The thousand Dacian Cavaliers who guarded the Field overthrew the Barriers to be revenged on Alcamenes but the Scythians who saw them did as much on their side to succour their Prince and if the most zealous of the Dacians took up their Princess to carry her into the Queens arms the most affectionate amongst the Scythians covered their Prince with their Bucklers and Bodies giving him time to take Horse and put himself into a fighting condition The two Judges of the Field having protested their innocency as to the breach of Treaty took leave of each other to attend their charges and in a short time this Field was the place of a general Battel then a particular Combate The King of Scythia beholding with displeasure the rupture of the Truce ran to his Troops and commanded all the Princes and Chiefs to their charges to draw the Army out into the best order which the necessity of affairs would permit Merodates Phrataphernes Euardes and his companions had performed the same on their parts and whil'st those who mingled themselves at the Combate in a disorderly and bloody confusion strove for the Victory by little and little increasing they saw themselves fortified by two great Armies As they fought in disorder so I cannot very orderly follow my discourse and as I oblige my self rather to the particular actions of Alcamenes than to theirs that fought for him I will only say that the Prince finding himself that day animated with the most violent grief and anger he had ever resented in his life he made those who were so unhappy as to present themselves before him such easie sacrifices that they rather took him for a Fury than any thing mortal This Battel had the form of a Massacre without choice or distinction party against party the vanquisht with the vanquisher and the dying with their Murtherers were invelloped in the same ruine Alcamenes who could not fear death but rather through his rage indeavoured to render his depart more funest to his Enemies left every where bloody marks of his fury The first of the Enemy-Princes who presented himself was the disloyal Orchomenes who fierce with the death of the pretended Alcimedon marcht to the encounter with more boldness than before and who conducted by his evil Genius and the Daemon revenger of perfidies durst with a Troop of his
and Desolation put on their true shape and if the whole Camp groaning for the losse of so many thousands that had been slain that day for the death of the Prince of Bithinia and the King of the Nomades and for that of a great number of principal Officers who had left their Bodies in the Field as Trophies of Scythian Valor The Queen to the great cause she had to regret this loss joyned the grief she resented at Menalippa's despair She caused her to be carried off the Field to be disarm'd and her wounds drest and though they were but light yet the unconsolable grief of the Princess would have put the least bodily distemper into a capacity of indangering of life In vain had the Queen imbraced her and bedewed her face with tears in vain had she conjured her by the most pressing words affection could put into her mouth to declare the cause of her despair and funest resolution The desperate Princess answered not but by sobbs and tears which flowed incessantly from her fair eys or if the afflicted Mother could sometimes force a few words from her they so savoured of rage and fury that they easily discovered her Soul to be possest with a mortal sadness But though Menalippa could not conceal her grief yet she would her love choosing rather to suffer the perpetual demands of the Queen than confesse she had loved Alcimedon and that it was for him she fought with Alcamenes and was faln into despair Notwithstanding the pre-occupation of her Soul she caused Belisa to order the Body of Alcimedon secretly to be buried which was very easie amongst so many thousands that kept him company and this Maid who with Leander had carried it to the Camp according to her orders would nevertheless divulge nothing of this adventure having not yet received the Princesses commands so she put the Body of Cleomenes in an unfrequented place where it could not be known by reason of the wounds in his face and being stript of Alcimedon's Arms which might have made him observed Menalippa in her design of concealing her love from the world received some satisfaction from this discretion of Belisa charging her to recommend the secret to Leander and all those who knew ought of this adventure The Queen pressed her uncessantly to reveal the truth partly to understand the cause of her despair and also to know how she came by Alcimedon's Armour and what was become of that valiant man and how he permitted her to fight in his place yet he could never draw the least word out of her mouth that might give any satisfaction in what she desired and all that she could obtain was a promise to declare the truth within six days on condition that till then she would give her the liberty of her tears without troubling her for a clearer knowledge The Queen who even adored her and placed in her only all her affections and hopes was constaained to be satisfied with this promise and though she disapproved and condemned the furious resolution and Combate of her Daughter which she could not attribute but to a violent despair yet durst she not blame her for this action as she would doubtless have done had she been in a condition capable of reproof Yet was not Menalippa's heart so replenisht with her own misfortunes but there was room left to resent the Queen's and seeing her drowned in tears at her Pillow Madam said she I render my self unworthy by my folly of that bounty you testifie towards me In the Name of the Gods allay the troubles of your spirit and hope with me from the bounty of Heaven that mine will repose it self when yours becomes more serene Ah Menalippa reply'd the Queen with a sigh You have little reason to imagine my spirit can be at rest whilst yours remains in the condition it now appears and you have little valued my repose when you exposed a Daughter more dear to me than my own life to the conquering Sword of the valiantest man upon Earth I am not reply'd sadly Menalippa the first person of my sex that hath drawn a Sword against men and you your self have inspired me with Warlike inclinations by the education you gave me however this action may partly be excused to you by the hatred which with my milk you have made me suck against the Fâmily of Orontes and which I believed might reasonably transport me to this extremity against the Son of my Fathers Murtherer against a man who robbs us of the hopes of revenge and of the possession of Scythia which the Gods hath promised us and against a man to whom for other reasons also I have an irreconcileable aversion It must be Menalippa reply'd the Queen and shaking her head that these desperate resolutions against Alcamenes have some deeper causes than those that are common to us both and were he not born of your Father's Murtherer he hath done nothing in this War nor in the Combate against you but what might rather cause esteem than aversion Pardon me Madam repli'd Menalippa brisquely in that my resentments are not conformable to yours and if I have not generosity to love enough vertue in mine Enemies Amalthea knew by the manner of pronouncing these words that she could not contradict her without augmenting her affliction and a little after going out of the Chamber she permitted her to passe the night through her instant intreaties without any other company save that of Belisa During the remainder of this night which she gave wholly to sighs and tears for unhappy Alcimedon she made often reflections on the actions and words of Alcamenes in the Combate and observing amongst those cruel ones whereby he owned the death of Alcimedon that he was in love with her and offered himself to her with all the marks of a passionate man she became astonisht at the quick birth of his love and flattered her self possibly notwithstanding her mortal grief with the glory of such a conquest and of the quick and marvellous effects of her beauty After a long revery If it be true said she that Alcamenes loves me I praise the gods for the occasions they have given me of revenging his cruelty by that I will exercise against him and if the Barbarian be so happy to escape the death which I prepare for him I will make him feel from this heart pre-occupied by a passion so just all that a just resentment can inspire me with of most cruel and most conformable to the hatred I bear him In these furious thoughts she passed the night and part of the next day receiving some nourishment and permitting them to dresse her wounds not out of love to life but of design to imploy it wholly in revenging Alcimedon Part of the day was past when they came to advertize the Queen that the Prince of the Tauro-Scythes desired admittance from the King of Scythia What hatred soever she bare his Master yet knew she how to treat Ambassadours
King no apparent hopes saying only they had seen greater wounds cured and that it was not impossible but that the Prince might be saved You may imagine they employed all their Art about a cure of that importance and as they were the most experienced of all Scythia they made use of those remedies which were indeed the most capable of preserving the Prince's life for a long time they could not recover his lost senses and when by the force of remedies they returned it was with so much weakness and so little knowledge that it increased the general fear They drest also his other wounds which he received from Merodates but they were inconsiderable The King who alwayes remained with him full of an unconceivable displeasure and who by all his Courage could not render himself Master of his mortal grief was obliged at last to quit the Chamber leaving the wounded Prince to his necessary repose and passing into his own apartment he there committed himself to the most violent effects of his afflictions The remainder of this day he gave to tears and sighs and past the whole Night in a sutable occupation but the next Morning to his tender grief succeeded a just resentment and a desire to know who was the person guilty of so great a Crime that he might study a proportionable vengeance both for him and his Abettors therefore though against the ordinary forms and customs of Kings who are leldom seen by Criminals judging that an Adventure so little common ought to be proceeded in after an extraordinary manner he sent for the Assasine of Alcamenes to examine him himself not confiding in his Judges upon an Affair of so great importance they obeyed his Command and a few moments after he saw the Criminal enter in the midst of the Guards with two others who voluntarily offered themselves Prisoners and who confest themselves guilty of the same Fact The King notwithstanding all his moderation could scarce contain himself from running on them to strangle them with his own hands instead of an examination But had he not been arrested by the Dignity of his person the beauty which surprized him had been a sufficient stop to the torrent of his passions which at the same time struck and fill'd him with admiration and astonishment The Garments of the Criminal had been abused and torn by those that had taken him and his body so loaded with Irons that he could scarce stand under them but through the vail of this misery shone a beauty so inflaming and eyes brighter than the Planet under which they were born casting beams so quick and piercing that the Soul of the afflicted King pre-occupied as it was with grief and rage could not refuse to this imperial object its due respect he remained quite confused and non-plust then fixing his eyes awhile upon this fair face and comparing Menalippa's cruel hate together with so much of her face as he had seen in her former Combat with Alcamenes he suspected it was she her self but from suspition he quickly past into a certainty when this fair person perceiving his astonishment permitted him not to open his mouth but beholding him with an assured eye Orontes said she our offences are equal Thou hast slain my Father and I thy Son This Discourse will inform thee that I am Menalippa I have executed a vengeance due to my hand only and committed a Crime in thy opinion whereof I neither can nor will repent give that then to the revenge of thy Son which I have given to a person more dear to me than ever Alcamenes was to his Father spill my blood I have spilt thy Sons and thou shalt see I will implore thy Clemency neither by word nor sigh but if thou thinkest any thing due to the dignity of my Birth and Sex suffer me no longer to languish under these shameful Irons wherewith I am laden and preserve at my death that honour which I have inviolably kept through the most unhappy accidents of my life Thus spake Menalippa with a countenance which made Orontes judge that the fear of Death was the least of her care and he was so moved by her looks and Discourse that had Menalippa been guilty of any other Crime than the assasination of Alcamenes she had overthrown all his resentments against her but Alcamenes was too dear to Orontes and the Act of Menalippa appeared too cruel to suffer him to submit so soon to those tendernesses which she might have raised in another heart And beholding her with eyes wherein were represented the different motions of his passions Cruel and inhumane person said he What fury could stretch thy barbarous Arm against the bosom of the unfortunate Alcamenes And what offence hast thou received from a Prince who gave thee his heart at that time when thou didst assault his life with so much inhumanity T is with too much injustice that thou sayest our offences are equal thou hast slain a Prince who adores thee and who notwithstanding the efforts thou hast made against his life breathes not but to love thee And though I took away thy Fathers life it was when he assaulted mine his Sword in his hand in a Battel and in a posture which hath left no reproach upon my memory nor to thee or thine any just occasion of resentment but if there remains any why fell it not upon Orontes but on the innocent Alcamenes And wherefore sparedst thou not that heart-burning for thee to carry thy rage against thy Fathers Murtherer Ah! doubtless the loss of my life was not capable of satisfying thee and thou hast with reason fancied that in taking away my Sons thou shouldest deprive me of mine with a double portion of torment I have offered thee this unfortunate Prince whom thou hast taken from me and with him my Empire in a time when I could have made thee perish with the reliques of that Army which misguided Rage had conducted into my Countrey possibly this offer had not been disadvantagious for Menalippa and Alcamenes was great enough both by his Actions and Birth to have found in any other heart save thine another manner of acknowledgment The afflicted Father spake thus and would have extended his reproaches to a further length if Menalippa who truly touched with compassion for him though her unhappy Error suffered her not to be so for Alcamenes had not interrupted him wiping away some tears which sprinkled her Cheeks King of Scythia said she though I will not seek an excuse for the action which I have done yet I protest to thee before the gods that it was not to be revenged on Orontes that I punisht Alcamenes and that I never entertained any hatred against thee which was not guided by reason or which was capable of carrying me to any particular designs either against thine or thy Sons life but know that I have punisht Alcamenes for his own fault and that I had never assaulted his life had he not taken out of
the World by the most unworthy and barbarous treason all that I could love amongst men and all that could carry me to these extremities which may make it appear to thee that I am weary of my life Thou shalt know no more and Heaven is my Witness that I would never have said so much to any one else dispose now of my destiny at thy pleasure preserve only in my death the respect due to the modesty of my Sex and the dignity of my Birth The tears which the remembrance of Alcimedon drew from Menalippa's eye stopt the course of her words and the King shaking his Head at her Discourse testifying the little Credit he gave to it Those reproaches of Treason and Unworthiness said he wherewith thou abusest Alcamenes will find little faith amongst men with whom his Actions are clear enough and if he hath slain any one that was dear to thee it must have been in Battel or in some of those Combats which thy Rage hath raised against him But Alcamenes is not yet dead and if it please the gods to leave him with me I shall have generosity enough to return thee free into thy Countrey and forget in favour of thy Sex and Beauty and Alcamenes love the bloody injury thou hast done me but if my Son dyeth of the wound received from thy hand by the immortal gods I will not leave his death unpunisht were Alcamenes dead I would lose that life without regret which I only preserve for his ruine and in which there remains nothing which can make me desire its conservation These words made the King judge that the Soul of Menalippa was possest with a powerful despair and he began to believe that her hatred might have another foundation than the King her Fathers death yet quite transported with grief and anger as he was he commanded them to take away the Irons from her hands and feet and to give her Garments conformable to her Sex if she would and instead of the Goal an Apartment in the Palace with order to guard her carefully yet so that she might taste nothing of Captivity save that of a Prison Menalippa praising the moderation of Orontes and unable to disapprove his resentments had some regret for his grief and being discharged of her Irons she retired into the appartment they offered her where she put on womans Cloaths not those they presented because they were her Enemies but such as she caused Belisa to carry with her she refusing any other attendants Whilst the wounded Prince disputed betwixt life and death his wound being so great that a complexion less robust than his could not have one moment survived the cruel stroak he passed the Night with great weakness and the day following when they took away the Playsters the fear ceased not and the Chirurgions only said as the day before there were some hopes and though his cure was difficult yet was it not impossible As they permitted not the Prince to speak so they permitted only such to stay in his Chamber that were necessary for the present necessity and it was in this solitude and silence that they perceived this poor Prince whose judgment in spight of his feebleness and violent Feaver was intire and sound studying upon his adventure unable to imagine by all conjectures that his wound came upon any other account save Menalippa's The King would not tell him what he knew for fear the News should increase his misfortune and affliction by letting him know that Menalippa had been charged with Irons and dragg'd to a Prison but that which the Princes thoughts were most busied on was that the Sword wherewith he had been wounded remaining after the blow in his body he believed that by this Sword he could clear himself of part of his suspitions and having called one of those which served him he commanded to bring it to him it was remarkable enough through the beauty of the Hilt to have caused some one in the Chamber to have it carried it away but by Fortune it was left and presented to the Prince who no sooner cast his eyes upon it but he knew it for the same he had along time worn under the Name of Alcimedon and which he had given to Cleomenes with the rest of his Arms and which he saw in Menalippa's hand in the first Combat This sight made him imagine that it was by Menalippa's hand he had been wounded and calling to mind that little of her face which appeared as she fell on him and remembring the Letter which Merodates received from her by Leander whom he believed to be still in her Service he no longer doubted but that it was from Menalippa that he received the wound This knowledge was the Parent of different thoughts and if it redoubled his grief to see the continuation of Menalippa's hatred he received also much consolation through the belief he had that to please Menalippa before he dyed he could not dye more gloriously than by her hand he rouled this thought sometime in his mind without speaking at last raising his voyce with a weak and an unassured tone Ah said he the gods be praised I dye by the hand of Menalippa He repeated these words divers times and a little after Well Menalippa added he since 't is your Will that I dye by your hand I willingly imbrace it and shall receive my death with an intire joy if I may be permitted to kiss the hand that gave it He stopt at these words casting his eyes sometimes on the fatal Sword and sometimes on those that stood round about him who conjured him to be silent if he desired to preserve his life but they were much more astonished when after he had kept silence sometime But why said he do I oppose my self to Menalippa's Will since she thrust not this revenging Sword into the odious body of Alcamenes but that he should dye thereby What should oblige me to suffer these Remedies which are contrary to Menalippa's intention In saying thus he would have carried his hand to the binding of his wound to tear them off but those which were with him knowing his intention had laid hold of his hands which by reason of his weakness were easily mastered whilst others went to advertize the King who was in a Chamber by and who never but almost by force left his Sons Bed-side Alcamenes stayed his hand when he saw the King for whom he had alwayes a great respect and this afflicted person who came to know the cause of his Despair telling him with are proach full of tenderness that he could not neglect his own life without hazarding that of his Fathers Alcamenes instead of answering to this Discourse beholding the King with a passionate Aire My Lord said he Menalippa is in your hands in the Name of the gods hide not from me where Menalippa is The King who imagined he could not long conceal the Truth confest it all and told him that for his sake
