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
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
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
the end they both comforted themselves for the losse of their child by him fortune had given them and by the consolation they had to see one another after they had believed never to have seen one another again and it seemed that in the shipwrack where they had believed to have lost all they saved that which was of most value for they found a part of their vessel run on ground on a heap of sand where the richest things which they had were and Sulpicia strugling in the water had seised on a plank of another broken vessel upon which was a casket fastned by divers cords wound round about it in that turning which was made at the time of the shipwrack so that this faithfull slave of Clelius who had saved Sulpicia having found her sustaining her self by this plank which was ready to sink by the weight of this casket supported her and brought her to the vessel where Clelius found her for it was very nigh bringing likewise in his hands the casket which was fastened to the plank imagining without examination that it was hers so that after Clelius and Sulpicia had had the leasure to meditate on the accident which was arrived they found that their losse was lesse then they thought of in this occasion for they had found a child instead of theirs and stones of an inestimable value in that Casket In the mean time Clelius believing that he could not better acknowledge the favour that the gods had afforded him by saving his life than in having a particular care of that child he had found prayed Sulpicia to nourish it instead of hers and to love it as her own and as they both felt the grief they had for the losse of theirs they would have restored this child to those which had lost it if they were not perisht themselves but they could not hear of them for the misfortune was that those of the Carthaginian Vessels saved none but those which were with Clelius and the other vessels which were nigh that in which Porsennas son was shipwrackt succoured those which escaped there but as the tempest separated them and their wayes being different Clelius could learn nothing of the birth of this child neither of what country he was neverthelesse his hope was that the vessel which had saved him went thither where he had a design to go he obliged the Captain to whom he owed his life to bring him to Carthage where he had a design to passe the time of his exile to the end said he that I may not have my spirit troubled by the recitall of Tarquins tyranny But to make Sulpicia love the child better the gods had given them he desired he should have the name of Aronces which was the name of the child he had lost but he would not say when he came to Carthage that Aronces was his son though he had for him a paternal affection for fear that should obscure his knowledge and not knowing whether he should have other children he would not disguise the truth but he would carefully keep the Cradle and the swading bands in which this child had been found and likewise imagined that the stones he had found in that Casket might conduce to his knowledge And he had for this child which was unknown to him all the cares which his high birth rendred him worthy of but whilst Clelius rendred to him all the offices of a true father Nicius and Martia which had been saved by a Syracusian vessel were in so strange a despair for the losse of this young Prince which was trusted to their care that they durst never declare his death to the particular friends of Galerita though they were strongly perswaded he had perished for as things were then if this young Prince had been in their power they durst not in any wise have revealed his birth and they remained at Syracusa where they learnt that Porsenna was more strictly kept that Bianor persecuted Golerita and that Sextilia had no children But to return to Clelius and Sulpicia you shall know Madam that they lived at Carthage where their vertue soon gained them many friends and the young Aronces comforted them so well for the losse of their son that if they had had a desire to destroy him to resuscitate the other they could not resolve to do it and indeed I have heard them say he was amiable even from his Cradle and that he ever appeared to have something so great in him little as he was that it was easie even then to imagine that he should be of illustrious extraction he was likewise more dear to Clelius and Sulpitia because they were four years without any children but in the end Sulpitia had a daughter which was called Clelia but a daughter so fair that they spoke of her beauty even at her birth I shall not trouble my self Madam to exaggerate to you all her first attraction though I have heard Aronces say she testified so much spirit even before she could speak for as I have things of more importance to tell you I shall not weary your patience by a recital of that nature and I shall content my self to assure you that if Clelius forgot nothing to bring up the young Aronces Sulpicia likewise forgot nothing to bring up the young Clelia neither shall trouble my self Madam to tell you many particularitis of the Grandeur and Magnificence of Carthage to make you comprehend that these two Persons could not be better in any place of the Earth since it is true they found in it all they might find in the most political Republicks and in the most flourishing Monarchies but as it is not that of which I must treat but it is the life of Aronces you must know I shall tell you in two words that Carthage is one of the richest and fairest Cities in the World and that as all the Africans have a natural inclination to delight though they are a warlike People all pleasures were found in this Magnificent City as much as in any place of the Earth Moreover as Carthage is dreadful to her Neighbours it is never without the residence of men of Quality from all bordering Estates and it hath in its Neighbourhood a Prince which is called the Prince of Carthage because he derives his descent from an Aunt of Dido which did likewise reside there before he imbroyled himself with this Republick the Prince of Numidia here present was at this time there and there was no Prince in Africa which desired not to send his Children to Carthage so that Aronces saw even from his Birth Persons whose conditions were proportionable to his for as Clelius was much esteemed in this City and Aronces was of a pleasant disposition and a dexterous wit he easily familiarised himself with the Carthaginian and Numidian Princes they being all of one Age the Prince of Carthage so entirely affecting his Conversation that when he went to a City
without having any beauty and without youth she is considerable above all those which are great in Capua and that she is at all Feasts publick and private but that which is most strange is that she is continually in conversation with all the young persons of quality and with all the fairest Ladies In effect Those men which make such a tumultuous garboyl when they find that a fair woman hath her Nose a little too big too little Eyes the Chin too short or Lips too pale and can hardly suffer those which have passed four Lustres have not their eyes troubled to see always Aricidia though she never had any beauty and though she hath fifteen Lustres to count as the Romans or that she can recount near twenty Olympiads according to the calculation of the Greeks you will demand of me Madam without doubt by what charms a person to whom Nature hath refused all the Graces ordinary to her sex whom time hath deprived of youth and whom fortune hath not endowed with great favours for to render her so considerable and so much desired and I shall answer you 't is by a great goodness and by a natural grandeur of Spirit which being joyned to a long experience of the world and to an agreeable humour that without taking care of her self she divertiseth all those which frequent her for as she is without ambition as she hath a great and noble heart that she knows not how to slatter that she is not interested in any manner that she clearly sees things that she recounts them pleasantly and that she knows all that which passes in Capua there is no person which doth nor desire her and when there happens any remarkable occurrence there is no body which wishes not to see her to know that which she thinks says or knows of it so that if she could be in twenty places at one time she might be there she goes likewise every where without being troublesome because she is never in any place but where she is desired Moreover though she hath something in particular in her Physiognomy and very pleasant in her manner of speaking she hath not any pleasantness of profession In fine she hath a certain jovial sincerity which makes her say things which surprise and which please and the truth is that she hath a solid vertue though it is not savage In effect she says things that she thinks not of she sees the weakness of others without contributing thereto and without being ever the confident of any Love she knows all the Loves of the City she blameth the tatling Gossips she flatters not the Gallants she gives pleasantly her opinion of those that pretend to be fair when they are not she endeavoureth to reconcile the differences of families she is in friendship with all the husbands and wives and without doing that but which she thinks she ought to do she pleaseth men which are opposite in all things she is a good friend and is both officious and free all the greatness of the earth cannot make her change her opinion when she thinks she hath reason and to define her in few words I may say Aricidia is a living mortality but a Moralist without sadness and who believes that the pleasantness of innocent Raillery is not useless to virtue but the most incredible thing is that though she knows all the maliciousness the world is capable of she is nevertheless incapable of it and though she hath an infinite spirit she cannot find any invention to prejudice any though she finds a thousand when she would serve her friends In sine Aricidia hath found the art to please and give divertisements to all the youths without incurring any blame for though she is not young she is sometimes at Balls she sees all the great feasts she is in the most gallant walks and the merriest company and Aricidia is composed of so much delight that I may boldly say she cannot be parallel'd and I even maintain that it would not be advantageous for her to be fair for if she were she goes to an hundred places where she would not go she says things that she would not say and her physiognomy which retains more the andacity of my sex than the timidity of hers addeth a far more force to her words and gives a liking to her discourses as I have said already she is so desired in all places that the days should be longer for her than others if she would content all those that desire her Aricidia being then such as I have represented to you came into a house where Aronces and I entred just as she spoke of Clelia to five or six persons which were there and that she spoke of her with earnestness so that when we entred she changed not her discourse on the contrary she no sooner saw us but knowing we were Clelia's friends she addrest her self to us with that familiarity which is natural to her You come very sitly said she to us to maintain my argument against a man you see with me who says that Clelia would be fairer than she is if she was a little more coy Ah Aricidia cryed that man which is named Genutius tell at least to Aronces and Celeres that which I at first said of the great beauty of Clelia before you tell them what I have wished thereto I shall tell it replied she after I have delivered my advice thereupon for I find it so unreasonable that I cannot endure it The beauty of Clelia is so resplendent and perfect replyed Aronces that I cannot well comprehend of what addition it is capable I think added I that without seeking to deny it you had best demand if of Aricidia I voluntarily consent to it replyed Genutius so that she will not conceal the prailes I have given Clelia For to content you replyed she I shall then say that you are of my opinion that all the lineaments of Clelia's face are admirable that she is of a most rare complection hairs very fair of a courteous behaviour and that she is in sine one of the greatest beauties in the world but after that pursued she raising her voice I shall say I do not believe she can ever cause any love in you because she doth not imitate all fashions or to say better all the ill favoured countenances of these which think themselves fair and which do not one action where there is not an affectation which strangely displeaseth but to the end you many excuse him added she turning her self towards Aronces and me I must tell you that I have seen him heretofore amorous of one of those Ladies who frame all their looks who place their hands with art who turn negligently their heads who have an artificial languor or a borrowed joy who fit their lips to the mirrors when they dress themselves and which laugh in such a manner that they shew all their teeth when they be white Ah Aricidia cryed Genutius you
