her true extraction Assoon as she beheld him she chang'd colour out of fear it might be less honourable than she imagin'd But she was not long in this incertainty for Clelius in the midst of the company embrac'd her very affectionately and presenting her to Horatius You know generous Horatius said he to him I have treated you as one resolv'd to give you my daughter at the end of the War but in the mean time before I make that promise good I must give you a sister who is a person unquestionably worthy of that Relation Receive therefore Plotina as a generous brother ought to receive her But Moreover added he turning towards Clelia I must give my daughter as well as Horatius a sister and therefore proceeded he directing his speech to Clelia embrace Plotina as a person united to you by blood and you Octavius added he do the same The discourse of Clelius so amaz'd all the Company and chiefly Clelia Horatius Octavius and Plotina that they beheld one another silently without making the civilities to one another which this discovery requir'd But at length Plotina began to speak and addressing to Clelius It is so little advantagious to you my Lord said she to give such a person as I am sister to Clelia that I doubt not you are my Father since you profess it your self but I confess I do not apprehend how I can be sister both to Horatius and Clelia Since 't is a thing which must become publick reply'd Clelius it is not unfit to begin the publishing of it before such a Company as this is For my part said Horatius I am so impatient to know how it comes that I have the happiness to be Plotina's Brother and brother to a daughter of Clelius and a sister of Clelia that you cannot more sensibly oblige me than by declaring to me what I vehemently desire to understand Know then answer'd Clelius that you were son of a woman of very great wit and vertue for whom I had almost from my childhood the most respectful affection that ever was and whose memory is still extreme dear to me You know she lost her Husband during her banishment that I was exil'd as well as she that I have been so thrice in my life by the cruel Tarquin During this banishment I became more charm'd with her constancy and whereas melancholy had rendred her health very infirm she fear'd to leave you without a careful guardian Wherefore this consideration rather than that of the affection I had for her oblig'd her to marry me secretly as you may know of an ancient Priest still living who is at present here amongst the Salians for you were not then with her Our marriage was thought fit to be conceal'd because if Tarquin had known it it had been impossible for us to hope ever to return to Rome since hating us severally he would have hated us more if he had understood our interests were united During this secret Marriage and whilst we were at Ardea Plotina came into the world and we conceal'd her birth But eight daies after her mother and yours dy'd and this prudent old man whom you see being our intimate Friend took care of Plotina whom he caus'd for some time after to pass for his own daughter and that easily enough because having one near of the same age that dy'd in the Country he conceal'd her death and substituted Plotina in her stead without my knowing any thing of it because I continued not long in that place Your Mother before her death writ a scroll with her own hand that she left a daughter and oblig'd me to deliver that writing to the Grand Vestal who dy'd some daies since and was her intimate friend to the end it might remain in her hands as an indubitable testimony of the birth of Plotina Shortly after I was oblig'd to depart from Ardea and came back to Rome where for the interest of my affairs I married Sulpicia since which you know I was compell'd to fly and go seek a Sanctuary at Carthage At my departure I writ to that Friend I had at Ardea but I had no answer from him When I return'd I inquir'd of him and was inform'd it was not known what was become of him since the War Tarquin made against the Tuscans I understood indeed he left a daughter but for that it was after my departure that his dy'd I did not imagine it was mine Nevertheless the Gods have been pleas'd that this prudent old man whom you behold became first a prisoner of War and afterwards a prisoner of State for a great many years without being known where he was and the same Gods have permitted that by Aronces's means he understood tidings of me came hither first with that Prince and has at length been set at liberty by his procurement to come and oblige the wise Octavia who is at this day chief of the Vestals to cause the writing to be sought out which was entrusted with her predecessor who at her death intended certainly to speak concerning Plotina when she began to declare a thing which she did not finish as all the world knows Thus there is no doubt but Plotina is your sister you know your Mothers writing since you cannot but have many things by you written by her hand The quality and vertue of him that brought up Plotina is not unknown to any and I conceive you are sufficiently perswaded of my honesty not to doubt of what I say In the mean time I declare to you I do not intend Plotina should diminish any thing of your estate I charge my self with her potion and this sage old man before you desirous not to cease altogether to be her father tells me he gives her all he has Clelius spoke this with an air that took away all ground to doubt of what he said and moreover Horatius was so joyful to find he had a sister that was able to do him good offices with Clelia that he was wholly dispos'd to believe himself her brother Plotina was also very much satiâ—fied to understand she was a Roman daughter of Clelius and sister of Octavius and Clelia Not but that I could have wish'd said she smiling I had not understood this till four daies hence to the end my name might not be put amongst those which are to be drawn by Lot to give Hostages to Porsenna The case is now otherwise daughter answer'd Clelius and it concerns you it were not but I hope the Gods will exempt you from that trouble as well as Clelia who I ardently wish prove not one of the number of the Hostages After this Octavius made a complement to Plotina Clelia did the same and in brief all congratulated her for the discovery Amilcar in particular us'd a thousand pleasant expressions to her whilst Clelius and the old man of Ardea drawing Horatius aside shew'd him his Mothers Letter to the Grand Vestal and so manifested the business
rather that Tarquin should be eternally branded with my death than I should be suspected to contribute unto his And generous Prince said she and blusnt since my heart tells me that it hath a tender share of friendship for you I ought to be more circumspect then otherwise I should and it is fit I conjure you to be gone lest this long conference should it be known unto our enemies should give them a colour to hasten their wicked designs into execution However I conjure you to take a care of your self for it would grieve my Soul to hear that I should have a Sister who was the cause of your death Oh! Madam replied the Prince I beseech you never think of me but think how to prevent I may never hear the dismal news that a Brother of mine hath been your death After this abundance of tender expressions passed between these two virtuous persons never proceeded so many heroick so many passionate and so many innocent thoughts from any two upon Earth as from them they resolved at parting to communicate unto each other what they discovered After which the Prince of Ameriola went unto the King in such a profound melancholly as it was impossible for him to hide it and it was observed by all the people and the King himself As for the Princess as soon as the Prince of Ameriola was gone she went unto her prayers and prayed both for Tarquin and Tullia and in lieu of praying for their ruine to hinder her own she only prayed they might repent But whilst the Prince of Ameriola had been with the Princess it happened unluckily that Tarquin who was gone to hunt returned sooner than he intended and in lieu of going to his own house he went unto Tullia's who kept her Chamber that day The reason of his so sudden return was that resting himself under a Tree while they were mending his Bridle which was broken by riding through a thick Wood he began to read over Tullia's Letter unto him and in reading of it in the open light he plainly discovered that it had been opened and that there was some small difference between his Seal and that wherewith it was sealed So as being naturally suspicious and violent he made no question but that it was either the Prince of Ameriola or the Princess who had opened it And judging others by himself he feared being prevented if a remedy were not immediately applyed But lest the business he was about should be too much noted he seemed as if he intended to hunt out the day as soon as his Bridle was mended he got on Horseback and upon the first handsome opportunity he stole away and came with all speed to Rome In lieu of going home he went as I told you to Tullia where he heard that the Prince his Brother was with the Princess his Wife So as according to his natural impetuosity his thoughts ran upon nothing else but what poison he should chuse to give them With these thoughts he entred into Tullia's Chamber he told her that his last Letter had been opened and desired her to look whether hers had been so also and indeed this cruel Woman with Tarquin looking upon it they plainly saw that it had been sealed with a counterfeit Seal which no sooner spied but Tullia speaking first well said she had I not good reason to say that you were too slow in your courses and that you must make all hast possible to remove all these obstacles which hinder our happiness Yes my dear Tullia said he unto her you are in the right and I am in the wrong but to make amends I will make the more hast and therefore without any more delay these two persons who hinder our happiness must be poisoned this very day It hath been so long resolved upon and their ruine is so requisite unto our rest and unto the Grandeur of Rome as it it is injustice to deser the execution any longer Make sure work on your side as I will on mine be not so simply weak as to repent and be sure your eyes do not betray the secret of your Soul Look unto your self replied the wicked and violent Tullia be sure the fair eyes of your Wife do not change your heart Never think upon either gods or Men or Laws but think only upon the Crown which you aim at Remember how Romulus got the Crown by the death of his Brother and that by this death the people will rank you among the gods Consider how those who make a long War to get a Crown do sacrifice many more Victims then you shall and above all consider that Tullia will be yours as soon as the enemies of our happiness are dead For generous Artemidorus you must know that though Tullia was not capable of any scruple nor any Religion nor any virtue yet she would never let Tarquin enjoy her until he was in a condition to marry her for her fears were that if he should satisfie his Love he would not be so diligent to satisfie her Ambition And therefore desiring that the passion of this Prince might help on her Ambitious designs she was very reserved in that point though she expressed as much affection to him as he to her Mean time you must know that Tarquin and Tullia having both of them impetuous spirits and shrill voices and their souls being wholly taken up with the grand Crimes which they were to commit they were not so cautious but a Woman over-heard them one who had been brought up with the Princesses and waited upon Tullia in particular only since she was married she heard this dismal discourse and plainly understood how Tarquin told Tullia at parting that he would send her the poison as soon as he came home insomuch as this Woman who loved the Princess and had some goodness in her she had so much horrour against the crime of her Mistress as being desirous to prevent the death of these two innocent persons whose sentence of death she heard pronounced she went unto her Chamber where she writ two notes the one to give the Prince of Ameriola when she saw him and the other to send unto the Princess But since some time was taken up in writing and some in seeking out a slave trusty enough to carry a note of that consequence unto the Princess her good intentions took no good effect for you must know that Tarquin after he had been a while with the King because he heard the Prince of Ameriola was there and after he had observed that melancholly in his eyes which every one saw he went home in all hast to send poison unto Tullia and to give it unto his Wife But as ill fortune was for that virtuous Princess this Tyrant came in before she was acquainted with the conference of Tullia and him and he came in so just in the nick to hinder her as the Slave who had the note which would have saved her Life had she received it
she was desired so as Valeria after she had shut the door had liberty to pour out her tears Now her imagination representing unto her both at once Herminius unfaithful and Herminius dead she was sensible of as much sorrow as love was able to inflict This Ladie having a most tender soul and loving Herminius most ardently her grief was stronger than her anger at the first But when Emilius was gone and Flavia came unto her Closer this afflicted Ladie changed her thoughts For being one who had heard Herminius swear a thousand and a thousand times that he would be eternally faithful her anger grew stronger than her grief Come Flavid said Valeria unto her with as many sighs as words what say you now of perfidious Herminius I cannot tell what to think of his perfidie answered Flavia because appearances are very uncertain and deceitful But I am much afflicted at his death and I must confess I am much surprized to see you more moved at his inconstancy than it Oh Flavia said she I know not well which moves me most for I am so full of grief so full of anger so full of confusion at my own weakness so full of tenderness for unfaithful Herminius so full of hatred for inconstant Herminius and so full of confused thoughts as I know not what I think what I would have or what I say How can I think Herminius whose thoughts I believed so generous should be perfidious he who I have heard say a hundred times that honesty and sincerity ought to be in love as well as in all other things of the world He I say who promised to love me until death he who swore unto me that the loss of youth and beautie should not extinguish his love he who protested unto me that absence would augment his passion And he who imagined that he should be continually melancholy as long as I was out of his sight And yet he forgot all his Oaths he diverted himself at Capua he became unfaithful and which is most strange he did not only forsake me but betray me for the last time he wrote unto me was with all imaginable tenderness Judge then Flavia if I be not the most silly person in the world to lament the death of this ungrateful person for whose sake I have so ill treated Mutius during his absence And I must confess to my shame that maugre his inconstancy maugre my anger and maugre my reason I would fain make a doubt of his perfidie and lament his death But what do I say reprehending her self and not giving Flavia time to speak No no I will not lament him but rather look upon his death as a just punishment of his perfidie and I ought to taste all the pleasure that a sweet revenge can give a wronged heart For Gods sake said Flavia unto her resolve with your self upon one of these thoughts which persecute you either love Herminius or else hate him either only grieve or be only angry and do not pass so suddenly from one thought to another lest this violent agitation should impair your health No no Flavia replied this afflicted fair one I cannot do as you advise nor at the present can I love or can I hate Herminius for as soon as I would hate him my imagination represents him unto me as he was when I was pleased with him and in a minute after does shew him unto me in his grave so as seeing him in that condition I know not what I should think nor do know whether I should wish him living and unfaithful For if he lived I might reclaim him from his infidelity he might repent it and I might hope to see him upon his knees asking pardon for his error and swear new fidelitie unto me But alas I cannot raise the dead and lamentable destinie that has taken him from the earth will never restore him neither unto Clelia nor me But oh Heavens said she and reprehended her self can I pronounce the name of her whom the ungrateful Herminius preferred before me and not hate him who is the cause of this injustice and not rejoyce at his death for though this person were the fairest woman in the world though she had all the wit upon earth and though she possessed all the vertues without exception yet Herminius were worthy of my hatred if he should forsake me for her And yet my imagination never represents his death unto me but I grieve extreamly for him and wish I could raise him from death But presently after imagining that if he were alive again he would not wish to live but to adore Clelia then maugre all sorrows I have not power to wish him alive again but my only desire is that I were dead as well as he After this Valeria was silent for the excess of her grief would not permit her to complain any longer Flavia then said as much unto her as wit and friendship could invent upon such an encounter For sometimes she accused Herminius to see whether that would lessen the affliction of her friend another while she would justifie him to make her grieve only without anger but whatsoever she said she cryed tears as well as she and for a quarter of an hour she did comfort her more by her Tears than her Reasons But love being a passion full of odd devices to torment those that are possessed with it Valeria would sometimes accuse those very tears which did comfort her and take it ill that Flavia should so much lament Herminius Oh Flavia said she never lament the loss of a man who perhaps was as perfidious a friend as a Lover and let me have some share in loose tears which you so prodigally shed Herminius is culpable but I am innocent and miserable and more miserable than ever any was since at one and the same instant I suffer under two of the greatest pains that one can be sensible of Yes yes my dear Flavia added this fair afflicted one I defie the Tyrant Tarquin and all the Tyrants upon earth to invent torments equal unto mine For though Herminius were alive yet the apprehension of his perfidie is enough to make me the most miserable person in the world And though on the contrary Herminius should not be perfidious yet should I be the most unfortunate of my Sex in losing all that I loved all that I ever can love Judge then if in having both these torments upon me at once I am not excusable in giving my self over to despair and in desiring an end unto my life as the only remedie against all my miseries I should never end Madam if I should repeat all the complaints of Valeria who did nothing but complain until night constrained her to go home but when she was ready to go and was upon the stairs pulling down-her hood to hide her tears a thought came into her mind which made her go back into the Closet again and beseeth Flavia to grant her one favour If what
acknowledged for the Father of all the Poets which shall arise in the whole extent of the world Do not imagine that what we tell thee is a small matter for I can assure thee upon the word of Apollo who knows things to come that they who are descended or who shall descend in the sequel of time from the greatest Kings or the most illustrious Heroes shall not be owner of so great a fame as they who shall follow thee But to give thee a light Idaea of it redouble thy attention follow me to the top of my Helicon take good notice of all that I shall shew thee there hearken with respect to the great things which I am going to inform thee of and believe all that I shall tell thee cannot miss coming to pass for the most secret books of destiny are always open to Apollo from whom it is I speak to thee After this Hesiode thought that he was transported to the top of Mount Helicon from whence discovering all Greece as he thought he beheld the fairest object that ever he had seen But though he conceiv'd himself elevated very high yet he perceiv'd the most remote objects as distinctly as if they had been very near for when we see things only in imagination we see them as well afar off as near In this place under a great Laurel which made a handsome umbrage Calliope all alone appear'd to him again and addressing to him with a majestical air and full of sweetness and charms Rowze up thy mind Hesiode said she to him receive respectfully the favour Apollo does thee of rendring thee capable to penetrate into futurity and to enjoy true glory which is never found till after death and consequently is not very considerable during life But to cause thee to enjoy it amply it is requisite that I make thee a description of Poetry that I recall what 's past and reaching forth unto that which is to come make thee know what none other shall know during thy generation but as they who intending to shew a great River to a stranger would not go to take view of it near its Spring because it would seem too little so likewise in going to shew thee the progress of Poetry I must not trace it back to its original because being it is really the off-spring of Heaven I cannot conduct thee to the place of its nativity It suffices to tell thee that 't is the language of the gods and that Love and Glory have brought it intouse amongst men That without it the Heroes would dye unrewarded that their names would perish soon after them that Lovers would sigh without pleasure that the art for one to render her himself immortal by immortalizing others would be unknown in the World In the next place look upon all Greece as the first place wherein Poetry began to be celebrated and from whence it shall pass successively to the other parts of the World Dost thou not see a Woman of a goodly aspect at the gate of the Temple of Delphos 't is Phemonoe the first Prophetess of that Temple who invented the handsomest form of Verses For by a priviledge granted to Women it may be affirmed that they have more share in poetry than men since if they do not make Verses themselves yet at least they inspire others with the desire of making them Dost thou not see near her that young man that plays upon the Harp 't is the famous Amphion who added three strings to that instrument to make them up seven there having been but four before It is also reported that the stones drawn by his harmony ranked themselves one upon another to build the Walls of Thebes but the truth is he became of such reputation among the Thebans that he easily perswaded them to inclose their City Look a little towards the right hand and thou wilt see a venerable man 't is the most antient of three Poets who bear or will bear the name Linus and the first whom Apollo taught the measures and numbers of Verse He writ a Poem concerning the World which got him such honor that some have not stuck to call him the Son of Apollo and indeed his name will be always celebrated by the Geek Poets who will make Hymns upon his death and particularly by the famous Sappho of Mytilene whom I shall by and by shew you In the mean time look upon him who appears so handsome and so sad 't is Orpheus from whom thou art descended who was able to charm Hell and recover Euridice from the shades of death by the power of this melodie and who not being able to contain one moment from looking upon that beloved person lost her again for ever This excellent Poet has composed thirty nine Poems but time shall bereave posterity of them excepting one Book of Hymns to the gods and a Treatise of precious Stones of which some fragments shall remain preserv'd from age to age and it shall be known in general that he lov'd to treat of grave Subjects as of the World the Stars and Morality He that thou seest behind him is Musaeus to whom Orpheus addressed several of his Works and left his Harp at his death 't is he that made the handsome Poem of Leander and Hero although in process of time some will go about to ascribe it to another Musaeus Then take notice of Melesigenes who is thy kinsman and whom thou must overcome at Chalcis I shall say nothing to thee of his lineage and the place where he was born for thou knowest it well but I shall assure thee that he shall be so famous that in future ages seven Cities shall contend for the honor of having him their Native namely Smyrna Rhodes Colophon Salamis Chios Argos and Athens He shall be indigent of the goods of Fortune but rich in the gifts of the mind He shall make several voyages and shall be almost continually unhappy He shall lay aside the name of Melesigines and take upon him that of Homer because he shall become blind After this accident he shall become so poor that he shall be constrain'd for a long time to beg alms Yet he shall find charitable friends to assist him and the gods themselves shall do a miracle for his sake for the Seamen refusing to take him into their Vessel to go to Chios shall be overtaken with so great a storm that imagining it befallen them because they refus'd Homer they shall return to the shore to take him in and afterwards make a happy voyage But at length Homer shall become a little more happy he shall marry and have two Daughters and then it shall be that he shall compose one Work which he shall intitle Odysseus and another Ilias The latter of which shall be more admir'd than the former in the first ages which shall follow him but in after-times they shall be judg'd of quite contrary but in truth they shall both be worthy of the highest applauses Homer
unknown to him and he saw also that he had no occasion to complain of his Rival and it is that which hath made him the more miserable But that which was to him most insupportable was Clelia's anger for he feared that the hatred which he thought Clelia bore him should induce her to love Horatius which above all things in the world he feared and indeed he could not in the condition he was then in harbour sweeter thoughts in his fortune than to think that Clelia should hate his Rival in marrying of him In the mean while Clelius according to what he had said to Aronces made Clelia write a Note in which were only these words IF within three days Aronces leaves Capua and that without seeing Horatius I shall pity his misfortune and if he obeys not the Command which I make him to depart none ever hated so much as I shall hate him You may easily think Madam in what a despair Aronces was then after he had read these cruel words it was so great that I thought his anguish would have deprived him of his life But in fine forcing himself with an extreme violence he answered Clelia in this manner Aronces to Clelia I Will Madam depart within three days if my grief will spin my life so long as to obey you but I will not go but for to dye of love and despair and I assure you that the end of my life shall antidate your Nuptials and I shall never have the grief to hear that my Rival hath possessed you but you shall it may be soon know the death of the most faithful of Lovers This was Madam the answer of Aronces to Clelia who saw it not so soon for as it had been her Father which was the cause of her writing he hindred Aronces Letter from being delivered unto her for fear it should mollifie her heart for although Clelia was angry with him Clelius nevertheless perceived that she hated him not and that she had not any affection for Horatius Things being in this manner I saw Aronces an hundred times almost resolved either to kill Horatius or to dye himself and if I had not in part retained his violences I know not what he would have done there happened a thing which did much embroyl these two Rivals for as Aronces was going pensively along through a street which is near Horatius Lodging this Lover was going forth as being the first time and expresly to see Clelius to whom he was going to make his first visit for to thank him for the good will he bore him though he had not yet promised him any thing so that these two Rivals encountring they approached together with different thoughts for Horatius who thought he should be soon happy had less anger in his spirit and he still acknowledged his Liberator in the person of his Rival for Aronces as he was miserable although he was generous he only saw his Rival in the person of his friend they both nevertheless saluted each other for I had forgot to tell you that their friends during the time that Horatius kept his Chamber had made a kind of agreement between them without disclosing of their quarrel But in fine to begin where I left off they saluted one another and Aronces speaking to his Rival the first For ought that I can see said he to his Rival by I know not what Sentiment which he could not retain It is sufficient to be born a Roman to become happy and the greatness of my passion availeth me nothing you should have done better to have said your merit replyed Horatius thereby to exaggerate your misery for as I think my self to be as amorous as you it is not in that that we differ nevertheless I can assure you that my reason is not at present troubled with fear that I shall be perfectly happy since I cannot be without rendring you altogether miserable Ah Horatius replyed Aronces it is not of these things you must speak to comfort a generous Rival on the contrary you remember we made a bargain one day that we would not hate one another till Clelia to the prejudice of one of us had made her choice therefore as you are going to be he I think I am fully dispensed of all the friendship I had promised you and I am verily perswaded that I may without breaking the laws of generosity hate you Hate me then unjust friend replyed Horatius for as it is not easie to love who hates us think it not strange if I have no affection for him that loves me not far from taking it ill replyed Aronces you cannot do any thing which may seem to me more just then to hate me for I declare unto you that if the respect which I bear unto Clelius did not retain me Clelia should never be yours as long as my heart should beat within me and I know not added he if Cielius should be sufficient if Clelia did not meddle in it Although you have vanquished me replyed Horatius fiercely if things were in that condition I should know how to defend Clelia with the same valour that one of my Predecessors defended Rome That Horatius of whom you speak answered roughly Aronces overcame three men it is true but it was more by policy than valour and though you shall have his valour I should not be the sooner overcome As they were in these terms and Horatius who prepared himself to give him a sharp answer Herminius and two more came to them who knowing what passed between them and seeing some alteration in their eyes did not leave them till they were parted in the mean while as this intervene was known by Clelius he sent again to Aronces to tell him he would have him be gone so that in effect he was fain to resolve himself to depart at least he did as one who intends to depart for his followers were ordered to have all things in readiness there were for all that moments in which he thought more in killing of Horatius than in departing but when he considered that the death of his Rival would not procure him his Mistress he a little refrained his violence which he knew was not grounded on a lawful soundation for Horatius had been in love with Clelia before him Clelius intended her for him and would not have Aronces have any thoughts that way and in fine Horatius was not very Criminal towards Aronces In the mean while Clelia on her part was not without grief for she doubtless had an inclination in her heart powerful enough to cause in her a great difficulty to overcome it principally since she knew that Aronces prepared himself to be gone and to obey her for she then knew well that if he had loved Fenice he would not have left Capua so that her jealousie suddenly ending her affection for Aronces gathered new strength and her aversion for Horatius encreased so much that she knew not how to obey Clelius and
