out of my grief for my soul feels it to this very day but the disturbance which so strange an accident had raised in me I turned my thoughts to what was remaining of my Master and endeavoured to do him further service either in the person of his Son or that of his Wife and seeing people enough about Pompey and my Wife with some others busie about Cornelia who had not recovered her sentiments and who in a manner discovered no sign of life I came near her and contributed my endeavours to those of the rest to bring her to her self It was long ere we could promise our selves that comfort and when she had opened her eyes she saw us busie about her in order to her relief turning her fatal looks upon us she opened them to a rivolet of tears which it hath not been in the power of many years to dry up Though she were a person naturally of an admirable constancy and had a courage much beyond her Sex yet was it beyond both her courage and her constancy to oppose the violent assaults of a grief raised by so insupportable a loss Nor was there any person who either durst or would oppose so just lamentations but were inclined rather to accompany them than condemn them The saddest expressions that can proceed from the greatest misfortune come not any thing near the complaints of the afflicted Cornelia and it were impossible for me to make you apprehend it if you do not your self imagine it out of a consideration of the loss she received for indeed never had woman such a loss never had woman lost so great a Husband nor after so cruel a manner neither did she charge any thing but fortune with the fall of her illustrious comfort and as before her marriage with the great Pompey she had been the young Widow of Crassus who with his Father had been killed among the Parthians she said that her fortune had been fatal to her Husbands that she had been fatal to the House of Crassus and to that of Pompey and that it was meerly through the cruelty of her Destiny that the earth had lost two extraordinary men But being withal a person of admirable vertue and exemplary piety towards the Gods she offered not to repine at their decrees and amidst the discoveries of the most sensible grief that ever soul was moved to she added thousands of a miraculous moderation She never enquired what place they carried her to and the Vessel was come to Cyprus before she had diverted her thoughts for so much as one minute from the fatal object which wholly took them up nay she would have refused what is necessary for the preservation of life as thinking nothing more detestable than the continuance of it had she not thought her self oblig'd to some care of it out of the affection which she had for Pompey and to express her endeavours to preserve the only fruit of their love and marriage which she had carried for some moneths in her womb For you are to know Madam that she was some four or five moneths gone with child and though there were no great appearance of it and that she had discovered it to very few I was one of that small number that knew it and had been told it by Herennia to whom she communicated all her secrets She then endeavoured to keep it more secret then before and made many of those who had heard of it believe that she was mistaken in the opinion she had of her being with child but in the mean time the inconvenience it occasioned her and which troubled her the more by reason of her grief and the foul weather she had been in at Sea on which she had made a long voyage for a person in her condition cast her down at Amathus a City of Cyprus whither we were retired into a sickness which she conceived would prove long and which she would have wished more dangerous if out of the love she had for what was left of Pompey she had not been so far desirous of life as to bring it into the World Mean time having a great respect to the memory of the great Pompey in whatever he had left behind him though Prince Sextus was not by her yet she minded his preservation no less then if he had and fearing the pursuit of the Conquerour who might conceive such a jealousie of the Children of Pompey as might oblige him to take away their lives she would have him sent away with all diligence from Cyprus to seek his refuge either in the Navy which still continued loyal or with her Father Scipio Cato and King Juba who was of their party or with Cenius Pompeius his elder Brother who was in Spain Sextus would not haply have been perswaded to leave her as having a greater respect for her vertue than an alliance which ordinarily raiseth not very solid Friendships between stepmothers and step-children had he not imagined that there was no danger for her and that the triumpant Caesar would not extend his victory so far as to the Wife of the great Pompey Sextus left Cyprus with the greatest part of those that remained both of the friends and servants of his Father and upon the desires of Cornelia I was one of the small number who stayed with her and continued to serve her with the affections I had for her great and illustrious Husband She kept her bed all the time she stayed at Amathus where all the world did her honour suitably to her dignity and vertue and where she understood somewhat to her comfort that Caesar instead of countenancing the murtherers of Pompey had destroyed them all that Ptolomey himself had lost his life and that there was not any one left of those infamous counsellors who had engaged him in that detestable action She kept her bed though she was sufficiently well in health the better to conceal her great belly but at last perceiving it impossible for her to keep it always secret in a City where she was visited by so many persons upon pretence that the Countrey air might do her much good she would needs be carried in a Litter to a certain great House which stood a days journey from Amathus and and which one of the principal inhabitants of Amathus accommodated her with for that time Her resolution was to Lie-In there as being unwillng to venture upon the Sea in the condion she was in and conceiving there was no place more fit to conceal her delivery Her reckoning came upon her sooner than she expected for the seventh moneth after conception was hardly expired when she feels coming upon her the pains and throws of Child-bearing and not long after without any other assistance then what she received from her woman she was safely delivered of the same Britomarus whom you now see before you It is true Artaban continues Briton observing his astonishment as also that of the Queen and Princess in their
ruined him in Cleopatra's breast which still by perpetual urgings I remembred to imprint in his memory contributed more to his cure than all other considerations but to exasperate his anguish the third day after he fell sick the Emperor parted from Syracusa followed by the whole Court with the Princess Cleopatra however I insinuated some Comfort by representing that he needed not desire to be neer his Enemies so long as his malady tyed his hands that when the return of his health had once unbound them it would not be hard to find them out and follow the motives wherewith his just resentments inspired him The fourth day his disease rose to the height that he scarce spoke any more by the rule of reason and was ordinarily in a high frensie yet in the greatest fury of his fits he had ever the name of Cleopatra in his mouth often those of Tiberius and Augustus but I had the hardest task in the world to seduce the attention of those that served him for fear his wild discourse should betray us when his senses returned and he knew there was none to over-hear him he would break into loud complaints against Cleopatra's ingratitude and sometimes figuring to himself that the harsh usage she had given him was the child of chance and sprung from no other womb than the levity of her Spirit coloured with a pretext of imaginary offences referred to which his strictest examination could not find a spot in his Innocence he fell into a grief that disclaimed all comfort and held a Discourse with himself in the most passionate manner that ever was brought forth by the greatest pangs of afflictions but within one moment relapsing into his frensie Ah! behold Tiberius cryed he stay the Traitor then addressing his language to Cleopatra he brought forth a broken Discourse without any order or method yet mingled such things in the wild composure as might have given dangerous hints to the standers by had they lent attention When I saw his malady was like to grow tedious by his Command I dispatched Strato to Pelorus to send back all the persons that followed us in two of the Ships to Mauritania leaving none in the third but such as were necessary to conduct us The 15th day my Master had a favourable Crisis from which the Physitians concluded the danger over-blown and a few days after the Feaver left him but he was still so weak as it was long before he could use his legs and it cost him six weeks time before he recovered a condition to quit his chamber about that time demanding news of those that served us we were told that fame talked of nothing else in Syracusa but the Mauritanian War that the Emperor resolved to pay back the affront he received in the loss of that Realm had not only sent 100000 men under command of Domitius Aenobarbus and Strato to reinvade it but had armed all the African Countries in his quarrel under the Roman Dominion and denounced the threat of War in case they refused to march against the King of Mauritania who in all appearance not able to resist so great a power would quickly be trampled under foot Coriolanus rouz'd at this report with a pique of honour for he could not bow to any other Interest was sorry Mauritania wanted his presence in a condition to defend it and I think the desire to arm his against those Enemies that went to disturb the Kingdom advanced his recovery In effect he made such hast to be well as in a few days he was able to ride and dispos'd himself to quit Syracusa when by a succession of frowns which as well as favours took their share in his fortune Lucius Varus Governour of Sicilia friend and neer Kinsman to Tiberius having learned by I know not what means that my Master was in Siracusa and the house where he lodg'd came with a great guard into his Chamber and took him Prisoner in his bed for Caesar's Interests This accident marvellously surpriz'd me but my Master shewed not the least astonishment and regarding Varus whom he had often seen at Rome and known of Tiberius party without Emotion Thou hast done good service for thy friend Tiberius said he who while I had liberty could never have worn his life securely but now Varus thou hast given it him entire thou shalt do me a less injury by taking mine than letting me live without a power to assist my Country It is not the Interest of Tiberius replyed Varus but those of Caesar your declared Enemy and the obligations due from my charge that makes me seize your liberty This said he led us to a strong house in the City where he set a strict guard upon my Master at the beginning animosity had the upper hand in that action but he had not long frequented my Prince whom he often visited before his vertues had subdu'd him to a kind of repentance and slackened his intended hast of giving Augustus an account of his surprizal for fear he should pronounce some cruel arrest against him and possible he could have been contented to return him his liberty if the danger of Caesars anger and his own life had not disswaded it However he caus'd him to be served with all the respect his condition demanded yet held him Prisoner three whole months which by the help of a greater affliction he supported so sweetly as all the time his Captivity lasted he was never heard to complain of any thing else but Cleopatra's unkindness His restraint would have been longer and doubtless more dangerous if Claudius Varus Son to Lucius a vertuous young man that had served under Coriolanus in Asturia and been obliged by many noble offices to his generosity had not returned to Syracusa leaving Augustus in Macedonia who is since pass'd into Asia on purpose to come back to us upon the invitation of a design His father aw'd by the requisites of his charge and the fear of punishment if he longer deferred it was at last constrained to inform Caesar by a Messenger that Coriolanus was taken he that carried this intelligence address'd himself first to his Masters Son to present him to Caesar but young Claudius had no sooner learned the cause that conducted him thither but calling to mind what a deep score he was in to Coriolanus nobleness and preserving a marvellous esteem of his vertues resolved to put by the danger that was levelled at his life and could not have missed it if once the notice of his surprizal had arrived at Augustus ear upon these reflections he undertook to deliver the Message himself and the next day telling him that brought it that Caesar already advertis'd what his business imported had commanded him back to Sicily with private instructions to his Father he dismissed him without the speech of the Emperor and presently put himself upon the way to Syracusa where he rendered himself with a winged expedition and quickly informed his Father he was sent by
remembrance of Cleopatra since I dare assure you in his stead that the Empire of the whole World would be inconsiderable to his spirit in respect of your affection I was very joyful to observe in this Prince so many testimonies of affection for Coriolanus and being willing to hold him longer upon this point But is it possible said I to him that you perceive no diminution of your friendship towards that Prince for that which he hath caused in an Empire destined for you and when it shall come into your own hands will you not behold him with an evil eye that hath dismembred it of two so great Kingdoms I have already told you added Marcellus that the possession of the Empire is a thing whereof I have very little assurance through the change which may happen in Cesars humor or Dominion but the gods are my Witnesses that were it offered to me to day I should receive thereby no greater joy than to part it with my Friend and I shall say no more when I tell you that him to whom I would yield Cleopatra I would easily give the whole Empire Ah my Brother replied I blushing at this Discourse Cleopatra is not a price considerable in respect of the Empire and though your bounty had made her so she would have been very sorry to have made you lose with the dignities which you possess the happiness you injoy in the person of Julia. I spake thus because at that time he stood upon very good terms with Julia and it was believed that the Emperor would shortly cause the Celebration of their Marriage We were upon this point when we were interrupted by the Princess Julia her self who did me the honour to visit me and as she then desired to testifie a great deal of affection to Marcellus of whose joy for the advantages of his Friend she was not ignorant she would not lose this occasion to let me see that her sentiments were conformable to those of the Prince she loved though those who desired to stand well in Cesars favour durst not visit me at this time which was to me a time of disgrace but Julia might do it more commodiously because I lodged in the house of her Aunt Octavia whom she saw almost daily and for whom the Emperor made extraordinary deferences She testified to me at that time a hundred marks of satisfaction which would have rendered her very criminal before Cesar had they reached his ear and as her spirit was very quick and ready she forgat nothing which might perswade that she had very much interest in the fortune of Juba Marcellus testified much acknowledgment for this bounty and it seemed that this meeting gave stronger bands to their love Tiberius came to see me on the morrow but made no mention of Coriolanus not daring sufficiently to constrain his thoughts to testifie any joy at this good success and having a spirit too subtile to speak before me against a Prince for whom my esteem and affection were publick yet could he not some dayes after but touch upon it and finding me in my ordinary coldness towards him I will not believe said he that the ill-assured hope of a Crown hath added any thing to the disdain which you have always shewed towards me and as your Courage is too great to raise your self by things that are below you so you have too much judgment to believe that Coriolanus can resist the puissance of the Emperor armed against him or that his condition is better upon that tottering Throne than it was here in Rome when he was honoured by the Amity and Protection of Cesar It is not Fortune replied I for which I esteem men and the change which Coriolanus hath and may receive can add nothing to the sentiments which I have for him Nevertheless you see replied Tiberius that the thoughts of his love possess not the upper place of his spirit and he appears sufficiently hot and busied about the Conquest of a Crown to give you reason to believe that his strongest endeavours are not for the Service of Cleopatra I will believe it so well as you replied I smiling and I shall have but little reason to blame him for preferring a Crown before the possession of Cleopatra who doubtless is not of value sufficient to be put in the Balance against a Crown Ah! Madam added Tiberius were the Empire of the whole World offered to me without doubt I should despise it for you and you do me an infinite injury in case you entertain any other thought of the affection of Tiberius I will believe said I coldly that you are very generous and that you give a sufficiently great proof thereof in visiting a disgraced person or rather a person who by the Command of Caesar is forbidden to go out of her Apartment It is just replied Tiberius turning it into Gallantry that she who enchains so many persons should once in her life make tryal of the condition of Prisoners and you ought not to think it strange that Caesar should make sure of an Enemy by securing his better part in frecing himself by such a Hostage from the most dangerous of his practices I could not but laugh at this Discourse and beholding Tiberius a little more maliciously than I had done before If as you say replied I the highest endeavours of Coriolanus are not for the Service of Cleopatra and if he preferreth the interest of a Crown before his affection to me the Emperor troubles himself with an unnecessary precaution in detaining me and there is little appearance that a man hot and busied in the Conquest of a Kingdom would lose his advantages to promote an interest of far less importance Tiberius was a little confounded to be so taken by his own words but his nimble spirit would have soon assisted him if in that moment the Princess Octavia and her Daughters had not entred my Chamber and with them Emilia Sulpitia and the fair and wise Cipassis whom Julia a little before had drawn from the condition of a Slave into which she was fallen through the misfortune of War placing her amongst the most beloved of her Maids I give you this slight mention of that stranger because beside the advantages of her beauty which is excellent she is one of the most vertuous and most reasonable persons I ever knew in my life and one of those in whom during the misfortune lately arrived to me I have found my greatest consolation But laying aside the Subject of this little digression that I may come to the expected issue of my discourse I must acquaint you that some time after the last Victory of Juba and his establishment Volusius Praetor of Mauritania whom he had overcome and taken Prisoner and whose liberty he had granted since his Coronation arrived at Rome Before he came it was doubted after what manner he would be received and many who knew that the Mauritania's were lost partly through his fault as well