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
consequently bestow on him the Princess his daughter But in the mean time Tarquin being as subtile as wicked seemed to rest satisfyed with the reasons of Junius and thereupon promised he would do no violence to Herdonius but by just and honourable wayes However he made a shift to dispatch him otherwise for corrupting a Slave belonging to Herdonius who while his Master was out of doors suffered a number of swords and other arms to be brought into his Master's house the cruel Tarquin confidently dressed up an accusation against him insinuating that it was fit enquiry should be made into the business and so engaging all those to whom he spoke of it by the apprehension of their own danger he perswaded them they should be fully enlightned as to what he said to them by searching Herdonius his house This was done and there were found the Arms which Tarquin had secretly conveyed thither and such other circumstances as amounted to make him thought guilty upon which those whom Tarquin had purposely brought along with him seized disorderly every one on a sword of those which were found and without any other ceremony threaten him with death He is taken bound and by Tarquin's order cast into the Spring-head of the Ferentine fountains where he no sooner was in but overwhelmed with stones he was presently drowned The business was done so of a sudden that Junius knew it not ere it was too late to prevent it though as soon as he had notice that some Souldiers were commanded to Herdonius's he went to divert Tarquin from so strange a violence But he could not make such hast but that Herdonius was dead and all he could do was to acquaint Tarquin that he was not ignorant of his crime in it This business broke off all correspondence between him and Tarquin insomuch that he went not to Court but when honor oblig'd him he gave order Tarquinia should go very seldom to the Queen so that both of them made it afterwards their whole business to see well educated two sons which they then had whereof Brutus is one It is true he was then but a child but his brother who was six or seven years elder than he made some advantage of the instructions they gave him Another thing which extreamly exasperated Tarquin against Junius was to see what use he made of that excessive wealth which he was master of for when Tarquin had consiscated the estate of any vertuous Family Junius and Tarquinia secretly reliev'd all those whom he had ruin'd which they did after such a manner as if they conceiv'd themselves obliged to enrich those whom the Prince impoverish'd and that it was their part to restore what he took away from all vertuous people Tarquin therefore thought that their liberality did as it were dis-arm his Tyranny by making him uncapable to make men miserable and that Junius having married his Sister robb'd the Crown of all he was so prodigal of Nay he conceived that this mans Vertue secretly reproved his Vices so indeed that at last he was no longer able to endure it Being therefore resolved to rid Junius out of the way and tempted withall with the advantage of being Guardian to his Children and consequently disposing of all the great Wealth of that house he caused him to be poyson'd But as it is hard to meet with poysons that leave no marks of their malignity the vertuous Tarquinia knew but too much to her grief that her noble Husband was taken away by the cruelty of her Brother But that which was most remarkable in his death was that Junius who had an infinite affection for Tarquinia and doubted not but that he was poisoned at a Banquet where he was forced to afford the tyrant his company yet had the generosity not to tell her of her Brothers cruelty nor ever mind her of revenging his death But if he shewed himself so reserv'd to her he was more open to his eldest Son who was arrived to years of discretion For he sent for Licinius an ancient friend of his whose faith he trusted with all his secrets and speaking to his Son in his presence he enjoyned him to be as dutiful to that vertuous friend as to himself to prefer Vertue before all things never to forget that his Father lost his life through the injustice of an Usurper never to miss any occasion might conduce to the deliverance of Rome and to instil these resentments into his younger Brother as soon as he should be capable to receive them which done he died in an admirable assuredness of mind But Tarquinia's constancy was at the first onset over-mastered by her grief and it was impossible she should not betray some light supicion she had about the death of Junius even while the fierce Taquin and the cruel Tullia were comforting her for the loss which they caused her for this inhumane Princess had a hand in this as in all the rest of her husbands enormities But Tarquin catching at so visible a pretence soon began to ill-intreat his Sister and possessing himself of all the wealth of the Family reduc'd Tarquinia to a very sad condition for he left her not any thing to dispose of nor was she suffer'd to have her eldest Son with her which added infinitely to the affliction of this generous Roman Lady who in that very circumstance underwent the greatest persecution which could fall upon her after the loss she had received For Tarquin observing in his Sisters eldest Son certain great and vertuous inclinations and that he had withal a great understanding and courage caused him barbarously to be murthered and that so confidently that he troubled not himself whether he were accused for it or not or studied any pretence for it as if there were not any other account of his loss to be given than that he feared that that illustrious unfortunate man should revenge his Fathers death and recover that prodigious wealth which he had possessed himself of Tarquinia who had yet hardly dried up her tears for the death of her husband was so transported with that of her Sons that to save what was left she resolved to steal out of Rome with this child and she did it so much the sooner insomuch as she was advertised by Licinius that Tarquin would within a few days snatch him out of her Arms. So that this wise Matron assisted by the counsel of this faithful friend of Marcus Junius absolutely determined to forsake that place where her own Brother reigned with so much injustice It is true she had the happiness of Licinius's company thence for being hated by Tarquin he thought it conduced to his safety to leave his country as well as she So that Licinius Tarquinia and the young Brutus who then had no other name that Lucius Junius departed Rome disguised and pitcht upon Metapont for the place of their retreat That which obliged Licinius to advise Tarquinia to that place was making it his business to bestow
is one whom all true Romans wish destroyed and all vertuous people abhor You speak reason indeed replied Aronces but when all is done Clelia is still in captivity under an unmerciful Tyrant who is in love with her I live concealed in Rome not being able to do any thing but bemoan my self and give orders Clelia's liberty is uncertain the effect of the conspiracy is very doubtful and supposing Clelia were out of Rome we were still equally miserable for what part of the earth would afford us Sanctuary since we neither know where Clelius is nor where Sulpitius may be and that the Prince of Numidia who could inform us continues still in his madness But all things considered might it please the Gods I could but see Clelia once out of Tarquin's power for could I but see her at liberty and might but once more cast my self at her feet and protest that I die for love of her I should render fortune thanks and acknowledge my self more obliged to you than ever I was to any man But while Aronces was thus distracted between hope and fear while Amilcar employed all his wits to serve him while the Prince of Numidia was in some danger of death while Brutus Herminius Valerius and their friends plotted secretly in Rome to make some insurrection which might Usher in the liberty of their Country while Artemidorus Zenocrates and Celeres were ready to hazard their persons in any thing wherein they might serve Aronces while Mutius who still continued his addresses to Valeria divided his heart between the love of her and that of glory Horatius was in an incredible disturbance at Ardea having understood by some spies that Clelia was in Tarquin's power that this Tyrant was faln in love with her that the Prince of Numidia had endeavoured to deliver her and that it was not known where Aronces was If he had durst he would have come disguised out of Ardea as Herminius did to see if he could have delivered Clelia but he knew he was so much looked on by the besieged that there was no possibility to do any thing of that nature and all he could do was to carry things so as to oblige the Ardeans to persist in demanding the liberty of the Captives But being withal a person of conduct and experience he easily conceived it was not very likely Tarquin should deliver them up as being one that was obstinate in all his resolutions He therefore could do no more than what he did unless it were to bemoan his fortune whose pleasure it was that at the same time he should be in exile in love ill intreated and obliged to his Rival As for Tarquin he was astonished to hear that it was the Prince of Numidia who had attempted the delivery of Clelia for it was easie to infer thence that this Affrican Prince must needs have a considerable party in Rome to carry on such a design as that However he doubted not when the Siege were over to discover the truth of the business and so for the present spent not his thoughts on any thing so much as how to gain the place by some treaty or if that could not be done take it by storm which way they had not yet attempted For Titus and the Prince of Pometia their minds were rather employed in Love than War and Herminia and Collatina were yet absolute Empresses over their Souls But as concerning Sextus Lucretia