value it and if there be a way to save your Life by exposing mine unto a thousand dangers I would be sure to take it and the truth is since I must never injoy you Madam death is as welcome to me as Life and I cannot die with more glory than in dying to do you service Speak therefore Madam and speak quickly for minutes are precious upon such an important occasion Alas Generous Prince replied she what would you have me say or what can I say in this trouble that I am in for I am so affrighted at the crimes of Tarquin and Tullia that did I not know you to be most sincere and generous I could hardly believe what I see How is it possible I should think the hearts of two persons so Illustriously born can be capable of such black wicked and horrid thoughts how is it possible Love should inspire them with designs of such a Nature which way can Love I say subsist with such a turbulent passion as Ambition who can believe that a Daughter of Servius Tullus that is the most virtuous Prince in the World should ever offer to pull her Father from his Throne and murther both her Sister and her Husband how can the Brother of the Prince of Ameriola ever contrive his death and mine Alas Madam replied the grieved Prince 't is not now a time to consider how things are possible but to consider how we should preserve your life It is so hard a matter to find out harmless remedies replied she that I think the best way is to seek for none but resolve to die Oh! Madam replied the Prince of Ameriola I am never able to consent unto your ruine and if you do not find out some way to save your Life I will rather go presently and Poniard my Brother and my Wife then hazard the seeing of you die by the cruelty of two persons who are so nearly related unto me But Madam there are examples of Marriages being broken off one of our most famous Citizens have authorized what I say and if ever it were expedient to separate two persons whom Marriage hath united it is most sitting to separate you from Tarquin and me from Tullia And therefore Madam if you please we will take one of these two courses either tell the King your Father all we know to the end that by his Regal Authority he may break off your Marriage and mine and banish Tarquin aud Tullia or else without making any great noise of the matter which cannot help us because the King is very slow in his resolutions let us steal away from the violences of Tarquin and Tullia your Marriage and mine may be broken as well when we are not here as when we are We have no reason to mistrust the gods and we have our own virtues to guard and comfort us against the cruelties and calumnies of Men if you will but be pleased to fly unto some safe Sanctuary And to testifie unto you Madam how pure and un-interested my Love is if you think it not permittable I should be your Husband since you have been my Brother's Wife I am contented to be with you as a Brother who would protect and defend you as his Sister and never pretend any further Thus without shedding the blood of an inhumane Brother and an unjust Wife and without your consenting unto the ruine of an Ambitious Husband and cruel Sister we may sit safe in some Sanctuary where their cruelty cannot reach us we may be there in security and live happily if you will but hold me in the degree of friendship for I do find my Love so subjected unto my reason and your virtue as it will never move me unto any thing that will anger you nor say any thing that will displease you Consent therefore Madam I beseech you unto this happy Exile if you will not consent unto the ruine of Tarquin and Tullia No no generous Prince said she unto him I will neither consent unto the one nor the other For if I should go as you propound doubtless I might save my life but since I cannot do it and save my reputation also I must not entertain the least thought of it For what Calumnies will not the unjust Tarquin asperse upon me and what scandal will not the cruel Tullia belch out against me Pardon me Madam I beseech you replied the Prince of Ameriola if my zeal to your service will never suffer them to ruine you To take the medium between these two extreams replied she we must indeavour to let the King my Father see one of those Letters either that from Tarquin to Tullia or that from Tullia to Tarquin to the end that by his Prudence and Authority he may shrowd us from these two dangerous persons Perhaps he will think it convenient to put me in some place of safety for a while upon some pretence which he will invent and will command you to travel into some Country until such time as reason hath wrought upon the spirits of our enemies or else he will find out some other way to secure us But Madam replied this Prince whilst you are contriving ways how to let the King see these Letters you may perish and not to deceive you I beseech you do not think that as things stand I am able to be far from you And therefore Madam if you do not approve of either of these ways which I propose you must let me go this very hour unto the King your Father and impart all I know unto him and I advise you that under some pretence or other you do not eat at your own house nor lie there for I cannot tell whether it be by poison or sword that the inhumane Tarquin and the cruel Tullia would have us perish But if you should go unto the King replied she and are not able to prove what you inform you will thereby make such a noise as perhaps will forward our deaths in lieu of preventing them And therefore if you will be advised by me have a little patience Perhaps those who desired our deaths have repented and since the slave who useth to carry their Letters is for you since you have a Seal like unto theirs and since you can see all they write we are yet in safety For Tarquin would know from Tullia the day which she will design for our deaths so as when you see that then let us take heed unto our selves and since it is lawful for any to defend their own lives I give you leave to use all your endeavours to save ours but I will never allow of any violent remedies for I had rather die for want of prudence and by excess of goodness then to ruine others by too much unjust precipitation But Madam replied he can it be any injustice to prevent ones death However replied she Death is not so terrible to me that to avoid it people should say I had ruined my Husband and I had much
they imagined Tarquin would not have them to tell it but they spoke in ambiguous terms enough to make it known Mean while this cruel Murtherer stood by still and he had so much dissembling inhumanity as to feel the Pulse of this deplorable Princess that he might guess how long she had to live So as this languishing person did in a manner pull back her Arm and being out of all patience turned towards Tarquin with a languor able to inspire compassion into cruelty it self I ask you pardon Sir said she unto him and blusht for being so long a dying but it is not my fault said she and turned another way for I took all the poison that was given me and never looked for any remedy yet these words were not heard by any but Tarquin and that Lady who knew all the secrets of this deplorable Ladies heart But she was so full of sorrow as she could not speak and Tarquin who was as bold as wicked beginning to speak he said she began to swound and that she would never recover out of it And indeed losing her speech a little after she fell into a Trance which lasted four or five hours But as soon as Tarquin saw her swounded and thinking she would never speak again he sent to acquaint the King and Queen who coming in all hast were extreamly grieved to find the Princess in that condition yet they never thought her to be poisoned nor of any thing else but remedies but all in vain for she died some two hours after the Sun was up Afterwards the unjust Tarquin bethought himself how to render her all imaginable honours after death But whilst this inhumane Butcher was sacrificing this fair Princess unto his Love and Ambition the cruel Tullia was offering the same sad sacrifice that he was and as soon as the Prince of Ameriola was returned home and according to his custom went into a Bath he began to find himself ill for Tarquin had made up his Dose of such a Composition as when Tullia had put it into the Bath the very vapour of it did stifle him and took away the use of his reason as soon as he was in The two Servants who waited upon him being privy unto Tullia's Conspiracy they had Antidotes to keep this vapour from hurting them and Tullia had cunningly sent away all others that were not of the confederacy But after this poison had wrought its effect and the Prince in that condition the cruel Tullia her self took him out of the Bathe and put him into Bed causing those who were of this horrid plot to say that he desired to sleep and had forbidden any to enter into the Chamber She her self seeing he did not die so soon as she desired she would not go to Bed that night and going often into the Chamber of this unhappy Prince her impatience was such as she caused him to be strangled with two Handkerchiefs tyed together to the end there might be no signs of a violent death and that it might seem he was choked with a Fluxion of Humours However it was this Prince died the same night with the Princess whom he loved which made so great a noise in Rome rhat nothing else was talked of Yet Tarquin and Tullia were so terrible unto all the World that People durst only whisper what they thought concerning the sudden death of these two both at one time though none called the cause of their death by the name of any disease These most cruel and inhumane Barbarians did well enough forsee that causing them to die so both at one time people would think as they did but they foresaw more danger to themselves in causing them to die at several times for if the Princess had survived the Prince of Ameriola she would have told the King her Father what she knew concerning his death And Tulliia would not poison her Husband until she was sure that Tarquin would poyson his Wife lest after he was rid of him who might dispute with him about the Crown he should not go on in his business Tarquin for his part would not poison his Wife had he not been sure of his Brothers death for he was sure that if his Brother survived the Princess he would revenge her death so as seeing much less danger in the mutterings of the people they resolved to commit these two horrid Crimes both at once with as much boldness as cruelty And as Tarquin did render all imaginable honours unto the Princess as soon as she was dead so did Tullia unto the Prince of Ameriola as soon as he was expired This cruel person had the impudence to go and comfort Tarquin after the death of his Wife And Tarquin also sent this Complement unto her that he was more sorry for the Prince of Ameriola's death as he was her Husband than as his Brother All this while the wise and prudent Servius Tullus was strangely amazed for though at the first he did not suspect that the Princess his Daughter was poisoned yet he was of another mind after the Prince of Ameriola's death and knew that Tarquin and Tullia were they who sent them into another World which grieved this good King to the very heart These two virtuous Persons who were dead were extremely dear unto him and their deaths struck deep into his sorrowful Soul Tarquin and Tullia after this horrid Crime were a horror unto him but they were a terrour also and he feared the same treatment to himself which he saw used unto others Yet this Consideration had not kept him from publishing his resentment had not a reason of honour restrained him For said he unto one whom he trusted with all the secrets of his heart why should I stain my own glory by accusing my own Daughter for poysoning her Husband and her Sister Why should I accuse my Son in Law for murthering his Wife and his Brother When I have accused these two persons can I prove their Crime or am I assured that I can punish them for it is likely that Tarquin and Tullia would never have attempted a thing of this nature unless they were sure of some great party in the Senate Besides I know no further than by conjectures and say I had a certain knowledge it is hard for a Father to punish his own Children unless they be obliged unto it for conspiring against the Senate for in that case the general interest ought to be preferred before the particular and ones Country before Nature But this is only to be revenged for the death of a Daughter and a Son in Law Rome hath no interest in the business or if it have it is in a different manner For I conceive it is a shame unto all Romans to have a King that shall convict his Son in Law for poisoning his Wife and that shall convict his own daughter for poysoning her Husband I conceive it better to dissemble it and look upon Tarquin and Tullia as innocent This
certainly is â—he best and most safe way for my self and certainly the most advantageous unto Rome for unless I should poyson Tarquin and Tullia as they have others they will raise a Rebellion in the City which may hazard my Crown and therefore it is the best way to dissemble my Resentments You may imagine Sir that the man unto whom he spoke did not contradict what Tullus said for besides the strength of reason which was in what was said it had been a hard tale to tell a Father that he ought to put a Daughter and a Son in Law to death knowing well that there was no middle way to take and the banishment of such persons was not enough So as this being the resolution the King did dissemble the matter so well that all the World were constrained to dissemble with him and seem as if there was not any suspicion either of Tarquin or Tullia for causing the deaths of that illustrious Prince and Princess But Sir not to relate what discourses Tarquin and Tullia had nor what kind of Love this was which was begun by the impoysoning of so great a Prince and so great a Princess Give me leave only to tell you that as soon as the time of mourning was past which amongst us lasts Ten Months Tarquin did marry Tullia and Tullus could not hinder it Not but that this marriage appeared most horrid and execrable unto him as oft as he considered that Tarquin poysoned his Wife purposely to marry Tullia and Tullia poysoned her Husband only to marry Tarquin but Tullus having begun to dissemble and cover their Crimes so he would continue it Also since it was extremely expedient for him to unite the family of the Tarquins with his own Policy allowed of that which vertue and justice would not so as suiting himself to the times this abominahle marriage was made up with all magnificence For the King knew very well that Tarquin as wicked as he was had gotten much credit in the Senate and minds of the people Not but that as is said before the Crimes of Tarquin and Tullia were most horrid in the eyes of all the World yet the people being inconstant changing every minute and equally forgetting both vertues and vices the memory of this cursed act did insensibly wear out as if the people of Rome quite forgot it For you must know that since the death of the Prince of Ameriola and the Princess Tarquin seeing himself a step nearer the Crown and desiring all might be forgotten he became that out of policy which naturally he was not for he grew exceedingly civil and was more forward to salute the common people than persons of quality he always went through the most popular streets purposely to meet with more occasions of shewing his civility unto those from whom he expected one day a Crown Moreover he would very earnestly interest himself in private business he would needs be the only Pacificus and taker up of all Quarrels he would be the Arbitrator and ender of all differences he divided those whom he thought might prejudice him and united all such as he conceived fit for his service he lent money unto some he gave money unto others his Gates were open unto all comers he itched to serve such as he called his friends and was infinitely zealous to do all good Offices Again he would sute himself most admirably well unto the humours of any when he was in private with them And unto such as were religiously devoted he would seem religious even to a very scruple he was a very Libertine with the Libertines he would scoff both at the Gods of the Grecians and the Gods of the Romans He was voluptuous with those that were so and he was a Philosopher when he met with men of that profession Yet I have heard say that for all these various forms into which he would transform himself he was still Tarquin and when he would be the most sweet and courteous he had still a sullen gloomy and fierce look But for all that the people looking more upon his Civilities than his Physiognomy he deceived them and this most abominable Tarquin did get great credit under the Reign of the most virtuous King on earth As for Tullia it was not so with her for her spirit was not able to vary into so many several shapes as Tarquin was But on the contrary she thought her self above all she saw that all the world was her Vassals and that she owed not observance unto any that Fortune owed her a Crown and that she needed not to endeavour the pleasing of any or getting their Loves She did extremely slight all Women and would not admit of any conversation but men As for her reputation she did not care for any and when any told her that if she carried hee self as she did unto all the Ladies who did visit her she would procure their hatred she would then return answer that so she could make her self feared she cared not for being loved And indeed she never used any of those trivial obligements which Custom hath established as a Law among Ladies Not but that she loved to be commended though she said she did not care for it but she could not endure to commend or flatter any And indeed she was never commended or flattered by any but out of fear and certainly they had great reason to fear her for her actions were all violences and she was terrible to all the world It happened once that she put a most horrible affront upon the Wife of a Prime Senatour who being of a high and sensible spirit could not chuse but complain as soon as she was out of that Princesses Chamber For meeting with one of her intimate friends she no sooner saw him but beginning to speak Good Friend said she rejoyce with me for being delivered during all my life from one of the most scurvy visits in the World for I am fully resolved never again to go unto the Princess Tullia no not though she should become Queen She is so accustomed to be uncivil replied her friend that you need not wonder at her but I am so little accustomed to suffer incivilities replied this incensed Lady as I cannot endure them But do you know one added her friend that ever went unto Tullia who received no affrout from her and do you think it is a shame for you to endure what all others do I think replyed she half angry that such as do endure them are people of poor and base hearts and that I am sure mine is none such If I could not live unless I went unto Tullia were I born her Slave or at least did my fortune depend upon her were I sure she would do some great matters for me then perhaps it might be said I was too delicate and nice and that I were to blame if I did not go unto her But since none of these things are so for I can live and
grieve more to die far from Crete then to die near me Believe me said I unto him I do not understand your reason since I profess unto you that if you were very sick in danger of death I would not see you For what delight soever can be taken in the sighs of a dying Lover I profess I would not be present at your last groan and thereforee I cannot see any reason you have to desire dying in Crete more then the furthest part of Africa Yes Madam said he unto me if I die in Crete I shall have a Tomb and I should hope that the sight of my Urn would hinder you from engaging in a new affection And therefore Artaxander added she and laughed if you take any care for the burial of your Rival you do not know that you do a thing against his intention and a thing which hereafter will be serviceable unto you However since it was his Fate to die I am very glad it was in Africa for I should have been troubled in passing by his Monument and I cannot endure any sad objects for I do not know any greater folly in the World then to grieve when it is a thing cannot be helped by grief Believe me Madam replied Artaxander very discontentedly in this you are the wisest Woman in the World You speak in such a tone said she as if you took it ill I did not cry for the death of your Rival I know not Madam replied he whether I should take it well if you should cry but I confess I think it strange you should so little grieve and to be plain with you I will do what I can to perswade my self that it is my self who gives Consolation to you after his death But Madam it is impossible I should ever be so perswaded for the first time I had the honour to see you in the Carden where you were so 〈◊〉 personating that ridiculous Lover 〈…〉 were a◠after the old mode you had 〈…〉 and blithness in your eyes and mind then ever I saw you since yet it is so short a time since my Rival died and as one can hardly imagine him to be dead Thus I must conclude with sorrow to my self that it was not I who did comfort after your loss but that it is only your own natural temper which is to love the diversion and not the divertor unless it be for such diversions as proceed directly from his person so as such as think to be tenderly loved by you will be much deceived and miserable for since my Rival could not attain to any perfection of love from you no Man else can ever pretend unto it and to be plain with you I think it wisdom in any person to dis-engage himself from such a one as you who is not capable of any violent passion Since you think that you have found out a new fantastical and pleasant way of complaint replied she I wonder not you should make your self a little merry with it and since I think my self a little good at Rallery as if I did believe you spoke your real thought Seriously Madam replied Artaxander I am much afflicted to see you so much incapable of loving aright and that you should so little love the most lovely Man upon earth I assure you said she that I loved him as well as ever I could and that I do not love you better then I did him I do believe it Madam answered he and believe it easily for my Rival was a Man incomparably above me in all things he hath done you a million of services a million of services more then ever I did and I make no question but that you loved him more than you do me And therefore you need not think it strange I should grieve at the small affection which you had unto him For Madam I must tell you again that I wish I had been the Man who had comforted you and that I had seen you weep the first time I had the honour to see you in lieu of seeing you laugh I wish that I had wiped away your tears But had you seen me crying replied she and laughed you would not have loved me and so far would you have been from courting that you would have fled from me and therefore I see no reason you have to complain I complain Madam replied he because you did not well enough love my Rival for being perswaded that you did not love me so well as him It much concerns the happiness of my life to think that you loved him very well and therefore it is not so santastical as you imagine that I should grieve that you grieve no more for his loss I do not tell you replied she that I love you less then I loved him but out of my plain sincerity I told you that I loved you no better then I loved him I do believe you Madam replied he indeed I do believe you and I do too much believe you for my own tranquillity for when I do consider that an absent Lover and a dead Lover are both alike unto Women of your humour and when I consider that as soon as I am out of your sight you will forget me as one whom you never saw my vexation is more then I am able to express Moreover my imagination is so weak and apprehensive as I cannot chuse but think that if I were either dead or absent you would within one month contract affection with some other and would relate unto him all our adventure as merrily as you have related unto me the adventure of my unfortunate Rival And therefore to be downright plain with you I am resolved to the utmost of my endeavours to dis-engage my heart and considering your extreme insensibility if I could revive my Rival I would do it to the end he might upbraid you with your affection unto me Oh Sir said she and laughed if you could work that wonder you would put me to it indeed for then I think I should quit you both together and perhaps make choice of a third before either of you two As Pasithea said so much company came in so as the discourse of necessity became general But as chance would have it the discourse did fall upon the very same subject for Cephisa began to talk of a Lady who after the Death of her Husband did strange things to testifie the excess of her sorrow and who afterwards did so chear up self as if she had quite forgotten him For my part said Pasithea then I think these things the greatest follies in the World for when any hath received a loss of this nature all a whole Town will run to comfort the party afflicted If you chance to meet one of them and ask whither he is going they will answer that they are going to comfort forsooth ask another and they will answer the same and yet those they go to comfort would not be comforted unless they came as if the
when they can say nothing else but that you are the fairest person that ever was seen But yet said Amilcar I would gladly know what delights can solitude afford Though no other but to be sure they will trouble none replied Lucretia nor be troubled by any yet this is a great pleasure for these are two things which often happen unto such as expose themselves unto the World Did I see in all your Chambers said Amilcar abundance of great and stately Mirrours which would let you see your self every way I should not then wonder what pleasure you could take in your solitude for I am confident you would be infinitely pleased with looking upon your self but that you should pass away your life poring upon works and that a piece of several coloured Tissue should take up your eyes and mind this is a thing above my understanding I know added he that a person who has some secret affection gnawing upon her heart which makes her apt to muse and study she indeed may easily pass away whole daies in working upon some excellent piece because that would be a handsome pretence for her entertaining her self and talking unto none but that a Woman of Spirit should find any delight in passing away her life with drooping eyes and hands busied in Works like Bees in their Hives this is a thing which I cannot comprehend Therefore I must conclude that those who pass away their whole lives so have either very shallow Spirits or else have some secret cause of reservedness which doth busie and divert them For my part replied Lucretia and bluâ—â—'d since I have no secret confederacy with any It must be then concluded that I delight in my works because my Spirit is very shallow Oh no Madam said Sextus I can never believe that But perhaps you have a fancy by this way to make all the World believe you have as much virtue as beauty But Madam let me tell you after a long accustomacy unto this kind of life you will not know how to enter into society again and commonly all your sage beauties do make themselves the most miserable people in the World by beginning a form of life too severe But Madam if you will follow my advice you shall add nothing to the Roman austerity Be not more severe then the Vestals Quit Collatia and return to Rome and do not anticipate old age by a living death For so I must phrase solitude For my part replied Lucretia I think the life so infinitely sweet as I cannot give it so terrible a name And to tell you truly added she and laughed I think the life so pleasant as I assure you I think this is the worst night I passed away ever since I became solitary at Collatia Lucretia spoke this with such a sprightly Air as that it was as much as told the Prince Sextus it was late and time to retire so he left Lucretia with so much esteem of her as all the company except Collatine who took no notice of it did plainly see she had pierced his heart The truth is it was a thing not difficult to do for the love of Sextus was only of sensual love wherein the mind was not much considerable But at last all the company after they had left Lucretia in her Chamber they rested themselves an hour and such repast as hast would permit they returned to the Camp But in their return Artimedorus Amilcar Zenocrates and Celeres who had a desire to advance Lucretia in the heart of Sextus and so chase out Clelia they did nothing else but commend the beauty of Lucretia and envy the happiness of Callatine Also they told Sextus in a low voice that certainly Lucretia with all her virtue was of a very passionate temper that her eyes did speak as much and that she was not so hard to be overcome as Clelia who was of a more cold temper So as Sextus whose nature was impetuous abandoning his heart to the beauty of Lucretia and not quite chasing out Clelia he returned to the Camp not knowing directly whether he was more taken with the black or the fair beauty Truth is since he had seen Lucretia last it seemed she had the advantage of the other Also hearing so many cry up the beauty of Lucretia his heart was the deeper wounded for nothing does more blow the fire of a growing love then applauds of her who is the cause of it As for Aronces though he wished heartily that Sextus would love Lucretia rather then Clelia yet he could get no further expressions from him then that Clelia was less fair than Lucretia So he returned to the Camp without almost speaking one word and when they came near the Camp he rid some twenty paces behind the rest because he loved more to muse then mix with such tumultuous discourse and he observed that all the company stayed so as coming up to them he saw one of the King of Romes Officers who told the Prince Sextus that there was come into the Camp an Envoy from the King of Clusium who came from the King his Master to advertise Tarquin that the Prince his Son who stole out of his Court was unknown in his Camp and beseeched him that if it was so he would seeure him lest he should marry the daughter of a man who was his enemy with whom he was in love adding that the Ladies name was Clelia that she was the daughter of Clelius that she was taken away from Horatius and that she was lately come out This said the Envoy was no sooner told unto Tarquin but he imagined that the daughter of Clelius must needs be one of those Ladies captives which were in Rome and therefore I was sent in all hast with orders that they might be more strictly looked unto for Tarquin remembring how earnest the grand Vestal was for the liberty of those captives he did not doubt but Clelia was one of them and he seemed so incensed against her though he knew not which was she that he swore he would put her to death though for no other reason then to hinder the King of Clusium's Son from marrying her But said the Prince Sextus does the King believe that the King of Clusium's Son is in his Army Yes Sir replied he and whispered for he told that Envoy there was many strangers with you whose mind might well become the Sons of Kings so as this man does very impatiently wait for your return at your Tent door to spy if any of those who are with you be Son to the King of Clusiam Though Tarquins Officer spake this in a low voice yet Aronces heard it and heard it with unimaginable grief yet he conceived that it was extreamly expedient for him not to discover his thoughts and therefore set the best face he could upon the matter when the Officer had left the Prince and was gone away he observed that Sextus looked sometimes upon Amilcar sometimes upon Celeres and