might long have spoken without the Princes interruption for it was the ill Fortune of Alcamenes that he was faln into a Swoon without which he had spoken and made himself known to Menalippa and by that discovery had finished those cruel Traverses which so long had persecuted his life but the gods would not that this hour should be the last of his sufferings When he came to himself and considered the condition wherein he was and called to mind all that had past his memory gave him occasion enough to exercise all his vertues and he had certainly need of all his constancy and all the iudeavours of the King to consent to the care that they took of his life which promising to permit he ingaged the King to set Menalippa at liberty and the King gave him his word that the next Morning she should depart with an honourable Train which should conduct her even into her Mothers Arms. They ingaged themselves on this manner one to the other by this mutual promise and if the Father sacrificed to the love he bare his Son all his resentments against Menalippa Alcamenes divested himself for his Fathers sake of all the aversion he had to life and resolved to suffer those remedies either in hope they would be fruitless or out of Design that in case he escaped this wound he would seek Menalippa in Dacia and dye there before her eyes When the King was gone out of his Chamber he sent for Sosthenes one of the two Squires that had served him in his Travels the other had been killed in the first Battel and this returned to the City but the day before from a Government which the King had given him Alcamenes by his swooning had lost part of those words which Menalippa spake yet heard enough to understand that she accused him of some wickedness and black Treason As he knew himself blameless in any thing save the innocent change of his Arms and the supposition of Cleomènes he would let Menalippa understand before his death part of those things he had to say to her so that causing Sosthenes to draw near his Bed whatever the Physitians could say to the contrary he caused him to write that which with much pains he dictated ordaining him to give it to Menalippa after his death this being finished and his spirit left to its last resolutions he appeared more quiet than before he inquired concerning Merodates's health commanding their attendance on him with as much care as on himself charging his Servants to excuse him being hindred by his wounds from rendring him those assistances which he ought He returned thanks to all the principal Scythians who stirred not from his Anti-Chamber enquiring continually concerning his recovery and in all things he gave them reason to judge that his spirit was much calmed but though this appeared with probability enough it is also certain that Alcamenes's grief was now come to its utmost extremity In the mean time Menalippa having demanded permission to visit Merodates testified to him by the most obliging words her grief and natural fierceness would permit her acknowledgment of the Service he would have done her and her sorrow to see him wounded for her interests but she was astonisht when she heard Merodates instead of the passionate Discourses he used to make to speak of nothing but the vertues of Alcamenes testifying the displeasure he resented at the wound she had given him protesting that if it pleased the gods to save him he would divest himself for his sake of all those thoughts he had entertained for her advising her to change her hatred into acknowledgment and love and a firm desire of rendring him possessor of that happiness who of all men breathing did most highly deserve it Menalippa was so angry at these words of Merodates in favour of Alcamenes and Alcimedon's Murtherer that having exprest her resentments by angry looks she left the Chamber without Reply Yet could she not hinder the strife of different thoughts which combated in her breasts and that rage which she preserved against Alcimedon's Murtherer left room for a reflection on the love and perseverance of a Prince who dyed by her hand with so much resignation who desired she might be treated with so much respect even then when he felt the pains of that Death which she had indeavoured to give him and who in these last sighs of his life could never be drawn to the least complaint against her Her implacable fury could not hinder the Entertain of some tender thoughts and it is certain that had she believed Alcamenes guilty of any other Crime than the Death of Alcimedon she would have given the Garland to pity which combated her other resentments with a powerful force Immortal gods said she that the wicked and cruel Treason of Alcamenes should be comparable with his Vertues And could he who testifies so much Valor and Generosity in Combats so much perseverance and love to his pitiless Enemy and so much constancy in his Death should be the man who in the obscurity of a Wood by the help of twenty men should murther the innocent Alcimedon Injurious fortune must the wicked and perfidious become vertuous only to render me Criminal hast thou not made me see hast thou not made me love hast thou not made me lose the unfortunate Alcimedon all to arm me against thee as an unfortunate Alcamenes From hence making a reflection upon her past Fortune and the present condition of her life all her constancy could not divert a River of tears which powred down her fair Cheeks passing the rest of this day notwithstanding the comforts her faithful Belisa indeavoured to give in most mournful and deplorable imployments But if the day was cruel to her the insuing Night was nothing less sad and having sufficiently tormented her self by the remembrance of Alcimedon and Alcamenes sleep at last rendred it self Master of her Senses After many confused Visions that Alcimedon whom she had continued in her thoughts presented himself before her in a Dream He appeared as he was when most dear to her memory though pale and covered with blood having his side pierced with a great wound like that which she had given Alcamenes the beloved Prince seemed to point at the wound with one hand and stretching forth the other with a passionate Action Menalippa said he see how you recompense my love behold the performance of your special promises you have thrust the steel unprofitably into my Breast for against a heart which hath alwayes adored you there needs no other arms than those of your hatred behold this blood which you have cruelly spilt and pour forth the rest if you are so thirsty after it but remember that you indeavour your own misfortune and that you cannot persecute my life as you do without submitting your own to new afflictions content your self at least with the evils you have already done me seeing that even in just occasions of anger
and hatred you see me alwayes ardent alwayes faithful bend your spirit to the pity you owe me and the love you owe your self Thus spake the beloved Phantasm to the sleeping Princess who was so touched with the Vision and the passionate Discourse that her sleep departed leaving such as impression upon her that in opening her eyes she fancied that the dear Image appeared She found her self washt with tears and although after some moments she was able to distinguish a Dream from a real Apparition yet could she not but stretch her Arms on that side whither she thought the spirit of Alcimedon retired and calling him back with a voyce interrupted by sighs Return my dear Alcimedon said she and see that 't is into the bosom of Alcamenes that I have thrust my revenging steel and not into thine Tears were too feeble to satisfie what I owe thee and since it must be blood who 's more fit than thy Murtherer's Already he draws towards his end and instead of solliciting me to hasten the hour thou indeavourest to touch me with pity for that inhumane Act but think not that I can be sorry for your Assasine and consider that whether in abandoning a dear Mother a flourishing Kingdom and leading a life exposed to many dangers a reputation committed to the opinions of men and all to revenge you I have not given sufficient Testimonies that I dearly love you She made many more Discourses of this Nature and at last changing the Subject for Alcamenes Wherefore deluding Alcamenes said she dost thou rob me of Alcimedon 's face it is to disarm me of my just anger whose last effects thou mayest well fear Ah! rather take the odious shape of mine Enemy and if thou escapest this wound live if thou canst in safety from Menalippa 's fury which thy submissions had almost disarmed She talked long after this rate tormenting her self all the Night and in the Morning she rose early but so troubled at her Dream and the Ideas which it had left in her spirit that she was scarce capable of any Discourse So soon as she was drest the Prince of the Massagetes entred her Chamber and told her from the King that she might depart so soon as she pleased and that if she thought sit an honourable Train should attend her from Serica to the Metropolis of her Kingdom Menalippa was confounded at Orontes's bounty and was even upon the point of repenting the evil she had done him but whilst she prepared her Answer and was thinking in what manner she should receive her Enemies offer she saw Sosthenes enter her Chamber with the Letter which Alcamenes had dictated Menalippa received opened and read it not knowing what to do in the trouble that possest her and had she considered she would not possibly have received a Letter from Alcimedons Murtherer but full of pre-occupation she read these words The Dying Alcamenes to the pitiless Menalippa WEre not death more dear and glorious to me from your hand than mine own I had prosecuted your Design but if it be possible I will dye by you as I dye for you and if by the anger of Heaven this glory is refused me I will seek my consolation in the felicity of pleasing you and render you in Dacia this Head which you have devoted to your resentments it is not just that you should come to seek with so much pain and peril here that which is your own and which I would have offered to you had you not prevented me The gods know it was alwayes my Design to obey you and I desire them to abandoned me to disgraces yet more great if it be possible than those I have already resented if the Crimes you reproach me of are known to me or if I think my self culpable of any offence towards you save when I lifted my sacrilegious hand against you I have given the better part of my blood towards its reparation and if there remains one sigh to compleat your satisfaction I will chase O Menalippa the unfortunate Soul out of my dying body leaving it not so much as a receptacle upon my lips unless to express the last accents of the dying Alcamenes 's love Go then fair Princess into what place soever you will either dead or alive I will send the spirit of Alcimedon to you he will shew you the wound which you have made and a heart where instead of Alcamenes whom you seek to destroy you can only harm Menalippa pardon me the injuries which you have received in this barbarous Land whose Crown Alcimedon promised to and Alcamenes destined for you and do me the favour to believe that you might without danger trouble or displeasure have seen the last moments of ALCAMENES Though Menalippa read the beginning of that Letter without any particular emotion yet those parts of it wherein he mentioned Alcimedon where he threatned to send the spirit of Alcimedon to shew her the wound she had made so troubled her partly to comprehend the sense of those strange words and the conformity they had with her Dream the Idea of which was still fresh in her memory and wherein the spirit of Alcimedon which Alcamenes threatned to send had already made its first appearance that there scarce remained either Reason or Discourse in her she was exceedingly astonisht how Alcamenes should know that Alcimedon had promised her the Crown of Scythia and in this mixture of different thoughts she fell into the extremities of confusion What Fortune is mine said she within her self and with what manner of man have I to deal who could not only kill Alcimedon but also dispose of his spirit after death and know the most secret of his thoughts whilst living Her spirit being imbroyled on this manner she knew not what presented it self to her eyes or thoughts at last lifting up her eyes which had been fixt on the ground and fastning them on the face of Sosthenes whom she had seen a thousand times in Dacia with Alcimedon she presently knew him this sight and knowledg plunged her into a great perplexity and being forced to take her Bed through weakness which but a little before she had left and casting most passionate regards upon the face of Sosthenes Are you not call'd Sosthenes said she and did you not serve Alcimedon whilst he was in Dacia I have served him many years said Sosthenes and to him have I dedicated all the dayes of my life How couldst thou then replied Menalippa without horror come near his Assasine I have not done it reply'd Sosthenes but in obedience to his Command and the person of his Assasine is so dear to him that I cannot render him a more agreeable Service than in promoting that passion which he will preserve for her even to his Tomb. How replied Menalippa Doth the spirit of Alcimedon still love the person of his Murtherer She stayed a while at these words and not giving Sosthenes time to speak 'T is no marvel
added she that this generous spirit came whilst I slept indeavouring to disarm my spirit against Alcamenes and I begin to understand his threat of sending the Ghost of Alcimedon to me though I cannot imagine what power he hath so to do But Sosthenes since Alcimedon hath so dearly loved Menalippa and that Menalippa hath preserved so much amity for Alcimedon Wherefore after the loss of your Master have you not after Leanders example fix't your self in Menalippa's Service but in that of Alcamenes This Discourse began to trouble Sosthenes imagining with some movements of pity that grief had disturbed Menalippa's judgment but as he was preparing a Reply Leander entred the Chamber quite out of breath and accosted the Princess with a mighty astonishment Madam said he I come to tell you News that will certainly surprize you and fill you with Repentance for many of your Actions Menalippa whose spirit was already very unsetled had not power to answer which Leander taking for a permission to speak Madam pursued he in passing through the next street I saw two men fighting with a mighty animosity I drew near to part them but just as I came one of the two having received a mortal wound fell at my feet I drew near to help him but whilst I was upon this friendly office I saw my self incompassed with a great Number of others who came upon the same Account Your succours are unprofitable said the wounded person to me I perceive I must dye and the gods who at this time have justly deserted me have permitted this in punishment of the Murther I committed on the person of Alcimedon These words exceedingly surprized me How said I are you one of those that Alcamenes made use of to kill Alcimedon Alcamenes replied this man contributed nothing to the Death of Alcimedon it was by the Command of Orchomenes King of the Nomades whose Subject I am and who with Nineteen more of my Companions murthered that valiant man near the City of Nicea Alcamenes was so far from being Alcimedon's Murtherer that he revenged it on the person of Orchomenes whom he slew in the Battal These words having thrust me into a marvellous astonishment Friend said I in the Name of the gods hide not the Truth of that Relation which you have begun it is of so great importance and will conduce to the justification and repose of some so considerable persons that you may expect very great Rewards if the gods spare your life I pretend no longer to life reply'd he and in the last moments thereof I should be sorry to lye in charging my self with a Crime which will render my memory odious That which is only like to justifie me is that Orchomenes was my King and that I am a Nomadian by birth and at that time commanded those Troops which composed his Life-guard Then related he to more than Fifty persons that were present that Orchomenes having nourisht a violent hatred against Alcimedon for the death of his brother and the imprisonment himself suffered by his Valor no sooner saw this Prince return to the Dacian Camp but he designed his death and immediately after his departure from the Queens Tents caused some to observe which way he went and being informed he commanded me to take twenty more of my Companions and attend Alcimedon's return and kill him how he could promising excessive recompences and giving part before hand This order was punctually observed for the innocent Alcimedon the next Morning cast himself into our Ambuscado where he was born to the Earth and pierced with twenty wounds in the face and throat Thus Madam did he declare the circumstances so that there is no reason to doubt but that it was so carried a little after notwithstanding all our indeavours to prolong his life till the end of his Confession he dyed in our Arms and I ran with all diligence to relate the News which will be confirmed by more than fifty Witnesses This was Leanders Relation and Menalippa had too much confidence in his fidelity to doubt the Report and so called no other Witness but when she made reflection upon the dying words of Alcimedon who had uttered no other Name but that of Alcamenes her confusion remained and could perceive no light in these contrary appearances It is true said she aloud 't is true that Alcamenes hath testified too much vertue in all his Actions to be guilty of so black a Murther yet it is true replied she that Alcimedon did name Alcamenes and Alcamenes himself seemed to confess the Crime and to glory in the death of Alcimedon The Prince of the Massegetes who was present all this time understood nothing at all and Sosthenes who understood a part was ignorant of the rest and more astonisht than any He knew the Prince had never told the King his Father any thing of those Adventures which hapned to him under the Name of Alcimedon so that before the Prince of the Massegetes he would not speak more clearly to Menalippa not utter those things which his astonishment had put into his mouth but beholding her in a strange perplexity and mortal inquietude Madam said he you may believe Leanders Relation and if you will but see Alcamenes this one time I dare promise you that you will be certainly convinced it was not he who slew Alcimedon The Princess confounded raising her self at these words Yes Sosthenes said she I will revisit Alcamenes and this Truth which I desire to know is sufficiently important to make me pass beyond my resentments I cannot understand after those words I heard from him how he could be innocent of Alcimedon's death but if he be really so I will so repair the Cruelties which I have exercised towards him that I am sure he will grant my pardon At these words she arose and desiring Sosthenes to demand the Princes leave to see him she followed him immediately and was almost so soon there as he The Prince whose wound had made many promises that day of amendment and the King who was with him understood with astonishment her demand nor could they divine the cause though the Prince imagined his Letter had done it and resolving his spirits against any thing cruel or funest that could arrive he prepared to receive this second Visit of Menalippa with more courage than the former and the King thought he saw some beams of joy darting a good augure from Sosthenes's face Menalippa entred the Chamber followed by Leander and Belisa but it was with less fierceness and more sweetness than formerly The King caused a Chair to be set for her by Alcamenes's Bed where being fate Alcamenes said she with an assured countenance I come to make that reparation which I owe to you if you are innocent or which I owe my self if you are guilty of that Fact which I would have punished by the loss of your life I will make a confession of that before the King and other persons here present which
Beauty with all the agitations that a soul that hath lost all command of it self can be capable of He had not hardly had the confidence to open his mouth had he not been encouraged by the presence of Emilia whom he knew to be favourable to him and from whom he expected some relief But at last having rallyed a the courage he had he sets one knee on the ground and looking on Tullia in a trembling posture I should not presume to importune you with my sight Madam said he to her if I thought not my self obliged to make you some satisfaction for the injury I have done you and though Cecinna hath in some sort justified me by telling you that I onely stood in a defensive posture against him yet the displeasure I have done you is greater than to be passed over with such a reparation There was no need of this last misfortune to heighten the aversion you have ever had for the unfortunate person that now adores you and this sight of you which I so earnestly begged before should not have been granted me together with that of an accident which can raise in you nothing but horrour for this so unhappy a wretch But since it is the disposal of heaven it is but just that both Heavens anger and yours should be appeased and since I am already so well acquainted with your heart as to believe I shall find in you all the resolution requisite to revenge your self and to do right to the Manes of Cecinna here take the sword continued he drawing it and presenting her with the hilt take the sword that hath taken away the life of Cecinna thrust it into this breast which lyes open to you and spare not after the injury I have done you a life which even in a condition of innocence hath ever been odious to you At these words Tullia who all the while would not so much as look towards him but turned her face another way gave him such a sudden and furious look that haply upon the first sallies of the violent passions she was then absolutely subject to she might have granted the desolate Antonius the death he so much desired and that accordingly she would have taken the sword he presented to her and whereof the very sight very much enflamed her indignation when she perceived upon it certain drops of Cecinna's blood But the prudent Emilia fastening immediately upon it got it not without much difficulty from Antonius and this she did as well in regard of the uncertainty she was in as to Tullia's intention as to prevent that desperatè Prince from making use of it against himself as he might have done in the distraction his grief had then put him into Tullia continued for some time without so much as opening her mouth expressing the agitations of her soul by her looks and silence more effectually than she could haply have done by her words But at last not able to master the impetuosity thereof and looking on the prostrate Antonius with eyes wherein through the tears that fell from them the fire of her indignation discovered it self but too apparently Unmercifull disturber of my quiet said she to him thou who being the issue of my Fathers Executioners art resolved not to degenerate from their cruelty Is it possible that thy inhumanity cannot be satisfied either with the bloud of Cicero spilt by thy Friends nor with that Cecinna which thou hast shed thy self but thou must persecute to the death an Unfortunate Mayd who hath not without reason avoided thee and who never yet gave thee the least offence Dost thou hope stained with the bloud of him that was to be her Husband that she can regard that odious passion which hath proved the cause of all her unhappinesse Or dost thou imagine she can look otherwise on thee than a Monster and the foulest object of detestation and horrour Go Barbarian go Sonne of Fulvia and disturb no longer the Daughter of the Unfortunate Cicero for whom thy cruelty hath opened a source of tears which no passion could ever have made her shead As she uttered these words which came from her attended with a deluge of tears she rested her face on Emilia's arm when Scipio who was then in quest of either his Mistress or his Friend came into the place directed thither haply by the gods to prevent my Brother's despair He was in few words made acquainted with all that past and though compassion had that effect which it could not but produce in him yet he made a shift to smother it the better to serve his Friend and so joyned with Emilia to oppose those sentiments of hatred and indignation which Tullia had conceived against my Brother But notwithstanding all their arguments intreaties and remonstrances she was still as inflexible as ever and the suppliant posture wherein Antonius had continued all this while or the abundance of tears he shed after her example could not raise in her the least touch of compassion nor any way moderate her exasperation When he saw that the mediation of Emilia and his Friend proved altogether ineffectual rising up from the place where he was and looking very dreadfully on Tullia I now see Tullia said he to her that nothing but my death can satisfie you and I were very much to blame if being neer the dead body of Cecinna I should hope to find that pitty from you which in the greatest innocence of my life and amidst the most prevalent expressions of my love I could never obtain nor indeed was it to your compassion that I addressed my self but I defied the implacable aversion you have for me to put a period to that life for which you have so much horrour I must confesse I should have embraced death more kindly from your hands than my own as conceiving your revenge would be the more absolute when you took it your self But since Emilia hath deprived you of that satisfaction which yet had been but proportionable to the grief I have innocently caused you I shall make it my own businesse to sacrifice to you the remainder of this life which hath been so unfortunately preserved and is so cruelly abhorred With these words he pretended as if he would go away with an action not far from extravagance but Scipio who during his discourse was gotten neer him stayed him and Tullia implacable as she was yet having abundance of vertue about her would not leave in the persons that heard her the sentiments which her distraction might have raised in them so that endeavouring once more to express her self to Antonius yet without looking on him I come not out of a cruel race such as thine is said she to him nor do I desire any bloudy reparations for the injury thou hast done me I neither wish thy death nor thy life and leave thee Master of a Fate wherein I never intend to be ary wayes engaged but if the horrid outrages which my family and my self