was the continual object of his imagination he always saw her even when he saw her not he thought of nothing but her he talked of nothing else he conceived a hope though he knew not what should oblige him to it and his apprehensions were so violent and so distracted that never since it was loves employment to put the senses into rebellion against the mind did he inspire into any one a passion more exorbitant more tyrannical and more fit to overturn all reason than that which had seized his soul Thence it proceeded that he troubled himself not much either at what was done in Rome or passed in the Camp and it took up all his wits to find out means to see Lucretia again While these things were in agitation the Envoy of the King of Clusium staid in expectation though to no purpose to hear some news of Aronces for though there were many persons who could if they had so pleased have acquainted Tarquin where that Prince was as also with the true worth of Brutus and all the Plots that were afoot in Rome nay though there were two women who understood this whole secret and two Maids that knew the greatest part of it yet did it not take the least air that could be For the Interest of the Country being thought at Rome of equal concernment with that Religion there was a greater observance of faith and secrecy in such emergencies than there is elsewhere And for the women who were trusted with the knowledge of a business of so great importance they were not ordinary persons for Racilia Brutus's Aunt she carried about her that generosity which was as it were hereditary to the Family whence she was descended and Sivilia doubtless wanted not those perfections and that greatness of Courage as were requisite to qualifie her for the trust of a thing of such consequence Nor could it otherwise be but that the illustrious Herminius was so well acquainted with her worth that had she not been his Mother he would have made her his Friend For Valeria there need be no more said to give her the greatest commendation that may be than that she was Valerius Daughter Lucretias friend and Herminius's Mistress and for Hermilia there needed no more to distinguish her from the Commonalty of women who can keep nothing secret than to say she was Brutus's Sister Racilias Neece and Valeria's intimate friend 'T is true she was as yet very young and for that reason was she not acquainted with all that was designed against Tarquin and for what she knew besides there was no fear she might discover any thing since she could not have done it without hazarding the life of her Brother Thus was this great business carried on so secretly amongst these illustrious persons that there was not any thing discovered that might prejudice either Aronces Brutus or Herminius nor was there any thing suspected abroad of the great design wherein the illustrious Lover of Lucrecia had been ingaged ever since his coming from Metapont nay this year he had two sons were received into the service who were so far from knowing any thing of the design of their generous Father that they were sufficiently engaged in his Sons Interest whom Brutus was designed to ruine and besides were entred into a Cabal opposite to that of those young men with whom the subtle Amilcar held a secret correspondence against if there were occasion to make use of them Besides all this there passed neither day nor night but there were secret meetings in Rome either at
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
but hers are full of life and love and able to conquer the hearts of such as they shine upon Her complexion is a little pale yet such a paleness as being mixt with a languishing and modest air does exceedingly well become her And this Valeria who has a million of charms more than I need mention since you know them has also a Soul so noble a heart so tender a wit so accurate a spirit so gallant and every way so rarely qualifi'd that she is worthy to be the Mistress of Herminius Moreover Madam never wonder that this story which I am to relate should be as full of Gallantry as if she had been at Capua or Carthage For those amongst whom she has passed her time are naturally so full of wit as had they been born in desarts they would have invented Gallantry Also Publius Valerius the Father of Valeria allowed such honest freedom in his house unto all men of merit as it must not be thought strange if the Roman severity be not exactly found in the things which I am to relate unto you I never need to tell you that Herminius is of a Race illustrious That his Father died an Exile That the vertuous and generous Sivelia his mother is a most admirable woman But let me tell you that at her return to Rome her principal care was that Herminius should be acquainted with men of best quality there So as the house of Valerius being the common Rendezvous of all the wits and men of Rank she entreated Valerius to admit Herminius amongst them Valerius was the friend of Herminius his Father and did highly esteem the vertue of his generous Mother and therefore he was very glad to see him oft at his house and commanded Domitia his wife and Valeria to bid him kindly welcome Herminius made such use of this liberty as he got the esteem of all these illustrious Persons he being of a sweet civil complaisant liberal and ingenious temper he made the greatest divertisement of this gallant Cabal of which was Collatina a Lady call'd Flavia who had wit and beauty in perfection and another Lady call'd Salonina who was very fair and had many amiable qualities though she harboured some unjust opinions Howsoever Herminius was officious and always ready to do any thing they would have him and was extremely civil and liberal to all the Ladies he did not find in himself any other thoughts of Valeria than such as esteem and admiration use to beget in the hearts of such men who value merit Valeria on her side she held Herminius in a rank of esteem and amity not thinking he would ever be in love with her since he was not at that time so as there was betwixt them all the familiarity that vertue could permit Things being upon these terms and the great feast of the Salians approaching which is highly celebrated at Rome and whose Ceremonies are so magnificent that all the world desires to see them either out of curiosity or custome Valeria Gollatina Flavia and Salonina would go see this feast Herminius promis'd to provide them windows in the sacred street through which the Salians were wont to pass the first day of Mars which is the day of that Ceremony which though I am no Roman I do know as well as you though I cannot relate because I never saw it Then said Plotina and smiled I am more knowing than you in matters belonging to the Salian Ceremony for I was once at Rome upon that day I beseech you Madam reply'd Amilcar let me hear the relation of it and instruct an ignorant African who had need have some leisure to think upon what he is to say But if whilst I speak you think upon what you are to say reply'd Plotina you will not mind what I say Let not that hinder you from satisfying the curiosity of Amilcar said Clelia for he can sometimes think one thing and speak another However answer'd he I require a relation of the Salian Ceremony from Plotina otherwise I will tell no more of Herminius Your denial will cost us very dear said Cesonia then unto her friend and therefore I beseech you satisfie the curiosity of Amilcar quickly that he may satisfie ours Since it must be so said Plotina I must tell you that the Salians are twelve in number that they must be of the Patrician Race and that upon the first day of Mars they Celebrate a feast unto all the Gods that govern Arms so as all that is to be seen in this Ceremony has some emblem of War in it The Salians wear that day Coats of Arms embroidered with divers colours with great Belts of gilded Leather studded Murrians of polished Gold they have also Swords hanging by their sides Javelins in their right hand and Bucklers on their left arms like unto those which fell from heaven miraculously in the time of Numa The Salians being thus habited they dance and skip through the Town to the sound of Instruments and sing songs to the honour of Mars whose feast they celebrate But that in dancing they may embleme War in some places they draw their Swords and strike upon the Bucklers according to the cadency of tune and keep time without any confused noise or clashing Those that dance and strike thus do make an Idea of a Combate in their dance sometimes they are all in order and figure other while they seem to fight with one another some assault others retreat and all in figure and time according to the tune But the rarest thing amongst these twelve Salians was There were also twelve fair Salian Women drest after the Salian mode except without Swords and Bucklers Before them marched soft Musick sutable to the sweetness of their Sex These also danced through the streets as the Salians did seeming by their actions to incite the men to dance well sing well and fight well Those who would give a reason why they bring women into this Ceremony can find no other but this That all Heroick Actions whatsoever are principally inspired into men only by a desire of pleasing women I shall not mention all the streets through which the Salians passed nor their sacrifices because I will let Herminius bring his friends into the sacred street to see them After this Amilcar thanked Plotina for her relation and returned to his own in this manner Herminius having promised to provide windows for all the Company he failed not of his word the young Hermilia joyn'd with this good Company As for the men besides Collatin and Mutius there was one called Volesus who certainly was a man of merit and one Spurius Largius who flowed in wit the Prince of Pometia and Prince Titus were there also Herminius delighting handsomely to surprise those whom he desired to please he carried all the Company to the sacred street but told them not of any other entertainment but seeing the Salians pass yet he had so ordered things that these Ladies entred into a Chamber
