no great difficulty to perswade the Princess unto a parley with him but since my expectations from this enterview were very great so it might be in such a place where they might speak together with freedom I told the Princess that it would be much better if she met Spitridates upon the middle of the Bridg which stands over that river that runs under the walls of the Town After the Princess had well consulted and since all the Officers could not foresee any happy issue of this siege but by some advantageous capitulation and also since they saw no hopes of any relief they advised her to see Spitridates and she caused him whom the Prince had sent to come unto her to tell him that she consented unto the desire of his Master commanding one of her Captains to shew him the place where she desired this meeting might be the next morning and also to instruct him in such orders as should be observed and during which time there should be a cessation of all hostility After this messenger had viewed the Bridg and returned to his Master who approved of the alteration of place the rest of the day and night following was imployed in preparations for this enterview and making the place fit which indeed was a most glorious sight As the river was great the Bridg over it was also very large and stately so that it contributed much unto the magnificence of this business for just over the middle Arch were Lists made ready and covered with rich Sidonian Tapistry over the head was a rich and stately Pavilion trussed up on two sides with golden strings or to let down if the Sun did offend so that the next morning Spitridates who was all joy in hopes to see the princess did not sail of his time after he had drawn up all his forces into Batalia in sight of the Town and caused five hundred foot and two hundred horse only to advance with him to the end of the Bridg. The princess on the other side commanded that all the walls should be well lined with souldiers and with the like number of horse and foot came to the other end of the Bridg She no sooner knew that Spitridates was come but she prepared to meet him and that so fair as I was astonished at the mixture of so much melancholy and so much beauty together Since the Sun was not likely to annoy I moved her women to dress her as she was used when she went to hunt at Heraclea which was with a waving Plume over her head to cast a shadow upon her face The Princess being thus dressed went unto the end of the Bridg and waited upon by all her women and Commanders in her Army as soon as she appeared Spitridates advanced being waited upon by the like number The princess came to the Bars and went under the pavilion under which we were also but at a distance behind her Spitridates did wear the loveliest Sute of Arms upon earth and in spite of his melancholy his garb was so high and his Air so sprightly and delighting that I never saw him more glorious then that day as soon as he espied the Princess afar off he saluted her with much reverence and both of them meeting at the Bars at the same time all the men of both sides remaining under their Colours and Arms Spitridates did bow down to the very ground and she returned him her complement very civilly Afterwards beginning discourse When I sent unto you Madam said he unto her to beg the honour of treating with you I never had any intentions of coming to capitulate with you but in all humility I come to receive your commands and to render you an account of a tedious Exile of my return and of what I do at this present Indeed Divine Princess if the actions of the King my Father have not rendred me unworthy of your ear I am come to give you an account of my life past and to hear from your own mouth what it must be for the future Since I hear you say so answered the Princess I begin to think you are the very same Spitridates whom the late King my Father made choice of for his alliance who was so well beloved by the Prince Siâ—â—esis and so really esteemed by the unfortunate Araminta I begin to think I say that you are the same Spitridates who for the love of me endured two imprisonments with high generosity and who expressed an hundred signes of a most constant affection But yet when I look upon this Bar and all these Souldiers about you then I do confess me thinks you do not look like the same Spitridates I speak of but I look upon you as the Son of Arsamones that is a mortal enemy to the King my Brother Oh Madam cryed he out if it be your pleasure to know what I am I beseech you hear and look not upon that which may seduce your reason and may make me pass in your opinion for what I am not I do confess Madam that if I did not infinitely and beyond all expressions love you I should think my father had some reason to take possession of that Crown which was surreptitiously taken from off his head yet since he cannot do it but by the ruine of your house I shall look upon him in spite of all considerations of ambition or nature as an Usurper of his own Kingdom and all this because my love to you has taken the whole possession of my heart You know said the Princess unto him that Arsamones is not content with his own but the Kingdom of Pont is now in his hands as well as the Kingdom of Bythinia so that though his war were just in the getting of the one yet it was most unjust in the getting of the other I do confess it Madam said he unto her but if it may be permitted a Lover to speak something in excuse of his father I should then say that since ambition and revenge nevernse to keep within those limits which reasou and justice prescribe unto them it is no wonder if an injured and an ambitious Prince do not act altogether according to the rules of natural equity But Madam loving you as I do I will never approve of the act I confess also that the King my Father is injurious that he deserves the name of a cruel enemy and that I am the son of an Usurper But Madam you may remember if you please that when I began first to adore you you were then if I dare say it in the same condition which I am now and I then as you are now for as the King my Father has taken the Kingdom of Pontus from your house so likewise your Father held the Kingdom of Bythinia from mine yet for all that Madam I shall love and adore you and though you be the daughter of an Usurper be it spoken without any irreverence unto that honour I owe you yet I