bemoaning empressions were the burthen of their carkasses and reciprocally wiping off one anothers tears they reiterated their kisses with so much love that a person the least subject of any in the World to suspicion would never have been ãâã but that there might be yet a further familiary between persons so passionaââ Foâ my part I made not the least question of it and from that fatal spectacle concluding my unhappiness undeniable I gave way to the rage then gaining ground upon me and ãâ¦ã moment to consult upon the resolution I was to take to revenge my injured love ãâ¦ã the loss of my honour I seldom went any where without my sword as ill fortune would have it I had it then about me I drew it transported with fury and running to one of the doors of the Arbour with so much hast that those two amorous persons had hardly the time to break off their kissing You must dye base perfidious wretches cryed I you must dye and putting my fury in execution upon the first object that offered it self it self it fell upon the unfortunate Elisena whom running with my sword in at the breast there needed not much strength to force it in up to the hilts Cleontes had the time to get out at one of the doors of the Arbour had got away as soon as he saw me appear with all the speed he could make but the unfortunate Elisena who stood neerest to me receiving the mortal wound fell down at my feet in a torrent of blood âs she fell fastening on my knees she held me so that I could not get off from her to run after Cleontes In the mean time Elisena expiring strove as much as she could to speak and with abundance of difficulty made a shift to bring forth these words Zonodorus said she to me thou hast spilt innocent blood which will cry out for vengeance against thee but far be it from me to desire it of the gods and I forgive thee my death which my own imprudence and thy want of recollection hath brought me to thou wilt find that I have not injured thee and therefore content thy self that thou hast taken away my life and meddle not with Cleontes who is ............ She would have said somewhat else but ere she could bring it out both voice and life had taken their leaves of her This spectacle you may well imagine was deplorable enough to move me to some pitty and the love which I had formerly had for Elisena whom I saw expiring at my feet beautiful even in her paleness and amidst the very looks of death as amiable as ever she had been in her life must in all likelihood force me to some compassion But rage and fury being grown predominant over my soul and I looking on the loss of my honour as a thing infallibly certain and from the last words of Elisena when she recommended unto me the life of Cleontes and seemed so indifferent as to her own drawing no other conclusion than that of the excessive love she had for him my fury derives new strength from that cruel confirmation and leaving the body of Elisena in the hands of her Women who were come in at the noise out of a place where they waited hard by I pursued Cleontes with the sword all bloody in my hand that way that I had seen him run away He was gotten far enough from me and I should have found it no small difficulty to overtake him if at the same time a noise had not been spread about the Garden that Elisena was dead At this unhappy news Cleontes stayes not desirous to save his life after the misfortune which he had been the occasion of as I came into the Knot of the Garden I saw him coming towards me tearing his cloaths pulling his hair and filling the place with his lamentations Instead of avoiding my sword he would run upon the point of it and presenting his naked brest to me he therein received the mortal thrust which ran him through and through After he had gone two or three paces backward staggering he fell down at the feet of a Diana of Alablaster which stood at one of the corners of the Knot and as he fell embraced it Goodesse of chastity said he receive this life which I offer up to thee and if I stain it with my blood thou knowest it is pure and innocent There was something in these words that seemed so mild and withall so mournful that the better part of my fury was thereby abated and while a many persons were running to the place where I was the expiring Cleontes turning his eyes from the statue and fastening them on me Barbarous man said he to me hope not that the gods will pardon thee the death of the innocent Elisena though I forgive thee mine and since I have not life enough left me to convince thee of her innocence acknowledg it upon the sight of what I had never shewn any man and which thou of all mankind art the most unworthy to see With these words contracting together all the strength he had left he made a shift to open or to tear that which covered his stomack and by discovering to us a neck and breasts whiter then the Alablaster which he embraced easily satisfied us that he was a Woman Artaxus interrupting Zenodorus at this passage Heavens Zenodorus said he to him what is this that you relate to me and what an unfortunate adventure was this of yours Till now though there were things deplorable enough in your relation yet had I not been moved to compassion at any and I thought there was so much reason in all proceedings that I could not bemoane the distiny of two persons whom I conceived worthy the chastisement they received at your hands But these last words of your relation having changed the whole scene of the adventure and though there lies no more guilt on you then there would have done âad it been otherwise yet I must confesse you are so much the more to be pittyed You may very well think it my Lord replyed Zenodorus and with the same labour comprehend some part of what I was not then able to expresse At that sight that fatal sight that fatall and too slow discovery I was in a manner more like a dead carkase then those I had deprived of life and not able to oppose all the passions which then made their several assaults on my soul with as much violence as can be well imagined nor expresse them by wordâ I was almost grown immoveable and senselesse in the arms of those persons that were about me I apprehended my self at the same to be the murtherer of two Women of two beautiful and amiable persons and two innocent persons whereof one had been my own Wife whom I had loved as dearly as my own soul and the other meerly upon the account of compassion had already raised in me an affection towards her This
demonstration of the innocence and fidelity of Elisena did at the first reflection on it stick a sword into my heart much more cruel than that wherewith I had pierced her brest and the sight of that unfortunate person now no more Cleontes but one of the handsomest Ladies in the World wounded my soul with the most violent affliction that it is capable of Certain it is that some other person endued with a greater tendernesse of mind than I who have ever been of a fierce and harsh disposition had not survived so deplorable an accident and yet such as I was I really felt in my heart whatever a lively and piercing grief can have in it of torment After I had recollected my self for some time in the hands of those persons who had taken away my sword from me as having gathered from the fury of my looks that it was not unlikely I might do my self a mischief I drew neerer to that expiring Lady making signs to others to endeavour to help her when perceiving my intention Stand away cruel man said she to me and come not neer me Thy assistance is more hateful to me then the death thou hast given me and since the unfortunate Elisena whose death I have unhappily been the occasion of is no ãâã âiving oppose not the last demonstrations of the friendship I had for her and suffer ãâã to expire without any other regret than that of having sacrificed to my misfortune a ãâã so vertuous as she was O Elisena Elisena since my last kisses proved so fatal to thee learn among the dead where I am coming to enjoy thee again that I was ãâã to survive thee and that I run after thee to continue among the shades that frienâship which was so dear to us here As she uttered these words she saw passing by the body of Elisena which they were carrying out of the Garden and at that sight crying out louder than her weaknesse could bear she withal sent out her last breath in the arms of those that were come about to relieve her Among those that came immediatly after a young Gentlewoman that served her and who after her example disguised her sex by mans cloaths casting her self upon the body as soon as she could get neer it made the aire echo again with her cryes and her lamentations and did a many things worthy compassion which I was not in a condition to take notice of for that at the sight of the body of Elisena which they had very indiscreetly caused to be carryed close by me I grew absolutely senseless and distracted and was conveyed away and cast upon my bed where I was carefully looked after out of a fear I should have fallen into despaire When I had a little recovered my self I ran to the place where they had laid the body of Elisena and giving it thousands of kisses with an affection equal to that I had for her at the beginning of our unfortunate marriage I did all that lay in my power to dye neer her and have a thousand times since wondred that my grief alone should not be strong enough to do that which no doubt I should have done with my sword had I been left at liberty Her innocency and her vertue being then but too too well known to me I became a continual prey to that remorse and those implacable furies which unmercifully torment the soul and looking on my self as a Dragon or some horrid monster I made against my self the most terrible imprecations that a man could make against his most inveterate enemies From the body of Elisena I went to that unfortunate companion and partaker of her death and though I had not had any affection for her while she lived yet had the unhappinesse of her destiny such an influence upon me and she had appeared to me so amiable even in the last minutes of her life and in the last words she spoke that my soul was possessed by something greater then compassion and I was no lesse liberal of my tears for her death then for that of Elisena When I was so far recovered as that I could apprehend any thing was sad to me I was very desirous to know who she was and the Gentlewoman that had waited on her and who after her death had no reason to conceal what she had kept secret while she lived being brought before me though she could not look on me without horrour and detestation and being informed what my desires were gave me this account of her Since you are so desirous to know said she to me who this unfortunate woman whom you have put to death was I shall soon satisfie you to your sorrow for with that you shaâl know what enemies you have raised your self by your crueltie She was born among the Parthians of an extraction that is equally noble with any of the subjects of Phraates and was allyed on both sides to the Illustrious Family of the Arsacides Her name was Artesia and her beauty such when it appeared in its meridian lustre under cloaths suitable to her sex that the World can afford but few comparable to her She hath neglected it very much ever since and indeed hath had no great reason to be much in love with it because it hath proved the occasion of all the misfortunes that hath happened to her Being brought up about the Queen as a Princesse that could claime some kindred to her and having in a short time discovered to the whole Court as well the beauty of her countenance as that of her understanding she was there generally beloved but indeed much more than she desired to be insomuch that the amiablenesse of her person having enflamed Phraates with an affection towards hâr she became accordingly the object of his cruel persecution She endured the torment of it for some time with an admirable vertue and endeavoured to smother the extravagant inclinations of the King by all those wayes which in any other soul might have produced that effect But her modesty and resistance adding to the eagernesse of the Kings love he would at last needs come to violence and without any consideration of the noblenesse of Artesia's bloud which was no other than a branch of his own he laid a design how to put his wicked resolutions in execution upon her This vertuous Lady whose Father had been dead many years before destitute of all protection against her King and that such a King as to whom after he had put to deaââ his own Father all crimes ought to be easie and familiar had no way but to flye to deliver her vertue from that tempest and there being no way for her to conceal her self from so great a King but by disguising her sex she put on mans cloaths and causing me to do the like ãâã onely me along with her in her flight and two ancient men-servants of her Fathers whose fâdelity she was confident of After several journies to and fro wherein she had
knew my voice Whereupon having called me softly by my name he acquainted me with his own and not long after with his person whereof I had an impression so well graven in my memory that it would not have been very hard for me to dave discerned him in the greatest darknesse While Clitia gave this account of Caesario the beautifull Queen was in a manner overwhelmed with an excesse of joy which by a pleasant authority got the dominion of her Soul and though fear and disquiet endeavoured to disturb it yet was there a necessity they should give place to the first sallies of that passion and suspend their effect till the first violence of the other were spent The Queen casting one arme abount Clitia's neck Ah Clitia said she to her it is certainly decreed that it is from you I must expect all the most happy tidings and it was you that heretofore brought me word into the garden at Meroe of the life and return of Caesario at a time when I bewailed his death and that I had renounced all the enjoyments of life After she had said these words she would have put a hundred questions to Clitia and that all of a sudden upon that accident but she told her that the time she had was to be otherwise spent and that she must resolve either to see Caesario at the place where he expected her return or permit him to come into the chamber Now was it that fear begââ to disturb her joy and if on the one side she were satisfied to see her self so near the Prince she dearly loved she trembled on the other when she considered that he was in a Palâââ whereof Augustus's Lieutenant had the command and that a place where he must expeât no less than to lay down his life if he were discovered This fear made her to shake again and put her to such a loss that she knew not what resolution to take looking sometimes on Elisa sometimes on Clitia as if it had been to ask their advice what she were best to do The fair Princess of the Parthians who had received so great consolations from the Queen together with such remarkable demonstrations of Friendship conceived her self extreaâây concerned not onely in the joy but also in the fear which she now strugled with and would have been as glad as the other to find out a way to see Caesario with as little danger as might be But after they had continued for some time in uncertainty and at a loss what course should be taken they at last thought it the safest way that he should be brought into the Chamber it being then such a time of the night that it was not likely they should be troubled with any more visits especially there being conveniences enough to hide him in case it were necessary and that Clitia proffered as soon as she had brought him into the Chamber to go out upon the terrace along with Cephisa and to walk there a while to see if any body came by whom they might be surprised Besides all which it made something for the security of the Prince that he was not only not known in Alexandria but also his death was more firmly believed there than in any other part of the world Upon all these grounds summed up together yet not without a great deal of doubt and terrour the Queen commanded Clitia to go fetch him in whereupon Elisa thinking her self obliged in discretion and civility to go into her own Chamber that they might be at a greater freedome in that interview would have done it but Candace embracing her would not permit it and entreated her to be present at her felicity as she had been at the happy meeting between her and her Artaban Elisa at the entreaty of Candace staies in the room and presently after Clitia returns bringing along with her the son of Caesar into the Chamber At that first sight these two excellent souls felt in a moment all that a passion such as theirs could produce in a longer space of time and their first looks communicated one to another of an instant what their hearts meant of greatest tenderness and passion As soon as ever the Prince appeared at the door the Queen ran towards him with an action whence he might easily infer how welcome his presence was to her and the son of Cleopatra kissed her hands and embraced her knees with such transportations of joy as might well convince her that his Love had not admitted of the least diminution or remission Candace after she had embraced him very earnestly with both her armes while he was yet in that submissive posture raised him up and entertained him with all those Caresses which were suitable to her dignity and modesty considering withal the violence of her affection During the first expressions of their mutual satisfaction and joy their discourse was accordingly confused and incoherent but when the violence of those were over Candace retreating some few paces back as it were to take the better notice of the Prince What Cleomedon said she to him the gods it seems have thought fit to restore you to me after so many dangers as I had run through my self and so many others wherein I had left you But Madam replies the Prince it was then decreed I should find you after I had so unfortunately lost you and what is more I do not only find you living and full of goodness for me but I meet with you in Alexandria in the Palace of my Fathers and in that very Chamber wherein I drew the first mouthful of air and saw the first beams of light 'T is an accident I must confess replies Candace that speaks something extraordinary and if you are surprised at it I must needs be not a little moved thereat O how does this second life which I here receive added the Prince make the Palace of the Ptolomey 's much more dear and precious in my apprehension then the former which I ought it and how easily can I bear with the loss of the command of it when I find therein what is a thousand times more dear to me then thousands of Empires and thousands of lives To this discourse he would have added much more to the same effect and the beautiful Queen whose affection was not inferiour to his though out of the civility and reservedness suitable to her sex she moderated her self the more looked on him with a certain delight and had pleasantly seconded him her self in the expressions of his love had she not thought it unhandsome to suffer any more before the Princess of the Parthians till Caesario had taken notice of her and saluted her Upon that account mildly interrupting him she obliged him to turn towards Elisa and prepared him to salute her as the greatest Princess upon earth and the best friend she had in the World Caesario however he might be transported at the sight of Candace was astonished and in a manner dazled
of assistance and out of the fear he was in it might so come to pass he importuned Heaven with cries and exclamations and did all that lay in his power to call in some body to our relief Yet were they not his cries that wrought that effect but it happened by an adventure very strange and unexpected whereof for many reasons I thought fit to give the Queen but a slender and imperfect account but shall now relate at large since it hath been your pleasure to command it from me I had already made a shift to open my eies fully though all I could do was only to stir them a little when Eteocles hears the neighing of certain horses and the noise of their going which made him imagine that there were some people coming towards us He thereupon looks about him and perceives a Chariot coming into the field among the dead bodies wherewith it was covered and a man riding on horse-back before the Chariot as if he had been a guide to those persons that were within it Those were only two women one whereof filled the aire with the dolefulness of her Lamentations and there followed the Chariot only three slaves all a-soot At last when they were come quite into the field the heaps of dead bodies hindering the passage of the Chariot the Women that were within it were forced to alight and the Man that was on horse-back having done the like took the more considerable of the two by the arme and led her towards the place where we were Eteocles whom this accident put into a great hopes of relief took very much notice of all that passed and distinctly heard the mournful cries and expostulations of that disconsolate Lady which certainly were such as might have been heard many Stadia's Her hair was loose and dishevelled as if she had been fallen into some extravagance her eies showred down tears her breast almost rent with the violence of her sighes in a word her deportment was no other then that of a person distracted and ready to fall into despair Terrible death cried she implacable devourer of mankind which appearest to me here in so many formes it is possible that in this place where thou hast exercised thy power with so much cruelty thou shouldst forbear to dispatch one miserable creature that defies thee or that thou canst deny her thy assistance after thou hast deprived her of all that could oblige her to shun thy face Insatiable Goddess to whom my malicious Fortune hath sacrificed all that the earth had that was amiable in my sight is it possible thou shouldst avoid an unfortunate Woman as I am while thou cuttest off such noble lives and that more inhumane in thy compassion than thy cruelty thou must needs strike a thousand times at a heart which there needs but one blow to deliver from thy Tyranny Here sighs and sobs made a parenthesis in her discourse for some minutes but soon after reassuming it with an accent much more doleful Teramenes continued she my dear Teramenes where art thou why dost thou conceale thy self from me O thou body that I have loved beyond all things why dost thou hide thy self from her eies that was sometimes so dear to thee Art thou afraid thy countenance covered with the horrours of death may frighten me or that it will be a less delightful object to me in that figure then it was in that wherein I was so much taken with it No no my dearest Teramenes even under that dreadful livery under that irremissible ice of death I shall think thee amiable and it may not haply be impossible I should by my kisses restore to thee some part of that which thou hast lost and reinfuse into thy cold body that soul which thou hadst enflamed with a fire that death it self is not able to put out At this passage she made a little truce with her Lamentations but it lasting not above a minute or two she turns her self to the man that conducted her But Pelorus said she to to him where is then the body of Teramenes You shewed me in this place with a confidence it was that where I should infallibly find it and yet among this vast number of carkases I see not that of my Teramenes Fear not Madam replied the man to whom she spake it will not be long e're we find it for now we are come to the place where I saw him fall yesterday by the hands of Cleomedon No doubt but he came by his own death out of the over earnestnesse he had to revenge that of your Brothers who died by the same hand in the former battle as also out of an excessive desire to have the honour of dispatching with his own hands a Prince of so great a fame Cleomedon falling at his feet drew him upon him and with that little remainder of strength he was yet master of ran him into the throat with a dagger which he had still in his hand Teramenes though mortally wounded with that thrust made a shift to get off the body of the expiring Cleomedon but after he had staggered a little he fell down within some ten paces of him and by reason of the bloud which coming out abundantly hindred his respiration died immediately Ah cruell man cries out the Lady ah inhumane stranger whom I had never any waies injured and that leavest thy native soile to bring death after so many severall waies into the breast of the innocent Erinoe May it please the gods since I have no other revenge either to take or desire upon thee that thy body may be the prey of Vultures and that thy shade may eternally wander amongst the most unfortunate ones without ever obtaining of the infernal Gods any other rest then what thou leavest this miserable woman Thou hadst opened the sluces of my tears by the death of a brother I infinitely loved which thy unmerciful arms had deprived me of not many dayes before but thou thoughtst it not sufficient to assault my self only upon the account of Blood and Friendship without sacrificing to thy cruelty whatever there is in Love that is most passionate and most violent in the death of my Teramenes While she disburthened her grief by such expostulations he who conducted her shewed her the body she looked after which lay not above fifteen or twenty paces from us and it was upon the cruel spectacle that the desperate woman casting her self on the cold body with a great cry fell into a swound which for some time interrupted her lamentations and found those persons that were about her work enough to relieve her For my part I had not the least apprehension of any thing that passed though I had my eyes open wherewith all I could do was to look on the dejected Eteocles But he had not missed one of these words and was infinitely troubled to find himself so far from the relief he had expected upon that accident as not doubting but that I should