time since we have either seen or heard of him that we have acted hitherto as if there were no such person in the World His beginning discovered him not to be unworthy the blood of Anthony and all things in him were great enough to rescue him from the oblivion of his neerest relations But before I acquaint you with the first beginnings of his life and the strange accident whereby we lost him I shall tell you what condition the unfortunate Anthony left his family in when he dyed though I doubt not but you have heard somthing of it from Alexander I am easily perswaded Sister you are not to learn how that Anthony left seven children by three wives by Fulvia who was the first Antillus and Julius Antonius by Octavia Caesar's Sister the two Princesses Agrippina and Antonia and by Queen Cleopatra Alexander Ptolomey and my self For the two daughters by Octavia and for us the issue of Cleopatra we all had our education together in the house of that Vertuous Princesse with all the civilities and kindnesses that could be expected from a most affectionate mother and as to the two children of Fulvia Antillus was killed not long after the death of our Father by Caesar's Souldiers his fate having proved not unlike that of our Brother Caesarion whose first eruptions and the great inclinations he discovered raised some jealousie of him in Augustus who for that reason took away his life and Julius Antonius was provided for as we were by the indulgent Octavia and not long after possessed of the house of Fulvia and all the estate belonging thereto with an addition of somewhat out of Anthony's To be short his condition was such that he needed not envy the fortunes of any Roman whatsoever and though he had not those Kingdoms at his disposal which had been at his Father's yet did he keep up our house in the greatest lustre it ever was in before the death of Julius Caesar and before Anthony and Augustus made themselves Masters of the Empire He was elder than Alexander and my self by seven or eight years insomuch that within a short time after our misfortune and while we were yet brought up as children by Octavia he was numbred among the young Princes that pretended to employments and opportunities of acquiring fame He was certainly born to all the noblest and greatest endowments and though he were not so fair as Alexander yet had he a high and majestick look was of a proper stature and wanted not any of those advantages either of body or mind which could rationally be wished in him With this his inclinations were absolutely noble he was wholly disposed to the acquisitions of vertue and an earnest suitor to those opportunities which lead a man to glory We cannot indeed complain but that he expressed as great affection towards us as we could expect from a Brother and him a vertuous one but in regard we were of several venter's lived in several houses nay that ours was in some sort divided between him and us and that even among the kindred of Fulvia there was no small aversion for the name of Cleopatra certain it is that our familiarity was so much the lesse with him and that he concerned himself lesse in our Affairs than if our family had not been dis-united which is the reason that you have had so little mention made of him in the first beginnings of the life of Alexander and mine Whence yet I would not have it thought as I told you that we can reproach Julius Antonius with any backwardnesse to do all the civilities and good offices we could expect from his friendship but that when any great emergencies interven'd he was no longer among us and it is upon that account that I have been destitute of his assistances in all those occasions which the love of Coriolanus hath furnished me with to make use of them and of which I have already made you a relation You have I question not understood from Alexander as also from me all the particularities of our youngery ears but to give you an account of Julius Antonius I am to tell you that after he had attained perfection in all those exercises that are proper to persons of his birth he was no sooner arrived to an age fit to bear arms but he sought out the wars with much earnestnesse and ingaging himself in the armies of Dalmatia Pannonia as also that which Marcus Crassus conducted against the Basternes and having gone through all employments and charges suitable to his age with all the good success imaginable he acquired a noble same and gave the World ground to conceive as glorious hopes of him as of any other whatsoever Being after several years spent in travel returned to Rome he setled there and was honoured by all nay wanted not from Caesar himself more then ordinary expressions of esteem and affection He was at first established at the Court among persons of the highest rank so far that onely Marcellus and the children of Livia particularly favoured by Caesar seemed by reason of the advantage of their fortune to aim at higher pretences His expence was noble and magnificent his disposition inclined to do civilities and to oblige and his whole deportment such as all the World approved and were satisfied with Accordingly he soon got him a great number of friends and those onely excepted whom the divisions of Rome and the distractions of the Triumvirate had made irreconcileable enemies to our house there were very few of the Roman Nobility who had not a particular esteem for him and courted not his friendship When he went to Augustus's Palace he was attended by a gallant retinue of young Gentlemen In all publick shews and all Assemblies that met either at the Empresses or at the young Princesse Julia's he alwayes had the general acclamations and it was already the ordinary talk in Rome that if Fortune were any thing favourable to him he would raise the house of Anthony to the height of lustre it had been in some few years before But it was not the pleasure of the gods he should continue long in that condition and the quiet that he himself lost after a very strange manner proved the occasion of our losing of him to our no small grief Now Sister shall you hear something which you will haply be astonished at as to the parallel you will find there is between the fate of Alexander and that of Antonius whence you will haply imagine that fortune treating them as Brothers would needs have some conformity between their adventures Among those exercises of the body he was most addicted to Antonius was the greatest lover of hunting and used it very often To that end being gone adays journy from Rome on the Tusculum side where the Country is very pleasant and very fit for that kind of divertisement he passed away certain dayes there with abundance of satisfaction The last of those he intended to bestow on that
about him and particularly for Octavia who had been his Wife he would not make his entry with such Pomp as might revive in their minds the memory of their misfortunes and would in some measure argue an insulation on the change of their condition After the departure of the Princes and those other illustrious persons that had left Alexandria Cleopatra Elisa Candace and Artemisa after they had dined together would needs give a visit to Olympia and Arsinoe whom after his departure they were in hope to find in the Lodgings of the King of Armenia when looking out they spie those two Princesses who it seems had been more diligent than themselves and having taken their leaves of Ariobarzanes and Philadelph were purposely come to the Palace to spend the remainder of the day with them It might have been said with as little flattery as untruth That Fortune had by a strange sort of accidents brought into that place six the greatest Beauties upon the earth or rather that the Sun through the vast extent of his course saw not so much beauty as he could have done in Cleopatra s Chamber alone It must indeed be acknowledged that that admirable person had somewhat the advantage of the rest though in that of Elia's there were a greater delicacy and in that of Candace no less Majesty That of Arsinoe whom they could not forbear to call still by the name of Delia was somewhat inferior thereto and yet the Earth could afford but few Beauties that had so sudden and so irresistible an influence as that of Delia In that of Artemisa there was a certain mildness extreamly delightful and notwithstanding the alteration that had happened in that of Olympia yet was it not hard to discover that when it should have recovered all its advantages the world would have afforded but few with whom she might not dispute precedence Among persons of such extraordinary quality there could not but be a conversation suitably excellent which yet became somewhat the more pleasant by the admission of Ovid who having no great inclination to ride abroad with the rest stay'd behind in Alexandria as preferring an attendance on the fairest Ladies before any thing in the world besides He told Agrippa that he should see Caesar the next day and that he hoped not to want the sight of him while he lived but for what was at that time to be seen in Alexandria 't was a question whether any part of the world could parallel Virgil would also needs stay behind as one intimately acquainted with Cornelius Gallus a passionate lover of Poesie as may appear by those remnants of his that have reach'd posterity in those excellent Eclogues wherein under the feign d names of Tityrus and Menalcas he celebrates the Friendship that was between them He came that day with Ovid to wait on the Princesses though he were of an inclination much more severe then that of Ovid and spent in other employments the greatest part of that time which Ovid sacrificed purely to his advertisements This Noble Assembly was soon augmented by the access of divers other persons and whereas the personage the name and birth of Cleopatra challeng'd a certain veneration in Alexandria as having been the Royal seat of her Ancestors the place of her birth and education to the nineth or tenth year of her age all the Ladies of quality whereof the number was very considerable came to visit her Cleopatra entertain'd them with that attractive sweetness which all the world ador'd in her and it being not imaginable that these visits could be either given or received without reviving in the Princess a reflection on her tender years and consequently on on her fortunes and the ruine of her house that conversation must needs prove the occasion of much sadness to her and force many tears from those persons who had seen her brought up as it were in their bosoms with so much lusâ—re and could not reflect on those things but as fresh in their memories She indeed did all that lay in her power to shift off all discourse of that nature and those who took notice of her design endeavour'd accordingly to find out some other things to talk of When it was grown somewhat late the Princesses finding the season cool and fair enough to take a walk without any fear of being incommodated by the Sun would needs spend the rest of the day in the Garden the beauties whereof were answerable to the magnificence of the Palace They accordingly went thither attended by a great number of Ladies who could not be entertain'd in the Chamber and with no small satisfaction walk d up aâ—d down the fair and spacious walks thereof They had taken some few turns when they saw coming into the Garden three men whose amiable countenances rais'd a little astonishment in all that were present and the sight of them prov'd very pleasant to the Princess Cleopatra when â—he perceiv'd them to be Drusus young Ptolomey her Brother and his Friend Lentulus who out of an impatient desire to see her would needs give her a visit before Caesar's arrival Cleopatra entertain d Drusus with all the discoveries of the real esteem she had for both his person and his vertue She receiv'd Ptolomey into her embraces as a Brother she had ever dearly loved and treated Lentulus as a person of high birth of great merit and an intimate Friend of her Brother s and her House Drusus and his companions rendred to the Princesses to whom Cleopatra presented them telling them withal their names what was due to their quality and might be expected from persons that understood very well the punctilio's of Courtship Which done being again return'd to the fair Daughter of Anthony they exprest the trouble they could not but have conceiv'd at the accidents had happened to her and the satisfaction it was to them to find her so well after an alarm that had put Augustus's Court into disorder but particularly themselves into the greatest perplexity imaginable Cleopatra having thank'd them for that expression of their affection and thereupon ask'd them what had occasion'd the hastening of their arrival Drusus to whom she more particularly address'd her discourse reply'd Madam said he to her The injury you do us in that demand is not to be dissembled since you might well imagine that nothing should prevail with us to leave the Emperour but an in patience of the honour to wait on you after you had run through those accidents whereby we had in a manner given you over for lost The first account we had thereof was not til the last night and I can assure you that the Emperor the Empress the Princess Julia and all the most considerable persons that are of their retinue were infinitely troubled thereat For the Princess Octavia and the Princesses her Daughters 't were not necessary we should give you any account how far they might be concern'd therein Cou'd their Sex have dispensed with their coming the
The belief I have that Fame has made you acquainted with this pitiful History the importance of which spread it over the Earth makes me contract it in a small Volume A few dayes after Ptolomee understanding that Caesar was come into Aegypt and hearing he disapprov'd the cruel War he made against his Sister rais'd his Siege from Pelusium and bent his course towards Alexandria where he staid his coming up Cleopatra no sooner saw her City ungirt and her self at liberty but by the counsel of her faithfullest Servants and especially of my Father Apollodorus who had ever much credit with her she resolv'd to throw her self at the feet of Caesar and demand his protection before he arriv'd at Alexandria This design was presently executed and she and her Train wafted over with a winged diligence to the Isle of Farion where Caesar had made some small abode I was of that number that attended her and because of the faithful service which my Father ever render'd her none had freer access nor greater credit than my self The great Caesar being advertiz'd of her arrival came to meet her with much Civility and because I was present at that interview 't is fit I should recount some of the particulars Cleopatra the better to advance her design had that day call'd both Art and Glory to wait upon her Natural Beauty that it might sparkle at the best advantage and though in her habit she had affected a Modesty conform'd to her present estate and therefore concluded Mourning more becoming than Pomp in an action wherein she was to appear a Suppliant yet both her Mourning and her Modesty were set off with what was more great and pompous than the dazling Luxury of Gold Jewels could boast Her Eyes darted Beams more Glorious than the richest Diamond could sparkle and the Majesty of her Port and Visage did more loftily express her quality than could be done by a magnifick and a numerous train of Seruitors If her view put Caesar and his Followers to their wonder I confess too the visage of that brave man the greatest not only of his own but of all the Ages that preceded it stampt a respect in all our Souls that made us regard him as if he had been a God That prodigious reputation he had gained in a hundred Battels against the most valiant people of the World and his last Victory upon the Romans themselves which he came from subduing with a far less number than theirs gave us an astonishment full of veneration Indeed his face did not belie the dignity and grandeur of his actions And though there was something missing there that must needs go away with his vigorous youth yet there appear'd all the marks of a perfect Greatness his Looks so imperious and yet so full of sweetness that it was not easie to take him for less than the Master of the Universe Caesar and Cleopatra before they spake spent some time in gazing at one another making their looks and silence express their mutual admiration but at last Cleopatra considering she was in his presence that had her repose and fortunes in his hands or rather was the Master of her Destiny bowed her haughty Disposition and forcing a more than ordinary humility from the dexterity of her spirit threw her self at the feet of Caesar and resisting his earnest and vehement entreaties to rise You see Great Emperonr said she you see at your feet the Daughter of the Ptolomees that is here to demand that of you against a cruel Brother which from his Arm she might expect against other Enemies Oppressed Innocence and Imbecillity implore your assistance and do proffer a brave employment to your Generous Bounty that cannot shew it self in a more becoming garb than in protecting a Princess persecuted by unnatural Cruelty in her Fortune Repose and Life in the same estate my Ancestors commanded part of which is my Legitimate Inheritance I have now no other Retreat but your Favour and if that be denied me I must render up my self to a Brothers Cruelty in whom neither my Bloud Sex nor Youth can ever ingender pity Let me not embrace your victorious Knees in vain before which all that is great on Earth must learn Obedience and confess thee as great and as much Caesar in generosity as in that triumphant bravery that has made thee Master of Rome and with her of all the World beside The fair Princess had doubtless said more if Caesar no longer able to hear or suffer her upon her Knees though accustom'd to see Kings whole dayes in the same posture had not employ'd after the trial of entreaty the force of Arms to raise her and having placed her in an estate better conform'd to what her Beauty might claim Fear not Cleopatra said he the Roman Arms shall defend thee from thy Brothers threatnings and if he contemns our Prayer we will not leave Aegypt till we have provided for thy Repose and Fortune He pronounc'd these words with a Roman gravity and a Majesty that equall'd his condition but a while after seconding his parlie with the Princess his temper was so softned with the charms he there encountred as he lost all his Gravity and in his following discourses put a submissive behaviour in the place After he had re-assur'd her fears by repeating his promise not to abandon her he told her he would conduct her to Alexandria present her to her Brother and put her in possession of her partage in the Realm Cleopatra's experience of her Brothers ill Nature gave her some difficulty to resolve it but at last she was constrain'd to obey the absolute will of Caesar who presently dispatched one of his chief Commanders to let Ptolomee know that he could not see him as a Friend nor as an Allie to the People of Rome if he refus'd to receive Cleopatra whom he intended to present him with all assurance of Reconciliation Ptolomee entertain'd this imperious Order with a most sensible despight and had much ado to hinder the escape of some passionate folly but he stood in too much awe of the Roman puissance to profess his indignation which made him resolve to dissemble till time should offer him an occasion to shew it at the best advantage He therefore unwillingly forc'd himself to submit to the impos'd Command and in the mean time to render Caesar more favourable he sent him by the wicked Theodorus the head of mighty Pompey but his expectation prov'd so erroneous as that Generous Conquerour instead of bidding the Present welcome refus'd to see it and commanded the wretch that brought it to be chased from his Presence after he had express'd how much he detested his Masters Treachery in terms full of contempt and Choler nevertheless he enter'd Alexandria where Ptolomee receiv'd him with great respect and many feigned demonstrations of good will Cleopatra upon this score was likewise entertain'd with kind embraces Ptolomee protesting before Caesar that he was ready to resign up
Diligence and having gained that Victory with the slaughter of 50000 of his Enemies and the loss of but fifty of his own Souldiers he was return'd to Rome where he had made three Triumphal Entries the fame of these great deeds pleasingly flatter'd the Soul of Cleopatra and she dismissed all her anxieties with a confidence that such a man could not be capable of infidelity In the mean time no longer able to hide the swelling fruit of her Womb and unwilling to contract the ill opinion of her Subjects she was constrain'd openly to declare the truth of her Marriage and instead of the shame and confusion her Fear suspected from that Discovery she found her Aegyptians possessed with new joy in the expectation of such a King from her Loins as might prove a perfect Copy of Caesar and Cleopatra The Queen was brought to Bed in Alexandria almost at the same that Caesar made his Entry into Rome of a Son not only worthy of his Father and Mother but of all that the most fruitful hope should conceive never did the light salute a thing so beautiful the Astrologers never knew a Birth so advantagious for this Royal Infant immediately became the admiration and delight of all that saw it but because his Childhood was but the spring to that lustre which hath since appeared in him with riper advantages I will not stay upon the beginnings of his Life because they are of less importance By a general consent he was call'd Caesario and we all hop'd that though there was little difference between his and his Fathers Name there would be yet less in their qualities and the greatness of their actions the Queen took a marvellous care of his Education and made the whole world to be searched for the most expert and knowing persons in all Sciences and Exercises wherein he was to be instructed when his Age permitted him and though I did but weakly merit that Honour and a better choice might have been made among the Aegyptians she was pleased to make me his Governour for my Father was too old for that employment and only desired it for my self In the mean time the Queen whatever consolation she tasted in the enjoyment of her Son was galled with bitter grief seeing there appear'd no proof of Caesars promise Not long after she understood he had given the last blow to that War by the defeat of Pompey's Sons that in Rome he had usurped the Soveraign Authority and forced a Master upon that proud City the imperious Mistris of so many Kings and so large a part of the Universe Then her hopes began to swell with the expectation of his Promise and Caesar by frequent Letters endeavour'd to confirm them excusing his absence from her delights with very specious Reasons which for a time appeased her but when she saw a whole year wasted and yet no haste made to accomplish his Vow she began to lose her patience and complain of his infidelity yet before she thought fit to make her resentments speak lowder she sent my Father Apollodorus to Caesar as well because he was the faithfullest of her Servants as that in his presence Caesar espoused her and might therefore better than any other reproach the violation of his word This Voyage of my Fathers proved ineffectual yet when Caesar saw him he hugg'd him in his Arms entertain'd him nobly gave him rich Presents and often mentioned the Queen with dear resentments of affection but could afford him no other reasons for his delay than what he had written to Cleopatra He protested that so soon as he had felt himself sit sure upon his Imperial Throne he would accomplish his promise but in that condition while his Monarchy was yet infant feeble and staggering he found it not safe to enterprize any thing against the consent of the People and Senate whom he had already exasperated with imposing his Yoke Cleopatra was contented for a time to flatter her self with the likelihood of these excuses but in fine after her patience had learned another Lesson as tedious as the first she broke into reproaches against him gave her self up to the sway of a just passion and probably was hatching thoughts to make it known in some deadly blow when news came that Heaven had revenged her and that her faithless Caesar was murdered in the Senate-house with twenty three wounds by those that he thought his dearest friends This report fell like a Clap of Thunder upon her spirit and all her Choler could not disswade her from receiving it at first as the greatest blow that Heaven and Fortune could contribute to her overthrow She solemniz'd this loss with a deluge of tears and such actions as could best express most passion and would possibly have abandoned her self to grief if the last marks of Coesar's ingratitude had not brought her comfort for she learn'd that a little before his death he had adopted his Nephew Octavius who is now the great Augustus Caesar for his Son declar'd him his Heir and oblig'd him to take his Name and Dignity without making the least mention of his Son Caesario or Cleopatra This last assurance the Queen received of her Husbands ingrateful disesteem kindled a despite that dry'd up all her tears and shewed her cause to rejoyce in the same death she so lately bewailed however she ceas'd to bemoan his loss in publick though she rendered to Caesar's memory the Funeral Honours which she believed due as to her lawful Husband but her resentments against the Father descended not to the Son for she nourished the little Caesario with as dear indulgence as if his Father had been still faithful and remembring that perjur'd as he was he had been the greatest of all men in his face she beheld the Image of his mighty Sire as another dawning of her Comfort To him her resolutions intended the Crown of Aegypt and though the Aegyptians perceiving the Ptolomean Race was almost extinct did oft petition her to make choice of another Husband she alwaies denied their entreaties and at last so won upon them by her mild and prudent Government as they were content to approve her Design of passing the rest of her Life in Widowhood Alas how happy had the poor Queen been had she held her resolution she had avoided those famous misfortunes that made so much noise in the World and her miseries with the lamentable Catastrophe of her Life had not forc'd tears from her rudest Enemies Sir I suppose you know that a few years after Julius Caesar's death the unfortunate Antony having shar'd the Empire of the world with young Caesar since called Augustus and with him reveng'd the murder of their Predecessor by the defeat of the Conspirators and by that bloody Triumvirat which produc'd such fatal effects in Rome passing through Cilicia to make war upon the Partbians he summon'd Cleopatra to appear before him and because the Queen was too weak to resist the puissance of that great Master of half
