you desire replied Flavia be in my power I shall not deny it Then use a means said Valeria to get from your kinsman all the Copies of Letters which he hath of Clelia's and the unfaithful Herminius and also the Map of Tender which he mentioned for to lessen my grief I would do all I could to augment my anger But said Flavia unto her you do not know what you ask and if I should do as you desire me you would repent it No matter answered she for as I am I cannot do or say any thing which I shall not repent of within a minute after Flavia seeing it was in vain to contest with her did promise that when she saw Emilius again she would use her best endeavours to get all that he had which belonged to Herminius after which she went home and was no sooner there but feigning her self sick she went to bed speaking not a word of the cruel news which she had heard For though Valerius and Domitia had commanded her to look upon Herminius as a man who was to be her Husband yet she would not shew all the grandeur of that passion which was in her soul so as she endured her misery to hide her tears 'T is true she could not long hide and dissemble all her sorrow for Emilius who could not chuse but lament his loss before every one he published the death of Herminius He told it also unto Valerius who was most extreamly troubled at it and who made no question but the sickness of Valeria proceeded from the same news As for Sivelia when she heard of it her grief was incredible yet she comforted her self with a most Heroick courage and had the consolation to see her illustrious Son lamented by all of any Rank in Rome except the vindicative Spurius and Mutius though it was then very dangerous to grieve for any whom Tarquin loved not He also was strangely incensed at all the lamentation which every one made and at those testimonies of esteem which every one gave of this illustrious Roman whom they believed to be dead and who was his enemy so as all his hatred of him reviving in his heart he said aloud that he was more sorry for the death of Herminius than they that lamented him most because he was deprived of his hopes of having him in his power that he might see him die before his face by the rigor of a torment which he had invented for him This cruel expression of Tarquins being horrid to all of any virtue it was buzzed from one to another for some days to make him hated As for Valeria none spoke unto her of Herminius but Valerius and his wife Sivelia and Flavia. But this sage Ladie having a great soul she did not shew all her sorrow and all her weakness but unto the only person who knew the secrets of her heart Mean time she had not forgot her request unto Flavia but so pressed her to satisfie her curiosity that this officious friend seeing the sorrow of Valeria to encrease in lieu of diminishing she thought it best to do any thing that would lessen her grief for Herminius Therefore the first time Emilius came to visit her she obliged him to lend her the Map of Tender and all your Letters Madam also those of Herminius After which she went unto her friend who knowing that she had brought them caused the woman who waited upon her to with-draw she shut the chamber door and commanded that none should enter She did not fear that Valerius would come and interrupt them because Sivelia had entreated him to go unto her house So as being safe on all sides Flavia sat down by her putting all that she had upon a little Table Valeria began to take one of the Letters and having much a do to save it from her tears she began to read the Copy of a Letter which Herminius had writ unto you Madam whilst he was with Emilius at Capua and which indeed was so tender to be only a Letter of Amity that Valeria may be pardoned if she took it for a Letter of Love I would not read the Copy of it which I have if none but you Madam were to hear me But Madam since Cesonia and Plotina never saw it give me leave to read these lines Herminius unto Clelia Madam DO you ever think upon me Do you love me as much as you promised have you endured my absence with any sorrow And to ask you many things in few words is your Amity worthy the tenderness of mine Valeria had no sooner read this Letter but crying out most lamentably and looking upon Flavia in such a manner as would turn a heart of stone into pity Is it possible said she unto her I should ever see a Letter from Herminius in a style so tender and not writ unto me And is it possible that I should not for ever grieve for his loss or receive any comfort of this But said Flavia unto her seeing her sorrow to encrease in lieu of diminishing though Emilius be a man of much honour yet this is but a Copy not the hand of Herminius for Emilius writ it and therefore methinks you should not absolutely conclude Herminius guilty Ah Flavia replied she I cannot be deceived in the Letters of Herminius This indeed has not so much wit in it as some which he writes unto his friends but it has the same tenderness which he used when he was in love And I heartily wish this Letter were more witty and less tender After this she opened another which Madam proved to be your Answer of which Herminius took a Copy to give unto his friend hoping thereby to let him see that he was not in love with you So as Valeria seeing this Letter and seeing it written with the hand of Herminius this circumstance troubled her more than all the tenderness she found in it Pray Amilcar said Clelia and interrupted do not read my answer unto Cesonia and Plotina For it is not pertinent to the matter in hand Yes Madam answered he it augmented the jealousie of Valeria and therefore it is so pertinent as I conceive it necessary to the story And therefore since it is short I will read it distinctly unto you Clelia unto Herminius PErhaps I think upon you more than you do of me I do love you more than ere I told you your absence troubles me more than you think and if my affection be not worthy of the Tenderness of yours you will never find whose is Well Elavia said Valeria to her what think you of this Letter Truly answered she I do so much wonder at what I see as I think it prudence never to trust any again You are in the right replied Valeria For this Herminius whom you thought a Saint has doubtless all the Faults of other Men You see his perfidie towards me and you may see his indiscretion towards his new Mistress in giving Copies of her Letters and
by the Spies which those of Ardea had in Tarquin's Camp that Aronces was not there and was conceived to lurk in Rome So that not doubting but that Sivelia could give some account of him his resolution was to be fully satisfied Horatius for his part in his excessive affliction had some benefit by the Truce for that it afforded him the leisure to perfect the cure of his wounds and to consider what he should do to out-vie the generosity of his Rival yet without violating the interest of his love Nay even Tarquin himself was at some ease for that he received from Amilcar what gave him some shadow of hope As for Prince Sextus he had the least share in this happiness for the love of Lucrecia exercised such a tyranny over his soul that he had not the least command of it himself As for Prince Titus and the Prince of Pometia they also having some secret interest to manage at Rome found their convenience of the Truce as well as others Nay even the cruel Tullia put on a little more cheerfulness and became less furious than she was wont as being in some hopes to corrupt him who kept Clelia who not conceiving himself sufficiently rewarded for the late murthers he had committed by the orders of Tarquin seemed enclined to swallow the promises of this cruel Princess Things being in this posture the noble Herminius came one evening to Sivelia's Amilcar being in the house who was extreamly glad to see him for he had a natural affection for him and infinitely esteemed him for his parts and vertue Herminius also who had as great experiment of the merit of Amilcar as any living was overjoyed to find him at his vertuous Mothers from whom he had received a thousand expressions of tenderness which he had requited with as many obliging testimonies of gratitude and true friendship But Sivelia's enjoyment was somewhat obscured by a certain fear she had lest her Sons return might be discovered but Tarquin not being at Rome and Amilcar advising that Herminius should for more safety lodge with Aronces she was received and with more quiet enjoyed the presence of a Son in whom all the vertues made a glorious constellation and in whom his greatest enemies found not the least declination to any evil habit For indeed Herminius was in his inclinations noble in heart free passionate compassionate and generous in humour he was mild civil obliging complaisant having a mind fit for all things and fortunate in finding out many pleasant and innocent circumventions to divert his friends of both sexes Moreover though he was a very discreet person and sufficiently reserved among those who had not much of his company yet when he pleased he screwed up his humour to a certain bravery and sprightliness but to those he loved not this was mystical and his frolickness might confidently be taken for an expression of his esteem and his affection He was excellent good at writing of Billets of all sorts and had such a happy and easie vein of Verses that it was Amilcar's judgement Greece afforded not a more generall a nobler and a more nimble wit than that of Herminius insomuch that sometimes he would wish he might change wits with this illustrious Roman saying that Phocilides the Milesian who was then alive had never made better Verses then he nor Sappho more amorous Amilcar therefore having an infinite esteem for Herminius made a thousand obliging expressions to him at his coming to Sivelia's but at last left this dear Son with his excellent Mother But after promise he should go to Aronces his loding whither he was going himself and where according to his custome he used to pass away the Evening Sivelia therefore having acquainted Herminius how all things stood which concerned his fortune sent notice to Racilia of her sons arrival and begged the same favour for him as she had done for Aronces To which that generous Matron having made such answer as was fit she should Herminius went to her house where he was received as a kinsman of her husbands and as a friend for whom he had a great tenderness He had also the happiness to see a Neece of hers whose name was Hermilia a Virgin if any in the world had extraordinary excellences both of body and mind but he was much surprised to find that neither Aronces nor Amilcar had so much as seen her Not that Racilia was confident of the discretion of this Beauty but the reason she gave Herminius was that she found Aronces so afflicted and Amilcar so frolick that she thought the melancholy of the one would not admit diversion and the frolick humour of the other was enough for his friend and himself But Herminius assuring the interest of a Kinsman of the fair Hermilia told her Aunt that his friends must needs see her Racilia then without delay accompanied with her daughter conducted Herminius to Aronces's chamber where they found Amilcar who had that day brought a Letter from Clelia to that illustrious Lover which consequently affording him as great satisfaction as the unhappy state of his affairs would permit him to receive he entertained Herminius with a many expressions of gladness having first asked Racilia leave to embrace his friend But these first ceremonies of friendship being over Herminius presented Hermilia to him acquainted him who she was How cryes out Amilcar hath this fair Virgin been in the house ever since I came hither She has replyed Herminius smiling and had it not been for me this Treasure had been yet hidden from you Ha Madam sayes Amilcar to Racilia your generosity is very great in regard of your compassion not to consider that the sight of this beautiful person is an excellent medicine for unfortunate persons It may be replyed obligingly Aronces she is as likely to make as to cure such But if you 'l believe me sayes Racilia there is no great danger of her doing either for she ever sayes that a man is not to seek his comfort any where but in himself and that in her own nature she is so harmless she can do no hurt which her compassion shall not allay if it cannot cure As I have never been so unhappy as to do any replied the modest Hermilia so I am not certain whether I should be so good as I am believed and so I should have as great a pitty for those ills I were guilty of as for those I were not This past Aronces being Master o' th' Ceremonies in his own chamber though it were in Racilia's house caused these Ladies and his two friends to sit down It is true that while Amilcar spoke to this vertuous Roman and her Neece Aronces listned to Herminius who acquainted him with all he knew of Horatius As I am true to you sayes he in a low voyce I must needs confess that I have discovered in your Rivall the most generous resentments in the world for it is constantly believed that in some intervals he wishes he
a maid of an excellent wit called Bellanira who held correspondence by Letters with Damo insomuch that writing to one another as two persons who had no matters of state but onely certain secrets of friendship to communicate they gave one another an account of their pleasures and principally of the new friends of either Sex which they made So that Damo receiving one day a Letter from Bellanira shewed it to Brutus and told him she needed his assistance very much to answer it Brutus conceiving it was some great affair that Damo should desire his advice in opens this Letter and found in it if I mistake not these words at least I am certain it was to this effect Bellanira to the wise Damo I Once thought I should never have loved any thing but you but now I am to tell you that I have found a new Friend so worthy to be loved that though I have your promise not to contract any new friendships you would certainly come short of your word if you knew her as well as I do She is a Virgin whose person endued with thousands of charms wit goodness her inclinations absolutely noble and her conversation infinitely pleasant she is neither humorous nor proud but dearly loves her Friends and is perpetually speaking to me of you though she knew you no otherwise than by fame and of whose friendship I have a thousand tender expressions I desire to know whether I can without ingratitude refuse her affection or without being unfaithful to you divide mine with her for since my heart is at your disposal I cannot receive into it this new and charming Friend without your permission though I know not well how to keep her out When Brutus who went at Metapont under a wrong name which I cannot at the present call to mind had read this Letter he told Damo that it was handsomly writ but saw not any necessity she had to answer it You shall see that when I have done it replyed the smiling but when you have answered it replyed he I can do you no service in it When you read it answered she you shall give me your opinion Whereupon Damo taking writing-tables writ to Bellanira which when she had done shewing it to Brutus he there in read the Letter I am going to repeat to you Damo to Bellanira THat you may assure your self I am a person of as much sincerity as any in the World I do ingenuously confess that I am not a little glad that you have furnished me with a pretence to break the promise I made you not to entertain any new Friendships For if you have found out a Woman-friend you like so well I can boast I have met with man I am so much taken with that I think him worthy to be a Servant to that Beauty you have so drawn to the life for there issue greater charms from his mind than can from her eyes as being one whose soul speaks greater excellencies than you have met with in all the men you have known So that to deal sincerely with you I should have been as much troubled to refuse admittance to this new friend as you would be should I oblige you to break off with yours I am willing therefore that we be mutually guilty of Infidelity and the better to confirm our joynt-conquest that we engage these two persons who both love us to love one another lest that if your friend should have a servant that were not my friend she might prevail with you to forsake me and that mine having a Mistress which were not your friend he would endeavor to lessen my friendship towards you Propose therefore what I tell you to that amiable person who robs me of part of your soul and I shall make the same proposition to him who must keep you company in mine But for ought I see interrupted Amilcar the Sciences have not spoiled the wit of this daughter of Pythagoras since she writes so excellently and her Philosophy is not too austere since she allows Love to be of the University of her Friends On the contrary replyed Herminius she holds that to be truly vertuous requires a temperament full of passion and that there cannot be a servent affection for Vertue where there is not withal a passionate tenderness But to speak truly did the Painters draw Love as she imagines it they would disburthen him of his Fillet his Bow and Arrows and leave him only his Torch for this wise Virgin says she cannot endure the Love that is blind and that it is enough a heart should be set a-fire without being shot thorough with darts In fine she so purifies this passion that she cleanses it from whatever is dangerous and yet takes away nothing from it that is pleasant But to return to Brutus after that Damo had shewn him the Letter she writ to Bellanira he made as if he understood not himself to be that so well-liked person she so mentioned to her friend but purposely that he might be the more fully satisfied of a thing which pleased him but at length she reduced him to a necessity of rendering her a thousand thanks Yet he told her that he should never have confidence enough to see Bellanira having seen what she writ to her of him but she answered it should not be long ere he saw her for that she was resolved on a journey to Crotona that she had engaged Tarquinia for the same place and that she would oblige him to conduct her and indeed within fifteen days all came to pass accordingly But in the mean time Bellanira and Damo writ to one another with as much bravery as friendship so that when they saw one another Brutus found himself confirmed in the mind of Bellanira who joyfully received him and sincerely confessed to Damo that she were to blame if she should refuse his friendship But this new friend of hers being not yet come to Crotona as being expected within four days these two loving persons resolved to put some trick upon the inchanting Chrysis for so was that Beauty called To this end Damo who knew that Brutus could as easily disguise his mind as discover it when the humor took him told Bellanira that the more to surprise her friend 't were fit Brutus should put on his stupidity the first time he should see Chrysis to see how she would receive a Lover of whom she had formed so great an Idea Bellanira approving the proposition and Brutus saying that it was easie for him and not unseasonable at the first sight to disguise his humor rather than to be too forward to disclose it promised so far to over-reach the fair Chrysis that she should go near to despise him And I promise you replyed Bellanira that as soon as she comes to know you she will esteem you infinitely It shall be therefore for your sake replyed he Nay it shall be rather for her own sake replyed the pleasant Damo since she must be much
wherewith he was taken even to admiration Insomuch that absence vexation and reason clearing up Persander's heart of its former pre-possession put him into a condition sensible of the Charms of Caesonia As for Turnus he was so accustomed to the sense of merit and beauty that it would have been very strange if he should have had none reserved for one of the most accomplish'd persons in the World These two friends thought not in the mean time that they were become Rivals for they professed themselves equally friends to Caesonia who entertained them accordingly So that not behaving themselves as Lovers they soon gained with us that liberty which friendship affords They writ Letters to us and we answered them we had a hundred appointed walkings together and we carried our selves towards them rather as if they were friends of our own sex then the other For being both of them circumspect respectful and discreet we stick'd not to say before them a many things which might be thought somewhat extravagant But at length I one day perceived it was not impossible they might have some resentments of love for Caesonia for being one afternoon all four together in Ersilia's Chamber we fell a talking of a certain Lover of our City who as it was reported had parted very fairly from his Mistress to go and travel and that though there happened no difference between them he was absolutely cured of his Passion and was returned without any Love For my part saies Turnus I do not think it impossible for I know those who without the remedy of absence can overcome two or three Passions much more one And for my part replied Persander I do not think a man can be cur'd by absence onely and I am absolutely perswaded that to be eased of ones Passion a man must necessarily entertain another There may no doubt continued he be a sort of people who are not so sensible as many others and into whose souls it might infuse a certain coldness which signifies rather indifference then Love but afterwards restored to the sight of the person whom they had loved they would re-assume their love for I cannot conceive that absence alone is able to destroy love I hold therefore that whoever ceases to love upon no other account then absence must be guilty of infidelity and have taken another Mistriss But if there be a necessity a man enter into a new love before he can be said to give over loving a former Mistress in case of absence replyed Turnus the same conclusion holds against a Lover who should at once disengage himself from two or three By no means repli'd Persander for it may happen that these Mistresses might do a many things conducing to his cure which a person that is absent cannot But if on the contrary replied Turnus these two or three Mistresses were more favourable then ordinary what would you say I should say replyed Caesonia laughing you would be thought ungrateful if you forsook them for another But Madam replyed Turnus I put not the question to you but to Persander who will needs maintain that a man cannot cease loving a person that is absent without entring into a new love and thinks it not possible a man may quit three fair Mistresses without finding another Nay I conceive added he he pretends that a woman ought to think her self more oblig'd to him if he loved her in the absence of his Mistress then she should to me though I should in the presence of three suffer my self to be wrought upon by the charms of this fourth There is no question of it replyed Persander and for instance if making profession of constancy as I do it should happen that the admirable Caesonia could make me inconstant and fasten her love upon me I should do a greater action for her sake then you should do by forsaking all your Mistresses to serve her for change being natural to you you did no more in loving her then comply with your own inclination But if I should persevere to love her for a long time replied he shall I not have done much more for her then you who are naturally fastened to one place and should not deserve any great reward though you loved ever so faithfully It must certainly be a very long time replied Persander before you can recover your reputation I beseech you replyed Caesonia make not these fruitless suppositions and if you have any quarrel let not me be concerned in it But if that which they say be real reply'd I laughing not thinking it had been so you were finely catch'd I had no sooner said so but I saw Persander's colour change and Turnus was not without some disturbance I assure you replyed Caesonia I should hardly believe it though they should endeavour to perswade me to it You do not then believe Madam such an accident as this impossible replyed coldly Persander for if you remember you said one day when Turnus and I were present that to give you a remarkable testimony of his affection a Lover must do something absolutely disconsonant to his natural inclination and among those you expected that an unconstant man should prove constant for your sake or that a constant Lover quit his perseverance purposely to serve you And Madam added Turnus we were so far perswaded to follow your directions that I advised Persander to quit his Mistress to love you and he afterwards gave me the like counsel to forsake all mine to apply my self only to you He was pleased it seems to requite your ill advice with as bad replyed Caesonia blushing On the contrary replyed Persander I gave him that counsel out of meer friendship but he was not disposed to follow it 'T was because at that time I was so wedded to your judgement that I would not do what you refused Certainly replyed Casonia laughing you are both very admirable persons to tell me so truly what passed between you that day They are much more replyed I laughing with her for company if they dealt so really with you as to acquaint you with their present thoughts for I am clearly of opinion though I should not swear it that in Persander you have made an inconstant Lover of a constant and in Turnus you have exchanged inconstancy into a perseverance You speak so indiscreetly replyed Caesonia that I think not fit to answer you But if it be so replyed Persander what do you expect Turnus and I should do Must we hate one another must we cease to love you must we fear or must we hope And that you may complete your obligation upon us be pleased to declare which of us two may with more confidence presume to have given you the greater testimony of his affection he who is become constant or he who has quitted his constancy I beseech you Madam added Turnus be pleased to give Persander a punctual answer Did he speak to me seriously replied she I would answer him but since he proposes
should find him lazy enough I have heard you heretofore so much commend Laziness replied Spurius coldly seeing it was addressed unto him as I think that those who would please you may do well to be Lazie in obeying you But as for Valeria added he she is not of that humour since she likes those best that obey her soonest Salonina being stung to the heart to see the difference which Spurius put betwixt Valeria and her she entreated Herminius to repeat three or four lines of that song Herminius being all civility did so and repeated those lines which afterwards you shall hear But to the end you may understand them better you must know that Herminius did sometimes call his Mistress Clarice when he mentioned her in verses And complaining one day that she would shew him no favour but barely to let him love her he had said in an angry Love-fit which seldom lasts above a quarter of an hour and does but more augment the passion which caused it That if she did not grow a little kinder unto him he would leave her The lines were these which Amilcar sung Clarice I will leave thee now Though none so fair as thee I know A little Love is charming sweet But too much Love is torment great What 's this I say I cannot find An alteration in my mind Well said Amilcar unto Plotina after he had sung have I revived the attention of the company by this Air which sutes so well to the witty words of Herminius Yes replied Plotina but the interruption should be too long and we lose the sequel of the story we will not commend your verses nor your song though they deserve it So Amilcar obeying Plotina he assumed his discourse in these Terms Herminius having repeated these lines which I sung Valeria told him that she should see ere long whether he had any design to please her after which she went away As for Salonina her mind was miserably incensed For she found it not so easie a matter as she believed to bring into her Fetters the Revengeful Spurius who went out with Herminius presently after Valeria was gone In going together Spurius obliged Herminius to pass that evening away with him at his house whither they were no sooner come but I desired Herminius to promise him a thing which he would ask adding that it should be of such a nature as it would not any way be prejudicial unto him If so said Herminius why do you not freely tell me what your desire is You know answered Spurius that sometimes one shall have odd scruples and Fancies of which no reason can be given I will not therefore tell you what I desire until you promise me satisfaction Herminius at last consenting Spurius earnestly desired to let him send those Verses unto Valeria which she asked of him and said he since you have the honour of making them let me have the honour of sending them before you Did I think you in love with Valeria added he I would not make this request unto you but since you are not and I am methinks you should not deny me Herminius at the first looked shie upon the matter and was in half a mind to break promise but after he had studied a while upon it he told Spurius that he was willing he should send the verses that same night and promised that he himself would not send to Valeria until the next morning So as Spurius after a thousand thanks unto Herminius he writ to Valeria in his presence asking him pardon if in writing unto that fair one he mentioned something against him after this he shewed the Letter to Herminius who found in it these words Spurius unto Valeria Madam I Humbly send you the verses you desired and I send them unknown unto Herminius I beseech you in comparing my diligence with his laziness make such conclusions as may be advantageous to me and it 's to be presumed that he who satisfies your curiosity with most celerity loves you with most ardor Therefore if you be just you are as much beholding to me for sending you these verses though you did not honour me with your commands as unto him who made them since he did not send them unto you the first And yet I consent you should esteem him more than me upon condition only you will believe I love you better than he After Herminius had read this Letter he had much ado to let Spurius send it but at last he consented and stayed until the slave who carried it returned purposely to see what answer Valeria sent which upon the slaves return he found to be this Valeria to Spurius YOu are Sir without doubt most officious and â—â—ligent and in recompence of your care to please me I promise you to quarrel with your lazie friend and to chide him as much as I thank you Spurius upon reading of this Letter was extreamly joyed but as for Herminius he seemed as if he were angry After which he went home still promising Spurius that he would not send his Verses until the next morning And indeed be kept his word and to be perfectly punctual he sent not to Valeria till noon and then he sent them with this Letter Herminius unto Valeria I Doubt not Madam but you who are the most punctual the most regular and the most perfect person that ere I knew in points of friendship will not think you have any great cause of complaint â—â— accusation of laziness against me For I can safely swear and truly fairest Valeria that since there were any persons in the world which knew you as much to say as which honour you admire you and love you there was never any over whom you had more soveraign power than over me but by a cross and cruel adventure so it chances that I have not sent you these Verses so soon as I desired When next I have the honour to see you I hope to make my innocence better appear and then certainly I shall make you confess that appearances are fallacious and that if one will be exactly just one must never judge any thing upon uncertain conjectures especially when Herminius is accused of negligence in obeying you Herminius having writ this Letter and inclosed the Verses as if he knew not that Spurius had sent them to Valeria and then dispatched them to that charming Lady who was yet a little vexed at his supposed laziness so as after she had read his Letter which she looked upon as a bare excuse she resolved to punish her lazy Lover by a dry answer and writ not above two 〈…〉 It was this Valeria unto Herminius I Received those Verses yesterday which you sent me not till to day so as to return you laziness for laziness I will not thank you till to morrow Adieu Herminius having received this short Letter he smiled at the anger of Valeria in lieu of troubling himself and hoped to appease her very shortly and indeed as soon
would pass for currant But for a better reception of them it was requisite either to make the man that was to carry them unto Herminius of the plot or else to delude him Hatred being sometimes as ingenious as Love Spurius found out a way to bring that about For be pleased to know that this Envoy from Herminius thinking at last upon the Pacquet which he brought he began to look for it in his pocket where not finding it he seemed to be much troubled at it But being commanded to keep it very secret he durst not tell the cause of his trouble but only asked the servants of Spurius whether during his sickness they found a Pacquet which he had in his pocket But they all answering no he resolved to impart it unto Spurius that he might command them to make restitution of it He therefore desired of Spurius leave to speak with him and told him he was sure that he had it when he came into his house and beseeched him to take such order that he might have it again Spurius promised he would but was not so good as his word but on the contrary told him that all his men swore they had it not and that certainly it was not lost in his house The man then grieving excessively at it he told him plainly that he durst not return to Capua without it but that he was a undone man Spurius seeing him in such a sad condition most began to comfort him and ask him if the Pacquet was of any great importance so as in hopes that perhaps Spurius would keep secret he told him all the adventure and how he had a brother whom Herminius maâ—â— choice of to carry a Pacquet secretly unto Rome to a Lady called Flavia That this brother fell sick at his Mothers house six miles from Capua and that lest he should lose the Recompence which Herminius had promised unto him he sent him in his room unknown to Herminius adding further that if he returned without any other answer but that he had lost it his brother would never look upon him his Mother would banish him her house and Herminius would suspect he had betrayed him Spurius then seemed to pity the fellow and promised to make a more strict inquisition And to be short he tore the two letters of Herminius in pieces and went with them to this afflicted fellow and told him that as he was walking in a Wood close by a Garden he found those pieces of Paper under a bush and that certainly some of his men had done it but would not confess the fellow was at first a little joyed that they were the same pieces which he had lost but presently after considering that he durst not carry them to Flavia as they were he was as much afflicted as before nay more because the secret was known amongst the men Spurius then seeing the man in such despair and hoping to bring him unto his own desires he bad him never trouble himself excessively For so he would promise never to tell Herminius nor his brother of this accident he would infallibly find a remedy against his disease The man even ravished with joy to hear this he promised any thing that Spurius desired After this Spurius told him that he was intimately acquainted with Flavia and Valeria and if any shift could be made to read these torn pieces of the Letter he would engage that they should never mention the accident unto Herminius telling him also that if he would rest himself at his house whilst he went to Rome he would at his return get his business dispatched The man finding so fair an opportunity laid hold upon it for the fellow not being so crafty as his Brother he could not comprehend he had any further design than only out of his goodness to do him this good office Therefore looking whether if the pieces of the Letters joyned together again would make the meaning of them appear and seeing they imported only matter of love he easily believed that Spurius spoke sincerely unto him Yet the fellow had a desire to see Flavia so as Spurius conceiving that he was not to render an account of his voyage unto Herminius but only unto his brother who knew not Flavia he offered to bring him to the speech of her with intention to let him speak unto a sister he had in lieu of her But at last the man referred the whole business unto him and Spurius going next day to Rome he returned the day following and gave him two Letters which were really from Flavia and Valeria for his brother to give them unto Herminius for there being ordinarily no superscription upon such Letters these were as applicative unto Herminius as Mutius who though he was a Rival unto Herminius yet had no mind to put this trick upon him Not but that Mutius did naturally love Artifice yet upon this occasion he had some repugnancy against what his friend did But being as I may say the Father of his love he 〈…〉 unto him Spurius then gave the two Letters to the fellow he described Flavia unto him to the end that if his brother asked any questions concerning her he might be able to answer him so as the man went away very well pleased with Spurius and with the Letters which he thought would be very welcome unto them unto whom he carried them and the thing most particular in this cheat of Spurius was that this fellow for his own interest was obliged to conceal all that might hinder the effects of the fallacy The fellow then returned to his Brother who impatiently expected him because he had stayed beyond his time But seeing him returned and taking the Pacquet he went to carry it unto Herminius who was at Capua after he had told him all that Flavia had said unto him But I had forgot to tell you that Spurius being very subtil told the fellow his lesson and bad him say that Flavia received him very faintly and spoke but only three words unto him adding further that she was the most reserved woman that ever he met with and spoke the least Not Madam that she was so but that Spurius proportioned her behaviour and language to the Letter which Herminius was to receive from her and indeed his plot did take for this fellow who never stirred from Capua being well instructed by his Brother he went unto Herminius who received him with a strange expectation since he had not been to see Valeria he asked him only how Flavia did and whether she had written unto him Sir said he here 's a Pacquet which will give you an exact account that I have performed all your commands Herminius then took the Pacquet and open'd it finding therein two Letters the one from Flavia the other from Valeria whose hands he knew very well so as the sight of them being much joy unto him he began to read them You may imagine his sorrow to see with what rigour Valeria writ