to change the Government Tarquin must be perswaded that Brutus can never hurt him Now this will come to pass if he will but resolve to do that for his own and haply for the safety of Rome which he so pleasantly did some few days since for the diversion of his Mistress when by an ingenious trick to deceive the fair Chrysis he counterfeited Simplicity so naturally that he deceived one the least easily deceived of any I know How replyed fiercely Brutus must I act the Fool and the Sot all my life You must certainly do it replyed she for by that means Tarquin not jealous of you would rest secure and would haply be glad to let you live so to give an example of moderation when it is not prejudicial to him Ah generous Damo cryed he how harsh is this expedient For though it be a hard task to betray a great understanding it is a harder to personate distraction and since to be free with you I must tell you that my only business at Rome is to destroy Tarquin and be revenged on him I beseech you consider what mischief that man can doe him whose conversation all the World would avoid and who would be thought not to have common sense For my part replyed she my reason dissents from yours for I conceive nothing more considerable in a dangerous conspiracy than to have a great understanding and a great courage invisible to the World In fine if at Rome there be no inclination to a revolt added Licinius you may be safe and quiet and if there be some secret risings in the City conducing to your design you may discover your self to those who shall be able and desirous to act for the publique good Yet once more cryed out Brutus this expedient is harsh and indigestible And yet replyed Licinius there is no mean you must either resolve this way or be for ever banished Rome and not expect to revenge your Father's death or ever hope to recover what the unjust Tarquin hath taken from you and to ascend a little higher you must either accept it or ever renounce Glory If it come to that replyed Brutus I would rather renounce Reason and submit my self to whatever you shall order Having thus resolved Licinius not willing to give Brutus leisure to repent set all things in order for his departure and four dayes after the resolution taken was put in execution He thought not fit Brutus should come to Rome till he had seen how he would be received so that he onely brought with him the little Hermilia who was hardly out of her Nurse's armes and delivered her to be brought up to the sage Racilia giving out that he was married at Metapont but that his Wife was dead not discovering whom he had married for fear of exposing Hermilia to the cruelty of the tyrant should he know she were daughter to Tarquinia for whom he had an inveterate hatred especially since she had left Rome But he was no sooner admitted into Tarquin's presence but he asked what was become of Marcus Junius's Sons whereto he answered that though he were alive he might well be numbred among the dead This doubtful answer encreasing Tarquin's curiosity he was very importunate with Licinius to resolve this Riddle who acting his part very subtilely made as if he were loath to satisfie his curiosity But at length yielding by degrees he told him he was much troubled to tell him that a man who had the honor to be so near of kin to him was so senseless as Junius seemed to be in all his words and actions This he had scarcely said but Tarquin instead of being troubled at it could not but betray his gladness not but that he said it troubled him but his eyes more faithful than his mouth discovered the secret of his heart and argu'd he had rather have a senseless than an understanding man to his Nephew Nevertheless being afraid of being deceived he bid Licinius bring him to him which he pressed so much that Licinius easily perceived that if he did not obey the tyrant his life was in danger So that promising what he desired she sent an express to Brutus whom he had secretly brought to an old friends house within six miles of Rome and acquainted how things stood Brutus was now past all deliberation as to what he was to do for considering with himself that if he went not to Rome Licinius might be ill intreated and that withal his own life as well as that of his Father-in-law's was in danger if he appeard not there in his feigned stupidity he resolv'd to do it and was accordingly brought to Tarquin But as he went what did he not think on and what apprehensions of anguish seized him He lfet Metapont where he had led an infinitely pleasant life as a banished person He there left a gallant friend whom he infinitely loved he smothered a growing love which filled his heart with hope and joy he lost the good company of a many honest people he renounced all pleasure save the hope of Revenge and he forsook as I may so say his own reason But all considered Licinius's life being at the stake the revenging of his friends death and the deliverance of his Country being to be effected he overcame the aversion he had to make use of so fantastick a pretence for his stay in Rome and resolved to live there after a much different manner than he had done at Metapont In effect when Licinius presented him to Tarquin he acted the part of a dul and foolish person so well that the fierce Tyrant was deceived in him so that instead of being troubled to see him in that condition he was very glad of it for it was an affliction to him to think that Marcus Junius should have a Son alive in any place in the world who might haply ome day endeavour to revenge his fathers death But considering him in his present conditition he was not afraid of him nor was he sorry he could give one example of humanity without danger He therefore seemed to have a care of him and to be the more assured of him he thought fit he should be married for he was not so sottish but he betrayed the inclination he had to women But being to marry he must take the daughter of a man engaged in his interests lest he should dispose of himself and haply ally himself with some family too well affected to the publique good and so the name of Junius venerable in Rome should revive Nay to dis-accustome a People from a Name had been dear to them ever since the foundation of the famous City the young Gallants of the Court began by way of abuse to call him Brutus and left off calling him Junius for as to the other name he went under at Metapont and which I have forgotten it was never known at Rome But that which was most remarkable was that he whom they called by that name which was
not proper for him though it seemed so accustomed himself to answer to it the more to express his stupidity so that insensibly all came to call him Brutus and Licinius himself hath called him so You now know my Lord in what manner this noble Roman returned to Rome was married and lived there not so much as taking notice that Tarquin had usurped all the wealth of his house and gave him onely so much as was barely necessary for his subsistance Nor indeed did Brutus trouble himself about it but his wives father who was nothing afflicted at the misfortune of his son-in law for that the Tyrant enriched him upon his account But Brutus who was not come to Rome but to deliver it from the tyranny of Tarquin was infinitely perplexed for he understood by Licinius Valerius and his vertuous Aunt Racilia who were all intrusted with the secret of his life whatever passed in the particular faction that were in Rome the City and that a Plot was sooner laid and a Party engaged but Tarquin quashed it by the death or banishment of the Plotters and that consequently there was no likelihood of destroying the Tyrant or delivering Rome or ever appearing there with his reason about him though he were resolved to forget all the violences and all the enormities of Tarquin for he was absolutely convinced that if the tyrant should once discover he had any understanding he would soon take away his life He also heard how that the cruel Tullia insolently answered a woman who said It was great pity that Brutus was so stupid that if he were not it should cost him something more than his reason So that not conceiving any probability of doing what he hoped he led a most sad and melancholy life having no other comfort but what he received by the Letters of the wise daughter of Pythagoras for as for his rising love it vanished presently after his return to Rome While he was in this perplexity his wife dies leaving him two sons which she brought him soon after their marriage which accident somewhat encreased his pensiveness for that she was a handsome woman and good natured Not but that he lived with her in a strange awe and caution for though he had a great friendship for her because she was so well conditioned as not to despise him and that she believed him as simple as he made himself yet he never durst discover himself to her as knowing ever since he married her that it was an impossibility with her not to tell a thing she knew and that there never was woman less able to hold her peace than she So that he was forced to an insupportable reservedness even in those hours wherein all others have the greatest freedom Yet could he not but grieve for her death as one in whom he had met with both vertue and mildness But as he had not any great affection for her and what he had might be rather called acquaintance than friendship so had he known no other affliction Time would have overcome it But he saw Tarquin's power encrease every day he saw the greatest part of any worth banished or put to death all the young men slaves to the tyrant's fortune and so little likelyhood of any advantageous change for Rome that he could hardly entertain any hope ever to see his Countrey or his Reason at liberty This brought an unspeakable melancholy which caused him to avoid company as much as he could nay in a manner made him desirous to avoid himself But Licinius who was yet alive and who had discovered this secret to Publius Valerius as being his intimate friend and withal a hearty enemy of Tarquin's perceived well that Brutus became more and more pensive So that he therefore spoke to Racilia with whom was the little Hermilia who knew not yet that she was Brutus's Sister to think of some means to comfort him for he knew that Brutus reposed a great confidence in her He advised her to take him into a pleasant seat she had upon the Tiber's side four miles from Rome To be short she proposed to him the passing of three or four days there to which proposition containing nothing opposite to his Melancholy he consented and went thither but with an intention not to return any more to Rome but to wander about the world until some change should happen in Tarquin's fortune For said he within himself since I cannot hurt the tyrant and so revenge my Father's death and deliver my Country to what end is it to condemn my reason to perpetual slavery and to captivate my self eternally what glory or what advantage is it to me to live obscurely and go for the most senseless and the most stupid of all mankind and be withal an utter stranger to all pleasure and society I cannot in the condition I am in be guilty of either Vice or Vertue but live after such a fantastick manner that since there were men never any lived as I do Yet for all this could the hope of Revenge and of Glory but keep possession of my heart I could have patience but to live without pleasure or so much as the hope of any is absolutely insupportable and that which I can no longer endure Thus was Brutus so ore-whelmed with melancholy and so weary of the life he led that he resolved to leave his Countrey and become a voluntary Exile Being therefore confirmed in this design his onely study was to put it in execution and put himself in a posture to leave Rome and at the first to go no further than Metapont knowing he had still a many good friends in that place He was also somewhat confident that Licinius and Racilia would releive him in his banishment and would send him somewhat to subsist though they were never so angry Not but that when he thought of leaving Rome and losing all occasions which might happen in his absence to do Tarquin a mischief it a little assaulted his resolution but after all consideration seeing no likelyhood of any to happen a long time and being no longer able to endure that reservedness wherein he lived he hardned himself in the resolution he had taken wherewith he neither acquainted Racilia nor the young Hermilia who as I told you knew not as yet that she was Brutus's Sister as being too young to be trusted with a secret of so great importance So that being unchangeably resolved he designed his departure within three dayes pretending he would return again to Rome so to deceive his Aunt whom he avoyded as much as lay in his power because she perpetually pressed him to know whence that new affliction proceeded which she observed in him But affecting solitude as much as might be the day before his departure he walked along the river side and there revolving in his mind whatever had happened to him he remembred the pleasures he found in the conversation of Damo Chrysis and Bellanira and thereupon opposing one passion to
him for one minute more but this vertuous woman troubled at her very soul for him certainly did her self a strange violence in refusing him what he so passionately begged So that commanding him absolutely to let her go and doing it as one who expected obedience he in effect obeyed her he dismissed the hand and garment of this afflicted Beauty and he had this comfort at least to perceive she thought well of his respect and obedience For having gon as far as the entrance of the Arbor where this discourse passed she turned to him bursting forth into tears and reaching to him the same hand which she had taken from between his Farewel Brutus said she to him might it please the Gods that the innocency of our affection would permit me to think on you and that you might also think of me At these words Brutus taking her by the hand she presented to him kissed it with such a transport of love that if she had not drawn it back with some violence he had not soon dismissed it But this slave who was come to tell Lucrecia that it was about the time she used to retire was so near that he was forced out of a consideration of respect to withdraw himself without answering the last words Lucrecia had said to him When she was departed he looked on her through the leaves as long as he could but saw she had let down her veyl which he conceived was to hide her tears from the slave that followed her He also observed that she twice turned her head towards the place where she had left him as also that she went from him very slowly for though he was in an unconceivable despair yet the excess of his love quickened his apprehension of any thing related to his passion but to any thing else was insensible Lucrecia and her women being gotten into the House and having locked the lodge-door that went into the Garden though he knew not well what he thought on yet could he not resolve to be gone For observing a greater light in one part of the house then in any other he concluded it was Lucrecia's chamber and looking on the Windowes he had such a disturbance and confusion in his thoughts that it were impossible to express them He found indeed some ease in seating himself in the place where that Beauty had sate and in that posture he intertained his love and his affliction till the break of day not thinking of the Slave who knew his design and waited for him without the Garden But at last the Cock crowing acquainting him what time it was he went out as he came in and repaired to the house where he had taken up his secret Quarters In the mean time as Hope is such a Montebank in Love as instead of one real pleasure entertaines us with a hundred imaginary he was really perswaded he might see Lucrecia in the same manner another night but though he came to the same place he met not with her for this vertuous woman conceiving he might come again went thither no more So that Brutus not thinking it safe to stay any longer in that place whither Clllatine came the next day returned to Rome exceedingly grieved for Lucrecia's vertue rendring her more amiable than she were otherwise it made him the more unfortunate Not long after he was told that Lucrecia had perswaded Collatine to make the walls of his garden somewhat higher though it much prejudiced the prospect from the house which he might easily apprehend onely for his sake This nevertheless discouraged him not for having a heart as great as his love he omitted no artifice or opportunity from the time that Lucrecia was married to speak with or send Letters to her or to oblige her to permit Hermilia or Valeria to speak to her of him or to procure the favour that he might see her in some place though he spoke not to her He also notwithstanding the hatred he had for Collatine made frequent visits to him in hope of some occasion thereby to see Lucrecia but all these contrivances and designs amounted to nothing Lucrecia leading a life so solitary and disengaged from the disturbances of the World that I think there never was woman gave higher expressions of a great vertue than she did For it is out of all controversie that never Wife lived better with a Husband than she did with Collatine though she had an aversion for him nor did ever Mistess express such a constant rigor and severity towards a servant though she had a tender affection for Brutus Thus was Brutus extremely taken with her vertue and fearing that disconsolate solitude might shorten her life he sent her word by Valeria that he had so great an esteem for her as to break her from that reserved carriage he would make it his main business to avoid her that so she might quit that melancholy course of life conceiving his misfortune would be the less if he were alone unfortunate But she would not be perswaded nay would not so much as return Brutus thanks for his compliance and respect However I dare assure you he was never in his life so deeply in love with this admirable woman as he is at this present nay I may presume to tell you that the love he beares Lucrecia is greater than the hatred he hath for Tarquin but his love is upon the hardest condition that love can be capable of since it admits no Hope nor the sight of its object All the comfort therefore that he hath is what consists in the hope of satisfying that just hatred he hath for Tarquin since he can now pretend nothing to Lucrecia Herminius having left off speaking Aronces thanked him for the excellent entertainment of so pleasant a relation and Amilcar expressed himself so well satisfied with it that if he could have resolved to be constant he would have wished himself Brutus as unfortunate as he was looking on his History as a thing extraordinary though it was not furnished with those heroick adventures which raise the admiration of those that hear them But to make some advantage to your self of the acquaintance I have made you with Brutus replyed Hermius speaking to Aronces acknowledge that you are neither the most unfortunate Lover nor the most unfortunate man in the world for certainly Brutus being now past all hope and leading such a life as he does is a thousand times more miserable than you are Ah Herminius cryed out Aronces I am not of your opinion but account my self much more unhappy in that I have to fear Clelia's death than Brutus is to see Lucrecia in the arms of Collatine But my Lord the misfortune you fear replyed Amilcar it may be will not come to pass and so your fear is of a disaster that is uncertain but for Brutus he is past the fear of a mishap he undergoes it and that without any hope of seeing any end of his suffering He hath yet this
his eyes to Heaven and shewing to the people the Ponyard he had in his hand BEhold Generous Romans said he to them with a certain accent of Authority this is the very Ponyard which the fair Lucretia thrust into her own heart though as far from any crime as innocence it self I shew it you O ye Romans to obtain your permission to use it against the most cruel enemy you have 'T is for that that the illustrious Father of the vertuous Lucretia and her unfortunate Husband are come with tears in their eyes to demand justice of you But that you see so many gallant men with their arms in their hands is not so much to revenge the death of this generous Roman Lady as to deliver you out of Slavery This is the day generous Romans that you must shake off the the Yoke of the outragious Tarquin and the cruel Tullia The blood of Lucretia hath made Heaven propitious to you and the injury she hath received from the eldest Son of your Tyrant ingageth all the Gods so far to revenge her death that though you should not concern your selves in it I am confident the same Gods who have inspired into me the attempt of turning him out of the Throne which he hath usurped will take vengeance of his presumption and will also punish you for your baseness if you joyn not with so many gallant men who are resolved to die this day and be sacrificed near the body of the chast Lucretia rather than continue their subjection to the most abominable Tyrant in the World Brutus pronounced these words with such a noble confidence that the people of Rome astonished to hear him speak after this manner was really perswaded the Gods had done a miracle on him that the great understanding he then expressed was inspired into him that they ought to look on him as a Messenger from Heaven that they should hearken to him with respect and follow his directions so easie a matter it is to dispose of the minds of the people when one knows how to make use of those things whereby they are surprised So that after a great noise of acclamations every one crying silence the whole multitude became so strangely quiet that Brutus drawing a happy Presage from the attention they gave him continued in these words I Have already told you generous Romans continued he that this was the day designed for your Liberty and I tell it you once-more This certainly is the day that you shall recover your own just Authority since that it is of you that Lucretius and Collatine demand justice for the violence the chast Lucretia hath received from the insolent Sextus But alas who can say he ever saw a crime equal to this of his For suppose this injury of Sextus had been done to one of your Slaves it were capital according to our Laws But generous Romans you are not to learn that Lucretia was of a very noble blood descended of a Family very considerable in Rome even before the first of the Tarquins had so much as thought of leaving Greece to come into Italy You know further that she was admired for vertue that she was Daughter to the Governour of Rome and wife to a near Kinsman of Tarquin But it seems neither the consideration of blood nor that of Hospitality nor the obligations of humane or divine Laws nor any respect of the Penatial Gods witnesses of the presumptuous fury of Sextus had the power to divert him from committing a crime so abhominable that it can hardly be expressed and such as the vertuous Lucretia though she contributed nothing thereto could indure to out-live and hath chosen rather to die than to be in a condition to be guilty though but of the memory of it But if the innocent Lucretia hath perished through the crime of Sextus it is but just that Sextus be destroyed to satisfie the death of the innocent Lucretia It is therefore of you generous Romans that Lucretius demands justice for the death of his only daughter And it is of you that Collatine demands the same justice for the outrage he hath received from a Prince that should have been his Protector For to whom can these illustrious but unfortunate persons address themselves to be revenged of their Enemy To the cruel Tullia Mother to this unjust Prince To her I say who made no conscience to poyson her former Husband though the most vertuous Prince in the World who contrived her Sisters death a woman infinitely vertuous who saw her Father massacred though the greatest and wisest of all our Kings and caused her Chariot to pass over the body of that unfortunate Prince to get into the Throne she is now possessed of with so much injustice You know Romans that I tell you nothing but what is true and that I add nothing thereto How then can we hope for any protection from the wickedest woman in the world to revenge the most vertuous Nor is there any probability of obtaining any justice of the Husband of such a Wife a worthy Father of the Executioner of the innocent Lucretia For besides that he hath contributed to all the crimes of Tullia that he poisoned his former Wife put to death a Brother and a Father-in-law what hath he not done to your selves and what hath he not done to all Romans in general and to every one in particular He hath thrust Slaves into the Senate he hath impoverished the rich oppressed the poor banished or put to death all of quality who have not dissembled their vertue to save their lives he hath undertaken a War only to keep you under he hath imputed false crimes to hook in the fortunes of those â—e did accuse and hath even built Temples though a despiser of the Gods as much as of men only to amuse and imploy the common people that so he might the more Tyranically exercise the Authority he hath acquired through thousands of crimes By this means is it come pass that the same Romans who according to sacred Presages were looked on as Conquerours of the World are turned wretched Mechanicks and are fitter to handle a Rule and Chisel than a Sword or a Buckler Nevertheless as wicked and abominable as he is if he were but your lawful King Lucretius and Collatine would submit to his injustice without troubling you with their revenge and would content themselves to seek it only of the Gods For my own part I should also apply my self to them for that of my Father and Brothers death who as you know increased the number of his innocent Victims But generous Romans you know that Tarquin is not your lawful King nor ever can be This unjust Prince is crept into the Throne contrary to the Fundamental Laws of our State he was chosen neither by the Senate nor by the people he laughed at the Augures and their Presages which are observed upon these occasions and slighted all Ceremonies of Religion which he hath always
hundred Horse Brutus took fifty of them and assigned the rest to Aronces But the difficulty was to get out of Rome for the Romans who then looked on Brutus as their Tutelary Deity opposed it with so much earnestness that it was like to cause a general disorder throughout the City and there were above two hours spent ere they could be perswaded that it was for their Interest that Brutus went out of Rome Aronces on the other side had as much ado to get out as he and they were both encompassed by such a multitude of people that though they were the deliverers of Rome they were not Masters of themselves So that it was almost night ere Brutus and Aronces could get out of the City which was no small affliction to this disconsolate Lover whose business was to seek out his Mistress But when these two unfortunate Lovers were gotten out of Rome their friends were divided Herminius and Mutius stood for Brutus conceiving themselves more obliged to him as being Romans and Artemidorus Amilcar Zenocrates and Celeres were of Aronces side But though they were divided as to Interests yet did they joyntly wish the prosperity of their several designs For Aronces he took the way that he was told Tullia had taken who he understood had taken up two Chariots at a house she had within two miles of Rome for she went from the Palace on horseback But for Brutus he wheeled about another way into the Camp with out meeting Tarquin and he was so fortunate as to reach it just at the break of day Nay it happened so critically that by the same time that Tarquin had got to Rome Brutus came to the Camp where he no sooner arrived but he understood that Sextus was gone out of the way as soon as the report of the insurrection at Rome was brought thither In the mean time how sensible soever Brutus might be of the death of Lucretia the design he had to revenge it was the reason that he spoke of nothing but joy triumph and liberty In a word this illustrious Roman going from Tent to Tent assembled all the Officers but while he gets them together he speaks to all the Soldiers he meets he tells them all that Rome is free that Tullia had left it that all the adherents of Tyranny were sent out of the City he assures them that Tarquin should find the Gates shut against him and entertains them with peace reward glory and rest He represents to them the fruitless inconveniences they had suffered during the time of the Siege of Ardea he calls them the true deliverers of their Country if they have but the courage to declare themselves he intreats them he importunes them nay sometimes he threatens them he takes Herminius to witness of all he says whose integrity he knew was well known to their interests he adds those of the Gods and he speaks to them after so confident and heroick a manner that the prodigious change which they found in him produced the same effect in the Camp as it had done in Rome and Collatia and raised in them admiration and respect for him So that the name of Brutus and the word Liberty passing from mouth to mouth the whole Camp fell into disorder and both Officers and Soldiers unanimously submitting to Brutus acknowledge him for their chief and the deliverer of their Country Whereupon sending hastily to acquaint those of Ardea that he restored them to that peace which Tarquin would take away from them provided they would joyn with Rome against Tarquin he raises the Siege and begins his march towards Rome bestowing the pillage of the Tyrants Tents upon the Soldiers so to engage them by that act of hostility to persist in their revolt But while Brutus seconded by his friends manages the affairs of the Camp with so much success for the Liberty of his Country and the revenge of Lucretia Tarquin arrives at Rome confident that his presence would establish his Authority there But he was much mistaken when he saw the gates shut against him and that some told him from the Walls that the people of Rome banished him for ever with all his Family and declared him unworthy the name of a King which he had with so much injustice usurped Tarquin having not with him at this time above four hundred horse was forced to retreat but could not do it without horrid threats to those who had denied him entrance for he knew nothing of what was happened in the Camp and thought he had no more to do to chastise Rome than to raise the Siege of Ardea But when in his return he understood by the King of Clusium's Envoy whom he met as also by some of his own creatures that his Army was coming against him under the command of Brutus whom all obeyed and acknowledged for one of the greatest men in the World and by this means found himself without any assistances between a City risen against him and a revolted Army he had certainly need to summon up all his Courage to support so great and so sudden a Revolution Upon the first relation of this strange accident he made a halt then he asked whether they knew where Tullia was and what was become of the Captives for those who came from the Camp told him they were gone from Rome But being told that the Captives were in Tullia's disposal and that she had taken the way to Tarquinia he also took the same and that with much diligence commanding secretly two of his creatures whom he had employed in thousands of Crimes that if his enemies should pursue him and set on him with a party stronger than his own they should keep close to his person and if they saw him in any likelihood to be taken kill him For though I have a heart great enough to hinder me from falling into the hands of my enemies said he to them with his eyes full of fury yet I fear my arm will prove too weak to dispatch my self or shall miss the first attempt I shall make on my self if I am forced to it Hereupon he began to march and this unjust Prince who saw himself overwhelm'd with all kinds of misfortunes in an instant and that through the crimes of his Son or Wives or his own was so abominable as not to have the least remorse but employed his Wits to be revenged of those whom Heaven used as instruments to punish him for usurping a Kingdom and ruling with so much cruelty and injustice Brutus in the mean time though crowned with the glory of freeing two Cities at the same time and being the deliverer of his Country and the revenger of his dear Lucretia was the most unfortunate man in the world when it came into his mind that Lucretia was dead and Sextus alive And indeed though Brutus was of a nature gallant mild and the most obliging in the world yet after the death of Lucretia he seemed to have changed his humour