my self that I may beg your pardon Salonina seeing her self thus pressed by Valeria she was vexed to the heart and expounded all the goodness of this sweet Lady unto a hidden interest which related unto Spurius So as dissembling her real thoughts which she was ashamed to discover she answered that she had nothing to accuse her of but expressed feigned Caresses and protestations of Friendship yet she did it in such a manner as did not perswade Valeria that they were real But it troubled this Charming Lady very much that all the World should ask her what the matter was betwixt Salonina and her Salonina on her side was put to 't to pump for an answer unto those that asked her the same question especially Volesus whom she wished very well for she was so free as to tell him that she stomached Valeria because she entertained Spurius and was angry that Spurius did not now love her because he now loved Valeria So as she told Volesus such opposed causes of complaints against Valeria as she thought good enjoyning him not to speak of it But though she might easily deceive Volesus who loved her very well yet it was impossible for her to deceive Flavia who as I told you was the friend of Herminius and upon good terms with Salonina For this Lady had a most particular faculty in discovering the most close interests of all the female Cabal And indeed she reason'd the matter upon just grounds For said she when I see any young and fair ones quarrel and jar without any apparent cause I certainly conclude that it is either out of envy or interest of Love or jealousy So without farther scrutiny into the profundity of right reasons I look after such santastical motives as Love Jealousie and envy may inspire according to the quality of their fortune and it happens very seldom but I hit right upon such things as I am inquisitive of when once I am a little acquainted with the Intrigues of a Cabal Flavia being so cunning in such things she had a light suspicion of the Truth So as walking one day with all the company in the Gardens of Numa which were very fine and pleasant she saw Salonina look very attentively upon Valeria who then stood betwixt Herminius and Spurius and she looked upon her with a kind of sourness and disdain which she did not perceive in her self So as Flavia who had a subtle and penetrating wit and would not be denied any thing she took her aside and carrying her from the rest of the company I do not ask you as others do said she unto her what the matter is betwixt Valeria and you for I know that she has cured Spurius of that Love which he bore unto you and that you are not pleased with it I think replyed Salonina and blushed that after I have treated Spurius so sharply as I have done I shall not much care who shews him any favour I confess it answered Flavia and that 's it which makes me wonder for I am not such a novist in things of the world but that I know you wish Volesus well that you never loved Spurius That you loved Valeria before Spurius loved her and that you never loved her since you thought he did Moreover Never tell me as you do others that you ever loved Valeria for you never see her but for formality and fashion sake And did you but see your self when any one commends her or when out of policy you commend her your self you would plainly see that your eyes betray your heart and that it is an easie matter to know you have a secret hatred and grudge against Valeria which you would not discover You are very plain replied Salonina and shall be plainer yet replied she especially when it is to reunite my friends and make peace and quietness in the society wherein I am Therefore if you do not confess the truth unto me and tell me the thoughts of your Soul I will take the part of Valeria against you I will condemn you every where and may be I shall tell Volesus what I think Perhaps replied she you will condemn me more when you know my true thoughts not that they are such added Salonina craftily as you imagine For indeed since I must discover the bottom of my heart unto you and that it is in vain to dissemble and say that I hate Volesus I will confess unto you I am very well pleased and allow him to love me and you may well think I have no interest in Spurius whom I have so sharply treated as Valeria thinks I have been too severe Nor is it any interest I have in Spurius which makes me take it ill from Valeria that she looks favourably upon him But to tell you trully she knowing what aversion I have to him methinks she should not endure him nor in honour receive him so kindly whom I have so much scorned nor so oft admit him into the Cabal that I can hardly ever see her but see him also Truly replied Flavia and smiled I did not think you so good a friend as you are but that I may the better know your mind Pray answer me directly to every Question I shall ask you I will replyed she Then tell me said Flavia why have you such extreme aversion to Spurius who is a man of a most tâ—â—e wit I cannot tell answered Salonina the right rhymology of the word aversion but I am sure that my exceptions against Spurius proceed not from any particular cause nor can I tell why I cannot endure him Since so said Flavia why should Spurius be more offensive to you now he addresses himself unto Valeria than when he made his addresses unto you Because replied she if Valeria did not favour him I should not see him so oft and should not be vexed to see that he does not displease her as he did me But further said Flavia whether had you rather that Spurius should be always troubling you with testimonies of his affection or that you should be rid of him and see him love Valeria Truly replied she and blusht I had much rather he should love me than Valeria for then I should have the satisfaction of treating him ill I should not have the vexation to see him so happy as he is and I should have the advantage to see Volesus more diligent more exact and more amorous For certainly nothing more sharpens a Lover than to have a gallant Rival and it is the greatest favour that comforts the heart of a Lover to treat his Rivals ill Doubtless replied Flavia there is much wit in what you say but without any more questions which if you do not answer sincerely I must tell you that all this perplexity in your heart is nothing else but a vain jealousie which makes you not endure Valeria should rob you of a Lover and that you think your beautie receives an injury because Spurius looks now upon you with eyes of
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
assembly it was and whether any thing was suspicious against his Authority But since the marriage held not no company came and Emilius was gone out at a back door so as having no further order the Lieutenant returned as soon as Valerius had shewed him that there was no assembly in his house But after he was gone Valerius concluded that it was not safe for Herminius to stay long in his house they brought him out of the place where he was hid and when Valerius asked for Emilius he was much surprised to hear by his men that he was gone Domitia feared lest his amorous despair should move him to acquaint Tarquin that Herminius was there But Herminius did not apprehend that danger no more than Valerius knowing Emilius had more generosity than to be capable of such a base action However since his departure made it plainly appear that he abandoned his pretensions unto Valeria Herminius was extremely joyed for he saw that Valeria had given him cause to despair in his good fortune Herminius then asking leave of Valerius to stay at his house until to morrow at night he made his peace so well with his dear Valeria who protested that what e're she said she had only thoughts of Amity for Emilius that he esteemed himself most happy yet he could not alter her from the proposition which Valerius had made for as things were it was not likely he should marry Valeria Valerius also told him that he would not send unto Rome to advertise Sivelia lest some ill chance should happen which might discover him and all he could do was to get so much liberty as to spend one day with Valeria 'T is true Valerius told him in private that perhaps he would not be long an exile because there were some secret plots against the Tyrant which would at last break out into a flame However Herminius told his Mistress so many particular passages concerning the love of Aronces and Clelia that she did believe him innocent but in restoring her heart wholly unto him she conjured him to continue his amity towards Emilius After this Herminius being inquisitive into the matter he made the servant confess how he came by those Letters which he brought unto him so as Valeria understanding thereby that Spurius and Mutius did know that Herminius was not dead she apprehended the more danger unto him by being in her Fathers house therefore Flavia and she did never let him rest until he was gone He departed then as happy as before he came he was afflicted yet it grieved him to see that Valerius should not make any positive promise unto him and that Emilius had not renounced his pretensions before his face But for all seeing himself upon good terms with Valeria it may well be said that he went with abundance of satisfaction unto Artemidorus and Zenocrates who expected him as well as I. Since that we met with Aronces with whom we joyned society So that Madam I have no more to say unto you for you know all that hapned since unto Herminius unless that Emilius not appearing Valerius would not let Herminius marry his Daughter until his friend consented thereunto so as this invincible Rival did much more trouble Herminius than Mutius did as brave as he was After this Amilcar holding his peace Clelia gave him thanks Cesonia and Plotina did the same and the company parted referring it untill the next day to talk of the pleasant adventure which had hapned unto them because it was too late to begin a story which contained so many particulars as it was likely to be a long and pleasant discourse The End of the First Book of the Third Part. CLELIA The Third Part. BOOK II. WHile the Adventures of Herminius and Valeria took up the memories of so many excellent persons and that Clelia comparing them with her own wanted not a little envy to Valeria who at that time seem'd to be in far greater hopes to arrive it happiness with much more ease than she and who had always the comfort of seeing him by whom she was best beloved and honour him with thousands of expressions of affection Titus and Tiberius were considering of the resolution they were to take But after a large consideration Honour and Nature getting the upper hand of Love they repaired that evening to the place appointed them by Aquilius absolutely resolved not to engage in the conspiracy On the other side Aquilius and his friends had manag'd Tarquin's interest so well that they had cajoll'd into his party a great number of young Gentlemen of quality so that they were with the first at the place where they were expected There they found those envoys of Tarquin to whom they gave an account of what they had done adding that if they could but draw in Brutus his Sons as such as had abundance of friends they might be in a capacity to accomplish something more than ordinary Nay they came so far as to acquaint these Envoys that the main business was to engage Tiberius it being then easie to bring in Titus as one that rely'd very much on the others judgment and was guided by him To this the Envoys reply'd that they were sure of some of the Senate though there were no such thing so to enflame their hopes and courage to the sudden undertaking of any thing they had a mind to put them upon For the posture of Tarquin's affairs at that time consider'd there was nothing to be done by consultation Things being at this point and the young Gentlemen contriving how to get Tarquin's Troops into the City by night Titus and Tiberius came into the place But having no thoughts at all of engaging in the conspiracy but coming hither meerly out of a fear that Ocrisia and Teraminta might take it ill if they did nothing at all the concernments of their loves put them into some trouble and accordingly they were at first very cold as to the design The moon shin'd very bright so that it was not hard to discern very distinctly the air of the faces of some who were in a spacious walk which a high fence kept from the sight of such as out of the windows of the house of the Faeciales which stood on the other side of the Garden might have looked into it They were no sooner in sight but the Envoys of Tarquin went to meet them and Aquilius attended by ten or twelve of their common friends embracing them asked whether they would not participate of the glory they were in hope to attain telling them confusedly one after another and sometimes all together that they would be accountable to them for the life and fortunes of Brutus adding withal that in civil Wars it was policy that families should be divided that so where-ever the victory fell it might be some way or other advantageous To these and many other things Titus and Tiberius made answer that the power of Brutus and the impossibility of the design proposed