intirely divided it according to the sway of several affections two greater powers than these never met in opposition and the World never regarded an event with so much interest as that which was to decide its Empire My Lord you have understood the beginnings of this War with the divers encounters wherein Fortune sometimes listed her self in one sometimes in the other party till the Battel of Actium where after she had long ballanc'd her good will she declar'd for Caesar The miserable Antony was betray'd both by Love and Fortune and whatever courage the Queen disclos'd in the spring-tide of her Life was all resign'd to the horror of that one Battel where she assisted in Person whence flying with sixty Sayls in her company she drew along the amorous Antony who rather chose to abandon with the Victory the Empire of the World then to lose his Cleopatra You must needs have heard how after that signal deleat they were forsaken by all their Troops and sure same has told you of the pitisul effects that errour produced among them how upon a false report of Cleopatra's death spread by her self with design to cure Antony of an unjust suspition he had conceived of her that desperate Prince slew himself with his own hand and breathed his last between the arms of his dear Cleopatra in the Tomb wherein she had shut up her self you have heard it related how Caesar having rendred himself Master of Alexandria came to visit her brought her comfort and intreated her to hope for all the civil usage his power could afford all which the great-hearted Princess couragiously disdained and not induring to survive her dear Antony nor to see her self in danger to be led to Rome in triumph she called Death to her Rescue which she gave her self by an Aspick 's tooth for want of other weapons and how Caesar after he had pacifi'd Egypt and left Cornelins Gallus Governour at Alexandria returned to Rome whither he led Alexander Ptolomee and Cleopatra the Children of Antony and our Queen Thus compris'd in a few words I have given you the lamentabie destiny of this infortunate Prince but you are yet to understand that of Caesario and I assure my self you believed with the greatest part of the World that Augustus had caus'd him to be put to Death as same did openly divulge it 'T is true said Tyridates and I had my belief from the general confidence at Rome that it was so where I have often heard that Caesar having taken Alexandria and advising with his friends what he should do with Caesario the Philosopher Arrius who was in great credit with him whisper'd some words in his ear that alluding to a verse in Homer might thus be interpreted Plurality of Caesars is not safe And from that hint Augustns fearing that he might one day dispute the succession of his Fathers Empire put him death Such replyed Eteocles was the general opinion and we are happy that it got so much credit among the Princes Enemies who possibly without that prevention would have made their pursuit and persecution reach to the place that protected him But to you I shall unmask the truth what ever danger the discovery may threaten knowing well I do not hazard my Prince in declaring the truth of his Life to another Prince that equals his vertues and it was but to come the right way to his adventures that with a few words I touch'd a part of the Queen his Mother The History of Caesario and the Queen CANDACE AFter the loss of the Battel of Actium and the disloyal falling away of the greatest part of the Forces the unfortunate Antony and his Queen shut themselves up in Alexandria and there attended the approaches of their victorious Foe with the rest of their Forces resolving to defend it to the last Man and the latest moment of their lives their courage was not revolted with their fortune for they might yet have protected their Fate and again debated the Worlds Command if the prevention of that disastrous mistake had not contrived their ruine Nevertheless the Queen not able to refute her just fears of a sudden wrack began to cast an eye upon her deplorable Family that in so short a time were tumbled from the sublimest pitch of Fortune to the foot of Calamity Oh Gods what words that were fittest to shew the marks of a signal grief did she not give to those sad considerations There was much reason in her fears that the Victor would make his hatred reach to the Children of his Enemy and so choak all the seeds of War that might grow up to give another shock to the tranquillity of his dominion by rooting out the whole Antonian race and these suspitions made her oft solicit that the Children might be put in some place of safety and either sent to the King of Aethiopia a great and puissant Prince their friend and allye who had neither felt nor fear'd the Roman Arms or to Herod a faithful friend to Antony or at least to some others whom the change of fortune had not perswaded to disavow their Amity But Antony who tenderly indulged his Children could not resolve to see them so pluck'd from him or send them to seek their safety from the hands of a stranger he represented to the Queen that the Gods that were yet able to send them succours contrary to the opinion of men might miraculously repair the ruines they had made and should such a change arrive in their favour they should repent the exposing them to a flight whose success was uncertain that if Heaven had resolved to compleat their destruction they might expect a better fate for their Infants from the clemency of their Enemy than the loyalty of any barbarous Prince whose friendship the Child of their Fortune no doubt would follow it to the Conquerours party Cleopatra perceiving his resolution not to be mov'd and her self not able to wrest the disposal of the Children from him fell to consider of his preservation whom he had no part in and judging with much prudence that though Augustus might pardon the Progeny of Antony yet he would not do so to the Son of Julius Caesar who professing himself the off-spring of a lawful Marriage while he lived would at least be armed with Justice to bid fair for his Fathers succession which the other possessed by no other right than that of adoption the lawful power of his disposal sfolely remaining in her self for Antony pretended not to it she concluded that it was not safe to trust him to the mercy of that enemy and could find no other way but such a flight to secure him Caesario was five or six years elder than the rest and then newly arrived at the fifteenth year but at that age was become the most accomplished of Princes his beauty never found an equal among those of his own Sex in the vivacity of his eyes and all the features of his visage was seen an ayr
think the Gods inspir'd me with it the first words had no sooner delivered themselves at my ear but I knew the voice was Rodon's and presently after discovered him that talk'd with him to be a Kinsman of his and one that he deeply trusted call'd Acetes for whom he had formerly procur'd a beneficial Grant from the Queen The time and place made them exchange their thoughts with a confidence fearless of over hearers but Heaven was awake in my Prince's behalf and by that miraculous occasion beckned me to his preservation Rodon and Acetes did but enter the Garden when I open'd the window and therefore I believe I heard all their parly Thou hast made great hast said Rodon but is it possible thou couldst dispatch so many things in so short a time coming out of Alexandria but with us Content your self reply'd Acetes that the affair is driven to the mark of your desires that I spake with Caesar himself who well remembred your name and mentioned the solicitations he had formerly made to obtain that which now you have offered him There I staid by his command a full hour while he consulted with his friends upon the most requisite resolution at last he called me to his presence commanded me to return unto you assure you that he would not only bestow those Jewels on you which the Queen had comitted to Eteocles custody butbids you hope for more important favours and this day to expect news from him upon the way which your Letter told him you were to take My self over-heard the command he gave to a Centurion to be ready and I believe they will overtake us before we reach the forrest of Agria through which we are to pass They will have time enough to do that replyed the disloyal Rodon for our march has been so slow since I nail'd our Horses while Eteocles and the rest were at their repose that the Romans will need but a little diligence to reach us but now let us talk no more of it for we cannot carry too much caution and distrust in an Affair of this nature And thus whether they fear'd to be lessen'd or surpriz'd by the days arrival which then began to appear they left the Garden and me still at the window in such a confusion as is impossible to represent Gods What a strange agony of Thoughts was I then distracted with To what extremes of Grief Astonishment and Anger did the knowledge of that loathed Treason hurry me I had much ado to credit my own Ears in a thing so unlikely it had almost surpriz'd the use of my Reason and Judgment The first thing I did was to detest Rodo'ns infidelity then upon my knees I gave thanks to the Gods for the miracle of this Discovery and Petition'd the continuance of their aid for the Princes safety yet I was much to seek for the continuance of my endeavours for I saw my self on all sides menaced with so much difficulty that I almost wanted power to conceive a hope of success And now the day had withdrawn all the Curtains of darkness before I could fasten upon any other resolution than to kill Rodon and at least revenge my Prince if it were not permitted me to preserve him nevertheless having no time to lose I return'd into my Chamber full of mortal inquietudes and after I had given order for the Horses to be ready I wakened the Prince and caus'd him to rise with a hasty diligence while he was apparelling himself I drew Neander aside having learned by Rodon's discourse he was not of the Conspiracy with that Traytor in a few words I let him know our destiny which shook him with as great a fit of confusion as my self while we were talking of it the unfaithfull Rodon came to us the sight of whom had almost put my power into the hands of Passion and I was even ready to fly upon him and strangle him yet with much ado bridled it and advising Neander to the same reservation we got the Prince on Horse-back concealing the truth from him lest his tender years being too weak to disguise his apprehension should betray it in troubled looks and so deprive us of the means to endeavour his preservation Thus leaving the Town we took the same way was first resolved for fear Rodon should scent the discovery of his Treason and we had scarce marched a quarter of an hour when the Gods sent me a thought which I resolved to Act without further deliberation I confess at first I felt some repugnance for the danger to which I was to expose an innocent Person but the safeguard of my Prince out-weighed the rest of my considerations and helped me in a moment to level all the obstacles that opposed my intention For that reason making a sign to Neander to keep up with the Prince and the rest of the Troop I marched softly after with Rodon whom I had ingaged in discourse but when the rest had left us a little behind feigning that something was broke about my Saddle I alighted making shew to amend it and oblig'd Rodon to stay for me telling him that a little gallopping would soon recover our company Besides that I had some authority over him the estate whereto his Conscience had reduced him left him not confidence enough to gainsay me nor was he unwilling to accept of any occasion to retard our voyage because he knew it might advantage his Design Thus when our little Troop had gained more ground of us and by the help of a little Hill betwixt us I had lost sight of them I remounted my Horse and approaching Rodon with a look that represented part of the passion that swayed within me Traytor said I thy death is at hand and if thy Prince must dye by thy disloyalty thou shalt yet want the satisfaction to see him perish or reap the profit of thy horrid Treachery I had no sooner utter'd these words but my Sword was in my hand and the faithless Rodon more combated with his Conscience than the fear of my Valour receiving my menace with a pale dismaid look had much ado to put himself in any posture of resistance nevertheless with a trembling hand he drew his Sword but defended himself so ill with it that with a facility which took away all the glory of that action I pass'd mine twice through his body and tumbled him upon the sand where he vomited out his perfidious Soul with his blood After this execution sheathing my Sword again I hasted after the Prince with all the speed I could make but casting my eyes back from the top of the Hill I perceiv'd the Squadron of Horse that Coesar had sent after us marching out of the Town where we lodged which I presently judg'd to be the same that the false Rodon expected This sight made me spur up to my company and when I had overtaken them approaching to Neanders ear Neander said I Rodon is dead but our Enemies appear Take
had been of his Party and was then a Companion of his Fortune at the end of their repast regarding him with a visage that breathed nought but Death Petreius said he 't is fit we dye to preserve our liberty for if we stay on earth but a few days we shall have no power left to put by the shame is prepared us I demand no other proof of thy affection but Death from thy hands and as my Fortune is now stated I cannot receive a greater from thy Friendship Here stab this breast pursu'd he presenting his naked bosom pierce this heart which the Arms of our Enemies have unluckily spared and make a KING fall by thy friendly hand whose courage scorned to bow under the fortune of a puissant Enemy He mingled these words with some others so pressing that Petreius could not refuse the fatal courtesie but without farther delay ran him through with his own sword the King not so much as turning his eye aside nor letting fall the least action unbecomming the grandeur of his spirit Petreius when he had seen him breath his last turned the same point against his own breast and throwing himself upon it with all his force fell dead at his feet thus were the festival Ornaments discoloured with Royal blood and thus did this great King catch up the shield of of death to defend himself from ignominy A few days after the victorious Caesar rendered himself Master of both the Realms and with them of the Queen his spouses liberty whom he designed for one of the principal Ornaments of his Triumph she was gone some months with child when the King her Husband lost his life and was brought to bed of the Prince my Master two days after her arrival at Rome whither Caesar sent her two months before he made his triumphal entry Thus was my Prince begotten free and the Son of a King but born a slave and between his Conception and Birth happen'd that deplorable revolution of his Fortune Some days after his Birth he was carried along as one of the most remarkable Ornaments of Caesar's Triumph happy in his misfortune that as yet he understood not the shame they made him suffer being then of an age incapable of resenting the loss of his Crowns his brave Father or the death of the Queen his Mother who resigned her life a few days after she had disclosed the little Heir of her misfortunes to the World But there wanted not persons that took care of his bringing up for the great Caesar from whom the disastrous fate of his Parents had drawn some compassion caus'd him to be brought up at Rome in the garb of a Kings Son and bestowed such a particular care upon him that scarce any of his neerest kindred in that high swoln prosperity was trained to a braver Education I will yet say further and believe I shall not injure truth in affirming that the losses of his estate were in part repaired by the gallant Education he receiv'd among the Romans wherein that tender age escaping the impression of the Affrican customs and the Company of such persons which falling far short of the Romans politeness might have given him a taste of the Barbarian his excellent nature contributed such marvellous assistance to the care of those that were ordained to form him that before his age could promise it he became as accomplished in all requisites of a Prince as wish could fancy and rarely skil'd in every undertaking to which his vertuous inclination carried him In his earliest Infancy Caesar would often cause him to be brought into his presence and observing that someehing Majestick and Heroical was already risen with that morning of his excellent beauty he let him get ground in his affections to that degree as one day he broke into an earnest protestation that if the little Juba for at his birth they gave him his Father's name seconded those hopes he had already begun he would restore him the Crowns of his Ancestors but he took special care to mould him to the Roman fashion and deface all such unpolished manners as his inclinations might possibly borrow from his Affrican blood Besides to fortifie the friendship he would have him bear to the Republick he gave him a Roman name and because he was brought up in the Martian Family illustrious among the Patricians and derived from the famous Coriolanus whose valour survived him in so glorious a reputation he would have the young Prince called by his name that the appellation of Juba which sounded harsh and barbarous to a Roman ear might be covered with that of Coriolanus In all likelyhood the affection and bounty of that great Dictator would not here have stopped and doubtless the Prince had gathered the fruits of those promises if Death had not robbed him of that Protector or rather that Father before he attained to his fourth year an age that hardly rendered him capable to dream of those hopes were given him That man the greatest that ever liv'd was murder'd in the Senate-house by the ingrateful conspiracy of those that his own generosity and nobleness had rais'd from their knees all the world knew it self interessed in the loss of him who had made himself Master of it with his Sword yet held it in so gentle a subjection After Caesar's death the little Coriolanus for so was always called wanted no protection for the Senate succeeding Caesar in his Patronage took up that care of him which his death had let fall and trained him up with the Sons of divers Kings that were Friends and Alleys to Rome without making the least difference in their Expence or Equipage though their Fathers had still their Crowns in possession Divers children of noble Exteaction and an equal age descended from the families of Roman Knights were placed in his Service of which number I was appointed one and as I was always brought up near his person so his affection did me the honour to take me nearest to his heart During those cruel and dismal disorders of my Country that bloody Civil War which revenge kindled for Caesars murder the prodigious effects of that horrible Triumvirat which overflowed Rome with the blood of her noblest Citizens and that famous contest betwixt Antony and Octavius Coesar the young Prince grew up with a success miraculous Never did Eye behold a youth of those years handle his Arms with so great a grace or perform any Bodily Exercise his Tutors taught him with a dexterity comparable to his his propension led him with so much advantage to the study of Sciences as he became so learnedly vers'd in Astrology and Philosophy so critically skilled in all kind of History as the World could scarce afford another to match him and for Eloquence that famous Orator that lost his life in the heat of the Triumvirat by the cruel command of Antony could hardly challenge preheminence nor had he qualities disproportioned to these rare endowments of body and mind so that