No no generous Clelius said he unto him never bestow any such glorious titles upon me for a right Roman ought not to assume any above the rest of the Romans let us therefore only render thanks unto the Gods for our deliverance from servitude in which we were and to take away all likelihood of ever being under the power of one single person I do declare that I will not be Consul alone but will put into the hands of the Senate and People all that Authority which they gave me unless they will appoint one to be my Partner For indeed said he most generously I dare not trust my own virtue in such a business Brutus had no sooner done speaking but all that heard him were opposite to his design yet he standing firm to his principle told them plainly that he would propound it the next morning in the publick Assembly however he being ever a man most regular in all points of civility he went towards the evening unto Sivelia to see Clelia there unto whom he seemed much troubled for Aronces and told her in short how he went out of Rome with a design of delivering her Alas said she with a sad sigh and looked upon Plotina certainly it was that unfortunate Prince which was in Combate with those Troops which we saw when Horatius brought us away She had no sooner said so but Artemidorus Amilcar Zenocrates and Celeres came to Sivelia's house who confirm'd Clelia in her thought and told all the Company that Aronces was Tarquins Prisoner also how they all made a retreat after they had seen their illustrious but unfortunate friend taken Yet they did not fear that he would be ill used because as the case stood with Tarquin it was no policy for him to shew any odium against the Son of such a great King who only was able to relieve him in his misfortune but still they conceived that he would not set him at liberty so as all the company apprehended this adventure with abundance of sorrow Brutus resented it as the friend of Aronces and foreseeing the sad consequences as a true Roman and especially out of compassion upon an unfortunate Lover who is more sensible than any other of any thing that disturbs the love of his friends As for Clelius he having almost always loved Aronces as his own son ever since he saved his life in his Cradle and keeping him from perishing after his shipwrack he was exceedingly troubled Sivelia out of tenderness and generosity did pity him Herminius was ready to run desperate Horatius out of grandeur of soul and to merit the esteem of Clelia he commended him and said That a Prince so virtuous as he was deserved a far better destiny than to be the Prisoner of the most vitious man upon earth Cesonia and Plotina could not keep their eyes from gushing out into tears as for Artemidorus Amilcar Zenocrates and Celeres they pitied Aronces pitied Clelia pitied Brutus pitied Herminius they pitied Rome they pitied themselves As for Clelia she was sensible more than thought can reach unto yet she durst not shew all her sorrow though the example of her friends might well have authorized hers nor would she too much smother her sadness lest she should infuse some false hopes into Horatius but she kept such an even and just temper in her affliction that she could not be accused either of excessive prudence or of too much carelesness That which made her the more mistress of her spirit was because she believ'd the life of Aronces was in no danger for she knew not that he was wounded but she conceived the cruel consequences of his imprisonment the least of which was that she should be separated from Aronces for a long time and be exposed unto the passion of Horatius who having made his peace with Clelius would become more confident so as this sage Lady in restraining the violence of her sorrow did deserve much commendations Mean while as one subject of compassion doth easily renew the remembrance of another so Clelius asked Brutus concerning the Prince of Numidia and understood that in visiting the Palace of Tarquin after Tullia was gone out they found him upon his bed who never caring for the disorder and noise which he heard looked calmly upon those that run from Chamber to Chamber with naked swords not knowing whether there were any men so desperate as to defend him Clelius understood further how since that the care which was taken of that Prince had something restored him unto the freedom of his spirit Alas alas added Brutus and sighed I cannot tell whether or no it be a good office to restore a miserable man unto his wits since certainly it makes all men in the world the more miserable Brutus expressed this in such a sad manner as made all those pity him who knew the distemper of his soul and were not ignorant that the death of Lucretia did more grieve him than the liberty of Rome rejoyced him for notwithstanding all his zeal to his Country could he but revive Lucretia he would do it with abundance of joy though at the rate of erecting that Throne which he had pulled down Doubtless he would have dyed a hundred deaths rather than live in the servitude wherein he did but he would have lived a slave all the days of his life rather than never to see Lucretia but in her Tomb. This sad adventure had so much changed him that he was scarcely knowable such of his friends as were not admitted unto the secrets of his soul did believe that this alteration proceeded from the weight of his cares which hung heavy upon him but those of his Cabinet counsel who knew the grandeur of his soul they thought it to be love only which loadned him his conversation was only upon such things as were necessary for the publick good unless he spoke of his sorrows and passion unto such as knew of them He was not only always more serious but also more haughty and he could not flatter any but the people of whom he stood in need to revenge Lucretia and to maintain the liberty of Rome So as after so much good language as he thought fit to comfort Clelia he retired himself to think upon other matters but especially to give that great example of moderation of which he had made such profession unto his Friends Mean while Clelius went to see the Grand Vestal his Sister and received visits from all his Friends Clelia was visited by all the Ladies of quality in Rome amongst the rest by Racilia by Hermilia by Colatina by a Lady of quality called Flavia and another named Salonina Hermilia and the sister of Colatine being compounded of such a secret Melancholy as would not suffer them to rejoyce in the Liberty of their Country so much as others they kept always together Valeria also went to visit Clelia who gave such a reception unto all these Ladies with so much obliging Civility
procure an answer But the second contained these words Herminius unto Valeria HOw comes it to pass Madam that you do not answer me Is it because my passion is troublesome unto you Can you not love one that is absent Do ye think it a shame to love one that 's miserable And must you hate me because the Tyrant does I beseech you let me know my destiny for I cannot go into Africa though Sivelia has commanded me unless the fair Valeria command it also Tell me therefore I beseech you Madam what you would have me to do and what I must hope for And in the midst of my miseries let me have the consolation to hear that I never need to fear the greatest loss of all which is the loss of you After Spurius had read this Letter he made no doubt but Herminius was living so as being as sorry for his life as he was joyed at his pretended death his old hatred revived in his heart and he promised himself to do some mischief with this Letter He sent therefore speedily to Mutius who was at a friends house not above two miles from thence Mutius imagining that Spurius had some earnest business with him he went as hastily unto him they no sooner met but Spurius told him that Herminius was living he told him what he had done and shewed him the Letter of this unfortunate Lover which much afflicted Mutius Do not think said Spurius unto him That I put you unto so much trouble in coming hither to make you only lament But replied Mutius what would you have me do Any thing replied Spurius that will set Valeria and Herminius at odds and I am much mistaken if I do not bring it to pass so you will follow my directions Alas answered Mutius you may be certain I will do any thing that may hurt my Rival Write then a Letter unto Valeria replyed Spurius which may move her to give you a crabbed answer and which may answer unto the Letter which Herminius writ and leave all the rest unto me Alas Spurius answered he I conceive your invention to be very doubtful for perhaps Valeria will not answer at all and though she should how should I make her answer suit unto the Letter which Herminius writ Doubtless her answer unto you will answer his also said Spurius if your letter be rightly writ Do you then write it said Mutius for I cannot I will answered Spurius so you will write it afterwards in your own hand After this Spurius began to write unto Valeria as from Mutius and these were the words of that crafty letter Madam WIll you never answer my affection but leave me still in a most cruel uncertainty Oh Madam let me know my Destiny I have ever entertained some Flattering hopes that Tarquins hatred would prefer me unto your favour yet I was mistaken in my conjectures and find my self so unfortunate as I shall go unto the utmost parts of the World if I lose all my hopes of happiness in you And yet I will not go untill you command me for you only have the absolute power to make my destiny Tell me therefore in two words whether I shall stay where I am or unto what part of the World shall I go to forget your cruelty I give you the choice of Asia or Africa For if you be not resolved to make me happy it is no matter what part of the World be the place of my exile and death After Spurius had writ this letter he observed unto Mutius that he mentioned Exile Africa departure and command as well as Herminius and therefore her answer unto him would in all probability be an answer also unto Herminius But replied Mutius how shall she receive this letter for as soon as the man awakes he will go to Rome and carry his letter unto Valeria Leave that to me answered Spurius So Mutius writ over this letter and also another unto Flavia desiring her favour in procuring an answer from Valeria The Letter unto Flavia was in these terms FOr God's sake sweet Flavia have pity upon a miserable man who at present desires no more but an answer from fair Valeria which shall tell me whether I must depart from her or die at her feet Let me obtain this favour from you I beseech you After this Mutius sent a servant with these two letters unto Flavia. Mean while Spurius the better to stay the Messenger of Herminius who slept so soundly he commanded his men when he awakened to seem very busie and careful about him and to tell him that he had been above six hours in a swound and accordingly when the cold vapours of the Poppy began to dissipate and that the man began to give some signs of waking Spurius his men who had brought several things which might make him think he had taken several medicines they told him all confidently that he was very like to die that he was still sick that by no means he should rise that it was to be feared he would relapse into the like fit again and that Spurius had sent for a Physician So as the Man who was really a little dizzy in the head with sleeping so long he believed all that was told him thanked the men kept his bed still and took all the medicines which a pretended Physician prescribed unto him Mean while Spurius to arrive at his intended end he did not put the Packet of letters into his Pocket again But whilst this man was perswaded unto a disease he never had the servant of Mutius went to Rome where he acquitted himself so well of his Commission as he brought answers from Flavia and Valeria the same night Valeria's answer was in these words IT concerns me so very little in what part of the World you live that so you will write no more unto me nor ever let me hear from you any expressions of your affection I will give you the choice either of Asia or Africa for the place of your exile Go therefore whither you will so you will never trouble me again for truly you will force me to hate you more than ever Tarquin did if you will not let me alone in quietness The letter from Flavia was in these words I Beseech you send me no more letters to Valeria For since you can never hope for any favourable answer from her you will but augment your misery in writing to her Try therefore if you can find more happiness in some other part of the world For believe it you can never be but most miserable here You may imagine Madam how welcome these two letters were unto those who expected them especially Spurius whose plot had so happily taken and whose hatred unto Herminius was greater than that of Mutius who naturally was not inclinable to hatred as he After they had read these letters two or three times over they read those from Herminius and found them so punctually answered as they doubted not but they
they might look on them as the innocent cause of that unfortunate adventure Besides they were then in so little hope ever to see the Prince of Pometia or Prince Titus that they were sometimes glad of any occasion to weep which they might discover so to mask the tears of love with those of friendship They were therefore extreamly sad that day and all that were present complying with their humor were no less For Clelia she had so much cause to be sad that she never appeared otherwise Horatius for his part finding her ever cold and indifferent towards him had no reason to be over joyful though things were in such a posture as that he might entertain some hope Artemidorus had his fancy ever full of Clidamira and Berelisa Zenocrates wanted not reflections though more favorable than those of the rest Herminius by reason of the greatness of his affection and the odd posture of his amorous fortune was also melancholly enough Mutius was troubled that his Rival was so happy as to be loved and the whole company excepting Plotina and Amilcar was not the least inclined to engage in any thing that were divertive though it consisted of the noblest Souls in the World And yet though their discourse were sad sutable to the subject of it Death yet Plotina and Amilcar brought it at last to something that were pleasant In the first place according to the custom upon such occasions they spoke of the just occasion of grief which she had whom they came to condole with that brought in some discourse upon the accident some were silent others whispered and all grew weary of it But falling insensibly into other discourse and speaking lowder they began to play upon Flavia for that the very thought of death disturbed her reason and troubled her almost as much as if she had been to dye a minute after her self For though Flavia were a person of excellent endowments yet had she that weakness of not commanding her own sentiments so that she was subject to thousands of causeless fears For my part says Plotina I have such an aversion for death that for fear it should come too soon I am resolved not to fear it at all for certainly there is nothing worse for ones health than to fear it too much Nay then says Herminius I am happier than you for I neither hates nor fear it But for my part says Plotina I hate it most abominably and I think I have reason to do so For it is a rash inconsiderate thing that ever comes before it is looked for ever comes unseasonably troubles all the enjoyments of life separates friends and lovers hath no respect of any thing destroys beauty laughs at youth and is inflexible All this is true replies Herminius but it hath withall this advantage that it makes all men equal cures all diseases puts a period to all misfortunes and puts those it hastens on into such a condition as not to suffer any thing afterward In a word it satisfies the ambitious determines love and hatred appeapeases all passions and this evil that is so great and terrible is the evil but of an instant and such as for its infallibility ought not to be called an evil On the contrary replied Flavia 't is for that reason that death is the more terrible to me for if it were uncertain hope might take away some part of the fear I am in of it But when I consider that one may dye every minute and that thousands of several ways I feel a certain cold at the heart and I am almost at a loss of all reason You are then very happy replyed Plotina Nay she is such beyond what you can imagine says Collatina for having a lively imagination she sees dangers where there were never any I am really of opinion answers Plotina that there is more prudence than is conceived in being a little dull of apprehension for when people search so much into the bottom of things they many times get more hurt than good But you are not certainly always in fear continued she speaking to Flavia for when one is well is neither on a River nor at Sea nor yet in a Chariot but in ones Chamber in good company and good health methinks there 's no such occasion of fear Ah! Plotina replyed Flavia you know not what the fear of dying means if you measure it only by the present dangers that wait on us I remember says Horatius that I saw Flavia much troubled at the death of a man that had lived almost an age For my part says Mutius I have known her lose her share of an excellent Collation because it thundred And to my knowledge says Salonina I have seen her one day refuse an excellent walk only because we were to cross the Tiber. For heavens sake replyed she very pleasantly take not so much pains to pump your memories for my fears for I know them better than you do and since you will needs have Clelia and all present that know me not to be acquainted with my weakness I will tell my self all that I fear I fear then all diseases in general great and small I fear Thunder I fear the Sea and all Rivers I fear fire and water heat and cold fair weather and foul and I am afraid the earth should take occasion to shake at Rome as it does in Sicily Besides to my own misfortune I know all that the Tuscans have said of presages and I know it contributes to my torment and to say all in few words I fear what ever may directly or indirectly cause death But cannot you imagine in your self replyed Amilcar that the fear of death causes deformity sickness and may occasion death it self that you may be rid of so many fears May it not come into your thoughts added Clelia that all these frights amount to nothing that if the earth must shake it will shake whether you will or no that if a Thunder-bolt must fall it will fall haply rather on that place where you take refuge than on that you quit and in a word can you not submit your self to the disposal of the Gods But can you not conceive your self replyed Flavia that if I could do otherwise I would do it Do you think me destitute of reason and that I do not many times perceive I am too blame And yet after all even at the same time that my reason condemns me my imagination commands my heart and makes it feel what she pleases What I think most to be admired says Herminius is that all people find out some handsome pretence for the fear they have of death for they confidently affirm that they are not subject to so much weakness as to fear the pain that is suffered in dying but they are afraid they have not lived well enough and what is remarkable is that without growing better so to take away the fear they say they are in their thoughts are wholly taken up in
the preservation of their health and avoiding what ever may prejudice it Ah! Of that kind of people says Amilcar the world is full and you meet every where such as fear the punishments of the other life without any amendment and whose actions are contrary to their professions and easily discover that they simply fear death since they make provision only against that For my part says Flavia I am no very bad liver and trust much in the goodness of the Gods and therefore do not so much fear what shall happen to me after death as before for I fear pain very much besides the darkness of a Tomb startles me But when all is done says Clelia all your fears are fruitless you will dye as well as those that fear nothing and the surest way is to lead the most virtuous life that one can to expect death without wishing it or fearing it and to entertain it as a thing we have waited for all our life and which cannot be avoided For my part added Racilia I find it requires a greater constancy to support a long old age attended by those inconveniences which it commonly brings along with it than to receive death chearfully It is indeed says Plotina very pleasantly a very cruel thing to become old sick and deformed when one hath been accustomed to be young handsome and healthy and I know not whether I hate death so far as that I had not rather see it than my self in that condition But for what concerns me says Flavia though I were handsomer than Lucretia ever was should any one offer to raise me up again were I in her place so as that I must come into the world ugly old sick and troublesome I should take him at his word and I would rather live though abominably deformed than be dead You consider not what you say says Platina smiling and you fear death something less then you imagine for I thought you would not for any thing have been raised to life again for fear of dying once more and you affirm the contrary It is a thing so ordinary to abuse my weakness replved Flavia that I am never angry how satyrical soever people may be at it But the misery of it is replyed Herminius that you are not cured of it nor indeed curable for do what you can you will find that as a gallant man cannot prove cowardly and base so a fearful person can never become valiant Since fear does make some sleight the danger says Horatius I know not why reason may do as much Those who sleight danger out of an excess of fear whereby they become valiant replyed Herminius can never give a greater expression of their fearfulness than by doing a thing so much contrary to their disposition so that they may be said to be a sort of Hectors yet are still arrant cowards and have lost nothing of their natural inclination The case is otherwise with those who imploy their reason to force away fear from their hearts since it cannot do it but by working a change in the persons and making them act contrary to their inclinations Herminius is certainly very much in the right says Flavia but to comply a little with my imperfections I would all the Ladies now present were obliged to give precisely their thoughts of death For my part says Hermilia take me in the humor I am in I could without great intreaty wish it I go beyond you says Collatina and there are certain intervals wherein I should not be much troubled if I had never been Assure your self says Plotina I am not of your opinion for there are things pleasant enough in this place and I know no other remedy to cure the pensiveness of death than that of never thinking on it But when it hapens against my will that I hear of the death of any one I ever sist out some cause of that death such as cannot be appliable to my self For instance if it be of an aged person I simply say he hath been a long time in the World and secretly think my self as yet very far from that age If it were of a young body I say he or she was of a weak and sickly constitution sometimes that they took no care of themselves sometimes that they had done something that occasioned that misfortune and whatsoever I may say I still flatter my self with a hope of living as long as any one can live I have a Catalogue of all those who have lived an age and so discarding those pensive reflections assoon as possibly I can and I fix my imagination on whatever speaks any joy and so find my self incomparably better than Flavia who fixes hers on fear For my part says Clelia I am of another humor for I think on death when there is occasion but without any frightning for since I must infallibly see him one day methinks it is but fit he should not be absolutely a stranger to me No more for Heaven's sake says Flavia of this discourse concerning death unless you would have me dye besides the poor comfort you afford the afflicted when you entertain them with nothing but what is sad Those who speak of things that require much wit and mirth replyed Artemidorus are more importunate on the other side and yet this is ordinary in the World What you say is true answered Zenocrates and therefore am I an enemy to these mourning-visits for I cannot endure to be sad when I am not troubled and it is certainly a very unhandsome thing to go and laugh with those that weep There are so many things disorderly done in the Word replies Amilcar that we must accustom our selves to them and were there no other inconveniencies in humane life than what we suffer through the extravagancies of others we should not be much unfortunate for look on mens humors generally they rather make sport then are troubled at them While they were thus engaged was news brought that Tarquin understanding by the return of his Envoys that those who had declared for him were taken had sent word by a Herald who was at the City-gate that if they were put to death he declared open war against Rome So that they being alraedy dispatched the war was as good as declared To this news was added that Brutus and Valerius to shew how little they valued that bravado had answered they would accept the challenge and that on the morrow they would cause Janus's Temple to be opened which they had not shut since the departure of Tarquin but to recreate the people with such a representation of peace as they had not seen during the Tyrants reign For that Temple had not been shut since the time of Numa during which there were 43 years of peace This intelligence surprised not the enemy much only Clelia was troubled at it as imagining it must needs be hard if the War continuing the King of Clusium should not engage therein and that Aronces should not be
at last she was content only to give him thousands of expressions of esteem and friendship by the grief she discoverd both in her eyes and words The sick Lover seeing himself bemoaned and visited by all and not seeing the Princess Lindamira knew not what to think of her carriage towards him She indeed sent to see how he did but since Demarata had been to visit him he thought she might very well have born her company So that being unwilling to dye till he knew what Lindamira thought of his death he did himself an extream violence to write three or four lines which he trusted to my conveyance He made me seal the Letter which I was to carry to Lindimira whom I found alone She blushed when I told her that Themistus had written it to her whereupon opening the Letter hastily yet with a certain fear she found therein these words THEMISTUS to the Princess LINDAMIRA I Have not been able to obey your command that I should not love you any longer but I shall do it if you command me to die Be pleased then Madam to lay your commands upon me that I may have some satisfaction when I dye and deny not this fatal favor to the most wretched yet the most amorous of men Lindamira read it twice over but not without tears in her eyes Yet did she what lay in her power to hinder me from seeing them and having recovered her self a little she asked me whether it were true that Themistus was so ill as it was reported and he pretended himself Madam said I Themistus is so ill and weak that if you will favor him with any answer you must do it immediately At these words Lindamira going into her Closet left me in her Chamber and a few minutes after brought me her answer desiring me with the tears in her eyes if Themistus at my return were not in a condition to read it to restore her the Letter without ever making the least mention thereof to any one I promised to do what she desired and so returned to my sick friend to whom I delivered Lindamira's Letter and whose spirits I very much rais'd when I told him she had read his with tears in her eyes He thereupon opened the Princesse's and set himself to read it though with much trouble because of the extraordinary weakness he was in But love multiplying his strength he at last made a shift to read these words LINDAMIRA to THEMISTUS I Ive Themistus live and if there needs no more to oblige you thereto than to promise you that I will not forbid you to love me I shall resolve to do so to save that Man's life who of all the world is the dearest to me Themistus was so over-joyed at this Letter that a kind of Lethargy which accompanied the fever he was in and that seemed an inevitable symptom of death to the Physitians began to be dispersed and as if his sickness had proceeded from enchantment he recovered in an instant insomuch that those who had him under cure being come to see him that night were in some hope of his amendment So that sending this news immediately to the Prince Demarata who had visited Themistus that morning and had said so many kind things to him thought that her visit had cur'd him and thereupon loved him much more passionately than ever she had done before For Lindamira she had reason to believe that she had restored Themistus to life but she almost repented her of it when she came to consider the consequences which what she had done might have But after all having a greater love for him than she thought to have had she kindly received another Letter that Themistus writ the next day when he was a little recover'd It was but short and to this effect THEMISTUS to the Princess LINDAMIRA I Shall live Madam since it is your pleasure I should but I beseech you let it never out of your memory what you have promised me unless you would have me to loose the life which you have preserved and which I value not but out of a consideration that you have bestowed it on me to adore you eternally What was most remarkable Madam was that when Themistus was fully recovered Lindamira would not be perswaded to see him Upon that account was it that she went into the Countrey for fifteen days nor could she be brought to speak to him till the very minute of her departure But not able to avoid him at her return Themistus saw her at her own Palace and that alone I shall not give you a punctual account of the entertainment happened between them for I have so many things of greater consequence to acquaint you withall that I shall pass by that But at last Themistus spoke so passionately to Lindamira that that fair Princess whose heart is naturally very tender and who had been enraged in love through friendship confirmed the permission she had given him and so did as good as encourage him to believe that the tenderness she had for him amounted to something beyond ordinary friendship but she withall laid her absolute commands upon him never to require any other demonstrations of it than simple assurances and not by any means pretend to ought but the glory to know that she preferred him before all men in the world Themistus who was much more happy than he expected to be promised to do all she desired and was so well satisfied with the change of his fortune that he soon recovered his perfect health Demarata in the mean time was more and more perswaded that she had prov'd the Doctress and restored him to it for he growing a little better the very day she came to visit him told her at the first visit he made her by way of complement that he came to make his acknowledgments for that the honors she had done him had saved his life So that taking this positively as he said it she was afraid she had told him too much for she had as yet some remainders of modesty in her and her love was not grown too strong for her reason However she behaved her self with so much discretion that Themistus did not so much as imagine what she had within her so that the satisfaction it was to him to be in good terms with Lindamira was not clouded with any thing but the love of the Prince of Messena as also by the small likelihood there was he could ever be absolutely happy For this Princess scattered not so much as a word whence he might gather the least hope that she would ever be perswaded to marry him so that knowing her virtue and the disposition of her soul his happiness was still in some hazard But this hindred him not from believing himself the most fortunate lover in the world because he valued the least favor he received from Lindamira beyond all the kindnesses that others could receive 'T was then he understood the difference there is between