horses for that day that the next day towards the evening finding himself a little stronger he got out of his bed with an intention at the same time to seek out both Candace and Cleopatra and was got to one of the windows wheâce casting his eye upon the adjoining wood he had seen a Chariot passing by wherein he had perceived the Queen with the fair Princess of the Parthians whom he knew not that upon that happy sight joy taking its former place in his soul friendship had submitted to love and the losse of Cleopatra troubled him the lesse by reason of the recovery of Candace That he wold immediately have run after her but not long after Eteocles coming into the room and having communicated that good news to him had intreated him to have a little patience and to give him leave to run alone after the Chariot to find out the truth of that adventure That accordingly Eteocles got on horseback and followed the track of the Chariot and those that conveyed it into Alexandria whither having got in undiscovered he had informed himself so well of all things that he understood how the Queen was in the Palace with the Princesse of the Parthians that she had been rescued out of their hands that had carried her away by the Praetor Cornelius and that she was attended with all manner of respect though she had discovered her self onely so far as that she was a Lady of great quality born in Ethiopia that these tidings reâtoring him as it were to a new life had also restored him in some measure to his health and strength and that having that very day sent Eteocles into the City to speak with her if he possibly with any convenience could he returned some time after with news that he had seen her getting up into a Chariot wherein she went out of the City to take the air along the river side and would come within a small distance of the house where he was That upon that news he was not able to keep in any longer and that notwithstanding the reasons alledged by Eteocles who would by all means have hindred him he got on horseback and rid forth into the wood in hope of some opportunity to see her out oâ a confidence he should not meet with any one that knew him That it was as he crossed the wood up and down upon that design that he first heard certain out-cries and afterwards saw the Princess Elisa in the hands of Tigranes That though he knew not who she was he had done her that service which he ought her and that he had not sorsaken her had he not seen Artaban and a company of men on horseback coming behind him That being unwilling to be discovered by them he withdrew but that he had taken particular notice of Artaban and that looking on him as the most concerned in the relief of the Princesse he was very glad that he had done him that good office as well out of a consideration of the satisfaction a man takes in doing what he is in honour obliged to as out of a remembrance that in the engagement they had had together against the Pirate Zenodorus and his men Artaban had relieved him and helped him on horseback after his own had been killed under him That afterwards he had wandered up and down the wood in hopes to see the Queen but that having observed some appearance of Agrippa and Cornelius with their Troop he would not by any means be met with by them and thereupon retired til night at which time through the help of the darknesse he made a shift to get into the City and knowing what part of the Palace the Queen was lodged in he without any difficulty sound her out having once gotten upon the terrace where he had met with Clitia Thus did Cesario put a period to his relation and when he had given over speaking the Queen looking on him with a countenance wherein her thoughts were in some measure legible Caesario said she to him you have had your traverses and extremities and we badours which I shall not trouble you with any relation of because you have understood them already from Eteocles If I have suffered much for you I must yet confesse you have endured more for me besides that by your attempts and valour you have regained me a Kingdom which I gave over for lost It is but just it should be a present made to you as it were in some sort to reward your care and conduct and might it please the gods I had any thing to present you with that were more considerable and more precious that I might requite as I ought to do those so many noble demonstrations of your affection Madam replies Caesario it is beyond the merits of my blood nay indeed of my life to deserve the expressions I receive of your favours and goodnesse and I am very much ashamed to expect so many great things from my noblest Queen when I am able to offer her nothing but a miserable wretch discarded and despailed of that which now makes up so many Monarchies and a ............ T is enough saies Candace interrupting him let me hear no more of that discourse if you have not a set purpose to displease me and take it for granted that your person is of a value high enough to be preferred by the greatest Princesses in the Universe before that of the âsuper who is now possessed of your Fathers Palace Having by these words engaged him to silence she fell upon some other discourse wherein she discovered to him what trouble she was in for the danger whereto he exposâd himself by coming into Alexandria where he must expect no lesse then death if he were once known as also her displeasure to see him so carelesse of his health as being not sufficiently recovered as might be seen in his countenance to venture on horseback and take such pains as he did The Prince after he had thanked her for the afflictions she was in for his sake as being the pure effects of the tendernesse she had for him For the hazard whereto I expose my self said he to her it is not so great as you imagine it and besides the difference there is between the face of a child of fourteen years of age and that of a man of four and twenty the report that is scattered up and down the world of my death hath taken such root and is particularly so much credited by Augustus that it were no small difficulty to perswade people to the contrary and for my health I find that through the joy which the gods have been pleased to afford me by meeting with you again I have recovered my strength in such a measure that within three or four dayes I shall be in as good plight and condition as ever I was either to do any thing in point of arms or to waite on you by sea into Ethiopia Eteocles hath within
thought it not fit to lodge her out of the Palace but had appointed her certain rooms within that which had been designed for Octavia And Candace either to leave the more room for the Empresse or that she could not be without the company of of Elisa was upon the desires of that Princesse gone along with her and had left her lodgings void so that Cornelius finding none more convenient for the Princesse Cleopatra changed his former resolution and disposed of her into the place which before had been taken up by the Queen of Ethiopia When the two Princesses were alighted out of the Chariots they met at the bottom of the staires with Elisa Candace Olympia and Arsinoe with Ariobarzanes and Philâdelph coming to meet them Agrippa immediately shewed Elisa and Candace to Cleopatra to whom he had spoken of them before in the Chariot and those two Princesses coming up close to her she saluted them with sentiments not much different from that admiration which they expressed at the sight of her divine beauty She knew Elisa to be sole heir to the Empire of the Parthians and looked on Candace as a Princesse of the royal progeny of Ethiopia and accordingly made the return of civility to both which upon the sight of their countenance they might have chalenged from all the World and at the same time Artemisa saluted Olympia who knowing her to be Sister to Ariobarzanes was through a forwardnesse of affection come up to her Artemisa entertained with very much civility the effects of an affection whereof she yet knew not the cause But when after she had disengaged her self out of her embraces and received those of Candace and Elisa whom she first met in her way she was going towards Arsinoe who stretched out her arms with a cordial friendship to entertain her and at the same time cast her eie on her countenance as also on that of Ariobarzanes who stood close by her she was seized by such an astonishment that had it not been for Artaban who was not ignorant of the cause thereof and came forward purposely to hold her up she had fallen all along on the ground In the mean time Arsinoe kissed her and embraced her with much tendernesse yet was not able to bring her to her self nor make her apprehend that what she saw was real Whereupon Ariobarzanes after he had saluted Cleopatra whom Agrippa had acquainted with his name as also with that of Arsinoe taking Artemisa out of his Sisters hands after he had begged the pardon of those great Princesses to acquit himself of the civilities he ought his Sister saluted her at last with all the demonstrations of an affectionate friendship and perceiving that that Princesse astonished at the unexpectednesse of the interview could not be recovered out of her amazement What Sister said he to her will you not know Arsinoe and Ariobarzanes Artemisa with much ado coming at last to her self again and looking on them one after another for some time before she would venture to speak Alasse said she at length I very well see the countenances of Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe but I question whether I may trust my eyes so far and I find it no smal difficulty to be satisfied whether they are shades that present themselves to me after their death so wel known throughout all Asia or whether they appear really before me and without any illusion Assure your self Sister replyed at the same time Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe you see us really and you may embrace us without any fear since we are truely living and have not been dead but in the opinion of men Artaban who stood neer Artemisa gave her further satisfaction as to that truth acquainting her in a few words how they had both escaped shipwrack and when the Princesse was convinced and that the caresses of her brother and Sister had dispelled all her doubts she in the first place gave way to certain tears which a tender joy would needs adde to those which the death of Artaxus still forced out into her face And then instead of returning the caresses she had received from Ariobarzanes suitably to their ancient familiarity she cast her self on her knees before him and taking him by the hand and bathing it with her tears Since it is certain said she to him that you are Ariobarzanes alive and that I am now absolutely at your disposal be pleased to pardon the unfortunate Artemisa what too too justifiable a gratitude hath obliged her to do for the safety of Alexander she embraces your knees to obtain that favour at your hands and she hopes the gods have not restored you to life to raise in you a severe and an inexorable judge of my actions Ariobarzanes astonished at the deportment of Artemisa from whom he expected those caresses that spoke more familiarity raised her up with much ado and discovering how much he was surprised at it in all his looks Sister said he to her I apprehend not what you mean by this kind of behaviour towards me and besides that the crime you charge your self with descraves rather to be commended then blamed and that I should have done no lesse my self for the safety of Alexander it is to the King our Brother and not to me that this submission is due from you If it be due to my King replies Artemisa it is to my King that I make this submission and since I am the first of your Subjects that hath demanded any favour at your hands I am also the first that brings you the news that you are King of Armenia These words put Ariobarzanes to such a losse that he had not the power to make any present reply thereto and during the silence he kept by reason of the astonishment he was in Agrippa assuming the discourse acquainted him with the particulars of Artaxus his death as he had not long before understood them from Cleopatra and in the relation he made thereof he forgot not to insist very much upon this that his death was purely the effect of his own rage and exasperation and that his enemies had been so far from contributing any thing thereto that they endeavoured all they could to prevent it Artaxas had no doubt been a very inhuman Prince one for whom it could not be expected that the inclinations of Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe should be very violent by reason of the great disproportion there was between their dispositions yet being both of excellent good natures the grief they conceived at that unfortunate accident was for the present so great that It could not be abated by the purchase of a Crown in the apprehension of Ariobarzanes nor by the hopes of a more happy condition of life in that of Aâsinoe For Philadelph and Olympia if they were astonished in some measure at the first hearing of that news assoon as it was dispersed joy took its place and there was no reason it should give way to any thing in their apprehension it being
I am the son of Artabasus I shall have my eies so far open as to consider how little you have contributed to the misfortunes of our Family No I have still fresh in my memory the first expressions of your friendship and I should have disclaimed my Sister had she not done what she hath for your safety especially in an extremity whereto you were reduced meerly for your love to her I shall not therefore tell you she is yours for you have but too much interest in her for any man to dispute her with you but I shall for your further confidence make this protestation to you and that truely and sincerely that your affection to her cannot be greater than the earnest desire I have to serve you both in your mutual inclination Alexander almost out of himself for joy to hear Ariobarzanes in these expressions comes up close to him whereupon these two Princes embraced one another with so many discoveries of a reall friendship that the whole company could not forbear taking notice of it not without much sympathy and satisfaction Artemisa could not smother the felicity she conceived therein as seeing her self after so many storms prosperously arrived into so happy a Port and finding by reason of the sweet and generous disposition of Ariobarzanes her fortune much different from what it had been some few daies before While her thoughts were the most taken up to find out terms to expresse her satisfaction or rather to moderate it she accidentally cast her eies on Prince Philadelph whom till then by reason of the disturbance she was in and the many illustrious persons she had seen before she had not taken any particular notice of And after she had looked on him for some time very earnestly she sound him to be that Prince of Cilicia whom she had met with some daies before and who had entertained her with a relation of his noble inclinations for Delia and who upon the point of their parting had so gallantly defended the Princesse Cleopatra against those that would have carried her away Artemisa upon this occasion conceived such an esteem for Prince Philadelph and was so much moved at the relation of his love to Delia that she could not look on him without expressing an extraordinary joy thereat Whereupon coming to him with a countenance wherein were visible the great kindnesse she had for him What my Lord said she to him I have it seems the good fortune to see you again and the liberty withall once more to assure you of the esteem which I have conceived for your admirable vertue Philadelph whose joy had had put him into so much disorder as Artemisas could have done her and who waited the opportunity to discover himself to Artemisa and to put her in mind of their last meeting kissing one of her fair hands with the greatest submission that might be Madam said he to her my fortunate meeting with you proved the prologue to that good fortune which the gods have been pleased to send me since and you may also inferre thence that I was not absolutely blinded by my passion when I took you for Delia. How extreamly I was moved at your relation replies Artemisa the gods onely know and consequently you may well think your self obliged to let me know immediately whether you have had any tidings since of that Delia for whom you pretended so extraordinary an affection These words of Artemisa causing Philadelph to look on the Princesse Arsinoe with a smiling countenance I know not Madam said he to her whether it be any prudence in me to acknowledge my inconstancy to you but I cannot forbear making this confession to you that that Delia for whom I had so much affection hath resigned up the all the right and title she had in my heart to the Princesse Arsinoe your Sister Ah Philadelph cries out the Princesse with some precipitation though my Sister were the most amiable person in the World I should never approve that change in your inclinations and I should no longer continue that esteem towards you which I some time had for you if I thought you could be guilty of any such infidelity These words fell from her with so much earnestness that Philadelph could not forbear laughing at it in such a manner as put him afterwards into a little disorder and more sport might have been made of it if by reason of the death of Artaxus civility had not obliged them to a more serious conversation And yet Arsinoe thinking it fit to make some rejoinder to the former discourse What Sister said she to Artemisa it seems you would advise Philadelph to prefer a person he never knew before me She said but these few words but the action wherewith they were pronounced raised at first some suspicion in Artemisa which afterward grew into a satisfaction in some measure as to the truth of that business With that reflection looking on them both with a countenance wherein were legible the characters of her astonishment Ah Philadelph said she to him is it possible that Arsinoe and Delia should be the same person Philadelph who thought it unseasonable to continue that lightness of discourse any longer discovered the whole truth to her and telling her that that Delia whom he had professed so much love to in his relation was the Princess Arsinoe her Sister put her into such astonishment that for a long time there fell nothing from her but exclamations which once over she embraced a hundred times together that amiable Delia and entertained Philadelph with all the caresses she could express towards a beloved Brother Ariobarzanes who all this time was in discourse with Alexander had neverthelesse taken notice of what had passed between his Sisters and Philadelph And when that first astonishment of Artemisa was over taking her by the hand and presenting her to Olympia who stretched out her arms to her with much affection What Sister said he to her would you bestow all your caresses on Philadelph and Arsinoe and will not look on my Princess here her I say to whom I not only owe my life but have sacrificed it to make her satisfaction in some measure for what I am obliged to her Artemisa without any difficulty cast her self into the arms of Olympia in whom not withstanding her paleness she could observe the tracks of an admirable Beauty and a most amiable kind of Majesty And thereupon having entertained her embraces with abundance of affection Be pleased Madam said she to her to charge the faults you now find me guilty of upon my ignorance as conceiving that one who within these few minutes knew not whether Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe were in the World could not have learned whom they are obliged to for their lives nor understood the particular respects due from her to your self Olympia made answer to this discourse of Artemisa with a civility civility suitable to that of the other and the King of Armenia engaging himself in their