heart with a little more freedom 't is possible I might bring you to acknowledge that the esteem you speak of will not suffice for my felicity I thought said the Princess you might have been contented with it and that I could not mention this esteem without informing your understanding how highly I value your good qualities This favour places me in a condition which I ought to be proud of said the Prince yet let me have leave to tell you 't is not enough to establish repose in a spirit that is dedicated yours for admit the Gods had stored me with some deserving qualities by the right of those I might credibly purchase a high opinion among the Romans and yet not engage them to one single motion of good will the busie noise of some vertue might take me up repute in remotest Nations nay 't is possible to gain an esteem among our enemies without changing their inclinations Thus was Hanibal's vertue as highly prized at Rome as at Carthage though in the former he was mortally hated thus the Gauls and Pompey's Partisans considered Julius Caesar as the greatest of men and yet he was their greatest enemy From thence you infer said Cleopatra that we may esteem what we do not love So my reason sayes said the Prince yet I will not deny but esteem is very advantagious to persons that desire to be loved nor that affection can hardly enter a well-composed spirit if esteem does not lead the way I' will therefore receive that esteem with which you reward my ardent affection as the beginning of a more accomplished fortune and expect that of time my services and your bounty to which indeed my poor stock of merit can yet plead no claim I am not unwilling replyed the innocent Princess to accept your services and I know not a person whose carriage and converse are more agreeable than yours I cannot be so rude with my Princess said Coriolanus with an action that express'd a respective acknowledgment to demand more at her hands I have only this to beg of her bounty that she shall not suffer time which shall never have power to weaken my adoration to wear out these favourable impressions nor the knowledge that will approach with increase of years of your own admirable beauties and Divine qualities perswade you to regard him with disdain whom you now judge worthy of so many favours nor the encounter of researches more advantagious for your establishment prevail with you to prefer persons more happy or better propt by those which Fortune has made our Masters before such as she has despoil'd of Crowns and Dignities Cleopatra young and as much Infant as she was was yet sensibly touched with this discourse and regarding my Master with an Eye full of sweetness returned him an answer that proved her reason had much got above her age If the malice of Fortune and the loss of Crowns could render persons contemptible the children of Antony and Cleopatra would find little respect and consideration among men you know our house is fallen as low as yours and were it reared again to its former height neither that age nor knowledge whose approaches you dread should hinder me from considering that in you which neither Fortune can rob you of nor the support of our Masters bestow on those which you excel as well by birth and virtue as personal endowments The Prince listned to this wel-framed language which indeed his hopes little expected from so young an intellect with transport and wonder and not able to stop the Carreir of his joy with the consideration of those that were present he put one knee to the ground and fastning his lips with a little violence to Cleopatra's hand The Gods can witness said he that I never apprehended worth enough in my self to measure with this grace my Divine Princess has given me but I do here protest in their presence that I will strive to merit it both by services of worth and such actions as shall either repair the ruines of my house or at least hinder my Princess from repenting her bounty He had enlarg'd his discourse if Marcellus who then prefer'd Cleopatra's converse far before Julia's had not obliged the Princess to break off the parley by joyning company If my Prince had not truly loved Marcellus he would not have taken that interruption so gently but his friendship joyned with the late satisfaction his spirit had taken helped him to dissemble the displeasure he received and accost the Princess Julia with a visage that betray'd not the least mark of any alteration After that day he oft repeated his passion to Cleopatra and confirmed his own hopes by a thousand proofs of her innocent affection These beginnings presag'd a happy progress but they met with checks by the way for the rivalship of Marcellus did much trouble the stream of his design Marcellus was as I have told you of a very amiable person and little short of my Prince in any becoming quality by his advantage in the Emperors favour and Peoples affection who gave him the name of Romes darling and delight his face person and excellent parts with that clear discretion that compos'd his Courtship to Cleopatra kindled a just jealousie in Coriolanus besides Marcellus as he was Octavio's Son enjoy'd the same liberty with Cleopatra and Antonies other children as if the same womb had disclos'd them and by that appellation of Brother and Sister both Octavia's Command and Caesars Will enjoyn'd them to call one another And which most preferred this young Princes hopes he possest an unrestrained familiarity with the Princess which was not accorded to any other but that which stung my Prince deepest was that Marcellus being as well the dearest of his friends as the greatest of his Rivals all the impediments and fears he gave him were so incapable of blotting out his amity as he could not prosecute his re-search of Cleopatra without regret since he could reap no advantage by it that would not disturb the repose and affront the Fortune of his Friend a reflection of this nature in such a soul as my Masters could produce none but uncommon effects and the sequel will tell you how strongly it wrought too in that of Marcellus whose sentiments not to abridge truth of her due were not less noble than my Masters In divers Encounters these two Princes mutually apprehended the displeasures they gave one another by a competition which in souls less generous would oft have strangled friendship yet in theirs she stood so firm and intire as my Prince never glanc'd at Marcellus when he pleaded in his own love-suit nor did Marcellus when he laid his amorous vows at Cleopatra's feet ever let fall a word in disapprovement of Coriolanus My Master by what might be judged from appearance had more favour than his Rivall which would have rendered his joy more perfect had he carried that advantage from any but Marcellus and he had hugg'd his happiness with
Marcellus nor your Love to Cleopatra I was only desirous to try the temper of your heart and now I have seen how well it guards the fidelity you owe your friend and Mistress it shall heighten my esteem of your merits She brought forth these words with a constraint that my Master easily observed and though she strove to hide it by entring a discourse upon other subjects yet she followed it in so much disorder and confusion as perceiving it would ask some time to undistemper her reason she bad Coriolanus good night My Master went away better instructed than he desired in Julia's inclinations and though by her last words which despight had utter'd she seem'd to retract what before she had too easily offered yet he was not so ignorant as not to discover the truth he since did me the honour to tell me that he never resented any thing in his life with so much anxiety sadly reflecting upon his own impuissance to satisfie the Princess desires but much more upon Marcellus interests whom he now perceived so lightly forsaken and foresaw how cruelly he was us'd by Julia's lenity nevertheless he was unwilling to acquaint his friend with this unwelcome news and there resolved to stay till Julia's humour should change or Marcellus learn it from some other mouth nor would his discretion give him leave to let Cleopatra know of it as well to conceal the shame of Caesars Daughter and his friends Mistress as to forbear a Discourse that might betray the least appearance of vanity In the mean time he carefully fled all occasions of meeting Julia alone and that Princess perceived it with a despight that might well have banisht him her breast had her power been proportioned to her anger but she had force enough to hide her flames for a time and treat my Master with a more reserved carriage than was usual however he abated her no respect but still paid her his Civilities in as specious a manner as her quality could challenge only he was careful to escape both her entertainment and her sight when the place was void of witness Julia for a time feigned her self very well satisfied and meeting him one day in a Gallery that belonged to Livia's Lodgings notwithstanding he was accompanied with two or three of his friends Coriolanus said she passing by him there is seldome safety in presumption you lately passed a serious construction upon what was meant in Jest pray disabuse your self and be not so lightly seduced by an erroneous opinion My Master would have replyed had she given him time but she passed by him so swiftly as he had not the leisure to shape an answer and he was a little troubled at the manner of these words though he found some cause of satisfaction in them Thus Julia persevered in her behaviour for some daies still treating my Master with a cold indifference and her Spirit wanting resolution to endure too much violence herinclinations got the victory of her anger and she began to speak at the eyes in such accents as soon gave Coriolanus intelligence her resentments were dissipated but as before he stop'd his ears at her words so now he shut his eyes at her glances and composed all his actions with so much Caution towards her as if her spirit were not hardy beyond Example she could never have had the confidence to bring her affection again into the Scene She repented of all she had said to revoke the first Declaration and desirous to repair that breach meeting him one day at Court she drew him to a window and when respect had drawn those that stood near to a greater distance advancing her head towards him in a languishing manner speaking so low as none could over hear her Coriolanus said she think it no more a mockery when you are told that Julia loves you for believe it 't is a perfect truth My Master was surprized at these words yet not so deeply as to be unfurnished of a ready answer Madam said he I am now grown so well acquainted with your intentions as I cannot be any more mistaken and since this sport does divert you I should be loath to oppose the pleasure you take in pursuing it Julia was sorry she had lent my Master weapons to defend himself against her and having now no time to explain her self further she only tryed to perswade him with a fiery blush that her words were serious and that she had displayed her naked thoughts but with too much truth However the Prince concludes to personate an ignorance arms her own discourse against her self and still feigns an interpretation of her words and actions as the effects of Raillery in the mean time as it became him as well in reference to her birth as Marcellus affection he still treated her with his usual deferrence and because in that point he deemed it not fit to disoblige her he could not so cunningly evade her company but she oft engag'd him in long discourses and then used so little skil in concealing her affection as few persons frequented their company that had not already discovered it Marcellus as the most interessed took the impression deeper than all the rest and receiving dayly symptoms from Julia's deportment that no longer permitted him to doubt her inconstancy the blindness of his passion made him stumble upon a Jealousie that Julia not only loved Coriolanus but was beloved again by him this belief had no sooner got credit with him but it produced effects that had like to have dragged him to his Tomb and when he called to mind those rare proofs he had given Coriolanus of his amity he could not reflect upon the ingratitude of which his thoughts had now pronounced him guilty without falling into a mortal Agony his cruel jealousie for some days made him flie the sight of that unfaithful friend and seek out solitude in the most untrodden places discoursing his woes to himself in the saddest fashion that grief could invent My Master who could never endure to be long out of his sight sought him on all sides and understanding one day that he was retired alone into those Allyes of the Pallace Garden that verge upon the Tiber he followed him thither without a companion and at last found him laid upon one of the seats of an Arbour in the most unfrequented part of the Garden At my Masters approach he suddenly started up and discovered such a wild troubled look as my Prince no longer able to suffer him in that condition Marcellus said he what strange change is this what sadness is it that sits thus lowring on your brow and why do you fly from the person of the world that loves you dearest At these words Marcellus only nodded his head twice without returning an answer keeping his eys still fixed upon the earth in so sad a posture as it put my Master into a grand confusion Coriolanus deeply touched at his behaviour took him in his arms and earnestly prest him
Fathers lot in War that made you a claim to my obedience which you exact of me as from the meanest Citizen among the Romans I am descended of a regal stock which before the luckless chance of Juba never gave precedency to any the unkindness of his fortune has reduc'd me to suffer all things from those she has made our Masters but she has not abased my Courage to make me accept a present from you after the receipt of such unworthy usage you have not a reward in all your Dominions that in the meanest degree can weigh against the worth of that Princess you have taken from me and if ever the Gods grow willing that I reascend the throne of my Fathers I shall find some other steps to mount it than by the liberality of a man who contrary to his promise has deprived me of a Gem a thousand times more precious than all that he is capable of giving I refuse despise your offer and instead of disclaiming as you would have it my right to Cleopatra I do here declare that unless you remove my life out of his way there is not a man upon earth shall possess her These words bold beyond all expectation and parting from the mouth of a man whose despair had extinguished his desire to live fir'd the Soul of Augustus with a rage so impetuous as furiously rising from his seat he was infallibly about to pronounce some dreadful Sentence against my Master if Marcellus on one side and Agrippa on the other had not hastily fallen at his feet and streightly embracing his knees conjur'd him to forgive the transports of a desperate man and rather impose the punishment he deserved upon them than let the effects of his resentments fall heavy upon their friend Augustus who in himself excus'd a Passion that seldom leaves us the use of reason when it rushes to such extremities seeing two men at his feet which he tendered as much as himself began to cool in his fury and turning his eyes from my Masters face for fear it should reinflame him Let him live said he since you desire it but immediately get him out of our sight and depart Rome within three days if he has no mind to die an ignominious death My Master had no time to understand these last words to which he had infallibly reply'd whatever peril had menaced him for before Caesar was come to his period Marcellus and Agrippa clapping hold of him on either side had almost drawn him by force out of the Chamber for fear his answer should wind up the Emperors choler so high as would pose all their power to appease it When my Master was gone out of the presence Marcellus Agrippa and the rest of his friends deeply afflicted at this disaster and not knowing which way to reverse the Emperors orders appear'd with a greater dejection than doubtless they would have shewed for their proper Interest but Coriolanus reading their troubles in their looks and slighting that which instructed their friendship to admit fear in his behalf after he had regarded them with a confident eye Let not my destiny said he disquiet you the Gods will take care of it and possible mine own arm may assist their providence 't is Caesar's will that I go out of Rome and I am resolved to obey him in such a manner as perhaps he will quickly wish to see me again within the precinct of his walls When his friends had conducted him home he there pass'd away the rest of the day and though by Marcellus's means he might have seen Cleopatra in the Evening he was so sensible of his own distemper as he would not appear before her in that condition Marcellus was much to seek for advice to give him and only contented himself to tell him that his Interests should ever lie in an equal ballance with his own and that he would not stick to serve him in all occasions and against all sorts of Enemies only the Emperors sacred person excepted as that of his Father and his Benefactor Though my Master could not distrust Marcellus yet he thought it not fit to unmask his intentions to him supposing by the advice of divers reasons he would strive to disswade the resolution he had taken and the next day knowing that Tiberius was gone to see Cleopatra in Vesta's Temple who there assisted at some Sacrifices with Octavia and divers other Roman Ladies he went thither with the young Prince Ptolomee follow'd by those of his friends that came to visit him at his rising all those that saw him enter the Temple discovered in his face a large part of his inquietude and passing by such of his acquaintance with a furious look as stood in his way without lending the least regard to any he went and plac'd himself right against Cleopatra not far from Tiberius who retir'd his eyes from the Princess where they had been tasting some rarities to fix them upon his with a Countenance wherein I read the Contents of trouble enough my Master made choice of that sacred place to speak to him well knowing that he could not have taken the same liberty in any other and that all the Romans were so well instructed in their difference as their Discourse would have been cut off at the first encounter at first Coriolanus for a time seriously beheld Cleopatra and she often answered his regards with some of her own that were very advantagious and obliging but the Prince feigning that he was not advanced far enough to take a free and easie view of her he quitted the place where he stood and went up to Tiberius Tiberius staid for him in his station without the loss of any assurance and when my Master came near him joyning his cheek to his that he might not be heard by those that encompassed them Tiberius said he do not hope to posses Cleopatra while I am on this side my Tomb 't is a fortune that will not be peaceably enjoyed till thou hast fought with me and cut me from the world my birth is no way inferior to thine and my former actions may happily invite thee to gain an improvement of glory upon me the Weapons are at thy choice the place of Combat at thy disposal and if thou hast a Courage worthy to serve Cleopatra sure thou wilt as readily facilitate the means of this personal decision as possible That shall be done reply'd Tiberius with an untroubled look when I am possess'd of Cleopatra and till then I will not distrub so near a happiness to content thy despair but when I once can call her mine I shall greedily embrace all occasions to preserve a treasure of which thy death must assure me nor will I then refuse any sort of arms place or kind of Combat to satisfie thy passion and mine if thou stayest for the enjoyment of Cleopatra reply'd my Prince before our tryal thou wilt never see the time thou hast appointed and this excuse thou hast found to