fair opportunity to render himself famous it was such an affliction to him as he was not well able to buckle with It must needs be acknowledged that I am very unfortunate said he to himself as he hath told me since for I have defeated the enemy to no other end but that the Prince of Messena may the more easily subdue them and that he should haply enjoy the fruits of my labours I have further the unhappiness to be more loved by Demarata than I would be who having so much power with the Prince as she hath will infallibly do me all the ill offices she can and make me as unfortunate in ambition as in love 'T is true I have this happiness that I am not slighted by the person I love but alas what will be the effect of the affection she hath for me but to make me more miserable than I am For when all is done she confines the expressions of her affection to such narrow limits that I dare not so much as hope ever to see my self absolutely happy She still is guided by considerations of Prudence State and Glory and because I am no Prince and that I have sometimes been unfortunate my Birth Love and Services shall signifie nothing and there 's a necessity I should ever be the object of misfortune However since the incomparable Lindamira ordains it should be so I must submit nay admire and reverence the virtue that makes me miserable You see Madam how Themistus entertained himself while Demarata was examining what resolution to take for she could not be at rest any where Nay she made it her complaint that ever since Themistus's return she past not an hour but she heard some discourse or other of him While he was in the Army the reputation of his great actions was the general discourse while he was in health at Syracuse either she could not or haply would not be without his visits and now that he lay hurt Perianthus spoke to her of him perpetually nay all that came to her thinking they did well were constantly bemoaning him How said she one morning to Amerintha being violently transported by that exasperated passion that made her abhor what she loved if I may so express my self Shall Demarata in whom the world finds something that may raise love undergo the shame of loving without being loved again nay be so base as to be troubled of a suddain at the pretended death of him who does her this affront Must I ever see him dividing Perianthus's heart with me and being the object of all his friendship No no said she it were too rigorous a punishment and the best course I can take is to banish him my presence since I cannot my heart who will not entertain me into his But this must be done by circumvention I must calumniate and impose false crimes upon Themistus and I must cease to be what I have ever been But Madam said Amerintha to her how shall this be effected in case you are resolved to do it for you cannot persuade the Prince that he holds any correspondence with the enemy since he hath defeated him You cannot accuse him of having inriched himself prejudicially to the Prince from whom he many times refuses new favours because of all men he is the most dis-interessed So that I see not what you can probably charge Themistus with That he loves me replies Demarata blushing This no doubt is the highest supposition in the world added this revengeful Princess but the easiest thing in the world for me to make Perianthus believe if I but undertake it and since it is the only way to remove Themistus from my presence and to be revenged of his insensibility I must needs embrace it Nor shall my revenge be cruel since he shall lose no more than what fortune would not haply have bestowed on him without me For had not I confirmed the Prince in the friendship he had for Themistus he would not have affected him so much But Madam replied Amerintha if Perianthus ever discovers the Truth you would ruine your self by endeavouring to ruine Themistus How said she do you imagine Friendship more powerful than Love That Perianthus can avoid jealousie whom I would have to be jealous and that imagining Themistus in love with me he can do it to my prejudice No no Amerintha that were to invert the order of things indeed it is impossible it should be so Besides the resolution I take is haply much more innocent than you conceive for if I should not banish Themistus my presence I could not forbear loving him as insensible as he is nay haply I should not be able to conceal my affection from him I must therefore so husband the hatred I have for him as to make it contribute to my reputation No question but I hate him at the present but I am not confident I shall do as much when I see him I must therefore while he is a prisoner to his wounds and cannot come to see me make the best use I can of such precious minutes I must flatter Perianthus I must invent I must forget all honesty and I must do all that is requisite to punish an insensible person that so I may no longer love a man that neither does or ever can love me Accordingly Madam Demarata being at that time absolutely resolved to have Themistus banished bethought her of what ever might further her design She therefore took very great care never to speak first of Themistus especially before Perianthus and to answer very coldly when ever he spoke of him to her She never sent to know how he did and avoided saying or doing any thing whence it might be inferr'd he was in any favour with her For some daies Perianthus minded not this change but Themistus recovering and very fit to admit discourse Perianthus perceived that Demarata concerned not her self so much in Themistus's welfare as she had done some time before when Themistus was like to die However he would not at first say any thing to her of it for being still extreamly fond of her he was afraid of having any contestation with a person that had all the power over him that Love could give her So that having observed this coldness for some daies without being able to discover whence it proceeded or knowing that Demarata had not sent to see how Themistus did he asked Themistus himself who was very much surprised at the question and therefore answered not precisely thereto for being the most reserved man in the world he would have dyed e're he had told Perianthus the true cause of Demarata's change He therefore told him he knew not but that he was in her favour that if he were not it proceeded from some artifice of those who envied his good fortune but this he told him with such an accent that the Prince could not but judge there was something more in his mind than he was willing to discover He for some
you in remembrance of all he hath done for you that so it may never out of your memory Give me then leave to entertain you with a slight account of his Life and so let you know after what manner you ought to bewail your Deliverer I need say nothing to you of his illustrious birth you know it as well as I do nor shall I trouble you with any celebrations of the virtue of his Ancestors for his own having exceeded theirs it were unjust to derive his praise from the Virtues of another But I beseech you Romans forget not that tedious captivity of Brutus 's Reason which is the cause of your present freedom and that Rome shall never again be a slave to the Tyrant's Will Remember how that he devoted his whole life to work out your safety that as soon as that favourable conjuncture of time which he had expected for so many years was come he employed all his understanding and all his courage in order to your liberty and without minding either his Fortune or his Life all his endeavours have been only to make you happy to revenge the virtuous Lucretia to punish the infamous Sextus and to knock off those ignominious Fetters of Slavery that we had groaned under for so long time He hath knocked them off Romans and you ought eternally to look on him as your Deliverer and have for him the same respect as you have for the illustrious Founder of Rome Besides you are not only obliged to him for all he hath done to turn Tarquin out of the Throne he had usurped all that by his prudence he hath done to unite you since the Tyrant hath ceased to be your Master all he hath done in the assault of the enemie's Camp where he expressed his valour after so glorious a manner what he did when he wounded the infamous Sextus the great actions he was seen to do when he forced that dangerous narrow passage which hindred us from being able to force Tarquin to a Battel and lastly what he hath done since in the head of our Forces and in the sight of both Armies when he killed one of the most valiant Princes in the world but you are further obliged to him for all we have done to gain the victory after his death since we are only feeble imitators of his Virtue Nay Rome it self is obliged to him for all the greatness and all the glory which I foresee she will arrive to hereafter and as long as there shall be Romans there will be ungrateful men if they have not such a veneration for Brutus as in some sort comes near that which they have for the immortal gods In a word that prodigious voice that hath declared us Conquerors is an infallible presage to us of the interest he hath with the gods Let us therefore bewail our illustrious Deliverer but generous Romans we are not to bewail him as an ordinary person It is not by fruitless tears that we must express the indignation we are in for his sake it is by multiplying our aversion against those that are the occasions of his loss 't is by taking a resolution to put that design in execution which he had to exterminate the race of the Tarquins and to dye a thousand times rather than enter into slavery again 'T is thus Romans that we must express our affliction for the loss of a man that died so gloriously that his Funeral Solemnity is a Triumph for a man I say who for the small time that he durst discover his Reason hath made it appear that he was not only free from all Vice but also that he had a prudence equal to his understanding was as eminent for his courage as his moderation for his mildness as his constancy had more Virtue than all the Romans put together and a thousand times more love for his Countrey than he had for himself While Valerius spoke the people heard him with such an awful silence that it was easily seen that they were pleased with the praises of Brutus He had no sooner left off speaking but though he had forbidden tears there were heard so many cries and so many complaints and such sobbing and sighing mixt with the acclamations they gave the actions of that illustrious deceased and the words of Valerius that people could not distinctly hear one another But since it was a point of prudence not to soften the hearts of the people too much by so sad an object they made what haste they conveniently could to give the illustrious Brutus the last honors he could receive and by the order of Valerius and the Senate it was resolved a Statue should be erected to him at the publique charge the more to immortalize his glory And to conclude so remakable a day with some expressions of joy Valerius according to the custom entertained the most considerable of the Senate The next day visited Brutus's Aunt and Sister where he found all the Roman Ladies in Mourning which they had engaged themselves not to put off during the space of one year so to acknowledge as they said the obligation their Sex ought to Brutus who had so well revenged the virtuous Lucretia In a word there was not a woman in Rome that mourned not for the death of Brutus as if he had been her Father Valerius went also to visit Clelius who was very much troubled because of the danger of Octavius's wound and was so much the more if I may so say out of an imagination that Aronces had hurt him as conceiving him to be still his Rival There were indeed no infallible proofs of it but the circumstances were very pregnant in so much that Clelius being a man of a violent nature if Horatius had been then at Rome would have forced Clelia to have preferred him before Aronces Great then must needs be the affliction of that admirable Lady for she saw her Brother in danger she knew not whether Aronces had hurt him was to learn whether he were living or no she was troubled even at Horatius's absence out of a fear lest he and Aronces might meet together and no doubt but she suffered all that a person that loves truely could suffer Yet was her disquiet encreased three daies after for not only Octavius grew worse than he had been but she heard that Zenocrates was newly arrived at Valerius's and had brought a very sad account of Aronces so that she felt not only those misfortunes that had already happened to her but was also sensible of all those that might The End of the Third Part of CLELIA CLELIA An Excellent NEW ROMANCE The FOURTH VOLUME Written in FRENCH by the Exquisite Pen of Monsieur de SCUDERY Governor of Nostre-Dame de la Garde Rendered into English by G. H. LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman and Tho. Cockerill at the Kings Arms in the Poultry and at the Atlas in Cornhill 1677. To the Right Worshipful The Lady Mary S. Quintin MADAM AMongst all the
had not he inform'd me of the death of the generous Meriander the intelligence brought me of the voyage of the Prince of Messena would not have much troubled me But by what I understand said Plotina you and Merigenes have interchanged sighs for sighs for if he acquainted you with the death of Meriander you have informed him of that of Lisydas and Alcimedes In truth answered Themistus he much deplored their fates But I must tell you interpos'd Amilcar that sorrow of this nature is a thing very unprofitable at least to the persons lamented for to those that express it it is honorable making them esteemed compassionate and constant and gains them the reputation of bearing their friendship beyond the Urne But to speak unfeignedly there is nothing more rare than true grief I must confess added Plotina I am of Amilcar's opinion and believe that there are feigned tears tears of custom and tears of decorum For my part said Amilcar I remember I saw a very excellent person dye at Carthage who was not griev'd for by half those that lamented him But can one lament without grief said Valeria I could not do it for my part said Collatina I have seen it done more than once replied Amilcar and if you would observe the general practise of the world you would be of the same belief with me For when people behold the death of some one whom they conceive themselves oblig'd to sorrow for they bewail him and extoll him and make shew of going to condole with and comfort his Relations but in the mean while if during the visit some one in the company relate some pleasant story it is listned to paraphras'd on and laught at after which the mourners walk abroad make visits and are altogether after their ordinary manner till beholding the particular friends or kindred of the deceased their tears are renewed and their sighs and melancholly acted over again And because when this is past he is never spoken nor thought of more I cannot but believe that they which do things that have so little affinity with grief can have no true grief at all For to return to that person of great worth whom I beheld die at Carthage and who was so much regretted I assure you I saw Women who were scarce known to him in his life out of vanity and to make it believ'd he was their great friend that habited themselves carelesly for two or three daies and went from house to house asking if they did lament him speaking of him with a certain familiarity full of tenderness sufficient to deceive such as had not the spirit of discernment which is so necessary to live well in the world And which was rare these fair Mourners the same day they spoke thus pitiously went at evening to hear Musick and to make Collations and Revels They pretended indeed that they went thither only to divert their mind from their sorrow for truly said they with a languishing voice should not we see some body and constrain our selves we should die of grief And will not you now consent with me that griefs are sometimes very suspitious and seldom true and that to speak things as they are there is as little true Grief as there is true friendship The measure of the one answer'd Herminius is without doubt the measure of the other for only their loss is much resented who were much belov'd but above all there is nothing more excellent than to preseve the memory of ones friends I intend not to speak of those mournings which do nothing but pour forth streams of tears which are rather an effect of the weakness of their reason that shed them than of the excess of their regret But I mean them that retain a long and prudent sorrow who during their whole life do all they are able to do for their dead friends in the condition they are in that is by speaking alwaies of them with esteem defending their past actions with zeal serving them whom they would have serv'd had they liv'd loving those whom they lov'd and never forgetting them That which you say replied Plotina is without doubt very excellent but if there are few people that can deplore their friends in this manner there are few friends that deserve to be lamented so All the company assenting to the opinion of Plotina she took leave of them because it was now very late The next day Valerius in order to executing the design he had to intimate to the people that he did not misdoubt the success of the War after he came out of the Senate went to see his workmen which he employ'd in finishing his house on the Mount Velia where he dwelt already for there was more than half of it compleated And to execute his purpose he added half as many more to the workmen that had hitherto laboured in his structure So that there was seen nothing but burthened slaves along the way leading to it going and coming continually to carry things necessary to the builders Valerius also judg'd it not fit in the conjuncture of affairs to motion so soon the election of a new Consul in the place of the illustrious Brutus for fear lest giving an occasion of a contest in the Senate there might be some commotion which might be attended with dangerous consequences when it should come to be known that Porsenna protected Tarquin He advised with the most prudent of those that understood affairs and did nothing but what they counselled him to But as the rules of prudence can never be infallible when the deliberation is concerning what the people will or will not do the wisdom and virtue of Valerius were not powerful enough to hinder but that what he did with the best and most innocent intention in the world was interpreted to his disadvantage Within five or six daies after the arrival of Zenocrates the news of the return of Aronces to Clusium and the alliance of Tarquin with the King of Etruria was known by all the people who instead of taking heart from the tranquillity that appear'd in the mind of Valerius and the several Orders he had given that the forces should be in an expedite condition began to repine very loudly 'T is true some of Tarquin's creatures served secretly to irritate the minds of the multitude Some said 't was easie to observe that Valerius minded himself more than the publick good in that he built so magnificent a House in a time wherein the new-born Republick stood in need that all the Romans should contribute a part of their Estates towards sustaining the charge of the War Others That it appear'd enough that he hated the King more than Royalty since it appear'd he had a design of reigning like a Sovereign in that he spoke nothing of making an election of another Consul and that he caused more than ordinary diligence and haste to be used about a house which might become an impregnable Citadel when he would fortifie it
ago Hortensius having a noble aspect and magnificent garb his presence easily confirmed the commendations which the Letter of the Princess Andronice and Eumenes expressed of him For Melanthus after having read what the Princess his Sister had writ to him and heard what Eumenes said to the advantage of Hortensius This generous Stranger said he turning to Eumenes and pointing towards Hortensius could not arrive more opportunely for his own glory and the benefit of my occasions since I shall soon give him place to signalize his valor against a more worthy enemy than the insolent Attalus Hortensius answered to this discourse with all the honorable confidence becoming a brave man and together with all the modesty becoming an intelligent and discreet person After which Meleanthus taking him aside from the Multitude lead him into a Garden which was behind the Castle wherein the young Prince of Elis was guarded for it being seated just in the middle of the several quarters of his Army he made choice of it as most convenient to assemble a Council of War in though he returned back again at night to Elis. But he had not as yet seen Elismonda nor had any intention to see her at that time besides that this fair Captive having been sick ever since she came into his power he thought not fit to give her the trouble of receiving a visit from him though indeed naturally he had not so much humanity as a great Prince ought to have For it was a kind of cruelty to hold a Council of War in the place where this fair Princess was and to bring as it were before her eyes such a multitude destinated to the ruine of her Countrey And this was really a strange augmentation of her sorrow for as I understood afterwards from the mouth of that Lady of quality who was then with her and whose name was Cleontine Elismonda stood at a window looking directly upon the bridge of a Castle at the time when Eumenes and Hortensius arrived there So that both of them seeming of a noble aspect and Hortensius very richly cloathed when Elismonda saw Eumenes present himself to Melanthus who was in the Court of the Castle at their addressing to him she judg'd it was some stranger that came to serve the Prince of Messenia Alas Cleontine said she sighing behold here for certain new enemies come against me who have the appearance of brave men and consequently give me terror enough to make me hate them You are too just answered Cleontine who was a very discreet person and handsome enough though past the glory of her first youth to hate people which you know not and they you as little But Cleontine said Elismonda do not these people know at least though I am as unknown to them as they to me that Melanthus makes an unjust War and if they be not his Subjects why do they not go and put themselves into the Army of the Prince of Cyparissa who defends an unfortunate Princess unjustly opprest Perhaps Madam answered Cleontine they which you see are subjects to Melanthus and if so they may with Justice partake in an unjust side for in my opinion it is not lawful for subjects to dispence with themselves from going to the War when their Prince is there though they be perswaded he has the wrong cause For I remember I had a Father who sometimes discoursed thus to a Brother of mine when he enjoyned him to be always faithful to his Prince Ah! Cleontine replyed Elismonda one of those two persons there is none of Melanthus's subject and therefore you ought at least allow me to hate him In saying which she pointed to Hortensius whom the Prince of Messenia had taken apart from the rest which environed him to lead him into the Garden I spoke of towards which also Elismonda had grated windows jetting forth But Madam said Cleontine who only endeavored to amuse her He whom you would hate is the man of the more noble ayr and gallant personage That 's it I hate him for answered she for had I not a good opinion of him I should wish less ill to him But alass continued she sighing I am my self very unjust for since the Gods seem to abandon the protection of a Countrey which is consecrated to them ought I to wonder that men should be against me ought I not rather to think it the Will of Heaven that I should be infortunate and though apparently born to be happy become the most miserable Princess in the World for in brief I have lost a Father who lov'd me tenderly my Subjects look upon me almost as a Child and since they are comforted after the death of the Prince my Father they will assuredly make peace with the Usurper So that my dear Cleontine there is only the Prince of Cyparissa who upholds my interests though he does it not for my sake only for he is banisht out of his own Countrey and could not be better elsewhere But Madam answered Cleontine you know it as well as I that the Prince of Cyparissa loves you though he has not yet discovered himself to you I know it but too well replyed Elismonda and this is it which renders me compleatly unhappy For if he happen to be overcome I shall remain prisoner to Melanthus and if he be Conqueror how shall I be able to give check to his pretensions But Madam said Cleontine the Prince of Cyparissa is excellently shap'd a man of courage spirit and birth and if he should restore Elis Pisa and Olympia to you and drive back Melanthus into his own Countrey and put you in a condition of seeing peaceably the next Olympick Games that shall be celebrated I conceive you would have no reason to complain of fortune though you should be obliged to marry him I confess you have cause to speak as you do answered Elismonda but yet I am not to be blam'd for saying what I do for to discover to you the bottom of my heart to this hour I never saw a person I could be inclinable to marry without some strange kind of regret I know I am of a quality in which such persons are not wont to choose but this is it which troubles me and perhaps renders the Prince of Cyparissa less acceptable unto me Yet I esteem him very highly and had I a brother I should not be displeas'd if he were perfectly such a person as he but in the mean time should I be one day constrained to marry him out of gratitude I should be all my life unhappy and should have so much greater cause to complain in that I should 〈◊〉 an unhappiness of which I should never complâ—inâ— not even to you my dear Cleontine For in short should my destiny bring this to pass I forbid you from thenceforth to mention it to me as long as you live Thus you see Madam in what temper Elismonda's mind was whilst Melanthus was entertaining Hortensius with several matters He constrained
in this manner with the less scruple was that he apprehended reasons of State might require Elismonda to marry Melanthus But though he acquitted himself with fidelity of whatsoever trust that Prince reposed in him in order to the success of his design yet he was glad to see that according to all appearances the Princess would never be brought to comply with his desires and he accounted himself happy in knowing she had both esteem and friendship for him and seeing himself equally endear'd to two Princesses so accomplish'd as Elismonda Andronice But when Eumenes after they were retir'd in private spoke to him of the adventure of the Picture he reprov'd him friendly And What intended you to your self said he to him seriously in exposing your self and me also to danger Had I believ'd I should have brought you into danger answer'd Hortensius I would never have committed this odd prank And since my dear Eumenes continued he you know the secret of my heart and have understood I lov'd Elismonda before my self having discover'd it before I knew I did so you may easily conjecture how unhappy I am who have taken so strange a course for my consolation But I beseech you do not suspect me of intending ever to betray my Master No Eumenes I will betray my own love for his interest and rather lose my life than commit an unworthiness If the War did not detain me here and I could with honor forsake my Prince so long as he has his sword in his hand I should undoubtedly do it rather than be engag'd in such a difficulty as doing service to a Rival with his Mistress But for that this cannot be I shall serve him faithfully in the pretensions he hath to Elismonda in spight of all the passion I have for her If this Princesses rigor towards Melanthus ceases I confess ingenuously I find not my soul firm enough to be a witness of his felicity but as soon as I should see him in a condition of being happy I should betake my self to wander about the world as the most unfortunate of men I should together forsake my Master and my Mistress and my Fortune and giving over all care of my Love go seek my death without discovering the cause of it to any other but your self But if Elismonda continue firm in her resolution of not marrying Melanthus I shall then endeavour to do the Princess service with him to the utmost of my power lest he changing his Love into hatred treat her rigorously and I shall adore her all my life in secret without knowing what course to take with my passion Thus my dear Eumenes continued he you see the naked sentiments of my Soul which I intreat you not to endeavour to alter for I well know your reason will not be able to do that to which my own has been ineffectual Whilst Hortensius was reasoning in this manner with Eumenes Elismonda being retir'd at night call'd Cleontine into her Closet and began to speak to her about the adventure of her Picture seeking to conjecture who might have had such boldness to detain it For my part said Cleontine to her I love not to seek that which I cannot find but I would only know Who you would be contented were the thief But Cleontine answer'd she smiling if I were to wish any thing I would wish this accident had never fallen out I have told you Madam already replyed Cleontine that I care not to have such an unprofitable curiosity and so you may judge I as little affect a wish or desire that serves to no purpose Therefore take matters in the state they are in and do me the favour to tell me whether you would have this prank committed by Melanthus or by the Prince of Cyparissa or by Hortensius or by some other I hate the first too much answer'd Elismonda and I have too great an aversion from the second to wish him guilty of this subtle deceit and perhaps I love the third too well to desire he were my Lover For indeed I would not that Hortensius were unhappy and he must assuredly be so in case he loves me If he could know what you say concerning him Madam reply'd Cleontine he were not much to be pittied I assure you said the Princess blushing that though I am not over well skill'd in love I believe that friendship is no great consolation to a Lover You speak so well what you are minded answer'd Cleontine smiling that I believe you understand more in Love than you imagine Alas Cleontine reply'd she smiling also who do you think should have taught me He that teaches Nightingals to sing so well in the Spring answer'd she may perhaps have taught you to speak after the manner you do However it be reply'd Elismonda I find it sufficient that I am Melanthus's prisoner without engaging my heart to be no longer free at all but I have a confidence 't is still my own and will be so for ever This Madam was the conversation of Elismonda and Cleontine But the next morning when the Prince of Messina and the Prince of Cyparissa were busied in the choice of Judges which were to preside at the Olympick Games Hortensius being desirous to gain a glory absolutely uninteressed would not concern himself in the affair And therefore he went to spend part of the afternoon with the Princess Elismonda who had then no other company but Cleontine the other Ladies being gone to the apartment of the Princess Andronice or that of the virtuous Elisante with intention to come back soon after to the Princess of Elis. Now the adventure of the preceding day being yet too fresh to be silenc'd Elismonda after the first civilities ask'd Hortensius Who he suspected to have taken away her picture and made those four Verses For in brief said she pleasantly retorting them upon the instant Knew I what Criminal hand it was Did this injurious part If he 'd restore my Picture back I 'd render him his heart Ah! Madam answer'd Hortensius did I know that unhappy person who loves you without daring to discover himself I think I should conceal him from you after what you have said for I look upon him as sufficiently punisht for the boldness he has to love you and to love you assuredly with very little hope without besides endangering him to be constrain'd to take back his heart and restore you your picture And moreover Madam continued he because there is no appearance this Lover can do any prejudice to the Prince whom I serve I conceive the compassion I have of him is not criminal I assure you answer'd she hastily Whoever that Unknown be he is more in favor with me than the Prince Melanthus can ever be in quality of a Lover But Madam said he would you be contented that Unknown knew what you say concerning him What I have said answer'd she being rather an effect of my hatred against Melanthus than kindness towards him I should