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
composition Moreover Elismonda is merry when she is in company that pleases her yet 't is always a modest mirth and never ascends to those excessive wantonnesses which are discordant to seemliness On the other side when she thinks fit she puts on a more serious deportment though without disgust to any Nor is she like those fair ones who ever resort to all great feasts for she loves not a croud and very selfom goes to a Ball notwithstanding she dances with an excellent grace As little is she of the humor of those who would think their beauty undervalued if it do not every year procure them great number of Collations Treatments and Seâ—enades For Elismonda is contented to conquer hearts without desiring such testimonies of affection and excepting some praises in Verse which she sometimes suffers to be given her she can never resolve to receive any thing either from her Lovers or Friends of either sex But Elismonda's heart being great and noble she loves naturally to give and to make handsome Treatments at home not to seek them from others She has moreover a quality very rare in a person fair and young not to speak ill of any person living in the least picquant and dangerous railleries are displeasing to her and 't is against her desire if any person whatsoever be injur'd 'T is not to be doubted but that Elismonda loves praises and though she declare she will never love any besides the Prince of Elis who alone has been able to make impressions on her heart yet she takes it not ill that she is esteemed admired and adored and if any thing of cruelty harbors in her soul t is in having a general design to please without caring to make some persons miserable whom she never intends to render happy Not but that she has reason to persist faithful to the Prince of Elis for certainly never man was owner of more generosity and goodness than he nor in whom all the qualities of a true person of honor may be more essentially found He is well made of his person has a losty aspect a noble heart a just mind a gentle nature a tender soul he is an ardent friend and a more ardent lover he is liberal real wise and moderate loves reasonable delights and justice above all things So that to speak according to justice Elismonda has reason to make all her Lovers unhappy though they may be pardoned for repining a little against her charms and beauty when they suffer the tyranny of it It 's always just for one that suffers to complain answered Amilcar True said Plotina for I should complain of my self had I occasioned my own mischief and we also see Men complain more or less according to the different degrees of affection they have for those who cause them to suffer But to return to Elismonda if I were assured her vows were heard I would forth with prepare my self for a journey to Eryx Then you are afraid of being in love said Herminius smiling Indeed replyed she I am unwilling to entertain that passion and for the present I find it trouble enough to be continually repressing the esteem which we have of honorable persons it being hourly necessary for our minds to be sentinels to our hearts to observe carefully that Love enter not thereinto under the disguise of tender friendship One thing said Cesonia I am very confident of that some persons known to me are in Love and never think they are so A mistake of this kind may sometimes fall out answered Amilcar but 't is not possible to be always deceived so For my part interpos'd Themistus I know other people very opposite to those you speak of for they believe themselves in love when they are only possessed with a kind of wanton folly which scarce resembles love at all Whilst Themistus was speaking thus Zenocrates arrived who being first made to understand the person of Merigenes informed this noble company that there was brought to Valerius a man of Veii who had been taken and was found encharged with several important Letters Was he coming to Rome said Cesonia Zenocrates made some difficulty to answer but Themistus judging it was because of the presence of Merigenes engaged for his fidelity so that resuming his discourse he was coming to Rome said he without question his business being to speak with Clelius from a Veientine called Mamilius his antient friend they say to whom Horatius is slave though they of Veii know not his quality You will find said Herminius that 't was to that very Veientine Clelius sent secretly to endeavor the delivery of Horatius 'T is the very same replyed Zenocrates and Clelius does his utmost to hinder the Consuls from using him that is taken severely But what was his message to Clelius demanded Herminius He came to tell him answered Zenocrates that Mamilius assured him that though he were of a side enemy to his he should persevere his friend and ever express testimonies of amity to him as far as the interest of his party would permit If this man be only charged with such Commissions replyed Herminius there is no cause to treat him hardly Were there no more but this answered Zenocrates he would be out of danger but Letters have been found about him from the Prince Titus to Collatina and Hermilia which 't is true speak nothing concerning affairs of State but there is one from Tarquin to the chief Pontiff in which that Prince exaggerating the excessive expence he made to testify his zeal towards the gods when he caused the Temple of Jupiter to be built seems desirous to engage him to recompence him for it by embracing his interests and cunningly insinuating into the minds of his people that 't is fit he were recalled But amongst all those several Letters the man had some others which intimate that having ended his negotiating at Rome he had order to go into Greece to the Princess of Elis for there is one from the Veientine we spoke of to the Prince of that Country And that which is sufficiently strange this Veientine speaks to him with very much authority and almost commands him to go in person to Delphos to consult the oracle concerning the success of the War which the Veientines have determined to make against Rome For whereas Tarquin heretofore sent the Princess his sons thither when Brutus accompanyed them the Veientines observing lately how true the Oracle they received has been found by Brutus's becomeing master of Rome they would know what the event of their design would prove And accordingly Mamilius writes as I told you to the Prince of Elis to oblige him to consult that Oracle engaging himself to make a considerable offering to the Temple of Delphos in the name of his Republick There are also in the same Letter many other things which cannot be understood But is this Prince of Elis said Plotina turning towards Merigenes nothing to the Princess Elismonda whose Picture you
had without doubt a very respectful friendship for Belintha and Belintha a very tender one for him but it was absolutely without courtship At that time the fair Clymene was with an Aunt of hers in the Country without having any other consolation in her melancholly than that which she received from the Letters of her dear Belintha who us'd all means she could to cure her of her discontent Hesiode lodging at the house of Artemides had very much freedome with her and went into her Chamber and her Cabinet also though she were not there And going one day into her Chamber whilst Belintha was there he beheld an opened letter lying upon the Table and though he was very discreet and respected Belintha enough no to prie into her secrets farther than she was willing yet he could not contain from casting his eyes on this Letter which he perceived was written by a Woman But that which augmented his curiosity was that he presently espied his own name in it which farther instigating him to read it he took it up and found it written in these words CLYMENE to her dear BELINTHA I Am very glad you have found an agreeable Friend who comforts you for the loss of a faithful one but though the merit of Hesiode be not unknown to me yet I leave you to possess his friendship without envy for I have so bad an opinion of the hearts of all men that I can never be capable of confiding in any But my dear Belintha take heed to your self I conjure you Love sometimes disguises it self in Friendship and persons are often in love without thinking of it You know you understood better than I the sentiments I had for the perfidious Be wise by my example fear the merit of Hesiode and distrust your self for certainly if I had not been confident of my self I had never been deceived by him that has forsaken me for Fortune which will infallibly one day forsake him Adieu my dear Belintha I have not the power to beseech you not to love me more although it would be almost necessary for my contentment it were so for I have no regret in my solitude but for you As Hesiode had done reading this Letter Belintha entred and saw it in his hand so that having unwittingly left it there she was sorry for it and blamed Hesiode for his curiosity but he desired her pardon for it in so handsome terms and told her so ingenuously how it came about that she did not stick to pardon him on condition he would not let any person know of his having seen the letter However added she smiling you may believe if you please that shall never have need of Clymene's counsel and that without it I have so bad an opinion of men in reference to Love that were you as much my Lover as you are my Friend and I might comply with you innocently yet I would never engage my self to Love for in truth after what has befallen Clymene no trust is to be given to any thing But Madam answered Hesiode do you think I can have seen this Letter of Clymene and not desire to know her adventures I confess the curiosity I had to that purpose was extinguished but the sight of this Letter has so revived it in my mind that I can live no longer without knowing them Sincerely added he I believe there is some kind of enchantment in this Letter for as soon as I beheld my name writ in it my heart began to beat and now I have read it I have a jealous curiosity to know who it is Clymene complains of and I hate him before I know him Yet you are very obsequious to him answered Belintha Is it the Prince demanded Hesiode No answered Belintha but 't is Lysicrates How replyed he is Lysicrates the man Clymene complains of Yes answered Belintha and she has reason to accuse him I beseech you Madam replyed Hesiode tell me all you know concerning Clymene for she returns again into my fancy such as I saw her upon the Bank of the Fountain Hippocrene Although I know nothing which is not glorious to Clymene answered Belintha yet if I tell you all that I know concerning her I require that you never speak of it to any person whatsoever If you require no more replyed Hosiode you may please to begin for I am of opinion that nothing ought to be kept more inviolably than a secret intrusted to us though we should not apprehend that what is told us ought to be concealed After this Belintha caused Hesiode to enter into her Cabinet and having given order for none to interrupt them began to speak in this manner Since your self have seen Clymene I shall omit to say any thing concerning her person saving that as wit advances the esteem of beauty Clymene is infinitely more amiable than she was when you saw her because she has a wit than which none can be more elegant natural fit for ingenious things and divertising and the most charming humor in the World As for Lysicrates you know his birth is very noble nor are you ignorant that he is a comely person and has wit and worth but however it may be said you do not know Lysicrates For before he came to be the Prince's Favorite he was a thousand times more affectionate to his Friends of both Sexes for as you know a man cannot be Fortunes and his own and has power no longer to give himself to another when he has no more a right over himself Now Lysicrates being infinitely more agreeable than you see him beheld the fair Clymene the first time she appeared in the World and had so strong an inclination for her and she for him that the very first day they became friends with a belief that that kindness would last as long as their Lives Not that Clymene was yet come to an age in which she might probably know what friendship was but having a very forward wit a tender heart sensible mind and sweet nature she ceased to act like a child before she ceased to be so But for that there is something in Clymene's deportment which infuses awfulness and respect she being serious and discreet Lysicrates was a sufficient long time before he dared to speak to her otherwise than as an agreeable Friend In the mean while to tell you the truth of things they were the happier thereby for the Aunt of Clymene not imagining that Lysicrates was amorous of her Niece permitted him to speak to her as much as he pleased and Clymene being averse to imagine that the kindness of Lysicrates proceeded from Love lived with him with all the confidence and liberty that a dear familiarity was capable to give If there was any little news which was not to be told aloud they whispered it to one another if any uncouth adventure hapned they spoke sincerely what they thought of it if any excellent Sonnet were made Lysicrates gave it to Clymene or Clymene to
and Butterflies take from flowers that which is convenient for their respective uses without offering to oppose one another they have not set limits to their Empire all the Lillies and Roses of the Spring are to them in common and men with that sublime reason which renders them Masters of the World have establisht War in it by establishing the Laws which divide the Universe They have brought all kind of Vices into it by the many inventions subservient to pleasure they have made all the miseries which are in the World by looking upon ambition as a lawful thing since without it all men would be in peace and in brief they have introduced all the unhappinesses of which they complain although the gods have enriched the Universe wherewith to render them all happy Who would think interrupted Belintha smiling that the love Clymene has for this poor little Dog which you see follows her and understands nothing of what she says should cause her to speak such handsome things and that after so serious a manner who could imagine that a person who has so much Wit should take pleasure in trifling with a Dog I have already told you answered Clymene that the love of beasts is a sign of gentleness and humanity and that it is cruelty to do them harm but I add also that all that loves is amiable that all that insinuates it self with kindness deserves to be ingratiated that that which has no ingratitude deserves to be well treated and that since it is not forbidden to love Flowers Fountains and Statues it may well be lawful to love cheerful and pretty animals which love you and divert you without ever doing you any harm But in brief replyed Belintha 't is not our purpose to extoll the demyreason of brutes and condemn the use of the reason of men but only to know whether Amity which is the most precious thing in the World and which ought to be the greatest recompence of the most considerable services and the most noble prize of merit and virtue ought to be employed in loving a little Dog I am willing added she humanity should be exercis'd toward beasts that no mischief be done them and that people delight themselves with them if they please but I would not have them loved with the same kindness wherewith we loved mankind and which ought to be so precious that it ought not to be given to friends without well examining whether or no they be worthy of it As for me answered Clymene smiling who have not found amongst men whereon to employ my affection conveniently I must love where I can love without fearing to be deceived 'T is not added she that I grant I love my Dog with the same kindness wherewith I should love a Friend But for that all afflictions mankind is capable of have the same original all arising out of the heart Belintha is pleased to confound my kindness to brutes with my true friendship and thereupon to inveigh against me without any just ground The fair Clymene said Hesiode speaks her reasons so agreeably that instead of condemning her I wish I were not what I am and had the honor to be hers in what manner soever Endeavor then answered Belintha to be her friend if you can and do not wish to be her Dog for then I should infallably hate you Ah! cruel Belintha cryed he with some earnestness I believe it is difficult to be no more than the Friend of Clymene Did you say answered that fair Virgin it were no easie thing to gain my friendship you would have reason for contrary to my natural humor I am become the most distrustful person in the World and in my present sentiments I give no credit to words nor cares nor services I know not well whether I should trust time which they say discovers the most concealed truths Therefore 't is better to leave me in my Desart to hear my Nightingales Perhaps replyed Belintha smiling you may hear complaints in it as sweet as theirs for Hesiode sings at least as well as they and I see he beholds you with so much pleasure and hears you with so great admiration that I cannot assure but that he loves you a little too much already I perceive said Clymene you have a design to jest but yet I must tell you that when I saw Hesiode the first time upon the Banks of Hippocrene he loved me a little in less time than since his arrival I confess it answered Hesiode and I should certainly have always you loved if I had always seen you But Madam your Fortune calling you elsewhere and mine retaining me then at Helicon I forsook you for the love of glory which I have always since ardently affected You see replyed Clymene looking towards Belintha it is my Destiny to loose my Conquests by ambition Glory and Ambition answered Hesiode are not wholly alike However said Clymene I am very glad you are cured and that I understand it from your own mouth Hesiode blusht at this discourse and going to answer to Clymene he could not contain from saying with a great sigh O gods what is 't I speak Alass in speaking it a sigh do's from me break And secret trouble from my passion grown Tells me my heart no longer is my own As soon as Hesiode had spoken these Verses of Clymene which he had remembred since Belintha shewed him them he became much perplexed but he found them so exact an answer to that which Clymene had said to him and they agreed so well with his thoughts by changing only one word that he could not hinder himself from uttering them Nevertheless Clymene and Belintha both blusht when they heard them The first looked upon her friend with indignation and upon Hesiode with confusion and Belintha on the contrary beheld Hesiode with anger and Clymene with shame Hesiode for his part lookt upon Belintha as if he desired her pardon and upon Clymene with much love But at length Belintha desiring to pacifie her friend began to speak gently to her and beseeched her to suspend her choller till she had heard her And accordingly she told her of the accident of the Letter which Hesiode had seen and which ingaged her though unwillingly to tell him what she knew concernicg the love of Lysicrates which Hesiode could not but have learnt otherwise from a hundred persons I grant what you say answered Clymene but in telling Hesiode what he would have kown from others there was no need of shewing him the Verses which no person ever saw besides your self Your having made them so amorous replyed she caused me to think that by shewing them to Hesiode when I was speaking of Lysicrates I should give him the greater aversion against him But however added she I will make my peace with you and am only troubled how Hesiode will make his with me By desiring your pardon answered he and acknowledging to you ingeniously that the excellent Verses of Clymene
night Aronces found himself when Phoebus rose from his watry Couch on a Mount of Coals and Ashes from whence he might take an exact survey of this sad Country but he was much astonish'd when he saw neither the house where he lay nor the Hamlet where it was to see a Isle of the Wood quite overturn'd and all the field spread with men or dead flocks so that fear now possessing his Soul more then hope he descended from that Hill of ashes but as soon as he was descended he saw come forth of one of those Tombs that the over-flowing of the River had discovered Clelius and Saryna which were retired thither for by a furtunate Casualty the Earthquake had not destroyed them at first Aronces much rejoyced to see them hoping Clelia would have followed them from this Tomb but when he had seen five of their friends two men and three Women come out of it he speedily advanced towards Sulpicia to whom he was nighest I pray said he tell me what is become of Clelia alas answered this afflicted Mother I came to demand the same of you for I knew nothing but that at the same time as she left them to come to her father I saw Horatius followed by those which accompained her Majesty towards her and I saw nothing afterwards but Whirl-winds of flames which forced Clelius and I to shelter our selves in those Tombs with those which were the nighest to us Sulpicia had hardly pronounced those words when Aronces without looking upon either Clelius Sulpitia or those which were with them sought amongst those great Mountains of ashes without precise knowing what he sought for Clelius and the rest did the like to see whether they could find any sign of the life or death of Clelia but the more they sought the more they encreased their grief for they found one of Clelia's Maids stiffed under those burning coals which fell upon her and nigh her Body they saw one of her Lovers which partaked of the same Destiny This lamentable though sad Object obliged Aronces to wish the fate of that unhappy Lover since he had the advantage to finish his dayes by his Mistress But as these two persons needed not any ones assistance they did not stay there after Clelius had ordered two of his Domesticks he accidentally found to take those bodies from under the the ashes and to remain there till they heard further from him whilst they were thus seeking what they could not find there came many persons from all places both from the neighbouring woods from the ruinated houses and from those new Concaves of the earth to seek for their friends or kindred for this Accident had dispersed all Families some wept for their Fathers others for their Children some for their ruinated houses others for their Flocks and most for the fear only to have lost what they sought for for though Earthquakes have been very frequent in this delightful Country their grief was not the less abated but amongst so many misfortunes which o'r-spread this unhappy Country none equalled that of the unfortunate Aronces his affliction was the more powerful because it tied up the Organs of his Speech and 't was easie at this time to discern the difference between the grief of a Father Mother and a Lover for though Clelius and Sulpicia were much afflicted for their Daughter yet Aronces his grief incomparably exceeded theirs but in fine seeing their hopes frustrated in not finding what they sought for they believed Clelia might be escaped by a fortunate Accident as well as they feeding themselves therefore with this fancy a year they thought nothing more requisite than to return to Capua to see whether some one had not brought her thither and fortune propitious to their designs presented them the means to perform their intended Journey by supplying them with an empty Chariot which the Earthquake having only overturned they easily disingaged from the ashes and finding a man who knew how to guide it they mounted into it after the least afflicted of the company had given order to carry the bodies of those two Lovers to Capua and obliged the rest to take a short repast at the first convenient Habitation for 't was remarkable in this Earthquake that it extended but from the Town where the Nuptials of Aronces were to be kept to Nola and from thence to Capua it had only endamaged some places by the fall of the burning Cinders the grief of Aronces much encreased when he arrived there and heard no news neither of his dear Clelia nor his Rival but a little after he knew Horatius was not dead being advertised by one of his acquaintance that an intimate friend of Horatius called Stenius had read a Letter that morning from him so that incited both by a curiosity and Eyes of passion he went to his house where not finding him but being told he was gone to breath himself in a spacious Field behind Diana's Temple at Capua he went thither Stenius as soon as he saw him received him with much civility though he was his friends Rival so that Aronces hoping he would not refuse to satisfie his demands thus civilly saluted him I am not ignorant Stenius said he to him that you are more Horatius his friend than mine neither would I propose you to betray the secret he hath consided to you but being certainly informed you have received a Letter from him this day I come to pray and earnestly beseech you to tell me whether he doth intimate unto you that Clelia is living I demand not said he whither he goes or where he is now for I know honour forbids you to tell it me so it doth not permit me to demand it of you and I have such a good opinion of you that I am perswaded if I should request such a Courtesie of you you would easily grant it me but I would not have the grandure of my affection force me to propound any unjust proposition but Stenius all that I desire is that favouring an afflicted Lover you only tell me whether Clelia is living without informing wherein Horatius intends to carry her and to oblige you thereto pursued he if you do not satisfie my desires I shall rest in the opinion that Clelia is not dead but retained in my Rivals power therefore I believe without infringing your fidelity to Horatius you may consent to my propositions I do not deny replied Stenius but I have this day received a Letter from Horatius and I confess I have it now about me but I am much surprised at your strange demands which I ought not to satisfie and that I believe you would not your self do if you were in my place if I demanded any thing which might prejudice your friend replied Aronces you would have reason to use the said expressions but that which I desire of you is to consolate an unhappy Lover without any way prejudicing his Rival and if you have ever loved you would
that yours hath happily succeeded and to testifie unto you that I believe not to be so well with you as you may be evil with me I pray send me the Verses I have demanded of you but I likewise pray you to be strongly perswaded that you can never enterprise any thing that less resembles truth than what you have undertook for in fine to speak sincerely I live after such a manner in the world that one must have lost ones sense and reason if he think to procure my friendship and not my hatred by disclosing his affection to me in an amorous Letter I am assured Madam you know that though these two Notes were written on one subject and by one person and that this person had an equal design in writing them that that which addressed to Horatius was clothed with more rigorous and severe language than the other but I must tell you the effect they produced in the minds of those which received them the next day imagine then Madam that when Aronces received that which appertained to him there was a strange emotion in his heart for as he writ to Clelia that if she answered him not he would believe she was favourable to him he thought seeing she wrote to him he was going to receive his arrest of death and that which made him think so was that Clelia's Slave by the orders of her Mistress had given him this Note without staying for an answer so that he opened it with an extreme Inquietude but when he had read it his spirit was a little more setled but he was much perplexed to divine what Clelia would say when she told him that he had contriv'd with another this deceit Nevertheless after he had well considered on it he believed that Clelia had purposely premeditated it not to be obliged to evil treat him and that it was I that she made him seemingly think which had part in this pretended deceit of which she spoke in her Note so that looking upon this Artifice of Clelia as an obliging procedure for him he found himself more happy than he hoped He likewise received me with much joy when I entred into his Chamber a quarter of an hour after he had received this Note but as I was sufficiently troubled at the anger of Fenice I hearkned not to him so attentively as he would have me so that being angry at me Ah cruel friend said he to me you interest not your self in my fortune You take so little part in mine said I to him that I have more cause to complain of you than you have of me for after you have told me you are not so miserable as you thought your self you demand not of me how I stand with Fenice but for to make you see you are happier than I to read the Letter I leave you that this fair person hath wrote on the adventure of the Echo for I am pressed to go to a friend of hers to adventure to oblige her to justifie me to her After I had left Fenice's Letter in his hands I left him but departing from his Chamber I met Horatius who entred there and who appeared to have something in his spirit which made him melancholy for he took no notice of me In effect Madam you must know that Clelia's answer had highly perplexed him for he knew he had not mentioned his love to any one nor the Letter he had wrote to her so that he knew not what to think of that she wrote to him seeing that on whatsoever side he looked on the thing he found nothing of true semblance In the mean time he felt I know not what in Clelias words which made him believe that he had not any part in her heart he was notwithstanding perswaded that he might have right to pretend thereto if it was not engaged so that now thinking on what he never before thought of he sought to find if it was possible whether Clelia lov'd any one but after he had examin'd it he found that if this fair person had some particular affection in her heart it must necessarily be for Aronces and that it must consequently follow Aronces lov'd her for he suspected her not to love without being belov'd This thought was no sooner formed in his imagination but it excited in him a great disturbance In effect as Horatius is generous and that he had many Obligations to Aronces he had a strange agitation of heart when he thought he might be his Rival it likewise raised a War in his Spirit and he effectualy took a resolution to resist his passion if he learnt Aronces loved Clelia So that endeavouring handsomly to clear himself he went to Aronces his house and he arrived there as I told you when I departed from thence so that he had the Letter of Fenice in his hands I had given him and Clelias answer but as soon as Aronces saw Horatius enter he concealed Clelias Letter and still kept Fenices in his hands for in this inopinate occasion he thought on nothing but his own interest and not mine 'T is true that this Letter was writ in such a manner that the Author of it could not be known if one did not know the writing neither for whom it was it having no superscription and the reproaches of Fenice were in such a nature that one would not divine the cause of them Horatius then entred into Aronces his Chamber with an intention to discover by a familiar discourse if he loved Clelia and endeavour to divert his love if it was so he saw some emotion in his countenance because his mind was then disquieted and according to the nature of love which make Lovers fear the slightest things in certain occasions he feared that Horatius should see Clelias Letter and know it so that this disquised Lover seeing some agitation on Aronces face and seeing a Letter in his hands which was written in Tablets he held open without thinking on it he so little dreamed of me and seeing they were made in a manner as Ladyes ordinarily use to write to men he demanded of him after some complements if those Tablets came from Clelia Horatius having not any other design than to speak to him of that fair Maid on all sorts of subjects to note either by his actions or words if there was any suspicion that he was amorous of that fair person But Horatius had hardly demanded this of Aronces but this Lover which was unprepared was much surprised at it because it was true as you know that he had one of Clelias Letters about him and would not hinder himself from telling him this Letter was not from her so as Horatius noting it and not doubting but those Tablets were Clelia's he spoke to Aronces beleeving it so by your favour said he to him do not conceal the truth from me and tell me if the Letter you have in your hand is not from the admirable daughter of Sulpicia as I do not doubt of
it shew it me I pray you for as I am perswaded she writes as well as she speaks I have a great desire to see one of her Letters at least I very well know her Character is the fairest in the world for I have seen verses of her writing at first Aronces believed that telling a second time to Horatius that this Letter was not from Clelia and telling it him very seriously he would believe it and would press him no more to shew it him but it hapned otherwise for Horatius reiterating his intr eaties with much earnestness perswaded him he suspected something of his passion so that fearing extreamly he should know it and for fear he should acquaint Clelius with it with whom he had a most inviolable amity resolved to shew him Fenice his Letter to make him a false confidence by shewing it him to the end to frustrate his conceived opinion that he was amorous of Clelia if it was true he thought so that the better to conceal his passion I know not Horatius said he to him giving him the Tablets he held from whence it comes you will not believe me but to evidence to you you have wronged me by suspecting the verity of my words see if this writing is Clelia's but after you have seen this Letter do not speak of it I pray you though I am resolved not to have any commerce with the person who writ it therefore Horatius tell none yet nevertheless I will not be indiscreet without any exception that you have seen a Letter of this nature in my hands As you tell me not her name who wrote it replyed Horatius after he had read it I can hardly be unfaithful to you if I would For what can I say to those to whom I would tell it but that you have shewed me a Letter Since I know nothing else but that it is from an incensed Lady who wrote to you with such an high indignation that I believe she will easily be appeased when you will and that she hath more disposition to love than hate you whatsoever it be speak not of it I pray you said Aronces for in the thoughts in which I now am I am assured I shall never mention love to that person Whilst Aronces thus spoke Horatius had an extream joy to believe that he was not an amorous of Clelia for though his friend told him he would never have any commerce with the person whose Letter he had seen he harkned to that as the discourse of an angred Lover who believed sometimes to hate when he loved most he doubted not but Aronces had a great engagement to this Lady whose Letter he had seen so that believing he was not exposed but to be a mans Rival to whom he owed his Life and whom he very much loved he expressed a great resentment of joy by the only imagination of it and lest that mishap he greatly feared might happen to him he resolved whilst Aronces loved another to tell him that he had the same for Clelia though he loved not to declare his secrets for as he knew him to be very generous he thought that after he had once made him his confident he would not become his Rival so that casting an obliging look on Aronces For to demonstrate to you how dear your friendship is to me said he to him I have almost stolen from you your secret but I will voluntarily declare mine to you know then continued he that time hath worn out many months since love seized my heart and I every day feel my hatred against Tarquin increases because I look on him as the cruel cause of those punishments which are prepared for me Aronces hearing Horatius speak in this manner imagined he had some Amoretta's at Rome and did not fully comprehend that he hated Tarquin more than ordinarily because it was his exile which had caused his passion for Clelia so that willing to testifie to Horatius that he would obligingly espouse his Interests he commiserated his cruel passion prying to tell him his adventure Alas my dear friend said he to him my adventure is declared in few words for as soon I shall tell you that I love without being beloved I shall tell you all which hath happened to me since I was amorous But hath not absence replyed Aronces healed you of a love which hath been so ill rewarded as he thus spoke and that Horatius was about to tell him that he was not absent from the person whom he loved and that he would have named Clelia to him Clelius entred into Aronces his Chamber and broke off the conversation of these two Rivals which knew not themselves to be so and they could not renew it this day nor a long time after for as Aronces would not render secret for secret to Horatius he rather avoided than sought him Horatius on his side had his spirit so clouded with grief that though he had a design to confide in Aronces he could not do it no occasion presenting it self In the mean time as he believed Aronces to be engaged in another love he clearly submitted his heart to Clelia But to return to the two Letters these Rivals had writ her and the answers she returned to them you must know that three days were fully completed before Aronces had the happiness to see Clelia though he sought for her in the resolution he had taken not to oppose his love and had resolved to tell her that that which he writ was positively true for Horatius though he resolved to love Clelia he feared to see her lest she should be displeased when he should tell her the contents of his Letter were true but at last by a fortunate occasion these two Rivals met together after Dinner at Clelius his Gate with one design to see Clelia Horatius said nothing particularly to Aronces because he had with him a friend which he had found at Capua called Stenius whom he had brought to entertain Sulpitia that he might discourse with her daughter so that being entred without discovering their hearts to one another they seemed as two men which had great friendship together but they were very much troubled when they approached Clelia and this fair person seeing them both at once and seeing in their countenances an equal agitation confirmed her self in her conceived opinion that they both had contrived together those Letters they had writ to her it happened that Horatius nothing Aronces his change of Countenance looked on him and Aronces doing the same thing looked on Horatius so that Clelia believing they made some intelligent sign to deceive her determin'd with her self to tell them they were not come to their end and thus smiling said you see well said she to them in the manner with which I receive you both that you have not deceived me and that your fallacy hath not succeeded therefore do not enterprise it once more if you will not have the shame to be discovered for if