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
greater delight if there are men and women than if there were only the Pictures of women without any men You are very much in the right excellent Plotina replyes Amilcar but I am to tell you that my humor is such that I am as extravagant in painting as in love and that you are not to wonder if being about the picture of a Lady I will give you a draught of the situation of her house if the humor takes me or the description of her Garden For that says Plotina I shall easily pardon you for such kinds of descriptions do only fill the imagination with things that are pleasant and divertive but what I should think unpardonable in you were to be too punctual in giving us an account of their predecessors whose Pictures you give us for there is no great pleasure in opening all those ancient Monuments to make a resurrection for a sort of people we have nothing to say to and are good for nought Fear not fairest Plotina replyes Amilcar I shall trouble you with fruitless Genealogies yet it is but fit you knew the quality of those that are spoken of Very right replied she but you must not do as those who to acquaint you with the loves of some beauty would keep you an hour with stories of the Heroick acts of her Predecessors I have already told you that I shall not be guilty of any such importunity answered Amilcar and for that reason I shall not raise up those prodigious Giants who were the first inhabitants of Sicily Not but that to deal freely with you a man that makes a relation is many times glad to take occasion to discover his knowledge in History and Geography but indeed all considered you deserve a man should be reserved I am then to tell you that the Court of Syracuse is one of the noblest in the world as well in regard it is the most chequer'd with several Nations as that it is the most inclined to gallantry But since Amalthaea makes not one of those Ladies among whom Themistus would have us to find him a Mistress I think it but fit to describe her first as a person that indeed admits no parallel Amalthaea then is a person of extraordinary perfections and so meridian a virtue that there cannot rationally be found any thing comparable to her Her birth is certainly very noble but she is so much to be celebrated upon her own account that we need not run into any discourse of the Princes from whom she is descended to look for any thing whence she might derive any advantage So that for what concerns her I shall easily follow the advice of the amiable Plotina But the very memory of her being infinitely delightful to me I cannot but celebrate her for some things for which she defies all commendations though she very much deserves it For as her sentiments are extreamly above the ordinary sentiments of those of her Sex so it is a part of her knowledge that the mind is to be preferred before all beauty but she also knows as well that the heart is above the mind Were she to hear me her self I durst not tell you she were excellently handsome and infinitely amiable nay I have such a reverence for her that I durst hardly assure you that she is fair and hath a good complexion And therefore judge of it your selves when I have in few words described her to you Amalthaea is tall of an obliging countenance at the first cast of your eye she hath a gallant presence noble and courteous yet a little reserved when she entertains persons that are indifferent in her esteem But when she pleases her self she is guilty of a certain mirth insinuation sweetness complyance nay gallantry in her entertainment of persons that she is taken with Not that she ever degenerates into that lowness as to flatter any one but there are certain charms in her gestures such as so well express what she would have you to think that you are sometimes absolutely satisfied with her though she be not at the least pains to make you understand what she would have of you But to return to her person her Hair is of a light chestnut colour the fairest in the World her eyes grey large full of spirit and that such as scatters abundance of sweetness Nay upon some occasions were it not that the high virtue whereof she makes profession had not accustomed her eyes not to discover all those pleasant things with whatever is delightful in this world gives her occasion to think on they would haply betray the mildest and most ingenious malice that could be For the compass of her face it is in a manner Oval a delicate skin a smile infinitely inviting and as I have said she hath the best countenance in the world and the best grace that can possibly be 'T is true I speak improperly there for whoever hath a good countenance hath infallibly a good grace it being impossible but they should be together And yet the excellencies of her person is not all I have to commend in Amalthaea for her great understanding her great heart and her great virtue distinguish her much more from all other of her Sex For the first there is one thing in her that is an infallible argument of the greatness of it that is an universal curiosity for whatever she thinks good or excellent from the least things to the greatest whether they be such as it is allowable for Ladies to know or such as concern the noblest Arts Works Architecture Painting Gardening particular secrets and thousands of other rarities which it were too long to insist on But what is best of all is that she will not pretend to the knowledge of any thing she understands not On the contrary she avoids the affectation of knowledge and wit nay she makes a secret of her curiosity and you find not in her chamber but such works as are ordinary with persons of her Sex But what she hath been most earnest to learn is whatever might make her more virtuous she was certainly born to a certain freedome of spirit though her temperament seem to have a little ingredient of Melancholly but it is a mild melancholly that disturbs not the calmness of her disposition and hinders her not from delighting in those ingenious things she either hears from her friends or speaking abundance her self when she will put her self to the trouble and that she is among a few that she hath a greater esteem for then others Amalthaea hath farther the happiness of having made early discoveries that the greatest part of the pleasures that young people take are but vain trifles so far that she cannot be over-commended as to that point for without turning savage or being severe towards others she hath discarded magnificence in point of clothes at a time when that passion is wont to be most predominant in the Sex She hath given over going to Balls she admits not fruitless
fair flowers but to no other end but that they may be plucked up as soon as they are perceived so that I conclude Madam that as far as civility permits we should banish from the society of persons of worth and virtue all these troublesome Poetasters who take pains only to their own shame and to importune those who know them whether they will or no. I would have also banished such Poets as are over-satyrical that write by the inspirations of envy and detraction and cannot commend any thing but what all the World blames that is when they commend their own works But however says Demarata before you tell us how you imagine a person of quality make may his advantage of Poesie grant before hand that there are divers who do very handsome things who yet are not fit for a Court-conversation I grant it Madam replyed I for there are some excellent men that are framed only to study insomuch that haveing no great acquaintance with the world their works are many times more acceptable than they themselves However I hold that there ought to be a respect for such as have worth in them and men should laugh at their ignorance of punctilioes of complyments and fashions instead of commending them for doing these things very well that they undertake and are versed in But after all it is not thus that I expect a person of quality should make verses Would you have it done as a person of my acquaintance does says Melisera who though he be satisfied that what he does is very handsome makes as if he believed it little worth and cares not what is said of it However something he does and communicates it but after a slight manner as if it were but a trifle never speaking of it but by way of raillery He that you speak of replyed I must certainly be a person of much worth but this is not yet the way wherein I would have Poesie treated when a man will meddle with it for a man should never make sport with what he hath done himself Would you then have it says a Lady that was in the company as a certain person of very much worth known to all the world one that does very excellent things and yet is so far from giving them away that he will hardly shew them not even to a small number of persons nay 't is with abundance of trouble that he is persuaded to it But what end is there in doing those things if they are not seen replyes Demarata For my part Madam said I I would have a person of honor do it for his own satisfaction or for his Love and that he should not think when he is about them that he labors for the multitude Nay I would not have him make any publick profession of what he does and I would have him at first hardly persuaded to acknowledge it but afterwards when it is known he should not make it so much a secret and when a man hath friends that understand things of that nature he may make these part of his diversion with them without any affectation either to shew or conceal them but above all things he must have a great care not to communicate them to a sort of young men that are ignorant and obstinate and think that a Poet and a Fool are the same thing for with such people a man must be short nay sometimes uncivil but for such as have found understandings and know the world well a man needs not be so reserved he must not only shew but bestow such things on them For good verses are not made that they should not be seen and persons of quality were very unfortunate if it were not allowable in them to have wit and to discover it when they can do it with judgment However says Demarata I would not allow in a Courtier any other species of Poetry than what they call the Gallant It is indeed of all the most proper for him replyed I but Madam since Poesie is a natural inclination we are not to pitch on any species but what nature leads us to for we should never do well in it It is enough therefore only to affirm that a person of quality should not trouble himself with the making of Verses if he be not naturally inclined thereto and if he be not fortunate therein and it is the poorest excuse in the world for a person of quality to say that it is not his profession for if it be excusable not to make any verses at all it is not so if a man pretends to do it and cannot do it well But must not a man make bad ones replyes Demarata before he comes to make good ones right Madam replyed I but those who shall one day be excellent at it have I know not what something that is ingenious and handsome amidst their imperfections which is an infallible argument of the future excellency of him that hath made them for which reason we must not discourage those that begin to write provided there be more good than ill in what they do but when all is done it were very hard to give precise rules whereby a person of quality should make Verses and I shall sooner have done by saying that if he make them as Themistus does he will acquit himself as a person of worth For he is not the first person that speaks of them when his friends say any thing of them he is neither troubled nor over-pleased he neither blushes at what he does nor places his greatest honor in it he looks on Poetry as an inviting and pleasant diversion that heightens the gallantry love nay the reputation of those that are excellent at it He discourses thereof with such as are well read in it when reason requires he never mentions it to those that are unacquainted therewith he neither commends nor censures what he hath done and looks on the Talent of Poesie as a handsome present from nature which he thinks he ought to improve and such as makes him a more lovely and more accomplish'd person No question but Themistus makes excellent good verses replyes hastily Demarata but I know not how he makes a shift to find them for I am of opinion that it is Love that teaches the art of making them well that ambition contributes not much thereto and that Themistus does what is very extraordinary that he can make so good ones and be so little in love as he is Demarata blushed as she said this and notwithstanding her art of dissimulation I perceived some secret quarrel against Themistus So that being come away I went and told him what I had observed but he guiding all his actions by discretion would not tell me any thing of the occasion of Demarata's quarrel against him However methought he was very much troubled at what I had told him but I thought looking on Demarata as predominant over Perianthus the concernment of his fortunes made him be troubled at what I