would have found the pretence he was so desirous of pretended to be transported with indignation at this discourse drew his sword and ran at me with all the fury he could I should have been but little frighted at his action if all those that were about him had not done the like and with the same labour satisfied me that Tiberius had not bestowed that guard on me but to give me my death Of my two men the more affectionate lost his life at my feet and the other frightned saved himself by getting into the wood so that I was forced to stand alone to the fury of those cruell Butchers who came about me and gave me two great wounds No question but a thousand more had followed to dispatch me out of this world and I saw it was to no purpose to think to lengthen my life by a fruitlesse resistance when it pleased Fortune to direct into that part of the wood a man armed all over mounted on a very stately horse and attended onely by an Esquire He made a little halt to see what was done and perceiving he had but little time to loose if he would save my life after he had anticipated his coming by a great outery and in few words reproached my enemies with baseness and cowardice he ran in among them with a fury to which nothing can be compared and having with the shock of his horse overthrown the first he met within his way he set upon the rest with such eagerness as shewed he was nothing daunted at their number And whereas they as well as I had no other armes then their swords he spent very few blowes which either carried not death along with them or made those they met with uncapable of fighting any longer Theocles astonished at this miraculous relief and perceiving there was no possibility to make an end of me till he had rid his hands of the stranger endeavoured with the assistance of his men to dispatch him But as it happened he ran upon his own death for that valiant man having received upon his buckler the blowes he made at him ran him clear through the body and so he fell down to the ground and immediately breathed his last His companions were but weak in their endeavours to revenge his fall and finding themselves reduced to one half of the number they made at first and that by the same hand they were quite discouraged and placed all their safety in their flight Finding my self rescued in that manner from those unmercifull enemies though very much weakened by the two wounds I had received I made a shift to come nearer my deliverer to give him thankes for his assistance and it happened at the same time that he feeling himself very much heated either by reason of the sultriness of the season or the action he had been in put up the visour of his head-piece to take in a little fresh air I had hardly fastened my eies on his countenance but I was in a manner dazzled by the lustre and goodliness of it and thereupon looking on him a little more earnestly I knew him to be that person to whom I had been so cruelly perfidious the valiant King of Mauritania It is impossible I should represent to you the confusion I was in to find my self obliged for my life to a Prince whom I had so basely abused and to see that Fortune should after so strange a manner direct to my relief that person from whom of all men I had least reason to expect it An adventure so unexpected could not but tie up my tongue for a while and stifling the discourse I intended to disburthen my self of by way of acknowledgment for the deliverance I was obliged to him for I stood still before him mute immoveable and in the posture of a man whom an excess of remorse had deprived of all confidence And it was certainly from my remorse rather than any fear that this proceeded as not knowing whether the injury I had done him was come to his knowledge but if I was astonished to see him he was no lesse to meet with me and calling me to mind by the idaea's he had still in his memory of my countenance and haply confirmed by the astonishment he observed in it he stood still as well as my self like one lost in suspence and irresolution At last the passion which produced that effect in him being much different from that which had put me into so great disturbance he soon recovered himself and having viewed me with much more earnestness then before Are not you Volusius said he to me sometime Praetor of Mauritania I am the very same Volusius answered I who am now obliged to you twice for this wretched life as having once received it with my liberty as a demonstration of your generosity and being obliged to you for it now by the relief I have received from you when I was reduced to the last extremities You might have added to that said he that you are the same Volusius who being once before obliged to me for your life and liberty have neverthelesse made me the most unfortunate man in the world and by your perfidiousnesse have occasioned me the losse of Cleopatra 's affection my Kingdom and whatever should make me in love with life This reproach put me to such a losse that I knew not what answer to make whereupon casting my eies on the ground with an action expressing the greatnesse of my confusion I satisfied the Prince that I had nothing by way of justification to say for my self When he had looked on me for some time in that posture What injury soever I may have received from you said he to me it troubles me not that I have been the occasion that you are yet alive but certainly 't is a visible example of Heavens justice to reserve the revenge of your perfidiousnesse to me who have been most injured thereby Reassume the confidence which the conscience of your crime seems to have deprived you of and since I have seen you defend your life with courage enough against diverse men at the same time muster up all you have to defend it against one man alone and give me not occasion by a feeble resistance to blush at the defeat of a man of inconsiderable vaâour Do not imagine I shall make use of the advantage I have over you though the nature of the injury you have done me might very well induce me to wave that consideration and since you have nothing about you but a bare sword I shall put off this armour which if I should keep on the engagement were unequall With those words he cast off his head-piece and buckler and was going to unhaspe his cuirats when looking upon him with the countenance of a man already overcome and one that prepared himself for voluntary death rather then a combate My Lord said I to him If these little remainders of life I have left me
she repented her of her last reflections and assoon as she was in a condition to reassume her discourse I crave thy pardon said she with a voice imperfectly accented with sobs I crave thy pardon faithful Prince for so unjust an apprehension and what ever I may fear from my own remorse and the reproaches thou maist justly make me yet must I needs acknowledge that it is more satisfactory to me nay a thousand times more satisfactory to me to be found criminal by thy innocence then to be found innocent by thy infidelity for I set such a value on thy affection that nothing can repair the loss of it nor counterballance the happiness it were to me to recover it I am content to be though guilty of all that the artifices of my enemies have occasioned me to commit and shall not seek for any excuse either in my errour or my repentance but onely flatter my self with this comfort that thou hast ever loved me lovest me now and wilt love me to the last gasp It is not therefore in thy justification that I would be thought unfortunate because then the guilt lies on my side but I acknowledge my self unfortunate in the ingratitude I have expressed towards thee in the misfortunes I have occasioned thee in the irrecoverabled losses I have caused thee and the cruel resolutions I have forced thee upon It was by my means that at Syracuse thou wert reduced to those extremities that brought thy life into danger upon my account hast thou lost a Kingdom which thou didst design for me thou hast spent thy daies in wandring up and down the World with much misery thou hast sought death among the Waves and thou art still resolved to run thy self upon death meerly because thou wouldst not either by thy presence or memory disturb the enjoiments thou wishest me Ah Coriolanus 't is in that resolution thou art unjust and cruel no lesse then I have been and thou oughtest not by loosing thy own life imagine to add any thing to my happiness since it is from thee alone that all the happiness of my life is derived Thou hast but little acquaintance with Cleopatra if thou canst think the loss of thy Kingdom able to abate any thing of the value I set on thee I have ever preferred thy person before all the Monarchies of the World and supposing the condition thou art reduced to as miserable as can be imagined I would run fortunes with thee with no less satisfaction then if thou hadst the universe at thy disposal Do not therefore court thy own death Coriolanus if thou dost it not to rid thy hands of an unhappy woman whom for her ingratitude thou hast reason to abhor or if thou proposest to thy self greater felicity in death then in Cleopatra let us go to it together and know that as well as thy self I am come from a house wherin the examples of voluntary death are but too too familiar for me to be daunted at any such thing With these words she as it were opened the flood-gates to that grief which was ready to over-run her and cast her self on her bed after a most pitiful manner insomuch that Marcellus who had never seen her so unable to command her passions being astonished at it and rising from the place wher he sate came to her with an endeavour to recover and comfort her Is it possible Sister said he to her that so unreasonable a grief should have such a powerful influence on your imaginations whom I have known with so much constancy resist the assaults of a just affliction and cannot you entertain an account of Coriolanus 's innocency with some moderation who have supported his infidelity with so much settledness and resolution Can it possibly come to pass if the affections of that Prince were ever dear to you that you should not with joy entertain this change of your condition and that the remorse you conceive at the miscarriages that have happened through your misapprehensions should have a more powerful operation on you then the assurances of a fidelity which you have wished with more earnestness than you could have done any thing relating to your own life Ah Sister if these must be the effects of your regrets let them fall only upon me who am ore-burthened with crimes by the engagement I have had in your mistake for that it was upon my sollicitation principally that you came to hate a Friend who loved me beyond himself It was I that travelled up and down several Kingdoms and crossed many seas to find him out purposely to dispatch him when in the mean time I was dearer to him than his own life and that was it that all my attempts were bent to cut off even while by the force of his Friendship he contributed to the execution of my design by presenting his naked breast to me to satisfie my cruelty Let therefore all those arrows of remorse be stuck in my brest with all the care of the reparation we owe him and take heed you do not incense heaven by not entertaining with the acknowledgments you ought a favour you have put up so many suits to the gods for I entertain Brother replied the Princess this favour from the celestial powers with all the resentments I ought to have for it and cannot but acknowledge that there is not anything could be more dear to me than the innocence of Coriolanus but Brother after what manner would you have me consider the miserable condition whereto he is reduced for my sake and upon my account and with what constancy can I hear of the fatal resolution which he sends me word he intends to take to run upon death meerly to prevent his being any way a hindrance to my felicity For what concerns his Fortunes replyed Marcellus what lownesse soever they may now be reduced to it is not impossible but that they may be recovered to their former greatness by such another revolution as that whereby they were ruined and that either by open hostility or those other ways he practised formerly he may yet reascend into the throne of his Ancestors But supposing all this were nothing but pure matter of imagination and should never come to pass he hath those Friends who will never have anything of fortune to dispose of which they shall not divide with him and will disclaim all they can pretend to in the world if all be not common among them For his fatal resolutions we must endeavour to divert him from them and since that he is not far from this place hovering hereabouts in hopes to meet with Tiberius I am in some confidence that seeking him out diligently he may be met with That care ought to be mine and I accordingly take it upon me and in order to that design I immediately take my leave of you with this protestation that I will never return while I live till I have met with Coriolanus till I have obtained his pardon for the
small remainder of Gallantry whereof to the honour of my Friend you made so great ostentation I speak to you reply'd I but with too much sincerity and as I dare acknowledge my self to you guilty of a Passion full of love innocence and vertue without derogating from the respect I owe you so I despair not your pardon if I tell you that I am and shall be while I live infinitely in love with Tullia Upon that expression Emilia putting on a serious countenance I think my Kinswoman very happy said she to me to have gain'd the affections of a person equal as to worth and extraction to Lentulus and certainly I could not have wish'd any thing more to her advantage But since the esteem I have for you is extraordinary and that I am truly tender of both your fortune and satisfaction I conceive my self oblig'd to tell you that Tullia's mind is much different from the apprehension you may have of it and it is much my fear that as things stand you will not make those advantages of your merit and the demonstrations of you Love which I could wish you might and consequently though I am as much as may be a Friend to Tullia I would advise you if it be possible to dispose your affections elsewhere This discourse of Emilia added nothing to the difficulty I had foreseen my self and assur'd of the sincerity wherewith she spake to me I was the more inclin'd to make a further discovery of my condition to her and to beg her assistance While things stood thus between us comes in Scipio of whose Friendship having a more then ordinary confidence I made no difficulty to proceed before him in the discourse I had begun to his Lady having repeated to him what I had already said of my inclinations for Tullia and protested to both that that Passion should never expire but with my life I begg'd their assistance in a design whereat their Friend could take no offence and to further my acquest of her Heart which was the only thing I wished in the world as being resolved not to make any application to her Brother till she should approve my so doing and favour my pretensions her self Emilia and Scipio listned to my discourse with much attention and seemed to be troubled at the knowledge they had of my being thus engaged but not both equally in as much as Scipio being ignorant of Tulliaes Passion for Ptolomey and foreseeing nothing might so much oppose my intentions as Tullia's severity conceived a hope that with time and a constancy of addresses it might be overcome But Emilia who knew much more then her Husband judged otherwise of the business and was almost at despair of all good success She alledg'd to me all the reasons she could concealing onely those which she knew to be most pressing and perswasive to divert me from that affection I knew them as well as her self but thought it not sit to discover so much out of an opinion that she had not acquainted her Husband with that secret of her Friend and a conceit that it was yet too soon to give her an account of the knowledge I had of it In fine they promised me all the assistance which their interest with Tullia could procure though Emilia sufficiently discovered that it was with little hope of success that she made me that promise and that it was apparent in the carriage of Scipio that the unfortunate issue of the design he had been engaged in to serve Julius Antonius in his addresses to that inexorable Beauty had much deterred him from undertaking the like employment for any other that should pretend to her affections And yet they might both very well undertake to do me some favour in my affairs without any injury to the Friendship they had for Tullia and if I may be allowed to speak it my self both as to birth and whatever else is of importance in order to marriage the advantage of the Match lay rather on my side then Tullia's nor could Emilia though ever so much concerned in her affairs do any thing more truly advantageous for her Friend then by endeavouring to wean her out of an affection contrary to her content glory and establishment to engage her into another wherein she might find whatever she lost in the other From that very day did she endeavour to represent as a very great obligation what I had done for her honour at the publick Shews and to perswade her that it was not as she would needs interpret it an effect of pure Gallantry Tullia was as earnest in the contrary opinion and maintained very stifly that there was yet less probability it should proceed from any love to her and that in all likelyhood I could not have fallen in love with a person I had no oftner seen and whom when I had I had found in a condition more likely to raise compassion then love After a long contestation wherein Emilia thought it not fit to acquaint her with the confession I had made to her I should be very glad added she pretending to comply with Tullia's judgement my opinion should prove false and yours true and whereas Lentulus is no doubt a person of very much worth and deserves a very good fortune all that know him are obliged to wish for his sake that he would not address his affections where they are so slightly entertained You are much in the right answers Tullia and it is the greatest misfortune could have happened to Lentulus to love an unfortunate wretch that shall never be capable of any sentiments for him other then the esteem due to his Merit and one whose heart is already unhappily engaged for that remainder which she expects of life It may be hoped replies Emilia that that engagement will not bear date with your life and besides the assistance you may expect from your courage it is not impossible but that the services of some worthy person that casts his affection on you will force out of your mind the memory of a man that neither loves you nor you would by any means affect Ah my dear Emilia replies Tullia let 's have no more discourse of it you are too well acquainted with my misfortune to be really of that opinion nor is it for me to flatter my self any longer in the misery whereto I am reduced With these words she so burst forth into tears that Emilia deploring her condition was obliged to fall upon some other discourse While Tullia continu'd thus in a fruitless consumption for Ptolomey I might be truly said to die a gradual death for Tullia and what was worst I lay still dying and durst not open my mouth to discover to her the disease that hasten'd me to my Grave Not that I am naturally a wanting as to confidence or that I was afraid to offend Tullia by acquainting her with the passion I had for her but the knowledge I had of her unfortunate prepossession benumb'd my heart
behalf she managed it to my best advantage with much earnestness and omitted nothing which out of the compassion she had for her and me and her Friendship towards both she could or ought to have said In the mean time I was come home to my own house orewhelmed with affliction no less for Tullia's sufferings then my own And I was hardly retir'd into my Chamber but Ptolomey was brought in coming to give me a visit How great Friends soever we might have been I could not look on him that day but as the Author of my misfortunes though I was not unsatisfied of his innocency and he had not said many words to me but interrupting him with some precipitation Ptolomey said I to him there is no longer any mean for me in the extremity whereto I am reduc'd and you must of necessity either love Tullia or be the death of Lentulus You may indeed wonder to see me seek to those remedies for the preservation of my life which in all probability are more likely to hasten my death but know that Tullia's life is much dearer to me then that of Lentulus and that I die much more cruelly by the miseries of Tullia then I can do by my own While I have had any hope to deprive you of the heart you so much disdain I could not have desir'd nay was in some fear you should have lov'd Tullia but now I find that nothing can divert her from the Love she hath for you and that the aversion you have for her onely makes her the more unfortunate without contributing any thing to her recovery of two Evils which my malicious Fortune presents me with I ought to choose the more supportable since it were better for me to be unfortunate through the aversion Tullia hath for me or rather the incapacity she is in to bestow on me a heart which is yours then the regret I must conceive to see her unhappy without making any advantage of her unhappiness That miracle of her Sex for understanding wisdome and excellent endowments hath lost all forgotten all for yoursake and that Beauty which was considerable even rmong the greatest is defac'd by affliction and moulders away to utter ruine Love Ptolomey love the amiable Tullia both for my sake and your own There cannot any thing under Heaven be more worthy your affection since your Brother a person as great in all things as ever any among the Romanes did not onely judge her worthy his own but did that for her aversion which I desire of you for her love Ptolomey was so much amaz'd to hear me talk after this rate that he knew not at first how he should take my discourse But perceiving with what earnestness I spoke he concluded my words proceeded from my heart Yet was a while to seek what answer he should make me but at last putting on a more serious countenance then he was wont to do in any thing concern'd me as conceiving it more suitable to the condition he saw me in then stood with his divertive humour Lentulus said he to me I should be much troubled the misfortune which disturbs your Reason should make a breach in our Friendship and since I am so unhappy as to do you any prejudice contrary to my intention I will do all lies in my power to serve you in all the good offices you can hope for from the best of your Friends I should find it a difficulty to make any serious answer to your discourse were I not from many discoveries satisfi'd that you feel no less affliction then you express in your words but I should find it much more to believe that you really desire me to love Tullia were I not assur'd of your being a great Lover of sincerity and truth I cannot promise you I shall love Tullia and besides that it will haply be prejudicial to your quiet you know that these inclinations are not in our power and that it is not unlikely it would be as hard for me to love her as you find it not to do so My Soul is not much subject to Passions of this nature and if it could be you know that what hath passed between me and Marcia and the great obligations cast upon me by Octavia are such that it should be in some measure my care not to shew my self unworthy thereof by my ingratitude For these reasons but indeed much more out of a respect to the Friendship I bear you I should not put you into any hope that I shall love Tullia But this I dare promise you That if you desire it my behaviour towards her shall be much otherwise then it hath hitherto been that I will visit her if you think fit and that I shall have as much compliance and civility for her as a man can express towards those persons he most highly esteems Nay I might tell you that I would pretend to love her for your sake but that you know dissimulation is wholly inconsistent with my disposition though I did not make it a conscience to abuse a person you love nor believe it against your interest that Tullia should be perswaded I had any affection for her This was the tenour of Ptolomey's discourse to me and I found so much Prudence and Reason in it that I thought I could not rationally desire more of him and before we parted I took him upon the promise he made me that he would see Tullia if she desired it either at her Lodgings in case she could oblige Cicero to allow his Visits or at Emilia's and do what lay in his power to flatter her affliction and restore her to her former enjoyments He made me this promise telling me that I knew not what I desired and that it was not for my advantage he should express any submission to Tullia But I reiterated to him what I had already said and protested that loving Tullia much beyond my self I would endeavour her satisfaction though with the loss of my own and would much rather be unfortunate alone then see her perpetually such The next day Emilia sent a Message to me to come to her to be acquainted with something she had to say to me I presently imagin'd it was about the words I had written in Tullia's Letter and so went to her with an intention not to conceal any thing from her that she should be desirous to know I was no sooner come but she related to me all that had passed at Tullia's since my coming thence intreated me with the same ingenuity to acknowledge not whether I had written the words for that she doubted not but I had but by what means I could have learn'd the engagement of Tullia's inclinations and how I could have concealed my knowledge of it from her if it were true that I had known it any considerable time I made her answer with a freedom suitable to her own and after I had begun my discourse with a complaint I made to her that