the River Vulturnus over-flowed its banks as you have known without doubt and made such a strange disorder that they must necessarily stay till this inundation was passed before they could make a Feast After this Madam I shall not exaggerate to you the terriblest adventure in the World by recounting exactly how the morning after this inundation was passed which was the day which should have preceded the Nuptials of Aronces and Clelia there was a terrible Earthquake for you are not ignorant of the effects of it since 't was known further then Sicily and by consequence further then Perusia but shall only acquaint you that this terrible day where the winds flames and burning stones made such an horrible disorder during this Earthquake was an unhappy day for Aronces since he was separated from Clelia by a whirl-wind of scorching flames just as he perceived his Rival that a little before he believed to have been at Capua But in fine Madam to conclude his mishap Fortune cast Clelia in the Arms of his Rival he not knowing who had brought Horatius in that place or how Clelia came into his power and all that which I know is that Aronces saw her no more but when this great disorder was passed he believed that she was dead that he returned to Capua with those which escaped so great a danger and I did not so much afflict my self for the loss of my house as for the grief of my friend whom I followed to Capua where he soon knew that Horatius was not there and that Stenius had received a Letter from him and in pursuit he went to find him to indeavour to discover if he knew nothing of Clelia that he refused to tell him that Aronces forced him to fight that he vanquisht him that he took from him the Letter he had received from Horatius by which he knew he had Clelia in his hands and that he carried her to Perusia so that seeing his Love his Honour and Nature commanded him to go thither he resolved with Clelius that he would depart which he did for Herminius as he had some affairs which induced him to leave Italy Aronces and I gave him Letters for Amilcar and I would not desert my friend but leave Fenice of whom I was not too much satisfied and of whom I was but a little amorous But after that Madam imagine what was the grief of Aronces when he saw upon the Lake Clelia in a Barque which Horatius defended and what was his astonishment to see in the other the Prince of Numidia whom he did not believe to be his Rival imagine I say his grief to see he could not go to assault Clelia's Ravisher and succour him which assailed him imagine the deplorable Estate wherein he was when he knew by a Slave that they would assassinate the Prince of Perusia whose death would have delivered the King his Father and the Queen his Mother and in fine imagine the miserable condition in which he now is for Madam Aronces knows not where Clelia is he knows she is in the power of his Rival and he hath found one in the person of his dearest friends The life of Porsenna is in danger Galerita is still a Prisoner Mezentius saith she shall never depart from Prison if she will not re-marry there is danger to hazard to make Aronces known to the Prince of Perusia for Porsenna's Son he is at present incapable to act because of his wounds Sextilia always favours her Brother Bianor Tiberinus who is now Mezentius his Favorite hath more then one Interest to induce him to desire the loss of Porsenna and to oppose the discovery of Aronces and though he hath saved the Perusian Princes life his without doubt would be in great danger if he was known to be Porsenna's Son and what ought he to hope if he is not so Madam Aronces is every way unhappy for Honour Nature and Love assault him with most rigorous thoughts when that fortune mingles it self to make continual combates in the heart of a Lover therefore I dare hope Madam that being sensible of the mishaps of so generous a Prince you 'l render to him all the Offices which are in your power Doubt not of it replied the Princes of the Leontines seeing Celeres had finisht his Narration for I am so touched with his misfortunes that I shall forget nothing that lies in my power to testifie to him that I have a true compassion therefore I conjure you to pray him to inform what I shall do or say for though I have an inveterate hatred against Tiberinus I will constrain my thoughts in this occasion and indeavour to put him in his interest though as things are it will be a difficult enterprise you have so much address and so many charms replied Aurelia that we must despair of nothing you are so generous added Sycanius that we ought to expect from you all things in such an encounter In truth replied she I merit no great praise to be capable to have compassion for another's misfortunes for you so sympathize in mine and have thereby brought me so much consolation that I should be armed with cruelty if I should but seem to refuse mine to an Illustrious unhappy person After that Celeres seeing it was late rose up and went to Aronces with whom he found Nicius and Martia who assured him the next day the principal friends of Porsenna would come to the Castle where he was to the end to consult what was expedient to be done in such an important conjecture The End of the First Book of the First Part. CLELIA The First Part. BOOK II. LOve being the most predominant Passion in the heart of Aronces it prompted him to be a most assiduous visiter of Clelia and finding her interest to be the only square of all his actions it may very well be said That she was the only object of his mind and that his thoughts ran wholly upon her and nothing else besides The Prince of Numidia as well as he was wholly taken up with thinking upon the most admired Clelia and he did most passionately wish for a sight of Aronces that he might cheer up himself a little with some amorous discourses As for the Princess of the Leontines she had so many various discourses with her self that had she not been of an infinite generosity she would not have spared so much time as she did to think upon the miseries of Aronces Celeres for his particular his heart being not then infested with any violent passion and being composed more of friendship than Love his whole thoughts were how to cheer up the wretched Aronces so as complying with Silanus Aurelia Nicius and Martia whose minds ran all upon the same business all of them were wholly busied in discanting upon the present condition and state of the matter But at last the expected friends of Porsenna being arrived Sicanus presented them unto Aronces as soon as Nicius and Martia had informed
to do it for I conjure you to keep this inclosed Letter for the most admirable Clelia but that it may not be a breach of that fidelity which you owe unto my Rival I do not desire you to deliver it unto her until she hath made my Rival most happy This being all I ask of you I dare hope that you will not deny me this office since I do not desire it may be done me until fortune hath put me into a capacity of meriting the compassion of my Rival I hint not a syllable to you of him for what can that man say of him who hath found in the person of Aronces all that can possibly move the highest friendship and the highest hatred Adien Pity me since you may safely do it without offence note my Rival and your Friend and believe that you could never pity a person who doth more merit it than my self When Celeres had received and read this Letter he was much surprised and the more because that directed unto Clelia was sealed however since he was not desired to deliver it until Aronces was first happy he did not scruple at the doing of this Office for the Rival of his Friend But as he was ruminating upon this adventure Aronces comes suddenly into the Chamber and sees Adherbals Letter unto Clelia upon the Table this sight much amazing him he asked Celeres in all hast whether he knew where she was and how it came about that the Prince of Numidia directed this Letter unto him for he knâ—w his hand Celeres perceiving the agitation of his Spirits and Adherbal not having obliged him to conceal it from Aronces he shewed him the Letter of his unfortunate Lover and acquainted him with his departure for till then he knew not of it Aronces recollecting himself by degrees as he read this Letter Alas alas Celeres said he unto him after he had read it I am afraid that you must never deliver my Rivals Letter unto Clelia since you must not deliver it until she hath made me happy No sooner had he said so but a fresh gust of apprehension rowsing his thoughts he lamented the absence of Adherbal in a thought that perhaps he might come to find out Clelia Yet notwithstanding Celeres so convinced him that he was perswaded the absence of Adherbal would be advantageous unto him For truly Sir said he unto him amongst many other reasons there is not a more intollerable torment under the Sun than to have a Rival whom virtue compels one to love and whom love compels one to hate to be perpetually in ones eye 'T is right Celeres said he unto him but this is not the first time that such a passion as mine hath hurried a man into unreasonable thoughts Whilst this Prince was thus talking he held in his hand his Rivals Letter unto his Mistress and looked upon it as if his looks would have broke open the Seal after restoring it hastily unto Celeres take it Celeres said he and keep it lest a spark of jealousie should force me to open it And that my fidelity may be the more manifest I will be faithful unto an unfortunate Lover and Rival let my desire of seeing what he hath written unto Clelia be never so great So Celeres took the Letter and told his friend that had he offered to have opened it he would have given a stop to his curiosity After which Sicanus being come and telling them that the Princess of the Leontines prepared her self to go next morning unto Perusia and transact in the service of Aronces they went both together unto her Chamber where Celeres related all passages shewing them the Prince of Numidia's Letter and applauded the power which Aronces had over himself in not opening that Letter which his Rival writ unto Clelia though he had a most strong desire unto it Were it possible to esteem Aronces more than I do replied the Princess of the Leontines doubtless I should for I do think no quality under Heaven more laudable than fidelity is especially when it is preserved in such cases wherein it is easie to be otherwise or where good excuses may be had or examples to authorize infidelity How many men are there in the World who never use to make the least scruple of opening all the Letters which come unto their hands who invent devices how to open and then shut them again unperceivedly and who have such a general curiosity to be prying into all manner of Letters that no Seal escapes them As the Princess of the Leontines was saying so Aurelia entred and no sooner entred but Sicanus addressed himself unto the Princess of the Leontines Madam said he unto her if you desire to be informed further of their curiosity who love to be opening Letters I beseech you intreat Aurelia to tell you for she is acquainted with a fair Lady whom you Madam also know that put such tricks upon her and therefore since she is better able to inform you then I am I will leave it unto her to tell you all the passages of it So Sicanus having Letters to write unto Perusia he went out and left Aurelia to supply his place who did become it excellently well for she apprehending at first the business did smilingly ask the Princess of the Leontines whether it was concerning the opening of any Letters for if it be added she none in the World can give a better account of such a matter then my self unless I have forgotten though for my part I have renounced ever making use of any such ways as heretofore have brought upon me abundance of delight and as much sorrow The Question replied the Princess of the Leontines is not concerning the opening of any Letter but whether we ought absolutely to condemn or excuse such Men as are so inquisitive as to open them such as make a mock at those who are so scrupulously faithful as not to open the Letters of their very enemies although they were perswaded they contained some concernments of themselves Madam replied Aurelia I am able to give you all those fond and false reasons which are alledged by those who are inquisitive for a friend of mine hath instructed me in the Art Aurelia had no sooner said so but the Lady of whom she spoke entred for she living within three miles of the Thrasimenian Lake towards the Isle of Saules she used often to visit Aurelia also she had seen the Princess of the Leontines two or three times Yet this Princess never before knew of her humour in opening Letters because no occasion concerning it did present it self but as soon as she was entred Aurelia knowing her humour and also knowing that she affected raillery and that she did not think she did ill in opening all the Letters which came under her hands she told her that she came in a very good time to help her out in the maintenance of a good cause For truly said she unto her as I was
that it is a less folly to rob another to usurp Kingdoms and to be revenged upon ones enemies by sword or poison then to blemish ones fidelity by such things as those For by robbing one may inrich himself by usurping a Kingdom one may satisfie his ambition and by revenge upon enemies one may gust the sweets of it but there is neither pleasure nor profit gotten by opening of Letters at the least not by one in a hundred Yet experience makes it manifest that it is the crime of many and the custom of it so easily gotten as I cannot tell how Aurelia could break her self of it Alas Madam replied Aurelia I was easily broken of it for I think never was any one more severely punished then I was for my curiosity But I am very much obliged unto that charitable Friend who was my punisher and correcter Oh I beseech you replied the Princess of the Leontines tell us how you came to leave off that trick which Statilia taught you Since you command it Madam replied Aurelia you must know that after I had learned of Statilia all her inventions of opening Letters and had practised them five or six days together and did nothing else After I say that I was grown very cunning I made use of my skill upon several occasions but having another friend besides Statilia whom I loved very well and was also loved again I would have made her my Confident in a business of a Letter which I opened and would have told her all She being a person more scrupulous in such matters then Statilia she resolved to put a trick upon me which might correct me for a thing which she thought not just For a whole month together I received abundance of Letters several ways upon several subjects all directed unto Men of my acquaintance wherein I still found something which vexed me for she who caused them to be written knowing all the secrets of my whole life she had contrived them so cunningly that I burned above a dozen Letters after I had opened them not suspecting that she had any hand in them At last I was so pitifully perplexed that not being able to continue any longer I went to empty my self unto this charitable friend for though I loved Statilia very well yet at that time there were some things which I could not impart unto her As soon as I began to complain she unto whom I made my moan began to mock me and said I deserved no pity and that those who were miserable by their own folly deserved no compassion Alas replied I my misery proceeds from what others have written but if you would not have seen their Letters replied she this had not been written of you After this she would have perswaded me that this was a punishment for my curiosity But I was deaf in the ear insomuch as she did not question but that I would open the next Letter I met withal And indeed in order to her design of converting me she did write one Letter directed unto her self though it was really intended for me as being to pass through my hands thinking that I would open that Letter as soon as any 's else This Letter I received simply believing it intended for my friend and according to her hopes I did open it But Madam I was most strangely ashamed when after the opening of it I found that in lieu of being to her it was from her and intended for me and more damped when I read it For Madam it contained all the arguments that could be devised against that ill quality of opening of Letters and to make me ashamed of it The Letter was long and full of wit and concluded that it was a thing never to be excused unless it were done out of a resentment of jealousie Therefore said she in the end of her Letter if you will ever go about to justifie this ill quality unto me you must accuse your self of two things more you must confess that you are both in love and also jealous and the suspicion which you have of every one makes you look for that which you would never find Thus Madam was the cure of my curiosity for from that time I made a promise unto my self never to open any more Letters and I was so convinced with the arguments of my generous friend that I went and acquainted her with my resolution she in recompence confessed that all those Letters which had so perplexed me were writ only to correct me but they had not the same influence upon Statilia for she hath opened several Letters which were directed unto me and put her self to much trouble in making them up again After all this Statilia being excellent at Railery did very ingeniously defend her self against all the solid reasons which the Princess of the Leontines Aronces Aurelia and Celeres brought against her yet she was forced to confess that they were in the right and she in the wrong but withal she protested that she should for ever continue in the wrong and as long as she live never be broken of it after this she concluded her visit and went away And the Princess of the Leontines continuing her applauds of Aronces for his fidelity even unto his Rival they began a most solid league of friendship Indeed this Princess according to her promise went into Perusia Aurelia went also But as for Sicanus he staid with Nicius and Martia to give all directions concerning Aronces when the time did require In the mean time Aronces finding himself in a fit condition to go and seeing the interest of the King his Father his own and of his love required that he should go as soon as possible he could to Mezentius he went two days after the Princess of the Leontines departed from the Isle of Sauls and he was entertained with so much honour that Mezentius lodged him in his own Palace and would have every one look upon him as a Man unto whom he owed his life So that as it is the custom of all Courts Aronces had not only the favourable aspect of the Prince but of every one besides Bianor and Tiberinus also did him all imaginable honours And as Aronces was infinitely amiable so it was an easie matter for him to get love The heart of Mezentius was so much moved as he spoke it openly a few days after he came to Perusia that though he had not been a Debtor to him for his Life yet he should have most tenderly loved him and think him worthy of his highest favour These advantagious words being reported unto Tiberinus he began to be jealous of this growing Favorite so as to give him a handsome remove he told Mezentius that it was a shame for him to keep a stranger so long in his Court and that it were good to pack him away with some magnificent Present to the end he might go about his business But Mezentius being of an apprehensive wit knew well enough
interests which equally oblige us all to destroy the power of Tarquin may not slatter us so as not to see any difficulty in a design to change the whole face of Government For if you will have my true apprehensions I shall tell you that if Tarquin had been legally chosen I should never endeavour to force him from Rome though even he had banished me though he had destroyed my house and were the most unjust Prince in the World I believe we ought to reverence the Gods in the persons of those who have a legal power and should undergo their violent domination with the same patience as we endure Earthquakes and Deluges I know well enough that the business now in hand is not of this nature For Tarquin is a Tyrant and his cruelty is such that we may innocently endeavour to destroy his power but I beseech and conjure you consider well whether we may not expose Rome to a greater Tyranny and whether while we hope to make her fetters lighter we may not make them heavier For in fine a change of this nature cannot be effected without a general alteration of the body of the State and what is more to be feared is that if the design fail Tarquin may strengthen his authority by the destruction of so many thousand of Innocents and the ruine of many illustrious Families So it may come to pass that instead of being the Deliverers of our Country we shall be the Destroyers of it and we may be accused of having preferred the desire to be revenged for our private injuries before the publique Tranquillity If Tarquin could be more wicked then he is replyed Brutus there were questionless some consideration to be had of what you say which certainly is worthy of your Vertue But can Rome be more miserably dealt with than she is Is there any one house of honest people which Tarquin persecutes not or can there be one found under his government who suffers not The Rich he impoverishes the Vertuous he either banishes or puts to death nay sometimes he torments the Innocent only to satisfie his humour though it conduce nothing to the confirming his authority Let us not therefore raise any more doubts generous Herminius about a thing of such importance and so much glory continued he and let us expect the success of our designs from the Gods Since I am no Roman replyed discreetly Aronces I conceive I ought not to speak upon this occasion and as I am continued Valerius I will presume to say that Rome is so o'repressed with the weight of its chains that there can be no change but must be advantageous to her Since it is so I have no more to say replyed Herminius for it is possible my reason should have a stronger light than both yours Hereupon Brutus and Valerius departed and Herminius stayed with Aronces It is true he was not there long alone ere Amilcar came in who was strangely surprised at what he heard from these two friends for though he had some light jealousies that Brutus had more understanding than was conceived yet he could not believe what he heard of him and if Aronces and Herminius had not promised he should see him in the Evening with all his reason and all the excellences of his mind about him he would still have doubted their words In the mean time not to lose time Amilcar having understood about what Aronces had a meeting with Brutus Valerius and their noble friend Herminius sent immediately a Slave to the Camp to bring Zenocrates and Celeres to Rome to receive instructions what they were to do For Herminius he returned to his Chamber to write to that inchanting Beauty from whom proceeded all the Enjoyment and all the Torment of his life for he was never sensible of any pleasure but when he thought on her nor did he feel the hardship of Exile but onely in this consideration that being not in Rome he was far from Valeria But Friendship had a strong influence over his soul and that which he had for his illustrious Mother and for the admirable Clelia caused him both pleasures and afflictions But at last Love became Mistress of all the Passions and he had a greater tenderness for such of his friends as were in love than others so penetrable was his heart to this Passion Aronces in like manner for his part set himself to write to Clelia whom Amilcar visited every day and his intention was to give his friend his Letter in the Evening to be delivered the next day to that incomparable Virgin who led a very melancholy life The merry disposition of Plotina was some comfort to her and the visits of Amilcar allayed her affliction much not only by the hope of Liberty but also those testimonies of Love which she received by him from her dear Aronces That which was heavyest in her affliction was that she heard no news from Clelius nor Sulpicia but having a great and resolute heart she underwent her misfortune with a great constancy Her former misfortunes were now a kind of comfort to her for when she called to mind that terrible Earth-quake which had separated her from Aronces and put her into the power of Horatius when she reflected on what passed in the lake of Thrasimene where the Prince of Numidia fought with this fierce Rival who had carried her away and that to recover her from him when she was near Ardea and was an ocular witness of that cruel combat wherein the illustrious Aronces after he had delivered her was like to perish had not his great Valour and his good Fortune rescued him when she considered the condition she was in when she was brought before the cruel Tarquin and when the grand Vestal interceded for her liberty and afterwards when she remembred Tarquin's fury after she had acknowledged her self the daughter of Clelius she considered that in all these adventures she could not hope to have Plotina with her to see Amilcar to have the means to write to Aronces and to receive from him Conceiving hence some weak hope of a better fortune during this cessation of Tarquin's tyranny she spent her time somewhat comfortably with that merry-conceited Virgin whose humor was so near of kin to mirth that she made a pleasure of that which would have been an affliction to another In the mean time Amilcar to continue the opportunity of visiting Aronces's Mistress and to knit longer delays writ every day to Tarquin and fed him with hopes that in time he should discover Clelia's most secret apprehensions and that she might be brought over to prefer the interest of his Family before that of Aronces He also visited the cruel Tullia and was not unwelcome to her for as it concern'd him for his friend's sake to keep in her favour so he knew excellently well how to manage her humour When he was in her presence and that it was opportune he took occasion to set Ambition in the front
than you did those two dayes you had never loved me However I hope you will not blame me the rather if you consider I have an infinite passion for Reputation and Innocence I know there is nothing criminal in your affection but I know my own weakness wich is such that I am afraid of any secret I never was burthened with any and all novelty distracts me Yet it may happen that observing from time to time the integrity of your resentments I shall seriously resolve to share an innocent Secret with you and shall then give my soul way to entertain all the sweetness it may find in being tenderly loved by a person who knowes how to love and who can love with respect and innocence I should tell you a thousand things more should I pretend to answer your Letter exactly and acquaint you with the true state of my soul But I have not the leisure and am not certain whether I have the will for seriously the disquiet of mind is such as I am ashamed of I am confident my Lord that though this Letter contain nothing in it of extraordinary Obligation yet you cannot otherwise think than that Brutus should take it as a very high favour as wherein he might easily perceive that Lucrecia had a great esteem and a strong inclination for him Nevertheless he found in it some things to complain at as you may judge by the answer he returned to it whereof this is a Copy If I love you not beyond what any one can love you if my love admit any thing which the most exact and nice Vertue can any way censure in it self if I can live contentedly or to say better but onely live until you love me I wish I were the wretched'st of mankind This is all the answer I shall make you desire no more of a wretch whom you have already made lose his understanding and his reason and if you change not your thoughts will make him also lose his life But Madam what necessity is there to answer you you sufficiently answer your self You fear you say and cannot tell what you fear You are engaged with the most fervent and the most accomplished love in the world and if I darst say so Madam with your own goodness and compassion and yet all your forces consist of a sort of nice Difficulties as you your self call them that is to say reasons which are onely shadowes of Reason such as a great and noble Soul as yours shall never entertain Upon these niceties then you would easily deprive him of all content who of all the world hath the greatest love for you For these niceties he must be condemned to perpetual torment so as to be dissolved into sighs groans and complaints and must accuse all your past goodness as so much cruelty Certainly those who fiercely and disdainfully repulse their Lovers are not haply as inhumane as you are for their fierceness is a remedy against it self and many times saves those whom it might bring into despair Besides these when they are so scornful they believe they have reason to be so and are not swayed by niceties and their rigour therefore is so much the more excusable But for you Madam what shall I say to you Shall I complain of you or shall I commend you I am in doubt whether so much am I disordered but this I know whether you are merciful or cruel nice or not I cannot but love you while I live and all the difference will be this that as you are pleased I shall be the happiest or the most unhappy of all Lovers Alas Madam is it possible you can destroy all my felicity all my joy haply some part of your own onely because you know not whether you would have what you would or that you wish it imperfectly Have compassion on me I beseech you Madam let us once be an example that perfect Vertue is not inconsistent with perfect Love and that it were very unhappy if it were deprived of the sweetest pleasure or to say better the only in the world What serenity will you infuse into my mind if you can afford that which you desire unto your own What glory were there equal to mine With what Kings and with what Lovers would I change condition O ye Gods how doth this very thought crown me with joy in the midst of all your cruelties But if you are resolved still to oppose my happiness I tell you seriously you will either give me my death or make it my perpetual wish Consider therefore Madam what you do and the more to engage you to be tender of my life remember that the safety of Rome is haply concerned in it and that you cannot ruine me without exposing your Countrey to eternal slavery Lucrecia having received the Letter shewed it Valeria in a little close Arbor which was at the corner of Racilia's Garden but she did it with so visible expressions of disturbance in her looks that her friend not able to guess at the meaning of it asked her the reason For in fine said she to her this Letter hath nothing in it which is not full of respect and passion and I am confident it is no trouble to you that Brutus loves you I confess it replyed Lucrecia but that which infinitely afflicts me is that I have not that command of my heart so as to be able when I should desire it to avoyd loving him It is certainly in my power added she not to give him any expressions of it but if I do it I am so much the more unhappy for when ever I force my self to hide from him part of that esteem which I have for him I am presently haunted notwithstanding all my resistence with a certain fear to destroy his affection by over-concealing my own Not but that I believe I may love Brutus innocently for the last time my mother was here she expresly commanded me to entertain Brutus with that correspondence of affection which a vertuous maid may express to a man that were to be her husband adding to this command another that I should never discover what she enjoyned me But my Lord I had forgot to tell you that Racilia who was not ignorant of the great friendship was between Lucrecia's mother and Brutus's father and had often observed that her Nephew had a violent inclination for this excellent Virgin took one day occasion to confer with this Illustrious Roman whom she knew to be implacably exasperated against Tarquin and told her she thought it very strange her Husband should suffer Collatine to make publick addresses to Lucrecia since it was generally known she had an aversion for him To which Lucrecia's Mother reposing an absolute confidence in Racilia made answer that for her part she was infinitely troubled at it nor could imagine any way to divert her Husband from it who proposed to himself great advantages by an alliance with Tarquin But not to trouble you with an account of
not that the over-curious Lucrecia had taken it from me lest I should shew it to some one to find out who writ it and to whom it was directed I would presently shew it Collatine that he might assist me to discypher it Valeria spoke this in apparence so ingenuously that Collatine began to hope that the Letter he had might be the same which Valeria spoke of So that desirous to be satisfied he solicited Lucrecia to shew it him Collatina who was of the same opinion with her Brother tlod her that she must communicate that Letter for they both concluded that if she could not produce it they could not charge her with any thing Hermilia for her part knowing what Valeria and Lucrecia drove at took occasion to tell Collatine that that Letter was not so terrible For in fine said she very cunningly it is easily perceived that he who writ it is in love but there is nothing whence it may be inferred that he is loved But why did you not shew it me says Collatina to Valeria Because Lucrecia was pleased to take it away from me replyed she but to engage her to shew it you I should in revenge make you believe that she her self lost it Ah Valeria you take a strange course to make me shew it but I shall not do it added she if Collatine and his Sister promise me not never to speak of it and to restore it me as soon as they have read it nay I will do nothing if that you may be disappointed from shewing it to others you consent not it may be presently torn to pieces You may imagine my Lord that considering the violent desire which Collatine had to be satisfied in this business he promised to do what Lucrecia would have and that his Sister did the like But for Valeria and Hermilia Brutus's life being concerned in it as also the reputation of their friend they did that in this adventure to deceive Collatine and his Sister which cannot well be imagined Lucrecia pretended to go and fetch the Letter which she said was in her Cabinet carrying her self so in the business as if she made no question but to find it there But as she went to her chamber which was the other side of the house she spies me coming in and points to me to come straight to her which I obeyed but not affording me leisure to speak she told me what had happened and I promised her my best assistance to deliver her out of the trouble she was in I went therefore immediately to the company as if I had not met her at all soon after which Lucrecia returning I saluted her as having not seen her before But Lucrecia having returned my salute began to tell Valeria that she asked her for a thing she had not and that she must have taken it again out of her Cabinet for added she I am certain it was there yesterday and as certain that it is not there now I assure you replyed Valeria I took it not It must be then Hermilia replyed Lucrecia For my part answered that fair creature I can assure you I have it not But replyed Valeria speaking to Lucrecia is it not because Herminius is here that you make a new difficulty to shew it No indeed replyed she for I am confident of Herminius's discretion but there is nothing so certain as that some body hath taken it It must be then Collatina that hath it replyed Valeria for as to Hermilia I see by her looks she hath it not Valeria herein speaking the truth Collatina blushed so that Lucrecia Valeria Hermilia and I said all together that certainly Collatina had it that she must produce or at least for her justification permit Hermilia to search whether she had it about her or not To be short this confident wench who yet does every thing she does handsomely and discreetly beset her self to do what was given her in charge Whereupon Collatina perceiving the Letter would be found about her and believing by the cheerfulness of the other three that the business was as they made it told them laughing that it was true she had it But she added a little lye to the matter for she hath since confessed she took it out of the Cabinet but she then affirmed she had found it in Lucrecia's chamber As for Collatine he was so glad to think the Letter had not been written to his Mistress that he joyned his entreaties with mine to his Sister that she would deliver it since she confessed she had it Collatina accordingly delivers it to Valeria who was very earnest to have it saying it was she that found it and consequently it belonged to her But as soon as she had it she shewed it to Collatine as if she had not known that he had seen it Collatine also pretended he had not read it before but coming at last to my hands I said I knew who had written it and to whom it was directed but would not discover it because the Lover was one of my friends This past I earnestly entreated Valeria to bestow that Letter on me for if you knew said I to her in what affliction the Lover is who writ it you would pity him But to satisfie you further in this adventure you are to know that this Letter was never seen by the Lady to whom it belongs for he who writ it had it about him the day there were so many here intending to send it to his Mistress that evening which was the time he could with most ease deliver his Letters to a young Slave she hath lately entertained You will therefore do justly if you restore it to me and never speak of this accident for by divulging it there will be a necessity of discovering what men were here at the celebration of the Fountain-Feast and then haply it might be guessed what Lady were concerned in this Letter As for Collatine added I I have nothing to beg of him upon this occasion for I look on him as a man so rational that I am confident he will do that for my friend wich he would wish were done for himself were he so happy as to be in a condition to lose some love-Love-letter which the fair Lucrecia should have received As I spoke this after a manner ingenious yet earnest enough Collatine and his Sister were convinced the thing was no otherwise than as I said so that the jealousie of this Lover was by this means absolutely smother'd But to disguise the business a little further Valeria said she found some difficulty to deliver me the Letter for it may be added she if you restore it to him that writ it he will send it to his Mistress and so I shall occasion her receiving a Love-letter And if he do not send that replyed I he would haply write another more passionate therefore trouble not your self with these groundless inconveniences but let me have that which you have found Hereupon Hermilia Lucrecia