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
grief heard what her Father said Sulpitia knowing the humor of Clelius presumed not to oppose him therein and Octavius being turned towards the other side after he had expressed himself so generously heard no more what was spoken in his chamber But that which compleated the sorrow both of Sulpicia and Clelia was that Clelius no sooner understood that Horatius was prisoner at Veii but he declared he would endeavor to deliver him by the assistance of an illustrious Veientine that was one of his ancient friends Being Horatius was a brave person and one that might be very serviceable for supporting the Liberty of Rome neither Herminius nor Amilcar nor Zenocrates contradicted his intention as indeed they could not with honor do though they were Aronces friends So that there was none but Sulpltia and Clelia who testifyed enough by their silence that the liberty of Horatius was not the object of their wishes But the visit of Zenocrates being at length ended he and his two friends went to spend the remainder of the day with Valeria with whom they found Collatina Cesonia and Plotina for as for Hermilia she was continually so afflicted that she vouchsased not to see any person whatsoever Zenocrates addressing to Plotina asked of her what news there was since his departure I assure you said she to him I know none worthy your knowledge but only that Spurius who is the most vindicative person living has lately renewed his friendship to Valeria only because he hates his Rivals and would do them all the injury he is able at least I have heard so this day from one of his friends But is it not he replyed Zenocrates that sometimes counselled Mutius to become a Lover of Valeria Yes answered Plotina pleasantly but being he sees Mutius does not endear himself and cannot dispossess Herminius out of the heart of Valeria and that Aemilius also is more interessed in her favor than he he is so resolved to attempt that glorious adventure once again So that Valeria has now four Lovers at once In good time said Valeria who overheard this discourse of Plotina to Zenocrates though she spoke not very lowd but I had almost as good have four Enemies You do well replyed Plotina to make use of the word Almost in this occasion for I am confident there is at least one of the four which you would not have to hate you I confess it answered she but to speak sincerely I account nothing more vexatious than to be obstinately beloved by persons that I can never affect I know many Dames interposed Amilcar who was discoursing with Herminius and Collatina that are not of your humor and who esteem it an extraordinary delectation to be followed by a crowd of Suppliants for whom notwithstanding they have no particular affection As Herminius was ingaging himself in this conversation Themistus and Meleagenes came into the room who appearing more sad than ordinary gave occasion to Valeria to enquire the cause of their discontentment I deplore the death of so honorable a person answered Themistus that I cannot but require some lamentations of him from you and especially from Amilcar to whom he was well known at Syracuse And I am confident added he that though you never saw but only the portraiture of him that was shewn you when you had the curiosity to know my adventures yet you will not cease to bewail him Oh good Gods cryed Amilcar let me not hear that Meriander is dead for I should resent it most passionately I am sorry replyed Themistus that I must impart that grief to you but it is too true that the illustrious Meriander is no longer amongst the living but left the world three days since How replyed Valeria he that had all good qualities none bad who was both gallant and prudent who knew all things of excellence loved all noble acts passionately affected Musick that loved the whole World that was so acceptable in it so sincere so faithful a friend so constant and so generous does he no longer live He does not most certainly answered Themistus and the pensive Merigenes who arrived yesterday in the evening tells me Meriander hath been universally bewailed as never any before in the Court of Syracuse Not one Beauty but has lamented his fate nor man of quality but expressed their resentment with sighs and complaints those that excel in any good Arts do almost abandon them since he is no longer their Protector and in brief all the World deplores him as person that could alone introduce civility virtue and gallantry into the Court and serve for a model to those that propose to themselves the perfection of honorable persons I assure you replyed Herminius such as have all the rare qualities Meriander was owner of cannot be sufficiently regretted and if Amilcar would acquit himself well he should compose an Epitaph worthy of his own Wit and the merit of the illustrious Deceased I protest to you said Amilcar hastily that I would have one made but I must withall declare to you that I will not be the Author for in short this kind of composure is the rack of good Wits and I know nothing more difficult to make well Yet I believe the cause why so few Epitaphs please those that read them is that generally praises and sadness are displeasing to almost all the World So that all Epitaphs that are composed being sad and usually full of commendations it is hard to please and gain approbation Besides that to speak judiciously it being requisite that an Epitaph be short and clear and exactly congruous to the person for whom it is intended that it be between a plain Inscription and an Elogium that there be some touch of Morality by the way and that it excite tenderness and compassion it is not much to be wondered at that there be so few well made Moreover I assure you that unless some Burlesque or Festivous Epitaphs I have not seen many excellent for they are usually too plain or too eloquent Those that express too little stop passengers for nothing those that are too long and have more words than matter make them lose too much time those which commend excessively give occasion of contradiction and calumnies against the dead and the person that commends him and those which do not extoll at all when they are intended of people that merit to be praised excite generous Readers to indignation and choler Wherefore I conclude that it is not fit to adventure lightly to make Epitaphs and I cannot resolve to make one for the noble Meriander though his memory be very dear to me Then Valeria demanded of Themistus whether Merigenes was sent to him by the Princess Lindamira I am not so happy answered he but Merigenes being much my friend thought meet to come and advertise me that he understood the young Prince of Messena was gone into Italy 'T is true I received news by him of Lindamira which gave me great satisfaction and
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
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
dispaeht a little more easily And besides Tarquin being a subtle Prince and one that had a great faculty of dissimulation and Sextus being of a jovial easie nature and capable to forget all things past in a moment they both receiv'd Aronces as if they had always lov'd him as the son of a King from whom alone they could expect their reestablishment at Rome As for Aronces it was easie to perceive that the respect he would render to the King his Father oblig'd him to receive the civilities of Tarquin and Sextus he had also the generosity to express some tokens of the difference he made between the virtuous Titus and them for he deported himself after another manner towards him in the sight of all the Court. After this Aronces to follow the counsel of Galerita in all things went to visit the Princess of the Leontines whom he honor'd infinitely for out of the design he had not to be persecuted with the marriage of the daughter of the King of Ceres he resolv'd to give Porsenna occasion to imagine that the Princess of the Leontines might cause him to forget Clelia Not but that this kind of Artifice was displeasing to him but having advertis'd Clelia of it he resolv'd upon it with the thought that at least he might often be at liberty to complain of his unhappiness with a most generous Princess When he went to wait upon her he found a Lady there one of the most vertuous in the world and who was extreamly belov'd by her as well as by Galerita Her name was Melintha for her descent being from Greece her name came also to be of that Country And being very powerful in this Court by the great number of Friends she had in it the Princess of the Leontines was desirous Aronces should contract a friendship with her And accordingly finding her at first gentle sweet ingenious and compassionate he desir'd to have some place in her affection and intreated of her so obligingly that she promis'd it him with joy for she saw his unhappiness was as great as his vertue and she was very willing to be one of his friends especially because she had power to serve him Upon the return of Aronces all the Court was fill'd with joy all the young Persons of quality presented themselves to him the people made a publick rejoycing and there was no one fair Person who did not hope to dispossess Clelia of his heart Yet it was a very rash design and prov'd very ill to those who attempted it for Aronces tho civil and complacent could take no pleasure but in the company of the Princess of the Leontines with whom he talk'd in freedom or with Titus who loving Rome as well as he pitied him with much dearness and did not act like a Son of Tarquin but as a real and faithful friend In the mean time as the friendship of Princes especially when they are young is easily misconstrued for Love in a few daies it was reported in the Court of the King of Hetruria that Aronces was become amorous of the Princess of the Leontines tho he did not profess Courtship to her besides that Galerita being desirous Porsenna should believe so to the end the Prince her Son might be more ingratiated with him contributed very much to make the rumor credited notwithstanding Aronces's reluctancy hoping this would hinder the King from urging his marriage with the daughter of the King of Ceres which