disposition to re-inforce my heart with a new supply of Hopes But Despair having possessed it self of the place it would have proved a hard attempt to get in any So that at last not able to endure company nor resist the violence of my affliction I thought it my only way to prosecute the design I had resolv'd on some days before and engage in the War then breaking forth in Pannonia I thought it best to depart thence without taking leave of any one and forbear going to Rome though I was not sufficiently furnished with things necessary yet had enough for one defi'd Death so much that he cared not how soon he met with him as not doubting but that Cicero and Scipio and all my Friends would use all possible endeavours to divert me from my Design and put such rubs in my way that it would prove hard for me to execute it To this end Cicero having appointed a Hunting-match the next day I thought a fairer opportunity to be gone could not be expected it being likely no notice would have been taken of my departure and that having given my people order to expect me with my Horses at a place I should appoint them upon the way I intended to take I might easily slip aside and meet with them without any bodies observing it before night For the rest I referred my self to the disposal of my Destiny that which was most occurrent to my thoughts being that I was without any further consideration to run upon my own Death Having thus setled all things in order to my Design I writ that night a Letter to Tullia to be delivered to her after my departure whereof the words were these LENTULUS to TULLIA I Am now preparing for my death inexorable Tullia since it is the only remedy I can imagine wil put a period to my misfortune and I shall not complain either of that Destroyer of Man-kind or of You if while I die for your sake I have the happiness to please you after I had displeased you while I lived I charge you not with my misfortune but sacrifice what I am now going to lose in some measure to the grief I have for yours The Gods know that if the remedies that should abate it had been possibly attainable I should gladly have sacrificed the remainders of my quiet to gain them and that I should have resisted my own misfortunes had they not been multiplied upon me by a fatal conjunction of yours If the Fates reserve you for a better Fortune I heartily pardon them their malice to me And as my Mind was disseated out of my self to be the more constantly attended on you so is it for you alone that it breaths out its last wishes and that it desires of the Gods you may find that which I never could for my self Farewel fairest Tullia I hasten to my death without any regret other than that of being eternally banished your presence and since Death it self can never force your fair image out of a faithful Mind have the compassion to bestow some few minutes of your precious remembrance on the memory of the unfortunate Lentulus Having written this Letter and given some order to my people about my departure yet without acquainting any of them with my Design I went to bed and having passed away the night in such disturbances as you may well imagine I got up in the morning long before any of those whom the love of Hunting had awak'd How fully soever I might be setled in my resolution yet could I not see Scipio and Cicero without some motion of grief and tenderness when I bethought my self I was so to leave them as never to see them again But my Despair having the absolute command of my Soul tyrannizing over all other impressions it might be capable of I soon silenced those that were any way contrary to my Design and having given my Letter to one of my men whom I was to leave behind with order to deliver it to Tullia two hours after our departure I got on Horse-back with the rest and follow'd them to the place where the Hunters met It was not long ere a Stag was put up and Cicero and Scipio being out of emulation earnest upon the pursuit thought it not strange that considering the weak condition I was in I should lag a little behind and were gotten a vast distance from me without the least jealousie of my Design When they were gotten out of sight after I had with the tears in my eyes mutter'd some few words whereby I took my last leave of them I wheel'd about and made towards the way I had resolved to take intending to lodge that night at Vellium where I had appointed my people to meet me and whence I should have sent one to Rome with order to meet me three days after at a place to be named to him with what Equipage were thought necessary for me To speak clearly and truly I knew not well what my intention was as having not determined any thing but with much confusion though this for one thing I had fully resolv'd never to appear among men again and to go and run upon a death that should prove much less cruel to me then the life I was so weary of As I rode along taken up with thoughts I called to mind the Destiny of Julius Antonius who six or seven years before had taken the same course for the same Tullia and left Rome with such another intention as mine and had not been heard of ever since Having made a comparison betwixt his Fortune and mine and reflected on the conformity between them Well said I lifting my eyes to Heaven since it is the Destiny of those that love Tullia to go and seek in Death the determination of their afflictions let us submit our selves thereto without repining and be not much troubled to meet with a Fortune suitable to that of Julius Antonius While my thoughts were entertained with these sad reflections getting still further from the place where I had left my Friends I was surpriz'd by a violent shower of Rain which in a short time made its way through my cloaths and met me as far as that liquid substance could find a passage The condition I was in took off much of the reflection I should have made on that inconvenience as to the body but at last it grew so great a Tempest together with Thunder Lightning and impetuous showrs of Hail that it was impossible to follow any way so that insensibly straying out of that which I was in and not able to get into it again I followed another which instead of carrying me further brought me nearer Cicero's House At last not able to go any further and my Horse being in a manner tired by reason of the Hail and Tempest falling heavy upon him I was forced to turn into certain houses which I perceived not much out of the way to stay till the violence of the weather
no justice to force the inclinations of a Princess of the equality and worth of Elisa after he had given him leave to say all he would Tigranes said he to him You have had some grounds to be assured that I should do you no injustice and you shall find from me whatever you can with reason expect I shall not give way that any should take away or detain from you the Princess of the Parthians and I shall put her into your hands as soon as she shall be willing to go along with you To that end you are at liberty to dispose her thereto as soon as you shall think fit and you will find no further obstacle if you but once get her consent But you ought not to hope and I imagine you do not that to further your design I should do her any violence both in regard the action in it self would be contrary to the equity which I shall punctually observe and that Elisa is a person of that Rank as neither can nor indeed ought to give me that freedom This is a thing you know as well as my self And you may take notice further that if Marcellus were in your condition I should treat him no otherwise then I do you and that were it my own Son had the gods been pleased to have blessed me with any I would not to oblige him offer any violence to such a Princess as that of the Parthians 'T is the least she can hope to be at liberty in a place where she demands my protection you have the same freedome and if you can gain her consent you shall meet with no other opposition To this effect was the discourse of Augustus to him as who knew well enough how contrary the inclinations of Elisa were to the affections of Tigranes so that the afflicted King of Media growing pale at the hearing of those words received them no otherwise then as the Sentence of Death though he had in all likelihood already foreseen some part of his misfortune Nor could he dissemble the affliction he conceived thereat and looking on the Emperour though with a certain respect yet such as through which his resentments were easily discernable What my Lord said he to him do you think it any violence to permit a Husband to take his Wife to him in your Territories and what rank soever Elisa may be of do you think it any force done her by putting her into his hands on whom her Father and all her Friends have bestowed her with all the ceremonies and solemnities ordinary upon such occasions Had she been born in any place within my jurisdiction replies Augustus or any Kingdom dependant on the Empire I might have disposed of her according to your desires but being the Daughter of a Monarch over whom we have no power or authority and being such in her person as nothing is able to exempt even my self from the respect due to her from all men you ought not to think it strange I should leave her to her own disposal and be unwilling to do that for you which certainly I should be loath to do for my self 'T is enough my Lord replied the Median and you cannot better assure me that you have resolved my ruine then by telling me that you leave my fortunes at the disposal and mercy of Elisa The intentions she hath towards me I am very well acquainted with and since she hath left me her lawful Husband to wander up and down the world with Artaban I doubt not but that for the same Artaban 's sake she will shun me to the end of the world But my Lord is it possible that an Emperour so great and so just can so easily sacrifice the enjoyments and glory of a King whose Life and Crown hath ever been at his disposal to the satisfaction of a Souldier of Fortune whom I have my self raised out of the dust to the honour he hath so unworthily abused a Souldier I say whose most considerable actions have been done in the service of your enemies That Souldier replies Augustus is not to be slighted by those who have any regard to Vertue and there are few Kings in the world to be preferred before him if it be referred to the judgement of the greatest men What he hath done against you for the enemies of the Roman Empire cannot prevail with me to abate ought of the esteem I have for him and you are the person that of all men have least reason to think so meanly of him But what ere he may be it matters not you may take this further from me that it is not any way to promote his design that I leave the Princess Elisa at the liberty of her choice and that I shall not interpose between you as to what concerns her affections Prevail with her if it be possible by love and services and use all imaginable industry to gain her violence onely excepted which I absolutely forbid you in my Dominions both against her and against Artaban and which you cannot make use of without rendring me your enemy The Median King ready to burst with grief and exasperation at this discourse was going to reply haply with a violence which might have incensed him when the Emperour perceives coming into the Room Ariobarzanes King of Armenia Prince Philadelph and King Archelaus and as he was turning towards them to salute them comes in King Alcamenes Caesar leaving Tigranes went to entertertain him which he did with the civility he was wont to expresse towards him telling him it was his design to give him a visit in his own Chamber and that it troubled him he was prevented Alcamenes received that civility of the Emperour with a submission accompani'd by all the marks of a real Greatnesse of Soul and after some discourse together the Emperour having word brought him that the Empresse was ready and that all the Princesses were with her went to her Lodgings follow'd by all that noble company She being one of the most ingenious and understanding of the Sexe and able to manage the Government of the Empire as well as the greatest men the Emperour had more then ordinary compliances for her and she received them with such an admirable design and artifice that taking no notice of his Amoretto's both towards Terentia and other Ladies whom he had lov'd she accordingly made it her main businesse to satiate his ambition which was the predominant passion in him and flatter Augustus's humor in such manner as that she might continue her authority over him and be in a condition to raise her Sons to the height of advancement When this noble company entred her chamber all the Princesses were there and the Emperour having very submissively saluted them all said to every one of them some word by the way relating either to her Beauty or Adventures and not long after perceiving that the King of the Scythians was fallen into discourse with the Empresse he comes up close to Elisa
death by a thrust through the body and these three victories cost the terrible young man but so many blows But it was not in his heart nor yet in his countenance that the victory wrought its ordinary effects making it visibly appear that what heightned the insolence and hopes of his companions filled him with grief shame and confâsion He had stay'd a little time in expectation of another Adversary when accordingly there is one brought into the Arena upon whose appearance Quintilius Varus who knew him and had sent both him and the other to the Overscers of the Gladiators crying out aloud to the Emperour told him that Combat would be very pleasant for that the Gladiator last come in was little if at all inferiour in point of valour to his companion That discourse of Varus obliged those that were the more attentive to these sights to take more particular notice of the last and they found that as to his person the other had not much the advantage of him though he discovered less fierceness and that there seemed to be a greater mildness both in his eyes and countenance They were in many things much like one the other especially in their faces though it might be thought the latter was seven or eight years elder then his companion The young man no sooner saw him appear but lifting up his eyes to Heaven with an action full of grief and resentment O ye Gods cryed he O malicious Fortune is it possible you can reduce us to such deplorable extremities With which words there broke forth at his eyes a rivolet of tears Nor seemed there to be less grief and tenderness in him that was newly come in who after he had by certain words proceeding from the height of passion charged Heaven with the strangenesse of their misfortune both casting away their Swords and Bucklers upon the sand mutually embraced each other with so much affection and accompanyed their caresses with words so pressing that the most hard-hearted present were moved to compassion thereat It was the general imagination of the spectators that they should be deprived the pleasure they expected from the engagement of those two valiant Gladiators And indeed the King of Scythia Agrippa Artaban Ariobarzanes Philadelph Drusus and divers other who were mov'd to compassion at what they had seen were intreating the Emperor that those two men whom they thought worthy a better fortune might be spared when those who had the oversight of the Shows out of a design to divert the company by another kind of engagement let forth out of those places where they were kept for that purpose a Tygre one of the greatest and most furious that ever came out of Hyrcania Those that concerned themselves in the misfortune of those two men were extreamly troubled at the sight of that dreadfull creature nay Augustus himself mov'd thereat as others was not well pleased to see them exposed to that new danger But he had not time to considâr what course was fittest to be taken for their safety and the approaches of that terrible enemy having interrupted the embraces of the two Gladiators they both ran to their Swords and presented themselves to the furious beast with a resolution that discover'd they were not to be danted by any kind of danger but in that action they expressed no less the greatness of their Friendship then that of their Courage either of them being desirous to put himself before his companion so to expose himself to all the danger for the safety of his Friend Let me alone said the elder of the two that came last suffer me over-confident young man to have some part in the actions of this day Thou hast spilt bloud enough already and I would say thou hast gained glory enough had the occasion been but honourable Let me intreat thee by all our Friendship to keep back and hazard not in my sight a life I value much beyond my own The fierce young man would have made some reply and their contestation would haply have lasted longer if the pressing occasion had permitted it but the Tygre was ready to fasten on the former who put her off with his Buckler and with his Sword had made agreat gap in her side The fury of the cruel beast was augmented by the wound but instead of being reveng'd on him that gave it she turned towards his companion who immediatly cast himself before his Friends and was so fortunate as to cut off one of its unmercifull claws That done the Victory prov'd so much the less difficult to the two valiant men and after they had avoided the last attempts of the cruel Animal by two blows which they gave it both at the same time they laid it along on the sand breathing its last The enterprize being over they ran one to another with equal tenderness to see if they were wounded and having spent some little time in new embraces accompany'd with tears the younger of a sudden lifting up his head which till then he had not so much as turned towards the Assembly and addressing himself to the Emperour Caesar said he to him with a gesture heightned by a noble fierceness thou thinkâst it a great glory to expose to thy Gladiators and thy savage Beasts Princes who have not any way deserved such misfortune and those such as are not inferiour to thee either in birth or vertue Consummate consummate thy cruelty and find out some death or other for those who are not desirous to live after the shame thou hast exposed them to It may be our deaths were but requisit in order to thy safety and the quiet of the Romanes to whom this indignity makes us irreconcileable enemies And if Fortune once restore me the fortune she hath deprived me of I promise to the revenging Gods Rivers of Roman bloud to wash off the stain of that unworthy bloud thou hast occasioned me to spill this day These words though proceeding from a strange confidence and threats were so far from incensing the Emperour that they wrought in him much compassion and raised in him a certain remorse and confusion so that the mediations of those Princes who at the same time begged the liberty of those two persons was more then necessary to obtain it He with a gesture of his hand silenc'd the noise that was among the Spectators whereupon addressing his discourse to the valiant young man who had spoken tâ him If thou art of such birth as thou pretendest said he to him I condemn with much grief the treatment thou hast receiv'd nay if thou wert not thou deservest for thy valour the Liberty which I now give you both The Gods are my witnesses and you also are convinced in your thoughts that both your names and fortunes were unknown to me and that I could not by any discovery discern you from ordinary Gladiators among whom it sometimes happens that there are persons of great courage and handsomeness of body This want of
Honour he made a sudden halt as it were to consider what he should do and it coming in his mind that Friendship obliged him no less to relieve his Brother then to revenge him he fastned on that which was most honourable and most lawful and alighting he goes to Tiberius whose loss of blood continued still by reason of the many wounds he had about him But if this accident had raised an astonishment in Drusus and all that were present that which the Emperor conceived was greater then that of any of the rest and put him for some time into such a posture as added to the admiration of all those that were about him On the one side he saw the Son of Livia for whom he had those respects and compliances as occasioned the report all over the Empire that he divided the Soveraign authority with her lying along at the foot of a tree with several wounds about him through which it was to be feared his life might leave him with his blood and on the other not many paces from him the enemy had put him into that condition but the same enemy who having trampled on his Authority even in Rome it self and reduced the same Tiberius to a condition sad as that wherein he then saw him had raised two great Kingdoms against him had forced them from his Jurisdiction with the loss of so many Milions of men who was the only person had checked the progress of his requests and that fortune which had made him Master of the Universe and who even when he was thought lost and ruined in his misfortunes was come again with the same pride and insolence not only to present himself before him but in his sight to be the death of a Son of the Empresse's a Prince he looked on as his own This consideration and all these reflections forcing themselves upon the Emperour's thoughts wrought on his spirits with so much violence and precipitation that he was not able to repress the impetuosity thereof or contain himself within any limits of moderation His displeasure broke forth at first with a certain joy and looking up towards heaven in a posture dreadful to behold I acknowledge your justice you divine Powers cryed he since you bring under my power this insolent African who with so much scorn defiedit and when I was out of all hopes to punish him for his enormous crimes you are pleased he should deliver himself up to my justice and appear before me in a condition and covered with a blood which leaves not any thing for lenity to urge on his behalf Let him be taken continued he turning to the Officers of his guard and loaden with chains conveyed to a Dungeon to be brought thence to the punishment I intend him Augustus was a person admirably kind to his Friends and good to his Subjects and govern'd all with such mildness as made them look on him rather as a Father then a Soveraign But if he were a good Emperour and a good Friend he was on the other side an implacable Enemy and in all the progress of those Wars whereby he had raised himself to that height he had never pardoned any one of his Enemies Upon this consideration all those that were about him conceived that without something of miracle there was little hope of life for Coriolanus The more vertuous could not forbear deploring his misfortune with all the discoveries of a real grief and the most considerable among them as the King of Scythia Agrippa the King of Armenia and divers others resolv'd to employ all manner of perswasion to appease the Emperours wrath but they thought it unseasonable to attempt any thing till the first erruptions of his violence were over Onely Coriolanus seemed unmoved at the danger which made that illustrious company tremble for him as well out of the natural greatness of his courage as the addition it might have received from his despair Insomuch that when in pursuance of the Emperour's command the Officers of the Guard went to him and demanded his Sword My Sword said he looking scornfully on them never leaves me but with my life and since I am to expect nothing less then death 't were better for me to lose my life while I defend it then reserve it for an ignominious punishment And perceiving those words deterred not some of the more daring from coming nearer to disarm him he gave the most forward of them a blow over the head which made him fall at the feet of his companions with a deep wound Caesar was so much incensed at that action that being at a loss of all patience and moderation and discovering in his sparkling eyes the indignation he was transported with Kill him cryed he kill him and that without any further delay Whereupon Alcamenes Arippa Ariobarzanes Artaban and others in whom the greatest actions of the son of Juba had raised a love and veneration for him came before the Emperor intreating him with the greatest earnestness and importunity possible to moderate his displeasure and to give them the hearing but of some few minutes but their intercession proved ineffectual and Augustus's rage being more enflamed by that opposition reiterated the commands he had given his guard to kill the African Prince and upon this last peremptory order the points of hundreds of swords and javelines being turned against him he would soon have lost his life if a horseman all armed had not stept before him and exposed himself to the thrusts and blows would have been made at made at him He was soon observed by Alcamenes Artaban and Arminius and known to be one of the three valiant men who before their arrival and in their company had fought so couragiously in defence of the Princesses but having taken off his Casque which he hastily snatched off his head he was known by the Emperour for him who of all the world was most dear to him his beloved Marcellus Turn said he discovering him self turn against me only the points of your swords and find a passage through my body to life of my Friend The Emperors guard had that respect for Marcellus that of so many Arms as were up to give Coriolanus his death there was not one which drew not back upon sight of that darling of the Romanes Nay the Emperour himself was upon the first apprehension so astonished at it that he knew not what to think of it as being in suspence between the different passions he strugled withal No doubt it was an excessive joy to him to see the face of a Prince dear to him as his own life but it could not withall but adde to his rage to find a Prince who should be sensible of his interests as himself so earnest in the defence of his enemy and that one against whom ever since the unworthy trick put upon him by Tiberius he had thought him sufficiently exasperated It was some time ere he was able to express what it was that troubled