obligingly in all my concernments but that which I am able to swear to you with sincerity is this If Hortensius be a Lover of mine you are a thousand times more oblig'd to him than if he were not since 't is the greatest truth in the world that he has omitted to do nothing that might induce me to receive your affection in the way you desire And therefore my Lord if Hortensius be amorous of me it concerns me to take it ill and not you Leave me then the care of punishing him for this crime and if you have no other to charge him with be cautious how you dismiss him of your friendship For my Lord I swear it to you once more There is nothing which Hortensius has not done to oblige me to treat you better and to speak with the greatest sincerity I can possible 't is neither to your affection nor to my prudence that you owe the small complacency I have shewn towards you but to the perswasions of Hortensius Ah Madam reply'd he roughly I will owe nothing to Hortensius That perhaps would be sufficiently difficult answer'd she for being what is pass'd cannot be alter'd you will always owe too many things to him I understand you well Madam said he to her you would intimate that I owe part of my victories to him but to let you see I am able to overcome without him if he die not of the wounds he has receiv'd I will return him into the same condition he was in when he came to my Court that is I will send him to wander again about the world without fortune and subsistence provided you persuade me effectually that you do not love him For if you treat me so added this violent Prince that I have cause to believe you do nothing shall be able to restrain me from putting him to death I have already told you answer'd Elismonda in great amazement that I know nothing of Hortensius's love and that he alone induc'd me to treat you more respectfully than I should have done if I had follow'd my true sentiments but that which I shall tell you at present is that had you put Hortensius to death I should never look upon you but with horror Ah! Cruel person that you are cry'd Melanthus what is this that you make me hear For if you have known the Love of Hortensius which I scarce doubt of I am the the most unfortunate of men and he the most criminal and if you knew it not before why does not the discovery I now make to you of it incense you against him Is it a usual thing added he for a great Princess to take it well to be lov'd by such a man as Hortensius who dares not return into his own Countrey because 't is fear'd lest he one day become the Tyrant of it If Hortensins be not amorous of me answer'd she I should be very unjust in taking away any friendship from him and if he be as you say I ought to redouble my esteem towards him since he does the most generous heroical and difficult act in the world which is to serve his Rival and to have so much respect as to be in love and not declare it But though it were true Madam reply'd Melanthus that Hortensius has conceal'd his passion from you is it not enough to make him Criminal against me that he is enamour'd on you Why did he not oppose that passion when it first sprung up in his heart and if he could not do that why did he not betake himself to some place where he might never see you during his life But my Lord answer'd Elismonda coldly if Love be voluntary Why do not you cease to love a person that cannot love you or if you be unable to do so Why do you not remove her far from your sight for ever Ah! Madam cry'd he you love Hortensius and you would not speak as you do if he were indifferent to you I have without doubt answer'd she all the esteem for him imaginable and the most tender friendship that any heart is capable of therefore my Lord preserve his life if you love me Elismonda spake this after so passionate a manner though she did not design to do so that Melanthus well perceiv'd she had at least a very strong inclination to love Hortensius and being infinitely ingenious drew a consequence that gave him very great torment For after having spoken of the Predictions which occasion'd Hortensius to be banish'd from his Countrey and Elismonda not requiring of him the clearing up of a thing so extraordinary she thence conjectur'd that she had understood it from Hortensius So that his jealousie redoubling he became strangely transported against that generous Veientine Nevertheless there were some moments in which he spoke to Elismonda with an extream tenderness I beseech you Madam said he to her excuse my transport it is so difficult to have very much love and very much moderation at the same time that if you would consider the fury that possesses me as an effect of the greatness of my affection you would not condemn me for it but pity me But alas it is easie for you to oblige me to pardon Hortensius Yes Madam added he I have so high an opinion of your virtue that if you render me happy I will not banish Hortensius I will even do what I am able to restore him to my friendship at least I will change nothing in his fortune nor attempt any thing upon his life The destiny of Hortensius therefore is in your hands and if he has not discover'd to you his love and you have none for him resolve Madam to end the War and my miseries We are soon at the end of the Truce consider therefore seriously upon what I propound to you Your quiet is concern'd Hortensius s life and all my felicity Do not incense a Prince who is not master of his resentment when he is affronted who requires nothing of you but what is advantageous to you and who notwithstanding your being a prisoner is more subject to your pleasure than any other Lover ever was If it were so answer'd she you would not act as you do But in brief my Lord added the Princess I have long since given you to understand that so long as I continue a prisoner I would never think of marrying that it 's requisite first to make a peace and after that I shall consider what resolution I ought to take Persist if you please in these terms and in the mean time forget not what I told you that if you should put Hortensius to death I should never see you but with horror I shall remember it Madam I shall remember it reply'd Melanthus as he was rising up and since all I have now said to you does not oblige you to change your sentiments we shall see whether Melanthus incens'd will be more pleasing than Melanthus submiss and respectful You love Hortensius said he to her but
is time to make thee change thy object Therefore lift up thine eyes and see proud Italy such as she shall be one day when she comes to be Mistress of the World in the same place where thou sawest all Greece But to arrest thy sight to one single object look upon that man with a severe countenance 't is Livius Andronicus who shall write Tragedies of which in time nothing shall be left but some fragments which shall give posterity to know that he had a kind of driness and rudeness in his Wit In the next place take notice of Ennius and thou wilt observe by his aspect that he will one day become a gallant man and a lover of joy He shall be a Native of Tarentum he shall imagine himself to have the soul of Homer he shall write the History of his own Countrey in Verse and making his own Epitaph himself he shall forbid all persons to lament him because he lives still and shall always live in the memory of men Nevertheless his Works shall perish and nothing be left of them but some fragments which shall evidence that he was nervous and of good invention Then fix thy sight ugon that man whose attire is plain and whom thou seest employ'd in turning about an Engine which serves to make Meal thou wouldst think he were able to make nothing worthy of immortality yet he that thou seest and who shall be called Plautus shall write Comedies which shall resist the depredation of time He shall he born in Umbria of low parentage at first he shall sell his Comedies afterwards he shall become a Merchant and undo himself and then poverty pressing him very heavily he shall serve in those matters thou seest him employ'd about But while he is at this Trade he shall compose some of his Works and it shall be said one day of him That if my companions and I were to speak Latine we should speak like Plautus though this Elogium be more sutable to Terence whom thou shalt see by and by whose style shall without doubt be more noble and more pure Plautus shall principally propose to his imitation Epicharmus and Aristophanes two Greek Poets whom I shew'd thee his Comedies shall be full of Wit and pleasant Conceits but not very modest Indeed he shall better represent slaves courtisans and those of the baser sort of people than honest persons like some Painters whose odd fancy is better at representing poor cripled and deformed soldiers than Princes and Heroes In process of time he shall seem something obscure because he shall love to take the liberty of making extraordinary words and employing those which are peculiar to the eloquence of the vulgar But however there shall be handsome strains in his Works and raillery shall be neatly couch'd in them Look next upon Statius Caecilius a Gaul he shall have the glory to be preferr'd by many above all other Authors of the Theater he shall be a great friend to Ennius and so highly respected by Terence that he shall compose nothing but what he first exposes to his censure Nevertheless time shall not respect his Works for there shall scarce any thing of time survive As for Accius Pacuvius whom thou seest there there are not things enough to tell thee of him to detain thy sight longer upon him But 't is not so with that African whom I shew thee for he merits to have all thy attention 't is that Terence I but now mention'd he shall be born at Carthage and bred up a slave at Rome by Terentius Lucanus a Senator who shall cause him to be educated with very much care and set him at liberty when he comes beyond the years of Childhood Terence shall take the famous Menander for his pattern as Plautus took Epicharmus and Aristophanes for his He shall have a particular amity with all persons of eminent quality in Rome especially with an illustrious man named Scipio and another called Laetius who shall also assist him to compose his handsome Comedies for they shall not be like those people of quality who conceive ignorance best becomes persons of condition and that it is either shameful or unprofitable to be learned There shall be nothing so pure noble and delicate as his Writings nothing that can better express the manners and genius of persons of all sorts His Comedies shall seem better at the hundredth time 's reading than at the first and they shall be the delight of all those that have an exquisite gust yet only six of them shall be transmitted to posterity which also shall be for the most part imitated from Menander who shall be his great Original nevertheless they shall not favour of the constraint or lowness of imitators but they shall be as so many Master-pieces He shall dye with sorrow as he returns from Greece to Rome for having lost by shipwrack an hundred and eight Comedies which he had made and some incomparable Satyrs He that thou seest next is Caius Lucilius who shall be a person of very great honesty and so it shall be out of a sentiment of Virtue that he will compose Satyrs There shall be something extreamly divertising in his Writings but much inequality shall always attend them 'T is true his defects shall not be long reproacht to him for his works shall perish as well as those of Turpilius and Africanus two Comick Poets whom thou mayst see standing on his right hand But the same fate shall not attend Lucretius Look upon him as a Poet of an admirable genius yet he shall have something of rudeness and impoliteness in several places but the fault of the age he shall live in and the quality of his argument shall be the cause of it In some excellent places and in his poetical digressions it shall be as much as the greatest Poet of the world shall be able to do to surpass him He shall die mad by occasion of being too much beloved for a Mistress whom he shall love thinking her self not sufficiently loved by him shall give him a water to drink which shall cause his death in stead of augmenting his love In the next place take notice of Lucius Pomponius who shall invent a new sort of Comedies called Atellanae see also near him a man that has a cheerful and sufficiently ridiculous countenance 't is Laberius the Author of the Mimicks that is of a kind of sportful Comedy set forth in gestures and postures See then a man of quality named Quintus Catulus he shall make two Epigrams which shall pass happily to the latter ages though all his other Verses perish and there shall be one of those Epigrams which shall one day give occasion to the composition of several little works which shall bear the title of The fair House-wife After him behold several mean Poets in a crowd and amongst the rest Publius Syrus a slave freed for his Wits sake who shall surpass all others in the Mimicks and Laberius himself that invented
too true and I too criminal to be excus'd But death added this despairing Lover shall without doubt punish me for my crimes for since I am the cause of that of the most excellent person that ever was I am unworthy to live And indeed to increase my despair continued he I will believe the unfortunate Clymene did not love Hesiod but only out of revenge and that it must be imputed to me whatsoever she has suffer'd by her affection to him But since it is not possible for us to live together yet at least we must reside in the same tomb and all I have acquir'd by my ambition shall be employ'd in that Structure Which fatal thought coming in an instant into Lysicrates's mind Belintha and Clemene's Aunt endeavour'd to divert him from it but in vain for having a Chariot in that Wood in which he had design'd to carry away Clymene to the Sea-side which is not far distant from it where a ship attended for him he caus'd the body of Clymene to be taken by his followers notwithstanding the tears and cries of these Ladies and himself helpt respectfully to lift it into his Chariot After which he caus'd it to be put into his ship and setting fail with all speed cross'd the Ionian Sea which is on the West side of Peloponnesus and landed not far from the place where the River which passes by the City of Elis discharges it self into the Sea and commanding Clymene's body to be carried into a Temple of Diana which was near the Bank of that River he perform'd to her all the honors of Sepulture which being done he gave himself wholly to bewail her death and caus'd a stately Tomb to be built for her in building of which he according to his promise bestow'd all the riches his ambition had gain'd him reserving only enough for his subsistence during that time and as soon as the Tomb was finisht the unhappy Lover shut himself up in it and dy'd for grief in having been the cause of so many fatal accidents though others have believ'd ambition had as great a share in his death as Love Thus Clymene was reveng'd after her death but she had not the sad happiness to be in the same Tomb with Hesiode who has had a glory transcending that of all others for the Orchomenians having consulted an Oracle which promis'd them much felicity if they could get the body of Hesiode into their power they of Locri to hinder them from it so carefully conceal'd the place of his Sepulture from strangers that there are few persons know it And moreover the Prince of Locri dying of Melancholly not long after the Locrians augmented the honors which they paid to Hesiode's memory whose very name intimates in his own language how purely he writ and whose glory is so celebrated throughout the whole World that it may be justly thought it will be so in all Ages Amilcar having done reading this History of Hesiode perceiv'd the minds of the Ladies were verymuch affected with it and that instead of delighting the company he had afflicted them In truth said Clelia the death of Clymene affects me very sensibly For my part said Valeria I have a greater commiseration of Hesiode than I am able to express I have the like for Lysicrates added Clydamira I am not of your opinion answered Berelisa for I never have any pitty for those that have once ceas'd to love though that Passion revive again in their hearts and I compassionate only Hesiode and Clymene My commiseration goes farther than yours said Salonina for I pity poor Troilus too But mine is yet greater than that you boast of answer'd Plotina smiling for I am almost dead for fear lest that poor Dog so faithful to his Master after having discover'd his Murderers be lost in the multitude of people or died of grief after having lost both his Master and his Mistriss All the company laught at the pity of Plotina and went forth to walk in several troops except Clelia Valerius Plotina Anacreon Herminius and Amilcar who began to assault Plotina with raillery for her pity to Hesiode's dog No no interrupted Anacreon do not set upon her with your jests for it perhaps her pity of that poor Dog has a more real foundation than ours for the death of Clymene for to speak sincerely though I am both a Greek and a Poet and am somewhere mention'd in the Prophecie of Apollo which you have read yet I cannot but believe but the History you have read is almost all of it invented Yet it is contriv'd ingeniously enough added he for methinks 't is not only handsomer than the truth but withal more probable History mentions nothing more of Hesiode than that he dwelt at the Town of Ascra in Boeotia near Helicon that the Muses inspir'd him and that an Oracle which spoke to him admonisht him to avoid the Temple of Nemaea which is in Peloponnesus that he travell'd into divers places that he obtain'd the Golden Tripod and that he got advantage over Homer in the judgement of Panis There are some also who affirm these two persons did not live at the same time however all that have written of Hesiode agree that he was at Locri and content themselves to say in three words that he lodg'd at the house of Antiphanes and Ganetor who had a Sister and suspecting him to be the confident of a Lover of hers killed him together with his slave that the body of the slave was found at a Cape or Promontory which was afterwards call'd by the name of Troilus in reference to him that the body of Hesiode was brought by Dolphins near a Temple of Neptune where a great sacrifice was solemnising that Hesiode's dog occasion'd the discovery of his murderers who were torn in pieces by the people and that for fear the Orchomenians should get away his body they conceal'd the place of his burial As for his Works he that invented this History has fictitiously ascrib'd to him only the Sonnet the four Verses which he relates Hesiode to have spoken and the Hymn which he makes him Author of for Neptune's Sacrifice Now it cannot but be acknowledged that fiction in this occasion has greater verisimilitude than truth it self When the purpose is to bring about extraordinary events it is no question handsomer to introduce lover in them than any other cause which has been practis'd by the inventor of this History for by seigning the love of the Prince of Locri Lysicrates Hesiode and Clymene he has made you know all these different persons and oblig'd you to love them which were to be the most unfortunate In the next place he has given probability to that which carry'd not much with it for there is far more likelyhood that two ambitious and wicked Brothers should be led to kill a man whom they look'd upon as an obstacle to their advancement by hindring their Sister from being favourable to a Prince from whom they expected the
and sixty Springs seen all the birds of my lovely desart making love to one another I was infinitely discontented and therefore continu'd he if there be any in the company who to their unhappiness have made a resolution not to love any thing let them hasten to change it for there is nothing more tormenting at the hour of death than the affliction of having not been able to love or be belov'd I assure you said Valeria I believe it is very troublesome too to call to mind an unsuccessful or impertinent love However it be said Damon who was unwilling Amilcar should be interrupted suffer the relation to be finisht which has been so delightfully begun for though Amilcar alwaies mingles some raillery in what he speaks yet credit ought to be given to his words since all the company knowes 't is his custome never to speak altogether seriously of the most serious things You have reason answer'd Plotina therefore I desire Amilcar to continue his relation After I had ceas'd being a Phoenix said Amilcar I chang'd my fortune and shape very much for I became one of the most ugly men in the World but in requiral one of the most valiant for I lov'd nothing so much as war which I follow'd continually not but that my heart was in some sort sensible of love though it was a kind of souldier-like Love which does not cause much sighing but has something of freedome and jollity in it but seldome any great matter of courtship and therefore I took more pleasure in relating a handsome field wherein I had fought a siege I had been present at or a particular combate of my own than in entertaining my self with the favours of my mistress But perhaps interrupted Plotina smiling it was because you had not any great matter to say upon that subject at least I know if any lov'd me after the military manner you have represented to me it should be easie to reckon the favours I would do him All women answer'd Herminius are not of your humor for some fancy those resolute gallants with fierce countenances who speak with boldness and have kill'd men more than polite and civiler persons who comport themselves with respect and tenderness No doubt Herminius has reason replyed Amilcar for I was not very ill treated and my stoutness caus'd me to obtain as many favours as my wit and courtship 'T is true I did not care over much for them and I remember one thing which makes good what I say One day I lost a picture which I had of my mistress as I was fighting with a man who had set upon me at an advantage and I was much more joyful for having taken his sword from him than troubled for having lost the picture Indeed when a fancy takes a man to pass for one of greater courage than others I assure you he is sufficiently employ'd for he is possess'd with envy jealousie and ambition all at a time danger is sought with eagerness though to speak sincerely 't is never delightful he alwayes desires to go beyond the rest and is altogether uncapable of quiet Then 't is sufficiently troublesome to be sometimes wounded and sometimes a prisoner for the Kings and Princes for whose service you hazard or lose your lives take little care of you However since 't is the mode it ought to be follow'd and I follow'd it so well that I was but twenty nine years old when I was slain 'T is true I had serv'd in fourteen companies with sufficient honour to be content with life were it not that it is alwaies sufficiently difficult to resolve to die But afterwards added he not giving leisure to any to interrupt him my adventure was strange enough for after having shewn much bravery the gods to punish me for being guilty of too much vanity in that respect were pleas'd the same soul which in another body had been so stout and hardy should animate that of one of the most pusillanimous men in the world At first I was not very sorry for it for I confess to you I was a little weary with the tumultuous life which I had led and those former impressions not being yet wholly blotted out I imagined that choosing a kind of calm life I might spend my daies with sufficient sweetness But alas I was deceiv'd for as soon as it was perceiv'd I was one of no courage I was expos'd to a hundred thousand troublesome occasions and I assure you the people of the world who suffer most are they who have the unhappiness to be cowards For I dare maintain it is a thousand times more pain to be void of valour than to be too couragious for a man who is valiant resolves upon death without fear at the beginning of the fight whereas a poor wretch who is not fears it in places where it is not to be met with For my part whilst I was a coward I fear'd both my friends and my enemies when I was forced to go to the war and shame engaged me to be present in any encounter the torment I suffer'd was above imagination Example did not animate me the noise of arrowes elashing together made my heart quake I was alwaies prepar'd for a retreat and alwaies observ'd to be last at the battle and the for most in the flight I went whither I was unwilling to go I did not go where I desir'd to be I was possess'd with fear and shame and amidst all this with a sottish pride which caused me to do things of which I repented a moment after But that which afflicted me most was that though at my return from the war I spoke as if I had been couragious yet I knew it was understood well enough that I was not Therefore I say once again there is nothing more painful than to want courage and a brave person that ingages in a hundred thousand dangers suffers much less than a man who continually fear things which are not to be fear'd Now therefore said Damon can what Amilcar saies be doubted of for could he invent an adventure of this nature were it not truth that forces him to speak Damon pronounc'd these words after a manner which surpriz'd all the company indeed he was a person not absolutely without wit but when a man is once capable to give himself up to believe a difficult extroardinary thing he maintains it more obstinately than if it were easie to be believ'd and is so prepossess'd with it that he is easily perswaded of any thing that may serve to authorize it Thus the poor Damon not perceiving that his Rival made sport with him conjur'd him that he would proceed Cesonia and Valeria did the same Anacreon Herminius Acrisius and Sicinius press'd him to it so that resuming his discourse I assure you said he that Life which they say is a thing very precious is notwithstanding more painful then 't is thought to be For tho I remember every thing that I have been
yet I do not remember I was ever perfectly happy Neverthelesse I was not altogether miserable after having been so fearful for I was destin'd to become a Swan I had also the good hap to be in one of the goodliest Lakes that ever I beheld and to feed very frequently from the fairest hands in the world for the place I was in belong'd to a very beautiful person who lov'd me extremely But at length it behov'd me to sing in order to my death on which occasion I found that tho they say the singing of Swans is very agreeable it is so troublesome to the singers that I was extreamly willing to change my shape I repented me soon after that wish for the gods to punish me for being dissatisfied with my condition when I was one of the fairest Swans that ever was in the world made me a bad Poet. This was a state of great misery to me not but that I accounted all that I compos'd very good and admir'd my self for it but alwaies some adventure hapned which made me know I was my own sole admirer I bethought my self one day unhappily to go shew some Verses I had made in a great Company without declaring my self to be the Author hoping thereby to be commended the more But I repented my selfe of it extreamely for there was no person but judg'd them bad and made a mockery of them But that which afflicted me yet more was that I defended them in such a manner as gave those who derided them to understand that I made them upon which beginning to moderate what they had said they wholly cast me into despair Not but that I believ'd they judg'd badly of my Verses but this did not hinder me from being possess'd with infinite indignation I lookt upon the Age I liv'd in as ignorant that people did not judge but according to their capricious humour or favour that I deserv'd better than they who were commended above me and at length I dy'd in the error I had liv'd in that is I alwaies believ'd my Verses were good tho I remember well at this day they were extream bad But for that I had alwaies devour'd my self the decree of fate was that I should become a Pelican which notwithstanding is a Bird sufficiently rare and of which kind there are not many more than of that of the Phoenix but at last dying to give life to my little Pelicans which were very sprightly my Soul was sent to Sparta to animate the body of a young Lacedemonian who was the most dexterous Thief that ever liv'd There I rob'd so cunningly that one day a young and fair person confest to me I had stolne her heart above six moneths before she perceiv'd it How Amilcar cry'd Plotina who only took an occasion to laugh you put me in great fear and I should be circumvented if you should have taken my heart without my knowing any thing of it As for that point answer'd Damon coldly 't is apparent Amilcar is pleas'd to add an agreeable Fiction to Truth tho he would do better to speak a little more seriously of a matter of such importance I will do what you desire reply'd Amilcar without being mov'd and tell you that after this I became a jealous Husband then a jealous Mistresse shortly after a jealous Lover a jealous Wife a jealous Friend jealous without cause and reason and in brief experienc'd jealousie in so many manners that I may say I was for several Ages extremely miserable But that which is remarkable continu'd Amilcar is that I never was an old man and therefore I am desirous out of curiosity only to become so once I believe it answer'd Plotina smiling but not to let slip the occasion of contenting my curiosity since you have made tryal of jealousy of all sorts that can be tell us a little whether a jealous Wife be tormented more than a jealous Husband No doubt she is answer'd Amilcar for the passions of Women when they love being more violent it is easie to judge that their jealousie is more tormenting to them than that of Men besides having not so much liberty to act in order to clearing their suspicions nor so much power to be reveng'd they must needs suffer far more For my part said Anacreon I would ask of you whether the jealousie of a Husband be more troublesome than that of a Lover That of a Husband answer'd Anacreon is more troublesome for the Wife than that of a Lover is for his Mistresse but as for him that suffers I assure you that according to the experience I have made of it it is more incommodious to be a jealous Husband than to be a jealous Lover For my part said Herminius I conceive that instead of inquiring of Amilcar those different degrees of jealousie it were better he told us what jealousie is for after having try'd it so much methinks he should better understand it than we do Herminius has reason said Damon for by so many several effects as Amilcar has seen of jealousie he may have discover'd it's true cause and nature I assure you answer'd he jealousie is a thing harder to be known than is believ'd and when I consider all my several jealousies I find my self sufficiently perplex'd to tell you what I conceive of that passion Yet 't is certainly a very powerful one and more powerful than Love since it sometimes extinguishes it But that which is constantly true is that as a stone does more or lesse mischief proportionably to the strength or weaknesse of the arme that flings it so jealousie is greater or lesse according to the measure of Love from whence it arises But yet I desire to know said Anacreon whether jealousie arises from the greatnesse of Love or from the distrust one has of himself or of the person lov'd Why one cannot love vehemently without being a little jealous and why it is necessary that the greatest punishment of life should be inseparably conjoyn'd with the greatest pleasure in the World The reason is answer'd Amilcar because Love is nothing but a desire desires are scarce ever without fear and fear in Love not without jealousie For as of necessity Love must precede jealousie so of necessity likwise jealousie must be preceded by fear For were it not fear'd a woman might prove unfaithful no person would ever be jealous if it were not fear'd a Rival might be lov'd none would be possess'd with jealousie so that it may be said if there were no fear there would be no jealousie if nothing were fear'd there would be no desires and if no desires no Love But because people desire therefore they love because they love they fear and because they fear they are jealous So that to determine the original of jealousie it must be held to be the daughter of desire and fear and because one cannot love without desire and fear it is almost an impossibility to love long without jealousie Your discourse is