beleeve that Artamenes was killed as all Cappadocia thought not long since and that it was no more impossible that Artamenes should be Cyrus then that Philidaspes should be the Prince of Assyria Reasoning all these things in secret with her self she was a long time looking upon my master before she would give any answer which did so much trouble my master as not being able to conceal it I see Madam said he to her you cannot keep your word with me not to change thoughts of Artamenes I perceive by your silence that Cyrus hath disturbed you Cyrus replied the Princesse has indeed a little troubled the calmnesse of my mind yet I will assure you he has done no ill office unto Artamenes but on the contrary said she sighing but as I find Artamenes to be much more unfortunate then I thought him so also I find more disposition in my self to lament him But I pray said she tell unto me all your past adventures and do not conceal any thing from me which concerns the beginning of that life whose after years has rendred him so glorious My master to satisfie her did punctually relate unto her all that had chanced unto him He told her what Harpagus told him concerning the ill intentions of Astiages towards him afterwards what offers Harpagus did propound unto him how he would cause the whole Province of Paratecenes to rise against the King of Medea he told her also how he refused his offers and how he commanded him to make no more such propositions He told her also how desires of Travel to see the wars had caused him to leave Persia and change his name In few words he told her of all his Travels how a Tempest drove him into Sinope and how he was in the Temple of Mars where he saw her thank the gods for his death It is true indeed said the Princesse that I was with the Sacrificers to render thanks unto the gods for the losse of Cyrus but it is as true also that I did never rejoyce at his death And that it did ever seem unto me much rashnesse in those who dare undertake to explain the Oracles and the meaning of the Star so precisely Can I believe Madam said my master interrupting her that the fair Mandana did not rejoyce at the death of Cyrus Cyrus I say whom Astiages would have smothered in his Cradle Cyrus whom all the Magi were certain should possesse the Throne of the King of Medes and command all Asia And Cyrus who from his infancy has disturbed the tranquillity of a King who has such near relation unto you It need not seem strange unto you replied the Princesse that I should not rejoyce at the death of a Prince whom I knew not and who never did me any hurt since you had so much generosity as not to take revenge upon that King who would have put you to death and as you have done to serve that Prince who had his life from him who would have taken yours away But Artamenes said she unto him for I dare not yet call you Cyrus since you have told me what you are I have not lessened that esteem which I had of you and one the contrary seeing I am more obliged unto you then I thought I think my self engaged to acknowledge it yet notwithstanding I confesse that I do not well know how I ought to deal with you If I look upon you as a Prince who would not take revenge of his enemy by reason of relations in consanguinity As a Prince I say who in spight of all those reasons which might have absolutely diverted him yet hath not ceased to love me A Prince who hath saved the life of the King my Father who hath a thousand and a thousand times exposed his own for him who hath received so many wounds Conquered so many Provinces won so many Battles took a King a Prisoner prevented a dangerous Conspiracy and who has long loved me without telling me of it or displeasing me If I look upon you in these respects I do confesse Artamenes that without any prejudice to vertue or decency I could wish that by the consent of the King my father I might give you some testimonies of that extraordinary esteem which I have of you But if I also look upon you as a Prince whose birth began with so many prodigies so many eclipses which dimmed the splendor and heat of the Sun who shook the foundations of the Temple of whom the Stars have foretold so much and all the Magi assures us he will be the overthrow of all Asia I confesse I say that then I cannot well resolve my self for though 't is true my heart tels me that they who did interpret the meaning of those things have but ill understood them and that if the Stars did foretell your birth it was because the gods did presage unto men by them that you should be a Prince whose vertues should be extraordinary Though I say I should resent it so yet this is not enough Doubtlesse Astiages and Ciaxares will never allow that Mandana should dispose of her affection unto Cyrus But Mandana said Artamenes interrupting her this same Cyrus who is so terrible unto all Asia is now prostrate at your feet and you may dispose of his fate as you please To what end Madam said he to what end are all his Conquests which he hath made Can it be imagined