him and at last he having found out terms whereby to discover his thoughts What Marcellus said he to him do you defend against me the life of an enemy that hath proved so unworthily false to you and one into whose breast upon the account both of your interest and mine you should rather sheath your sword I shall my Lord replied the Prince rescue the life of this enemy with the hazard of my own nay though I should lose it to purchase his safety I shall not have made sufficient reparation for the crime I have committing in persecuting a faithful friend with so much cruelty and injustice I know the respect I owe my Soveraign permits me not to lift up my sword to oppose the execution of his Orders but neither does it forbid me to present my breast to the cruelweapon that threatens the life of my friend But canst thou be so ungrateful replies the Emperour as to call him thy Friend who is a mortal enemy to Caesar and canst thou be so much wanting to resentment as to bestow the name of Friend on a man that hath so basely over-reached thee He is enemy to Caesar replied Marcellus upon no other ground then that of his misfortune nor hath he been mine but upon the artifices and treachery of another and my own mis-apprehensions Time will give you a fuller account of things if you will upon the intercession of Marcellus but defer for a while what you have resolved with so much heat and precipitation Thy ingratitude replies the Emperour makes thee unworthy the favour thou desirest and therefore flatter not thy self with a hope I will for ever grant thee the life of this barbarous man though I delay an execution which he ought not to suffer in the presence of so many Illustrious persons With which words he renewed the commands he had before given his guard to take him alive but the valiant son of Juba to whom the death that was before his eyes would have been more acceptable then that he was designed to and understood not what submission was while he had a sword in his hand once more presented the dreadful point of it to those who offered to come neer him and by that resistance would have changed the intentions of Caesar and drawn a hundred weapons against his breast when the Princess Cleopatra being come to the place and got out of the Chariot appeared to him through the Guards and speaking to him so as that the Emperour and all the illustrious persons there present might hear Coriolanus said she to him be not so obstinate as to be killed in my sight if you love me and deliver up to fortune and the desires of Cleopatra a sword which cannot maintain your life any longer It is in the power of the Gods and men to do yet something in order to your safety and if their indignation be such as that we cannot have their assistance I will condescend you shall die when it cannot be avoided and I shall be able to follow you to assure you of the affection I have for you O what a kind of influence had these words of the admirable Cleopatra on the apprehensions of Coriolanus and how powerful were they upon a resolution which no fear could shake All the fierceness that sparkled in his eyes of a sudden withdrew it self and becoming no less submissive then some minutes before he had appeared terrible Ah Madam said he to her I shall without the least repugnance obey you and submit to the chains and death prepared for me to express my compliances and fidelity to you to the last gasp Having so said he cast away his sword which an Officer of the guard took up and with a countenance wherein was not observable the least disturbance he told him That wherever he would carry him he was ready to follow During this time was Marcellus doing his submissions to Caesar whom through all his indignation he still considered as his Father and in which action he was seconded by the two Cavaliers who had fought with him against those who would have carried away the Princess who having taken off their Casques discovered their faces to all the Company One of the two was immediately known to be Alexander though he had not been seen even by any of those with whom he was most intimate since his departure from Rome into Germany whence he had passed into Armenia But the other was not so easily though there were divers imagined upon the first sight that they knew him and recollected themselves to find out who it should be through the alteration which some years had made in his countenance And though the comliness of his person was such as might draw the eyes of all upon him yet was he not considered with that earnestness as haply might have been done at a time when the company were more free from disturbance and the thoughts of all were so full of the misfortune happened to Coriolanus that they could not think of any thing else All the entreaties were made to the Emperour on his behalf prevailed nothing upon him and though it were expected the intercession of Marcellus should have proved effectual and that he should do something upon that of the great King of Scythia whose vertue he so much admired yet all they could obtain at his hands was that upon their intreaties he would put off the punishment he intended him for some time but that nothing should be able to divert him from making him an example such as was but necessary for the establishment of his Empire and Authority Whereupon having intreated all those that were about him not to press him any further as to that business he took his way towards Alexandria whither his guard was conducting Coriolanus and where Drusus had caused Tiberius to be conveyed riding by him with all the demonstrations of a hearty affliction All the Illustrious Assembly knowing Augustus to be of a nature as implacable during the time of his displeasure as easie to be prevailed with when otherwise rode along in great silence and there were few who expressed not a more then ordinary grief at the misfortune of so great a man as Coriolanus Alcamenes who had understood the noble actions of his life and had a particular veneration for the Princess Cleopatra could not smother the affliction he conceived thereat The King of Armenia the Prince of Cilicia the Kings of Cappadocia Pontus and Conagenas who had known and admired him at Rome when he appeared there with so much reputation and applause Agrippa Mecenas Crassus Lentulus and divers other Illustrious Romans who could not have the knowledg of him without a love and respect to him were extreamly cast down at this accident But next to Marcellus who concern'd himself above all others in it there was not one in all that noble Assembly more sensibly mov'd at that unhappy Adventure then the generous Artaban as well out of the love he
the author of it and could not look on him in the condition he was in without being transported with fury and thinking of some attempt upon his life and the son of Juba impatient to continue in a place where he could not sufficiently exercise his valour and considering that though they kept off the enemy they must starve for want of provisions if they found not some means to open their passage force the besiegers further from their gates and works if it were possible there being not either in the place that was or any other that might be assaulted occasion to employ half their men he resolved to make a salley having communicated his design no Artaban Caesario satisfied them of the importance necessity thereof Cesario would go with him followed by young Ptolomey and Artaban upon their intreaties continued in the Castle where the presence of one of those great persons was necessary Alexander staying with him So that with three hundred men whereof one half were Aethiopians the other Aegyptians well armed and animated by example and the despair of pardon they went out of the gate caused the Bridge to be let down and marched out as thick as the place would permit Ptolomey with fifty men advanced as far as the end of the stone Bridg which from the Counterscarp reached to the midst of the Moat to keep the passage free for the return of his companions and the undaunted Prince of Mauritania and the valiant son of Cesar went into the Moat with the rest of their men who by great shouts sent terror to those places where they were soon after to be the messengers of death The two Princes were in their sumptuous armor but being to fight on foot they made use only of the Casque the Cuirats and the Buckler and with greater freedom of the arm then if it had been loaden with iron they plyed their enemies with the dazling and mortal sword If the number of their men was small the place where they were to fight was accordingly not very spacious and the valour of the two Chiefs might well be reckoned for a considerable party The Romans on the other side were so surprised at this unexpected tempest that they could hardly put themselves into a posture to make any resistance and by that time they were set upon all was in disorder blood and death among them Never had the terrible Affrican Prince nor the undaunted son of Cleopatra been animated by a fury comparable to that which made them fight that day nor ever with their own hands spilt so much blood upon any one occasion Nay they seem'd in some measure to have lost their compassionate inclinations especially the son of Caesar who with a certain satisfaction sacrificed the Souldiers of Augustus to his just resentment The Ethiopians and Egyptians seconded them with much valour and running into the Moat with a miraculous eagerness overturned the ladders with the men that were upon them so that all they came near perished either by falls or the inexorable sword All places were full of blood and the Princes so covered therewith that they could not be discerned from others but by their irresistable blows that fell from them Artaban who looked on them from the Rampart would have envied the glory they acquired by such transcendent effects of valour had he not by so many memorable actions already raised himself to a fame noble enough However even from the place where he was he did them considerable service and perceiving that Caesar constantly supplyed the Moat with fresh men to relieve those who were either dead or run away and that his own had no further work with those who before scaled the Ladders he ordered them to be perpetually casting at the Counterscarp and by showers of darts hindring the enemies access to the Moat he facilitated the victory of his two illustrious Friends Nor was young Ptolomey without employment or occasion to exercise his valour for Caesar desirous to prevent the return of his enemies caused the young Prince to be assaulted upon the bridg he was to keep and gave him occasion to do things so noble that if the two other Princes had that day in some measure outvy'd whatever was celebrated as most dreadful by Antiquity he raissd in those who saw him an apprehension little different from that of the famous Roman whose maintaining of a Bridge against the armies of Hetruria made his name known all over the world The small number of men assigned him were enough for the defence of the place he was to keep and he would have wanted room to employ any more They were weary of assaulting him by reason of the danger they were exposed to he had half lifted up the visor of his Casque to take a little air after the pains he had been at when a man sumptuously armed tall and of a fierce deportment advances towards him with his sword in the right hand and his left covered with a Buckler Ptolomey seeing him coming on goes towards him and gave him a hearty blow which he received upon his Buckler The young Prince vexed he had spent his blow in vain was lifting up his arm to second it when the unknown person retreating Hold Ptolomey said he to him and be not the death of thy Brother who comes to suffer it from the hands of thy enemies and not from thine And with those words lifting up the visor of his head piece he discovered himself to be Julius Antonius and thereupon going over to him he turned against his enemies and set himself in a posture of fighting In the mean time Coriolanus and Caesario had no more enemies to deal withal in the Moat death or flight having not left them any thing to employ their valour upon all the Ladders were pulled down and most broken and among the faggots stones and other things wherewith the Moat had been filled might be seen streams of blood and heaps of carkasses enough to raise horror and compassion The two Princes finding themselves still followed by the best part of their men pursued the defeated out of the Moat up to the Counterscarp with a design to gain a quarter near the castle known to Caesario whereby they would have had a free passage to the Sea to embark their illustrious company in the Ethiopian ships and having put the Romans to the rout Victory attended them upon the Counterscarp as it had done in the Trench and with the points of their swords they made their way so as to get to the place where Augustus was encouraging his men to fight and which he durst not quit though he perceived them coming on whether out of the shame he conceived it to give way to so small a number or the confidence he had in the multitude of his own He was calling them from all sides to his relief and sending orders to make them advance who were at some distance when Caesario from a
towards me nay though I am satisfied that neither Caesar nor Queen Cleopatra had any hand in the last misfortunes of Pompey and that it is not unlikely Caesar would have been moderate in the advantages of his fortune if that of Pompey would have permitted it yet I entertaine the proffer you make me of your friendship as a pure effect of your Vertue and am to assure you that next to the obligations I have to Candace there is not any thing I more value Whereupon embracing one another upon the new confirmation of their Friendship Artaban gave Caesario a short account of the particulars of his birth and the assurances he had of it as he had received them from Briton By this time night was drawing on and the Princes having caused a distribution to be made of what provisions there were in the Castle found much to their grief there was hardly to afford a light repast for so many persons and that the next day they must either be miraculously supplyed from heaven or suffer through hunger what they had avoided by the sword The Princesses and Princes made that poor meale with much constancy neither Cleopatra nor Candace discovering any thing of weakness upon so strange a misfortune Coriolanus and Caesario seem'd the only persons troubled as reflecting it was upon their account that their Princesses and Friends were fallen into that extremity and the grief which seemed to be legible in the countenances of Artaban Drusus and Alexander proceeded from their remembrances of Elisa Antonia and Artemisa rather than the danger that threatned them Drusus and Alexander discovered so much the less because they had left their Princesses safe among their Friends and feared not any thing might happen to them but Artaban was much in disturbance and though he were resolved out of a consideration of honour to perish with his Friends if he could not avoid it and had a courage great enough to face death without any trouble yet could he not reflect that Elisa was in the power of Augustus and that to be revenged for the injury he had that day received he might force her to marry Agrippa without an affliction that proved extremely a torment to him He was upon the rack of those considerations when Coriolanus and Caesario came to communicate their grief to him and ask his advice in the extremity they were reduced to and all the Princes being called to deliberate together what resolution should be taken it was without any contradiction resolved that when the night was a little advanced they should endeavour to force their way through the Guards and with the Princesses and all the men that were in the Castle endeavour to break through the Enemy on that side which led to the Ethiopian ships not but that the execution of this enterprise would prove difficult and dangerous yet was it to be embraced before the death they were assured of in the Castle being of that kind which was most unworthy their courage This resolution taken about an hour after they set things in order for the execution of it and the Princes having satisfied the souldiery of the necessity there was they should behave themselves gallantly Coriolanus Artaban and Caesario led them on and ordered the two Princesses with their women to come behind conducted by Marcellus Drusus and the three sons of Anthony That illustrious company consisting of what was most great in the world either as to Valour or Beauty went in that posture out of the Castle with a courage no less remarkable in the Princesses than the Princes and the three Chiefes who had severally commanded so great armies and were now all reduced to the command of so small a number fell in with such fury upon a guard placed almost at the end of the bridge and immediately forced it with such success that having cut some to pieces the rest fled in disorder to the next post This not only encouraged the souldiers but put their valiant commanders into some hope but when turning their faces towards the sea they would charge those that kept the passage that way they found their attempts would prove ineffectual the wayes being made up with barricadoes and great beames and maintained by above two thousand souldiers commanded by valiant men So that having set upon them very desperately but to little purpose and perceiving it impossible to get through and that upon the loss of some of their men the rest were unwilling to advance upon a design absolutely desperate they were forced to make what hast they could towards the Castle having out of a prudent foresight lest Briton and Eteocles at the end of the Bridge with fifty men to prevent the enemy from getting into it during the engagement and accordingly Marcellus Drusus and the Sons of Anthony conconducted the Princesses thither while Artaban Caesario and Coriolanus made their retreat so as to keep the Enemy in play till they came to the Castle gate into which they were the last that entred Upon this last act of misfortune was it that griefe and exasperation wrought their saddest effects in the two Princes who saw so many illustrious persons that were dear to them exposed to certain death upon their account Caesario fell at the feet of Candace to divert her from the design she had to dye with him and intreated his Brothers to leave him in an extremity wherein he could make no advantage of their generosity He pressed the same thing to the Great Artaban putting him in mind of his obligations to Elisa and representing to him that he should slight all things for the service of that Princess But the son of Juba was transported in such manner as would have raised compassion in the most insensible hearts and betraying what might be thought the effects of weakness in him had he been reduced thereto out of any respect to himself he endeavoured both by words and tears to prevail with those persons in whom the expectation of sudden death produced no such effect to leave him to his own misfortunes He lay prostrate at the feet of Cleopatra washing them with his tears and with much ado recovering the freedome of speech if ever said he to her Love begat compassion in any soul and if you would have me at the period of my life flatter my self with the glory of having been loved by my Princess my adored Princess by that love which I shall inviolably preserve in the other life by all you acknowledge sacred and in submission to those Deities whom you have ever reverenced and now incense by the injustice you do me force me not to die the most terrible kind of death my Enemies could have invented for me and think it enough that after the example of the Queen your Mother you have satisfied the world how easily you can slight death for his sake whom you love without exercising to the utmost this strange kind of cruelty upon me For in fine imagine not that when