most insensible for though her Person is well made and infinitely pleasing she hath a sweet and tempting spirit which repels nothing but attracts all she hath it neither too free nor too serious and there is such a charming facility in her entertainment that 't is not strange if Artemidorus was surpriz'd with its attractive Charms and I may very well assure you that I think this Virgin which is called Clidimira had nigh as much affection for him as he for her at least she gave him such innocent testimonies of esteem which made him believe she would permit him to bear her Chains Artemidorus being thus immerged in love Clidimira made some seeming difficulty to ingage her self to love him because she foresaw the Prince of the Leontines would not suffer her to espouse him there being some difference between him and her Father but flattering her self with the hope that the love of Artemidorus might surmount this obstacle she took care to foment his passion and gave him such innocent demonstrations of affection as a vertuous virgin might license a man she believ'd might one day espouse her for as she wrote gallantly and tenderly Artemidorus received many Letters from her and during a long time he was the happiest Lover in the world But in the end he was eclipsed by the Prince his brother who seeing this love was divulg'd in the Court cast out some expressions intimating his dissenting from it Artemidorus therefore used all possible means to perswade his brother to alter his determinate will though there was no likelihood to effect it and the Prince of the Leontines seeing with what order Artemidorus spoke to him forbid him not only to think of espousing her but to absent himself from seeing her declaring to him that if he would not obey him he would confine this Virgin to a place where he should not see her and seeing Artemidorus persevere in his affection he defended Clidimira from suffering his brothers visits yet she would receive him into one of her friends houses in fine seeing all his Commands were slighted he committed her to the custody of her who commanded the vailed Virgins at Leontine which are consecrated to Ceres and he more easily effected his intention because Clidimira having no mother and being rich he made her interest a pretext to inclose her there In the mean time Artemidorus was overwhelm'd with grief for Clidimira was in a sacred place where no violence might be offered her on the other side this Virgin being thus immured in a solitude and not having permission to breath himself in the open ayr became buried in such a languishing melancholy that it much impaired her health Artemidorus having notice of her indisposition and having ineffectually tried allways both by affability and violence either ro divert his brothers indignation or to steal away Clidimira and fearing her grief would bring her to the Margent of her Grave caused information to be given to the Leontine Prince that to essay to cure his passion he was resolved to perform a Voyage on condition that as soon as he was departed he should set Clidimira at liberty or at the least commit her to a Lady of quality who should be responsible for her afterwards divers Persons engaging themselves in the negotiation of this affair this unhappy lover to deliver his Mistris fled both from himself and Country by a pure resentment of love for you must not think he had any design no more to affect Clidimira he being at this time more amorous then ever at his departure he writ a Letter containing many tender and passionate expressions which he left with a confident of her passion to deliver her and withall to tell her that he would sacrifice all for her interest and that he would account himself happy in his exile if she would inviolably preserve her affection assuring her that if the state of things did admit of any mutation he would unknown to any return to Leontine to see her and to carry her away with her consent if she had any desire to run his fortune he recommended her to the Princesse his sister and to all his friends at Court not forgetting to perform any thing a faithfull lover is oblig'd to do after that he embarqu'd in a Vessel which returned to Rhegium carrying with him all Clidimira's Letters as his only consolation during his exile for I forgot to tell you that the Prince of the Leontines was not ingaged to free Clidimira unlesse Artemidorus departed the Isle Behold him then imbarqu'd not for any long Navigation but as the Sicilian Sea is very dangerous an impetuous wind rose on a sudden forcing the Vessel where Artemidorus was between those two Rocks so famous for Shipwracks known by the name of Sylla and Charibdis 't is true the fortune of Artemidorus was so happy that the Pilot having had a design to steer his course to Messina where the Tempest had cast him his Vessel which was ingag'd between those two famous Rocks after it had suffered much agitation run upon a shelf of sand not far from the shore those who were within seeing the Vessel take water on all sides resolv'd to make their Arms their Oars to save their lives for Artemidorus he signalized his love in this encounter for not believing at first he could save a Casket in which were all the Letters of his Mistress and being not resolv'd to leave them he remained last in the Vessel but in fine having tied his Casket on two Oars laid a cross and fastning them with a Cord to his left Arm cast them into the Sea throwing himself after swimming with so much force that he reach'd the shore and preserv'd those precious testimonies of Clidimira's love part of the goods cast into the Sea were again recovered and part lost and the Shipwrck was very nigh Messina Artemidorus went thither but he was in a condition to be commiserated for his equipage was lost and his men perish'd and if he had not remembred that he knew a man at Messina which heretofore belong'd to the King his father he had been expos'd to extream necessity for the Captain of the Vessel was not of Leontine and was withall reduc'd to such misery that he was not in estate to afford him any assistance Artemidorus being gone to Messina had the fortune to find the party he sought for but as he would not have his quality known he chang'd his habit took a common souldiers habit had he desired to appear like himself that man who assisted him was not in a capacity to sit him with an equipage proportionable to his condition Artemidorus found some relaxation in his misfortunes when he considered that by this divesting himself of his gorgeous attire he should not be subject to all those ceremonies which are inseparable concomitants to persons of his condition in their passage through forraign Countries he was much troubled to chuse a place where he should reside for in the
is seen between these two jealousies are sometimes found in jealousies caused by the same passion For Lovers are not equally jealous the diversity of their Temperament and Fortune altering their resentments and though they all have jealousie yet perhaps in theirs is as much difference as between that of Love and Friendship There 's jealous persons who evaporate their sighs complaints and tears in amorous verses there 's some whom Jealousie makes to compose a Song and there 's others whom it deprives of reason and vertue who have recourse to Steel and Poyson to carve out their revenge on the person they love but this diversity doth not hinder that the jealous Lover who only makes a Song to testifie his Jealousie should not be effectively jealous since 't is true one cannot otherwise name a certain resentment which is produced in our heart with the desire to acquire something of what nature soever But to speak of Friendship I affirm that though 't is prudent it cannot be tender unless it be infected with a little Jealousie I know that the jealousie of Friendship doth not take from us the light of our reason and that it doth not make us act such fantastical things as the jealousie of Love but Friendship is not tender if we do not desire to be preferred before others if we do not do all things we can imagine to effect it if we have not some despite when we believe we have not attained our desires if we are not displeased at those who we see preferred before us and if we take neither care nor inquietude to preserve what we have gained you will it may be tell me we may see a thousand and a thousand which have no sensibility of what you have alledged To that I will answer there are many persons who believe they love when they have no affection and who call Friendship a kind of Society or necessary commerce of life but when I speak of Friendship I mean an effective Friendship both tender and solid of a Friendship where there is a commutation of hearts and secrets Every one is not jealous according to the proportion of his Friendship neither doth every one seat it in its right place but to speak sincerely these luke-warm friendships do not produce violent Jealousies no more than that love which tunes our Spirits to a musical harmony But that doth not shew that Friendship doth not produce jealousie at least I know I have sustained it for Lysicoris for I remember when she once went into the Country without bidding me adieu I was extremely grieved at it 't is not but that I am an enemy of all constraint and ceremony but because she gave her farewel to another of her friends that she ought not to respect so much as me I was extremely displeased and I complained a thousand times of her and even hated her whom she had visited But it may be replied Terillus looking on her you have sometimes Love not thinking you have any No replied she blushing for I assure you I know so well how to distinguish Friendship Hatred and Jealousie that if I had love it were difficult to deceive me But is it possible said Terillus you can call Jealousie all those light despites that a resentment of glory produces in friendship when that one renders you not the Justice you think to merit But is it possible replied Berelisa that you doubt Friendship hath not its Jealousies as well as Love That which makes me doubt of it replied Terillus is that I am perswaded Jealousie is not but an effect of the irregularity of Love and that Friendship cannot have the same irregularity neither can it have Jealousie But Friendship replied Berelisa hath it not all that which is found in love It hath little cares and great services it contains the desire to please complacency is always thereto annexed there is likewise of the favours of Friendship effective confidences and of trifling secrets one esteems the letters of his friends absence is not rude Presence is sweet and in fine there is found in a tender Friendship all that one can attribute to a tender Love But replied Terillus Do not you comprehend that one cannot be jealous but of that one possesses or may possess And that being so one cannot have Jealousie in Friendship sure 't is true that our friends cannot be absolutely ours for take the perfectest friend in the world if he hath a Mistress he will be oftner with his Mistress than Friend so that Friendship giving nothing which might solely depend on us it is impossible to be as jealous as if one had a Mistress But as solid Friendship is too little divertising Love is robb'd of divers things which have dependance only on it so that those little cares and all those things of which you have spoken are become its mode by Usurpation But for Jealousie believe me Berelisa it hath ever appertained to Love neither can it be admitted to any passion but this But how call you that I felt for Lysicoris replied Berelisa for I would be more loved by her than another I should be angry if I was less I would know her thoughts I would have her if she is in love with any one to declare it to me and I should never suffer her without much distemper to write to any of her friends without shewing me the Letter And I very well know the commotion of my Spirit proceeds from Jealousie I even hold added she that the Jealousie of Friendship is more Jealousie if I may so say than the Jealousie of Love for as it retains Reason still entire the least effects it produceth in a friends heart ought to be more considered than those it produceth in a Lovers But in what place may we see jealous Friends replied Terillus who have their eyes wandring their tincture pale their humour melancholy and their spirits disquieted through excess of their Jealousie But in what place replied Berelisa have you seen Friends which receive contempts without grief which patiently suffer tepedity oblivion indifferency and irregularity when they believe they are neglected by a new Friendship I consess it would be difficult for me replied Terillus to shew you a friend so patient to suffer all those things you have named without resentment but I call it despite and not jealousie And for my part replied Berelisa I will call revenge all the resentments of a jealous person after your mode but to speak rationally as Love and Friendship derive their Original from the heart and that we know not how to love nothing but by a certain universal cause which forms all Loves and Friendships in the world there is likewise in the heart of all men as well a jealous as an amorous disposition and this disposition acts doubtless more or less violently as I have told you according to the form of the affection which causes it according to the subjects one hath to entertain Jealousie and according to
excellencies of your Gallant-Letters if ever you shall write any to me I declare to you that it is only in them that I pretend to be skilled and that for those which are called Serious-Letters I meddle not with them In these out of all doubt replied Amilcar a man is permitted a high stile For instance if Valerius or Lucretius were to write to Tarquin concerning some affair of great consequence or if some great Clerks held an Epistolary correspondence they might pertinently make use of History Morality Policy and in a manner all the assistances of Eloquence Be it as it will saies Plotina I understood it not but for your Gallant-Letters I am the greatest Critick in the World It is properly in these that the Wit hath all liberty imaginable here the fancy is not limited by any severity of judgement which is so far dispensed with that the more serious things may be chequered with pleasant digressions of extravagance They admit Satyre if somewhat corrected with ingenuity commendations and flatteries have here their several stations a man may speak of friendship in terms of love all novelty is pardonable even lying if innocent is excusable if one knows no news he may make some one may pass from one thing to another without disorder for this kind of Letters to speak properly being a conversation between persons that are absent there is nothing so much to be avoided as a certain kind of reservedness of deep learning that smells of Books and Study and hath no acquaintance with Gallantry which may by called the Soul of this kind of Letters As to the stile of them it must be plain natural and noble altogether which yet hinders not but that there may be a certain Art by the means thereof there is nothing which may not pertinently be brought into letters of this nature there being not any thing from the thred-bare Proverb to the Sybill's Prophecies which a good wit may not make use of But there must be an especial care had in such occurrences to decline that swelling Eloquence which properly belongs to Orations and here must be applied another kind which with less noise proves more effectual especially among women for in a word the Art of telling trivial stories handsomely is not known to all sorts of people You may be confident of it replied Amilcar and I can further assure you that it is not proper to all to desire to know it But amiable Plotina make your obligation absolute and tell us precisely how you would have Love Letters written Since I never either writ or received any answered she I know not very what I shall say but being now in good humour to speak I shall not deny you But I must in the first place tell you there are a many more excellent Love-Letters than its conceived I am of your mind replied Amilcar Yet it is not to be admired answered she if the Gallant Letters make a great noise and those of Love very little the former being written to be shown to all the World the other to be concealed Those who receive a handsome Letter of Friendship gain much reputation by shewing it but for those who receive a well-couch'd Letter of Love it were a dishonour to communicate it so that it is not to be thought very strange if we meet with so good few ones of the latter sort To come yet nearer the business since there are an infinite number of people who may be said to have a great wit in respect of those who are guilty of a great love it is not to be wondred at if there are fewer excellent Letters of this kind than of any it being indisputably certain that to write punctually of things of this nature a man besides an ardent importunate love must be indued with a certain tenderness of heart and intellectuals which is that wherein consists all the Beatitude of Love either as to Conversation or Letters But replies Clelia did you not just now maintain that in such cases too much Wit was to be avoided I confess it answered Plotina but do you not think there is necessary a great deal of Wit to discover little In so much that though it may be said that though Love Letters require not the fire of Wit which should sparkle in Gallant Letters yet must there be some instead of it and the fire of Love possess the place of that Wit whereof I speak I conceive therefore the true Character of a Love-Letter ought to be neat and passionate and that if there be any thing of gallantry spirit yea even diversion in these Letters it must be moderated with passion and respect The expressions of them ought to be forcible and piercing and among those things which divert the mind there must be others that shall offer a kind of violence to the heart It is requisite also if I mistake not there should be a little disquiet for Love cannot by any means admit Letters of Felicity Not but that there may be a certain degree of joy yet it must be such as is not certainly serene nay though there were no cause of complaint yet ought a man to imagine something to himself whereof he may complain You speak so admirably well replied Amilcar that if you had studied Love all your life you could not have delivered your self better If I have known no love my self replied she smiling I have those Friends of my own Sex who have and have taught me how to speak of it In a word then in a Love Letter Fancy must be predominant over Wit and the Stile of it must be natural full of respect and passion nay I dare maintain there is nothing more likely to make a Letter of this nature less effectual than its being over witty Hence also doth it proceed there are so few that can judge well of Love Letters for to be critical in it a man must imagine himself in the place of those that love he must suppose what they say comes immediately from their hearts he must discover a many little circumstances that are only known to those who write not to others and in fine he must be able to distinguish very nicely between that Gallantry which is required in Letters of Friendship and what is admitted in those of Love Moreover added she I have it from a very virtuous person that ordinarily women are more exquisite at Love-Letters than men and for my part I think he was not mistaken For when a Lover is once resolved to make a full discovery of his passion there is no need of Art to say I am still under the Martyrdom of your Love but for a woman in regard she never absolutely acknowledges her love but doth all things with a greater Mystery this Love whereof there can only be had a glympse causes a greater pleasure than that which is apparent and without ceremony But it seem says Clelia there must be a difference between the Letters of a
Servant and those of a Mistress No question of it replied Plotina for in the Letters of a Servant affection and respect must be predominant those of a Mistress should speak modesty and fear in aspect to tenderness But excellent Plotina replied Amilcar since you are so learned you are yet to tell me whether length be excusable in Love Letters for I have a friend conceives they should be short To speak in general terms of all sorts of Letters replied Plotina I think they should not be over-long but it were very pleasant indeed if it should be thought ill that two persons who love one another infinitely who have not the opportunities of speaking one to another and meet with many difficulties to convey their thoughts one to another should not be permitted to write what they cannot speak and that Love which is an exaggerating passion and magnifies and multiplies all things had not the priviledge sometimes to dilate it self into long Letters For how can a great passion be swathed in a few words How can a short Letter contain a great jealousie and transport all the apprehensions of one amorous heart into another in three or four words As for those who write the gallant sort of Addresses added she it is easie for them to abbreviate and yet lose nothing of Wit since their reason being absolutely free they make choice of the things they say and reject those suggestions which please them not But for a poor Lover whose reason is disturbed he takes nothing up by choice he writes down the dictates of his Fancy nor indeed should he chuse any thing since that in point of Love neither can there be too much said nor is it believed there hath been enough Thus I maintain there is no prohibition of long Letters onally they be in no other dress than what love adorns them with and to speak ingeniously there 's nothing deserves so great commendation as a handsome Love Letter For all considered notwithstanding what I said before I believe that when one writes such a one the mind is so taken up and so distracted that it is much more difficult to write well in this than in any other case Not but as I said before that the heart is that which is principally concerned in it but that sometimes the heart is so disturbed that it self is ignorant of what it feels But I pray says Amilcar who are these Female Friends of yours who have taught you to speak so learnedly of Love She hath been entrusted with the secrets of so noble a Passion replied Clelia that if you knew all she knows you would not wonder to hear her speak as she does It shall be her fault replied Amilcar if I do not for it would be the greatest pleasure in the World to me to hear her relate an amorous adventure besides that added he you cannot force me hence though you were ever so desirous for the Captain of your Guards went out when I came in and you know the doors of your Lodgings are never opened but when he is here Nay he told me he should not return very suddenly by which means you have as much leisure as you could wish But what should oblige me replied Plotina to relate to you the adventure of one of my Friends when there is no necessity for it How replied Amilcar Do you think it a matter unnecessary to let me know in what School you have learned to speak so well of Love Assure your self if you refuse I shall be perswaded you have run through three or four several Loves in your Life If it be so replies that excellent Virgin I shall rather submit to entertain you with the adventures of Caesonia whereof I had this day promised Clelia the relation not but that she knows something in general of what hath hapned to this admirable woman but since she will have the particulars thereof I am content you should also participate conditionally you use all the means you can for her deliverance as well as ours Ah Plotina replied Amilcar if the fair Clelia will have it so it will be an infinite pleasure to me for I know not any thing of greater delight than to understand that a person of a great Wit and withal serious can admit Love I therefore promise you to do all that lies in my power to oblige Tullia to set all the Captives at Liberty and to perswade her to it I will tell her that Tarquin will be less incensed at that then if she only delivered Clelia Hereupon Plotina being confident that Amilcar would more readily employ all his interest for Caesonia if he were informed what had hapned to her and Clelia having added her entreaties to those of this accomplished Affrican began her Relation in these words THE HISTORY OF CAESONIA SInce you lay your commands on me fair and generous Clelia I shall relate unto you the adventures of this admirable woman who hath had the happiness of your good opinion and I am also content Amilcar participate the pleasure of the Relation But he must give me leave as learned as he is to acquaint him with divers things relating to our City and particularly concerning its original which an Affrican cannot in any likelyhood know that so he may the less wonder if he find so many tracts of magnificence amongst the Rutuli and indeed so much gallantry and wit For to deal truly with you the Original of Ardea is more noble then that of Rome and it cannot be objected to us as it may be to the Romans that our Fathers were Criminals and Out-laws and in a word the Rutuli are reckoned amongst the most ancient people of Italy Ardea which is their Metropolis being built by the fair and famous Danae the Daughter of Acrisius and mother of Perseus whose History is so celebrated that I think it unnecessary to relate it You do very well interrupted Amilcar smiling for though an Affrican and as Ignorant as you conceive me I am not to learn that Jupiter fell in love with Danae that he was put to his shifts for that invention of the precious Golden Shower that he turned Bull to Ravish Europa and put on the form of a Swan to surprize the Mother of Castor and Pollux I know further that Danaes Father understanding his daughter was neer her time of Lying in notwithstanding all the care he had taken to cause her to be kept in a Tower to elude the effect of an Oracle which threatned he should lose his life by the hands of a Son of that Princess caused this fair Lady to be shut into a Chest of Cedar which he gave order should be cast into the Sea and that the gods providing for her safety directed the waves to cast it on the Coasts of Italy I know further that having been found by a Fisherman who was taken with her extraordinary Beauty he presented her to the Prince whose Subject he was who grew so deeply enamoured of her
what I had sometime said to her Ah Plotina cried she you had great reason to tell me that Turnus was but an inconstant man disguiz'd and that I had done better to have preferred Persander before Turnus then Turnus before Persander But alas added she it is now no time to complain it was the cruelty of my Fortune when I thought to have chosen him who loved me most to have taken him who loved me least to his prejudice who loved me more and haply better The word haply is not well placed where you put it said I to her for it is not to be doubted but Persander will love you while he lives Ah Plotina said she tome with a high indignation if there were any means to repent I would repent me of the injustice I have done Persander But alas I must not for my own sake admit any thought of repentance and I must live so with Turnus as if he were constant and so with Persander as if I were indifferent to him Divers other things came from Caesonia wherewith I was extreamly moved Notwithstanding all this she wrote to her Husband with all the respect and mildness in the World and having discovered her affliction to her Mother it was resolved she should pretend to be sick that divers of Turnus's friends should be intreated to write to him to indeavour to bring him home again and that she her self would also invite him with the greatest insinuation she could use To be short some days after she was so much Mistress of her own thoughts that she writ to him a Letter infinitely passionate But he being at that time much taken with his loves at Rhegium and understanding from some friends at Ardea that Caesonia was not very sick he returned not to Ardea but remained two months onger at Rhegium that is to say as long as his Passion lasted He then went to Syracuse whence he was to go into Greece but he was no sooner come to Syracuse but he fell in love with a Princess of that place which is one of the greatest Beauties in the World Besidos all this Turnus having with him two friends who were of Ardea and were very complyant with his humour much of what he did came to be known by that means for one of these two was Brother to one of Turnus's former Mistresses when he first fell in love with Caesonia She being acquainted by her brothers Letters with all the new loves of Turnus was very glad to find that the charms of Caesonia had been no stronger then hers to confine Turnus's affections and maliciously divulged what her Brother had written to her concerning the Loves of this unfaithful Husband By this means the business came to be so generally known that there was none but might without any breach of civility speak to Caesonia of it either as to blame Turnus or pity her She in the mean time had observed so much reservedness in her carriage that Persander had never met with any occasion to speak to her without witnesses But one day Ersilia having employed him with some business of consequence and Persander being come to give her an account of it he found her not at home but met with Caesonia with whom he was obliged to stay expecting the return of Ersilia but he found her in so melancholy a posture that she hardly knew how to entertain him Persander on the other side having so favourable an opportunity to speak to her had not the power to tell her what he was desirous she should know but at last the love he had in his soul making him more confident It is long since Madam said he to her that I vainly seek what I have this day found yet I beseech you Madam added he imagine not it is my purpose to say any thing to you whereat you may be offended and therefore forbid me not to speak for I shall only bemoan you and but once accuse me in my life all I have to say is to conjure you to believe that as Turnus hath not been able to quit his inconstancy Persander shall never be otherwise then constant and shall love you while he lives Ah Persander said Caesonia to him triumph not over my misfortunes for it is enough to have an inconstant husband without having a Friend defective as to respect I beseech you therefore say not any thing to me which I shall not be satisfied to hear No no Madam said he to her fear not any thing from the unfortunate Persander he desires nothing of you he hopes for nothing from you and the sum of all he would have amounts to no more then the favour of one single audience from you that I may have the satisfaction of your own confession that you were mistaken when you had bestowed your self on the most amorous for Madam you need no further experience then that of this day to make the comparison To be short added he this Lover that was so eager so constant in appearance for sakes you as soon as he was possessed of you and falls in Love with divers others as soon as he is out of your sight But the unfortunate Persander though treated with insupportable injustice loves you still without hope of ever being loved by you and shall love you while he lives Turnus hath left you without any cause and I whom affairs of consequence call hence remain only to see you though I am confident you bestow not a thought on me that you would have me quit all love to you and that I can pretend to no other advantage then that of pitying you and doing you those services you can expect from a generous Friend But I beseech you deny me not this favour trust me with the burthen of an affliction you cannot conceal from me Speak not any thing of favour to me nothing of obligation nothing that may discover that you so much as think I love you but tell me only as a discreet and faithful friend that you are dis-satisfied with Turnus that you are sensible of his Injustice and his Inconstancy and are at last convinced that you have made an ill choice I therefore expect no other reward of the respectful passion I have for you then to see you dis satisfied with my Rival and to give you an infallible expression of the greatness and purity of my inclinations I protest to you that if I could change his heart and make him constant to you I would do it so to make you happy though I doubt not but I should be much more miserable then I am if you were satisfied with Turnus I beseech you Persander said she to him content your self that I tell you in general terms that I have done you an injustice and expect not I should trust one with the knowledge of my afflictions who is Rival to him that causes them Besides imagine not that the inconstancy of Turnus shall ever make me do any thing against Innocence for I am