Mutius his mind was so incensed with the last conversation he had with Valeria that he would not go thither and he was observ'd to avoid almost all the world and to be discontented and pensive tho the glory he had acquir'd ought to have afforded him very great satisfaction About this time the Prince of Messene found himself reduc'd to extremity but at his death he caus'd Themistus to be advertis'd that he might go and receive the recompence of his fidelity and that some daies before he had stopt a man that had order to deliver a Letter to him from the Prince of Syracusa and another from the Princess Lindamira which inform'd him that he might return And accordingly Themistus understanding this agreeable news and seeing the War ended â—itted himself to depart assoon as the wound in his arm should be cured The Prince of Messene's death and the happiness of his Rival serving then for discourse to all the world it hapned that Clelia and Plotina observing Zenocrates very melancholy the latter askt him if he had any particular interest in that adventure Alass Madam answer'd he sighing I am concern'd onely with my own miseries of which both the felicity and misfortunes of others do alike reduce the remembrance in my mind Yet some troublesome thing must needs have befallen you within this little while said Clelia for the bare remembrance of remote unhappinesses does not produce the melancholy which I perceive in your eies 'T is easie to appear sad reply'd Zenocrates when greater are apprehended to come But Valeria interrupting this discourse by speaking something apart to Clelia Plotina continu'd and so urg'd Zenocrates to tell her the cause of his discontent that he confest to her he was extremely jealous but would not discover to her who was the person he lov'd After which Plotina told Clelia what Zenocrates had confest to her An hour after the Princess of the Leontines being arriv'd Clelia heard Amiclea say to Zenocrates as she pass'd by him You are to blame and more than you can imagine She also observ'd that the Princess of the Leontines blusht as she lookt upon Zenocrates and that Zenocrates's dejectedness increas'd by beholding the Princess So that comparing all these circumstances she conjectur'd that Zenocrates lov'd the Princess and that Aronces was the cause of his jealousie Which thought so augmented her own that she was forc'd to pretend her self a little indispos'd for fear lest the alteration of her humour should be taken notice of Nevertheless she had so great curiosity to know perfectly the Adventures of the Princess of the Leontines that she requested Plotina and Valeria to ingage her to relate them and these two fair Ladies acted with such address after Zenocrates was gone that they prevail'd with her to grant that which Clelia desir'd That which you request of me said this charming Princess to them is harder to grant you than you imagine but I cannot refuse a thing that is possible to three such amiable persons as you moreover to speak freely I foresee that within a few daies that will be known which I have hitherto so carefully conceal'd However added she Amiclea must relate to you what you desire to know for I confess to you that I should not be able to tell you divers things the bare remembrance of which makes me blush tho they be not criminal Clelia Valeria and Plotina having consented to what she desir'd she went away and left Amiclea with these three fair Virgins who being alone in their Tent beseech'd her to give them a full Relation of all that concern'd the Princess of the Leontines And thereupon according to the order she had receiv'd from her she began to speak in this manner The HISTORY of the Princess LYSIMENA IF you did not know the Princess of the Leontines I should begin her History with her Elogium thereby to interess you in her misfortunes but since you are not ignorant that she is very beautiful and very amiable that she is a person of extroardinary wit and merit and that nevertheless her vertue surpasses all her charms I it remains only that I acquaint you with her infelicities to the end to excite your compassion to her and to relate her Adventures to you thereby to encrease your admiration of her I will not take much pains to describe to you how the Court of Leontium stood when we were there I shall onely tell you by the way that there was none more delightful in all Sicily tho as you know there be a great number there and it be at this day one of the places most fam'd for splendor and politeness in the world The Country being very handsome and fertile the air agreeable and liberty sufficient it is undoubtedly extreme pleasant living there But it must be confess'd that during the first years of the Princess Lysimena's life the Court of Leontium was more delightful than it can be at this day For when the principal Persons of a Court have well-temper'd minds their example renders all their inferiors more civilis'd and vertuous The late Prince of Leontium was certainly a very accomplisht Prince and the Princess of Leontium his wife was indu'd with all the Qualities that can cause a Person of Honour to be admir'd Moreover it may be assur'd that the Princess Lysimena resembles her as much as Artemidorus does the late Prince his Father He that reigns at this day has unquestionably some Qualities that ought to be commended for he is indu'd with wit and courage but he is naturally distrustful excessively jealous of his Authority when he need not and besides has some inclinations to cruelty But to return to the Princess Lysimena you shall know that she from her infancy was very amiable that at twelve years old she was the greatest ornament of the Court It was believ'd at that time that she had but one Brother for you must know Artemidorus at the age of ten years was taken by Pyrates as the Prince of the Leontium sent him to Greece under the conduct of a wife Governor called Cleanthus to be brought up there till he should come to the age of eighteen years after which no tidings had been heard of him So that when the Prince his Father dy'd Lysimena remain'd under the Authority of the Prince of Leontium her Brother who Reigns at this day Whilst ' the Princess her mother was alive she was not without some consolation besides being then but sixteen years old grief more easily wore out of her mind and she became capable of all the joy that can be found in a splendid Court by a Person that holds the chief rank there in all things and sees her self as much superior to all about her both in beauty wit and Quality The Princess Lysimena has always had the advantage to be free from one of those defects which are sufficiently common in those of her rank for she had never any of that intolerable pride through
friendship if I may so speak we leave the thorns to those sincere Friends who resent all the sorrows of those they love who engage in all their interests without exception who maintain the same courageously against the World who have no fortunes apart whose very honour is mutually common who can never be poor whilst one of them is rich who think themselves not in health when their friends are sick Believe me added Amilcar this kind of friendship is not competent to all sorts of people and I know some persons that have not been able to attain to it though they much desir'd it And therefore for fear of the same miscarriage I content my self with loving according to the fashion that is very commodiously for my self To conclude whatever Merigenes is pleas'd to say he knows no great number of those Heroes in Friendship For my part said Plotina I desire no more of him but the Character of one for I conceive he must needs be a very agreeable person it being almost impossible to be perfectly a good Friend without being perfectly a brave man I grant it said Merigenes and I assure my self that assoon as I shall have named Lysimantus Amilcar will confess he is an excellent man and a faithful Friend I acknowledge it answer'd Amilcar and that which renders his friendship more solid is that he is indued with an immutable honesty and as for constancy he has given a thousand eminent proofs of it and lov'd the illustrious Meriander even to the death Since Lysimantus was Friend to Meriander and is so still to Merigenes said Valeria we must needs know and I joyn my self with Plotina to desire his description I do the same said Clelia and I assure my self Merigenes will not refuse us It would be sufficiently hard to do it Madam replyed he and therefore to obey you know Lysimantus is a man of illustrious Lineage and whose Ancestors have born the most considerable Charges in their own Country But to speak truly he is so well worthy to be commended by himself that 't is not at all necessary to fetch his praises from the vertues of his predecessors and it suffices to speak only of what is truly his own He is tall of a goodly aspect time has a little thickned his shape he has a fresh and lively complexion handsome and sprightly eyes something a great nose a happy Physiognomy the air of a Wise man and a very obliging address especially towards his Friends Nature has given him a great Wit but solid and firm with a very exact judgment of the highest matters Not but that he has a pliable mind which obliges him not to despise the meaner for he speaks well in the most trivial things when he pleases to give himself the trouble but it is certain his mind is naturally more fit for serious matters He has an universal knowledge of the World which scarce ever deceives him he understands the soundest Policie and the most solid morality By his prudence he foresees the most remote and least probable events and his firmness of mind causes him to support constantly the most unexpected misfortunes He knows how to undergo the changes of Fortune without changing his countenance exile and imprisonment shake not the firmness of his heart and never studying but to do that which he ought he leaves events to the power of Fortune and always prepares himself for the most improsperous that so he may not be surpriz'd by them He is honorable honest punctual secret and as great a friend as possibly can be His manners are very innocent yet his vertue is nothing austere towards others but on the contrary he conceives the wiser a man is the more he is oblig'd to excuse the light follies of his Friends He is naturally inclin'd to ambition and action but his vertue renders him so absolute a Master of his mind that he conforms himself admirably well to moderation and quiet 'T is true this quiet is sufficiently honourable to him for his vertue and his great love of justice and truth being known to all the world he is the comforter of his unfortunate friends the umpire of many great contests and the depository of the last wills of divers eminent who would be assur'd at their death to have their intentions perform'd For Lysimantus is incapable of bending for any respect whatsoever when he sees virtue does not require it and indeed all the Grandeur of the World nor death it self cannot make him demur a moment to do his duty He believes a man is not oblig'd to be happy but is oblig'd to be virtuous and he thinks he should be more miserable if he could reproach himself with an action of weakness than if he were expos'd to the most cruel persecution that ever was In which regard he confines himself so scrupulously to do what he ought that he can never fail in it and friendship as powerful as it is in his heart has never been able to cause him to omit the least thing which he thought himself oblig'd in honour to do though it were in the most nice and difficult occasions Nevertheless he loves his Friends very tenderly for being Love in general never much touch'd his heart though he may be not uncapable of a great passion his Friendship is thereby the more ardent and tender But how strong soever it be the love of glory and virtue have always the greatest influence upon him 'T is true he does not flatter himself with self-conceit in these occasions nor make a pretext of justice to the disadvantage of Friendship but he so well understands the just bounds of generosity justice and friendship that he is never mistaken in them Nevertheless he has a virtue which he is troubled to give bounds to in his heart For he believes goodness ought almost never to have any and therefore he makes a particular profession of being good and this is so much the more excellent in that having a very high Soul his goodness has nothing in it but what is noble and can never be suspected of weakness Were I minded I could relate to you a hundred eminent actions of this illustrious man which would confirm that which I say but since I know he loves not to have his actions publisht I shall conform to his humor and deprive you of a very great pleasure by depriving him of a great glory But though I forbear to tell you any thing of his life yet I shall at least inform you that he was dearly belov'd by the illustrious Meriander whom you have heard so much spoken of and is infinitely so at present by the generous Theander the prudent Theodamas the agreeable Teramus the ingenious Amilcar the illustrious Herminius whom he saw at Syracusa and by a man of eminent worth call'd Clidamantus who has a high and tender heart a very great capacity with all noble inclinations who is very sensible of Love and Friendship who is honourable
Princess of Carthage I know not my Lord whether the Laws allow what you speak of answer'd she and rise up but I know well honour does not allow me to hear you further Alas I beseech you Madam cry'd the Prince offering to detain her do not make me desperate for if you do I shall hate Cloranisbes I shall revenge my self of him and be carried to the severest extremities Consider that he minded his own contentment and not your advantage but I require nothing of you which is not glorious unto you No no my Lord answer'd she and began to go towards the Princess of Carthage who was coming to them all the ambition of my heart shall never cause me to do any thing against my duty and therefore I conjure you not to persist obstinately in a design which will never succeed to you The Prince could not answer her because Lysonice having joyn'd with the Princess of Carthage did not leave her all the rest of the evening But Lysonice seem'd so discontented and so pensive to Pasilia and Delisia when she was return'd home that they did not leave her in quiet till she told them the cause of her melancholy Whereupon having related to them the discourse she had had with the Prince Well too inquisitive Friends said she to them do not you think I have reason to be melancholy Is not my Destiny strangely severe to expose me to unhappinesses made purposely for me and which come under the apparences of good Fortune When Cloranisbes married me I was so weary of being in Exile that I believ'd I was going to be happy Nevertheless I pass'd from Exile to solitude and I found I had only chang'd my discontent After that I came to Court but there I have liv'd with a continual melancholy to see that Cloranisbes whom I thought had lov'd me well has lov'd only himself and hinder'd me from being Princess of Carthage However being he is a person of merit perhaps I should at length have resolv'd to cure my self of my ambition and pardon him if I had not observ'd in his heart that if he is not jealous he may be and for my utmost unhappiness the Prince is become amorous of me and propounds to me to separate from Cloranisbes and marry me Judge then in what a condition I am for although I am ambitious added she yet certainly I have affection for Cloranisbes and should my anger have diminisht it I confess to you I could not resolve to marry the Prince of Carthage Such as marry again after the death of their husbands I can by no means fancy judge then whether I am capable of resolving to forsake Cloranisbes to marry another But since 't is so answer'd Pasilia I see no need you have to be greatly perplex'd I am of your mind added Delisia But for my part excepted Lysonice I am not at all For do not you consider that if I be rigorous to the Prince he will banish Cloranisbes and if I keep fair terms with him I shall increase his passion and excite jealousie in Cloranisbes who perhaps will send me back into the Countrey Cloranisbes is so good a man answer'd Pasilia that you may always do what pleases you Cloranisbes loves himself so highly reply'd she that 't is for his own sake only that he loves me with such ardency and so he will consider nothing but his own felicity But what would you have him do said Pasilia I would answer'd she that if the Prince proposes to him to marry me he love me so well as to come and tell me that he will consider nothing but my satisfaction and if I desire it consent to our separation that so I may be Princess of Carthage Ha! Lysonice reply'd Delisia if Cloranisbes could part with you to the Prince he would love you too little But since you say added Pasilia you would not be the wife of two husbands what matters it to you whether Cloranisbes consent or no to a thing which you do not desire It is so great a matter to me answer'd she that I find I shall be much dissatisfied with him if he be not so generous as to do what shall please me without exception It must be confess'd said Pasilia the sentiments of people are very different for if I had a Lover or a Husband who were capable of parting with me to the greatest King in the world I should hate him I am not of your opinion answer'd Lysonice hastily for if Cloranisbes consider only himself I shall repine at him in my heart and though I am resolv'd to continue his wife till death yet I shall be so without any contentment for I cannot endure those people who love only with respect to themselves who consider nothing but their own pleasure and mind nothing else Such were the sentiments of Lysonice In the mean time the Prince's love augmenting from day to day and the Princess of Carthage who sought only to remove Cloranisbes from the Court subtilly promoting it she brought the matter to the utmost extremities and took upon her to speak to Cloranisbes in behalf of the Prince to perswade him to resign Lysonice to him The discourse she made use of was subtle and crafty she made semblance of pitying his unhappiness she accus'd the Prince of injustice but at last she gave him to understand that it was necessary for him to part with Lysonice Cloranisbes appear'd sufficiently surpris'd at this discourse for though he well perceiv'd the Prince's love yet he did not believe the matter would have gone so far His greatest discontent was for that he imagin'd Lysonice could not but have given way to the Prince to make this proposal to him However he knew the business could not be effected without him because the Law requires that both the Husband and Wife equally consent to their Divorce But this did not hinder but that his mind was extremely perplex'd I know Madam said he at length to the Princess of Carthage that I owe all things to the Prince yet this does not hinder but that there are many things which I may deny him without injustice for in fine every thing which is impossible is no part of my duty I confess it answer'd the Princess but you can part with Lysonice and consequently you ought since the Prince cannot live without her and you owe all things to him I wish I had never lov'd Lysonice reply'd he and the Prince had married her But Madam seeing the Gods have permitted that I am her husband I shall be so till death If the Prince will take away my life I consent to it he needs only chuse such a punishment as he pleases I shall suffer it but as for Lysonice I will never surrender her no though she her self should consent to the Prince's design Have a care what you do Cloranisbes said she to him I do all which I ought Madam answer'd he inasmuch as I do all which I can After this this
subtie Princess feigning to pity him craftily confirm'd him in the resoluion which he took that so he might exasperare the Prince against himself Which being done he went to his own house where the Prince had newly been on purpose to tell Lysonice what he had caus'd to be propos'd to Cloranisbes 'T is certain she very ill receiv'd him in spight of all her own ambition and told him peremptorily she would never be his Wife though she much regretted that she was not As soon as Cloranisbes enter'd he understood Lysonice knew of the proposition which was made to him and as soon as Lysonice saw Cloranisbes she perceiv'd he had been spoken to about the Prince's design So that being both sufficiently perplex'd they remain'd some time without speaking but at length Cloranisbes breaking the sad silence Well Madam said he to her will you be so generous as not to be offended if I desire that you continue in the enjoyment of the unhappy Cloranisbes all your life and if I cannot consent that you be Princess of Carthage You are so accustom'd not to love me but for your own sake answer'd she that 't is easie for me to conjecture what answer you would have me give you 'T is as easie too reply'd he for me to guess what you would have me say to you but I confess it ambitious Lysonice my love for you is still as great as your ambition and therefore do not think it strange if I cannot resolve to part with you to the Prince I know I destroy both my own fortune and yours but I know I cannot resolve to lose you 'T is true added he perhaps I endanger displeasing you by not resigning you and losing your heart by desiring to retain your person but though you should hate me I cannot cease to love you nor consent that the Prince be happy with my loss and enrich himself with my own treasure But alas whence is it that your love is not equal to mine if it were you would suffer banishment and the subversion of your fortune would not trouble you but to speak sincerely you lov'd the Favorite of the Prince of Carthage when you lov'd me without confiding in the person of Cloranisbes and so 't is no wonder if you love the Prince better than the Favorite I hear all which you say answer'd Lysonice coldly as so many new signs of a self-interested love however to assure you that I will not marry the Prince know I have this day depriv'd him of all manner of hope Ha! how happy am I interrupted Cloranisbes if you speak truth Do not be so forward to thank me answer'd she for I do it more out of honour than affection for in fine I confess to you Cloranisbes I am not satisfied with yours You have been diffident of me and could not resolve to tell me that I might recover the fortune which you caus'd me to lose by your fraud However content your self that I refuse an advantage which would certainly have affected my heart and do not pretend I have any obligation to you for a deed which is likely to render both of us unhappy The worst is the mischief has no remedy and our strange destiny will have us prove infallibly miserable For being you love me only for your own sake when time shall have a little chang'd me you will likewise be chang'd towards me and so I shall see my self without your affection and you perhaps with repentance for having lov'd me But be it how it will I must resolve to seek my consolation in my self If you lov'd me as well as I love you and shall love you as long as I live reply'd Cloranisbes you would speak after another manner but I am not so happy and 't is left only to my choice to be more or less miserable You would certainly have been more happy answer'd Lysonice if you had less studied to be so As Cloranisbes was going to answer one of his Friends came to inquire for him to give him notice that the Prince of Carthage was extremely incens'd against him and that his love of Lysonice was so violent that it was capable to carry him to any kind of injustice If he take away my life answer'd he without being mov'd he will oblige me but to pretend to deprive me of Lysonice is that which I will never endure But you must know the Princess of Carthage who design'd only to ruine Cloranisbes and would not that her Brother should marry Lysonice caus'd it to be told this fair person that the Prince intended to take her away by force not doubting but this would oblige her to withdraw her self from Utica For though she well understood she was ambitious yet she knew too that she tender'd honour above all things And accordingly Lysonice no sooner receiv'd this information but shutting her self into her Closet with Pasilia and Delisia she told them she absolutely resolv'd to go and return to her Father and Mother in that fortified place which they held without imparting her purpose to any person not even to Cloranisbes himself And then telling them what intelligence had been given her I shall be so secret said she to them in my flight because if the Prince should violently seise upon me all the World would believe I was the cause of it my self and nothing but death could manifest my innocence 'T is the best course therefore not to venture the having need of so violent a remedy Not that flight and solitude are of more value to me but I shall at least have the advantage of making it apparent that I know how to over-rule my inclinations when I please Pasilia and Delisia would have perswaded her to tell Cloranisbes of her purpose but she was inflexible No no said she to them 't is best that he be able to say with truth that he knew not of my departure that so the Prince may not accuse him of it Wherefore without further delay she pretended the next morning she would go spend the day at the house of a Lady which was her friend standing without the City but instead of doing so she took a by-way which led towards the place where she chose her retreat At night a slave came to tell Cloranisbes that she would lye at her Friend's house but Cloranisbes said nothing to it though it was not her custom and the Prince being indispos'd that day did not go to seek her The next morning indeed he sent a complement to her to know her health and when it was told him she lay out of the City he took a resolution to go visit her in the afternoon But he was much astonisht to receive a Letter from Lysonice in which he found these words Lysonice to the Prince of Carthage ACcuse me not Cloranisbes of my departure for I protest to you my Lord he knows not that I am gone 't is a design which I have put in execution without imparting it to him
well shaped and he that would represent vertue must draw the Picture of the admirable Artelicia All the world has approv'd the choice of the Prince of Agrigentum whose generosity is perpetually the same But in fine amiable Plotina you see reason and generosity require me to take a voyage into Africa to serve an unfortunate Friend and to give the Prince an account of the state of affairs in Sicily But being Love does not require it I know not what will be done and besides I feel I know not what kind of secret motion in my Soul which tells me I shall not return into Africa However I would fain know a little better than I do all the beginning of your life Content your self answer'd Plotina in knowing that you are much disfavour'd in my heart and let me leave what is pass'd 〈◊〉 that which we can have nothing to do with but at â—resent I have a great deal of pity for Cloranisbes I pity him as much as you said Valeria and Lysonice also for had she a little less ambition she would be perfectly amiable She is more so than you can imagine answer'd Amilcar and 't is no wonder that Cloranisbes is still her Lover though he be her husband and that the Prince loves her so far as to be unjust for her But how came it said Plotina that you did not love her As I never had any great passion before I saw you Madam answer'd Amilcar so I became not much more amorous than I was willing to be and therefore having regard to my friendship with Cloranisbes I over-rul'd my heart in spight of all Lysonice's charms and left it for some days between the hands of Pasilia or Delisia for to speak sincerely I know not to which of the two I made most courtship but this I know with certainty that I have never lov'd any so much as you and assuredly it ought not to be much wonder'd at for it is not so frequent to meet with extraordinary persons who can inspire great passions Youth excites nothing but delight beauty nothing but desires vertue alone esteem and respect great wit admiration eminent goodness friendship So that to frame a person who may produce at the same time delight desires esteem respect admiration friendship and love it is requisite that she be indu'd with all that I have mention'd and together with all these with an inexpressible pleasingness such as you have For as for my part I could sooner dispense with the want of extraordinary youth and great beauty than that I know not what charmingness which is found in your eyes and in your wit And in fine I speak boldly to the disparagement of beauty I have all my life profess'd I would have a Mistress who could please me without seeing her with whom I might walk in the dark without tediousness and melancholy and who was also fit to be an agreeable Friend in case it should come to pass that I lov'd her no longer as a Mistress You speak very prudently reply'd Plotina but to be as wise as you are continu'd she I think I should have done well not to countenance the affection of a stranger for I begin to fear your departure more than consists with my quiet Ha! charming Plotina said he how delightful to me is this which you say and how powerful to retain me eternally with you While he was speaking thus one brought a Letter the superscription of which was address'd to Plotina but having open'd it she found that it was not intended to her and contain'd only these four Verses Charming Hermilia here at Rome I deem'd I only as a friend had you esteem'd But now I find your absence does discover This truth unknown before I am your Lover Plotina had scarce done reading them but Hermilia enter'd and gave her a Letter open'd Certainly said she to her Octavius must needs have been mistaken for he directs a Letter to me which does not sute with me You will be confirm'd in that opinion answer'd Plotina by reading this which I give you which will manifest to you that my brother is really mistaken Hermilia took it and read it but as she was reading it she blusht and her melancholy renewing at that instant by the remembrance of her Brother and her Lover the tears came into her eyes Which nevertheless she restrain'd and returning Plotina Octavius's Letter I am so perswaded said she to her softly that in the condition I am in I am fit only to excite pity that I cannot think I have been able to excite Love Besides if it were so Octavius would be more unhappy thereby for in truth I love my grief so much that I believe I should hate whosoever would comfort me of it Plotina would have answer'd Hermilia if Telanus had not arriv'd who brought Theomenes to them and told them that at the very time he was speaking Galerita the Princess of the Leontines the generous Melintha the charming Hersilia all the friends of Aronces and Titus too were speaking in his favour to Porsenna and he promis'd that the next morning he would let them know what the success was But who is this Hersilia you speak of said the fair and melancholy Hermilia What said Plotina looking attentively upon her did not you take notice the day the Queen of Hetruria came hither of a very fair person who was with her to whom Melintha was almost continually speaking and who has so lovely an air I assure you answer'd Hermilia I observ'd nothing but had my mind fill'd only with my own sorrow whilst that great Court was here Were it but only to do something new said Amilcar 't is fit to draw you the Picture of a person whom you saw and did not see For my part said Plotina who am charm'd with her beauty I shall be ravish'd to understand a little more accurately who she is and as for me said Valeria seeing she is Melintha's friend and does Aronces service I am very curious of all that relates to her Theomenes can better content your desire answer'd Telanus than any one for he is Hersilia's intimate friend I am ready to do what the company pleases said Theomenes but if the fair Hermilia has not the same curiosity I shall speak nothing of her person but only of her wit and vertue 'T is true answer'd this illustrious Sister of Brutus few things in the world can make me curious but being I am conscious that it is not just to molest all the world continually with our grief and that when we seek not to cure it by death we ought to over-rule it and learn at least to live without appearing incivil and humorsome to reproach my self of my weakness in not being able to overcome my melancholy I will confess ingenuously that I know not whether Hersilia is brown or fair tall or low and next I will demand of you what manner of person it is whom you esteem and who I understand is universally