as I was obliged to do and promised him that I would never give him occasion to repent himself of the good office he had done me Sarpedon who really is a person of honour expressed himself much satisfied in serving me and not only he but the Princess's servants and the Keepers that followed us seemed to be wonderfully affectionated to our interests The Princess carried with her all her most precious Jewels and of them she gave presents every day to these People to oblige them to us with the greater fidelity In the mean while after we were out of Artaxus his Dominions we braved his cruelty and being moved by the just resentments I had against him I added to my felicity the contentment I had of having done him a signal displeasure in carrying away the Princess his Sister yet I was not so satisfied with it but that I still retained a desire to be revenged one day upon him for his inhumanities and by that means the affections which the Princess his Sister had for him were so alienated that I had no fear to displease her by the hatred I had for her Brother O Gods what sweetness did I tast of in her company during this Voyage and though I alwayes behaved my self towards her with the severest modesty a thousand vertuous Proofs that I received of her affection every moment made me bless an hundred times a day the pains and dangers by which I was made capable of arriving to this supream felicity In fine after a long Voyage which was not crossed by any disastrous accident we arrived in this Country where we were presently informed that Augustus was not yet come to Alexandria but that he was expected and would be there within a few days Artemisa having no desire to make her self known nor to shew her self but as little as was possible till she came into the presence of Caesar and of my friends to whom she should declare her self Tydeus one of my Squires to whom this house belongs offered it to us and prayed us to retire thither which we did finding a great convenience in the situation of the place which is very good and in the nearness of the City where we may better provide our selves necessaries than herew hilst we wait for Caesar's arrival without being seen but by few persons HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece PART IV. LIB III. ARGUMENT Whilest Alexander relates his History to Caesario Artemisa walks to take the air She spies a Knight richly armed under a Tree who at first glance mistakes her for one Delia his Mistress but perceiving his errour his grief throws him into an Extasie from which by the assistance of Artemisa and her Servants he is recovered and to gratifie his generous pity at her desire he acquaints her with the passages of his life and love He speaks himself to be Philadelph Son to the King of Cilicia He is designed by his Father to match with the Princess Urania Daughter to the King of Cappadocia whose Queen Dowager he had lately married But one day weary of Hunting and having lost all his company whilest be seeks the solace of a shady Grove he finds a most beautiful Virgin a sleep he is infinitely taken with her delicate sleep and feature stoops down to kiss her and she awakes He excuses his incivility she retorts a short but civil answer and immediately retreats out of his sight This short interview renders him Captive to that unknown Beauty At last he finds out her habitation often visits her discovers his quality and addresses his Love-suit with protestations of a pure and vertuous intention She receives them respectfully but coldly and persists in that manner with an inflexible resolution His Father sends for him to Court and upbraids his long absence He prevails with his Sister the Princess Andromeda under colour of divertisement to visit his Mistress who calls her self Delia and to solicit his Suit to her She brings Delia to Court under the notion of her Servant Philadelph continues his amorous addresses and Delia her former coldness The King presses Philadelph to marry Urania He pretends to court her but so faintly that the Princess perceives and slights it He confesses his prae-ingagement and she promises secrecy The Court takes notice of his passion for Delia. The Queen complains of the dishonour done to her daughter Urania The King resolves to make use of all means to reduce Philadelph to his duty WHilest Alexander related in this manner his adventures to Caesario and that Prince being interessed in his Narration both by the proximity of blood and the esteem he had of his person was moved with passion at the most remarkable passages of it as much as the preâ—â—ing memory of his own misfortunes could permit him the fair Artemisa who out of a rational modesty would not be present at this relation walked abroad attended upon by her two maids and leaning upon the arms of Sarpedan and Tideus who shewed her the beauties of his house From a very curious Garden finely kept he caused her to pass into a wood of high trees that was neer at hand and the Princess finding there very fair Allies she walked out divers furlongs from the house she entertained her self at that time with Sarpedon to whom she was obliged for the life of her dear Alexander and with Leucippe the faithful confident of her most secret thoughts about the strange events and terrible dangers from which her beloved Prince was escaped and seeing her self almost in the Haven after the horrible Tempest which the cruelty of Artaxus had raised 't was a pleasure to her to call to mind the cruel crosses to which her love had exposed her and if she trembled still at this remembrance the fear of the evils past was accompained with so much satisfaction in her present condition that instead of moderating her contentments it mightily contributed to them according to that infallible decree which never bestows such perfect blessings upon us as when they have been preceded by evils which were capable to make us sensible of them She did not so much as once reflect upon the loss of those Crowns which were once in the possession of her Alexander's family and though fortune had left a less estate and an inferiour degree of grandeur than what remained in the family of Anthony yet she found more in Alexander's person wherewithal to satisfie her ambition than in the possession of all the Empires in the world She declared as much to Sarpedon and Leucippe and in this discourse having walked with them through part of the wood Tideus desired to shew her a pretty spring which issuing from between some points of a rock made up a little brook whose clear and pleasant waters ran with many windings through divers parts of the wood and afterwards being enlarged by the addition of some little Fountains took their journey towards the Sea The Princess at Tideus his request directed her steps that way
her before to lay some constraint upon her self caressed and favoured him so openly that all the persons who had any interest in the conduct of her life began highly to disapprove her proceedings Whilest these things passed for I am obliged to speak to you in my relation concerning the affairs of Coriolanus and Cleopatra as I believe it hath not been easie for those who have recounted the life of those two persons unto you to acquaint you with all events without intermingling something concerning my fortune the news came to Rome of the rising of Mauritania of the defeat of the first Troops and the first proceedings of Coriolanus for the recovery of his Kingdom This report at first surprised the spirit of Caesar and enflamed him with a new choler against the Son of Juba against whom he was sufficiently animated by the wounding of Tyberius and the continual sollicitations of Livia but a little after he freed himself a little of the trouble that this news had brought him and though he could not undervalue the person of Coriolanus whom he knew by the great things he had done for his service to be capable of undertaking and executing all things yet he little feared his forces and he believed that those he had in Africa under the command of Volusius were capable of restoring the Country to its former tranquility In the mean time the enemies of Coriolanus did not lose this occasion quite to cry him down with Augustus and Livia as one interessed forgot nothing which might exasperate the Emperours mind to the most extream resolutions against him About this time Tyberius after that his life was despaired of divers times and he had lain divers months in danger at last was cured of his great wound and to the great contentment of his friends he saw himself in a condition to cross his Rival more than ever This was the renewing of Cleopatra's sorrows and that Princess saw her self exposed afresh to the persecution which had slept ever since the wounding of Tyberius She recommended to me her own and my friends interests and found me intended to make them alwaies my own I was surprised more than all the rest at the first report which arrived at the rising of the Moors and I thought it a little strange that Coriolanus who in the whole course of his life had reserved nothing from me should conceal this design so carefully that I never had the least suspicion of it but the Princess Cleopatra made me such excuses as she believed to be due to our friendship and assured me that Coriolanus would not have concealed his intention from me but only out of the respect he bare me fearing either to render me his enemy if I took part with Caesar or to render me odious to Caesar if after the knowledge of a design against his service I should still continue a friend to Coriolanus Cleopatra performed the request which Coriolanus had made to her with so good a grace and alledged such specious reasons to justifie the secrecy of Coriolanus that in stead of taking it ill at his hands I believed I was obliged to him for it and not being at that time prepossessed with any suspicion of his infidelity I believed easily that I ought to impute his reservedness towards me only to his discretion Cleopatra can testifie too to render him the more criminal and odious in what manner I received the news of his good success if the interests of Caesar to which I am inseparably bound up could remove me one moment from what I owed to our amity and it I have not an hundred times for the interest of Coriolanus put my self in danger of changing the affection of Augustus into violent resentments against me It is true I was not in a condition to take his part so highly as I have done before and after he had been publickly declared an Enemy to Caesar and the Roman Empire except I would declare my self so too I could not defend him so openly in those things which went directly against Caesar as long as he was in arms against him and did every day cut in pieces the Roman Troops But in those things which were more essential to him and more important to his repose namely the preserving of Cleopatra for him against the pretentions of Tyberius I persevered so entirely that certainly I could not have acted for my self with more ardency and affection By Tyberius his cure she saw her self exposed to those displeasures from which she had had some breathing while and besides the effect of the pressing sollicitations of Livia Caesar knew well enough that he could take no revenge upon Coriolanus which would be more sensible to him than to give Cleopatra to his Rival He caused her to be spoken to of it and he spake to her of it himself in such absolute terms that the Princess saw her self reduced to the greatest extremity that ever she was in in her life Oh how detestable is the ingratitude of Coriolanus after those things which I have seen with my eyes and how happy was that unfaithful Prince in the perseverance of the most beautiful person of the world She resisted without wavering all the pretentions of Tyberius his party and when they had attempted all other waies Caesar declared himself to her that if after so many intreaties which he had made her to that purpose she would not by fair means espouse Tyberius he was resolved to constrain her to it by all his authority this couragious Princess looking upon him with an assurance not only above her sex and age but with a boldness equal to that of the Porcias the Lucreces and the Cato's I do not think Caesar said she to him that after thou hast affected in thy government the reputation of a just and moderate Prince rather than of an Usurper and a Tyrant thou wouldest renew at Rome the violence of the Tarquins and begin first with the Daughter of Anthony who was thy equal and companion in the Empire but if this be thy intention I will spare thee the shame and reproach which this action may bring upon thee and as she whose name I bear and from whom I have received my birth died to avoid the shame which thou prepared'st for her so I shall know how to die too to avoid the constraint wherewith thou threatenest me Cleopatra uttered these words with an action so handsome so noble and so hardy and Caesar found in them something so great and penetrative into the most sensible parts of his soul that he was moved ashamed and confounded at them and being retired without replying one word to the Princess he protested the same to Livia that he would content himself to uphold her Son as much as he could but whatsoever intreaty or consideration might oblige him to it he would never offer any violence to Cleopatra He did not only make this declaration to Livia but on the morrow he told Agrippa and
looking upon her with eyes which partly signified his intention But Madam said he now I have acquainted You with these small trifles which You desired to know of me shall I be too curious my self or rather shall I be indiscreet if I take the liberty to enquire of You the name and the condition of this admirable person to whom by my good fortune I have rendred some small service without knowing of her and who though unknown is in as high esteem with me as if she were the Wife or Daughter of Caesar 'T is not upon any design of abusing it that I express this curiosity to you but only out of a desire of finding greater opportunities to serve you in a more plenary knowledge of You. Cornelius spake in this manner and the Queen who was already prepared for this rancounter and had premeditated with Clity what to say seemed very little surprized at Cornelius his discourse She did so far acknowledge the Obligation she had to him as to have declared to him the truth of her life and the condition of her fortune if she could have done it without interessing and endangering her dear Caesario whom she knew to be in that Country and to have all Caesars friends for his declared enemies Upon this precaution which she believed was due to the safety of her beloved Prince she resolved to conceal her name her birth and the greatest part of her adventures and upon this design after she had signified to Cornelius with obliging expressions that his curiosity was not importunate to her she told him that she was born in Ethiopia of very noble Parents who during the life of King Hidaspes had enjoyed the highest dignities of that Kingdom but that afterwards being desirous to testifie their fidelity to the Queen Candace his Daughter when she was deprived of her Kingdom by Tyribasus that Tyrant being too powerful for them had ruined them and so eagerly pursued them that they were constrained to put themselves upon the Nile with part of their most portable goods from whence sailing down into the open Sea with an intention to seek out a Sanctuary from his Tyranny they fell into the hands of the Pirate Zenodorus After this passage she concealed nothing of the truth of him but only what would have obliged her to make mention of Caesario and relating to him the dangers which she had escaped by reason of the Pirate's insolence and the flames of the Vessel which she had fired and the Waves into which she had cast her self she powerfully moved him upon divers accounts and filled him full of admiration at her vertue and greatness of courage When he had given due praises to that noble resolution of sacrificing her life to the preservation of her honour looking upon her with an action much more passionate than before I should be ungrateful to the Gods said he if I should not be thankful to them as long as I live for the favor they have done me in guiding me to the occasions of serving you and in giving me the means to conduct you into a place where I can offer you part of what you seek but if my interest might be considered to the prejudice of yours and if I might afflict my self as much at my own ill as I ought to rejoyce at your good fortune possibly I would say that in this rancounter I have no more cause to commend than to complain of my destiny and that it is as much for my loss as for your safety that the Gods caused you to land upon this Coast and lead me into the Wood where I defended you against the violence of Zenodorus Gallus spake in this manner and the Queen though she almost comprehended his discourse and received it with a very great grief pretended for all that that she did not understand him and that she might not continue without a reply she answered him without being moved I should be very sorry that my arrival in this Country should occasion any damage to a person to whom I engaged for the preservation of my life and honour and to prevent the future since it is not in our power to recal what is past I shall depart without regret from a place where you have given me refuge if my continuance here be never so little offensive to You. Alas replyed Gallus with a sigh how unprofitable would your departure be now since you cannot carry away the wound that I have in the midst of my heart together with the eyes that made it or rather how cruel would it be to me now since in parting from me you will deprive my days of all that makes them desirable to me and possibly bereave me of a life whereof all the remaining moments are dedicated to you Whilst he spake thus the Queen oppressed with a violent grief upon this occasion of new crosses which former passages made her foresee in a moment studied for terms to explain her self both according to the greatness of her courage and the condition of her present fortune whereby she saw her self absolutely subjected to Cornelius his power and when he had done speaking composing her countenance to a more serious posture than before which with the Majesty that Gallus observed in it strook him into some awe I am obliged to you said she to him for my life and honour and I should be much more engaged to you if you would preserve the glory of your benefit entire and not diminish the price of it by the offence you do me If it be an offence to love you replyed the Pretor and if it be an infinite offence to love you infinitely I confess that there is not a man in the world who hath offended you more than Cornelius but if love in the Country where you were born be not different from that which we have observed in ours if it makes a man abandon his liberty to bestow it upon that he loves if it makes him forget his own proper interests to sacrifice himself entirely to the Person beloved and in fine if it produce no other effects than what we have seen it produce in those places where I have passed my life I cannot easily comprehend the ground of the offence which you can find in the love I have for you I know not replyed the Queen coldly either the effects or qualities of that passion but the discourse of it is not conformable to my humor and I should be very much obliged to you if you will find some other matter of entertainment Cornelius though a little repulsed with the answer which made him partly understand the difficulties he should have to conquer the spirit which he had attempted prepared himself to speak when he saw the Princess Elisa approach who having understood that Candace had been walking upon the Terrace a great while had made her self ready with all speed to come and find her to enjoy in her company that little consolation which she
the same Artaxus from whom you have received some bloudy displeasures in your Family and this Prince for whom at first you had so much aversion is the Prince Ariobarzanes my Brother of a very different humour from the King his elder Brother and who had no hand in that crueltie which caused so great a resentment against Artaxus in the Spirit of the King your Father See now Philadelph whether you love Delia still or the Sister of Artaxus and whether I have not lost what my good fortune had gained upon your Spirit by being born of a bloud which is odious to your Family Ah! Madam cryed the transported Prince imprinting almost by force a fiery kiss upon Arsinoes fair hand though Artaxus should have exposed me my self to the most violent effects of cruelty the Pricess Arsinoe his Sister and yet my adorable Delia is not less worthy of my respects and I do not only continue in the former terms of my love to her but upon her consideration Artaxus is no longer odious to me and seeing he is Delia's Brother I would serve him with my life and bloud Upon these words the Prince Ariobarzanes stretching out his arms to him And may not I said he who did no way contribute to those actions which gave you so just an occasion to hate the cruel Artaxus I who was a great way off from the place where they were committed and after I had heard of them alwaies looked upon mine own Brother with aversion and repugnance may not I hope more justly than he that the same goodness which causes you so easily to pardon the culpable will incline you to love the innocent and those which have never offended you nor yours Philadelph tenderly embracing Ariobarzanes What resentment soever said he my jealousie caused in me to day against you you are composed of such admirable parts that it would be no difficulty for you to gain the hearts of your most cruel enemies and if any thing could remain upon my heart against you it would be because I believed you were the Lover of Delia and not because I know you to be the Brother of Artaxus But Madam continued he turning to the Princess you surprize me with your discourse I have been informed that in the King of Armenia's Family there was a Prince Ariobarzanes and a Princess Arsinoe born both with admirable qualities but there came a report to us since that as they were going to Rome both Arsinoe and Ariobarzanes perished by a shipwrack which made all Armenia deplore their loss as being two incomparable persons We did really suffer shipwrack replyed Arsinoe and I believe we are dead still in the opinion of the Armenians and of the greatest part of those that knew us but the Gods to whom the person of Ariobarzanes was precious would not let him perish but saved me too for his sake This is that which I would now acquaint you with and after that I have briefly made known to you the reasons which caused me to conceal my self in Cilicia and which obliged me to depart thence I will give you an account of that which hath befallen me since our separation which hindred me from retiring into Armenia as my intention was to do With these words she caused him to sit down again in his chair and in the mean time the Prince Ariobarzanes not judging it necessary for him to be present at a relation whereof he knew all the particulars and desiring to give the two Lovers leisure to discourse of their adventures with all freedom whilst he went to entertain himself with those thoughts with which his Spirit was disturbed went out of the Chamber to go and walk in a garden which he saw under the windows Only the Princesses maid continued with her own and Philadelph's Mistris and the Princess having kept silence a while to call to remembrance those things which she intended to relate she began her discourse in these terms The History of the Princes ARSINOE THere are few remarkable things in my life wherewith you are not acquainted those of the most importance befell me in Cilicia whereof you are a witness and the principal cause and you are ignorant of nothing almost but what hath happened since our separation and that I shall acquaint you with at large after that I have succinctly passed over former businesses and those reasons which may defend me against your accusations I will not begin my discourse with the beginnings of my life which have nothing of importance in them but what is known throughout all Asia my first years passed away with sweetness and tranquillity enough and the time of our tender infancie was spent in a flourishing Court and a peaceable and fortunate Kingdom but I hardly began to have the use of reason or any knowledge of our condition of life when by the cruel surprize of Anthony the unfortunate Artibasus our Father was carried prisoner to Alexandria and all his family with him except Artaxus our elder Brother who succeeded him in the enjoyment of the Crown My Brother Ariobarzanes my Sister Artemisa and my self lived in a captivity in a pompous Court till I was about eight or nine years old and this loss of our liberty the sorrow whereof was so cruelly redoubled by the deplorable death of the King our Father which I believe no person is ignorant of was not repaired till after the defeat and the last misfortunes of Anthony and Cleopatra at which time Caesar being Master of Alexandria and the Empire too by the fall of his Competitor freed us from captivity and sent us back with an honourable Convoy to the King of Armenia our Brother whom he received into the number of his Friends and Allies I relate this to you in a few words as a thing sufficiently divulged and I will not entertain you with the reception which Artaxus gave us who looked upon the rank of our family with great resentments for our common misfortune We lived in his Court with all the splendor we had lost and we recovered there together with our libertie our former rank and dignity We were brought up my Brother my Sister and my self with great care and it was not the fault of those persons who were put about me that the slight advantages which I might have received from nature were not favourably seconded by good education There was nothing forgotten which might frame my Spirit to the horror of vices and to the love of vertue and I will say if I may do it without offending against modesty that I had my inclinations naturally carried to esteem that which seemed good and to avoid that which appeared to me to be vicious I had a good Governess the very same you saw in Cilicia whom I made to pass for my Aunt who took a great deal of pains to cultivate whatsoever she thought she observed of good in me and contributed as much as possibly she could to form me according to her