reasonable Ah generous Clelius cryed he out I will be any thing that will keep me from being hated by Clelia and from being unjust unto Aronces but yet I would adore your divine daughter for ever Yet sir my demand that she would not hate me is because I would die more contentedly for I know that I cannot live long Oh Sir replyed Amilcar after his usual way of freedom If you do not dye of your wounds as I hope you will not and wish you may not you will die either of love or grief time will undoubtedly cure those two kinds of maladies Death will not triumph over Lovers and unfortunate persons without the help of a Feaver or some disastrous accident But to advance your cure added he I will answer for the esteem of your Mistress and for your Rival I will also answer for their friendship if you could but surmount your love Oh Amilcar cryed he out were my heart like unto yours I should quickly surmount it but to my misery we do not resemble Afterwards this Prince who was naturally of a violent temper began to fret and grieve inwardly so as Clelius seeing him in a condition not to be long conversed withal he left him and went to take order for the repair of his house which Brutus caused to be restored unto him to the end he might receive Sulpitia who was to arrive the next day As for Amilcar unto whom Clelius was much obliged he went unto Sivelia's to see Clelia for having had no discourse in particular with her he accounted it as if he had not yet seen her yet he could not have any private discourse with her at that time because Plotina Valeria and Herminius were there But being all persons of strong reason discourse was almost as free as if they had all been intimate and particular friends Herminius having spoken much of Clelia unto Valeria she did not so much constrain her self but both discoursed of their sorrows as freely as if they had been ancient friends After a while of discourse Valeria might easily be found a person of no common rank her Physiognomy was so full of spirit she spoke so well and to the purpose her tone was so charming and her discourse so genuine and free that of all those illustrious Romans which came to see Clelia there was none pleased her more than Valeria so as having a strong inclination to love her she received all the civilities which the charming mistress of Herminius did her with extraordinary kindness I beseech you said Clelia in answer to some applauds which Valeria gave her do not judge of me by what you see now but trust unto what Herminius and Amilcar shall tell you of me for they are my ancient friends and know me I am not to day in my right humor and my face is so much altered that did I care for it I should grieve extreamly not but that I have a thousand subjects of joy For I see my Father again I see him in Rome I see the power of Tarquin demolished and I see my Country delivered But for all that the clouds of displeasure will not dissipate and the miserable condition of the most virtuous Prince upon earth makes me that I cannot gust any joys without ingratitude You see with what freedom I talk unto you and you easily perceive that I reckon our acquaintance from the first day I was acquainted with Herminius You honour me abundantly replyed Valeria and blusht but believe it Madam I will not dye ungrateful but in my humour do requite you in a most extraordinary manner For to discover my heart unto you I confess that I have ever believed a person of any solidity ought not to contract amity so lightly as to close with them at the first sight for appearances are very fallacious there are many who do please the first hour yet when they are better known will displease for ever after And I assure you that since the fair and unfortunate Lucretia betook her self to a course of solitude I never entertained any friend whom I could name particular not but that Hermilia whom every one knows to be the sister of illustrious Brutus is a person whom I love and esteem and that another named Flavia has a great share in my heart But Madam it is not after such a manner as I loved that most excellent Lady whose death would certainly have caused mine if her solitude had not accustomed me to living without seeing her yet Madam I must tell you that I do find such inclination in my heart toward you as I never found for any but for virtuous Lucretia Madam reply'd Clelia I am infinitely obliged to you for ranking me with her who cannot be parallel'd by any without injustice but to retaliate confidence for confidence I must acquaint you that I do more for you than you for me For I must confess unto you that except Plotina and Cesonia unto whom averse fortune has devoted me I have no friends whom I love so well as to trust them with any of my secrecies True indeed friends I have Herminius and Amilcar are so and will be as long as I live but as for feminine friends I have found so few a number of such as are capable of solid friendship as I content my self only with their society But towards you added Clelia I do find a strong disposition to love you and it shall stick of you if I be not at this very day perfectly your friend Whilst these two fair ones were talking thus Cesonia Plotina Amilcar and Herminius were talking of the late Revolutions But Amilcar not affecting over-serious discourse and hearing Clelia name him he interrupted those two illustrious Romans and asked them what they talked of We talk of a business so important replied Valeria as will mar all my felicity and of a thing which neither Clelia nor I ever did before for though we have not known one another yet half a day yet we intend to begin a league of friendship which must last as long as we live Both of you replied Herminius are able to move love eternally and the more you know the more you 'l esteem and love each other For my particular said Plotina I see nothing extraordinary that you have done what wonder is it that two so fair as you both flowing in wit and knowing each other long by reports of friends whom you dare trust should contract friendship so soon For this I am sure of that if you contract amitie with one whom afterwards you find not answerable to your fancy it is an easie matter to break off Though perhaps I am one said Amilcar who makes and breaks these kind of affections which they call friendships though they deserve not that title yet I am clearly of Valeria's opinion and maintain that it is very frivolous to make these imaginary friendships so much talked of in the World For my part said Herminius I must confess that
are yet sometimes they pardon and recompence But the Laws are inexorable and punish severely without mercy they are always more favourable to the poor than to the rich to the common people than to men of Rank Represent unto them what a heart-burning it will be when they shall see themselves subjected to a multitude to Cringe and Court those whom naturally they ought to command Tell them that Kings being elective at Rome it were a gross baseness in the Nobility to sit still and lose their hopes to a Crown In short tell them whatsoever you shall think best to prompt them on unto so great a design These young Romans unto whom this discourse was addressed and who of themselves were apt to embrace what was desired of them they promised Tarquin's Envoy as much as could be required and this discourse being in the night only by Moon-shine and in a Garden they had as good an opportunity as could be to argue upon the enterterprise For the Envoy had gained the slave who had the charge of shutting the doors of the house He that was appointed to keep an eye over their Actions fell asleep And all Rome was in a profound calm whilst a business was consulting which might captivate them all Mean while Tarquins Envoy asking the young Romans what they had done with the Pacquet which he gave them for the two Sons of Brutus they told him that as yet they had not met with them but in the morning they would go unto them and in the evening at the same place they would give them an account of all things After which they went away In their way home he who had the Pacquet directed to the two Sons of Brutus asked the rest what they thought of that Pacquet For my part said one of the three whose name was Aquilius I am much mistaken if it be not letters from two fair Ladies who were brought up under Tullia the one of which is a Slave of a Noble extraction called Teraminta And I am sure that Titus and Tiberius so were the two Sons of Brutus called are deeply in love with them This induceth me to think that Tullia has a design by this means to draw Titus and Tiberius unto their Party But replied one of those who had not yet spoken I wonder these Loves should make no greater a noise in the World and that I should never hear a word of it The reason is answered he because the War of Ardes imployed every one so much that they had no leisure to talk of amorous discourses as in idle times of peace But said the other though Titus and Tiberius should be in love with Ocrisia and the young Teraminta do you think they would ever desert the interest of Brutus Yes yes answer'd he for Love is stronger than Nature And I know there is no great tenderness in the hearts of these young men towards their Father For Brutus affecting a strange kind of lumpish stupidity the young men have been extreamly ashamed of being his Sons 'T is true they were so said one of them But now since Brutus is known to be one of the most glorious persons in the world and performed such high Actions doubtless Titus and Tiberius are changed in their opinions of a Father I grant answered Aquilius that now they esteem him whom within a few days before they sleighted But for all that if they be really in Love they cannot love a Father who in expelling a Prince which loved them exiled also their Mistresses besides they being brought up in great Liberty and Freedom they will much insist upon obedience to the commands of a Father Well well said Aquilius to morrow will tell us more And indeed as soon as it was day Aquilius who had the Packet went unto Titus and Tiberius And the other three went every one severally to their particular friends whom they thought most apt to adhere unto their opinions Mean time Aquilius was no sooner alone with Titus and Tiberius but he gave them the Packet which was directed unto them They had no sooner opened it but they found two letters the Characters of which they knew For that directed unto Titus was from the fair Ocrisia whom he loved and the other to Tiberius was from the young slave Teraminta whom he affected with a most violent passion So as these two Lovers being infinitely impatient to see these Letters they opened them and read them in private though they knew the secrets of each other and though their friend was also acquainted with their Loves But after they had read them to themselves they read them aloud to Aquilius who found that from Ocrisia to be thus indited Ocrisia unto Titus YOur destiny Generous Titus is in your own dispose and it is only long of your self if you be not happy you have told me ten thousand times that you would do any thing in the world to win my love which if you will make good and if you will reign in my heart do what you can to make Tarquin reign in Rome For if you do not you shall be for ever banished from any heart of mine After the young Aquilius had heard this Letter Tiberius read his which was in these terms Teraminta unto Tiberius IF the unfortunate Teraminta be not out of your memory as she is out of Rome you will still remember how heavy the chains are which she wears It is in your power to set me at Liberty For it is promised unto me if you will take the Kings side You know that in the condition wherein I am I have nothing to dispose of but my affection And that I do most faithfully promise unto you if you will but do as I desire and as you ought Brutus was not so much obliged to deliver Rome as you are to deliver me since I do give you the means Either unslave me or resolve never to be mine Well said Aquilius unto these two Lovers what answer you to these two Letters and what do you resolve upon For my part said Titus I cannot tell what to do For I do love Ocrisia as well as is possible for any to love but withal I love my honour also and indeed what can I do for Tarquin against my Father and all Rome If you will but imploy your Courage replied Aquilius you will shortly find it no such difficulty as you think to put Rome again under the Power of a Prince who is so near a-kin to you as it is but just to put that Crown again upon his head which Brutus pulled off Oh ye good Gods cried out Tiberius into what a confused Labyrinth am I brought For truly I must ingenuously confess that I am as enemy unto all Republiques I had much rather obey a Tyrant than be a slave unto the rude people and to see my Fortune depend upon the humour of the giddy multitude I know my Father has done a most high Action and it were against Nature
the love of the best husbands becomes amity But I know withal that there are few good wives but will confess that it were better to be the Mistresses of those they have married than to be no more than the friends of their husbands I mean such friends to whom their husbands impart no more of their secrets than domestick affairs and with whom they never hold any sweet conversation Yet there are some said Collutina who are both Lovers and Husbands all their lives and live so kindly with their wives that they do enjoy all the sweets both of love and friendship I assure you said Valeria it is a harder matter than you imagine to be both at once a good husband a respectful Lover and a very well accomplished man For to be a Lover is to be a slave to be a Husband is to be a Master and to be a well accomplisht man is to be neither a Tyrant nor a slave to his wife I affirm also That it is the honour of such wives as have good Husbands to let them have such an authority as may appear to the world though out of excess in love or some other cause they would not have it And a good wife will never desire it should be said that she is the Governor of her Husband but only that she has a good credit in his opinion that he esteems her believes her and loves her not that he obeys her as if he were not able to govern himself Nor do I allow that a Husband should be continually shewing himself a husband An imperious husband who looks upon his wife only as the first servant in the House who trusts her with nothing who never considers her and who treats her as if she had not the use of Reason as if he were not obliged to love her and as if it were his Prerogative to love a hundred others and she not to say Mum. Collatina hearing Valeria speak thus began to twit her and to say that doubtless she would make the best wife and the best husband in the world since she was able to discourse so well upon the Laws of Marriage After which it being very late the company parted As for Spurius he went home with a heartfull of jealousie As for Salonina though she was glad to observe that she was the cause of it yet sometimes this jealousie which she saw encreased did vex her because she saw plainly that Spurius had no affection at all unto her But for all that her hopes to take him off Valeria did flatter her As for Herminius he went away well satisfied But as for Valeria she being of a most delicate and nice spirit she took it much to heart that Herminius should so hotly affirm that Amity and Love together was requisite For from thence she argued that the first thoughts which he had of her were no thoughts of Love So as the first time she wrote unto him she debated it with him and for four or five days the subject of their Letters was upon nothing else Mean time Spurius was very unhappy For as jealousie encreased every moment in his mind so hope lessened and Fears grew more strong Is a few days therefore he was grown all melancholy fullen mistrustful pettish and easily angred He imployed himself in nothing but observing all the actions of Herminius and Valeria And the more he observed them the more jealous he grew Not that they lived any otherwise than they used together But it is the Nature and Quality of jealousie to prepossess to change the objects to seduce reason and to force an interpretation of all things to the disadvantage of the Interpreter It troubles the senses and whereas the eyes do sometimes deceive the imagination it happens very oft that the Imagination of a jealous man deceives his eyes and makes him believe he sees what he sees not So as Spurius being possessed with a most violent jealousie he imagined a thousand things that never were And as a jealous man always finds more than he seeks for and since Spurius sought continually how to afflict himself in seeking for some comfort he caused unto himself a fresh subject of inquietude by the way which I shall tell you Imagine then that to clear all his doubts he thought no better way would do it than to gain one of Valeria's Slaves who was witty subtle and naturally a lover of her self For he had heard that Valeria accused her of that fault So as Spurius neglected no way to win her unto himself when he met her he saluted her very kindly he commended her handsomness and always offered to give her money At first she refused and said that her Lady had charged her to take nothing of any person and seeing he offered to give her only to try if she would take and then tell her Lady she would not accept of anything Spurius hearing this woman speak thus and knowing that she tickled to be taking what he offered he told her she was mistaken and that he would not have Valeria know of any thing he gave her So as this young wench after some slight refusal she began to accept of several things from Spurius who after he had thus engaged her he got her wholly unto him However though she was very trusty yet she would not tell him any thing but that Valeria received letters very often from Herminius But as the mode of letters was in this Gallant Cabal this gave him no satisfaction This slave also told him that Valeria was not very careful of those letters which she received from Herminius and that till she put a great number of them together into her Cabinet she always either carried them in her pocket or left them upon the Table not caring who saw them So as Spurius pressing her to get one of them she promised to do it upon the first opportunity and accordingly about two days after she took from her Lady one of Herminius his letters and gave it unto Spurius who to have the better opportunity of speech with this slave he went unto Valeria's when he knew she was not at home which hapned then very often For since Salonina and Valeria were out of League there grew much Amity betwixt Valeria and Lucretia who seldom stirring abroad except to the Temple was more visited by her new friend than she returned visits Spurius then going to Valeria's one day when she was with Lucretia he asked to speak with the slave with whom he held intelligence under a pretence of delivering a message for her Lady So as this wench gave him the letter which she had taken but in giving it she began to laugh and told him that she had given him as good as nothing At first Spurius thought that though the wench was witty yet perhaps she could not understand the letter for he knew that Herminius could write but too well When the wench saw that he made no reckoning of what she said she laughed
again and said unto him I perceive you think I know not what I say and that you think a poor slave cannot read but for all that I deserve a recompence from you For first I assure you that it is no letter of Love That never letter was fuller of Amity and that if I can understand any thing there is no sence in the letter Spurius being tickled with an itching curiosity and knowing that Valeria would quickly return he opened the letter and found these words Herminius unto Valeria I Confess Madam that my Amity preceded my amity And Amity and amity do sometimes resemble but believe it Madam when that happens either the Amity must be very tender or the amity not very great And if you would have me speak without disguisement your Amity is as far from resembling amity as my amity is from resembling Amity After Spurius had read this letter he was much surpris'd for he knew that Herminius used not to write Nonsence or Tautologies or to put the word Amity so often in one letter without any sence So as not knowing well what to think upon 't he carried away the letter not knowing well what to make of it The wench would have had it again but he was resolved to examine it better before he restored it He carried it therefore home and when he was in his chamber he read it over a hundred times but understood it no better at the last than the first time for he could not imagine what to make of the word Amity The worst for him was he knew well that there was some hidden secret under it For had it been one of those Acrostick ingenuities which Herminius used he should have understood it On the other side the little care that Valeria took in hiding these letters from Herminius did give him some consolation but for all that this Gallimaufry of Amity puzled him so much that not being able to unty this knotty Riddle himself he resolved out of an excess of jealousie to shew it unto Salonina hoping that her acute wit would help him to discover what he desired to know He went therefore unto her but did not acquaint her with his intelligence he had with Valeria's slave but told her that a friend of his found the letter and intreated him to decypher it Salonina took the letter and was as much puzled at the word Amity as Spurius was She thought at the first that she had found out the trick so as looking upon Spurius she said unto him you shall see that Herminius and Valeria are agreed to use the word Amity in lieu of the word Love if they had replied Spurius the Letter would be as much nonsence for I will read it so and you shall see it and he read it thus I confess Madam that my love preceded my love and love and love does sometimes resemble but believe it Madam when that happens either the love must be very tender or the love not very great And if you will have me speak without disguisement your love is as far from resembling love as my love is from resembling love Well replied Spurius after he had read the Letter Do you understand the word Love better than you do the word Amity No replied she but I am resolved I will And indeed this Lady whose heart was full of curiosity of envy of anger of jealousie of vanity and who moreover wished heartily that Spurius might be jealous she began to look very seriously upon this Letter of Herminius so as having a sharp and penetrating wit she observed that the word Amity was written several ways in the Letter for it sometimes begun with a great letter and sometimes with a little So that as soon as she had observed this she hoped to discover the trick on 't she judg'd also that Herminius being so exact in his writing as he was would not use sometimes great and sometimes little letters to no end so as she thought that this different manner of writing the same word might change the sence and indeed she was not mistaken for when they agreed that the word amity should signifie Love Valeria asked Herminius how they should do when they used the word Amity to signifie barely Amity Herminius who was full of invention he told her that when the word amity was to signifie Love it was to begin with a little a and when it was to signifie amity only it was to begin with a great A. So as Salonina having observed this difference in writing the same word and imagining that it might change the sence she began to try it after this rule and then found that good sence followed of which Spurius was as glad as she Salonina also told Spurius that certainly this Letter was a consequence of that discourse wherein Herminius affirmed that Amity ought to be mingled with Love So as after Spurius had observed this rule which she directed him to follow he found these words I confess Madam that my Amity preceded my love and love and Amity do sometimes resemble But believe it Madam when that happens either the Amity must be very tender or the love not very great and if you will have me speak without disguisement your Amity is as far from resembling love as my love is from resembling Amity Oh Madam cried out Spurius you have but too much wit for my tranquillity and the nonsence which I found in the Letter of Herminius had been better for me than the sence which you have found out For truly since Valeria holds any intelligence of this nature with him he does her wrong to say that her Amity does not resemble Love for such artifice is needless for an affection of another nature However Madam added he in a transport of sorrow I beseech you dispense with me for not returning thanks unto you for the pains you have taken in unridling this Letter for truly I have not power to do it And to tell you truly I see you so glad at your discovery and at a thing which infinitely afflicts me that I was not more grieved when you were the most rigorous unto me If you would have me speak sincerely replied Salonina I think it something strange you should not bear me any good will for the pains I have taken in undeceiving you for had you rather not know that Valeria loves Herminius Doubtless I had replyed he so I were never to know it For my part replied she I am not so of your mind but am very glad you find that I am not the only reasonable person who does not render justice unto your merit and who cannot afford you any more than my esteem for since the first time you loved me added this crafty Lady you thought me the only person in the world whom you loved that would not love you again but now you find by experience that it is not so Ah cruel Salonina cryed he out Do not torment me with the rigour of
another after you have so much tormented me with your own but if you speak thus because you repent of your former cruelty I shall think you excusable No replied she with a subtle smile but on the contrary I speak as I do to justifie my cruelty As Salonina said so Collatina and Flavia came into the Chamber so as she having the Letter of Herminius in her hands it was not possible for Spurius to get it from her Yet he asked it in a low voice but she would not restore it but said to him in Railery that she had more right to it than he after all the pains she had taken in expounding it so as Spurius not being able to endure any longer in that place he went out and being extremely vext both at Herminius and at Valeria he was not very sorry that this Letter remained in the hands of Salonina imagining that she would do some mischief unto Valeria by it against whom he was most horribly incensed And not being able to contain his grief he went unto one of his friends to whom he related the state of his fortune Did ever any find said he unto him a more cross and peevish fate than mine for within this few days I found my self the happiest man in the world and now the most miserable when Salonina endeavoured to re-engage me I had all the delights of a sweet revenge and when Valeria treated me kindly I enjoyed all the pleasures which hope can give in love But now I know that Salonina cares not for me further than to take me off from Valeria whom she loves not Valeria cannot endure me but only as a cloak to hide her affection unto Herminius and whilst both Volesus and Herminius are happy I am most miserable I must confess said his friend unto him that your adventure is cruel but you ought to take good heart and were I in your case I should be glad to lose a Mistress that should love any of my Rivals better than me On the contrary replied Spurius I ought to be glad of the rigour of an insensible woman For I look upon her as one incapable of affording any felicity unto any one no more than me I look upon her I say as an imperfect person to whom the Gods have not given any sensibility or tenderness of heart and one who is unworthy to be grieved for But alas when I think upon all the Charâ—s of Valeria when I consider she is fair witty vertuous pleasing in her humour modest and as I think capable of tenderness I am so afflicted at the happiness of Herminius that I do most horribly hate him And in this angry mood I know no other consolation I can have but to make him miserable and to trouble all the delights of Valeria of Herminius of Volesus and of Salonina And indeed Spurius did nothing all that day but plot how he might ruine these four persons whom he most horridly hated Yet he dissembled with them the more easily to harm them But that he might the better prepare himself with a garb of constraint he feigned himself sick for a while after which he appeared in the company as ordinary though a little more melancholy and a little less troubled for Valeria Mean time Salonina who kept not the Letter of Herminius for nothing she made a visit unto Valeria and drawing her aside told her that to testifie how much she was her friend she came to acquaint her how she had lost some of Herminius his Letters because she heard one of her acquaintance say that he had one of them in his hands Valeria not thinking that any of Herminius his Letters could be ill interpreted and did not think she had lost that wherein the word Amity was so often used which was the only one that could raise any suspicion she told Salonina that she was much obliged unto her for her good intention but truly said she If I have lost any of them I am not much troubled at it neither in relation to my self or Herminius For all his Letters are so well penned and so far from any suspicion of love as I do not remember the word Love is so much as once mentioned in all that ere he wrote unto me Then replied Salonina those who tell me they have one are false Impostors for here 's the Copy of that which they say they have in keeping Upon this Salonina shewed unto Valeria the Copy of Herminius his letter with the words of Love and Amity in their right places This fair and innocent Lady knowing the first line she could not chuse but blush yet presently recollecting her self and seeming to call up her memory she told Salonina that this which may perhaps be thought some mystery was nothing but some such trick as his Acrostick was or some such fallacy by which he had so often diverted the Cabal And upon better memory he did once write some such invention in my chamber but I apprehended so little danger in shewing it that I left it loose upon my table so as certainly some or other has found it and put an interpretation upon it Since it is so replied Salonina and seemed to believe her I will never trouble my self to get the Original out of their hands who have it but I think it better to tell them the truth and to let them shew it as the invention of Herminius If all people were rational replied Valeria it were not amiss to do as you advise but since there is an ill disposition in most people to interpet the best things in the worst sense you would do me a pleasure in procuring me this letter and undeceiving those that have made any ill construction of it Madam replied Salonina since it was never my faculty to flatter my friends I must needs tell you that I think the course you would take it not good but better to acknowledge it as a real letter and let it pass as a common and indifferent trifle which you value not Were there a middle course between these two replied prudent Valeria it were the best and therefore it will be enough if you only tell those that have this letter how that I do not value it at all And if ere I meet with an occasion wherein I may do you any service of the like nature I shall entertain it with joy Alas Madam replied Salonina since I have no friend so Ingenious as Herminius you are are never like to do me the like office But replied Valeria since Volesus useth to write unto you sometimes and since he loves you in another manner than Herminius loves me It is not impossible but I may do more for you than you shall do for me However said Salonina I am glad that I can shew the letter which Herminius wrote unto you assuring you what are you think of me that I will act for you with the same thoughts that now I have After this Salonina went away And
journey from thence she went unto Valerius beseeching him that he would desire his daughter to command Herminius to quit Italy until the face of things changed so as Valeria both out of obedience and tenderness commanded her dear Herminius by Letter to seek a sanctuary in some other place farther off where he needed not to fear the injustice of Tarquin and lest he should send some of his ministers of cruelty to assassinate him And since Herminius was equally dear both unto Sivelia Valerius Domitia and Valeria he received so many different Orders from all these persons that he did resolve to go farther off yet since there was an invisible Chain which tyed him to Italy he contented himself with going to Metapont where he thought to meet with more consolation than any where else because he should there find the sage Damo and all the rest of those friends which he had made when he was there And indeed Herminius was ravished with the society of these excellent persons But Sivelia hearing where he was she sent him orders to be gone from thence because the place of his retreat being known she could not think him in safety And to induce him to leave that place she sent him a Letter from Valeria written after her intention so as this unfortunate Lover was more exiled by his friends and lovers than by his enemies which made his heart exceeding melancholy And also it was a double sadness of soul to see that Valeria's Letters were less obliging than those he formerly received from her For since they were to pass through the hands of Sivelia this discreet Ladie would not include all the tenderness of her soul in them But Herminius who knew not that to be the reason he was extreamly disquieted at it however he had received so many commands to get further off that he resolved upon it 'T is true he had for his companion in his travels the Son of a generous Roman who was born an exile from whose Society he found much consolation And indeed this Roman whose name is Emilius is a man of much soul and very handsome of a sweet disposition a sociable spirit a passionate soul and a couragious heart Herminius and he then travelled together into Greece after which they came to Capua though Herminius was sure that if Sivelia did know he was there she would think him too near Rome But since Emilius fell sick as soon as he came there and since he had some reasons which kept him from making himself known in that place he shared not with Herminius in many things which this pleasant City afforded Nor did you see this friend of Herminius who not being in a condition to stir abroad he obliged his friends not to mention him So as you knew only in general that Herminius was come to Capua with a stranger who was faln sick and lodged in the suburbs not knowing precisely who he was Mean-time although Herminius loved Emilius very tenderly and though they mutually received from each other many generous testimonies of Amity during their Travels yet Herminius out of a resentment of Fidelity to Valeria he never acquainted Emilius that he was in Love at Rome For sincehe never had been there though he was the Son of an illustrious Roman he could not know any there But Madam to come unto that share which you have in the adventure of Herminius you may remember that as soon as that illustrious Roman came to Capua he got a great share in the Amity of Clelius and your self and that he was very much at your house you know that he used to write unto you very often and that you were wont to answer him Also that he saw none but you with delight That it was for him you drew the Famous Map of Tender and that those who did not rightly know things had some ground to think that Herminius was in love with you though indeed it was only pure Amity In so much as many at Capua did put Herminius in Rank with Aronces or Horatius and thought him to be your Lover The thought was grown so publick that a young Physician who had Emilius in cure and who was one of those Gallant Physitians who have much practice amongst Ladies he brought a Copy of this Map unto Emilius not knowing that he knew him for whom it was made upon this Emilius who saw Herminius seldomer of late than usual he thought indeed Madam that he was in love with you Amilcar said Clelia and interrupted Consider well what you say and do not mix Fable with true History No Madam replied Amilcar but let me tell you that your Fine wit had like to have had the life of poor Herminius But to proceed Emilius beginning to tax Herminius with the passion which he thought was in his soul Herminius answered him in such a manner as perswaded him he did not deny the thing but only out of his discretion Herminius yet did all he could to undeceive his friend but all would not do nay rather confirmed him And Madam since you then used to write very often unto Herminius he shewed Emilius your letters he shewed him his own and let him take Copies of them thinking that this would better perswade him there was no mystery in this affection and that there was no intimacy 'twixt him and you but only a Gallant Amity without any tincture of Love But since all these letters whereof he took Copies were exceeding Gallant and sweet and since Herminius had such a kind of passionate stile as would deceive any that did not know him very well Emilius took that for Love which was only Amity He thought also that the Map of Tender was a Map of virtuous Love and in short made no doubt but that he was deep in Love and also that he was not a little loved Howsoever the Air of Capua being thought bad for his health he was constrained to leave it and was carried unto a little Town whose scituation was more healthy Herminius followed him and had the joy to see him much mend in his health But at the same time he had the sorrows to lose his company for Emilius understood that he might now dwell at Rome so as these two friends parted and Herminius returned to Capua When Emilius was ready to depart Herminius had a mind to trust him with the secret of his Love and to give him a letter for Valeria but knowing the humor of that wise Lady he thought she would not take it well that such a man as Emilius should be the Confident of his affection she being so scrupulous and so wise as she was Therefore he only desired him not to speak at Rome of his opinion that he loved Clelia lest such a report should unhappily come unto Valeria's ear And for a colour he told Emilius that the reason of this his desire was lest Tarquin should hear such a false report and hate him the more for endeavouring to