was only design'd to dis-engage his heart from the love of Clelia And moreover Aronces was so frequently with the Princess of the Leontines that it was imagin'd that the occasion of it could be no other but Love Yet he entertain'd her only with discourse of his Passion for Clelia and the excellencies of that admirable Lady But as the Courts of Princes are never so splendid nor populous as when a war is to begin that of the King of Hetruria was at this time magnificent and extreamly numerous Tarquin Sextus and the Prince his brother was there an old Lover of the Princess of the Leontines was there also not so much to serve Porsenna as to importune that generous Lady The Prince of Messene arriv'd there who was sufficiently surpriz'd when he understood the sister of Artemidorus was there for it was reported that when she was in Sicily she was amongst the veil'd Virgins Nevertheless the case being otherwise he render'd all the civility he ought her tho he was Rival to the Prince her brother Besides all these Princes all the people of quality of Tarquin and Veii came to Clusium Telanus amongst others repair'd thither and acquitted himself punctually of what he had promis'd Clelia and Octavius for he offer'd himself to Aronces as one wholly at his devotion in all occasions whatsoever Artemidorus and Zenocrates being at Rome the Princess of the Leontines was very desirous these combustions might be pacifi'd She wisht her self able to contribute to this great design tho she saw no great likelihood in it but she conceiv'd if the War could be deferr'd for one year she might possibly be then in a condition to hinder it Tarquin was old and several accidents might fall out to change the face of affairs She imparted her thoughts to Galerita who finding she had reason in her opinion endeavour'd to bring it to pass that some secret Negotiation might be undertaken Yet she did not acquaint Aronces with her design imagining that any thing which might draw matters out in length would not seem advantageous to him because Love causes prejudice in the minds of those that are possost with it And accordingly these two Princesses acted with so much address that Porsenna consented to the attempting to find out some expedient for the accommoding of affairs to the end the War he intended to make upon Rome might appear more just if an equitable proposition were refus'd Tarquin was extremly backward to consent to this delay but Porsenna having promis'd him that this Treaty should last but fifteen daies he resolv'd upon it on condition the business might be carried privately that so in case it should not succeed it might not be reproacht to him to have ask'd a peace of Rome Galerita improving this occasion propounded to request the Princess of the Leontines who was of a condition fit to intermeddle in such affairs and had as great a capacity as was necessary for the like transactions that she would go to Rome accompani'd with two men of quality This proposition pleas'd Porsenna because believing his Son enamour'd on this Princess he thought she would preserve her conquest and out of the desire of coming to be Queen of Hetruria do nothing that might be advantageous to Clelia The difficulty was to propound something which might have some probability of succeeding but several dextrous persons undertaking this affair it was resolv'd it should be demanded the form of Government should continue Monarchical that the Title of King should remain to Tarquin
returned to his Master before we got to Leontium Zenocrates knowing well enough how to improve all occasions remember'd he had seen at the House of one of his intimate Friends a Young tame Hart. Wherefore he went and requested it and having caus'd a silver collar to be put about its neck engraven with the Characters of the Princess the next day at noon he sent it to her with the most pleasant Verses in the world He feign'd that the young Hart speaking to Lysimena told her ingenious things which bearing a double sense had reference both to the condition of Zenocrates and his unhappiness in displeasing the Princess that day But doe not you remember the Verses upon the young Hart interrupted Plotina If I had remember'd them answered Amiclea I would have repeated them but all I can say of them is that they began thus I like a young Actaeon follow you Happy Diana with too rash a view And after divers ingenious fancies they concluded thus But if for having seen your charms I dye No sighs no tears shall wail my destiny I am very sorry I cannot recite more of them to you but I must be contented with telling you that this gallantry extremely pleas'd Lysimena she accepted the Hart with pleasure pardon'd Zenocrates and obligingly answer'd the Verses he had made in the name of the young Hart which in a short time became one of her chief divertisements For she put it into one of the Gardens of the Palace where it grew so familiar and amiable that almost every one made much of it to please Lysimena And it was so proud of the caresses made to it that contrary to the Nature of Stags it became valiant and was oftentimes seen not only to hold the Dogs at Bay but to go towards them and force them to fly A few days after this gallantry Zenocrates made another the Princess having purposed to go very early in the morning to offer Sacrifice in a Temple a good distance from Leontium would not be follow'd by any besides her own Attendants Zenocrates not being able to indure that the Princess should continue from morning to night without hearing of him gain'd an interest in one of her waiting-women and gave her three Letters to deliver to her at several hours of the day And accordingly there being none but this Virgin and I in her Chariot assoon as we were out of the City she being of a debonair humour and well belov'd by the Princess gave her the first Letter telling her she receiv'd it a little before they set forth Being Zenocrates us'd to write to her often she was not surpris'd at this first Letter but took it and opening it requir'd me to read it at the same time with her and we found it to contain these very words ZENOCRATES to LYSIMENA IT seems Madam you intend to spend a whole day without thinking of those that think of none but you and you believe you cannot be constrain'd to think of them whether you will or no. But you shall see before the day be past that they who know how to love find inventions which indifferent persons never think of After this Letter was read Lysimena imagin'd Zenocrates thought it would be sufficient to oblige her to think of him all the day but she was much surpris'd four hours after when she saw one of her slaves whom this waiting-woman of the Princess had so instructed deliver her a second Let from Zenocrates She open'd it with more haste than the former and found that in it which I am going to repeat to you ZENOCRATES to LYSIMENA PErhaps you believe Madam it is but four hours since you departed from hence but I swear to you I judge them to be four Ages For a moment of discontent and that caused by absence seems so long to a Lover that he may be allowed to reckon it for more than a year In the mean time you account moments but for moments and hours for hours But if you imploy'd them in thinking of the constancy of the inconstant Zenocrates it would be something but you seem to mind nothing but Trees the Meadows and the Mountains which you see whilst I am wholly taken up in thinking of your Charms your Wit and my own unhappiness Well Madam said I to Lysimena what say you to Zenocrates's Gallantry I say answer'd she that he diverts himself at my cost for I told him yesterday I would not remember him all the day but would only think of the Sacrifice I went to offer Nevertheless he endeavours to force me to think of him After which Lysimena reprov'd the waiting-woman that was with her but she did it so weakly that it was apparent she was not much sorry for being deceiv'd A little while after we arriv'd at the Temple the Sacrifice was offer'd and we went to the Priests house where the Princess was to dine but before that an unknown person whom the same waiting-woman found in that place deliver'd a third Letter to Lysimena who being now accustom'd to receive them took it smilingly and drawing me aside It must be confest said she Zenocrates is not too wise You have more reason answer'd I to say Zenocrates is an ingenious person and of good invention After this she open'd the third Letter which if I am not mistaken was in these terms ZENOCRATES to LYSIMENA PErhaps you think Madam you are so remote from me that I cannot trouble you but know that should you go to the Worlds end my love would follow you every where and in whatever part of the Earth you were I should devise some invention to make you know that I am the most ardent Lover amongst mankind At least said the Princess after she had read the Letter Zenocrates is the most happy in 's having to do with a person that is not offended with his follies After which we spoke very obligingly of him for a quarter of an hour and laught sufficiently at this Gallantry which was so much the more ingenious for that Lysimena durst not refuse the Letters that were presented to her for fear of causing suspition in her attendants besides their affection being only innocent there was no reason for it At length we departed from the Temple and put our selves upon the way to Leontium But when we were gone half way a man on Horse-back approaching Lysimena's Chariot delivered her a fourth Letter after which he retir'd and the Princess having open'd it found it contain these words ZENOCRATES to LYSIMENA IF you believe absence to be a remedy of love you are extremely deceived Madam for since your departure methinks I love you more by half Yet I lov'd you yesterday more than ever any person loved and I am confident I have surpassed my self alone in loving you more than I did You see Madam that against your will you have been constrained to think four times this day upon the unhappy Zenocrates I beseech you force him no more to have