by reason of his evil treating the Africans as his negligence of so ill defending from the Prince the Countries under his Government feared that the Emperor would shew him no good countenance or rather severely chastise him but I know not by what good Fortune or intercession it was but he was well enough received and the Emperor seemed rather to compassionate than accuse him This bounty of Caesar was praised by all and the Friends of Volusius visited him and he again visited the most considerable persons of the Court. When became to kiss the hands of Octavia she was in my Chamber and there it was that she received his Visit I protest that knowing this man to come from Coriolanus that he had heen his Prisoner and one of the most signal marks of his Victory I could not behold him without greatemotion neither if I may with modesty speak it without taking some part of the advantages which my Prince had over him I expected with impatience to hear him speak of him nor was I long without this satisfaction for after the first discourses of Civility of his own accord he fell upon that of his misfortunes and though he spake of Juba as of an Enemy who had deprived him of all yet was it with so many Elogies that I could not but believe this man more sensible of the favours he had done him in the sweetness of his Prison and the gift of his liberty than of the injury he had suffered by the loss of so many men divers Battels and his Government for in the months of vertuous persons even their Enemies find their deserved praises I was possest with a marvellous satisfaction in hearing him relate the wonderful Exploits of my Prince with what order and prudence he had managed his design and with what prodigious Valor he executed it the Victories having been almost obtained by him only Volusius spake truly like a disinteressed person and as he made no difficulty to tell us how he was overcome and born to the Earth by the hand of Coriolanus who thundred upon him and assaulted him like lightning so nor did he forget to relate with what grandure of courage he received him and what care he took of the conservation of his life what treatment full of sweetness he had received whil'st he was in Prison and with how much generosity he gave him his liberty and lastly with what moderation he received the happy change of his Fortune The gods know whether these words of Volusius did not inflame the heart of the innocent Cleopatra and whether in finding so many great qualities in the person she loved she strongly confirmed not the gift she had made over of all her affections I was a little troubled to see that in all the Relation which Volusius had made of Coriolanus he mentioned nothing of me neither signified that he had the least word to say to me from him I took it for a very ill sign but at last I found my consolation in this belief that either the Son of Juba would not confer his secret with Uolusius or that Volusius himself in case he had any thing to tell me would choose a more convenient time to acquit him of his Commission than in the presence of Octavia and so many other Witnesses who might be suspected of no great correspondence with Coriolanus But if I retained the first opinion yet I quickly lost the last seeing many dayes pass without a Visit either from Volusius or a person of quality amongst the Moors named Themistales who came to Rome with him This I protest began to disquiet me and reflecting upon the long time since I received any Letters from Coriolanus though I believed it would be very difficult for him to find the means to do it with security I here found my self labouring under a king of fear which my good opinion of that Prince never till then had suffered to assault me I did my endeavours to chase it away and possibly it had produced no great effects had I not a few dayes after received an entire knowledge of what I am going to relate Volusius had been at Rome five or six dayes and I found my Soul a little agitated by those diffidences which Coriolanus's silence had produced when I observed in the generous Octavia who daily visited me in my apartment and from whence I was not permitted to go forth a melancholy which gave me some little inquietudes and taking the liberty to demand the cause My Child said she we cannot be alwayes satisfied and often when Fortune appears most favourable she is then preparing for us something most cruel Is it possible Madam said I that Fortune can disturb the Tranquillity of your life I complain not of her replied Octavia but I counsel you not to trust in her though I can assure you that you shall not be much longer a Prisoner and I believe nothing at all suspected by Cesar It is possible the would have said more but at the instant there came one from the Emperor to speak with her yet these few words cast multitudes of disquiet thoughts into my bosome and were the Subject of a porfound revery for part of that day being unable to imagine wherefore I should soon be unsuspected by Cesar unless he were perswaded of my disinterest in the Affairs of Coriolanus Tiberius failed not to see me that day but said nothing that could any thing enlighten my doubts and he was too subtile to let me understand from his mouth those truths which would be less suspected from another At last the gods would that I should have it from him from whom of all men I should the least have expected it for that Evening the Candles being lighted Marcellus entred my Chamber Though there was less light than at Noon-day yet was it enough to let me behold in the face of that Prince all the marks of grief or rather all the tokens of despair He blush't and waxed pale almost at the same time and from his eyes lightning sometime seemed to proceed and sometimes they were covered with darkness He remained a good while silent upon the Chair where he sate beholding me by turns with eyes full of grief and fury and in a posture which if it made me not fully devine my misfortune at least it sufficiently signified that some great misfortune was come upon him or that some disastrous News he had to tell me Presently a shivering ran through all my veins and his sadness communicating it self to me my face in all things resembled his I was about to have instructed my self further in what I ought to fear and had already opened my mouth to satisfie my timerous curiosity when breaking silence with violence Ah my Sister said he must Marcellus bring you the first News of the infidelity of Coriolanus And must he who at the peril of his Fortune hath hitherto defended him against the accusations of his Enemies be the first to accuse
more at large related how Volusius and Theocles having demanded of the Emperor a particular Audience and shew'd him their power sealed with the Seal-Royal of Mauritania declared their charge which they had from the King Juba which was That although he entred the Dominions of his Father by Arms and was in a condition of defending his Kingdoms against whatsoever Forces he could send yet if it pleased the Emperor to honour him with his Alliance and to grant him the Princess Julia for his wife he would hold of him the Crown which he had Conquered with the same Homage which he received from other Vassal-Kings and Tributaries to the Empire adding this on his part That he had not taken the liberty of making this demand had he not believed that the Princess would not take it ill and possibly would have no repugnance thereto Marcellus pursued that Cesar appeared much amazed at the Proposition and having checked those that made it in terms teaching them what fruit to expect from their Negotiation he added That he praised the gods that this man whose Arms he might have feared whil'st he was vertuous was now become so wicked and perfidious and that since he had changed his inclinations he doubted not the success of the War that his Daughter was designed for him that should possess the Empire and not for a barbarous African Nay and had he been born in the Throne of Romulus he could not but with disdain have beheld a man unfaithful to his Mistress and his Friend After this he commanded Volusius never again to open his mouth upon this business and Theocles to leave Rome within eight dayes and that after they were gone the Emperor related the business to Agrippa and Domitius and all those that were with him and within an hour after to Octavia and that he was last of all advertized thereof by Cesars own mouth who could no longer keep secret from him the perfidy of his Friend and who detested it as much as any of those that heard it amongst all whom there was not one found who would speak a word to excuse it Marcellus had time enough to make me this Discourse and instead of interrupting him spake not till he had done at last seeing that he expected from my mouth some knowledge of my resentments promising to employ his whole life in our common vengeance algainst a man for whom not long since he would willingly have layed it down My dear Brother said I with pain enough I demand no vengeance neither from the gods nor you upon the infidelity of Coriolanus it is possible the gods are just enough to give it me without my desiring or without your arming your self against a man who even now was so dear to you His intentions 't is true were equally evil both towards you and me but the effects have been prejudicial to me only if it be a misfortune for Cleopatra to have lost the perfidious Coriolanus and that which he hath attempted against you hath turned to his own confusion since that in demanding Julia he hath not obtained her and lastly you will not lose Julia though I have lost Coriolanus So will you be revenged of his evil design against you in conserving that which he would have unjustly taken from you and in making him for ever lose the hopes of a good for which he hath forsaken me This is all the punishment which I wish him and if my resentments have endeavoured something against this yet is it against my heart from whence I shall endeavour to tear the image of this unfaithful man These words were accompanied by all the tokens of a true grief and Marcellus who compassionated them as well through the goodness of his Nature as his interest in their cause prepared to reply with vehemence just as we saw Octavia enter the Chamber with the Princesses her Daughters and the young Ptolomy my Brother She would not bring me the News of my misfortune though she heard it before Marcellus and would speak no more than what she said in the morning which had fill'd me with distrust but then knowing that I had learn't all from the Prince her Son she spake freely testifying how great a part she took in my displeasures with all the tendernesses of a true Mother and forgot nothing which she thought capable of bringing me any consolation The Princesses her Daughters appeared no less officious nor less afflicted than my self and to have beheld the countenance of this illustrious Company one would have judged them all to have had an equal interest in the Treason of Coriolanus Nay they were so generous that they expressed more resentment against him for the injury he had done me than for that which he would have done to Marcellus And though they all possessed a great amity for Coriolanus whil'st he retained his innocence yet could they not refuse to his Crime the detestation which it merited endeavouring all together to perswade me that a man capable of so great a wickedness was unworthy my remembrance or the sorrow which I testified at his loss I answered nothing to their Discourse and better expressed my grief to persons who knew my humor by my confusion and silence than others would have done by cryes and reproaches When I was a little more at liberty and that of all the Company only the Prince Ptolomy my Brother remained in my Chamber and the two Princesses Agrippina and Antonia my Sisters the Daughters of Antonia and Octavia I no longer retained my tears nor those complaints which I was able to utter being amongst persons whose age and degree of Proximity permitted me to act without constraint and to whom my love had been known and approved My Sisters wiped away my tears and out of compassion abundantly shed their own and Ptolomy young and boyling though he had alwayes a great amity for Coriolanus and respect for his vertue transported himself in Menaces against that Prince and spake of nothing but vengeance and a reparation of the injury which I had received At last being left alone with my Maids I layed me down upon the Bed where I passed the rest of the Night in the most sad condition I was ever in in my life and the cruel thoughts which tormented me suffered not the access of one wink of sleep As in all the former Actions of Coriolanus I had observed a marvellous Vertue and as nothing could ever make me suspect that he could be capable of the wickedness which he had committed I could not be sufficiently astonish't at so strange an alteration or hardly credit a truth which I had nothing to alledge against All my indeavours were that I might find some occasion of doubting and certainly had my misfortunes been known only by some reports or by any other than infallible truths I should have suspected the artifices of Tiberius but in actions so solemn as are the Negotiations of Princes and publick Treaties there was no reason to
place ran to the two Combatants and in the sight of all those persons as also of Archelaus and Mithridates who were gotten up the face of the unknown Lover was seen and known to be Drusus Son of Livia and Brother to Tiberius The astonishment of the two Princes that had been worsted by him of Marcellus Ptolomey and the rest wars not ordinary when they found Drusus to be the Unknown Lover of Antonia who had served her without discovering himself with so much gallantry and good-liking and if Archelaus and Mithridates were troubled that they had met with so powerful a Rival they were in some measure comforted as to their disgrace because it happened by the hands of a Prince whose valour was known to all the World Drusus was in a little trouble and disorder to see himself discovered as thinking he had not come to that point that he should have done ere he had been known but perceiving the misfortune to be incapable of any remedy he generously resolved to endure it and turning towards Prince Marcellus and Ptolomey who stood neer him Most Illustrious Princes said he to them I crave your pardon for the surprize and stratagems I have used towards the Princesse your Sister and the offence I have committed against you by serving her without your knowledge Had I thought my self worthy that glory I should not have had any recourse to artifice but how mean soever I may be as to point of merit I cannot but hope from the goodnesse of Prince Marcellus for whose sake I cheerfully quitted all the pretentions I had for Julia that he will grant me out of an excesse of favour that which I durst not presume to desire of him before I had in some sort obliged him to love me by the services it was in my thoughts to do him And from Prince Ptolomey a person I have ever infinitely esteemed I do expect he should not oppose me in the design I have absolutely to sacrifice my whole life to the service of the Princesse his Sister To this effect was the discourse of Drusus which when he had done he expected the answer of the two Princes with that confidence which he might well derive from the friendship they had expressed towards him for some time before T is true Drusus was a Prince of so great merit that he was infinitely esteemed by all that were of his acquaintance and from the time that Marcellus was reconciled with him after the duel they had fought for Julia having discovered his excellent endowments as well in his conversation as the earnestnesse he observed in Drusus to purchase his affection he had conceaved more respect and friendship towards him than any other among the Romans and preferred no man before him in his inclinations but only Coriolanus On the other side Drusus's Fortunes were so considerable by reason of the authority of Livia and the interest his own worth had justly gained him with Caesar that neither Marcellus nor Ptolomey nor any of the other Friends of Antonia could wish her a match that were more advantageous They accordingly studied not long for the answer they were to make him and Marcellus speaking for both out of a confidence that what he said should be confirmed Prince said he to Drusus we have some reason to be displeased with you but it is onely for the little relyance you have had in our friendship and the esteem we have for you But that you shall hear more of another time and therefore in the interim since you have thought Antonia worthy your affections I shall tell you that I think her happy and very much honoured in the inclinations you have for her that I question not but that Caesar Octavia Alexander where-ever he may be and Ptolomey are of the same mind and that for my part if in the design you have upon her you need the assistances of a Brother that hath some power with her I proffer you all you can desire or expect from me as being one that endeavours nothing so much as the acquisition of your friendship and next to that the continuance of it while he lives What Ptolomey said to Drusus was to the same effect whereat this Prince was so much satisfied that he could not expresse his joy without a certain confusion After he had discovered his resentments thereof to both as much as he possibly could he comes to Archelaus and Mithridates and made his excuses to them as to what was past in the most obliging manner that could be These two Princes felt so much grief within that they could not think of any consolation but not so much for the disgrace of their falls as for that their ill fortune had raised them so dreadful a Rival and the words they had heard from Marcellus and Ptolomey from which together with the confidence they were in that Augustus and Octavia would declare for Drusus they could not but infer that the little hope which they had conceived in the course of their affections would come to nothing But however they were burthened with grief they received the civilities of Drusus as they ought and on their side craved his pardon for their indiscretion and whatever they attempted against him while they knew him not I see Sister you are desirous I should contract this relation since it is indeed of an excessive length and therefore I shall onely tell you without insisting too much on particulars that notwithstanding all the resistance that Drusus made thereto Marcellus and Ptolomey would needs have him immediately and in that very posture presented to Antonia and that Drusus having opposed it for some time out of fear to displease her at last was prevailed with to come along with them and followed them to the City and so to the Emperours Court where all the most eminent persons about it were assembled and discoursing of the Unknown Lover of Antonia They were yet speaking of him when Marcellus comes into the room leading in Drusus by the hand and it was before this Illustrious Assembly that Marcellus having presented him to the Emperour and Octavia brought him to Antonia and having discovered him to her for the Unknown Lover who had given her such gallant-like expressions of his love and that in so extraordinary a manner entreated her to entertain him as a Prince that had devoted himself to her service and whose inclinations for her were an honour to all their house The whole Assembly was nothing but applauses and acclamations at the sight and discovery of Drusus and being a person generally beloved all were glad to hear that it was he who had done such noble things for Antonia and cryed out they were worthy one another and that it was a couple the best matched of any in the World The Emperour conceived an extraordinary joy at it Livia was well pleased with the good choice her son had made and the Emperour and she together joyning with Marcellus having performed the