that the Senate should be extraordinarily assembled In the mean time Clelius Sulpitia Octavius Racilia Flavia Salonina Artemidorus Themistus Merigenes Aemilius Spurius Acrisius Sicinius Damon and all the relations of these fair virgins came to visit them every one making a complement to them according to their humor or inclination and all extolling Clelia with a kind of contest Horatius was extreme joyful in this occasion and found such pleasure in the glory of his Mistress that he had not greater when he perform'd that grand action of the Sublician Bridge He fanci'd that Clelia's leaping into Tyber as he had done was a happy presage to him and it was some delight to him to think that Clelia fled from a place where Aronces was But if his own thoughts gave him hope the looks and words of Clelia gave him none at all but on the contrary having spoken a moment with her apart he found her mind still firmer to her old resolution At least Madam said he to her do not make me unhappy before the time leave Fortune to act as she pleases and act your self as you are minded but do not forbid me to hope that perhaps you will one day find your self forc'd by destiny not to hate me All humane prudence can foresee nothing three days ago you would not have believ'd you could have attempted to cross the Tybe without a Boat and nevertheless you have done it with an heroical magnanimity 'T is true answer'd she none can foresee their own actions but such as are prudent cannot and ought not to change their sentiments Nevertheless reply'd he 't is frequently requisite to conform our selves to matters according to the time As for such Wisdom answer'd Clelia I renounce it with all my heart that which is just once is always so I never cease to love that which I love and even the infidelity and death of Aronces shall never cause my heart to change I say more added she for supposing what is absolutely impossible that I could cease to love Aronces and have such an affection for you as you desire you would not be the happier for it for a pure sentiment of honour would hinder me from expressing any thing of it and I should die a thousand times rather than do any thing that might make me liable to the reproach that I lov'd twice in my life But Horatius matters are not in these terms and I speak to you as I do only to put you out of all hope and so to oblige you to be hereafter contented with my esteem and friendship Alas Madam said he to her if you could but cease to love Aronces I should not want much of being happy for I conceive it not possible that a heart disengaged from all passion could resist mine Have I not told you answer'd she that though I should love you which yet can never happen you would not be the less miserable Ha! Madam reply'd Horatius if you lov'd me you would be no longer Mistress of your own sentiments but speak after another manner But alas I am not yet so happy and perhaps never shall Whilst Horatius was speaking thus to Clelia Herminius was conversing with Valeria but for his unhappiness it was in the presence of Aemilius and Spurius Plotina was also importun'd by Sicinius Acrisius and Damon As for Octavius he address'd to Hermilia who though she did not receive him rigorously yet she gave him greater cause of despair than if she had been more severe for after divers passionate expressions which he us'd to her To testifie to you that I esteem you answer'd Hermilia I will discover to you my real sentiments I confess then that considering things according to the course of the World in general it would be very advantagious for me if I could love you and the illustrious and unfortunate Brutus would no doubt have judg'd your affection very glorious to me for that your Birth is noble you have wit courage and virtue but generous Octavius having lost the Prince of Pometia whom all the world knows I did not hate I cannot I ought not to love any hereafter When a Lover is lost by his own inconstancie I conceive in process of time another may be admitted but when a faithful Lover is lost by death fidelity ought to be reserv'd to his ashes and never any thing lov'd but his Memory These Octavius are my true sentiments you know in what manner I have lost an illustrious Brother and an illustrious Lover help me to lament them and I promise you all my friendship but desire nothing more of me Had the Gods heard my vows I should have miscarri'd in crossing the Tyber but though I did nothing toward saving my self the too kind River bore me up whether I would or no. For my part said Plotina who overheard these last words I assure you I neglected nothing to preserve my life and certainly I must needs love honour and Clelia ardently to have indanger'd my self as I did but however I do not wonder to see so many brave Warriors added she for no doubt example serves much to beget courage at least I know if I had been all alone I should not have had the power to put my self into the Tyber without other help than a pitiful plank to which I was fastned but when I beheld my sister courageously leap into the water without plank or hurdle Valeria as resolutely follow her and Hermilia hasten to do so too I would not be the last but left Collatina the honour to bring up the rear 'T is true answer'd that fair Virgin I was the slowest but I assure you the reason which you imagine was not the cause of it but rather for that I was not unwilling the generous Souldier who did us such good service might be near me when I enter'd into the water I perceive said Plotina neither the love of Honour nor the greatness of danger do deprive you of your judgment I am less astonisht at that said Valeria than to see that nothing abates your joy I assure you answer'd Plotina agreeably that the joy which appears this day in my words is an habitual joy wherein my heart is not much concern'd Whilst these fair Virgins were discoursing thus together Domitia told them several times it would be best for them to betake themselves to sleep but they had too great a desire to know what the determination of the Senate would be And indeed it was a matter extraordinary and important enough to make them curious and solicitous about it When the Senate was assembled Publicola faithfully reported the business as he understood it from Clelia and her Companions he highly commended the courage of these generous Virgins and especially of Clelia who attempted so daring an action Then he added that the people being much taken with extraordinary adventures would declare themselves for Clelia and that as he pass'd the streets he observ'd they approv'd what this generous Lady had done After
which it belongs to us saith he to consider what we have to do both for the good of the Commonwealth and for our own honour for though I have a daughter amongst those who have certainly offended Porsenna yet I am not backward to declare that for preserving the Publick-faith it is requisite to remand them to him again Some Senators less generous than Publicola who had daughters or Kinswomen amongst these Hostages decry'd it as cruelty to send these Virgins again under the power of an incens'd Prince who was capable of putting his own Son to death But Publicola answer'd that events ought to be left to the will of the Gods and that in all cases our duty is to be perform'd Which advice of Publicola prevailing the Senate ordain'd that these twenty fair Virgins should be sent back to Porsenna to whom the true case of their escape should be manifested thereby to oblige him to guard them more carefully but it was however resolv'd too that a Statue on Horse-back should be erected to Clelia in the high part of the Sacred street Even Clelius himself though much afflicted to see Clelia return to the Camp was of opinion that she should be remitted thither But as for Horatius and Herminius they would not deliver their minds in this occasion being unable to determine to say any thing that might intrench upon their honour or their love When the Assembly was broke up Publicola return'd to his own house follow'd by Horatius and Herminius as he was entring in he saw Amilcar amongst these fair Romans who came from the Camp and inform'd him that Porsenna being exasperated by Tarquin Tullia and Sextus was in a high indignation at the action of Clelia that the next day he would send Embassadors to redemand the Hostages and that if they were refus'd to him he had sworn to break the Peace and destroy Rome Amilcar added that Porsenna imagin'd Clelia did this action only out of fear lest she should be forc'd to tell what she knew concerning the pretended Crime of Aronces and that all things therefore deserved to be carefully examin'd He added too that it was a very great unhappiness for Aronces that Mutius was absent Amilcar spoke this to Publicola in the presence of these twenty fair Virgins who with much impatience expected that the first Consul should inform them of the deliberation of the Senate But they were astonisht to hear two such different results for Publicola first told them what honour the Senate had done to Clelia and then which increas'd their wonder that it behov'd them to resolve to return to the Camp the next day At the first News Clelia cast down her eyes out of modesty but at the second she blusht out of indignation nevertheless having consider'd the Publick-interest which caus'd the Senate to act so she recollected her self and beginning to speak We must obey my Companions said she looking upon them and if I find my self in danger of a new unhappiness instead of flight I will have recourse to death and never ingage you to follow me Clelia spoke this with so resolute and generous an aspect that all who beheld her judg'd she deserv'd greater honour than the Senate had decreed to her Horatius's affection receiv'd new flames hereby for if beauty produces love 't is only virtue which preserves and augments it long after its production However because Clelia was willing to avoid Horatius and perceiv'd her Companions and her self needed rest they retir'd into the several Apartments which were prepar'd for them for being they were to depart early the next morning to return to the Camp they would not separate themselves wherefore though the house Publicola now dwelt in was not so stately as that which formerly he so generously destroy'd nevertheless these fair Virgins were well enough accommodated in it But before they retir'd Clelia inquir'd of Amilcar concerning Aronces and understood by his answer that he had none but unwelcome News to tell her of him so that she withdrew with Valeria in the greatest melancholy in the world Come said she to her let us go prepare our selves to dye and perhaps to see the unfortunate Aronces put to death After which she went into the Chamber which was provided for her leaving Amilcar speaking to Plotina and Cesonia but she went with so deep a sadness upon her countenance that it excited grief in all that beheld it The End of the Second Book of the Fifth Part. CLELIA The Fifth and last Part. BOOK III. LOVERS scarce ever forbear to speak of their passion to their Mistresses when they find opportunity for it wherefore Clelia was no sooner retir'd but Amilcar seeing himself alone with Plotina and Cesonia us'd such discourse to them as sufficiently manifested the sentiments of his heart I know well said he to Plotina I am requir'd by reason to leave you but for my consolation I will go pass the evening with Cesonia that I may speak of you and that with a person who loves you For my part said she to him I am so weary by having watch'd so long and pass'd over the Tyber without a Boat that I dare not promise you the like for how melancholy soever all my companions are I believe they are so sleepy that should I desire to speak of you I should find none to hear me But dispense with me at this time even for thinking on you for sleep has the priviledge to make us forget every thing without a crime However said Amilcar permit Cesonia to tell me all which I desire to know concerning you I consent to it answer'd she as she was going away but take heed your curiosity give you not more trouble than pleasure and besides it is not incident to persons addicted to jollity to have great adventures but all extraordinary events are reserved for the melancholick Assoon as Plotina had said this she follow'd her companions and Amilcar went with Cesonia When he came into the Chamber of this amiable Lady he pray'd her she would please to relate to him all she knew of the adventures of Plotina's life As for her birth said he I know it already but that which I earnestly desire of you is the History of her heart that is in one word added he I would know by whom Plotina has been lov'd and whether she ever lov'd any person much Being Plotina has permitted me to content your curiosity answer'd Cesonia I will do it and the rather because I have no great number of events to relate to you and I am well inform'd of all that has pass'd in Plotina's heart And so Cesonia giving order for none to disturb her began in these terms to speak to Amilcar who dispos'd himself to hear with extraordinary attention The History of Plotina WHereas you know already how Plotina believ'd her self Niece of that wise Friend of Clelius whose name is Rutilius and accounted his Wife Ersilia her Aunt I need only tell you that my
considerable rather augmented Aronces courage who judging that to defeat his enemies at a blow it was requisite to kill Sextus he open'd his way to him by killing such of his men as would have withstood him and then there began a furious Combate between these two Rivals Aronces at first wounded Sextus who discharging a great blow at him might perhaps have slain or dangerously wounded him if he had not warded it off with addresses and if without losing time he had not discharg'd another at him upon the head which was so weighty that it amaz'd him In the mean time all Sextus's men taking care only to defend him Aronces was continually assail d by many together but he so well quitted himself of so many enemies and kill'd so many that being seconded by Horatius Octavius Telanus and all the rest who had follow'd him Sextus perceiv'd he had not many more men than Aronces wherefore feeling himself wounded despairing to overcome and much fearing to fall into the power of Porsenna or the Romans after this action of his he resolv'd upon flight knowing that he had a very swift horse And accordingly beginning to give ground as he fought on a sudden he turn'd about and fled with all his men after him into the Wood and by ways which were known to himself but not to Aronces Who having lost sight of him was recall'd by love from the pursuit to Clelia notwithstanding the ardent desire he had to kill Sextus But for that Horatius knew this wood better than Aronces he took a way into it being follow'd by Octavius and Telanus and hoping to intercept Sextus by a short turn during which Aronces going directly to Clelia's Chariot was receiv'd with a thousand testimonies of kindness by her and her companions who gave him a thousand praises That which I have done Madam said he to Clelia is so small a matter that it is not fit to lose the moments which are precious to us in commending me more than I deserve Therefore it is requisite that I conduct you to Rome and after that go and satisfie the King my Father that I have not broke my prison as a parricide who would avoid the punishment he deserves but as an unfortunate and faithful Lover who would defend the person he adores How my Lord answer'd Clelia are you come forth of prison only to succour me and may I believe you are constant to me I beseech you added she tell me what course you took to do it I was advertis'd by a trusty soldier of my guards repli'd he that Sextus design'd to carry you away Whereupon I brib'd some broke through the rest and having found Telanus and a Squire they in a moment got together these which follow'd me and I came happily enough to do you perhaps the last service of my life for as I told you Madam it behoves me to return to prison assoon as I have conducted you to Rome Ah! my Lord answer'd Clelia this generosity is extreme cruel but to imitate you in some sort do not carry me back to Rome but lead me to the Camp to the end I may serve to justifie you No no Madam said he to her it does not belong to me to return the Hostages to the King to whom perhaps they would no longer be inviolable Therefore 't is absolutely necessary that I conduct you to Rome from whence the Consuls will remit you hither if they please but if you will take my counsel Madam do not return hither though it should be resolv'd to remand you and all the favour I desire of you if I die is that you would believe that I have never lov'd any but your self that I have lov'd you more than any other person in the world can love and that I shall regret you alone at my death As Aronces was speaking this Horatius Octavius and Telanus came to them without having found Sextus After which taking the way towards Rome they met those the Consuls sent to the succour of the Hostages coming to seek Clelia and her companions Aronces understood by them that the rest of the fair Romans were carri'd back into the City till it were known what this adventure was and who had committed this violent and unjust attempt However he would conduct Clelia till within two hundred paces of Rome Upon the way there was a discourse between Horatius and him which was not heard by any other person and wherein it appear'd both of them constrain'd themselvs and that Horatius was much dejected for owing his life so often to his Rival but at length Aronces being oblig'd to depart he took leave of Clelia and her companions after a manner which mov'd the hearts of all that beheld it for there appear'd an heroical resolution in his countenance though his eyes withal discover'd an extreme sadness which manifestly proceeded from love As for Clelia never was seen so sad a person as she in this occasion but her melancholy was accompani'd with so much discretion that it caus'd the greater compassion Plotina desir'd Telanus to disswade Aronces from returning into prison but he answer'd her that the Prince was too great a Lover of glory to leave himself under the suspicion of being culpable Aronces and Horatius parted with civility Remember said the Prince of Hetruria to him what you have promis'd me I will not fail answer'd Horatius but do you remember also that in some occasions one may be excusable in being ingrateful Aronces embrac'd Octavius with much dearness and having once again bid Clelia adieu with the most passionate air in the World he took the way to the Camp where all things were in strange confusion For Porsenna understanding Aronces had broke prison became absolutely confirm'd in his opinion that he was culpable and had conspir'd against his life Wherefore out of this prejudice he said there needed no other proofs and commanded some to pursue and bring him back that he might cause him to be punish'd as a parricide there being no necessity of more evidence Moreover that wise Roman who was encharged with the conduct of the Hostages having sent to advertise him that he could not bring them to the Camp that day because Clelia was carri'd away he believ'd Aronces was he that had done it so that assembling all his conjectures together he fram'd an immutable purpose in his mind to destroy both Aronces and Clelia if he could get them into his power Neither Galerita nor the Princess of the Leontines nor any of Aronces friends could make any thing appear probable to him contrary to these two surmises for they knew nothing of the truth So there was an universal consternation in the minds of all for the flight of Aronces caus'd a very bad effect amongst the Soldiers who were most affectionate to him On the other side Tarquin and Tullia were in their quarter impatiently expecting what would happen from the correspondence they had in Rome the carrying away of Clelia Porsenna's accusation
unto him and how â—aintly Flavia answered and yet he knew the hands and that both Letters answered punctually unto what he had written so as he had not the least suspicion of any cheat in the business yet he knew not what to think but he conceived the silence of Sivelia proceeded from pity because she would not acquaint him with the inconstancy of Valeria yet all Lovers being naturally full of curiosity he asked the fellow that brought these cruel Letters what Flavia said unto him but he answered that he found her so cold and spoke so little unto him as this confirmed his opinion that he was the most unfortunate Lover in the world indeed at that instant he was so for the cruel thought of being hated by Valeria made him suffer more torment than I am able to express How cruel Valeria said this afflicted Lover after he had satisfied and dismissed the fellow does it not concern you in what part of the world I live so you be not troubled with me Are the testimonies of my passion troublesome unto you and do you threaten to hate me more than the Tyrant doth if I continue loving you Ah Valeria if you can think so you have neither any reason nor goodness nor vertue and you could not lose your affection to me without renouncing them all And you Flavia can you tell me I must never be happy at Rome and advise me to get further from it Are you as cruel a Friend as Valeria is a Mistress and banish me without telling me any cause of my misfortunes However pursued he I must depart since Sivelia commands it since Valeria tells me such things as are able to make me seek a death in the utmost parts of the world and since Flavia adviseth me unto it Yet did I but know what makes me thus miserable I should be something less unfortunate but since it pleaseth my cruel destinies that I should be ignorant of it I must die desperate Herminius uttered a thousand such sad expressions without being able to resolve upon any thing But at last he resolved to write unto Sivelia that he would go unto Africa though his design was to go unknown unto Rome and learn the true cause of his misfortune And to make it the better believed he embarqued for Sicily saying that from thence he would embarque for Agrigente or Lilybeus and so continue his voyage Indeed he departed from Capua a little before Aronces But when he was six leagues from Capua the Commander of the Sip wherein he was was a man who being resolved to make himself Master of all the merchandize in it and which were none of his he made sail toward the Ionian Sea so as say what Herminius could obey he must My discourse would be too long if I should relate the whole passage of this Sea voyage though it would be glorious unto him if you did know it But I will only tell you that Herminius being an enemy unto all injustice and since the interest of his Love called him another way he wrought so dexterously as he sprung a faction in the Ship wherein he was only a passenger and telling some that they were going to be Pirats without any profit and that the Captain would enrich himself with the merchandize they helped him to steal they all became of his opinion So as flattering them with fair promises and the glory of doing a great Action they began to seek occasion of quarrelling with their Commander who not knowing how to dissemble with them handsomely did begin to menace them So as civil war beginning in the Ship and Herminius seeing the Malecontents to be the stronger party he placed himself in the head of them some ranging themselves to one end of thd Ship some to the other they came to handy blows In the beginning of the combate Herminius having gained the Pilot he caused him to sail about and he that was chief of the other party not being able to endure it the combate began with more fury because none could run away but must fight it out either out of valour or despair But at last heaven assisting the juster side Herminius vanquished the chief of the other side was killed the rest laid down their Arms and all acknowledged Herminius for their Captain who thinking upon nothing but Valeria they all made towards Capua to restore the Ship and the merchandize unto the owners But Herminius being wounded in the fight it happened that his wounds being dressed by an ignorant Chirurgion they became very dangerous Truth is his melancholy made them worse so as he fell into a violent Feaver mean while those whom he had incited unto this generous resolution they took up a fresh one For thinking that Herminius would die they feared that if they should return unto Capua they should be punished for their theft so as they resolved to continue Pirats and to divide amongst them all in the Ship when they came unto any Port where they could make fale thereof They altered therefore their course and made towards Africa for they were then near the the Cape of Lilybeus being driven thither by the wind but meeting there with a Bark of Sicilian Fishers they resolved to put Herminius in it and remove an object which might make them change opinion The Fishermen at first were unwilling to receive Herminius but being given something and told that the man would recompence them very bountifully if he recovered of his wounds at last they took him into their Boat with one servant only As for Herminius he was not able to dispose of himself or oppose them for he was fallen into a Lethargy and knew not what was done until after the Fishermen had brought him unto their house I need not tell you how he was astonished when he returned to himself and in lieu of being in a ship to see himself in a Fishers Cabin and to see that he was on Land in lieu of Sea But for all his melancholy he recovered after a long sickness Then he wrote into Campania for some relief Yet since the thought of Valeria would not out of his mind he designed himself for Rome though time had made no alteration in his love Accordingly he imbarqued and came by Sea with Artemidorus Zenocrates and me as perhaps you have heard in your passage to Italy But Madam if you will be pleased to reflect your thoughts upon Rome and remember the condition wherein I was when I left Valeria you will also remember how sadly she took the news of the death and inconstancy of her Lover you will also remember that Emilius was deep in love that Emilius was amiable sweet and complaisant that Valerius and Sivelia would have all the world believe Herminius was dead and how the fair Valeria sometimes wished she could love some or other only to be revenged of Herminius and forget him On the other side Spurius and his friend seeing the report of Herminius his
death continue they knew not what to think upon the adventure and were much joyed to observe that Valeria when any occasion presented it self did not mention him with the same tenderness she was wont For in the time when she did love him most tenderly and believed her self loved again she took much delight in talking of him and could not chuse but so highly applaud him as made it eminently apparent what pleasure she took in the mention of him Yet Mutius was not a jot the more happy for having seen him in the time of Herminius she could not now look upon Mutius but she remembred him and was so unjust as to wish him ill and sometimes thought her self a little obliged unto Emilius for being so much mistaken in Herminius However Emilius being of very good quality and being both amiable and rich Valerius who observed the inclination he had unto his Daughter was very glad of it and wished heartily she were married unto him lest if he should dye she should be left to the disposition of the Tyrant Tarquin So knowing no man but Herminius upon whom he would more willingly bestow her he bad him very kindly welcome to his house and commanded Valeria to treat him very civilly on the other side the Parents of Emilius who being desirous to keep him in Rome and thinking to marry him they bethought themselves of another very rich young Lady but they altered that design by reason of his love to Valeria who maugre all the supposed inconstancy of Herminius did continually lament him and though when she imagined him to be unfaithful she was extremely angry against him yet she heartily wished he would revive constant or at least repent of his inconstancy For though it is usual for death to efface or diminish injuries yet it hapned otherwise with Valeria Time did diminish her grief but not her anger and sometimes she thought that since Herminius was inconstant it was better for her that he was dead than otherwise At least said she in talking of you Madam my Rival has lost him as well as I and I may well think that she is more afflicted than I am You may judge Madam by what I have said that Valeria still loved Herminius when she thought she did not But for all that the sweetness of Emilius was not displeasing unto her As for Mutius that which most hurt him was she knew he followed the Counsels of Spurius whom she loved not and that he often saw Salonina whom in her heart she could not endure But as for Emilius knowing nothing but vertue in him finding him to be sweet civil complaisant full of spirit amorous and very assiduous and officious about her if she did not love him she wished she could and did believe she either did or should love him Yet she did not live with him as she was wont with Herminius There was no secret or mystery made of this affection but she permitted him to tell her that he loved her yet not before Valerius had told her his mind Mean while Emilius was very well satisfied with her she received him kindly and hearkned unto him she did not answer him sharply nor ever forbad him to hope for her Love But the strangest thing was that Emilius never heard there was any particular affection between Herminius and Valeria The reason of it doubtless was that falling in love with her as soon as he came to Rome and never making any secret of his Passion none would so far trouble themselves as to tell him a thing that was to no purpose Also he being a meer stranger in his own Countrey he had not any particular friend to give him an account of former passages However Valerius fearing lest Tarquin should forbid him to marry his Daughter unto Emilius as he had unto Herminius he therefore told Emilius that if he would marry his Daughter he desired it might be done speedily lest Tarquin should forbid the banes So as Emilius without more consideration told him that he wished nothing more earnestly than to have all concluded and was the more earnest in it because his Parents were desirous he should marry the Rich Inheritrix whom they had proposed unto him but his Parents being neither a Father or Mother or any such near alliance whom he was obliged to obey he rejected their Counsel and would follow his own inclination So as having the consents of Valerius and his wife it was resolved that Emilius should marry Valeria within eight days and that they should be married in the Countrey at a house which Valeria had lest Tarquin should have intelligence of it Emilius was now as happy as a man could be having no rubs in his Love but the excess of his Passion Valeria on her side she was not much transported with any joy nor was she very melancholy and yet her converse with Flavia was very sad when she came unto the Country house where she was to marry Emilius the next day For beginning then to think upon the engagement unto which she was to enter and calling to memory former passages her heart was much disordered they were both together alone in Valeria's Chamber Emilius was not to come until night So as they had free liberty of speech together Alas Flavia said Valeria unto her If any had heretofore told me that I should marry any but Herminius I should never have believed them but then I thought he would never have left me for any other whomsoever I must confess that had not Herminius been dead I should never have thought upon any marriage for my hopes of his hearty repentance would have defended my heart against the passion of Emilius But he being both inconstant and dead I must confess to my shame that I have some tenderness towards Emilius and look upon him as a man is whom I may be happy or at least not very miserable if I can forget Herminius Yet added she and blusht to be exactly vertuous and also prudent I ought before I marry him to sacrifice unto my revenge all that remains of the perfidious Herminius I never could do 't till now but now both vertue and reason command it and notwithstanding all the elegantness of his letters verses and tenderness towards me I must deprive my self of them for ever Oh Valeria said Flavia do not offer to lose such excellent pieces but rather trust them unto my discretion If I should replyed Valeria it should be upon condition never to be reproached with them again for to discover the bottom of my heart unto you I shall merit your compassion for upon examination of my self I find that when I would hate the memory of Herminius I cannot and when I would love Emilius I cannot bring it to pass Yet at some times I think that I do hate Herminius and love Emilius But for all that I never can find that tranquillity in my heart which is the effect of true joy though I find not any thing