that he aimed at any universal usurpation since he hath refused all that the King would give him though I have fought an vanquished and conquered yet doubtlesse he hath enjoyed the fruits of all my combates my victories and my conquests I am not so much as master of my own sword but since you do reign in the heart of him whose hand doth guide it you need not fear I shall commence any unjust war It belongs unto you Divine Princesse to order the destinies of people and Kings and the life of Artamenes depends wholly upon your will yet Madam said he in a most submissive manner if it be your pleasure that Cyrus shall not revive he is ready to obey you yes adored Princesse Cyrus who can disturbe the tranquility of all Asia and has hopes to reign of a great and glorious Kingdom is ready to renounce all his rights that he hath unto the Crown of Persia and passe away all the rest of his dayes under the cloud of Artamenes if he find any hopes that Mandana will not lesse esteem him And if it be so that he must wear a Scepter to merit you chuse you Madam in what place of the world you would have him expose his life to get one and certainly he will go Things that are most impossible would appear unto me most easie provided you will not take from me my hopes of your love Say then Divine Princesse would you have Cyrus revive or would you have Artamenes live or would you have them both die I give you the
Prince had no great faults in him although he was not owner of those heroique vertues which prefer men above their own qualities yet notwithstanding ambition and love together inflaming his heart he talked of nothing but civil wars of revolt and of sedition and truly the matter was so forward that every one began to bandy parties All the discontented lovers made one faction Labinet made another by himself followed by some stirring spirits and Gadates he had only the Queen on his side The young Princesse seeing the condition of affairs stand so she was extreamly troubled and after she had well consulted with her self that perhaps it might cost her a great Kingdom she took a resolution which made the greatnesse of her soul and vertue to appear For calling Gadates unto her who doubtlesse she loved very well and more then she had signified unto him calling him I say unto her to give him a testimony of her affection after a new and surprising manner Gadates said she unto him I have a desire to tell you that which doubtless you are ignorant of at the least I am certain that I have had some care to conceal it from you Know then pursued she that I have thought you worthy to wear the Crown of Assyria Madam said he it becomes the Queen Nitocris too well to take it from her and he whom she shall chuse for that honour were unworthy of it if he should not content himself with being only the first of her subjects Reserve your thanks Gadates said she unto him until the end of my discourse for after I have given you this great testimony of my esteem I must require another testimony from you of your affection If it be to die at your feet Madam replied he I am most ready to obey you and I do not know any thing in the world which I would not consent unto observe me I conjure you to the end I ask you nothing impossible Gadates who never durst speak of his love unto the Queen was a little surprised yet after this which she spoke unto him he quickly recollected himself and looking upon her with as much respect as love provided Madam said he unto her that your Majesty do not forbid me to adore you I shal never disobey you No said she sighing I do not intend that my authority shall extend it self over the thoughts of the heart and though may be my dominion would reach so far yet would I not destroy those thoughts which your soul has of me But that which I would tell you is this That the necessity of State affairs and the good of my people will not permit me to make my own choice of a husband I would have you know I am resolved to assemble the States General of my Kingdom and to receive a husband by the universal allowance of my subjects If they be reasonable you may perhaps obtain their voices as I would have given you mine if they would have given me the liberty But if you cannot procure your self to be chosen by them then resolve with your self Gadates never to see me again as long as you live but to retire unto that Province which belongs unto you and never come at this Court. I will not stand wise Chrisantes to tell you all the discourse between Gadates and the Queen Nitocris nor many other passages which depend upon this discourse though they be well worth observation and much concerning I shall only tell you to the end I may come unto the more essential part of my discourse that do what Gadates could he could obtain no more from her but liberty to sollicite the Judges of the matter Then the Queen assembled the states generall of her kingdome declaring unto them that she thought upon the good satisfaction of her people therefore left them the liberty to chuse themselves a King When all the incensed lovers heard of this they were surprised at the declaration they were ravished with the wisdom vertue of the Queen came unto Babylon to solicite their interests but in conclusion this powerfull reason of state which would have all causes and pretences of civill wars removed induced the states general to beseech the Queen that she would be pleased to marry Labinet which she accordingly did without the least shew of repugnancy was all her life extreamly well pleased with her marriage lived very well with her husband yet it was her pleasure that Gadates should obey her should retire unto his province and never returne to the Court The King