dispell their astonishment and this adventure seemed to be so great and so full of miracle that to be fully satisfied it was but necessary they had the assistance of Candace Elisa and Eteocles who very freely acquainted them with the secret of Caesario's life for as to the great actions he had done under the name of Cleomedon they were in some measure known to Alexander and absolutely to Cleopatra by the relation which Candace had made thereof to her When they were fully convinced of these truths their joy discovered it self by all the effects it could produce in moderate and affectionate dispositions as theirs were and it had not haply been greater though they had seen this very brother returning in that pomp and magnificence which he might have hoped from his former fortune when even in his infancy he had been proclaimed King of Kings by the commands of Anthony and Queen Cleopatra Then was it that Cleopatra notwithstanding all her reservedness and modesty could not forbear entertaining so great a brother with embraces fit to be envyed by all men and that Alexander expressed the agitations of his heart by the most earnest demonstrations that a sincere affection could produce in a noble soul as his was It was also during these pleasant intervalls that the fair daughter of Anthony giving thousands of kisses to the Queen of Ethiopia gave her infinite thanks with tears which the excess of joy affection drew from her fair eies for his preservation and for the present she made of her so great a brother and thence took occasion to celebrate her generosity and the extraordinary goodnesse she had expressed in bestowing her precious affections on a Prince whom fortune had not left any thing she could have taken away from him and rasing him up to a Crown whereby he might recover himself into the dignity of his Fathers What said Alexander is that invincible Cleomedon who gained so many battles in Nubia and whose reputation notwithstanding the interposition of so many Provinces eclipsed the glory of our most famous Captains no other then the same Caesario on whom in our in fancy we had bestowed so many tears and in that dead Brother do we recover again a Brother whose glory may darken that of his Father When the first demonstrations of this happy reacquaintance were over they all joyned together in a more moderate conversation so that Artaban taking occasion to expresse his concernments in the joy of Cleopatras children no lesse then if he had been of the same Bloud made them consider with a certain admiration that character of greatnesse which the gods had put upon him They thought it no ill course to moderate the discoveries of their joy out of a fear the cause might come to be known which if it should happen it could not be without bringing Caesario's life into imminent danger And considering withall that the night was in a manner quite spent and that such long sittings up might in time raise some suspicions the desire which the Princesse Cleopatra and Alexander had to enjoy yet for some longer time that happy re-acquaintance and that which Caesario had to understand the fortunes of Cleopatra whereof he had but an imperfect account were not so great but that though not without some violence done to themselves they appointed it to be the entertainment of the night following those that were concerned in the safety of Caesario thinking it not so safe to trust it to the day They parted therefore though with much unwillingnesse and Alexander and Cleopatra were extreamly troubled that the son of Caesar should take his retreat in a lone house not much frequented which Eteocles had provided for him in one of the most solitary skirts of Alexandria as conceiving there would be lesse notice taken of his going in and out there then in that of Tidaeus without the City where he had spent some dayes before But before they parted Artaban and Caesario confirmed the reconciliation they had made by words full of the greatest expressions of a real friendship and reciprocally promised one one another all the assistances which according to the posture of their fortunes they should be able to afford one the other The two Princesses they served were extreamly satisfied thereat and when they were alone the Daughter of Anthony passing to her own lodgings they went into their beds to crown the extraordinary accidents of that day with a pleasant rest The end of the Third Book HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. X. LIB IV. ARGUMENT â—olusius coming in wounded into Alexandria is entertained by Cornelius and upon his entreaty brought to Marcellus and Cleopatra whom he entertains with his own History The noble deportment of Coriolanus towards him after his defeat his honourable dismission from Mauritania and his ungrateful resentments of such extraordinary civilities He is overtaken by Theocles a discontented Noble man of that country and with him enters into a conspiracy to do Coriolanus all the mischief they can Volusius not daring to come to Rome as having exasperated the Emperour against him by the losse of Mauritania makes friends to Tiberius who being an enemy to Coriolanus and Servant to Cleopatra undertakes his readmission into Caesars favour with promises of readvancement Theocles is drawn in to personate an Embassy from Coriolanus to Augustus for the obtaining of Julia so to make a difference between Coriolanus and his friend Marcellus and Cleopatra which proves in some measure effectual Volusius slighted by Tiberius falls into contempt and sicknesse which having recovered he leaves Rome and some time after meets with Tiberius at Brundusium whom he puts in mind of his former promises and goes along with him and Theocles for Alexandria They conceiving some jealousie of him plot his death which is attempted by Theocles and his men but he is rescued by an unknown person who having killed Theocles and delivered him proves to be Coriolanus whom he acquaints with what he had done against him Marcellus and Cleopatra are extreamly glad and troubled at the relation of Volusius and Marcellus extreamly grieved for the injuries he had done Coriolanus goes to seek him out resolved not to return till he had found him THe fortunate meeting with a Brother such as Caesario was had raised in the Princesse Cleopatra such a satisfaction as since the imaginary infidelity of Coriolanus she had not been caÌ„pable of whence it came that she passed over that night with more delight and took more rest than the precedent Now as the best part of the night was spent ere she lay down so was it accordingly very late ere she awoke in the morning insomuch that those who knew not any thing of her long sitting up would not have little wondered she had slept so long had they not imagined that the trouble and hardship she had gone through for some daies before might require a more than ordinary repose 'T is a common observation that it is ordinarily
good weather came at last to Brundusium where we landed Here it was that I thought fit to make some abode to make some discovery what posture my affaires were in at Rome and knowing well enough that the loss of Mauritania happened partly through my fault as having not only by tyranny and mis-government but also by the liberty I had given the Souldiers to do them thousands of injuries given the Moores occasion to rise in the behalf of their Prince and partly by reason of my neglect of preventing that revolt in the first eruptions thereof and by that negligence given Coriolanus leasure to fortifie and put himself into a condition to reascend the Throne which he would have sound very much difficulty to do had I used all the diligence I ought to smother that evil at its first breaking forth the Conscience I had of this truth troubled me extreamly By which put into a fear of the displeasure of Augustus whom a loss so considerable as that of two great Kingdoms might very much exasperate against me and not doubting but that there were a many persons about him both very ready and very likely to do me any ill office I thought it no prudence to to to Rome till I had before been assured what I was either to hope or fear upon my coming thither To that end I sent one of my men with Letters to those Friends whom I had at Rome wherein I intreated them to send me word truely and without flattery how I stood in the favour of Caesar and what entertainment I was to expect from him after the misfortune that had happened to me The Messenger got to Rome and some few daies after returned thence with some of my Friends who came to see me at Brundusium and these did not onely heighten the distrust I was in before but withall told me positively that there was no coming for me to Rome where I was extreamly ill spoken of till I had in some measure vindicated my self that the Emperour was prepossessed with an opinion very disadvantageous to me and that if I did not employ certain powerfull persons that had much interest in him there was not onely very small hopes I should ever recover my former fortune but they thought there was no great safety for my person and accordingly advised me till the tempest were laid by some persons I should employ to do it to continue at Brundusium where I had the advantage of the sea if I should be put to any extremity This discourse made to me by persons whom I could not any way suspect and whose Friendship I had great experiences of put me to more than ordinary distractions insomuch that I resolved not to leave Brundusium or look at Rome till the Emperours indignation were appeased To effect that I writ a large Manifesto in order to my justification wherein I laid down all the reasons that made any way for me and endeavoured to elude all accusations that were put up against me and having delivered it to my Friends they returned to Rome to set on work all those persons who we were in hopes might prevaile any thing with Caesar and those such as had most power and authority with him I durst not expect any thing from either Octavia or Marcellus as being not ignorant that there had ever been a very great friendship between that Prince and the King of Mauritania I had as little confidence of the mediation of Agrippa whom I had ever observed an enemy to those Governours who by their miscarriages had exasperated the nations they were to governe against them and so thought it my onely course to addresse my self to Livia and Tiberius who had ever been enemies to Coriolanus and whose interest with Caesar was not inferiour to that of any other whatsoever I thereupon imagined that my Friends by the meanes of Tiberius might set the Empresse on work who could do any thing with Augustus and it was altogether that way that I advised them to use their utmost endeavours They departed in order to the design and I remained still at Brundusium very much disquicted endeavouring what I could to shake off my affliction by the company of Theocles who would needs stay there with me and expressed a very great engagment in my concernments Some daies were passed since the departure of my Friends when one of them returnes to me to assure me that he had not onely managed the businesse with much success with Tiberius and had disposed him to engage the Empresse his Mother to endeavour my justification but also that that Prince after he had with much satisfaction embraced the occasion to do me any favour had sent him to dispatch me from Brundusium and to bring me privately to a house that belonged to a Friend of Tiberius's in the mid-way between Rome and Brundusium where I should meet with Tiberius himself and where he would discourse with me more freely concerning the state of my affaires and expresse the carnestness he had to serve me therein I received this newes with no small satisfaction and though I could not but attribute this eartiestness ef Tiberius to his envy against Coriolanus much more then to any Friendship he might have for me yet must I needs embrace this occasion of recovering my self very seriously never examining out of what motive it might proceed I left Brundusium in the night accompanied by Theocles who would by all means go along with me giving out that I went another way quite different from that which I took nay to make it the more credible sent some part of my equipage that way least it might have been discovered that I had any interview with Tiberius who had indeed sent me instructito that effect by my Friends I came to Clunium which is the name of that house seated in a solitary place such as a man might wish for a secret interview Tiberius came thither the same day having onely a single person with him and left Rome in the night and that with so much secrecy that there was not the least notice taken of his departure The condition I am in and the desire I have not to abuse your attention obliges me to contract my relation and therefore to be as brief as I can I shall onely tell you that Tiberius whose subtle wit bends it self to any thing it would be at entertained me with extraordinary caresses and very kindly received Theocles after I had acquainted him with his quality and the mis-understandings there were between him and Coriolanus Whereupon falling into discourse about my misfortune he comforted me with the kindest expressions that could be by instancing in many great persons to whom Fortune had been as malicious and telling me that I ought to have this satisfaction in my disgrace that what discourses soever my enemies might raise against me yet was there not any durst charge me with any want of courage or valour Then did he expresse the infinite
he had taken at his departure He gave out some daies before as I also heard my self that his intention was to find out Coriolanus in the midst of his dominions and to be revenged by his death for the wound he had received from him since the Emperour had denied him all other waies of satisfaction and thoght not fit to trust him with the command of that Naval army which he had sent against him under the conduct of Domitius Aenobarbus and I was confirmed in the confidence I had that he was gone away upon that resolution when I understood that he had taken Theocles along with him who was well acquainted with the Country and might accordinglyly very much facilitate the execution of his enterprise The departure of Tiberius put me into no small astonishment as being a thing that came not within my expectation for I found my self by that means much to my discomfort deprived of that little assistance which I was as yet in hopes to receive from him That which put me into a greater necessity of it was that by the concernment I had in Theocle's negotiation I had drawn upon me your displeasure my Lord with that of all your house and that of Anthony's which are the most powerful of the Empire and against which I could not hold out long but by the interest of Livia Not my Lord that I ever received any discourtesie either from your self or the Princesse or that you did me any ill office that ever I could hear of but it was not hard for me to take notice that you were all but little pleased with me and I was not ignorant that you were in a capacity to do me a displeasure whenever you had a mind to do it For your part my Lord you soon put me out of that fear by your departure some few daies after Tiberius which was almost after the same manner and as most people were of opinion with the same design but the Princesse Octavia staid behind as also the Princesses your Sisters and divers other persons of great credit with Caesar who were all very much dissatisfied with me Livia and Drusus were indeed able to counterballance that credit of theirs but Livia countenanced me no longer when Tiberius once forbore his sollicitations on my behalf and Drusus a person of a more then ordinary vertue finding haply little inclination to any such thing in me and having at my first coming conceived a prejudice against me expressed not the least friendship towards me Thus was I in a manner discarded by all little esteemed by Caesar who had not entertained me but upon the mediation of Livia and abused by those that saw me fallen through my own negligence from that noble employment and favour of fortune wherein I seemed to have been so well setled My ancient friends nay my own relations began to slight me and not to endure my company without some violence so that instead of continuing in the hopes I had conceived to be restored to my former condition I found my self in a probability to waste away my life not onely in the condition of a private man but withal in that of one of the most unfortunate of mankind The reflection I made on this alteration filling me with melancholy and despair began to reinflame those regrets in my soul which I might well conceive for the abuse I had done to so great a Prince and made me look on my present fortune as a visible effect of Heavens justice whom I had incensed against me by an unreasonable desire of revenge and the carrying on of a base and unworthy project I made all the friends I could for several employments which were all denyed me though they were such as I might well pretend to and I found at last that there was no living for me in Rome but with the contempt even of those persons who had sometime adored my greatnesse This consideration stuck such arrows in my heart that at last being no longer able to hold out against my affliction I fell into a long and dangerous sickness which I was strugling with when Caesar left Rome to go that vast progress he intended through the Empire and from which he is not yet returned I shall not trouble you with the particulars of my sicknesse which kept me fastened to my bed in a manner ever since that time and during which there have happened very strange and great revolutions especially in Mauritania which upon the absence of its valiant Prince whose presence might have maintained it against all the World is fallen under the power of Augustus Hearing this news at Rome grief seized me afresh as reflecting on the promise I had been fed with by Tiberius to be restored to that government if ever it were reduced At last after a long and dangerous sickness I made a shift to leave my bed much about two months since and conceiving that change of air might contribute somewhat to the recovery of my health I departed from Rome and went to spend some time in certain houses I had still left me in Italy When I was grown to some competency of strength I would needs take a further progress and after I had spent some time in visits among my friends if I may say that in my misfortune I had preserved any I went to a certain house belonging to Mummius distant from Brundusium about an hours riding There had I staid two daies when by some that belonged to Mummius who went almost every day to Brundusium I understood that Tiberius was newly arrived there I was a little surprized at that news nay so far that I was in suspence what course I should take as not knowing whether it were then a fit time for me to waite on him to put him in mind of the promises he had made to me and to acquaint him with the sad condition I was reduced to or sit down in the perswasion I was of that he had absolutely forgotten me But at last some little scantlings of hope that he would in some measure perform what he had promised encouraged me into a resolution to see him Accordingly I went to Brundusâ—â—m and presented my self to him at a time that in all probability he was not much taken up with any thoughts of me T is generally known what a great master he is in the art of dissimulation yet could he not so disguife himself at my first appearance but that I could easily peceive he was somewhat at a losse to see me there and that I was not the welcomest person in the World to him But after a while recovering himself and his artifices he entertained me with abundance of seeming obligation even to the making of a many excuses to me that he had left Rome without giving me notice of it and swearing that that injury if it were any was no more then he had done to all the World besides those only excepted whom he had taken along with him
him and at last he having found out terms whereby to discover his thoughts What Marcellus said he to him do you defend against me the life of an enemy that hath proved so unworthily false to you and one into whose breast upon the account both of your interest and mine you should rather sheath your sword I shall my Lord replied the Prince rescue the life of this enemy with the hazard of my own nay though I should lose it to purchase his safety I shall not have made sufficient reparation for the crime I have committing in persecuting a faithful friend with so much cruelty and injustice I know the respect I owe my Soveraign permits me not to lift up my sword to oppose the execution of his Orders but neither does it forbid me to present my breast to the cruelweapon that threatens the life of my friend But canst thou be so ungrateful replies the Emperour as to call him thy Friend who is a mortal enemy to Caesar and canst thou be so much wanting to resentment as to bestow the name of Friend on a man that hath so basely over-reached thee He is enemy to Caesar replied Marcellus upon no other ground then that of his misfortune nor hath he been mine but upon the artifices and treachery of another and my own mis-apprehensions Time will give you a fuller account of things if you will upon the intercession of Marcellus but defer for a while what you have resolved with so much heat and precipitation Thy ingratitude replies the Emperour makes thee unworthy the favour thou desirest and therefore flatter not thy self with a hope I will for ever grant thee the life of this barbarous man though I delay an execution which he ought not to suffer in the presence of so many Illustrious persons With which words he renewed the commands he had before given his guard to take him alive but the valiant son of Juba to whom the death that was before his eyes would have been more acceptable then that he was designed to and understood not what submission was while he had a sword in his hand once more presented the dreadful point of it to those who offered to come neer him and by that resistance would have changed the intentions of Caesar and drawn a hundred weapons against his breast when the Princess Cleopatra being come to the place and got out of the Chariot appeared to him through the Guards and speaking to him so as that the Emperour and all the illustrious persons there present might hear Coriolanus said she to him be not so obstinate as to be killed in my sight if you love me and deliver up to fortune and the desires of Cleopatra a sword which cannot maintain your life any longer It is in the power of the Gods and men to do yet something in order to your safety and if their indignation be such as that we cannot have their assistance I will condescend you shall die when it cannot be avoided and I shall be able to follow you to assure you of the affection I have for you O what a kind of influence had these words of the admirable Cleopatra on the apprehensions of Coriolanus and how powerful were they upon a resolution which no fear could shake All the fierceness that sparkled in his eyes of a sudden withdrew it self and becoming no less submissive then some minutes before he had appeared terrible Ah Madam said he to her I shall without the least repugnance obey you and submit to the chains and death prepared for me to express my compliances and fidelity to you to the last gasp Having so said he cast away his sword which an Officer of the guard took up and with a countenance wherein was not observable the least disturbance he told him That wherever he would carry him he was ready to follow During this time was Marcellus doing his submissions to Caesar whom through all his indignation he still considered as his Father and in which action he was seconded by the two Cavaliers who had fought with him against those who would have carried away the Princess who having taken off their Casques discovered their faces to all the Company One of the two was immediately known to be Alexander though he had not been seen even by any of those with whom he was most intimate since his departure from Rome into Germany whence he had passed into Armenia But the other was not so easily though there were divers imagined upon the first sight that they knew him and recollected themselves to find out who it should be through the alteration which some years had made in his countenance And though the comliness of his person was such as might draw the eyes of all upon him yet was he not considered with that earnestness as haply might have been done at a time when the company were more free from disturbance and the thoughts of all were so full of the misfortune happened to Coriolanus that they could not think of any thing else All the entreaties were made to the Emperour on his behalf prevailed nothing upon him and though it were expected the intercession of Marcellus should have proved effectual and that he should do something upon that of the great King of Scythia whose vertue he so much admired yet all they could obtain at his hands was that upon their intreaties he would put off the punishment he intended him for some time but that nothing should be able to divert him from making him an example such as was but necessary for the establishment of his Empire and Authority Whereupon having intreated all those that were about him not to press him any further as to that business he took his way towards Alexandria whither his guard was conducting Coriolanus and where Drusus had caused Tiberius to be conveyed riding by him with all the demonstrations of a hearty affliction All the Illustrious Assembly knowing Augustus to be of a nature as implacable during the time of his displeasure as easie to be prevailed with when otherwise rode along in great silence and there were few who expressed not a more then ordinary grief at the misfortune of so great a man as Coriolanus Alcamenes who had understood the noble actions of his life and had a particular veneration for the Princess Cleopatra could not smother the affliction he conceived thereat The King of Armenia the Prince of Cilicia the Kings of Cappadocia Pontus and Conagenas who had known and admired him at Rome when he appeared there with so much reputation and applause Agrippa Mecenas Crassus Lentulus and divers other Illustrious Romans who could not have the knowledg of him without a love and respect to him were extreamly cast down at this accident But next to Marcellus who concern'd himself above all others in it there was not one in all that noble Assembly more sensibly mov'd at that unhappy Adventure then the generous Artaban as well out of the love he