under his own hand And alas I doubt he never values my honour For it is more ordinary for a Lover to give the Letters of his first Mistress unto his second than for a man in Love to give Copies of his Mistresses letters unto a friend Thus I have reason to think that he hath sacrificed me unto Clelia and that whilst I am looking upon her letters with most horrid Anger she is looking upon those I writ unto that unconstant Man as the most sensible marks of Love that ever were given After this Valeria never staying for Flavia's answer began to look upon other Letters and to afflict her self the more she often saw the word Amitie in the letters of Herminius unto you Madam And she saw it writ after the same manner he was wont to write it unto her when it was to signifie Love For Herminius by often use had gotten such a habit of writing that word with a great Letter or a little as it was to signifie that he writ it very often unto his friends without any manner of design So as imagining that he used the same invention unto you Madam as he did unto her her sorrows encreased more and she broke out into such lamentable expressions as Flavia repented she had obeyed her After she had read all the letters of this Gallant Amity which unto miserable Valeria seemed Love she opened the Map of Tender But when she cast her eye upon that place where at the departure from a new Amity those that hold too much on the right hand do go out of their way and go unto Negligence Inequality Faintness Levitie Oblivion and to the Lake of Indifferency See said she all the ways by which he has passed unto me and by which I cannot pass unto him And I wish I could be unfaithful unto his memory and not be constant unto one that is dead and was inconstant Afterwards looking upon the River of Inclination by which one goes so swiftly unto Tender she presently turned away her eyes as if that object had upbraided the violent inclination which she had unto Herminius Also finding some invention and wit in this Map maugre all her Grief and Anger she had a spleen which augmented her jealousie and consequently her despair So as not being able to consider it any longer she threw it away hastily and turning to the other side she seemed as if she would not any longer look upon the pretended marks of infidelity in Herminius When Flavia would have taken the Map again she would not suffer her and not knowing her self whether she should restore it or no or break in pieces she took it out of the hands of Flavia and after she had confusedly surveyed it she threw it again unto her friend who folded it up with intention to restore it unto him that lent it After this she harkned unto the complaints of Valeria who did not find that Remedie which she looked for Alas said she had I upon me but one of these two Torments perhaps I should find out some kind of Consolation For if Herminius were not dead but alive and unfaithful then pity would not oppose it self against my hatred I should have some kind of delight in hating him or in being indifferent if I could not hate him I should do him some ill office to his Mistress and be revenged some way or other But what can I do unto a miserable Man whom death only renders worthy of my Compassion So as I can neither hate him nor be revenged of his perfidie since the Grave is an unavoidable sanctuary for all miserable people and Criminals On the other side had he not been inconstant and I had nothing to lament but his death there might be some consolation found in time and one might hope to mourn more moderately When the violence of Grief is grown a little more moderate by habitude it is some kind of sweetness to talk of the person that is lost one shall read his letters with a tenderness which as full of mourning memorandums as they are yet there is some sweetness in it one shall remember all the Testimonies of affection which ere they received one shall imagine that they had a share in the last thoughts of him that is lost and one may perhaps have some far fetcht hopes of seeing him again and that death will reunite that which it did separate But alas in the pitiful estate wherein I am I can never think on Herminius without anger the very sight of his letters incenses me The past the present the future all torment me and make me desperate I know my dear Flavia that I trouble you with my tears and do tell you no more than what I have told you a hundred times But alas I hope you will think it just to pardon me since it proceeds from the object of my sorrows These Madam were the thoughts of Valeria whilst Valerius was at Sivelia's house who had sent for him to know whether he had received any Packet from her Son and consequently whether all these reports of her Son death were true by which it appeared that all was false because his Pacquet was of a very late date Valerius was infinitely joyed to hear it and commanded the news to be presently sent unto Domitia and Valeria Generous Valerius replied Sivelia Let us consider seriously what we do in making this news too publick For when the Tyrant heard of his pretended death he broke into such cruel expressions against him as I conceive it best to conceal his being alive from all the world lest Tarquin should send some to Assassinate him And to write unto Herminius that he go presently into Africa This replied Valerius is a very good reason but methinks not very just to let Valeria lament him always Valeria replied Sivelia is very dear unto me But if you consider the unfortunate condition of my Son you will find that it is better for Valeria not to know that he is living For as long as Tarquin lives there is no hopes of his return to Rome and consequently of his marrying Valeria is it not better then to let her remain in the error wherein she is For the greatest part of her grief is past and Time will so well cure her of affliction as she will be able to obey you when you command her to marry some other For as I said before it is not probable my Son can ever be her husband and though you should not intend to marry her unto another yet you ought not to tell her that Herminius is alive for she that cannot hide her sorrows cannot hide her joys when she hears the truth And though I know it will much grieve my Son when he hears of Valeria's marriage yet if he be just he cannot blame her since she thought him dead You know also that absence when it is Long is a great remedy against Love and therefore since it concerns the life of my
Son and the welfare of your Daughter me-thinks we ought to lay hold of this occasion which fortune gives us for their advantage This which you say replied Valerius is so generous and so prudent as I cannot chuse but admire your wisdom and virtue For 't is true I do not think Herminius can return to Rome as long as Tarquin lives So as it being not likely he will dy this twenty years there is no thinking of a marriage betwixt Valeria and Herminius and consequently it were better to cure them of a Fruitless passion since we have so good an occasion for it But I desire one promise from you that if Herminius do return sooner than we expect you will tell him that it was you who made this proposition unto me I promise it replied Sivelia and to the end this may be kept the more secret I beseech you do not tell it unto Domitia lest she to cease the sorrows of Valeria should spoil our plot After this Valerius and Sivelia agreed unto Herminius to make him not think it strange if he received no Letters from Valeria and to oblige him to go speedily in Africa As for Valerius he was very glad that Sivelia had given him liberty to provide a match for Valeria For having none but her he feared that if he dyed she should then be left unto the disposition of Tarquins Tyranny who would seize upon all her estate and marry her unto some whom he would recompence for some crimes which he had caused him to commit so as consenting unto Sivelia's Proposition he gave it out so that he was certain Herminius was dead so as now none making any question of it Mutius conceived new hopes not to be denied if he asked Valeria in marriage But Valerius thinking that Tarquin would as much dislike this match as with Herminius he did not give Mutius so favourable an answer as he expected nor did he like to bestow his daughter upon one that was enemy unto Herminius Mean while as great as Valeria's grief was she apprehended that the excess of her melancholy might blemish her reputation she did so strive against it as she forced her self to appear in the world as she was wont Truth is this constraint was very troublesome unto her but yet in a little time she was able to hide her real thoughts and to be in company So as Emilius seeing her as others did he fell most desperately in love with her he being of a sweet and complaisant temper he pleased the humour of Valeria better than Mutius who was a little too haughty for a Lover so as Valeria in a little time had less aversion unto him than unto any that came to see her yet her soul was unsatisfied and far from tranquillity for grief and anger did always torment her in their turns and oftentimes both together Sometimes she would say she had rather die than engage her self again in any new affection otherwhiles she wished heartily she could love some body to be revenged upon Herminius And she could hardly ever tell what to have unless to be able to revive Herminius and revive him faithful But whilst her soul was in this humor whilst Mutius continued courting her whilst Emilius was engaging himself and whilst Flavia was a friend unto Emilius Herminius was in a most miserable condition For receiving no more Letters from Valeria and understanding by Sivelia that he was to go farther from her and that Tarquin hated him more than ever he suffered most incredible torment However Herminius highly respecting Sivelia and knowing her to be very prudent he thought it his duty to obey her and go into Africa Yet not being able to resolve upon it before he heard from Valeria he sent a man expresly unto Rome with Orders to see none but Flavia unto whom he directed a Letter for her friend But Herminius did not receive so much satisfaction as he expected For be pleased to know Madam that he whom Herminius made choice of to go unto Rome and who was a very able man he fell sick at his Mothers who lived not above six miles from Capua and whither she was going to live in he therefore resolved to send one of his Brothers to Rome who was not so able as himself and to send him without ever acquainting Herminius lest he should lose the recompense which was promised unto him for he thought Herminius would not trust his Brother as he did him in such a business However hoping that his Brother would well acquit himself in the business he thought that Herminius could never know but that he was at Rome for he resolved to stay at his Mothers until his Brother returned Then be pleas'd to know further that the man who carried the Letter of Herminius losing his way and night surprising him he came to a house which belonged unto Spurius within six miles of Rome where he requested lodging for that night for being a stranger in the Country and the night dark he was not able to go any further As he was talking unto one of Spurius his servants Spurius himself came and asked him what Country-man he was But Capua was no sooner named but Spurius being very desirous to hear all the particulars of Herminius his death he asked him if he heard of a Roman called Herminius that was lately kill'd at Capua The man hearing Spurius ask this was at a great non-plus For since Herminius did not know that at Rome they thought him dead he did not forbid the Messenger to say he was not living in case any asked and therefore he whom Herminius sent never for bad his Brother so as he answered Spurius that Herminius was never killed true it was there was another Roman called Clelius who was thought so but as for Herminius he was very well and that he saw him so the day before he came from Capua Spurius being surprized at this asked the fellow a thousand questions and yet the fellow being well instructed by his Brother he would never confess what his business was at Rome But Spurius imagining that Herminius had sent this fellow and that perhaps he was plotting something in Rome which moved Sivelia to say that her Son was dead he therefore devised an expedient to give himself better satisfaction which was to command his men to make very much of the man and to promise him that in the morning one of his men should conduct him to Rome But to arrive at his end he commanded one of his men to make a composition of the juyce of Poppy mixed in drink and to give this fellow Spurius being obeyed the messenger of Herminius slept so soundly as if he would never wake at least slept till noon the next day Mean while Spurius caused him to be searched for Letters and they found in his Pocket one to Flavia and another to Valeria The first of these contained nothing but a desire to present the other unto Valeria and to
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
that before it be long all Italy shall talk of the love of Aronces and Clelia whom I love as well as ever I did though I know she does love her dear Aronces as well as I deserve to be loved by you But Herminius replied Valeria the Letters which I have seen are so tender and the Map which was shewed unto me so gallant as I know not whether or no I should believe you Madam replied he you may remember that you upbraided me a thousand times with writing too much flattery and in such a style as those unto whom I writ might think that Love which was only Amity And indeed my tenderness of Passion to you had infused such a passionate character into all my spirits as made all my friends believe all the thoughts of my Soul to be love And Madam should I have given Copies of Letters from the person I loved or should I only have shewed them Alas I was so far from any such indiscretion as I have carefully preserved that cruel letter which I shewed unto you although I cannot look upon it without anger and despair Be assured therefore Madam that I am innocent and you are culpable For Madam though I had been dead and inconstant yet ought you not to have engaged your self in a second affection I should have died of sorrow or if anger had kept me from dying I should have hated all women in lieu of loving any one and perhaps as unfaithful as you was in my belief I should have loved you in your Grave However Madam though you be criminal though you have upon too shallow grounds believed me inconstant and though I have reason to think that you do unjustly deny that cruel letter which I shewed you Though I say you be unfaithful in loving Emilius yet Oh Herminius said she and interrupted I cannot endure you should accuse me of infidelity For certainly according to the common received opinion the death and inconstancy of the party loved does freely set the heart of the lover at liberty and to be disposed of as she pleaseth and therefore thinking you to be inconstant and dead I ought not to be charged with inconstancy And yet I do consent to be accused of infidelity if thinking you faithful I had committed any infidelity unto your memory but as the Case is I cannot endure any such accusation to be charged upon me Then Madam replied he and looked upon her with eyes full of Love if you would not be so accused you must restore unto me that heart which you took from me since I am neither dead nor inconstant For as unfaithful as that heart is I am most willing to receive it upon my knees I will begin a new obligation unto you I will forget all my past miseries and I will love you as zealously and ardently as ever I did so Emilius be driven out of that heart which is none of his and unto which none has any right but my self since I am not dead nor ever was unfaithful But if you cannot do so then be so generous I beseech you as not to deceive me For I should be more unfortunate in having but half your heart than if I had lost it all Emilius is indeed my friend and I do grant that he was innocent both towards you and towards me until his return But alas am I Culpable towards any one Am I any cause that Emilius believed I was dead and that I was in love with Clelia 'T is very true I did not make him the confident of my Love to you but ought I to have done it and would you have taken it well Consider therefore I beseech you how innocent I am and how unfortunate But is it possible replyed Valeria that you should be so innocent as you say you are But is it possible replyed Herminius you should make any doubt of what I say for if I did not love you what reason had I so earnestly to court your affection for you have furnished me with colour enough not to pretend unto it Emilius loves you you do not hate him And were not my love unto you most violent I had just reason never to see you again It is not sufficient replied she that you do love me now at present but you ought to have loved me always If I have not done so replied he may you never love me but for ever love my Rival But added he and sighed one may see a notable difference betwixt you and me for had my heart been so weak as to receive the Image of any other into it you would have rejected it And yet though you have ceased to love me and though you have loved another yet for all that I am ready with all joy to receive that Treasure which I had lost Restore it then most amiable Valeria and to oblige you unto it call to memory all the happy times we have passed together your eyes have told me ten thousand times that you were concerned and troubled at my sufferings your mouth has told me that I was not hated and I was so happy as to have reason to believe you made my felicity yours and that you would esteem your self happy if our condition were such as we could never be separated Strive then to drive Emilius out of that heart unto which he has no right since I told you I am neither dead nor unfaithful for perhaps it concerns your happiness as well as the happiness of unfortunate Herminius And indeed I am sure that if you should be so unjust as not to restore that which belongs unto me but should bestow your self upon Emilius you will be no sooner his but you will mourn for me Yes cruel Valeria I shall defie all your cruely if you shall make me so miserable as I shall be if you do me that injustice Think therefore both of your self and me and you will find all reason to be on one side Whilst Herminius was talking thus Valeria hearkned sometimes looking upon him sometimes upon Flavia and sometimes upon the ground But at last Herminius having done she began in her turn to speak Though all you say were true replyed she and though you never did love Clelia yet I cannot tell whether I ought to restore you my affection you think you have reason to treat me as one inconstant and also have right to be inconstant your self upon the first occasion Yet I conceive that I cannot without injustice be called unfaithful for to discover the very bottom of my heart unto you I had a mind to love Emilius but never any inclination to love him as I loved you Oh Madam said Herminius and interrupted I most earnestly beseech you to alter but one word and in lieu of saying As you did love me say As you do love and then you will make me happy Perhaps replied she I could say so for I perceive my heart is willing to believe you innocent and I know but too well
tell me by what miraculous adventure you came by this Ring for who ever gave you this must needs have found at least the body of my unfortunate Child which I lost near Lilybaeum when Clelius and I were like to be cast away and at the same time we found Aronces At these words Adherbal changed colour and not able to say that which was false to a person he knew to be his Mother he made her so punctual an answer that it added to the curiosity of Sulpicia She looked on him very earnestly and was so importunate with him to tell the truth that nature working on his heart and his reason assuming at that time part of her lawful authority he resolv'd to discover himself and so changing his design of a sudden he said himself what but a quarter of an hour before he had made a resolution to conceal For Sulpicia being earnest with him to satisfie her Alas Madam said he you know not what you desire when you speak after this rate for were it not much more satisfaction to you to believe you had lost a Son in the Cradle than to know you have one living that is unfortunate and such as you will haply think so far unworthy to be yours that you will disclaim him Ah Adherbal replied Sulpicia looking on him are you my Son or may I be so happy as to have one like you Do me but the favour to let me look on your left arm for if you are mine you should have a little above your wrist a fire-mark which a careless slave gave you some few days after you were born Whereupon Adherbal being fully satisfied that he was Sulpicia's Son was not able to conceal himself any longer so that having shewn her what might perswade her he was her Son he briefly related all that Donilcar had said to him insomuch that Sulpicia being infinitely overjoyed that she had so gallant and so virtuous a person to her Son embraced him with much affection Clelia was also not a little glad to lose a Lover to purchase a Brother But Adherbal could not take well the loss of a Mistriss though he got thereby a most generous Father a most virtuous Mother and the most amiable Sister in the World Yet he still put on much gravity and though he very civilly entertained the caresses of Sulpicia and the kindnesses of Clelia yet was it easie to see he was extreamly troubled Upon this Clelius comes in to whom Sulpicia had no sooner shewn the Ring but he knew it She also shew'd him the mark upon Adherbals arm who having sent for Donilcar absolutely satisfied Clelius that he was his Son for he had been acquainted with Donilcar at Carthage Besides that the Ring the mark on Adherbals arm the particular day the wrack happened and the place where were such circumstances as put the business out of all controversie So that being infinitely satisfied in the recovery of a Son and to find him withal one of the most accomplish'd men in the World he spoke to him with the greatest civility in the world Take comfort Adherbal said he to him and be not troubled at the change of your condition for to speak truly it is better to be a Citizen of Rome than Son to a King of Numidia and it is better to be Clelia's Brother than her Servant since you cannot now be loved by her in the manner you desire I grant what you say is true replied Adherbal but since it is impssible there should happen a change of sentiments to a man in an instant without some violence done to himself I beg your pardon if I express not all the joy I should that I am Son to one of the most virtuous men upon earth However I hope my Lord the earnestness I feel in me to deserve that honor will help me to overcome those remainders of weakness that hang about me and that within a few days there shall not be any thing to be objected against me Whereupon Clelius embracing his Son with extraordinary affection spoke to him with all the generosity and obligation that could be which stirring up in his heart those sentiments of Nature which lay there buried by the ignorance of his true condition made him receive the caresses of his Father with much more kindness than he thought he could have done This accident being strange and extraordinary was in the space of two hours generally known insomuch that the whole City came to Clelius to congratulate him and Adherbal whose condition was much beyond what it was the day before when it was known whose Son he was after he had thought himself a King 's The Ladies came upon the same account to visit Sulpicia and Clelia Horatius for this part was glad to see that he had one Rival the less so that he came in all haste to Clelius's whom he complemented as also Sulpicia which done coming to Adherbal give me leave said he to him to express the satisfaction it is to me that I am no longer your enemy and to beg the favour to be numbred among your friends Certain it is I can be no longer your Rival answered he but that Horatius implies no obligation I should be your friend for looking on the concernments of my friends as my own if I cease being a servant to Clelia I must be the Protector of Aronces who is my antient friend and therefore expect no more from me than you would from a man who can do nothing against his honour and consequently not against him whom of all the world he is most obliged to This put a little fire into Horatius for had he obeyed his own inclination he would have made Adherbal some bitter reply but looking on him now as Clelius's Son and Clelia's Brother he mastered his violence and onely made him this answer I am not to learn generous Adherbal that you and Aronces are antient friends but I also know you to be Son to Clelius by whom I am not hated though he be more inclin'd to Aronces and therefore I shall not dispair of your friendship Adherbal would have answered Horatius but Amilcar being come in interrupted them for he made very pleasant reflexions on this adventure detecting them to Clelius Sulpicia Clelia and Adherbal not forgetting Horatius Plotina being also in the room added to the mirth of the company for she told Adherbal that to make him absolutely happy she would undertake to raise love in him though it were only says she to raise a jealousie in Amilcar Jealousie replies he is a thing that is not given when one pleases and it is taken sometimes whether one will or no but for my part continued he smiling I assure you I give a great deal more than I take You are much more happier than I have been replyes Adherbal for I have ever taken and never given any Kings Sons replyes Amilcar cannot ordinarily cause either love or jealousie for their condition is much more
who they were that he saw there so that intreating him to present himself to Brutus as a person whom his misfortunes forced to Rome for refuge Amilcar gave him that advice in that obliging way he used when he had a mind to do a good office He therefore presented Themistus and Meleagenes to Brutus who received them with much civility he having before acquainted him that they were persons of quality and withall of extraordinary merit He also made them salute Octavius and Herminius and got them to lodge where he did And though the dignity of Consul required that all this company should have waited on Brutus home yet would he not suffer it for the house where Amilcar then lodged being in a street called Lovestreet and in the way to that wherein Brutus lived this generous Roman left the strangers there after he had proffered them any civility that lay in his power Themistus and Meleagenes were very loath to obey him but having told him that he went not directly home they stayed with Amicar and Octavius and Herminius followed Brutus But having brought him to the place where he was to go they returned to Amilcar's to give these strangers a visit whose complexion and deportment had rais'd in them a great opinion of them Besides that having discovered by the complement that Themistus had made to Brutus that he lay under some cloud of misfortune they were glad of that occasion to offer them any service that lay in their power Thither they come and find Amilcar according to his manner offering them whatever he thought worthy their acceptance I beseech you says he to Themistus tell me freely what you would have me to do for you for certainly there are but few things which I cannot do here In the first place I have such generous friends at Rome and among the rest Herminius that I dare offer you what is theirs as if it were my own Next if you are sad and desire to be comforted I shall not only offer you all the merry humors I am Master of but there shall be at your service that of the merriest lass in the world nay what is more than all this all the pleasures that Rome can afford If you would drive away one affection with another I will bring you to Ladies whom never any left but they carried love away with them for if you are not enflamed when you see them you will be when you leave them If on the contrary you desire sollitude I will bring you into the enchanted Grove where the Nymph Aegeria inspir'd the wise Numa nay I will bring you to the foot of that tree where Remus and Romulus were found and where your sollitude will be so great that you shall hear no noise but that of your own sighs if so be you are in an humor to sigh In a word added he smiling whatever may be your humor I offer you friends that shall comply therewith for there are a sort of gallant people here some fortunate some unfortunate There are those that love and those that do not there are Lovers that are well treated and others that are slighted Lovers in mourning and Lovers in mirth and to tell you all in few words what cannot be had in Rome cannot be had any where You offer me so many things at the same time replyes Themistus that I know not what answer to make you and all I can say is that what I desire at the present is your friendship and the esteem of your Friends I have friends of the other sex whom you must also see replyes Amilcar for if you desire only the esteem of such as are my friends 't were but fit I visited not so often some persons I am taken with and whom you will be when you are acquainted with them Not but I very well remember that when I knew you at Syracuse you were called the indifferent and insensible Lover Alass replyed Themistus sighing those names were not fit for me though it be true they were given me and if you were to go now through Syracuse you would hear such things of me whence you would soon infer that I deserved them not 'T is true added Meleagenes you had the art of concealing your passion and so you might with more justice have been called the Secret-lover or the close-lover than the insensible or indifferent How replyed Amilcar were you in Love when I was at Syeacuse I was so replyes Themistus and I am at this present no more than I was then though I am the most amorous of all mankind Were it not unhandsome to raise matter of dispute with an illustrious stranger replyed Herminius smiling you would find here such as should pretend to be as amorous as your self But it is in this case as it is in point of common sense whereof every one thinks he hath as much as another Octavius hearing Herminius speak after that rate sighed out of the very thought that he could bear no part in this discourse it being not lawful for him to speak of the flame had set him on fire and whereof there were haply some embers left in the bottom of his heart though he ever and anon did all that lay in his power to quench it As the conference that hapned between these four illustrious men proved very long so had they thereby the time to know one the other sufficiently to ground an esteem nay there was such a sympathy between Themistus and Herminius that they entred into a strict friendship that very day They had some discourse of Artemidorus and Zenocrates who were their common friends and they spoke to one another with abundance of confidence ere they parted The next day Amilcar and Herminius brought Themistus and Meleagenes to Brutus to Valerius to Sulpicia to Valeria and Caesonia but by the way Amilcar acquainted them who were in love and who were not that so they might the better disengage themselves from those several companies Themistus and Meleagenes gained the esteem of all that saw them And yet Themistus seemed to groan under a little Melancholy which yet was guided by his reason but all hindred not but that he was looked on as a very lovely person For Themistus wanted not any thing that might recommend him to the Ladies as being of an excellent good complexion and having a certain gallantry and freedome of air in the face He spoke as it were by weight and he was naturally very inclinable to civility and compliance and yet expressed with all his countenance somwhat that was great nay indeed something of fierceness For these qualities were all the Ladies that saw him much taken with him so far that they were infinitely desirous to understand the adventures of a person so excellently handsom His language was not very pure as having I know not what accent of half Greek half African which was not unpleasant For Meleagenes though he were a very proper and very ingenious person yet was
power we should endure such pain When we both love and are belov'd again 2. Perpetual fears my Soul invade To see the person I adore Amidst a thousand hazards laid Who Love would think under thy power we should endure such pain When we both love and are belov'd again 3. I often fear but am too blame Unjust to 's Love can I be more Another may his heart inflame Who Love would think under thy power we should endure such pain When we both love and are belov'd again Mericia having written these three Couplets sang them to the Princess who in the mean time had her thoughts filled with all the satisfaction that a person who fears not to discover her most secret sentiments to a true friend can have My Sister by this means got the Song so perfect that the next day being returned to Syracuse she sung it not thinking of any thing before the Prince of Messena who asked her from whom she had it Mericia remembring her self blushed and made no direct answer so that the Prince wes still at her to know and knowing she was able to do any thing of that nature told her that he was very happy for whom she had made that Song Mericia perceiving that the Prince of Messena's suspicion was far from the truth suffered him to believe what he pleased and craftily confirmed him in the jealousie he was in choosing rather to be suspected of a thing that was not than to give any occasion to suspect the Princess of Himera of a thing that was for considering the extraordinary friendship that Lindamira had for Mericia as also that they came up out of the Countrey together and that there were few Women at Syracuse that could write such a Song it might at last have been thought to come from the Princess of Himera if my Sister had not discreetly started the occasion of suspecting that she had made those verses Not that Lindamira does any way pretend to be a Wit but it is nevertheless known that she can do what she hath a mind to and so it might have been imagined as I have already told her that she had made that Song if my Sister who could not affirm she had it from her had not suffered people to believe that she for diversion sake had written it her self But what made the Princess Himera the more obliged to her was that the whole Court concluded these Couplets were made for one in the Army that was very deeply in love with Mericia He wanted not friends to send them insomuch that he was so far perswaded they were directed to him that he writ a very obliging Letter to my Sister to know whether he ought to return her his thanks for such a Favour This adventure no question troubled Mericia very much but such was the affection she had for Lindamira that she willingly suffered for her sake So that this endeared her so much the more to the Princess who still preferring solitude before the Court during the absence of Themistus returned to Meriander's house taking my Sister along with her While she was there news came that Themistus had given the enemy another overthrow and that the Prince of Heraclea had desired a cessation of twenty daies so that Lindamira looking on this cessation as a thing that would retard Themistus's return if it produced not a Peace was so melancholly and cast down at it that she could not endure any to be near her but Mericia Nay there were some intervals wherein she would rather walk without her than with her and wherein she went and sate in the pleasant Arbor which Meriander had caused to be made up a little before One while she spent the time in thinking another in reading Themistus's Letters and sometimes desirous to stay some of her thoughts she took her Table-book and writ something in it Sometimes taking her Black-lead which she always carried about her she would design something or write some gallant yet passionate expression upon the squares of White and Red Marble that were in divers parts of the Closet but dash'd out all immediately if she did not forget to do it When she had done she gave my Sister an account of all she had either done or thought as if she had been return'd after a long journey though commonly she had not been an hour alone For Madam I dare assure you that there never was any affection so passionate and withal so innocent as what Lindamira had for Themistus who yet loves beyond what he is lov'd if it be allowable to make comparisons between two things that are extream This fortunate Favorite in the mean time making his advantage of the cessation and pretending out of policy to come and advise with the Prince about the Articles of the Peace if any were made left the Army to be commanded by his Lieutenant-General and came for Syracuse But understanding that Lindamira was at Meriander's house he would needs surprise her with a visit He left four men that came along with him being all the retinue he had at a little Village and attended only by a Slave he alighted at a house where Meriander's Gardner lived that is a Cottage which lies without the Park within which the house is This fellow being simple and necessitous it was the easier for Themistus to oblige him by Presents to do what he pleased But he desired no more of him than that taking no notice of his being there he would let him into the Garden where the Princess of Himera was wont to walk The Sun was about an hour high so that he might easily hide himself where he pleased in the Garden so as to discover himself of a sudden to Lindamira who was not yet stirring For besides that it was as yet early day for a Lady to get up the Princess of Himera had walked so late by the Moon-light the night before that she could not rise very betimes However the Gardner assured Themistus that she would take a walk before dinner and therefore saies the poor fellow out of his natural simplicity if you would see the Garden do it before she comes for she is no sooner dressed but she comes and sits in an Arbor where my Master hath caused abundance of things to be written on Marble which are past my understanding Themistus was extreamly taken with the simplicity of this Gardner who knew him not though he had been divers times before in the Garden and the reason was that he had only minded the Prince and the Princesses with whom Themistus came so that he bid him leave him to himself and go to his work The Gardiner accordingly who was very busie about a hedge of Myrtles whereof there were abundance in the Garden as also a many Orange-trees left him and went about his work Themistus was no sooner come to the midst of the Garden and saw the windows of the Chamber where his Princess lay yet asleep but he felt a strange