who knew the business and also was acquainted with the vertue of this Princess did much solicite her that Gadates might returne to Babylon but she would never consent unto it A while after her mariage she sent commands unto Gadates that he should marry a Princess descended from the Ancient kings of Bithynia who was extreamly rich and infinitly virtuous which he did although certainly he did ever preserve his violent passion to the Queen He lived as well with the Princess his wife as the Queen did with her husband Mean while Nitocris had a son which was he whom you knew somtimes by the name of Philidaspes somtimes by the title of the King of Assyria Gadates had also a son and a daughter and as soon as they were crept out of their first infancy the Queen who was then a widdow and still forbade Gadates from coming to Court commanded him to send his children unto her that his son who was called Intaphernes might be brought up with the Prince of Assyria and the young princess his daughter called Istrina lived in that place where there might love grow between her and her son unto whom she had a designe to marry him as well to satisfie the law in marrying a Princess who was not a stranger as to testifie the esteem she had unto Gadates thinking she could not better nor more innocently acknowledge those services which he had done her then by preferring his daughter unto the throne of Assyria It seems also that she took not this resolution out of choyce only but out of a necessity also for all of the princes which had been pretenders unto the Queen Nitocris the greatest part of them were resolved not to match with him and the rest had no daughters so that the Princess Istrina was the only Lady whom the King of Assyria could marry But here you may well admire how humane prudence is limited and how this great Queen who by such publique works is rendered famous throughout all the world and ever shall be to all posterity was deceived in her reasons and how that which she thought would have caused love did inspire the heart of the young King of Assyria with aversion The Princess Istrina was ten years of age when she came to Babylon Intaphernes her brother fifteen and the Prince of Assyria fourteen But from that very time the imperious humour which we saw in Philidaspes began
business did indeed sympathize with his own inclination he was pleased to bestow an afternoon in such a divertion as was very sutable unto his own fortune having no other business of consequence to do that day for he had been at the Camp in the morning and he had already been with the King and dispatched all business to Echatan After then he had placed Martesia conveniently to hear every one that spoke and sitting himself by her also all the rest seating themselves in order It was his pleasure that Thimocrates should begin and address his Speech unto Martesia as his Judg although she did oppose it after a while of silence during which time Cyrus asked Martesia in a low voice whether she did not pity that man who suffered all the miseries which these four Lovers did complain against Thimocrates began his story thus The Histories of unfortunate Lovers BEfore I begin to relate my particular misfortunes I do conceive it requisite to conjure you that you become not partially biassed by the elegant discourses of those who deny the condition which I assume in being the most unfortunate lover in the world for I very well perceive that they being less unfortunate then my self have more freedom of Spirit then I have and therefore can better relate their stories He who is not loved will doubtless dress himself in the most amiable language and will not omit any thing which may perswade you to compassion he who laments for the death of his Mistress desiring to move pity useth all his eloquence to perswade unto it The jealous Leontidas will be sure to magnifie all his imaginary sufferings with his Reetorick since he is possessed with a passion that is accustomed to make the least things that can be imagined seem great ones Martesia seeing Thimocrates expect her answer did assure him that she would not be so much convinced by words as she would be by realities and reasons therefore said she unto him Do not you rely too much upon your own eloquence in seeming to fear it in others and so she commanding him to begin his Story he obeyed and began thus The absent Lover The First History THat Absence whereof I complain and which I do maintain does comprehend all the miseries which love can cause is so great a punishment unto one who exactly knows the newness of the passion as I am not afraid to say that he who can be absent from her he loves without extream sorrow did never receive any great joy in the person he loved and does not deserve to wear the noble Title of a Lover I say again the noble Title of a Lover since it is most certain that he is not capable of that Heroick imbecility which hath moved many illustrious persons who are sometimes surprized with it to act such great attempts as it hath done Amongst all those who did ever resent this kind of misery whereof I now speak certainly I am the man who hath had most rigid experience of it since love did only shew me that amiable person whom I adore to make me more sensibly apprehend her absence with all the cruel consequences that are imaginable Therefore I do not doubt but at the end of my story I shall obtain the prize of compassion and my impartial Judg will sentence me to be the most unhappy of all these who contend for this mournful Title Since I came into Asia commanding the Regiments of the King of Cyprus and sent hither by the Prince Philoxipes perhaps you are yet ignorant how I was not born