I dye I shall quarrel at Augustus all he can do is to put me to an ordinary death a thing I have often defied in occasions hazardous enough but you would make it such to me by your fatal resolution as no courage can endure without falling into the worst of despair Consider that to the injuries you do me you add an irrepairable offence against Heaven and that all nature is concerned in your cruelty when you destroy what the Gods and she had made most beautiful in the Universe that Heaven Earth all Nations all ages will blame me for the injury I do them and that thousands such lives as mine ought not to be preserved with the least danger of yours And thou cruel Friend added he turning to Marcellus thou who consirmest her in this fatal resolution by the cruel example thou gavest her wert thou not satisfied with the miseries which I should at my death derive from the considerations of my Love but must aggravate them by the effects of an unfortunate friendship or is it not to heighten the cruelty of Augustus rather than to assure me of thy friendship that thou art guilty of this barbarism towards me Example of inhumanity what wouldst thou reduce me to What is there in the loss of this wretched life that can in any degree recompence the world for what I deprive of it when it is that which was most precious in it Wouldst thou not give me a dearer and more noble demonstration of thy friendship in diverting Cleopatra from her fatal design and in living to serve and comfort her in the misfortunes whereto she may be reduced then in tormenting my eyes just when they are to be closed to eternal darkness with the delightful spectacle of the death of Cleopatra and Marcellus To these Expostulations the exasperated son of Juba added a many others which his affliction furnished his tongue withal but if those to whom he addressed them were moved thereat it was with something contrary to what he would have had them produce and that fair Cleopatra looking on him with eyes drier than his own though not wholly free from tears Trifle not away Coriolanus said she to him in complaints and fruitless resentments the small remainder of our lives and if it be any satisfaction to thee to be assured that Cleopatra loves thee enjoy it to the last gasp without troubling her as thou dost by a torment thou to no purpose inflictest on thy self Consider that thou art unjust and cruel to thy self in thy desires and if thou believest I really love thee nay so well as to dye with thee reflect what my life would signifie to me after the loss of thine Or to what wouldest thou expose me when thou desirest I should continue it after thy death Shall I live to forget thee shall I live to marry Tiberius can that hope comfort thee or if after thy death I prove constant in the affection I have for thee shall I live to bewail thy loss to my grave or dost thou think that condition happier for me than the death I would suffer with thee Consider Coriolanus that grief distracts thee and that thou canst not desire I should survive thee without doing me an injury in imagining me either capable of comfort or that I can forget thee or which is worse make me too unfortunate by condemning me to eternal degrees Forbear therefore to press me any further who with the consent of my Brothers that hear us have not given thee the name of Husband but with a resolution never to forsake thee but endeavour to prevail with Marcellus whose fortunes should be happy if with time he may overcome the grief he may conceive at the loss of his Friend He hath not the same reasons which I have to alledge to thee and hath no doubt those obligations to Julia which I have not to any I shall leave in the world behind me Represent to Drusus what may be expected from him by Antonia to Alexander what from him by Artemisa to Ptolomey what from him by Marcia and to Julius Antonius what from him in order to the continuance of an illustrious blood whereof he is the first As to what Julia may expect from me said Marcellus interrupting her it cannot dispence with me as to what I owe my friend These obligations are not inconsistent besides that I can owe no less than my self for the reparation of an injury I have done my self by persecuting a too faithful too unfortunate friend And I can owe no less than my self to the revenge of Augustus's cruelty who will needs sacrifice his life whom he loves as his son to his unjust resentments and cruel maxims For my part saies Drusus I am not any way to be pityed since I am Son and Brother to those who are the occasions of your ruine and that by this action I assure Antonia of what all the precedent of my life could never perswade her to And for us added Prince Alexander speaking for himself and Ptolomey we cannot expect any acknowledgment for our contempt of death for besides that we could with honour but engage our selves in the concernments of a brother and sister whom the Persecutor of our House would put to death with so much cruelty he had ordered us also to be secured haply with the same intention So that it is designed then cryes out the desperate Coriolanus all should perish and that my misfortune must drag both Cleopatra and Marcellus and Drusus and all the house of Anthony to inevitable death He struck a little at that consideration and at last assuming the discourse with an action more doleful What added he shall Cleopatra Marcellus and so many illustrious persons dye through my means and shall so many excellent lives be sacrified to one so wretched as mine No no Cleopatra no Marcellus you shall never see me exposed to the misfortune you threaten me with and I will prevent it though all the earth should contribute to my unhappiness I will never see the fair eyes of Cleopatra closed up by death nor shall I expect till that horrid enemy against whom our valour avails us nothing hath wrought any change in her countenance I despair not yet with the assistances of Heaven and my own courage to secure what Love and Friendship make so dear to me since I cannot imagine I shall want them in so just a design With those words he walked up and down one while in the Chamber another in a Gallery adjoyning to it and in that manner tormented himself till it was day not entertaining the least comfort from the discourses of either Cleopatra or Marcellus Cesario was in a condition not much different through the grief he was in for Candace and Artaban though loath to forsake such illustrious Friends was nevertheless resolved to force his way through ten thousand swords or receive his death from the points of them but he would find out Elisa and deliver
unless what might be thought to proceed from the confidence he had in his own actions and his indifference for life or death The whole Assembly was in suspence expecting what would be the issue of that adventure when the Prince addressing himself to the Emperour with a grace which rais'd a general compassion for his fortune Caesar said he to him the guilty person now stands before thee presenting himself to save the innocent I only have deserved I only have incurred thy displeasure it is not therefore just that Cleopatra and Marcellus should groan under the effects of it The treatment I have received from thee hath been such as should oblige me with the loss of my life to endeavour thy enjoyments but the affection I have for and the obligations I have for and the obligations I have received from Marcellus are such as that I would gladly part with my own life to preserve his 'T is my greatest trouble that I cannot give Marcellus any thing but what Cleopatra may claim as hers nor lose that for Cleopatra which I do not owe Marcellus but since they are so generous as to give me themselves what I owe them they will be content with an unfortunate life which I bestow on them and would heartily sacrifice to Love and Friendship were it much happier Give thy commands then that the son of Juba be put to that kind of death which thou think'st most fit but send out thy Orders with all diligence for the saving of Marcellus and Cleopatra since it is to secure theirs that I resign thee that of thy enemy I lay it down without any regret provided thou restore thy Nephew to that affection which he hath but too well deserved from thee and permit not Cleopatra to be unfortunate 'T is only with this hope that I give thee the satisfaction of my death which I shall receive without repining if I have this comfort expirng that I have contributed to the enjoyments and fortune of my Princess and Friend Thus spake Coriolanus and his discourse and deportment so conformable to all the actions of his life wrought so with all present that of the many that wer ther most of them would have gladly exposed themselves to some part of the danger he was in to exempt him from it But much different were the apprehensions of Augustus nor was it much to be wondred at that he who upon all the Inhabitants of a City prostrate at his feet had passed that cruel Sentence You must die and answered those desired only Sepulture when he sent them to their Execution That that favour was at the disposal of the Crows was not moved as he should be either at the vertue or misfortune of so great a Prince Not but that he conceived a certain shame at his procedure but being he was the more obstinately resolved to persist in it the more he had been exasperated by opposition he thought it but requisite for the better settlement of his authority to give the Nations a dreadful example of his revenge after the injury he had received the day before Fixt in that resolution and betraying in his eyes some part of what his breast was full of and casting a terrible look on the Prince Thou shalt once have thy desires said he to him and since thou art so willing it should be so I receive thy life as the ransome of those of Marcellus and Cleopatra Yet would I not have thee imagine me obliged to thee for the present thou makest of it I had haply refused it hadst thou proffer'd it while it was in thy disposal but thou art willing to part with it when thou canst no longer keep it and so requitest with what is none of thy own the Love of Cleopatra and friendship of Marcellus I shall have a care of their welfare and fortunes and thou maist take a journey to the other world with this comfort that if thou contributest nothing to their enjoyment thou freest them from the troubles which thy life had alwaies involved them in Whereupon turning to those officers whom he durst best trust with the management of such an execution he commanded them to take away the Prince out of his presence and put him to death without further delay These words raised a horror in all the Assembly the Princesses who had an esteem for the Virtue and Person of Coriolanus expressed their sorrow by the loudness of their sighs Alcamenes was enraged at it and having cast his eye on the Princes who were ingaged in his resolutions was going to rise from his place to put in execution what his great courage and the extremity they were in should advise him to when after a noise like that which had preceded the arrival of Coriolanus entred the Hall Prince Marcellus and some few paces after him the fair Cleopatra led by Drusus Upon their coming in a great shout was given out of a hope of some change Marcellus coming up to Coriolanus just as Norbanus who had received the cruel order was laying hands on him to carry him away he with his left hand seized him by the arm he had held out and with his right laying hold of the hilt of his sword Hold said he to him and think not any respect shall hinder me from taking away thy life if thou offer to be the Executioner of my Brother And thereupon forcing the Prince out of his hands and presenting himself with him before Caesar See now my Lord said he to him the object of your displeasure you vainly seek it elsewhere and there is no way for you to be revenged of Coriolanus but by the death of Marcellus you may be satisfied by what he hath done that it is the death of Marcellus he is so much afraid of and not his own and you now see it is by the death of Marcellus and now his own that you are to punish him By putting him death to save Marcellus you grant him his own desire and by putting Marcellus to death for his safety you sacrifice a life that 's dear to him to preserve one he is burthened with Open your eyes to see your own revenge since revenge is the thing you so much thirst after and you will find you cannot take it with greater cruelty then by putting to death in his presence not what he hates but what he loves above himself 'T is then Cleopatra that must die cries out the fair Daughter of Antonia coming up close to Marcellus for how great soever the friendship may be which Coriolanus hath for Marcellus yet must it be inferior to the Love he hath for me Besides Caesar I am descended of those who have disputed the Empire with thee to the last breath and thou maist fear that as I inherit the Name I may also the Courage and aversion of Cleopatra cut off this unfortunate Branch of a hateful Stock and make it known by a revenge which thy enemy will be more sensible of
love for Antonia as to have the courage to embrace the resolution you have taken I know the affection and enjoyment of Antonia ought not to be expected by the son and brother of the persecutors and implacable enemies of her house but am sensible withal that I cannot but dying quit the hope I had conceived thereof and I will satisfie both Antonia and your self who do me all the justice you should upon this occasion how little I am concerned in the cruel design of your enemies by exposing my self first to their cruelty and punishing that of Livia by the death of Drusus as you would that of Augustus by the loss of Marcellus Prince Marcellus admiring this generous design of Drusus came to him with his arms spread and embracing him with much tenderness Ah Drusus said he to him your vertue fills me with shame and confusion but the discovery you now make of it was more then needed to produce the effect you desire and as I am satisfied that your sentiments have ever been different from those of Livia and Tiberius so are you to assure your self that our resentment was never directed against you and that we never had any intention to make you lose what you had but too highly deserved from the affections of Antonia Live for her sake since she hath been so fortunate as to gain such a heart as yours and be confident that all the misfortunes whereto the authority of Livia hath exposed us cannot change the inclinations we have for your vertue nor make us repent the joy we have conceived at the good fortune of our sister What you say proceeds from abundance of generosity replies Drusus but it is as contrary to your intentions as it is favourable to mine since I must entertain sentiments so obliging with more acknowledgment then can admit my desertion of their interests and fortunes to whom I am so highly engaged Ah Drusus saye the Princess Cleopatra to him with much mildness preserve your self though but to comfort Antotonia in the grief which no doubt the will be in at our loss I owe replies the Prince this demonstration of a love whereof she hath hitherto received but slight expressions and certainly this opportunity is no more then I stood in need of to perswade her to that which all my past actions have not been able to do Coriolanus who had not yet spoken to Drusus thinking himself obliged to express his sentiments of what he did I durst not said he to him joyn my entreaties to those of Cleopatra and Marcellus out of a fear they might not be well taken by a brother of Tiberius's but I can assure you that as all the inconveniences I have by his means undergone have not diverted me from the acknowledgment and esteem I should have for your vertue so do I not to perswade either Marcellus or any of the house of Antonia see any necessity of the discovery whereto you expose your self If you have had an esteem for me replies Drusus I assure you I have ever admired you and that all the concernments of my brother have not hindred me from paying that to your worth which all acknowledg due to it This reason may add somewhat to all the rest to perswade you if you will not receive me as a Hostage against your enemies to entertain me as a companion of your fortune and if Sempronius stays only for this declaration that he may give Cesar and Livia a full account of our resolutions he need stay no longer Nor shall I says Sempronius to him but go and with Cesar and Livia amaze all the world that two Princes such as Marcellus and Drusus should disclaim the interests of Cesar and their own house to joyn with their enemies Whereupon he left the room and going out of the Castle went to the Palace to give Cesar an account of what passed among those Illustrious persons The whole Court was in sadness and disturbance when he came thither especially all the house of Octavia That generous Princess after she had ineffectually made her application to Augustus with whom the interest of Livia made the sollicitations of all others fruitless was preparing to go to the Castle with her daughters the children of Anth. to get Cleo. thence but the Emperour staid her out of a confidence that Marcellus would bring her along with him upon which hope they were in some impatience for the return of Marcellus when Sempronius came thither immediately gave Augustus a true relation of all that had passed not disguising any thing and by that discourse instead of raising any tenderness in him at the action of Marcellus he put him into the most violent indignation he had ever been in What cryes he Marcellus that Marcellus whom I loved not only as my son but haply as my self that Marcellus for whom I designed both my daughter and the place I have in the world disclaims my party to embrace that of my enemies and persers the friendship of a Babarian before that of Caesar his Father and Benefactor Ah unworthy ah ungrateful person continued he walking up and down extreamly incensed I will punish thy ingratitude and baseness and will begin thy punishment by the death of that African which he shall suffer before thy face While he was speaking he perceives the Empress coming into the room and going to meet her Madam said he to her you are treated by Drusus as I am by Marcellus and your son guilty of an ingratitude great as that of my Nephew disclaims all friendship with his brother and mother and betrays his honour to take part with that enemy who hath so often sheathed his sword in his brothers breast Livia who had a greater affection for Drusus then she had for Tiberius was extremely troubled at that account of him but being one that had an excellent command of her wit she in some measure stifled her grief before the Emperour the better to perswade him that she was less sensible of what had happened to her self then what had befallen him My Lord said she to him Drusus's offence is yet more heinous then Marcellus's and though he may pretend the love he hath for Antonia as a colour for this extravagance and so neglect the revenging of a brother upon a man who had never been his friend as he was to Prince Marcellus yet am I less troubled at his ingratitude then at that of Marcellus because you should be less sensible of it and that the injury you receive from Marcellus is so much the greater by how much his person is dearer to you I shall make him know added the Emperor that I am his Master when I cease to be his father and before this day be over he shall bewail in tears of blood the offence he hath committed Upon which words unwilling to delay any longer the effects of his resentment and the resolution he had taken he commanded Petronius and Aquilius to go along with Sempronius
to the Castle and without further Ceremony put to death Coriolanus and Cesario and to bring away thence Cleopatra Marcellus and Drusus by violence He at the same time ordered Geminius to go and find out Varus who guarded Artaban and to carry him under a strong guard to the Castle where the other Princes were secured and where they were to dye that day and commanded Norbanus to secure the children of Anthony out of a fear that to prevent the death of their brother Cesario and to serve their sister Cleopatra they might endeavour to make an insurrection in Alexandria where the blood of the Ptolomies was in a sacred veneration and the government of the Romans abhorred He issued out these Orders with so much precipitation and noise that they were immediately known all over the Palace and thence spread into the City before the persons whom he had entrusted with the execution thereof were in a condition to effect it Queen Candace who had her Spies every where and was ingaged in an enterprise worthy her great courage had present notice brought her whereupon not losing any time as knowing there was very little to lose she left her chamber and the Palace taking Clitia with her and ran a foot as she was to that quarter of the City where Etcocles expected her Orders with the Aethiopians and a considerable number of the Inhabitants of Alexandria whom having tampered with he had engaged to hazard all things to save the blood of their Kings from being spilt As she went out of the Palace she met Alexander and Ptolomey ready to take the alarm upon a confused noise that was come to their ears Upon the first sight she runs to them and speaking to them with a courage infinitely transcending her Sex Alexander and Ptolomey said she to them sons of Cleopatra and brothers to Cesario will you suffer your brother to be put to a cruel death and your selves to be thrust into chains as Cesar hath given order No we will rather lose our lives with him replies Alexander and go undaunted where our blood and honour require our assistances Come then along with me said she to him and I will shew you a way to save him and haply to free your selves from tyranny With these words she took the two Brothers in both her hands and walked between them towards the quarter where Eteocles was with the Aethiopians guided by Clitia who was acquainted with the design The two Princes led her along with a resolution worthy themselves and their just resentment made their eyes sparkle with a fire which was not ordinarily observable in them The people seeing them pass by in that posture flocked about them upon which the two Princes discovering themselves were easily known to be the children of Anthony and Cleopatra so that the Queen thinking it not amiss to say somthing to them People of Alexandria said she as she passed by will you suffer what is remaining of the blood of your Kings to be this day spilt Cesario sometimes your beloved Prince is in prison where the executioner is haply now cutting his throat by order from your Tyrant and see here his Brothers who expect the same fate if you rescue them not Though she said this without making any halt yet did it prove in some measure effectual and the Princes adding thereto somewhat to the same effect they found the people naturally affectionate to their Princes and abhorring the Roman usurpation so well disposed that before they were come to the place where Eteocles expected them they were followed with three or four hundred persons armed as people are wont to be upon the like occasions All histories that have made mention of Candace have given her the character of a Queen of a very great courage and one that durst engage in the greatest enterprises and acquainted the world with the great actions she did some time after against Petronius Governour of Egypt carrying on the War in person and gaining great advantages upon him insomuch that what she attempted and did upon that occasion ought to be entertained with more credit then if it had been performed by a person not so extraordinary The pressing extremity she was then reduced to occasioned the hastening of a design which she had resolved to put in execution that night as conceiving her self not strong enough to attempt it in the day time which was with Eteocles and the three hundred Ethiopians who attended Caesario to Alexandria and whom Eteocles had secretly brought out of the ships and the assistance of a good number of the Inhabitants of Alexandria drawn in by Eteocles to storm the Castle in the dark Eteocles having to that purpose provided scaling ladders and faggots to fill the Moat where it was of least depth No sooner had that faithful Governour seen the Queen appear with the two Brothers of Caesario but he imagined what was to be done as conceiving by the posture they were in and that of the people following them that all was desperate as to the safety of Caesario and that they must be forced to the extremities on which they had resolved though the time was not so favourable as that which they had appointed The Queen having confirmed him in that judgment by the few words she said coming up to him he commanded the Ethiopians out of the houses where he had lodged and considering that the successe of his enterprise consisted in expedition and that the Castle was to be forced before the Pretorian bands which were quartered in the Suburbs and about Alexandria could be gotten together to relieve it unless the whole City should take up arms for them which he durst not presume he immediately caused to advance both those that had any arms and those who carried the Fagots and Ladders The two Princes having in few words encouraged them led them on and could not hinder the courageous Queen from marching with them telling them She scorn'd to be safe if they miscarried and that she would rather die then fall again into the hands of Caesar The three hundred Ethiopians were well armed and marched in very good order followed as well by those who were come in to the Queen as those whom Eteocles had gained which were above five hundred Citizens in arms of whom she had employed two hundred to carry the Faggots and Ladders Their forces increased through a report that was spread about the City that the children of Queen Cleopatra were to be put to death and the two Princes with the Queen were gotten into the head of above eight hundred men and advancing towards the Castle when passing through a spacious place they discovered a party of Souldiers about a Chariot upon which the Queen having asked a man that came before bitterly weeping and whose countenance she imagined she knew who those persons were whom she saw appear the man who was Briton the faithful Governour of Pompey's Son told her they were carrying the valiant