which necessity forces me to be the occasion of and whereof the consequences will not haply be so fatal as you imagine With which words he commanded Mecenas to conduct the Queen to her Lodgings and having saluted the other Princesses went on without any further stay Candace was accordingly carried to her Chamber where she was in a most deplorable condition as hoping not any thing of favour from the discourses of the Emperour and imagining them more dangerous then open threats Cleopatra whose opinion thereof was the same and who was no less troubled thereat could afford her no comfort and Elisa conceiving their grief proceeded from too just a ground and being also burthened with her own misfortune wept with them without saying ought to either It was not long ere they were visited by all those persons whose generosity was greater then to fear Caesars displeasure for visiting such as he was dissatisfied with so that of that illustrious company of Kings Princes and great Princesses there was a considerable number whom that consideration could not deter from acquitting themselves of the civilities due to the merit and quality of those great Princesses Julius Antonius Alexander and Ptolomey were among the first that came to them and if the two younger bewailed the misfortune of a Brother whom they had not many dayes been made acquainted with Antonius thought himself but too much concerned in the affliction of his Sister and Brothers not to make upon that occasion discoveries of affection great as those of Alexander and Ptolomey Marcellus though a person the most engaged in the interests of Augustus was with them almost as soon as the three Brothers and while he was comforting the two Princesses with the protestations which might be expected from a generous and daring Friendship Candace looking very sadly upon him and speaking to him by her countenance no less than by her discourse My Lord said she to him all the hope Cleopatra hath of the safety of her Servant is in you but she withal implores your assistance for her Brother and I who am a wretched stranger here am content to derive all from her recommendation It is not unlikely you may know he is such a Brother as is not unworthy the blood that runs in his veins nor the name he bears and it is from you in fine that we expect all the happiness we are capable of Madam replies the Son of Octavia I wish my mediation may prove as effectual with Augustus upon this occasion as it hath sometime been upon others of less consequence you might be confident of obtaining your desires but be what will the issue of it no consideration of either fortune blood or life shall divert me from endeavouring the rescue of these two Princes out of the danger you fear they may come to and as I am oblig'd upon the account of honour friendship to relieve one of them I am tyed to do all that I can for the other for your sake and out of the affection I have for the Princess Cleopatra and her Brothers whom I have ever looked on as my own engaged to do all that lies in my power for the other Marcellus was upon this Discourse when the Princess Octavia a person of generosity great as that of her Sons comes into the room with all the Princesses and not long after her the King of Armenia with the Princesses his Sisters Olympia and Philadelph Presently after came in the King of the Scythians with King Archelaus and whereas Drusus thought himself obliged to keep away rather out of a Punctilio of honour then any fear of displeasing the Emperour he entreated the gallant Cressus to assure the Princess Cleopatra that though Brother to Tiberius and son to Livia he allowed their sentiments no further then he was engaged in honour and that haply his desires to serve her were not inferiour to theirs who had the opportunity to make a freer profession thereof Artaban came not among them as having left Elisa's Chamber immediatly after Augustus and being gone into the most solitary walks of the Palace Garden to pass away the time in a solitude more suitable to the humour he was in then would have been in a company wherein he could not easily have smothered his resentments Candace desired of Octavia the same assistances which she had done before of Marcellus and she found in that truly great and vertuous Princess sentiments consonant to the assurances which all the world had of her admirable vertue All the illustrious persons that were present profered the contribution of their endeavours with a generosity which upon such an occasion it was only for such noble minds to discover Ariobarzanes and Philadelph betrayed a more then ordinary zeal and earnestness to serve the Illustrious distressed persons and King Alcamenes who bore the Princess Cleopatra a respect full of admiration and who in all things expressed a devotion to vertue protested he would make it no less his business then if it were for the preservation of his own life These two accidents hapning in a manner on the same day had chang'd the face of Alexandria and interrupted all the divertisements that were intended there The unfortunate Coriolanus was shut up in the Castle with a strong and strict guard upon him though attended in all things as a Prince having also Aemilius and Strato who was returned to wait upon him Caesario had the same accommodations though in another part of it and both were in a manner at the same point of despair as to matter of life Their two Illustrious Princesses were overwhelmed with grief and raised in all that came near them a compassion for their sufferings Elisa moved to pitty at the misfortune of her so dear friends and as much as might be disordered through the love of Agrippa and Augustus's prosecution of it thought her self as much at a distance with happiness as they Agrippa grown extravagant through the love he had for Elisa and in a manner lost to all hope entertained the assistances of Caesar with some dissatisfaction and put his friends into a fear what might be the issue of his sickness Tiberius and Tigranes wounded in their beds and abhorred by the Princesses they adored found torment enough in their rage and exasperation Drusus having a violent love for Antonia but neither the opportunity to see her as often as he desired nor to follow the inspirations of his vertue and affection thought himself sufficiently miserable Alexander orepressed with grief at the misfortunes of Coriolanus and Caesario was incapable of those enjoyments which had it not been for that he would have had in the sight and presence of Artemisa Marcellus for the same reasons was equally unfortunate and could not be at rest while his friend was in danger though Julia who had a natural aversion for sadness endeavoured to divert him from it as much as lay in her power Ariobarzones Philadelp and Arminius had been indisputably happy as
to do in this extremity to preserve a life which is much dearer to me then my own and since the disposal of your life and my destiny are in my power advise me how I ought to dispose thereof Shall I abandon him whom I so dearly love to bestow my self on a person that is so odious to me Or to shun a man I hate shall I neglect a life that 's so dear to me Shall I be reproch'd with such an Infidelity as to bestow my self on one I ever hated or shall I be so cruel as to see dye nay to occasion the death of one I have so much lov'd Can there be any thing so difficult which I shall not do to save the life of Coriolanus Or is there any thing in the world can prevail so far with me as to oblige me to marry his Rival See Coriolanus what extremities I am reduc'd to and be your self the master of your own destiny If life be dearer to you then Cleopatra to save it I will bestow my self not only on Tiberius but on the most cruel Monster in the world and if you prefer me before your life I shall satisfie you That mine is not so dear to me as that I would preserve it and not acquit my self of what I owe your affection To this effect was Cleopatra's discourse deliver'd with much violence to the grief which would hardly suffer her to express her self and when she had given over speaking the Prince who had heard her with much patience and serenity rejoyning thereto with an action which betrayed not the least disturbance Madam said he to her I am not surprised at the news you bring me it has ever bin my perswasion that my enemies would not suffer me both to live and enjoy Cleopatra and therefore I shall soon six on the resolution I am to take and since you lay your commands upon me I tell you That were the preservation of your life in dispute and that you were put to a choice of either death or a marriage with Tiberius I would conjure you to marry him as rather inclined to see you wedded to my Rival then lose a life to which I ought to Sacrifice all considerations I should tell you further That if I could imagine your fortune might prove happy with Tiberius I would intreat you to entertain it and not to spend any further thought on that of a wretch who would be much more unhappy in your misfortune then his own But if it be only to save the life of Coriolanus that you are proposed a Marriage with that Tiberius whom you love not it is my suit You would not do your self a violence which would prove more insupportable to me then the death my enemies intend me I am certainly much mistaken by those who would perswade you That to save my life I will consent to the happiness of Tiberius and know not by what base action I may have raised in them that unworthy opinion of me No Madam I shall not only scorn life upon those conditions but must tell you That it is not even in your power omnipotent as you are to save it by that way since my own hands will be able to take it away if my grief should prove so weak as to continue it one moment after that misfortune happened to me Let me therefore intreat you not to suspend any longer as to the resolution you are to take be it such as your own inclinations shall inspire you with not minding the preservation of a life which you would force from me withmuch more cruelty inbestowing your self on my Rival then exposing me to the cruelty of my enemies This was the close of Coriolanus's discourse which fell from him with a confidence whence the Princess might well judge that his thoughts were much different from the impression which Sempronius would have put into her Whereupon the fair Cleopatra entertaining that declaration with a constancy not inferior to his It hath ever been my belief said she to him that your resolution would be such as you now discover it and I had sufficient experience of your affection and the greatness of your courage to be satisfied that the fear of death would not make you quit Cleopatra to your Rival But Coriolanus it is not just I should be ever oblig'd to you I will therefore to so much Love and so much Virtue make at last that return which a Princess desirous to express a Gratitude and Generosity equal to yours might think expected from her Receive then continued she reaching to him her hand which he receiv'd and affectionately kissed receive the faith I give you as well out of mine own inclinations as by the disposal of those persons whom my Birth allow that authority over me and assure your self that as your wife I will run fortunes with you to the end and now dye with you as my husband Whereupon turning to Sempronius You may return to Caesar said she to him when you please and tell him That I cannot be Tiberius's since I am the King of Mauritania's that nothing shall henceforth be able to separate us and that I will dye with him as with a husband whom the Gods my Friends and my own inclinations design'd me for While she spake to that effect and that Sempronius and Levinus expressed their astonishment by their silence the Prince having once more cast himself at her feet with his mouth fastned on the fair hand she had given him discover'd by his deportment that he entertain'd the present she made him with as great an acknowledgment as if he had been to enjoy it for many years and expressed his sentiments by so many assurances of his passion that those who were present were extremely moved thereat But when his transports permitted him the liberty of speech raising his eyes up to the fair countenance of the Princess As for the glory said he to her it is to dye your husband I receive it with so much resentment as if it were not to happen till after a long and pleasant life since there cannot be any thing so glorious nor so desirable to a Prince who had employ'd all his life and all his thoughts in order to that only desire But to entertain you for my companion in the death I am to suffer is a thing which by all the power you have over me you cannot oblige me to as such as wherein I shall begin to disobey you at the point that I am most enslaved by you No Madam I shall never endure you should follow the destiny of a wretch whom the Gods think not worthy the fortune whereto you raise him and if upon the name of Husband which you honour me with I ma pretend to any influence over you which I could not heretofore I wholly imploy it to conjure you to banish out of your thoughts that cruel intention of making my death more terrible and more insupportable to me I shall haply entertain
enter but they two and Sempronius all those that came along with them being stayed at the gate The Princess Cleopatra had past away that night in the same Chamber with Coriolanus and though Levinus had preffered her another yet would she not by any means accept of his courtesie out of a fear that if she once left Coriolanus she should not be permitted to see him any more Vainly had the Prince imbraced her by the knees with the most earnest intreaties he could possibly make to leave a place so unworthy of her and to return to Octavia nay he was so far from perswading her thereto that at last she grew angry with him and forbidding him with all the Authority she had over him to speak to her any more of it she was desirous to be informed what she yet knew not of his adventures and to understand what she had but confusedly heard concerning the artifices of Tiberius and Volusius and the particulars of his own sentiments and those of Marcellus It being about the time of the year when the nights are at shortest they had spent the whole night partly in contestation partly in discourse and though according to Caesars order Levinus had been with them most part of the time or in his absence such of the guard as he appointed for that purpose the Prince and Princess being reduced to that extremity as not to either fear or hope any thing from the discovery of their affairs entertained one another before those witnesses with as much freedom and indifference as if they had been alone The Princesses Women having also staid with Coriolanus had much ado to perswade him to take any thing of what Levinus had sent in but could not by any means oblige him to cast himself on a bed for ever so little time and though they doubted not but that as soon as it were day Octavia and the Princesses her Daughters and such other persons as Augustus should permit would come to get her thence yet had she several times professed to Coriolanus that nothing should prevail with her so far as to force her away without him and that she should find a way to be her own death upon the first offer of any violence to that purpose The Prince equally transported with grief and joy expressed both with much disorder when word was brought Levinus of the arrival of Marcellus and Drusus by the Emperours order whereupon going to the gate to receive them in he immediatly returns with them and conducts them into the chamber Cleopatra and Coriolanus had indeed conceived very great hopes from the generosity of Marcellus but imagined not to find him attended by a brother of Tiberius and were not a little astonished to find them together Coriolanus was of opinion that Augustus would not have permitted Marcellus to come unless it were with a person who to further the interest of his brother should oppose what Marcellus out of his friendship might attempt against his Rival but Cleopatra acquainted with the vertue of Drusus judged otherwise yet not satisfied what construction to make of it she patiently expected what would be the issue of that visit Coriolanus being the person that stood most in need of the assistances of his friends upon that occasion and whom the son of Octavia was particularly to satisfie for the injuries he had done him it was to him that he ran with open arms and a countenance all tears and the Prince having received him in a like posture those two Illustrious friends embraced one the other with all the demonstrations of a tender affection which could be expected upon the like occasion The first discoveries of their friendship which could not be expressed by words kept them a long time silent but at last Marcellus recovering himself Brother said he to him here comes that cruel or rather that unfortunate friend who hath been able to hate you and to endeavour the loss of a life which he should have valued above his own and since I can do no less then sacrifice my life to make satisfaction for such a crime I bring it to that purpose resolved to lose it with you if I cannot preserve yours Augustus would have me to advise nay to conjure you by all the friendship between us to save it by disclaiming all pretensions to Cleopatra but since I am satisfied of your courage your constancy and the value you set on the worth and affection of my Sister I can rather die then make any such proposition to you If Heaven therefore and their power whom fortune hath made our masters will not suffer you to live and enjoy Cleopatra and if I cannot obtain of Augustus the life of my Friend but upon terms more cruel then the death prepared for him let us die brother let us dye together examples of love and friendship and convince our enemies that neither artifice nor authority can break those knots which tyed by vertue are indissoluble If fortune will have us crushed by the power of a person she hath raised above us friendship makes us triumph over his cruelty and we shall be sufficiently revenged of him in that with one whom he hates as an enemy there dies another that he loved as his son While Marcellus was thus speaking Sempronius and Levinus hearkned to him with much astonishment and if the day before they had been amazed at the deportment of Cleopatra they were now much more at that of the Prince in whom they could not have imagined that friendship should produce so extraordinary an effect insomuch that Sempronius not able to dissemble it any longer nor expect what answer Coriolanus would make What my Lord said he to him is it thus you execute the Emperors Orders or have you forgotten you are his sisters son or rather his own the darling of his affections and hopes of the Romans Sempronius replies the Prince not permitting him to proceed any further you may tell Caesar that I disclaim all the hopes he hath put me into and all the assurances I might receive of his affection since he denies me the most considerable I could desire of him in denying me the life of a friend without whom he knows I cannot live that I derogate not from the respect and the acknowledgments I owe his affection since I express not my own towards my friend otherwise then in dying with him without any recourse to arms in his defence that against any but Caesar I should make use of all things either as to his relief or revenge but that it being not lawful for me to lift up my hand against my Soveraign Lord and Benefactor though for the safety of my friend there is no reason should divert me from dying with him You may also tell the Princess Julia that I dye constant to her service and that if I injure the love I have for her by sacrificing my life to friendship she may remember how I sacrificed friendship to love when a