exactly followed as such as I have found so much advantage by as to advise you to make use of them You have in them what I have discovered by a long experience to be most certain I. A man ought to love whatever seems amiable to him provided there be some probability to find more pleasure than trouble in the conquest he proposes to himself II. A man ought to have a very great care among women not to profess himself an unconstant man yet ought he not on the other side to be over-scrupulously constant for it were much better to have a thousand loves than to have but one that should last a man's whole life III. Further though a man must make no scruple to change a Mistriss assoon as the trouble exceeds the pleasure yet should he not be guilty of any indiscretion towards any for not only honour and generosity advise the contrary but there is also something of interest that will not permit it there being nothing so likely to make a man lose a thousand favours as one act of indiscretion IV. A Lover must above all things make it his business to divert and to please but to please upon his own account and to divert without being himself ridiculous for though he do not speak openly of Love to the Lady he serves yet if it come to be necessary for his pleasure he puts her into a condition to be easily perswaded V. A man should never acquaint his Mistriss with his real secrets for since a man that is well acquainted with the world should never have any Mistress unless he forsee that he shall give over loving within a short time he ought to make his confidences among his friends of either Sex and only direct his services his wit and his Songs to his Mistresses For secrets of no consideration when a man hath not any he must invent some for it is not amiss to accustom Ladies to speak low though you entertain them with things never so trivial VI. A man must do all that lies in his power so to put himself into a condition of pleasing as not to ruine himself and should be so well skilled in the choice of those he loves that they shall be satisfied to find him divertive that he hath a good wit and is good company for it is not glorious for any man to owe the conquest of a Ladies heart onely to the multitude of his slaves VII A man should take especial care he be not betrayed into the hands of his Rivals but must on the contrary behave himself so circumspectly that they may be discovered to him VIII It were also good that the Lady one loves did believe that your heart is not so much at her devotion but that it is possible she may lose it if she slight you and that she be withal perswaded that if she refuse it some other would accept of it IX A man must further endeavour what in him lies to make himself perfect in all the Gallantries of the place where he is for a fair Lady is many times as easily perswaded by examples as by arguments X. For jealousie a man must by all means avoid having too much of it or keeping it long for it is much better he should hate his Mistress than make it his business to hate his Rivals to no purpose XI A man should not make it a profession to speak kind things to all beauties but there is no great danger for him so to behave himself towards handsom women as to give them occasion to think that if he loves them not 't is not impossible he may XII It were not also amiss for a man to be guilty of a certain subtilâ—y such as may make him dreadful to those that may prejudice him and to know how to make use of a kind of ingenious railery which may oblige his Mistress by way of concurrence to laugh at them with him XIII A man must by all means avoid an implicite obedience which is good for nothing but to put a poor Lover to inconveniencies and he may well think he does his duty in obeying exactly when she commands things that are pleasant where there is nothing fantastick nothing of tyrannie or injustice XIV But above all things a man must remember that if it be good to instruct while he diverts it is much better for him to divert himself while he perswades for there is nothing more unjust than for a man to profess love to make himself unhappy and to love so violently as to cease to be amiable and to be incapable of ever raising love in another From what I have said it is not hard to infer that Teramus is a person that is infinite good company and that accordingly being at the Princess of Eryx's with all those other persons of worth I have spoken of the day that Alcimedes came thither first the conversation that happened there must needs be very divertive Nor wanted there a particular subject to make it such for the fair Artelisa who had seen the Amorous Morality of Teramus told him that a person of quality of her acquaintance had answered him I am confident replies Clarinta it must be some illustrious friend of the solitary Merigenes who makes it his particular profession to be able to love perfectly For my part saies Teramus could I imagine he would perswade me I should be far from the curiosity of seeing his answer but since I fear no such thing and am fully perswaded that my reasons are the true reasons of gallantry I would intreat the fair Artelisa to shew me this answer If the Princess be so pleased replied Artelisa I am ready to satisfie you for I have the greatest desire in the world to convert you How witty soever this friend of Merigenes may be replied Teramus with a low voice fair eyes such as yours are much more likely to cure me of inconstancy than fair words and therefore if you would make me a Proselyte you need no more than to look favourably on me Had favourable looks that effect replies Artelisa you had been converted long since and therefore let us see whether the reasons of your friend will not make you change your opinion Whereupon Artelisa takes out her Table-Book and read out of it what you shall hear by way of answer Article for Article to what Teramus had said Maximes contrary to those of TERAMUS THose who never knew how to love well make no great enquiry into the nature of Love For which reason Teramus a person otherwise infinitely excellent hath been mistaken in the opinion he maintains that a man to be loved ought rather to be a Gallant than Amorous since it is certain that if he had never perswaded his Mistriss of the greatness of his passion all his merit how extraordinary soever should never have done it But it proceeds certainly hence that having a great wit and such as is capable of any thing he pleases he hath
For what concerns me says Horatius I must attribute all my unhappiness to Constancy so far that if I would I should wish not to be constant but when all 's done since it is some comfort to find persons of worth of our judgment I shall be glad to know whether this Protector of Constancy be so excellent a person as I believe him Since you are all resolved replyes Aemilius I will describe Merigines to you he being a person so much concerned in the close of this History that I think it some obligation to give you an account of him Know then that Merigines is an Asian of very noble birth and virtuous inclinations He is tall of a good complexion all the linearnents of his face are very well made he is brown hair'd hath eyes full of spirit a noble air teeth admirably fair a pleasant smile and a fortunate and prudent Physiognomy He hath a clear understanding considers things as he should do and his wit and judgment hold such a correspondence that they never act one without another Sincerity discovers it self in all his actions and there is a perfect sympathy between his words and thoughts In a word he is a great professor of honor integrity and generosity he is a faithful friend and an earnest lover goodness he affects and professes he is eminent for politeness sweetness and complaisance his conversation is familiar and pleasant he argues smartly is a great lover of Books and is as well acquainted with them as a person of quality who doth not make it his profession should be For Morality he is very exact in it and if he be ask'd whence it comes that he is so excellent in it he answers that he is obliged for whatever there is of good in him to love That without him he would not be what he is and that if he be qualified as a person of worth he is the more obliged to a beauty who hath raised in his heart the desire of pleasing and the design of deserving her affection He makes all the pleasures of humane life to consist in friendship and love but when he loves his love is as great as it can be He is farther of the opinion that love smothers reason and that a Lover ought to do without any exception whatever the person he loves would have him In the mean time though he be somewhat inclined to a tumultuous life yet hath Philosophy raised in him a love of solitude and he often retires into a little wilderness that he hath made himself though there be not any thing that obliges him to that distance from the Court 'T is true he hath an illustrious friend in his neighborhood in whom he may find whatever the World thinks desirable since he is one that possesses all the virtues and whose politeness and wit are sutable to his generosity And for the place where Merigenes lives it is so pleasant and delightful that solitude was never so taking in any other place upon earth at least it might be said he hath an Arbor that is worth a Palace as I shall convince you anon So that with the assistance of a little conversation a few Books and abundance of love for virtue and liberty Merigenes is the happiest Solitary that ever was when he leaves the Court to go to his wilderness besides all this he is loved by many persons of honor insomuch that who should judge of him meerly by his friends would be soon sensible of part of his worth He is of a sweet and compliant disposition and there is in his humor such a just mixture of gladness and melanchoily that there issues from thence a very pleasant Tempertment For courage Merigenes is so well furnished as man can be and if his prudence did not check his ambition he would not be so great a lover of sollitude but he makes it so much his business to master himself that unless it be when love pleases he never obeys any thing but his reason This premised I am now to return to the fair Clarinta's where Teramus had no sooner understood the answer of Merigenes's friend but having commended his wit he set himself to oppose his Maxims but in such a pleasant manner that Caliantes Lisydas and Melicrates who pretended all to the glory of being accounted constant to Artilisa could not but be extreamly pleased with it For Clarinta she did not much discover her self but spoke in the praise of Constancy yet without blaming a gallant inconstancy For Alcimedes his inclination leading him to be extreamly earnest in any thing he desired he sided with Merigenes For my part says Teramus I am persuaded that as we have been taught that there is a Venus that is wholly serious called Venus Urania and that there is another that is absolutely amorous which is she that landed at the Island Cyprus so do I believe that there are two Loves whereof one is a froward child that is troublesome and untoward ever crying and knows not what he would have and the other an Infant newly awakened that plays laughs dances and makes sport and whose darts does but slightly touch their hearts whom he wounds as it were in jest Seriously says the Princess of Eryx smiling I think Teramus in the right for it were impossible there should be a people whose way of loving were so different if they were wounded by the same God But all considered since it is never just to condemn a person that cannot defend himself my opinion is that we should go and walk in Merigenes's Wilderness and conclude our conversation in his Arbor which hath been represented to me for so excellent a thing The Princesse of Eryx's proposal being approved by the whole company it was put in execution as soon as so many Chariots could be got ready as were necessary for the Ladies and horses for the men But not to give you a general description of the place of Merigenes's retirement I shall only entertain you with the particular rarities of the enchanted Arbor to the end that you may follow the fair Clarinta thither You are not to imagine it extraordinary magnificent for its greatest beauties are not within it self and all the commendations can be given it belong unto it only because it discovers the noblest objects in nature It is indeed reasonably large of a quadranguler figure its height sutable to its largeness the Architecture simple yet handsome the plain ground of it is Ionik the Tapistry is pleasant and what ever it is furnished with very convenient But what is most admirable in this Arbor is that it is open three ways and that at your entrance you discover three miraculous and different prospects whereof the least were enough to make a Palace most delightful For which way soever you cast your eye you see whatever the Country can afford that is most excellent The windows that are opposite to the door present you with the sight of a pleasant River which being
Artelisa was not at the entertainment forbore going thither and kept his Chamber all alone Caliantes was there and gave thousands of expressions that he was extreamly weary of the solemnity Alcimedes went not but was with a friend of his whose house looked towards the Sea and Lisydas was there not knowing but that Artelisa was there also for being one of the last he imagined that she was embarqu'd before him but perceiving afterward his error he spoke not one word during the whole solemnity The next morning these four Lovers would needs make Artelisa acquainted with what had passed in their hearts out of a design to prejudice one another Melicratas sent to know how Artelisa's Mother and she did sending her word that he was loath to wait on her the night before for fear of importuning her and that he had stayed all alone at home out of sympathy Lisydas sent her word that he was extreamly afflicted that he had been engaged in a place where she was not Alcimedes that he had preferred the satisfaction of discoursing of her with one of his friends before that of the noblest entertainment in the world and Caliantes writ her a Letter much to this effect CALIANTES to the fair ARTELISA I Know not what your meaning may be you are the most troublesome the most discourteous and the most unreasonable person in the world You hinder a man from taking any pleasure in things which of themselves would infinitely afford it and you force others to think it insupportable to be near the most accomplish'd Princess in the world However that you may not say you are absoluely deprived of all the pleasure of the entertainment it shall not be long e'r I come to give you an account of it for I had no other motive of seeing it but that I might give you a relation thereof though I am confident that if you had been in my place and that I had been in yours you would have had the cruelty to divert your self admirably well without me Artelisa received this Letter and made no answer thereto thinking it enough to send Caliantes word indifferently enough that since she was to see him there was no necessity of any answer The ordinary hours of visits were no sooner come but Melicrates came to Artelisa's whom he found in her Chamber for though her Mother were well recovered yet was it not thought fitting she should see any company that day Insomuch that she had commanded her Daughter to entertain the Princess in her Lodgings she having sent her notice in the morning that she would give her a visit Assoon as Melicrates was come in Artelisa told him that she was very sorry for him that he had not been at the entertainment but spoke it with a certain obliging expression whence he perceived that she thought her self beholding to him He was hardly sate but Alcimedes enters who after the first complements passed told Artelisa that for his own part it troubled him not that he had not been with the Princess but was infinitely sorry that she was not in a condition to be there for though I have seen this solemnity only at a window yet am I confident it deserved to be seen by the fairest eieâ— in the world As Artelisa was going to make him some answer Lisydas enters so that Melicrates and Alcimedes combining together to prejudice their Rival told him that he was very happy to be the first to give Artelisa a perfect account of the Princess's magnificence I must confess replies Lisydas that I was at this solemnity but I know some that were not there can give a better account of it than I for I was there and saw nothing whereas I have heard that Alcimedes saw it at a distance out of a friends window Ah Lisydas replies Alcimedes these things are better seen near than at a distance I assure you replyed he they are better seen at a distance than near when those that are near think more of what they do not see than what they do and that those who are at a distance mind what they do see more than what they do not For my part saies Melicrates who have not seen ought either near or at a distance I cannot be reproached with any thing As he said this comes in Caliantes saying that he was extreamly troubled that Lisydas had prevented him in giving Artelisa an account of the solemnity Assure your self replied he that you come time enough to do that your self for I have neither told her any thing nor indeed am able to tell her ought for there lay something so heavy on my heart that that prodigious number of Lights which enlightned the Sea could not dispell the darkness of my thoughts Lisydas had hardly given over speaking but Clarinta led by Teramus came in who by an excess of kindness would needs convince Artelisa how great an affliction it was to her that she had not had her part in the divertisement which the whole Court had received the night before But indeed said she you are obliged to Caliantes for he told me several times that he looked on what passed meerly to the end he might give you a faithful account of it I beseech you Madam replies Artelisa engage me not to think my self beholding to Caliantes for the pleasure he only hath had in seeing one of the noblest things in the world for I think my self more obliged to those that have not seen any thing at all It must be then principally to me Madam replies Lisydas for as to Melicrates who kept his Chamber haply more out of policy than affection it speaks neither any great miracle nor great obligation that he saw nothing from a place whence he could not see any thing But for my part who because you were not there have not seen any thing of what I might have seen and ever thought on what I saw not there 's reason I should apply to my self what you have spoken with so much kindness I know not say Alcimedes whether the fair Artelisa will be unjust but am confident I am he whose sentiments as to affection and tenderness are most out of controversie for as to Melicrates who was not at the solemnity but stayed in his Chamber it may be questioned whether he were not indisposed or had not some business to dispatch For Lisydas there needs no more be said than that he was where Artelisa was not to exclude him from all comparison with me for as to his affirming that he saw nothing believe him who will and for Caliantes he was not in a place of divertisement while Artelisa was afflicted but made it his main business to take exact notice of all that passed to have the further pleasure of making a relation thereof But for my part I have not been where all the world was and to make it appear that I deprived not my self of that pleasure but for Artelisa's sake I passed away the night with a friend
will be more sollicitous about it so that the obstacle arising only on your part he will let the business rest till affairs change their present state Though there may seem something in this contrivance not consistent with decency replyed the Princess of the Leontines smiling to admit an affection apparently of so goodly a person as the Prince Aronces yet I take so great interest in that which concerns him that I shall consent to this innocent fraud which may otherwise be serviceable to me in reference to the Prince my Brother But Madam said Aronces would it not be a crime to counterfeit a love to a person so lovely as you are 'T is true I have so great an esteem and friendship for you if I may so speak that you have no cause to reproach me since I had not the honor to see you till after I had no longer a heart to lose But in brief should this fiction succeed it would be sufficiently dangerous for me unless Clelia be informed of it and as I conceive it will be no very secure course to trust this secret in a Letter Take you no care for that said the Princess of the Leontines for I shall lay that charge upon my self when time requires to write to her in my own name to prevent her mis-apprehension and accompany it with a Letter of yours to that fair person This being granted replyed Aronces I conceive the fiction may break off my intended nuptials with the Princess of Cere but I see not how I shall be able to avoid following the King to the War nor how I can serve in the Siege of Rome without incensing Clelia and being hated by her Father If Clelia be equitable answered Galerita she will pitty instead of accusing you and if Clelius be generous he will commend you for defending the life of your Father and not love you less Ah! Madam replyed Aronces you know not what a zealous Lover Clelius is of his Countrey how immensely he hates Tarquin and what great cause he has to detest him in perfection But without diverting to matters so wide from the purpose said Galerita let us only debate how to effect pour deliverance from the Island of Saules that you may come to Clusium that your friends may see you there and the Mariage of the Prince of Cere's Daughter be no longer insisted on for really added she the constant affection you have for Clelia makes me commiserate you and did the King remember so tenderly as I do the love that rendered him unhappy during so many years he would be as ready to excuse it as I am since you love a person eminent for beauty virtue and descent for as I have understood by one of our ancient Augurs who is a knowing person in all things and particularly in Genealogies Clelius is lineally descended from the race of the Kings of Alba though he dares not discover it at Rome by reason of the ancient differences between the Sabines and the Romans and at this day when those two Nations are united into one he seeks no greater glory than that of being a Roman Aronces hearing this discourse of Galerita used all the sweet and perswasive Language he could to mollifie her heart by which means he obtained permission of this Princess to write to Clelia for since she believed that after his having been so near the accomplishment of his happiness to prejudice so innocent an affection would be to provoke the gods she was willing to give this consolation to a Prince whom she loved with an infinite dearness Accordingly during Galerita and the Princess of the Leontines went to walk upon a Terrass he writ to Clelia and delivered his Letter to the Princess of Leontium who promised to procure it safely rendered to her hands In order whereunto as soon as she was returned to Clusium she gave it to the Prince Artemidorus her Brother who saw her every day privately and forthwith dispatcht a slave on purpose to Rome to carry that Letter to Zenocrates to the end he might deliver it to Clelia To which end he had no sooner received it but he went to the House of Sulpicia who was not at home having not taken Clelia with her he delivered her the Letter of Aronces which she received with the greatest transport of joy in the World Opening it hastily and finding another inclosed for Octavius she layd it aside and began to read that which was addressed to her self in these words ARONCES to CLELIA IF I love you not more ardently than ever and be not resolved to love you so eternally I wish I may never go forth of this prison wherein I am though it be insupportable unto me After this sincere protestation permit me to conjure you not to judge of me according to appearances for perhaps the passion I have for you will oblige me to do things that may seem to you criminall though they be not so but I protest once again that I will be eternally and absolutely Yours and Yours alone Clelia having done reading this Letter resented some cause of inquietude from the request made to her by Aronces but at length the assurance of his perpetual affection inspired a joy into her more sweet and lively than she had a long time been possessed with Nevertheless she dissembled part of it before Zenocrates for though the love of Aronces and Clelia were no secret yet the modesty of this virtuous Virgin ever obliged her not to manifest more than part of the tenderness she had in her Soul Which the better to conceal in this occasion she lead Zenocrates to the Chamber of Octavius to whom she delivered the Letter directed to him At his receiving it he could not contain from sighing imagining that Aronces desired his friendship again after his knowing that he could no longer be his Rival breaking up the seals he found both much generosity and dearness expressed in these terms ARONCES to his dear OCTAVIUS I Do no longer wonder I could never hate you so much as my other Rivals since you are Brother to the admirable Clelia My heart no doubt by some divine instinct discerned Octavius from the Prince of Numidia for notwithstanding all our feuds it was ever possessed with respect for your Virtue But I beseech you do not content your self with freeing me from a Rival restore me a Friend and vouchsafe to be my intercessor with Clelius and Sulpitia I shall perhaps have the unhappiness to be in a party opposite to that of Rome but if Honor and Love force me thereunto pitty me and believe I shall not be less sincerely Yours Octavius having read this Letter shewed it to Clelia who could not read it through without sighing for she well apprehended Aronces would be forced to bear Arms against Rome She likewise knew Honor would not permit him to come and side with Rome since the King his Father made War against it and she conceived too that Clelius
recounted to Belintha very exactly all that he had said to her and the adventure of Lysicrates's Letter very different from that of that ambitious Lover towards whom she found her hatred and contempt increas'd the more she began to esteem Hesiode In the mean time having read what Lysicrates had written to him and the Prince's Postscript she would oblige Hesiode to depart the next morning to go to him but he refus'd it and chose rather to hazard the Prince's displeasure than forsake Clymene and give her ground to believe that he was not capable of abandoning all for her sake Yet he return'd at length to Locri without having gain'd any thing upon the mind of this fair Virgin At the return of the Prince he excus'd himself the best he could without much earnestness but from that time getting always greater familiarity with the brothers of Clymene he was oftner in her Desart than at Court so that having such frequent occasions of speaking to her and testifying his love he began to shake the resolution she had taken of never loving any Nevertheless she conceal'd her sentiments for a long time although she knew none ever had a more tender passion than that of Hesiode for her He admir'd all that she spoke the least of her actions charm'd him he lov'd the same things that she did he observ'd even the places where she us'd most frequently to walk to the end he might go muse there alone when she was not there and he could not be with her Clymene on the other side understanding his worth virtue and love more resented a secret delight in being lov'd by Hesiode and though she believ'd not that she lov'd him yet she did not wish he would cease to love her But at length the constancy of Hesiode the counsels of Belintha and Clymene's own inclination caus'd her to consent that he might speak the most secret sentiments of his heart to her and by degrees she came to acknowledge that he had moved hers and that provided his affection were innocent and constant he might assure himself he should be tenderly belov'd Belintha also understood this strait engagement and was the only Confident of this virtuous love Hesiode desir'd then to oblige her to suffer him to speak to her relations that he might marry her but she told him that having been once deceiv'd she crav'd his pardon if she could not so soon trust his affection that she was a profest enemy to repentance and that to the end they might never repent of their mutual affection it was requisite they made yet a little longer tryal whether it were as firmly establisht as she desir'd In the mean time they did not cease to fancy to themselves a thousand contentments in a sweet and quiet life which they design'd to lead when their fortune should be inseparable In which expectation they enjoy'd a thousand innocent sweetnesses their love was tender delicate and ingenious to make them find out ways to render it secret Belintha alone knew all that past between these two persons for after Hesiode came to be favoured by his Mistriss he spoke no more of his passion to that friend of his to whom he had communicated something of it in the beginning A slave who was very faithful and ingenious called Troilus carried his Masters Letters and brought him the answers of them Hesiode and Clymene made little presents to one another of several gallant things which pass'd not in the sight of the World but for gifts of friendship though they were indeed testimonies of Love they told one another all their thoughts Hesiode writ nothing but he shew'd it to Clymene and Clymene had not a thought but she told it to her dear Hesiode She did that for him out of gallantry which Belintha told him she would never do for she gave him that beloved dog of hers for her kindness to whom she had been so much reproacht Thus by a thousand little obligations which afford the greatest pleasures of love when they are done with a certain way of dearness which redoubles the sensibility of the hearts of those to whom they are perform'd Hesiode and Clymene enjoy'd a thousand innocent pleasures In this conjuncture as all Courts are subject to sudden revolutions so great a disgust hapned between the Prince and Lysicrates upon occasion of an Office which he had dispos'd of that all the favor he could obtain of him was to have permission to abide at an antient house of his in the Countrey which was near to that where Clymene resided This disgrace of Lysicrates no doubt did not much afflict this fair Virgin nevertheless she was much troubled at his coming to be her neighbor and much more some days after when this disgraced Favorite finding her by chance in a Walk out of an odd humorousness of love felt his first flame so ardently rekindled that without sticking a moment he accosted Clymene and seeing her alone with two Women that follow'd her while her Aunt was walking at a good distance with an old Priest You see Madam said he to her that bad fortune returns me to you but I shall take it for good if you will please to forget all the crimes whereof you have accus'd me though they be not perhaps so great as you have believ'd them for you know I began to be ambitious only for your sake Is it possible Lysicrates answer'd she roughly that you can have the boldness to speak to me as you do and can you believe without having lost your reason that I am so poor of spirit as to endure your affection again No doubt you would be glad to find some consolation during your exile and that in a time wherein all your flatterers have forsaken you if I would admit of your flatteries but Lysicrates you are mistaken it can never be it will be much easier for you to make your peace with your Master than to obtain your pardon of your Mistress Bethink your self therefore of returning to Court and leave me in my desart for if you make a custom to come and trouble me I shall soon forsake it only to be at distance from a man whose discretion has been so bad as that he has chosen rather to follow capricious fortune who at length forsakes all whom she favors than to be faithful to a person who lov'd you sufficiently to esteem her self happy without the assistance of her benevolence I beseech you charming Clymene cry'd Lysicrates do not cast me into despair I consent that all my past services be lost do but you grant me the favour to begin anew to serve you without having any other right to your affection than that which a thousand diligences and respects may acquire for me in the time to come No no Lysicrates answer'd Clymene I will not do what you desire he that is once gone out of my heart never finds re-entrance If I hated you still added she with a coldness full of scorn
soon be ended He parted from Amilcar with much dearness notwithstanding his being his Rival but for the three other his Rivals he bad them not adieu His civility was greater towards Clelia to whom he made a thousand protestations of friendship as likewise to Octavius who being better recover'd had a long conversation with him before his departure to oblige him to serve Aronces to the utmost of his power since he was going to be of the same Party intreating him to be confident that if he could find occasion of seeing him he would promote his interests faithfully with Clelius and against Horatius After which this generous Veientine having thanked Clelius for all the favours he had received from him departed from Rome where the same day there arriv'd news which was not very acceptable For intelligence was brought that Porsenna was so diligent in assisting Tarquin that in a little time the troops of Veii and Tarquinia would be united with his and that he had resolv'd to be in person in the head of his Army It was also inform'd that Publicola would return within three dayes because having been advertiz'd by Herminius that there was beginning of division in the Senate since his departure he judged it more important to take care for the assuring of Rome than to preserve the out-places of it Besides his Army being too weak to undertake to sustain the first attempt of that of the King of Hetruria when the Forces of the Veientines and those of Tarquin should be added to it he thought it better to let the Enemies cool and weaken themselves before he offered to fight them The vertue of Publicola being highly respected by all the Romans the news of his return produc'd a good effect in Rome They who had begun to divide themselves reunited and had not the boldness but to appear zealous for their Country before a man who had no other interest and who having all the People at his devotion might easily punish them for their delinquency The return of Publicola was no doubt very acceptable to Valeria but Mutius coming back with him diminisht part of her joy because he had such a kind of haughtiness in his deportment that she had rather this imperious Lover would alwayes have been at the war than return'd to Rome The forces being also to come back Clidamira and Berelisa thought fit to defer their journey to Praeneste till the return of the Army and moreover Artimedorus being at Rome they had no great impatience to leave it But as for this Prince he ardently wisht Berelisa had been there alone having scarce any opportunity of seeing her without Clidamira for which reason he took no delight in seeing her and was more frequently with Clelia than with her for this aimiable Lady looking upon him as Aronces his friend and a wise good and discreet Prince to whom she might communicate all the secrets of her soul had very much affection and complacency for him As they were one day together a Slave of Artimedorus brought him a Letter which oblig'd him to take leave of her without telling her the cause of it Tho the same night he return'd to her to beseech her she would please to take a walk the next day with Valeria Cesonia and Plotina in a Garden not far from the Sublician bridge Clelia not caring for divertisement desir'd to be excus'd but Artimedorus telling her the business was to do a good office to Valeria and that he could not discover more of it to her she promis'd she would be ready when Cesonia Valeria and Plotina should come to call her knowing Sulspicia would not refuse to let her go with those Ladies her dear friends And accordingly the next morning they whom Artemidorus had nam'd came to her house there being no men in the company besides Artemidorus and Herminius As they were going to the Garden Clelia ask'd Valeria what service she desir'd of her I should rather answer'd she desire to know what I may do for your service for Artemidorus has told me you had need of me in relation to some affair It is to be believ'd then reply'd Clelia that 't is he that has need of us but in reference to my self I cannot but think him too blame for taking such a course since I should serve him with joy In my opinion said Valeria it must be for something which Berelisa is concern'd Then they asked Cesonia and Plotina if they knew what the business was which occasioned their going to that Garden For my part answered the first I know no more of it but that Artemidorus told me you both desir'd me to accompany you thither and to take Plotina with me 'T is some satisfaction to me said Clelia that we shall soon know what the business is with us When these Ladies were arriv'd at the gate of that garden where Artemidorus and Herminius waited for them they lighted from their Chariot and entered into the Garden where they found no person at all wherefore they demanded what was the design of their coming thither Be not impatient answered he you shall know it presently but you shall not know altogether but severally what has induc'd me to deceive you and bring you hither at least Clelia and Valeria shall be together in one place whilst Cesonia and Plotina shall be in another If Artemidorus had not been well known to these four persons this would have occasion'd strange thoughts in them but being ascertained how prudent and discreet he was their curiosity did not inquiet their minds at all But said Plotina I desire to be satisfied whether Herminins be more knowing than we are He shall be so presently answered Artemidorus for he shall know all that shall be told Clelia and Valeria tho not till after them For my part said Herminius I desire never to know any thing concerning my friends but what they are willing I should After this Artemidorus having been to give order that none should be admitted into the Garden led Cesonius and Plotina into a walk which was on the far side where they found an old man who no sooner beheld Plotina but he knew her altho it was a very long time since he had seen her But this fair Virgin could not know him otherwise than by his voice and was some time before she could recollect her self At length calling him to mind she testified much joy to see him and believing he was her Uncle made him a thousand caresses Alas said she to him embracing him where have you been for so long time You shall know answered he when I have opportunity to tell you without any other witness than Cesonia to whom I know you have such great obligations that 't is fit she be acquainted with all your fortune Alas reply'd Plotina my fortune is very easie to know for when I have said I have lost my father and my mother while I was yet in the cradle and alwayes liv'd with the vertuous