within that Kingdom Give me leave therefore to acquaint you that Delphos so famous throughout the world for the magnificent Temple of Apollo and for the sanctity of the Oracles is the place of my birth and I must needs tell you that I am descended from an illustrious Race since I am branched from him whom the Gods thought worthy so many ages since to conduct unto the soot of Mount Parnassus near the Castalian Fountain there to receive the first Oracle which was dispensed whose daughter afterwards was chosen to be the Prime Pithian who pronounced so many important verities unto so many private persons Towns Provinces Republiques and Kings Since that time those of my family have ever held the prime Rank in their Countrey and most commonly the famous Councel of Greece which we termed the Assembly of Amphictions was never held but some of my Race were elected in it I being therefore of a considerable extraction and the Son of one whose vertue was above his quality I was educated with all indulgent care And though it may be sa 〈…〉 that the Town of Delphos is an Epitome of the World by reason of that huge multitude of all Nations which resort thither and therefore it was not necessary for the Inhabitants to travel for their further instruction in forraign Customes yet my indulgent father would needs send me as a Student unto Athens and afterwards to remain at Corinth until I was twenty years of age And I did practise in both those famous places all the Arts which one of my quality could require as well in all the excercises of the body as in the ornaments of the mind and knowledge of the liberal Arts so that when I received orders to return unto Delphos it might be said that I was a stranger in my own Countrey since certainly I knew no body yet did I know the names of all the prime houses of quality in the Town and I remembred also some old men and women but as for the young men of my own rank or any of the springing beauties I had no acquaitance at all amongst them Thus came I then unto Delphos esteeming Athens and Corinth as my Countrey where notwithstanding I lived without any private engagement although I had seen many rare beauties in both places As I came into Delphos I understood that my father having some important business was gone unto Anticires and at his departure had left order that I should follow him as soon as I arrived The first night I was visited by very many but amongst others one of my Cosen 's named Melesandres suted best with my disposition and truly he was a youth full of spirit and goodness whose agreeable humour was great delight unto me in my melancholy as he did infinitely please me so I had the good fortune not to displease him and we did presently contract such an amity as death only could dissolve After our first civilities I acquainted him with the orders which I received not to stay any longer at Delphos but to go unto Articires but he told me that I must needs defermy departure for one day longer for there was a very stately Ceremony to be performed the next day and I must needs see it I enquired what it was he told me that there were Embassadors in Delphos from Craesus King of Lidia who came to consult with the Oracle and who had brought with
would Leontina be the same unto me as now she is dead Slight petty sorrows may be lessened by habit custome and time but grand and violent afflictions the longer they last the more insupportable they are and more augment Let me further tell you that the impossibility to find a remedy for such a sorrow is only a cause of consolation in the mouths of Philosophers but in the soul of a Lover it is the greatest torment of all others Yes yes that horrid thought that all the Kings upon Earth that all the valour of Heroes that all humane Prudence cannot revive a dead beloved Mistress is that which properly can be called an abridgment of all the sorrows which love can cause Pronounce the sentence then Oh my most just Judge that I am the most worthy of your pity by reason of great misfortune and I shall confess that the miseries of Thimocrates of Philocles and of Leontidas do more deserve your pity then mine does in respect of their own personal merits so that rendring justice both unto the misfortue and the misfortunate I shall have less cause to complaine of your Equity then I have to complaine of my Destiny The Prince Artibies ended his discourse with so much sadness of heart that he had much ado to pronounce the last words distinctly so extreamly did the remembrance of Leontina's death perplex his mind his melancholy did participate it self unto all the souls of that Illustrious Company and he forced compassion even from them that contended with him for the first Rank amongst the unfortunate Notice was taken of his ingenious and passionate silence by which he concealed the rest of his adventures since the death of the fair one whom he loved as if he would tacitely intimate unto them that since her death he did not value his own life After that melancholy humour which this fatall Story had caused in their minds was a little dissipated every one maintained his own opinion and that with obstinate heat But Cyrus seeing it was late told Martesia that it was time Leontidas related his adventure and reasons if she intended to pronounce judgment that day so that as a Judg imposing silence she appointed Leontidas to begin which accordingly he did in this manner The jealous Lover The fourth Story SInce Sorrow has its different operations according to the several tempers of those who are possessed with it since it is sometimes mute and sometimes eloquent you must not wonder if it work not in me as it does in the Prince Artibies who by reason of