am perswaded you cannot but have a great aversion for me for if it were not so you would on the contrary find there would be some sweetness to your self in raigning absolutely in my heart and that love is a consolation of all sorts of infelicities No no Cloranisbes said she to him do not imagine I have any aversion for you for I assure you I know very well all the excellent qualities you are indu'd with but you are an Exile and so am I I love the World I am ambitious and I hate solitude judge then whether as things now stand 't is possible for you to render me happy But Madam answer'd he Fortune may change and 't is easie for me not to be perpetually in banishment Not but that I could easily dispense with the World if I enjoy'd you added he but since you love it I will love it too for your sake I will hate Solitude and Love shall anew inspire me with ambition Thus amiable Plotina stood the case of Cloranisbes with Lysonice when I was at his house when I found those Love-verses and when I play'd the prank of translating them to perplex him After this afflicted Lover had related to me all that I have rehears'd to you he complain'd of his unhappiness in a most passionate manner For my dear Amilcar said he to me no man alive can love more ardently than I do none can have less hope than I have and finally none can resent greater torment I know Lysonice has several Lovers at the Court of Massilia who bestir themselves to their power to make Bostar's peace so that if he be recall'd I shall lose Lysonice for ever and live in my Desart tormented with love jealousie and despair Bostar without doubt does not hate me added he Cyrene loves me very tenderly and Pasilia and Delisia are for me but Lysonice with all her esteem is sensible to nothing but ambition But however said I is not her heart sensible of joy Yes answer'd he and I know not whether it be partly because she loves pleasures and is very ambitious If you credit me reply'd I instead of complaining continually as you do study to divert her carry me to Bostar's house to whom I will give hope of your return to Utica and suffer me a little to observe your Mistress But if you should go and become my Rival answer'd Cloranisbes I should be much more unhappy If I should reply'd I smiling it would be probably for so short a time that I should not have leisure to prejudice you For besides that 't is seldom I have any long Loves I am to stay here but eight days so that my absence would cure me of my passion At that time charming Plotina you had not yet taught me to love constantly But in fine Cloranisbes promis'd to carry me the day following to Bostar's house Where accordingly I found that Cyrene was a handsome woman to whom one might still offer an idle heart without being lyable to blame I found Pasilia very amiable Delisia infinitely agreeable and Lysonice so fair and so charming that if my Friend had not lov'd her I should have infallibly become her servant But because I would not augment his miseries I hastned as much as possibly I could to make choice between Pasilia and Delisia And having well consider'd them both I fix'd my self upon Delisia Whereas I came from the Court Lysonice receiv'd me with joy and when I said I believ'd Cloranisbes was likely to be recall'd speedily she treated him a little better that day than ordinary Moreover I describ'd the Court of Utica to her so gallant and the vicinity of Carthage so commodious and pleasant that me thought if Cloranisbes were recall'd she would easily resolve to marry him In the Interim it being my happiness to please all this fair company Bostar propos'd to us to stay at his house during the eight days allotted me to abide with Cloranisbes Wherefore conceiving it would be advantageous to my Friend if we accepted his offer I carri'd the matter so handsomly that they seem'd almost to force us to stay there In this time I lov'd Delisia I did not hate Pasilia I was very complacential to Cyrene and I also lov'd a young Phoenician Virgin who came to Bostar's house and whose name was Phelinice She is indeed a very lovely Lady of an indifferent stature but extreme well shap'd she has a round visage a little dimple in her chin a lively complexion a somewhat high forehead a handsome mouth a very pleasing smile black and sparkling eyes purely white hands and hair of the fairest bright chesnut that ever was seen which is very rare in that Countrey But though Phelinice be always very agreeable yet she is infinitely more upon one of these days in which she has a certain sweet and a little caressing complacency which becomes her admirably She is naturally good discreet and generous she is both debonair and melancholy she is very ingenious and is capable of more things than many others who make greater ostentation than she Pleasure is sufficiently sutable to her inclination though she can dispense with it when 't is fitting to do so as for her friends she loves them well but yet a little less than she thinks because she does not believe her self so well belov'd by them as she really is and having taken up a conceit that true friendship may be without an absolute confiding intimacy it is hard for her to escape the upbraidings of her Friends Yet this does not hinder her from being very amiable and very worthy to be lov'd and therefore I lov'd her at least as much as Delisia and Pasilia But being she was but one day with us I was quit of her for four and twenty hours love The eight days we stay'd there were spent very delightfully for having no other design but to divert ourselves we satisfied our desires notwithstanding all the ambition of Lysonice We went a hunting and a fishing we walkt we made jovial Sonnets and extemporary Verses we sometimes talk'd seriously and many times otherwise and in brief we had very divertising conversations That which often render'd them agreeable was for that there liv'd rustical people in the places adjacent whose countrey modes made Lysonice desperate and gave her occasion to declare against the Countrey very agrecably But forasmuch as I know well enough how to counterfeit all sorts of people I diverted her sufficiently in conversing with these people as if I had been one of them For I could imitate their looks speak their language and transform my self absolutely into a noble Bumkin And by this folly I drew pleasure from a thing which otherwise would have been very disgustful to her In the mean time Cloranisbes imploy'd all his endeavours to win the heart of Lysonice he knew well that she esteem'd him and nothing was so prejudicial to him as his quality of being an Exile but this difficulty was in a manner insuperable
the third Entry of the Country Cupid was two Shepherds who singing the best they could before their mistress had an innocent contest together of which her heart was the subject The fourth Entry of the Cupid of the Court was a foolish Gossip delivering Letters Bracelets of Hair and Pictures to four Lovers without their perceiving it with which she made her self pleasant with an old she-she-friend of hers and the fourth Entry of the Country Cupid was a young Shepherdess who having a Sheep of her Flock stray'd away carefully sought for it and afterwards receiv'd it from the hand of her Shepherd who brought it back to her after he had slain a Wolf that would have prey'd upon it The fifth Entry of the Cupid of the Court was a Young Lacedemonian virgin follow'd by four Athenians who requir'd their hearts again of her intimating thereby that the hatred of Nations does not hinder but love may arise between persons that are enemies and the fifth Entry of the Country Cupid was a Young Shepherdess looking upon three Young Shepherds who strove for the prize of a race the first running very swiftly without regarding her arriv'd at the Goal before the rest the second turning his head to see her was cast behind and the third not being able to pass further stay'd just before her after which the Young Shepherdess gave a Garland of Flowers to those that had run best but she gave her heart to the third at which the others were so discontented that they went away in great despair The last Entry of the Cupid of the Court was men and women of quality who having danc'd a while stood in order to hear a Sonnet sung by Youth which was admirably well represented and in few words spoke a thousand things in praise of the Cupid of the Court to whom alone belong'd gallantry magnificence and liberality and the sixth and last Entry of the Country Cupid was several Shepherds and Shepherdesses who danc't to Songs under Trees alternately answering one another That which they sung was a kind of Dialogue in which I made a little merry Satyre against the Cupid of the Court and an Elegium in favour of the innocence of the Country Cupid After which those of the Court and the Shepherds uniting and there appearing but one Cupid who represented something of both the other which had been seen they acknowledg'd one another and ended the Mask with a Speech which concluded to the honour of Love and in the name of all those that had appear'd Come then and let 's adore At Courts and pleasant Springs This lovely Conqueror Of Shepherds and of Kings Unhappy he whose heart Receives not Cupid ' s wound Without the torments of his Dart No pleasure's to be found How said Plotina do you think you shall not tell us some of the Verses of the Mask In good earnest Madam answer'd Amilcar I have the greatest desire in the World to do it but it does not please my memory and all that I can do is only to tell you the four Verses which I made for that young Lacedemonian Virgin who was follow'd by the four Athenians which requir'd their hearts again of her yet they did not serve and I was forc't to make others because I had Greece so much in my head when I made them that I did not remember I was in Africa But they were these Why unjust enemies do you accuse me I 've stoln a hundred hearts so Love refuse me But how can any dwells in Greece not know My Country Sparta 's Laws do theft allow No doubt you will say I have studied very deeply and adde that I have an odde memory but since I know not how to do otherwise 't is better that you do not interrupt me but suffer me to finish my story I will not detain you with exaggerating Cloranisbes joy for it was great beyond the possibility of expression Bostar also was highly contented Cyrene was extremely satisfied Pasilia and Delisia hoping to go to the Court with their Kinswoman were ravish't with joy and Lysonice having married a very worthy person that lov'd her ardently and who she believ'd would shortly carry her to Utica seem'd as contented as any one in the World Soon after I was recall'd by the Prince and oblig'd to leave Cloranisbes with the fair Lysonice At my taking leave of him he desir'd me to speak as little as I could of Lysonice when I should be with the Prince and only to say by the by that her beauty was much improv'd since I had seen her first but above all to beware of discovering that he was amorous of her and accordingly I did as he desir'd and that with sufficient address So being oblig'd by the Prince to come away about some affairs of his I departed as you have known and left things in that condition But I have understood by a Friend of Cloranisbes whom he has sent to me that the face of things is since much alter'd For fifteen days after his Nuptials the Prince recall'd him to Utica Lysonice was desirous to accompany her Husband but for that he was loth the Prince should see her so soon he told her that having as yet no house there fit for her accommodation it was more requisite for himself to go alone to make preparations chusing rather to part for some time from the person whom he lov'd than to venture to have her seen by the Prince so soon after his marriage for he found that he had not sufficient power over himself to hide his passion for Lysonice if they should be seen together at Utica Besides it is always natural enough to defer a thing which we fear as much as possibly we can So he left Lysonice and promis'd her that he would return to her with all speed At his coming to the Court he found the Prince had broken off with his Mistress was very much offended with her likely never to love her more Whereupon Cloranisbes us'd all the industry and address he could to re-engage him that so having his mind prepossest he might take less notice of Lysonice's beauty when he should see her but he could effect nothing In the interim he writ every day to his dear Lysonice he sent her Presents continually and not having ceas'd to be a Lover by becoming a Husband there was no care which he did not use to please her he went to see her several times and as often as he saw her he found out new impediments of her journey to Utica One time he said his house was not ready another that it was requisite to expect till the Princess of Cartbage were reconcil'd with her brother another that winter was not a healthful season wherein to go and reside at Utica so that though Lysonice accounted the time very long yet she did not disbelieve what Cloranisbes told her but hop'd that at least in the Spring she should go to Court The Winter-time was thus pass'd over
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