she could not refrain from demanding what the discourse was concerning the most vertuous Woman in the World And understanding Amiclea had newly finisht her Character she confirm'd all that was said of her with a thousand praises This Princess being a very graceful Speaker afforded much pleasure to the Company but she discontented them at length when she told them her stay would be shorter at Rome than she imagin'd and that matters were not in a posture to hope for an accommodement After which she continu'd there only four dayes during which Zenocrates durst not visit her constantly because Clidamira might have been thereby induc'd to do some injury to that Princess Which occasion'd this inconstant Professor who seem'd then very sad and pensive to be suspected of concealing a great Passion under his inconstancy During the four dayes the Princess of the Leontines stay'd at Rome she us'd all endeavours she could to bring matters to an accommodation but withal was solicitous to do some office for Aronces with Clelia and Sulspicia which she perform'd after so handsome a manner that it could not have render'd her suspected to Porsenna had he known what she spoke concerning the Prince his Son But at length the fruit of this negotiation being only apparent in the admiration of the rare accomplishments of the Princess of the Leontines she return'd without being able to obtain any thing on the behalf of Tarquin but she went away with the esteem of all such as had seen her At her departure from Rome Clelia told her all that a person indu'd with Wit Love and Modesty could say to oblige her to perswade Aronces continually that he ought to be faithful to her and the Princess of the Leontines on her part express'd to her all that a faithful friend of Aronces ought to have said to exhort her to constancy after which they took leave Clelia deliver'd a Letter to Telanus who brought her one Artemidorus had a secret conversation with the Princess his Sister concerning their interests which were not known to any but to Clidamira Berelisa and Zenocrates Telanus bid Plotina farewel with much dearness and they parted so well as to excite some jealousie in the breast of Amilcar After the departure of the Princess of the Leontines preparations for War were expedited in good earnest for it was judg'd that as soon as she should be return'd Porsenna would cause his Army to advance towards Rome And indeed she was no sooner at Clusium and had given an account of her Journey but Tarquin fell earnestly to solicite Porsenna and gave him no rest who looking upon it as a great piece of glory to re-establish a dispossest King omitted nothing that might conduce to the good success of the War Now did Aronces see himself brought into a condition which of all things in the World he most fear'd namely to be with his sword in hand against so many persons who were dear to him but he had however the consolation to understand a thousand things that pleas'd him from the mouth of the Princess of the Leontines For she extolled Clelia with such exaggeration and assur'd him so confidently of his being lov'd by her that he lov'd more than ever At least Madam said he to her I have not mode an ill choice of the person to whom I have given my self since you judge her worthy of your esteem but do not you believe added he that if the King saw her he would excuse my passion and that I cannot be blam'd but by those who have forgotten that themselves lov'd heretofore or such as are so insensible as never to be capable of loving any thing Then he spoke to her as concerning Horatius and askt her if she had seen him with Clelia and tho he were not himself jealous yet he could not but give several tokens of being so But in brief how amorous soever he were it behov'd him to act like an enemy to Rome Glory no doubt upheld his reason in this occasion but the interest of his Love was added to it to perswade him at length that since it behov'd him to appear an enemy of Rome it ought to be after a manner which might render him redoubtable and make him worthy the consideration of either party So he went to a Council of War which was call'd before the marching of the Army wherein it was resolv'd to make only a shew as if they intended to beleaguer Rome to see if it were possible to surprise it and if they who affected Monarchy were in a capacity to make an insurrection but in case this did not succeed as in probability it would not it was determin'd to besiege that great City effectively to seize of all the avenues to make sure of Tyber both above and below Rome and to bring to pass that the great number of inhabitants that fill'd it might serve to destroy instead of defending it by causing a greater facility of taking it by famine The business being thus resolv'd on care was taken for a speedy march but for that Porsenna judg'd there was no great likelihood of taking Rome by violence and that for that reason the siege would probably be long he was pleas'd the Queen his wife and the whole Court should follow him and go to a very stately Castle not far distant from the place where his Camp was to be but a few miles distant from the Tomb of the three Rivals where the unfortunate Caliantus was slain and which part of Porsenna's Army had already seiz'd on To which purpose Galerita the Princess of the Leontines the vertuous Melintha and several Ladies of eminent quality of Clusium prepar'd to follow the Army which was gone before Then it was that an equal desire was seen in either party of gaining Victory One contriving to assault Rome and the other to defend it sacrifices were offered to implore contrary successes either of them believ'd they had justice on their side and right to demand the Protection of the gods but in the midst of so many opposite vowes Clelia and Aronces no doubt wisht alwaies the same thing Porsenna approaching near Rome divided his Army into three bodies out of a design to assault the City in three several places The quarter on the side of Janicul was that where Porsenna and Aronces were on the second which was opposite to Tiber was the entrenchment of Tarquin and that on the side towards Tarquinia was taken up by Sextus At the first appearing of the forces there were several little skirmishes between those whom Publicola sent to descry the enemies and those who went to take up the places wherein to encamp But there passed nothing very considerable in them for Publicola having a design to suffer the enemies Army to weaken themselves before he attempted any thing contented himself with knowing the true manner of their entrenchment and keeping himself upon his guard On the other side Porsenna desiring to put the Romans out of fear
that Tolumnius had resolv'd to go and spend some time in the Countrey at a very fair house of his near Clusium They understood also that I was to be of the company and accordingly I departed two daies after with them upon which occasion as friendship is more speedily contracted during a little journey into the Countrey than in the City they were pleas'd to make me privy to the fear they were in lest Tolumnius should determine to marry them after a manner contrary to their own inclinations and in brief they told me all the principal secrets they had in their breasts I confess to you they caus'd me to pity them and finding an occasion to intermeddle with love innocently I promis'd to do all I could to change the hearts of their two Lovers who were both my familiar friends During our Countrey-journey there was nothing but continual feasting but these two Virgins desiring me not to desert them at all that so their Lovers might not have the liberty to speak to them apart I did it indeed so handsomely without Aemilius and Theanor's ever suspecting my design to hinder them from discoursing to them that they could not say any thing to them concerning their passion I did not content my self with doing this office to these two Virgins I spoke severally to both their Lovers in order to perswade them into sentiments contrary to their own For speaking to Aemilius I extol'd Terentia with exaggeration and did the like for Aurelisa speaking to Theanor But to speak truth I did not observe they commended them with the same ardour On the contrary when I spoke of Aurelisa to Theanor he spoke to me of Terentia and as soon as I nam'd Terentia to Aemilius he mention'd Aurelisa to me In the mean time these two Lovers were so solicitous to get themselves lov'd that they did not perceive they were lov'd by those whom they did not affect 'T is true Terentia and Aurelisa being both discreet and vertuous they conceal'd their sentiments the best they could and did not cease to seem pleasant to be sociable and shew an equal civility to those for whom they had very differing sentiments That which render'd them the more unhappy was that tho Theanor were in love with Terentia yet he did not cease to live much in favour with Aurelisa and tho Aemylius lov'd Aurelisa yet he was much complacential towards Terentia Now it falling out that these two Lovers had Affairs at Court they made but little journeys on a day They made very urgent requests to Aurelisa and Terentia that they would permit them to write to them but they would not grant it Yet I who lov'd news well when I was in the Countrey desir'd one of my friends who was one of theirs too to send me not only what he knew at Clusium but likewise all intelligence he should receive from any other place for he was one that had correspondence throughout all Italy Not that I car'd much what pass'd in places where I knew no person but Tolumnius loving to know all that was acted all the World over I was willing to divert him during my residing at his house And accordingly that Friend of mine several times sent me very ample relations of all that pass'd at Court with the extracts of Letters which he receiv'd from Rome Veii Tarentum Cuma Volaterra Panormus Capua and divers other places So that this affording divertisement to Tolumnius and the news of the World giving sufficient pleasure to Terentia Aurelisa and my self we awaited with much impatience the day that we were to receive Letters One night we went to walk expecting their arrival and thinking to have them a moment sooner And as we were between two Meadows border'd about with Willows we saw him arrive who was wont to bring my Packets and who now deliver'd me several Amongst the rest I beheld one which I did not know so that the desire of knowing who writ it caus'd me to open it first which done I found it was a relation divided into distinct Articles like those I was wont to receive tho I did not know the Character of it Terentia and Aurelisa observing my astonishment approch't toward me and all three of us sitting down at the foot of a Tree I began to read the relation which was in effect the same I am going to repeat to you for I know I shall not alter the sense however I may something change the words Of the Court. Persons envious discontented and ungratefull are alwayes to be found here they to whom any thing is given believe they deserve more they to whom nothing is given think that rob'd from them which is given to others in the mean time all the World is oftentimes in a burly burly without knowing wherefore There are found there ambitions persons without merit flatterers ill rewarded false friends resembling true an out side of goodnesse which charms new-comers and yet do's not deceive them who have experience in brief imposture and fraud is seen every where and handsome deportment without honesty As for love there is little can be call'd so altho sometimes certain frivolous loves are to be seen there which are fit only for young idle persons that know not what to do and many times too know not what to say Loves of interests are seen there likewise which inspire onely unworthy actions and there is scarce ever any sincere love to be found unlesse it be in the breasts of Theanor and Aemylius whose hearts they say are in the Countrey tho their persons are seen every day at the Queen's Palace where thy appear so melancholy that all the Ladies complain of them Of CLUSIUM All the envious Fair ones rejoice here for the absence of the two fairest persons in the World yet they do not draw much advantage by it for all worthy persons are so afflicted with it that all their conversations are turn'd into sadnesse There are some who affirm two of their Loves are in danger to die of sorrow if they do not speedily return tho it be not the custom to die for the absence of a rigorous Mistresse Otherwise Clusium is as it is wont to be that is the powerful oppresse the weak every one seeks that which pleases him those which govern are repin'd at projects and designs are contriv'd to no end little true vertue is to be found there but much hypocrisie disorderly magnificence excessive avarice injustice irregularity and confusion Of the Gardens of the Palace All the Ladies who were wont to pull down their Veils when they fear'd lest their beauty should be constrain'd to yield to that of Terentia and Aurelisa walk with open countenances during their absence but for that the image of those two fair persons remains in the hearts of all those who have judicious eyes in relations to beauty they have never the more admirers and the remembrance of those who are no more seen there still prejudices the glory of those
is as much surpris'd as we I beseech you generous Amiclea replyed Zenocrates know the truth of this Adventure for the respect I bear the Princess withholds me from asking it of her And accordingly approaching towards Lysimena she drew me aside and did me the honour to tell me what had hapned After which having called Artemidorus and Zenocrates she related to them the same she had told me before At first the departure of Meleontus seem'd very advantageous but afterwards considering the Prince would be afflicted at it it was fear'd his displeasure would fall upon Lysimena Artemidorus or Zenocrates However it was judg'd convenient to advertise the Princess of Leontium and Cleanthus of what had passed and accordingly Lysimena ending her walk sooner than otherwise she would have done return'd into the Castle She was not long there before there arriv'd a friend of Zenocrates who came to advertise the Princess that Meleontus was gone away from the place where he was guarded without being known whither that the Prince was extremely troubled at it that this Favorite had left the most passionate Letter in the world for him and that Amerintha was much imploy'd in comforting him It was requisite therefore to have recourse to the prudence of Cleanthus who was at Leontium to the end to appease the Prince's mind whom he found very sad for the departure of Meleontus He found him also much incens'd against Lysimena whose rigour was the innocent cause of all these disorders but at length Cleanthus telling him that the way to cause Meleontus to return was to treat Lysimena well and to endeavour thereby to win her things were pacified in the end in spite of the artifices of Amerintha Yet this division extremely afflicted the Princess of Leontium so that she fell sick and dyed within a few days after Lysimena and Artemidorus were sensibly touch'd with this loss but for the Prince of Leontium he was not much afflicted at it because he believ'd Lysimena would thereby be more absolutely in his power Shortly after Lysimena returned to lodge in the Prince's Palace and during some days led a life pleasant enough Artemidorus at that time became perfectly amorous of Clidamira which strangely incens'd Amerintha who could not touch his heart Wherefore she obliged the Prince highly to disapprove the affection he had for that Lady and it was she that prevail'd with him to cause her to be put amongst the vailed Virgins as no doubt you have heard in the relation of the History of Artemidorus For she designed thereby to cross a Prince whom she did not love and to serve Meleontus with whom 't is believ'd she has always had some secret correspondence For it was easie to judge that Artemidorus would not fail to fall out totally with the Prince after this violence and so Lysimena would lose a powerful protector The event manifested that she was not deceiv'd for you know Artemidorus voluntarily exil'd himself to deliver Clidamira But whereas it is not his History that I am relating and you are ignorant of nothing that befel him I will not tell you of his departure his shipwrack the resolution he took to go to the War and in what manner he became prisoner to the Prince of Agrigentum nor how he fell in love with Berelisa but only what concerns Lysimena and Zenocrates You shall know then that after the departure of Artemidorus Zenocrates to continue to act according to his custom made semblance of being in love with Clidamira as soon as she came out from amongst the vailed Virgins that afterwards he made Courtship for some days to another but at length conceiving that since Meleontus was absent he might dispense with this dissimulation he continued for some time without a Mistress Whereupon it was said of him in railery that of an inconstant person he was become indifferent and I remember Clidamira being one day with Lysimena undertook to maintain that it was much more honest to be inconstant than to be indifferent For I know nothing more hateful said she in defence of her opinion than such people as neither love nor hate who determine themselves to nothing and have so luke-warm a soul that they are not very strongly on their own side Ask them if they will walk they know not inquire of them whether they would have people love them they are dubious of it do them any service they take no notice of it offer to displease them they scarce perceive it so much are they afraid to disquiet their happy indifference But as for inconstant persons added she they have always something to do they go they come they are imployed and though they desire nothing vehemently and disclaim obstinacy yet they are always determin'd to something They fill some place and signifie something in the World and at least make themselves to be spoken of be it well or ill 'T is true answer'd Lysimena but if you observe the indifferent and the inconstant are not too opposite For an inconstant person loves indifferently all the Beauties of a City 't is only because he has some kind of indifference in his heart that he loves several persons And for my part methinks I should love an indifferent person who is determin'd to nothing better than an inconstant who determines himself to inconstancy who makes a glory of his weakness who believes he cannot be a gallant without being a profess'd shittle-brain and who loving nothing ardently yet passes all his life as if he lov'd For the name of Love is not to be given to those transient affections which succeed one after another which perplex hearts without possessing them and which almost produce nothing but Sonnets The Princess spoke this with a certain air which made Amerintha who was present suspect something for she judg'd that Zenocrates appearing to be so much in her favour ought to take ill her arguing so strongly against inconstancy if she believ'd him inconstant So that observing these things and inquiring diligently of that waiting woman who formerly gave Meleontus intelligence of all Lysimena's actions and whom the Princess had discarded she came at length to discover that Zenocrates was always ardently amorous of her and that his inconstancy was but dissembled And for as much as she could turn the Prince's mind after what manner she pleas'd Lysimena was one morning extremely amazed to understand that the Prince had commanded Zenocrates to depart his Court at an hours warning with prohibition to see her before he went away You may judge how displeasing this news was to her especially too being advertis'd that Meleontus had writ to the Prince two days before So it behov'd Zenocrates to go from Leontium without seeing the Princess nevertheless he came back thither the same night conceal'd himself at the house of one of his Friends and three days after contriv'd a way to speak with Lysimena by night in a Garden Their conversation was the most pathetical in the World for
so wicked as to desire to take away your life what need had he of Mutius and why should he not rather have suborned one of your guards That was not the safest course answer'd Porsenna for by that means he might perhaps have come to be suspected but in the other way taking away my life by the hand of a Roman the action would seem to proceed out of zeal for the delivering of Rome and would not at all reflect upon Aronces But Love alone put them upon this crime and to manifest to you that 't is so added he I am newly inform'd that Mutius is fled Judge then whether after this I have reason to doubt of their testimony who accuse Aronces And to the end you may doubt of it less see this Letter from Clelia to Aronces which was found in his Chamber and must needs have been deliver'd him by one of his Guards Lysimena taking it knew the hand of Clelia in which she had seen several Letters and opening it found these words Clelia to Aronces AS Criminal as you are I do not cease to pity you and notwithstanding your Crime I shall still make more ardent Vows for your liberty than I should do for my own This Letter no doubt seems to make against Aronces said Lysimena but my Lord two persons that love have so many little contests which embroil them together that it ought not to be concluded from hence that Clelia knows Aronces is a criminal against you On the contrary it is to be thought that if she did she would not have written to him in these terms You are a strange person Madam answer'd Porsenna roughly to attribute judgment to persons prepossess'd with a great passion However all that I can do for Aronces added he is to defer his punishment for I confess to you I would willingly convict him by Mutius himself Were it not that Hostages ought to be inviolable I would use Clelia in such a manner that perhaps I might come to know many things by her though I do not believe she was privy to the whole secret of the Conspiracy On the contrary I imagine that perhaps Aronces being unwilling to lose the merit of his Crime in her esteem has only told her something of it since In the mean time I have two men who will maintain that he is culpable But as I told you I will cause Mutius to be sought after and oblige Publicola who affects him not to force him to declare the truth After which I will give as great an example of Justice as Brutus did when he beheld his own Sons put to death for I will not be surpass'd by a Roman Ah! my Lord said Lysimena you make me tremble with fear to hear you speak in this manner I beseech you examine things well remember that appearances are fallacious and rather believe all that the great actions of Aronces than that which the cruel Tullia tells you who is accustom'd only to artifices and wickedness For do you think my Lord added she that this Prince has any great tenderness for your life after you have granted peace to Rome and ought you not rather to fear that she designs only to ingage you in a Crime Be it how it will answer'd Porsenna that which she tells me seems to me to be true all conjectures are against Aronces who cannot be happy so long as I live and I will not be prevail'd with either by your prayers or tears the murmurs of all my own Subjects or the complaints of the Romans which moreover testifie Aronce's intelligence with Rome nor even the secret sentiments of Nature which I feel in my breast in spight of my self But my Lord reply'd Lysimena how comes it that those two men who accuse Aronces inform you of a past danger of an attempt that has fail'd and are their own accusers They could not have access to me answer'd he before the business was executed afterwards they reveal'd it to the prince of Messene to inform me of it which yet he did not undoubtedly because he would not hurt Aronces But for that they apprehend I knew nothing of the truth they address'd themselves to Tullia to whom I granted their pardon on condition they told me all they knew of the Conspiracie But where are those men my Lord said Lysimena They are in a sure place answer'd Porsenna till I cause Aronces to be publikly condemn'd You know added he I had a purpose to make a Marriage between you and him but Madam you have too great a virtue to have a Parricide given you for a husband and the Gods no doubt reserve you a better fortune In the mean time speak no more to me of him and forbid Galerita to intercede in his behalf for the more he is pleaded for the more I shall hasten his punishment After this Lysimena was constrain'd to be silent to retire and go to augment the sorrow of the Queen by relating to her this discourse with Porsenna Lysimena's sadness appearing manifestly in her countenance as she came away from the King of Hetruria all the Court was in fear for Aronces and the rumor of it spreading abroad in all places was augmented in the Camp Tullia being thus become necessary to Porsenna not only because it was by her means that he could convict Aronces against whom he was extremely incens'd but also because his own Army being mutinous against him he fear'd he should have need of Tarquin's Troops Sextus went and came continually to the Quarter of Porsenna whereby he extremely molested Clelia who was incredibly sorrowful to see his passion for her increase in his heart Not but that she avoided his sight as much as she could but in the case things were in she knew not where to find any protection For the sentiments she had concerning the Princess of the Leontines would scarce suffer her to speak to her But the greatest of her griefs was to understand Porsenna's sentiments concerning the Prince his Son the correspondence of Tullia with that King and the care that was taken to guard Aronces diligently For this unfortunate Prince as extremely belov'd as he was could find no way to communicate his mind to Clelia in answer to the Letter which he had receiv'd from her for Telanus being become suspected durst not come near one of his guards Clelia had also another discontent in not seeing her friends of Rome so often as formerly for in this conjuncture a tumult being both in the City and the Camp the Consuls caus'd Horatius Herminius Aemilius Octavius Spurius and all the other Romans to forbear visiting the twenty fair Roman Ladies which were given in Hostage Which was something difficult to make them consent to but causing them to consider that if matters should fall cross and they should be arrested Clelia Valeria and all the rest would be in a worse condition than if they were at Rome a sentiment of love induc'd them to resolve upon that which
But I believ'd I could take no better course for your quiet and my own than to take a person from your sight who can never render you happy but might render you unjust I do not pray you to pardon me but only not to hate Cloranisbes No sooner had the Prince read this Letter but he was strangely transported both against Lysonice and Cloranisbes So that as he is of a violent temper he commanded some persons to ask Cloranisbes from himself where Lysonice was and to secure him if he did not tell precisely Anherbal who receiv'd this order was very much perplex'd for just as he arriv'd at his house Cloranisbes had done reading a Letter which Lysonice had written and sent to him and was conceiv'd almost in these terms Lysonice to Cloranisbes YOu will see by my flight that I do not care to be Princess of Carthage and you will see by all my actions that you ought to have had more confidence in my generosity But as for affection expect none from a person whom you have never lov'd but for your own sake only No doubt I will always do all whatsoever honour requires me but look for no more from me I justifie you as much as I can to the Prince 't is all can be done for you by an unhappy person who will let you know the place of her sanctuary when she is at distance enough to be no longer in fear that the Prince of Carthage should violently seize upon her As Cloranisbes ended reading this Letter Anherbal enter'd and told him what order he had receiv'd from the Prince Did I know where Lysonice is answer'd Cloranisbes I would not tell you since I understand by a Letter which I just now receiv'd from her that the Prince had a design to seise upon her by force but in truth I have no hand in her flight and I come to learn it by a Letter which she has writ to me Anherbal being of late become one of his intimate friends he accordingly shew'd him Lysonice's Letter at which he was amaz'd Wherefore he took upon him to go tell the Prince that which he had seen without securing Cloranisbes But the Prince interpreting all that was said to him as a collusion fell into choler against Anherbal and forthwith sent away the Captain of his Guards to arrest Cloranisbes who was now extremely glad to know Lysonice was no longer at Utica However the Prince sent after her but being she travell'd all the day and night before and took an unfrequented way those whom he sent after her could not find her Whereupon he grew into a rage which nothing could appease or equal unless it were the grief of Cloranisbes who in the midst of all those misfortunes resented more the displeasure he had in not being lov'd by Lysonice than any of the rest Assoon as this fair person was got to Bostar this generous African writ to the Prince to complain of his violence and giving him to understand that if he us'd Cloranisbes ill he would make his peace with the King of Massilia and forsake his part But on the other side the Prince of Carthage who intended to cause Lysonice to come back to Utica answer'd him that Cloranisbes should never be at liberty unless Lysonice return'd and that he would not promise for his life if he deserted his party to take that of the King of Massilia Lysonice seeing things in this condition remain'd resolute and always declar'd that she would not return to Utica notwithstanding Cyrene her Mother so represented to her that perhaps she would be the cause of her husbands death that she resolv'd to write to him by a secret way which was prescrib'd to her and she writ in this manner Lysonice to Cloranisbes SEnd me word whether you had rather see me a prisoner than be so your self if you had I will go to Utica to deliver you for though you love me not but for your own sake I will act generously for my own This Letter was secretly delivered to Cloranisbes who answer'd to it in these terms Cloranisbes to Lysonice YOur liberty is a thousand times dearer to me than my own therefore take no care to deliver me which perhaps death will shortly do and then you will be Mistress of your self If my Vows be heard you shall be Queen of Massilia but never Princess of Carthage And when I shall be no longer in being remember I have never displeased you but through excess of love You may judge that this Letter did not oblige Lysonice to change her mind and so she did not go to Utica but neither did the Prince of Carthage set Cloranisbes at liberty Divers persons have bestirr'd themselves in negotiating to accommodate so great a difference but for that the Princess of Carthage has so great a power over the Prince her Brother he is obstinate not to deliver Cloranisbes against whom crimes of State are forg'd which he never committed to the end the people may repine the less Wherefore this Prince having declar'd that unless Lysonice change her mind within four months he will put Cloranisbes to death this fair person believing I have sufficient influence over the Princes mind has sent one of my friends to me to desire that I would return speedily to endeavour the calming of this great storm and by a rare chance the Prince not knowing any thing of Lysonice's design has given order to the same man to come and command me in his name to return assoon as possible I can But being uncertain whether I were in Sicily or here he pass'd through Agrigentum where by the way he saw the generous Prince of that place Oh! I beseech you said Plotina interrupting him tell me some news of him if you know any for the Prince of Agrigentum seem'd so worthy a man wher the History of Artemidorus was related to us that I should be glad to know whether you have heard any thing concerning him and whether the amiable Philonice his daughter be still among the Veiled Virgins 'T is certain she is there still answer'd Amilar and a Lady a very faithful Friend of hers whom she left in the world regrets her continually But as for the Prince of Agrigentum he is married again to a person so accomplisht that nothing can be desir'd more to her For there lives not a handsomer person in the world and there never was any whose vertue has been more solid and more generally acknowledg'd nor whose deportment has been more uniformly prudent nor whose goodness has been greater or more agreeable All the lineaments of her countenance are wonderfully handsome her eyes have as much loveliness and sweetness as the most exquisite Painters can fancy her mouth is very graceful the shape of her visage very noble her complexion admirably fair her hair of a rare bright colour her stature proper her deportment comely her aspect very modest sweet and discreet her neck graceful her arms pure and her hands
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
cease to protect her all your life against such as would constrain her You promis'd this in consideration of the small service I had then done you and I promis'd you again that I would never marry Clelia till I had offer'd you to win her by a Combate with you I acquit my self of my word added Aronces for though I am not certain whether I am likely to be happy yet there have lately fallen out so many changes in my fortune that I have some ground to hope it wherefore before we go to the Camp I will hide my self in the Wood we are to pass through and satisfie you if you desire it But my Lord answer'd Horatius what would you say of me if owing my life and liberty more than once to you I should draw my sword against you the same moment that you have imploy'd yours in my defence I would say repli'd Aronces that a Rival is not so oblig'd to gratitude as other persons are Ha! my Lord cry'd Horatius hastily I should not be satisfi'd of that and therefore 't is best that I yield a felicity to you which you alone can merit and the Gods themselves have decreed to you nor was I going but to seek my death in helping you to overcome Tarquin when I met those that assaulted me But to compleat your happiness added he know that as I beheld Clelia enter into Rome she spoke so rigorously to me that I am convinc'd nothing but death can comfort me That which you say is so worthy of your courage answer'd Aronces that if you will be my friend I shall with joy be yours as long as I live Alas my Lord reply'd Horatius I know not my own Will but for fear my vertue abandon me permit me to leave you and return to Rome And accordingly Horatius departing from Aronces went to relate to the Romans the Victory of his Rival Clelia in the mean time had been receiv'd there in triumph with all her companions But Horatius to carry his generosity further went to Clelius and shew'd him the answer the Lots of Praeneste had given him for he had sent one of his Friends thither who brought it him back and which was so exact that nothing could be more clear for it was in these terms Clelius ows Clelia to Aronces the Gods decree so and you cannot pretend to her without displeasing them Aronces being by this time return'd to the Camp was receiv'd with joy by Porsenna Galerita the princess of the Leontines all the Army and the whole Court And to accomplish his felicity the King of Hetruria told him that to testifie to Rome that he desir'd to hasten the peace he would discamp the next day and send Ambassadors to demand Clelia of the Senate Aronces thank'd with a joy surpassing all expression And accordingly the King of Hetruria made good his word discamping the day following and sending to demand Clelia of the Senate for the Prince his Son to the end she might be the confirmer of the peace The Senate receiv'd this proposition with joy and requir'd Clelia of Clelius who after he understood the truth of all things deliver'd her to them with the consent of Horatius Whereupon without further delay the Princess of the Leontines went to fetch Sulpicia and Clelia to conduct them to Clusium where the ceremony was to be accomplisht and whither Clelius went too accompani'd by Octavius Herminius Zenocrates Anacreon and his particular Friends As for Clelia she was accompani'd by Berelisa and Clidamira who were return'd from Praneste and Valeria for Plotina was so afflicted for the death of Amilcar that she fell sick upon it and could not go thither Assoon as Porsenna and all this noble and fair company were arriv'd at Clusium the Nuptials of Aronces and Clelia were celebrated in the the proud Temple of Iuno the Queen with incredible magnificence But to the astonishment of all the spectators as Aronces and Clelia were upon their knees before that famous Statue of Iuno Porsenna plac'd his Scepter upon the Altar as resigning his authority to the Gods from whom he held it and Galerita put a Crown of Flowers upon Clelia's head as declaring her Queen After which the Priest taking the Scepter presented it to Aronces who modestly refus'd it Nor would he accept the Soveraign Power which Porsenna hereby resign'd to him So that by this great action he made himself compleatly worthy of all the felicity he enjoy'd by the possession of the most vertuous person that ever was In the midst of this publick joy Amilcar had the honour to be much regretted Anacreon made Verses upon this happy Marriage and after eight intire days were spent in feasting and rejoycing Themistus Merigenes and their Friend went to seek Lindamira Artemidorus return'd to Leontium to make Berelisa his Princess there and to cause Lysimira to marry Zenocrates who recover'd the Principality of Herbesa which had belong'd to his Ancestors As for Clidamira though she was assur'd to marry Meleontus yet she was not so well contented as she seem'd Theanor and Aemilius obey'd the Gods and were happy the other Lover went to travel to cure himself of his passion And as for Herminius at his return to Rome Publicola gave him Valeria notwithstanding all the obstacles which oppos'd his happiness Hermilia had a great friendship for Octavius and Octavius for her but married not Collatina dy'd with sorrow for the the misfortunes of Titus and Plotina declar'd to all her Lovers that she would never marry It was known that the Prince who persecuted Cloranisbes was dead and Horatius as unhappy as he was nevertheless was so generous as to take care to cause Clelia's Statue to be erected according to the Vote of the Senate in the upper part of the sacred street near his own having this sad consolation to see that the tokens of their glory were at least in the same place But in acknowledgment of his generosity Aronces and Clelia sent to offer him their friendship so that after so many misfortunes these two illustrious persons saw themselves as happy as they had been unfortunate and saw nothing that could equal their felicity besides their virtue Clelia had a Statue at Rome Porsenna also caus'd one to be made for her before the stately Tomb which he had built and Anacreon put these Verses upon the pedestal of the Statue Tyber although a God amazed stood At that great Soul that durst attempt his stood And cry'd This sure must some new Venus be Born from my waves as she was from the Sea Thy form and courage Fame alike shall blow Till Rome to stand and Tyber cease to flow THE END