his excess of sorrow has shortned his relation But I who am none of those whom sorrow makes dumb and who on the contrary never speaks but when I have great cause of complaint cannot do so nor can I as I conceive in few words express the greatness of my sufferings I shall be as little impertinent as I can and therefore in short give me leave to tell you that the Isle of Cyprus is my Countrey and that I have the honour to be of a Family sufficiently illustrious I shall hereafter tell you that I went out of this famous Isle which is consecrated unto the Mother of love so young that I had not time to fall in love with any for the war which was then between the people of Samos of Priennes and of Miletes moving me to learn there that mystery which the drowsie peace of my Countrey could not teach me I left it and in my choice of these three Countreys the fame of the valiant Policrates who was made Soveraign in the Isle of Samos did invite me into his though perhaps his cause was not the most just unless you will allow the Right of Conquerours to be the most ancient of all others So then it was in this famous Isle and in the Court of this illustrious Prince where my Love took first begining and where my jealousie has treated me cruelly The reputation of the happy Policrates is so great that I need not characterize him unto you yet notwithstanding shall in few words tell you that justice would have much ado to find a man in all Greece more accomplished then he nor more fit to distribute his favours with more equity rendring himself most perfectly happy without giving cause of murmur unto any He is as never man before was for he is born only a Citizen of Samos and he is become Soveraign of the same without hate he has all the Authority of a most absolute Tyrant yet he enjoys the love of his people as much as if he were their Father All designes of war are prosperous under his hands he is become terrible not only in the Jonian but through all the Aegean Sea The greatest Kings think it an honour to be his Allies and all his Neighbours both love and fear him he is very handsom of a good presence and great Spirit of a disposition as sweet in time of peace as it is furious in time of war you may well suppose then that the Court of Policrates must be very delightful and gallant since it is commonly like as the Prince so is his Court when I arrived at Samos he was ready to imbarque and to go and fight with the Prince of the Milesians so that after I was presented unto him by a man of quality named Theanor whom I knew at Paphos I imbarked the next day with him before I had seen any in Samos but only Officers of Gallies with one of which called Timesias I had a quarrel at my imbarking and two other small squabbles during the voyage This expedition was not long but very prosperous and we returned Conquerours over those we fought against Policrates at his return unto Samos was entertained with high magnificence and since I had so much happy honour to get some part of his love during our Navigation so had I also some share in those delights which he was pleased to to take at his return The same night I came to Samos after all the magnificence which was prepared for the entry of Policrates was past Theanor whom I affected as much as I was averse unto Timasias would needs shew me as a stranger all the ratities of the Town He carried me into the Temple of June unto whom that Island was consecrated which doubtless is one of the greatest and fairest in the world and which they more esteemed at Samos because the Architect who built it was a Samion from thence we walked towards a famous Water-course which surpasseth the greatest wonder that ever I saw in the world for it runs through a Mountain which is an hundred fathom high upon the top of which is a way made which is above seven furlongs in length and eight foot wide at the end of this way is digged a pond about twenty Cubits deep and from this most clear and abundant fountain they conduct water into the Town after I had well admired at this prodigious work of Eupalina for
when she desired him So that Spargapises and Agatherses having severall orders from Thomiris to attempt nothing rashly they were constrayned to hazard nothing rashly nor be so forward as otherwise they would Thus both sides often skirmished but never came to any desiding battle Again since the Army was not far from Issedon Ariantes often stole a day to go and see Elibesis whose soul was much unsetled for the truth is she loved Agatherses whether she would or no But ambition having a greater prevalence in her soul then love had she could not treat Ariantes ill in hopes of being Queen so as when he came to see her she received him with all possible sweetness Yet she still enquired concerning Agatherses and would often tell one of his intimate friends whom he left in Issedon many obliging passages concerning him in hopes of bringing him back unto her in case Ariantes was not King On the other side Argirispe who loved Adonacris more then she was loved and who was one that made a misfortune of every thing she was in continuall fears of his being killed or at least being wounded for since she was ignorant of his being in love with Noromata before his marriage and since he behaved himself very civilly towards her she was not at all jealous though her naturall temper was very apt for it as well as Sitalces As for Noromata she droned away a very malancholly life yet her comfort was that her husband was not with her and that she could be sad and no body see her for the truth is she had such a tenderness of soul towards Adonacris which all her vertue could not overcome â—et she was vexed at heart to hear he was married though she knew very well her anger was ill grounded and that since she never intended to see Adonacris again it was no matter whether she was married or not married But for all that Love being a passion which will never be subject unto reason Noromata with all her reason could not chuse but murmur in secret that Adonacris was married as well as her self yet she murmured without any hatred and accused him onely of the same injustice whereof she accused her self As for Sitalces he had no other sorrow upon his soul but for being at such a distance for her he loved the truth is his sorrow proceeded more from sparks of jealousie than love though he knew not whom to be jealous of and this was his very reason why he could not be absent from her he loved As for Agatherses he was in a worse condition then all the rest for his Love his hatred his jealousie and his thirsty desire of revenge would not let him enjoy one minute of rest and which is strange he did what he could to hide his love unto Elibesis and to perswade all he talked to that he hated his Rivall and slighted his Mistress yet at last I made him confess he loved her and made him confess in a very odd way For telling him one day that I thought he was still in love with Elibesis he sharply interrupted me as if I had done him the greatest injury in the world How Anabaris said he unto me can you think I am still in love with Elibesis since she hath preferred Ariantes before me Since you know very well said I unto him that it is not the person of Ariantes which she prefers and that it is onely the glistering of that Crown which he hath promised her which dazels her eyes you need not be so angry but look upon her rather as weak than inconstant I look upon her replied he angerly as inconstant as weak and as perfidious both I look upon her as one whom I am sorry I ever loved as one whom I never love or to say better as one whom I never loved at all Should you hate your Rivall any less replied I I should think you loved your Mistress less but as long as I see such hot sparks of hatred and such ardent desires of revenge I shall ever-think that you either dissemble your thoughts when you say you do not love Elibesis or that your self doth not know them for as soon as love ceaseth jealousie will cease also and that hatred which it causeth will at least grow less if not quite extinguish When any disputes against me replied Agatherses they must not alledge generall rules for I declare I shall except against them all Since it is certain I do not build upon any thing but my self especially in matters of love So as without examining whether jealousie cease in the hearts of others when love ceaseth and whether hatred diminish I onely know that though I do not love Elibesis yet I do so extreamly hate Ariantes that I wish his ruine and that I were in a condition to go and ask Elibesis whether it were more advantagious to be overwhelmed under the ruines of a shattered Throne then to wait quietly at the foot of that Throne And mauger her ambition I would there were in her heart one spark of that fire which once I kindled and that it might flame higher and hotter then ever to the end I might have the pleasure of being revenged upon her weakness and inconstancy by telling her ingeniously that I will never love her again Time will tell you said I unto him which of us two are in the right After this I said no more unto Agatherses because I was resolved to put a trick upon him and make him see that he did love Elibesis still though he did not think he loved her And indeed about four dayes after this dispute as I was one evening in his Tent I caused a letter to be brought unto me by one of my men which I my self did forge and which I received in his presence and which after I asked his leave I did read in a Corner of the Tent He knowing that I had a way to receive intelligence from Issedon he asked me if it came from thence and I being then alone with him I told him that it did and added with a serious countenance that I wished all he told me foure daies since were true I had no sooner said so but he earnestly asked me why I said so Before I give an answer said I unto him you must tell me whether you are sure you do not love Elibesis for if you do not then you may read this Letter but if you do love her never read it unless you have a desire to die with grief If only that assurance be requisite replied he hastily give me the Letter and as he said so he took it and began to read these words Sir WE know not here yet whether or no Fortune will have Ariantes to be King but in all likelyhood the Gods will not let Elibesis be a Queen for she is extreamly sick and I cannot tell whether at this houre I write death hath not driven all ambition out of her heart Some say that her sorrowes
glorious not to grant that which cannot be denyed without danger I will not promise you to leave loving Mandana or consent she should marry Ariantes nor promise to see her no more Since of these three things which I ask replyed Thomyris sharply there is one of them which depends absolutely upon me and not at all upon you I cannot tell whether it be prudence in you to incense any by your arrogant generosity for I need not your consent to hinder you from ever seeing Mandana nor need it in Ariantes marriage of her for since if I will I can look upon you as the murtherer of my Son If the fancy take me I shall lock you up eternally in my chains As Fortune hath brought me hither into them against my will replyed Cyrus so she may chance to take me out against yours And therefore Madam without any regard unto your needless threatnings I will tell you with all possible sincerity that could I ever have been unfaithfull unto Mandana your charms Madam would have made me so when I was in your Court under the name of Artamenes And I must ingeniously confess that I gave her a greater testimony of my Love in not loving you than in the taking of Babylon Sardis and Cumes Since certainly it is a more easy matter to win battells and take towns than to defend ones heart against such a person as you were when I had the honour first to see you For to tell you truly Madam Though you be as fair now as then you were yet you are less terrible to me now than you were than For truly as soon as you began to persecute Mandana as soon as ever you began to be cruell and would needs make your self loved by terrour you lost all that would make you amiable I cannot tell said she and in a rage interrupted him whether I can make my self Loved but I am sure I can make my self be obeyed And I perceive if I will ever have any rest I must hate you living as I did when you were dead and seek out my satisfaction in revenge After this Thomyris went away and stayed not for the answer of Cyrus and she carried with her more thoughts of fury than Love she was vexed at the Soul because she had not said enough to tender his heart she repented of every word she pronounced and somtimes she thought that if she had gone the mild way she had better effected her desires And sometimes again she thought that if she had menanaced him with the death of Mandana it would have staggered his constancy So as being unsatisfied with her self both at what she had done and what she should have done she was most insufferably tormented On the other side Cyrus was in a miserable condition for not knowing that she had seen that Letter which he had writ unto Mandana he thought that what she had spoke concerning Mandana's Levity had a right ground and was greived to the very soul at it But whilst the souls of Cyrus and Thomyris were thus disquietted Mereontes who wasconceal'd amongst the Sauromattan Captains with Myrsiles Hydaspes Chrysantes they continued the same design on foot which once was ready for Execution The 〈…〉 ends of Ariantes also bethinking themselves how to deliver this Prince and knowing how the Sauromates were discontented did make a proposition to joyn with them and get Ariantes out of the hands of Thomyris The Sauromattan Captains without giving any positive answer unto those who made this proposition acquainted Myrsiles Hydaspes Mereontes and Chrysantes with it Who all conceived that if they could unite the friends of Ariantes unto theirs that Thomyris would be infallibly lost and that Cyrus and Mandana would be delivered The reason why they hoped this was not impossible was because they knew that the friends of Ariantes were afraid Thomyris would put that Prince to death for since he once went about to take a crown from her they thought that she would seek for a colour to palliate her revenge upon him So as imagining that if this union could be made it would make much for the advantage of Cyrus these Sauromattan Captains entertained the motion and brought things to that pass that the friends of Ariantes conferred with the friends of Cyrus But since neither side could answer for those Princes for whom they transacted they agreed that both sides should endeavour to make known the state of things unto them And in order to that Myrsiles and Mereontes found out meanes to send word unto Cressus and Mazares that they should attempt nothing untill they heard further from them In the mean time there passed not a day in which Thomyris had not some new persecution for Cyrus and Mandana For she obliged all the prisoner Princes to see Cyrus one after another and to perswade him not to pretend any more unto Mandana Also she would have all the rest of the Captives in their turns to see Mandana and move her to marry Ariantes and she spoke her self unto the Prince her brother and perswaded him not to think any more of marrying Mandana but to give her over unto her vengeance for this violent Queen was come to that pass that she thought no more of making Cyrus love her but only to take his Love off her whom he adored So that when she saw it a thing impossible to perswade Mandana ever to marry Ariantes she had a fancy to perswade Ariantes to let her be put to death That which I desire of you Brother said she unto him you should me thinks ask me and should desire to be revenged of a strong hearted person who scorns and hates you And though you had no other advantage by it but to imagin the sorrows of your Rivall yet that were enough to move your consent unto it If you will suffer me replyed Ariantes rough y to go and ponyard Cyrus I shall perhaps consent that you shall poyson Mandana I agree unto your proposition answered Thomyris suddenly Oh most cruell Princess said Ariantes then what a most abominable Love is yours No no added he deceive not your self I am the Enemy of Cyrus but I will never be his butcher And moreover I do most solemnly protest that if you attempt any thing against the life of Mandana yours shall infallibly answer for it for though I cannot get out of your chains yet I have friends who will revenge your cruelty and I doubt not but all the world will arm themselves and ruin you Thomyris seeing with what an Aire Ariantes spoke this was ashamed but it was a shame accompanied with anger which made her express her self infinitely angry at that Prince You think perhaps said she unto him to get upon that Throne which once you rebelliously mounted But let me tell you that I will keep you in my fetters as a vanquished Usurper and as a rebellious Subject After this that enraged Queen left him and left him with thoughts of hatred as great